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[10] Draft law targets 'modern forms' of pedophilia

ATHENS, 9/8/2006 (ANA/MPA)

The inner Cabinet meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis.

Papaligouras said that based on international figures, one in five women and one in 10 men have fallen victim to some form of sexual abuse or molestation, while in eight out of 10 cases the victim knew the perpetrator.

According to the amendment, an adult accused of sexually abusing a minor who is entrusted with the latter's supervision or guardianship, even on a temporary basis, will be sentenced to at least 10 years in prison if the victim is under the age of 14.

An adult could also be sentenced to up to six months in prison for gestures, propositions or descriptions of sexual acts to a minor.

Additionally, an adult coming into contact through the internet or other means of communication with an individual under the age of 16 can face prosecution by making propositions or by describing or portraying sexual acts. Repeated acts can also lead to a sentence of three years in prison.

In addition, the statute of limitation for such crimes comes into effect beginning from the date the victim reaches adulthood.

On his part and in reference to tighter provisions combating violence in the family, Interior and Public Administration Minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos said the reinforcement of administrative structures and measures aim to support and protect victims of violence in the family.

He also said draft legislation will allow for easier funding of NGOs active in fighting or preventing violence in the family and supporting victims.

[11] Mount Athos exhibition in Helsinki

ATHENS, 9/8/2006 (ANA/MPA)

The relics -- icons, manuscripts, religious books -- have already been transported to Athens and will travel to Helsinki via special flights.

The exhibition will be hosted at Helsinki's Tennis Palace Art Museum from Aug. 17 until Jan. 21, 2007, while the opening ceremony will be attended by a large delegation of Mount Athos abbots and elders.

[12] Greek-Albanian study on environmental damage to Lesser Prespes Lake

ATHENS, 9/8/2006 (ANA/MPA)

The study was prepared by the Greek NGO Prespes Lakes Protection Society in cooperation with the Albanian environmental group PPNEA (Protection and Preservation of the Natural Environment in Albania), and co-funded by the Greek foreign ministry and WWF Hellas.

Based on the study, diversion of the Devoll River in the mid 1970s, by the totalitarian Stalinist regime that ruled Albanian at the time, to Lesser Prespes severely downgraded the southern tip of the lake with notable environmental and socio-economic consequences, mostly felt by the nearby communities that experienced a massive emigration of local residents and the loss of resources.

The study also concluded that specific environment restoration and management measures must be taken in order to reverse the consequences of past man-made interventions, while additional studies should deal with the Korce plains irrigation issue.

[13] N. Greece route again preferred by Turks traveling to/from W. Europe

ATHENS, 9/8/2006 (ANA/MPA)

Based on figures provided by police in the northeastern border city of Alexandroupoli, an estimated 50,000 Turkish nationals (8,178 entered Greece, 40,772 crossed into Turkey) passed through Greece in June.

In July, 42,537 Turkish nationals entered Greece and 131,981 crossed into Turkey, while in August, according to figures so far, the numbers are 35,687 and 27,029, respectively.

The route Turkish nationals usually follow is via Italy, arriving in Greece by ferryboat and then traveling towards Turkey by car on the mostly completed Egnatia motorway that spans the breadth of northern Greece. The specific route, although longer than the overland route through Bulgaria, is more-or-less preferred due to better highway conditions and services catering to travelers and motorists.

[14] 5th Experimental Cinema Festival in Thessalonica in October

ATHENS, 9/8/2006 (ANA/MPA)

Entry applications for artists wishing to participate in the festival's "Strange Screen" will be accepted until Aug. 16.

The festival program includes a competition part, tributes to distinguished local and foreign cinematographers, lectures, workshops, audio-visual "happenings" and exhibitions.

The festival is open all entries dealing with experimental video, creative documentary, video-art, animation and new mediums.

[15] Centennial of Greek community's presence in Montreal celebrated

OTTAWA, 9/8/2006 (ANA-MPA/I. Frangouli)

The ships "Egeo" and "Prometheus", which are on a special training trip of the Navy Cadet School, await daily from 5-7 p.m. Greeks and foreigners to be given a tour of them within the framework of the "Greek Flame" festival, which is organized by the Greek community of Montreal, dedicated exclusively to its centennial.

This year, the festival, which will be free to the public, will offer Greek traditional spectacles for the visitors, Greeks and foreigners, who are expected to gather in large numbers, from Wednesday until Sunday at the city's old port.

[16] German Minister thanks Cyprus for Lebanon evacuation efforts

LARNACA, 9/8/2004 (CNA/ANA-MPA)

Steinmeier met Tuesday evening at Larnaca Airport with Cypriot Minister of Foreign Affairs George Lillikas on his return from Lebanon.

The German Minister would be going to Israel for talks aimed at a ceasefire.

Welcoming Steinmeier, Lillikas expressed hope that the German minister's mission in the Middle East would be successful.

He added that during their meeting at Larnaca Airport he had the opportunity to exchange views with Steinmeier on the Middle East crisis and hear about the German minister's meetings in Lebanon and what he expected to discuss in Israel.

Lillikas, who also accepted an invitation to visit Germany in September, said they discussed Turkey's EU accession course and would elaborate on the issue when they met in Berlin.

Steinmeier, speaking through an interpreter, expressed satisfaction that Lillikas had accepted his invitation. ''I am very happy to say that my colleague was kind enough to accept my invitation to come to Berlin,'' he said.

''I just came from a brief visit to Lebanon and this takes place against the background of a situation that has been keeping us extremely worried for a few weeks now and I think that we believe that the people have suffered enough and we have to do everything we can to see that the weapons and the arms can be silenced,'' Steinmeier said.

Referring to discussions at the UN Security Council regarding the Middle East crisis, Steinmeier said it seems ''we can be hopeful that we might have a decision and a resolution before the end of the week.''

He added that ''we also talked about the recent decision by the Lebanese government to send in 15,000 Lebanese troops to Southern Lebanon.''

''I think that this decision will contribute to bring about what we all wished for quite some time and that is to see an independent, a strong, a sovereign and a stable Lebanon, a country, the government of which is able to exercise its authority to the whole of the country as a whole, and in so doing we will contribute to stability in the region as a whole and I hope that Lebanon too will be able to contribute and will be willing to contribute to the stability of the region as a whole,'' Steinmeier said.

The German minister added that the termination of hostilities ''is going to figure prominently in the talks that I will have in Israel, as it did today (Tuesday) in the talks that I had in Lebanon.''

Referring to his visit to Cyprus, Steinmeier said he was also here ''to say a word of gratitude, to thank the government of the Republic of Cyprus for the enormous efforts that it has undertaken, for the immense help that it has provided to us in helping us get German citizens out of Lebanon.''

''You helped us find ways and means to get all in all 6.200 Germans back to Germany,'' he said, adding that ''we know that all in all Cyprus had to deal with as many as 55,000 refugees, so we are really grateful for everything you have done, for the enormous efforts that your government has undertaken in order to manage this difficult problem.''

[17] EU Commissioner: Oil spill biggest threat for Lebanon shores

NICOSIA, 9/8/2006 (CNA/ANA-MPA)

Speaking after a meeting with Minister of Agriculture, Natural Resources and the Environment Fotis Fotiou, Kyprianou said they discussed the issue of the oil spill, noting that he dealt with it last week in Brussels and according to reports ''the oil spill is the biggest threat for the shores of Lebanon and perhaps Syria.''

Kyprianou said the spill does not seem to be moving westerly, adding however that through satellites used by the EU, ''we are monitoring its movement and we have decided how to act in case the oil spill moves towards the west.''

He said the relevant European organization which is based in Malta has in its possession vessels that can handle such incidents and will be on alert if the oil spill moves towards open seas.

Fotiou said it was his first meeting with Kyprianou in Cyprus, noting that his ministry is directly involved with the Commissioner regarding ''very important and sensitive issues.''

The minister said he also informed Kyprianou on the destructive repercussions of the oil spill in Lebanon and informed him on the initiatives and actions which the government of Cyprus has undertaken. He also asked Kyprianou to inform the Commissioner for the Environment over the Cypriot request that the EU must undertake an initiative.

''An action plan should be prepared to correctly handle the oil spill, because I insist the ecological disaster is enormous,'' Fotiou pointed out.

The greatest problem in handling the spill, the minister said, is the safety issue, adding that various countries, including Cyprus, have exhibited interest to participate in an effort to combat the spill but ''the political intervention of the EU is required so that the safety of the expert staff and equipment will be secured.''

Fotiou also said he received on Tuesday a letter from the Lebanese Environment Minister who said the ecological disaster in the region is great and although it has not touched the Cypriot seas or shores, the Mediterranean is a closed basin and for this reason ''we must see which will be the consequences in the future.''

The minister said the two will meet again in Brussels because there are issues in which immediate cooperation is necessary.

They also discussed the operation of an incinerator at Kofinou, which is an issue that directly concerns Commissioner Kyprianou, Fotiou said.

The minister assured that the incinerator will begin operating in December 2006 or January 2007.

[18] US senators express gratitude to Cyprus over help in Lebanon crisis

NICOSIA, 9/8/2006 (CNA/ANA-MPA)

The senators said the "leadership exhibited by the Cypriot government and the generosity of the Cypriot people to accommodate these and the many other citizens of other countries during this trying time will not soon be forgotten by the U.S.".

The senators praised the ministry of Foreign Affairs and other government services for working around the clock to assist foreign nationals arriving in Cyprus, noting that those who remained in Cyprus awaiting for their chartered flights to their onward destinations, were provided temporary residence at the "Cyprus State Fairs Authority which generously made its premises in Nicosia available to U.S. citizens".

The letter was the initiative of senators Robert Menendez and Paul Sarbanes (both Democrats) and Olympia Snowe (Republican). Among those who signed it are Harry Reid, John Kerry, George Allen, Hillary Clinton and Charles Grassley.

[19] Strict security measures for UEFA match

NICOSIA, 9/8/2006 (CNA/ANA-MPA)

Nicosia Police Chief Christakis Dionisiou has called on the football clubs to use the influence they have on their fans to ensure that the match takes place in a spirit of sportsmanship.

He said there is no official information that Trabzonspor fans will be passing to Cyprus' government-controlled areas from the northern part of the island, occupied by Turkey since 1974.

Dionysiou said that fans will be body searched three to four times before they enter the stadium and no-one without a ticket will be allowed to approach the stadium.

He said 400 police officers will be on duty during the match while fans will be allowed entrance to the football grounds half an hour before kick-off and not later.

Meanwhile GSP announced Monday that tickets for the match have already sold out and therefore ticket offices are now closed.

The Turkish football team was due arrive to the island on Tuesday night via the Greek island of Rhodes.

They will leave Trapezounta, Turkey, in the afternoon and are expected at Larnaca International Airport, where they will travel after a stop over to Rhodes, at 2230 local time (1930 GMT).

Last year Cypriot refugee football club Anorthosis of Turkish-occupied Famagusta disqualified Trabzonspor and advanced to the Champions League third qualifying round.

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