Athens News Agency: News Bulletin in English, 07-03-06

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM Karamanlis: The target is to upgrade the quality of education

[02] PASOK party spokesman comments on new education ministry building

[03] Synaspismos leader Alavanos on education bill

[04] University education tops PM's talks with head of Hellenic Quality Assurance Agency

[05] Gov't: Professors' union does not reflect the majority of staff

[06] University students decide to continue mobilizations

[07] FinMin Alogoskoufis' briefed on Thessaloniki projects

[08] FinMin sharply criticises main opposition

[09] Government denies reports of 'dissatisfaction' with Bakoyannis

[10] Bakoyannis satisfied with spokesman statements

[11] Roussopoulos on the age of army conscripts

[12] Majority of Thessaloniki voters want gov't to serve out term

[13] President Papoulias to visit Croatia next week

[14] Inner cabinet meeting on finance ministry issues on Tuesday

[15] Special session of ND parliamentary group on Wednesday

[16] Events in Greece marking EU's 50th anniversary

[17] European Commissioners to visit Greece in March

[18] Pavlopoulos receives US Citizenship/Immigration Services director Gonzalez

[19] Deputy FM Stylianidis to meet Italian counterpart on Tuesday

[20] Greece supports need for political commitment on social convergence

[21] Greek women have small families, high unemployment according to Eurostat

[22] Implementation of Leader+ initiative satisfactory, agriculture minister says

[23] Report on managing state pension fund assets to minister

[24] PASOK, Coalition parties comment on Civil Servants Auxiliary Insurance Fund

[25] Transport minister wraps up trip to Cairo

[26] Environment minister evaluates ministry's work for past three years

[27] Tourism minister and Athens mayor discuss tourism in Athens

[28] Tourism development minister addresses forum on Greek coastal shipping

[29] Greek closed-end funds' assets down 1.64 pct in February

[30] Marfin Financial Group in 5.1-bln-euro share capital increase plan

[31] Farmers' mobilizations in Larissa

[32] ACCI business mission to Serbia

[33] Greek mutual funds' assets slightly down in February

[34] Lamda Development to purchase Bulgarian firm TIHI

[35] Top 20 best workplaces in Greece announced

[36] Cosmote eyes customer base of 15 mln by 2009

[37] Allianz Hellas reports improved 2006 results

[38] Car registrations up 1.6% in Jan-Feb, yr/yr

[39] ASE members urged for restructuring of bond market

[40] Greek stocks lose more ground

[41] ADEX closing report

[42] Greek bond market closing report

[43] Foreign Exchange Rates - Tuesday

[44] Climate change a top concern among Greeks, Eurobarometer shows

[45] Int'l symposium on Greek-Austrian links over the centuries next week in Athens

[46] Memorial service held for Hrant Dink in Athens

[47] Author Arrabal honoured at Thessaloniki University

[48] Thieves broke into an old church in Ioannina

[49] Drug-related arrests

[50] Weather forecast: Fair on Tuesday

[51] The Monday edition of Athens' dailies at a glance

[52] National Council discusses further actions

[53] Solana supports Cyprus right to participate to EU-NATO meetings

[54] US Ambassador: Cyprus has the right to conclude agreements on oil exploitation

[01] PM Karamanlis: The target is to upgrade the quality of education

Karamanlis on Monday visited the new building in Maroussi which will house the Education Ministry, and was given a tour by education minister Yiannakou.

Speaking to reporters after the visit, Karamanlis noted that the education ministry was acquiring a new, self-owned, premise, equipeed with infrastructures that ensure greater efficiency, and acquiring better services.

"Our target is to constantly improve the quality throughout the entire range of education and provide our youth with upgraded education, to enble them to seek jobs on equal terms with their European counterparts," Karamanlis said.

He said that the government, "with determination and circum-spection, and having society at our side", was making all the necessary reforms aimed at a better future for all.

The prime minister appeared particularly impressed during the visit with the security hall especially created for the exami-nations' test questions.

After the visit, he went to the government headquarters at Maximos Mansion for his scheduled meeting with the edu-cation minister.

Yiannakou told reporters after the meeting that discussions covered education issues, noting that the recently-unveiled draft framework-law on higher educatin will be discussed by the parliament plenary later this week, and adding that "it is a reform in higher education that we believe will give a new momentum and adapt very many things, through a framework of full self-administration, to that in practice in the best universities in Europe and the world".

Asked whether failure to reach agreement could serve as a cause for calling early general elections, Yiannakou replied that "in a democracy there are rules, and we held a lengthy dialgoue on this issue".

"We even accepted proposals in parliament, where a substantive discussion took place, and this week is left for the discussion to be even more substantive. Our reform proposal fully responds to all that is taking place in the best universities in Europe, and I believe that this is the government's obligation based on the popular mandate," the education minister continued.

To another question citing academics that they will refuse to apply the law (after it is passed by parliament), Yiannakou reiterated that "there are rules in a democracy".

[02] PASOK party spokesman comments on new education ministry building

Efthymiou added that it was used to host journalists for the Olympic Games but, as he pointed out, a unified proclamation of the project existed that anticipated the ministry's installation in April 2006.

Lastly, the spokesman said that the "project was delayed in a way that only the New Democracy party knows and cannot finish what it found ready."

[03] Synaspismos leader Alavanos on education bill

Alavanos gave a press conference in view of his party's submittal of 28 amendments to the bill on education, which in essence constitute an 'anti-bill.'

The Synaspismos leader said that his party opposed the government's positions, clarifying that 'our amendments have no margin for discussion or negotiation with the government's bill, whose opponent is state universities.'

The proposals submitted by Synaspismos include:

ü The state's obligation to offer higher education to every citizen

ü The universities' internal regulations as factors of autonomy and not as a means of submission to governments

ü The redetermination of the structure and content of pre-graduate studies thoughout Greece

ü The restoration of university asylym

ü Five per cent of the country's GDP for education

ü Free access to higher education

[04] University education tops PM's talks with head of Hellenic Quality Assurance Agency

Afterwards, Amourgis, an internationally distinguished lecturer and faculty administrator at the California State Polytechnic University in Pomona (CSUP), said he briefed the premier on the Agency's role, while emphasising that "evaluation is a necessary condition for the improvement of universities, and of course, for the quality of studies."

Asked if more radical measures are needed to upgrade the country's tertiary education system than the ones already included in a current framework draft bill tabled by the government, Amourgis merely noted that his organisation focuses on the evaluation process in academia, adding that several university boards have already agreed to commence such a process -- an ubiquitous and often meticulous practice employed by the vast majority of the world's finest universities.

Moreover, he said the Bologna Process mandates such steps.

Queried over continuing opposition by the professors' union (POSDEP) to the reforms -- "eternal students", asylum, textbooks, obligatory syllabi by lecturers, evaluation of acade-mic performance and research, posting of university admi-nistration decisions over the Internet, tabling of a four-year plan etc. -- Amourgis said: "I can't answer over what others think. What I can say is that we have the support of the institu-tions on the issue of evaluation".

[05] Gov't: Professors' union does not reflect the majority of staff

In fact, spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos commented directly on threats by POSDEP board members that reforms will not be implemented even if ratified by Parliament, stressing that "whoever declares that he will not implement the law is judged (by his actions)".

Roussopoulos, who also holds the minister of state portfolio, also questioned the union's legitimacy to justify and promote continued closures of universities and technological colleges (TEIs), charging that out of 12,000 tertiary-level lecturers and researchers in the country, roughly 3,000 belong to the POSDEP grouping.

Out of the approximately 3,000 members, the spokesman added, 60 percent voted in favor of continued mobilisations to block reforms. "All in all, a figure of less than 2,000 out of 12,000 lecturers and researchers voted, the vast majority did not vote," he underlined.

Finally, Roussopoulos responded to a bevy of questions at his regular press briefing by noting that the government's proposals aim to establish universities' autonomy, a long-standing demand by schools' administrations.

[06] University students decide to continue mobilizations

During a press conference in Athens, students also announced that they will hold a mass rally in downtown Athens on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Technological Educational Institute (TEI) students staged a symbolic demonstration and briefly blocked traffic on the street in front of their school chanting slogans against the draft law on tertiary education.

In addition, the University Professors Federation has addressed letters to the Hellenic Republic President and the prime minister requesting urgent meetings.

[07] FinMin Alogoskoufis' briefed on Thessaloniki projects

Alogoskoufis also met with the secretariat of ND's affiliated university students' group, DAP, for discussions on education issues, while he was briefed on the overall situation created by numerous sit-in protests at universities.

The minister characterised the government's framework draft law for higher education as appropriate, adding that reforms are supported by a majority of the academic community and society. In fact, he stressed that political developments should be determined by majorities.

Alogoskoufis also had a meeting with Metropolitan Anthimos of Thessaloniki.

[08] FinMin sharply criticises main opposition

Referring to PASOK's governments, Alogoskoufis spoke of "maintaining a twisted and state-fed model", a "policy of deficits" and "irrational handouts with borrowed money", of tax-collecting measures against businesses and the creation of debts which, in order to be paid off, "every Greek citizen has to pay 1,000 euros."

Extending a hand of cooperation to PASOK, however, the finance minister assessed that "it is time that the political and social system in Greece makes a historic overcoming, a great step for understanding and cooperation."

As he said, speaking at an event organised by the Institute of Democracy "Constantine Karamanlis", "the people want us to cooperate, to work together to tackle problems."

What is necessary, according to the minister, for the bad performances of the past to be handled are reforms. However, "for reforms to succeed consensus is required because if the endurances of the economy and of society are put to the test, we might be led to a contrary result."

Also referring to the draft law on education, Alogoskoufis termed it necessary and pioneering, adding that when it is implemented, "and rest assured that it shall be implemented", it will change the situation in public education in many ways.

[09] Government denies reports of 'dissatisfaction' with Bakoyannis

The spokesman reminded reporters of his statement about the same issue on Saturday, when he had called the reports "groundless rumours" and stressed that they caused problems in the sensitive area of foreign policy.

Roussopoulos also announced that he would be giving a detailed briefing on Tuesday about the reasons for postponing a ceremony for the signature of the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline agreement, which the government had originally said would take place in Athens on March 6.

Further clarifying his statement on Saturday about Bakoyannis, he noted that the foreign minister had several "successful interventions" under her belt, such as the handling of the Greek presidency of the UN Security Council, which included a debate on the Middle East crisis and on intervention in Lebanon, and her significant role in ensuring that sanctions were taken against an EU candidate country for the first time in the Community's history of enlargement, as well as her role in making Serbia a member of the Partnership for Peace Programme.

On Saturday, Roussopoulos had said that the foreign minister "has offered and is offering, in complete collaboration with the prime minister, an important and indisputable contribution to promoting our national interests with successful interventions".

[10] Bakoyannis satisfied with spokesman statements

Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis said Monday she felt "fully covered" by an earlier statement by government spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos who had dismissed as "untrue" a series of press reports claiming that Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis was dissatisfied with the way Bakoyannis had handled certain foreign policy issues.

The reports had appeared almost simultaneously over the weekend, citing sources "near the prime minister".

Responding to a relevant press question at the end of an EU General Affairs Council meeting here, Bakoyannis said that the foreign ministry and the prime minister's office "exercise a common policy", adding that "it would be impossible to exercise for a single minute a successful foreign policy if there were any disagreements."

On the press reports in question, Bakoyannis said: "I do not know what they serve. It is certain that they do not serve Greek foreign policy."

[11] Roussopoulos on the age of army conscripts

He made the comment in response to a news report in the Athens Sunday newspaper Kiriakatiki Eleftherotypia concer-ning alleged government plans to have conscripts serve in the army at the age of 18.

[12] Majority of Thessaloniki voters want gov't to serve out term

Based on the opinion poll, held on a sampleing of 790 people, 48.6 percent are not in favor of a one-party government, but at the same time 26.2 percent want the ruling New Democracy party to win in the next elections and form a government compared to 16.7 percent that want the same for main opposition PASOK party.

