Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 06-04-10

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

CONTENTS

[01] 'European Local Government - Positive Practices and Innovative Policies' forum organized by PASOK on weekend

[02] PM Costas Karamanlis visits Greater Hellenism Foundation

[03] Health minister announces creation of molecular blood examination centre

[04] Ailianos named new sec. gen. at Public Order ministry

[05] Public order minister inaugurates Rio-Antirrio bridge emergency map exercise

[06] Interior minister addresses event on pre-school education in local administration

[07] Greek army chief in Cyprus on an official visit

[08] KKE secretary general addresses European communist and workers party meeting

[09] PASOK leading ruling ND party, DIMEL poll says

[10] FinMin says structural reforms, fiscal adaptation have shown positive results, during EU-Asia meeting in Vienna

[11] First two years of ND governance were years of major decisions, deputy econ minister Folias says

[12] Gov't initiative before Easter for unification of social insurance funds

[13] Piraeus-China direct sea link inaugurated

[14] National Bank presentation to institutional investors in London

[15] Tourism minister Petralia to attend Global tourism summit, meet with senior US gov't officials in Washington

[16] Minister of Macedonia and Thrace attends Greek Chamber Union General Assembly

[17] Israeli Embassy providing information on 'AGRITECH' exhibition

[18] Local administration employees decide new 24-hour strike for Monday

[19] Cyprus Airways airliner encounters problem in hydraulic system, returns safely to Athens airport

[20] Athens Journalists Union condemns injuring of journalist on island of Chios

[21] Balkan theatre festival to take place in Thessaloniki as of 2007

[22] Gang exploiting foreign women disbanded

[01] 'European Local Government - Positive Practices and Innovative Policies' forum organized by PASOK on weekend

ATHENS, 10/4/2006 (ANA)

"In 1981, PASOK was elected (to government) with the slogan 'the people in power'. Today, we seek power with the slogan 'the power to the people'," Papandreou said, adding that his party was prepared to give the local communities the ability for a creative and two-way relationship with the centers of authority, and new prospects to local government.

Papandreou said financial resources needed to be earmarked for the local governments so that they could assume such responsibilities as the local schools, health centers, environmental issues, spurring local development, training and orientation, and confronting unemployment.

PASOK, he added, was "prepared to go to a new model of governance" on the morning after elections in the next national polls, adding that the model proposed by his party was that of a "decentralized society, and open society, and a determined government", which Papandreou said was the opposite of the New Democracy model of conservatism.

At European level, Papandreou said that the periphery was arising from within the following needs: The need for a voice to be given to the citizen and the local community; the need for quick, efficient, democratic and consensus decisions; the need for preservation and utilization of identity and culture; the need for a new perception of a viable, economic development with respect for the environment and quality of life; the need for seeking new comparative advantages; the need of new models of horizontal cooperation between the citizens and regions of the EU; and the need for the periphery to play an important role so that change may be effected with security, consensus, participation and protection of the citizen, without anyone being sidelined.

Addressing the session on Saturday, secretary general of the EU's Council of the Regions Gerhard Stahl. stressed that, with EMU, many national means and tools had lost their significance, and cooperation was now necessary at all levels of local government on the local, regional and national level, given that "in the new Europe, governance is necessary at multiple levels". He added that new ways and means should be sought so that everyone could participate in the decision-taking process.

Stahl said that in order for Europe to respond to globalization, the local and regional bodies needed to participate in the National Reform Programs, as those programs were the essence of policy, in which such matters as employment, growth and fiscal policy were discussed.

He said that the EU member states were not yet prepared to include the local and regional bodies, adding that the challenge for the local and regional authorities was "first of all to give an answer to the burning problem of economic growth and employment, since economic growth must be linked with economic and social cohesion".

Stahl further noted that it was ascertained at times that economic growth exists, but at the same time there was an increase in poverty, whereas the economic growth should be to the benefit and interests of all, and not only of the few.

He said better operation of the European bodies was necessary, noting that this was linked with the European Constitutional Treaty that provides for the participation of the local and regional bodies in the decision-taking process.

