Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 05-11-05

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greece and Italy sign agreement on natural gas pipeline

[02] Italy's Scaiola on Greek-Italian natural gas pipeline

[03] China is safe country, Greek public order minister says, as Chinese press hails Olympics Security cooperation memorandum

[04] Albanian FM says cancellation of Greek, Albanian Presidents' meeting should not affect the good bilateral relations

[05] PM confers with interior minister

[06] Pavlopoulos denies gov't legislation flouts EU rules, constitution

[07] Defence minister to brief parliament on proposed F-16s purchase

[08] PASOK leader tours Thesprotia, visits Igoumenitsa

[09] PASOK ready to assume governance of country, party leader says

[10] MP for Serres Achilleas Karamanlis resigns

[11] Synaspismos leader accuses gov't of 'disdaining' Parliament

[12] Synaspismos Central Political Committee to meet at weekend

[13] Ecumenical Patriarchate could be Europe's bridge with Islam

[14] Holy Synod discusses issue of transparency in Church

[15] Greek envoy meets U.S. senator

[16] Greek-Chinese relations have favourable growth prospects

[17] ECOFIN to discuss Greek economy next Tuesday

[18] Greek military airports to service charter flights

[19] Business activity rates in Greece exceed GEM average, report

[20] Greek closed-end investment funds' assets eased slightly in October

[21] PASOK party cadre visits 21st Philoxenia exhibition

[22] Turkish hoteliers award 20 Greek travel agencies

[23] Increase in number of Greek tourists visiting Belgrade

[24] Budget deficit down 11.9 percent in Jan-Sept

[25] Int'l auto show opens in Athens

[26] Greeks work more, Eurostat says

[27] Finance minister and Athens mayor discuss construction of new stadium for Panathinaikos

[28] Real estate owners ask for two-month delay in new tax regime

[29] Romanian PM visits Greek pavilion at Indagra food & beverage fair

[30] Athens bar raises objections to street surveillance cameras

[31] Minister of state addresses conference on regional Press

[32] Deputy minister holds dinner for foreign scholarship students

[33] Mastermind of 'Marselino' kidnapping missing after prison leave

[34] Actor called to testify in judicial corruption investigation

[35] Albanian fugitive wanted for murder in Greece found in Iceland by Interpol

[36] European conference of sports museums in Thessaloniki

[37] Book of photographs presented by Attica local authority union

[38] Cyprus and France to set up a structured dialogue

[39] France's support to Cyprus acknowledged during talks in Paris

[40] EU to call Turkey to support efforts for a Cyprus settlement

[01] Greece and Italy sign agreement on natural gas pipeline

Development Minister Dimitris Sioufas and Italian Minister for Productive Activities Claudio Scaiola signed an agreement on Friday for the construction of a natural gas pipeline.

Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Mehmet Guler was also present at the signing.

In a statement released after the signing, all three ministers acknowledge the significance of linking the three countries' natural gas networks as one of the five priorities in developing the Trans-European Energy Networks (TEN) to enable the transfer of natural gas from the Caspian Sea and the Mediterranean region to Turkey, Greece and Italy.

According to the ministers, linking the networks will contribute to improvements in safety, availability and diversifying natural gas sources for the broader region and the European Union.

The ministers also note in the statement that their governments have already supported the linking of the natural gas networks of Greece and Turkey, which is being carried out by Greece's DEPA SA and Turkey's BOTAS.

Italy's Edison S.p.A. and DEPA SA are responsible for the linking of the networks of Italy and Greece.

Finally, Sioufas, Scaiola and Guler emphasised that they are willing to cooperate in order to facilitate the construction of the pipeline and linking the networks. They also agreed to continue their constructive dialogue on energy matters related to the broader region.

In comments he made after the signing, the Greek minister noted the project's importance.

"With the construction of the underwater Greek-Italian natural gas pipeline, our countries along with Turkey, are being transformed into energy channels transporting natural gas from the Caspian Sea to major Western markets," he said.

Both the Greek and Italian governments, as well as Edison and DEPA have cooperated closely in order to promote the project which the European Commission has designated a top priority, Sioufas added.

"This agreement highlights once again the high level of cooperation between the two countries and their governments with one purpose only: The further development of bilateral relations, the expansion of our cooperation within the context of our European Union membership and our desire to transform the greater region into an area of growth in order to benefit our people, but also the peoples of Southeastern Europe," Sioufas said.

Sioufas also said that he was pleased by the presence of "our friend and colleague, Turkish Energy Minister Mr. Guler. His presence underscores the close cooperation on energy matters between Turkey, Greece and Italy."

He added that, "just four months ago we cooperated closely with Mr. Guler for the construction of the Greek-Turkish natural gas pipeline, which will be completed in roughly 15 months."

[02] Italy's Scaiola on Greek-Italian natural gas pipeline

Italian Productive Activities Minister Claudio Scaiola highlighted the significance of the Greek-Italian natural gas pipeline and the benefits for his country, following the signing of a relevant agreement between Greece and Italy on Friday.

The agreement enables the linking of Greece and Italy through an underwater natural gas pipeline, he said, adding that Italy stands to benefit on multiple levels from this project.

According to Scaiola, the project means greater amounts of natural gas available in Italy, low energy costs for households and industry, and a new role for Italy in Europe's energy sector as it will soon become an exporter of natural gas rather than an importer.

Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Mehmet Guler, also present at the signing, praised the agreement, noting that the three Mediterranean countries are links in a chain joined together by a common energy project.

[03] China is safe country, Greek public order minister says, as Chinese press hails Olympics Security cooperation memorandum

The Chinese media on Friday hailed the commencement of cooperation between Greece and China on Olympic Games security, following a memorandum of cooperation signed on Thursday afternoon between Greek Police (ELAS) chief Lt. Gen. George Angelakos and Beijing's chief of police Zhenchuan Ma, in the framework of a five-day visit by a Greek delegation to China, headed by public order minister George Voulgarakis.

