Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 08-02-09

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM: Collective interest lies in changes, reforms; opposition unleashes sharp criticism

[02] Karamanlis, Papandreou cross swords

[03] FM spokesman on FYROM statements over 'name issue'

[04] U.S. State Department spokesman on FYROM name issue

[05] FM spokesman on Kosovo

[06] Agenda for Bakoyannis' trip to US unveiled

[07] Gov't on Greek-Turkish pact against illegal migration

[08] Greek defence minister at NATO councils in Vilnius

[09] Congratulations to Ieronymos continue to arrive

[10] Bank of Greece governor on Greek economy

[11] Alogoskoufis-Kaklamanis meeting

[12] Doukas outlines foreign ministry's overseas business missions

[13] Government defends higher public transport fares

[14] Positive prospects for biological agriculture in Greece

[15] Exports up 9.4% in 2007, imports rise by 3.4%

[16] Greek industrial production up 0.8 pct in Dec., yr/yr

[17] Construction activity eases between Jan.-Nov. 2007

[18] Greek stocks end 1.14% lower on Fri.

[19] ADEX closing report

[20] Greek bond market closing report

[21] Foreign Exchange Rates - Monday

[22] Greece's permanent UN representation holds press briefing for Geneva seminar on climate change

[23] Traditional builders more eco-friendly, scientist tells ANA-MPA

[24] Event in memory of Maria Kalas

[25] President Papoulias proclaimed honorary professor

[26] Papoulias receives relatives of Cyprus' missing

[27] New US ambassador visits Vergina archaeological site

[28] Interior ministry circular on disabled access

[29] Health minister inaugurates new ambulance station in Ioannina

[30] Eurostat survey on Internet use in Greece, EU

[31] Greeks arrested in massive cocaine bust

[32] Mobile phone left in taxi exposes local celeb to blackmail

[33] Small fire in Athens' Metropolitan Hospital

[34] Supermarket robbery in Athens

[35] Woman accused of defrauding banks

[36] Kalamaria-Olympiakos soccer match to be replayed

[37] Cloud, rain on Saturday

[38] The Friday edition of Athens' dailies at a glance

[39] MEPs say Turkey's EU course should not be linked to Cyprus settlement

[40] Cabinet approves MOU between Cyprus and Arab League

[41] Cypriot FM to attend EU-Arab meeting Politics

[01] PM: Collective interest lies in changes, reforms; opposition unleashes sharp criticism

Referring to reactions against privatisations, Karamanlis said everyone was free to choose his own path:

"It is the inalienable right of working people to demand, to strike, to conduct mobilisations; but violence is no one's right, extremes and extreme actions are in on one's interest, and no one can employ undemocratic practices. It is a matter of social responsibility and, ultimately, a matter of democracy," he said.

Karamanlis also accused Alavanos and SYRIZA of "barren rejection to everything, without presenting a proposal and without contributing to the achievement of solutions".

He said privatisations aimed at boosting healthy competition, tackling deficits that burden taxpayers, and taking advantage of Greece's geographical position.

The premier reiterated the government's commitment to "fully ensure, in every instance, the rights of all the working people" at the Thessaloniki and Piraeus port authorities and in Olympic Airways.

"We will not overlook the workers' interests. We will not aid monopolistic situations. But neither will we stop the reforms that are necessary for the country to move forward. We will not forget the taxpayers who are paying. This is our commitment," he said.

Alavanos accused the government of undermining the public sector, and called on the people to back his leftist party's new governmental proposal, "which believes in the development of the public sector", something and was outlined on Thursday at the opening session of his party's 5th congress.

He asked the prime minister whether he would advise a small-scale businessman to sell his profitable enterprise and, if not, then why was he selling all the prime companies of the public sector. He also asked whether the prime minister would advise a businessman to sell his business in the event that he found out that its manager was stealing, referring to the Siemens kickbacks case.

Alavanos further spoke of a "schizophrenic" situation when, on the one hand, increases in the retirement ages are planned in the framework of social security reforms, and on the other, procedures regarding the ports, the rail utility and the stock exchange provided for "voluntary exodus" (voluntary early retirements).

Replying to Alavanos, Karamanlis said SYRIZA could not on the one hand make charges of "morbid phenomena" while on the other oppose every reform that aimed at tackling such instances.

He said that populism did not help the situation, nor did a reactionary behaviour, adding also that there was no validity to claims that privatisations meant a deterioration of services and increase in prices.

Quite the contrary, he added, citing as an example the effects of liberalisation in the telecoms sectors, where prices fell and the quality of services increased, along with the creation of new jobs that ensued.

[02] Karamanlis, Papandreou cross swords

Replying to the tabled questions, Karamanlis reassured that "nothing will be covered up" and "nothing will remain in the dark", while he also criticised Papandreou of exploiting the question tabled regarding the PPC in order to "generate commotion" and to aggravate and polarise the political climate.

