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

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

CONTENTS

[01] Government confirms postponement of Turkish military exercise

[02] PM meets with New Zealand Governor-General

[03] Inner Cabinet discusses tourism issues

[04] PM to meet with PASOK leader on Wednesday

[05] ND maintains lead in latest GPO opinion poll

[06] Greece and S. Korea discuss cooperation in marine research

[07] Deputy DM and S. Korean maritime vice-minister agree on upgrading bilateral relations

[08] Greece upgraded in US report on eradicating human trafficking

[09] Stylianidis on US human trafficking report

[10] Foreign Ministry's Skylakakis to hold consultations in Washington

[11] Jerusalem Patriarch received at Greek foreign ministry

[12] Statements by Culture Minister Voulgarakis in Patra

[13] Deputy DM receives Ukraine's Armed Forces General Staff Chief

[14] FinMin in Eurogroup meeting in Luxembourg

[15] Govt unveils draft bill on equality at work

[16] EU commissionner replies to question on privatisation revenues

[17] Greek exports up 15.7 pct in 2005

[18] DM addresses conference on future of Greek aeronautics industry

[19] Gov't tenders metro extension

[20] Greek inflation at 3.2.-3.3 pct in May, forecast

[21] PASOK submits motion in Parliament on building of schools

[22] European agrotourism forum to be held in Ioannina

[23] Tourist shelter to be built in Halkidiki

[24] Athens Bourse Close: Stocks slump

[25] EU Commissioner Dimas attends event on the environment

[26] First World Conference of Overseas Greeks begins

[27] Parliament receives copy of BBC Greek Service archives

[28] Public order minister calls on Paleokostas brothers to give themselves up

[29] Somali illegal immigrants rescued from sea, boy dead

[30] Drug trafficking arrests

[31] Chania Prefecture publishes book on earthquakes for pupils

[32] Papadopoulos to announce Cabinet reshuffle decisions Thursday

[33] Bulgarian FM says Cyprus negotiations should be well prepared

[34] Bulgarian FM: Cyprus 7th biggest investor in Bulgaria

[01] Government confirms postponement of Turkish military exercise

7/6/2006 (ANA/MPA)

"Some basic activities of the Turkish aeronautical exercise have been postponed until the following week and the week after that," Antonaros said. According to reports, the exercise originally scheduled to take place on June 10-16 would now be held on June 17-24. Bakoyannis is due to arrive in Istanbul on Saturday and departs on Sunday.

Asked about the contents of talks between Bakoyannis and her Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul on the sidelines of a journalists' conference taking place in Istanbul, Antonaros pointed out that political contact between representatives of different countries was something routine and did not usually produce the sensational results that journalists tending to expect.

He also reminded reporters that Greece and Turkey were engaged in bilateral talks on a number of issues, including tourism, economic affairs and trade matters, some of which had arrived at agreements were others were still outstanding. "We want to fully normalize our relations with our neighbor and for this reason the political representatives of our country hold talks with their Turkish counterparts," Antonaros added.

Greek ministers welcome postponement of Turkish military exercise: Earlier on Tuesday, Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis and Defense Minister Evangelos Meimarakis welcomed reports that Ankara had decided to postpone an exercise by its Air Force that would have coincided with a visit to Turkey by Bakoyannis.

"I take this as a positive message," Bakoyannis told reporters, after she and Meimarakis emerged from a meeting with Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis.

Reports said that the Turkish military exercise, originally scheduled for June 10-16, had been pushed back to June 17-24.

Bakoyannis is due in Istanbul on June 10 for a meeting with her Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul, which will take place on the sidelines of a Greek-Turkish journalists' conference and will return to Athens on Sunday, June 11.

Meimarakis said the decision to postpone was a move in "a positive direction".

The Greek defense minister was due to depart for a NATO ministers' meeting later on Tuesday, while a meeting with his Turkish counterpart on the sidelines is not out of the question.

[02] PM meets with New Zealand Governor-General

7/6/2006 (ANA/MPA)

No statements were made after the meeting.

Justice Minister gives luncheon in honor of governor-general of New Zealand: Justice Minister Anastasios Papaligouras gave a luncheon at noon on Tuesday in honor of the Governor-General of New Zealand, Dame Silvia Cartwright, who is on an official two-day visit to Greece at the invitation of President Karolos Papoulias.

Papaligouras said in his address that Greece and New Zealand have traditionally good relations and are two countries that fought together during World War Two for the ideals of freedom, democracy and human dignity.

The justice minister referred to support provided by New Zealand in international fora on issues of direct interest to Greece, such as the election of Greece at the UN Security Council, the normalization of Greek-Turkish relations, finding a solution to the issue of Cyprus and the question of the name of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM).

Lastly, Papaligouras said that judicial cooperation between the two countries is unobstructed and expressed the wish that relations between the two countries will develop even further after her official visit to Greece.

[03] Inner Cabinet discusses tourism issues

7/6/2006 (ANA/MPA)

Tourism development minister Fani Palli-Petralia told reporters after the session that the efforts of the past two years have yielded results, adding that she had briefed the Inner Cabinet on bills being advanced by her ministry on spa tourism and agro-tourism.

The minister stressed that Greece's traditional "Sun-Sea" tourism product will be enriched with new types of tourism.

The goal, she said, was to render Greece one of the top popular tourist destinations.

[04] PM to meet with PASOK leader on Wednesday

7/6/2006 (ANA/MPA)

On Thursday morning, Karamanlis will meet with Archbishop Anastasios of Albania.

[05] ND maintains lead in latest GPO opinion poll

7/6/2006 (ANA/MPA)

More specifically ND was leading with 34 percent with respect to "voters' intent" (which party the respondents would vote for if general elections were held tomorrow), followed by PASOK with 32 percent, the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) with 7.4 percent, the Popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS) party with 5.1 percent, and the Coalition of the Left, Movements and Progress (SYN) with 3.6 percent, while 12.9 percent were undecided or declined reply.

The lead widens to 16 percentage points with respect to the "most suitable for prime minister", with current prime minister and ND leader Costas Karamanlis amassing 49 percent of the respondents' preference -- up from 46 percent in a similar GPO poll in April -- against 33 percent who preferred PASOK leader George Papandreou as the most suitable.

Also, to a question on which party they believed would win general elections if they were held now -- regardless of their own political affiliation or party preference -- an overwhelming majority of 63.9 percent opined that ND would win the elections, compared with 21.7 percent who believed that PASOK would emerge victorious.

To another question, a majority of 54.9 percent of the respondents agreed with former President of the Republic Costis Stephanopoulos' recent proposal for referral of the Greek-Turkish differences to the International Court of Justice at The Hague.

In addition 56.8 percent of the respondents gave a negative grade to the government's policy, while 66.9 percent assessed as negative the opposition exercised by PASOK, while 32.8 percent assessed its opposition tactics as positive.

Particularly regarding Papandreou's decision to nominate Gul Karahasan, a woman member of the Moslem community and alternate secretary of PASOK's municipal organization in Miki in the Xanthi prefecture, as the PASOK-backed candidate for the Drama-Xanthi-Kavala supra-prefecture in the upcoming local government elections in October, 58 percent of the respondents considered the choice of Gul as being negative.

The poll further indicates PASOK as leading in the Athens-Piraeus supra-prefecture, with 41.5 percent of the respondents in favor of the Gennimata-Sgouros-Michas ticket, against 33.5 percent for the ND-backed Dinopoulos-Pipili-Spyridonas ticket.

Alternate government spokesman Evangelos Antonaros commenting on the GPO opinion poll results stated that opinion polls record tendencies at a given time, adding that the important point is that once again it was established that the Greek people in their great majority approve, support and encourage the government’s reform efforts.

[06] Greece and S. Korea discuss cooperation in marine research

7/6/2006 (ANA/MPA)

The two sides expressed mutual interest in developing relations in marine research, especially in maritime technology and industry, the marine environment, marine biological sources and domestic waters.

They agreed to cooperate in order to work out details, such as areas and terms of cooperation, of a bilateral agreement along the lines of those usually drafted by the development ministry.

The Korean minister also invited Nerantzis to visit S. Korea, who accepted and stressed that Greece looked forward to cooperation in marine research, an area in which Greece had achieved notable results.

[07] Deputy DM and S. Korean maritime vice-minister agree on upgrading bilateral relations

7/6/2006 (ANA/MPA)

Relations between Greece and the Republic of Korea will be further upgraded following their agreement for the signing of a memorandum of mutual understanding in matters of hydrography and oceanography.

The two sides supported the broadening of bilateral cooperation and also referred to their common struggles for freedom and democracy.

The South Korean vice-minister invited Deputy Defense Minister Michaloliakos to visit the Republic of Korea in autumn.

Present at the meeting was Korean Ambassador to Athens, Hae Moon Chung.

[08] Greece upgraded in US report on eradicating human trafficking

WASHINGTON, 7/6/2006 (ANA-MPA)

The report covers the period April 2005-March 2006, and is described as a tool of the US government in combating this crime against human rights, which is described as a modern-day form of slavery, and the prosecution of perpetrators and protection of the victims.

The two-page country report on Greece notes that the Greek government is making significant efforts to eradicate human trafficking, and stresses that government "increased its capacity to protect and assist victims" in 2005, while it also improved its cooperation with nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) "with the completion of a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) to allow Greek authorities to work more directly with NGOs. The report further noted that "after several years of negotiations, the government signed a child repatriation agreement with Albania" for children that are victims of exploitation (for forced begging or stealing), while in 2006 it implemented a national public information campaign aimed at victims, clients and the Greek public.

The report said that the Greek government should now provide available protections to trafficking victims and ensure that NGOs have an operational role in victim identification. Noting that the government increased convictions of trafficking crimes in 2005, it called on the government to "demonstrate the political will to punish traffickers sufficiently over the next year", adding that "trafficking-related complicity by government officials should be vigorously prosecuted".

With respect to prosecution, the report said that the government of Greece "continued to investigate cases of trafficking and secured convictions for increased numbers of traffickers in 2005". It stressed that In January 2006, "the government established 12 additional anti-trafficking task forces throughout the country and funded specialized training for over one thousand police officers throughout Greece". While in 2005, it investigated 60 trafficking cases and arrested 202 suspected traffickers. The report added that the number of trafficking convictions increased, and the sentences for the convicted traffickers ranged from one to 12 years.

According to the report, "the Greek Government demonstrated leadership in promoting regional law enforcement cooperation during the reporting period".

With respect to prevention, the report noted: In 2005, the Greek Government continued to provide significant funding to NGOs and international organizations that provide programs, shelters, and legal aid to victims of trafficking. In 2006, the Secretariat General for Gender Equality implemented a national awareness campaign targeting commercial sex procurers, trafficking victims, and citizens. The campaign encourages the public to report incidents of trafficking. The government's anti-trafficking inter-ministerial committee met regularly and, in November 2005, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs established a working group between origin, transit, and destination country diplomats, NGOs, and working level government officials.

The report places the countries in three different categories, in accordance with the efforts they make to combat this international phenomenon and their compliance with the standards appearing in the relevant US legislation in the 2006 report, 26 countries are placed in the Tier 1 category, denoting full compliance with the provisions of the relevant US legislation. The second category, Tier 2, is divided into two sub-categories. The 79 Tier 2 countries are those that do not fully comply with the minimum standards of the relevant US legislation provisions but are making significant efforts to do so, while the 32 Tier 2-Watch List countries are making significant efforts but the absolute number of victims or severe forms of trafficking is very significant or increasing, or have failed to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat severe forms of trafficking in persons from the previous year, or the determination that the country is making efforts to comply with the minimum standards was based on commitments by the country to take additional future steps over the next year.

There are 12 countries currently in Tier 3, which is described as "countries whose governments do not fully comply with the minimum standards and are not making significant efforts to do so".

The Balkan countries and Turkey are categorized in Tier 2.

[09] Stylianidis on US human trafficking report

7/6/2006 (ANA/MPA)

Greece has been upgraded to Tier 2 in the US State Department's 6th annual report on Trafficking in Persons worldwide (2006), which was released on Monday, up from the Tier-2 Watch List last year.

The report covers the period from April 2005 until March 2006, and is described as a tool of the US government in combating this crime against human rights, which in turn is described as a modern-day form of slavery, and the prosecution of perpetrators and protection of the victims.

The deputy foreign minister said that these efforts include the signing of a Cooperation Memorandum with nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), the minors’ repatriation agreement signed with Albania and the public awareness campaign aimed at informing and sensitizing the general public. He stressed that this development is important for Greece’s international image and absolutely encouraging for the effort made by the foreign ministry and Hellenic Aid during the past two years.

Greece is upgraded to Tier 2 and has stopped being a country under supervision, added Stylianidis, recognizing at the same time that problems like the arrest and conviction of traffickers have not been totally solved.

The foreign ministry's activities form part of the National Action Plan that covers the whole spectrum of actions concerning prevention, protection of the victims and eradication of the phenomenon through cooperation of the responsible government ministries with international organizations, inter-state cooperation and cooperation with Greek and international NGOs.

One of the most important initiatives undertaken by the foreign ministry, mentioned in the US State Department report is the agreement signed in February between Greece and Albania against the trafficking of minors, which also provides for their repatriation on humanitarian grounds and their social rehabilitation.

The International Development Cooperation Department or Hellenic Aid cooperation with the respective US organization USAID is also being promoted in the area of International Cooperation against the Trafficking of Minors and the TAACT program (Transnational Action Against Child Trafficking).

[10] Foreign Ministry's Skylakakis to hold consultations in Washington

WASHINGTON, 7/6/2006 (ANA-MPA)

Skylakakis will meet with Deputy Assistant Secretaries of State for Economic and Business Affairs Paul Simons and Christopher Moore, and at the World Bank, with officials who deal with Southeast Europe.

He will also meet with former administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development, Andrew Natsios.

[11] Jerusalem Patriarch received at Greek foreign ministry

7/6/2006 (ANA/MPA)

The Patriarch, who was accompanied by a delegation of high-ranking clerics, briefed Kassimis on the efforts being made at the Jerusalem Patriarchate to resolve the problems that arose the previous year through transparent procedures and careful handling. Theofilos also outlined the Patriarchate's work in its surrounding region, including its educational projects, through which it hopes to assist in alleviating the tension in the area.

Kassimis praised the efforts being made by the Patriarch and the Brotherhood of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to enable the Patriarchate to play its role in a difficult time, stressing the Greek government's support for the Patriarchate and its goals in difficult times.

The Jerusalem Patriarch declared Kassimis a Grand Seneschal of the Order of the Orthodox Knights of the Holy Sepulchre and awarded him the Patriarchate's Gold Cross.

[12] Statements by Culture Minister Voulgarakis in Patra

7/6/2006 (ANA/MPA)

He was responding to reporters' questions in view of the fact that the "Revolutionary Struggle" terrorist group, through a text it sent to a newspaper, claimed responsibility for the bomb attack near his home at Lycabettus in Athens on May 30.

[13] Deputy DM receives Ukraine's Armed Forces General Staff Chief

7/6/2006 (ANA/MPA)

Confirmed during the meeting was "the very good climate in bilateral relations," while the Greek side reiterated its support to Ukraine's efforts for the completion of the process which will lead the country to its accession to the Euroatlantic structures.

[14] FinMin in Eurogroup meeting in Luxembourg

7/6/2006 (ANA/MPA)

The Eurozone's finance ministers will discuss economic and fiscal developments in the Eurozone, the inflation rate and plans to expand the Eurozone.

Alogoskoufis will also participate in an ECOFIN meeting on Wednesday with an agenda including EU-US relations, combating tax fraud and reducing administrative burden on corporations. The EU finance ministers will also discuss plans to simplify VAT cross-border transactions.

[15] Govt unveils draft bill on equality at work

7/6/2006 (ANA/MPA)

Presenting the draft bill, the Greek minister said the new law was abolishing discrimination between men and women in the private and public sectors, while sexual harassment would be considered a punishable act.

The draft law integrates a community directive 2002/72, envisaging jail penalties from 6 months to three years and a minimum compensation of 1,000 to a victim of sexual harassment.

Labor Deputy Minister Gerasimos Giakoumatos said the draft law would protect workers from unjustified lay-offs and offered protection to men or women taking a parental leave.

Eugenia Tsoumani, Equality secretary-general, said 10 percent of working women have been victims of sexual harrassment at work, while another 30 percent said they knew of such acts in their working area.

Labour Minister Savvas Tsitouridis underlined that Greece opposed plans to deregulate working time issues in the EU and said that such changes could be agreed only after consultations with trade unions. Tsitouridis said the ministry would submit a draft law on the social security system to parliament soon.

[16] EU commissionner replies to question on privatisation revenues

7/6/2006 (ANA/MPA)

According to the Commission, the Hellenic state's revenues from privatizations over the past four years (2002-2005) amount to 5.5 billion euros. The Coalition party's announcement said that the Commissioner noted that "according to the 1995 ESOL (European Economic Accounts System), revenues from privatization do not have a direct impact on the decrease in the deficit. This means that if these funds are spent instead of being used to pay off debts or the accumulation of fiscal immobilizations the public deficit increases."

Referring to the Commissioner's reply, Papadimoulis said that "as the IMF notes and the Commission confirms, a great question exists on the use of revenues from privatizations. Where did the 5.5 billion euros go over the past four years."

[17] Greek exports up 15.7 pct in 2005

7/6/2006 (ANA/MPA)

The report, based on the latest figures by Eurostat, was presented by the Federation of Northern Greece Exporters (SEBE). SEBE said despite the increase, Greek exports remained at the bottom of an EU-15 list.

The value of Greek exports totaled 13.6 billion euros in 2005, up 15.7 percent, with the trade deficit shrinking to 29.6 billion euros after a 3.3 percent rise in foreign imports to Greece last year (43.4 billion euros).

Germany was the main destination of Greek exports (with a market share of 12.5 pct of total exports), followed by Italy (10.5 pct), UK (6.8 pct), Bulgaria (5.9 pct) and the US (5.4 pct). Greek exports also rose to Turkey (+15.9 pct), the UAE (+21.6 pct), Libya (+31 pct), although exports fell to FYROM (-8.3 pct) and Israel (-6.5 pct).

The report said that cross-border trade accounted for 55.2 percent of total Greek exports, rising by an annual average 6.3 pct in the period 2001-2005. Greek exports rose significantly to Belgium (14.5 pct), Finland (13.3 pct), Austria (13.2 pct), and Italy (11 pct). Greek exports fell to Ireland, Portugal, Luxembourg, Austria, Malta, Slovakia and Slovenia.

Greek exports to the Balkans rose an annual average 2 pct with a market share of 19.9 percent. North American holds a market share of 6.0 pct.

The food sector climbed to the top of the list of Greek exports with a market share of 17.9 pct, followed by the chemicals and plastics industry (17.1 pct), textiles (15.6 pct) and metals (15.2 pct).

Exports of oil products jumped 56.2 percent last year, vehicles rose 29.7 pct, foods (24.8 pct) and metals were up (24 pct). The textile and clothing industry recorded an 11.8 pct decline in last year’s exports.

[18] DM addresses conference on future of Greek aeronautics industry

7/6/2006 (ANA/MPA)

The conference is taking place with the participation of the seven biggest aeronautics and space products manufacturing companies in Europe and the United States.

Meimarakis reminded of the contribution of the late statesman Constantine Karamanlis to the laying of the foundations and the development of the Greek aeronautics industry, saying that "the country of Ikarus and Daedalus must be in the frontline of aeronautics."

The ambassadors of France, Britain, Russia, the Czech Republic and Israel will be referring during the conference to defense cooperation between their countries and Greece.

[19] Gov't tenders metro extension

7/6/2006 (ANA/MPA)

The 8.2-kilometre stretch and seven new stations will serve western suburbs of Attica, Public Works George Souflias said in a statement.

Budgeted at 570 million euros, funding is expected from the European Union's Third Community Support Framework of funds.

The winner of the project will be named early in 2007, the minister said.

[20] Greek inflation at 3.2.-3.3 pct in May, forecast

7/6/2006 (ANA/MPA)

[21] PASOK submits motion in Parliament on building of schools

7/6/2006 (ANA/MPA)

According to the motion, "from government announcements, the fact arises that the method of collaboration between the public and private sector, is foreseen to lead to the building of 27 new schools amounting to 150 million euros (200 million euros together with insurance contributions), at a time when during the 2001-2003 period, 329 schools were tendered with a total cost of 246, 047,292.42 euros, of which 158 concerned big school units, with the average cost of the construction of a big twelve-seat school amounting to 1.6 million euros."

The motion argued that "the public sector is spending 250 per cent more money, in comparison to the previous method."

[22] European agrotourism forum to be held in Ioannina

7/6/2006 (ANA/MPA)

The opening of the sessions of the forum, the organization of which has been undertaken by "Agrotouristiki", will be declared on June 16 by Tourism Development Minister Fani Palli-Petralia.

Taking part in the forum will be journalists from 10 European countries, as well as tour operators specializing in countryside tourism.

The reporters will cover the presentation of the agrotourism and its growth in four regions: Epirus, Crete, the Peloponnese and Thessaly.

The forum will be accompanied by local exhibitions and visits to Epirus villages and to the Dodoni archaeological site.

[23] Tourist shelter to be built in Halkidiki

7/6/2006 (ANA/MPA)

The project, considered of great importance for the region with respect to both tourism and the region's economy in the framework of boosting the fisheries sector, will be included in the Regional Operation Program (PEP) for Central Macedonia.

Construction of the shelter is slated to begin next month, and expected to be completed by December 2007.

[24] Athens Bourse Close: Stocks slump

7/6/2006 (ANA/MPA)

The FTSE/ASE-20 index for high capitalization shares ended 1.92% down; the FTSE/ASE-40 for medium cap stocks closed 4.51% lower; and the FTSE/ASE-80 for small cap shares finished 5.02% down.

Stock Futures: