Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 05-05-07

Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greek President to attend Moscow celebrations for 60th anniversary since end of WWII

[02] Jerusalem Patriarch loses seat, take-over of Jerusalem Patriarchate by senior clergymen

[03] Patriarch Irineos warns Fanar off as his dismissal by Jerusalem Synod threatens

[04] PM and Greek European Commissioner discuss EU affairs in Athens

[05] Merchant marine minister calls for stringent sanctions for owners and captain of 'Aegean Sun' car ferry

[06] Greek and Spanish delegations discuss cooperation in police matters, guarding sea borders

[07] PM congratulates Blair on re-election

[08] PASOK leader congratulates British PM on re-election

[09] PM and health minister discuss health care reforms

[10] PM meets education minister for talks on all education-related issues

[11] Defense minister refers to 'Turkey's provocative behavior'

[12] Deputy FM criticizes role of PASOK party

[13] Coalition of the Left (SYN) faults previous and current gov't for the possible loss of structural funds

[14] UN Security Council decides to give Greece presidency of Sudan sanctions committee

[15] Alternate Culture Minister meets with President of the Republic

[16] Greek economy: weekly review

[17] Left-wing parties call workers to strike on May 11

[18] Greek Tourism minister visits Libya

[19] DEPA and Edison present Greece-Italy natural gas pipeline project

[20] Greek closed-end funds' assets up 3.31 pct in April

[21] Communist, Coalition parties criticize Olympic Airways privatization

[22] Aegean Airlines announces changes in scheduled flights for Saturday

[23] Greek stocks move cautiously higher

[24] Athens University to host int'l conference on Russia and the Mediterranean

[25] Events marking "Day of Europe" to be held under auspices of foreign ministry

[26] Memorial service to be held at Greek monument at Mauthausen

[27] Book on the persecution of Istanbul's Greeks by Turks published in the U.S.

[28] Cyprus president expects Turkey to respond to goodwill moves

[29] President Papadopoulos hopes Blair will give 'appropriate attention' to Cyprus

[30] Property issue raised with US senior official

[31] UN report: further UNFICYP transformation possible

[01] Greek President to attend Moscow celebrations for 60th anniversary since end of WWII

President of the Republic Karolos Papoulias will carry out his first official trip as president outside Greek borders on Saturday, when he visits Moscow to attend celebrations for the 60th anniversary since the end of World War II and the victory of Allied Forces over the Nazi Germany.

Particularly important for Papoulias will be an event held to honor his activities in the Greek resistance during the war, during which Russian President Vladimir Putin will present him with a medal. Similarly honored will be the presidents of Albania and Croatia, the former presidents of Poland and Cyprus and the former Romanian monarch.

On Saturday night, Papoulias is due to attend an event in honor of the Greek veterans of WWII that are members of Russia's expatriate societies.

On Sunday morning, the Greek president will visit the Donskoy cemetery in Moscow and attend mass at the Church of the Dormition, after which he will visit the Greek Studies Centre in the city and attend a basketball game in which the Greek team Panathinaikos will vie for third or fourth place in the final four of the championship.

On Monday, the president is due at the Kremlin, where he will watch the main parade marking the 60th anniversary since the end of World War II, alongside other heads of state and government on the officials' platform in Red Square.

After laying a wreath at the Monument to the Unknown Soldier, President Papoulias will attend an official dinner given by Putin and will depart for Athens on Monday night.

[02] Jerusalem Patriarch loses seat, take-over of Jerusalem Patriarchate by senior clergymen

Jerusalem, 7/5/2005 (ANA/P.Haritos)

The Jerusalem Patriarchate has temporarily been taken over by senior clergymen and primates of the Holy Sepulchre Brotherhood following a quarrel with Irineos after a second attempt to convene the Synod. The meeting was not quorate.

Irineos left the Patriarchate. Israeli police are on site.

A letter renouncing Irineos and asking him to give up his seat, signed by senior clerics of the Jerusalem Church, was handed to Irineos on Thursday morning, while a copy was sent to the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul.

The letter also held Irineos responsible for controversial land deals that have incensed Arabs and Palestinians, in which prime pieces of Orthodox Church property - including the landmark Palestinian-run Imperial Hotel at the entrance to Jerusalem's Old City - have been leased or sold to foreign Jewish interests.

[03] Patriarch Irineos warns Fanar off as his dismissal by Jerusalem Synod threatens

Istanbul, 7/5/2005 (ANA - A. Kourkoulas)

Irineos apparently voiced his objections to the delegation's visit over the phone, in reply to a letter informing him of the Patriarchate's intentions. He stressed that, without his consent, their presence in Jerusalem was tantamount to interference with the internal affairs of another Patriarchate.

