Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 08-05-12

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

CONTENTS

[01] OTE deal will benefit all, Transport minister predicts

[02] Fuel shortage looms due to strike

[03] Transport minister hopeful of a settlement soon

[04] Deputy FM Valinakis visits Argentina & Peru

[05] PASOK leader to meet Cyprus House Speaker

[06] KKE rules out joining 'national unity' government

[07] Synaspismos leader Tsipras addresses party's Central Political Committee

[08] Synaspismos's Central Political Committee convenes

[09] Transport minister on airport modernisation

[10] Tourism minister opens international yachting symposium

[11] Ecumenical Patriarch, Athens Archbishop hold mass at Fanar

[12] Alexandria Patriarchate Library inaugurated

[13] Development minister inaugurates Pramoritsa dam in Kozani

[14] More domestic flights cancelled due to OA strike on Sunday

[15] 'Furnidec' and 'Auto-Moto Fiesta' exhibitions in Thessaloniki

[16] Foreign Exchange Rates - Monday

[17] 20,000 take part in 25th Tour of Athens

[18] Six Greek films to be screened in Spain

[19] 14th Aegean Sea Crossing to begin on Sunday

[20] Border guards arrest 23 illegal immigrants in Kastoria

[21] Illegal immigrants arrested in Samos

[22] Earthquake recorded off Cape Tenaros

[23] Pupil publication awards

[24] Event on the theme 'Africa Day'

[25] Partly cloudy on Monday

[26] Athens' Sunday newspapers at a glance

[01] OTE deal will benefit all, Transport minister predicts

According to the minister, the deal would prove beneficial to OTE, its staff but also the country as a whole:

"The government ensures through this agreement that there will be substantial veto powers on a numbre of crucial issues, which will obviously also have to do with our national security," the minister stressed.

He described the agreement as "balanced" in that the daily management would be the responsibility of OTE's CEO, who would be a person also approved by the Greek government.

Regarding the labour rights of OTE staff under the new management, Hatzidakis said OTE employees would find themselves better off and more secure, since they would belong to the largest European telecoms organisation and not to a fund, as was the case today.

He also stressed that Greek labour laws would continue to apply and that there would be consultation between OTE's management and the Greek government on all critical issues.

[02] Fuel shortage looms due to strike

Tanker truck owners, along with owners of other heavy goods vehicles, have been on strike for a week now in order to demand rate increases of 13 percent in order to cover mounting costs that have soared as a result of rising oil prices. The government has offered 5 percent, by contrast.

The head of the tanker truckers federation, however, has indicated that truckers are prepared to sit down to talks with the government to work out a compromise.

On Friday evening, the striking truckers had a meeting with Transport and Communications Minister Kostis Hatzidakis, who made some concessions that were directly in the control of his own ministry, such as allowing specific categories of vehicle to use national highways at weekends. He also promised to intervene with Employment Minister Fani Palli-Petralia to solve problems concerning social insurance issues for the sector.

He was, however, unable to satisfying their main demand - an increase in rates and fares - saying that this was the responsibility of the finance ministry.

The tanker truckers' union federation is due to hold its general assembly on Monday to decide what to do next. If it chooses to extend the strike, then it is almost certain that there will be serious problems with fuel shortages though not necessarily limited to these.

The truckers strike is also expected to affect the smooth operation of markets in general, with tonnes of goods struck at ports and customs posts, while several perishable goods may be completely ruined. Incidents occured at Iraklion port on Saturday, for example, when truckers attempted to prevent 20 lorries of produce from boarding a ferry bound for Piraeus.

Also to join the strike to demand higher fare increases are taxi drivers, who have called a 24-hour strike beginning at 5:00 a.m. on Monday to seek a higher increase in fares then the 5 percent offered by the government, again citing higher costs due to rising oil prices.

[03] Transport minister hopeful of a settlement soon

Noting that he had already satisifed demands that directly concerned the transport ministry, Hatzidakis revealed that he had been in contact with Finance Minister George Alogoskoufis in order to intercede on behalf of the strikers in order to settle the financial aspects of their demands, as well as with Petralia regarding pension-related demands.

