Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 03-12-24

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Greece welcomes Libyan decision to accept int'l inspections for WMD

[02] Development minister makes brief visit to Ankara, calls on Turkish PM

[03] PASOK announces 46 new candidates for upcoming elections

[04] Leftist group protests at new terrorism charge against Serifis, Skyftoulis

[05] Karamanlis visits Athens-area magnate elementary

[06] Price rises after New Year not to exceed inflation, gov't predicts

[07] Olympic Airlines seeks to lease jets

[08] Hellenic Tourism Real Estate applies to join Athens bourse

[09] EFG Eurobank to wholly acquire Alico-CEH Balkan Holdings

[10] Greek tourists No. 2 in terms of arrivals in Bulgaria

[11] Merchant marine minister's holiday message to Greek seamen

[12] ATHOC unveils timetables in countdown to 2004 Games

[13] Health ministry decides against extra measures for flu outbreak

[14] Major planting program underway in Athens

[15] Prefecture union ENAE initiates campaign for safe driving

[16] Athens municipality complains over shorter opening times for city dump

[17] Cypriot journalists address ESHEA event in Crete

[18] Police say report on 44 boxes of explosives exaggerated and fictitious

[19] Police in Tirana seize 17 kg of heroin on Athens-bound bus, make five arrests

[20] Fire extinguished aboard freighter loaded with lumber

[21] Piraeus Bank donates 20 motorbikes to Attica Police HQ

[22] President says Annan will reply in time

[23] Greek Cypriot side ready to assist exhumations in occupied areas

[24] Annan and Solana discuss Cyprus issue

[25] Britain stresses need for resumption of Cyprus talks

[26] Turkish Cypriots working in free areas quadruple

[01] Greece welcomes Libyan decision to accept int'l inspections for WMD

Athens, 24/12/03 (ANA)

Foreign ministry spokesman Panos Beglitis said: ''We hail Libya's decision to rid itself of the internationally-prohibited weapons of mass destruction and to accept relevant international inspections, which will contribute to the security and stability of the region.

''This very positive decision of the Libyan government and its implementation will substantially help to strengthen the cooperation between the European Union and Libya, but also to strengthen the latter's bilateral relations with the Union member states and also the international community in general.''

[02] Development minister makes brief visit to Ankara, calls on Turkish PM

Athens, 24/12/03 (ANA)

''I briefed, together with my colleague Mr. (Hilmi) Guler, the Turkish Prime Minister, Mr. Erdogan, that with today's signing of the trade agreement between Turkey and Greece, to be precise between the DEPA and BOTAS companies, the construction formally begins of the specific natural gas pipeline which will link the two natural gas transportation systems of Greece and Turkey so that there will be a quantity of natural gas amounting to about three billion cubic meters by 2006 which will be provided for the needs of Greece and which will also be provided for the European market at the same time,'' Tsohatzopoulos said afterwards.

The minister said it was a considerable success which contributes to peace, security, stability and cooperation in the region. He also added that it has economic and developmental significance, it creates jobs and the regions in northern Greece, as well as in Turkey, which will be linked by the pipeline will in essence become new energy centers.

''Linking ourselves with the EU, we are confirming the linking of the entire region with the EU's energy networks. and this is a very important issue from a political aspect,'' he said.

[03] PASOK announces 46 new candidates for upcoming elections

Athens, 24/12/03 (ANA)

This leaves 19 places on PASOK's lists still unfilled, while there is no list for state deputies, as yet. Additional candidates must be found in the Athens 1st constituency (one), Athens 2nd constituency (four), Thessaloniki 1st constituency (2), Zakynthos (2), and one each in the Kilkis, Pella, Pieria, Serres, Larissa, Corfu, Cephallonia, Evia, Hania and 2nd Piraeus constituencies.

PASOK spokeswoman Chrysa Arapoglou said that the remaining candidates will be announced soon and clarified that the current gaps were due to an abundance of candidates whose relative merits had to be carefully considered.

According to sources, political developments since Monday night were not discussed at the meeting, while Simitis announced that these would occupy the next Executive Bureau meeting after the holidays.

The meeting did refer to the final results of elections within farming union confederation PASEGES, where PASOK amassed 59.3 per cent of the vote against 40.3 per cent for main opposition New Democracy, thus electing 13 of the 21 members on the board.

Arapoglou noted that this percentage was significantly higher than that gained by PASOK in the previous elections, showing that the ruling party was holding its own among farmers as a result of the government's regional policies.

[04] Leftist group protests at new terrorism charge against Serifis, Skyftoulis

Athens, 24/12/03 (ANA)

Serifis has only recently been acquitted of charges brought against him in connection with the terrorist organization ''November 17''.