Beijing will host the 2008 Olympic Games, following the successful 2004 Games organised by Athens.

The memorandum concerns the transfer of experience and knowhow acquired by the Greek police during the planning and implementation of the Olympics Security Model.

Voulgarakis, speaking on Chinese state television on Thusday, said the memorandum marked the commencement of an open cooperation between the two countries, adding that the cooperation, on the basis of the accord, would be made more specific during several specialised meetings between the two sides, aiming at Beijing's organising safe Games and winning the confidence of both athletes and visitors.

Replying to press questions, Voulgarakis said the cooperation included training and utilisation of the human potential, stressing that the precise content of the blaeral cooperation would be determined along the way.

China, he said, was taking an important step of cooperation with a country that had organised exceptionally safe Games.

Voulgarakis further said that this cooperation comprised a great honour for Greece, as both were countries with a great history and civilisation.

The Greek minister also lauded the progress made by Beijing in its preparations for the 2008 Games with respect to security.

China is a safe country, but as Olympics organisers it has to deal with threats and enemies against all the other nations that will be taking part in the Games, he explained, adding that Greece had planned its own Games on the basis of that precept, acquiring a unique experience that it would share with China.

The memorandum falls within the framework of cooperation between Chinese authorities and organisers and Greek authorities and police who are transferring the experience and know-how they gained from staging the 2004 Olympics.

According to the agreement, any issues that arise as Beijing prepares for the 2008 Olympics will be resolved through the cooperation of Beijing's Coordinating Centre for Olympic Games Security and the Greek ministry's Security Studies Centre.

After the signing, Voulgarakis said that "the cooperation between Greece and China on Olympic Games security does not only concern our excellent bilateral relations, but is mainly associated with the two countries' cultural heritage."

He added that "Greece's objective, as the birthplace of the Olympic Games, is to contribute as much as possible so that the Beijing Olympiad be held in a festive and safe environment. The People's Republic of China is proceeding at a fast and steady pace. I am certain that in 2008 we will experience one of the most successful, and of course grand, Olympic Games in history."

[04] Albanian FM says cancellation of Greek, Albanian Presidents' meeting should not affect the good bilateral relations

Albanian foreign minister Besnik Mustafaj on Friday expressed his conviction that the cancellation of a scheduled informal meeting between Greek President of the Republic Karolos Papoulias and Albanian President Alfred Moisiu earlier the week in the Albanian town of Sarande would not afffect the very good relations between the two countries, speaking on a political programme on Albanian television during which analysts commented on recent developments in Greek-Albanian relations.

A scheduled meeting between Papoulias and Moisiu on Tues-day in the southern Albanian town of Sarande was cancelled as the Greek head of state, after waiting for more than two hours at Greece's consulate in nearby Gjirokaster due to the presence of protestors outside a hotel where the meeting was to take place, called off the meeting and returned to Greece.

According to press reports, around 200 so-called "Chams" ringed the hotel in the coastal town of Sarande to press their long-standing demands against Greece, claims that date from the end of World War II. The group had reportedly been bussed to the southwest Albanian town from the country's north.

The Chams -- usually identified as a Muslim, Albanian-speaking group -- collaborated with the fascist and Nazi occupation forces in extreme northwest Greece -- mostly in the Thesprotia border prefecture -- during the Second World War, before fleeing the country for neighbouring Albania after Greece's liberation. Members of the group have at various times raised claims against the Greek government for property abandoned or confiscated because of wartime collaboration and war crimes, among others.

Athens dismisses the "Chams matter" as a non-existent issue. Despite the spectre of a WWII-era "thorn", Greece nevertheless hosts more than half a million Albanian guest workers on its territory and also serves as one of the biggest investors in the Balkan country to its northwest.

On Thursday, Athens said it the incident a "closed issue". A foreign policy spokesman made the statement after Greece's ambassador to Tirana met on Wednesday with the Albanian foreign minister to discuss the sudden development. Moreover, spokesman George Koumoutsakos reiterated Athens' standing commitment to constantly improving bilateral relations with the neighboring state.

Mustafaj, replying to a reporter's question during the programme on whether the 'Chams' protest had been "inspired" by the central authority in Tirana, categorically said "no", adding that, quite the contrary, the Albanian authorities had taken all the necessary measures so that "the protest would not exceed the boundaries of a democratic rally".

Meanwhile, prominent analysts in Albania placed "responsi-bilities" on Moisiu himself and on the Albanian security forces for the cancellation of the meeting, saying that the venue could have been changed and the meeting held "far away" from where the protest was taking place, given that it was an informal meeting.

[05] PM confers with interior minister

Prime minister Costas Karamanlis on Friday conferred with interior, public administration and decentralisation minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos.

After the meeting, Pavlopoulos told waiting reporters it was one of his regular meetings with the prime minister.

[06] Pavlopoulos denies gov't legislation flouts EU rules, constitution

Interior Minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos on Friday rejected that legislation introduced by the government flouted the Constitution and Community laws, in response to a question put by main opposition PASOK MP for Athens Andreas Lover-dos in Parliament.

According to Pavlopoulos, it was PASOK governments that had systematically flouted EU rules when in power, with 88 such violations recorded by EU agencies between 2001-2004 alone. As a examples, he pointed to the highly-publicised issue of the Kouroupitou dump on Crete, and bills passed by PASOK on contract workers and 'primary media shareholders'.

"If we now find ourselves having to answer to the EU and the Euro-court, it is because of the Reppas-Skandalidis decree on contract workers," the minister stressed.

Concerning legislation brought by the present government, the minister said that Parliament's records showed that, in most cases, the government had made adjustments where such problems were pointed out.

