Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 08-02-23

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM on FYROM: 'No solution means no invitation'

[02] PM: No relationship between Kosovo, Cyprus

[03] Papandreou cites high prices, slashed incomes

[04] DM on EU, NATO cooperation

[05] Kassimis meets with German minister in Berlin

[06] KKE leader: Negative developments even with Greek veto

[07] SYRIZA delegation received by Turkish FM Babacan

[08] EU Commissioner warns of dire consequences for Med basin from climate change

[09] Event held marking 180th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Greece and Russia

[10] Greece likely to gain one-year extension in implementing EU regional programs

[11] Karamanlis-Petralia meeting on pension reforms

[12] Greek budget deficit totaled 9.413 bln euros in 2007

[13] Tourism minister visits Italy

[14] Gazprom - increased supply of natural gas to Greece

[15] Albanian gov't and Greek companies to sign agreement for road construction

[16] 'Digital Support S.A.' to be founded

[17] Bank of Greece introduces Basel II framework

[18] Ionian Hotel Enterprises reports spectacular rise in 2007 profits

[19] Vodafone Hellas announces new chairman

[20] Alpha Astika Akinita's 2007 results slightly down

[21] ADEX closing report

[22] Greek bond market closing report

[23] Foreign Exchange Rates - Saturday/Monday

[24] ISAP rail line accident, one fatality reported

[25] Bomb explosion outside publisher's country house

[26] Health ministry campaign for safe driving

[27] Athens' helpline changes from 195 to 1595

[28] Light earthquake off Zakynthos

[29] Suspicious envelope sent to employment minister

[30] US Embassy consular section closed on Wednesday

[31] Network trafficking illegal immigrants disrupted

[32] Illegal immigrants off Samos

[33] Cloud, scattered showers on Saturday

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

[35] Countdown to polling day

[01] PM on FYROM: 'No solution means no invitation'

"Without a mutually acceptable solution, there can be no relations like allies; there can be no invitation to the neighbouring country for participation in the same alliance," Karamanlis said in Parliament, replying during the Hour of the Prime Minister to a question tabled by Popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS) leader George Karatzaferis on the developments in Kosovo and the Balkans.

"If the neighbouring state wishes to accede to NATO, if it truly desires to accede to the European Union, it is obliged, in practise, to prove that it can be a real ally and partner. It is obliged to prove, in practise, respect of the principles of international law. It is obliged to prove that it fulfils all of the prerequisites. It is obliged to travel the distance corresponding to it, in order to arrive at a mutually acceptable solution to the outstanding issue regarding its name," Karamanlis said.

Referring to the ongoing "difficult and complex" negotiations on the FYROM name issue, Karamanlis said its positive outcome would have a positive effect on the neighboring country's relations with Greece, "which is the oldest EU and NATO member in the region", and would strengthen the prospect of upgrading and expanding the cooperation between the two countries, as well as contributing to progress in the region.

Replying to main opposition PASOK leader George Papandreou with respect to a leak, to an Athens daily a day earlier, of the proposal submitted on Tuesday to Greek and FYROM negotiators, Karamanlis stressed that "the only thing that the leak of this document does not help is the Greek government in the difficult battle it is waging".

"You, in particular, as a past foreign minister for a number of years, and with many corresponding incidents of leaks of confidential documents during your tenure, should know this, and understand what I am saying," Karamanlis said, directly addressing himself to Papandreou, who earlier accused the government of "dealings" with the mass media but without having no trust in political parties.

[02] PM: No relationship between Kosovo, Cyprus

"The situation in Kosovo has absolutely no relationship with the political problem of Cyprus," Karamanlis said, adding:

"In Cyprus, there was an invasion from outside, and there is a continuing occupation of territory of the Republic of Cyprus. The Turkish Cypriots themselves, in mass demonstrations in 2003, reacted against the policy of their leadership, according to which 'no solution is the solution'. We Greeks endorse an immediate reopening of talks, so as to find a functional and viable solution based on UN resolutions and EU principles, so that the Republic of Cyprus is reunited and all its inhabitants, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots alike, may enjoy the advantages of their accession into the European family."

