Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 06-02-13

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

CONTENTS

[01] Positive 'bird flu' results confirmed on dead swans in N. Greece

[02] Justice minister on phone-tapping scandal

[03] SEB president: 'Phone-tappings intensify businesspersons' insecurity'

[04] Deputy FM Valinakis comments on talks he had with Ukrainian counterpart Buteiko

[05] Papandreou speaks with Annan, Lebanese PM over 'cartoon issue'

[06] Unemployment biggest worry in N. Greece, poll shows

[07] Protest rally in Athens against 'Bolkestein Directive'

[08] Sioufas meets presidents of chambers and business associations

[09] Armed clash between police, drug traffickers

[10] Statue of 19th c. statesman Trikoupis unveiled

[11] Panathinaikos scores 4 goals in last 18 minutes to win 4-2

[12] Papadopoulos: No superficial moves in Cyprus problem

[13] China supports just and logical solution in Cyprus

[01] Positive 'bird flu' results confirmed on dead swans in N. Greece

ATHENS, 13/2/2006 (ANA/MPA)

The positive results were relayed to Athens by a special laboratory in London, according to reports.

"All foreseen measures by the relevant veterinary services in prefecture governments, in cooperation with the relevant EU authorities are the same, either in a case of H5 or H5N1, which concern, as in the present case, wild fowl. Therefore, the issue does not arise for additional measures to be taken," a ministry announcement read.

The European Commission, in reference to the bird flu issue, on Saturday also confirmed that the samples from the three wild swans -- which were found in Thessaloniki and Pieria prefectures -- proved positive for the H5N1 virus.

As the European Commission announced on Friday, measures being implemented in the first zone of protection (a radius of three kilometers from the region where the dead swans were located) must be extended for at least 21 days, and by 30 days for the measures implemented in the second zone of supervision (a radius of 10 kilometers).

The Commission noted that "no other measure is foreseen for the time being for Greece," and said that a committee of experts, which will convene from Feb. 16-17, will examine the issue of the virus in Greece and in other affected regions.

Meanwhile, samples from another 15 dead swans found dead on Saturday in and around the north-eastern city of Alexandroupolis were collected by veterinary services on Sunday and sent for testing to a Thessaloniki laboratory.

Finally, authorities continued to brief local residents in the Macedonia and Thrace provinces regarding protection from bird flu (avian influenza).

A similar campaign is being conducted in Pieria prefecture as well, as a third swan, also found positive for bird flu, was located off the coastline east of the city of Katerini.

[02] Justice minister on phone-tapping scandal

ATHENS, 13/2/2006 (ANA/MPA)

Addressing the General Assembly of the Union of Administrative Judges, Papaligouras said that "the government confronted the issue with clarity and responsibility."

He added that it was now up to «independent justice" to have its say "and we are all obliged to let it do its job unhindered."

He said that «what was revealed from this national scandal is that the government was the first main target, that we need additional measures so as to assure that the citizen will be able to phone freely without being monitored."

The justice minister further noted: "We must strengthen the institutional framework which protects him (the citizen) on the level of his personal rights. This is the meaning of the initiative which the prime minister is personally undertaking at Monday's meeting."

[03] SEB president: 'Phone-tappings intensify businesspersons' insecurity'

ATHENS, 13/2/2006 (ANA/MPA)

He said "business needs security, a predictable environment, certainty and the unfortunate story of the phone-tapping has intensified the insecurity which businesspersons feel in our country."

Central Union of Chambers President George Kassimatis noted that "the businessperson has nothing to fear, but our country's image is not that which it should be and there must be a forecast for the future."

Athens Commercial and Industrial Chamber President Drakoulis Fountoukakos added that the phone-tapings "neither benefit the economic or the political environment," concluding that "the businessperson wants a stable climate."

Opinion poll on telephone tapping plot released: Results of an opinion poll focusing on the unprecedented mobile phone tapping furor appear to show a majority of respondents' pessimism and a conviction that the case will not be solved.

A large minority of respondents, meanwhile, voiced a suspicion that the bugging were carried out by the CIA with the knowledge, if not the involvement, of the mobile phone provider whose network was breached, Vodafone.

The opinion poll was conducted by the Athens-based firm Alco and published in the Sunday weekly "Proto Thema".

Specifically, 67.7 percent of respondents in the poll said they believed the case would not be resolved, versus 21.5 percent who were optimistic that the perpetrators will be uncovered.

Regarding the question over who is responsible for the mobile telephone tapings, 37.3 percent of respondents indicated the CIA; 12.7 percent indicated British secret services, and 10.7 percent pointed to Greece's national intelligence service, EYP, while 7 percent indicated competing business interests, whereas 5.4 percent of respondents pointed to Israeli intelligence services, among others.

An overwhelming majority, 85.3 percent of respondents, believe that Vodafone was involved in the bugging.

Moreover, 47.4 percent of respondents said they believe Public Order Minister George Voulgarakis should resign, against 35.1 percent who backed him; 45 percent said Justice Minister Anastasios Papaligouras should resign, against 36.3 percent who backed him; and finally, 44.2 percent felt Minister of State and government spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos should resign, against 37.6 percent who backed him.

[04] Deputy FM Valinakis comments on talks he had with Ukrainian counterpart Buteiko

ATHENS, 13/2/2006 (ANA/MPA)

He added that "it is an effort similar to that which we made and managed to complete last October with Russia."

[05] Papandreou speaks with Annan, Lebanese PM over 'cartoon issue'

ATHENS, 13/2/2006 (ANA/MPA)

A PASOK press release on Sunday noted that Papandreou, in his capacity as president of Socialist International, discussed by phone with Annan regarding issues related to Socialist International, the issue of the cartoons of Prophet Mohammed, the Middle East issue and the Cyprus issue.

Papandreou also communicated with the Prime Minister of Lebanon, Fouad Siniora, and discussed the Middle East issue and that of the cartoons of Mohammed.

[06] Unemployment biggest worry in N. Greece, poll shows

ATHENS, 13/2/2006 (ANA/MPA)

More specifically, 90.7 percent of respondents in western Macedonia consider unemployment the biggest "wound", followed by 83.2 percent in eastern Macedonia-Thrace, 80.2 percent in central Macedonia, and 72.1 percent in Thessaloniki.

Women appeared to be more concerned over unemployment, with a percentage of 80.6 percent against 78.3 percent for men, and the productive ages of 45-54, with a percentage of 85.8 percent, against 83.6 percent among the 25-34 age bracket.

The second biggest problem, according to the respondents, was the expensive prices, with a proportion of 33.8 percent, followed by the regional development deficit with 10.7 percent, infrastructure projects with 8.1 percent, and agricultural development with 7.0 percent.

Also, only 29.2 percent of the respondents said they were optimistic about the future of northern Greece, while 70.5 percent were a little or not at all optimistic.

The opinion poll was conducted among a sampling of 2,000 people aged 18 years or older from the 15 electoral districts of northern Greece and the Thessaloniki A and B districts, through telephone interviews, between January 30 and February 1.

[07] Protest rally in Athens against 'Bolkestein Directive'

ATHENS, 13/2/2006 (ANA/MPA)

"This outrageous Directive constitutes the political clone of the neo-liberal European Constitution. In this manner, through cheap labor of the working people from the eastern countries, they want to destroy the entire system of labor relations in Greece," Alternate GSEE President Alekos Kalyvis said.

[08] Sioufas meets presidents of chambers and business associations

ATHENS, 13/2/2006 (ANA/MPA)

The presidents' first meeting with the Development Ministry's leadership had as its theme:"We listen to businesses. Development action: Evaluations, proposals, prospects". The position voiced was that the national reforms plan had deficiencies and that what was required was immediate reaction to maintain Greece at a high rate of growth.

Sioufas said that a similar meeting was planned with representatives of local government so as to simplify bureaucratic procedures.

"The state will institutionalize the legislative framework," said Sioufas in reply to Federation of Greek Industries (SEB) President Odysseas Kyriakopoulos who said that "the national reforms plan has deficiencies, a fact which has also been repeatedly noted in European Union reports." Kyriakopoulos added that what was needed was "immediate action and commitment by the state with a specific timeframe for the elimination of pending matters."