The minister said that Alogoskoufis had asked him to reassure truckers of his personal guarantee that demands on which the economy ministry general secretary had already made an initial verbal promise would be met.

Petralia has also promised to meet representatives of truck owners on her return from a trip abroad on Monday.

Hatzidakis expressed hope that striking truckers would respond to the good will shown by the government and end their strike by Monday.

[04] Deputy FM Valinakis visits Argentina & Peru

During his stay in Argentina, Valinakis will have consultations at the Foreign Ministry with Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana and his counterpart Tacetti, where an agreement will be signed for Greece-Argentina economic cooperation.

Valinakis will later visit Peru to represent Greece at the 5th EU-Latin America Summit. On the sidelines of the summit, Valinakis will have meetings with Costa Rica Foreign Minister Bruno Stango Ugarte, his Peruvian counterpart Gonzalo Gutierrez Reinel, with the First Vice President and Foreign Minister of Panama Samuel Lewis Navarro, with El Salvador Foreign Minister Marisol Argueta de Barillas, during which a Memorandum of Understanding will be signed between the foreign ministries of Greece and El Salvador and a Cooperation Memorandum for economic cooperation between the two countries.

[05] PASOK leader to meet Cyprus House Speaker

[06] KKE rules out joining 'national unity' government

According to Papariga, the peoples' interests were best served by "a weak government and a weak main opposition".

She added that KKE had an alternative proposal for power, which was a "proposal for a way out" and required the rallying and alliance of social popular forces on the front of the struggle against monopolies and the EU for a peoples' power.

Turning her fire against left-wing rivals Coalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology (SYN), she said the party was "distorting the meaning of renewal and undermining the development and radicalisation of the popular movement" and noted that on the issue of Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation (OTE), in particular, SYN was essentially on the same side as the two main parties, ruling New Democracy and main opposition PASOK.

In an article in the newspaper "Rizospastis", meanwhile, KKE outlined a detailed proposal for Greece's health sector, calling for a system that was free and run exclusively by the state sector.

[07] Synaspismos leader Tsipras addresses party's Central Political Committee

In his address, Tsipras said that "the world economic crisis, the bankruptcy of capitalism is not an aspect of the expectation of certain leftist and Marxist economists, but constitutes a reality, regardless of the interpretation one gives and it is admitted by all that the model of the 'divine' model of the market is going bankrupt and the hegemony of neo-liberalism is being disputed."

The Synapismos leader referred to the government's policy and criticized Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis because "Mr. Karamanlis, directing himself to the European bankers, assured that the reforms, that is, the handing over of the infrastructures and of public wealth to private interests, will continue. And that the government's objective are labour relations and the safeguarding of the unbridled profiteering of banks and of major enterprises."

Tsipras charged that the prime minister "is pretending he is not hearing."

He also accused Karamanlis for the high cost of living in Greece.

[08] Synaspismos's Central Political Committee convenes

In his introduction, Panagiotis Lafazanis, member of Synaspismos's Political Secretariat, said that "an international capitalistic crisis is in full swing with multiple repercussions and tragic social consequences."

At the same time, he criticized the neo-liberal model and the Greek government for its options.

Lafazanis said that "the neo-liberal 'globalisation' is supposed to secure world 'competition'," noting that "the sudden entry into the world market of about one billion cheap labour force (China, India, eastern Europe), brings about low inflation and in extension low interest rates."

He added that "all the previous years the interest rates, inflation, salaries were constantly restricted and showed a downward trend. However, miracles last for three days. Today, the international interest rates and more so international inflation show a new great upsurge."

Health minister inaugurates new surgeries in Patras hospital

Health and Social Solidarity Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos on Saturday inaugurated the new surgeries of Egio Hospital in Patras, Peloponnese, which had been destroyed about 14 months ago by fire.

Avramopoulos said "we implemented the commitments which we had given a year ago, for the future of this very important for public health hospital, which passed through adventures after the fire in the surgeries, but in between, all the necessary procedures were made so that today for it having acquired the most modern surgeries in Greece."