Regarding the Siemens case and PASOK's proposal that a parliamentary fact-finding commission be set up to investigate it, Karamanlis said independent justice's investigation into the affair was progressing "and will be completed".

"We will not allow anything to delay it. Let justice carry on with its task without diversion. Parliament will still be here ... Parliament is here and ready to deal with this issue when the investigation is completed," Karamanlis said.

The premier expressed doubt over PASOK's intentions regarding the fact-finding commission, accusing the main opposition party of following a tactic of "the best defence is offence".

"Can't you see that your cadres have already started accusing each other and that they have accused the government of which you were a member?" Karamanlis asked.

As for the PASOK demand that he himself appear before a Parliamentary committee on cultural affairs, as a former Culture Minister, to answer questions regarding the ongoing Æachopoulos affair, Karamanlis said "I am here for you, the plenary, to ask me whatever you want to ask", although he added, "I will not take part in games of impression".

On the PPC's developmental initiatives, Karamanlis stressed that the prospect was being examined of cooperation with RWE, but "there is no agreement".

Papandreou, in turn, charged a "cover-up of the cover-up" in the cases of the Vodafone phone-tappings, the structured bonds scandal, price cartels and the culture ministry-Zachopoulos affair, and accused the prime minister of refusing to appear before the parliamentary committee on cultural affairs to "give account" to the Greek people "out of fear".

He reiterated the PASOK demand for a fact-finding commission on the Siemens case, referring to "lies, lack of transparency and cynicism" on the part of the government.

[03] FM spokesman on FYROM statements over 'name issue'

"Persistence in intransigence, persistence in the outdated rationale of turning the issue into a bilateral one, is ascertained; as is persistence in taking recourse in provocative statements and actions against Greece," Koumoutsakos said, stressing that Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis has repeatedly and clearly explained why the FYROM "name issue" is not a bilateral matter.

"Within this framework and under these conditions, negotiations, which are very difficult to begin with, remain extremely difficult. Greece remains firm in its position ... a message and an invitation for substantive negotiations, aimed at achieving a mutually acceptable solution as set out in the UN Security Council resolutions," Koumoutsakos said.

Such a solution, he added, would immediately create conditions for a better future for the region, for the two countries and for FYROM's European prospect.

Furthermore, Koumoutsakos said the Skopje government must seriously assess the positive dimension that such a mutually acceptable solution would have, while at the same time it should assess any losses, particularly for FYROM, if a solution is not found.

The spokesman clarified that "Greece threatens no one".

"Greece, from the outset, aspires to a mutually acceptable solution. Our aim is the achievement of such a solution, and not the exclusion of neighboring countries from their Euro-Atlantic prospects, because Greece's strategic aspiration is the Euro-Atlantic prospect for all its neighbors. However, relations of solidarity and between allies cannot be built on top of serious outstanding issues that concern the core of respect for the principle of good-neighbor relations," Koumoutsakos explained.

Asked whether developments in the FYROM "name issue" were anticipated in the coming weeks, Koumoutsakos noted the crucial aspect of decisions with respect to a prospective invitation for FYROM to join NATO.

"This is not a negotiating condition, but it is a reality that influences the ongoing negotiation. Mr. (Matthew) Nimetz (the UN special envoy on the FYROM name issue) is continuing his efforts, and will be in Athens at the end of the month," Koumoutsakos said.

Asked whether an impasse in the negotiations was expected, the spokesman stressed that Greece's aim was that there will not be an impasse but, rather, a mutually acceptable solution.

"This is our strategic goal, not only on this specific issue, but also on all the positive effects that the solution of this matter would have on the wider region. It was and remains an exceptionally difficult negotiation," he said.

Regarding Greece's position in the negotiation process, Koumoutsakos reiterated an older statement by the foreign minister for "an international name vis-à-vis all ('erga omnes')".

Asked to comment on a press report claiming that Washington intended to put forward a "dual name" solution proposal during Bakoyannis' upcoming visit to Washington, Koumoutsakos made it clear that the Greek government has not formally received any such a proposal.

[04] U.S. State Department spokesman on FYROM name issue

U.S. State Department alternate spokesman Tom Casey clarified on Friday, referring to the name issue of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), that when he had stated during the press briefing on Thursday that Greece and FYROM had been given "a new proposal by Matthew Nimetz on the name," he had been referring to the package of proposals that he had submitted to the negotiators Vassilakis and Dimitrov on November 1.

Noting that he realised that this statement could have caused confusion, Casey stressed that "the special mediator proposed a framework to the sides in November and I was referring to this agreement framework, that I think offers a promising basis on which an agreement on this issue can be sought."

Replying to a relevant question, the U.S. official reiterated that the United States will hail and support whatever solution is accepted by the two sides.

[05] FM spokesman on Kosovo

He added that the government's intention was to examine every parameter and every dimension of the matter, so as to formulate its final position.