[09] Armed clash between police, drug traffickers

ATHENS, 13/2/2006 (ANA/MPA)

Police said on Saturday that two unidentified men in a car attempted to sell heroin to a police officer posing as a potential buyer.

At that moment, other police officers as well intervened to arrest the drug dealers before the suspects sped off, after having first crashed into a parked car and while at the same time shooting against the police.

Officers exchanged fire, aiming at the tires, resulting in them managing to bring the car to a halt after about one kilometer.

[10] Statue of 19th c. statesman Trikoupis unveiled

13/2/2006 (ANA/MPA)

[11] Panathinaikos scores 4 goals in last 18 minutes to win 4-2

ATHENS, 13/2/2006 (ANA/MPA)

Olympiakos travels to last-place Akratitos Athens' pitch on Monday a week before it hosts AEK in a match expected to largely determine the first division football championship race.

In other action:

Iraklis Thessaloniki-OFI Crete 2-0

Kallithea Athens-Ionikos Piraeus 3-3

Atromitos Athens-Apollon Kalamaria 1-1

Levadiakos-Xanthi 0-2

Egaleo Athens-PAOK Thessaloniki 1-0

The standings after the 19th week of play:

Olympiakos 48 (18 games)

AEK 45

Panathinaikos 39

Iraklis 31

PAOK 30

Xanthi 29

Egaleo 28

Atromitos 26

Larissa 23

Ionikos 23

Apollon Kalamaria 23

Levadiakos 17

Panionios 15

OFI 14

Kallithea 13

Akratitos 10 (18 games)

[12] Papadopoulos: No superficial moves in Cyprus problem

NICOSIA, 13/2/2006 (CNA/ANA-MPA)

He also said that those who blatantly back the Turkish side, applauding every move it makes, do not contribute in a positive manner to attempts towards a solution.

"We shall continue to work consistently, in a responsible manner and with unwavering commitment to our reasonable positions and just goals for a viable and functional solution," he said addressing the congregation at the Maronite church of Panayia ton Xariton.

He said the solution he is striving to achieve is on the basis of a bicommunal and bizonal federation that would reunite the country in practice and would ensure a better future for all its citizens.

"Those who choose to question our sincere political will to find a solution in Cyprus, as soon as possible, are either not in touch with reality or deceived. Those who are blatantly biased in favor of the victimizer, applauding any pointless move it makes purely to impress and deceive others, provide a very bad service to the peace effort," the president stressed.

He also said he was not going to react in a "frivolous manner because of Turkish fire-works" nor is he going to be diverted from his goals because some people doubt his intentions.

To the Maronites in Cyprus, members of the Greek Cypriot community, he pledged to work to solve any problems they are facing.

Responding to questions, after the church service, Papadopoulos said Nicosia did not ask for clarifications from London regarding statements by Foreign Secretary Jack Straw that the Cypriot government was leading things towards division and that it does not care about the Turkish Cypriot community.

"We have made representations to put it in writing that we consider such positions unacceptable and provocative. We did not seek any clarifications," he added.

On press reports that former US ambassador to Cyprus had been actively promoting direct trade between the outside world and the Turkish occupied areas of the Republic, Papadopoulos replied "there is nothing new in that report, everybody on the island knows the positions of the US administration on the matter, something they state openly on a daily basis and they try to put into practice."

Replying to other questions, he said he convenes a meeting of the National Council when he wants to hear the views of those participating in it or when he has something to tell them.

He said the Council, the top advisory body to the President on the question of Cyprus comprising parliamentary parties, has met more times in the past three years - since he came into power - than it has over the past decade.

The Council is set to meet on Friday.

[13] China supports just and logical solution in Cyprus

NICOSIA, 13/2/2006 (CNA/ANA-MPA)

Asked about the stance of China on the Cyprus issue, the Chine-se official said his government ''calls always for the full respect of the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Cyprus and points out that the legitimate rights of both the Greek-Cypriots and the Turkish-Cypriots should be safeguarded.''

''China supports the efforts of the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to accelerate a political settlement and underlines that any solution must take into consideration the benefits and concerns of both sides," he concluded.

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