Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 06-04-07

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

CONTENTS

[01] Alogoskoufis: High-profile reforms already generating results

[02] Alogoskoufis to EU meetings on Friday

[03] Foreign minister meets Nicosia mayor, party leader on Cyprus

[04] US supports reunification of Cyprus, neither separatism nor cessation, Assistant State Sec't says

[05] Education minister in China on official visit

[06] Focus on Greek-Turkish relations, Turkey's EU accession goal, during Thursday's session of Economist conference

[07] "Security and Economic Development in the Balkans" conference hosted in D.C. by Greek embassy

[08] Vodafone, Ericsson exec's testimony on phone-tap conflicting

[09] PM's aide Angelou testifies before Committee on phone-tap affair

[10] PM to address ND conference on local administration on Friday

[11] Roussopoulos on PASOK youth group poster, 'Chora' allegations

[12] PASOK on phone-tap investigation, student elections, PASP poster

[13] Student elections, PASP poster

[14] Health and defense ministers discuss strengthening social policy

[15] Former parliamentarians union inaugurated; President attends

[16] Council of State considers legal a presidential decree by defense minister

[17] Deputy DM inaugurates conference on international security and cooperation in SE Europe and Black Sea region

[18] PASOK leader calls for and receives resignation of party's Parliamentary Group coordinator Floridis

[19] General staff chiefs agree to upgrade of Greek-Algerian military cooperation

[20] SYN leader Alavanos to meet PDS leader Bisky in Berlin on Friday

[21] Albanian PM briefs NATO general on progress in Armed Forces reforms

[22] Greek govt seeks to create more free zones

[23] Greek, Turkish ministers discuss bilateral trade and energy relations

[24] Intracom's head calls for Greek-Turkish business strategic cooperation

[25] Draft law on National Land Register to be tabled in Parliament soon

[26] European parliament approves plan to support poultry farmers

[27] Interior minister, local authorities union discuss contract worker issue

[28] Econ, development ministers discuss tax incentives on renewable energy sources

[29] Cooperation memorandum signed for favorable business environment

[30] KKE leader meets with seamen's union PNO

[31] Seminar on Greek investments in Georgia held in Athens

[32] EU Commission sends warning letter to Greece over climate change policies

[33] Greece, Albania to free overland travel

[34] Chinese shipper launches trade route with Piraeus

[35] Greenpeace activists demonstrate outside Agricultural Development & Foods Ministry

[36] Int'l conference in Athens on 'The Impetus of the Euro-zone in the Mediterranean'

[37] Thessaloniki in need of 'reshaping'

[38] Duty Free Shops unveils 9-mln-euro investment program for 2006

[39] Pantechniki in Attica Metro expansion project

[40] Olympic Airlines-Services to offer technical services to Iberia's aircrafts

[41] J&P Avax win Coca-Cola project in Ireland

[42] Diplomats visit Patras for briefing on business opportunities

[43] Convicted felon Vavylis arrives in Athens following extradition by Italy

[44] Athens municipality to hold event on occasion of World Health Day

[45] Commission warning on protection of bathing sites

[46] President Papoulias inaugurates 'Crete travels' archaeological exhibition in downtown Athens

[47] Three quarters of Greeks have never used the Internet, Eurostat finds

[48] Greek civil aviation expert meets Cypriot transport minister in Nicosia

[49] Baby infected with hepatitis C at Thessaloniki hospital

[50] Greek and Bulgarian pupils appeal for blood donations

[51] Letter of warning to 13 EU member-states, including Greece, regarding emergency phone No. '112'

[52] Prisoner claims she was raped by officers in police jail

[53] Minos Kyriakou in China at invitation of 'Beijing 2008' Organizing Committee president Liu Qi

[54] Solution effort must aim at preparation of talks, says spokesman

[01] Alogoskoufis: High-profile reforms already generating results

ATHENS, 07/04/2006 (ANA)

Citing what he called criticism on both sides of the reforms' debate, Alogoskoufis first noted that measures taken so far have produced results because "their (measures) rate of implementation was compatible with what bureaucracy, the Greek economy and society in general could stand."

The Karamanlis government's top economic policy-maker served as the closing speaker at the Economist group's 10th "Roundtable with the Government of Greece", held over the past week at a downtown Athens hotel.

Shifting to criticism by the opposition, especially main opposition PASOK, the preceding ruling party, Alogoskoufis said the latter was only attempting to "generate political gains from those feeling they are losing from reforms when the latter succeed."

"Did they (PASOK) want the gap (between Greece and other euro zone countries to continue? Convergence with the European Union is something that our people want," Alogoskoufis said.

In briefing an audience composed mostly of corporate executives, business people and diplomats, Alogoskoufis reeled off a series of changes he said have jumpstarted the Greek economy and ended a "tragically anachronistic development model" employed in the country for roughly two decades, reforms he said include corporate tax breaks, more flexibility in the labor market, proper regulation of the capital market, unification of bank employees' pension funds and an intent to begin substantive talks and dialogue to reform the country's shaky social security system after the current government's tenure ends.

On the closely watched fiscal front, he reiterated a projection of a 4.3-percent budget deficit for 2005, falling to 2.6 percent, and therefore below the EMU-mandated limit of 3 percent, for 2006.

"We had to change, and we changed our anachronistic model of development, one based on high public spending, in favor of one based on entrepreneurship ... the Greek people paid for this mistaken policy, as Greece entered the euro zone unprepared," he stressed.

Along those lines, he charged that public sector employment between 1993 and 2004 increased by 24 percent alone, "this simply could not continue".

Finally, Alogoskoufis, the economy minister since March 2004, pointed to a series of indicators he emphasized vindicated the Karamanlis government's "mild economic adjustment" policy, namely, an increase in real incomes, rising exports, both in terms of volume and as a percentage of GDP, official joblessness under 10 percent for the first time in years, a hefty rise in corporate profits (39 percent up in 2005 from 2004) as well as convergence in per capita GDP with the EU average.

Govt has four-year plan, FinMin says

The government is determined to effectively implement a program of restructuring public sector enterprises, Economy and Finance Minister George Alogoskoufis said on Thursday.

Speaking to reporters, after a meeting with Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis, Alogoskoufis said he briefed the PM over a meeting of an inter-ministerial commission to discuss the issue on Wednesday.

The Greek minister stressed that a two-year labor agreement reached between employers and trade unions early in the week paved the way for a similar agreement between workers and the managements of public sector enterprises. Alogoskoufis expressed the hope that a deal would be reached by the end of April to prevent the government from introducing a law on incomes policy in the public sector. Responding to questions whether a 4.0 percent pay increase to workers in public sector companies in 2007 signaled a government intention to hold early elections, the Greek minister underlined that the government has a four-year plan, that the 2005-06 period was crucial in dealing with a huge fiscal deficit and that for the next two years it planned to cut tax factors to support low incomes and pensioners in the country.