Koumoutsakos noted that a political decision has been taken for the EU mission to Kosovo to go ahead, adding that Greece has naturally decided to, and must, be 'present'.

He declined further comment, adding that he would refer to the operational characteristics of the mission at a later stage, when specific information was available.

Regarding the timetable of the rumored declaration of independence by Kosovo, Koumoutsakos said that at this time he could not announce anything because it was not a matter of the foreign ministry to make any direct or indirect announcement on what would happen with respect to Pristina's actions.

[06] Agenda for Bakoyannis' trip to US unveiled

Apart from Greek-U.S. bilateral relations, he said these will also cover matters of regional or international interest with emphasis on the western Balkans, Kosovo and the negotiations currently underway under the auspices of the United Nations to resolve a dispute between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) regarding its use of the name 'Macedonia'.

Koumoutsakos announced that Bakoyannis will travel to the U.S. directly from Malta, where she is due to attend a council of EU and Arab League foreign ministers, accompanied by Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannis Valinakis.

On February 13, the Greek foreign minister will speak at an event held in her honour by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington and will then meet with the White House's National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley. This meeting will be followed by a visit to the Pentagon, where she will meet Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England.

Her meeting with Rice will take place on February 14 at the U.S. State Department and will be preceded by meetings with Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte and the leadership of the Congressional committee for Foreign Affairs.

While in Washington, the minister is scheduled to meet the leaderships of the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and of the House Committee for Foreign Affairs, the chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services and members of Congress, in the presence of House Speaker Nancy Pelosy.

[07] Gov't on Greek-Turkish pact against illegal migration

He added that certain steps have been made of late, following meetings of the two countries' coast guard commanders, while a decision has been reached to hold committee meetings at the experts' level.

The Greek spokesman added that the Turkish side should be more responsive to the implementation of the bilateral agreement, expressing a hope that substantive progress will be made in Turkey's EU accession course, while also pointing out that progress in the area is less than satisfactory.

[08] Greek defence minister at NATO councils in Vilnius

Meimarakis stressed the high value of the NATO Response Force (NRF) for upgrading the capabilities of the Alliance and recognised the political and operational importance of the NRF for maintaining full operational capacity and the ability to take on an entire range of missions.

During his address at the NRC, meanwhile, the Greek minister noted the need to further develop cooperation between the two sides so that it would act as a tool for establishing regional security and stability and in dealing with a series of practical issues, such as counter terrorism, the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, military cooperation, joint activities and counter narcotics action.

"Russia is an important partner of strategic importance for NATO and security in the Euro-Atlantic region and beyond," Meimarakis said.

The Greek minister later departed for Munich in Germany, where he will take part in the 44th Munich Conference on Security Policy that begins on Saturday and ends on Sunday.

[09] Congratulations to Ieronymos continue to arrive

The PM expressed his warmest congratulations, vowing to assist the up-until-recently Metropolitan (bishop) of Thebes and Livadia in realising his spiritual mission at the helm of the influential Church of Greece.

On his part, Archbishop of America Demetrios was the latest ecclesiastical leader to send congratulations to Ieronymos, on behalf of the Regional Synod of the Archdiocese of America and the entire Greek-American community.

Communist Party Greece (KKE) General Secretary Aleka Papariga also sent a congratulatory telegram to the new Archbishop.

US Ambassador to Greece Daniel Speckhard, on behalf of the US embassy in Athens, the US consulate general in Thessaloniki and the American people, expressed his congratulations to the new Archbishop of Athens and All Greece.

Finally, Finance Minister George Alogoskoufis sent congratulations to Ieronymos on Thursday.

"I warmly congratulate you for your election by the Holy Synod to the helm of the Church of Greece. I wish success in your post," he said.

Financial News

[10] Bank of Greece governor on Greek economy

These assessments were made by Bank of Greece Governor Nikolaos Garganas during a press conference in Thessaloniki, Macedonia, on Friday following the second meeting between central bank officials from Greece, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Montenegro, FYROM, Romania and Serbia.

Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro also signed the mutual understanding memorandum during the meeting that concerns closer inter-Balkan cooperation in banking sector supervision. The remaining countries had already signed it in Athens in July 2007. The third meeting between the bankers will take place in Sofia, Bulgaria, in October 2008.

[11] Alogoskoufis-Kaklamanis meeting

[12] Doukas outlines foreign ministry's overseas business missions

Doukas, who is responsible for economic diplomacy issues at the ministry, noted that small, dynamic and innovative companies, apart from the large multinationals, are also included in the foreign business missions.

Among others, he also referred to the long-standing problem of red-tape, stressing that the government is trying to tackle it, while he promised the adoption of stricter criteria for the funding of NGOs by the ministry.

Regarding results of a recent round of business missions to India, Libya and Turkey, he said they exceeded all expectations, pointing out that numerous agreements were signed.

Doukas said roughly 50 film-makers from India's "Bollywood" visited Greece last week while another two more visits are scheduled in March and April.

Vietnam, China, Russia, Algeria and South America are up next on the ministry's business mission schedule.

Expectedly, Doukas said the goal is to attract foreign investors and, at the same time, multiply Greek exports.

"The business mission to Turkey was very successful, with the participation of 170 Greek investors, and the message sent was that bilateral relations can be improved if the neighboring country realises that is worth the try to make an effort to solve pending bilateral issues. The Greek presence had a strong symbolism but important deals were also made," he added.

He said the banking sector spearheads Greek-Turkish economic cooperation, adding that Athens-based Intralot is equally active in Turkey, while many Greek shipowners have closed deals with Turkish shipyards.

Regarding the energy sector, the goal is to make Greece a regional energy hub and independent from energy suppliers. while facilitating European countries' access to energy sources, he said.

Referring to the NGOs, he said that in order to receive funding from the state such organisations will have to have the highest degree of credibility.

Regarding his recent visit to Syria, he said the goal is to bring the Mideast country closer to Europe.

[13] Government defends higher public transport fares

Alternate government spokesman Evangelos Antonaros stressed that the price for monthly and yearly travel cards had actually been reduced. People that habitually used public transport tended to use travel cards, he added.

He also pointed to the introduction of new products, such as cheap monthly cards for use on public transport means where they were previously unavailable and the 0.80 cent ticket allowing unlimited travel for 1.5 hours.

The new pricing policy for public transport, which goes into effect on May 1 this year, was announced by the Public Utilities Minister Committee on Thursday.

The major change involved the abolition of single-use tickets, prices for which start at 0.50 euros for a single bus journey up to 0.80 euros for a single journey on the metro. These would be replaced by a ticket that allowed unlimited travel on all kinds of public transport for 1.5 hours after boarding the first means of public transport costing 0.80 euros (previously, tickets of this type cost 1.00 euro).

This will be accompanied by reductions in the tickets of monthly and yearly travel cards:

The bus, trolley and tram monthly card will now cost 15 euros instead of 17.5, while the cost of the yearly card will drop to 150 euros from 175. Similarly, the monthly card allowing use of all means of public transport including the metro will be reduced to 35 euros instead of 38 euros and the yearly card will cost 350 euros instead of 380.

Four new cards will be introduced: a monthly travel card for the ISAP electric railway cost 25 euros and a yearly travel card costing 250 euros. A metro-only monthly card costing 30 euros and a yearly card for only the metro costing 300 euros.

The cost of travel cards will remain unchanged in 2009 as well, while the cost of the 1.5-hour tickets will go up to 1.00 euros in January 2009.

The prices of one-day and weekly travel cards, the fares for the airport, 400 buses, Saronida ETHEL buses, the Proastiakos-AMEL card to Koropi and the 20-euros Proastiakos travel card and all discount fares will remain unchanged.

According to the consumer group EKPOIZO, however, the new pricing policy effectively doubled fares for 70 percent of passengers and would discourage use of public transport by the public, increasing traffic problems and pollution in the city, and further burden lower incomes.

"When Athens is constantly gridlocked by the unthinking use of private cars and choking in pollution, with old and often polluting buses that are scheduled to run every 15, 20 and 30 minutes and due to traffic congestion run every 45 minutes or hourly, the first measure announced by the Transport Ministry to persuade Athenians to abandon their cars and use public transport is to double the price of fares," an EKPOIZO announcement stressed.

The reductions in travel cards, it added, was just an attempt to "sugar the pill" for unprecedented 100 percent fare increases that aimed only to rake in more revenues.

[14] Positive prospects for biological agriculture in Greece

The area covered by biological crops in Greece (according to data provided by Eurostat until 2005) is estimated at 7.2 percent of all arable land being used. The Organisation's records contained a total of 9,027 businessmen, of whom 7,641 were involved in plant production, 676 in animal production and 710 in processing.

According to estimates, 30,000 farmers are currently involved in biological agriculture, most of whom are young in age and whose main aim is to secure a high income.

[15] Exports up 9.4% in 2007, imports rise by 3.4%

Conversely, Greek exports increased by 3.4 percent in 2007.

In terms of December 2007, imports increased by 6.3 percent (4.183 billion euros) in comparison to the corresponding month in 2006 (3.935 billion euros).

For the same month, exports decreased by 3.5 percent, from 1.350 billion in December 2006 to 1.303 billion in December 2007.

[16] Greek industrial production up 0.8 pct in Dec., yr/yr

[17] Construction activity eases between Jan.-Nov. 2007

The figures show a decrease of 3.9 percent in the number of licences, 6.7 percent in surface and 4.7 percent in volume. Public building activitiy participated in the total volume rate by 1.5 percent.

During the same period, private building activity throughout the country registered a drop of 3.7 percent in the number of licences, 6.1 percent in surface and 3.7 percent in volume as against the corresponding period in 2006.