In addition, 56.1 percent of those who voted for New Demo-cracy in the 2004 elections want their party to win in the next elections and form a government, compared to 33.3 percent of PASOK's voters who want their party to be the next election winner.

[13] President Papoulias to visit Croatia next week

Papoulias will be visiting Croatia at the invitation of Croatian President Stjepan (Stipe) Mesic.

[14] Inner cabinet meeting on finance ministry issues on Tuesday

The meeting will focus on national economy and finance ministry issues.

[15] Special session of ND parliamentary group on Wednesday

The special meeting will mark "the completion of the third year of the New Governance", an ND announcement said.

[16] Events in Greece marking EU's 50th anniversary

Papadopoulos said the 50th anniversary since the signing of the Rome Treaty (March 25, 1957), will result in a series of events being held in all the EU countries.

'Regarding the various events, forums of the new EU members will be held in Rome on March 24 and 25. In Athens, the 50th anniversary of the European Union, given that it coincides with our national celebration, will be celebrated from May 9-12, that is, there will be a broadening of the celebration of May 9 - Europe Day - until May 12 so that the 50th anniversary to be celebrated. In this context, events will be held at Syntagma Square with the cooperation of the European Commission, the Foreign Ministry and Athens Municipality. There will be pavilions, for example, on the environment and agricultural policy. These pavilions will have printed material on information about the EU. There will be separate pavilions for Romania and Bulgaria which just entered the European Union,' Papadopoulos said.

'Another activity concerns the issuing of stamps by the Greek Post Offices (ELTA). Furthermore, awaited is the publication of an album marking the 50th anniversary, with photographs and other material about the EU. On March 27, foreseen is the holding of a roundtable discussion, at which taking place will representatives from the six founding members of the European Economic Community (EEC). The event is organized by the EU's Athenian Club and the German (EU) presidency and will be held at the Foreign Ministry's amphitheatre,' Papadopoulos concluded.

[17] European Commissioners to visit Greece in March

Wallstrom, in charge of communications strategy, is expected on March 29 and is scheduled to address the Greek Parliament with Barrot, who is in charge of transport issues.

Hubner will speak at a seminar organised by the European Investment Bank and EFG Eurobank on the funding of municipalities and communities and hold talks with Greek ministers.

Barrot has been invited to visit Greece by Merchant Marine Minister Manolis Kefaloyiannis. He will have meetings with Kefaloyiannis, and Transport and Communications Minister Mihalis Liapis. On March 25, he is scheduled to speak at the French Institute about the 50th anniversary of the European Union (25 March 1957).

Dimas is expected to address an open forum organised by the Federation of Greek Industry for the EU's 50th anniversary.

[18] Pavlopoulos receives US Citizenship/Immigration Services director Gonzalez

In comments afterwards, the Greek minister said he briefed the high-ranking US federal government official on Athens' policies -- within the EU legal framework -- towards legalising illegal immigrants and subsequently integrating them into local society.

"We consider it as an obligation to protect the immigrant so that when in Greece he will work legally and not fall victim to undocumented labour practises," Pavlopoulos said.

On his part, Gonzalez said his contacts with relevant EU ministers aim to gauge European countries' experiences and legal frameworks for integrating foreign labour.

Both men agreed to continue bilateral exchange of updated information regarding each respective country's immigration laws, especially of proposed changes before Congress at pre-sent.

[19] Deputy FM Stylianidis to meet Italian counterpart on Tuesday

Financial News

[20] Greece supports need for political commitment on social convergence

Greece expressed support for the need for a political commitment on strengthening social convergence through a "fair reward for labour", as well as the need for the joint handling of climatic changes, at the European Union's Council of Foreign Ministers that convened here on Monday. Greece was represented by Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis and Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannis Valynakis.

The Council focused on the preparation of conclusions of the summit to be held on March 8-9, and which will be examining the progress of the Lisbon Strategy, Bakoyannis said after the Council's session.

"The main concern of European leaders is the handling of the daily problems preoccupying European citizens and these concern, among other things, climatic changes, energy safety and improving economic and social living conditions," the foreign minister said.

Bakoyannis said on the issue of employment that Greece, having the continuous upgrading of the working people's position as a goal, supported at the Council the need for a political commitment on strengthening social convergence which, according to the Greek minister, can be achieved with "the fair reward for labour and by determining a minum social denominator."

In the energy sector, Greece maintained that energy from renewable sources must reach 20 percent of the EU's total energy consumption, while energy from biofuel must amount to 10 percent by the year 2020.

Bakoyannis also stressed that Greece is determined to succeed in this effort much earlier than 2020, while at the same time preserving the competitiveness of Greek industrial production, regardless of whether these goals will be binding or not for member-states.

On the question of the EU's relations with third countries producing energy, primarily with Russia, Bakoyannis said that Europe must safeguard its energy safety and the diversification of energy sources, while noting that Russia remains a "reliable supplier of energy of major importance."

Moreover, the Greek minister termed the handling of climatic changes a "need of the future" and pointed out that Europe cannot remain indifferent. For this reason, Bakoyannis expressed the conviction that the EU's member-states will reach an agreement as to the binding character or not of goals on climatic changes.

Lastly, Iran and the situation in the Middle East were the issues examined by the EU's foreign ministers during the working luncheon. As regards Iran, Bakoyannis said that the position of the EU's member-states is a common one and is focused on a double approach:a new message by the UN Security Council and the continuation of negotiations with Iran on the question of its nuclear programme.

Dialogue with European citizens and the celebrating of the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Rome was the focus of attention at the working luncheon of the EU's European affairs ministers, where Greece was represented by Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannis Valynakis.

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Rome and in the framework of celebrations to be held in various European cities, Greece has scheduled a series of events during 2007, the first being the holding of a festive event of an anniversary nature and the participation of all parties, Valynakis said.

Valynakis mentioned that the EU believes that the 50 years that have passed "proved the political prevalence of the option of the Union of European countries and peoples."

[21] Greek women have small families, high unemployment according to Eurostat

Greek women have among the smallest families and highest rates of joblessness in the European Union, according to a Eurostat poll released on Monday. They are also much more likely to be unemployed than Greek men and to have poorer computer skills than women in other areas of the EU.

Greek women have 1.28 children on average, based on figures for the year 2005, making their fertility rate the fifth-lowest in the 27-nation EU. At the bottom of the list are Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia and Lithuania, with fertility rates ranging from 1.24 children for the average Polish woman to 1.27 children for the average Lithuanian.

The highest fertility rates are in France (1.92 children per woman) and Ireland (1.88 children per woman), while Denmark, Finland and the United Kingdom share third place with 1.8 children per woman on average.

Average fertility rates in the European Union are 1.51 children per woman.

In addition to having the second-highest rate of unemployment for women in the EU at 13.3 pct, second only to Polish women at 14.2 pct, Greece also has the largest "gap" in unemployment levels for men and women, with unemployment for Greek men running at just 5.4 pct.

The EU average for unemployment rates is 8.5 pct for women and 6.7 pct for men.

Employment rates in Greece are 47.5 pct for women and 74.6 pct for men, while the EU equivalent is 57.1 pct for women and 71.5 pct for men.

About 22.3 pct of Greek women are tertiary education graduates compared to 22.8 of Greek men. The average in the EU is 23.8 pct for women and 23.1 pct for men.

Greek women rank last in the EU in terms of computer skills, with 60 pct of Greek women aged 16-74 having no computer skills whatsoever, 13 pct having few skills, 14 pct having average skills and 13 pct having high skills.

Greek men also fare quite badly in this area, with 53 pct having no skills, 15 pct having few skills, 13 pct having average skills and 19 pct very good skills.

The average in the 25-member EU is 44 pct of women having no computer skills and 38 pct of men having no computer skills.

In terms of life expectancy, Greek women rank about average for the EU as a whole, having an average lifespan of 81.5 years against 76.6 years for Greek men. The EU average is 81.5 years for women and 75.4 years for men.

The longest-lived Europeans are the Swedes, with the women having an average lifespan of 82.8 years and the men living 78.4 years on average.

According to the same report, life expectancy is forecast to increase throughout the EU, so that by 2050 the average Greek women will have a life expectancy of 85.1 years and the average man a life expectancy of 80.3 years.

[22] Implementation of Leader+ initiative satisfactory, agriculture minister says

The percentage of absorption of public expenditure (EU+na-tional subsidies) amounted to 57.6 percent and specifically to 145 mllion euros, covering the EU rule of v+2, Basiakos pointed out.

Addressing the 8th session of the Greek Network Leader+, Basiakos said that in view of the 4th Community Support Framework (CSF), special emphasis will be placed on support for entrepreneurship and multiple activities in the countryside with the ministry's new agricultural development programmes to facilitate a decrease in the agricultural sector's dependence on EU subsidies and secure a considerable supplementary income for Greek farmers.

The ministry's special secretary responsible for the 3rd CSF, Dimitris Papayiannidis, said that through the Leader+ initiative, 2,550 projects are being implemented at a national level, having a total budget of 350 million euros, that provide the possibility for an improvement in the quality of life and the acquisition of an alternate income for the inhabitants of mountainous, underprivileged and insular regions.

[23] Report on managing state pension fund assets to minister

The minister announced that the "necessary legislative initiatives" would soon follow, after a period of public con-sultation and debate.

According to Tsitouridis, the previous, confused framework governing pension fund management could no longer continue.

He announced that a website would soon be set up in collaboration with the economy and finance ministry that will display all the fixed and liquid assets of state pension funds, following a recent inventory.

Regarding the suspect dealings of the brokerage Akropolis on behalf of the civil servants' auxiliary pension fund, which hit the headlines last week, Tsitouridis said that the only scandal would be for the government to leave in place the "confused framework" for fund management left by its predecessor.

"On the contrary, we are interested in legislatively protecting the system, while any persons responsible [of wrongdoing] will be sought and made to pay," he added.

Committee chairman Papagiotis Thomopoulos, a deputy governor of the Bank of Greece, noted that the current framework for financial management of pension funds could not cope with free-market requirements and the minimum know-how required to invest pension fund properties.

He said the proposals made by the committee sought to improve the management of pension funds, while protecting their assets by instituting a conservative approach and, chiefly, through transparency and proper monitoring of all actions for the management of fund assets.

Among the proposals was one for the creation of a committee to support pension fund investment policies and set up a uniform framework that would make it possible to compare results, while creating rules on how assets should be handled.

In response to reporters' questions, meanwhile, Thomopoulos said that a 23 pct maximum limit for investment in stocks would remain in place, in order to ensure the greatest possible security. He said the proposed committee would be able to assess whether exceeding the 23 pct limit was a risk and suggest possible corrective measures, though pension fund managements would retain their autonomy and independence.

[24] PASOK, Coalition parties comment on Civil Servants Auxiliary Insurance Fund

PASOK's employment and social insurance sector chief Maria Damanaki said that "in view of the big scandal existing with the managing of the reserves of the Civil Servants Fund, (Employment and Social Solidarity Minister Savvas) Tsi-touridis is placing first the change in the institutional framework. The institutional framework is not a screen for Mr. Tsitouridis to conceal illegalities that have taken place or his own responsibilities for the mismanagement of social insurance funds, which he supervises and has responsibility for."

In a related statement, Coalition party Political Bureau member Dimitris Stratoulis said that "the recent stock exchange scandal at the Auxiliary Fund of the civil servants, as well as many previous ones at other social insurance funds, confirm the disastrous consequences for the property of public social insurance from the insistence of the present New Democracy government, as well as of the previous ones of PASOK, to manage it in an uncontrolled and untransparent way through close party friends and vested profiteering interests, with priority, indeed, on the stock exchange gambling risk."

[25] Transport minister wraps up trip to Cairo

Greek Transport and Communications Minister Mihalis Liapis wrapped up a three-day visit to Egypt on Monday, during which he had a series of meetings with Egyptian officials.

