Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 08-02-28

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greek FinMin confident over economic growth

[02] Inner cabinet discusses national spatial plan

[03] FM Bakoyannis concludes tour of Maghreb countries

[04] 'No solution, no NATO entry' Athens warns Skopje

[05] Athens to decide on Kosovo recognition at later stage

[06] NATO SG De Hoop Scheffer in Athens on Monday

[07] KKE leader briefs President on concerns over Balkan developments

[08] Papariga addresses event in Petroupoli

[09] FM spokesman on new Cyprus President, Cyprus efforts

[10] PASOK leader Papandreou chairs Political and Coordinating Body

[11] Government on regulating cybercrime

[12] Magistrate asks Parliament to confirm information on slander blog

[13] Archbishop Ieronymos meets President, PM and Parliament presidency

[14] Deputy FM Kassimis concludes tour of Germany

[15] Lt.-Gen. Tsiatouras named new Chief of Police

[16] Turkey passes Minority foundations Law

[17] Development minister addresses European Research Council

[18] Public works minister presents town planning framework

[19] Deputy FM Doukas on economic diplomacy

[20] Local government authority personnel to stage strike on Thursday

[21] Frigoglass reports improved 2007 results

[22] Mediterra SA to debut in Alternative Market on Thursday

[23] Greek stocks end 1.40 pct lower

[24] ADEX closing report

[25] Greek bond market closing report

[26] Foreign Exchange Rates - Thursday

[27] Greek parliament approves draft law on road help for vehicles

[28] Petition opposes ENISA removal from Crete

[29] Modern Chinese art exhibition to be held in Athens

[30] 'High priestess' in Olympic Torch ceremony named

[31] President-elect outlines views to Security Council members

[32] Last Cabinet meeting under Papadopoulos Politics

[01] Greek FinMin confident over economic growth

Alogoskoufis said economic growth rate would be around 4.0 pct this year, while he stressed that the government was clear in its intentions over the future of Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation. Anyone wishing to own more than 20 percent of the organization should meet certain criteria, he said, adding that the government was open to examine any interest by a telecoms operator but there was hurry since OTE could continue investing on its own and achieving its strategic goals.

The Greek minister said the government would announce its incomes policy for 2008 in the next few weeks and noted that pay rises would be "within the limitations of the Greek economy". Alogoskoufis said the privatization program has entered a new phase covering infrastructure management and network management enterprises, while he announced that the government was preparing a practice for the partial privatization of the Athens international airport.

He stressed that tax evasion was mainly a state of mind while he noted that the government would immediately begin a communication program aimed to combating tax evasion. He underlined that the government would fully exploit all information from abroad, in cooperation with other European states, over a list of large tax evaders with deposits in banks in Lichtenstein. Commenting on developments in the energy sector, Alogoskoufis said energy policy issues were depended on energy safety and adequacy, combined with environmental protection and underlined that any investments in the sector would be examined in this framework.

He supported a demand to scrap a tax on securities transactions, saying it should be replaced by a super value tax.

The Greek minister said he was very satisfied with the work done by the Economy and Finance ministry, saying "we have a lot of work to do". He added that he had no wish to leave the ministry.

[02] Inner cabinet discusses national spatial plan

"Greece has for the first time acquired a comprehensive spatial plan," Souflias said in statements after the meeting, adding that the plan he presented was one of the most important reforms to take place in Greece in the last decades and would allow Greece to achieve well-rounded development with absolute respect for the environment.

"This means, quite simply, that everyone will know what they can do and where and all activities will have rules that are known in advance," he stressed.

[03] FM Bakoyannis concludes tour of Maghreb countries

The visits to Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia by Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis have sealed Greece's appeal towards the western Mediterranean and paved the way for closer political cooperation and for new markets for Greek businesses and finds Greece present in the region in light of the French proposal for the creation of a Mediterranean Union.

Bakoyannis held bilateral contacts with the state and political leaderships of the three Maghreb countries, in which all sides had a favourable view of the expansion to the east of the "five plus five" formation (that includes the five Maghreb countries and the five European ones in the western Mediterranean) with the participation of Greece and Egypt.

