Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 07-03-15

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

CONTENTS

[01] Russian President Putin, Bulgarian PM Stanishev in Athens to attend signing of oil pipeline deal

[02] FM Bakoyannis to meet with Russian counterpart ahead of pipeline agreement signature

[03] President Papoulias wraps up visit to Croatia

[04] FM Bakoyannis to visit Italy, US next week

[05] FM Bakoyannis to meet counterpart from Qatar on Thursday

[06] FinMin confers with FM

[07] Education law will be enforced, government stresses

[08] PASOK leader accuses gov't of 'attack on country's youth'

[09] Synaspispos leader meets with PASOK president

[10] Majority of student unions vote in favor of open universities

[11] Government rules out ban on Thursday's rally

[12] Greece dismisses Turkish demands for Aghios Efstratios

[13] Greek position on Kosovo steadfast, Athens says

[14] PASOK slams government record on the environment

[15] Event at US Congress on Greek government's initiative for combating human trafficking

[16] Apostolic Nuncio in Austria hosts luncheon in honour of Ecumenical Patriarch

[17] Government to set up fund to combat poverty, Finmin says

[18] PM's message on World Consumer Day

[19] Ionian Motorway contract tabled in Parliament for ratification

[20] Farm minister says problem of drought will be dealt with effectively

[21] Greece, Croatia forge closer business relations

[22] FinMin George Alogoskoufis on Bank of Attica

[23] Creation of 'Tourism Map' for Greece's regions

[24] Piraeus Bank ends public offer to buy Marfin Popular Bank

[25] Bank of Cyprus expands operations in Romania

[26] More businesses begin operations in Athens

[27] OTE special general assembly postponed until March 27

[28] Nireus buys Turkey's Carbon AS for 550,000 US dollars

[29] AB Vasilopoulos says profits up 14.5 pct in 2006

[30] Greece wins 170 medals in 7th international wine competition

[31] Deputy development minister addresses federation's general assembly

[32] Greek stocks drop 1.85 pct on Wednesday

[33] ADEX closing report

[34] Greek bond market closing report

[35] European extreme weather warning system

[36] Protection measures against summer fires and drought

[37] New legislation proposal on transplants

[38] Eurobarometer on alcohol consumption in EU

[39] ELIAMEP to host panel discussion on Marshall Plan on March 21

[40] Greek MPs to attend March 25th celebrations in Australia

[41] UNICEF pavilion inaugurated in Athens

[42] International 'Seven Wise Men Conference' on May 11-12

[43] Francophone Film Fest under aegis of City of Athens

[44] Two members of ferryboat crew injured during drill

[45] Rescue operation for 11 Romanian seamen on 'Afrodites'

[46] Holy relics stolen from Mount Athos

[47] Mostly fair on Thursday

[48] The Wednesday edition of Athens' dailies at a glance

[49] Cypriot President notes prospects for strengthening of relations with Romania

[50] Cyprus government in constant contact with EU Presidency for 'direct trade' Politics

[01] Russian President Putin, Bulgarian PM Stanishev in Athens to attend signing of oil pipeline deal

During their stay in Athens, Putin and Stanishev will meet with President of the Hellenic Republic Karolos Papoulias, who returned from an official visit to Croatia late on Wednesday night, and hold talks with Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis.

The Russian president landed at Athens' 'Eleftherios Venizelos' international airport shortly after 21:00, arriving on a special flight at the airport's VIP lounge where an official reception ceremony took place.

He immediately departed for the restaurant 'Dionysos' in central Athens, where Karamanlis hosted an official dinner in honour of him and the Bulgarian premier.

Also present at the dinner were, from the Greek side, Development Minister Dimitris Sioufas, Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis, Defence Minister Evangelos Meimarakis, State Minister Theodoros Roussopoulos, Macedonia-Thrace Minister George Kalantzis and Deputy Foreign Minister Evripidis Stylianidis.

A meeting between Putin and Karamanlis is scheduled to take place at the Greek premier's office on Thursday morning at 10:00, following a meeting between the Greek and Bulgarian prime ministers at 9:00. Afterwards, the three will make their way to the presidential mansion to witness the signature of the oil pipeline agreement that begins at 11:00 and the subsequent press conference.

The agreement will be signed by Greek Development Minister Dimitris Sioufas, Russia's Industry and Energy Minister Viktor Khristenko and Bulgarian Regional Development Minister Asen Gagaouzov.

A half-hour meeting between President Putin and President Papoulias will begin at 11:50, after which the Russian president will head for the airport and a bilateral meeting with Stanishev before he boards a special flight to Moscow at 13:30 is scheduled.

Papoulias will receive the Bulgarian premier at 10:00, shortly before the signing ceremony for the oil pipeline begins at 11:00.

There will also be a meeting between Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis and her Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov at the Greek foreign ministry on Thursday morning.

Government, Sioufas on signing of oil pipeline agreement

Thursday's signing in Athens of the trilateral agreement between Greece, Bulgaria and Russia for construction of the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline would put Greece on the international energy map, and close an issue that has been pending for 14 years, alternate government spokesman Evangelos Antonaros said on Wednesday.

He stressed that the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline agreement, coupled with an existing agreement for a Turkey-Greece-Italy natural gas pipeline that goes into effect in June, as well as the recent establishment of the SE Europe Energy Community, were placing Greece on the East-West energy corridor.

Development Minister Dimitris Sioufas stressed that the signature of the agreement was "a historic moment for our country and the Greek people.

"Tomorrow our country will be the centre of interest for the world," Sioufas added, repeating that an issue that had been outstanding for 14 years was coming to a close in the best possible way.

"The importance of this project for all is obvious. For Greece, for its citizens, for our country and for Bulgaria, which through the construction and operation of this pipeline will get onto the global energy map," he said.

EU Commission

Commenting in Brussels, meanwhile, a spokesman for European Commissioner for energy Andris Piebalgs said that it was an important, innovative project that would help reduce the volume of tanker traffic in the busy Bosporus Straits.

Asked whether the initiative undermined EU efforts for a common stance on energy issues toward Russia, the spokesman said it was important that the interested parties (belonging to the Community) spoke with a single voice toward Russia.

Regarding the companies participating in the construction of the pipeline, the spokesman said that these were investments by private investors, on which the Commission could not comment.

FM spokesman

Greece implements a consistent policy in the sector of energy and energy security through the signing, on Thursday, of the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline agreement between Greece, Bulgaria and Russia and with its construction Greece enters steadily and irrevocably the international energy map, foreign ministry spokesman George Koumoutsakos said on Wednesday.

Responding to relevant questions, the spokesman also underlined the "particular importance" attributed by the Greek government "to the strategically important sector of energy" and referred to "its concrete political implementations such as the signing of the Treaty for the Founding of the Southeastern European Energy Community and the historic Agreement for the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline," adding that all steps have been taken for the construction of the Turkey-Greece-Italy natural gas pipeline.