Members of the "Initiative for Struggle", primarily trade unionists and figures of the Left, said the decision sought to penalize political activity.

They also noted that Skyftoulis had been triumphantly cleared of similar charges brought against him in the past.

Speakers said the it was clear that the continued investigation and involvement of the specific people was an attempt to "keep trade union activists that have absolutely no connection with the types of struggle attributed to them hostages to the courts".

According to the representative of the Committee of Constitutional Freedoms Vasso Karaindrou, meanwhile, it was the duty of all progressive and leftist forces to "resist the attack on the freedoms of the people and human rights".

[05] Karamanlis visits Athens-area magnate elementary

Athens, 24/12/03 (ANA)

[06] Price rises after New Year not to exceed inflation, gov't predicts

Athens, 24/12/03 (ANA)

He stressed that prices for Christmas fare were at roughly the same levels as last year and that efforts to contain price rises would continue in January, when he would continue a round of talks with market groups.

The minister criticized both main opposition New Democracy for cultivating a climate of pessimism but also the media, which he said were fuelling price hikes in the market.

SESME president Pantelis Panteliadis reiterated the sector's pledge to restrict prices rises to 3 per cent in 2004 but stressed that retailers would need the cooperation of industry in this effort.

[07] Olympic Airlines seeks to lease jets

Athens, 24/12/03 (ANA)

Management also said in a statement that in November the airline had increased its flights abroad by 0.80 per cent and to home destinations by 8.4 per cent in comparison with the same month of 2002.

[08] Hellenic Tourism Real Estate applies to join Athens bourse

Athens, 24/12/03 (ANA)

The company was created in 2000 to manage the GNTO's real estate and infrastructure.

In 2002, the company's earnings before tax were 43.5 million euros on turnover of 139.3 million euros.

Management has forecast consolidated earnings before tax and minorities in 2003 of about 43 million euros on turnover of 127 million euros.

[09] EFG Eurobank to wholly acquire Alico-CEH Balkan Holdings

Athens, 24/12/03 (ANA)

Alico-CEH of Cyprus owns 91.71 per cent of Bulgarian Post Bank AD, EFG said in a statement.

Approval will be sought from regulatory authorities for the acquisition, the statement added.

[10] Greek tourists No. 2 in terms of arrivals in Bulgaria

SOFIA, 24/12/03 (ANA)

Bulgarian Deputy Economy Minister Dimitar Hatzinikolov, who portfolio includes tourism, said some 350,000 Greek tourists (second after Germans) visited his country so far this year, while predicting that this figure would significantly increase over the ongoing Christmas and New Year’s season.

Hatzinikolov spoke during a press conference at the inauguration of a new ski resort on Mount Rila, southeast of Sofia.

[11] Merchant marine minister's holiday message to Greek seamen

Athens, 24/12/03 (ANA)

In the message, he noted that government measures had succeeded in making Greek shipping more competitive, extending the prospects of shipping enterprise, insuring the naval profession and upgrading naval training and making quality, safety and protection of the environment the hallmarks of Greek shipping.

He said the government would continue this successful course with the same consistency and effectiveness in a "climate of mutual trust and cooperation with our seamen."

FOREIGN EXCHANGE

Closing rates of December 23 2003

Parities in euro

Banknotes

Foreign Exchange Buying Selling

US Dollar 1,249 1,220

[12] ATHOC unveils timetables in countdown to 2004 Games

Athens, 24/12/03 (ANA)

Plans include the transfer of venue management teams to the actual competition venues (May 2004) as well as cooperation between various agencies in the greater public sector with ATHOC’s centralized main operations center.

Other initiatives, expectedly, include the completion of equipment deliveries to venues and other related facilities, the placement of signs around the city, installation of security systems at venues etc. A comprehensive security exercise, meanwhile, is scheduled for May.

ATHOC’s paid staff at present stands at 2,200 people, with 3,750 envisioned in May and up to 6,500 by August.

Finally, a press accreditation center will begin operation in two phases, collecting data and request as of February, following by the actual distribution of the accreditations in and vests in May.

[13] Health ministry decides against extra measures for flu outbreak

Athens, 24/12/03 (ANA)

In statements after the meeting, Health Minister Costas Stefanis said that hospitals and health services had already been placed on alert and no further measures were deemed necessary.

Scientists said the Greek outbreak was probably due to the fujian variety of virus that had caused epidemics in the United States and Europe but noted that its clinical image was less virulent than that seen in other countries.

Official confirmation that fujian was involved would be given by the Pasteur Institute within a few days, after tests on samples from 28 children admitted to hospital with flu were complete.

Doctors at the Aglaia Kyriakou hospital reported that a further 15 cases of flu were detected during Monday's all-day outpatient clinic but that none merited hospitalization.

