Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 04-03-30

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

CONTENTS

[01] US President George W. Bush phones PM, asks him to assist Cyprus solution

[02] Revised Annan plan submitted to two Cyprus sides in Buergenstock

[03] PM, Cyprus president confer ahead of presentation of new Annan plan

[04] PM Karamanlis attends Cyprus National Council meeting in Buergenstock

[05] President Stephanopoulos signs twin economic agreements with Moldova

[06] Bush addresses letter to Greek premier regarding terrorism

[07] Justice minister presents ministry priorities

[08] Public prosecutor orders inquiry into defense contracts

[09] PASOK congress to take place in autumn

[10] Greek ombudsman submits 2003 report to Parliament

[11] Greek Orthodox Archbishop Demetrios of America to meet with US president Bush)

[12] Europarliament elections: Interior ministry on out-of-country voters

[13] Turkish warplanes infringe Athens FIR, violate national airspace

[14] Gov't to seek balanced economic growth, FinMin says

[15] Bank of Greece sounds warning bell over fiscal condition

[16] Large enterprises flourish, small-sized shrink in 2002, report

[17] Industrial production fell 3.3 pct in January, yr/yr

[18] Deputy tourism minister discusses tourist cooperation between Greece and Russia

[19] Greek Metallurgical Federation urges immediate VAT return

[20] Nikos Katsaros appointed president of Farmers Compensation Organization

[21] Olympic Velodrome roof in place

[22] Basmajian and Manetas qualify for the Athens Olympics

[23] Greek fencing team continues intense preparations

[24] Greek and Australian Olympic football teams to play Tuesday

[25] Orfanos visits Panathenaiko Stadium

[26] Ioannides to be present at Athens 2004 Basketball Tournament

[27] London Marathon qualifying event for Athens Olympics

[28] UK's Banks takes the gold in Men's Singles at Int'l Tennis Sport Event

[29] Athens 2004 Torch Relay-The Olympic Flame in Tripoli

[30] Athens 2004 torch relay song released Monday

[31] Security at archaeological sites during Athens Games

[32] ''Olympic Torches 1936-2004'' exhibition opens on Monday

[33] Venizelos pleased by Rogge's letter to him on Olympic Games preparations

[34] ELA trial limps on amid ongoing strife between bench and barristers

[35] Archbishop and deputy minister discuss ecclesiastical education

[36] Tatoulis expresses sorrow over the death of British actor Peter Ustinov

[37] Lufthansa inaugurates new flight linking Athens with Germany

[38] Unicef to hold radiothon for vaccination campaign on Thursday

[39] Greek Cypriot side not satisfied with new UN plan

[40] Britain says EU will accommodate terms of a Cyprus settlement

[01] US President George W. Bush phones PM, asks him to assist Cyprus solution

BURGENSTOCK 30/3/2004 (ANA/A. Panagopoulos)

Karamanlis told President Bush ''we are here to help. We are all trying. The 48-hour framework is tight but there is goodwill.''

The prime minister also had a meeting with European Union Enlargement Commissioner Guenter Verheugen to whom, according to diplomatic sources, ''he raised issues of lack of compatibility existing in the Annan plan with the acquis communautaire.''

The sources said Verheugen told Karamanlis he will examine the issues and return.

Karamanlis met with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan as well.

Diplomatic sources said Greece shares the skepticism of the Greek Cypriot side since ''there are problematic elements in the text.''

Athens insists that it will not sign the text on the agreement, as UN special envoy Alvaro de Soto has requested and insists on requesting.

The Greek side is in constant contact with the Greek Cypriot side and, according to reports, there is absolute harmony. On the question of security issues, the three rounds of negotiations which took place failed to produce any result and ''Greece and Turkey reached no agreement.''

Greek diplomatic sources stressed that negotiations are underway with the purpose of correcting in favor of Greek interests problematic elements contained in the text.

[02] Revised Annan plan submitted to two Cyprus sides in Buergenstock

BUERGENSTOCK 30/3/2004 (ANA/F. Karaviti)

Speaking at a ceremony in the Swiss Alpine resort on the shores of Lake Lucerne, Annan said the new plan would ''break the ice'' in the stalled talks before the March 31 deadline expired and he asked the parties to give their views on the new plan by Tuesday morning.

He described the revised plan as a ''win-win proposal'' that the UN had worked on right up to the last minute and which incorporated as many of the changes desired by the two sides as possible, without upsetting its overall balance.

"We have tried to be helpful to each side in a manner compatible with the interests of the other. Inevitably, it has not been possible to accommodate all proposals for amendment. The result, as it must be, is an overall compromise," he said.

Annan's envoy Alvaro de Soto told reporters on Monday that the new plan was not a "take it or leave it" final text. If no agreement was reached by Wednesday, March 31, however, then the UN chief would present his finalized plan which would be put to twin referendums on the island due to be held on April 20, he said.

The envoy did not rule out the possibility that the parties might be asked to sign some sort of document before the talks ended. Asked whether this was provided for under the New York agreement, de Soto said the New York agreement was "essentially procedural" and did not dictate how the negotiations will proceed.

[03] PM, Cyprus president confer ahead of presentation of new Annan plan

BUERGENSTOCK 30/3/2004 (ANA/A. Panagopoulos)

Karamanlis, who arrived in the Swiss ski resort of Buergenstock late Sunday, was scheduled to attend a meeting of the Cyprus National Council at 11:00 (Greek time), while he also had a very brief meeting with Turkish foreign minister Abdullah Gul following his arrival Sunday night.

The meeting with Gul took place at the initiative of the Turkish foreign minister and was of a courtesy nature. Gul congratulated Karamanlis on his recent election victory and briefed him on the results of Sunday's municipal elections in Turkey. He also informed Karamanlis that Turkish prime minister Tayyip Erdogan would be arriving in Switzerland on Monday afternoon.

According to an ANA dispatch from Ankara, Erdogan, speaking on Turkish state television Sunday night, said that he and Karamanlis shared a friendship hailing back from the time when they were both simply political party leaders, and expressed hope that during the Cyprus talks a result would be achieved that was "very different from those up until now".

Erdogan also said that the Turkish side was going to the negotiations "with good intentions", but added that it would "not back down on its principles" to achieve a Cyprus solution at any cost.

Meanwhile, sources said that British prime minister Tony Blair has sent a letter to Karamanlis congratulating him on his election, expressing his satisfaction with their discussion at the recent EU summit in Brussels, and calling on him, vis-a-vis the Buergenstock negotiations, to contribute to a solution to the Cyprus problem.

According to an ANA dispatch from Nicosia, three days of hard bargaining will commence Monday in Buergenstock after Annan submits his new, revised plan for a Cyprus settlement to the sides involved.

The new draft will be given to the sides in installments given its massive volume, as it comprises more than 10,000 pages.

The first section of the plan to be released to the sides involved will be founding agreement and the maps.

Greek Cypriot sources in Buergenstock said that after the sides studied the new plan, a ''give and take'' process would begin, lasting to Wednesday, at which time the UN chief would submit to the two sides the final text containing additions and deletions based on the positions of the two sides.

The sources said the final text will then be put directly to separate referenda in the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities, without the two sides being asked to sign it ahead of the referenda.

Reliable sources told ANA that the territorial issue and the issue of the settlers -- which are considered of vital importance by the Greek side -- will remain pending, adding that both Annan and his special advisor on the Cyprus issue, Alvaro de Soto, were keeping their cards closed on these items.

However, regarding the issue of the settlers, Annan appeared to agree with the Turkish position that the settlers would also vote in the referendum in the Turkish-occupied sector of Cyprus, as the wording was said to state that the right of vote would be held by all those who had voted in the last ''elections'' in the occupied sector, the sources said.

The biggest battle, though, would be waged over the issue of the divergences from the EU's acquis communautaire, which the Turkish side insists should be permanent, a position categorically rejected by the Greek Cypriot side, the sources explained.

Speaking at a reception he hosted for the four delegations -- Greek Cypriot, Turkish Cypriot, Greek and Turkish -- on Sunday night, Annan called on them to display political volition and a disposition for negotiation.

Annan also said that his presence in Buergenstock, during the second phase of the Cyprus talks, indicates his determination to lead the solution process to the end.

[04] PM Karamanlis attends Cyprus National Council meeting in Buergenstock

Buergenstock 30/3/2004 (ANA/A. Panagopoulos)

Greek government spokesman and minister of state Theodoros Roussopoulos, who is accompanying Karamanlis, said that the prime minister stressed to the national Council that it was everyone's common desire that a solution be found.

Karamanlis also expressed his support for the Greek Cypriot side's efforts for a Cyprus settlement that would be in line with the UN resolutions and the EU's acquis communautaire.

"The Cyprus government negotiates, Greece is actively present, but the final judgement belongs to the Cyprus people," Karamanlis said.

The national unanimity between the Greek and Cypriot governments was also reaffirmed during the meeting, Roussopoulos said.

The government spokesman further announced that Karamanlis was scheduled to meet separately Monday afternoon with UN secretary general Kofi Annan, Turkish prime minister Tayyip Erdogan, and EU enlargement commissioner Gunther Verheugen.

[05] President Stephanopoulos signs twin economic agreements with Moldova

CHISINAU 30/3/2004 (ANA - N. Megadoukas)

These included measures for avoiding double taxation, an aviation agreement and a cooperation protocol for social insurance and protection issues.

Stephanopoulos arrived in Moldova earlier on Monday accompanied by Deputy Foreign Minister Evripides Stylianidis and a business delegation.

He was received by Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin, with whom he discussed both the political and economic aspects of bilateral ties between Athens and Chisinau.

In statements afterward, Voronin said that a ''strategy for our cooperation in the future'' was established during the discussion with Stephanopoulos, which was described as ''frank and constructive''.

In addition to bilateral relations, the meeting also covered major problems on the international scene, such as the Cyprus problem, events in the Balkans and developments in Europe.

According to Stephanopoulos, his visit to Moldova did not aim to solve problems but to further boost bilateral ties with a country that was almost a neighbor and that had long-established and historic bonds with Greece.

Athens established diplomatic ties with the former Soviet republic in 1992.

During the Greek president's visit, he will address a business forum on Tuesday where the Greek entrepreneurs accompanying him will have an opportunity to contact their Moldovan counterparts and discuss the prospects of business cooperation.

On his part, Voronin stressed Greece's role in southeastern Europe and in international relations, while stressing that the Cyprus problem must be resolved in accordance with the principles of the United Nations.

Stephanopoulos noted Greece's interest in a settlement of the Transdniester issue, saying that it was Greece's ''general position and conclusion that [it] always desires the reunification of peoples and states and the implementation of international law and its rules''.

The Greek president also noted Greece's willingness to assist Moldova in its desire for rapprochement with the European Union, pledging to pass on the necessary technical know-how and methodology required to achieve this goal.

Both men expressed concern over the issue of terrorism following the bomb attacks in Madrid and noted the need to boost international solidarity in efforts to combat this threat.

Finally, Voronin noted the interest shown by Moldova's young people in the Greek language and culture and thanked

Stephanopoulos for Greece's assistance to Moldovan students seeking to study in Greece.

The Greek president next met Moldovan Prime Minister Vasile Tarlev and representatives of the ethnic Greek community in Moldova, while he is due to attend a dinner given in his honor by Voronin later on Monday night.

[06] Bush addresses letter to Greek premier regarding terrorism

U.S. President George W. Bush sent a letter to Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis, whose contents became known Monday afternoon.

The U.S. president refers to the close cooperation between the two countries in the fight against terrorism and the promotion of freedom, while emphasizing that, ''American citizens are honored to have Greece as an irreplaceable and courageous ally.''

Bush writes that the two countries helped free the people of Afghanistan and are working together in punishing terrorism worldwide.

''We are working together to ensure the safety and success of the Olympic Games as they return to their birthplace - Greece - this summer,'' Bush stresses. The U.S. president adds that, ''the world in which we live are still dangerous, but we will make it safer through our determination to fight fear and oppression, replacing them with freedom and hope.''

[07] Justice minister presents ministry priorities

Athens 30/3/2004 (ANA)

He said a key priority was to improve protection of courthouses, the justice ministry itself and prisons before the Games and to increase the speed of administering justice.

The minister said this would be achieved by reducing court workloads, chiefly by settling minor offences like traffic code violations and petty market-law violations through administrative fines than in court.

Another ongoing priority was to computerize judicial services, such as current attempts to create on-line criminal records that were at an advanced stage.

More long-term goals mentioned by the minister were to codify existing legislation so as to eliminate overlapping laws and to improve prison conditions.

He particularly stressed efforts to modify legislation to combat corruption, especially the 'main shareholder' incompatibility law for media and construction companies.

''Clashing with corruption is a top priority. This is an outstanding commitment and will very quickly come to Parliament. This legislative measure will tend to eradicate the laws of graft. It will ensure that the capacity of major contractor or major public-sector supplier will not coincide with that of media owner,'' he said.

Current laws were either not enforced or had built-in loopholes, the minister added.

Finally, Papaligouras said a committee will be set up to re-examine the laws concerning European arrest warrants and anti-terrorism legislation.

The minister is to attend a ceremony on Tuesday welcoming the arrival of the Olympic Flame in Ancient Nemea, which lies on the route of the Olympic Torch Relay. The Torch is expected to arrive for the ceremony at the ancient stadium at 11:00.

[08] Public prosecutor orders inquiry into defense contracts

Athens 30/3/2004 (ANA)

Specifically, these concern a deal for the procurement of Russian anti-tank missiles, as well as other contracts.

Because of the breadth of the inquiry, the case has been assigned to three public prosecutors: Dimitris Asprogerakas, Eleni Touloupaki and Areti Athanassiou.

[09] PASOK congress to take place in autumn

Athens 30/3/2004 (ANA)

He made the statement after a meeting of the party's Executive Bureau, which was held without the participation of PASOK President George Papandreou.

PASOK's National Council will convene on Friday and Saturday, at which Papandreou is expected to recommend the appointment of a number of candidates for Eurodeputies with the procedure similar to that with which he himself was elected PASOK leader. It is expected that during the meeting a decision will also be reached for the conversion of the Central Committee into a Central Organizing Committee for the Congress.

Monday's Executive Bureau meeting centered on the reorganization of the Movement.

Chrysohoidis accused the government of not making any reference, during the conclusions of the EU summit in Brussels last week, on the matter of negotiation taking place within the framework of the Common Agricultural Policy, and reminded that the fate of three basic Greek agricultural products (cotton, olive oil and tobacco) will hang in the balance in April.

[10] Greek ombudsman submits 2003 report to Parliament

Athens 30/3/2004 (ANA)

The Ombudsman service acts as an independent authority, mediating between the state sector and ordinary citizens. Its report was submitted to Parliament Speaker Anna Psarouda-Benaki.

Specifically, the Ombudsman said that the authority had received roughly 11,000 complaints in 2003, of which about 25 per cent were outside its remit. Of the rest, about half were considered justified and 80 per cent of these were settled in favor of the citizen making the complaint.

For the first time, meanwhile, the Ombudsman's report includes the creation of a Children's Ombudsman charged with the protection and promotion of children's rights.

[11] Greek Orthodox Archbishop Demetrios of America to meet with US president Bush)

NEW YORK 30/3/2004 (ANA/P. Panagiotou)

The meeting, during which the US President traditionally presents the Greek Orthodox Archbishop of America with the annual anniversary declaration on the Greeks' struggle for freedom and democracy, was originally planned for this past Friday, but due to Bush's overloaded program, the meeting has been scheduled for April 1 and will also be attended by several Greek-American leaders.

Asked by ANA on Sunday what topics would be included in his discussion with Bush, the Archbishop said the top item on the agenda would be the Cyprus issue, "which is an open problem", while the talks would also include the issue of world peace, overcoming the problems in the Middle East, Iraq and Afghanistan.

"These are issues that worry both him (Bush) and as, because they keep millions of people throughout the world in a state of anxiety. The quicker these problems are settled, the better for everyone," the Archbishop said, speaking to ANA during the annual parade in central New York marking the March 25 Greek Independence Day anniversary.

The traditional parade along 5th Avenue in Manhattan, was attended by some 80,000 spectators. Leading the officials at the parade, New York mayor Michael Bloomberg expressed admiration for Greek history and heritage and called on everyone to go to Athens this summer for the 2004 Olympic Games.

"Greece, together with New York, a candidate for hosting the 2012 Olympics, will serve as an example of Games organization," he said.

Referring to the Cyprus issue, he endorsed "a free, democratic, united Cyprus".

The Greek government was represented by deputy foreign minister for Greeks abroad, Panayotis Skandalakis, while a three-member parliamentary delegation, and the mayors of Thessaloniki and Ancient Olympia, were also in attendance.

A similar parade was also held in Montreal, Canada.

[12] Europarliament elections: Interior ministry on out-of-country voters

Athens 30/3/2004 (ANA)

Conditional for exercising the right of vote is the voter's registration in the voter catalogues of Greece, the voter must submit a petition to the local Greek embassy or consulate in the relevant EU member state for inclusion in the special voter lists to be drafted by the interior ministry, and must submit their application by the April 8 deadline.

The provisions also apply to Greeks residing in the 10 newly acceding EU member states, or who will be in one of those states on the day of European Parliament elections.

Euroelections will be held throughout the Union from Friday, June 11 to Sunday, June 13. In Greece, Europarliament elections will be held on Sunday, June 13.

[13] Turkish warplanes infringe Athens FIR, violate national airspace

Athens 30/3/2004 (ANA)

In all cases, the 12 Turkish aircraft were recognized and intercepted by Greek jets, while in two cases the interception process developed into a mock engagement.

It was reported that two of the Turkish warplanes recognized and intercepted were armed.

[14] Gov't to seek balanced economic growth, FinMin says

Athens 30/3/2004 (ANA)

Speaking to reporters, Mr Alogoskoufis noted that the government's

economic policy would be growth- and social-orientated. "We will proceed with efficiency, moderation and reforms based on consensus," he added.

The immediate priority of the government's economic policy would be to strengthen sectors such as the construction and to boost other sectors such as tourism, energy production, telecommunications, transportation and manufacturing, the Greek minister said. "These sectors could give a significant push in economic growth through a new policy that will attract investments, both domestic and foreign," he added.

Mr Alogoskoufis said that a new development law and proposals on a new tax system would be ready in September. He noted that a procedure to write down the country's fiscal condition has already begun in cooperation with European Union and added that EU Commissioner Pedro Solbes has expressed his concern over the fact that Greece's fiscal deficit was very near 3.0 percent of GDP.

"Our aim is to contain the deficit below 3.0 percent in 2004 and to lay the foundations for healthy, honest and reliable budgets from 2005," Mr Alogoskoufis said.

The Greek minister committed with Mr Solbes that he would deal effectively with the country's fiscal problem despite widening deficits in recent years.

"We will adopt a policy that will restrain public spending, slow down a high growth rate in current primary spending and lead to a better and more efficient state," he said. Mr Alogoskoufis reiterated that funds would be saved from a rising economic growth and an effective battle against tax evasion and social contribution evasion.

[15] Bank of Greece sounds warning bell over fiscal condition

Athens 30/3/2004 (ANA)

The central bank, in its report, stressed that ''more intense efforts are urgently needed to achieve fiscal adjustment considering a relaxation in fiscal policy in the last three years and particularly significant divergence noted in 2003 compared with budget targets".

The Bank of Greece noted that the country's economy, despite any achievements, faced significant challenges, such as a high unemployment rate (the third largest in the EU), a high inflation rate (steadily above the EU average) and an increasingly widening current account deficit (around 6.0 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product).

The central bank recommended the promotion of structural reforms to combat unemployment, "reforms that would improve the country's productivity and strengthen economic efficiency".

Competition should also be enhanced while the tax system should be simplified, and reforms in the labor market should create an environment of safety and flexibility, the report said.

The central bank painted a bleak picture on inflation prospects, forecasting increased inflationary pressures in 2004 that could push the consumer price index higher from a 3.5 percent rate in 2003. To effectively deal with higher inflationary pressures, the central bank recommended that wage increases should not exceed productivity gains and urged for a pricing policy that could achieve price stability.

The Bank of Greece said that the country's GDP grew 4.0 percent in 2003.

The central bank also warned over the dangers of higher household debt rates, currently at 26.2 percent of GDP from 9.3 pct in 1998. The report attributed this development to households' expectations of a gradual convergence of real incomes in Greece with the rest of the EU, but warned that if this expectations were not met then higher debt rates could pose serious risks both for the country's credit system and for households.

[16] Large enterprises flourish, small-sized shrink in 2002, report

Athens 30/3/2004 (ANA)

The report, however, showed that medium- and big-sized enterprises reported the biggest rises in profitability and significant investments. The report said that 42.2 percent of private and small-sized enterprises witnessed a worsening liquidity situation in 2002, while sales of societies anonyms and limited companies rose 11.7 percent and 5.8 percent, respectively, over the same period.

Big companies said net profits rose 16.2 percent to 1.7 billion euros, while assets totalled 3.1 billion euros, up 9.2 percent in 2002. Sales grew 6.9 percent, while gross profits increased by 10.2 percent leading to a rise in dividend payment to 34.5 percent of pre-tax earnings from 32.6 percent in 2001.

The report said that only 5.0 percent of companies included in a commerce register (totalling 281,124 companies) were societies anonyms or limited companies.

Forty percent of small enterprises reported a drop in sales in 2002, while big companies reported sales growth exceeding 10 percent. Small-sized enterprises also said that credits to customers jumped to 48.2 percent in 2002 from 30.1 percent in the previous year, while gross profits in wholesale and retail sales rose significantly, with gross profit increases in the car-and-car parts sector exceeded 50 percent.

The report said that the majority of commercial enterprises did not have liabilities to the banking system.

Development Minister Dimitris Sioufas, addressing the general assembly of the Confederation said the government was determined to support business activity in the country, but also to protect consumers. He noted that the government was also planning measures to combat illegal trade and urged for measures to deal with speculative price increases in the market.

[17] Industrial production fell 3.3 pct in January, yr/yr

Athens 30/3/2004 (ANA)

NSS, in its monthly report, said that the mining, manufacturing, electricity-natural gas-water production index rose by 0.1 percent in January, on a year-on-year basis.

The mining index dropped 3.9 percent, the manufacturing index fell 3.3 percent and the electricity-natural gas-water index jumped 8.5 percent over the same period

[18] Deputy tourism minister discusses tourist cooperation between Greece and Russia

Athens 30/3/2004 (ANA)

Liaskos said moves concerning a more effective implementation of tourist policy and the simplification of procedures for trips to Greece will be promoted immediately.

The deputy minister held talks with the municipality of Moscow's foreign relations chief G. Muratov, who proposed the signing of a tourist cooperation protocol.

Liaskos also held meetings with representatives of the local media, as well as giving interviews, with the purpose of promoting Greek tourism in the Russian market.

About 140,000 Russian tourists visited Greece in 2003, an increase of two percent compared to 2002, while a further increase is expected this year on the occasion of the Athens Olympic Games.

[19] Greek Metallurgical Federation urges immediate VAT return

Athens 30/3/2004 (ANA)

The federation said that the sum of tax return current totalled 25 million euros from 10 million euros it was 10 months ago, while it noted that a return fuel tax was an additional 2.0 million euros.

In a letter sent to Economy and Finance Minister George Alogoskoufis and Deputy Minister Adam Regouzas, the federation noted that its members - particularly companies with exporting activities such as industrial minerals and marbles - were facing serious financial problems because of the delay.

[20] Nikos Katsaros appointed president of Farmers Compensation Organization

Athens 30/3/2004 (ANA)

The relevant decision was signed by Agricultural Development and Foodstuffs Minister Savvas Tsitouridis.

According to an announcement, the European Commission has ratified the supplementary compensation program for Greek farmers (FROGI).

The Commission's decision rules that subsidies anticipated by the program are compatible with the common market and their payment to farmers is approved.

Derivatives Market Close: Turnover

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