Koumoutsakos also underlined Greece's "additional interest, in the sense that Greek shipping, which is strong and recognised internationally, offers an additional possibility for the safe transport of energy with the 'floating pipelines of oil and natural gas'."

"From this angle, we also participate of course in current discussions within the European Union for the Energy Strategy," Koumoutsakos concluded.

FM spokesman speaks to ITAR-TASS

Foreign ministry spokesman George Koumoutsakos, in statements to the ITAR-TASS news agency on Wednesday, said that Greece will receive Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is visiting the country for the third time over a short period of time, "with great pleasure".

Referring to the signing of the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline agreement on Thursday, Koumoutsakos said "it is a historic agreement that will produce great benefits for all three countries participating, as well as for the big energy markets of the Mediterranean and Europe."

The spokesman added that "not only does it reflect and seal the high level of political, economic and energy relations of the three countries, but it also opens new prospects for strengthening, deepening and enriching this cooperation. Lastly, this agreement is a milestone and a new starting point for the further strengthening of the relations of the peoples of Greece, Russia and Bulgaria."

PASOK, Synaspismos officials

Main opposition PASOK party officials on Wednesday commented on the geostrategic and environmental significance of the signing of the agreement on the construction of the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline on Thursday.

PASOK's development, tourism and shipping rapporteur Christos Papoutsis said the signing of the agreement was an event of considerable importance, stressing that it was a project for which "the governments of PASOK, the governments of Andreas Papandreou and of Costas Simitis, and George Papandreou personally as foreign minister, had worked methodically, consistently, planning and with continuous negotiations."

Papoutsis added that "the importance of this pipeline, as the final although not the only exit of Caspian oil to the Mediterranean, is now recognised internationally since it will constitute part of a multinational and continental oil transportation network."

Referring to the same issue, PASOK's environmental and public works rapporteur Andreas Loverdos said that "when the prime minister spoke in Parliament a few months ago of pipelines and this problem in Europe, he spoke as if he did not realise that all this energy issue also had an environmental issue next to it."

Synaspismos

Coalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology (Synaspismos) party Political Bureau member and economic and social policy rapporteur Panayiotis Lafazanis said that "the government, instead of celebrating, should have, as we have requested repeatedly, brief Parliament fully on all aspects of the agreement on the pipeline and, mainly, on if and to what degree protection of the environment is safeguarded with the construction and operation of the pipeline, particularly in the sea region of the Evros Delta and the Aegean."

[02] FM Bakoyannis to meet with Russian counterpart ahead of pipeline agreement signature

Putin and Lavrov are due to arrive in Athens on Wednesday night for Thursday's signing of the trilateral interstate agreement between Greece, Bulgaria and Russia for construction of the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline.

Bakoyannis will also take part in Thursday's meeting at the Presidential Mansion among Presidents Papoulias and Putin, prime minister Costas Karamanlis and Bulgarian prime minister Sergei Stanishev, after which the pipeline agreement will be signed.

Later in the day, Bakoyannis will also meet with visiting Qatar first deputy prime-minister and foreign minister Sheik Hamad bin Jasim bin Jabir al-Thani

[03] President Papoulias wraps up visit to Croatia

President of the Hellenic Republic Karolos Papoulias on Wednesday underlined the strategic importance for Greece and Croatia and the rest of south-eastern Europe of Road Axis 10, which will link the Adriatic with the Ionian highways.

Speaking on the last day of an official visit to Croatia, during which he held talks with Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader and government ministers, Papoulias underlined that there had been full agreement over Road Axis 10.

He said that Croatian President Stjepan Mesic had also agreed to a proposal that the Axis be a rail connection as well as a road.

Papoulias said that construction of the road would greatly enhance access to central Europe for Greek exports, particularly fresh produce.

The Greek president said he was very satisfied with the results of his talks in Zagreb and that they had been an opportunity to set targets and schedules, as well as ascertain the good prospects for developing bilateral ties.

He also underlined the great importance of improved Greek-Croatian relations for resolving regional problems, such as those in Kosovo and Bosnia.

Regarding Kosovo, in particular, Papoulias stressed that a solution should not be rushed and that it should not be imposed from above, since it would not be lasting.

The Greek president began his day in Zagreb by addressing an economic forum, during which he underlined that Greece sought to promote cooperation on all levels within the Balkans, in order to promote the goals of stability and economic prosperity for the region.

He pointed to the need for appropriate measures to encourage cooperation between the business communities of Greece and Croatia and the entry of Croatian businesses in Greece, given that large numbers of Greek companies operate in Croatia.

The Greek president also stressed Greece's role in the Balkans as a factor for support in the efforts of its neighbours to improve their infrastructure and set up reliable institutions.

He said that Croatia's course toward EU accession will speed up the passing of difficult but necessary reforms to institutions, political life and economic affairs.

Afterwards, Papoulias had a meeting with the Croatian premier, followed by Zagreb Mayor Milan Bandic.

Ministers that accompanied the president on his trip to Croatia also underlined the success of the visit.

Commenting on the meeting with Sanader, for example, Deputy Foreign Minister Theodoros Kassimis said the two sides had "ascertained that they have a common vision for the region".

The minister stressed the prospects for reviving bilateral cultural and educational exchanges, which he said were currently zero.

According to Tourism Development Minister Fani Palli-Petralia, prospects for cooperation were particularly hopeful in the tourism sector, even though the two countries currently operate as competitors. She said the Croatian side had responded positively to suggestions that Greece and Croatia could be complementary tourist destinations, highlighting common points that would assist cooperation such as marine tourism and quality of services.

Issues raised in talks between the two sides were the docking fees paid by Greek vessels at Croatian marinas, a proposal for an Adriatic and Ionian network based on rented sea craft and passenger ferries and later extending to air connections.

Deputy Finance Minister Petros Doukas said the Croatian airline had shown interest in cooperating with Greek airlines to this end.

Regarding Papoulias' trip, he said this had cultivated a very good climate for trade and investments and that it was now up to business people in the two countries to make use of this. He said that talks had focused on closer cooperation in the energy sector, including ways to deal with regional electricity shortages, while Croatia was interested in obtaining know-how on renewable energy sources, mining, fertilizers, food, construction, banking and coastal shipping.

The minister also announced plans for a Greek-Croatian Chamber of Commerce.

[04] FM Bakoyannis to visit Italy, US next week

Bakoyannis will pay a one-day visit to Rome on Monday, March 19, for talks with Italian foreign minister Massimo D'Alema, while she will also be received by Italian President Giorgio Napolitano, with talks focusing on bilater affairs and regional issues of common interest, with emphasis on the Balkans and the Middle East, foreign minister spokesman George Koumoutsakos said.

The Greek foreign minister was also due to arrive in New York on the following day (Tuesday, March 20), where she would meet with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, while on Thursday (March 22) she would head to Washington for talks with US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice and other officials.

Koumoutsakos said Bakoyannis' US talks would cover a wide range of issues, with the focus on Kosovo and the Balkans, the FYROM name issue, and developmens in the Cyprus issue.