Such an expansion will consolidate the presence of Greece in the western Mediterranean as well, apart from the eastern, where it is already dynamically present and will open new markets for Greek businesses.

The Greek economic mission, with the participation of institutional representatives of Greek businessmen in Algeria under Theodoros Skylakakis, which was combined with the visit by Bakoyannis, shows Greece's practical interest in the region.

Bakoyannis was due to return to Athens from Tunis on Wednesday.

In Tunis she met with the country's President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and with Foreign Minister Abdelwahab Abdallah in the morning.

Speaking after her meeting with her Tunisian counterpart, Bakoyannis said that "Euromediterranean cooperation is very important for us and constitutes a priority for our foreign policy," reiterating what she also told the leaders of Morocco and Algeria that "our joint pursuit is for the Mediterranean to turn into a sea of peace and prosperity."

[04] 'No solution, no NATO entry' Athens warns Skopje

"This is a very serious issue. Our country's attention and what has always been at the core of our policy is not an obsession or a focus on the name for the name but because there was and is a belief, confirmed by the actions taken on the part of the Skopje government, that the name is a vehicle of precisely such irredentist reasoning and irredentist actions. This is the reason why the name issue causes concern. It is not a sentimental or other obsession of Greece over a name," Koumoutsakos stressed.

Questioned about Greece's position on a "double" name for FYROM, the spokesman said that Skopje insisted on presenting the issue as purely bilateral but had failed to reply convincingly to the arguments of the Greek side supporting the opposite.

"Their view on a double name is that there must be one name for the entire world, the constitutional name, and another name that will concern only Greece that they will decide following negotiations - and that this is the object of the negotiations. You can see that such a view on a double formula or double name is not even a starting point for talks," Koumoutsakos said.

He said that the present time was a "turning point" in the process, with talks on the name dispute due to begin in New York on Friday, just days before a meeting of NATO foreign ministers that would also discuss preparations for the upcoming NATO summit in April.

"One of the major issues discussed, if not the most important, will be the Alliance's expansion policy, in which the neighbouring country hopes to be included. The conjunction in time of these critical and important discussions underlines in the clearest way how delicate a stage in time of the negotiations we are now in," the spokesman said.

Asked if the meetings between Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis and the political party leaders had resulted in a consensus on the issue, Koumoutsakos replied that Greece was "currently in the process of negotiations".

"In spite of this, the decision of the government and the foreign ministry to inform the President of the Republic and the leaders of the political parties is given and is being carried out. The reasoning is that all sides are briefed and the conditions and dynamic created for a consensus that is necessary in all issues of foreign policy. The briefing was substantive and the dialogue with the political parties, when needed, will be repeated depending on developments," he said.

He also denied knowledge of any NATO request to change the terms of Greece's participation in the Alliance's force in Afghanistan, which was deployed based on a UNSC resolution:

"Greece has a very important and serious presence in Afghanistan and other missions around the world. It actively participates in missions for peace and stability in the world, always on the basis of a strong legitimacy and is an ally of 55 years. It has its own, substantial, many-faceted and serious participation in the Alliance's efforts all these years. It is a reliable partner and ally in NATO and this must be taken into account both now and in the next stages," he stressed.

[05] Athens to decide on Kosovo recognition at later stage

"Greece will consider all sides and implications of the issue, their repercussions on regional security and Greek interests, and at some later stage will make its decisions," he told reporters in response to questions.

Regarding the possible destabilising effect of Kosovo's declaration of independence for the region, Koumoutsakos said that Greece was not the only country to voice concerns.

"It is not just Greece that talks of concerns, worries and the need to consider but all the countries in the region that are members of the EU and of NATO. Greece is in constant communication with Bulgaria and Romania - there has been a trilateral meeting - while there are many others expressing doubts. This concern is justified. It is a region that is and remains sensitive. The effort must therefore be that this - in objective terms - sensitive region be able to solve such problems in order to build a better future," he said.

On the recent incidents reported from Belgrade, meanwhile, Koumoutsakos stressed the need to respect the obligations arising from the Vienna Convention for the protection of diplomatic missions and their staff in the countries where they were stationed. "Anything else is condemnable," he added.

Asked whether the issue of Kosovo's recognition was linked with the negotiations underway with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) over the name dispute, he said that a positive outcome in the UN-brokered Greece-FYROM talks would help the entire region.

Stressing that the negotiations for the name issue were not taking place in a "geopolitical or other vacuum" but within the environment of the Balkans as a whole, Koumoutsakos said that achieving a mutually accepted solution would boost stability throughout this area.

"If I made any sort of link, it would be this: If, as the Greek government steadfastly desires, a mutually accepted solution is achieved, it is obvious that this will have a beneficial impact on stability in the greater region. Not just in our bilateral relations, which will progress to full normalisation for mutual benefit, but there will also be a very positive and immediate response with regard to the neighbouring country's ambitions to join NATO and the EU," Koumoutsakos pointed out.

He also cited the valuable support given by Greece to others of its Balkan neighbours in their bids to join the EU, such as Bulgaria and Romania, at difficult moments in the accession talks, when many of Greece's EU partners were having doubts or concerns.

"The Greek position, as a neighbouring country better acquainted with the issues in the region, had a very signficant effect on the positive course of the negotiations and the accession process of neighbouring states," the spokesman added.

This would also apply in FYROM's case once the issue troubling Athens was out of the way, Koumoutsakos underlined, while stressing that the only way for the problem to be eradicated was to achieve a mutually accepted solution.

[06] NATO SG De Hoop Scheffer in Athens on Monday

De Hoop Scheffer's visit is taking place in the framework of his contacts ahead of a NATO Summit on April 2-4 in Bucharest.

The NATO chief will be meeting Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis, with talks focusing on the Alliance's expansion, developments in Kosovo and the Western Balkans, EU-NATO relations and the situation in Afghanistan, Koumoutsakos added.

De Hoop Scheffer will also hold a press conference at the end of his talks.

[07] KKE leader briefs President on concerns over Balkan developments

Speaking to reporters after the meetingk Papariga said that Kosovo was a central issue for the entire region, and would have effects even on the FYROM name issue.

She said she rejected the positions of various countries that Kosovo's independence was a "unique" instance, adding that no one could be reassured by those positions.

Papariga further said that the US bases in the Balkans were multiplying in number, and referred to the creation of a large US base in Kosovo, adding that even if serious problems did not break out in the region now, they would at a later time.

She said her party held the government accountable not only for its stance on the Kosovo issue, but also over the fact that Greece has agreed to the despatch of a force to Kosovo, adding that Greece could have vetoed US, as well as EU, expansion to the region.

Questioned on the prospect of a meeting of the political party leaders over the FYROM name issue, Papariga said that such a meeting would have "nothing to give", adding, however, that the KKE was not averse to such a meeting because "the behind-the-scenes are taking place in Brussels, Berlin and elsewhere".

[08] Papariga addresses event in Petroupoli

Referring to the issue of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Papariga said that "the name of FYROM could have been solved much more simply and easier in 1992, without this meaning that only deadlocks exist today."

The KKE leader further said that "a difficulty stems from the fact that 'Pandora's box' is opening with the independence of Kosovo."

Lastly, outlining her party's position, Papariga said that "KKE determines its policy regardless of conjunctures and remains steady on the position of 1992, which is the only realistic one today."

[09] FM spokesman on new Cyprus President, Cyprus efforts

"Our common goal is a viable and functional solution that is compatible with the values of the European Union, in the framework of a bizonal, bicommunal federation, in accordance with the UN decisions and resolutions. A solution that will enable all the inhabitants of the island, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots alike, to benefit from the peace and development dividend that is ensured by participation in the European family," he said.

"Certainty is epxressed that during the new Cyprus President's term in office, all the efforts will be made in that direction, given that everything indicates that 2008 will be an important year for the course of the Cyprus issue," Koumoutsakos concluded.

[10] PASOK leader Papandreou chairs Political and Coordinating Body

On the question of rallies concerning the name of the neighbouring Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), it was assessed during the meeting that "everybody has the right to express his opposition to government policy" and that "the reaction of the people to this policy" is understandable, but it was also stressed that "the country needs a serious foreign policy and appropriate moves and not rallies."

Also discussed were issues concerning the Public Power Corporation (DEH), as well as Papandreou's question to the prime minister on first and second stage educational matters.

Apart from current political developments, the second issue examined was the course towards PASOK's 8th congress and satisfaction was expressed over the completion of the phase of electing delegates to the congress.

Wider consensus was also expressed in principle for PASOK's organisational issues, since it was assessed that the experience obtained in past years has highlighted both the positive and negative aspects of its organisational functioning.

Lastly, PASOK's Central Congress Organising Committee will be convening on Friday.

[11] Government on regulating cybercrime

He said that the CoE convention had been signed in Budapest in November 2001 and that there was no final date for incorporating this into the domestic law of each country.

The spokesman also repeated that a justice ministry committee had been set up in July 2004 to deal with the ratification of the convention by Greece, which had completed its work in September 2006.

At that time, it was decided to reconvene the committee so that it could also consider a framework-decision for attacks on IT systems. This new draft legislation was now completed and would be ready for consideration by Parliament committee in March, Roussopoulos added.

The spokesman explained that this bill, as set out in the Budapest convention and the additional directive, introduced penalties for any interference with data and computer systems and for crimes committed via electronic computer systems.

In addition, its articles facilitated the act of investigating crimes carried out over the Internet by ensuring that traces and evidence were preserved and preventing their destruction. Combined with the bill for communications privacy being prepared by the justice ministry, it would also provide the best protection for citizens against crimes and personal attacks using hi-tech electronic systems.

At the same time, Roussopoulos said the government was not trying to denigrate a means of expression used daily by some 500,000 Greeks registered with the 40,000 blogs used in the country.

"There is no kind of goal for this initiative to detract or devalue this contemporary, modern dialectic that has developed between citizens but to define the points so that basic principles of human values are not violated," he added.

The spokesman also noted that the dates at which the government had initiated action to prepare cybercrime legislation preceded the current blog crisis by several years.

[12] Magistrate asks Parliament to confirm information on slander blog

Parliament's General Secretary Nikos Stefanou has passed the request on to Parliament's Legal Counsel of State for his verdict on this issue.

[13] Archbishop Ieronymos meets President, PM and Parliament presidency

Emerging from the presidential mansion, the archbishop said the meetings were being held one day before the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece was due to convene. Regarding his talks with Papoulias, he said these had focused on issues of substance, such as the Church's charitable and social work and legislation that concerned ecclesiastical affairs.

He said the name dispute with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) had not been discussed during the meeting and repeated the statements he had made in Ioannina on Tuesday regarding the stance of the Church on this issue.

[14] Deputy FM Kassimis concludes tour of Germany

His 10-day tour to the largest cities of Germany where he had contacts with German officials and members of local governments, contributed in the presentation of the Greek position on the name issue of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), which Greece does not view as an Athens-Skopje bilateral issue.

The deputy foreign minister in all the meetings he had, explained that the issue of the name of FYROM is not a bilateral matter, but a major political problem which concerns, apart from the two countries, the European Union as well and stability in the Balkans.

Under this prism, Kassimis called on Germany to contribute in the finding of a solution which will safeguard peace and growth in the region of the Balkans and will not leave margin for future conflicts and claims capable of destabilising the Balkans and Europe in general.

[15] Lt.-Gen. Tsiatouras named new Chief of Police

Tsiatouras has served for years in key departments within the police force, with an impressive history of successes as the head of the organised crime squad.

He is married, and the father of two children.

The promotions and retirements in the police will continue in the Higher Council, to be chaired by the new Chief of Police, with the participation of senior army and police officers.

Commenting on the appointment, main opposition PASOK's "shadow interior minister" Dinos Rovlias said that the government had cast yet another head of the Greek police "to the lions" given that there were 5,376 unfilled permanent positions on the force.

"We wonder what he can achieve under these conditions but sincerely wish him all success in his work, which will be very difficult given the conditions of disintegration in the Greek Police created by the New Democracy government," Rovlias added.