With respect to Kosovo, Karamanlis continued, the criterion for Greece's policy is "the guaranteeing of peace and regional stability", adding that "the best solutions do not arise from unilateral actions and faits accomplis," but, rather, through mutually acceptable arrangements.

"We are not happy with the developments. We are not pleased with US flags being waved in Kosovo or Russian flags being waved in Serbia," he noted.

On his part, Karatzaferis, a one-time New Democracy deputy and up-until-recently LA.OS Euro-deputy, said that in both Kosovo and Cyprus there has been an "invasion", by the US and NATO in the former and by the Turks, using NATO weapons, in the latter. He also warned that "we are at the beginning of a second Cold War, with the United States reacting to Russia's penetration in the energy market of Europe, and with US coup-like interventions in the Balkans, contrary to UN Resolution 1244, which considers Kosovo to be a Serbian province."

[03] Papandreou cites high prices, slashed incomes

In a sharp response, Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis accused Papandreou of "petty populism" and a total lack of proposals, during the "hour of the prime minister" in Parliament, and in response to a question tabled by Papandreou on the high prices and wage-earners' incomes.

Karamanlis noted that high prices were fuelled by international price increases, chiefly in oil, and accused Papandreou of "pretending that he has just discovered the problem of a high cost of living ... That is not a responsible stance. It is populism."

In disputing the government's performance regarding inflation, Papandreou said annual increases in the prices of flour, eggs, bread and pasta reached 12 percent, while "you say that you have reduced inflation ... Are you living in a different country, Mr. Prime Minister?" Papandreou said.

He said most Greeks were living on consumer loans and that banks were "having a party, with a 40-percent increase in profits".

"In the past, Greeks used to put money aside, whereas today, they have become over-indebted borrowers," Papandreou said, adding that the middle classes were becoming a nouveau-poor class, "while your government is dancing a tango with profiteers".

Papandreou further disputed the government's measures on tackling the high cost of living, calling a recently announced package of 41 measures a "list of intentions".

Papandreou also charged that the Greek people today were paying dearly for products on the market, and for the depreciation of public commodities, such as health, education and welfare.

"In reality, they are paying dearly for ND's policy. A policy that bred the monster of expensiveness, lawlessness and corruption. A paradise for the profiteer, a daily nightmare, however, for the productive and creative citizen," the PASOK leader concluded.

Also speaking from Parliament's podium, Karamanlis conceded that imported inflation was not the sole cause of high costs. He added, however, that the government was developing targeted policies to tackle the problem, citing in particular a recent package of 41 measures unveiled on Thursday by Development Minister Christos Folias which, he said, covered the entire spectrum of production-commerce-consumption.

The premier further said that he was prepared to "incorporate every serious, grounded and applicable proposal, from wherever it originates", adding that "we want all the political and social forces in the front against high prices".

"We want the broadest alliance between state and citizens. We want the citizen to be an active participant in the common target," he said.

Karamanlis also accused Papandreou of citing "inaccuracies, as usual".

"Over the three-year period 2005-2007, the annual increase in the real salary of wage-earners was 3 percent, whereas it was 0.3 percent in the Eurozone. In the same three-year period, the real disposable income of households increased by 4.1 percent annually, compared with 1.0 percent in the Eurozone. The minimum incomes rose accumulatively by 7.7 percent, whereas in the Eurozone they remained stagnant. Overall, the per capita disposable income in Greece, in relation to that of the Eurozone, rose from 89.4 percent in 2003 to 99.4 percent in 2007. And this means real convergence," Karamanlis explained.

He also warned that "ungrounded claims and generalizations encourage lawlessness and in the end hurt the consumer".

The premier stressed that the prices of nearly all goods were formulated on the basis of supply, demand and the rules of healthy competition and were not set out either through ministerial decisions nor with presidential decrees. "Therefore, views cannot be cultivated that do nothing but contribute to apathy, inertia and perpetuation of the problems."

He reiterated that freedom of the market was incompatible with lawlessness, and that the government placed particular emphasis on strengthening the supervisory and inspectional work, on the fundamental principles of clarity, simplification and strictness.

"We have taken and are continuing to take every appropriate measure. We are allying with the citizen-consumer for a better result. The battle with expensiveness, the battle with the citizen's day-to-day problems, is a daily battle," the premier concluded.

