Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 04-04-06

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

CONTENTS

[01] DHSY party leader has telephone conversation with Greek PM

[02] PASOK party delegation meets President Papadopoulos

[03] FM Molyviatis, US ambassador Miller discuss Cyprus developments

[04] DM attends EU defense ministers' conference in Brussels

[05] Deputy DM attends launching of new missile boat at Elefsina Shipyards

[06] Thoughts of Greeks abroad with the people of Cyprus as Easter approaches

[07] President in Kavala region for Easter Sunday

[08] Archbishop Christodoulos speaks of globalization at Police Academy

[09] Greek fiscal deficit to reach 2.95 pct in 2003, FinMin says

[10] Gov't to examine constitutionality of giving tenure to contract employees

[11] Greek dye-work sector steadily shrinking, report

[12] Agriculture minister holds talks with French counterpart in Paris

[13] Greek car sales jumped 35 pct in March, yr/yr

[14] Aegean Airlines says passenger traffic up 36 pct in 1st qtr

[15] Intracom shareholders approve share buyback

[16] EFG Eurobank Ergasias to give 0.60 euro dividend for 2003

[17] Stocks rise, fuelled by markets abroad

[18] Gov't releases funds for Athens Olympics projects

[19] ATHOC chief briefs PM on progress of preparations for the Olympic Games

[20] Olympic budgets the focus of economy ministry meetings

[21] Health ministry to hire ambulance staff in light of Olympic Games

[22] Gov't to provide extra electricity for islands during Olympics

[23] Wash. Post on Olympic preparations

[24] 2nd volume of book on veteran leftist leader Florakis unveiled

[25] Contraband cigarettes destined for FYROM seized in Thessaloniki port

[26] Government parties to decide independently on Annan Plan

[27] Greek and Turkish Cypriot parties discuss island's future

[28] Poettering: It is up to the people to decide on Annan plan

[29] Irish EU Presidency:Decision on Annan plan rests with people of Cyprus

[01] DHSY party leader has telephone conversation with Greek PM

NICOSIA 6/4/2004 (ANA - G. Leonidas)

Speaking after a meeting with the President of the European Peoples Party's European Democrats Hans-Gert Poettering, Anastasiades said the Greek prime minister told him that he will clarify his position on the Annan plan after the Easter holidays and that the Greek Council of Political Party leaders will convene on the issue of Cyprus after Easter.

The DHSY party leader said he requested a telephone conversation with Karamanlis to be informed on ''when the Council of Political Party leaders will convene and to exchange some thoughts.''

Asked whether the participation of Cypriot parties in the Council is being considered, Anastasiades said ''it does not appear to be possible'', adding that ''it is an institutional body which does not allow such a thing.''

Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos will address the Cypriot people on Wednesday night, it was announced on Monday.

According to information announced by the Cyprus Broad-casting Corporation's (RIK) television station, the address will be broadcast at 8 p.m. and in which Papadopoulos will announce his decisions and explain with details and arguments his position in light of the referenda which will be held on April 24, explaining the pros and cons of a ''yes'' and a ''no'' vote to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan's plan for a solution to the Cyprus problem.

[02] PASOK party delegation meets President Papadopoulos

NICOSIA 6/4/2004 (ANA - G. Leonidas)

No statements were made after the meeting.

The delegation, headed by Foreign Affairs and Defense co-coordinator Anna Diamantopoulou and including former defense ministers Akis Tsohatzopoulos and Yiannos Papantoniou held talks with Leftwing AKEL party Secretary General Demetris Christofias at the party's offices earlier in the day.

The delegation also met former President Glafcos Clerides and was due to meet the leaders of other parties later in the day.

[03] FM Molyviatis, US ambassador Miller discuss Cyprus developments

Athens 6/4/2004 (ANA)

In statements to the press after the meeting, Miller expressed optimism that, in the 19 days remaining until the holding of simultaneous referenda in Cyprus on UN secretary general Kofi Annan's plan for a Cyprus settlement, things will have changed.