[02] Alogoskoufis to EU meetings on Friday

VIENNA, 07/04/2006(ANA-MPA/Dimitrakoudis)

Accompanying Alogoskoufis will be the head of the Bank of Greece, or central bank, Nikos Garganas.

After the final session on Saturday, Alogoskoufis will attend an informal forum on dialogue with Asian countries, as part of Austria's presidency of the 25-member bloc.

Taking part in the two-day session ending on Sunday will be EU finance ministers, the EU's executive Commission, and ministers from 13 Asian countries.

The forum's purpose is to deepen ties between Europe and Asia in politics, the economy and culture.

[03] Foreign minister meets Nicosia mayor, party leader on Cyprus

NICOSIA, 07/04/2006(ANA/MPA - F. Karaviti, A. Viketos)

During a brief address at Nicosia's Town Hall, Bakoyannis expressed a wish that the the city, the last divided city in Europe, will soon be united.

She then accompanied the mayor on a walk down Ledra Street, where she spoke with passers-by and lit a candle in the Faneromenis Church, before arriving at a National Guard post on the ceasefire line and the strip of "no-man's land" that divides the free and occupied parts of Nicosia.

Earlier on Thursday, Bakoyannis had met with Democratic Rally (DISI) leader Anastasiades at his party's offices.

Afterwards, Anastasiades said that they had agreed that talks on the Cyprus issue should begin again soon in order to lead to an agreed solution that will be based on UN resolutions, European principles and values and on the preparatory work and initiatives of the UN.

Bakoyannis, meanwhile, pointed to the recent meeting between Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos and UN Secretary General Kofi Annan as well as the resolution of the European People's Party that adopted Greek-Cypriot positions as two "hopeful messages".

She called for a joint effort to turn into the reality the vision of a "united, independent, European and prosperous Cyprus and a people that is safe and happy".

Her engagements on Thursday included a meeting with former Cyprus president Glafcos Clerides, a visit to a Nicosia high school and a visit to a Greek Force of Cyprus (ELDYK) camp in the morning.

[04] US supports reunification of Cyprus, neither separatism nor cessation, Assistant State Sec't says

WASHINGTON, 07/04/2006 (ANA-MPA/A. Ellis)

"We do not believe in separatism or cessation," he said.

"I myself have met with Mr. [Mehmet Ali] Talat. We do not recognize him as president; we do not recognize the government, but we do understand that he is a leader of the Turkish Cypriot community, and we appreciate the fact that he supports a negotiated settlement to reunify the island. We encourage that. It's the right policy," he added.

Fried stressed that the US "looks forward to the day when a reunited Cyprus with a secure Turkish community is in the European Union as a whole island. Now we understand that bizonal, bicommunal federation also means that there have to be certain arrangements."

Referring to the plan drafted by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, Fried said that the US supported it, but "it didn't pass. I regret that, but we have to find a way to make progress," he noted.

"We look forward to working with the government of Cyprus, with the Turkish Cypriot community, with the United Nations, with Turkey, with Greece to advance a settlement which will help everyone," Fried said.

The US Assistant Secretary of State also referred to the stance maintained by the Turkish Cypriot leader and Turkey.

"We frankly appreciate the Turkish government's support for a settlement. I don't think that Talat could have done what he did without Turkey's backing. This is a significant change. It means that Turkey also supports a bizonal, bicommunal federation," he said.

Finally, referring to US support for Turkey's EU accession, Fried said: "We have always supported Turkey's accession to the European Union on the basis that Turkey ought to be treated like every other candidate. Turkey meets the criteria, it should join. If it doesn't, it shouldn't. But no special rules."

[05] Education minister in China on official visit

BEIJING, 07/04/2006 (ANA/MPA - M. Papoutsaki)

Yiannakou is in Beijing at the invitation of Chinese Education Minister Zhou Ji and will sign a memorandum for bilateral cooperation in education between Greece and China on Friday.

Standing outside the Greek Studies Centre, with a sign in incongruously familiar Greek script, Yiannakou stressed that its existence met Greece's efforts to propagate both the modern and ancient Greek languages.

The minister also noted that the Athens Olympics had been an opportunity to strengthen ties between Greece and China, two countries linked by their long history.

On Thursday, Yiannakou met with the authorities of the university, who expressed great interest in Greece's Olympic Education program.

[06] Focus on Greek-Turkish relations, Turkey's EU accession goal, during Thursday's session of Economist conference

ATHENS, 07/04/2006 (ANA)

Noted Turkish columnist Mehmet Ali Birand, in fact, called the 2.77-billion-dollar agreement "even more significant that the lifting of the casus belli", a reference to an ominous but often nebulous threat initially enunciated by Turkey's parliament in the 1990s, and later repeated by that country's military, to prevent Greece from making use of its legal right, under international treaties, to extend its territorial waters.

His comments came during the Economist group's 10th "Roundtable with the Government of Greece", which on Thursday included a wide-ranging discussion on the theme "The Future of Turkey: Paving the Way for EU Accession".

Blossoming bilateral trade and economic ties, including ongoing work on a natural gas pipeline connecting Turkey's grid with Greece and eventually western Europe, dominated subsequent addresses by Greece's Deputy Foreign Minister Evripides Stylianidis and Turkey's State Minister for Foreign Trade Kursad Tuzmen, who were followed by the powerful chairman of Turkey's Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) Omer Subanci.

Nevertheless, Greece's other Deputy Foreign Minister, Yiannis Valinakis, initially reiterated a handful of "substantive initiatives" he said Athens is expecting from Ankara, namely, better protection of non-Muslim minorities in Turkey, official recognition of the Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarchate's "ecumenical" stature and the reopening of the Halki School of Theology.

In echoing a later reference by Birand, who spoke about the steadily increasing level of difficulty that Turkey will now encounter in its course towards a united Europe, Valinakis underlined the nagging obstacle entailed by the "casus belli", saying threats of war are, at best, incompatible with participation in the European Union. Resolving the long-standing Cyprus problem via a fair and viable solution is absolutely necessary for Turkey to normalize its relations with its neighbors, Valinakis added.

Such normalization, he said, will greatly benefit Greece, especially the provinces, on land and sea, bordering with Turkey.

Birand also said that Cyprus was a key element in Turkey's diplomatic agenda this year, an issue that will also gauge Ankara's political volition for change and progress.

[07] "Security and Economic Development in the Balkans" conference hosted in D.C. by Greek embassy

WASHINGTON, 07/04/2006 (ANA-MPA/T. Ellis)

The US Secretary of State's special representative to the Kosovo Status Talks, Ambassador Frank G. Wisner, told the event that there should be agreement on the final status of Kosovo by the end of 2006. He said that the Bush government had taken to "strategic decision" to become actively involved, with the goal being the definitive settlement of the Kosovo issue, while at the same time it desired that Serbia evolve into a full member of the European family and the West in general.

Wisner noted that first of all it should be clarified what was meant by "final status", and then how protection of the minorities and the cultural and religious monuments would be ensured, while he also stressed the need for a new UN Security Council resolution.