Also addressing the Meeting on Saturday, Tirana mayor Edi Rama said he believed that through culture, one could succeed in new roads being opened, "new paths beyond the traditional policies and the contacts in which traditional politics and contacts do not bear fruit".

Rama recalled the problems faced in the project of building a modern cinema theatre in Tirana and the "nightmare" he went through in trying to convince international organizations and ambassadors to provide the necessary funding which, he said, was finally forthcoming from the private capital of Albanians and Americans, with the assistance of Greece's culture ministry.

He expressed hope that the socialist parties of the region, and particularly the Albanian Socialist Party and PASOK, would collaborate in order to make "the optimum use of the very singular and significant dynamic of the presence of hundreds of thousands of Albanians living in Greece, are being incorporated in the Greek society, of which 80 percent excellent orientation, and can comprise a very important source of strength, of PASOK's strength, in the cities and villages in which they live".

Rama also expressed hope that Greek schools would be established in Albania and Albanian schools in Greece, adding that "we must comprehend that our differences are our wealth, and that the citizens of the future must embody all these differences, they must speak all the languages with the same ease, and live alongside each other without problems from a very young age".

PASOK party secretary Mariliza Xenoyiannakopoulou: Opening the two-day conference on Saturday, PASOK party secretary Mariliza Xenoyiannakopoulou criticized the ruling New Democracy party for its policies in the sector of local administration.

Xenoyiannakopoulou said that when ND was in the opposition it opposed every reformist effort made by PASOK in the local administration sector and now that it is in power, despite declarations made, it is weakening local administration in practice.

She said that ever since it's founding, PASOK had given a new impetus to local administration and had proceeded, among other things, with the enactment of elected prefecture administration in the '90s and the creation of Citizens' Service Centers (KEP).

The PASOK party's secretary said that the party proposes a different path, focusing on decentralization and local administration that will be called on to serve the aims of sustainable development in which "all will ultimately contribute on an equal basis and all will benefit from its results on an equal basis and fairly."

Xenoyiannakopoulou also said that during the conference PASOK will discuss further steps aimed at the decentralization of powers and resources and the administrative independence of local administration on the course towards the party's nationwide conference on local administration in June and towards the municipal and prefecture elections in October.

PASOK to back Gennimata for re-election to Athens-Piraeus supra-prefecture: The main opposition PASOK party has decided to back the candidacies for re-election of Athens-Piraeus supra-prefect Fofi Gennimatas, Athens prefect Yannis Sgouros and Piraeus prefect Yannis Michas in the Fall local government elections, in line with PASOK leader George Papandreou's principle of "you don't change a winning team".

The decision was taken Saturday during a two-hour meeting chaired by Papandreou at his Kastri residence.

Papandreou made the announcement himself, and described the first term in office of the three candidates as successful.

Addressing a two-day PASOK conference on "European Local Government - Positive Practices and Innovative Policies" on Sunday, Gennimata said "we three are commencing with strength and optimism again to wage the battle for the Athens-Piraeus supra-prefecture".

Gennimata said that the citizens, with their urging, gave strength to the trio to carry on with their work.

[02] PM Costas Karamanlis visits Greater Hellenism Foundation

ATHENS, 10/4/2006 (ANA)

Karamanlis also visited the exhibition named "Is there a solution to everything? Voyage in world of ancient Greek mathematics" that promotes the ancient Greek spirit and the significance of ancient Greek mathematics for world culture.

He said in a statement that the Greater Hellenism Foundation is performing a considerable task in promoting and spreading Greek culture with the use of digital-era means and new technologies.

"The Greater Hellenism Foundation is a characteristic example of what private initiative can also offer in their crucial sector of education and culture," he said.

Karamanlis met during his tour with schoolchildren on an educational tour and was photographed with them, while he was also briefed on the Foundation's plans and prospects of expansion.

[03] Health minister announces creation of molecular blood examination centre

ATHENS, 10/4/2006 (ANA)

Avramopoulos also said that initiatives to create such centers all over the country are being speeded up and that the reorganizing of the blood donation system is developing rapidly.

"The Greeks can feel safe because blood donations are taking place with strict criteria," the minister said.

Health minister announces six health projects budgeted at 12 million euros: Health and Social Solidarity Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos, addressing an event on Saturday on "A society with adequacy in medical potential", announced six projects budgeted at 12 million euros that will contribute to upgrading health services in Macedonia. The event was organized by the Prefecture of Thessaloniki on the occasion of World Health Day.

Most of the projects concern health centers that will be created in the prefectures of Thessaloniki, Halkidiki and Serres, as well as equipment for the AHEPA hospital.

The minister said that the commitment for hiring 2,500 people in the health sector still stands and announced that an extra 4,500 people will be hired in the coming years to fill in the vacuum existing in staff and infrastructures in the health sector.

Avramopoulos also said that health is not only a social affair but a national one as well, adding that he would like a more dynamic presence by all political parties.

Major changes to EYP in sight: Public order minister Vyron Polydoras announced major changes to come in the National Information Service (EYP), which would be made accountable to parliament, in an interview appearing in the Sunday edition of Eleftherotypia newspaper.

Polydoras said the changes would be effected through a draft law that was currently in the final stages of preparation and was due to be tabled soon in parliament.

The minister stressed that he would not tolerate factionist and sectarian attitudes in EYP.

Asked whether EYP was capable of tapping cell phones, Polydoras was categoric that the information service's equipment was totally inadequate for such surveillance.

Questioned on the telephone tapings scandal, Polydoras said that the "crime scene" was Vodafone, the equipment of which was used for the tapings, and stressed that the victims in this case were the government, the prime minister, and ministers, adding that the main bulk of the handling of the matter had been "impeccable, serious and responsible", while the two possibilities in the death of a Vodafone official (murder or forced suicide) needed to be investigated exhaustively.

[04] Ailianos named new sec. gen. at Public Order ministry

ATHENS, 10/4/2006 (ANA)

In accepting the resignation, public order minister Vyron Polydoras expressed his appreciation for Evangelidis' contribution and work during his two years in the post.

The new secretary general, Ailianos, has previously served as secretary general in the foreign ministry, and also secretary general of the Presidency of the Republic during Costis Stefanopoulos' term as President.

Ailianos, born in 1943, is married and has two children. He holds a law degree from the University of Athens and a PhD in Diplomatic History from the same university. He speaks French, English and German.

He has served as Greek ambassador to Poland, India and Germany, and also in several departments of the foreign ministry, as well as in other Greek diplomatic representations abroad, and has written several books and articles on the history of the Balkans.

Ailianos further taught diplomatic history at the National School of Public Administration, and the School of National Defence.

[05] Public order minister inaugurates Rio-Antirrio bridge emergency map exercise

ATHENS, 10/4/2006 (ANA)

The minister, who was accompanied by Greek Police Chief Anastasios Dimoschakis, Environment, Town Planning and Public Works ministry secretary general Athanassios Kouloumbis and other officials, said that the planning is necessary and that he feels proud to be participating in the exercise.

The map exercise, code-named "Rio-Antirrio 2006", is being organized by the headquarters of the Greek Police with the cooperation of the "Gefyra S.A." company and representatives of agencies involved.

The purpose of the exercise is to test the Rio-Antirrio bridge's security planning, as well as securing cooperation and coordination between all the services involved. The exercise's scenarios were not known beforehand by the parties involved since its purpose is to see how they will react during an emergency.

The conclusions to be reached during the exercise will be utilized for the bridge's ongoing security planning.

[06] Interior minister addresses event on pre-school education in local administration

ATHENS, 10/4/2006 (ANA)

Pavlopoulos said that the existing constitutional basis regarding the organizing of pre-school education in the framework of local administration is very progressive since it enacts the rule that "marriage, motherhood and childhood are under the protection of the state."

The minister pointed out that a considerable and systematic increase in local administration subsidization began as of 2004 for covering the operational expenses of children's and infants' nurseries.

According to data provided by Pavlopoulos, total subsidization in 2003 amounted to 165 million euros, which increased to 211 million euros in 2004 and 241 million euros in 2005, while 259 million euros have been earmarked for 2006.

[07] Greek army chief in Cyprus on an official visit

PAPHOS, 10/4/2006 (ANA-MPA/A.Viketos/CNA)

Upon his arrival at the 'Andreas Papandreou' Airbase in Paphos, Hinofotis visited Kouklia, near Paphos, the site where a helicopter carrying the late Cyprus' National Guard Commander Evangelos Florakis and another four National Guard officers crashed, killing all five in July 2002. Hinofotis paid tribute to the late commander.

According to the official program of his visit, Hinofotis will be received by President of the Republic Tassos Papadopoulos and will

meet House of Representatives President Demetris Christofias and Minister of Defence Kyriacos Mavronicolas.

The Greek Admiral will visit the Greek Armed Forces (ELDYK) where he will lay a wreath at the war memorial, as well as Makedonitissa Tomb in Nicosia, where army officers and soldiers killed during the 1974 Turkish invasion are buried. He will also visit and lay a wreath at Throni where the late Archbishop Makarios III is laid to rest.

Hinofotis will visit the Greek Embassy in Nicosia and meet Ambassador Demetrios Rallis. On Sunday he visited the 'Andreas Papandreou' Military Airbase in Paphos. He departs from Cyprus on Tuesday afternoon.

[08] KKE secretary general addresses European communist and workers party meeting

10/4/2006 (ANA)

She went on to say that the shaping of a wider front depends a great deal on the orientation of communist parties and of the labor movement on the issue of education as well.

Papariga further said that the main element of KKE's educational policy is the proposal for the establishment of 12-year compulsory school education, as a continuation of compulsory two-year pre-school training and a precondition for any professional training.

The KKE secretary general called for the contribution of all communist and workers parties for the effort "to build this popular front to reorganize education and society" and called for a number of measures to be considered before the next meeting of the participating parties.

The measures include appealing to progressive intellectuals and teachers to resist reactionary reforms and not to succumb or be tempted by the effort being made for them to turn into implements and agencies of the new measures, either with terrorism concerning so-called evaluation or with various selective benefits and donations under the table.

[09] PASOK leading ruling ND party, DIMEL poll says

ATHENS, 10/4/2006 (ANA)

The poll gives PASOK 40.9 percent and ND 39.5. The poll previously carried out by the company and published in the same newspaper in October last year had given ND a 0.8 percent lead over PASOK.

ND leader Costas Karamanlis is still considered to be most suitable for the premiership, but the distance from PASOK leader George Papandreou has been reduced to 0.7 percent compared to a difference of 2.6 percent appearing in the previous poll.

As to the question of which party is expected to win the next elections, respondents gave ND 39.4 percent and PASOK 29.7. The distance here has been reduced again from 17.9 percent last October to the current 9.7.

[10] FinMin says structural reforms, fiscal adaptation have shown positive results, during EU-Asia meeting in Vienna

10/4/2006 (ANA)

Alogoskoufis said that Greece was successfully applying its own program of structural reforms and fiscal adaptation, which he said has had very positive results, as the growth rate was substantially higher than the eurozone average, unemployment was declining, and exports had risen substantially, given that the program was outward-oriented and respected and took into account the country's social abilities.

Speaking at a presentation of the ascertainments of the Vienna Meeting, Alogoskoufis noted the common ascertainment that the "key" to the development of the global economy was confrontation of the fiscal imbalances and the advancement of structural reforms.

He said that better coordination of the macroeconomic policies was necessary, adding that cooperation between Europe and Asia was very important in this area, stressing that EU-Asia cooperation would continue, to the benefit of the global economy.

Alogoskoufis said the Meeting included exchanges of views and experiences on structural reforms on both sides, and it had been ascertained that advancing structural reforms in all the member countries was very important.

The Greek minister noted that the structural reforms should occupy each country itself, and that every country needed to apply its own set of structural reforms, given that the social and economic models could not be transposed as is from country to country, warning that this would create immense problems.

It arose from the discussions, Alogoskoufis continued, that each country, in the framework of its own specific economic institutions and particularities, must apply a program that is appropriate for its own conditions, but stressed that the program needed to be applied with consistency and credibility.

Alogoskoufis said the exchange of views at the Vienna Meeting had been "very interesting", and encompassed the state of the global economy and the developments that were required in the international institutions, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), in which representation of the countries, particularly the Asiatic countries, was not proportional.

Also discussed were ways of combating the problem of money laundering, ways of better distribution of the benefits from the development of the global economy and from the growth of the developing countries.

Alogoskoufis said that the global economy, with respect to growth, had had a positive development also in 2005, with Asia and the US as the steam engines of that growth. He added this development was continuing, with substantial contribution also from the EU and Japan, where growth was substantial.

Alogoskoufis, who also took part in the informal meeting of EU economy and finance ministers (ECOFIN) that was held in Vienna on Friday and Saturday, had the opportunity to confer with his Japanese counterpart, whom he invited to visit Greece, while he also discussed the outcome of prime minister Costas Karamanlis' visit to Beijing with his Chinese counterpart, and preparation for his own visit to the Chinese capital.

[11] First two years of ND governance were years of major decisions, deputy econ minister Folias says

ATHENS, 10/4/2006 (ANA)

"We are changing Greece with vision and a plan. It is our duty to change the state of affairs in the country," Folias said, and outlined the government's achievements over the past two years.

Addressing the same event, ND Central Committee secretary Lefteris Zagoritis said that since it came to power in March 2004, the ND government was proceeding with the reforms it had promised to the Greek society, aimed at improving the life and everyday reality of the citizens.

"The hour of the periphery has arrived," he continued, stressing that the government was creating opportunities in the regions.

Replying to press questions, Zagoritis said that ND would begin announcing next week the candidates it would back for mayor and prefect throughout the country in the Fall local government elections.

[12] Gov't initiative before Easter for unification of social insurance funds

ATHENS, 10/4/2006 (ANA)

"The government is taking initiatives so that -- with the end of the four-year term in office as the target -- there will be a streamlining of the social insurance funds," Tsitouridis said, on the sidelines of an event hosted by the northern Greek capital's six Rotarian Clubs, at which he was the keynote speaker.

Asked to comment on press reports concerning the DEKO public utilities and organizations, Tsitouridis denied as inaccurate claims that rights of the DEKO employees were to be abolished.

"It is not accurate that something of the acquired rights of the DEKO employees is being abolished. The decisions we have taken on the DEKO are generous decisions of incomes policy for the next two years, (with salary increases ranging) above the inflation rate", Tsitouridis said, adding that the government's intervention on the DEKO was a major reform resulting in their modernization and rationalization.

Dialogue on social insurance issue to begin after Easter, employment minister says: Employment and Social Solidarity Minister Savvas Tsitouridis attended the annual regular General Assembly of the Labor Inspectors Society of Macedonia-Thrace-Thessaly-Ipiros in Thessaloniki, Macedonia, on Saturday and said that the government will begin a dialogue with parties and social partners on the social insurance issue immediately after Easter, adding that work will be carried out on the essence of the issue after dialogue takes place.

Tsitouridis said that the aim of the government is to combine flexibility in the labor market with protection for working people, pointing out that the social insurance issue has been open for many years and many steps should have already been taken and current legislation should be applied.

On the occasion of the Labor Inspectors General Assembly, the employment minister said that the government places particular importance on checks in the labor market and added that the Inspectors Corps will be strengthened, while announcing even more intensive checks this year.

Lastly, commenting on opinion polls being publicized lately, Tsitouridis said that "the best poll will be the result of the next national elections."

[13] Piraeus-China direct sea link inaugurated

ATHENS, 10/4/2006 (ANA)

The use of Piraeus, the east Mediterranean's largest port, by COSCO is the result of the meeting between COSCO representatives and Merchant Shipping Minister Manolis Kefaloyannis in February and the trip Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis made to China in January where he met COSCO president Wei Jiafu.

Kefaloyannis was represented at the inauguration ceremony by merchant marine ministry secretary general Ioannis Tzoannos and secretary general of ports and port policy George Vlachos, while Chinese ambassador to Greece Tain Xue Jun, COSCO Europe president Ken Chan, Piraeus Port Authority president Dimitris Samolis and managing director Nikolaos Anastasopoulos, ministry officials and representatives of the shipping sector also attended the ceremony.

"This is a very important day not only for the port of Piraeus but also for the Greek economy, because we have a tangible example that the words become acts, that the agreements for the promotion of Greek-Chinese cooperation are beginning to be materialized, immediately after the prime minister's visit to China and the initiatives of merchant marine minister Kefaloyannis," Prof. Tzoannos said.

"Today, with the arrival of the River Elegance, we have taken one more step for linking Piraeus with major international shipping lines. With the improvement of the port's infrastructures and the increase in the transit activities in the wider region of the Black Sea, the Balkans and Turkey, the port of Piraeus' strategic role is being expanded, while at the same time facilitating Greek-Chinese trade, not only for imports from China, but also for exports of Greek products to China. We are proceeding with firm steps in the materialization of the Greece-China strategic cooperation and look to the development of economic relations, and not only between the two countries, with optimism," he said.

Ambassador Tian Xue Jun thanked the ministry leadership and the Harbor Corps, stressing "greater potential and prospects" were being added to the "firm foundations of maritime cooperation between China and Greece".

He also noted that during the COSCO president's meeting with Premier Karamanlis, it had been announced that a container ship with a capacity of 9,500 containers would be routed within the year, and would be named COSCO HELLAS.

COSCO Europe president Ken Chan expressed pleasure with the company's expansion to the port of Piraeus, considering it a major step in consolidating the friendship and cooperation between China and Greece.

COSCO is also currently evaluating a project to develop a transshipment container terminal on the Greek island of Crete, while Cosco Pacific Ltd., a unit of Cosco International Holdings, is also eyeing an investment in Piraeus Port Authority. Both companies are controlled by COSCO.

[14] National Bank presentation to institutional investors in London

10/4/2006 (ANA)

The National Bank team was due to leave for New York on Monday, and from there for Frankfurt, for similar presentations.

According to Arapoglou, the messages received from international institutional investors in the presentations following the FinansBank acquisition were "positive".

The National Bank officials stressed that the bank, with its acquisition o a controlling stake in a rapidly developing Turkish bank, provided the opportunity to foreign institutional investors to invest in the prospects of the Turkish economy through participation in National Bank, an opportunity which they said foreign investors were already taking advantage of by placements in the bank's stock.

Following its acquisition of FinansBank, the National Bank of Greece now had total assets of 70 billion euros, with a network of more than 1,050 branches -- 570 in Greece, approximately 280 in SE Europe, and another 208 in Turkey. The Group's consolidated profits before taxes stood at 1.3 billion euros, while the Group was now active in a geographical region with a population of more than 120 million inhabitants, while its client base exceeded 10 million. Also, 67 percent of National Bank's profits emanated from Greece, 27 percent from Turkey, and the remaining 6 percent from the other countries in the Balkans.

They explained, however, that National Bank's expansion was not ending with the FinansBank acquisition, given that the Group planned to further strengthen its presence in Romania and Serbia, and also expand into new markets such as Russia and Ukraine.

[15] Tourism minister Petralia to attend Global tourism summit, meet with senior US gov't officials in Washington

WASHINGTON, 10/4/2006 (ANA-MPA/T. Ellis)

On Monday, Petralia will attend a working breakfast with travel agents, followed by separate meetings with US undersecretary of state for political affairs Nicholas Burns -- who is a former US ambassador to Greece -- and head of the National Tourism Office Elen Marano.

She is scheduled to attend a luncheon at the US Congress, followed by a meeting with American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) executive vice president William Maloney, while she will attend the premiere of Aeschylus' "Persians" being staged by the Shakespeare Theatre in Washington, with the funding of the Alexander Onassis Public Benefit Foundation.

On Tuesday, Petralia will attend the Summit, to be attended by US government officials, ministers from all over the world, and top representatives from the tourism branch worldwide, where global tourism developments will be discussed.

Petralia will further address an event at Georgetown University on the theme "Challenges and Opportunities for Tourism in post-Olympics Greece", before attending a Washington Post reception for the Summit delegates.

The Greek minister will conclude her Washington visit on Wednesday following the round-up of the second and last day of the Summit.

[16] Minister of Macedonia and Thrace attends Greek Chamber Union General Assembly

10/4/2006 (ANA)

In essence, it is the Union's last General Assembly since elections will be held in June for new administrations at the country's 59 Chambers, while after the summer elections will be held for a new administration of the KEEE.

Addressing the event, the minister referred the period when he was president of the Permanent Parliamentary Committee for Production and Trade, saying that there had been close and productive cooperation with the Chambers in an effort to satisfy the demands of the business world and to solve the problems they are facing.

Lastly, he said that the policy being applied by the government is contributing considerably to the strengthening of the business climate.

[17] Israeli Embassy providing information on 'AGRITECH' exhibition

ATHENS, 10/4/2006 (ANA)

"AGRITECH", one of the most important agricultural techno-logy exhibitions in the world, will take place in Tel Aviv between-en May 9-11. Israel's latest achievements in the agricultural sector will be presented during the exhibition.

The Israeli Embassy, in cooperation with the Greek-Israeli Chamber of Commerce and Technology and Israel's Export Institute, will organize a big Greek delegation to visit the exhibition this year and calls on all those interested to declare their participation.

People interested in more information are advised to call the Israeli Embassy's Trade Department at 210-6727351 or the Greek-Israeli Chamber at 210-6755667.

[18] Local administration employees decide new 24-hour strike for Monday

ATHENS, 10/4/2006 (ANA)

Local administration employees, who are demanding retroactive pay, productivity benefits, the extension of heavy duty and unhygienic work status and the granting of permanence for staff covering permanent needs, will carry out a march to the interior ministry on Monday and will seek a meeting with the interior minister, before considering their new position.

Meanwhile, work crews in the Athens municipality have already started to spray piles of garbage in the streets to limit the stench and the risks for public health.

Garbage piling up in Athens streets as local administration employees continue strike

Garbage is beginning to pile up in the streets and neighborhoods of Athens and other urban centers, as local administration employees are continuing to strike since last Wednesday and not ruling out the possibility of deciding on Sunday to continue their strike action.

It has been estimated that about 20,000 tons of garbage are lying in the streets of Athens alone, although the municipality of Athens has called on people not to take their garbage out into the streets.

The main demands of the local administration employees are salary increases, the retroactive payment of productivity benefits, characterization of their profession as being heavy-duty and unhygienic and the granting of permanent status to staff in charge of permanent tasks.

Interior minister criticizes ongoing local administration employees' strike: Interior, Public Administration and Decentralization Minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos on Sunday evening criticized the stance of the local administration employee union federation (POE-OTA) and its decision for local administration employees, particularly in the cleanliness sector, to continue their strike, saying that it was "incited by party expediencies and was intransigent".

Pavlopoulos expressed "regret for having to make statements during a strike for those who are inciting it and for the reasons that they are inciting it. I have never done this until today. However, I am doing it now on behalf of the government because, firstly, the truth must shine. Secondly, the health of society at large must be safeguarded. And, thirdly, the protection of the real interests of working people must be scheduled."

The minister, who said that the strike had a limited response and in essence was restricted to cleanliness, listed demands met by the interior ministry over the past two years.

These include the determining of compensation for presidents, members and secretaries of first stage local administration service councils, compensation for committee hiring members for first stage local administration, the issuing of a ministerial decision for employees' overtime work concerning the records of municipal or community council meetings and lump sum payments for first stage local administration employees' travel expenses not to be subject to income tax.

[19] Cyprus Airways airliner encounters problem in hydraulic system, returns safely to Athens airport

ATHENS, 10/4/2006 (ANA)

Shortly after takeoff, the pilots ascertained the problem and were obliged to return to Athens airport and land safely. The passengers left for their destination on board another aircraft.

[20] Athens Journalists Union condemns injuring of journalist on island of Chios

ATHENS, 10/4/2006 (ANA)

"The journalistic world of the country is shocked, following the serious injuring of our colleague Angeliki Hadjidimitriou, which was caused by a private security guard while she was on a journalistic mission in Chios," an announcement by ESHEA said.

It added that the journalist, together with other colleagues, was outside the city of Chios on Saturday morning, where the installations of the Public Power Corporation (DEH) were, and where a fire had broke out, in order to cover the incident. At that moment, she received an unprovoked attack by a private security employee.

"A few hours after the incident, the colleague sustained a stroke as a result of the injuries and was taken hastily to Athens on board a military aircraft, where she is being treated in a critical condition, having paralysis of her limbs, while she has no contact with the environment," the announcement added.

ESHEA also calls on the relevant authorities to take all the necessary action to secure the punishment of the culprit responsible for this violent act.

[21] Balkan theatre festival to take place in Thessaloniki as of 2007

ATHENS, 10/4/2006 (ANA)

The decision to hold the event was taken in Thessaloniki during a meeting of national theatre representatives (from Albania, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Serbia, Romania and Turkey) held at the initiative and invitation of the State Theatre of Northern Greece and its director Nikitas Tsakiroglou.

The event, to be undertaken by the State Theatre of Northern Greece, will be funded by the culture ministry with the amount of three million euros (for the first two years).

"The undertaking of the event is a great opportunity for the cultural 'infiltration' in the Balkans and for cooperation with the theatres of these countries which have a great deal to teach us and for us to offer them in relation to ancient drama," Tsakiroglou said in a statement to the Athens News Agency and MPA.

The next events will be taking place every one or two years in a different Balkan country (out of those participating in the festival).

[22] Gang exploiting foreign women disbanded

ATHENS, 10/4/2006 (ANA)

Police arrested a 26-year-old Nigerian woman on Friday, who is reportedly a member of a six-member gang (all of whom are Nigerians) which brought young women from the African country for economic exploitation.

According to the police, the gang had begun its activity in 2003 from Benin where its members found young women and brought them to Greece, through France and Italy, by promising to find work for them and kept them imprisoned in apartments in Athens after taking their travel documents away from them.

The women were then sent all over the country to work in bars and striptease clubs and to prostitute themselves in the area around Omonia Square in Athens.

The members of the gang forced the young women to bring them at least 400 euros a week until each of them paid off the amount of 50,000 euros which, according to the perpetrators, was all that they had been spending for transport and residence expenses in Athens.

Two of the members of the gang abused the women when they reacted and threatened to harm their families in Nigeria, while one of them had repeatedly raped one of the women. This woman managed to escape and notified the police who raided a home in the Athens district of Patissia where they arrested the 26-year-old and freed one of the victims.

Sports: Greek soccer results

Matches played over the weekend for the Greek first division soccer championship had the following results:

Olympiakos Piraeus - Egaleo Athens 5-1

PAOK Thessaloniki - AEK Athens 2-1

Panathinaikos Athens - Atromitos Athens 4-3

Levadiakos Livadia - Larissa 3-0

Xanthi - Panionios Athens 1-0

OFI Crete - Akratitos Athens 2-2

Apollon Kalamaria - Kallithea Athens 0-0

Ionikos Piraeus - Iraklis Thessaloniki 1-1

The standings after 27 weeks of play:

Olympiakos 69

Panathinaikos 61

AEK 60

Iraklis 45

Xanthi 43

PAOK 43

Atromitos 36

Larissa 35

Egaleo 32

Apollon Kalamaria 32

Ionikos 29

Levadiakos 28

OFI 25

Panionios 23

Akratitos 18

Kallithea 17

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