Bakoyannis will also have meetings on Thursday with US Senate majority leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada) and minority leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky), after which she will attend a lunch in hour honour hosted by Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi (D-California).

While in Washington, Bakoyannis will further have meetings with US National Security Advisor Steven Hadley and the US president's Assistant for Homeland Security director Frances FragosTownsend, with whom she will discuss developments on the visa waiver issue, which Koumoutsakos said was being followed at high level, given that constant progress was being made.

On the following day (March 23), Bakoyannis will take part in a special event at the White House marking Greek National Indepdence, which will also be attended by US President George Bush.

[05] FM Bakoyannis to meet counterpart from Qatar on Thursday

Issues to be discussed include bilateral political and economic relations, regional issues of common interest and specifically the Middle East issue, as well as relations between the European Union and the Council for the cooperation of the Gulf states (GCC).

An Agreement-Framework on Economic, Industrial and Technical Cooperation, which will form the legal basis for the setting up of a Joint Inter-ministerial Committee, will be signed at the end of the two foreign ministers' talks followed also by a joint press conference, the announcement added.

[06] FinMin confers with FM

The two ministers discussed matters concerning the bill on the organsiation of the foreign ministry.

[07] Education law will be enforced, government stresses

"The framework-law was passed by Parliament yesterday, opening the way for satisfying the demand of the vast majority of the people and implementing in practice the improvement in the structure and function of Higher Educational Institutes (AEI). The law will be enforced," alternate government spokesman Evangelos Antonaros stressed.

"All citizens have an obligation to observe the laws of the state," he told reporters, noting that the law provided penalties for those who failed to do so.

He also rejected claims of an "escalating front of opposition against the framework-law", pointing out that it had been passed after a lengthy period of dialogue with all sides involved.

[08] PASOK leader accuses gov't of 'attack on country's youth'

Papandreou said that the youth were "thirsting for major changes in Education, meritocracy, equal participation in the productive procedures", adding that whereas the youth, "who are called on to shoulder the great burden of the changes and challenges faced by Hellenism and humanity", they were nevertheless "disdained, persecuted and reviled by the government, which is incapable of understanding and solving the big problems faced by the country and the young generation".

He said that the government, "incapable of advancing solutions, changes and reforms needed in Education, has added new problems". This, Papandreou continued, was why the government had opted to make the hooded troublemakers their interlocutors while disregarding the country's youth, and had chosen to make the public order ministry the protagonist in the Education and youth issues. But "the problems of Education and the young generation cannot be resolved by the public order minister (Vyron Polydoras), the PASOK leader added.

Papandreou further accused the government of a dissolution of Education, saying that the universities had closed down and remained closed through the blame of the government and its sterile insistence of enacting laws in the absence of the university community and, in essense, against Education itself, introducing a shoddy bill without prospects.

The PASOK leader warned that the government "is literally playing with fire, and thinks that, in this way, it can grab the citizens' votes", but "the silent majority the government invokes is not at all silent, and is already shouting out: 'Enough'."

"The problems are primarily social, and are not solved with a club. We want open universities. We want them to open now so that a dialogue can at last take place in a composed way. But the main responsibility lies with the government," he said, and reiterated an older statement he had made that "one of the first actions by our (PASOK) government will be to change the (framework) law because it is shoddy, inconsistent, and leads to impasses, and does not give any solution and prospect to the country".

"We will introduce our own framework on Education comprehensivley. At any rate, the ND law is shoddy and is, and will remain, inactive," Papandreou said, adding that "after the elections we will provide the outlet that the country needs, with consistency in positions and stances, with principles and a programme, with a common struggle of collective and individual resonsibility, as demanded of us by our democratic party and the Greek people."

Turning to agricultural issues and his recent tour of Thessaly, Papandreou said he had received very positive messages from his visit, adding that the agricultural world was once again listening to PASOK, trusting it and relying on it for confrontation of the very big problems faced by the sector, and was seeking in PASOK hope for its future and the prospects of Greek agricultural, while at the same time acknowledging the party's systematic work in recent years.

Roussopoulos responds

Minister of State and Government Spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos on Wednesday responded to main opposition PASOK leader George Papandreou over statements the latter made during his party's parliamentary council meeting on youth.

"Mr. Papandreou, at the same time as admitting that 'younger generations are thirsty for big changes in education' continues to refuse reforms, continues to fight against any change, continues to wage battle so that nothing can change," Roussopoulos said.

"Mr. Papandreou is thus frankly confessing that for him and his party the priority lies not with the demands of youth but with petty party-political interest. He appears -or at least, so he thinks - likeable, but in no way useful to the younger generations and their need for a better future," the minister concluded.

Papariga: education law can be overturned

The student movement should consider that the government's laws for higher education can be overturned and remain inactive in practice, as has occurred with similar laws in the past, Communist Party of Greece (KKE) General Secretary Aleka Papariga said in a press conference on Wednesday.

She stressed that there should be a counter-attack by the student and peoples movements for completely free state education.

Outlining her party's positions for universities, Papariga underlined her total opposition to the measures introduced under the new law and said that the positions of main opposition PASOK did not differ significantly from those of the government.

She also slammed the government for exploiting the hooded self-styled anarchists that marred student demonstrations, suggesting that they might even be linked to the police force, and underlined that the police had no right to make a show of force during the student rally taking place on Thursday.

At the same time, she called on students to be even more vigilant in guarding the demonstration against infiltration by violent trouble-makers, while again suggesting that the police had tolerated the actions of the self-styled anarchists before reacting and underlining that KKE was opposed to violence from all quarters, whether these were rioters or police.

Papariga emphasised that violence had been perpetrated against students and said that their legal rights had been violated for the first time in many years.

[09] Synaspispos leader meets with PASOK president

"There is a common concern regarding (ruling) New Democracy's (ND) deviation from democratic methods," Alavanos said after the meeting.

"We have expressed our concern about violence against students and the younger generations, and our concern because we are dealing with the most savage and most anti-democratic attack against the Left and particularly against Synaspismos," the leftist leader said.

"It is important that the government changes tack and stops playing games with groups exercising violence," Alavanos concluded.

[10] Majority of student unions vote in favor of open universities

The bill, titled "Reform of the institutiona framework for the structure and operation of institutions of higher education (AEI)", was passed with the votes of the ruling New Democracy (ND) party deputies.

According to DAP, the student general assemblies were marred by scuffles that erupted between the Communist Youth of Greece (KNE) PKS student union and the EAAK (Independent Leftist Movement) over which side was responsible for the division of last Thursday's (March 8) student protest march.

The DAP-NDFK statement also mentions that similar scuffles between members of student unions that resulted in injuries took place at the University of Piraeus and the Crete Polytechnic as well as during the Thessaloniki Economics Student Union general assembly meeting.

In a related development, the takeover at the TEI (technical institution of higher education) in Kozani was ended at midnight, while a demand by the students for a double examination period (covering both semesters of the school year) and making up the lost hours (due to the takeovers) of the first semester was rejected.