After talks with Egyptian Information Technology and Com-munications Minister Tarek Kamel, Liapis expressed satisfaction at a joint decision to make bilateral relations between Greece and Egypt closer still in this area.

"We decided that we can further develop infrastructure in the sensitive telecommunications sector and encourage investments to boost electronic communications between Greece and Egypt," the Greek minister said.

He revealed that Egypt was planning a major investment in an undersea optical fibre cable that will link the Egyptian city of Alexandria with the Greek port of Piraeus, making Greece the electronic gateway for Egypt into the European Union, while Egypt will conversely act as an electronic gateway for Greece to Arab countries and Africa.

Liapis also held talks with Egypt's Civil Aviation Minister Ahmed Shafiq and discussed the possibility of Athens' international airport Eleftherios Venizelos taking over the handling of air traffic at Mount Sinai airport.

"This will be for symbolic and predominately religious reasons," Liapis clarified in statements to reporters.

He said that Greece had also asked for an increase in flights between Athens and Cairo to reflect the increase in trade relations and tourist traffic between the two countries, while the two sides reached a joint agreement to re-assess the 50-year-old air travel agreement between Athens and Cairo in view of the emerging prospects for cooperation between Egypt and the EU.

[26] Environment minister evaluates ministry's work for past three years

'These days, we are completing three years in government, three years at the environment ministry. Looking back, we are proud of the work we have achieved to date and looking forward, we are ready to continue at the same intensive pace, so as to fulfill the citizens' dreams and expectations. In March 2004, we received a mandate by the Greek people, to implement our government program so as to build a better Greece, for all the Greeks,' Souflias said.

He noted that the ministry's primary strategic priority is to strengthen the country's development.

'We created an entire institutional framework of production of public works with the main characteristic being transparency and effectiveness. We studied and tendered projects amounting to more than 16 billion euros. It includes, firstly, 262 public projects throughout the country, amounting to more than eight billion euros and secondly, seven major projects which are taking place through contracts, also amounting to more than eight billion euros. That is, we have more than doubled the annual rate of tendering compared to the corresponding 1994-2003 decade, during which was tendered a total of 10.5 billion euros, including the Olympic Games projects," Souflias said.

"We are integrating policies to achieve the targets of the Kyoto Protocol, we are promoting recycling and strengthening protected regions. We are completing the country's town planning and advancing the setting up of the National Land Registry on new bases,' the minister added.

Meanwhile, the head of the Public Works and Environment Department of the main opposition PASOK Andreas Loverdos, said "today, the Environment, Town Planning and Public Works Ministry is making an evaluation of its work for the lost 2004-2007 three-year period." He added that "each inaccuracy follows the other and each untrue data follows the other, aimed at misleading public opinion."

[27] Tourism minister and Athens mayor discuss tourism in Athens

To this end, the minister announced a programming contract agreement between the ministry and the municipality of Athens aimed at city tourism and the highlighting of Athens as an international tourist destination. In this framework, the conference on City Breaks will be hosted at the Tae Kwon Do facility in Faliro between June 11-13.

Referring to the programme for reshaping the coastal zone with the creation of a bicycle and pedestrians road, Petralia said that this plan is proceeding normally, stressing that with the unified sea front, the city will be transformed into a coastal one.

Petralia will be leaving for Berlin, Germany, on Tuesday to attend the official inauguration of the ITB exhibition, one of the biggest exhibitions of the tourist industry in the world, while she will also be inaugurating the Greek pavilion on Wednesday. The ITB exhibition hosts over 10,000 exhibitors from 180 countries in a total space of 150,000 square metres.

[28] Tourism development minister addresses forum on Greek coastal shipping

She stressed that 'the future of Greek tourism development is based on a modern system of high level sea transport for the service of passengers.'

Presented and discussed at the event were technical issues as well as substantial issues related to the policy, institutional framework and the prospects of Greek coastal shipping but also its unbreakable bond with tourism.

Specifically, discussed were the situation, sufficiency and suitability of the coastal shipping fleet, the deficiencies and needs in ports and other infrastructures, the need for reforms on an institutional level, the servicing and funding of border islands and the European Union's institutional framework.

The event was organized at the initiative of coastal shipping and tourism agencies, under the auspices of the Merchant Marine Ministry, the Tourism Development Ministry and the Aegean and Island Policy Ministry.

The forum's conclusions and proposals will be presented at a press conference on March 13.

[29] Greek closed-end funds' assets down 1.64 pct in February

A monthly report by the Association of Institutional Investors said the average numerical return of the sector was 1.38 percent, while the average weighed return was 1.72 pct.

The report said seven closed end funds recorded positive internal value returns (ranging from 0.36 pct to 2.74 pct) with one fund recording a negative return of -0.15 pct.

The average weighed discount of the sector was -19.07 percent at the end of February.

[30] Marfin Financial Group in 5.1-bln-euro share capital increase plan

MFG unveiled a 5.1 billion euros share capital increase plan through cash and the issuance of new common nominal shares at a price of 6.70 euros per share and a nominal price of 0.54 euros. MFG, a 95 pct subsidiary of Marfin Popular Bank, will issue 774,660,278 new shares, at a ratio of 14 new for one existing share.

MFG said it would use the new capital to finance its new activities, such as acquisitions, equity participations and investments in Greece, Cyprus and the wider Southeastern Europe.

Marfin Popular Bank informed MFG's board of its intention not to use its right of participating in the share capital increase plan. The board also plans to seek shareholders' approval to a plan to pay a 4.41 euros per share dividend to shareholders and to return capital totaling 10.92 euros, raising the dividend price to 15.33 euros per share. Marfin Financial Group also plans to change its name to Marfin Investment Group

[31] Farmers' mobilizations in Larissa

The board of directors of the association is expected to meet later in the afternoon to decide on the course of their mobiliza-tions considering the number of participating demonstrators.

[32] ACCI business mission to Serbia

The Greek businessmen participating in the mission will have the opportunity to hold prescheduled meetings with their Serb colleagues to examine cooperation options.

