Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 05-10-20

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

CONTENTS

[01] Tests for bird flu in Greece almost entirely negative so far, government stresses

[02] Commission says ban on poultry movements for Chios still in place

[03] Health minister visits Oinousses for briefing on single incident of H5 virus

[04] Trucks entering Greece from Turkey and Bulgaria disinfected as precautionary measure against avian flu

[05] Greece most likely not infected by bird flu, veterinary professor says

[06] Supreme court orders investigation into media furor over bird flu case

[07] President Papoulias concludes official visit to Cyprus

[08] Day of Cyprus' vindication approaching, Greek President Papoulias says

[09] Papoulias honored by municipalities in Cyprus

[10] Turkey continues 'tough line' vis-a-vis Cyprus, demands EU lift embargo of occupied areas

[11] PM confers with Education minister

[12] Pavlopoulos adamant over gov't intent to fight corruption

[13] PASOK party spokesman doubts statements by ministers on transparency and corruption

[14] File on terrorism in Greece is still open, public order minister stresses

[15] Public works minister denies allegations by PASOK party regarding public works projects

[16] Venizelos criticizes gov't policy on social security reform

[17] Broadcasting needs to be 'cleaned up', Development Minister says

[18] FM meets with KKE representative

[19] Defense ministry criticizes PASOK party on hiring of professional soldiers

[20] Union submits bill proposal on safeguarding of religious freedom

[21] Parliament president meets with Serbia-Montenegro ambassador

[22] Event held in memory of PASOK's Marilena Êonali-Kontou

[23] Greek politician Maria Vassilakou candidate for Greens Party in Vienna municipal and local elections

[24] Greece to abolish tax incentives to foreign enterprises

[25] S&P said Greece needs more measures to reduce deficit

[26] Government efforts to bring Greece into new digital era

[27] Greece strengthens its presence in export markets

[28] Tourist development ministry shaping new strategy on tourist training

[29] Tourist minister gives interview to Greek community newspaper in U.S.,

[30] Greece had the lowest price in unleaded fuel in Europe in September and the third lowest in diesel

[31] SYN leader visits Papastratos tobacco company

[32] Journalist unionists brief labor minister on occupational issues

[33] Greek stocks drop sharply, tagging international markets

[34] CoE meeting on migration

[35] Turkish people-smuggler sentenced to life by Samos court

[36] Latest publication details impact of Macedonia, as a name, on modern Greece since 1912

[37] Italian FM Fini unveils draft UN resolution calling for Olympic Truce for Turin 2006 Winter Games

[38] Olympiakos loses 2-1 away to Lyon in Champions League match

[39] International Agreement's plan against doping to be tabled in Parliament

[40] EPP favors solution based on UN resolutions and EU values

[41] Russian Deputy Defense Minister holds meetings in Cyprus

[01] Tests for bird flu in Greece almost entirely negative so far, government stresses

ATHENS, 20/10/2005 (ANA)

The spokesman underlined that experts were not alarmed by the results of tests taken from the free-range farm at Oinousses, since most of the birds in the same farm had been found clear of the H5 virus.

He also stressed that the single positive result had been obtained after the sample had been tested three times and that this had only shown evidence leading to a suspicion of H5, with symptoms shown at the preliminary stages of bird flu rather than the full-blown disease.

"From the evidence so far, there is no cause for concern. A single sample is not so important, what matters is the total of samples taken," the spokesman added.

Roussopoulos said that tests for avian flu had been carried out on random samples over the past few months following discussion among EU member-states. He said the scientific method used called for taking samples from several birds to determine if the disease had spread, while all the results so far had been negative.

He explained that tests have been carried out on a north-south axis, following the path of migratory birds.

According to the spokesman, up to 50 samples had been taken in the past week, one of which was from the farm in Oinousses where a single bird tested positive for the virus.

"The next step, according to the scientists in charge, was to take more samples from the same area. Out of nine samples taken, representing more than 50 per cent of the birds in the specific farm, eight were blood samples that were examined by the Thessaloniki Laboratory and one was a tissue sample was sent to the veterinary laboratories in London."

"Today, we have collected 154 samples in Thessaloniki, of which 40 have been tested and were all negative. We also have 44 samples from Athens, of which 16 have been tested and are all negative, while tests are continuing," the spokesman said.

He also announced that two EU experts were arriving in Athens to assist Greek authorities on Thursday, at the invitation of the agriculture ministry.

Concerning exports of poultry, Roussopoulos clarified that the island Chios - under whose jurisdiction the smaller island of Oinousses falls - was is a major poultry-exporting region and that the birds had been from a small family concern, destined for own or local use. He said Greek authorities will carry out an investigation at customs to see if there had been any trade of poultry with neighboring Turkey, while stressing that this was in any case not allowed.

The spokesman also pointed to the praise given to Greece by both the EU presidency and the European Commission, for its response in the affair.

[02] Commission says ban on poultry movements for Chios still in place

BRUSSELS, 20/10/2005 (ANA)

He also announced that the Commission was sending out three Community experts, who will arrive on Chios on Thursday, to give technical support to Greek authorities.

He also announced that a European-wide drill for dealing with a possible pandemic will be held at the end of November to test the readiness of state mechanisms in the 25 EU member-states to deal with a crisis of this sort.

[03] Health minister visits Oinousses for briefing on single incident of H5 virus

OINOUSSES, 20/10/2005 (ANA)

Although initial tests showed that the sample, taken from a dead turkey on a remote family homestead, tested positive for the H5 type of viruses, other tests in Britain are expected to confirm -- in roughly six days -- whether it is the menacing H5N1 strain, Greek officials said on Wednesday.

"There is absolutely no problem in Oinousses, neither with the residents, nor for all of Greece," Kaklamanis, the former clinical director of radiology at a public hospital in Athens, told reporters.

Kaklamanis, at the head of a delegation of regional officials and medical experts, did his best to lighten the mood on the small island and around the east Mediterranean country, enjoying a dish of locally produced poultry at an island restaurant in what was undoubtedly the "photo opportunity" of the week.

He also stressed that no special precautions are necessary for either the couple that raised the suspect turkeys or for the island's residents, in general.

Authorities again disinfected the area around where the dead turkey was found and properly disposed of the carcasses of dead fowl in a landfill, reports state.

Additionally, the high-ranking delegation presented physicians at the isle's clinic with 20 flu vaccinations for high-risk groups before returning to Chios, after lunching in Oinousses, to attend a meeting of physicians of the region.

Oinousses lies just off the eastern coast of the large island of Chios, with the opposite Turkish coast farther to the east.

Main opposition calls on gov't to brief parliament on bird flu

Nine main opposition PASOK MPs called on Wednesday for the Parliamentary Committee on Production and Commerce to convene in order to be briefed by Minister of Agricultural Development and Foods Evangelos Basiakos on avian influenza.

"Ministers' contradictory statements and the insufficient information provided to citizens threaten to transform the bird flu into public panic," MPs said in a statement.

"Thousands of citizens are lining up at pharmacies for flu shots that do nothing against bird flu, while poultry breeders are finding themselves at an impasse with long-term, disastrous consequences," they said.

In a related development, PASOK Spokesman Nikos Athanassakis blamed the government for "the confusion and panic created among the public regarding bird flu".

Athanassakis said the government handled the matter "incompetently" and called on ministers "to get serious."

Finally, he urged citizens to listen to experts' opinions and not those of ministers.

[04] Trucks entering Greece from Turkey and Bulgaria disinfected as precautionary measure against avian flu

ATHENS, 20/10/2005 (ANA)

The operation of the two disinfection tunnels is part of precautionary measures which have been taken to prevent the entry of the avian influenza (bird flu) into Greece.

Meanwhile, within the next few days the results are expected of tests of the second batch of 69 samples of migratory birds, which were sent to the Thessaloniki Reference Laboratory of the Agricultural Development and Foods Ministry for the checking of bird flu.

[05] Greece most likely not infected by bird flu, veterinary professor says

ATHENS, 20/10/2005 (ANA)

He also said that all procedures dictated by national and EU legislation were followed.

"The news is good. Except for the laboratory tests, which according to [national] law, veterinary practice, and EU law, must continue, looking at the epidemiological and clinical data that we have from the turkeys in Oinousses, it seems that there is no case of bird flu, the kind that has devastated Southeast Asia. That flu, especially in turkeys, causes death within 48 hours and wipes them out," he said.

Kyriakis explained that while one of the nine turkeys proved positive to the H5 virus, this in itself is not cause for alarm.

Among the various strains of the virus, it is the H5N1 strain that is deadly and which has caused numerous deaths in Southeast Asia.

Results from viral tests that will determine which strain of the H5 virus the infected turkey carried, are expected next week.

[06] Supreme court orders investigation into media furor over bird flu case

ATHENS, 20/10/2005 (ANA)

One out of nine samples taken from a small private poultry farm on the island, which belongs to the Prefecture of Chios, tested positive for the bird flu virus though results for the specific strain will become available next week.

The Ministry of Agricultural Development and Foods has sent more samples for viral testing to laboratories in Thessaloniki and London.

[07] President Papoulias concludes official visit to Cyprus

LARNACA, 20/10/2005 (ANA/A.Viketos/CNA)

Accompanying President Papoulias at Larnaca Airport, Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos asked his Greek counterpart to convey to the Greek government, all politicians and the Greek people, Cyprus' gratitude for its unanimous input in efforts to end the continued tragedy on the island.

In a statement before departing, Papoulias said he returns home strongly moved with everything that he had lived in the last four days and for him the visit was a spiritual elation.

"I was spiritually elated because I experienced the high morale of the people of Cyprus, and concern because I experienced their concern over the continued Turkish barbarism on the island", he stressed.

The Greek President said that he is "very encouraged by the discussions he had with President Papadopoulos and with Cyprus' political leadership".

He expressed the view that "under these preconditions and with this morale, we will achieve in the end what we are pursuing, a free Cyprus, without occupation troops, a Cyprus that will prosper in the great EU family".

President Papadopoulos in his statement said the UN decisions and the EU principles offer the framework and basis of the Cyprus problem.

"We will move within this framework to support and achieve the aim of a solution", President Papadopoulos said. He added that in this effort, Greece remains our supporter.

The Cypriot President thanked Papoulias for his visit and the message it conveys to the people.

"It sends messages of unwavering support for the final justification of our common struggle", the president added.

Papadopoulos stressed that Papoulias' visit renewed his interest for Cyprus and "gave us the opportunity to reiterate the sincere respect we have for you", he added.

"We assure you that we will continue with consistency to work and cooperate to achieve a functional and viable solution to our national issue", the president concluded.

A red carpet departure ceremony was held in the presence of President Papadopoulos and the island's political, religious, military leadership and the cabinet.

During his stay on the island, President Papadopoulos held meetings with President Papadopoulos and the island's political leadership.

He also visited Makedonitissa Tomb in Nicosia, where army officers and soldiers killed during the 1974 Turkish invasion are buried, and laid a wreath and was declared honorary citizen of Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca, Paphos, Paralimni, Derynia and occupied Famagusta.

[08] Day of Cyprus' vindication approaching, Greek President Papoulias says

DERYNEIA, Cyprus, 20/10/2005 (ANA/N. Megadoukas)

Papoulias expressed the hope that at his next visit to Cyprus he would not meet with the mayors of occupied cities but of free areas, stressing Cyprus and Greece have made substantial progress in attaining advanced positions in the battle they were waging for a solution of the Cyprus problem.

Papoulias noted that when he had served as foreign minister (in the 1980s under the PASOK governments of Andreas Papandreou) and people would tell him that Cyprus would join the European Union, he would reply that the scenario appeared to be in a "futuristic" realm.

The President said that he was returning to Greece more optimistic, as during his visit to Cyprus he had received the message of constant struggle to the final victory, a victory of moral order against barbarity, a victory of European civilization against Attila (the code-name given to the 1974 Turkish invasion and occupation of the northern part of Cyprus) and the barbarian occupation.

"I return to Greece fortified by the militant spirit and pulse that I lived with you," he said, adding that in his life he head waged difficult and unequal battles with difficult enemies, battles which he had won, and therefore was in a position to noted that the day of the Cyprus issue's vindication was approaching.

[09] Papoulias honored by municipalities in Cyprus

NICOSIA, 20/10/2005 (ANA/N.Megadoukas/CNA)

In Limassol President Papoulias said Cyprus can and should be able to look to the future with optimism, maintaining inextinguishable the vision of reunification.

Receiving the town's gold key from Mayor Demetris Kontides during a ceremony in the presence of municipal, church and military authorities as well as students and citizens, Papoulias said "Cyprus is a favorite destination and with admiration I ascertain the progress and welfare of the Cypriot society, despite the long-term open wounds of people being displaced and occupation".

He commented on Limassol's progress, saying that despite the fact that it was the town that received most of the refugees during the 1974 Turkish invasion of the island, "it managed to turn the pain into creativity". "Today Limassol maintains the largest transit port in the Mediterranean and is a bridge of communication and cooperation between Europe with the Middle East and the wider Eastern Mediterranean".

On his part, Kontides welcoming Papoulias said his visit sends a message that Greece is closer to Cyprus more than ever.

"We look to you and place our hopes in Greece for the justification of our struggles", he added.

Traveling to the Famagusta district, Papoulias stopped at Paralimni and was greeted with a bouquet of flowers by the daughter of Tasos Isaak, Anastasia, who was murdered by Turks in August 1996, during anti-occupation demonstrations.

Papoulias said the "pain is great but the soul is uplifted when the Greek youth gives up its life for freedom".

Welcomed at Paralimni Municipality by Mayor Nicos Vlittis, Papoulias said he was honored to be in Paralimni where Isaak and Solomos Solomou sacrificed their lives for their country's freedom.

Papoulias conveyed once again to the people of Cyprus, Greece's support in efforts for reunification and a solution. "We will continue to work with determination and consistency so that all can live in peace and free, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots", he added.

Handing him the key to the town and declaring him honorary citizen, Vlittis expressed the hope that during his next visit to the island, Famagusta will be free.

In a ceremony at Derynia, which borders Turkish occupied Famagusta, its Mayor Andreas Shapanis welcomed Papoulias saying his presence "reveals the true feelings of love that he has for our small and tortured Cyprus".

Shapanis pledged that despite the fact that 75% of Derynia is under Turkish occupation, "we will not yield and will continue the fight for national survival".

Speaking in Larnaca where he was handed the gold key to the city, President Papoulias assured Cypriot Hellenism that he will continue working systematically and in coordination with Cypriots in fulfilling the common vision and for Hellenism's progress.

Larnaca Mayor Andreas Moiseos said the "indissoluble bonds of the two countries are reaffirmed with Papoulias' visit. The fact that Cyprus was your first official visit as President constitutes a clear message that Greece will continue to stand by the struggle of the people of Cyprus".

[10] Turkey continues 'tough line' vis-a-vis Cyprus, demands EU lift embargo of occupied areas

ISTANBUL, 20/10/2005 (ANA - A. Kourkoulas)

"The Greek Cypriots are trying to shift the Cyprus issue from the UN to the EU," Turkish foreign ministry spokesman Namik Tan told reporters, while adding:

"The Greek Cypriot administration must meet the calls and expectations of UN General Secretary Kofi Annan instead of wasting time over such initiatives..."

The Turkish spokesman also demanded that the 25-member Union approve of measures lifting restrictions against the Turkish-occupied pseudo-state in Cyprus' north, warning that "if it does not approve those regulations then it (the European Union) will lose the trust of the Turkish people and the 'Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus'," Tan said, referring to the small and isolated pseudo-state in occupied Cyprus that is recognized only by Ankara.

Finally, he said a military exercise in the free areas of EU member-state Cyprus does not aid stability and cooperation in the region.

[11] PM confers with Education minister

ATHENS, 20/10/2005 (ANA)

Yannakou made no statements after the meeting.

The premier later met with Cabinet secretary Argyris Karras.

[12] Pavlopoulos adamant over gov't intent to fight corruption

ATHENS, 20/10/2005 (ANA)

The three-day conference is hosted by the National Centre for Public Administration and Local Administration in cooperation with the European Anti-Fraud Office.

In pointing to results from the government's efforts so far, Pavlopoulos noted that a recent report by the NGO Transparency International refers to a "clear improvement" in terms of Greece's "corruption index", something he said overturns the trend over recent years in the country.

Besides Greek public administration officials, EU member-states' representatives as well as officials from EU candidate-states (Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey) and other Balkan countries (Albania, FYROM and Serbia-Montenegro) are also attending the conference.

[13] PASOK party spokesman doubts statements by ministers on transparency and corruption

ATHENS, 20/10/2005 (ANA)

Athanasakis claimed that the country has not improved its position at all, adding that a half truth is a whole lie. He also provided data according to which Greece had even been in the 35th position compared to the 47th position it has in the current year.

The spokesman further said that the ruling New Democracy party is bound by the way with which it had handled issues of corruption when it was in the opposition.

[14] File on terrorism in Greece is still open, public order minister stresses

ATHENS, 20/10/2005 (ANA)

He stressed that investigations were continuing, that the file on terrorism remained open and everything related to terrorist activity in Greece was being constantly re-evaluated in an attempt to shed light on the very least aspect of terrorist crimes.

At the same time, Voulgarakis also noted that the organizations that had troubled Greece in the past had today been fully dismantled and all their crimes had been attributed.

In order for the case to finally be put on the shelf, however, there must be an answer to every last question and the last piece of the 'puzzle' must be put in place, he stressed.

"Phenomena such as terrorism cannot be exorcised, they have to be faced. It would be politically naive to think that this phenomenon can be wiped off the face of the earth and cease," he added.

Voulgarakis said that the slain Pavlos Bakoyiannis, whose 16 years ago became one of the most high-profile and celebrated victims of Greek terrorism after he was shot in a busy Athens thoroughfare, had been an major political personality that had played a decisive role in the developments of that time. According to the minister, the consequences and repercussions of Bakoyiannis' murder had not been adequately analyzed up to the present day.

Athens Mayor Dora Bakoyianni, who had been married to the murdered politician, said that the issue of terrorism in Greece remained open and demanded constant effort and struggle.

While agreeing that the greater part of the terrorists responsible were now behind bars, she stressed that all sides must remember that a terrorist strike is a strike against Greek society, democracy, its values and principles.

"Democracy is not self-evident in any part of the world. Democracy is a tree that we must daily care for and defend," Bakoyianni stressed as she concluded her speech.

The hall was named after Pavlos Bakoyiannis to mark Day of the Police and the patron saint of the police force, the martyr St. Artemios. It was named after Bakoyiannis in tribute to the sole member of the Greek Parliament to have been murdered by the terrorist group "November 17" and in memory of victims of terrorism everywhere.

The ceremony was also attended by family members of terrorist victims, including the Athens mayor and her father, former premier and ND honorary president Constantine Mitsotakis.

[15] Public works minister denies allegations by PASOK party regarding public works projects

ATHENS, 20/10/2005 (ANA)

Souflias said that never during his 30-year political career did he preoccupy himself with talk of scandals and stressed that it is "disgraceful that facts should be distorted and that with lies and mudslinging the country cannot forge ahead".

"Yesterday, in an announcement, the press office of the public ministry replied in a complete and substantiated manner to all that was discussed about public works projects at the Coordinating Body of PASOK and in particular to the lies and populism supported by some," he said.

Souflias further said he was "indignant" with the effort made by these "some" to embroil the public works ministry in the climate of scandal talk "which, unfortunately, is again poisoning our political life, claiming that allegedly the ministry is favoring the blue (meaning pro-government) contractor Mr. Emfietzoglou and this is supposedly evident in that he came through the window to the projects of Maliakos and the Agrinio Ringroad."

The minister concluded by saying that "we must all decide that the Greek people are entitled to know the truth. That democracy only breathes with truth. And that with lies and mudslinging the country cannot forge ahead."

[16] Venizelos criticizes gov't policy on social security reform

ATHENS, 20/10/2005 (ANA)

Venizelos called the government's policy on the issue 'hypocritical' whereby on the one hand, the government wants to start a long-term social dialogue on the issue, while on the other "it [the government] systematically and conscientiously undermines the viability of pension funds and of the social security system."

The former minister also accused the government of refusing to fulfill the state's legal obligations towards the social security fund IKA and other pension funds.

The government, Venizelos said, "has failed to allocate at least ¬ 1.2 billion in its 2006 budget for the funding of social security".

Finally, he accused the government of "burdening IKA and subsequently the insured and pensioners with other pension funds' deficits", citing the Hellenic Telecommunications Organization's (OTE) pension fund TAP-OTE and the National Bank of Greece, which is considering a voluntary redundancy scheme, as examples.

[17] Broadcasting needs to be 'cleaned up', Development Minister says

ATHENS, 20/10/2005 (ANA)

Sioufas said broadcasting is in an anarchic state, a situation that needs to change so that broadcasting can operate based on the Constitution and the rules that apply in a well-governed state.

"This is what we are trying to do," he said.

Regarding main opposition PASOK MPs' proposed amendment to the bill, which would enable journalists who are members of trade unions to manage radio stations, Sioufas said that this was not possible, since the bill concerns an EU directive.

Former Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis argued for adopting the amendment, saying that the recent closing of Flash radio station is a repeat of the same incident that occurred 15 years ago prior to an election, "when the same owner shut down a newspaper he had been publishing until then."

Communist Party of Greece (KKE) MP N. Gatzis asked that the government reconsider adopting the amendment, while Coalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology (SYN) MP Asimina Xyrotiri-Ekaterinari voiced her support for the amendment.

Independent State Deputy Stefanos Manos said the amendment had nothing to do with the bill.

[18] FM meets with KKE representative

ATHENS, 20/10/2005 (ANA)

KKE deputy Orestis Kolozov made the statement following a meeting in Athens with Foreign Minister Petros Molyviatis. The former also told reporters that he outlined his party's position regarding Turkey's EU prospects, the Cyprus issue and the FYROM 'name issue'.

[19] Defense ministry criticizes PASOK party on hiring of professional soldiers

ATHENS, 20/10/2005 (ANA)

The deputies said that in a test concerning the air force 242 candidates were included in the list of those who had passed as an exclusive result of their interview.

"Once again PASOK is following the path of petty partisan expediency, attempting to exploit the anxiety of young people to find employment," the defense ministry said in an announcement.

"This divisive logic in which it is insisting in investing creates only regret over the way opposition is being exercised," the announcement added.

[20] Union submits bill proposal on safeguarding of religious freedom

ATHENS, 20/10/2005 (ANA)

The proposal was welcomed by the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) and the Coalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology (Synaspismos), through their representatives Antonis Skyllakos and Fotis Kouvelis, respectively, and by independent deputy Stefanos Manos.

During the presentation of the proposal which was made at the Athens Journalists Union (ESHEA), the vice-president of the Union for the Rights of People and the Citizen, Athens University professor Nikos Alivizatos, said that the proposal "which will be submitted to all the political parties for adoption, does not constitute a 'firework' and will have political continuity."

He said that on Tuesday evening representatives of the Union met with Education and Religious Affairs Minister Marietta Yiannakou so as to submit to her the proposal, while in the coming days they will meet with main opposition Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) leader George Papandreou, Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Secretary-General and Synaspismos leader Alekos Alavanos.

Alivizatos also noted that the union's proposal "does not seek the separation of the Church from the State but the settlement of relations between them."

[21] Parliament president meets with Serbia-Montenegro ambassador

ATHENS, 20/10/2005 (ANA)

[22] Event held in memory of PASOK's Marilena Êonali-Kontou

ATHENS, 20/10/2005 (ANA)

Papandreou, who was the main speaker, referred to her "significant political activity and to her dynamism and the optimism" with which she fought against cancer over the past 15 years.

[23] Greek politician Maria Vassilakou candidate for Greens Party in Vienna municipal and local elections

VIENNA, 20/10/2005 (ANA/D. Dimitrakoudis)

Many opinion polls of the past weeks show the party of the 36-year-old Greek woman of being neck and neck with the conservative People's Party of Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel for second place in Vienna, having greatly improved its percentage from the municipal and local elections in March 2001.

In an exclusive interview to the Athens News Agency (ANA) Wednesday, Vassilakou said she has set as a target 18 per cent and will view any result of her party above 16 per cent as a very great success, given that four and a half years ago it had received 12.5 per cent. The second objective, very important for the Greens, is for them to pass the People's Party of the chancellor, given that this would mean an "earthquake" in the political life of Austria.

She said that it would give her particular joy what is ascertained in the all the polls, that the Greens will be well ahead of the extreme-right Freedom Party, which in the last elections was second party with 20 per cent and now the polls place them at 8 per cent.

[24] Greece to abolish tax incentives to foreign enterprises

ATHENS, 20/10/2005 (ANA)

Economy and Finance Minister George Alogoskoufis on Wednesday announced an amendment of the law 87/1967 covering the installation of foreign enterprises to Greece in the framework of harmonizing Greek legislation to Community law.

Speaking to reporters, Alogoskoufis said duty and tax exempts offered by an existing legislation were incompatible with community law since Greece has pledged to maintain these incentives by December 31, 2005. Under the new legislation, all foreign enterprises in the commerce and manufacturing sectors would be included in a new tax regulation system, while corporate tax on earnings would change by using the method of adding a pre-set profit percentage on spending and amortizations.

The Greek minister stressed that foreign enterprises based in Greece should be obliged to employ at least five people and to report operating spending of at least 100,000 euros annually. "We cannot compete with our neighboring countries in labor cost but we can offer many other comparative advantages," he said.

Commenting on the dialogue on reforming the pension system, Alogoskoufis said the government supported a dialogue with interested parties and aimed to take initiatives towards this direction, while he reiterated a government's decision not to take any measures during this four-year term. The Greek minister acknowledged that tax receipts fell below expectations so far this year but he sounded optimistic over final results.

[25] S&P said Greece needs more measures to reduce deficit

ATHENS, 20/10/2005 (ANA)

"We acknowledge the better than expected performance of the Greek economy in 2006 after a rise in public investments due to the Olympic Games in 2004," S&P's analyst Trevor Cullinan said in a report. "However, the government continues to resort to one-off measures in its budget, equaling at least 1.0 percent of GDP in 2005, leading to reduced fiscal flexibility in the medium- and long-term".

S&P expects the general government's deficit to total 4.5 pct of GDP this year and stressed that economic imbalances were widening, with the current account deficit reaching 7.7 pct of GDP in the first half of 2005, from 6.4 pct last year. The credit ratings agency expects the country's public debt to total 106 pct of GDP in 2006, slightly above budget projections.

"Greece lacks a coherent strategy to contain public spending over the long term," S&P said, adding that "additional measures are likely to be necessary to reach the deficit target of less than 3.0 pct of GDP in 2006".

Standard & Poor's downgraded Greece to "A" from "A+" last November.

[26] Government efforts to bring Greece into new digital era

ATHENS, 20/10/2005 (ANA)

The government and Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis, personally, consider a matter of priority the issue of immediate emergence from the state of aphasia to the development of the Information Society, having acknowledged from the very first moment Greece's delay in the development of the Internet. He added that the government was determined, and had already commenced the effort, so that Greece can achieve a dynamic development of the Information Society, based on and responding to the challenge of its euro-zone membership.

The deputy minister said that the national telecoms infrastructure comprised the 'backbone' of the Information Society.

He said the goal of a new bill that would be voted in parliament after long consultations was the development of the domestic market, which would be achieved through elimination of the existing obstacles to the provision of electronic services networks, contingent facilities and networkers, and electronic communications services.

Nerantzis stressed that a necessary means for achievement of that target was simplification of the conditions for entry into the market with the abolition of the individual license, while the bill would also introduce a new framework for licensing for the use of radio frequencies.

[27] Greece strengthens its presence in export markets

ATHENS, 20/10/2005 (ANA)

Speaking to reporters during a news conference, Drosos said 42 percent more exhibitors participated in the Greek pavilion, totalling 170 companies from 120 in 2003, of which 44 were new enterprises focusing on exports. The Greek pavilion was the fourth largest in the trade fair, behind Italy, Spain and China.

Drosos also unveiled OPE's policy priorities, including increased participation to the organization's programs and initiatives, expanding a "Kerasma" campaign aimed to promote Greek food in the next six months and successfully organizing a world congress on Greek food and cuisine in Athens, March 16-19 2006. OPE also seeks to boost Greek presence in target-markets with scheduled actions at least every four months, organizing 30 business trips to priority markets, establishing OPE's exports club services and strengthening communications with enterprises, agencies and associations.

[28] Tourist development ministry shaping new strategy on tourist training

ATHENS, 20/10/2005 (ANA)

Liaskos said that tourist training is being upgraded with the establishment of a University Tourist Faculty, following a decision taken by the Inner Cabinet. In parallel, a committee has been created at the ministry on modernizing the tourist education and training framework.

In another development, Liaskos had a meeting with the members of the Athens Archdiocese, who are participating in the Committee on Religious and Pilgrim Tourism, which has been created in the framework of a ministerial decision to develop a relevant tourist sector.

The meeting was held after the first regular meeting of the committee's members at the ministry on Wednesday.

Liaskos was briefed by the delegation's head Archimandrite Spyridon Katramados on the outcome of the meeting, while the issue of the participation of the Greek delegation in events organized by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexiy in the Russian capital in November was also discussed.

[29] Tourist minister gives interview to Greek community newspaper in U.S.,

NEW YORK 20/10/2005 (ANA)

In an interview with the daily Greek community newspaper "Ethnikos Kyrikas" (National Herald), he said that "unfortunately, they had put them (national issues) to sleep for an entire decade and as a result our foreign policy had not been prepared for their outcome expected one way or another. It is fortunate that at this so delicate and difficult phase these issues are being handled by (foreign minister Petros) Mr. Molyviatis, who is experienced, perceptive and wise."

The minister then stressed the need for solidarity among all the political and social forces. "Greece must move in a spirit of unity and self-confidence," he said, adding that "we always recognize that foreign policy is not assessed and judged by everyday affairs and the ephemeral nature of events, but by what repercussions the handlings in the depth of time have for our country."

Referring to his meetings during his stay in New York, Avramopoulos said that he discussed and presented "integrated programs" to important businessmen who shape the tourist wave and tourist movement in the United States towards various destinations.

[30] Greece had the lowest price in unleaded fuel in Europe in September and the third lowest in diesel

ATHENS, 20/10/2005 (ANA)

According to the data (sample of September 14, 2005 in all the countries, with the average price of crude oil at 62 dollars per barrel), Greece again maintained in September the lowest price of unleaded with an average price of 1.02 euros per liter against 0.93 euros per liter in August 2005.

Greece also maintained the third lowest price in diesel with 0.99 euros per liter in September against 0.92 euros in August, against 0.90 Euro in Luxembourg and 0.98 euros in Spain.

In the price of unleaded, Greece was followed by Spain, Luxembourg, Ireland and Austria while the highest price was in Finland, Belgium and The Netherlands.

[31] SYN leader visits Papastratos tobacco company

ATHENS, 20/10/2005 (ANA)

Speaking specifically in regards to Papastratos, Alavanos said that "all measures must be taken necessary for protecting employees' jobs and rights in accordance with the labor contract they've signed."

[32] Journalist unionists brief labor minister on occupational issues

ATHENS, 20/10/2005 (ANA)

According to a ministry statement, Panayiotopoulos assured committee representatives that the ministry would do everything in its power, in cooperation with other responsible ministries, to resolve the industry's problems.

The ministry said that while progress has been made in protecting and improving rights of employees in mass media, more needs to be done in order to resolve chronic problems.

[33] Greek stocks drop sharply, tagging international markets

ATHENS, 20/10/2005 (ANA)

The composite index ended the day 1.92 pct down to close at 3,276.81 points, with turnover at 287.9 million euros.

The day was marked by losses across the board, with the biggest percentage drops in the sectors of Insurance (3.61 pct), Information Technology (2.83 pct), Telecoms (2.54 pct) and Banking (2.12 pct).

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks fell 2.01 pct, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index fell 1.33 pct and the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index ended 1.16 pct lower.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 206 to 75 with another 52 issues unchanged.

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