The takeover at the Crete Polytechnic was also discontinued, following a late-night decision by the university's students' general assembly, which, however, also decided to continue its mobilisations against the framework-law but with the Polytechnic's Schools remaining open, as proposed by the main opposition PASOK-affiliated student union PASP. The PASP proposal approved by the general assembly also provides for a demonstration march on Friday afternoon. The students further demanded that the first-semester examinations period that did not take place as scheduled in January due to the takeovers be re-scheduled for September.

Meanwhile, a Greek Police (ELAS) statement issued in response to mass media reports referring to the use of new police gear, stressed that the police forces will not change the tactic, method of action and legitimate means they use while doing their duty.

The police statement also calls on all sides to display cool-headedness and self-restraint in view of Thursday's (March 15) student demonstration in Athens. The demonstration organizers in particular are called to safeguard the peaceful nature of the rally and demonstration in accordance with Article 11 of the Constitution.

[11] Government rules out ban on Thursday's rally

"There is no issue of forbidding tomorrow's rally," alternate government spokesman Evangelos Antonaros told reporters.

The rally is being held to protest against the framework law for reforming higher education that was passed by Parliament on Tuesday. The previous student rally on this issue was marked by extensive clashes between police and rioters, who set fire to a sentry box outside the Unknown Soldier monument and forced authorities to remove the ceremonial Evzone guards to safety.

[12] Greece dismisses Turkish demands for Aghios Efstratios

Foreign ministry spokesman George Koumoutsakos said that the Greek side had briefed NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer on its views "with the conviction and certainty that it has watertight positions that are based on international law and international treaties, including the Treaty of Lausanne".

So far, there had been no official response from the Alliance to the briefing given by Greece's permanent representative to NATO Ioannis Zeppos, Koumoutsakos told reporters. He announced that further consultation with Scheffer would take place on this issue.

In response to other questions, the spokesman said that there was no official evidence confirming that a document sent to the NATO Secretary-General by Ankara.

[13] Greek position on Kosovo steadfast, Athens says

"It is our conviction that a viable solution is demanded for this issue, a solution that reinforces peace and security in the region and, of course, that presupposes ensuring Kosovo's multicultural character, ensuring equal rights and equal opportunities for development for all its residents," the spokesman stressed.

It stood to reason that the solution for Kosovo that provided the greatest guarantee of success would be one that all the interested parties could live with, he added.

"If the process for finding a final settlement of the future status [of Kosovo] requires more time in order to make such a solution possible, then this time must be sought and granted by the international community," he added.

[14] PASOK slams government record on the environment

"Greek citizens suddenly saw the prime minister in Brussels declaring concern for the environment and adopting - rightly - binding measures for protecting the environment up to the year 2020 but without, however, having first drawn up an adequate plan or cost estimate of what this would mean for the country's course up until 2020," said the party's sector head for environmental issues Andreas Loverdos.

He also accused the current environment minister George Souflias of having done the least for the environment than any of his predecessors, while noting that he did not go to EU councils.

Loverdos criticised the country's national plan for tackling climate change as being "out of date", pointing out that European Commissioner for the environment Stavros Dimas had just a few weeks earlier predicted that Greece would overshoot Kyoto Protocol targets by 16 pct in 2012.

Greece was also lagging in attempts to clean up electricity production (which accounted for the lion's share of the country's greenhouse gas emissions) because the land planning for renewable energy sources was stalled and because bureaucracy was penalising businesses in the alternative energy sector, he said.

"At the same time, the government appears to be favouring private initiatives in the energy sector based on lignite," he added.

[15] Event at US Congress on Greek government's initiative for combating human trafficking

The president of the Inter-ministerial Committee for the combating of the illegal trafficking of persons, Justice Department Secretary-General Panagiotis Panouris, expounded on the legislative and other initiatives taken by the Greek government for the combating of the phenomenon, at an event which was organised at the American Congress.

Also speaking at the event were four members of the House of Representatives, two representatives of American non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and Greek Ambassador in Washington Alexandros Mallias, while a greeting was sent by Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis who will visit the American capital next week.

The American Congresspersons warmly greeted the Greek initiatives for the combating of the illegal trafficking of persons, which they described as "a modern form of slavery."

The event was a continuation of an event held in July 2006, on the matter of the illegal trafficking of persons, which was co-organised by the SAIS and the Greek Embassy.

The Greek foreign minister's message was published in the "Washington Times" newspaper.

[16] Apostolic Nuncio in Austria hosts luncheon in honour of Ecumenical Patriarch

Apostolic Nuncio in Austria Archbishop Edmond Y. Farhat on Wednesday hosted an official luncheon in honour of Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos who began a five-day visit to Austria on Monday.

In his address at the luncheon in Vienna, Vartholomeos expressed "the conviction and hope that ways will be found in the coming future for the solution of the problems which threaten the existence of the Ecumenical Patriarchate" in Istanbul.

The Ecumenical Patriarch said he believes that "there is good will on the part of the Turkish government and most of the Turkish political parties in relation to the improvement of the situation on non-Muslim minorities in Turkey."

At the same time, Vartholomeos noted that "religious freedom constitutes a criterion for Turkey's accession to the European Union which we support and await."

Also present at the luncheon was Austrian President Heinz Fischer.

Vartholomeos held talks on Monday with Fischer and Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer.

He has also met on Tuesday with Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik who assured him that the issues of religious freedom and the problems faced by the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the religious minorities in Turkey constitute an object of great concern and interest to the Austrian government in its contacts both with Turkey and within the framework of the European Union. At the same time, Plassnik noted that there are many deficiencies in the implementation on the part of Ankara of the political criteria in relation to its EU accession course.

On Tuesday evening, the Ecumenical Patriarch was awarded the International Cardinal Koening 2007 Award, as unanimously agreed in Vienna by the committee of the foundation "Communio et Progressio", that gives the award bearing the name of the late Roman Catholic Archbishop for many decades and Cardinal of Austria Franz Koening.

Financial News

[17] Government to set up fund to combat poverty, Finmin says

Speaking to reporters while presenting the results of the government's economic policy in the past three years, the Greek minister announced the creation of a special fund to combat poverty in the country, with the aim to manage around 2.0 billion euros by the end of the next five-year period. Alogoskoufis noted that the government's aim was to further improve pensions, supplementary pensions and unemployment benefits.

However, he stressed that there was no room for complacency in implementing economic policy and noted that one of the greatest challenges facing the Greek economy was the pension system, while he urged the main opposition PASOK party to agree on a consensus on the issue.

Greece has committed itself to protecting the environment, according to decisions taken in a recent EU Summit, and the government aims to achieve balanced budgets by 2012 through a gradual 0.5 pct annual cut of the fiscal deficit as a percentage of the country's GDP, Alogoskoufis said.

The minister said that the main priorities of economic policy were simplification of management of a Fourth Community Support Framework (2007-2013) and creating a National Commission on tax evasion.