[04] DM on EU, NATO cooperation

Greek Defence Minister Evangelos Meimarakis on Friday referred to the strategic cooperation between the European Union and NATO, during an intervention here during an informal council of EU defense ministers.

"One of the cornerstones of cooperation between these two organizations is respect of for the autonomy in decision making," Meimarakis reiterated in the Slovenian capital.

[05] Kassimis meets with German minister in Berlin

Deputy Foreign Minister Theodoros Kassimis continued his tour of Germany on Friday, meeting with German officials and representatives of ethnic Greek communities in the country.

After Munich, Frankfort and Bonn, Kassimis arrived in Berlin on Friday morning and held talks with Gunter Gloser, Germany's Minister of State for Europe.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Kassimis referred to the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia's (FYROM) "name issue" by saying that "I think that our allies and friends have begun to understand that while the name issue may appear as a bilateral issue, it is really a deeply political issue that concerns all of Europe, because it touches on stability in the Balkans ... Greece always works with a spirit of cooperation, good neighborliness and peace. From now on we expect the other side to do the same."

He also expressed his conviction Berlin will "contribute to a mutual understanding of the two sides so as to arrive at a solution during this period."

On his part, Gloser reaffirmed the "particularly good relations" between his country and Greece, noting that "a bilateral solution must be found to the name issue of FYROM in view of the latter being possibly invited to NATO within the framework of the Alliance's April summit ... that is why Germany will do everything in its power towards this end."

The German minister said he intends to visit Greece in the second half of 2008.

The two ministers also discussed the Cyprus issue.

[06] KKE leader: Negative developments even with Greek veto

"A double name does not lead to a solution; it cannot work, but will merely regurgitate the problem. The US and EU know this, that's why, in fact, they are proposing it," she opined.

Moreover, the communist leader called the unilateral recognition of Kosovo a "dangerous development", while pointing to a necessity for changes in Athens' foreign policy.

"Our position on the 'name issue', to the degree that a commonly acceptable solution includes the term 'Macedonia' or a composite of that word, is that this should have an exclusively geographic definition, not an ethnic one ... The basic problem with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) today, one over which the other (Greek) parties remain silent, is that it is a state controlled by the US and EU..." she said.

Turning away from foreign policy issues, Papariga dismissed an idea by the Coalition of the Left (Synaspismos) for the establishment of a "grand radical left coalition", saying the proposal would serve only as a centre-left disguise for the country's political system, one merely useful for "plutocracy, but dangerous for other popular forces".

[07] SYRIZA delegation received by Turkish FM Babacan

A visiting Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) delegation, led by veteran Greek leftist leader Alekos Alavanos, on Friday held several meetings here with Turkish leaders, including Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan.

According to reports, Babacan underlined that 2008 is a year with "new prospects" for the Cyprus issue and "peaceful co-existence".

The Turkish minister, who previously served as Ankara's chief EU negotiator, also expressed satisfaction with the improvement in Greek-Turkish relations, as well as a recent visit to the country by Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis.

The SYRIZA delegation later met with Turkish national assembly speaker Köksal Toptan, while on Saturday SYRIZA members will be received in Istanbul by Ecumenical Patriarchate Vartholomeos.

Prior to the meeting with Babacan, Alavanos held a joint press conference with Ufuk Uras, the president of Turkey's Freedom and Solidarity Party (ÖDP), where the former stated that a solution to the Cyprus issue "must be supported on the basis of a confederation, the existence of two communities, where there will be a right to free access".

Additionally, Alavanos said dialogue based on international law is the only path for solving Greek-Turkish differences, while he underlined the "massive sacrifices" made by each country on the "altar of defense spending".

A joint statement by Alavanos and Uras noted that "we are absolutely against the continuation of an arms race between our two countries, from which only defense manufacturers and those who desire to implement the dogma of 'divide and conquer' in Greek-Turkish relations benefit".

[08] EU Commissioner warns of dire consequences for Med basin from climate change

"The European Union has a leading role in this issue on the international stage," Dimas, a former ND minister, said.

The EU Commissioner spoke at an event in the Greek capital organized by the Constantinos Karamanlis Institute for Democracy, the organization founded by late Greek statesman Constantine Karamanlis, the uncle and namesake of Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis.

