Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 06-06-01

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

CONTENTS

[01] Inner cabinet meeting discusses restructuring of public sector enterprises

[02] Liapis praises signing of labor agreements at state-run utilities, enterprises

[03] Gov't: No change in policy vis-à-vis Ankara

[04] FM Bakoyannis hails U.S. proposal regarding Iran's nuclear program

[05] ND announces candidates for Athens, Piraeus prefectures

[06] Greek Parl't President addresses European counterparts in Tallinn

[07] Deputy DM Michaloliakos visits Bulgaria

[08] Government comments on bomb attack against Voulgarakis

[09] Funeral service for Air Force pilot Iliakis with hero's honors

[10] DM Meimarakis visits combat squadron in Crete

[11] Turkish warplanes infringe Athens FIR, violate national air space

[12] Cypriot foreign minister speaks to ANA-MPA in Berlin

[13] PM to meet culture, interior ministers and Molyviatis on Thursday

[14] National Council for Foreign Policy to convene on Thursday

[15] Archbishop Christodoulos comments on Turkish EU accession

[16] Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos visits Saint George church at the Fanar

[17] KKE delegation to Czech Republic

[18] Karamanlis-Sioufas confer on development and energy issues

[19] Bank of Greece Governor Garganas appears positive on acquisition of Turkish bank

[20] FM addresses general assembly of Northern Greece Exporters Federation

[21] Finance minister signs relief decisions for Evros flood victims

[22] Greek economy grew 4.1 pct in 1st quarter, yr/yr

[23] Reduced connection between education, job market in Greece, report

[24] Event held on prospects of turning Greece into energy hub

[25] Conference on viability of Greek businesses

[26] Greeks save 8.8 pct of net income, Eurostat

[27] Gov't backs energy saving in buildings

[28] Delta launches direct flights from Atlanta to Athens

[29] Athens Bourse Close: Stocks rise, led by banks

[30] Greek beaches praised in European environment report

[31] Athens to observe World Environment Day

[32] AHI delegation to visit Cyprus and Greece

[33] International campaign for Saint Sophia to reopen as Orthodox church

[34] Doctors to be appointed on islands and coastal shipping vessels

[35] Greece top in Europe, third worldwide for percentage of smokers

[36] Equestrian federation pleads for confiscated smugglers' horses

[37] Road deaths decline 6 pct. in March

[38] Spokesman says UN believes conditions not right for new Cyprus talks

[39] Cypriot government expresses regret over Turkish stance

[40] Cypriot FM continues Berlin meetings

[01] Inner cabinet meeting discusses restructuring of public sector enterprises

ATHENS, 1/6/2006 (ANA/MPA)

Speaking to reporters, after the meeting, Economy and Finance Minister George Alogoskoufis expressed his satisfaction over progress in implementing the law and noted that the vast majority of public sector enterprises have concluded collective labor talks.

Pay rises will not exceed 3.0 pct this year and 4.0 pct in 2007, Alogoskoufis said, adding it was a very significant decision and underlined a climate of consensus prevailing in the wider public sector.

This climate is strengthening the country's economy, employment and social cohesion, while it also contributed in the restructuring of public sector enterprises, the Greek minister said.

Development Minister Dimitris Sioufas also expressed his satisfaction over the implementation of the new legislation adding that industrial peace prevailed in the public sector.

Labor Minister Savvas Tsitouridis said a policy of dialogue has brought very good results, while Transport and Communications Minister Mihalis Liapis underlined a climate of consensus.

[02] Liapis praises signing of labor agreements at state-run utilities, enterprises

ATHENS, 1/6/2006 (ANA/MPA)

Liapis emphasized that political critics who forecast the opposite were proved wrong, "for our ministry the safety nets in this dialogue are the good relations we have with the employees, an open and permanent dialogue as well as a spirit of consensus."

More importantly, he said dialogue over the government's proposal for changes in the state-run enterprises' labor regimes will commence where necessary -- part of a high-profile government policy to push forth public sector reforms and flexibility in work relations.

"A mild adjustment in the economy necessitates mild changes in labor relations, and this means that only with employees' consent can we change certain anachronistic provisions," he said.

Opposition attacks gov't over public utilities: The main opposition Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) on Wednesday called a cabinet meeting held to discuss public utilities "a fiasco".

"Three government ministers of the Karamanlis government met today to announce with a six-month delay that its touted overhaul for public utilities ended in a fiasco," the party said in a statement.

It stated that no legal changes were required for collective labor pacts to be signed in the companies; and that workers had refused to bow to the government's austerity policies.

In a separate statement, the Coalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology accused the government of having tried to impose incomes policy in state utilities using the threat of abolition of collective bargaining.

[03] Gov't: No change in policy vis-à-vis Ankara

ATHENS, 1/6/2006 (ANA/MPA)

The government spokesman again told reporters during his normal press briefing that Athens' policy and strategy vis-à-vis the neighboring country and EU hopeful remain unchanged.

Spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos was queried on separate statements by Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis and Defense Minister Evangelos Meimarakis over the past few days specifically on the possibility of Greece taking recourse to the International Court at The Hague over a handful of Turkish claims in the Aegean Sea -- a proposal outlined by former president Kostis Stephanopoulos in an article published by an Athens daily on Sunday.

[04] FM Bakoyannis hails U.S. proposal regarding Iran's nuclear program

ATHENS, 1/6/2006 (ANA/MPA)

Bakoyannis described the proposal as "a significant and positive development which is in accordance also with our country's steadfast strive for a peaceful solution of the matter, through diplomatic means."

[05] ND announces candidates for Athens, Piraeus prefectures

ATHENS, 1/6/2006 (ANA/MPA)

ND Central Committee Secretary Lefteris Zagoritis said the party would be fielding journalist Argyris Dinopoulos, currently the mayor of Vrilissia, for the Athens-Piraeus supra-prefecture, flanked by journalist and top-ranking Athens municipal councilor Fotini Pipili for the Athens prefecture and Poros Mayor Spyros Spyridonas for Piraeus.

Zagoritis said that all three candidates had served local government for many years and made an important contribution to local communities, making it a choice that served the criteria of merit, ability, honesty and contributing to the citizens of the Athens basin.

All three candidates later met with Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis.

[06] Greek Parl't President addresses European counterparts in Tallinn

ATHENS, 1/6/2006 (ANA/MPA)

The conference, held with the participation of representatives from 46 countries, was organized by the Estonian Parliament in cooperation with the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly.

As the main speaker on the role of parliaments in promoting pluralistic democracy at home and abroad, she stated that pluralistic democracies function more effectively when minorities -- religious, racial or cultural -- coexisting in the same society are able to express themselves through political parties with a distinct political and ideological identity.

The Greek parliament president pointed out that the democratic organizing of political parties is a self-evident precondition for the system to operate correctly, allowing religious, racial or other differences to find expression in a political party.

[07] Deputy DM Michaloliakos visits Bulgaria

SOFIA, 1/6/2006 (ANA/MPA)

The two men met in the context of Plovdiv's "Emos 2006" international exhibition.

The Bulgarian defense minister gave particular emphasis to the will of his country's military and political leadership to utilize both Bulgaria's scientific and productive impetus and the possibility of bilateral and multilateral cooperation in the framework of the Euroatlantic institutions, for the modernization of the armed forces, so that these can correspond with success to the duties which participation in NATO dictates.

Michaloliakos was given a tour of the international exhibition of defense systems and technologies, in Bulgaria's second largest city, at which are taking part 157 specialized companies (90 from foreign countries). The Greek deputy defense minister expressed his satisfaction over the "upgrading of the level" of this year's exhibition in comparison to those of the two previous years.

[08] Government comments on bomb attack against Voulgarakis

ATHENS, 1/6/2006 (ANA/MPA)

The fact that Voulgarakis had become a target was apparent from the publicity of recent weeks, he added in response to questions.

Stressing that his own position on the issue had been absolutely clear, Roussopoulos noted that reporters were free to comment on the events as they wanted.

At the same time, he stressed that the minister's young son had passed by the spot where the bomb was planted three minutes before the explosion, while the minister himself, his wife and their four children usually passed by that spot at the time the bomb went off.

"Six Greek citizens were in danger because there was an explosion next to their home at the time they usually leave - with the clear intention of killing the minister or his family," Roussopoulos said.

[09] Funeral service for Air Force pilot Iliakis with hero's honors

ATHENS, 1/6/2006 (ANA/MPA)

President Papoulias laid a wreath at the pilot’s cenotaph, since the pilot's body has not been found.

Iliakis’ F16 fighter jet went down last Tuesday, May 23 following a mid-air collision with a Turkish fighter jet over the Aegean Sea, near the Greek island of Karpathos.

[10] DM Meimarakis visits combat squadron in Crete

ATHENS, 1/6/2006 (ANA/MPA)

He was accompanied on arrival at Souda military airport by Aegean & Island Policy Minister Aristotelis Pavlidis.

Meimarakis encouraged the pilots "in their difficult task" in the Aegean, saying that "they must remain dedicated to the high duty of defending our country's rights."

[11] Turkish warplanes infringe Athens FIR, violate national air space

ATHENS, 1/6/2006 (ANA/MPA)

In all cases, the 16 Turkish warplanes were recognized and intercepted by corresponding Greek fighter jets, while in two cases, the process of interception developed into a mock dogfight.

[12] Cypriot foreign minister speaks to ANA-MPA in Berlin

BERLIN, 1/6/2006 (ANA/MPA)

"The countdown for the evaluation of Turkey's course towards the European Union has already begun and the Cypriot government is determined to insist on the 'reminder' of the commitments which Turkey has assumed and is not implementing, already from this first phase of the start of the accession negotiations," Iacovou told the ANA-MPA.

The Cypriot minister appeared particularly satisfied by the two-hour talks he had with German Foreign Minister Steinmeier, but also with the meeting he had on Tuesday with Deputy Foreign Minister (responsible for European Union Affairs) Gunther Gloser.

Foreign Minister Iacovou, expounding on his talks told the ANA-MPA that although the relevant European Commission report may be expected in October (or in November) "the countdown for the evaluation of Turkey's course has already begun," and referred to the Common Position of the EU Council which will be prepared this week, in light of the EU-Turkey Association Council on June 12. "There are gaps and we will raise an issue," said Iacovou, making it clear that "Cyprus wants there to be a reference to the commitments assumed by Turkey in every Chapter of the Acquis Communautaire."

Furthermore, Iacovou repelled the seeking "by certain countries," as he said, at the Association Council for the "easy" Chapter (the Chapter for Research and Technology, where the Acquis Communautaire is still extremely thin) "to open and closed on the same day and on the spot," because it would be a "wrong political message."

[13] PM to meet culture, interior ministers and Molyviatis on Thursday

ATHENS, 1/6/2006 (ANA/MPA)

The spokesman said the meeting with Molyviatis was taking place at the premier's request.

[14] National Council for Foreign Policy to convene on Thursday

ATHENS, 1/6/2006 (ANA/MPA)

The meeting will discuss relations between the European Union and Turkey, developments in the Balkans, Europe's course during the period of reflection on the European Constitution and developments in Iran, a foreign ministry announcement said.

[15] Archbishop Christodoulos comments on Turkish EU accession

ATHENS, 1/6/2006 (ANA/MPA)

Commenting on the position of the Greek Church on the accession of Turkey to the EU, he said "the accession of Turkey to the EU depends on its compliance with the so-called acquis communautaire, its respect for the principles, values and culture of the peoples of Europe. This is the meaning of procedures preceding the taking of final decisions in order to make clear that Turkey has the will and the ability to adjust to these principles. If these principles are observed then the relevant governments will have a strong card in their hands in order to take the final decisions."

Responding to a question on the position of the Church of Greece on the Armenian Genocide, Archbishop Christodoulos said "both the genocide of the Armenians and that of our Pontian Orthodox brothers must not be related to the citizens of modern-day Turkey, just as the Jewish Holocaust cannot have a bearing on the modern-day Germans. It is a mistake to attribute the crimes of the past to modern-day peoples. The problem lies in the recognition of historical crimes and placing responsibilities on those who perpetrated them. And this is necessitated by elementary integrity, on the one hand, for the memory of the victims of those tragic events and, on the other, to educate the younger generations for such global and inhuman crimes to be avoided in the future."

Archbishop Christodoulos further referred to other issues such as the theologian dialogue with the Roman Catholic Church which, as he said, had been discontinued during the '90s and will begin again now. Its issues also include that of the Uniates.

"We hope that with the new spirit characterizing Pope Benedict XVI the seriousness of the problem will be realized and we shall be led to the taking of decisions which will promote the common issue of unity," he said.

[16] Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos visits Saint George church at the Fanar

ISTANBUL, 1/6/2006 (ANA-MPA/A. Kourkoulas)

"We are struggling legally, judicially to remedy injustices done, and which are unfortunately continuing to take place, against the Mother Church and the community and, unfortunately, the other minorities as well," he said.

"It is an ungracious struggle, a continuous one, which has been going on for years," he pointed out, adding that "we hope that Justice here and Justice that is administered by the European Human Rights Court will put things right."

Vartholomeos also expressed the hope that "the reopening of the Halki School of Theology will be permitted, finally, which was closed unfairly 35 years ago."

[17] KKE delegation to Czech Republic

1/6/2006 (ANA/MPA)

Among others, Papariga will briefly address a campaign rally in Prague on Thursday ahead of general elections in the country on June 2-3.

[18] Karamanlis-Sioufas confer on development and energy issues

ATHENS, 1/6/2006 (ANA/MPA)

Sioufas told reporters afterwards that he briefed Karamanlis on important issues concerning development and notable initiatives in the sectors of industry and energy.

He announced that companies from Greece, Bulgaria and Russia will meet in Moscow on June 7 to form the international company that will undertake the construction of the Burgas-Alexandroupolis pipeline.

Sioufas also said that he briefed Karamanlis on his imminent trip to Finland and the meeting with his Finnish counterpart in view of the major conference to take place on the south Aegean island of Rhodes at the end of September with the participation of 35 government ministers, 25 from the European Union and 10 from the Mediterranean region. The conference will tackle issues concerning the Euro-Mediterranean market to be established in the Mediterranean Basin by 2010.

Sioufas also briefed the prime minister on the upcoming EU Energy Ministers Council in Luxembourg on June 7-8 and the Athens forum that will take place at the end of June with the participation of all energy regulators.

[19] Bank of Greece Governor Garganas appears positive on acquisition of Turkish bank

ATHENS, 1/6/2006 (ANA/MPA)

However, he clarified that "these evaluations of his, are based on the evaluations which have been made by four international reliable firms."

Garganas, who briefed Parliament's Finance Committee, assessed that the National Bank of Greece can face the adverse changes from danger factors, noting that simulation has been conducted and from the assessment of data, it arises that the National Bank of Greece will not be significantly burdened.

"Even a heated incident in the Aegean cannot rattle the group of the National Bank after the acquisition of Finansbank," Garganas said.

Regarding the agreed cost of the acquisition, which the opposition deputies describe as very high, the Governor of the Bank of Greece noted that "it is not far from the intermediate assessments of the four international firms which ranged from 4.7 and 6.7 billion dollars."

Opposition again blasts Turkish bank buyout: The main opposition Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) on Wednesday renewed criticism of the planned acquisition by Athens-quoted National Bank of Greece of Turkey's Finansbank.

"Today the scandal by the government and (state run) National's management was proved. A Belgian bank is to buy a larger bank in Turkey than Finansbank for 80% less than National has agreed," shadow economy spokeswoman, Vaso Papandreou, complained in a statement.

"The government and National's management must immediately explain where the extra money will go," Papandreou said.

According to the opposition Coalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology, a statement on Tuesday by the International Finance Corporation that it intends to buy a stake in Finansbank's share capital indicated that National itself was gradually being sold off US global capital.

On Thursday, National is to hold a shareholders' meeting on raising its own share capital so that the acquisition can go ahead.

[20] FM addresses general assembly of Northern Greece Exporters Federation

1/6/2006 (ANA/MPA)

"The meaning of promoting the united economic space in the region of the Balkans is of focal significance for our policy in the years to come," the minister said and pointed out that Greece's economic extroversion must be directed to a great extent outside the eurozone.

In order to find itself in the "front line" of developments, Greece will assume specific initiatives such as the creation of a free trade zone that will include all its close and distant Balkan neighbors and will replace the complicated bilateral agreements existing between them, Bakoyannis said.

"Our target is to have the new agreement on the issue completed in 2006," the minister said noting that the promotion of road and energy axes is also a priority.

According to Bakoyannis, the promotion of a united economic space in the Balkans is essential since it is "demanded" by the so-called "fatigue" of enlargement among public opinion in many European countries, the appearance of more new countries, such as Montenegro, and the serious political problems in the region.

At a time when the creation of brand names is of vital importance for business growth and extroversion constitutes a need of survival for the Greek economy, the possibility of Greek economic "units" to appeal to the wider Balkan market is decisive, she added.

According to the foreign minister, the development of economic relations with rapidly developing economies outside the European Union, particularly with those having large long-term growth rates, such as China, or with those having considerable energy wealth, such as the markets of the Middle East, Russia and other developing ones is important.

Main opposition PASOK party Deputy Yiannis Mangriotis said that considerable opportunities have been lost on the exports "front" due to weaknesses in central policies and stressed that PASOK president George Papandreou, as former foreign minister, had contributed to the promotion of economic diplomacy as a crucial parameter in foreign policy.

[21] Finance minister signs relief decisions for Evros flood victims

1/6/2006 (ANA/MPA)

With the first decision, regions struck by the floods are defined, whose inhabitants are entitled to housing assistance for the restoration of damage sustained by their buildings.

Housing assistance will be provided in the form of an interest-free loan and free state support for the restoration of buildings or the repair of all kinds of damage sustained by buildings.

The second decision anticipates the subsidization of interest rates for new loans for working capital to be provided for businesses operating in the Evros prefecture.

[22] Greek economy grew 4.1 pct in 1st quarter, yr/yr

ATHENS, 1/6/2006 (ANA/MPA)

NSS, in its report, said the 4.1 pct increase in the Gross Domestic Product reflected a 3.9 pct rise in final demand of the economy and a 6.9 pct increase in investments -which contributed by 1.4 percent to economic demand growth.

Greek exports rose 1.8 percent in the first three months of 2006, compared with the corresponding period in 2005, while imports rose 2.9 pct.

Spending on final consumption rose 3.4 percent in the January-March period.

[23] Reduced connection between education, job market in Greece, report

ATHENS, 1/6/2006 (ANA/MPA)

The report, based on a sample of 2,317 employees aged 18-35 with little or no work experience, said that 64 percent of respondents began working between the ages of 18-20; 82 percent said they found their first job through social acquaintances, while only 32 percent through classified ads.

Forty-one percent said they searched via classified ads, another 35 percent asked for assistance from a human resources firm and only 24 percent said they exploited their social circles.

The report stated that 53 percent of respondents noted that their first wages ranged from 400 to 650 euros gross, while 63 percent said they desired a first salary of 560-750 euros gross (up 14-40 percent from real market wages).

Only 46.63 percent said their university studies helped them find their first job, while 53.37 percent did not believe that their diploma would help them land a position.

[24] Event held on prospects of turning Greece into energy hub

ATHENS, 1/6/2006 (ANA/MPA)

Stefanou analyzed possibilities of cooperation with various countries producing natural gas that would be interested in taking their gas to Europe through Greece.

He referred in particular to natural gas from Azerbaijan. The undersea gas deposit of Shah Deniz is located 70 kilometers southeast of Baku in the Caspain Sea and its estimated capacity in full development amounts to 400 billion cubic meters.

Regarding Egypt, Stefanou said the protocol signed by Development Minister Dimitris Sioufas and his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Fahmy, in the framework of the minister's official visit to Egypt on May 5-9, expresses the will of the two countries to examine the possibility of cooperation in the sectors of liquefied and condensed natural gas and the possible carrying of gas to Greece through the Arabic pipeline.

Lastly, in the framework of the official visit made by a Greek delegation to countries of the Arab peninsula, the administration of DEPA probed the possibility of obtaining gas from these countries in the form of LNG. Qatar has large quantities of gas and has invested in large-scale liquefaction plants with the aim of it becoming the first power in the world in LNG exports as of 2012.

[25] Conference on viability of Greek businesses

ATHENS, 1/6/2006 (ANA/MPA)

Research work coordinated by Professor Lois Lambrianidis of the Macedonia University's Economic Faculty and presented during the conference reached the conclusion that labor intensification sectors will be moved entirely to countries having a cheaper labor force.

According to the results of this research, some parts of the production process will remain in Greece, while the higher parts of the market will be moved since a cheap labor force is a comparative advantage of others.

Questions on whether internationalization changes businesses, indicated that only 5 percent of businesses included in the research showed signs of improvement since, according to data provided, "success" depends on other more decisive factors.

During the conference, the "Platon" project concerning small and medium-size firms was presented.

"Platon" is an ambitious project that is financed by the European Union by up to 50 percent and its purpose is to highlight the role research in social, economic and humanitarian sciences can play in the long-term planning and the competitiveness of small and medium-size firms.

[26] Greeks save 8.8 pct of net income, Eurostat

ATHENS, 1/6/2006 (ANA/MPA)

Italians were the best savers in 2004, with a savings rate of 17 pct of their income, followed by Germans, 16.1 pct; French, 15.6 pct; and Belgians 12.8 pct. On the other hand, Lithuanians and Latvians saved the least (0.6 pct and 1.8 pct, respectively) followed by people in Britain, 4.3 pct; Denmark 5.7 pct and Poland 6.7 pct.

[27] Gov't backs energy saving in buildings

ATHENS, 1/6/2006 (ANA/MPA)

Attention to energy performance in construction was key to saving costly energy resources and pollution control, a matter that had been given priority by the European Union, the minister told a seminar arranged by the Renewable Energy Centre.

"In both new and restored buildings, energy saving can reach or top 60%," the minister noted.

[28] Delta launches direct flights from Atlanta to Athens

WASHINGTON, 1/6/2006 (ANA-MPA/T. Ellis)

As stated during the ceremony, this daily flight by Delta aims at filling a gap and to serve tourists and businesspersons from the western and southern states of the U.S.

Present at the ceremony was Greek Ambassador to the U.S. Alexandros Mallias who spoke of the "great importance which this direct airline link of Atlanta with Athens has for the support of the tourism flow and of trade and investment relations between the two countries, uniting the largest airline hub in the world with the most modern airport of southeast Europe."

[29] Athens Bourse Close: Stocks rise, led by banks

ATHENS, 1/6/2006 (ANA/MPA)

The FTSE/ASE-20 index for high capitalization shares ended 1.47% up; the FTSE/ASE-40 for medium cap stocks closed 0.84% higher; and the FTSE/ASE-80 for small cap shares finished 0.22% down.

Stock Futures: