Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 04-06-08

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM Karamanlis inaugurates 'Poseidonia 2004' international maritime exhibition

[02] Government spokesman denies agreement on Aegean continental shelf to be signed with Turkey

[03] PASOK leader accuses ruling ND party of 'lacking political dignity'

[04] PM to hold main pre-election rally on Friday outside Zappeion

[05] SYN leader Constantopoulos addresses main rally in Athens ahead of Euro-elections

[06] FM Molyviatis meets Arab ambassadors

[07] Athens-Piraeus Supra-Prefect meets SYN leader

[08] Greece will seek speedier absorption of EU funds

[09] Development Minister briefs Cabinet on progress in competitiveness program

[10] Deputy minister takes initiative for Neorion Shipyards in Syros

[11] Tourism Minister to carry out visit to China

[12] EBEA sets up business centre during Athens Games

[13] Foreign investors continue to have considerable presence at Greek Stock Exchange

[14] Stocks drop as high cap shares slump

[15] Olympic Flame visits Seoul

[16] Palli-Petralia meets with mayors of Attica's municipalities

[17] Order to re-open Halki School of Theology imminent, Turkish media reports say

[18] Agricultural development minister will tour regions in northern Greece

[19] Fire breaks out at transport ministry headquarters for central Attica sector

[20] Tanker causes oil spill in Elefsina

[21] Deputy culture minister visits Alarm Signal Reception and Processing Centre

[22] EU proposal for extraordinary elections if Cyprus problem solved

[01] PM Karamanlis inaugurates 'Poseidonia 2004' international maritime exhibition

Athens, 8/6/2004 (ANA)

Karamanlis, accompanied by Merchant Marine Minister Manolis Kefaloyiannis, referred to the Athens Olympic Games, saying "our determination and readiness to organize successful Games under conditions of maximum security is a given fact."

Focusing on the issue of shipping, the prime minister said that since ancient times "shipping was the means to open new paths in world cooperation and in world trade. It was the path that brought different peoples and different cultures closer. Its contribution to prosperity, progress and culture throughout the centuries is undeniable."

Karamanlis further said "continuing the tradition of thousands of years, we Greeks have kept an honorable lead which offers a great deal to our country and creates corresponding commitments. Because shipping is not the merchant fleet alone. There are the services linked to it and the businesses which are supported by its activities."

Referring to the size of Greek shipping, the prime minister noted that "Greek-owned shipping, with a fleet of about 3,400 ships of all types and with a capacity amounting to 16 percent of the world's total, continues to firmly hold the world's leadership."

He added that "in parallel, Greek-flagged shipping remains among the top positions in the world and it is the first in the European Union. Indeed, at the same time it is continuing to widen and reorganize and upgrade itself qualitatively with speedy rates."

Karamanlis, who is the first prime minister in the past 12 years to honor the "Poseidonia" with his presence, stressed that Greek shipping becoming profit-making, competitive, safe and friendly towards the environment are given targets for the government, while also mentioning the return of Greek-owned ships to the national shipping register.

The international maritime exhibition will last until June 11.

[02] Government spokesman denies agreement on Aegean continental shelf to be signed with Turkey

Athens, 8/6/2004 (ANA)

"There is no question of a bilateral agreement between Greece and Turkey on the continental shelf on the sidelines of the NATO summit at the end of June," he said in reply to a relevant question.

[03] PASOK leader accuses ruling ND party of 'lacking political dignity'

Athens, 8/6/2004 (ANA)

Papandreou further accused the government of trying to scorn and level PASOK's work and at the same time to appropriate its projects with television advertisement spots it is using in light of the Euroelections.

"New Democracy has nothing to do with these projects. They are projects of the Greek people which New Democracy, when it was in the opposition, denied, fought against and defamed, while it did not vote in favor of any contract for these projects which it used to call models which would never be completed," he said.

Referring to the government's economic policy and the ''model of moderate adjustment it is promoting'', the PASOK party leader said ''it is an outdated and ineffective model,'' adding that great and dynamic action is necessary today.

Papandreou further said that, contrary to the requirements of the times, the government is vulnerable and complacent and it is allowing matters to run with the momentum given to the economy by PASOK.

"The government is adopting the logic of non-conflict. It is postponing crucial issues and buying political time and it is only anxious about its own image and not the country," he said.

Papandreou said the present government ''received a strong Greece having wealth, ideas and dynamism, but it is unable to live up to the great challenges of the times''.

He also said the economy is currently faced with serious danger as a result of the government's uncertainty and insecurity, terming the government's position irresponsible and adding that this position has a considerable economic and social cost.

Papandreou called on all the progressive forces in the country to struggle together with PASOK with the purpose of abolishing inequalities and poverty and creating a powerful, strong and modern Greece.