In Attica prefecture, over the same period, building volume amounted to 19,150 cubic metres compared to 20,859 cubic metres over the corresponding period in 2006, a decrease of 8.2 percent.

[18] Greek stocks end 1.14% lower on Fri.

Most sectors ended lower with the Healthcare (1.96 pct), Banks (1.82 pct), Healthcare (1.63 pct) and Personal & Home products (1.23 pct) suffering the heaviest percentage losses of the day, while Insurances (2.88 pct), Media (1.67 pct) and Financial services (1.29 pct) scored gains.

The Big Cap index fell 1.28 pct, the Mid Cap index eased 0.58 pct and the Small Cap index ended 0.15 pct lower.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 123 to 103 with another 70 issues unchanged.

Sector indices ended as follows:

Insurance: +2.88%

Industrials: +0.12%

Commercial: +0.12%

Construction: -0.63%

Media: +1.67%

Oil & Gas: -0.43%

Personal & Household: -1.23%

Raw Materials: -0.75%

Travel & Leisure: -1.03%

Technology: -0.92%

Telecoms: -0.50%

Banks: -1.82%

Food & Beverages: -1.01%

Health: -1.96%

Utilities: +1.12%

Chemicals: +0.18%

Financial Services: +1.29%

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

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

Alpha Bank: 21.20

ATEbank: 3.54

Public Power Corp (PPC): 28.50

HBC Coca Cola: 28.30

Hellenic Petroleum: 9.76

National Bank of Greece: 39.90

EFG Eurobank Ergasias: 18.80

Intralot: 12.20

OPAP: 23.52

OTE: 20.70

Titan Cement Company: 31.02

[19] ADEX closing report

Volume in futures contracts on the Big Cap index totaled 10,901 contracts worth 124.472 million euros with 28,298 open positions in the market, while on the Mid Cap index volume was worth 4.166 million euros with 541 open positions.

Volume in futures contracts on equities totaled 6,858 contracts worth 10.793 million euros, with investment interest fosucing on National Bank (1,187), Alpha Bank (705), Postal Savings Bank (398), ATEbank (353) and Mytilineos (216).

[20] Greek bond market closing report

In the domestic interbank market, interest rates were mixed. National Bank's overnight rate was 4.02 pct, the two-day rate 4.09 pct, the one-month rate 4.14 pct and the 12-month rate 4.24 pct.

[21] Foreign Exchange Rates - Monday

U.S. dollar 1.462

Pound sterling 0.750

Danish kroner 7.512

Swedish kroner 9.487

Japanese yen 157.1

Swiss franc 1.614

Norwegian kroner 8.088

Canadian dollar 1.465

Australian dollar 1.636

General News

[22] Greece's permanent UN representation holds press briefing for Geneva seminar on climate change

Greece's permanent representation to the United Nations on Friday gave a joint press conference here with the International Organization on Migration (IOM) to promote a one-day seminar on Feb. 19 focusing on global climate change.

The seminar will take place at the World Meteorological Organization's (WMO) headquarters in Geneva.

With the opportunity of Friday's press conference, Greece's permanent representative to international organisations, Amb. Fransiscos Verros, outlined the priorities of the Human Security Network's Greek presidency, stressing that climate change, and the environment's downgrading, in general, are the most important challenges of our time.

[23] Traditional builders more eco-friendly, scientist tells ANA-MPA

"If we look at the traditional buildings of island architecture, we will see that the older builders used about 20 cm of compressed seaweed and about the same amount of earth, creating a wonderful insulation that performs much better than modern insulation methods," he said in statements to the ANA-MPA.

He noted that these traditional builders, while having no knowledge of bioclimatic architecture, were nevertheless acquainted with environmentally sound techniques and methods that had now been either lost or set aside.

"These people - who were not educated - respected and protected nature. Without anyone telling them anything, they found solutions using local materials. Whereas we, with all our knowledge, unfortunately exert tremendous pressure on the environment," he said.

As an example of such environmentally sound practices in building, Daoutopoulos cited the island practice of constructing roofs that collected rain water for later use.

He made the statements on the sidelines of a two-day conference on "The repercussions of climate change on Greece" held during the Agrotica 2008 trade fair.

Daoutopoulos also stressed the need for everyone to take steps to reduce climate change, warning that the consequences would otherwise be very bad.

"If all Greeks changed common incandescent bulbs with fluorescent bulbs we would need one less power station," he cited as an example, while reducing use of private cars in favour of public transport were another simple but important way of protecting the environment.

"Glass buildings and glass houses, also, are not suitable for our country because the absorb solar energy and heat up, so that we have to use air conditioning. We must also make sure to adopt passive cooling systems," he added.

Other speakers, such as geology professor Theodoros Karakostas, discussed models and forecasts for climate change predicting that global temperatures will rise 3 degrees Celsium by 2070-2100, with an estimated reliability of 65 percent.

"There is visible danger and the repercussions from the destruction of the environment will be painful or even nightmarish," he said.