According the Patriarchate, however, the visit will go ahead in spite of Irineos' objections, with the delegation scheduled to depart for Jerusalem later on Friday.

"We will deal with any objections when we get there," members of the delegation told the ANA.

Meanwhile, according to reports by the ANA correspondent in Jerusalem, Irineos faces the prospect of automatic dismissal if two more members of the Jerusalem Church Synod sign a text that renounces Irineos and demands his resignation.

Earlier on, Irineos attempted to convene the Synod but the meeting was not quorate. The Patriarch has now called another meeting for 16:00 in the afternoon and warned that he will replace any members that fail to attend.

Sources say that Irineos will appoint the bishops Sergios, Filoumenos and Anthimos to the Synod, replacing members that oppose him.

The signature by the Bishop of Caesaria on Friday morning of a document renouncing the Patriarch brings the total of Jerusalem Church bishops to have signed up to 14 and the number of Synod members up to 10. If another two Synod members sign before the impending meeting - and the threatened replacements - have taken place, then a two-thirds majority will have been secured and Irineos will automatically lose the Patriarchal throne.

Earlier on Friday, in his first public statement concerning the situation in Jerusalem for several weeks, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew noted that Fanar, as earlier with the Ukraine or in Skopje, had been called on as the "coordinating centre of the Orthodox faith" to help resolve the problems that had arisen in Jerusalem.

"We do this not as critics or judges, but with a great deal of love, offering the ministration of unity," he said.

He stressed that the Ecumenical Patriarchate, was 'First' among Orthodox Churches not in terms of power or authority but in this spirit of ministering the unity of all Orthodox Churches.

"We here strive and struggle to fulfill our Patriarchate's ecumenical mission, which due to the responsibility and its position as first Church in the family of Orthodoxy, has a truly ecumenical mission and is Ecumenical not only in terms of his historic title and name," he added, noting that Fanar sought only to "help and serve".

[04] PM and Greek European Commissioner discuss EU affairs in Athens

Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis and Greek European Commissioner for the environment Stavros Dimas met in Athens on Friday. During the meeting, they discussed environmental issues and matters pertaining to the European Union.

The Commissioner, responding to questions after the meeting, said that matters had taken their course with regard to the 'primary shareholder' law and that a "common ground" would be found between the government and the European Commission on this issue, which would ensure transparency in the system for awarding public works and at the same time respect Community law.

Dimas also asserted that Greece's image abroad was very good, stressing his optimism and the fact that Greece was the most stable country in the region. He also pointed out that, despite the current high deficit, Greece continued to enjoy a high rate of growth, failing to bear out predictions of problems in that area after the Olympic Games.

The Commissioner avoided comment on the transfer of the Labor Day holiday and the government's decision that this should be a normal working day for all.

[05] Merchant marine minister calls for stringent sanctions for owners and captain of 'Aegean Sun' car ferry

Merchant Marine Minister Manolis Kefaloyiannis on Friday called for stringent sanctions to be imposed on the shipping company owning the car ferry "Aegean Sun", as well as on its captain, which illegally approached the Turkish-occupied port of Famagusta in Cyprus. The minister took his decision for the protection of national interests in general.

"Following information that a Greek ship illegally approached the Turkish-occupied port of Famagusta, the order was given for the most stringent of sanctions to be imposed on the shipowner company and the captain of the 'Aegean Sun'. The captain will be referred to the disciplinary council of the Merchant Navy and, until the case is tried, his license and naval papers will be taken from him. In addition, the captain was given a strict order to return immediately to the nearest Greek port. In the event he refuses, he will be faced with a prison term of up to two years," the minister said.

The ministry also announced that "Greek ships which do not defend national interests cannot possible bear the Greek flag", while it is reminded that an explicit ban by the Merchant Marine Ministry exists by which Greek ships are not allowed to approach Turkish-occupied ports in Cyprus.

[06] Greek and Spanish delegations discuss cooperation in police matters, guarding sea borders

Greek and Spanish delegations meeting at the Greek Merchant Marine Ministry on Friday held talks on bilateral and international police cooperation, as well as the policing of sea borders and a Greek initiative for the establishment of a European coast guard.

The meeting was attended by officials of the Greek merchant marine, foreign and public order ministries, while the Spanish side was represented by officials of the Spanish foreign, interior and finance ministries, as well as Spain's Ambassador in Athens Juan Ramon Martinez Salazar.

Both sides agreed to continue looking into the process for setting up a European rapid-reaction coastguard in the Mediterranean, whose main mission will be to combat illegal immigration.

Proposals drawn up by experts in both countries will be discussed at the next meeting, scheduled to take place in Spain in July.

[07] PM congratulates Blair on re-election

Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis on Friday sent a letter to British Prime Minister Tony Blair congratulating him on his re-election.

"On behalf of the Greek government, I would like to express my sincerest congratulations on your re-election. I am certain that we will continue to work together closely on a wide range of issues of common, bilateral and European interest, as well as on international issues," Karamanlis stated.

"I wish you every success in your duties," he concluded.

[08] PASOK leader congratulates British PM on re-election

Main opposition PASOK President George Papandreou on Friday sent a telegram to British Prime Minister Tony Blair, congratulating him on his party's election victory.

Papandreou wished Blair best wishes in his third consecutive term as prime minister.

[09] PM and health minister discuss health care reforms

Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis and Health Minister Nikitas Kaklamanis met at Maximos Mansion on Friday where they discussed the status of draft legislation the health ministry is preparing.

After the meeting, Kaklamanis stated that tabling of a bill regarding the safeguarding of public health is imminent.

Other draft laws that the ministry is preparing concern the quality of care, pharmaceuticals, medical ethics and hospital procurements, according to the minister.

Kaklamanis also noted that as of Tuesday, prices of various medical supplies have been reduced by 25% following a ministerial decision he signed into effect.

He has requested the hiring of 9,500 individuals to cover needs in the hospital and social solidarity sectors. Kaklamanis emphasized that he is waiting for decisions to be made on this issue, in cooperation with the Finance Minister George Alogoskoufis.

[10] PM meets education minister for talks on all education-related issues

Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis on Friday had a meeting with Education and Religious Affairs Minister Marietta Yiannakou, during which they discussed the entire range of issues concerning educational policy.

Afterward, Yiannakou stressed that education was a priority for the government.

The minister was also asked to comment on recent developments concerning Jerusalem Patriarch Irineos but referred reporters to Thursday announcement by Deputy Foreign Minister Panagiotis Skandalakis.

She refused, meanwhile, to answer questions on the prospects of a government reshuffle, suggesting that these were "exaggerations" by certain of the mass media.

[11] Defense minister refers to 'Turkey's provocative behavior'

"Turkey's provocative behavior systematically violates international law, creates great problems in the stability and security of the region, dynamites the effort for an improvement of Greek-Turkish relations and undermines its European prospects," the National Defense Minister said on Friday.

He made the statement at Egio, in the Peloponnese, where he represented the government in celebrations marking the city's patron saint Panagia Zoodochos Pigi.

At the same time, he praised "the readiness of the Greek Armed Forces who around-the-clock decisively and effectively defend our national interests and international legality."

[12] Deputy FM criticizes role of PASOK party

Deputy Foreign Minister Evripidis Stylianidis on Friday criticized the role played by the main opposition PASOK party, saying that the role of the main opposition party has been replaced by a few media representatives.

Stylianidis was speaking to reporters in Larissa, central Greece, where he had been invited by the Federation of Thessaly Industries to make an address on the theme of the "Economy and diplomacy."

The deputy minister further said the tabling of different views in the New Democracy party is not something separate but, on the contrary, it is a necessary process and noted that the media simply apply a policy of magnifying disagreements.

Stylianidis also said considerable successes have been achieved in foreign policy issues and referred to the way with which the government handled the issue of the name of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), which placed responsibilities on the other side and, commenting on Turkey, stressed that relations have improved and that the neighboring country is aware now that its accession course towards the European Union also passes through Greece and Cyprus.

[13] Coalition of the Left (SYN) faults previous and current gov't for the possible loss of structural funds

Panayiotis Lafazanis, member of the Coalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology (SYN) party's Political Secretariat, blamed the former PASOK governments and the current New Democracy government for the possible reduction of funds Greece will receive from the Fourth Structural Framework in a statement he issued on Friday.

In his statement, Lafazanis, also responsible for SYN's Economic and Social Policy, noted that following the EU General Affairs Summit in Lisbon, it is quite possible that Greece will lose billions of euros in EU subsidies from the Fourth Structural Framework as a result of past mistakes. Consequently, Greek regions are in danger of losing out on much-needed subsidies unjustifiably.

"Previous governments and the current administration have major responsibility for the great delay they showed in seriously and dynamically addressing this issue, which is of major importance for the country's future," he stated.

In closing, he called on the current government to take every possible measure and action "in order to prevent developments that will have painful consequences on the future of Europe and mainly on the future of the Greek people, particularly in the regions."

