Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 04-09-01

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

CONTENTS

[01] Gov't mulling cross-party committee to deal with doping in sport

[02] Olympics have left Athens a more 'people-friendly' city, Athens mayor says

[03] Political parties agree on Games' success and discuss next steps

[04] AHEPA 'elated' by successful staging of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games

[05] Main opposition leader sets up new policy-framing team within PASOK

[06] Deputy defense minister to pay two-day visit to Ukraine's Odessa

[07] PASOK's Diamantopoulou meets U.S. Assistant Deputy Secretary of State Laura Kennedy

[08] New York Times newspaper proposes Greece as permanent Olympic Games venue

[09] Full marks for Athens public transportation system

[10] Greek Farm Minister, Swedish ambassador discuss Olympics, farm issues

[11] EFET says Olympic food safety program a success

[12] Stocks rise in late buying spree

[13] Departure of athletes' delegations concludes, record volume of airplane traffic

[14] POESY condemns executions, kidnappings of journalists in Iraq

[15] Greece's Euro 2004 international soccer team to receive four million euro bonus

[16] Road accident deaths rise by 0.7 pct yr/yr in June, decline in number of accidents and injuries

[17] Population of EU amounts to 456.4 million people in early 2004, Eurostat says

[18] Journalist Lykourgos Kominis buried at Athens first cemetery

[19] UN team in Cyprus to review UNFICYP's mandate

[20] EU Council's legal department opinion on direct trade match with Cyprus' views

[01] Gov't mulling cross-party committee to deal with doping in sport

Athens, 1/9/2004 (ANA)

"We appeal to the leaders of the parties in Parliament, so that the issue of doping can be dealt with through extensive discussion and with a spirit of consensus, since it is a direct threat to the sporting values that we have honored in Greece but also a direct threat to threat to the life and health of young people," the spokesman said.

He also stressed that the government was determined to crack down on doping, with strict controls for all gyms, clubs and sports federations, harmonized operating rules for sports bodies, severe penalties against doping and an independent authority to deal with doping issues.

According to Roussopoulos, a National Council Against Doping has formally existed since the summer of 2003 but has not, in fact, operated in practice. He also announced that the government had issued a decree prepared by Health Minister Nikitas Kaklamanis and Deputy Sports Minister George Orfanos that lists all the banned substances.

"The goal of returning the Olympic Games to Greece was to inspire young people to turn toward sport, not to stay away from it because of doping. Parents obviously have a right to be certain that their children will not suffer any harm to their health or their life," Roussopoulos said.

Referring to the Kenteris/Thanou affair and the activities of their coach Christos Tzekos, the spokesman said that the government would not set up an parliamentary committee to look into issues that were currently the object of a judicial investigation, adding that the government would wait for the public prosecutor's report regarding the revelations about 'suspect' state funding of sports clubs.

Roussopoulos said Tuesday's cabinet meeting had examined a draft bill being prepared at the culture ministry to deal with football violence, sports arbitration and football club finances.

According to the sports minister, meanwhile, the government's goal is that the entire system for football tournaments will operate along the same lines as systems in other European countries by the next summer.

Sports officials testify in ongoing judicial investigation into doping, Kenteris-Thanou affair: The president of the Greek athletics federation SEGAS and the deputy chief of the Greek Olympic mission were called in on Tuesday to testify in an ongoing judicial investigation into doping in Greek sport that dominated news headlines during the Athens Olympics.

The affair came into the spotlight after Greece's star sprinters Costas Kenteris and Katerina Thanou missed doping tests and were forced to bow out of the Games, leading to revelations that their coach Costas Tzekos was involved with a company dealing in banned performance-enhancing substances and a possible scandal involving state funding of 'dummy' sports clubs.

SEGAS President Vassilis Sevastis and deputy chef de mission for the Greek Olympic team Manolis Kolymbadis testified before public prosecutors Spyros Mouzakitis and Athina Thedoropoulou for more than five and four hours, respectively.

Emerging from Theodoropoulou's office, Sevastis said he had told the public prosecutor all he knew regarding the case. He also criticized International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge for publicly suggesting that Sevastis should "consult a psychiatrist" after the latter claimed that Rogge had asked to be informed of the whereabouts of Thanou and Kenteris on August 12.

"I believe Mr. Rogge had been informed that he met me. I would have expected an apology. He should have taken back his statements regarding psychiatrists. This is not a fitting image for the president of the IOC," Sevastis said.

According to Sevastis, Rogge's request had been made during a meeting between Rogge and Hellenic Olympic Committee President Lambis Nikolaou, at which he had been present.

On his part, Kolymbadis stood by an earlier statement regarding the mental state of the two athletes when they arrived in the Olympic Village on August 12, in response to questions put to him as he left the office of public prosecutor Mouzakitis. The Deputy chief of the Greek Olympic Team had drawn an angry reaction from coach Tzekos after telling the press that the pair seemed "particularly apprehensive" when he had gone to meet them upon their arrival at the Village.

The two sports officials were testified one day after Kenteris, a gold medalist in Sydney, who gave evidence before the two prosecutors on Monday in a marathon 7.5-hour session. Upon exiting the courthouse, Kenteris told reporters that he had given evidence regarding "the situation as it's been during all these years."

According to sources, during Monday's session, Kenteris gave evidence regarding the missed doping test, the motorcycle accident which was reported later that evening, Tzekos' business activities as well as the financing of various sports bodies.

Coalition party to seek debate on cost of Olympics, doping investigation by Parliament: The Coalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology party will seek to initiate a debate in Parliament on the cost of Olympic projects and will ask for a special Parliamentary committee to investigate doping, Coalition leader Nikos Constantopoulos said on Tuesday.

According to Constantopoulos, the issue of the costs surrounding the Games was not a managerial but political one and the party will seek an organized, off-the-agenda debate in Parliament on this issue.

He also stressed that the party had repeatedly asked for discussion of doping issues and for a special Parliamentary investigation, without response.

The government said on Tuesday that it will not launch a parliamentary investigation into doping-related issues while a public prosecutor's investigation was underway.

[02] Olympics have left Athens a more 'people-friendly' city, Athens mayor says

Athens, 1/9/2004 (ANA)

According to the mayor, the challenge ahead was how to maintain the city's spanking-new image and build further on the improvements. In response to reporters' questions, she said future goals included better social policies, a greater international role for Athens, reinforcing the city's metropolitan actions in Attica and the compulsory purchase of property around the city to create more parkland.

She also thanked all the people that worked to make sure Athens' Olympic experience was a success:

"Working collectively, with a program and a plan, working together united, the municipal authority, the municipal political groups and the thousands of municipal employees successfully met the demands and expectations from Athens," she told reporters during a press conference assessing the work done by the City of Athens before and during the Games.

She praised the governments of Costas Simitis and Costas Karamanlis for the major public works projects that had transformed the city's image, as well as the ATHENS 2004 Olympics Organizing Committee and its volunteers and the people of the city.

[03] Political parties agree on Games' success and discuss next steps

Athens, 1/9/2004 (ANA)

"...we [Greeks] managed to create an unprecedented celebration of Peace, Culture and Brotherhood among peoples, while the rest of the world lives in an atmosphere of fear, uncertainty and anxiety for the future," Parliament President Anna Psarouda-Benaki said. However, she also said that the country must not ignore the problems which did arise, such as commercialization of sports, possible use of illegal substances for improved athletic performance, isolated incidents which affected athletes' calm and the fans' objectivity towards them. "Overall, however, we Greeks proved that not only are we strangers to such phenomena, but that we oppose such phenomena and we must now take the lead in returning sports to its true, humane and ethical standards," Psarouda-Benaki said, adding "and we must do this without consideration for any short-term cost."

Finally, after congratulating all those who worked towards making the Olympic Games a success, the parliament president emphasized the Greek people's contribution to this effort, who supported it "knowing the huge economic cost they were called upon and will be called upon to shoulder."

New Democracy's Parliament Representative Vyron Polydoras also congratulated all those involved in organizing and staging the Athens Olympics successfully, referring to the hard work and sacrifices Greeks made in the process.

Haris Kastanidis, Parliament Representative of the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) congratulated the people of Greece first, who made sacrifices in support of this "great effort", as well as the thousands of volunteers, the participating athletes from all over the world "and the country's governments who are responsible for the respective achievements during their tenure," he said.

Antonis Skyllakos, Parliament Representative of the Greek Communist Party (KKE) also congratulated the athletes and the workers who contributed to the Games' success, but expressed disagreement with the celebrations of those who have invested in ideals which are based on commercialization and sponsors' profits. According to Skyllakos, Greece is not judged by the number of medals it won, but by its ability to transform the Games effects into economic and tourism development. He also referred to the related costs, and requested that a discussion be held on who will shoulder the cost, how Olympic venues will be used and how surveillance equipment which was introduced on account of the Olympics will be withdrawn.

Parliament Representative of the Coalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology (SYN) Asimina Xyrotyri admitted that many of her party's concerns proved excessive, but noted that the question still remains of whether the Games' benefits are enough to offset the "tremendous costs." Also, she pointed out that commercialization prevailed instead of the concept of "fair play."

Finally, Deputy Finance Minister Petros Doukas congratulated all those who worked hard in preparing for the Games and particularly members of the current government and of the Simitis government.

[04] AHEPA 'elated' by successful staging of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games

Athens, 1/9/2004 (ANA)

The following is a statement about the 2004 Olympic Games from President Manios:

"From the inspiring moment the Opening Ceremony commenced to the stirring conclusion when the Olympic Flame was extinguished, the Games of the Twenty-eighth Olympiad were presented and organized impeccably, efficiently, and impressively. We were moved by the uniqueness of the Games as they returned to their birthplace, and in one instance, to Ancient Olympia itself.

"The people of Greece embraced the citizens of the world by demonstrating the warm, friendly quality of hospitality for which they are renowned. Moreover, a global audience witnessed a modern and vibrant Greek nation over two memorable weeks.

"Equally important, the Games were conducted in a safe, yet not suffocating manner so that all participants could enjoy them and the beauty of Greece.

"We are proud of Greece's triumphant journey over adversity and the logistical and financial challenges presented by hosting such a grand event in a post-September 11 world. The Games are an investment in Greece's future with the residual effects elevating her position among European nations. In time the investment, mostly in infrastructure, will pay dividends.

Ultimately, the Games' success is a testament to the passion, strong will, and tremendous national pride instilled in the hearts and souls of the people of Greece. "

[05] Main opposition leader sets up new policy-framing team within PASOK

Athens, 1/9/2004 (ANA)

The new body will be manned by the party's parliamentary committee coordinators (Anna Diamantopoulou, Maria Damanaki, Theodoros Pangalos, Alekos Papadopoulos, Christos Papoutsis, Thanassis Tsouras), PASOK Parliamentary Group secretary Dimitris Reppas, its Parliamentary representative Haris Kastanidis, the fifth parliament vice-president Philippos Petsalnikos and PASOK Central Committee Secretary Michalis Chrysohoidis.

The new body will meet every Tuesday, with Papandreou in the chair.

The proposal for the organ was made by Papandreou on Tuesday and ends discussion within the party on whether there should be a central political organ and what its role should be.

[06] Deputy defense minister to pay two-day visit to Ukraine's Odessa

Athens, 1/9/2004 (ANA)

During his stay, the minister will attend events organized by the Greek-Ukrainian Chamber in cooperation with the Municipality of Odessa to honor the contribution there of the Greek community from the city's foundation up to the decade of the 1930s.

[07] PASOK's Diamantopoulou meets U.S. Assistant Deputy Secretary of State Laura Kennedy

Athens, 1/9/2004 (ANA)

Kennedy expressed her warmest congratulations for what she termed "the very successful and safe organization" of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games and particularly her enthusiasm over the Greek character of the closing ceremony which she watched.

The two ladies' assessments also coincided on a significant increase of U.S. tourists to Greece next year.

[08] New York Times newspaper proposes Greece as permanent Olympic Games venue

NEW YORK 1/9/2004 (ANA)

"Greece disproved all unfavorable predictions on the holding of the Games since the Olympic Games installations were completed in time, the terrorists were absent and traffic jams expected never happened," the newspaper said.

The main argument put forward by the newspaper for the Olympic Games being hosted by Greece permanently was that "its Olympic Games installations should be utilized further and so that no other city will be obliged in the future to shoulder the high cost of hosting and safeguarding the Games."

[09] Full marks for Athens public transportation system

Athens, 1/9/2004 (ANA)

Speaking to reporters, Liapis stressed that the public transportation system has received full marks during the Olympic Games and noted that the government would continue a battle to improve the daily life of Athenians. The Greek minister said that the government aimed to have 50 percent of Athenians using the public transportation system at the end of its four-year term, from 30 percent currently. "We have inherited so much, there are infrastructure and a political will to make Athens a more accessible, more human city, using its integrated transportation network," Liapis said.

He stressed that the Olympic Games has been a "great school" and that Greece won the bet also in the Olympic transportation sector. Liapis said that more than 3.5 million people used the public transportation system, up 90 percent from the same period last year.

The Piraeus-Kifissia electric train saw its traffic triple during the Olympics with more than 650,000 passengers a day, the Athens Metro saw its traffic double to 700,000 passengers, while the Athens bus network was used by more than 1,800,000 passengers. The Suburban Railway reported 650,000 passengers and the Tram more than 1,000,000 passengers.

Speaking on the day after the Olympics, Liapis said the ministry would maintain the operation of a single management agency in the public transportation system, a 24-hour telephone customer service, a number of Olympic bus lines, a 24-hour operation in the Tram and extending working hours in all other rail line services (electric train, Athens Metro, Suburban Railway) from 05.00 to 02.00 daily.

[10] Greek Farm Minister, Swedish ambassador discuss Olympics, farm issues

Athens, 1/9/2004 (ANA)

"We had the opportunity to discuss the Athens Olympic Games and I heard the Ambassador expressing his best impressions over the Games. We also had a very interesting conversation over the implementation of a reviewed Common Agricultural Policy and issues related with a current round of negotiations in the framework of the World Trade Organization. The issues have particular importance both to the European Union and to each individual member-states. We agreed on many issues and mostly on the need to have a healthy competition with the best possible results for the farm sector and for our farmers," Tsitouridis told reporters after the meeting.

"I have traveled around Greece and I know the condition of the country's farm sector. We discussed the challenges facing Greece in the sector. After the successful Olympic Games I am certain that the phrase "nothing is impossible" will apply for the Greek farm sector as well," Mr Grunditz said.

[11] EFET says Olympic food safety program a success

Athens, 1/9/2004 (ANA)

According to EFET, preventive measures were taken ensuring that no one suffered a food-related illness.

EFET inspectors closely monitored the 13 companies charged with catering for the Olympic Games on a 24-hour basis throughout the duration of the Games, as well as ensuring that necessary sanitary conditions were maintained at 530 eateries in 43 venues. During this period, 200 samples of primary ingredients and prepared food were tested to ensure they were appropriate for consumption.

The foodstuffs regulatory authority emphasized that the program's success was made possible thanks to careful planning and the cooperation of related local authorities.

[12] Stocks rise in late buying spree

Athens, 1/9/2004 (ANA)

The Athens general share index closed at 2,314.26 points, showing a rise of 0.25 percent. Turnover was 74.3 million euros.

The FTSE/ASE-20 index for high capitalization shares ended 0.46 percent up; the FTSE/ASE-40 for medium cap stocks closed 0.52 percent lower; and the FTSE/ASE-80 for small cap shares finished 0.48 percent down.

Of stocks traded, declines led advances at 175 to 103 with 77 remaining unchanged.

[13] Departure of athletes' delegations concludes, record volume of airplane traffic

Athens, 1/9/2004 (ANA)

More specifically, a record number of 2,638 airplanes flew inside the Athens Flight Information Region (FIR), while a record 854 planes landed and took off from Athens' Eleftherios Venizelos Airport that same day.

The ministry said that during the peak hour between 3:00 and 4:00 in the afternoon, landings and takeoffs at the airport were taking place at a frequency of under one minute.

All the traffic was conducted in an orderly and safe manner, under a central operational plan drawn up by the ministry under the guidance of minister Michalis Liapis and successfully executed by the Civil Aviation Authority (YPA).

The ministry praised the "capability, zeal and consistency" of the YPA personnel, "which sets the basis for the country's international recognition and upgrading in the air transports sector".

[14] POESY condemns executions, kidnappings of journalists in Iraq

Athens, 1/9/2004 (ANA)

Baldoni was abducted to put pressure on Italy to withdraw its forces from Iraq, while the two Frenchmen were taken in order to persuade France to overturn laws that ban Muslim children from wearing headscarves in state schools.

"Measures or demands on matters of faith or culture cannot in our era be extorted with the blood of the innocent," POESY said.

Executing reporters in the course of their work only smites freedom of speech and information," the POESY announcement added, stressing the futility of Baldoni's murder, which had failed to achieve the departure of the Italian army from Iraq.

Christian Chesnot of Radio France International and George Malbrunot of 'Le Figaro' went missing on August 21 and videotape of the two abducted journalists was later shown on the Arabic language Al Jazeera TV network. According to the network, the two are being held by the group Islamic Army in Iraq, who also killed the Italian journalist.

[15] Greece's Euro 2004 international soccer team to receive four million euro bonus

Athens, 1/9/2004 (ANA)

By decision of Deputy Culture Minister responsible for sport George Orfanos, a total sum of four million euro will be distributed to the members of the national soccer team. The internationals have asked from the Greek Soccer Federation (EPO) for the bonus for each player to amount to one million euro, something which the soccer federation could not cover in total and had asked of Orfanos for the state to offer 50 percent of the bonus which the players are asking for.

[16] Road accident deaths rise by 0.7 pct yr/yr in June, decline in number of accidents and injuries

Athens, 1/9/2004 (ANA)

According to figures released by ESYE, 144 people were killed, 214 were seriously injured and 1,567 were more lightly injured in 1,451 traffic accidents throughout the country in June, compared to 143 deaths, 239 heavy injuries and 1,685 light injuries in 1,477 road accidents in June 2003.

A comparison of the two months showed a 1.8 percent reduction in June 2004 over June 2003, a 10.5 percent decline in heavy injuries, and a 7.0 percent decline in light injuries, but a 0.7 percent increase in deaths resulting from traffic accidents.

In the period of January to June 2004, 742 people died and 1,004 were seriously injured in road accidents, slightly up from 734 deaths and 1,069 serious injuries in the same period in 2003 but down from 768 deaths and 1,238 serious injuries in the corresponding period in 2002.

Of the 144 deaths due to road accidents in June 2004, 26 occurred in the greater Athens area.

[17] Population of EU amounts to 456.4 million people in early 2004, Eurostat says

BRUSSELS 1/9/2004 (ANA/G. Zitouniati)

One out of 14 people on the planet currently lives in the EU (a percentage of 7.2 percent of the world's population), while the populations of the most populous countries in the world, China with 1.295 billion people and India with 1.057 billion account for 20.5 and 16.6 percent of the world's population respectively.

As regards Greece, its population increased in 2003 to 11,041,100 people from 11,006,400 in 2002, while the increase was due exclusively to immigration since the number of deaths outstripped the number of births (104,200 births-104,400 deaths).

The birth rate in Greece remained unchanged compared to 2002 (each woman accounted for 1.27 children compared to 2.21 in 1980) and the average life expectancy in 2003 was 75.4 years for men and 80.7 for women.

[18] Journalist Lykourgos Kominis buried at Athens first cemetery

Athens, 1/9/2004 (ANA)

Athens Journalists Union (ESHEA) President Manolis Mathioudakis referred in his eulogy to the integrity and energy of the deceased, adding that they were qualities he had from a young age.

Mathioudakis further said that Kominis adhered to ethics with every step he took in journalism and had contributed a great deal towards providing news and truth with care, knowledge and mature assessment.

[19] UN team in Cyprus to review UNFICYP's mandate

NICOSIA 1/9/2004 (CNA/ANA)

According to an UNFICYP press release, the four-member team, began work Monday morning at UNFICYP headquarters in Nicosia. The team will meet with representatives of the two sides in the course of the week.

Head of the team is Wolfgang Weisbrod-Weber, Acting Director, Europe and Latin America Division, Office of Operations, Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO).

The team includes representatives from the Department of Political Affairs (DPA), as well as representatives of DPKO's UN Civilian Police Office, and the Military Adviser's Office.

In his last report on the UN operation in Cyprus (May 26, 2004), the UN Secretary General expressed his intention to conduct a review, to be completed within three months, of UNFICYP's mandate, force levels and concept of operations, in the light of developments on the ground, the positions of the parties and any views the Security Council might have.

''I will submit recommendations on the adjustments or restructuring that may be required," Annan states in his report.

Cyprus Foreign Minister George Iacovou has recently stated that the situation in Cyprus has not changed, since ''there are still 36,000 or even more Turkish soldiers with heavy weaponry, minefields, enclaved Maronites and Greek Cypriots and all those other aspects that convinced the international community to send the Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus and to continue to renew its mandate every six months''.

[20] EU Council's legal department opinion on direct trade match with Cyprus' views

NICOSIA 1/9/2004 (CNA/ANA)

In his daily briefing, the spokesman said that ''compliance of the EU institutions with the rule of law is not only a legal but also a political norm because it is a fundamental principle according to which the EU functions.''

Invited to comment on information that the legal department of the EU Council does not adopt the efforts of some countries to promote direct trade with the occupied areas, the spokesman said ''it seems that this is a fact.''

He added ''these have been the views that the Government of the Republic of Cyprus has outlined from the very beginning to EU institutions and which are founded clearly on legal and political principles on which the EU is based.''

''The positions of the (EU) legal department coincide with those submitted by the Cyprus Government," Chrysostomides said and called on journalists to wait for the complete discussion and evaluation of the legal department's opinion by the Council.

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