The forecasts for Greece predict a marked reduction in rainfall by up to 20 percent, leading to a reduction in the quantity but also the quality of the water in the water table, as well as a reduction in the water volume of rivers between 20-30 percent.

Extreme weather patterns, such as heatwaves, hail and flooding will increase in frequency, intensity and duration, leading to increased economic damage, while the demand for electricity is seen increasing by 15-20 percent between May and September.

Karakostas stressed the need to cultivate environmental sensitivity in the ordinary public and to make a systematic and collective effort to protect the next generations from disaster.

[24] Event in memory of Maria Kalas

The programme includes films on the life and work of Kalas, such as "Biography: Maria Kalas" and "Callas Assoluta." The "Biography: Maria Kalas" film is being provided by the History Channel and is a documentary focusing on the most important moments in the life and career of the great Greek singer from the series titled "Biographies." The film "Callas Assoluta", produced by Swan Productions, is a documentary concerning her personal and artistic course. It is provided by the Greek Radio and Television Broadcasting Corporation and the Arte France channel.

The screenings will be taking place at the Greek embassy in Washington on February 11.

In another development, the Italian Cultural Institute in Washington will be organising an exhibition of photographs, art and commemorative books and record covers between February 13-26.

The exhibits are from the exhibition titled "Maria Kalas: 30 Years After" that was presented by the Greek Parliament Foundation in 2007. It was followed by another exhibition titled "Maria Kalas: A Dedication" that toured the United States initially. The exhibition has been enriched in its new form with new items, recitals and film screenings on the singer's life and work.

Lastly, the programme includes a recital by soprano Elizabeth Stevens with arias from Kalas's repertoire. Piano accompaniment will be provided by Danielle Deswert (February 13, Italian Cultural Institute).

[25] President Papoulias proclaimed honorary professor

He spoke on the theme "The meaning of International Society: Power or Justice?" raising matters concerning the phenomena of international life, where the presence of the abuse of power is intense.

"The clash between power and justice is behind the long standing and international phenomenon of corruption, whether its concerns money laundering or concerns the transaction of economics with the political elite," Papoulias said.

The president also underlined that "when economic power and interest that precedes the responsibility of the representatives of the people to support its interests, then the effort for a just and equal society is being undermined."

[26] Papoulias receives relatives of Cyprus' missing

Receiving a committee from the group, on a visit to Athens since Thursday, Papoulias said certain steps have been made on the issue of the missing, "but are not enough," stressing that hopefully this disturbing circle will close.

"I will always be at your side, supporting your efforts," he added.

[27] New US ambassador visits Vergina archaeological site

"These finds give witness to a glorious and rich history," the envoy told reporters, adding that they had carried him back thousands of years into the past.

Speckhard said he intended to visit all regions of Greece and to strengthen the Greek-American relations of friendship.

After the Vergina site, the US ambassador also visited the Byzantine Museum in Thessaloniki.

[28] Interior ministry circular on disabled access

"Every person must be able to autonomously, safely and comfortably approach and use infrastructure, service and goods, communicate and be informed," he noted.

Nakos recommended that local authorities choose locations that people most often visit, such as shopping areas, administrative services, facilities for education, sports, recreation and archaeological sites in order to create a "chain of unobstructed access".

The minister also advised that they consult local associations for the disabled to pinpoint the problems and categorise them into physical, artificial, architectural, administrative and behavioural.

Among the complaints most often voiced by disabled are the obstacles preventing use of pavements, either caused by bad construction, badly positioned telephone and electricity poles, billboards and ill-kempt plants, or through their take-over by parked vehicles and tables set out by cafes and restaurants.

[29] Health minister inaugurates new ambulance station in Ioannina

The new EKAB ambulance station will provide coverage of the Ioannina-Kozani and the Kakavia-Ioannina national highways, which are receiving increased traffic.

[30] Eurostat survey on Internet use in Greece, EU

One third, or 33 percent of Greeks aged 16-74 reported having used the Internet some time in the last three months, according to a survey released by the European statistics agency Eurostat on Friday, in view of Safer Internet Day on February 12.

This was at the low end for Internet use throughout the EU, where the average in the 27 EU member-states was 57 percent. The highest rates of Internet use were recorded in the Netherlands and Denmark, with 84 percent and 81 percent, respectively, and the lowest were in Romania and Bulgaria, with 24 percent and 31 percent, respectively.

According to the same survey, only 8 percent of Greek citizens reported using the Internet for shopping in 2007, whereas the average in the 27 EU member-states was 30 percent. Using the Internet to buy products and services was most common in the Netherlands with 55 percent and in Sweden and the United Kingdom, at 53 percent. The lowest rates were in Bulgaria and Romania, where it was 3 percent.

Bank transactions over the Internet were conducted by 12 percent of Greeks in 2007 and by 44 percent of Europeans throughout the EU. About 23 percent of Internet users in Greece and the EU said that they fell victim to some sort of computer virus during the same period.

According to Eurostat figures for 2006, meanwhile, about 14 percent of Greeks and 12 percent of EU citizens decided against a purchase made over the Internet because they feared possible security problems.

[31] Greeks arrested in massive cocaine bust

The captain and engineer of the freighter, both Greek nationals, were arrested on Thursday and are being held by French authorities for questioning. The ship's crew are accused of having picked up the cocaine in open sea off the coast of Africa from an unidentified fishing vessel.

The Greek merchant shipping ministry also announced that another two associates of the ship owner are currently being sought by Greek police.

In a joint press conference on Friday, the head of the Greek Coast Guard Vice-Admiral Ilias Sionidis, the director of the Coast Guard security force Giannis Karopoulos, officers of the Greek Police and of the Special Audit Service revealed that the 'Junior' had been under surveillance since it sailed from Guinea, where it had been hired for 1,250 dollars a day for the illegal shipment.

The vessel fell into the hands of French authorities after they received information from Greek law enforcement agencies that the engineer recruited for the 'Junior' - a former RO-RO ferry on the Volos-Sporades route that had been extensively remodelled - had a previous arrest as a crew member on the tanker "Archangelos" that was seized by Spanish authorities in 1995 carrying 2,173 kilos of cocaine.

The 'Junior' had also been under surveillance by other European countries and was being tracked by satellite so that its trail would not be lost.

The massive illegal shipment of cocaine was found in 107 crates containing air-tight bags of 30 kilos each. Its estimated value is in excess of 300 million euros. According the ministry, the final destination of the drugs was a port somewhere in Europe.

[32] Mobile phone left in taxi exposes local celeb to blackmail

The man had originally contacted a magazine journalist and tried to sell a recording showing the 28-year-old having sex. It was later discovered that the material had been taken from the victim's mobile phone, which she had forgotten in the back seat of the taxi when she had boarded as a customer at the start of January.

The journalist did not purchase the material but contacted the celebrity involved and arranged to present her to the man as a journalist interested in buying the material, giving the taxi driver her phone number in order to negotiate the sale.

A series of phone calls between the blackmailer and the victim ensued, during which she pretended to be a journalist acting on behalf of the victim. The taxi-driver asked for 1,500 euros in exchange for the recording, threatening to publish it on the Internet if she refused.

Instead, the young woman informed the police and an operation to trap the blackmailer was set up, in which a woman officer posed as a journalist buying the video. A meeting was set up to make the exchange and the man was arrested on Thursday night in the Athens suburb of Maroussi, right after he had accepted the blackmail money in pre-marked notes.

Police found the mobile phone belonging to the victim and also a recording of the same sex scenes copied to the blackmailer's own phone.

He claimed to have resorted to blackmail because he was facing serious financial difficulties and appeared before a public prosecutor on Friday.

[33] Small fire in Athens' Metropolitan Hospital

The fire erupted at dawn Friday in the hospital basement and was put out after 15 minutes by 30 firemen who arrived at the scene with 10 fire engines.

[34] Supermarket robbery in Athens

The culprits entered the store from the roof and opened its safe after neutralizing the alarm system.

[35] Woman accused of defrauding banks

Soccer

[36] Kalamaria-Olympiakos soccer match to be replayed

The Disciplinary Committee reached its decision following marathon deliberations that began on Thursday night and came to an end on Friday, following a seven-hour session.

It ultimately ruled that indeed Walner had no right to play, but instead of awarding the three points to Olympiakos and deducting a point from Kalamaria, according to regulations, it decided that the match should be replayed at a date and at a time to be set by the Super League's organising authority.

Weather Forecast

[37] Cloud, rain on Saturday

[38] The Friday edition of Athens' dailies at a glance

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "Arrangements for Municipalities' debts - Special amendment for professionals".

APOGEVMATINI: "The new Archbishop is worthy of being the Church's leader - Ieronymos is a man with a low profile - He will be enthroned on 16 Feb."

AVGHI: "Synaspismos' leader Alekos Alavanos called for struggle for a new majority, alternative programme and a government with a leftist nucleus, during his address on the opening day of party's 5th Congress".

AVRIANI: "Zachopoulos serial has gone flat - Themos Anastasiadis will be charged for misdemeanor".

CHORA: "In the limelight the full text of the case file - All the testimonies on the Zachopoulos affair"

ETHNOS: "In the limelight the case file of the Zachopoulos DVD which 'nobody has seen' ".

ELEFTHERI ORA: "Ieronymos is the Archbishop - We (the newspaper) dared to make prediction according to people's will, but the hierarchy decided differently".

ELEFTHEROS: "Do something, we are sinking - New Democracy members' cry of agony to Karamanlis".

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "Straight mandate for change - Metropolitan of Thebes Ieronymos was elected Archbishop with 45 votes - Unity message after the election".

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "At this point we laugh - 'Pontius Pilate' testimonies full of contradictions and gaps over Zachopoulos DVD"

ESTIA: "Political upheavals - the country entering a new period"

KATHIMERINI: "New critical data on Zachopoulos affair - Which was the role of the protagonists according to the case file"

LOGOS: "Contradictions and ...dark points - Zachopoulos case file released"

NIKI: "The DVD has Maximos mansion (government headquarters) seal - Charges are awaited".

TA NEA: " Circle of lies over the DVD and Zachopoulos affair - The testimonies are full of contradictions".

TO VIMA: "Church on the path of change - Ieronymos was elected Archbishop"

RIZOSPASTIS: "Major increase in urban transport tickets - New attack on working class incomes"

VRADYNI: "Testimonies on Zachopoulos affair 'point' to a sex scandal - First data of the huge case file affirm first estimations".

Cyprus Affairs

[39] MEPs say Turkey's EU course should not be linked to Cyprus settlement

Members of the European Parliament said on Friday that Turkey's EU accession course should not be linked to the solution of the Cyprus problem.

They pointed out that if a Cyprus settlement was not found soon, the Greek Cypriots were in danger of becoming a minority due to the continuing inflow of Turkish settlers to the Turkish occupied areas of the Republic.

Speaking at a press conference following the end of a two-day meeting of the Bureau of the EPP-ED Group in the European Parliament in Nicosia, Chairman of the EPP-ED Group in the European Parliament Joseph Daul referred to the importance of helping all EU neighbours in the Mediterranean achieve growth, adding that the EU's aim was not to impose itself on them but to facilitate the harmonious functioning of the region. He added that Europe should have political positions.

President of the Democratic Rally (DISY) Nicos Anastasiades expressed his satisfaction regarding the presence of the Bureau in Cyprus, as well as his gratitude for the support the EPP is giving to the people of Cyprus in their struggle for the reunification of the island and to efforts to solve the Cyprus problem.

Chair of the High Level Contact Group in the European Parliament for relations with the Turkish Cypriot community Francoise Grossetete said the Cyprus problem was a European question and referred to the action of the Contact Group, which will be visiting Cyprus again in May.

She added that the Contact Group was gathering information in order to be more effective, with the ultimate aim being the reunification of Cyprus.

Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the European Parliament Jacek Saryusz-Wolski said Cyprus was a key member state of the EU for lasting peace in the Middle East, adding that the EU must rely on Cyprus in order to achieve this purpose. He noted that a stronger reunited Cyprus could contribute towards this direction.

Rapporteur of the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee on missing persons in Cyprus Ewa Klamt said efforts must be made to solve the problem of missing persons, which could contribute towards a Cyprus settlement.

She spoke about her draft report, in which she calls on those with evidence to pass it on in order to speed up efforts to solve the problem of missing persons, and furthermore asks for increased funding.

Head of the Cypriot delegation of the EPP-ED Group in the European Parliament Panayiotis Demetriou said Europe was now focusing on Cyprus, adding that the EPP could assist in efforts to reach a Cyprus settlement.

Replying to questions, Daul said the EU should go further than investment and develop a political stance in order to have a bigger presence in the wider region, adding that efforts would be made for proposals on the Mediterranean Policy and by June there should be results.

To another question, Grossetete said it was difficult to link Turkey's EU accession course to the Cyprus problem, adding that if a settlement is not found soon, the Greek Cypriots may be in danger of becoming a minority, due to the continuing inflow of Turkish settlers to the areas of Cyprus under Turkish occupation.

She said Turkey remained an invader and refused to recognise an EU member state, namely the Republic of Cyprus, adding that the Contact Group was trying to bring the two communities closer, which would facilitate reunification.

Grossetete added that linking the two issues could in fact slow down efforts to reach a Cyprus settlement.

To questions regarding illegal immigration, Daul said Cyprus could not handle the problem on its own. He said European solidarity should apply because it was not only Cyprus facing this problem.

Cyprus, which joined the EU in 2004, has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.

[40] Cabinet approves MOU between Cyprus and Arab League

The Council of Ministers has given its approval to a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the General Secretariat of the Arab League, which was signed in November last year.

The MOU aims at the development of a political dialogue and cooperation in various fields.

An official press release, issued here on Friday, says that the Memorandum of Understanding ''aims at the development of a structured political dialogue and joint cooperation in various political, economic and cultural aspects of mutual concern, in the framework of the UN Charter and the Charter of the Arab League, respect of international law and UN Security Council resolutions with a view to enhance regional and international security and stability."

[41] Cypriot FM to attend EU-Arab meeting

Cyprus Foreign Minister Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis departs on Monday for Malta, where she will attend the EU-Arab League ministerial meeting, to be held on February 11 and 12.

The meeting will discuss the situation in the Middle East, the intercultural dialogue and possible fields for cooperation between the EU and the Arab world.

On the sidelines of the meeting, Marcoullis is expected to hold contacts with her Arab counterparts.

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