Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 04-06-15

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

CONTENTS

[01] Gov't spokesman: Greek citizens resoundingly reaffirmed confidence in government in Europarliament elections

[02] Ruling ND party consolidates European Parliament elections victory with wide margin, elects 11 Euro MPs

[03] PM interprets Euroelection results as citizens' approval of ND policies

[04] PASOK party leader says no postponement of party congress

[05] Communist Party assesses its performance in Euroelections as positive

[06] Constantopoulos not to seek fourth re-election as Coalition leader

[07] Council of EU Foreign Ministers discusses this week's EU summit

[08] FM Molyviatis to meet Tuesday with US ambassador Miller, Estonian FM Ojuland

[09] Public Order Ministry enforces new security measures in Athens

[10] Government spokesman wishes Cypriot MEPs good luck

[11] Greece makes partial progress in illegal trafficking of human beings issue, State Department report says

[12] PM chairs meeting on simplifying procedures for new enterprises

[13] Finmin to meet public utility chiefs in bid to cut costs, rise in utility rates

[14] American Bank of Albania opens branch in Athens

[15] Passenger ferry owners likely to raise fares

[16] Stocks drop in flaccid market

[17] Athens 2004 President to meet with Chirac

[18] Ecumenical Patriarch receives recently election 'New Lands' metropolitans

[19] Epidauros Festival to kick off with Euripides 'Troades'

[20] Precautionary audit of municipalities postponed until 2005

[01] Gov't spokesman: Greek citizens resoundingly reaffirmed confidence in government in Europarliament elections

Athens, 15/6/04 (ANA)

"It is in essence a new mandate so that there will be an unobstructed, continuous and consistent implementation of New Democracy's pre-electoral platform," Roussopoulos said, adding that Sunday's results "gave the ruling party larger percentages and a bigger difference over the main opposition party"

He said it was "the first time in the history of Euroelections (in Greece) that a Greek party has elected 11 Eurodeputies, and in fact in a conjuncture in which the number of Greek Eurodeputies has been reduced to 24".

"The outcome reinforces the government's responsibility, since the Greek people, assessing the government's accomplishments (since it came to power in the March general elections), expresses its support to the government," Roussopoulos said.

Replying to questions, the spokesman said that the government has begun to materialize deep changes and structural changes and would continue in that direction until it had fulfilled every commitment it has undertaken.

Prime minister Costas Karamanlis was due to meet in the evening with his party's newly-elected Europarliamentarians.

Earlier, he met separately with the ministers of the interior, development and the economy, as well as with ND central committee secretary Vangelis Meimarakis.

Speaking to reporters after his meeting with the premier, Meimarakis said that the ruling party's "major victory" on Sunday "reaffirms the citizens' confidence in ND and Mr. Karamanlis".

He said that the election result gave "bigger strength to the government to materialize its platform, at a faster pace".

High-ranking ND sources consider Sunday's outcome better than had been expected, and a "personal defeat" for main opposition PASOK leader George Papandreou, given that ND "recorded percentages of a national election" while PASOK recorded "Euroelections percentages".

[02] Ruling ND party consolidates European Parliament elections victory with wide margin, elects 11 Euro MPs

Athens, 15/6/04 (ANA)

With nationwide results counted from 19,474 of a total 19,645 polling stations, PASOK came in second with 34.03 per cent, electing 8 Euro MPs, the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) was third with 9.46 per cent, electing 3 Euro MPs, the Coalition of the Left (SYN) was fourth in line with 4.15 per cent, electing 1 MEP, and the Popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS) was fifth with 4.11 per cent, also electing 1 MEP.

Abstention was exceptionally high compared with all the previous Euroelections in Greece, standing at 37.9 percent.

The 24 Europarliamentarians that will represent Greece in the new European Parliament emerging from the first Euroelections in the newly-enlarged EU of the "25" member countries held on the weekend are:

ND: Yannis Varvitsiotis, Antonis Samaras, Antonis Trakatellis, George Demetracopoulos, Costis Hatzidakis, Rodi Kratsa, Yannis Glavakis, Maria Kassiotou-Panayotopoulou, George Papastamkos, Nikos Vakalis, and Manolis Mavromatis.

PASOK: Mary Matsouka, Stavros Lambrinidis, Mariliza Xenoyannakopoulou, Stavros Arnaoutakis, Katerina Batzeli, Panos Beglitis, Evaggelia Tzambazi, and Nikos Sifounakis.

KKE: Thanassis Pafilis, George Toussas and Diamando Manolakou.

SYN: Dimitris Papadimoulis.

LAOS: George Karatzaferis.

According to the results so far, both ruling ND and main opposition PASOK have increased their percentages vis-a-vis the previous Euroelections of 1999, while the KKE was more or less level. SYN, on the contrary, emerged with a smaller percentage, while the recently-formed LAOS party is entering the Europarliament for the first time.

ND recorded increased percentages in all the major electoral districts (prefectures) over the 1999 Euroelections, while PASOK recorded increases in 43 districts and declines in the remaining 13.

ND emerged as the top vote-getter in 50 electoral districts, while PASOK was leading in 5.

More specifically, ND marked the highest increases in the electoral districts of Messinia (+14.74 percentage points), Piraeus A' district (+8.56), Rhodopi (+11.85), Hania (+9.86), Lefkada (+9.97), Athens B' district (+9.88), Athens A' district (+9.49), Lesvos (+8.79), and the Dodecanese (+8.68).

PASOK marked the highest increases in the electoral districts of Achaia (+5.76), Zakynthos (+6.14), Arta (+5.87), Ilia (+5.25), Herakleion (+5.05), and Piraeus B' (+3.85).

[03] PM interprets Euroelection results as citizens' approval of ND policies

Athens, 15/6/04 (ANA)

Karamanlis noted that the results ND achieved were the best in Euroelections history, indicating however, that this entails greater responsibilities for the government and the party.

"Our promises will be kept to the letter, and the agreement of honor we've made with citizens will guide our actions and initiatives, and we must never forget that," he said.

He added that Greek citizens rewarded the government for its policies and gave the government a clear mandate to proceed with its program. Karamanlis also emphasized that the European Union from an abstract concept is gradually becoming a specific vision that concerns every citizen. Wanting to clarify the government's position on the issue of the European Union, Karamanlis spoke of a more political, social, and democratic Europe that will leave no one behind and will improve citizens' daily lives, and asked Eurodeputies to fight for these objectives. He also said that the Greek government supports a reinforced common foreign and defense policy, collective control of the EU's external borders with the creation of an EU coast guard, and the need to include a clause of solidarity and mutual assistance in the EU Constitution.

The Greek PM also noted that Greece was one of the countries with the highest voter turnout in the Euroelections among the 25 EU member states.

[04] PASOK party leader says no postponement of party congress

Athens, 15/6/04 (ANA)

Papandreou, who did not determine the exact date for holding the congress, said time will be provided to enable the process of the pre-congress dialogue to be substantive.

Asked to comment on a statement by PASOK Deputy Evangelos Venizelos that the course towards reconstruction is neither personal nor solitary, and with the addition of whether he believes he has a blank cheque, the PASOK party leader said nobody has a blank cheque, adding that PASOK's problem is not participation but exclusions.

"I will turn participation into practice because this means a new party with dynamism. All will have a role, but this role will result through party processes," he said.

Papandreou also said the party does not belong to anyone and that it belongs to society, adding that the case of personal apparatuses by which some negotiated in PASOK will come to an end.

[05] Communist Party assesses its performance in Euroelections as positive

Athens, 15/6/04 (ANA)

KKE's Central Committee convened on Monday and announced that the party "will continue and increase its efforts with all its strength to rally wider popular radical forces which stand their ground against the anti-popular policy of the European Union and of the Greek parties which support it."

The Central Committee's announcement said "the positive result achieved by KKE encloses a greater momentum than that expressed in votes and percentages. Certain positive trends in favor of KKE and of general positions promoted in past years, both in the national elections and in the previous Euroelections, have been registered in a fuller and more explicit way."

According to the KKE, "the criterion for voting in this year's elections was not only KKE's consistent position on the issue of the imperialist war, but also its positions and practice on a series of social, democratic and political issues in general, regarding the course of the EU and the consequences of its strategy in the life of the Greek people and of the peoples of Europe in general. It is its position on the problem of Cyprus and the Annan plan, its positions on the sovereign rights of the country in general and in the Aegean. It is its action and effort to stand by the people and organize the struggle for their daily problems."

[06] Constantopoulos not to seek fourth re-election as Coalition leader

Athens, 15/6/04 (ANA)

Constantopoulos stressed that his decision was not related to the party's results in the election, where it gained a reduced percentage of the vote relative to the previous Euro-elections and elected one MEP.

He said he was announcing his decision now in order to assist the party's course toward its next congress as best he could, while stressing that he will continue to be actively involved in politics.

[07] Council of EU Foreign Ministers discusses this week's EU summit

Luxemburg, 15/6/04 (ANA)

Greece was represented at the meeting by Foreign Minister Petros Molyviatis and Deputy Foreign Minister George Valinakis.

The last plan presented by the Irish presidency does not contain reference to Europe's Christian tradition following a request by certain countries and by France in particular.

On the question of restricting the Commission's jurisdiction to impose sanctions on EU member-states presenting excessive fiscal deficits, a relevant proposal sanctioned by Greece, Germany, Italy and Poland was discussed. However, the Netherlands reacted and so the issue will be discussed at heads of state and government level.

The Greek side expressed its satisfaction over the fact that the European constitution will make clear reference to the need for the EU to support all of Europe's insular regions and not only a few, as had been mentioned so far.

Diplomatic sources said the climate prevailing at the Council was gloomy due to the results of Sunday's Euroelections (in which most of Europe's ruling parties received setbacks) and the high percentage of abstention from the elections.

In an effort to improve the climate, the Council's president called on those of the 25 ministers who believed their parties won in the Euroelections in their respective countries to raise their hand. Only two raised their hands. Molyviatis and his Spanish counterpart M. Moratinos.

However, the climate visibly improved when the 24 ministers were pleased to hear Molyviatis announce that he was inviting them to attend the opening ceremony of the Athens Olympic Games in August.

[08] FM Molyviatis to meet Tuesday with US ambassador Miller, Estonian FM Ojuland

Athens, 15/6/04 (ANA)

More specifically, Molyviatis was due to receive US ambassador in Athens Thomas Miller at 9:30 a.m. and with Estonia's foreign minister Kristina Ojuland at noon.

[09] Public Order Ministry enforces new security measures in Athens

Athens, 15/6/04 (ANA)

Public Order Minister George Voulgarakis emphasized that coordinated efforts in terms of security will improve both Athens residents' day-to-day living as well as the city's image.

[10] Government spokesman wishes Cypriot MEPs good luck

Athens, 15/6/04 (ANA)

[11] Greece makes partial progress in illegal trafficking of human beings issue, State Department report says

Washington, 15/6/04 (ANA-T. Ellis)

Forty-one more countries belong to the same category, including, Cyprus, Turkey, Serbia, Japan and Russia.

Last year Greece had been ranked in the third and worst category but in September it had been certified by US President George W. Bush that Greece had achieved progress in combating the phenomenon, together with 10 other countries, to enable them to avoid possible sanctions.

As regards countries in this part of the world, Albania remains in the second category, while the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) is in the first together with many EU countries.

The chapter on Greece mentions that it is a country of destination and of trafficking of women, men and children for sexual and financial exploitation from such countries as Albania, Ukraine, Russia, Bulgaria, Moldova and Romania.

[12] PM chairs meeting on simplifying procedures for new enterprises

Athens, 15/6/04 (ANA)

The meeting was attended by finance minister George Alogoskoufis, development minister George Sioufas, and interior minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos.

After the ministerial meeting, Alogoskoufis had a private session with the premier and discussed the penalty interest issue. According to ministry sources, the new regulations on those who owe penalty interest will enter into force in two weeks.

Alogoskoufis is also scheduled to meet with the governors of the DEKO public utilities and organizations on Wednesday, in an effort to contain their expenditures as well as any rate increases.

It is recalled that a recent ministry circular signed by Alogoskoufis called on all the DEKO administrations to seek ministry approval before introducing any rate increases.

[13] Finmin to meet public utility chiefs in bid to cut costs, rise in utility rates

Athens, 15/6/04 (ANA)

In a ministry circular sent out a few days ago, all public utility managements were asked to seek the ministry's approval before proceeding to raise their rates.

[14] American Bank of Albania opens branch in Athens

Athens, 15/6/04 (ANA)

Owned by US-Albanian business concerns, the new branch aims to provide quality banking services to thousands of Albanian residents of Greece, as well as the domestic market overall.

"There is a dynamic relation between Albanians in Greece and their families in Albania, and we wish to offer them efficient, transparent and legal capital movement," Michael Granoff, the bank's chairman, told the inauguration.

"In a wider framework, the bank is a symbol of the good relations between Greece and Albania," Granoff added.

American Bank of Albania, which belongs to the Albanian-American Enterprise Fund (AAEF), has assets of 300 million US dollars, and earnings in 2003 of 10.9 million dollars.

The AAEF is the result of a US government foreign policy initiative.

[15] Passenger ferry owners likely to raise fares

Athens, 15/6/04 (ANA)

The board of the EEA, whose members own around 300 vessels, called on members to raise prices as a response to deregulation of the market from January 1 this year.

Merchant Marine Minister Manolis Kefaloyiannis has so far opposed fare increases in the sector, saying the move would contravene legislation.

The EEA said in a statement that it would back any members that faced court action from the state for raising their prices.

[16] Stocks drop in flaccid market

Athens, 15/6/04 (ANA)

The Athens general share index closed at 2,384.77 points, showing a 0.64 per cent decline. Turnover was 62.7 million euros, the lowest this year.

The FTSE/ASE-20 index for high capitalization shares ended 0.52 per cent down; the FTSE/ASE-40 for medium cap stocks closed 0.95 per cent lower; and the FTSE/ASE-80 for small cap shares finished 1.31 per cent down.

Of stocks traded, declines led advances at 229 to 60 with 66 remaining unchanged.

[17] Athens 2004 President to meet with Chirac

Athens, 15/6/04 (ANA)

[18] Ecumenical Patriarch receives recently election 'New Lands' metropolitans

Istanbul, 15/6/04 (ANA - A. Kourkoulas)

In statements afterwards, Thessaloniki Metropolitan Anthimos said the meeting went "exactly as we expected" and expressed conviction that the problems in relations between the Church of Greece and Phanar were now a thing of the past.

The dispute between the Churches, just recently overcome with an agreement satisfactory to both sides, concerned the ecclesiastical administration of the dioceses to which the three metropolitans had been elected, with Phanar demanded strict adherence to the Act of 1928 and the Greek Church opposed for legal reasons.

[19] Epidauros Festival to kick off with Euripides 'Troades'

Athens, 15/6/04 (ANA)

This anti-war classic of all time is directed by Diagoras Chronopoulos and translated into modern Greek by Costas Myris, with music by Stavros Xarhakos and costumes by Yiannis Metzikov.

It includes a first-time appearance at Epidauros by actress Tania Trypi in the role of Andromache and Katerina Lehou as Helen of Troy, while the rest of the cast include Yiannis Vouros, Dimitris Lignadis and Peggy Trikalioti.

After Epidauros, the company will tour Greece throughout the summer, while their program includes a unique performance on June 26 at the ancient theatre of Troy.

[20] Precautionary audit of municipalities postponed until 2005

Athens, 15/6/04 (ANA)

The minister said the delay was necessary because the funds to pay the additional 286 auditors required to investigate the finances of all local authorities with more than 5,000 residents had not been made available due to bureaucratic hold-ups.

Hot and sunny on Tuesday

Hot, sunny weather is forecast in all parts of the country. Winds northerly, moderate to strong, turning very strong in the Aegean. Temperatures in Athens from 21C to 32C and in Thessaloniki between 19C and 30C.

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