He added that the decision, of whether to vote 'yes' or 'no' on the Annan plan on April 24, belonged to the Cypriot people -- the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots -- themselves.

Miller opined that, in essence, the Annan plan had not been understood because it had not yet been studied adequately, despite the many views that have been expressed and analyses made.

He further said that it was difficult to read the 9,000 pages of the plan, but added that there were 20 pages that deserved being read and provided important material for study.

[04] DM attends EU defense ministers' conference in Brussels

BRUSSELS 6/4/2004 (ANA - V. Demiris)

The defense minister said with the new strategic environment being shaped the EU's general military prospects are being determined as of now and until 2010.

Spiliotopoulos said that to this end small flexible military units composed of 1,500 people will be organized which will be in a position to take action to handle or prevent crises in a short period of time.

Spiliotopoulos added that when and how these forces will be used in confronting terrorism is a matter for political discussion. He further said the EU is organizing its own rapid reaction forces which act as a supplement for NATO forces and stressed that the terrorist attack in Madrid has spectacularly speeded up procedures regarding the confrontation of international terrorism.

[05] Deputy DM attends launching of new missile boat at Elefsina Shipyards

Athens 6/4/2004 (ANA)

The missile boat was named ''Krystallidis'' in memory of naval officer Vyron Krystallidis who was killed during an air raid on the escort ship ''Plias'', which he was in charge of on April 22, 1941.

The boat was given its name by the officer's niece Christina Makriyanni.

It is the third of five Super Vita-type missile boats being built by the Elefsina Shipyards, which will be delivered to the Greek Navy in April 2005.

[06] Thoughts of Greeks abroad with the people of Cyprus as Easter approaches

Athens 6/4/2004 (ANA)

Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE) president Andrew Athens said in an Easter message released here on Monday.

Worldwide Hellenes will, in a few days, celebrate one of Christianity's greatest holidays, the Holy Easter, the foundation of our faith and also a symbol of rebirth and anticipation of a better life, the message said.

''Hellenes in the Diaspora carry in our minds and hearts the torch of Hellas and Orthodoxy, perhaps much more than others, and this faith strengthens our determination to preserve our cultural and religious identity and our support for the Ecumenical Patriarchate,'' it said.

''On this day, we are particularly grateful that the government of Israel has finally recognized the Patriarch of Jerusalem, Mr. Irineos, a cause for which we struggled in the US, in Israel and in Greece for more than two years,'' the message said, adding: ''May Orthodoxy's other just hopes, such as the reopening of the Theological School of Halki, are equally fulfilled.''

''Our thoughts and feelings today are especially close to our brothers in Cyprus, with the anticipation that one day they will live in peace and harmony as a united nation. We express our full support to the governments of Greece and Cyprus and we assure them that the Omogeneia (Greeks abroad) understands the difficult struggle they have to wage to safeguard Hellenism's just causes,'' the message continued.

''We are also pledging to contribute in every way we can to the success of the Olympic Games, Athens 2004, and to raise inter-national understanding of the message of peace and brotherhood towards all men, which is part of the meaning of Easter and is also symbolized by the return of the Games to their birthplace,'' the message concluded.

[07] President in Kavala region for Easter Sunday

Athens 6/4/2004 (ANA)

[08] Archbishop Christodoulos speaks of globalization at Police Academy

Athens 6/4/2004 (ANA)

Archbishop Christodoulos also criticized systems such as the Soviet one and that of Adolf Hitler and defended traditional values, while saying that those defending the meaning of the word ''nation'' are subject to rabid attacks because some identify it with ''nationalism.''

He characterized people who are patriotic without being nationalists ''romantic'' and said the language must remain unchanged and called on political parties to state their positions on education.

Archbishop Christodoulos said when some even want to change history books it is obvious that they are aiming at nothing else than leaving the people unprotected and urged the people to resist.

[09] Greek fiscal deficit to reach 2.95 pct in 2003, FinMin says

Athens 6/4/2004 (ANA)

The Greek minister predicted that GDP growth would reach 4.2 percent in 2003 and said that a fiscal discipline policy, sought by the new government, would not undermine the top priority aim of ensuring successful Olympic Games.

Speaking to reporters, Mr Alogoskoufis said that according to early forecasts the country's fiscal deficit was nearing 2.95 per-cent of GDP in 2003 and added that the government was aiming to keep the deficit below the 3.0 percent limit set by the EU.

The Greek minister declined to answer to journalists' questions whether the European Commission would address a warning over Greece's fiscal deficit.

A total of six EU member-states are currently facing problems with their high fiscal deficits (France, Germany, UK, Italy and Holland).

Mr Alogoskoufis also briefed the press over the results of an informal ECOFIN meeting held in Dublin, Ireland last week.

He said that updated economic forecasts would not be far from previous estimates but stressed that fiscal condition in six countries, including Greece, needed to be dealt with. Mr Alogoskoufis told his EU counterparts that the country's fiscal deficit was 2.95 percent while economic growth rates reached 4.2 percent last year.

"I underlined our intention to deal with a fiscal problem so that the deficit would be kept below 3.0 percent," Alogoskoufis said.

Referring to EU's fiscal outlook for the period 2007-2013, an issue discussed during the ECOFIN meeting, the Greek minister said that the Commission forecast maintaining a current ceiling in spending (1.24 percent of EU's GDP), while Germany, France, Holland, UK, Sweden and Austria demanded limiting the ceiling to 1.0 percent of EU GDP.

Greece supported the EU Commission's proposal fearing that a probable cut in Community budget could seriously undermine social cohesion in the Union.

Mr Alogoskoufis stressed that the government's economic program would be implemented and noted that it would have to be combined with fiscal discipline. "Fiscal discipline covers all sectors of economy but it will not endanger our priority which is to have a successful Olympic Games in the summer," he said.

[10] Gov't to examine constitutionality of giving tenure to contract employees

Athens 6/4/2004 (ANA)

He added that the new government is attempting to solve an issue that has loomed over the public sector for the past five years, and one inherited from the previous PASOK government.

Meanwhile, in an unrelated development, Roussopoulos stressed that the relevant deputy development minister is undertaking “intense efforts” in contacts with wholesalers and retailers so that prices for the upcoming “Easter table” hover at last year’s rates.

[11] Greek dye-work sector steadily shrinking, report

Athens 6/4/2004 (ANA)

The survey said that the dye-house sector was also affected by a trend adopted by big clothing and textile industries to transfer their production lines in other Balkan states to benefit from lower labor costs.

Independent dye-houses account for the biggest part of the sector and they are mainly based in Northern Greece, in particularly in the prefects of Thessaloniki, Pieria and Kilkis. This fact helps in reducing transportation costs and limiting time delivery.

The Greek dye-works market shrank by 3.7 percent in 2002 from the previous year, while it fell by 1.0 percent in 2003. Independent dye-houses accounted for 68 percent of total production, with Northern Greece companies accounting for 79 percent of the market.

The survey forecast that the decline of the market would continue in the next two years as textile industries tend to transfer their production lines to countries with cheaper labor cost and imports of cheaper products continue rising. The sector is expected to face a bigger problem after 2005 when the European Union is expected to abolish all quantity restrictions to textile imports from third countries.

[12] Agriculture minister holds talks with French counterpart in Paris

PARIS 6/4/2004 (ANA - O. Tsipira)

The two ministers discussed the determining of a common strategy and reaching an understanding on the issue of the three Mediterranean products: tobacco, olive oil and cotton.

Speaking to Greek reporters, Tsitouridis said the aim is to secure for Mediterranean products ''the same time span at the beginning and end of the implementation of changes'' with that achieved through the ''discreet handling'' of the products of northern countries.