In particular, Dimas warned that looming climate changes will drastically affect the Mediterranean basin, including Greece, saying that the median temperature in the wider region has increased by 1 degree Celsius, as opposed to a global increase of 0.74C.

"The problems of drought, water shortages and desertification will accelerate," he said.

[09] Event held marking 180th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Greece and Russia

Bakoyannis spoke of "lengthy bilateral relations which are chararacterized by close friendship, deep mutual respect, appreciation and admiration."

The foreign minister hailed the steadfast support of Russia in Greece's effort for the finding of a viable and just solution to the Cyprus issue and referred to "the creation of a European space of democracy and prosperity, in which, evidently Russia must also be included," as a common vision of the two countries.

Bakoyannis also referred to the extremely important role of Russia in the energy sector and in the agreement for the construction of the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline, "which seals the relations of the two countries and upgrades the geo-strategic role of Greece."

On his part, Russian Ambassador Vdovin noted the excellent level of Greek-Russian relations and reminded of the holding of a special forum in September celabrating the anniversary, a decision taken during talks between the prime ministers of Greece and Russia last December.

Financial News

[10] Greece likely to gain one-year extension in implementing EU regional programs

EU Regional Policy Commissioner Danuta Hubner, addressing a conference in Thessaloniki, said "an one year extension could be a possibility," while she did not rule out similar positive developments for four programs covering road-railway networks-ports, urban development, environment and information society.

"I believe I can announce pleasant news soon," the EU Commissioner said adding that Brussels has completed work over Greek issues and demands. Hubner said a final decision was expected in the next 10 days.

"The European Commission is at your side," she said, while she praised the government for its impeccable cooperation with Brussels and for a new administration framework of managing community programs and funds.

Hubner said the success of all programs depended largely on the mobilization of all forces in a society and the state. The EU Commissioner also praised the determination of the Greek government to raise spending on research and development through a Fourth Community Support Framework (from 0.6 pct of GDP currently to 1.5 pct in 2013).

She also urged Greece to make a more efficient and transparent use of community funds.

Commenting on the city of Thessaloniki, she said completion of the metro system could become the flagship of all program, since it could create the most modern metro system in Europe.

Addressing the conference, Greek Economy and Finance Minister George Alogoskoufis said a Fourth Community Support

Framework program, worth 39.4 billion euros, aimed at boosting business activity, education, research and technology and accelerating digital convergence with the rest of the EU.

The Greek minister said a total of 50,000 enterprises in the manufacturing and commerce sectors would be supported through the program, while 20,000 new jobs were expected to be created.

In the tourism sector, a total of 95,000 beds will be upgraded to higher categories, while 700 enterprises will be subsidized to create research and development departments, while the government aims to offer 60 pct of the public sector's main services to citizens through the internet.

Alogoskoufis said the city of Thessaloniki deserved more infrastructure to boost its metropolitan role in Southeastern Europe.

[11] Karamanlis-Petralia meeting on pension reforms

According to the minister afterwards, the full text of the closely watched draft bill will be publicized in the upcoming period.

[12] Greek budget deficit totaled 9.413 bln euros in 2007

A ministry report said that public sector spending rose by 9.0 percent, slightly lower from a 9.8 percent growth rate envisaged in the budget, while primary spending grew by 10.6 pct and spending on interest rose by 2.1 pct, compared with growth rates of 11.7 pct and 1.7 pct, respectively, set as targets in last year's budget.

The budget deficit rose to 9.413 billion euros last year, slightly up from a 9.387 billion euros target, reflecting higher costs for compensations from last summer's devastating fires, the general elections and repayment of debt to Olympic Airlines.

Spending on the Public Investments Program rose by 7.6 percent to 8.803 billion euros in 2007, while the program's revenues grew by 29.1 pct to 4.872 billion euros.

[13] Tourism minister visits Italy

Greek Tourism Development Minister Aris Spiliotopoulos met on Friday with Milan mayor Leticia Morratti and their talks focused on "green" tourism.

"There is great interest for us to at last proceed to specific actions, regarding the growth of the ecological so-called green tourism," Spiliotopoulos said after the meeting.

