Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 07-10-01

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM Karamanlis says positions on national issues 'unshakeable'

[02] PASOK leader calls for protection of politics against 'extra-institutional centres'

[03] FinMin says reforms to continue

[04] FM Bakoyannis tells FYROM 'to abandon its stance of impasse'

[05] Employment minister on social security system

[06] Interior minister says 'the popular mandate is specific'

[07] Environment minister says Greece 'is no longer black sheep of Europe'

[08] Minister of State on public opinion polls

[09] DM on combat readiness of armed forces

[10] Education Minister Evripidis Stylianidis addresses Parliament

[11] Merchant Marine Minister on government policy statements

[12] Culture Minister Mihalis Liapis on government policy statements

[13] Tourist development minister on government policy statements

[14] Venizelos on government policy statements, DM Meimarakis replies

[15] Anna Diamantopoulou addresses Parliamentary debate on government policy statements

[16] KKE leader refers to social security issue

[17] SYRIZA leader claims government is a 'minority"

[18] LA.OS leader calls on gov't to curb high cost of living

[19] Reactions to PM's announcement on electoral law

[20] Papandreou pledges 'strong and responsible' opposition

[21] Papariga: KKE will continue the same policies

[22] SYRIZA presents 10-point proposal in Parliament

[23] Alavanos highlights good result for SYRIZA in address to party

[24] Alavanos makes supplementary address at Central Political Committee

[25] Karatzaferis criticises 'barren foreign policy'

[26] Developments in PASOK, interviews by Venizelos, Skandalidis

[27] 44.9 pc of PASOK voters prefer Papandreou as party leader, poll shows

[28] Health minister attends meeting in Thessaloniki

[29] Greek defence minister to visit Cyprus

[30] Doukas sees 'useful results' from Human Security Network dinner

[31] Former education minister addresses ONNED Central Committee session

[32] Appeal to Australians living in Greece to vote

[33] FM to host lunch for Georgian president

[34] Foreign Exchange Rates - Monday

[35] Olympus archaeologists appeal for vigilance against illegal digs

[36] Forest fire in region near Megalopoli

[37] Young woman arrested for dealing heroin

[38] Man arrested after trying to sell heroin to policeman

[39] Soccer

[40] Cloudy on Monday

[41] President addresses the nation on Independence Day

[42] Papadopoulos: Turkey's policy impedes Cyprus solution Politics

[01] PM Karamanlis says positions on national issues 'unshakeable'

Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis said Sunday night that Greece's foreign policy was based on the "powerful ideas of peace, stability, international cooperation", that his government's positions on national issues "are known to all" and that these positions "are unshakeable, they are not to be abandoned and they are not to be violated."

Concluding a three-day parliamentary debate on his government's policy statement, the prime minister said solutions to the country's problems "need concrete proposals" underlining that his governement has no intention of "cooperating with attempts aiming at polarisation and tension."

Demanding the House's vote of confidence for the promotions of "changes and reforms the country needs," the prime minister said these changes "are not simply an option, but a vital need expressed by the whole of society."

"All Greeks, regardless of what one votes for, we want a Greece which is daring, changing and progressing...We want a Greece with a strong economy, with a modern and effective state," he said.

Responding to the opposition's criticism, Karamanlis said that he "understands very well the expediencies of some exaggerations. I understand that some want to forget that they had government responsibilities, I undrsatnd their need to escape from their government's past and that of their party."

The prime minister reiterated his government's intention not to "cooperate with attempts aiming at polarisation and tension."

"Nobody can baptise as 'progress' the sterile negation to every change, to every reform. The 'no' to every change being promoted does not constitute a 'progressive' option, it is an expression of a very strong conservatism," Karamanlis concluded.

[02] PASOK leader calls for protection of politics against 'extra-institutional centres'

Papandreou also accused the New Democracy (ND) government of "fully compromising with big interests" and of "abandoning big words against corruption".

"The only thing (Prime Minister Costas) Mr. Karamanlis spoke about was the electoral law. As for us, we put forward the demand for the safeguard of the political system against extra-institutional centres and the excessive power of the mass media. And as President of the Socialist International, I can assure you that this is a democratic demand by the world's progressive movement," Papandereou said.

"I will firmly defend, we, as PASOK, will defend the need for the autonomy of politics," the main opposition leader noted. "We propose strong mechanisms of control and transparency in the state's transactions...We propose the creation of a National Transparency Council: to put an end to the corruption prevailing in the country," he added.

Commenting on the government's policy statements, Papandreou said that they contained "no plan, no priorities, no timetable for the country."

[03] FinMin says reforms to continue

Addressing a three-day parliamentary debate on the government's policy statement, Alogoskoufis commented on the election result saying that "the people have spoken, and the renewal of confidence to the ND government and Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis constitutes a mandate for a policy of responsibility, effectiveness and prospects."

According to Alogoskoufis, "conditions are much better today than those of 2004, due to the policies we have been implementing."

"With the ND's reform programme we liberate the country's dynamism for growth, we improve the entrepreneurial environment, we strengthen productivity, we boost extroversion and we improve the state's effectiveness," the finance minister said.

Alogoskoufis, referring in detail to the previous ND government's achievemnts, noted that "fiscal transparency was restored, a radically new taxation system was introduced, unemployment was reduced to 8.1 per cent and employment increased to 61.5 per cent."

"We intensify our efforts in order to capitalise on the country's great potential, we advance by utilising our experience, firmly and with self-confidence, we honour the people's mandate and we build on the bases we have laid," he said.

[04] FM Bakoyannis tells FYROM 'to abandon its stance of impasse'

"The recent Cerim incident at the United Nations fully confirms the correctness of our arguments on how the Skopje leadership understands its participation in multilateral organizations, and on its intransigence. It also reconfirms and strengthens our positions that, under these terms, there can be no progress in FYROM's European and Euro-Atlantic prospects," Bakoyannis said.

"Skopje's actions and omissions, the intransigence and the extensive irredentist propaganda and every type of provocation undermine the spirit and the letter of the interim agreement and it is not possible to invoke only certain points of this. The interim agreement is unified and undivided and this is why Greece maintains to the fullest all the rights which derive from its capacity as member of NATO and of the European Union," Bakoyannis noted. She stressed that the objectif of the relevant resolutions of the Security Council and the General Assembly of the United Nations, as well as the interim agreement of 1995 is the finding of a mutually acceptable solution and not the extension of the pending issue.

"Greece has taken all the necessary steps. However, the other side must also cover the distance and unfortunately it has not yet done so," Bakoyannis further stressed.

"There's one road for Skopje towards NATO and the European Union. The road of a mutually acceptable solution," she emphasized.

Referring to the European Union's future, the foreign minister said that "Greece has decided to be at the vanguard of those forces which promote the unifioying endeavour: Greece's position is that we, and all our partners together, must continue. No one must be absent. However, at the same time, if is necessary, we are prepared to support a system of reinforced cooperation, without apriori exclusions, between partners which desire to proceed and go ahead faster, with the eurozone as a model. Our country has prooved that it has the will and capability of participating in the hard nucleus of Europe."

As for Turkey's European course, the foreign minister reiterated that providing it fulfills its obligations, it can and should join the European Union, but with the procedure which has been agreed and "without blank checks."

She also stressed that the development of relations between the peoples of Greece and Turkey is important as well as the smoothing of their relations, however, fully smooth Greek-Turkish relations is not feasible without a viable settlement of the Cyprus issue.

[05] Employment minister on social security system

"The government comes to the dialogue which has been announced for the social security system, with the best of intentions," said Magginas, adding, "is it conservative to attempt to clear up a deeply problematic system - and is it progressive to refuse to see reality? Is it conservative to care about a better tomorrow for all the Greeks and mainly the young and is it progressive to transfer the problem to the future?"

The employment minister reiterated that the to date government assurances on the age limit, the social insurance contributions and the pensions, "maintain their validity" and that in understanding together with the trade unions, it will do everything possible for the distinction between the age limits for the pensioning off of men and women to be maintained.

"However, the problem is that these limits are often not adhered to, resulting in the constant destabilization of the system. This fact, beyond its social, ethical and political dimension, leads to overturning which cannot withstand even basic mathematical and statistical rules," Magginas said.

[06] Interior minister says 'the popular mandate is specific'

"The people did not say that we did everything well. The people, were neither nostalgic of your (PASOK) days, nor did they admire your program, a program which did not withstand the basic inspection of a simple accountant. PASOK therefore cannot claim that the New Democracy (ND) government did not achieve anything and that nothing positive is to be done until the next (general) elections," Pavlopoulos said.

The interior minister referred with satisfaction to "the operational program for the reorganization of public services, which has secured the funding of 613 million euros. The changes in the state apparatus which have already begun, also give the possibility for there to be a new relationship between the state and the citizen, something which was ascertained in practice during the procedures for the compensation of the wildfire-affected inhabitants, where the state showed trust in the citizen."

[07] Environment minister says Greece 'is no longer black sheep of Europe'

"We received 52 open issues against our country by the European Union and we reduced them to 28. We incorporated 28 Community directives and we did not have during our days, not even one condemning decision. We built the biggest factory for the drying of waste in Europe, we registered more than 7.4 million stremmata (four stremmata equals one acre), having received only 960,000 registered stremmata," he added.

"Our mission for the next four years is great and difficult and foresees, among other things, the building of six major motorways of a total length of 1,417 kilometers, the completion of the Egnatia Highway in 2008, the expansion of the Athens Metro, the completion of the under construction Thessaloniki Metro network, and the completion of the Maliakos road and the tendering and construction of the Attica Highway extensions. At the same time, the aim is also the tendering and construction of the new generation of works in the environment and infrastructures sector, of a total budget of nine billion euros," Souflias said.

[08] Minister of State on public opinion polls

The minister of state proceeded in reviewing the work of the previous government, stressing that what was achieved was transparency, with the main example the possibility of making public the data on state advertising, the voting of the institutional framework for the Regional Mass Media, the voting of the law for the permit of television channels, the performance of the National Radio Council which secures objectivity and the implementation of digital technology, "something which also constitutes the new bet of the period which opens before us."

He made specal reference to the development of the multiple services of the Athens New Agency-Macedonia News Agency (ANA-MPA), stressing its dynamic growth. He spoke on its capability of covering news in every way, referred to the internet service, to the internet radio service which operates since the beginning of the year and to its televised service which began in July and henceforth the capability of videotaping news bulletins and reports. For the first time this year, Roussopoulos said, the Agency shows a balanced budget while according to all indications, will show economic profit.

[09] DM on combat readiness of armed forces

"We are moving on and placing emphasis on improving training and living conditions for the members of the armed forces, as well as for professional recruits and those retired," the minister said.

Meimarakis said that the ministry's plans include increasing the number of professional recruits from 25,000 to 40,000, "also contributing in this way to the restriction or urbanisation and placing particular emphasis on border regions."

Also referring to the possibility of military service being reduced, the defence minister said "a decrease in military service might be possible in the future with the utilisation of the reserves as well, but with the modern-day conjunctures no discussion is possible."

Meimarakis also expressed his satisfaction over the contribution of the armed forces towards combatting the summer's wildfires, stressing that "all hailed their good, correct and dominant intervention in this issue."

[10] Education Minister Evripidis Stylianidis addresses Parliament

Stylianidis termed as a "focal political challenge the revision of article 16", with the aim of achieving coexistence between public universities and non-state, non-profit higher education foundations, while committing himself on the qualitative upgrading of public universities.

He announced the taking of measures to support education for students from minorities and from sensitive social groups such as immigrants, Rom and detainees.

The education minister defended the national character of education, saying that "national education is not a copy of foreign models and the cloning of other cultures, but the development of our own living culture."

Lastly, Stylianidis said that the government wants the introduction of new school books to be based on serious preparation and the responsible assessment of their substantive content.

[11] Merchant Marine Minister on government policy statements

Voulgarakis said that "reforms will be promoted for the modernisation of Greek ports and for the development of an integrated coastal shipping communications system aimed at increasing employment for Greek seamen," adding that contacts between the public and private sectors for the acquisition of new ships will be encouraged.

Lastly, Voulgarakis expressed his conviction that a national Greek shipping fleet will be created that will have modern and high-level infrastructures to enable Greece to become an international intersection.

[12] Culture Minister Mihalis Liapis on government policy statements

Liapis added that an open relationship will be created between the government and intellectuals with the purpose of constantly seeking new ideas that will be distant from dogmatic conceptions.

The minister further promised that Ancient Olympia will be restored and that every effort will be made to enable neccessary work to be completed before the ceremony for the lighting of the Olympic Torch.

Liapis also said that new museums will be created throughout the country, museums under construction will be completed and existing ones will be modernised.

[13] Tourist development minister on government policy statements

"The Greek citizens expect from us realistic and feasible policies that will result through dialogue, consensus and cooperation. Greek society wants us to show that we have a plan and vision, it wants us to lift the bar high and, above all, it wants us to succeed," he said.

Spiliotopoulos outlined the main priorities of tourist policy, that include improving the process of providing visas, completing the special Portal on tourism, preparing a plan for attracting low-cost airline companies and expanding "Tourism for all" programmes.

"Our tourism is Greece itself. And Greece is a case for all of us. It is our identity. We can and we deserve more and we shall try to achieve these with all our strength," the minister concluded.

[14] Venizelos on government policy statements, DM Meimarakis replies

Venizelos said that PASOK will emerge from its intraparty restructuring even stronger and warned the government that his party will give it no period of grace.

Referring to the government's policy statements, he said that the country wants something more than ordinary management, adding that Karamanlis who has failed as a manager, as a manager of crises, is appearing today as being politically indigent, lacking in ideas and lacking the possibility of setting social goals and of inspiring the country.

Venizelos further said that "Mr. Karamanlis kept his cards closed and did not specialise any announcement of his that was of an election nature" and appeared to be threatening "either an absolute majority or new elections."

Replying to Venizelos, Defence Minister Evangelos Meimarakis said that "nobody has set an issue of early elections. Elections will be taking place in the year 2011. ND is determined to proceed with a four-year governance."

Meimarakis further said that "we want and wish PASOK to be a strong party that will exercise criticism on us and point out our mistakes to enable us to correct ourselves. Why do you fear a change in the electoral law? If you do not vote for it, it will be implemented in 2015. You don't believe that you will be a majority even then?".

[15] Anna Diamantopoulou addresses Parliamentary debate on government policy statements

"The existence of a big and strong party is a stabilising element for our political system. We are all here. We are all determined, because PASOK is coming from a very long way and it will be going a very long way," she said.

Referring to the government's policy statements, Diamantopoulou said that the major goals have been replaced by a management plan.

"I regret the policy statements, not only because they did not set a vision but also because they proved that even the management itself is below expectations," she added.

[16] KKE leader refers to social security issue

Addressing the three-day parliamentary debate on the policy statement, Papariga accused main opposition PASOK party and the Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) party of "offering a worse service by supporting that the government has not tabled a policy statement."

"The government has made specific policy statements. The declaration by (Employment and Social Protection Minister Vassilis) Magginas was crystal clear regarding the social security issue. The workers shouldwait and see what his intentions are. Our position is clear. They must not wait for the dialogue, they should mobilise themselves now and put forward their demands. There is a need for the battle of ideas to develop."

[17] SYRIZA leader claims government is a 'minority"

Relating his claim to the issue of the revision of the Constitution, Alavanos posed the question to Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis whether he intended to call new general elections since he "apparently does not dispose of the necessary 180 votes" to proceed to constitutional revision.

The SYRIZA leader also asked the government to publicise the draft budget.

[18] LA.OS leader calls on gov't to curb high cost of living

Karatzaferis accused former prime minister Costas Simitis that "he convinced the Greeks to accept our country's entry into the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) but he did not care to safeguard the currency. The economy cannot move."

He further said that it is the need for Greece to contest in Brussels on the basis of its particularities and stated that "in this battle, his party will be alongside the government."

Saturday's debate

[19] Reactions to PM's announcement on electoral law

New Democracy Central Committee Secretary Lefteris Zagoritis said the party "stoutly believes that the overwhelming majority of the citizens considers it right that there should be an election law that on the one hand ensures government stability, so there is no danger of a leadership gap, and on the other hand does not undermine proportional representation of the parties".

This was echoed by Health Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos in response to questions, who repeated the need for Greece to have a system giving political stability.

"This is a deep change that the government is attempting at this time, for the benefit of our political system and the need for our country to have stable governments that will complete their works unobstructed and on time," Avramopoulos said.

According to Coalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology (SYN) party secretary Nikos Hountis and SYRIZA MP Mihalis Papagiannakis, however, the proposal was flawed.

"Powerful governments are supported and elected by the citizens and not ballot-rigging electoral systems like that which the ND government appears to be preparing. Let us finally vote for simple proportional representation as the standing election system and we will see how long the anti-working-class policies that the new government is once again trying to impose will last," Hountis said.

According to Papagiannakis, Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis was motivated by a "Parliamentary 'have-it-all' syndrome" and was seeking a big majority without saying what he would do with it.

He also pointed out that the goals presented by the prime minister were contradictory, because a system that gave an added "bonus" to the first party could not at the same time preserve proportional representation.

[20] Papandreou pledges 'strong and responsible' opposition

"We will seek to create, within and outside Parliament, a great alliance of the forces of the Left, a great political and social majority. To unite the forces that want to put an end to the one-way street of submission to the laws of unrestrained markets, who want to put an end to the spectrum of social exclusion and the degradation of labour relations and human capital," he said.

He stressed that globalisation could not continue to be an alibi for a society that "subjugates everything to profit, with labels that show a price but cover up value" and underlined that markets should serve the needs of people rather than people the needs of markets.

Papandreou also warned the government should to be lulled into a false sense of security by the internal upheaval within his own party following the September 16 elections and the challenges to his leadership.

"You will not be able to duck beneath our radar. PASOK will fully meet the responsibility to mount an effective opposition. We will remain united," he stressed, noting that the party founded by his father Andreas Papandreou had gone through many crises in its 33 years and each had served as a new starting point from which it emerged stronger.

In a speech that was scathingly critical of the ruling party's performance during its previous term as government, Papandreou also ruled out all prospect of a revision of the Constitution by the present Parliament. He stressed that responsibility for this lay with the government and was the result of its botched handling of the revision process in the previous Parliament.

At another point, he accused the ruling party of opting for an "informal" cooperation with the far-right Popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS) in order to make up for its slim Parliamentary majority, adding that this was demonstrated by the decision to withdraw a controversial history text book for the last year of Greek primary schools.

The government's privatisation's programme was also a target for criticism, with Papandreou talking of a "dehellenisation" of the Greek economy.

"We are monitoring moves at Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation (OTE), the preparations to reduce the State's share in the Public Power Corporation to less than 51 percent, the daily deterioration of Olympic Airways and preparations for its closure. For us the communications and energy networks are national infrastructure. We don't sell them off at bargain basement prices. We don't hand them over to foreign giants," he underlined.