[14] UN Security Council decides to give Greece presidency of Sudan sanctions committee

New York, 7/5/2005 (ANA/P. Panayiotou)

According to diplomatic sources at the international organization's headquarters, Greece succeeded as a Security Council member "to gain the respect" of the rest of the members because "it is present in all the issues and it is actively involved."

The vice presidency of the same committee has been given to the Philippines and to Argentina.

The same diplomatic sources said that at this time the issue of Sudan is one of the main issues preoccupying the UN.

Greece's role is expected to be substantive and it is very possible that a mission to this African country will be carried out in the near future with the purpose of promoting the implementation of the decision.

The duties of the committee, whose presidency has been assumed by Greece, are to supervise the implementation of special sanctions against persons who obstruct the peace process, who are a threat to stability in Darfur and who violate humanitarian law and human rights.

The duties also include supervising the arms embargo, regularly briefing the Security Council on the progress of its work and assuming other similar activities related to the implementation of the sanctions and the embargo.

[15] Alternate Culture Minister meets with President of the Republic

Alternate Culture Minister Fani Palli-Petralia met with the President of the Hellenic Republic Karolos Papoulias on Friday and briefed him on issues falling under her jurisdiction.

Specifically, she briefed him on her upcoming trip to Lausanne, Switzerland where she will be attending the International Olympic Committee summit as well as on the government's plans regarding post-Games use of Olympic venues.

Papoulias is a member of the International Olympic Truce Foundation.

[16] Greek economy: weekly review

Greece's two largest trade unions, GSEE and ADEDY, this week announced they would stage a 24-hour Panhellenic strike to celebrate Labor Day on May 11. GSEE's president Christos Polyzogopoulos rejected a government call to begin a dialogue on reforming the country's pension system and labor relations and noted that trade unions would resist any effort by the government to move unilaterally to reforms.

In other headline news this week:

Economy and Finance Minister George Alogoskoufis participated in a ministerial meeting of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in Paris. The meeting discussed ways to make a more efficient use of globalization and to minimize any negatives from this trend.

A group of experts from the International Monetary Fund are currently in Greece, on an invitation by Economy and Finance Minister George Alogoskoufis. The experts will help in a government's effort to make a more efficient management of public spending.

Development ministry unveiled a new package of measures aimed to ensure cheaper prices to consumers in basic goods offered in canteens and coffee shops in airports, ships, trains and archaeological sites around the country.

Tourism Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos visited Dubai for the Arabian Travel Market international fair. A total of 98 countries, including Greece, are participating in the tourism fair. Avramopoulos also visited Tripoli, Libya, for talks to forge closer tourism cooperation with the country.

Farm Minister Evangelos Basiakos presented a package of measures aimed to support Greek farmers. The measures include offering interest-free short-term loans to fund operating expenses for new farmers and medium- to long-term loans for new farmers to buy the necessary farm equipment.

Greece is turning into an energy hub for Europe and acquires a geostrategic importance in the energy sector, Development Minister Dimitris Sioufas said this week. The Greek minister announced that Greece would sign a protocol agreement with Italy to build a natural gas pipeline between the two countries.

The Greek government expects results from an international tender to privatize Olympic Airlines in the next two weeks, Transport Minister Mihalis Liapis said.

A total of 135,824 cars, new and used ones, were sold in the first four months of 2005 in Greece, a figure down 2.8 percent compared with the same period in 2004, the National Statistics Service said. Registrations of new motorcycles (with an engine of more than 50cc) totalled 21,587 units, up 16.4 percent over the same period.

[17] Left-wing parties call workers to strike on May 11

The left-wing parties in Parliament, the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) and the Coalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology, on Friday urged all Greek and foreign workers to come out on strike on May 11, the date to which Labor Day was transferred after it coincided with Easter Sunday.

KKE also slammed a dispute between ruling New Democracy and main opposition PASOK over the government's decision to make Labor Day a normal working day for all, accusing both of hypocrisy and stressing that both supported anti-Labor policies.

"Labor Day is a day to honor the millions of struggling working class, it is a strike, it is the start of new class struggle," a party announcement said.

Coalition spokesman Nikos Voutsis, meanwhile, said the government's decision to scrap the holiday clearly showed a political intent to directly fund the private sector and an indirect attempt to make the labor mobilizations fail.

"This political decision stigmatizes the present government," Voutsis said.

[18] Greek Tourism minister visits Libya

Greek Tourism Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos made an official visit to Libya on an invitation by his Libyan counterpart, Ammar Elmabruk Elttayef.

The Greek minister met Libyan Prime Minister Shukri Mohamed Ghanim and presented a written message of friendship by the Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis to Libyan leader M. Khaddafi.