"The mayor has developed a network of 100 cities, in such a way that gives the example for a balanced growth, in parallel with the implementation of environmental policy for the decrease in emissions, for alternative forms of energy and mainly for the confrontation of the greenhouse effect," the tourism development minister added.

Spiliotopoulos also visited an open space photographic exhibition on Greece, organised in one of the most commercial streets of the city. He said that similar exhibitions will be organized in other countries as well.

[14] Gazprom - increased supply of natural gas to Greece

The increased supply of natural gas from Gazprom to Greece, which began on February 12, will continue until February 29, following a Greek request which was accepted, the Russian company announced on Friday.

According to the company's spokesman Sergey Kupriyanov, "on February 12, the Greek company DEPA (State Owned Natural Gas Corporation) came into contact with Gazprom Export, asking for the increase of the daily supply of natural gas by two million cubic meters. The same day we answered positively. Furthermore, our Greek partners asked us to continue these further supplies until February 21 and later until February 29."

As a result of the above actions, since February 12 the daily supply of natural gas to Greece comes to 12.2 million cubic meters.

For the total of 2007, the further quantities of Russian natural gas to Greece reached 144 million cubic metres.

[15] Albanian gov't and Greek companies to sign agreement for road construction

The project is within the framework of the Greek plan for the economic reconstruction of the Balkans.

Taking part at the event will be Deputy Foreign Minister Petros Doukas and Deputy Economy and Finance Minister Antonis Bezas. The Albanian government will be represented by corresponding ministers.

[16] 'Digital Support S.A.' to be founded

The company will implement actions of informatics and electronic communication, which are directed to citizens and businesses, within the framework of the new operational program "Digital Cohesion" of the national strategic reference framework (ESPA) 2007-2013 and of the country's digital strategy.

For the program period 2007-2013, the actions of the Digital Strategy which will be financed through the new Program "Digital Cohesion" and through the Regional Programs of ESPA 2007-2013, will touch a total of two billion euros.

[17] Bank of Greece introduces Basel II framework

Nikos Garganas issued the Act 2606 covering the information offered by financial institutions over certain investment products and new forms of activities, while supervised financial institutions will also adjust publication over their capital requirements according to new standards set by the Commission of European Banking Supervision.

[18] Ionian Hotel Enterprises reports spectacular rise in 2007 profits

The hotel company, a subsidiary of Alpha Bank and owner of Athens Hilton and Hilton Rhodes Resort, said it would skip dividend payment for the year.

[19] Vodafone Hellas announces new chairman

Sofocleous has previously worked for Procter & Gamble over a period of 15 years and served as a top executive in the Barilla group.

[20] Alpha Astika Akinita's 2007 results slightly down

The company said its board will seek shareholders' approval to a plan to pay a 0.25-euro per share dividend, unchanged from 2006.

Greek stocks end cautiously higher on Fri.

Greek stocks moved cautiously higher at the Athens Stock Exchange on Friday in thin trading conditions. The composite index rose 0.12 percent to end at 4,350.03 points, with turnover a low 282.2 million euros.

Sector indices ended mixed, with Food/Beverage (1.78 pct), Commerce (0.99 pct) and Raw Materials (0.81 pct) scoring the biggest percentage gains of the day, while Telecommunications (2.35 pct), Technology (2.15 pct) and Financial Services (2.0 pct) suffered losses.

The Big Cap index fell 0.21 pct, the Mid Cap index ended 0.56 pct lower and the Small Cap index rose 0.14 pct. Multirama (20 pct), Rainbow (11.76 pct) and Selman (9.60 pct) were top gainers, while Diekat (9.09 pct), Informer (6.48 pct) and Plias (5.88 pct) were top losers. Broadly, decliners led advancers by 140 to 96 with another 53 issues unchanged.

Sector indices ended as follows:

Insurance: -0.41%

Industrials: -0.50%

Commercial: +0.99%

Construction: +.80%

Media: -1.39%

Oil & Gas: +0.35%

Personal & Household: -0.36%

Raw Materials: +0.81%

Travel & Leisure: +0.17%

Technology: -2.15%

Telecoms: -2.35%

Banks: -0.12%

Food & Beverages: +1.78%

Health: +0.26%

Utilities: -0.25%

Chemicals: -0.39%

Financial Services: -2.00%

The stocks with the highest turnover were Cosmote, National Bank, OTE and Bank of Cyprus.

