Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 07-04-05

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

CONTENTS

[01] Government promises drastic measures against hooliganism

[02] KKE leader, deputy minister discuss hooliganism problem; bail denied for 8 suspects arrested in Peania violence

[03] Greece stresses urgent need for progress towards Cyprus settlement

[04] PM receives Culture Minister George Voulgarakis

[05] PM meets education minister

[06] Papandreou invites public to join debate on PASOK programme

[07] Balkan National Defence General Staff chiefs to hold Thessaloniki conference

[08] KKE leader protests against Poland's anti-Communist laws

[09] FinMin George Alogoskoufis concludes visit to Melbourne

[10] Tourist development minister to visit Thessaloniki

[11] Rousopoulos and Efthimiou on pension fund assets

[12] Bank of Greece urges commercial banks to cut bad debt rates

[13] Greek budget revenues up 3.7 pct in 1st quarter, yr/yr

[14] Athens International Airport reports improved 2006 results

[15] Greek industrial production up 2.3 pct in February, yr/yr

[16] Car registrations up 4.5 pct in 1st quarter, yr/yr

[17] Greek stocks end 0.99 pct up

[18] ADEX closing report

[19] Greek bond market closing report

[20] Foreign Exchange Rates - Thursday

[21] Papoulias, Karamanlis both in Ioannina for Easter Holiday

[22] Traffic measures in view of Easter break; minister inspects Piraeus port

[23] Wetlands in Macedonia and Thrace on the verge of extinction

[24] Start of cooperation between Thessaloniki and Istanbul public prosecutors

[25] Greek surgeon honored by Belgrade TV station

[26] Bulgarian prefects tour Serres

[27] Armed robbery in NW village

[28] Rainy on Thursday

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

[30] Turkey should recognize Cyprus Republic says French EU minister

[31] Cypriot Government studying Talat's letter to UN Chief

[32] UN top envoy in Cyprus confers with ambassadors of big '5' Politics

[01] Government promises drastic measures against hooliganism

Minister of State and government spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos said the move was decided on Wednesday during the first meeting of a new government committee for tackling sports violence, made up of Deputy Sports Minister George Orfanos, Public Order Minister Vyron Polydoras, Justice Minister Anastasios Papaligouras and himself.

"First, we will abolish the current law on the associations. After Easter a new bill will be discussed and voted on. Secondly, we decided to upgrade the service dealing with violence, that operates within the public order ministry. At the same time, cooperation between the police and the teams before matches will be made more systematic, in order to eradicate the risk of incidents. Thirdly, there will be a campaign to inform and sensitise public opinion to violence," Roussopoulos said.

The minister pointed out that there were 270 fan clubs in Greece, the majority of which were hotbeds for violence. He noted that the law currently in force sent trouble-makers straight to jail, underlining that 19 hooligans had already be sent to prison.

Finally, he reminded reporters that a new system where match tickets would be issued electronically and by name will start being enforced from the next season, when stadiums will also be equipped with cameras.

According to Orfanos, the camera system set up in Greek stadiums would be the best in the world. He said the first cameras will be installed in the OAKA stadium now hosting Panathinaikos and AEK, followed by the Karaiskaki stadium used by Olympiakos. Next in line are stadiums in Toumba, Thessaloniki - home ground to PAOK - and the Kaftatzoglio and Harilaou stadiums, used by other top Greek teams, while cameras will have been installed in 22 stadiums within six months, he added.

The deputy minister clarified that each supporter would only be allowed to buy up to three tickets to each match once the new electronic ticket-issuing system was set up.

In response to other questions, Orfanos said the government was also considering how stadium security staff could be involved in apprehending trouble-makers and handing them over to police, noting that if the clubs themselves did not ensure order it would mean that they were not ready to "cut the cord" with the fan associations.

He also commented on a proposal by AEK club president Demis Nikolaidis to ban Greek teams from playing in Europe for three years that was turned down during the meeting.

While describing the proposal as "brave", he stressed that it would not solve the problems.

"What will intervene in those three years? If Greek teams don't play in Europe for three years, will their fans become good? The issue is that each side must take specific measures," the minister said.

Such a decision could be taken by the Greek Super League, the top pro football league in the country, the minister added, noting that it was unlikely to be made by the Greek Football Federation EPO.

[02] KKE leader, deputy minister discuss hooliganism problem; bail denied for 8 suspects arrested in Peania violence

The meeting comes after a particularly disturbing clash between rival "fans" last week in an eastern Attica township (Peania), an incident that left one 25-year-old man dead and several others injured.

Papariga called for the abolition of pro sports clubs in favour for amateur-only teams along with state-funded federations and leagues. She also proposed a greater emphasis on sports education and sportsmanship in school curricula. Finally, the communist party leader said "social bodies" should back sports in a more direct manner, whereas a "responsible collective scientific study" into the behaviour of youth vis-à-vis sports should be commenced by local universities.

Meanwhile, in response to press questions, Orfanos commented on a proposal by the president of the popular AEK Athens football club -- one-time international striker and AEK star Demis Nikolaidis -- who a day earlier suggested that Greek first division soccer teams abstain from European play for three years as a remedy to football hooliganism.

"I don't know what that measure will accomplish, quite frankly. I see it as a measure that will punish the teams. Whatever is part of a comprehensive legal action plan (to combat hooliganism), however, is acceptable," Orfanos, whose portfolio includes sports issues, told reporters.

Suspects face magistrate

In a related development, eight out of 12 individuals arrested during and after last week's extensive hooligan violence were remanded in custody late Tuesday evening following their day-long appearances before a judicial magistrate in Athens.

The 12 men, mostly in their 20s, were charged with various felony counts. The other four individuals were released on bail and ordered not to leave the country.

According to reports, the 12 individuals include two employees of the Olympiakos pro football club; two members of an affiliated fan club; an employee of a prefecture; two college students; a merchant seaman; a high school pupil; a private sector employee; a plumber and an unemployed man.

Based on initial court statements, nine out of the 13 suspects said they are Olympiakos fans; the other three said they are Panathinaikos fans.

A "rumble" of between 400 and 500 Olympiakos and Panathinaikos hooligans erupted near the venue where a women's volleyball match between the two same teams was being held a few kilometres away.

[03] Greece stresses urgent need for progress towards Cyprus settlement

In an interview with the Cyprus news agency CNA, Greek Foreign Ministry Spokesman George Koumoutsakos also said that the absence of progress towards this goal is due to Turkey's tactical maneouvres, delaying tactics and its capacity to renege at the last minute from earlier commitments.

The Turkish Cypriot side, he believes, has not at the end of the day got the "green light" from Ankara to begin substantive consultations, while at the same time he emphasizes the need to see the technical committees and the working groups, provided by the July 2006 agreement, to begin work without any further delay.

He expressed hope that a recent meeting between Talat and the ambassadors in Nicosia of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council would perhaps encourage him to free himself from the logic of negation which he recently displays and move along the right path.

Commenting on European Union efforts to begin trade with the areas of the Republic of Cyprus that continue to be under Turkish occupation,

the Greek foreign ministry spokesman pointed out that, irrespective of how these efforts develop, there are many ways to help the Turkish

Cypriots economically and their mutual beneficial cooperation with the government-controlled southern areas of the Republic, without questioning by any means international legality.

On the demolition of a wall by the Cyprus government, constructed at the end of Ledra street after the 1974 Turkish invasion of the island, Koumoutsakos said this was "a courageous unilateral move and a clear message of good will, an invitation to the other side for moderation and steps towards progress."

As for Turkey's refusal to meet its European obligations, including putting into force the additional protocol to the Ankara Agreement that calls for the opening of Turkish ports and airports to Cypriot vessels and aircraft, Koumoutsakos said this kind of behaviour is set to weight heavily on Turkey's accession course and offer ammunition to those who oppose its EU membership.

He described as "a lonely route" Turkish threats to create tension in the Mediterranean and the Aegean, using as a pretext agreements Cyprus, as a sovereign country, has signed with Lebanon and Egypt to explore and exploit possible oil and natural gas reserves in the Eastern Mediterranean and said that Athens and Nicosia adhere to international law and order in this respect.

On Greco-Turkish relations, he recalled Greek efforts to normalize them and Turkish weakness to follow suit, noting that the electoral campaign in Turkey is likely to boost nationalistic circles and weaken moderate voices.

"It is necessary to have a new effort towards a solution. This can and must be the result of good preparation on a firm base because this is the only way that would guarantee the right prerequisites for a successful outcome," Koumoutsakos told CNA, responding to questions.

He explained that the July agreement and the Papadopoulos-Annan accord in Paris in February last year provide the framework for this preparation.

The government of Cyprus, he remarked, "is working in a constructive spirit within this framework but has to face the delaying tactics and the pretexts of the Turkish Cypriot side which goes back on its word.

"It seems that the Turkish Cypriot side has not secured the 'green light' to begin substantive consultations, perhaps at some stage it did get it but that soon dissipated and the red light was lit once more," he said, stressing the urgency for the start of the work of the technical committees and the working groups.

"The ball is in the court of the other side," he added.

On the response of the Turkish Cypriot side to the demolition of the wall at the end of one of Nicosia's main commercial streets, the spokesman said this ranked from discomfort and uneasiness to absence of any move.

He said the Cyprus government is working very hard to help the economic development of the Turkish Cypriots, in line with relevant decisions of the Security Council, adding that Nicosia has undertaken a new unilateral initiative in this direction for which the German EU presidency and the European Commission have already been informed.

Regarding Turkey's EU accession course, he said that all 27 EU members agree that Ankara has to meet its commitments and pointed out that "further insistence on the refusal to do just that will only render Turkey's accession process more difficult, in addition to providing a pretext to those who object to Turkey's EU membership."

"We support Turkey in its bid to join the Union and are ready to acknowledge any positive steps in adapting to European norms but we cannot see progress where it is lacking," he pointed out.

The Greek official recalled the EU December agreement that eight negotiating chapters will not open for discussion as long as Turkey refuses to meet its commitments with regard to Cypriot shipping and aircraft.

Commenting on Ankara's threats in relation to oil exploration by Cyprus, Koumoutsakos said it is inconceivable to understand how the implementation of fundamental rules and principles of international law and practice could lead someone to leveling threats.

"One does not become dramatic over threats nor does one underestimate them. We have to be wise, cool-headed and adhere to international

legality. Questioning international law and order is a lonely path," he told CNA.

Greece, he concluded, is working towards normalization of its relations with Turkey, on a bilateral and European level and said that domestic political friction cannot serve as an excuse to justify moves that target good neighbourly ties.

[04] PM receives Culture Minister George Voulgarakis

Voulgarakis also said he briefed the prime minister on the return of more antiquities in April, following relevant discussions that have taken place.

Lastly, the culture minister further revealed that he and the prime minister discussed the culture ministry's activities, such as the Athens Festival, the Herod Atticus Theatre and Epidavros.

[05] PM meets education minister

Yiannakou told reporters after the meeting that she discussed with Karamanlis issues concerning developments in the sector of education and the implementation of the programme.

[06] Papandreou invites public to join debate on PASOK programme

"PASOK, as an open party that implements in practice the principles of participatory democracy, is organising throughout the country in view of its programme conference both open events with speeches by central party members and circles of dialogue with citizens," he said.

Papandreou noted that these dialogue circles could be created anywhere - in neighbourhoods, in places of work and places of learning - either through the events organized by PASOK organs or those initiated by any citizens that wanted to participate in the process of creating of PASOK's programme without necessarily becoming involved in party procedures.

"We want dialogue circles to happen everywhere, in every corner of the country and to be areas for considering problems but also to formulate the citizens' proposals to PASOK's programme conference," he said.

For this reason, Papandreou added, minutes would be kept at each such meeting and open event, while the procedure for taking part would be direct and simple. Anyone interested in taking part could send an e-mail to epimorfosi@pasok.gr or call the telephone number 210 3890120-24, where they would receive assistance and arrangements would be made for the conclusions of their discussion to be sent to PASOK's Programme Committee and from there to the party's conference.

"I ask you to take this affair into your own hands from tomorrow, to take part in this ground-breaking process, creating circles of dialogue on your own initiative on whatever sections of PASOK's programme you are interested in," Papandreou concluded.

[07] Balkan National Defence General Staff chiefs to hold Thessaloniki conference

The National Defence General Staff chiefs of Greece, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Montenegro, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Romania, Serbia and Turkey will probe ways of strengthening cooperation between Balkan countries and promoting security and stability in the wider region of southeastern Europe.

According to an announcement by the Greek National Defence General Staff, the leaders will also be examining the development of suitable bodies, apparatuses and approaches with the aim of improving communication, maximising effectiveness in handling crises and increasing joint action in the region.

The conference will be inaugurated by Defence Minister Evangelos Meimarakis.

The conference will also be attended by the president of the European Union's Military Committee and the commander of NATO's Branch Headquarters in Naples.

[08] KKE leader protests against Poland's anti-Communist laws

Papariga expressed concern and strong protest over "the new law that targets hundreds of thousands of Polish citizens, criminalising their political beliefs, and the measures against fighters that fought with the heroic International Brigades during the Spanish civil war of 1936-1939".

According to the KKE general secretary, the measures taken by Poland were "vindictive" and a form of terrorism against those that had fought against Fascism for peace, social progress and to build "the socialism we knew". She also stressed that popular admiration for the struggle of those fighters in Greece had lasted and not faded, in spite of decades of persecution.

Noting that KKE expressed the wholehearted solidarity of Greek Communists toward the protest movement and demanded the immediate retraction of the unacceptable anti-Communist, anti-democratic measures and the restoration of Polish fighters against Fascism, she underlined that the vast majority of Greeks would back this request and asked that the ambassador convey her letter to Poland's state and political leadership.

Financial News

[09] FinMin George Alogoskoufis concludes visit to Melbourne

Finance and Economy Minister George Alogoskoufis concluded his visit to Melbourne on Wednesday and arrived in Sydney, continuing his contacts with ministers of the state government of New South Wales.

The Greek minister's last meeting in Melbourne was with his federal counterpart, Peter Costello, whom he invited to visit Greece.

The meeting was held in a particularly good climate and the Australian minister said in a statement later that "Mr. Alogoskoufis has played a decisive role in the restructuring of the Greek economy," which, as he said, "has considerable progress to display over the past three years."

Alogoskoufis reiterated that "Australian companies can utilise the advantages that Greece has and widen their activity in a region with excellent future prospects. Greece is the ideal business partner for all who aim at participating in the economic progress of southeastern Europe."

The Greek minister further said that "in investing in Greece or utilising it commercially as a transit centre, a company can achieve considerable deals with the 3,600 Greek businesses that are active in the Balkans and the eastern Mediterranean."

The two ministers agreed to continue their contacts with the aim of strengthening commercial and economic relations between the two countries.

[10] Tourist development minister to visit Thessaloniki

The conference will be organised in the framework of the ministry's goal of having "Tourist Charters" being created in all of the country's regions, with the ccoperation of the state, local administration and tourist agencies.

The purpose of creating "Tourist Charters" in the country's regions is to make tourism a top priority, reach an agreement among all sides on safeguarding high quality along the entire width of tourist activity and, primarily, to have the conditions created for the systematic and effective participation of all the factors of tourism in the joint national target of tourist development.

The implementation of agreements in regional tourist charters will contribute to the further upgrading of the Greek tourist product, the strengthening of new forms of tourism that are being promoted by each region, safeguarding quality and achieving the target of prolonging the tourist period.

[11] Rousopoulos and Efthimiou on pension fund assets

The overall pension fund assets in 2003 were 21,862,925,000 euros, in 2004 rose to 25.637.662.000 euros, in 2005 were 28.912.787.000 euros, while in 2006 they are expected to exceed the 31-billion-euro mark, the spokesman said.

Therefore, pension fund assets increased 42 percent in the past three years, while in the period 1999-2002 they had lost roughly 14 percent of their property because of those who now assume the role of critic, stated Roussopoulos.

[12] Bank of Greece urges commercial banks to cut bad debt rates

The central banker, in a document sent to Greek banks, said that the rate of bad loans fell to 5.4 pct of total loans in 2006, from 6.3 pct in 2005, with the picture even more brighter among larger financial institutions (their rate has fallen below 3.5 pct of total loans). The central bank noted that due to a continuing, rapid, credit expansion in the country, financial institutions should further improve their loan portfolio quality to avoid any significant fluctuations of their capital adequacy rate.

The central bank said the rate of bad debts should be gradually cut to 3.5 percent and that a rate of net delays to supervised capital should be exceed 10 percent.

[13] Greek budget revenues up 3.7 pct in 1st quarter, yr/yr

The ministry, in an announcement, said March revenues totaled 3.269 billion euros, from 3.412 billion euros in March 2006, for a decline of 4.2 percent. Proceeds from customs and tax agencies rose by 5.5 pct (5.8 pct and 5.4 pct, respectively), while VAT proceeds rose by 9.6 pct to 675 million euros in the same month.

The ministry noted that regular budget revenues totaled 11.052 billion euros in the January-March period, from 10.245 billion last year, for an increase of 7.9 pct, exceeding a budget target for a growth rate of 7.2 pct this year.

[14] Athens International Airport reports improved 2006 results

The company said its revenues, based on international accounting standards, totaled 357.5 million euros last year, up 7.8 pct from 2005, while operating spending slowed to 3.3 pct. Pre-tax, interest and amortization earnings (EBITDA) rose 11.8 pct to 166.5 million euros, while pre-tax profits jumped 66.9 pct to 96.3 million euros.

The Athens International Airport reported record figures last year with passenger traffic up 5.6 pct to 15.1 million passengers.

[15] Greek industrial production up 2.3 pct in February, yr/yr

The statistics service, in its monthly report, said the 2.3 pct increase of the industrial production index reflected a 2.7 pct increase in manufacturing production, a 4.5 pct rise in mining production and a 0.2 pct increase in electricity-natural gas-water production over the same month.

The industrial production average index rose 3.2 pct in the first two months of 2007, compared with the same period last year.

Building activity up 29 pct [00] in January, yr/yr

Building activity rose by 29.3 pct in the number of permits and by 29 pct in volume in January, compared with the same month last year, the National Statistics Service said on Wednesday.

The statistics service said building activity totaled 5,716 permits, or 5.999 million cubic metres of building volume in the first month of the year.

Attica (47.7 pct), Crete (32.7 pct), Central Greece (48.4 pct), the Peloponese (26.2 pct) and Eastern Macedonia-Thrace (28.4 pct) recorded the biggest percentage gains in the month, while South Aegean (1.7 pct) and Thessaly (2.1 pct) the lowest percentage increases.

[16] Car registrations up 4.5 pct in 1st quarter, yr/yr

The statistics service said new motorcycle registrations totaled 18,231 units in the first quarter of the year, from 15,015 units last year, for an increase of 21.4 pct.

[17] Greek stocks end 0.99 pct up

Sector indices ended higher with the Utilities (2.84 pct), Banks (1.95 pct) and Insurance (1.49 pct) scoring the biggest percentage gains of the day, while Travel (1.74 pct), Personal/Home Products (0.93 pct) and Telecommunications (0.21 pct) suffered losses.

The Big Cap index rose 1.14 pct, the Mid Cap index ended 1.01 pct higher and the Small Cap index rose 0.46 pct.

Ideal (19.42 pct), Elinoil (8.88 pct) and Klonatex (8.82 pct) were top gainers, while Atermon (16.33 pct), Epilektos (9.86 pct) and Atlantic (6.15 pct) were top losers.

Broadly, advancers led decliners by 159 to 90 with another 50 issues unchanged.

Sector indices ended as follows:

Insurance: +1.49%

Industrials: +1.09%

Commercial: +0.25%

Construction: +0.79%

Media: +1.33%

Oil & Gas: +0.91%

Personal & Household: -0.93%

Raw Materials: +0.43%

Travel & Leisure: -1.74%

Technology: +0.70%

Telecoms: -0.21%

Banks: +1.95%

Food & Beverages: +1.42%

Health: +0.64%

Utilities: +2.84%

Chemicals: +1.03%

Financial Services: +1.48%

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

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

Alpha Bank: 23.54

ATEbank: 3.76

Public Power Corp (PPC): 17.96

HBC Coca Cola: 30.30

Hellenic Petroleum: 10.86

Emporiki Bank: 20.40

National Bank of Greece: 41.00

EFG Eurobank Ergasias: 31.20

Intralot: 22.84

Cosmote: 22.90

OPAP: 28.54

OTE: 20.64

Titan Cement Company: 42.70

[18] ADEX closing report

Volume in futures contracts on the FTSE 20 index totaled 3,695 contracts worth 45.155 million euros, with 28,281 open positions in the market, while on the FTSE 40 index volume was 219 contracts worth 6.434 million euros, with 1,275 open positions.