Loverdos, on his part, said there were 30 instances where legislation tabled by the ruling New Democracy government were contrary to the Constitution and Community law, according to the opinion of Parliament's legal committee.

[07] Defence minister to brief parliament on proposed F-16s purchase

National defence minister Spilios Spiliotopoulos on Friday called for the convening of parliament's standing committee on National Defence and Foreign Affairs for Wednesday morning.

According to a ministry announcement, the convening of the committee would enable him to brief the members in detail on all aspects of the imminent procurement of F-16 fighter jets for the Hellenic Air Force, and give him the opportunity to reply to any questions put forward.

[08] PASOK leader tours Thesprotia, visits Igoumenitsa

Main opposition PASOK leader Geroge Papandreou on Friday commenced a tour of Thesprotia prefecture, with his first stop in Dodoni.

Papandreou said his party would insist on a heating fuel subsidy, adding that this was a demand of the residents of all the mountainous regions of the country, due to the low temperatures prevailing there in the winter.

He said it was a matter of solidarity and humanity.

The PASOK leader met with the local government authorities and residents of the town, who complained about the low producer's price of milk.

Papandreou on Friday night, wound up a tour of Thesprotia with a visit to the port-city of Igoumenitsa in western Greece, where he was met by the prefects of Thesprotia and Preveza.

In a short speech, Papandreou said PASOK considered Epirus a top priority area for rapid convergence, which had to be achieved through investments in people and in the quality of agricultural products, which had to have a 'name of origin' and be competitive.

Afterwards, he visited the mayor of Igoumenitsa and then visited a local venue frequented by young people, where he stayed for about an hour talking with young people in the area.

In an earlier address at Paramythia, the second stop on his tour, the main opposition leader said that the Greek people "once again demanded a renewed PASOK to govern the country after the next elections, because the country faced huge problems that must be solved."

He had also underlined PASOK's faith in farmers and the need to use the new CAP in the best possible way, so that there was a new form of agricultural development.

[09] PASOK ready to assume governance of country, party leader says

Main opposition PASOK party leader George Papandreou, addressing a party rally in the seaside town of Igoumenitsa in northwestern Greece on Friday night, stressed the readiness of his party to assume the governance of the country the day after the elections, whenever they may be held.

Papandreou outlined his party's positions and launched an attack on the government and Prime Minister Costas Kara-manlis, saying that it appears that the government has contracted the disease of migratory birds and for this reason it will let PASOK rule the country soon.

The PASOK leader said that his party "is the great calm force of the popular movement and of progressive forces" and added that during the period it has been in the opposition it has showed that it has learnt from its mistakes and that soon it will be summoned on again to take up the country's reins.

Papandreou further said that after about two years since his party's defeat in the elections, "the people are turning again to PASOK from which they are expecting a great deal" and stressed that the party's new proposal "is based on the value named man, who constitutes the party's main direction for the next four years".

[10] MP for Serres Achilleas Karamanlis resigns

Ruling New Democracy MP for Serres Achilleas Karamanlis, the uncle of Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis, on Friday announced that he was giving up his seat in Parliament, which was awarded to him by a special elections court through a controversial decision to include blank ballots in the calculation of election percentages in the Pellas prefecture.

In a letter to Parliament President Anna Psarouda-Benaki, Karamanlis said he had made his decision after the government announced that it intended to overturn the legal precedent set by his case in the future.

"My decision is prompted by the same reasons that I accepted the court's decision, which as all know I neither provoked nor strove for. I mean my respect for court rulings for the laws of my country," the MP said.

Noting that this decision had exposed him to "a painful emotional trial of several months due to the savage attacks I received", as well as creating an unpleasant furore surrounding ND while the case was being tried, the MP questioned the party's failure to promptly inform him that it disagreed with the court's decision so that he might have turned down the chance at re-election.

Commenting on the MP's decision, ND Parliamentary group secretary Apostolos Stavrou called Achilleas Karamanlis a 'foremost political figure that had served ND for 40 years' and said that his decision "threw the accusations made against him back into the faces of those making them".

Karamanlis' seat will now go to former Serres prefect Ana-stasios Karypidis.

Former ND leader Miltiadis Evert, meanwhile, said that the MP's resignation would "sadden many Greeks, in and outside the Serres prefecture".

According to main opposition PASOK press spokesman Nikos Athanassakis, however, the MP's "belated" resignation could clear neither himself or the government of what he described as an "electoral coup... through which the electoral result was sullied and a seat was stolen from PASOK and taken by ND and specifically by the prime minister's uncle," Athanassakis noted.

[11] Synaspismos leader accuses gov't of 'disdaining' Parliament

Coalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology (Synaspismos) party leader Alekos Alavanos on Friday accused the government of "disdaining" Parliamentary process, after a deputy minister came forward to answer a question tabled for the premier.

Alavanos withdrew his question concerning the privatisation of Olympic Airlines, saying that Deputy Transport Minister Anastasios Nerantzis was not an appropriate replacement for the premier, who should be represented by Transport Minister Mihalis Liapis based on Parliament's rules.

Nerantzis disputed his interpretation of Parliamentary rules, pointing to an article which stated that the rights and obligations of ministers were duly implemented for deputy ministers also, while noting that Liapis was unwell.

Alavanos insisted, however, saying that Finance Minister George Alogoskoufis could also have come in place of the transport minister, since he was also involved in the govern-ment meetings on OA's privatisation.

Pointing out that Nerantzis had not been present at the meeting, Alavanos said that the government was showing 'disdain' for Parliament.

This prompted an angry response from the deputy minister, who said that Alavanos could not "choose the ministers who will answer you" and pointed out that both the leader of Synaspismos and his party had been briefed on OA in full detail by the prime minister himself.