[33] Greek mutual funds' assets slightly down in February

The report said domestic funds' assets accounted for 91 pct of total assets of the sector with the remaining 9.0 pct accounting for foreign markets funds managed by Greek mutual funds companies.

The foreign markets funds category recorded a 12 percent increase in assets, followed by foreign money market funds (+6.3 pct) and bond Funds of Funds (+4.9 pct). On the other hand, domestic equity funds (-7.5 pct), foreign equity funds (-6.0 pct) and combined Funds of Funds (-5.2 pct) recorded losses.

The average return of domestic equity funds was 2.67 percent at the end of February, slightly higher compared with a 2.5 pct rise of the composite index in the Athens Stock Exchange.

[34] Lamda Development to purchase Bulgarian firm TIHI

The Bulgarian company is an owner of a 6,300-square-metre plot in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Lamda Development plans to build an office and shopping mall complex in the area. The Greek-listed company said its invest-ment would exceed 30 million euros. It is the third investment by the company in Bulgaria over the last six months.

[35] Top 20 best workplaces in Greece announced

The Institute unveiled its top 20 list for Greece, which also includes Kri-Kri ABEE, International Life, Johnson Diversey Hellas, Organon Hellas, Johnson & Johnson Hellas, Medical Equipment, Trofelect Masterfoods, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Velti, Citibank Consumer Bank, Bank of Piraeus, Nestle Hellas, Mellon Financial Services, Pernod Ricard Hellas, Intralot and the Hellenic Aerospace Industry.

The final evaluation of the companies included in the report is based mainly on the answers given by employees. A total of 52 enterprises participated in this year's Best Workplaces contest, of which 23 were multinational and 29 Greece-based enterprises.

The largest enterprises in the survey had 4,500 employees and the smallest only 52. The awards will be presented during a special ceremony on March 15. The winners will automatically participate in an international contest for the top 100 best workplaces in Europe.

[36] Cosmote eyes customer base of 15 mln by 2009

Cosmote said it expected its customer base to reach 15 million in the three-year period from 2007 to 2009, as its EBITDA is expected to rise by more than 15 pct annually, one of the highest growth rates in the telecommunications market in Europe.

Elias Fotiadis, the chief financial officer, who presented Cosmote's plans for the three-year period, said Romania was the Greek company's "major wager", with Cosmote Romania facing stiff competition in a country with a population of 22 million. Cosmote Romania recorded losses totaling 92 million euros last year. It plans to invest around 500 million euros on infrastructure and network projects in the next three years to return to operating profits in 2008.

Fotiadies said integration of Germanos significantly boosted Cosmote's customer base. Germanos will report revenues totaling 800 million euros this year and will maintain its logo.

Cosmote's business plan envisages a 30 percent increase in revenues this year to 3.1 billion euros, EBITDA to rise by more than 15 pct to 1.0 billion euros and net profits to reach 400 million euros in 2007.

Fotiadis said Cosmote considers that there was still room to raise voice services' revenues, pointing to interest in the Serbian market but not for Cyprus. He stressed, however, that there was no room for a fourth player in the mobile telephony market, not only in Greece but in most other European countries as well.

[37] Allianz Hellas reports improved 2006 results

Operating earnings rose 24.5 pct to 23.5 million euros last year.

Petros Papanicolaou, the chief executive officer, said 2006 results more than covered the company's original forecasts and underlined that Allianz Hellas was steadily improving its profitability.

Papanicolaou said the company aimed at a 200 million euros turnover this year and a 7.1-pct increase in after-tax earnings to 12 million euros.

[38] Car registrations up 1.6% in Jan-Feb, yr/yr

The service said new registrations of motorcycles totaled 11,057 in the January-February period, sharply up from 8,476 units in the corresponding period last year.

[39] ASE members urged for restructuring of bond market

Speaking to reporters, Moraitakis said the bond market was not transparency and foreign to average investors, with banks acting as wholesalers selling bonds to institutional investors. Price transparency is obvious only to specialised professionals who buy and sell bonds in prices agreed bilaterally with other banks.

Moraitakis urged for measures to improve liquidity in the bond market to help attract other investors in the market and urged for an integration of the two systems.

Meanwhile, Acropolis Securities, in an announcement on Monday, strongly dismissed reports it had acted as a manager to a pension fund and noted that its services offered to the fund resulted to high returns, of around 15 percent, to the fund.

Acropolis said no transactions have been made through any off shore companies, but through its subsidiary in Cyprus and said it would seek legal actions to defend its rights.

[40] Greek stocks lose more ground

Sector indices fell, with the Insurance (4.23 pct), Chemicals (4.13 pct) and Technology (3.78 pct) suffering the heaviest percentage losses of the day, while Utilities (2.25 pct), Food-Beverage (1.75 pct) and Construction (1.25 pct) scored the biggest gains.

The Big Cap index fell 0.71 pct, the Mid Cap index dropped 2.28 pct and the Small Cap index ended 2.63 pct lower.

Ekter (10.71 pct), Ippotour (10.0 pct) and Atti-Kat (9.45 pct) were top gainers, while Viosol (15 pct), Attica Publications (13.24 pct) and Ikona-Ihos (11.90 pct) were top losers.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 239 to 41 with another 24 issues unchanged.

Sector indices ended as follows:

Insurance: -4.23%

Industrials: -1.17%

Commercial: +0.17%

Construction: +1.25%

Media: -2.19%

Oil & Gas: -1.08%

Personal & Household: -1.75%

Raw Materials: -3.49%

Travel & Leisure: -1.97%

Technology: -3.78%

Telecoms: +0.92%

Banks: -1.43%

Food & Beverages: +1.75%

Health: -1.74%

Utilities: +2.25%

Chemicals: -4.13%

Financial Services: -2.70%

The stocks with the highest turnover were National Bank, Alpha Bank, Eurobank and Marfin Popular Bank.