After the reconstruction work, the Egio Hospital acquired seven modern surgeries which cost 3,282,899 euros. The surgeries have already started operating and more than 170 operations have been made.

[09] Transport minister on airport modernisation

Among the measures he listed was that of free access to the Internet through WiFi technology that would be initially be launched at the airports of Hios, Rhodes, Iraklio, Kos, Thessaloniki and Corfu. This will allow travellers with a laptop wireless Internet access while they are within the grounds of the airport and already exists for some time at Athens International Airport.

He also spoke of an "overall comprehensive approach" to airport modernisation that will include attracting private investments and construction of projects through public-private joint ventures.

[10] Tourism minister opens international yachting symposium

Spiliotopoulos opened the symposium on Saturday, noting that yachts and other craft accounted for 9 percent of revenue when the sector actually represented less than 2 percent of the tourism traffic to the country.

The minister also stressed that Greece remained a powerful force in tourism involving sea-going craft and that the sector had huge potential for development.

[11] Ecumenical Patriarch, Athens Archbishop hold mass at Fanar

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I and Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece set the official seal on the Greek Church leader's first visit to Fanar on Sunday by jointly holding a mass at the historic monastery of Zoodochou Pigis at Valukli.

In a sermon during the service, Bartholomew referred to the close ties between the Greek Church and Fanar and also stressed that the acts of 1850 and 1928 that granted the Church of Greece its autocephalous and administratively independent status "should not be seen as uprooting the branch from the original grapevine, nor falsely presenting the limits set during the ecumenical synods and agreed upon by the Fathers of the Church".

He added that those things that "irregularly grew from the grapevine of the Church as a 'greedy offshoot' would be considered a damaging growth" and "cast into the fire for not bearing good fruit".

Replying to the Patriarch, Archbishop Ieronymos also stressed the "absolute respect" of the Church of Greece for everything it had received from Fanar and said that the "Patriarchal and Synodical tome of 1850 are the fundamental text and the basis for us. We seek nothing more and do not intend to implement anything less."

He also promised that any "difficulties or lapses" that may have occured in the past would not be allowed to once again return to the forefront by any means.

A few years ago, when Ieronymos' predecessor Christodoulos was Archbishop of Athens, a rancorous dispute had broken out with Fanar over the ecclesiastical administration of the so-called 'new lands' dioceses in northern Greece, with Phanar demanded strict adherence to the Act of 1928 and a greater say in the appointments made there, which the Greek Church opposed for legal reasons. A settlement satisfactory to both sides was eventually reached just before the summer of 2004.

[12] Alexandria Patriarchate Library inaugurated

The preservation of the extremely important Alexandria Patriarchate Library is a fact.

With money by the National Bank of Greece, the renowned collections of the library were preserved by the experts of the National Bank's Cultural Foundation and are henceforth highlighted at the Alexandria Patriarchate Mansion, where the library's inauguration was held on Friday with pomp.

The collection totals 40,000 books and 7,000 old manuscripts and rare editions dating from 1460 to 1800.

In his address during the inauguration ceremony, Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa Theodoros II, said "the codes of centuries, manuscripts which contain the history, doctrines and theology of Orthodoxy, but also old books, which record moments from the long-time cultural contribution of Egyptian Hellenism, but of our Nation as a whole, are shown anew in the scientific research so as to survive the decay of time and to pass on unharmed to the next generations."

The inauguration of the Alexandria Patriarchate Library took place in the presence of National Bank President Takis Arapoglou who is of Alexandrian origin.

The ceremony was also attended by the presence of Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Theodoros Kassimis, World Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE) President Stefanos Tamvakis, Alexandria Governor Adel Labib, many members of the Holy Synod of the Alexandria Patriarchate, diplomats and local officials.

During the welcoming of National Bank President Takis Arapoglou at the Hall of the Throne of the Patriarchate, Patriarch Theodoros II bestowed to Arapoglou the Grand Cross of Saint Mark, which is the highest distinction of the Alexandrian Church.

Financial News

[13] Development minister inaugurates Pramoritsa dam in Kozani

The Pramoritsa dam, budgeted at 48 million euros opens the way for the water supply of about 70 settlements in western Macedonia.

The complex technical project was financed by the Cohesion Fund, by national resources and by capital of Kozani local government.

Speaking to ANA-MPA, Kozani Prefect George Dakis noted that "soon, and probably by the end of 2008, the two electricity power plants will go into operation and which will be provided by the dam."

[14] More domestic flights cancelled due to OA strike on Sunday

The changes to Sunday's flight schedule included the cancellation of eight flights from Athens to the Greek islands of Paros, Kos, Naxos, Leros, Astypalaia and Skiathos, the northwestern Greek city of Ioannina and a flight from Thessaloniki to Istanbul.

In addition, the two flights scheduled for each of the islands of Santorini, Limnos and Lesvos will be merged into one, while departure times will change for the flight to the island of Hios, which will now depart at 19:20 instead of 18:25 and a flight from Athens to Thessaloniki, which will take place at 23:50 instead of 23:20.

Finally, a flight from Rhodes stopping at the islands of Karpathos, Kassos, Sitia and back again will be modified and will not stop at Sitia on Sunday.

[15] 'Furnidec' and 'Auto-Moto Fiesta' exhibitions in Thessaloniki

Taking part in the "Furnidec 2008" exhibition are 173 exhibitors.

On Saturday and Sunday, Furnidec will operate from 11:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. while on week days from 4:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Auto-Moto will operate the same hours as Furnidec.

[16] Foreign Exchange Rates - Monday

U.S. dollar 1.558

Pound sterling 0.800

Danish kroner 7.521

Swedish kroner 9.364

Japanese yen 160.08

Swiss franc 1.621

Norwegian kroner 7.906

Canadian dollar 1.571

Australian dollar 1.659

General News

[17] 20,000 take part in 25th Tour of Athens

It began in the morning with a speech from Athens Mayor Nikitas Kaklamanis at the starting point, the marble-covered Panathenian Stadium that hosted the first-ever Olympic Games of 1896, who said that the Tour of Athens had become a "cultural and athletic institution".

"This year it coincides with Mother's Day and for this reason we decided to dedicate this Tour of Athens to the Greek mother and, if you will permit me, because it is nearly a year since last year's terrible fires, to dedicate specially to the memory of that mother that was lost with her four children," Kaklamanis said.

Everyone is welcome to take part in the Tour of Athens, which includes a special section starting at Syntagma Square for disabled participants. This year's race began at 10:00 and ended at around noon, following the usual route around central streets in the capital that had been cleared of traffic for the race.

It was flanked by various events and entertainments that ended at around 13:00. Among the highlights, the opportunity for participants to have their photograph taken with the Olympic Torch used in the Olympic Torch relay for the Beijing 2008 Games, a lottery, a concert by the Greek band "Dytikes Synoikies" and a show by the national basketball team Cheerleaders.

The main sponsor of this year's race was the company Samsung, while other sponsors included the companies Peugeot, Avra Active-cap, the television and radio channels ANT1, the radio station Athens 98.4, Ster Cinemas, the newspaper Metro and the magazine Woman Symbol.

[18] Six Greek films to be screened in Spain

The inauguration of the "Greek Cinema Cycle" will be held on Wednesday, May 21, with the screening of the film "Brides" by Pantelis Voulgaris. All the films will be screened with Spanish sub-titles.

[19] 14th Aegean Sea Crossing to begin on Sunday

This week-long tour of the Aegean is carried out with the support of the Merchant Marine, Aegean and Island Policy Ministry and its aim is to provide support and relief to the outlying and small islands of the Aegean Sea by carrying out medical examinations and providing teaching materials to their inhabitants, as well as inaugurating sports facilities.

During this year's crossing, the Aegean Team will visit the islets of Fournous and Thymaina.