[12] Synaspismos Central Political Committee to meet at weekend

The Central Political Committee of the Coalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology (Synaspismos) party will meet over the weekend to discuss political developments and the party's policies in view of next year's local government elections, particularly the party's candidate for the Athens municipality.

[13] Ecumenical Patriarchate could be Europe's bridge with Islam

Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos stressed that the Ecume-nical Patriarchate could play an important role in the constantly developing Europe and become Europe's bridge with Islam., during a lecture Thursday night at the London School of Economics and Political Sciences.

Speaking on the theme "The role of Religion in a Europe that is constantly changing", he said that the Ecumenical Patriarchate, which was headquartered in an almost exclusively Moslem city, had all the credentials to undertake the role of a bridge between Europe and Islan.

In the same way, the Patriarchate's huge support for Turkey's European course was linked to the conviction that the accession of a purely Moslem country in its folds would benefit Europe, on the condition that Turkey would desire to adopt the European principles such as repsect of religious freedoms and the rights of the minorities, Vartholomeos said.

[14] Holy Synod discusses issue of transparency in Church

The issue of transparency in the Church was discussed during a meeting of the Permanent Holy Synod on Friday, which was given a briefing by the special committee.

The committee told the Synod's high clergymen that no charge is pending against senior clergymen and proposed the taking of a series of various measures of a canonical, spiritual and practical nature and assumed the obligation of making a detailed proposal for each of them.

[15] Greek envoy meets U.S. senator

Greece's Ambassador to the U.S. Alexandros Mallias on Friday met with Republican Senator George Voinovich with whom he discussed issues regarding Greek-U.S. relations and recent developments in the Balkans.

The meeting was part of Mallias' contacts with U.S. congressmen.

[16] Greek-Chinese relations have favourable growth prospects

Greek-Chinese relations have favourable growth prospects, while the Chinese market offers significant investment opportu-nities to Greek businessmen, Geng Liang, chairman of the Shanghai Stock Exchange said on Friday.

Addressing an official dinner table, organised by the Business Council of Greece and China in an Athens hotel, Mr Geng Liang said China was focusing on attracting foreign direct investments by introducing special incentives. The value of FDI in China totalled 61 billion US dollars in 2004. China's capital market was rapidly growing in the last 15 years, with the country's two stock exchanges trading shares in 1,381 enterprises with a total capitalisation of 3.3 trillion RMB, or 24.38 percent of the country's GDP in 2004.

The Shanghai Stock Exchange has a dominant position in China's capital markets, with total capitalisation accounting for two-thirds of the country's capitalisation.

Economy and Finance Minister George Alogoskoufis expressed his belief that bilateral economic relations would strengthen more in the future. The Greek minister said China was making a dynamic entry in international economic scene offering great opportunities for those wanting to invest in the country, or to export products, services and know-how to the vast Chinese market.

China is a significant trade partner for Greece, Alogoskoufis said, adding that the trade balance for Greece would improve in the future. The Greek minister also underlined the significant advantages offered by Greece's strategic geopolitical position and its participation in the Eurozone.

Foreign Affairs Deputy Minister Evripides Stylianidis said he would personally lead a delegation of 100 Greek enterprises and technocrats from seven ministries to an official business visit to Beijing and Shanghai in November 26. "Our aim is to persuade Chinese businessmen to conquer our wider region markets and for us to promote our exports of products and services," Stylianidis said. The Greek minister stressed the significant of promoting economic diplomacy and underlined the very deep roots of the two countries civilisations as the best vehicle of achieving closer economic relations.

Theodore Fessas, president of the Business Council of Greece and China, in his address, said the best way to come closer with China and its enterprises was to establish serious bilateral relations and to acquire a better knowledge of the market and to invest capital and know-how on mutual interest sectors.

[17] ECOFIN to discuss Greek economy next Tuesday

The European Commission has received a fiscal progress report by Greek authorities, while a technical consultation between Eurostat and the Greek statistics service was currently underway to find a solution on a government debt securitization plan, EU Monetary Commissioner Joaquim Almunia said on Friday.

Speaking to reporters, the Spanish Commissioner, said an ECOFIN meeting next Tuesday in Brussels would discuss the situation of the Greek economy for the current year and its prospects for 2006 with Greek Economy and Finance Minister George Alogoskoufis.

Almunia said a debt securitization plan was "clearly a technical problem" needed to be addressed by the Commission's and the Greek statistics agencies.

[18] Greek military airports to service charter flights

Tourism Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos on Friday announced the building of a special terminal stations to service charter flights at the military airports of Andravida, in western Peloponese, and Anhialos in central Greece, in a move aimed to facilitate the air transportation of tourists around the country.

Speaking to reporters, during a new conference held in Thessaloniki on the occassion of the 21st Philoxenia tourism fair, Avramopoulos said the construction of the new terminals would be made by Tourist Development Enterprise in cooperation with National Defence and Transport ministries. The Greek minister said a strategic plan envisaged a 30-35 percent increase in tourist arrivals in the country by 2015 with tourism revenues accounting for 25 percent of GDP from 18 percent currently.

Avramopoulos said 2006 would be a very rich year in legislative action by the ministry and stressed that a draft bill on spa tourism would be submitted to parliament in the next few days. The Greek minister said foreign investors would find a very friendly environment in Greece with a law on joint ventures between the public and private sectors creating new investment prospects in the country.

Tourism ministry is focusing on promoting conference tourism in Athens and Thessaloniki. Avramopoulos said the ministry has drafted a general plan over the issue. He announced that a low-cost airline, Ryanair, would soon begin flights to Greece.

[19] Business activity rates in Greece exceed GEM average, report

Business activity fell in Greece in 2004, compared with the previous year, reflecting a decreasing number of new enterprises in the country, although the percentage of new enterpreuners rose over the same period, a survey by the Institute for Economic and Industrial Research (IOBE) said on Friday.

The survey, titled "Global Enterpreunship Monitor", on business activity in Greece, was conducted by Pantio Panepistimio professor Stavros Ioannidis, IOBE's sciences director Takis Politis and IOBE's researcher Angelos Tsakanikas.

Greece ranks in the middle of a global list of 33 countries included in the GEM programme, with business activity rates higher compared with the average rate and leveling the rates in Denmark, Spain, Holland, Germany, France and the UK. Both high income countries (US, Canada, New Zealand, Australia) and low growth level countries (Peru, Equador, Uganda, Jordan) showed very high rates of enterpreunship.

The survey said Greece showed signs of improvement in business activity last year, although the picture was not satisfactory since the country's still lacked behind in the quality of business activity. However, a rapid expansion of business markets, adoption of new technologies and increased activity in services created optimism over the future.

Around 5.8 percent of active population in Greece, around 390,000 people aged 18-64, reported to have business activity last year, with around 108,000 new enterprise projects beginning in the same year. Business activity in Greece is rather a personal activity and was closely related with self-employment.

Business opportunity in Greece remained very low in the list (23rd), with 28 percent of new business projects in 2004 motivated by need, compared with only 18 percent in other European countries.

The survey showed that 56.8 percent of total business projects last year were related with the production of product and services to the final consumer, ranking the country second among other European countries. Greece ranks 13rd among the 16 European countries included in the GEM survey.

[20] Greek closed-end investment funds' assets eased slightly in October

Greek listed closed-end investment funds' assets totalled 1.619 billion euros at the end of October, from 1.629 billion euros a month earlier, for a decline of 0.66 percent, official figures showed on Friday.

A monthly report by the Association of Institutional Investors said the average numerical return of the 18 companies in the category was 8.85 percent so far this year, while the weighed average return was 13.56 percent. The Investment Index is up 14.79 percent over the same period, trailing an 18.70 percent advance of the composite index of the Athens Stock Exchange. Out of the 18 companies in the category, 16 showed positive internal value returns (ranging from 0.58 to 27.12 pct), with the remaining two showing negative returns (from -4.94 pct to -18.25 pct).

The average weighed premium of the sector was 0.93 pct at the end of October.

[21] PASOK party cadre visits 21st Philoxenia exhibition

Main opposition PASOK party Development and Competiti-veness sector chief Anna Diamantopoulou visited the 21st Philoxenia exhibition in Thessaloniki, Macedonia, on Friday and referring to the state budget said "Mr. Alogoskoufis must either reply quickly on the 2006 budget, without additional measures as he has promised repeatedly, or he must resign."

Diamantopoulou said that latest developments regarding the budget "prove that the government is unable to reply to the most important issue of the economy which is the budget".

"The country is lacking a budget for 2006. The goverment is showing complete inability and it is bringing the country to a dangerous situation," she said.

Commenting on the question of the high cost of living, Diamantopoulou said that "it is one of the biggest problems of the country because not only has an increase in prices taken place, but primarily a decrease in income".

She added that for this reason 400 delegations of PASOK with 5,000 members will visit markets all over the country to communicate the party's proposals and to convey the message of the need for active citizens.

[22] Turkish hoteliers award 20 Greek travel agencies

Twenty Greek travel agencies sending the most tourists to Turkey, as well as Tourist Development Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos were given awards by Turkey's Union of Hotel Managers and Tourism Investors (TUROB) in the framework of a reception organised on the occasion of the Turkish participation in the international tourist exhibition Philoxenia taking place in Thessaloniki, Macedonia.

The award for Avramopoulos was received by Greek Tourist Organisation President Aristidis Kalogeropoulos who, conveying greetings from the minister, said that Greek and Turkish travel agents have developed close cooperation.

He reminded that tourism is a bridge which brings the citizens of the two countries close and that Greek-Turkish cooperation constitutes a precondition for peace, good neighbourliness and security in the region.

The travel agencies given awards in the framework of the event were Athos Hellas Travel, Diesel Travel, Four Ways Travel, Giotis Travel, Intraco Travel, Ikaros Tours, Kavala Tours, Kikon Tours, Konstantinidis Travel, Papadopoulos, Pirilidis Tours, Rodopi Travel, Signature Travel, Silver Star Holidays, Sismanidis Travel, Sotiriou Travel, Thraki Travel, Vergina Travel, Voya Travel and Zorpidis Travel.

Honourary distinctions were also given to Thessaloniki Mayor Vassilis Papageorgopoulos and Thessaloniki Prefect Panayiotis Psomiadis, which were received by their representatives.

Referring to Turkish participation in this year's Philoxenia exhibition, TUROB's general director Ismail Tasdemir said that this year it has increased by 100 percent compared to last year and that over 40 Turkish hotels are participating, while in 2004 they had been 20.

[23] Increase in number of Greek tourists visiting Belgrade

The number of Greek tourists visiting Belgrade during the first nine months of the current year increased by 33 percent compared to the corresponding period last year. According to the Belgrade Tourism Organisation's public relations director Dejan Veselinov, the number of tourists from Greece is increasing continuously.

Over the same period, overnight stays of Greeks in Belgrade increased by 30 percent, as it was stressed during a press conference in Thessaloniki, Macedonia, on Friday in the framework of the 21st international Philoxenia tourist exhibition.

Veselinov said that Belgrade is the crossroads of important European routes, adding that every year the city hosts many international and local conventions and exhibitions. It has 40 hotels with about 6,500 beds, seven hostels and two motels.

The most attractive place in the city for tourists, according to Veselinov, is the castle, Belgrade's oldest cultural and historic monument.