Avramopoulos held talks with tourism officials in the country with the aim to create a dialogue framework that could lead to the signing of a cooperation agreement between the two countries in the tourism and investment sectors. He was accompanied by National Tourism Organization president Aristides Kalogeropoulos-Stratis, other government officials and the president of the Association of Tourist and Travel Agencies of Greece, Yiannis Evangelou.

Speaking to reporters, Avramopoulos said that Libya was a country with great prospects, currently in a phase of deep changes and forecast that both countries would forge excellent relations in the future, with tourism in central role.

Libyan Tourism minister said he was happy with the visit of the Greek minister and expressed the hope that the two countries would sign a protocol of cooperation during his visit in Greece.

[19] DEPA and Edison present Greece-Italy natural gas pipeline project

Public Gas Corporation (DEPA) President and Managing Director Raphael Moissis and Edison President and Managing Director Umberto Quadrino presented their natural gas pipeline project to officials at the Italian Ministry of Production and Development.

The two company heads provided Italian officials with a detailed analysis of the project's technical data, while Quadrino also informed officials about the environmental permits necessary for completion of the project.

Efforts will be made to partly finance the 820 km pipeline from the Fourth Structural Support Framework. The total cost of the pipeline, which will start from Komotini, northern Greece, and will run through the Ionian Sea to Italy, is estimated at 900 million euros.

[20] Greek closed-end funds' assets up 3.31 pct in April

Greek-listed closed-end investment funds' net assets totalled 1.328 billion euros at the end of April from 1.286 billion euros in March, an increase of 43 million euros or 3.31 percent, official figures showed on Friday.

A report by the Association of Institutional Investors said the number of listed closed-end funds fell from 19 to 18 in April after a removal of New Millennium Fund from the category. (The fund turned into a mutual fund removing 30 million euros from the closed-end fund category).

The average yield of the sector, from the start of the year, was 0.17 percent, while the average weighed yield was 2.24 percent. The Investment index in the Athens Stock Exchange is down 6.06 percent so far this year, while the market's composite index is up 2.95 percent over the same period.

Out of the 18 firms in the sector, 12 reported positive internal value returns, ranging from 0.17 pct to 6.74 pct, while the remaining six reported negative returns from -0.40 pct to -16.84 pct.

The average weighed discount of the sector was 8.36 pct in April 28.

[21] Communist, Coalition parties criticize Olympic Airways privatization

The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) and the Coalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology on Friday criticized the bid for the Olympic Airways company's privatization and stressed the need for air transport to belong to a public agency.

KKE said in an announcement "the ND government, taking over from the PASOK governments, is preparing to deal the decisive blow at Olympic Airways. Through methodisation at the European Court, its complete strangulation and disdain is being attempted on behalf of the capitalists and the further facilitation of its buyoff with even worse consequences for the employees and for the wide popular classes as a whole."

The party called on working people "to condemn the policy of PASOK and ND, which led the situation to the present level, as well as the handlings of the government" and to struggle "for the only beneficial solution: air transport to belong to a public agency, while the criterion must be meeting popular needs."

Speaking to reporters, Coalition party leader Alekos Alavanos said "we would like a wider social and political front to support the struggles of working people. We would like to have common action with KKE. We are prepared to have and we would like to have with PASOK as well, provided that its president sends a message that his policy is against the privatization and in favor of the public character of Olympic Airways."

[22] Aegean Airlines announces changes in scheduled flights for Saturday

Aegean Airlines on Friday announced changes in its scheduled flights for Saturday due to a four-hour work stoppage by air traffic controllers.

A work stoppage by Greek air traffic controllers, from 12.00 to 16.00 local time on Saturday, led Aegean Airlines to cancel five return domestic flights from Athens to Mykonos, Rhodes, Chania, Heraklion and from Thessaloniki to Rhodes.

The Greek airline also announced changes in flight times for 48 scheduled flights.

[23] Greek stocks move cautiously higher

Greek stocks ended the last trading session of the week with small gains reflecting buying interest for blue chip stocks, particularly banks, in the last half hour of the session. The composite index ended 0.39 percent higher at 2,863.82 points, with turnover a moderate 113.9 million euros. Most sector indices ended higher, with the mining-cement up 1.89 percent, followed by constructions (+1.10 pct) and banks (+1.06 pct). On the other hand, the IT Solutions, Publications and Insurance sector suffered the heaviest percentage losses of the day (1.79 pct, 1.16 pct and 0.83 pct, respectively). The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks rose 0.61 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index ended 0.54 percent higher and the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index rose 0.06 percent. Broadly, decliners led advancers by 122 to 117 with another 93 issues unchanged.

Equity Index Futures: