Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 07-08-03

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greece, Azerbaijan sign cooperation memorandum on energy

[02] PM meets with defence minister

[03] Justice minister on drug-related deaths in prisons

[04] PASOK officials strongly attack government

[05] Synaspismos leader Alavanos meets WWF, Greenpeace members

[06] PM confers with FinMin on economy, NSRF and tax evasion bills

[07] Finmin announces five P3 projects, new finance ministry building

[08] Bill tabled in Parliament for increase of state pensions

[09] Eurobankdecides increase in share capital

[10] Photovoltaic power plant at Athens' International Airport

[11] Consumption and borrowing rates in Greece near EU mid-range

[12] Corinth Pipeworks EBITDA up 75% in first half 2007

[13] Mytilineos group results for 1st half 2007

[14] Global Finance announces sale of Dodoni Ice Creams ABEE to NBGI

[15] Bourse rises marginally on Thursday

[16] Greek bond market closing report

[17] ADEX closing report

[18] Foreign Exchange Rates - Friday

[19] Environment minister presents study for metropolitan park at Elliniko

[20] Wildfires continue in many parts of Greece

[21] Deputy interior minister to visit Kefallonia

[22] Changes to controversial 6th-grade history textbook completed

[23] All-night readings of Homer's Iliad and Odyssey on Chios

[24] Thessaloniki will have new court building in 2010

[25] Orphans from Serbia, Beslan survivors hosted in summer camp by Thessaloniki Prefecture

[26] Alexandria Patriarch Theodoros visits Crete Region secretary

[27] Theatre costume exhibition in Kavala

[28] Boat carrying illegal immigrants capsizes, woman drowns

[29] British tourist suffers heatstroke

[30] Sunny, windy on Friday Politics

[01] Greece, Azerbaijan sign cooperation memorandum on energy

Visiting Greek Development Minister Dimitris Sioufas and Azeri Economic Development Minister Heydar Babayev signed here on Thursday a memorandum of cooperation in the sectors of natural gas and oil.

Sioufas, who arrived in Baku for an official visit on Wednesday accompanied by his ministry's SG Nikos Stefanou, also met with Azeri President Ilham Aliyev.

"The signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation in the energy sector between the governments of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Greece constitutes a landmark in the promotion of political, economic and trade relations between the two countries," Sioufas said a fter the signing of the memorandum, while also referring to a "new page in economic and energy relations of the two countries."

Azerbaijan is a producer country of oil and natural gas with important assessed reserves, able to cover part of the continuously increasing demands of natural gas in big European markets, Sioufas said, noting that Greece can function as a corridor for the transport of gas from the Caspian region to Italy and to European markets in general.

With the cooperation memorandum, Sioufas added, the conditions are created on one part for the supply of natural gas, and hydrocarbons in general, to Greece from Azerbaijan and, on the other, for the transport of gas from this country to Italy and the Eur opean markets through Turkey and Greece.

The signing also confirms "the wish of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Greece to have Azeri natural gas transported within the year 2012, through Turkey and Greece and the under-the-sea Greek-Italian natural gas pipeline, to Italy and the European markets, is confirmed," Sioufas said.

"With this cooperation and this project of ours, we are linking the Caspian region and Asia with Europe. Greece becomes a bridge between Asia and Europe. A bridge of energy, cooperation, development and peace," he added.

On July 26, in Rome, a proposal by Sioufas had been accepted by his Italian and Turkish counterparts Pierluigi Bersani and Mehmet Hilmi Guler, concerning the signing of a four-party inter-state agreement between Azerbaijan-Turkey-Greece-Italy with which t he details of transporting natural gas from the Caspian region would be arranged.

This proposal has also been accepted by Azeri Minister Babayev, while in the coming days, the Greek side will dispatch to the Azeri, Turkish and Italian governments the first draft text so that consultations can start immediately.

On his part, Babayev expressed the wish for this memorandum "not to be the only one in the energy sector and other agrements to follow."

During his meeting with President Aliyev, Sioufas was requested to convey the former's greetings to President of the Hellenic Republic Karolos Papoulias and Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis.

Greece, Italy and Turkey on Thursday, July 26, signed in Rome a tri-party agreement ensuring a project of creating a European Natural Gas Southern Corridor to transport natural gas from East to the West.

The agreement was signed in Rome by Greek Development Minister Dimitris Sioufas, Italy's Economic Development Minister Pierluigi Bersani and Turkey's Energy and Natural Resources Minister Mehmet Hilmi Guler.

[02] PM meets with defence minister

Responding to a question on the election date, Meimarakis commented that elections will be held at the appropriate time.

[03] Justice minister on drug-related deaths in prisons

Papaligouras, currently in Thessaloniki, has called an extraordinary meeting later in the day at the Korydallos prison complex, near Piraeus, to be chaired by ministry secretary general Panayotis Panouris and attended by ministry and penitentiary official s, to investigate the causes and seek ways of prevention of drug-related deaths of prison inmates, prompted Wednesday's death of a Korydallos inmate on Wednesday.

The justice minister on Wendesday night ordered a Sworn Administrative Inquiry (EDE) into the death earlier in the day of a 29-year-old Greek national detained at Korydallos pending trial on narcotics-related charges. The inmate was found comatose in his prison cell from narcotic substances, but died later at the prison's hospital facility despite doctors' efforts to revive him.

Speaking Thursday, Papaligouras said: "We are not turning a blind eye to a problem that exists both inside and outside the prisons. We care about the, unfortunately many, incarcerated fellow human beings whose dependence on narcotics dually denies them th eir freedom".

"Never before has such a broad and coordinated effort in support of the drug addict inmates has been made," the minister added.

He explained that the Inmates Detox Centre in Elaiona, Thebes, has been reinforced with specialised personnel, while a section of the new prison facility in Trikala has been converted into a detox facility that will be fully operational by the end of the year.

Also, the operation of a detox consulting programmes has been approved, and the programmes will be in operation in all the correctional facilities throughout the country in cooperation with the KETHEA (Therapy Centre for Dependent Individuals), with which the ministry has signed a relevant agreement, Papaligouras said, adding that an improved programme for daily psychological support and detoxification has been introduced at the Korydallos complex, in both the men's and the women's prisons.

Further, he continued, the ministry has also set up the private law legal body Epanodos ('Re-Entry', aimed at the prisoners' social rehabilitation after their release from prison, which operates under the Justice ministry's supervision), whose activities also include theorganisation of support programmes for drug addicted inmates and released inmates, as well as their families, aiming at their re-entry into society.

"Every death of an addicted inmate in the prisons is mourned by our correctional system, which is making super-human efforts -- although not always successfull -- to block narcotics being brought into the prisons, mainly by addicted inmates returning from leaves, who devise unthinkable methods inside as well. We are not complacent, nor do we resort to facile rhetoric. We are confronting the problem methodically and in substance," Papaligouras said.

[04] PASOK officials strongly attack government

PASOK spokesman Petros Efthymiou slammed the government's refusal to adopt the measures proposed by PASOK for the compensation of the victims of recent devastating fires and rejected arguments by Interior Minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos that the government measures went further than those of the main opposition, as well as a suggestion that PASOK had failed to implement the same measures in 2000 when it was in government.

Regarding the timing of the elections, Efthymiou said this was being discussed by everyone in the government except Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis, who "soon be forced to select the date for his defeat".

PASOK MP in charge of social policy and insurance, Maria Damanaki, commented on the government promises to introduce a universal national pension, accusing it of irresponsibly using a serious issue in order to garner votes in upcoming elections.

She pointed out that there was no indication of the sums involved or who would benefit from such a measure while adding that it would not target farmers or the uninsured and would be combined with the abolition of EKAS low-pension supplements.

PASOK's proposal extended and upgraded EKAS and its basic pension would be universal, she added.

PASOK MP Andreas Loverdos, in charge of environment issues, said the announcements made by Environment Minister George Souflias on Thursday indicated that the idea of a metropolitan park at Elliniko had essentially been abandoned. He accused Souflias of c oncealing the true extent of the land that would be given over to urban development - which he said would amount to 100 hectares rather than 30 - and of concealing that 230 hectares had already been given to Hellenic Olympic Properties SA.

He also strongly slammed recent suggestions of imposing tolls on private cars entering the centre of Athens, saying it was an unacceptable measure.

According to PASOK's Christos Papoutsis, meanwhile, the death of an inmate in Korydallos prison from drug abuse revealed the government's "complete incompetence and indifference".

Gov't spokesman

Minister of State and Government Spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos on Thursday evening responded to statements made earlier in the day by main opposition Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) Spokesman Petros Efthymiou.

"In his briefing today, the PASOK spokesman initially referred to the (forest) fires and immediately afterwards on the date of the (general) elections. His highly apparent anxiety in the handling of the second issue completely explains the populism with w hich PASOK steadfastly faces not only the matter of the fires, but also the rest of the critical matters which concern the country and the citizens," Roussopoulos said.

[05] Synaspismos leader Alavanos meets WWF, Greenpeace members

"While the whole planet worries about the phenomenon of the greenhouse effect and is reducing its energy emissions or is protecting its forests, the complete opposite is happening in Greece," Alavanos said after the meeting.

"The ship is off course and there should be a 180 degrees change," he added.

Alavanos said that "what is required is a broader ecological alliance in which any people who wish can attend, not simply because they are sensitive and friendly towards the environment, but also to recruit themselves in the matter of the environment."

He also expressed "satisfaction over the stance of the Greek youth who are sending an optimistic message."

Alavanos also met on Thursday with representatives of the Union of Football Clubs. "It is very important for sport to be linked with ecology and for us not to see the contrary," he said after meeting the Athens Union of Football Clubs. He added that what was also needed for the protection of the environment was the support by local government, the Agricultural Development and Foods Ministry, the Interior, Public Administration and Decentralisation Ministry but also by the political parties.

Financial News

[06] PM confers with FinMin on economy, NSRF and tax evasion bills

Growth in the first quarter of the year stood at 4.6 percent, Alogoskoufis said, noting that, according to existing data, it was running at the same rate in the second quarter of the year as well, while unemployment had fallen to 8.4 percent.

Alogoskoufis further noted that the draft law on utilisation of the EU funds earmarked for Greece and implementation of the country's National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF) covering the period 2007-2013, which was approved by the Inner Cabinet on W ednesday during a meeting chaired by Karamanlis, would be tabled in parliament later Thursday.

He said that the NSRF would boost the country's development, while a bill on tax evasion that was tabled in parliament on Wednesday would result in 'healthy revenues" for the budget.

At the same time, a bill on the National Social Cohesion Fund was also being advanced.

Questioned on the timing of the next general elections, prompted by ongoing rumors that early elections would be called, Alogoskoufis replied: "The government is implementing its programme, and the elections will be held as foreseen under the Constitution ".

[07] Finmin announces five P3 projects, new finance ministry building

The planned projects include the construction of a new building complex that will house the Economy and Finance ministry, a sports facility and recreation park for the Athens suburb of Halandri and a building to house Halandri's municipal services. This w ill be buildt on a property belonging to the Hellenic Public Real Estate Corporation in the Nomismatokopio area.

The move is expected to save the ministry about 10 million euros in rents.

Others include the building of a drug rehabilitation centre in northern Greece, an integrated waste management system for the region of Western Macedonia, a sewage network and treatment plant in the municipality of Rafina in Attica and a building complex for the Alexandroupolis Administrative Park.

The projected budget for all five projects is 569 million euros.

[08] Bill tabled in Parliament for increase of state pensions

The bill's provisions settle pension issues concerning public sector employees and provides for an increase of 4% of the basic pension.

[09] Eurobankdecides increase in share capital

Eurobank's managing director Nikolaos Nanopoulos stressed that "the increase of the share capital, with the submission of cash totaling 1,229 million euros, is dictated by the necessity of further strengthening the Group's strategy, which is firmly orient ated in the creation of a strong, henceforth international financing organization, with an active, competitive and successful presence in a broader geographic region stretching from central Europe to the eastern Mediterranean."

Nanopoulos added that "we are exploring the conditions, analyzing the conjuncture and seeking the most beneficial options for each country, thus achieving our targets in the best possible way."

Nanopoulos also said that at the General Assembly the targets which were set for the Group's expansion until 2010 and were announced in February 2007 were changed. Specifically, the bank will seek net profits of at least 820 million euros in 2007 and 1,55 0 million euros in 2010.

[10] Photovoltaic power plant at Athens' International Airport

Liapis made the announcement during a visit to Athens' Eleftherios Venizelos international airpor,t where he was briefed on the project constructed within the framework of the efforts aimed at promoting the use of alternative forms of electricity producin g energy.

The 43-million-euro, 8MW, photovoltaic power plant that could be funded through the Developmental Law will be constructed on a 60-stremma expanse on the southeastern side of the airport, stated Liapis.

The specific project will contribute greatly to the reduction of gas emissions responsible for the greenhouse effect. The annual carbon dioxide reduction will be as a high as 10,000 tons over the next 25 years, corresponding to the planting of roughly 1.5 million trees.

Liapis also visited the airport's air traffic control tower and was briefed on the record breaking increase in the number of passenger planes it serves, which rose by 10.3 percent in the first half of 2007. The number of passengers also recorded a 10 perc ent increase, double the average increase recorded in European airports, thus placing Athens' International Airport among the five fastest growing airports in Europe in 2007.

[11] Consumption and borrowing rates in Greece near EU mid-range

Average per capita consumption in Greece during the year 2006 was 13,640 euros, while average borrowing per capita was 6,315 euros, according to figures presented by Almunia.

The top spenders in Europe were Luxembourgians, with an annual consumption in 2006 of 38,934 euros per capita, followed by Danes with 29,943 euros per capital and Britons with 27,001 euros per capita. Consumption was lowest among Poles (5,687 euros per ca pita), Romanians (3,955 euros per capita) and Bulgarians (2,829 euros per capita).

Borrowing was highest among Danes (44,463 euros per capita), the Dutch (36,035 euros per capita) and the Irish (33,359 euros per capita). The lowest recorded rates of borrowing in the list were among Slovakians (1,162 euros), Poles (1,096 euros) and Lithu anians (852 euros). No figures were given Bulgaria, Luxembourg, Malta, Romania and the Czech Republic.

[12] Corinth Pipeworks EBITDA up 75% in first half 2007

During the first half of 2007, EBITDA was 18.1 percent of turnover, up from 11.9 percent in the first half of 2006. Pre-tax profits increased 183.3 percent to 23.7 million euros from 8.3 million euros in the same period of 2006.

Profits after tax and minorities for the group in the same period increased 222 percent to reach 21.3 million euros (0.171 euros per share) from 6.6 million euros (0.053 euros per share) in 2006.

[13] Mytilineos group results for 1st half 2007

Unfavourable developments in euro-dollar parity and a decline in aluminum prices from the record levels of 2006 exerted only slight pressure on the group's results because they were largely compensated by the improved results of the Romanian-based subsidi ary SOMETRA and relatively high metal prices in international markets.

Earnings before tax and interest (EBIT) were reduced 7 percent to 86 million euros, down from 92 million euros in the first half of 2006, and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) were 97 million euros, down from 102 mill ion euros in 2006.

[14] Global Finance announces sale of Dodoni Ice Creams ABEE to NBGI

Global Finance essentially introduced private equity in southeastern Europe when it was founded in 1991 and the investment in Dodoni Ice Creams in 1999 was its first majority share investment in Greece. Its exit from the company is the first case of a sa le between two private private equity firms in Greece.

[15] Bourse rises marginally on Thursday

Sector indices were mostly moving up with the biggest gains in Health, which rose by 2.79 pct, Foods & Beverages, which gained 1.98 pct and Chemicals, which gained 1.46 pct. Utilities (-2.06 pct), Technology (-0.75 pct) and Oil & Gas (-0.04 pct) scored th e biggest percentage losses of the day.

The Big Cap index ended 0.11 pct higher, the Mid Cap index rose 0.39 pct and the Small cap index ended 0.94 pct up.

PC Systems (+12.80 pct), Ilyda (+9.85 pct) and Tsoukaridis (+9.83 pct) were top gainers, while Lanakam (K) (-9.28 pct), Ippotour (k) (-5.62 pct) and Kekrops (-5.04 pct) were top losers.

Broadly, advancers led decliners by 167 to 87 with another 48 issues unchanged.

Sector indices ended as follows:

Insurance: +0.67%

Industrials: +0.81%

Commercial: +0.55.%

Construction: +1.00%

Media: +0.66%

Oil & Gas: -0.04%

Personal & Household: +0.01%

Raw Materials: +0.04%

Travel & Leisure: +0.12%

Technology: -0.75%

Telecoms: -0.03%

Banks: -0.01%

Food & Beverages: +1.98%

Health: +2.79%

Utilities: -2.06%

Chemicals: +1.46%

Financial Services: +0.96%

The stocks with the highest turnover were OTE, National Bank, Alpha Bank and the Post Office Savings Bank.

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

Alpha Bank: 24.02

ATEbank: 3.84

Public Power Corp (PPC): 21.20

HBC Coca Cola: 33.00

Hellenic Petroleum: 10.50

Emporiki Bank: 20.54

National Bank of Greece: 43.76

EFG Eurobank Ergasias: 26.92

Intralot: 25.48

Cosmote: 21.90

OPAP: 26.38

OTE: 22.00

Titan Cement Company: 38.26

[16] Greek bond market closing report

The 10-year benchmark bond (July 20, 2017) was the most heavily traded security with a turnover of 366 million euros. The Greek bond yielded 4.68 pct.

In the domestic interbank market, interest rates were mixed. National Bank's overnight rate was 4.05 pct, the two-day rate 4.05 pct, the one-week rate 4.06 pct, the one-month rate 4.10 pct, the three-month rate 4.27 pct, the six-month rate 4.39 pct and th e 12-month rate 4.59 pct.

[17] ADEX closing report

The September contract on the FTSE 20 index was traded at a discount of 0.95 pct while the August contract on the FTSE 40 index at a discount of 0.31 percent.

Volume in futures contracts on the FTSE 20 index totaled 6,585 contracts worth 85.360 million euros, with 41,126 open positions in the market, while on the FTSE 40 index volume was 509 contracts worth 16.557 million euros, with 1,595 open positions.

Volume in futures contracts on equities totaled 5,749 contracts worth 11.293 million euros, with investment interest focusing on Alpha Bank's contracts (951), followed by Post Office Savings Bank's (691), Intracom (595), PPC (563), Marfin Investment Group (399), ELTEX (393), Marfin Popular Bank (236) and OPAP (226).

[18] Foreign Exchange Rates - Friday

U.S. dollar 1.377

Pound sterling 0.678

Danish kroner 7.500

Swedish kroner 9.306

Japanese yen 164.1

Swiss franc 1.662

Norwegian kroner 8.027

Cyprus pound 0.588

Canadian dollar 1.456

Australian dollar 1.608

General News

[19] Environment minister presents study for metropolitan park at Elliniko

Souflias said that the site was considered one the largest urban parks in the world, possibly even the largest, and would cover 650 hectares, of which 590 hectares would be green spaces.

Among the envisaged changes is a plan to take a kilometre-long section of Poseidonos Avenue underground, so that the park will lead straight onto the seafront.

The construction and maintenance of the park will be largely self-funded by commercially exploiting about 30 hectares of its extent, which is expected to also generate a sufficient surplus to finance the creation of parks and green spaces in central and d eprived areas of the capital. Entry into the park will be free of charge to the public.

According to Souflias, the money might be used to pay compensation for apartment blocks that could then be knocked down to create much-needed parks in overcrowded neighbourhoods like Kypseli and elsewhere.

The minister said that work on the development of the metropolitan park would be able to begin in 2009, provided that the body that would be in charge of its development and maintenance had been set up by this time. He explained that the government was no w in talks with surrounding municipalities and the other bodies involved regarding the final form the park will take and that the park's organization would be created once these were completed.

He stressed that this body would be staffed with all necessary scientific and administrative personnel and would have all the legal and operational means to carry out its work.

The landscaping study for the park presented by Souflias on Thursday was fully detailed, listing the changes that would have to be made to the park's morphology, planned sports and recreational facilities, parking areas, access points, paths and roadways and the number of trees, shrubs and other vegetation that will be planted.

It called for the planting of 36,800 trees and 17,500 shrubs, while the vegetation will be that native and adapted to conditions in the Saronic Gulf, for environmental and maintenance reasons. Souflias clarified that this would be developed in phases.

A central part of the plan is the reclamation of six water courses or ravines that run through the site that will form six "green corridors" around which the park will be organised and which will link the built-up urban areas with the coast. They will be developed as six routes through the park that will include pathways, cycle paths, roads and recreational facilities, while the water courses will collect rain water and gather it in reservoirs that will be used for the park's irrigation needs.

The former airport's main runways will also be used as walkways that will offer open vistas onto the park and will be flanked by recreational facilities.

Altogether, the plan provides for 54 kilometres of paths for walking, 5.6 kilometres of special cycling paths, 6.4 kilometres of coastal promenades, a 24-kilometre specially designed 'Marathon route', 4.6 kilometres of riding paths and a 3.8 kilometre scu lpture route.

Most of the existing buildings on the site will be torn down, mainly at the former U.S. base, and only 41 of the 419 large and small buildings will remain. The land given for urban development will be adjacent to existing built-up areas, while all buildin gs and open spaces will have an environmentally friendly, energy-conserving design.

On transport facilities leading to and from the park, the minister announced plans for a new highway that will link Poseidonos Avenue and the Attiki Odos Highway via the Hymettus orbital road, while will traverse the north end of the park but underground, so that access to neighbouring residential areas would be direct.

The park will also be served by two metro stations on Vouliagmenis Avenue at opposite ends of the park, to be ready in 2009, and a possible extension and redirection of the tram network to reach the metro system.

Finally, the minister announced that he had agreed with the board of the Goulandris Foundation that the foundation's Museum of Modern Art would be housed within the park at Vouliagmenis Avenue.

[20] Wildfires continue in many parts of Greece

The fire that broke out on Mt. Olympus on Wednesday evening is under control and has been contained to remote areas. Flames were spotted simultaneously in six different places in the regions of Krania and Rapsani, Kato Olympos Municipality raising suspici ons of arson. Firefighters on foot, two aircraft and a helicopter assisted by a Russian plane managed to put the fire under control after it destroyed an area covered with shrubs.

Meanwhile, the fire in the region of Platanakia near Lake Kerkini in Mt. Belles in the prefecture of Serres was rekindled during the night, fanned by the strong winds blowing in the region. Firefighting efforts continued overnight with the participation o f firemen and the army but the blaze is still in progress burning its way through a wooded area. Two aircraft and two helicopters participated in the firefighting efforts, which were hampered by the strong winds.

The efforts to put out the fires in central and western Macedonia, northern Greece, continued.

Twenty firemen and 5 fire engines participated in the firefighting efforts in Mavroplagia, Kilkis Prefecture. The fire destroyed grassland while no residential areas were being threatened by the flames.

The fire in Fteri, Pieria Prefecture, appeared to be subsiding. Forty firemen and 15 fire engines assisted by 38 firemen on foot, took part in the efforts to put the blaze under control.

The fire in the municipality of Velventos, Kozani Prefecture, was being controlled by 22 firemen and 12 fire engines assisted by 7 firemen on foot.

The blaze in the municipality of Servia was still burning while being watched over by a small firefighting force.

In Kastoria Prefecture, firefighting efforts are in progress in Old Kotyli, Nestorio Municipality.

In the prefecture of Florina, the fires in Varba-Sfika, Prespes Municipality and in Smardesi, Krystallopigi Municipality have been placed under control.

[21] Deputy interior minister to visit Kefallonia

[22] Changes to controversial 6th-grade history textbook completed

Yiannakou did not refer to the number of changes incorporated and stressed that all modifications suggested by the Pedagogical Institute, the Athens Academy and teachers have been made.

The minister stressed that what matters is the accurate presentation of historical truth, adding that the team of the textbook authors agree with the alterations made.

Yiannakou noted that the ministry of education did not resort to hasty moves amidst the last school year and managed to prevent the book from being withdrawn, while adding that the book will be replaced if negative reactions continue during the new school year.

Responding to a question by members of the press, Yiannakou stated that the description of thousands of Greeks jostling one another to board refugee boats in Asia Minor has been changed and pupils will be encouraged to read other books as well for additio nal information.

[23] All-night readings of Homer's Iliad and Odyssey on Chios

The two readings will be held one week apart, on August 3 and August 10, while organizers aspire to have the event hosted on Chios on a regular basis every two years.

The event will be held at Daskalopetra (which translates into 'the Rock of the Teacher') where Homer himself sang his great songs. The readings have been formatted in such a way that both Greek and English speakers can read in their own language.

The Municipal and Regional Theatre of the Northern Aegean and the Municipality of Omiroupolis will host the event, which is sponsored by the Chios Associations in the United States and Canada, the Greek consulates in New York and San Francisco, the Cretan Association of America, the Greek Theatre Foundation in New York and private sponsors.

[24] Thessaloniki will have new court building in 2010

Justice Minister Anastasios Papaligouras announced during his visit to the city on Thursday that the new court building will be located on the grounds of the Thessaloniki Port Authority and will cover a space of 10,500 sqm.

The 10-million-euro project will be completed in less than three years, stressed Papaligouras, and will be overseen by the Thessaloniki Port Authority.

[25] Orphans from Serbia, Beslan survivors hosted in summer camp by Thessaloniki Prefecture

The children arrived Tuesday at the camp, where they will spend 20 days, hosted by the Prefecture of Thessaloniki at the initiative of prefect Panayotis Psomiadis and with the backing of the Greek foreign ministry's international developmental cooperation service Hellenic Aid (YDAS).

This is the fourth consecutive year that the Thessaloniki prefecture is undertaking the hosting programme, and Psomiadis and Black Sea Centre president Christina Kelesidou were due to visit the children at the camp later on Thursday.

Several dozen Islamic militants took more than 1,100 pupils, teachers and parents hostage at Beslan's School No. 1 on September 1, 2004. A total of 333 people died in the three-day ordeal, which ended in a bloodbath after two powerful explosions rocked th e school as security forces launched a chaotic rescue effort.

More than half the 333 victims were children. Most of the victims were killed by the blasts and ensuing gunfire or died in a fire caused by the explosion.

[26] Alexandria Patriarch Theodoros visits Crete Region secretary

[27] Theatre costume exhibition in Kavala

The exhibition will be open until October 15 and visitors will have the opportunity to see on display impressive theatrical costumes worn by great Greek actors who performed at the ancient Theatre of Philippi over the past 50 years.

[28] Boat carrying illegal immigrants capsizes, woman drowns

The Samos Coast Guard responded immediately and began a search-and-rescue operation using a 'Super-Puma' helicopter from the air, coast guard patrol boats, while police and rescue teams scoured the shore.

The remaining immigrants, 10 men and two children, were found about two hours later.

[29] British tourist suffers heatstroke

The man took ill while on a trekking trip at the Tripiti Gorge on Wednesday afternoon.

He told his Greek guide that he was unable to continue and their hike was interrupted while the two were at a remote region at an altitude of 700 meters, northeast of Tripiti.

The man showed symptoms of heatstroke on Thursday morning. Authorities were notified an hour later and immediately set up the airlift operation.

Weather Forecast

[30] Sunny, windy on Friday

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