Selected shares from the FTSE/ASE-20 index closed in euros as follows:

Alpha Bank: 21.50

ATEbank: 3.80

Public Power Corp (PPC): 20.00

HBC Coca Cola: 29.36

Hellenic Petroleum: 9.96

Emporiki Bank: 21.30

National Bank of Greece: 37.50

EFG Eurobank Ergasias: 27.30

Intralot: 22.50

Cosmote: 21.36

OPAP: 26.52

OTE: 20.38

Titan Cement Company: 42.00

[41] ADEX closing report

The March contract on the FTSE 20 index was traded at a discount of 0.45 pct and on the FTSE 40 index at a discount of 0.04 pct.

Volume in futures contracts on the FTSE 20 index totaled 20,892 contracts worth 241.873 million euros, with 28,487 open positions in the market, while on the FTSE 40 index volume was 837 contracts worth 22.082 million euros, with 1,289 open positions.

Volume in futures contracts on equities totaled 21,108 contracts worth 14.319, with investment interest focusing on Intracom's contracts (4,229), followed by OTE (2,172), PPC (1,947), Piraeus Bank (1,096), National Bank (1,256), ATEbank (1,432) and Eltech (1,241).

Volume in stock repos was 1,289 contracts and in reverse stock repos was 1,890 contracts.

[42] Greek bond market closing report

The 10-year benchmark bond (July 20, 2016) was the most heavily traded security with a turnover of 656 million euros, while the yield spread between the 10-year Greek and German bonds was 0.235 percent. The Greek bond yielded 4.16 pct and the German Bund 3.91 pct.

In the domestic interbank market, interest rates were largely unchanged. National Bank's overnight rate was 3.57 pct, the two-day rate was 3.57 pct, the one-month rate 3.78 pct and the 12-month rate fell to 3.98 pct from 4.05 pct on Friday.

[43] Foreign Exchange Rates - Tuesday

U.S. dollar 1.318

Pound sterling 0.687

Danish kroner 7.507

Swedish kroner 9.405

Japanese yen 152.14

Swiss franc 1.612

Norwegian kroner 8.248

Cyprus pound 0.584

Canadian dollar 1.557

Australian dollar 1.703

General News

[44] Climate change a top concern among Greeks, Eurobarometer shows

Climate change and global warming are issues that greatly concern Greeks and residents of other Mediterranean countries in the EU, according to a Eurobarometer poll released on Monday.

In Spain and Cyprus, 70 pct declare themselves "very concerned" about climate change, closely followed by 68 pct of Greeks and Maltese.

The average rate in the 27-nation EU is 50 pct while the lowest levels of concern are in the northern countries, such as Estonia (20 pct), Finland and Latvia (20 pct) and the Netherlands (28 pct).

Regarding targets for reducing energy consumption, 50 pct of Greeks support "subsidies for solutions that are energy efficient", while 28 pct want "additional information" and 15 pct are in favour of "adopting stricter and more efficient measures".

Greeks are also among the Europeans most opposed to nuclear power, with 83 pct replying that the amount of electricity supplied by nuclear power in the EU should be reduced, 13 pct replying that it should increase and 5 pct replying "don't know, won't answer".

Average responses in the EU are 61 pct in favour of reduction, 29 pct in favour of increase and 10 pct replying 'don't know, won't answer'.

Support for nuclear power is strongest in the Czech Republic and Bulgaria and lowest in Greece, Austria and Cyprus.

Regarding fossil fuels, 73 pct of Greeks are in favour of being able to choose between electricity and natural gas suppliers, compared with 85 pct in the EU as a whole.

Another 74 pct favour Community support in the case of a sudden shortage of oil or natural gas, compared with 79 pct in the EU as a whole, while only 22 pct (17 pct in the EU) believe that each country should depend exclusively on its own fuel reserves.

Similarly to other Europeans, 68 pct of Greeks believe that negotiations through the EU are the best way of ensuring adequate supplies and good prices and that "the best way to handle energy issues" is "through measures agreed on a Community level". In Europe, support for the same choices was 65 pct and 62 pct respectively.

[45] Int'l symposium on Greek-Austrian links over the centuries next week in Athens

The symposium will be addressed by more than a dozen distinguished academics and diplomats from both countries.

The series of events take place in the run-up to a state visit of Austrian President Heinz Fischer to Greece in May 2007.

[46] Memorial service held for Hrant Dink in Athens

The government was represented at the Church service by Deputy Transport Minister Anastasios Nerantzis, who made a brief address. Additionally, the chairman of Parliament's Greece-Armenia friendship committee, Synaspismos deputy Fotis Kouvelis, also attended the service, as did Armenia's ambassador to Greece Vahram Kazhoyan.

Bishop Melitonas of Marathon represented Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Christodoulos.

Several other deputies, politicians, local government officials and a large crowd of worshippers were also in attendance.

[47] Author Arrabal honoured at Thessaloniki University

The ceremony took place in a boisterous atmosphere caused by protesting students. Nevertheless, Arrabal welcomed them by applauding.

His speech focused on the theme "From Cervantes' confusion to the confusion of panic", in which he described the "complete confusion (mental, ideological, religious and philosophical) prevailing today."

[48] Thieves broke into an old church in Ioannina

The unidentified culprits, who are wanted by the police, also dug a hole in the floor of the old church next to the altar obvi-ously looking for something buried there.

[49] Drug-related arrests

The Greek driver and an Albanian accomplice were arrested while a second Albanian is still wanted by police.

[50] Weather forecast: Fair on Tuesday

[51] The Monday edition of Athens' dailies at a glance

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "PASOK: They're promising the moon and the stars! In order to create polarisation and to rally together their indifferent supporters".

APOGEVMATINI: "Acrimony and false promises from George - Papandreou's Ovidian metamorphosis from moderate to divisive leader".

AVRIANI: "Everyone else is to blame, in George's opinion - Instead of shouldering the responsibility for his lethal mistakes and catastrophic choices, both at level of positions and in the selection of faces...".

CHORA: "Repairs and minor odd building jobs without (construction) licence as of April - What the bill foresees".

ELEFTHERI ORA: "The...red mill grinds up Education - As the framework-law (on higher education) is to be tabled tomorrow (Tuesday) in the parliament plenary for voting, the left-wing alliances among the academics prevailed, deciding a continuation of the mobilisations".

ELEFTHEROS: "The others are to blame - Papandreou sees enemies and conspirators everywhere".

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "Clearing up of accounts - Clash with the interests in PASOK".

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "George livid against the government, interests, mass media".

ESTIA: "Corruption in the private sector".

ETHNOS: "The government an interests-servicing industry - George's message on clashing with 'the establishment that profits from authority".

TA NEA: "George: ND (ruling New Democracy party) an interests-serving industry - The harshest attack (on the government so far)".

VRADYNI: "Minimum national pension for all the (socially) insured - Alogoskoufis opens up his cards to Vradyni".

Cyprus Affairs

[52] National Council discusses further actions

The EU regulation on special conditions for trade with areas of the Republic of Cyprus in which the Government of the Republic of Cyprus does not exercise effective control, the 8th July 2006 agreement and the recent talks between the Cyprus government and the Greek government in Athens were the issues discussed during Monday's meeting of the National Council, under the President of the Republic Tassos Papadopoulos.

Government Spokesman Christodoulos Pashiardis said ''further actions and handlings to be followed were discussed and accord and co-understanding were ascertained.''

''The regulation for trade, the 8th July agreement and the recent talks in Athens with the Greek government were the issues on which President Tassos Papadopoulos briefed the members of the National Council during the meeting,'' Pashiardis said.

''President Papadopoulos expressed his relevant assessments and members of the Council expressed their own views,'' he continued.

The National Council, a top advisory body to the Cypriot President on the Cyprus issue, is composed of two members of all parliamentary parties, but main opposition party Democratic Rally (DISY) suspended its participation in the Council, due to "functional weaknesses and cover-up of dysfunctions of the Council".

[53] Solana supports Cyprus right to participate to EU-NATO meetings

Cyprus Foreign Minister George Lillikas and EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana discussed here Monday Turkey's tactic to systematically impede the participation of the Republic of Cyprus to EU and NATO joint meetings.

EU sources said that Solana acknowledged that there is a problem and that a solution must be found to allow the sufficient participation of the Republic of Cyprus to these meetings.

Lillikas briefed Solana on the 8 July agreement on the Cyprus question and about Turkey's threats as regards the issue of the exploitation of possible oil deposits or natural gas in the sea area off the island.

On July 8th 2006 Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat agreed, during a meeting in Nicosia in the presence of former UN Underse-cretary General for political Affairs Ibrahim Gambari, to begin a process of bicommunal discussions on issues that affect the day-to-day life of the people and concurrently those that concern substantive issues, both contributing to a compre-hensive settlement to the Cyprus problem.

Cyprus, an EU member state since May 2004, has signed agreements for the delimitation of its Exclusive Economic Zone with Egypt and Lebanon. Turkey, which has been occupying 37% of Cyprus' territory since her invasion of the island in 1974, has reacted with threats as regards the government's intentions for exploration and exploitation of possible oil deposits or natural gas in the sea area off the island.

[54] US Ambassador: Cyprus has the right to conclude agreements on oil exploitation

The Republic of Cyprus is a sovereign country and has the right to conclude agreements such as the ones regarding

the exploitation of natural gas or oil reserves in its exclusive economic zone, said Monday US Ambassador to Nicosia Ronald Schlicher.

In statements after a meeting with the General Secretary of left wing party AKEL and President of the House of Represen-tatives Demetris Christofias, Schlicher said that any discussion on the oil issue should focus on the new opportunities that arise and could facilitate the reunification of Cyprus.

"It is clear that the Republic of Cyprus is the sovereign autho-rity, they have the right to conclude agreements such as the one concluded and anyone who challenges that right should do so finding legal peaceful ways to approach the issue", he said responding to questions regarding Turkey's protests on Cyprus' right to exploit possible hydrocarbon reserves in its exclusive economic zone.

The US Ambassador noted that "discussion on this issue by all parties concerned should be in the spirit of how can the possibility of this new national wealth be used in a way that is going to facilitate the reunification of the island and not deepen the divisions on the island".

"So, that is the position of my government and I hope that the source of discourse that we hear on this issue focuses on that question of reunification", he added.

Replying to questions on the oil issue and the Turkish threats, Christofias said that "the Ambassador reiterated the US position that indeed the Republic of Cyprus has the sovereign right to proceed with the exploration in its coastal area and conclude agreements with other sovereign states".

The US Ambassador also referred to the July 8th 2006 agreement aiming at a Cyprus settlement and said that his country would like to see the promotion of the agreement's implementation.

"One of the most important things we talked about was our mutual desire that the UN process created by the July agreement starts immediately, as soon as possible, to produce progress in the technical committees and working groups that will lead to a situation where we can resume the substantive negotiations on reunifying the island", he said.

The US policy, he added, "is strongly in favor of the Cyprus reunification and that is why we support the UN track as vigo-rously as we do and we call on both communities to find a way forward that is going to produce that progress".

Schlicher said that during his meeting with Christofias they also took the opportunity to discuss political developments in the Republic of Cyprus.

In his statements, Christofias said that he informed Schlicher on the positions of the Greek Cypriot side as well as his party's positions regarding the rapprochement between the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots and the common efforts with the Turkish Cypriot Republican Turkish Party "to reach a common language on various aspects of the Cyprus problem".

Cyprus entered the EU in 2004. The island has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied its northern third.

On July 8th 2006 Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat agreed, during a meeting in Nicosia in the presence of former UN Under-secretary General for political Affairs Ibrahim Gambari, to begin a process of bicommunal discussions on issues that affect the day-to-day life of the people and concurrently those that concern substantive issues, both contributing to a compre-hensive settlement to the Cyprus problem.

Cyprus has signed agreements for the delimitation of its Exclusive Economic Zone with Egypt and Lebanon. Turkey has reacted with threats as regards the government's intentions for exploration and exploitation of possible oil deposits or natural gas in the sea area off the island.

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