The KYSEA meeting was also briefed on the status of procurement programmes underway for the Greek armed forces by National Defence Minister Evangelos Meimarakis.

"We are trying to get the best price and the best quality but mainly to support the domestic defence industry," Meimarakis said afterwards.

Regarding the purchase of tank missiles, the minister said that talks and negotiations were still underway and that KYSEA would reconvene to make a final decision once they were completed.

[16] Turkey passes Minority foundations Law

Turkish President Abdullah Gul ratified the law regarding vakoufs. After the ratification, the Law was sent for publication in the Government Gazette.

The Law, which substantially improves the administration of the communal and charity foundations (vakoufs), mainly concerns the non-Muslim minorities which were dealt a severe blow in the decades of the 60's and 70's.

The Law leaves unsolved certain important problems of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, of which many monasteries and their properties have been taken over by the state. These take overs are not lifted with the new law and the Patriarchate is already thinking the means with which it will seek the restoration of justice.

[17] Development minister addresses European Research Council

Present at the event was President Karolos Papoulias, ESE members, personalities from the field of university research, as well as research secretary general Ioannis Tsoukalas.

The minister in his address underlined that the transition in the society of knowledge means incorporation of research and technology and the dissemination of their results in society and production.

Financial News

[18] Public works minister presents town planning framework

"The national town planning framework, together with the special town planning frameworks, constitutes one of the most important structural changes that have taken place in the country over the past decades," Environment, Town Planning and Public Works Minister George Souflias told reporters.

The national town planning framework is composed of 14 articles and sets specific goals and timetables.

Consequently, the forest register must be completed within a period of four years, following the ratification of the framework. Sewage networks and biological cleansing in all towns of over 2,000 inhabitants must be completed in five years and the country's administrative and geographical reshaping must be carried out in four years with a decrease in the number of regions, prefectures and municipalities (according to Souflias, the decrease must reach 50 percent).

PASOK reactions

Commenting on Souflias's statements on the national town planning framework discussed by the Inner Cabinet, the main opposition PASOK party's Parliamentary labour sector rapporteur Yiannis Maniatis accused the government of "authoritarianism and arrogance".

"Mr. Souflias and the government are promoting a national town planning framework with arrogance and authoritarianism, that will lead us back to the '70s. They are promoting a model that is anachronistic and accumulative, contrary to every sense and principle of viable and sustainable regional development," Maniatis said.

[19] Deputy FM Doukas on economic diplomacy

Doukas said that the ministry's aim is to promote Greek exports and to attract foreign capital to Greece and mentioned the positive outcome of business missions that he has headed abroad.

"Greece can participate in the progress and development that has been achieved in the countries of southeastern Europe and the Middle East," the deputy minister said.

Commenting also on the impact of economic relations on political relations with foreign countries, Doukas said that "a good economic relationship might not solve all problems, but it certainly provides a better basis."

On his part, Skylakakis spoke of the need to coordinate the activities of the state with those of the private sector and stressed that the ministry is trying to note the needs of businessmen.

[20] Local government authority personnel to stage strike on Thursday

POE-OTA will hold a meeting at the offices of the Federation at Karaiskaki Square and then a march will be held to the Employment and Social Protection Ministry.

The local government personnel are reacting to the government's plans on the social security system, which according to POE-OTA, "targets the two Funds of the branch (TATHKY and TYTHKY) and their reserves and leads them to dissolution."

Blue Star Shipping says merger plan with Attica Holdings to be completed in first half of 2008

Blue Star Shipping SA on Wednesday announced that a merger plan with Attica SA Holdings will be completed by June 30, 2008. Under the plan, Attica Holdings will absorb Blue Star Shipping. Blue Star said it would announce the final transformation date and the recommended share exchange ratio in the next few months.

[21] Frigoglass reports improved 2007 results

Operating earnings (EBIT) rose 13.6 pct to 71.3 million euros, while net profits jumped 18.1 percent to 45.4 million euros. Frigoglass said it completed significant investments in infrastructure projects in Nigeria, China and Russia last year.