[24] Budget deficit down 11.9 percent in Jan-Sept

Greece's state budget deficit fell by 11.9 percent in the first nine months of the year, compared with the same period in 2004, to 7.937 billion euros from 9.004 billion euros over the same period, respectively.

The Economy and Finance ministry said on Friday that net regular budget revenues rose by 4.8 percent in the January-September period from a growth rate of 4.5 percent over the same period last year, while budget spending rose by 6.3 percent, from 11.3 percent in 2004. Primary spending rose by 4.9 percent in the first nine months of 2005 from a 14.6 percent growth rate in the previous year.

Net revenues (up 4.8 percent), however, were still far below a budget target for a 10.2 percent annual growth rate, while spending (6.3 pct) exceeded an annual growth target of 5.3 percent.

Public Investments Programme's revenues fell 7.0 percent in the January-September period, from a budget target for a growth rate of 3.0 percent, while spending of the programme dropped by 31.7 percent from a budget provision for a decline of 19.1 percent.

[25] Int'l auto show opens in Athens

The 6th International Auto Show opened in Athens on Friday evening, in the presence of Transport and Communications Minister Michalis Liapis.

The exhibit, which will run through November 13, will feature 50 new models as well as updated versions of existing models.

More than 350,000 people are expected to visit the exhibit.

Additionally, the 4th International Automobile Conference will be held on Saturday, which will focus on developments in the auto industry.

The conference's communication sponsor is the Athens News Agency.

[26] Greeks work more, Eurostat says

The employment rate in Greece, for people aged 15-64, totaled 59.5 percent in the first quarter of 2005, while Greeks work more compared with the EU average for 41.6 working hours per week, Eurostat said on Friday.

The EU executive's statistics agency said working males were more compared with working females (73.9 pct and 45.3 pct, respectively). The average employment rate in the EU-25 was 63.2 percent in the January-March period, while in the EU-25 the employment rate for females was 55.8 pct and 71.1 pct for males.

Part-time employment was not so popular in Greece as in the rest of Europe, with only 4.9 pct of Greek workers working part-time jobs, compared with a 18.6 pct rate in the EU-25. Part-time jobs were more popular among women (9.1 pct) than men (2.2 pct), while the relative rates in Europe were 32.6 and 7.5 pct, respectively.

Greeks work an average 41.6 hours per week, up from 37.4 hours in the EU-25, ranking Greece third in the list of harder working population in the European Union after Latvians (42 hours) and Czechs (41.9 hours). Dutch (31.7 hours), Swedish (35.3 hours) and Englishmen (35.4 hours) worked less in the EU-25, Eurostat said.

Labour mobility, however, lacked in Greece compared with the rest of Europe, with only 1.5 pct of Greek workers having changed their jobs in the last three months, compared with a 4.0 percent rate in the EU.

Unemployment in Greece totalled 10.6 pct in the first quarter of 2005, up from a 9.4 pct in the EU-25. Unemployment was higher for Greek women (16.2 pct) compared with a 6.7 pct for men, while long-term unemployment in the country was 5.4 percent from a 4.1 percent in Europe.

[27] Finance minister and Athens mayor discuss construction of new stadium for Panathinaikos

Finance and Economy Minister George Alogoskoufis and Athens Mayor Dora Bakoyiannis held talks on Friday, focusing on procedures required for the construction of the new stadium of Panathinaikos Athens and the final appearance of the surrounding area.

All parametres concerning the funding of the project were examined and a new meeting in 10 days time was agreed, during which funding studies will be presented.

The Athens municipality's board will be convening on November 14 and the creation of a 'special purpose company' is expected to be decided for the construction of the stadium.

According to Athens municipality circles, unless problems appear and if procedures continue with the present rates, work on both the construction of the stadium with the self-financing method and the shaping of the region might begin in the autumn of 2006.

[28] Real estate owners ask for two-month delay in new tax regime

The Panhellenic Federation of Real Estate Owners on Friday urged the government for a two-month delay in a plan to introduce a Value Added Tax on new real estate assets, scheduled for January 1, 2006.

POMIDA, in a letter sent to Economy and Finance Minister George Alogoskoufis and Deputy Minister Antonis Bezas, said the time left until January 1, 2006 was very little and noted that notary firms, tax agencies and banks could not meet increased demand in the market. The Federation asked for a meeting with Economy and Finance ministry heads.

[29] Romanian PM visits Greek pavilion at Indagra food & beverage fair

Romanian Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu on Friday visited the Greek pavilion at the international food and beverage trade fair Indagra 2005, where he noted the steady rise in trade transactions between Greece and Romania.

The Romanian premier had the opportunity to exchange views with the Greek mission at the trade fair during an event organised by Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF) SA as a tribute to Greek participants and business and Romanian authorities.

There are 21 Greek businesses participating in Indagra, one of the most popular international trade fairs for the food industry, under the supervision of TIF SA. Indagra will end on November 6.

[30] Athens bar raises objections to street surveillance cameras

The board of the Athens Bar Association on Friday outlined a series of objections to the operation of surveillance cameras on the streets of Athens, ostensibly to monitor traffic flow.

The cameras had been installed as a security measure during the Athens Olympics in 2004, but their use has only be sanctioned for monitoring traffic by Greece's independent Authority for the Protection of Personal Data.

According the Athens Bar, the technical capacity of the cameras already installed far exceeds the needs for monitoring traffic and their use can very easily be extended to the visual and audio surveillance and recording to incidents according to the instructions of the system's user.

It also notes that the government has failed to comply with the conditions set by the Data Protection Authority for the operation of the system, nor its demand for the removal of cameras that don't serve the sanctioned use.

The bar association points out that the use of surveillance system is in direct violation of the Constitutional rights to social and political freedom, identity, public gatherings, protection from the use of one's personal data and private life.