He further said that Serbia's acceptance of any solution decided was of great importance.

The European Union's Washington D.C. representative, Jonathan Davidson, stressed the very close EU-US cooperation in the Balkans, where as Serbian ambassador to Washington Ivan Vujacic said that the conditions in the region today were much better than in the past, and thanked the EU and the US for their assistance, stressing the importance of creating a free trade zone among the Balkan countries. He also called on the international mediators to do all they could to ensure protection of the Serbian minority in Kosovo.

US State Department director for South and Central European affairs Charles English assured that the US was absolutely opposed to any change of borders whatsoever in the Balkans.

Addressing the working lunch, ambassador Mallias outlined Greece's and the EU's vision for the future of the Balkans and, referring to the security situation in the region, stressed that it has improved greatly since the early 1990's, "although challenges and dangers remain, chiefly from the activities of organized crime and people-trafficking".

He said the EU summit in Thessaloniki in 2003, under the Greek EU presidency, had been of decisive importance, as it set the foundations for the SE European countries' course to EU accession, and described this prospect as the most important mechanism of "calm force" Europe has in the region today.

Mallias further highlighted the opportunities presented for major investments in a market of 50 million consumers which, with the addition of Turkey, turned into a market of 120 million consumers, and outlined Greece's leading investment and commercial presence in the Balkans, where Greek business concerns have invested 10 billion dollars, creating 200,000 jobs. He also noted the National Bank of Greece's recent acquisition of a 46 percent share stake in Turkey's FinansBank.

The Greek ambassador also placed emphasis on the recent agreement for the creation of an Energy Community in SE Europe, which rendered Greece the energy hub of the Balkans, and the petrol and natural gas pipelines currently under construction that would transfer energy resources from the Caspian Sea to Western Europe.

On the future of Kosovo, Mallias stressed that the stabilization of Kosovo should not lead to the destabilization of Serbia, adding that the partition of Kosovo and its union with any neighboring state must be ruled out.

Stressing the message of reconciliation that must prevail in the region, so as to consolidate its stability, he called for the obliteration of all references to "bad neighbors" and "territorial claims" from all school history and geography books, and cited the example of Greece as a country in which one million immigrants have been smoothly integrated into the Greek society over the past decade.

[08] Vodafone, Ericsson exec's testimony on phone-tap conflicting

ATHENS, 07/04/2006 (ANA)

Ruling New Democracy MP Christos Zois left the room before Koronias and Zikos finished testifying, saying that the situation resembled "a theatre of the absurd".

"The non-answers, the conflicting testimony and the gaps constitute enough material that can be referred to other authorities [for investigation]," he said.

The point of conflict concerns part of the software package Vodafone purchased from Ericsson which can be used for legal monitoring of conversations.

Vodafone's Koronias claims that the company never ordered, received nor knew of the specific feature.

Ericsson's Zikou, on the other hand, claims that the feature is a standard part of the software package Vodafone bought - P 9.1 - and is described in the product's manual.

Communist Party of Greece (KKE) MP Liana Kanelli was also dissatisfied with Koronia's argument that he wasn't specifically informed about the software's special feature, which according to Ericsson is not activated.

"You are answering as though you were a credit card user who is not familiar with the terms and conditions of the user agreement in fine print," Kanelli told Koronias.

Coalition of the Radical Left (SRA) Fotis Kouvelis wondered whether "there was an informal agreement [between the two companies] whereby Ericsson delivered the software but Vodafone did not order it, bringing us to where we are today."

Koronias vehemently denied that possibility while Zikou said that "as far as I know, there was no such agreement."

Main opposition PASOK MP Miltiadis Papaioannou questioned Koronias' claim of ignorance about the software saying that in May 2004 Greek and British police had visited Vodafone's offices asking the mobile phone operator to 'unlock' the software in order to use it for legal monitoring. In June 2004, a representative of the mobile phone operator TIM Hellas said that such software existed.

Koronias replied that while the police had made a request to monitor conversations, Vodafone's legal department refused their request.

Committee President Anastasios Karamarios announced that the Authority for the Protection of Communications Privacy (ADAE) will submit its second report on Friday afternoon, while the minutes of the committee's sessions will be handed over to justice.

Finally, PASOK MP and former parliament speaker Apostolos Kaklamanis said that the committee has not completed its work and that more witnesses must be called to testify.

The phone-tapping plot involving Greece's mobile phone provider Vodafone was revealed by the government in February, after a nearly year-long covert investigation by the authorities had failed to find those responsible. It said the roughly 100 phones that were tapped included those of the prime minister, members of the government, high-ranking police and armed forces personnel, activists, journalists, business people and even one U.S. Embassy employee.

[09] PM's aide Angelou testifies before Committee on phone-tap affair

ATHENS, 07/04/2006 (ANA)

During his testimony, Angelou stressed that his only involvement in the affair had been to arrange and attend a meeting on the evening of March 10, 2005 between then Public Order Minister George Voulgarakis and the chief executive of Vodafone Greece George Koronias, at which the government was first informed about the phone tapping plot.

According to Angelou, Koronias first contacted the prime minister's office on March 9 that year seeking a private meeting with Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis regarding a "national security issue of the highest level".

A meeting with Karamanlis had been impossible to arrange at that time because the prime minister was then in Spain on an official visit.

Koronias had called again on the following day and spoken with the premier's private secretary and Angelou contacted him later in the day when Koronias was at a football game and arranged for a meeting at 20:00 the same evening.

The aide noted that Vodafone's chief had been completely unknown to the premier's office before he called and, when told that the prime minister would not be available until Friday, Koronias had not insisted on seeing Karamanlis the same day.

Angelou also outlined what the Vodafone executive had said during the meeting with Voulgarakis:

"Mr. Koronias told us that following up various problems with messages sent by subscribers in January 2005, Vodafone had begun a search of its systems - without any results - to find the cause of the problem. He said that he first asked Ericsson in Greece, then the company in Spain and finally the parent company in Sweden to check the system.

"When we asked how it was possible for there to be software within Vodafone's systems that could not be discovered by the company itself, Koronias told us it was high-technology and had the ability to make itself invisible. He also assured us that the specific software had not been ordered by Vodafone, not even as something in its system that was inactive. In addition, Koronias said that on March 7 he had given orders to remove the illegal software from the system, something that was done the following day."

In response to a question by former Parliament president Apostolos Kaklamanis, Angelou pointed out that the consequences of removing the software were only understood later on. Removing the software shut down the surveillance system and thus greatly hampered a later investigation to trace those responsible.

"At the time, we did not have the technical knowledge to realize the significance of its removal," he told the Committee.

The prime minister's aide also referred to the death by apparent suicide of senior Vodafone technician Costas Tsalikidis, saying that Koronias had mentioned it as an unfortunate event that coincided with the discovery of the phone-taps but was not connected in any way.

Angelou said that the conversation had been carried out chiefly between Koronias and the minister and had been difficult, because it required specialist knowledge of technical issues.