[13] Greek car sales jumped 35 pct in March, yr/yr

Athens 6/4/2004 (ANA)

A monthly report by the Federation of Car Importers and Dealers showed that car sales were up 18.6 percent in March from February, totalling 27,231 units, a figure slightly lower than January. First quarter figures, however, laid the foundations for a positive year in the domestic car market, analysts said, with sales up 16 percent in the January-March period compared with last year, totalling 81,376 units.

Toyota maintained its leading position in the Greek market with sales totalling 2,789 units (up 74.7 percent from March 2003 or 35.2 percent in the January-March period). It was followed by Hyundai with 2,367 sales (up 51.8 percent in March and 26.9 pct in the first quarter, Opel with 1,876 sales (up 33.7 percent but down 5.3 percent over the same period respectively).

Lancia (up 222 percent), Mazda (up 132 percent), Porsche (up 333 percent), Mini (up 105 percent), Mercedes (up 31 percent), Audi (up 45 percent), BMW (up 47 percent), Volvo (up 171 percent), Daihatsu (up 59 percent), Subaru (up 40 percent), Lada (up 65 percent) and Saab (up 76 percent), recorded the biggest monthly percentage increases.

On the other hand, Opel (down 5.3 percent), VW (down 1.6 percent), Nissan (down 8 percent) and Kia (down 24.7 percent) recorded the biggest monthly percentage declines.

[14] Aegean Airlines says passenger traffic up 36 pct in 1st qtr

Athens 6/4/2004 (ANA)

Company officials said that if this trend continued in the months ahead the carrier could achieve its goal of 3,500,000 passengers in 2004, up from 2,850,000 last year.

Aegean Airlines said that passenger traffic in its domestic network totalled 540,572 passengers in the January-March period from 394,015 in 2003, while passenger traffic in its international network totalled 149,025 passengers from 111,858, over the same period respectively, for an increase of 33 percent.

The airline has scheduled three daily flights to LARNACA from May 28, after the official entry of Cyprus in the European Union, and seeks expanding its domestic network with flights to the islands of Samos and Limnos this year.

Aegean Airlines said it was maintaining its leading position departure time reliability among the 60 airlines operating in the international Athens airport.

[15] Intracom shareholders approve share buyback

Athens 6/4/2004 (ANA)

Endorsed was the purchase of outstanding stock in an earlier arrangement to buy back up to 10 per cent of the company's stock, management said in a statement.

Remaining stock up to the 10 per cent limit will be bought at a ceiling of 18 euros per share and floor of 1.0 euro per share, the statement said.

The stock buyback has to be effected by April 5, 2005, it added.

[16] EFG Eurobank Ergasias to give 0.60 euro dividend for 2003

Athens 6/4/2004 (ANA)

Attainable targets for the next two years were a rise in earnings per share of more than 20 per cent annually, and an increase in the dividend per share to top 12 per cent per year, the bank's managing director, Nikolaos Nanopoulos, told the shareholders' meeting.

The EFG group reported net consolidated earnings after tax and minorities of 273.0 million euros in 2003, up 39.0 per cent from a year earlier.

Consolidated net profits before tax and after minorities totalled 373 million euros, showing a 37 per cent increase against 2002.

EFG Eurobank, which is owned by the Latsis banking, shipping and oil group, had shareholders' equity of 1.8 billion euros on December 31, 2003.

[17] Stocks rise, fuelled by markets abroad

Athens 6/4/2004 (ANA)

The general share index gained 1.95 per cent to end at 2,419.07 points. Turnover was 116.1 million euros.

The FTSE/ASE-20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks ended 2.04 per cent up; the FTSE/ASE-40 for medium capitalization paper 1.54 per cent higher; and the FTSE/ASE-80 for small cap equities gained 1.41 per cent.

Of stocks traded, advances led declines at 220 to 85 with 56 issues remaining unchanged.

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