Finally, it expresses opposition to the public order ministry's plans to extend the permitted usage of the cameras and demands that they immediate cease operating and be removed.

Members of Penal Code, Criminal Procedure Code reform committees announced

Justice Minister Anastasios Papaligouras on Friday announced the members of the two committees that will work on reforms to Greece's Penal Code and Criminal Procedure Code.

[31] Minister of state addresses conference on regional Press

A conference on "The regional press and its contribution to information, culture and development" began on Friday with an address by Minister of State and government spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos. The conference is being organised by the Federation of Daily Regional Newspapers from November 4-6.

"At a crucial period for the present and future of the Press in the country, conferences such as this one, in which people who know better than anyone else major problems and the considerable prospects of the sector are participating, can contribute decisively to our common concern," Roussopoulos said in his address.

The minister added that the effort for a modern, clear, workable and spherical arrangement of the issues of the Press, both printed and electronic, are necessary both for the Press and society in general.

Roussopoulos further said that in the past decades there has been a "complete absence of a framework of operation for Press businesses in Greece, which is being perpetuated intentionally to serve specific interests and pursuits which are alien to the constitutionally defined role of the Press".

Lastly, the minister spoke of "vagueness and uncertainty" regarding the rules of operation and relations between the state and Press businesses, as well as a "total absence" of an institutional framework.

[32] Deputy minister holds dinner for foreign scholarship students

Deputy Foreign Minister Evripides Stylianides held a dinner in a central Athens hotel for some 200 scholarship students from 40 developing countries that are attending courses at Greek universities with the assistance of the Greek State.

The dinner was held on Thursday night to mark the start of the academic year.

The minister stressed that the foreign ministry's scholarship programme was an initiative through which Greece "builds up communication and relations between different cultures, religions and societies" and an "investment in the future".

"You will contribute to the development of your country and to improving relations between your first country and your second, which is Greece," he added.

There are currently 500 scholarship students in Greece who are funded by the foreign ministry's International Developmental Cooperation Service (YDAS). All of them are from less developed nations included in the developmental and humanitarian aid programme as set out by the goals of the Developmental Assistance Committee (DAC) and the 30 donor nations of the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), as well as national targets.

Most of them are from the 18 "priority" countries for YDAS, which are in the western Balkans, Afghanistan, Turkey, Iran, Iraq, the Caucasus, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, the Ivory Coast, Ethiopia and Eritrea. They each receive a five-year scholarship - of which the first year is devoted to studying Greek - with a monthly allowance of about ¬ 500.

[33] Mastermind of 'Marselino' kidnapping missing after prison leave

The mastermind of the 1990 kidnapping and murder of 17-year-old gypsy Yiannis Tsatsanis or 'Marselino' was reported missing on Friday after he failed to return to prison at the end of a five-day home leave.

Konstantinos Spinaris, 47, was serving twice life and 25 years in Alikarnassos prison on Crete and was due to return on November 1. Police said a nationwide manhunt had so far failed to reveal any trace of his whereabouts.

Spinaris and six accomplices were arrested in 1990, shortly after the boy's murder was discovered. Among them was a cousin of the victim, who participated in the meetings between the boy's father and the police and passed information on to the kidnappers.

The ruthless gang had demanded a ransom of 150 million drachmas and had shot the victim about a week after he was abducted, while continuing to demand the ransom money. His body - buried in handcuffs with a hood over his head - was discovered by police in June 1990.

The case was the first kidnapping for ransom handled by the police in Greece and had shocked Greek society at the time.

After his arrest, Spinaris was attacked while he being transported in a police car, suffering a gunshot wound when someone fired two shots against him. He had since said that fears for his life had discouraged him from exercising his right to lodge an appeal against his sentence, in case Marselino's family sought revenge.

All of his six accomplices have appealed to have their sentences reduce and only two are still in jail, the others having served their time and been released.

[34] Actor called to testify in judicial corruption investigation

Well-known actor Lakis Lazopoulos testified before an appeals examining magistrate on Friday, in the framework of an investigation into judicial corruption.

The actor was named by lawyer Alexis Kouyias in connection with the case of psychiatrist Petros Lymberis, who was arrested on narcotics-related charges that were also linked to prescription given by his clinic "Kastalia".

Lymberis' case eventually came before examining magistrate Antonia Ilia, who has since been implicated in a judicial corruption scandal.

Lazopoulos had been among the guests on Lymberis' yacht when it was raided by narcotics police off the shores of Mykonos in June 2001 and quantities of recreational drugs were found on board.

Kouyias, who was originally representing Lymberis, said the family gave the case to lawyer Sakis Kehagioglou after he promised to get Lymberis out of Chios jail and avoid him being remanded in custody over the case of the clinic for about 100 million drachmas.

Kehagioglou has denied the claims and threatened to sue Kouyias.

[35] Albanian fugitive wanted for murder in Greece found in Iceland by Interpol

An Albanian national accused of killing a compatriate in Thessaloniki last year has been located in Iceland by Interpol, according to the Thessaloniki police.

The 33-year-old perpetrator is charged with killing a 27-year-old Albanian, with whom he had personal differences, as they were boarding his car on December 25, 2004.

Two more Albanian nationals, aged 25 and 26, are also implicated in the incident. The two are said to have informed the perpetrator of the whereabouts of the victim, and of preventing the victim from leaving the area.

A 24-year old man, who was with the victim at the time, was injured during the incident from a richeting bullet.

The Thessaloniki Police Department said that the perpetrator had been located by Interpol in Iceland, in the framework of international cooperation among police forces, where he was being held for crimes committeed in that country, while his two accomplices were wanted.

[36] European conference of sports museums in Thessaloniki

The European Conference of Sports Museums began in the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki on Friday, in the presence of Thessaloniki Mayor Vassilis Papageorgopoulos.

It was attended by representatives of sports museums in Finland, France, Estonia and Cologne, as well as the trophy rooms of the Liverpool and Olympiacos clubs, who have begun to create a network for cooperation and the exchange of infomation on sports heritage.

Papageorgopoulos also warmly praised the Thessaloniki Sports Museum, saying it was a wonderful idea that enriched the city.

The museum's president Stelios Aggeloudis, meanwhile, said that the conference was just one of the activities being planned, with a major exhibition on ancient stadiums due to open in the next few months.

[37] Book of photographs presented by Attica local authority union

The Local Union of Municipalities and Communities of Attica Prefecture (TEDKNA) on Friday presented a book of photographs entitled "Attica".

The presentation was attended by Interior Minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos, MPs from all parties, mayors and prefects.

The book is in English and Greek and outlines the history of the prefecture's 122 municipalities and communities and how local authorities have contributed to life in local communities.

targets of the rackets".

[38] Cyprus and France to set up a structured dialogue

Cyprus and France have decided to set up a structured dialogue, through which they will work on EU issues and their bilateral relations Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos announced today after a working lunch with his French counterpart Jacques Chirac.

Papadopoulos, who is paying an official visit to France, said the lunch took place in a very friendly climate and was very constructive. Current European issues, the Cyprus problem, Turkey's EU course, Middle East issues and the bilateral relations were on the agenda of the meeting.

Papadopoulos said he thanked Chirac for FranceÔs position and his support to Cyprus, in the EU framework and especially during negotiations prior to the start of the EU-Turkey accession negotiations.

Announcing the common decision of the two countries for a structured dialogue, Papadopoulos said that the goal is "to further reinforce coordination, since the two countries share joint positions on a number of European issues and have excellent bilateral relations."

"This new partnership will help even more the enhancement and broadening of relations between France and the Republic of Cyprus," he added.

Asked if France will hold a stable stance, while Turkey continues to have a negative behaviour towards its obligations regarding Cyprus and the EU, Papadopoulos said that "France supports positions of principles and I believe that this position will continue."

A common written statement by the two Presidents said the aim of the new partnership between Cyprus and France is to "further enhance relations between the two sides and to facilitate co-under-standing, coordination and cooperation at various levels, based on their bilateral bonds and common interests as EU member states."

The statement noted that the structured dialogue will cover issues of mutual concern and specifically bilateral issues, such as the development of financial exchanges, cultural relations especially on a university level and cooperation in the area of science.

As regards European issues, the common statement referred to matters such as financial perspectives, maritime safety, the EuroMediterranean partnership and common foreign policy and security policy.

"To that end a regular coordination and cooperation at various levels between the two capitals will be established", the statement added.

[39] France's support to Cyprus acknowledged during talks in Paris

France's support to the Republic of Cyprus and its goals, on the basis of principles, was acknowledged during Friday's working lunch between Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos and French President Jacques Chirac.

CNA has learnt that Chirac was very constructive during the discussion and fully informed on the Cyprus question and as regards Cyprus' support he said that "we are a European family and members of our family have priority and not our friends," implying Turkey. He added that friends need to understand this.

Chirac also said that France, on the basis of principles, supports the issue of recognition of the Republic of Cyprus by Turkey.

The Cyprus problem and Cyprus goals were discussed during the meeting. Chirac told French diplomats that "while we have excellent relations, there was a time when we neglected Cyprus."

The sources said the Cypriot side conveyed to Chirac that it wants the monitoring of Turkey's obligations towards Cyprus in 2006 to be substantive and not simply formal.

As regards European matters, it was indicated that on many issues the positions of the two countries are common.

The procedure of structured dialogue, which will concern all issues between the two countries, both in the EU framework and in bilateral issues, has as a starting point, that of the very good relations and as a final goal their improvement.

The Cypriot side asked that the maritime issue be discussed first, but the French president said that the Cyprus problem must be the first issue of the structured dialogue, since the Cyprus problem is a European issue, following Cyprus' accession to the EU.

[40] EU to call Turkey to support efforts for a Cyprus settlement

The EU, in its document on the Turkey-EU revised partnership that will be adopted later this month, calls on Turkey to support efforts to reach a comprehensive settlement to the Cyprus problem within the framework of the UN and on the basis and principles on which the EU was formed.

It also stresses the need for Ankara to recognize the Republic of Cyprus. Ankara's obligation to implement its customs union with the 10 new EU members and to normalize its relations with all member states is being explicitly indicated in two documents on Turkey, which the European Commission is expected to adopt on November 9.

The EU will also adopt on Wednesday a common strategy paper for all candidate countries.

The first document for Turkey is the annual report of progress which covers the period since the last report a year ago, November 2004.

This document will be submitted to the EU Foreign Affairs Council.

The second document concerns the revised partnership and is the most important, since it includes the "road map" for the accession negotiations. This document will also be submitted to the EU Foreign Affairs Council, which will have to adopt it with a special majority.

EU sources said that a series of preconditions that Turkey must satisfy within two years are mentioned in this document.

Regarding Cyprus, the document includes the points of the EU counterstatement of September 21 to Turkey's unilateral declaration of not recognizing the Cyprus Republic.

Ankara is called to proceed with the implementation of its customs union protocol, opening among others its ports to ships under Cyprus flag.

EU sources said that the fact that this obligation has been included in Turkey's short-term obligations does not mean that Turkey has two years to do this, but must comply within the deadline outlined by the '25', that is within 2006.

Normalisation of Turkey's relations with all member states is also included in Ankara's short-term obligations.

The document also refers to the need of recognition of the Cyprus Republic by Ankara. No deadline is set out for this.

As regards the Cyprus issue, Turkey is called to support efforts to reach a comprehensive settlement in the UN framework on the basis and principles on which the EU was formed.

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