Asked when the prime minister had been informed, Angelou said that he told the premier himself late that night because at the time of the meeting he had been at an official dinner with his Spanish counterpart and could not be contacted.

"As soon as he heard, the prime minister said that it was a very serious issue that should be investigated by justice," Angelou said.

He also denied taking part in any meetings concerning security issues in the run-up to the Olympic Games in Athens - in response to a question by Kaklamanis - pointing out that he was an aide of New Democracy's president and had no role or participation in the government.

Angelou was questioned at length concerning the mobile phones used by the prime minister, which were among the phones being monitored. He said the premier did not use a phone issued by his father's company but did use a mobile phone given to him by Parliament, which was also on the list of tapped phones.

"It was on the list and it was one of the phones he used," the aide said, informing the Committee that Karamanlis used about 20 phones and that he was contacted through the specific phone that he left with his secretariat each time.

"The phones are rotated regularly for security reasons," Angelou told another MP.

Other members of the committee asked Angelou why Koronias had not informed the Authority for the Protection of Communications Privacy but he said that there had been no discussion on maintaining secrecy during the meeting he attended.

Asked why he had asked Voulgarakis to attend the meeting with Koronias and not one of the other ministers involved in communication issues, such as communications minister Mihalis Liapis, Angelou said he had chosen Voulgarakis because Koronias had spoken of a national security issue.

Prior to Angelou's testimony, there was a heated argument between ruling party and opposition MPs on the committee, with the latter accusing the government of "dragging its feet" over the phone-tapping issue and demanding that the Committee speeds up its pace and meet more often. Kaklamanis also said that it was "strange" that Angelou's testimony had coincided with the arrival of "celebrity" criminal Apostolos Vavylis, a key player in a corruption scandal involving the Church, after his transfer from an Italian prison.

Main opposition PASOK MPs demanded that additional witnesses be called, such as the head of Greece's intelligence agency EYP Ioannis Korantis, Voulgarakis, the head of the premier's political office Costas Staikouras, technical advisors of Vodafone and Ericsson that had been involved, as well as representatives of other mobile phone companies.

The phone-tapping plot involving Greece's top mobile phone provider Vodafone was revealed by the government in February, after a nearly year-long covert investigation by the authorities had failed to find those responsible. It said the roughly 100 phones that were tapped included those of the prime minister, members of the government, high-ranking police and armed forces personnel, activists, journalists, business people and even one U.S. Embassy employee.

[10] PM to address ND conference on local administration on Friday

ATHENS, 07/04/2006 (ANA)

The conference will focus on the framework in which the New Democracy party will be moving during the municipal and prefectural elections due to take place in October this year.

"The first say is for the citizen" and "Strong local administration, strong society" are the two main messages of the national conference, which will also be addressed by Interior Minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos, ND Central Committee secretary Lefteris Zagoritis, Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis, Defense Minister Vangelis Meimarakis and Deputy Interior Minister Thanassis Nakos.

The interior minister will analyze government policy in the local administration sector during the two-year period of ND's governance.

Also to be examined will be the political framework and the criteria for selecting mayoral and prefectural candidates who will be supported by ND during October's elections.

It has been clarified that incumbent mayors and prefects have priority, while local societies will have the first say in the selection of the remaining candidates.

The conference, due to begin at 11 in the morning, will be attended by all of ND's Central Committee members, mayors and prefects and by members of municipal and prefectural councils who had been elected with support by ND.

[11] Roussopoulos on PASOK youth group poster, 'Chora' allegations

ATHENS, 07/04/2006 (ANA)

He said that the associations it triggered were both unacceptable and obvious, promoting terrorism and showing disrespect for the victims of the terrorists throughout the world.

"Our country has paid for terrorism in blood and all democratically sensitive citizens condemn such actions," the spokesman stressed, while calling on PASOK and its president to condemn the youth group's action, destroy the poster and publicly apologize.

"I would like to believe that it does not have the approval of PASOK's leadership," he added.

He said that the verbal abuse of PASOK leader George Papandreou heard during a rally by the ND-affiliated student party DAP was an "isolated incident" that had been condemned by both the government and the president of ND's youth group ONNED.

Roussopoulos also strenuously denied claims in the newspaper "Chora" that he had personally exerted pressure on the TV station Alpha to remove the journalist Georgios Tragas.

The spokesman said he had contacted the head of the station Nikos Hatzinikolaou and asked him to name the person who had attempted to blackmail Alpha in his name and without his knowledge, so that he might exercise his legal rights. Roussopoulos also stressed that neither he nor any other member of the government would contemplate doing such a thing.

[12] PASOK on phone-tap investigation, student elections, PASP poster

ATHENS, 07/04/2006 (ANA)

As for the testimony provided by Vodafone CEO George Koronias and Ericsson CEO Bill Zikou, who appeared before the Committee on Thursday, Athanassakis said that "it raised more questions than it answered."

He said there was conflicting evidence which highlighted the responsibility of the government in the failure to take certain actions in trying to catch those responsible.

[13] Student elections, PASP poster

ATHENS, 07/04/2006 (ANA)

He said that PASP saw an increase in the range of 1% - 6% and emerged as the top student group in several universities, in some cases for the first time.

As for the PASP poster displayed at the Athens Law School, which depicts an airplane falling on two twin towers colored pale blue, the colors of ruling New Democracy, Athanassakis said that it was "a wrong political message that is obviously condemnable," responding to Government Spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos' criticism expressed earlier in the day.

Athanassakis also said that the issue of the poster had been raised with students before being mentioned by Roussopoulos.

Finally, the PASOK spokesman said that "vulgar slogans" were again heard against PASOK President George Papandreou Wednesday and Thursday, from students belonging to the ruling New Democracy DAP group. The latter, he said, also engaged in physical violence and tried to manipulate results, saying that Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis "has remained silent on the subject".

[14] Health and defense ministers discuss strengthening social policy

ATHENS, 07/04/2006 (ANA)

The committee's conclusions will be announced by the two ministers when they meet again at the defense ministry in a month's time.

Avramopoulos and Meimarakis said that the relevant program will pave the way for better health services and better social policy for the benefit of Greek society and Greek citizens.

The armed forces have undertaken the task of carrying patients by air, while navy ships visit border islands to provide health services for their inhabitants.

[15] Former parliamentarians union inaugurated; President attends

ATHENS, 07/04/2006 (ANA)

Also present was Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and All Greece, who carried out the traditional 'blessing' of the building, and several government ministers and politicians.

Speaking at the reception given afterwards, the union's president Constantine Pylarinos said the goals of the union will be to strengthen Greece's position in the EU and the world as a factor for peace, economic and cultural development.

[16] Council of State considers legal a presidential decree by defense minister

ATHENS, 07/04/2006 (ANA)

The decree concerns the general departments of economic planning and support, defense armaments and investments and civil defense and international relations of the defense ministry.

It also abolishes the position of the ministry's present secretary general G. Zorbas.

[17] Deputy DM inaugurates conference on international security and cooperation in SE Europe and Black Sea region

ATHENS, 07/04/2006 (ANA)

Mihaloliakos outlined the country's strategy on building and consolidating a system of regional security which "based on the sincere cooperation of the peoples of the region and the fundamental principles of democracy and the rights of man, will pave the way for regional stability, development and prosperity which all the peoples in this big region will enjoy."

The deputy minister also said that "we believe that, provided the principles that Greece believes and promotes, are implemented by the western Balkans up to the region of the Black Sea and Cyprus, the path to wider regional security and stability will have been opened for good."

Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannis Valynakis said on his part that "we support the European course of all countries in the region. But we must clarify that it does not constitute a 'blank cheque'. Progress in the European course is only understood as being the result of an uninterrupted and substantive response of interested and candidate countries to the criteria, prerequisites, principles and values of the European Union."

Valynakis also referred to initiatives undertaken by Greece to strengthen relations between Black Sea Economic Cooperation and the EU.

"We are capitalizing on our position, our economic possibilities and our experience as a member of the EU to bring a better future for our region closer. A European future of peace, cooperation and security as a basis for prosperity for all the peoples of the region," he said.

Delegations from eleven countries of the region participate in the two-day conference.

[18] PASOK leader calls for and receives resignation of party's Parliamentary Group coordinator Floridis

ATHENS, 07/04/2006 (ANA)

Floridis' resignation came following statements he made to an Athens radio station on labor relations and the social insurance system.

PASOK Spokesman Nikos Athanassakis said that "the positions expressed by Floridis are his personal views, which create misinterpretations and do not respond to the positions of PASOK."

[19] General staff chiefs agree to upgrade of Greek-Algerian military cooperation

ALGIERS, 07/04/2006 (ANA)

A joint high level Administrative Committee will be enacted for this purpose which will monitor and coordinate the implementation of bilateral cooperation activities.

The new military cooperation will concern, among other things, exchanging information on handling "asymmetrical threats" and illegal immigration, granting humanitarian aid in the event of natural disasters, granting scholarships to Algerian students to enable them to attend Greek military schools and the participation of observers in military exercises in Greece.

"Discussions at all levels, took place in a very friendly and sincere climate, with the dominant element being the mutual will for achieving objectives raised in bilateral military cooperation," said an announcement by the National Defense General Staff.

During his stay in Algeria, Hinofotis visited Algerian army and air force units, as well as the country's War Museum.

[20] SYN leader Alavanos to meet PDS leader Bisky in Berlin on Friday

ATHENS, 07/04/2006 (ANA)

According to a Synaspismos announcement on Thursday, the two leaders will discuss latest European developments, the growth of social movements, the forthcoming congress of the European Social Forum, as well as cooperation and joint action between the two parties both in the context of the Party of the European Left and on a bilateral level.

Alavanos will also meet with members of Synaspismos' Berlin Political Movement.

[21] Albanian PM briefs NATO general on progress in Armed Forces reforms

TIRANA, 07/04/2006 (ANA-MPA/I. Patso)

Berisha briefed Mouroutsos on the progress in reforms, and expressed his country's determination to become a member of the Alliance.

General Mouroutsos expressed appreciation for the progress and reforms in the Albanian Armed Forces, and stressed NATO's and his own support to the Albanian government in achieving the target of the country's accession to NATO.

[22] Greek govt seeks to create more free zones

ATHENS, 07/04/2006 (ANA)

The zones are expected to drastically boost the export activity of Greek enterprises in the manufacturing, commerce and services sectors. "The primary target of a Free Zone is to store, distribute and possibly manufacture mainly non-community products and to facilitate international trade. The best locations to create such zones are ports, industrial zones located near the country's borders or in road and railway axis, while island locations could also be examined," Sioufas said.

The Greek minister stressed that these regions would be equipped with financial and investment incentives and the necessary infrastructure to be able to host financial, business and international activities. Such zones are currently working in the ports of Piraeus, Thessaloniki and Heraclion, Crete.

[23] Greek, Turkish ministers discuss bilateral trade and energy relations

ATHENS, 07/04/2006 (ANA)

The two ministers examined business activities developing between the two countries and agreed there were great prospects of further development. They acknowledged an increase in trade volumes between Greece and Turkey and stressed more improvement was possible. Bilateral cooperation in the energy sector was progressing rapidly, especially after a meeting between the two countries' Prime Ministers at the Evros borders last July.

The Greek minister analyzed the sectors Greece could help Turkey in its course towards EU entry and underlined the close cooperation he has developed with his Turkish counterpart, Energy Minister Hilmi Guler. He wished that Turkey would soon enter an Energy Community which was signed in October 2005 in Athens.

[24] Intracom's head calls for Greek-Turkish business strategic cooperation

ATHENS, 07/04/2006 (ANA)

Addressing an Economist three-day conference in Athens, Kokkalis said "Greece and Turkey must forge an independent growth dynamic, free of non-business developments".

In his speech, the Greek businessman said Greek-Turkish relations have significantly improved in the last six years, reflecting the inevitable globalization of markets and the crucial role played by the European Union as a factor of stability and economic development for both countries.

Kokkalis said Greece's entry in EMU was the first step towards a new development course for the country. "Today we are called to contribute in a leap forward made by the country through a mild fiscal adjustment, lower fiscal deficits and stability, laying solid foundations and creating the necessary conditions to attracting new investments. With the government's reform program, I believe we can be optimistic for the future," he said.

Kokkalis said Turkey was an attractive destination for Greek investments.

[25] Draft law on National Land Register to be tabled in Parliament soon

ATHENS, 07/04/2006 (ANA)

Publicizing the finalized draft law on Thursday, Environment, Town Planning and Public Works Minister George Souflias said that it is a very important intervention by his ministry, adding that problems regarding this major project and other problems which have inconvenienced public administration and citizens for many years are being handled in a final and effective way.

"First of all, we are restructuring and placing on new bases the major national project of the Land Register with this draft law. Greece will obtain a Land Register at last with this draft law. We have made a great effort over the past two years and have promoted the project with speedy rates. I wish to remind that we received 22 Land Register offices and today 80 Land Register offices are functioning," the minister said.

The cost of the Land Register is estimated at 1.5 billion euros.

[26] European parliament approves plan to support poultry farmers

STRASBOURG, 07/04/2006 (ANA-MPA/O. Tsipira)

The proposal effectively expands the legal base of the existing EU directive of 1975 regarding the implementation of emergency measures to support the market, by allowing compensation for "serious market disturbances directly attributed to a loss in consumer confidence due to public health or animal health risks."

The recent spread of avian influenza throughout Europe has caused a drop in consumer confidence and demand for poultry meat, in some cases as much as 50%.

By approving the proposal, members of the European Parliament effectively support the Commission's efforts to compensate not only those poultry farmers directly affected by the bird flu, but also those facing problems due to a serious disruption of the market.