Regarding Olympic Airways, in particular, Papandreou stressed that PASOK would oppose plans to sell the airline off to private interests.

In response to the prime minister's statements regarding investments in regional areas, Papandreou countered that the public investments' programme was essentially stalled, repeated a PASOK proposal for increasing this by 5 percent of GDP, and noted that Greece had failed to absorb one third of funds from the 3rd Community Support Framework for 2006.

He suggested that Greece seek to lock the funds not already absorbed in view of the disastrous fires in the summer and negotiate a milder approach to the Maastricht criteria as France had done.

Commenting on pension reform, he dismissed the prime minister's assurances that there would be no increase in the age of retirement and no reduction in pensions as "purely rhetorical" and "without content". He insisted that the government's policy was actually moving in a different direction and repeated a call for the creation of a Parliamentary investigative committee to look into the scandal with the structured bonds.

"We have a comprehensive proposal [for pension reform]: three-way funding, the state fulfilling its obligations toward the pension funds, the creation of a new National Solidarity Fund to support the pension system for the next generations, the need to boost pensions through a revision of the EKAS system and the establishment of a minimum pension," the main opposition leader said.

Regarding the government's proposal for a national pension, Papandreou said that this changed the nature of the Greek pension system:

"The result will be a low pension for the vast majority of pensioners, without any incentive to workers to be insured and a greater burden for employees for private insurance," PASOK's leader stressed.

The main opposition leader's criticism also took in health, underfunding for education and the government's lack of environmental sensitivity, its failure to participate in UN discussions on climate change and its failure to protect the areas ravaged by the fires in August, where he stressed the need to halt the processing of legislation that would encourage to the sale of land by fire-victims for the construction of tourism facilities.

Finally, he listed areas of foreign policy where he said the government had failed to deliver the desired results and Greek positions had become weaker, listing among these the Cyprus problem, relations with Turkey, the issue over the name of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and others, reiterating that his proposal for a 'New National Strategy' that would also be supported by him and PASOK remained on the table.

Regarding the prime minister's proposal for a change in the law for the election system, he dismissed this as a "firework" and said that it would not be supported by PASOK.

Among the proposals put forward by Papandreou, in response to Karamanlis' proposal to allow Greeks living abroad to vote in Greek elections, was that Greece should also give the vote to immigrants living permanently in Greece, stressing that they also were "a new working class that must be integrated into our society".

[21] Papariga: KKE will continue the same policies

KKE's leader underlined that her party's policies were not swayed by the results of ballot boxes and elections and that it would therefore not change its stance toward either the ruling party New Democracy, whose policies it diametrically opposed, nor to any of the other parties in Parliament.

"We do not agree with artificial additions," she added, noting that her party was not interested in making impressions but only in contributing "so that the majority of the Greek people are not in the condition that they find themselves in today."

Replying to an announcement by Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis about planned changes to election law, Papariga expressed her opposition and repeated her party's positions in favour of simple proportional representation.

She predicted there would be even harsher measures for lower income strata and the working class and criticised the government's foreign policy, saying it would make Greece the weak link in southeastern Europe, where each of the major powers were trying to promote their own interests.

[22] SYRIZA presents 10-point proposal in Parliament

He criticised the policy statement presented by Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis and said the ruling New Democracy government was a "minority government" that "lacked democratic legitimacy" since it did not reflect the absolute majority of the Greek people.

Alavanos was also scathing about what he called ND's attempts to re-establish client politics and "buy votes during the fires" and said it had started out as a "government of cooperation between the right and far-right" whose first act was to give in over the 6th-year history text book.

SYRIZA's leader repeated his party's position in favour of adopting an election system of simple proportional representation and said that the days of two-party dominance were numbered.

He particularly emphasised what he called "the attack on the younger generation of 300-euro salaries with the trimming of their rights, the shrinking of the public sector, the dismantling of the social state and the inability to appreciate environmental changes".

The proposals listed by Alavanos included greater independence for Justice, spending 5 percent of GDP on education, paying base salaries of 1,400 euros a month to school teachers, supporting young people with jobs without cutting back their social insurance rights, a stop to racism with equal pay for equal work, popular referendums in Greece, support for the national health system, support for the social state, increase in unemployment benefits, granting Greek nationality to all people born in Greece, recognition of life-partnership contracts between homosexuals and withdrawal of Greek troops from Afghanistan and the Middle East.

[23] Alavanos highlights good result for SYRIZA in address to party

He said this happy outcome was brought about because SYRIZA had worked as a team throughout the pre-election period, with all its members supporting the political line followed by SYN and by the SYRIZA formation.

Another reason, according to Alavanos, was that SYRIZA had convinced the electorate through its political action in the run up to the elections about the necessity of changes to the political landscape.

According to the party leader, the two main parties had suffered a major blow in the recent elections and this was reflected in the reduction of their combined percentage in major urban centres and in "tough" regional constituencies, where it dropped to about 70 percent.

He stressed the need to preserve the solidarity of the historic Left so that it could continue to enter the political scene and promote alternative solutions and highlight new problems, while criticising the hostile stance of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) toward SYN.

"Our proposals for common action, whether they concern issues related to the pension system, labour, environmental issues or human rights continue to be extended toward KKE. But we know now that we are following a path that no longer depends on whether the leadership of KKE will say 'yes' or 'no' to cooperation. We are determined to proceed along a path that already has very widespread appeal, with those that are with us rather than those that are not. And I believe we will have very major results on this course," Alavanos added.

Regarding the fortunes of voters originally supporting main opposition PASOK and whether SYRIZA could reach these, Alavanos said there was a need for a "broad dialogue" and the capability to create an area of dialogue with "forces, personalities and movements that originate from the socialist sphere".

He stressed that it would be a mistake to think that the main issue for PASOK would be what happened at a leadership level in that party.

"We are failing to understand that the real problem is that a radicalisation is underway within the entire area that was covered by the current main opposition, and that what we saw in these elections was just the foreword," he said.

[24] Alavanos makes supplementary address at Central Political Committee

He predicted that the measures that the government will attempt to pass on the social security issue, or in other sectors, must meet with universal reaction by working people and noted that "Athens will experience once again days such as those for article 16."

The Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) leader accused the government of preparing a big attack on the new generation, adding that his party will not accept the legalisation and expansion of the generation of the 400 euros.

Referring to developments in foreign policy, and on the issue of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) in particular, he accused the government that an effort is being made to create a policy of tension with the far-right playing the role of instigator. When crises are created we have new armaments, he said and accused the "right and far-right" of demagoguery.

[25] Karatzaferis criticises 'barren foreign policy'

His comments took in the Cyprus issue, where he stressed his opposition to the Annan Plan and claimed that, had it been adopted by Cyprus at that time, there would now be no Cyprus Republic.

"You supported the re-election of [Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip] Erdogan, but did you go to support [Cyprus President] Tassos Papadopoulos," he asked.

Regarding developments with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Karatzaferis urged the government to terminate the interim agreement in order to achieve credibility.

"Because the veto has not been believed, neither in Greece nor there," he added.

He denied that the government's decision to withdraw the controversial history text book for Greek primary schools had been an overture to his party, saying that it had been a response to the wishes of Greek voters, while he claimed that the moves to privatise Olympic Airways were actually designed to support the private airline Aegean.

[26] Developments in PASOK, interviews by Venizelos, Skandalidis

Apart from party leader George Papandreou, the other two official candidates so far are Evangelos Venizelos and Costas Skandalidis.

Speaking in an interview with the Sunday newspaper "Proto Thema", Venizelos said that PASOK's unity is not in danger, while terming "tragic both as a content as as a picture" what had happened during the Parliamentary Group's meeting last Wednesday.

Skandalidis said in an interview with the newspaper "Kyriakatiki Eleftherotypia", in reply to a question on whether he wants to win or just to measure his strength, that "I don't think that I ever waged struggles to lose and, on the other hand, to measure my strength."

In another development, an opinion poll prepared by the RASS company and published in the newspaper "PARON" shows that 44.9 percent of PASOK voters prefer George Papandreou as against 39.7 percent for Evangelos Venizelos.

As regards the question who they think will win, the former minister is ahead (among PASOK voters) with 51.5 percent compared to 28.2 for Papandreou.

[27] 44.9 pc of PASOK voters prefer Papandreou as party leader, poll shows

However, on the question of who do they think will win in the elections for the party's leadership on November 11, 51.5 percent of the PASOK voters said Venizelos compared to 28.2 percent who opted for Papandreou.

[28] Health minister attends meeting in Thessaloniki

Avramopoulos stressed that northern Greece is set to acquire one of the most modern health infrastructures in Europe with two new hospitals, one paediatric and the other oncological, that are to be built in Thessaloniki as public-private sector joint ventures, as well as through the creation of a broad network of urban health centres and ultramodern regional doctors' surgeries from Thrace to western Macedonia.

He added that regional Greece remained a priority of the health ministry, which was rapidly pushing through the above projects and underlined that the units in question would put Thessaloniki and northern Greece at the forefront in terms of high-quality specifications in health services.

The minister also reported good progress in preparation for utilising the 4th Community Support Framework, 80 percent of which was destined to be spent in regional areas of the country, and announced that 1,000 of some 2,000 nurses to be hired in the next two months would be used to man intensive care units.

[29] Greek defence minister to visit Cyprus

Greek National Defence Minister Vangelis Meimarakis is due to visit Cyprus on Monday to represent the Greek government at celebrations for the 47th anniversary since the Cyprus Republic declared its independence.

Meimarakis will attend the military parade of the Cypriot National Guard and will be received by Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos, as well as having talks with his Cyprus counterpart Christodoulos Pasiardes.

[30] Doukas sees 'useful results' from Human Security Network dinner

Deputy Foreign Minister Petros Doukas on Saturday said the results of a working dinner for foreign ministers in the Human Security Network held on the sidelines of the 62nd United Nations General Assembly the previous day had been "useful and encouraging".

The dinner was organised by the Greek chair of the Network, which presented its programme of action that will culminate in a Ministerial scheduled to take place in Greece in May 2008 and will include the preparation of policy documents and the organising of events with the participation of international figures with similar action.

The dinner was attended by deputy foreign ministers and high-ranking foreign ministry officials from Canada, Austria, Chile, Costa Rica, Ireland, Jordan, Mali, Norway, Slovenia, Switzerland and Thailand. Among those attending was European Commissioner for External Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner.

Doukas said that the Greek chair had decided to emphasise climate change and its repercussions on vulnerable population groups like women and children, in particular, as well as on formulating a developmental policy for dealing with the problems.

He said that the positions presented at the meeting and in private talks with many of his counterparts, he had found that environmental issues were now the top issue on the international agenda.

"Based on all that's been said and the evidence we have gathered, we will specify the repercussions of climate change on these vulnerable groups," he added.

He also spoke of cooperation with environmental organisations, universities and international organisations to arrive at specific decisions and proposals on how to help and protect them.

The minister said the talks had also turned to the massive fires in Greece and that his counterparts had appeared very enthusiastic about a Greek proposal for cooperation between neighbouring countries to create a joint force for dealing with natural disasters.

[31] Former education minister addresses ONNED Central Committee session

Addressing ONNED's Central Committee session on Sunday, she said that changes in education that she had proposed were both balanced and feasible, while placing responsibility on ONNED for the implementation of laws that have already been ratified.

"We struggled to maintain the social model and to work for the weaker, since the powerful have the possibility of doing whatever they want. Others, however, called us liberals in the market economy sense and others said we were lacking in boldness," Yiannakou added.

[32] Appeal to Australians living in Greece to vote

The Australian authorities are appealing to Greek Australians, and to Australian citizens living in Greece in general, to vote in the upcoming Australian elections, while the political parties are expected to launch a relevant campaign in Greece as well to get their votes.

Those interested, and who are not registered in voting lists, can do so wherever they are, through the Internet at the website www.aec.gov.au.

[33] FM to host lunch for Georgian president

Financial News

[34] Foreign Exchange Rates - Monday

U.S. dollar 1.429

Pound sterling 0.702

Danish kroner 7.514

Swedish kroner 9.288

Japanese yen 164.86

Swiss franc 1.673

Norwegian kroner 7.780

Cyprus pound 0.588

Canadian dollar 1.423

Australian dollar 1.620

General News

[35] Olympus archaeologists appeal for vigilance against illegal digs

In statements on Saturday to the ANA-MPA, the head of the service Efi Pantermali spoke of a "rash" of illegal digs in recent years and stressed that all of Olympus was considered an archaeological site. The appeal was triggered by the discovery of an extensive illegal dig in an agricultural region outside the village Palios Panteleimonas on the foothills of Greece's highest mountain, whose summit was considered by the ancients to be the home of the Gods.

The unidentified antiquities raiders had tried to pass off what they were doing as the construction of a new church and had dug an area of 500 square metres at a depth of four metres. On the edge of the dig, there were traces of four box-shaped tombs that had been utterly looted.

Archaeologists presume that the graves date to the Mycenean era or roughly 1,300 BC and were part of a bigger graveyard of the same period.

[36] Forest fire in region near Megalopoli

Firemen are being backed in their efforts to extinguish the fire by three aircraft and a helicopter that are attacking the flames continuously before nightfall halts their operation.

[37] Young woman arrested for dealing heroin

During a raid on her home, police discovered two packages of heroin weighing a total of 516.4 grammes. She is to appear before a public prosecutor.

[38] Man arrested after trying to sell heroin to policeman

[39] Soccer

Apollon Kalamaria - Panionios Athens 0-2

Levadiakos Livadia - AEK Athens 0-4

Aris Thessaloniki - Olympiakos Piraeus 1-1

Atromitos Athens - Larissa 2-0

OFI Crete - Ergotelis Crete 4-1

Veria - Xanthi 1-1

Panathinaikos Athens - PAOK Thessaloniki 2-0

Asteras Tripoli - Iraklis Thessaloniki 0-0

Standings afte three weeks of play:

AEK 9 points

Panathinaikos 7

Panionios 7

Xanthi 7

Atromitos 6

OFI 6

Olympiakos 5

Larissa 4

Ergotelis 3

Aris 3

PAOK 3

Veria 2

Apollon 1

Asteras 1

Iraklis 1

Levadiakos 0

Weather Forecast

[40] Cloudy on Monday

Cyprus Affairs

[41] President addresses the nation on Independence Day

The President of the Republic of Cyprus Tassos Papadopoulos stressed here Sunday that no threat and no danger can disperse hope about the nation's survival, as long as its independence and international recognition are secure.

In an address to the nation, on the 47th anniversary since independence from British colonial rule, the president said Cypriots have every right to be proud of their democratic nation, which has been further strengthened by joining the European Union in May 2004.

"We can be cautiously optimistic. However there is no room for excessive expectations nor any place for fatalism or feelings of being defeated," he said, referring to efforts to find a negotiated settlement that would reunite the country, divided since the 1974 Turkish invasion, noting also that the road to a just and viable settlement has never been easy but unity on the home front will help overcome any problems.

The president stressed also his commitment to a bizonal bicommunal federal solution, as this term is interpreted in international practice, which means a settlement that will not violate the freedoms and the human rights of the citizens and which will be viable and lasting, balanced and functional.

Addressing the Turkish Cypriots, he assured them that their fate and their future is closely interwoven with a just and viable solution that will safeguard respect of human rights of all the citizens.

"The national and natural survival of our people depends on the existence and the strength of our nation and the existence and the strength of our independence. As long as our nation exists and is valid, and its independence and international recognition safeguarded and strengthened, no design, no threat and no danger can ever kill hope and the prospect of surviving and prospering in this land," the president said.

The statehood, the credibility and the legal status of the Republic are not undermined by repeated attempts by the Turkish side to upgrade the illegal Turkish Cypriot regime, in occupied Cyprus, he pointed out.

He said everybody in Cyprus has a duty to safeguard and protect the nation, which supersedes everything - the government, the House, the political parties and each and every citizen.

On the search for a political settlement, Papadopoulos had this to say: "No President of the Republic and none of its governments bears any responsibility for the absence of a solution. This lies squarely on the Turkish side which states, in the most provocative manner, that it is seeking a two-state solution."

"The solution shall be a compromise, a mutual compromise, it needs good disposition and a spirit of consensus from all sides, not just our side and in that respect we should be careful not to provide Turkey with alibis and move responsibility to our side for Ankara's deeds," he said.

Papadopoulos underlined that only through reunification will Cyprus' future be safeguarded and this reunification can be secured through a bizonal bicommunal federation, provided its content does not conflict with its title.

"When we talk about federation, we mean that which international practice accepts with this term and that which is valid in all other existing federal systems. We mean a solution that will not violate freedoms and human rights of its citizens, it will not be unjust or harm any of the country's communities and will not cause deadlocks in the functioning of the state," he explained.

Outlining his vision of a bicommunal federation, he said this means a "fair share of power", a bicommunal settlement in which no community can impose its will on the other and no community shall have the right or the possibility to cause deadlock in the functioning of the state.

"There are no magic recipes for a solution in Cyprus. The only path we have before us today to reach a mutually acceptable solution is the full implementation of the July agreement of last year and we remain committed to that and shall continue to work for its implementation," he stressed.

This agreement, he recalled, is backed by the UN, the Security Council and the EU. The agreement was reached under UN auspices between Papadopoulos and the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community.

Papadopoulos said that the solution he is seeking relates to the Turkish Cypriots as well as the Greek Cypriots, adding that a just and functional solution will serve all Cypriots.

"On the anniversary of the Republic's independence, we reiterate jour determination to continue our struggle, in the strong belief that we shall be vindicated at the end, irrespective of the difficulties ahead," he concluded.

[42] Papadopoulos: Turkey's policy impedes Cyprus solution

Turkey's stated policy on Cyprus is obstructing efforts to find a negotiated settlement, that would reunite the country, President Tassos Papadopoulos said, adding that for the first time Ankara has introduced religion in the question of Cyprus.

Speaking Saturday on his return from New York, where he addressed the UN General Assembly, he pointed out that "while Turkey publicly states that it is one step ahead in efforts to settle the Cyprus problem, in fact its stated policy proves that it has taken these efforts years back, instead of bringing them closer to a solution."

Papadopoulos referred to statements by the Turkish President that religion is one aspect of the question of Cyprus which should be addressed. He pointed out this is the first time that Ankara is introducing such notions to the issue.

"We all know, the international community included, that religion is not one of the causes of Cyprus' ill fate or an issue of dispute with the Turkish Cypriots. Remarks of this nature leave a bad impression among the international community," he added.

The Greek Cypriot community, which makes up about 80 per cent of the local population, is Greek Orthodox and the Turkish Cypriots are Moslems.

"What Turkey is proposing, two states, two religions, two governments in Cyprus, is simply unacceptable and all political forces on the island agree on that," the president said, responding to questions.

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