[22] Mediterra SA to debut in Alternative Market on Thursday

Mediterra SA operates a retail network of mastihashop. It was founded in 2002 by the Union of Mastiha Growers of Chios and operates a network of 10 retail units in Greece and two abroad. The company will list 7,300,000 common nominal shares in the Alternative market and will use the money from a recently completed share capital increase plan to fund its expansion. Trading on Mediterra's shares will begin at a price of 1.94 euros per share.

[23] Greek stocks end 1.40 pct lower

Most sectors moved lower, with the Telecommunications (3.50 pct), Constructions (2.03 pct) and Food/Beverage (1.86 pct) suffering the heaviest percentage losses of the day, while the Insurance (5.60 pct), Healtchare (0.01 pct) and Financial Services (0.01 pct) scored gains.

The Big Cap index fell 1.22 pct, the Mid Cap index eased 0.52 pct and Small cap index ended 0.01 pct lower. Hellenic Sugar (15.26 pct), Aspis Insurance (11.36 pct) and Aspis Bank (9.69 pct) were top gainers, while ANEK (12.36 pct), Elviemek (9.77 pct) and Microland (8.70 pct) were top losers. Broadly, decliners led advancers by 156 to 84 with another 49 issues unchanged.

Sector indices ended as follows:

Insurance: +5.60%

Industrials: -1.45%

Commercial: -0.15%

Construction: -2.03%

Media: -0.05%

Oil & Gas: -1.49%

Personal & Household: -0.41%

Raw Materials: -1.24%

Travel & Leisure: -1.56%

Technology: -0.98%

Telecoms: -3.50%

Banks: -0.71%

Food & Beverages: -1.86%

Health: +0.01%

Utilities: -1.60%

Chemicals: -0.12%

Financial Services: +0.01%

The stocks with the highest turnover were Marfin Popular Bank, Alpha Bank, Bank of Cyprus and Piraeus Bank.

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

Alpha Bank: 21.18

ATEbank: 3.48

Public Power Corp (PPC): 29.38

HBC Coca Cola: 30.00

Hellenic Petroleum: 9.62

National Bank of Greece: 38.48

EFG Eurobank Ergasias: 19.40

Intralot: 13.00

OPAP: 22.80

OTE: 19.16

Titan Cement Company: 29.42

[24] ADEX closing report

Volume in futures contracts on the Big Cap index totaled 8,727 contracts worth 98.437 million euros, with 25,881 open positions in the market, while on the Mid Cap index volume was 193 contracts worth 5.046 million euros with 439 open positions.

Volume in futures contract on equities totaled 9,467 contracts worth 12.567 million euros, with investment interest focusing on Marfin Popular Bank's contracts (1,688), followed by Marfin Investment Group (441), OTE (1,076), Piraeus Bank (267), Hellenic Exchanges (384), National Bank (321), Alpha Bank (961), Intracom (259), Hellenic Petroleum (763) and Postal Savings Bank (1,536).

[25] Greek bond market closing report

In the domestic interbank market, interest rates were mixed. National Bank's overnight rate was 4.05 pct, the two-day rate 4.05 pct, the one-month rate 4.20 pct and the 12-month rate fell to 4.41 pct from 4.43 pct on Tuesday.

[26] Foreign Exchange Rates - Thursday

U.S. dollar 1.516

Pound sterling 0.763

Danish kroner 7.514

Swedish kroner 9.410

Japanese yen 161.23

Swiss franc 1.620

Norwegian kroner 7.916

Canadian dollar 1.486

Australian dollar 1.614

General News

[27] Greek parliament approves draft law on road help for vehicles

The Greek minister said the draft law aimed at ending unfair competition practices, protecting citizens-consumers, protecting workers, creating new jobs and ensuring quality services in the market.

Main opposition PASOK party deputy Christos Papoutsis, accused the government of presenting a draft legislation failing to create a stable operating framework, while all other opposition political parties rejected the legislation as being ill-prepared.