Commenting on the signing of an oil pipeline project linking Greece and Bulgaria on Thursday, the Greek minister said it was a project of great priority for the country as it would upgrade its geopolitical role and positively affect various sectors of the Greek economy.

Alogoskoufis said recent turbulence in world stock markets would not affect the government's privatisation programme, whose priorities were a further privatisation of Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation (OTE) and flotation of the Postal Savings Bank in the Athens Stock Exchange. Both priorities will be unveiled after the two companies presented their 2006 results, he said.

The Greek minister acknowledged that monopolies were a problem in the Greek market and pledged that the government would continue efforts to effectively deal with them.

Alogoskoufis said the country's fiscal deficit dropped from 7.8 pct of GDP in 2004 to 2.6 pct in 2006 and noted a decline in the inflation rate, higher exports and reduced unemployment during the three-year period 2004-2006. He noted that growth rates reached 4.3 pct last year, unemployment fell by 8.9 pct of the workforce in 2006 and exports rose to 9.8 pct of GDP over the same year.

The Greek minister underlined the government's digital strategy aimed to close a digital gap with the rest of Europe. In 2004, 0.1 pct of the population had access to fast Internet. Today, the percentage is 4.5 pct and we hope to reach 7.5 pct by the end of the year, he noted.

PASOK official criticises FinMin's statements

Main opposition PASOK party economy rapporteur Vasso Papandreou on Wednesday accused Finance and Economy Minister George Alogoskoufis of presenting an "idyllic picture" of the government's work in the economy.

"Mr. Alogoskoufis is presenting an idyllic picture of the government's work in the economy. In reality, the only work of the government over the three-year period, apart from the crime of the inventory, is the huge redistribution of income for the benefit of the few and at the expense of the many," she said.

"The people now have a clear picture of the economic policy of the government, they know what is taking place in their lives on a daily basis. The new promises convince no one. However, there is a way out now, this way out is the programme of PASOK," Papandreou added.

[18] PM's message on World Consumer Day

"Our policies on protection and strengthening of the citizen/consumer are continuous. We are creating, with new legislative initiatives, a modern legal infrastructure for safeguarding the (consumers') rights and strengthening of the consumer organisations," the prime minister said, adding that "emphasis is required on shielding the consumer's health and safety, investment in quality goods and services, and also on strengthening the role and contribution abilities of the citizen in the smooth operation of the market".

Karamanlis said the government has proceeded with "targeted reforms" for the smooth operation of the market, which he said were already producting tangible results, citing the Secretariat General for Consumers, the National Consumers' Council, the Consumer Ombudsman, the European Consumer Centre, the four-digit Consumer Hotline (1520) which have been either set up or reinforced in recent years "and increasingly and more efficiently support the citizen in every problem faced in transactions".

He added that, at thge same time, the public utilities and corporatins were assuming specific obligations towards the citizen and committing themselves to the provision of quality products and services.

Development ministry's announcement

Greece's Development ministry is stepping up efforts to boost competition, consumer protection and ensure a smooth operation of the markets, Development Minister Dimitris Sioufas and Deputy Minister Yiannis Papathanasiou said on Wednesday.

In an announcement to the press, ahead of the celebration of the World Consumer Day on Thursday, the two ministers said that "the citizen-consumer was our ally in this effort. Our concern is the citizen, its interests and its rights".

The announcement underlined that a well-informed consumer has the ability to seek and ensure his rights with the active support of the state.

PASOK's Papoutsis

Christos Papoutsis, head of the Development, Tourism and Commercial Shipping Department of the Parliamentary Council of the main opposition Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK), on Wednesday referred to Thursday's celebration of World Consumer Day.

"Tomorrow finds Greek consumers facing the results of the policy of the New Democracy (ND) government. The high cost of living, excessive profiteering, low quality of services and products, extremely powerful cartels which are being revealed, form a harsh reality for the consumers, disputing the fictitious reality which the ministers of the New Democracy government present," Papoutsis said.

"For us in PASOK, the safety of the products and the hygiene of food, the safeguarding of consumers' health and the protection of their rights in a healthy functioning of the market is an absolute priority," he added.

On the occasion of World Consumer Day, the Union of Insurance Companies of Greece in an announcement set as a top priority "respect towards the citizen and business and the more effective and reliable servicing of their needs."

[19] Ionian Motorway contract tabled in Parliament for ratification

The contract on the Undersea Motorway in Thessaloniki has already been ratified in Parliament, the contract on the Corinth-Tripoli-Kalamata and Lefktro-Sparti project has been signed and will be tabled in Parliament for ratification in March, while the signing of the Maliakos-Klidi and the Central Greece motorway (E65) contracts is expected soon.

The Elefsina-Corinth-Patra-Pirgos-Tsakona road network, for which finalised offers were submitted on December 18 last year, has also entered the final stretch for contracting.

[20] Farm minister says problem of drought will be dealt with effectively

He noted that there were many problems in infrastructure projects such as erosion and lack of maintenance of irrigation and water works.

Basiakos noted that over the past decades, the PASOK governments signed contracts for the start of the construction of four projects totaling 31.64 million euros.

On the part of the New Democracy (ND) government, he said, 42 public water projects were approved and are being implemented, budgeted at 418 million euros.

[21] Greece, Croatia forge closer business relations

The Association of Hellenic Industries, in an announcement said the deal further expanded its round of contacts and cooperation with other business agencies throughout South-eastern Europe, offering its members specialized information over the business environment and opportunities in the region.

The association stressed there was room for Greek investments in Croatia, since the country enjoys several funding programmes by the EU, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the World Bank, while it was also in a course to entering the European Union by 2010.

Sectors with special interest to Greek enterprises were shipbuilding, tourist infrastructure and services, upgrading ports, railway, sea and road connections, privatization of state-owned steel industries and joint ventures in energy, metals, fertilizers, constructions and exporting farm products.

[22] FinMin George Alogoskoufis on Bank of Attica

Alogoskoufis stressed that "if the Bank of Greece or the Capital Market Committee believes that some violation of stock exchange legislation took place, I think that it will handle them" and clarified that he is not aware of the position of Bank of Attica President Tryfonas Kolintzas.

The statement by Alogoskoufis was caused by the reaction of main opposition PASOK party deputies to the assessment made by Kolintzas during a morning session of the Economic Committee that "the bank is in danger" of closing if its supervisory capital does not reach a specific amount in the year 2008.

Lastly, called on to comment on a recent position expressed by Employment Minister Savvas Tsitouridis on the minimum pension, Alogoskoufis said that it is not distant from the country's fiscal prospects.

[23] Creation of 'Tourism Map' for Greece's regions

The data will be used for the paving of a marketing and communications strategy for the more effective promotion of Greek tourism.

The aim of the initiative for the creation of the "Tourism Map" is the upgrading of the Greek tourism product and the development of new forms of tourism which will be based on the needs and potential of each region.

[24] Piraeus Bank ends public offer to buy Marfin Popular Bank

The bank also announced it was raising some of its main lending interest rates by 25 percent after the European Central Bank raised its main intervention rate by 0.25 pct last week.

[25] Bank of Cyprus expands operations in Romania

The Bank of Cyprus Group wishes to secure a dynamic presence in the Romanian market with the expansion of its operations, beginning with leasing services and very soon with full banking operations in Bucharest, and in two other large cities.

The inauguration of Bank of Cyprus Leasing Romania in Bucharest was held on Wednesday in the presence of the President of the Cyprus Republic Tassos Papadopoulos, government ministers and officials, representatives of the business world and journalists from Cyprus and Romania.

Chairman of the Bank's Board of Directors Eleftherios Ioannou said in his speech at the inaugural ceremony that the experience gained in those eight years had created the best preconditions for the success of the expansion. The first step was the leasing sector, in which operations had already begun in January, whilst full banking operations would begin in the following months.

Ioannou further added that in 2007 the Bank of Cyprus Group would be establishing seven branches, two business service centres and one

corporate service centre in Bucharest. At the same time it would be operating two branches and business service centres in two other large cities in Romania.

"We are aiming for a development similar to that of the Bank of Cyprus in Greece. We are here to stay," Ioannou said, sending out at the same time the message to Romanian business leaders that at a time when substantial investment was being envisaged for infrastructure projects in the country, they would have the backing of the Bank of Cyprus Group, which aspired to contribute in this way to the spectacular growth being achieved in Romania.

[26] More businesses begin operations in Athens

Constantinos Mihalos, EBEA's president, citing figures from the Chamber's record said a total of 13,105 enterprises began activities in 2006 -mostly small- and medium-sized enterprises- with 2,974 enterprises ended operations and another 74 declared bankruptcy. Mihalos said the figures for 2005 were 11,018, 3,285 and 142, respectively.

Presenting the figures, Mihalos underlined a significant 50 percent drop in the number of bankrupt enterprises, evidence of a general improvement in economic conditions in the country. However, he expressed his concern over the impact of a recent wave of protests in the streets of Athens and an expanding activity of informal commerce.

[27] OTE special general assembly postponed until March 27

OTE announced that the assembly did not take place due to the lack of a quorum and the board decided the convening of a repetitive Special General Assembly of Shareholders on Tuesday March 27.

OTE's employees gathered outside the auditorium where the general assembly was due to take place at OTE's premises in the Athens suburb of Maroussi and prevented the shareholders' entry.

[28] Nireus buys Turkey's Carbon AS for 550,000 US dollars

The Greek company said Miramar AS, part of Nireus International Ltd, will pay 250,000 US dollars with the signing of the agreement to purchase 100 percent of shares in Carbon AS, while the remaining 300,000 US dollars will be paid within six months.

International accounting firm Deloitte carried out an audit of the Turkish company. Nireus said the acquisition will be funded by its own capital.

Carbon AS owns a license to operate an acquaculture unit in Izmir, Turkey. Nireus Group plans to invest 12 million euros in the next three years to expand its activities.

[29] AB Vasilopoulos says profits up 14.5 pct in 2006

The company said its consolidated gross earnings rose 14.5 pct to 226.3 million euros last year from 197.7 million euros in 2005, while operating expenses were up 11.3 pct to 197 million euros in 2006. Consolidated operating profits totalled 32.8 million euros in 2006, up 36 pct form 2005, reflecting higher sales, increased gross profits and lower spending.

Consolidated pre-tax profits totalled 30.4 million euros last year, from 22.1 mln in 2005, for an increase of 37.5 percent. Group after tax profits totalled 20 million euros last year, from 12.3 million in 2005.

AB Vasilopoulos said its retail network included 138 units at the end of 2006, of which 108 were corporate and 30 units operated under its franchising network. The Group also included 10 Cash-and-Carry units.

The company plans to add another 19 new units this year.

[30] Greece wins 170 medals in 7th international wine competition

It is the only international wine competition in Greece and takes place in accordance with the specifications of the International Vine and Wine Office and the legislation of the agricultural development and food ministry.

Greece participated with 558 wines and won three medals of the "Grand Gold" category, as well as 50 silver and 117 bronze medals.

[31] Deputy development minister addresses federation's general assembly

"The new law on competition, our decision to break any agreements which adulterate the rules of competition and the activation of the Competition Committee, is starting to gradually change the old mentalities and to create equality of rights and equality before the law in the market," Papathnassiou said.

He added that "the government is determined to impose rules of equality of rights and equality before the law in the market, based on the substantial activation of the Competition Committee."

The deputy development minister underlined that "the government is starting to gradually change the old mentalities in the market," adding with emphasis that "we don't claim that we corrected all the weaknesses which were created in the previous 20 years, something which in any case could not happen." He went on to say that "naturally, however, we set the bases so that to the degree which a second generation of reforms is implemented, all the Greeks will be able to participate in a better and safer future."

[32] Greek stocks drop 1.85 pct on Wednesday

All sector indices ended lower, with the exception of Commerce (up 0.88 pct). The Healthcare (2.57 pct), Telecommunications (2.56 pct) and Insurance (2.39 pct) sectors suffered the heaviest percentage losses of the day.

The Big Cap index dropped 2.10 pct, the Mid Cap index fell 1.33 pct and the Small Cap index ended 1.51 pct lower.

N.Galis (9.63 pct), Desmos (8.70 pct) and Rainbow (6.25 pct) were top gainers, while Boutaris (10.34 pct), Delta Project (8.23 pct) and Vogiatzoglou (6.55 pct) were top losers.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 223 to 44 with another 37 issues unchanged.

Sector indices ended as follows:

Insurance: -2.39%

Industrials: -2.33%

Commercial: +0.88%

Construction: -1.45%

Media: -1.42%

Oil & Gas: -1.13%

Personal & Household: -1.23%

Raw Materials: -1.39%

Travel & Leisure: -0.79%

Technology: -2.01%

Telecoms: -2.56%

Banks: -2.31%

Food & Beverages: -0.34%

Health: -2.57%

Utilities: -1.99%

Chemicals: -2.39%

Financial Services: -2.36%

The stocks with the highest turnover were Alpha Bank, National Bank, Piraeus Bank and OTE.

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

Alpha Bank: 21.28

ATEbank: 3.82

Public Power Corp (PPC): 19.48

HBC Coca Cola: 29.54

Hellenic Petroleum: 10.48

Emporiki Bank: 21.02

National Bank of Greece: 37.50

EFG Eurobank Ergasias: 27.96

Intralot: 23.66

Cosmote: 21.00

OPAP: 28.70

OTE: 20.68

Titan Cement Company: 39.96

[33] ADEX closing report

The March contract on the FTSE 20 index was traded at a discount of 0.80 pct and on the FTSE 40 index at a discount of 0.45 pct.

Volume in futures contracts on the FTSE 20 index totaled 26,627 contracts worth 307.441 million euros, with 28,183 open positions in the market, while on the FTSE 40 index volume was 1,476 contracts worth 39.408 million euros with 1,202 open positions.

Volume in futures contracts on equities totaled 35,114 contracts worth 22.366 million euros with investment interest focusing on ATEbank's contracts (5,509), followed by Hellenic Telecoms (3,312), OPAP (2,388), Piraeus Bank (3,460), National Bank (1,823), Alpha Bank (2,214), Intracom (4,775), Viohalco (1,148), Cyprus Bank (1,492).

Volume in stock repos was 9,630 contracts and in reverse stock repos 10,028 contracts.

[34] Greek bond market closing report

The 10-year benchmark bond (July 20, 2017) was the most heavily traded security with a turnover of 995 million euros, while the yield spread between the 10-year Greek and German bonds was 0.228 percent. The Greek bond yielded 4.14 pct and the German Bund 3.92 pct.

In the domestic interbank market, interest rates were largely unchanged. National Bank's overnight rate jumped to 3.83 pct from 3.20 pct on Tuesday, the two-day rate was 3.83 pct, the one-month rate was 3.85 pct and the 12-month rate eased to 4.08 pct from 4.10 pct.

Foreign Exchange Rates - Thursday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank:

U.S. dollar 1.328

Pound sterling 0.690

Danish kroner 7.510

Swedish kroner 9.381

Japanese yen 154.89

Swiss franc 1.619

Norwegian kroner 8.187

Cyprus pound 0.584

Canadian dollar 1.561

Australian dollar 1.697

General News

[35] European extreme weather warning system

Developed for EUMETNET, the Network of European Meteorological Services, and strongly supported by WMO, the World Meteorological Organization, the website www.meteoalarm.eu integrates all important severe weather information originating from the official National Public Weather Services across a large number of European countries. This information is presented consistently to ensure coherent interpretation as widely as possible throughout Europe.

The website offers the option of selecting severe weather information for the same day or next day, and for further detail on national warning texts visitors can link to the relevant National Weather Service by clicking on its logo.

It will alert to the possible occurrence of severe weather, such as heavy rain with risk of flooding, severe thunderstorms, gale-force winds, heat waves, forest fires, fog, snow or extreme cold with blizzards, avalanches or severe coastal tides.

In one glance visitors will be able to see where in Europe the weather might become dangerous. The colours used on the website maps indicate the severity of the danger and its possible impact. On the European map each participating country is coloured consistent with the highest colour assigned to a current warning. Clicking on a country will link visitors to national and regional warnings.

For the higher awareness colours (orange and red) pictograms will be added to the regional information. This will show what types of weather are expected to cause disruption and potential danger. By clicking on a region within a country one will find more detailed information for these higher danger levels. This will include the expected time period for any given event to happen, and also additional aspects, such as its intensity (e.g. snow amounts expected). The background pictures on this regional level will be synonymous with the event and potential risks associated with them.

[36] Protection measures against summer fires and drought

The fire risk for this year is considered exceptionally high because of limited rainfall and snowfall recorded during the past months.

In a press conference given with Civil Protection general secretary Panagiotis Fourlas, Pavlopoulos stressed that all necessary measures have been taken much earlier than usual in cooperation with local government authorities.

The Civil Protection Central Coordinating Body made up of 12 government ministries and local government authorities will convene in early April to issue guidelines. A special emphasis will be given to the need for fire protection measures in the roughly 800 illegal landfills nationwide, which are expected to be closed by the end of 2007. Municipalities and rural communities will receive the money earmarked for this purpose by mid April.

The interior minister commented that this year the state is preparing a month earlier than usual due to the unusually dry weather conditions and stressed that forest fires are expected at altitudes above 800 meters, in areas described as almost inaccessible to firefighting vehicles.

In addition, a total of 16.7 million euros have been allocated for the implementation of measures dealing with the risk of water shortages on the north and south Aegean Sea islands. Such measures include the construction of mobile desalination units, the leasing of vessels and tanker trucks for the transportation of water, water boring and construction of water reservoirs.

[37] New legislation proposal on transplants

The government expressed a positive stance toward the creation of a new legislative tool that will facilitate tissue and organ transplants for the people who need them, such as kidney disease patients.

Health deputy minister Athanassios Yannopoulos said he was disposed towards acceptance of the proposed bill in the direction of the creation of a contemporary legislative weapon in the fight for life of those who have need of tissue and organ transplants.

The law proposal aims at increasing the number of live donors by allowing relatives of up to fourth degree of kinship to become donors (currently only up to second degree relatives are allowed), while at the same time offering the option to become donors to people who are emotionally related to patients following approval by the National Transplant Organization and a court order.

According to the law proposal, 2008 will be declared tissue and organ donor year aimed at projecting the positive side of transplants, while all citizens who have not expressed their opposition to becoming tissue and organ donors before their death will be regarded as donors.

However, certain parliament deputies expressed the need for a public awareness campaign on transplant surgery and appeared skeptical regarding the likelihood of commercialization of donated tissue and organs through the "emotionally attached donors" clause.

[38] Eurobarometer on alcohol consumption in EU

A total of 6 percent of Greeks and 13 percent of Europeans are considered "heavy drinkers", while 20 percent of Greeks and 25 percent of Europeans declared that they did not drink anything recently.

This was deduced by a report prepared by the Eurobarometer service on the concumption of alcohol in the European Union and publicised on Wednesday.

According to the report, the abuse and bad use of alcohol causes the death of 195,000 people in the EU every year, while one out of every four deaths among young people aged between 15-29 is due to the harmful consumption of alcohol, the European Commission stressed.

It further noted that 95 percent of Greeks (compared to 87 percent in the EU) believe that the purchase or the consumption of alcoholic drinks below the age of 18 must be forbidden in the EU.

Lastly, the report revealed that the consumption of alcoholic drinks appears to be more or less inelastic with regard to their price. A total of 65 percent of Greeks and 62 percent of Europeans do not believe that an increase in the price of alcoholic drinks will lead to a decrease in their consumption.

[39] ELIAMEP to host panel discussion on Marshall Plan on March 21

The event, held in cooperation with the US Embassy in Athens, will take place at the Foreign Ministry's Kranidiotis amphitheatre at 18:30.

Introductory remarks will be made by Deputy Foreign Minister Evripidis Stylianidis and Dr. Ivan Vejvoda, representative of the GMFUS, Director, Balkan Trust for Democracy, Belgrade.

Speakers: Dr. Konstantina Botsiou, Lecturer, University of Athens, Dr. Ian Lesser, Senior Transatlantic Fellow, German Marshall Fund, Washington DC and Dr. Thanos Dokos, Director General, ELIAMEP.

Moderator: Minos Zombanakis, Member of the Board of Directors, ELIAMEP.

[40] Greek MPs to attend March 25th celebrations in Australia

The Greek national holiday of March 25 commemorates the anniversary of the declaration of the start of the Greek War of Independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1821.

