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Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 04-03-10Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>March 10, 2004CONTENTS
[01] PM-elect Costas Karamanlis unveils CabinetAthens, 10/03/2004 (ANA)The composition of the New Democracy government formed by Prime minister-elect Costas Karamanlis was announced at 15:00 on Tuesday by Theodoros Roussopoulos, who will henceforth take over as Minister of State and government spokesman.The new government will be sworn in on Wednesday morning at 11:00 by President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos. Karamanlis, leader of the New Democracy (ND) party that emerged victorious in Sunday's general elections with a comfortable 165-seat majority in the 300-seat Parliament, will take over the Culture Ministry, as well as the premiership. The 46-member government, including the premier, comprises 19 ministers, 1 alternate minister, and 26 deputy ministers. There are two women within its ranks, while ND has also proposed Anna Psarouda-Benaki for Parliament speaker - the first time a woman has ever held this post in the Greek Parliament. The new Cabinet is as follows: Prime Minister: Costas Karamanlis Ministry of Interior, Public Administration and Decentralization Minister: Prokopis Pavlopoulos Deputy Minister: Apostolos Andreoulakos Deputy Minister: Athanasios Nakos Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister: Petros Molyviatis Deputy Minister: Euripides Stylianidis Deputy Minister: Takis Skandalakis Deputy Minister: Yiannis Vallinakis Ministry of National Economy and Finance Minister: George Alogoskoufis Deputy Minister: Christos Folias Deputy Minister: Adam Regouzas Deputy Minister: Petros Doukas Ministry of National Defense Minister: Spilios Spiliotopoulos Deputy Minister: Vassilis Mihaloliakos Deputy Minister: Ioannis Lambropoulos Ministry of Development Minister: Dimitris Sioufas Deputy Minister: George Salagoudis Deputy Minister: Yiannis Papathanasiou Ministry of the Environment, Town Planning and Public Works Minister: George Souflias Deputy Minister: Stavros Kaloyiannis Deputy Minister: Themistoklis Xanthopoulos Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs Minister: Marietta Yiannakou (Mrs) Deputy Minister: George Kalos Deputy Minister: Spyros Taliadouros Ministry of Employment and Social Security Minister: Panos Panayiotopoulos Deputy Minister: Gerassimos Yiakoumatos Deputy Minister: Nikos Angelopoulos Ministry of Health and Social Solidarity Minister: Nikitas Kaklamanis Deputy Minister: Athanasios Yiannopoulos Deputy Minister: George Constantopoulos Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food Minister: Savvas Tsitouridis Deputy Minister: Evangelos Basiakos Deputy Minister: Alexandros Kontos Ministry of Justice Minister: Anastasios Papaligouras Ministry of Culture Minister: Costas Karamanlis Alternate Minister: Fani Palli-Petralia (Mrs) Deputy Minister: George Orfanos Deputy Minister: Petros Tatoulis Ministry of Transport and Communications Minister: Michalis Liapis Deputy Minister: Anastasios Neratzis Ministry of Public Order Minister: George Voulgarakis Deputy Minister: Christos Markoyiannakis Ministry of Merchant Marine Minister: Manolis Kefaloyannis Ministry of Tourism Minister: Dimitris Avramopoulos Deputy Minister: Anastasios Liaskos Ministry of Macedonia-Thrace Minister: Nikos Tsatsionis Ministry of the Aegean and Island Policy Minister: Aristotelis Pavlides Ministry of State Minister: Theodoros Roussopoulos. In charge of government communications and Government Spokesman The Press and Media ministry is being abolished and its services will be attached to the prime minister's office. New ministers Avramopoulos, Petralia and Stylianides will not be sworn in on Wednesday with the rest of the government because the necessary presidential decrees have not yet been prepared, since they occupy new government posts. It was also announced that Stavros Dimas will be taking over as the Greek European Commissioner. After the new government is sworn in, the new premier will go to Maximos Mansion, where the prime minister's office will be formally handed over by outgoing premier Costas Simitis, after which the new Cabinet will hold its first meeting. Prime Minister-elect Costas Karamanlis - CV Prime Minister Costas A. Karamanlis (Lawyer - International Relations) Born in Athens in 1956. He studied Law at the Athens University Law School and completed his post-graduate studies at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy (Tufts University) in Boston. Nephew of former Prime Minister and President of the Republic, Constantine Karamanlis, he is a member of the Society for Macedonian Studies and a life-long member-consultant to the Konstantinos G. Karamanlis Foundation. Between 1974-1979 he served as a leading member of New Democracy's (ND) Youth Organization and had been elected several times to student organizations. In 1986, he became president of the Movement for the Promotion of Disarmament, Peace and Security in Europe (KIPAEA) and of the Hellenic Center for the Promotion of the European Union (Europe '92). Between 1987 and 1989 he practiced law and worked with the magazine ''Oikonomikos Tachydromos.'' In June 1989 he was elected as Member of Parliament on ND's ticket in Thessaloniki's first district. In 1989 he served as Secretary of the Parliament's Presidium and Secretary of Political Planning for ND. In 1994 he was elected as a member of ND's Central Committee and on March 21, 1997 during the party's 4th Conference, he was elected party leader by a significant 69.16% vote. In February 1999, he was elected Vice President of the European People's Party and was re-elected in October 2002. In June 2002, he was elected Vice President of the International Democrat Union. On March 7, 2004, as ND party leader, he won the general elections with 45.36% of the vote (vs. PASOK's 40.55% led by George Papandreou) and received the mandate to form a government. He is married and has a son and a daughter. [02] PASOK, Coalition parties comment on new governmentAthens, 10/03/2004 (ANA)Main opposition PASOK party leader George Papandreou, commenting on the new government on Tuesday, wished the new government the best of luck and noted that ''of course, every government is judged by its work.''In a related development, an announcement by the Coalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology discerns in the new government an indication of ''submissiveness towards pressures by cadres and the intention of maintaining balances''. ''The new government will obviously be judged by its work. However, the forming of such a large government, based on the known model from the PASOK era, constitutes the first indication of submissiveness towards pressures and demands by party cadres and an intention to maintain balances. And both these factors, if they are ultimately confirmed, are not positive,'' the announcement said. [03] White House congratulates Karamanlis, New Democracy partyWASHINGTON 10/03/2004 (ANA/T. Ellis)The U.S. government's congratulations to Greece's prime minister-elect Costas Karamanlis and to the New Democracy party on their victory in Sunday's general elections, was conveyed on Tuesday by White House spokesman Scott McClellan who noted ''the close bonds of friendship and cooperation linking the two countries.''During his regular press briefing, McClellan also referred to the need for a political settlement of the Cyprus issue, as well as to the issue of the security of the Olympic Games in Athens this summer, on which, he said, ''the U.S. attributes great attention and importance.'' [04] Austrian chancellor congratulates Karamanlis on his 'impressive victory'VIENNA 10/03/2004 (ANA - D. Dimitrakoudis)Austrian Chancellor and leader of the Austrian People's Party, Wolfgang Schuessel, in statements here on Tuesday, congratulated Greece's new Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis on his New Democracy (ND) party's ''impressive victory'' in Sunday's general elections.The Austrian chancellor stressed that ''the Greek people, with a clear majority, expressed their trust in Karamanlis who now, as the future Greek prime minister, has ahead of him great challenges, both on a national and a European level.'' [05] Stavros Dimas, proposed for Greek EU commissioner, says realizes great honorAthens, 10/03/2004 (ANA)New Democracy deputy Stavros Dimas, proposed by Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis for the post of Greek European Union commissioner, said on Tuesday he ''fully realizes the great honor'' bestowed upon him, as well as the ''responsibility he will undertake towards the citizens of Greece and Europe.''Dimas thanked the people of Corinth who honored him with their vote and assured them that he will be ''present on the country's central political stage and close to the problems of the prefecture of Corinthia and of the Corinthians.'' He said the EU's enlargement from 15 to 25 member-states, strengthening its role on the international scene, the prospect of the European constitution being ratified, the new agricultural policy and the 4th Community Support Framework are issues which will influence the shaping and implementation of the new government policy substantively. [06] Cyprus president in Athens on Saturday for talks with GreekPM NICOSIA 10/03/2004 (ANA/G. Leonidas)Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos will leave for Athens on Saturday for talks with Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis on Sunday, it was announced here on Tuesday.In another development, President Papadopoulos held an emergency meeting with party leaders on Tuesday in light of the beginning of substantive negotiations on Thursday. He called for a briefing on the positions of the party leaders regarding issues on which concessions can be made and on issues on which the Greek Cypriot side will insist. The party leaders agreed that there are issues on which there can be no discussion for concessions. Such an issue is the principle that after a solution is found in no way must the new state remain 'in the air'. It was also ascertained that there is no convergence of views between the two sides in talks. The political parties will also be submitting their positions to President Papadopoulos in writing. [07] Cyprus' AKEL congratulates Greece's New Democracy party on its election victoryNICOSIA 10/03/2004 (ANA/G. Leonidas)Cyprus' leftwing AKEL party on Tuesday expressed its satisfaction over the fact that the New Democracy (ND) has placed the Cyprus issue among the new Greek government's top political priorities, at the same time congratulating Costas Karamanlis and his party on their victory in Sunday's general elections.Cyprus House of Representatives President and AKEL General Secretary Demetris Christofias, in congratulating Karamanlis ''on his party's clear victory,'' noted that he expected from the new government ''to undertake with the same zeal and effectiveness as the previous government did, the matter of the handling of the Cyprus issue.'' Noting ''the need for close cooperation and coordination between the two governments,'' he expressed the conviction that the new leadership in Greece ''will not express intention to substitute the Cypriot government and the Greek Cypriot side.'' ''In the relations between Cyprus and Greece there is mutual respect of the two countries' independence,'' he added, reiterating that matters concerning the issue of Cyprus ''are handled by the political leadership, government and the National Council.'' He said that ''Greece's role will certainly be helpful as has been up to now,'' noting that Karamanlis' positions were crystal-clear on the procedure which was followed in New York last month. Christofias warmly thanked outgoing Greek prime minister Costas Simitis ''for fully supporting Cyprus' accession to the EU,'' noting that ''this course is due to a great degree to the policy which the government of Simitis had followed and to the personal efforts of the prime minister and of the former foreign minister and current PASOK president George Papandreou.'' He expressed the conviction that ''this cooperation will continue even though PASOK is now the main opposition party.'' [08] Change of guard at the ministry of transportAthens, 10/03/2004 (ANA)Outgoing Transport and Communications Minister Christos Verelis on Tuesday asked presidents, CEOs, managing directors, and other senior-level executives heading companies and organizations that fall under his ministry's jurisdiction to hand in their resignations, clearing the way for his replacement Michalis Liapis.This does not apply to executives who have been appointed following intra-party consensus and include: Constantinos Giannakos of OSE (Hellenic Railways Organization), Lefteris Antonakopoulos of OTE (Hellenic Telecommunications Organization), Constantine Kokoris of ETHEL Bus Co., Dionyssis Rappos of ISAP (Athens-Piraeus Electric Railways), Ioannis Petropoulos of ILPAP (Athens-Piraeus Trolley Buses), Manolis Drainakis of ELTA (Hellenic Postal Services), and Androniki Boumi of the Greek Postal Savings Bank (because the organization now falls under the Finance Ministry's jurisdiction), among others. Approximately 70 executives will be resigning, including the presidents and CEOs of Olympic Airways (old and new), ERGOSE (a subsidiary of OSE), the Suburban Railway Company, Tram S.A. and others. [09] SAE president sends letter of congratulations to new PMAthens, 10/03/2004 (ANA)World Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE) President Andrew A. Athens has sent a letter of congratulations to New Democracy party leader Costas Karamanlis on the occasion of his party's victory in last Sunday's general elections.''I am very pleased to extend my personal congratulations to you on the resounding vote of confidence the people of Greece expressed in you and in the New Democracy Party,'' Athens said in his letter. ''These are exciting times for you, for Greece and for the Omogeneia and I am happy to be able to offer to you my pledge of personal support and cooperation as you assume the office of Prime Minister and enter this new phase of public service,'' he added. Athens further said ''I am confident that under your leadership Greece will thrive and that her international role will continue to grow both in the Balkans and in the Eastern Mediterranean.'' [10] Bulgarian socialist leader says Greek-Bulgarian ties have strong foundationsSOFIA 10/03/2004 (ANA/B. Borisov)Bulgarian Socialist Party leader Sergei Stanisev, replying to a question by the Athens News Agency (ANA) on how political changes in Greece will affect bilateral relations, said Greek-Bulgarian relations have strong foundations so as not to be affected by changes in the political conjuncture in either of the two countries.The Bulgarian socialist leader termed Greek-Bulgarian relations ''extremely positive'', adding that ''our relations developed very dynamically over the past 15 years. In any case, our friendship and cooperation has a good and old tradition, even since the era before 1989, despite the difference in the political systems of the two countries at the time.'' Stanisev's party emerged as the strongest political force in Bulgaria, with about 30 percent of the vote, in municipal elections held in the country last autumn. [11] Turkish warplanes violate Greek airspaceAthens, 10/03/2004 (ANA)Two formations of Turkish warplanes made an equal number of air traffic regulation infringements in the Athens Flight Information Region (FIR), press reports said on Tuesday.The infringements developed into 47 airspace violations in the central Aegean and in the region of the islands of Agathonissi, Fourni and Farmakonissi in particular. Air force officers attributed the increased number of airspace violations to low clouds prevailing in the region which resulted in the entry of the Turkish aircraft into Greek airspace during maneuvers. In all cases, the six Turkish warplanes were recognized and intercepted by Greek jets, while in one case the interception process developed into an engagement. Reports said one of the aircraft was armed. Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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