Volume in futures contracts on equities totaled 5,305 contracts worth 3.962 million euros, with investment interest focusing on National Bank's contracts (1,220) followed by Eurobank (290), PPC (330), OPAP (248), Alpha Bank (306), Intracom (485), ATEbank (499), GEK (527) and Postal Savings Bank(186).

Volume in stock repos was 3,681 contracts and in reverse stock repos 3,386 contracts.

[19] Greek bond market closing report

The 10-year benchmark bond (July 20, 2017) was the most heavily traded security with a turnover of 1.295 billion euros, while the yield spread between the 10-year Greek and German bonds was 0.235 percent. The Greek bond yielded 4.31 pct and the German Bund 4.07 pct.

In the domestic interbank market, interest rates were largely unchanged. National Bank's overnight rate rose to 3.85 pct from 3.84 pct on Tuesday, the two-day rate rose to 3.88 pct from 3.86 pct, the one-month rate was 3.86 pct and the 12-month rate 4.21 pct.

[20] Foreign Exchange Rates - Thursday

U.S. dollar 1.345

Pound sterling 0.682

Danish kroner 7.513

Swedish kroner 9.410

Japanese yen 159.97

Swiss franc 1.642

Norwegian kroner 8.232

Cyprus pound 0.585

Canadian dollar 1.556

Australian dollar 1.654

General News

[21] Papoulias, Karamanlis both in Ioannina for Easter Holiday

Papoulias, a native of the lake-side city of Ioannina, is in the region since Palm Sunday and will attend Holy Week services at a handful of local churches as well as visiting military camps, including one in the Konitsa township. He will attend the Good Friday evening service at the Ioannina Metropolitan Cathedral.

Karamanlis and his family will be in Ioannina as of Thursday, beginning a private visit until Monday after Easter Sunday.

[22] Traffic measures in view of Easter break; minister inspects Piraeus port

The ministry has banned trucks over 1.5 tonnes from using the outbound lanes of main national highways from large cities at peak hours during that time, starting at 15:00 until 20:00 on Thursday and from 6:00 until 14:00 on Good Friday.

On Monday, when holiday-makers return to their homes, large trucks are again banned from using the inbound lanes from 15:00 until 23:00.

The ban does not apply to trucks carrying fresh produce, meat, fish and dairy products, as well as live animals, trucks distributing the press, post office vans and road assistance vehicles, as well as fuel tankers.

Merchant Marine Minister Mihalis Kefaloyiannis, meanwhile, visited Piraeus port in order to inspect the measures taken for the safety and convenience of passengers during the busy Easter period.

He was accompanied by senior officers of the Greek coast guard, which is responsible for technical inspections on ships, checking tickets and counting passengers.

Shipping companies are also inspected on whether they conform to rules about keeping to schedules, informing passengers, safe loading of vehicles and hygiene, as well as to whether they offer mandatory discounts to entitled groups, such as young children, disabled, war veterans and others.

[23] Wetlands in Macedonia and Thrace on the verge of extinction

Water level at Lake Vegoritida dropped as much as 30 meters in less than five decades, while in Lake Doirani water level is constantly dropping for the past 25 years as a result of unwise cross-border consumption.

A 256-page report prepared by Thessaloniki's Aristotle University and the Greek Habitat-Wetlands Center highlights the current situation in a total of 21 wetlands in Macedonia and Thrace and the problems faced by their ecosystems.

The report concerns the rivers, Evros, Nestos, Strimonas, Gallikos, Axios, Loudias, and Aliakmon; 13 lakes, Ismariza, Vistonida, Volvi, Koronia, Kerkini, Doiran, Polifitou, Agra, Vengoritida, Petron, Chimadidida, Kastoria, and Small Prespa and two natural springs of Aghia Varvara and Aravissos.

[24] Start of cooperation between Thessaloniki and Istanbul public prosecutors

The Greek delegation consisted of 32 public prosecutors serving in Thessaloniki, central Macenonia and in other cities of northern Greece.

The mission, headed by Thessaloniki Court of First Instance public prosecutor Vassilis Floridis, met with the General Public Prosecutor of Istanbul, in the presence of Turkish public prosecutors. During the meeting, the two sides expressed their volition for the start of cooperation concerning the combating of cross-border crime (drugs, illegal immigrants, weapons etc.).

Among the proposals discussed was the prospect of creating special offices in the Public Prosecutor Departments of Thessaloniki and of Istanbul for the continuous exchange of views through "on line" connection.

"It was the first time that such a meeting took place between public prosecutors of the two countries. We made a first contact and look forward to the development of common activities," Floridis said.

The Greek public prosecutors met with Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos at the Phanar last Sunday.

[25] Greek surgeon honored by Belgrade TV station

[26] Bulgarian prefects tour Serres

The prefect of Serres received the 15 Bulgarian local government officials and briefed them on his region, local government activities and tourist destinations.

[27] Armed robbery in NW village

Police and border guards have launched a manhunt for the trio, reportedly foreigners, who stole the couple's car in order to flee the scene.

Weather Forecast

[28] Rainy on Thursday

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

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "Tragedy in Halkida - Car falls off a bridge leading (ND MP Simos) Kedikoglou's secretary and a well-known businessman to their deaths".

APOGEVMATINI: "7,500 new hirings - Detailed lists with available job openings per sector".

AVGHI: "(Private sector and civil servants' unions) GSEE-ADEDY call on government to return pension fund money".

AVRIANI: "Bold changes in OTE telecoms in spite of strong reactions of employees threatening to stop the shareholders' general assembly - (OTE president Panagis) Vourloumis opened the way to the modernisation and privatization of the biggest public sector organization".

CHORA: "Operation of fan clubs associated with pro teams suspended after a decision by state, sports federations".

ELEFTHERI ORA: "Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis refers to collective political responsibility after inner cabinet meeting".

ELEFTHEROS: "GSEE president points finger at comrades over management of pension funds".

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "ND party cadres under scrupulous screening - (ND Secretary Lefteris) Zagoritis to suggest charter changes at party congress".

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "PASOK accusations over purchase of bond from brokerage firm".

ESTIA: "Disastrous turn of events for social insurance - Revelations over the pension fund mismanagement".

ETHNOS: "Vindication for the -euro bonus - Court ruling in favor of teachers".

KATHIMERINI: "Crucial 48 hours for Iran - Blair: Harsh decisions if the 15 not released".

LOGOS: "End to violence - Law becomes stricter".

NIKI: "Nobody free from sin - Government has collective responsibility, admits Bakoyannis".

RIZOSPASTIS: "Seven proposals by (trade union grouping) PAME to stop long-standing exploitation of workers".

TA NEA: "Government ministers point finger even at Maximos Mansion officials".

TO VIMA: "Pension funds scandal: 'Give our money back', demand labor unions - Reaction by industrialists as well".

VRADYNI: "Speedy procedures in urban planning placing building grounds within city limits".

Cyprus Affairs

[30] Turkey should recognize Cyprus Republic says French EU minister

Turkey should recognise the Republic of Cyprus, a European Union member state, French Minister-delegate for European Affairs Catherine Colonna has said, stressing that a state cannot apply for accession to a bloc without recognizing all its member-states.

''(Turkey) assumed commitments towards the EU. We are 27 member states, one of which is the Republic of Cyprus, which it (Turkey) must recognise and must have normal relations with, because one cannot be a candidate for accession to a group which includes 27 states without recognizing this group,'' Colona says in an interview with Radio France Internationale (RFI), extracts of which were published on April 2 in the French Foreign Ministry's website.

Asked if she agrees with the views of French President Jacques Chirac or Nicolas Sarkozy candidate for the French presidency on Turkey's EU bid, Colona pointed out there are both arguments in favour of Turkey's accession as well as reservations, recalling that Turkey had difficulties showing that it respects the accession criteria, something which was underlined last year.