Main opposition PASOK says ruling: ND trying to take the credit for previous government's work

In an attack on the government and New Democracy on Monday, main opposition PASOK leader George Papandreou accused the ruling party of trying to take the credit for public works project built under the previous PASOK government in its campaign advertising.

"The works belong to the Greek people," Papandreou said and accused the government of having nothing to show for itself and of trying to win the elections through empty "communications" strategies.

Emerging from a visit to the offices of the Thessaloniki EXPO bid committee, Papandreou said the government had not exerted itself enough in support of the city's efforts to host the trade fair, stressing that it would be Thessaloniki's equivalent of the Olympic Games for Athens.

Responding to the criticism, government spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos said that there was no issue of "taking credit" for major public works but simply continuity within the state.

He also pointed out that the government had been forced to make extraordinary effort to accelerate the completion of projects that were running extremely late, such as the Marathon Route where delays had created the prospect of holding the Olympics without its oldest event, or the OAKA roof, which was also dogged by serious delays.

[04] PM to hold main pre-election rally on Friday outside Zappeion

Athens, 8/6/2004 (ANA)

[05] SYN leader Constantopoulos addresses main rally in Athens ahead of Euro-elections

Athens, 8/6/2004 (ANA)

Expounding on his party's positions, Constantopoulos accused the ND and PASOK that they were moving within the framework of the policy determined by the European People's Party and the European Socialist Party respectively, while referring to the KKE, he said that it was declaring the detachment from the European Union and wanting its dissolution.

Constantopoulos said that the position of Synaspismos is that "there is another road," this being "the road of the Left and of the social movements which want to give substance to life, to the vision of a united Europe with democracy, social justice, peace and humanism."

He said that the Euro-elections were a crucial political confrontation. "They are not indifferent elections, they are not second class elections, particularly for the European Left," he said.

"We are interested in struggling with two objectives: We are telling the Greek citizens to send as few ND and PASOK Eurodeputies as possible to Brussels, otherwise the two Euro-units of the People's Party and of the Socialist Party, which support the present EU, will be strengthened," he said.

He called on the electorate to send as many deputies from the ticket of Synaspismos "because in this way they are strengthening even more the European Left which wants to struggle in Europe, supporting alternative policies against neoliberalism." Consequently, Constantopoulos said, "the European citizens, thus also the Greek citizens, with their vote must express the demand for the present policy and the present structure of the EU to change."

In his attack against the KKE, Constantopoulos said: "On the part of various forces the view is heard that the EU does not change. That it should be dissolved. That the European countries, one by one, should withdraw and each one look at what it will do by itself."

[06] FM Molyviatis meets Arab ambassadors

Athens, 8/6/2004 (ANA)

They discussed issues regarding developments in the Middle East as well as matters which will concern the meeting of the Islamic Conference which will take place at the end of the month.

Present at the meeting, held at the foreign ministry, were the ambassadors of Saudi Arabia, A. Al. Madi, of Lebanon, W. Habib, of Morocco, L. Aouad, of Algeria, A. Semichi, of Tunisia, M. Bachrouch, of Egypt, M. Shahin, of Jordan, A. Halasa, of Syria, S. M. Al-Ayoubin, of Kuwait, Badr Aleisa, the Representative of the Palestinian Authority, M. Abdelhamid, the Attache of Libya, T. Ettoumi and the Attache of Iraq, A. Ibrahim.

[07] Athens-Piraeus Supra-Prefect meets SYN leader

Athens, 8/6/2004 (ANA)

In statements after the meeting, Constantopoulos said they discussed pending issues concerning the viability and operation of prefectural administration. He also hailed the efforts made by prefectural administration for the protection of the environment.

[08] Greece will seek speedier absorption of EU funds

Athens, 8/6/2004 (ANA)

Speaking to reporters, after a cabinet meeting that discussed progress of the Third CSF program, government spokesman

Theodore Roussopoulos said that Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis urged for speedier procedures, transparency and efficiency.

Roussopoulos said that delays in absorbing EU funds was unacceptable, while Alogoskoufis noted that the government would make its best not to lose any more money. "We are at the middle of the programmed period with absorption rate totalling 24 percent," the Greek minister said.

A Monitoring Commission is scheduled to meet on Tuesday with the aim to review programs for a speedier absorption of capital. The program will be submitted with the European Union for approval and funding.

According to latest data (May 2004), a total of 12,779 projects have been approved, totalling 69 percent of the program's public spending funds. The data, however, did not offer a clear picture of progress in the Third Community Support Framework program. Greece has secured funds for the period 2001-2003 but it must absorb the whole sum committed for 2002, a goal very difficult to be achieved according the economy and finance ministry's officials.

Prime Minister urges for speedier absorption of EU funds: Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis, addressing a cabinet meeting on Monday said that the course of both the country and the government's work depended largely on the success of implementing a Third Community Support Framework and urged for speedier absorption rates and more transparent management.

The cabinet meeting also discussed the issue of damages suffered in the agricultural sector by recent floods that hit parts of the country. Karamanlis ordered Agriculture Minister Savvas Tsitouridis to visit damaged areas and to speed-up procedures for compensation payments to farmers.

Tsitouridis said he expected to have a first estimate of the damages by Monday evening and a full picture of the damages next week.

[09] Development Minister briefs Cabinet on progress in competitiveness program

Athens, 8/6/2004 (ANA)

EPAN is an extensive operational program covering funding of natural gas projects between Greece, Turkey and Italy as well as large infrastructure projects, and is expected to be completed in 2008.

Its aim is to benefit thousands of Greek entrepreneurs (small, medium and large size), to help in boosting employment, restructuring the production base of the economy and improving its competitiveness.

The program covers the sectors of manufacturing, energy, research and technology and tourism, at a total budget of 6.4 billion euros, of which 3.2 billion euros is public spending (30 percent community funds and 20 percent national funds) and the remaining 3.2 billion euros is funding by the private sector.

The program envisages investments totalling 41.4 percent of total budget for the energy sector, 36.7 percent for manufacturing and services, 10 percent for research and development and 9.2 percent for tourism.

EPAN is designed to help in the restructuring of regional activities, as around three-fourth of funds are expected to be channeled to projects outside Attica prefecture (the greater Athens area).

[10] Deputy minister takes initiative for Neorion Shipyards in Syros

Athens, 8/6/2004 (ANA)

Following a meeting he had on Monday with representatives of the workers, he gave a direct order for the repair of two escort vessels at the shipyards. Already one vessel is at the island for repair.

Aegean and Island Policy Minister Aristotelis Pavlidis personally congratulated the national defense deputy minister for his intervention which contributes to the development of the islands.

[11] Tourism Minister to carry out visit to China

Athens, 8/6/2004 (ANA)

While in China, Avramopoulos and Guangwei will discuss issues concerning the prospects of cooperation between Greece and China in the tourism sector, in the context of opening the Greek tourism market to those of the Far East. During his 48-hour stay in Beijing, the Greek minister will also meet representatives of the Chinese tourism industry.

On Wednesday, Avramopoulos will be the official guest of the head of the organizing committee for the Beijing Games of 2008 and Communist Party of China general secretary Liu Qi at events for the lighting of the Olympic Flame in the city.

[12] EBEA sets up business centre during Athens Games

Athens, 8/6/2004 (ANA)

The Chamber has begun collecting business guides from companies wishing to participate in this effort, in order to make this material available to foreign visitors. Companies wishing to participate must submit a completed application to EBEA by June 20.

In a letter addressed to EBEA's members, Chamber President Drakoulis Fountoukakos wrote that the objective of this initiative is for businesspeople visiting Greece on occasion of the Olympic Games to have the opportunity to realize business contacts with their Greek peers and to obtain information related to the Greek economy.

[13] Foreign investors continue to have considerable presence at Greek Stock Exchange

Athens, 8/6/2004 (ANA)

On the other hand, the percentage of Greek investors decreased to 66.198 percent from 66.26 in April.

In general, foreign investors hold shares valued at 29.37 billion euros, while shares worth 57 billion euros are in the hands of Greek investors.

On May 31, 2001, when the Athens Stock Exchange was upgraded to a developed market, foreign investors controlled 21.62 percent of capitalization.

[14] Stocks drop as high cap shares slump

Athens, 8/6/2004 (ANA)

The Athens general share index closed at 2,423.09 points, showing a 0.79 per cent decrease. Turnover was 98.6 million euros.

The FTSE/ASE-20 index for high capitalization shares ended 0.82 per cent lower; the FTSE/ASE-40 for medium cap stocks closed 0.74 per cent down; and the FTSE/ASE-80 for small cap shares finished 1.31 per cent lower.

Of stocks traded, declines led advances at 244 to 70 with 46 remaining unchanged.

[15] Olympic Flame visits Seoul

Athens, 8/6/2004 (ANA)

Lee was also the first of 120 torchbearers who carried the Olympic Flame to different points of the Korean capital. Olympic winners, famous athletes and leading Korean personalities were among them.

Paralympic athletes also carried the Flame in Seoul, as in other cities, taking it to the Town Hall where the celebrations ended with a pop concert.

Representing Athens 2004, Spyros Lambridis said that just 50 years after the Korean War, Greece had returned bearing the Flame of Peace.

On Tuesday morning, the Olympic Flame will be lit at the Great Wall of China.

[16] Palli-Petralia meets with mayors of Attica's municipalities

Athens, 8/6/2004 (ANA)

Attending mayors complained that there had been a lack of cooperation with the ministry's previous leadership and requested from Palli-Petralia that ¬ 17.5 million be disbursed for the refurbishment of areas and streets of Olympic interest, as well as an additional ¬ 13.5 million for the city's cleanliness as promised by the previous government.

The mayors also expressed their satisfaction with the alternate minister's initiative to meet and decided that further meetings will be held in order to solve pending issues.

One of the problems identified by the mayors was work conducted by public enterprises, such as roadworks, installation of natural gas pipes, the tram, etc.

"Practically all of Attica's municipalities are involved in the Olympic Games. And the decision we made and the discussion we had aimed at achieving better coordination so that the entire Attica basin - not just Athens - will truly convey an image of cleanliness, hospitality and aesthetic upgrading," Palli-Petralia said after the session.

[17] Order to re-open Halki School of Theology imminent, Turkish media reports say

ISTANBUL 8/6/2004 (ANA - A. Kourkoulas)

The network claims that the various ministries involved in issuing the license have coordinated their efforts and the awarding of the license will be announced within a few days, in a bid by the Turkish government to strengthen its position relative to its human rights record in Europe.

According to the ANA correspondent in New York, meanwhile, the cause of the Halki School has also been taken up by U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton, who has urged U.S. President George Bush to put pressure on the Turkish government to re-open the Greek Orthodox school of theology that was closed by the Turkish government in 1971.

In her letter, Helsinki Watch member Clinton also notes the need for the U.S. president to ask for the implementation of minority and religious rights in Turkey and urges Bush to meet Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Istanbul and discuss the problems faced by the Patriarchate.

[18] Agricultural development minister will tour regions in northern Greece

Athens, 8/6/2004 (ANA)

According to an announcement, 330 technicians will be provided and damage caused to crops by the bad weather is expected to be assessed in a week.

Tsitouridis said payments to farmers entitled to compensation "will take place in three months" in accordance with the government's announcements.

In another development, the amount of 20 million euros will be provided for the subsidization of 83 investments plans regarding the processing sector and the sale of farm products in the framework of the 3rd Community Support Framework.

The relevant decisions have been signed by Tsitouridis.

[19] Fire breaks out at transport ministry headquarters for central Attica sector

Athens, 8/6/2004 (ANA)

The cause of the fire, which was put out by the fire department, has not yet been established but sources from within the police said that arson was suspected.

[20] Tanker causes oil spill in Elefsina

Athens, 8/6/2004 (ANA)

A special team is trying to clean up the three cubic meters of oil that leaked into the sea, while the ship's captain Jotrif Nikolit, a Yugoslav citizen, has been arrested and taken to the district attorney's office.

[21] Deputy culture minister visits Alarm Signal Reception and Processing Centre

Athens, 8/6/2004 (ANA)

The same building also houses facilities for the restoration and maintenance of ancient sculpture from sites and museums throughout the country.

After being shown around the centre, Tatoulis promised that the ministry would put special emphasis on issues of security and know-how, since the center's work was helping preserve and keep safe the country's cultural heritage. Since it was set up in 2002, the centre has helped avert a number of robberies and petty thefts by promptly alerting museums and site attendants to the need to be extra vigilant when problems arise with their alarm systems.

[22] EU proposal for extraordinary elections if Cyprus problem solved

BRUSSELS 8/6/2004 (CNA/ANA)

This proposal has been submitted to the Council of Ministers of the European Union in view of its adoption before the European Parliament elections of June10 to 13.

The aim of the proposal is to guarantee the representation and electoral rights of all Cypriots, including the Turkish Cypriot community, in the event of a comprehensive settlement.

It is proposed to provide for early ending of the mandate of the representatives of the citizens of Cyprus in the European Parliament and to hold extraordinary elections in the whole of Cyprus for the remaining term of the European Parliament. The extraordinary elections will cover all six seats.

The Commission made this proposal taking into account that the European Parliament consists of the peoples of the States brought together in the Community as well as the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the Union that provide for the election by direct universal suffrage of Members of the European Parliament.

The proposal aims to provide the necessary legal certainty on this important matter in case of a solution of the Cyprus problem.

German Commissioner Gunter Verheugen's proposal will have to be adopted before the elections.

This could be done either on Tuesday at the Ministers of Justice and Internal Affairs Council or on Thursday at the Ministers of Transport Council.

Verheugen is calling on protocol 10 of the Republic of Cyprus' Accession Treaty, which provides for alternative scenarios to be implemented with or without a Cyprus settlement.

The non solution scenario is currently in effect, which says that the implementation of the acquis communautaire is suspended in the areas not under the control of the government of the Republic of Cyprus.

In the event of a settlement, the necessary readjustments will have to be made in order to make possible the representation of all Cypriot citizens.

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