[28] Petition opposes ENISA removal from Crete

On its website - www.friendsofenisa.eu - the association invites all European citizens to sign its online petition to the European Council and the European Parliament to renew ENISA's mandate at its current official seat in the city of Iraklion on Crete.

Noting that the European Commissioner for the information society Viviane Reding had expressed satisfaction with the work done by ENISA, the group claimed that the "bureacracy surrounding her" was attempting to engineer ENISA's removal from Iraklion by setting up a new telecommunications organisation based in another European country that will take over ENISA's mandate, instead of assigning these competencies to ENISA.

The group asked that people oppose this effort to dismantle ENISA on the grounds that it "undermines the development of a secure Information Society in Europe; wastes without reason significant resources already invested; and violates the European principles of decentralization and regional development."

"We are determined to defend the right to contribute to the European regional development and the evolution of a secure Information Society by supporting ENISA, and we have launched a petition to the European Parliament and the European Council for the long-term renewal of ENISA mandate in its current seat," the association notes on its website.

[29] Modern Chinese art exhibition to be held in Athens

Works of 42 artists will be on display.

The exhibition is organised within the framework of the Greek-Chinese cultural exchanges which is intensified this year, with the Olympic Games and Greece as the theme country in China.

It is being held with the support of the Greek Embassy in China.

The exhibition will last until May 26.

Olympic Games

[30] 'High priestess' in Olympic Torch ceremony named

Maria Nafpliotou is the 10th High Priestess in the history of the Olympic Flame and the 9th in the history of summer Olympic Games.

Also, the Plenary Session of the Hellenic Olympic Committee decided that Mrs. Artemis Ignatiou, will be the choreographer of the Lighting Ceremony in the place of Mrs. Maria Horss who retired, after 50 years of invaluable contribution.

Cyprus Affairs

[31] President-elect outlines views to Security Council members

Cyprus President-elect Demetris Christofias on Wednesday sent a clear message to the five permanent members of the UN Security Council with regard to his positions on the search for a political settlement.

Christofias outlined his views during meetings with the ambassadors of Russia, the US and China in Nicosia who communicated to him congratulations from their respective leaders and words of encouragement for progress towards a negotiated solution.

"I conveyed the right message to the ambassadors and my wish to resume the dialogue with the Turkish Cypriots, but also stressed that such a dialogue must not revoke anything the Security Council has approved so far nor must discussions annul anything the leaders of the two communities have agreed," he told the press after the meetings.

He said it was necessary for him to explain again his positions and his vision with regard to future negotiations, that would reunite the country, divided since the 1974 Turkish invasion.

Christofias will be sworn in on Thursday before the House plenary and officially, he will assume his duties on March 1. He is expected to announce the composition of his Cabinet on Friday, as consultations and meetings continue with the political parties that backed his presidential candidacy.

Questioned by the press on this, he said he would work, as he has always done, with "consensus" to form his government but remained tight-lipped as to his plans on the make-up of his Cabinet.

Christofias was elected President, the sixth President of the Republic, on Sunday with 53.36% of the votes against his opponent Ioannis Kasoulides who got 46.64%. This is the first time the country's largest party, left-wing AKEL put forward its own candidate for the presidency.

[32] Last Cabinet meeting under Papadopoulos

The Council of Ministers convened on Wednesday for the last time under outgoing President of the Republic of Cyprus Tassos Papadopoulos.

In statements to the press, Government Spokesman Vasilis Palmas said that during this last meeting, President Papadopoulos expressed his gratitude to the members of his Cabinet for their cooperation and constructive collaboration through the years.

Palmas said that on behalf of the Ministers, Minister of Defense Christodoulos Pashiardes thanked President Papadopoulos for his trust and the close cooperation they have had over the years.

He also said that the members of the Cabinet believe they have done their utmost in meeting President Papadopoulos' expectations.

The spokesman said that President Papadopoulos will continue to be active in the local political scene.

"President Papadopoulos will continue to be near the people, by making his own interventions, especially in matters concerning the Cyprus issue. He will open a political bureau which will be ready in a couple of days", he added.

Papadopoulos, who was seeking re-election, failed to qualify for the second round of presidential elections and was excluded from the final round of the presidential race.

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