She added that talks between Turkey and the EU remain open but proceed in a slow pace, recalling that a number of chapters of the acquis communautaire cannot open while Turkey does not respect its obligations.

Pointing out that these talks will last in the future, the French minister said that she could not know in what state the world and Europe will be in 10, 12 or 15 years.

''Perhaps then we will say, yes, a modern Turkey which has been reformed and democratic is to our interest to enter the Union or perhaps we take a different road,'' Colona concluded.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied its northern third.

Turkey, a country aspiring to become an EU member state, does not recognise the Republic of Cyprus and refuses to implement the EU-Turkey Customs Union Protocol, by opening its ports and airports to Cypriot vessels and aircraft.

[31] Cypriot Government studying Talat's letter to UN Chief

Cypriot Government Spokesman Christodoulos Pashiardis said on Wednesday that the UN had sent to the government a letter by Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat addressed to the UN Secretary General, containing the Turkish side's positions on the current phase of the Cyprus problem and especially with regard to the July 8 agreement.

Speaking after a Council of Ministers meeting, Pashiardis said ''our side will take a stance after it has concluded the examination of the letter.''

Asked if the Greek Cypriot side was optimistic that things could move forward regarding the July 8 process, Pashiardis said ''we do not currently want, and while the examination of the evaluation document of the Turkish side is being carried out, to make any comment.''

''I will restrict myself to saying that, judging by the facts at the moment, the Turkish side is not very thrilled about the July 8 agreement,'' he said.

Replying to questions, he said that Talat's letter was being examined ''and thus we will not make any comment at this moment regarding the content of the Turkish document.''

Commenting on remarks by Hasan Ercakica, Talat's spokesman, that the Greek Cypriot side was trying to implement packages that should have

been on the agenda of the technical committees and working groups, Pashiardis said that ''unfortunately for Mr. Ercakica, neither the UN nor the international community, I believe, agree with his position and view.''

He added that ''we sincerely do not understand how and why Mr. Ercakica is scenting enmity in the package of new measures we are proposing for the Turkish Cypriots and giving this gesture of ours any political dimension.''

''If our effort to financially strengthen the Turkish Cypriots and for the economic unification of our country is perceived by Mr. Ercakica as a hostile action, I am sure that the vast majority of the Turkish Cypriots, who are already enjoying the previous social and economic measures we gave, will totally disagree with him,'' Pashiardis pointed out.

The spokesman added that ''this of course may not interest Mr. Ercakica, since the main aim of the Turkish side is not the economic upgrading of the Turkish Cypriots but the political upgrading of the pseudostate.''

Replying to questions, he said the government did not have any information about Wednesday's meeting between the UN Secretary General's Special Representative in Cyprus Michael Moller with the ambassadors of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council in Nicosia.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.

Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat agreed on 8 July 2006, during a meeting in Nicosia in the presence of UN official 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 comprehensive settlement to the Cyprus problem.

[32] UN top envoy in Cyprus confers with ambassadors of big '5'

Michael Moller, the UN Secretary General's special representative in Cyprus, met here Wednesday the ambassadors of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, with regard to efforts to rekindle the effort to implement an agreement that would prepare the ground for substantive negotiations towards a political settlement.

The consultations took place in the wake of a Security Council statement on developments in Cyprus, a public announcement issued by the five ambassadors after last week's meeting in Nicosia with leader of the Turkish Cypriot community Mehmet Ali Talat and a reassessment document by the Turkish Cypriot side of the July agreement between Talat and Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos.

The agreement, brokered by the UN on 8 July 2006, provides for discussions of issues that affect the day to day life of the people of Cyprus as well as substantive issues, at the level of technical committees and working groups, with a view to pave the way for meaningful negotiations that would lead to a solution.

Diplomatic sources have told CNA that the five ambassadors agreed that they would give the process their full support and expressed their backing to efforts by the UN and their envoy on the island to press on with the implementation of the July agreement.

The five diplomats reaffirmed their support for the resumption of full negotiations aiming at an overall settlement of the question of Cyprus and agreed on the need to immediately set up and operate the working groups and the technical committees, in accordance with the provisions of the July accord.

They also reiterated their readiness to assist the two sides to reach a lasting and comprehensive settlement.

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