[14] Major planting program underway in Athens

Athens, 24/12/03 (ANA)

According to the announcement, more than 50,000 flowering annuals, such as pansies, cyclamens and chrysanthemums, had been planted in over 100 places throughout the city center.

Among these it listed Syntagma Square, Kapnikarea, Monastiraki, Omonoia, the National Gallery and others.

It said a program to plant 600,000 annual and perennial plants would be carried out by the summer, in addition to a tree-planting program that had so far planted 5,500 large trees in the capital.

[15] Prefecture union ENAE initiates campaign for safe driving

Athens, 24/12/03 (ANA)

Presenting the campaign, Athens-Piraeus Super-prefect Fofi Gennimata said the aim was to sensitize drivers in view of the Christmas and New Year holidays, when road accidents peak.

[16] Athens municipality complains over shorter opening times for city dump

Athens, 24/12/03 (ANA)

The city fears that there will be problems in collecting rubbish in the centre of the city as a result of the decision.

The new timetable reduces the time the dump remains open during the day by two hours on weekdays and restricts the timetable to between 16:00-07:00 on Saturday and from 14:00 to 07:00 on Sunday.

The Athens municipality said the new timetable would create huge problems to rubbish collection, especially over the Christmas holidays when there is more rubbish than usual.

It will also increase traffic congestion, since it rules out the collection of rubbish at night, and will also increase problems at street markets on Saturday.

[17] Cypriot journalists address ESHEA event in Crete

Athens, 24/12/03 (ANA)

The journalists were speaking at an event held by the Athens Journalists Union (ESHEA) in Rethimno, Crete.

The Cypriot journalists are Costas Deliyiannis, Androula Georgiadou and Sevgiul Uludag from the Turkish-occupied north of Cyprus.

According to an ESHEA announcement, the Turkish Cypriot journalist underlined:''the greatest crime in (Turkish-occupied) northern Cyprus is to support peace. Then your property may be blown sky high by a bomb, you may remain unemployed for many years and your life may be continuously threatened. The biggest crime by a journalist is to claim that Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots can live together in peace.''

[18] Police say report on 44 boxes of explosives exaggerated and fictitious

Athens, 24/12/03 (ANA)

According to a report in the Italian newspaper ''Corriere della Sera'', a Romanian had told the Italian police that on October 27 he had helped a Greek to carry 44 boxes of explosives from a quarry in the region of Pigadi which were then collected in a rubber dinghy by two persons, probably Arabs, who spoke English. He also heard the warning they made ''stay away from Italy and Switzerland.''

The Romanian claimed he was afraid and abandoned Greece afterwards and then made his report in Italy.

A police source told the Athens News Agency (ANA) that a relevant message from the Italian police did exist, according to which the Romanian had made his report long before Tuesday's report in the Italian newspaper.

Police officers, replying to questions by the ANA, said they know the Romanian in question, who had worked in the region of Plaka in Leonidio in the past and who is currently in his country, and consider his report exaggerated.

[19] Police in Tirana seize 17 kg of heroin on Athens-bound bus, make five arrests

Police in Tirana announced on Tuesday the seizure of 17 kilos of heroin on a bus serving the Tirana-Athens route, shortly before it was to depart from the Albanian capital, and the arrests of five people.

The bus belonged to the Greek-Albanian company Albanian Inter Line and was headquartered in Tirana.

The quantity of heroin was found in the toilet of the bus, while a man was arrested, Ilir Rama, who had taken the drugs to the bus station in a Land Rover and was to escort the bus with his car until its final destination in Athens. His wife was also arrested.

The bus driver Nuredin Velican and his son Dijan were also arrested, as well as a youth named Kedi Hoxha.

According to the director of the Tirana police, the authorities are on the trail of a big ring of drug traffickers whose leader is a well-known businessman from Tirana.

[20] Fire extinguished aboard freighter loaded with lumber

Athens, 24/12/03 (ANA)

The St. Vincent-flagged freighter “Free Spirit”, manned by 13 Russian merchant seamen, had docked at the small port due to heavy seas. No injuries were reported.

The blaze reportedly erupted in the vessel’s hold. It was extinguished by local firefighters before expanded to other area’s of the ship.

The vessel was headed from Finland to a main Greek port to unload its cargo, authorities said.

[21] Piraeus Bank donates 20 motorbikes to Attica Police HQ

Athens, 24/12/03 (ANA)

The 20 motorbikes will be used by a specially trained officers to prevent bank robberies.

Meanwhile, senior police officers told the ANA that there will be more frequent police checks over the holidays, since statistics reveal that armed robberies are more usual during the Christmas period when banks have larger sums in their tills.

[22] President says Annan will reply in time

NICOSIA, 24/12/03 (CNA/ANA)

''I did not expect a reply to my letter from the Secretary General that soon. I believe he will reply, after consultations he may wish to have, whenever he considers appropriate,'' the president said on Tuesday, with regard to a letter he sent last week to Kofi Annan urging him to reengage in the Cyprus peace process.

The president was speaking to the press during a visit to National Guard observation posts along the ceasefire line, in Nicosia, which divides the island into the northern Turkish-occupied areas and the southern government-controlled part of the country.

''The conditions are ripe now for everybody to understand that dividing walls are incompatible with the spirit that prevails today throughout Europe,'' he said.

Replying to questions, Papadopoulos said he still holds the view that the people of Cyprus cannot be asked to vote in a referendum without being informed about what they are voting for.

Annan has said that he wants the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot leadership to show the political will that they will return to peace negotiations to conclude an agreement, which they will subsequently put to a referendum.

[23] Greek Cypriot side ready to assist exhumations in occupied areas

NICOSIA, 24/12/03 (CNA/ANA)

The president was replying to press questions on the issue of missing persons, in the wake of a letter UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has sent to him and to Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash stressing the need to see this humanitarian problems resolved.

''The purpose of Annan's letter is to implement the agreement reached in July 1997 between the two sides. We are ready to take steps unilaterally, if need be,'' he added.

The president has given a positive reply to Annan's letter. Denktash has yet to give his response to the Secretary General.

''We are ready to help exhumations of remains in the occupied

areas,'' Papadopoulos said.

The July agreement between Denktash and the then president of the Republic Glafcos Clerides provided for the exchange of information on burial sites, exhumations and the return of remains to their families.

The government of Cyprus began in the summer of 1999 a process of exhumation of remains buried in two local cemeteries and more than 100 remains belonging to persons listed as missing have been identified.

Exhumations and identification was carried out by a team of forensic experts from the Nobel Peace Prize winners Physicians for Human Rights, with the help of local experts.

Replying to questions, the president said a lot of work has been done on this issue and the Secretary General has responded in a positive manner.

In his recent letter to Papadopoulos and Denktash, Annan stresses the need to implement the July agreement and points out that the work of the Committee of Missing Persons (CMP) should continue.

He recommends the resumption of CMP meetings with the representatives of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot sides and the interim member, and calls for the investigation of those cases not yet considered by the Committee.

It also calls on CMP to discuss modalities to implement the July agreement.

The CMP has not held any formal meeting since January 2000 when the third member, appointed by the Secretary General, died.

[24] Annan and Solana discuss Cyprus issue

UNITED NATIONS, 24/12/03 (CNA/ANA)

Speaking to the press after the meeting Solana said they talked about the possibility of moving the process for a Cyprus settlement forward.

''We Know it is going to be difficult but we could put all the energy in order to see before the month of May if something can

be done,'' he added.

Solana described Annan's proposals for a Cyprus settlement as a good document and expressed hope that Annan's special advisor on Cyprus Alvaro De Soto will be ready to get reengaged in negotiations for a settlement.

He also noted that the situation after the so-called elections in Cyprus' Turkish-occupied areas ''will probably make things a little bit more difficult.''

''I do not lose the hope that the possibility of movement may take place. Also from the Turkish government we expect also some positive noises in the coming hours,'' Solana said and added that his next step is to talk with the leaders in Turkey.

''We will continue talking to all the parties and see if there is a possibility of moving the process forward,'' he noted.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of its territory.

[25] Britain stresses need for resumption of Cyprus talks

LONDON, 24/12/03 (CNA/ANA)

Answering a question at the House of Commons by Labor MP Andrew Dismore on the outcome of the so-called elections in Cyprus' Turkish-occupied areas, MacShane reiterated that Britain remains committed to seeking a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement in Cyprus on the basis of the UN plan and urged the parties concerned ''to seize the opportunity presented by this election outcome.''

''What is now required is demonstration of political willingness to build on this result and to resume substantive settlement negotiations on the basis of the UN Secretary General's proposals as soon as possible. We urge all concerned to seize the opportunity presented by this election outcome,'' the British minister said.

[26] Turkish Cypriots working in free areas quadruple

NICOSIA, 24/12/03 (CNA/ANA)

Keravnos said that there are currently 1,456 Turkish Cypriots working in the government-controlled areas of the Republic and registered in the Scheme, compared to a mere 400 before the easing of restrictions on free movement to and from the Turkish-occupied areas.

He added that today the state is paying ten million pounds annually on pensions and other benefits for Turkish Cypriot workers.

''I believe the measures have been effective and were in the right direction,'' Keravnos said, adding that efforts are being made to register some five or six thousand Turkish Cypriots working in the government-controlled areas who are not yet members of the Social Insurance Scheme.

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