[20] Border guards arrest 23 illegal immigrants in Kastoria

Instead of stopping, however, the two cars picked up speed and tried to get away. The border guards gave chase and managed to immobilise the two cars in a nearby rural road but were unable to catch their drivers and the immigrant smugglers, who escaped and are being sought.

The two cars were confiscated and 23 Albanian illegal immigrants found in the area were arrested.

The illegal immigrants, who will appear before a Kastoria Misdemeanours prosecutor, said they had paid the immigrant smugglers 400-500 euros each in order to be taken to Athens.

[21] Illegal immigrants arrested in Samos

The illegal immigrants said that they set off from the Turkish coast in a dinghy which they destroyed when they saw the Greek patrol boat approaching.

They were transferred to Samos General Hospital for precautionary reasons.

Investigations have been launched by the Samos Port Authority.

[22] Earthquake recorded off Cape Tenaros

The epicentre of the quake was calculated to be 225 kilometres southwest of Athens, in a region under the sea south of Cape Tenaros, the extreme southwestern tip of the Peloponnese.

[23] Pupil publication awards

The pupils' professors referred to the success of the institution which constitutes a lever for the creative ability of children and teenagers.

The awards were given by mass media directors, among them being "TA NEA" newspaper director Pantelis Kapsis.

ESHEA president Panos Sombolos congratulated the newspaper for the initiative.

[24] Event on the theme 'Africa Day'

The sessions will be opened by Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis, while Deputy Foreign Minister Petros Doukas, who is responsible for economic diplomacy, will also address the event.

Taking part in the event will be representatives of governments of African countries, ambassadors, academics and representatives of Greek and international businesses and banks.

Weather Forecast

[25] Partly cloudy on Monday

[26] Athens' Sunday newspapers at a glance

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "Everything is changing in the police".

APOGEVMATINI: "Which construction cooperatives can build [under the new spatial planning bill]".

AVGHI: "1.5 million workers in the insecure employment zone" [claims 35 percent of Greek workforce are trapped in jobs with little security, such as temporary work or informal work].

AVRIANI: "Americans are tearing down the European colossus Siemens in order to grab its share of projects throughout the world".

CHORA: "Costas and we. Exclusive: Russian diplomats talk to Chora on Sunday" [article focusing on relations between Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis and Vladimir Putin, as well as the significance of the South Stream pipeline deal].

ELEFTHERI ORA: "Archbishop of Athens and All Greece" (article claiming that crucial talks are taking place between the head of the Greek Church Archbishop Ieronymos and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I in Fanar regarding the controversial issue of the "New Lands").

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "The 'landmines' of [Environment Minister George] Souflias and OTE scare Maximos Mansion [PM's office]".

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "The price of arms" [claims a flurry of activity by diplomats and middlemen after government decided to create a list of defence procurements, with political criteria dominating the financial decisions.

EPOHI: "Both hugely expensive and dangerous...the government is going ahead with its policies, as PASOK shoots blanks".

ETHNOS: "Grey manifesto for Thrace and Aegean" (refers to "upgraded and updated claims" against Greece for areas in the Aegean and Thrace that have been posted by the Turkish foreign ministry's new web-page set up a few weeks earlier).

KATHIMERINI: "Elections for rectors a test of democracy" (predicting that these may trigger more student protests and have to be held in the presence of police).

LOGOS: "Government's economic team tries to put brakes on imported inflation".

NIKI of DEMOCRACY: "Rift between [Prime Minister Costas] Karamanlis and society".

PARON: "Koronias at OTE. Hurrah for bugs..." [claims Siemens intends to place the executive that dominated the Vodafone phone-tapping scandal at the head of the phone utility].

PROTO THEMA: "We've been eating crude oil since February". [Article on a food scandal involving a batch of adulterated sunflower oil being sold on Greek markets.

RIZOSPASTIS: "Communist Party of Greece (KKE) positions on health. Framework of popular rallying and action"

TO VIMA: "The power business, the nuclear challenge and Greece".

VRADYNI: "Everything turned upside down for 'heavy and hazardous' labour categories. Social insurance reforms: who will be able to retire earlier".

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