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

Alpha Bank: 20.90

ATEbank: 3.46

Public Power Corp (PPC): 29.94

HBC Coca Cola: 29.80

Hellenic Petroleum: 9.50

National Bank of Greece: 38.22

EFG Eurobank Ergasias: 19.20

Intralot: 13.00

OPAP: 23.82

OTE: 20.02

Titan Cement Company: 30.62

[21] ADEX closing report

Volume in futures contracts on the Big Cap index totalled 6,730 contracts worth 75.783 million euros, with 26,930 open positions in the market, while on the Mid Cap index volume was 124 contracts worth 3.238 million euros, with 425 open positions.

Volume in futures contracts on equities totalled 4,904 contracts worth 7.930 million euros, with investment interest focusing on Hellenic Petroleum's contracts (664), followed by Eurobank (516), Marfin Investment Group (276), OTE (449), Coca Cola (317), Hellenic Petroleum (309), National Bank (369), Alpha Bank (221), Intracom (293), Marfin Popular Bank (280) and Bank of Cyprus (272).

[22] Greek bond market closing report

In the domestic interbank market, interest rates were almost unchanged. National Bank's overnight rate was 4.04 pct, the two-day rate 4.05 pct, the one-month rate 4.23 pct and the 12-month rate 4.36 percent.

[23] Foreign Exchange Rates - Saturday/Monday

U.S. dollar 1.496

Pound sterling 0.760

Danish kroner 7.514

Swedish kroner 9.378

Japanese yen 160.03

Swiss franc 1.622

Norwegian kroner 7.952

Canadian dollar 1.511

Australian dollar 1.620

General News

[24] ISAP rail line accident, one fatality reported

According to initial reports by police, the body of a man was recovered from under the rail cars.

Meanwhile, six members of a cleaning crew were slightly injured in the same accident.

An investigation is underway on how an immobilised train car could suddenly move along the tracks.

[25] Bomb explosion outside publisher's country house

Some damages were reported outside the house, while men of the Anti-terrosrist Squad were investigating into the incident.

[26] Health ministry campaign for safe driving

The health ministry's campaign which is taking place with the organisation "Sober Drivers", is aimed at making people aware of the catastrophic consequences which the abuse of alcohol has in life and mainly to drivers.

Health and Social Solidarity Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos, on the occasion of the campaign, which is titled "Sober Driver", on Friday made clear that he will immediately proceed in the prohibition of the sale of tobacco and alcohol to youth under the age of 18.

[27] Athens' helpline changes from 195 to 1595

[28] Light earthquake off Zakynthos

According to the Athens Observatory's Geodynamics Institute and the Thessaloniki Aristotelion University's Geophysics Laboratory, the quake was recorded at 6:57 a.m., at a distance of 235 kilometers west of Athens, with its epicentre in the sea region east of Zakynthos.

[29] Suspicious envelope sent to employment minister

The envelope was spotted at 8:30 a.m. by a ministry employee who picks up the ministry's correspondence from its postal box at the ELTA post office in Kolonos, who informed his superior of a suspicious envelope, and the ministry in turn immediately called the police.

The envelope was taken to the police crime squad laboratory for examination.

[30] US Embassy consular section closed on Wednesday

In that context, the US Embassy's Consular Section in Athens will remain closed to the public on Wednesday, February 28.

This includes the non-immigrant visa section, immigrant visa section, pension section, US passports and naturalisation services, and services for US citizens section. and US passports section

In the event of an emergency on that day, please call 210-7212951 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and 210-7202490/1 after 5:00 p.m.

[31] Network trafficking illegal immigrants disrupted

Police announced on Friday that two groups of the network, based in Piraeus and Athens, which cooperated closely with each other, found Greeks which were in a difficult economic situation and convinced them to make contracts for the recognition as Greeks of minor females, mainly from South America and African countries, taking as a reward 3,000-5,000 euros for each recognition.

The leaders of the two groups were a Dominican woman, 40, owner of a bar in Piraeus and a 36 year-old woman from Sierra Leone who has a hair salon in Athens.

The young girls who were illegally given Greek citizenship were used in Greece for prostitution, the transport of drugs and other illegal activities.

[32] Illegal immigrants off Samos

The migrants, who lacked travel documents, told coast guard officials that they had set sail from the opposite Turkish coast on an inflatable boat, which they said they destroyed when they were spotted by the Coast Guard vessel and jumped into the sea, from where the patrol boat crew picked them up.

The illegal immigrants were taken to Samos General Hospital for precautionary reasons, while the Samos Port Authority was investigating the incident.

Weather Forecast

[33] Cloud, scattered showers on Saturday

Partly cloudy in Athens, with northerly 2-4 beaufort winds and temperatures ranging from 8C to 18C. Same in Thessaloniki, with temperatures ranging from 5C to 15C.

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

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "41 measures against high prices - Everything changing on the Market".

APOGEVMATINI: "41 measures against high prices - Development minister Folias putting 'broom' to the market".

AVGHI: "Macedonian 'salad' in Athens and Skopje - Test of endurance so that the other side will be the first to reject the proposal (on resolving the FYROM name issue submitted by UN special mediator Matthew Nimetz on Tuesday in Athens at a meeting of the negotiators of the two sides in the UN-brokered talks)".

AVRIANI: "We gave graft money to PASOK and ND in the 2007 elections in order to...strengthen democracy in Greece, senior Siemens official cynically testified to the prosecutor in Munich".

CHORA: "Macedonian halva - The Nimetz plan remained confidential for less than 24 hours".

ELEFTHERI ORA: "No one intends to accept Nimetz's 'package of ideas', because the (proposed) names are a travesty".

ELEFTHEROS: "Apostasy over the FYROM issue - Return, here and now, to Karamanlis' pre-electoral patriotic positions, demanded by the Greek people".

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "War over the...courier (who leaded the contents of the confidential Nimetz proposal to the press) in Maximos Mansion (government headquarters) and foreign ministry - Clash over the leaking of the official document of the Nimetz proposal - Immense damage to Greece's negotiating position".

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "No solution...no NATO - Government and main opposition (PASOK) in agreement".

ESTIA: "Undermining over the Skopje issue - PASOK's stance is unacceptable".

ETHNOS: "Skopje setting up traps - It accepts only a...'good' (Macedonian) name".

KATHIMERINI: "Athens replies, Skopje studying it - Both sides do not appear to reject negotiation (based on the Nimetz proposal)".

LOGOS: "Greece takes position -- New round of deliberations among the political parties in Skopje".

NIKI: "Cheap 'tricks' with the expensiveness - Alchemy by Folias with 41 old measures".

RIZOSPASTIS: "The announcements on expensiveness are full of hot air - New provocation at the expense of the working people".

TA NEA: "41 'spells' against high prices - Video-walls against the cartels".

TO VIMA: "International bargaining over FYROM name - Karamanlis (prime minister) and Bakoyannis (foreign minister) contacts with foreign leaders - Storm following To Vima's revelation of the 'Nimetz document' ".

VRADYNI: "41 measures against expensiveness - Government putting brake on profiteering".

Cyprus Affairs

[35] Countdown to polling day

Less than two days remain until the second round of the presidential elections, which will be contested by member of the European Parliament, former foreign minister Ioannis Kasoulides and AKEL Secretary General, House President, Demetris Christofias.

Kasoulides and Christofias secured the majority of the votes in the first round of elections on February 17.

Head of the Central Election Commission, at the Ministry of the Interior, Demetris Demetriou has said that no problems are expected on polling day.

Current President Tassos Papadopoulos did not qualify for the run off election, having secured 31.79%.

Kasoulides secured 33.51% of the vote and Christofias with 33.29%

The number of registered voters are 515,994, including 390 Turkish Cypriots who are citizens of the Republic of Cyprus, plus 361 persons enclaved in the northern Turkish occupied areas of the Republic, who will be crossing to the southern government-controlled areas to vote.

The police and other competent authorities have said they are fully prepared for the elections.

Speaking to the press Chief of Police Iacovos Papacostas said everything is in place and about 5,500 police officers will maintain law and order on Sunday, both during the day as well as at night when the proclamation of the new President will take place.

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