However, the MEPs adopted a few amendments to the proposal, including emergency vaccination, the restriction of emergency measures to "circumstances that pose a threat to livelihoods," and the avoidance of "inflicting unnecessary suffering on animals."

Finally, the MEPs call for an awareness campaign to help re-establish consumer confidence and stated that "export refunds are not a valid means of remedying market disturbances."

The proposal, as approved by Parliament, will be discussed on April 25 at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council.

[27] Interior minister, local authorities union discuss contract worker issue

ATHENS, 07/04/2006 (ANA)

Most of these currently work as school keepers or in the 'Help at Home' and 'People with Disabilities' programs and will be given permanent positions, while the cost of the conversion will be picked up by the state, Pavlopoulos said.

Speaking after a meeting with the president of the Central Union of Municipalities and Communities of Greece (KEDKE) Pavlos Koukoulopoulos, he praised KEDKE's contribution to drafting a new Code for Municipalities and Communities, which he said was a product of true consensus and bore significant changes relative to that first drafted before the 2004 elections.

He also promised a solution within a few months for the current withholding of funds from local authorities. During the meeting, Pavlopoulos and Koukoulopoulos also secured funds to pay the 10,000 contract workers in 2007.

[28] Econ, development ministers discuss tax incentives on renewable energy sources

ATHENS, 07/04/2006 (ANA)

No statements were made after the meeting

[29] Cooperation memorandum signed for favorable business environment

ATHENS, 07/04/2006 (ANA)

The memorandum, which was signed by KEDKE president Paris Koukoulopoulos and KEEE president George Kasimatis, aims at the development of cooperation which will allow the creation of a beneficial business environment on a national, regional and local government level, through which entrepreneurship will venture, innovate and develop. On the other hand, local government will intervene and create conditions of social cohesion, fair distribution of wealth and secure growth.

[30] KKE leader meets with seamen's union PNO

ATHENS, 07/04/2006 (ANA)

She said that both the government and every party will be judged on this issue during the debate in Parliament on this issue.

Papariga also called on the government to take over responsibility for the seamen's pension fund NAT, stressing that this could not present a picture of bankruptcy and pointing out that it was actually owed money by ship owners who paid very low contributions anyway.

"Let them sort this out between them, the government and ship owners, who are the 'social partners'," she said.

[31] Seminar on Greek investments in Georgia held in Athens

ATHENS, 07/04/2006 (ANA)

Addressing a seminar, held in an Athens hotel, on attracting investments in Georgia, Skylakakis said Greek enterprises have invested a total of 45 million US dollars in Georgia and stressed that there significant prospect of further expansion. Hellenic Technodomiki, Hellas Com and EKO Georgia are three of the success stories of Greek investments in the country.

The seminar underlined the very good work done by both countries' foreign ministries in supporting enterprising, such as bilateral deals to avoid double taxation and to protecting investments. Energy and tourism are the main focus of Greek business activity in Georgia, since the country is considered a transit country for natural gas because of the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzerum pipeline. Georgia could also emerge as an interesting travel destination after the country bid for the 2012 Winter Olympic Games.

Georgia's economy grew by 9.3 pct last year, from 6.2 pct in 2004; while inflation was 6.2 pct. foreign direct investments totaled 447 million US dollars.

Georgia's Economic Development and Energy Ministers, Irakli Chogovadge and Nick Gilauri, respectively, addressed the seminar.

[32] EU Commission sends warning letter to Greece over climate change policies

BRUSSELS, 07/04/2006 (ANA-MPA/V. Demiris)

According to the Commission, while companies in Greece, Cyprus, Luxembourg, Malta and Poland "can trade allowances on a forward basis, they are deprived of spot trading until the link up is made."

"The EU is committed to international efforts to combat climate change, which requires that we meet all our reporting obligations," Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said.

"This is particularly important now that global talks on future actions are starting. Our emissions trading system should function successfully in order to achieve cost-effective emissions' reductions in the EU," he added.

"A number of member states are still not linked up to the EU-wide system of registries, which means that their companies cannot participate fully in emission trading. I invite member states to put the situation right rapidly," Dimas concluded.

According to the Commission, emission allowances are not given in printed form, but rather companies can trade directly with each other.

"The registries system keeps track of the ownership of allowances in the same way as a banking system keeps track of the ownership of money," the Commission explains.

[33] Greece, Albania to free overland travel

TIRANA, 07/04/2006 (ANA)

Meeting in Tirana, Greek Transport Minister Mihalis Liapis and his counterpart, Lulzim Basha, said they were to issue bilateral transit permits for cargo transportation between the two countries with two-year duration and for unlimited trips.

The number of permits for issue would meet the needs of both countries, the two ministers reported.

In addition, existing long-distance bus services could be expanded indefinitely and new routes created, coupled with inspections to verify the legality of transportations and safety of passengers.

In air transportation, the ministers said that cooperation between the two countries would be established, including air traffic control management.

Also signed were a bilateral agreement in post offices and electronic communications.

[34] Chinese shipper launches trade route with Piraeus

ATHENS, 07/04/2006 (ANA)

"Chinese ships and cargoes will strengthen competition, create new jobs and give impetus to the market," the president of the Greek-Chinese Chamber of Trade and Industry, Constantine Yiannidis, said in a statement.

A ceremony to mark anchoring the company's first ship to ply the route, the River Elegance, will be attended by Merchant Marine Minister Manolis Kefaloyiannis and the Chinese ambassador in Athens, Tian Xue Jun.

[35] Greenpeace activists demonstrate outside Agricultural Development & Foods Ministry

ATHENS, 07/04/2006 (ANA)

The activists unloaded sacks of genetically-modified animal feed at the entrance of the ministry, carrying placards with slogans such as "No to genetically-modified" and "Inspections now".

[36] Int'l conference in Athens on 'The Impetus of the Euro-zone in the Mediterranean'

ATHENS, 07/04/2006 (ANA)

As stated in an announcement on Thursday, the conference, which will be held in Vouliagmeni, is to emphasize the importance of the Euro-zone for economic growth, to attract investors and for the participation of citizens in the "Society of Knowledge". At the same time, the conference will give Greece the opportunity to show the central role which it can play in the broader Mediterranean region.

Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis has been invited to open the conference's sessions.

Information Society and Media Commissioner Viviane Reding has accepted to address the conference, while Transport and Communications Minister Michalis Liapis has also been invited to address it.

[37] Thessaloniki in need of 'reshaping'

THESSALONIKI, 07/04/2006 (ANA)

"The center's capacity for construction, service, traffic and parking is obviously not infinite," President of the Technical Chamber of Greece/Central Macedonia section Athanassios Tzakopoulos said, stressing the need for a strategic plan to reshape the city.

"Every entity that owns property in the area behaves and operates like an individual trying to make the most of his property. This is how we've come to the present situation on the university campus which has become inaccessible to the city's residents. It is how the 'shoddy and unacceptable' - from an architectural perspective - situation has come to pass at the Thessaloniki International Trade Fair grounds that is also inaccessible to pedestrians," he added.

The necessary ingredient to ensure success in planning is a step-by-step approach, Dr. Michael Denkel of Albert Speer & Partners said, presenting the master plan used for the 'transformation' of Frankfurt's exhibition centre, currently under way and expected to finish by 2020.

Accessibility, functional exhibit areas, parking, and shopping centers are some of the elements that comprise the new model for Frankfurt.

Bologna's exhibit centre is following a similar 'formula', according to the head of the city's town planning department, Giovanni Fini.

According to Fini, some 20 exhibits are organized annually, attracting 22,000 exhibitors and 1 million visitors.

The conference was co-organized by the Thessaloniki Chamber of Commerce and Industry (EBETh), the Thessaloniki Chamber of Light Industry, the Thessaloniki Professional Chamber, the Thessaloniki Chamber Council, the Federation of Northern Greek Industries, and the Federation of Northern Greek Exporters.

[38] Duty Free Shops unveils 9-mln-euro investment program for 2006

ATHENS, 07/04/2006 (ANA)

The company plans to open two new shops in the ports of Santorini and Katakolo, adding to an existing network of 13 shops in 10 Greek ports. New shops and expansions are scheduled for the airports of Alexandroupolis, Thessaloniki, Corfu, Rhodes, Kephalonia, Samos, Mytilene, Araxos and Skiathos. Duty Free Shops operates a network of 58 shops in 20 airports.

It also plans to expand its network to border terminals. Sales in border terminals account for 28-30 percent of total sales and 50 percent of profits.

The company expects this year's consolidated sales to reach 300 million euros (up 11-15 pct from 2005), consolidated EBITDA to rise by 10-12 pct to 65 million euros and net profits to rise 16-19 pct to 45 million euros.

Duty Free Shops also seeks to expand activities abroad, particularly in the Balkans, the Middle and Far East.

[39] Pantechniki in Attica Metro expansion project

ATHENS, 07/04/2006 (ANA)

The project, budgeted at 199.8 million euros, envisages the opening of an underground tunnel, with a length of 1.3 km, building of a station in Chaidari and of a train depot in Eleonas. The project is expected to be ready in February 2009.

Pantechniki participates with a 31.5 percent stake in a joint venture including Alpine Mayreder Bau, Terna and Power Electrical Systems.

Pantechniki said its consolidated pre-tax profits totaled 11.41 million euros last year, seven times more than a 1.57 million euros profit in 2004. After tax profits totaled 7.5 mlnn euros in 2005 from a loss of 1.39 mln euros in the previous year.

Parent pre-tax profits jumped 69.1 percent to 6.2 mln euros in 2005; net profits fell by 18.5 percent to 5.22 million euros, while consolidated turnover fell by 20 percent to 134.25 million euros in 2005.

Pantechniki said it planned to pay 0.06 euros per share dividend to shareholders.

[40] Olympic Airlines-Services to offer technical services to Iberia's aircrafts

ATHENS, 07/04/2006 (ANA)

Olympic Airlines-Services has signed similar agreements with Singapore Airlines and Austrian Airlines.

[41] J&P Avax win Coca-Cola project in Ireland

ATHENS, 07/04/2006 (ANA)

Coca Cola is to have the plant built on 160,000 square meters of land. Facilities include:

- Production plant and warehousing facilities with a 30,000 square-meter surface area

- Two-storey office building with a surface area of 5,000 square meters

- Support buildings covering 10,000 square meters

- Silos for storing raw materials

- Biological waste management facility

- Side works (road works and parking lot totaling 50,000 square meters, sewerage, and landscaping works over 15,000 square meters)

The project is due for completion in 16 months.

[42] Diplomats visit Patras for briefing on business opportunities

PATRA, 07/04/2006 (ANA)

The diplomats from European Union and other countries including the USA, Japan, and Russia requested follow-up visits to local industries and companies in the prefecture of Achaia.

[43] Convicted felon Vavylis arrives in Athens following extradition by Italy

ATHENS, 07/04/2006 (ANA)

Up until his extradition, Vavylis was being held in a Venetian prison after being arrested in Bologna in April 2005, to serve a seven-year sentence for a drug-smuggling conviction. He was accompanied on the flight to Athens by three Greek police officers who went to Rome to take charge of the felon.

He was due to be taken under police escort to the Attica General Police Headquarters (GADA) on central Alexandras avenue for formal identification procedures, and from there to a prosecutor for arraignment on charges in connection with a drug case for which he had been sentenced to seven years imprisonment by a court in Volos in 1997 and afterwards to an investigator for the other offences he is accused of.

Vavylis, a former aide of ousted former Jerusalem Patriarch Irineos, has been accused of repeated counts of violating state secrets, repeated counts of forgery, fraud, being an accomplice to fraud, repeated counts of embezzling objects of great value entrusted to him by the manager of foreign property, being an accomplice to embezzlement, stealing a false certificate, theft, harboring a criminal, libel, perjury and unprovoked verbal abuse.

The charges concern his activities in Greece, Israel and Italy, while his career includes stints as a police informant, a law enforcement equipment sales rep and even a monk.

[44] Athens municipality to hold event on occasion of World Health Day

ATHENS, 07/04/2006 (ANA)

A human chain will be created with the participation of 240 volunteers, while the main slogan will be "Prevention is a gift of life." The purpose of the initiative is to achieve sensitization on issues concerning the maintenance of good health and the strengthening of the natural defense of the human body.

People will be informed about prevention issues with printed material which will be distributed free of charge. Volunteer citizens who will participate in the human chain will be entitled to free check-ups at the Athens municipality's seven municipal infirmaries between April 10-17.

[45] Commission warning on protection of bathing sites

BRUSSELS, 07/04/2006 (ANA)

The member states in question are Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Sweden. About 7,000 bathing sites in total have been affected. Removal of bathing sites from the official lists should be properly and individually explained and should not be a response to pollution problems. Explanations from the eleven Member States are currently lacking, and the Commission has therefore asked them to justify their 'cancellation' of previously recognized bathing sites.

Commenting on the decisions, Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said: "The EU Bathing Water Directive is helping to ensure that millions of bathers can enjoy clean bathing water during the summer months. That is why I am concerned that some Member States do no longer apply the safeguard measures of the Directive to several thousand bathing waters across the EU. Failing to clean up the polluted bathing sites is both against the letter and the spirit of the Directive."

From the annual bathing water reports submitted by Member States under the EU's Bathing Water Directive, the Commission has observed that, between the early 1990s and 2004, many previously recognized bathing waters were dropped without explanation from the list of monitored bathing areas. The statistics are set out in the table below. The Directive requires Member States to monitor bathing water quality and keep bathing waters free of pollution. The Commission is concerned that some Member States have opted to close bathing sites instead of cleaning them up.

The Commission has also raised issues about the lack of monitoring of certain bathing waters in Italy, which, although still recognized as bathing waters, are subject to bathing prohibitions. Italy has failed to monitor water quality at 244 sites, where bathing was banned during the year 2004.

[46] President Papoulias inaugurates 'Crete travels' archaeological exhibition in downtown Athens

ATHENS, 07/04/2006 (ANA)

On exhibit are 256 artifacts which include bronze and clay idols, golden jewelry and glass urns.

In all, the collection of Nikolaos Metaxas numbers 2,229 objects. He started his collection since 1959.

The exhibition at "Athinais" was jointly organized by the Culture Ministry and the Pieridis Foundation.

Present at the inauguration were, among others, Culture Minister George Voulgarakis, former Prime Minister Constantine Mitsotakis, National Defense Minister Evangelos Meimarakis, Environment, Town Planning and Public Works Minister George Souflias, and main opposition Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) deputies V. Papandreou, N. Christodoulakis, C. Gitonas and P. Efthimiou.

[47] Three quarters of Greeks have never used the Internet, Eurostat finds

BRUSSELS, 07/04/2006 (ANA)

The European statistics agency also found that Internet use among Greek students was lower than among their European counterparts and that only 1 percent of Greek households had a broadband Internet connection, compared with 23 percent of households throughout Europe.

Greece also had the third-lowest rate of Internet access by households (22 percent) in Europe, after Lithuania (16 percent) and the Czech Republic (19 percent).

Greek businesses were closer to their European counterparts, with 92 percent having at least a simple dial-up connection to the Internet and 44 percent having a broadband connection, compared with 91 percent of European companies with a dial-up connection and 63 with broadband.

Greeks also use the Internet less frequently than other Europeans: only 18 percent of Greeks use the Internet at least once a week compared with 43 percent of EU residents. More analytically, the Internet is used at least once a week in Greece by 22 percent of men, 15 percent of women, 48 percent of students, 28 percent of employed and 14 per cent of the unemployed.

By comparison, the equivalent figures in the 25 EU member-states are 49 percent of men, 38 percent of women, 79 percent of students, 55 percent of working people and 32 percent of unemployed.

Greece also has the highest rate for those who have never used the Internet, which accounts for 71 percent of men, 75 percent of women, 31 percent of students, 59 percent of those working people and 72 percent of the unemployed. The EU average by contrast is 39 percent for men, 47 percent for women, 7 percent for students, 29 percent for working people and 48 percent of the unemployed.

[48] Greek civil aviation expert meets Cypriot transport minister in Nicosia

NICOSIA, 07/04/2006 (ANA-MPA/A. Viketos)

Tsolakis met on Thursday with Transport Minister Haris Thrasou.

Cypriot minister Thrasou, having stated that his meeting with Tsolakis was not been limited only on the investigation of the ill-fated aircraft of the Cypriot private airline company "Helios", which crashed north of Athens last year killing all on board, said that "the cooperation will also continue on the issue of Civil Aviation and the safety of flights."

On the report regarding the aircrash tragedy that occurred last August, Tsolakis restricted himself in saying that it is at the stage of its final formulation.

[49] Baby infected with hepatitis C at Thessaloniki hospital

THESSALONIKI, 07/04/2006 (ANA)

The baby has also undergone operations in other hospitals in northern Greece and doctors are now trying to determine whether the infection was caused by a blood transfusion or was contracted within the hospital.

Neither of the child's parents are carriers of hepatitis C, while blood donors at Ippokration Hospital have also retested negative.

[50] Greek and Bulgarian pupils appeal for blood donations

KOMOTINI, 07/04/2006 (ANA)

The competition was held in the framework of the program "Volunteer blood donors in the Evros Valley" (INTERREG III/CBC PHARE Greece-Bulgaria). Over 650 pupils participated in it from all stages of education in the prefectures of Rodopi and Evros, as well as a corresponding number of pupils from the region of Haskovo in Bulgaria.

Greek pupils who participated in the competition and who distinguished themselves for their work will receive awards at the Komotini Music School on Friday, while 25 pupils from Haskovo who received awards for the same issue will also participate with their teachers.

[51] Letter of warning to 13 EU member-states, including Greece, regarding emergency phone No. '112'

BRUSSELS, 07/04/2006 (ANA-MPA/ V. Demiris)

For Greece, the decision to move the first stage of procedure only concerns mobile telephony. According to EU legislation and rules in the sector of telecommunications, the member states should be in a position to locate geographically the citizens who call for reasons of urgent emergency.

[52] Prisoner claims she was raped by officers in police jail

RHODES, 07/04/2006 (ANA)

She said that over the past weekend she was raped by three officers at the station, one of which actually took her to his own home.

Later on Thursday, Greek Police Chief Anastasios Dimoschakis initiated proceedings for placing all three of the officers involved on suspension.

[53] Minos Kyriakou in China at invitation of 'Beijing 2008' Organizing Committee president Liu Qi

BEIJING, 07/04/2006 (ANA)

Addressing senior officials of Beijing's Olympic Games Organizing Committee, Kyriakou said: "Knowing your country very well, I have no doubt about your success. We have many things in common, mainly history, culture and tradition and we are with you in all the sides of Beijing's preparations."

The Chinese officials informed Kyriakou that the Olympic Torch will cross the five continents and will pass through a total of 28 cities worldwide. The Torch-bearing will last 137 days, beginning from late March 2008. In China, the Torch-bearing will last 100 days and the Olympic Torch will be carried to all of the country's 34 provinces.

[54] Solution effort must aim at preparation of talks, says spokesman

NICOSIA, 07/04/2006 (CNA/ANA)

Commenting on US intentions to help the start of discussions at bicommunal committees of everyday issues, Lillikas said that the agreement reached in Paris, during a meeting between the UN Secretary-General and Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos on February 28, was ''plain and clear.''

A joint statement issued after the hour-long meeting in Paris said that the leaders of both communities have agreed that bicommunal discussions on a series of issues will be undertaken at the technical level, adding that it would be beneficial for all concerned and would greatly improve the atmosphere for further talks if progress could be achieved on further disengagement of forces and demilitarization of the island, on the complete de-mining of Cyprus and on the issue of Famagusta.

Lillikas said that the technical committees ''will discuss issues of substance, which will be included in any solution plan, so the talks would be appropriately prepared, something which the UN SG himself wishes, as he has repeatedly said.''

The Greek Cypriot side has no objection to discussions on other issues, he added.

''We are not pleased that one and a half months have elapsed and the process agreed in Paris has not been implemented. Unfortunately it takes two to start a dialogue. We hope that there will be a positive response from the Turkish and the Turkish Cypriot sides so that we could start as soon as possible,'' he added.

Replying to other questions, he said the government was in close consultation with other European Union member-states, which express concern over Turkey's European course.

''We are working to convince Turkey to meet its obligations to the EU and to Cyprus so that Ankara will continue its course towards EU accession,'' he added.

''We want Turkey in the EU but what happens in October (when the EU will assess Turkey's progress in aligning itself with EU norms) depends on Turkey alone,'' he added.

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