[41] UNICEF pavilion inaugurated in Athens

The Athens-Piraeus Super Prefecture offered the pavilion to UNICEF for use within the framework of a memorandum of cooperation signed by the two parties a few months ago. The memorandum provided, among others, that the Pedion tou Areos Park pavilion be used by UNICEF for the purpose of hosting cultural events and humanitarian activities, while serving as an outlet for the organization's cards and other products.

[42] International 'Seven Wise Men Conference' on May 11-12

The conference will be held under the auspices of President Karolos Papoulias and will have the support of the health and social solidarity, culture and tourist development ministries.

President Papoulias and Culture Minister George Voulgarakis sent messages to a press conference held on Wednesday by the Conference's Organising Committee.

The medals to be given to the seven modern-day wise men of heart surgery on completion of the conference will be prepared by Dimitris Talaganis.

The institution of the 'Seven Wise Men Conference' will be dedicated in the future to different sectors, such as architecture, technology and the environment.

[43] Francophone Film Fest under aegis of City of Athens

The Festival will run in Athens from March 22 through April 1, while in Thessaloniki it will run from March 26 through April 4.

[44] Two members of ferryboat crew injured during drill

The accident happened earlier in the morning when the release mechanism brakes did not work and the lifeboat with the two crew members on board broke free of the vessel and crashed violently onto the water.

An investigation is underway by the Port Authority to determine the causes of the accident.

[45] Rescue operation for 11 Romanian seamen on 'Afrodites'

The freighter had set sail from Cyprus carrying palettes of concrete and was heading for Italy when it developed a dangerous list caused by a shift in the cargo while sailing 80 nautical miles southeast of the Greek island of Karpathos.

Taking part in the rescue operation were a Greek Super Puma all-weather helicopter, which picked up six of the 11-member crew and a UK-flagged frigate that picked up the remaining five.

[46] Holy relics stolen from Mount Athos

The theft, which took place between January 30 and February 2, 2007, was reported to police and an investigation is underway to track down the perpetrators and to determine the origin and historical value of the stolen objects.

Weather forecast

[47] Mostly fair on Thursday

[48] The Wednesday edition of Athens' dailies at a glance

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "20,000 new jobs under OAED (state-run Manpower Employment Organisation) programme, with unemployment benefit incentive to businesses".

ANO KATO: "Alert over the summer drought - The nightmare of water-shortage will hit many cities, but also isands, in Greece".

APOGEVMATINI: "12,620 opportunities for work - 4,457 new hirings, 7,502 more positions to be immediately announced".

AVGHI: "Double-speak on the violence - The war against the youth damaging the entire community".

AVRIANI: "Who set up the fraud with the supposed radioactive materials at the Metaxas Hospital in order to defame the National Health System (ESY)".

CHORA: "Pangalos' thunderbolts against those refusing to abide by the laws - 'Minorities of terrorists in the Universities' ".

ELEFTHERI ORA: "Putin's arrival and the education demonstration cause migraine for the government".

ELEFTHEROS: "Pangalos bomb on Left-wing parties causes new turbulence in the PASOK leadership".

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "Red alert on water-shortages".

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "Theodoros Polydoras (intimating that Pangalos appeared like a second Vyron Polydoras - the public order minister) - He struck again, as a praetor - Criticism and nervous breakdown in PASOK".

ESTIA: "The (university) students without prospects - The deeper causes of the uprising".

ETHNOS: "The law on the AEI (institutions of higher education) in the docks - Recourses to the Council of State planned by the universities".

KATHIMERINI: "Europe between the US and Russia - The 'big game' of influence underway in climate of polarisation".

LOGOS: "Decisions for action on the climate - Karamanlis (prime minister): Protection of the environment in the front line".

NIKI: "The increases a mockery - Harsh criticism in parliament by the opposition over the incomes policy".

RIZOSPASTIS: "Struggle for the de-facto abolition of the reactionary framework-law (on higher education) - The mobilisations continue".

TA NEA: "Mammoth bonus to OTE cadres - It will cost 15-20 million euros".

TO VIMA: "Red alert in Athens due to Putin and demonstration".

VRADYNI: "Outcry by top opposition officials over the closed universities and the incidents".

Cyprus Affairs

[49] Cypriot President notes prospects for strengthening of relations with Romania

The prospect of further strengthening bilateral relations between Cyprus and Romania on the political as well as on the commercial level was ascertained by Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos, who wrapped up a state visit to Bucharest on Wednesday.

The economic relations between the two countries are already very good, the president said, noting that there are prospects and opportunities for further cooperation in the fields of mutual investments in Cyprus and Romania, the transfer of Romanian know-how to Cyprus, tourism and other services.

There is also the prospect of cooperation on the political level, President Papadopoulos said, within the EU, and together with the other friendly countries of Greece and Bulgaria, which in a way are the external EU borders to the East.

The president also referred to the high priority given by the Cypriot government to the further upgrading of the Cypriot diplomatic presence in Romania and in other European countries, and reiterated his invitation to Romanian citizens to work and stay in Cyprus.

He noted that, according to statistics by the Ministries of Commerce and Labour, there are a lot of fields that could use specialties and skills such as nursing, medicine, or high-tech workers.

Romania has always supported us and it is a country, with which we must further promote our relations, especially now that it is an EU member state, the President concluded, noting that there are at least 2,500 Cypriot companies in Romania and many Romanian citizens working in Cyprus.

The president also addressed on Wednesday the Romanian-Cypriot Business Forum, a seminar organised in Bucharest by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Romania with the participation of a delegation of the Cypriot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI).

In his address titled "Cyprus-An international business centre," President Papadopoulos congratulated the Romanian Chamber for its efforts, which he described as a tool for the further promotion of bilateral cooperation.

"The governments can prepare the ground, show the way, give the political guidance and ease the interstate moves, but it is up to the businessmen to discover and seize the opportunities," the President of the Republic said.

Welcoming the Cypriot President and the Cypriot delegation, Vice President of the Romanian Chamber Joze Yacubescu expressed the hope that the results of the seminar would benefit Cypriot and Romanian businesses.

During Wednesday's forum, Yacubescu and Vice President of CCCI Tony Antoniou signed an Agreement of Cooperation between the two Chambers.

[50] Cyprus government in constant contact with EU Presidency for 'direct trade'

The Cypriot government is in constant contact with the German EU presidency as regards the issue of the so

called direct trade of the Turkish occupied areas of Cyprus with the EU, President of the Republic Tassos Papadopoulos has said from Romania, where he is paying a state visit.

Commenting on reports that the EU promotes unacceptable proposals as regards the opening of illegal ports and airports in the occupied areas, the president noted that the German Presidency does not wish to reveal its position on the direct trade regulation until consultations are over.

He noted that the Commission has not altered its proposals made on 5 July 2004, so there is no issue of submitting new proposals without a unanimous decision of all 27 member states.

Responding to questions as regards the efforts of the German Presidency to solve the issue, President Papadopoulos noted that the government is in constant communication with the EU Presidency.

"It was a German request and it is practically the right thing to do, if the German initiative has any chance to succeed, not to discuss these issues in public until consultations are over," he said.

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