Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 09-04-02

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM Karamanlis stresses importance of research, technology for country's economic growth

[02] Top gov't council eyes anti-crime measures

[03] Parliament on Social Cohesion Fund

[04] MPs approve 5 pct cut in their pay

[05] KKE leader on strike, G20 summit, measures against crime

[06] Alavanos visits mental health center in Egaleo

[07] New armed forces leadership presented to President

[08] FM Bakoyannis to receive new Russian Federation ambassador

[09] File involving ex-minister forwarded to parliament

[10] Draft bill raises extraordinary tax on high-income earners

[11] General labor, media strike on Thursday

[12] ADEDY protest over welfare fund

[13] PASOK development sector representative on Competition Committee

[14] Arab-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce and Development

[15] Obama economic adviser in Athens for Economist con'f

[16] Report: Sharp rise in Internet use by Greek households

[17] Internet use by Greek businesses

[18] GENOP-DEH holds protest outside Development ministry

[19] Higher EIB presence in Greece for '09

[20] Viohalco reports mixed 2008 results

[21] Hotel federation categorically rejects press claims of price hikes, says rates falling

[22] Greek PMI down to 38.2 points in March

[23] Greek stocks end 0.34% down

[24] Greek bond market closing report

[25] Foreign Exchange rates - Thursday

[26] PM, Patriarch at landmark art Paris exhibition featuring Mt. Athos-Byzantium

[27] Pavlopoulos on Philhellenism and International Solidarity Day

[28] International Astronomy Year events hosted by National Observatory of Athens

[29] Ancient cemetery yields clues about 'isolated' Kilkis community

[30] Greek company to paint Eiffel Tower for 120th 'birthday'

[31] Noted therapist, author Yalom lecture in Athens

[32] Anniversary of film 'Z' by Costa-Gavras

[33] Photo exhibition at HFC Centre in Belgrade

[34] Voutsis trial for bank robbery begins

[35] Bank robber abandons loot, escapes

[36] Vandals target university's server, data

[37] Seven arrested for 'pirate' Nova services

[38] Arson attacks at banks in Peristeri

[39] Greece beats Israel in 2010 World Cup qualifier

[40] Cloudy, rainy on Thursday

[41] The Wednesday edition of Athens' dailies at a glance

[42] Cyprus President: Thursday's UN-led meeting postponed

[43] House President briefs President of Romania on the Cyprus issue

[44] Rehn: Transitional periods for derogations for Cyprus, exceptional Politics

[01] PM Karamanlis stresses importance of research, technology for country's economic growth

The prime minister stressed that the government has done and will continue to do all that it can, with a series of measures, to curb the repercussions of the crisis on Greece and, in this framework, he termed Research and Technology a "basic element."

Karamanlis further said that the "wager" is a big one for all and added that continuous mobilisation is necessary, by both the private and public sectors. He called on Greek businesses in particular to place emphasis on innovation and new forms of production and noted that the country's main production model is already changing.

He also spoke of a "technological gap" that the previous government has left behind and stressed that the present government is placing priority on research and technology investments and for this reason over one billion euros have been earmarked in the ESPA 2007-2013 programme for activities in technology, research and innovation, an amount that is about triple the corresponding funds of the 3rd Community Support Framework.

Referring to the national policy on strengthening innovation (that, as he said, is dentified with growth), he pointed out, among other things, that small and medium-size businesses are now being supported, emphasis is being placed on boosting basic research at universities and Research Centres and Institutes and substantive incentives are provided for businesses for investments in high technology.

On the question of climatic change, the prime minister said that it constitutes a great challenge, that "bold steps for ridding dependence on hydrocarbonates" are necessary and parallel emphasis must be placed on renewable energy sources. He stressed that Greece is already implementing consistently a new energy policy aimed, among other things, at reducing its "energy imprint" and further pointed out that the government supports "green" professions.

Karamanlis also mentioned that, under the present negative international economic conditions, devoting 1.5 percent of GDP to research and technology is not an easy target, but reassured that every effort will be made in the coming years to support innovation, reminding that from 2007 to 2010 all the years have been declared "Innovation Years." In this context, he underlined the reshaping of the institutional framework for research and technology.

Addressing the same conference, Development Minister Costis Hatzidakis said that "in our country, the sector of research and technology, a peak sector in all the developed world, takes second and third place in the public discussion although it is a sector that is related directly to growth, competitiveness, the improvement of the quality of life of citizens."

The minister further stressed that "countries like ours in particular, that cannot compete with those in the wider region, that have cheap labour hands, must place, among other things, emphasis on new technologies to improve their position on the competitiveness chart. They must invest in research, and primarily in research that is linked to production, so as to be able to obtain a considerable comparative advantage."

[02] Top gov't council eyes anti-crime measures

In statements afterwards, Deputy Interior Minister Christos Markoyiannakis, who holds the public order portfolio in the ministry, stressed that the government will increase manpower and support for Greek Police (EL.AS). Moreover, he said the operation of cameras in public places is absolutely imperative to fight crime, citing what he called the experience gain by law enforcement agencies in other countries in Europe.

Justice Minister Nikos Dendias also participated in the meeting.

In later statements during a regular press briefing, government spokesman Evangelos Antonaros dismissed allegations that the measures to better fight crime in the country meant a "militarisation" of the police force, saying that EL.AS has a specific role to meet, similar to law enforcement in every other democratic society in the world.

[03] Parliament on Social Cohesion Fund

Presenting the decision to the Plenum, Parliament President Dimitris Sioufas reminded that the deputies have agreed that there should be no increase in their Parliamentary remuneration for the year 2008, following the remuneration of the Supreme Court President and that they will be receiving no increase in 2009.

He added that this decision was taken, also taking into consideration the recent global monetary crisis that is being experiencing and its repercussions on the economy and society and the need for Parliament to express social solidarity for those who are experiencing very difficult conditions.

[04] MPs approve 5 pct cut in their pay

Presenting the draft resolution, Parliament President Dimitris Sioufas also pointed out that MPs had agreed that there should be no increase to their salaries for 2008, in line with the salary of the Supreme Court President, and no increase in 2009.

"This decision is taken bearing in mind the recent global financial crisis we are undergoing and the repercussions of this on the economy and society, which are felt most acutely by individuals and households with a low annual income, and the need for the Greek Parliament to express social solidarity towards those that, at the present time, are in very difficult circumstances," Sioufas said.

In addition to the above, MPs will also contribute to the one-off levy imposed by the government for those with personal incomes greater than 60,000 euros a year, while a further 10 percent of their Parliamentary salary is withheld from the first day of their election for the political parties.

Sioufas also pointed to a decision to cut back Parliament's elastic costs by 10 percent in 2009.

[05] KKE leader on strike, G20 summit, measures against crime

"The class labour movement must show its clout. It must be proved that the united front of those who work in the public and private sector are determined to demand, to increase their demands, not to make the slightest sacrifice on the altar of profits, with an existing problem or on the occasion of the crisis as well," she said.

Asked to comment on the G20 summit in London, Papariga said "I believe that many things have already been decided in advance. Simply, they will be trying there to hide their big disagreements, because as you are aware, they are quarrelling among themselves as to who will dominate the other, who will exit from the crisis unscathed at the expense of the other and all together at the expense of the working people. Working people have nothing to expect from this summit, just like they can expect nothing from the much-publicised Chile summit, where the vice president of the U.S. blessed the socialist leaders as well and who, indeed, found the opportunity to make extreme anti-communism at this summit."

Referring to the government's measures to crack down on violence and crime, she said "their logic is more suppression. We can say with great certainty, also having as a basis European and Greek experience, that the greater the suppression the more doors will be open to crime and to provocation."

Lastly, asked to comment on statements by the U.S. ambassador to Athens on the U.S. president's trip to Turkey, Papariga said "it is a classic American intervention. Heads in. Look, we are interested in Afghanistan now."

[06] Alavanos visits mental health center in Egaleo

After touring the premises, which include furniture and carpet workshops, Alavanos underlined the very important work done and rejected the freezing of funds in the sector of the rehabilitation of people with psychosocial problems.

Alavanos called on the government to support the sectors of textile, stockbreeding and the unemployed.

As regards the G-20 meeting, he underlined that each one of the 20 leaders participating have their own interests and viewpoints pointing out that the unemployed and the poor have no voice in Europe.

[07] New armed forces leadership presented to President

Addressing the country's new military leadership, Papoulias referred to Greece's stabilising role and the deterrent power of the Armed Forces, noting that their readiness was a basic condition for guarding the country's territorial integrity, and expressed confidence that the new leadership would prove itself worthy of the task, congratulating them on their appointment.

[08] FM Bakoyannis to receive new Russian Federation ambassador

[09] File involving ex-minister forwarded to parliament

According to the examining magistrate, the law on ministerial accountability is activated by a mortgage taken out by Pavlidis' daughter in July 2006, with the option to be paid off in 20 years which, however, was fully repaid in less than a year, in January 2007.

Following a preliminary investigation last August, a prosecutor charged Pavlidis' former aide Panayiotis Zachariou in connection with claims by shipowner Fotis Manousis that he paid a bribe to secure state subsidies for ferryboat contracts to remote islands.

Financial News

[10] Draft bill raises extraordinary tax on high-income earners

The proposal initially tabled by the government provided for extraordinary tax of 5,000 euros for all declared annual incomes higher than 150,000 euros.

According to Papathanassiou, the extraordinary measure is directly linked with the ongoing economic crisis and does not constitute permanent change in tax policy.

The amendment suggests that incomes between 150,001 and 300,000 euros will pay extraordinary tax of 5,000 euros; for incomes between 300,001 and 500,000 euros the tax will be 10,000 euros and those declaring annual income between 500,001 and 700,000 euros will pay 15,000 euros.

Incomes of 700,001-900,000 euros will pay 20,000 euros and those higher than 900,000 euros will pay an extraordinary contribution of 25,000 euros.

[11] General labor, media strike on Thursday

The strike, called jointly by the General Confederation of Workers of Greece (GSEE) and the Civil Servants' Supreme Administrative Council (ADEDY), is expected to bring the country to a standstill, as it covers the public and private sectors, the state utilities and organizations (DEKO) and banks, including public transport and air traffic controllers.

A main demonstration will be staged in downtown Athens, beginning with a rally at 11:00 at the Pedion tou Areos Park followed by a march to parliament, while the PAME organisation has scheduled its own rally at Omonia Square a half hour earlier.

Similar demonstrations will take place in Thessaloniki and other cities around Greece.

Media unions will be on strike from 6:00 a.m. Thursday to 6:00 a.m. Friday.

Public transport will be participating in the strike with work stoppages. The Athens Metro and ISAP train employees will hold two work-stoppages, from the beginning of the morning shift to 9:00 a.m. and from 9:00 p.m. to the end of the night shift. The ETHEL city buses and ILPAP trolley employees will hold work stoppages from the beginning of the morning shift to 8:00 a.m. and from 10:00 p.m. to the end of the night shift.

The tram employees will be on a 24-hour strike.

The TRAINOSE intercity railway employees will also be on a 24-hour strike, obliging the company to cancel all its passenger and commercial routes for the day, including international routes.

The EXPRESS bus lines serving the Athens 'Eleftherios Venizelos' International Airport routes will not be running from 5:00 to 8:00 a.m. and from 8:00 p.m. to midnight.

Air Traffic Controllers will hold a work stoppage from 12:00 noon to 4:00 p.m., forcing Olympic Airlines to alter its flights schedule. Passengers are requested to contact Olympic Airlines on 21-9666666 and 801-11-44444 for flight information. Aegean Airlines will also be cancelling or changing flights.

Passenger vessels will also not be sailing on Thursday, as the Panhellenic Seamen's Federation (PNO) will be on a 24-hour strike.

[12] ADEDY protest over welfare fund

The union said the decision to shift the cost of its cash flow crisis onto the workforce instead of seeking immediate financial support from the state was unacceptable.

An announcement by the head of the fund Gerassimos Thomopoulos, meanwhile, said that the fund was at risk of folding under the pressure of a waiting list of some 15,800 applications for lump sum payments. He said that the fund's dire economic straits were the result of a sharp increase in the number of civil servants going into retirement, a reduction in new public-sector recruitments and the repercussions of allowing people to "buy off" previous years insurance payments.

The announcement added that the fund's board had also decided to ask for immediate financial assistance of 150 million euros in order to clear the applications for lump sums by the end of the year and another 50 million euros to meet payments until March 31, 2010.

The fund has additionally decided to make each public-sector employees pay half a month's salary toward the Fund, payable in 36 monthly installments, but trade unions oppose the measure, since it comes in the midst of the economic crisis and a freeze on public-sector salaries. Among the trade union's arguments are the fact that the state generated additional costs of 1.3 billion euros for the fund as a result of social policies that burden the fund.

The proposals have been referred to the employment ministry, which has to first give its approval.

[13] PASOK development sector representative on Competition Committee

"Even the admission of failure itself would be encouraging, however, even today, but on one condition: That the relevant minister would have brougth to the negotiating table arrangements that would aim at strengthening the independence of the Competition Committee and the promotion of the considerable task that it is being called on to carry out in an extremely inflexible and cartelised market, such as the Greek one is," he said.

Chrysohoidis further said that "unfortunately, with the fireworks of the so-called 'toughening' of penalties, the government is attempting here as well, just like with the hoods, to 'cover up' the serious problems of competition that the Greek market is facing and of internal functioning, the problems that are located in the Committee itself."

[14] Arab-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce and Development

The conference was held in light of the holding of a Business Mission to Libya on April 25-29, 2009.

Mention was made during the conference of the commercial and economic situation in these countries, of the investments climate and the existing incentives and opportunities. Growth and business opportunities that exist, the longterm approach that requires preparation and appropriate guidance were the issues that the speakers focused on.

[15] Obama economic adviser in Athens for Economist con'f

Prof. Feldstein will address the meeting on May 26 and reportedly outline the new Barack Obama administration's views amidst the global economic crisis, along with expected predictions on the US and global economy.

From 1982 through 1984, Feldstein was chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers and former US president Ronald Reagan's chief economic adviser. He served as president of the American Economic Association in 2004.

The 13th Roundtable, entitled "Driving the New Agenda for Global Recovery: Sharing Political Economic and Business Leadership in Times of Turmoil", will take place on May 25-26.

[16] Report: Sharp rise in Internet use by Greek households

Another effect observed was a persistent regional "digital gap" between urban and tourist areas, on the one hand, and rural or semi-urban areas, on the other hand. There were also disparities on a regional level, with Internet access having almost doubled in nine of the country's 13 regions, while western Macedonia, Thessaly and Epirus showed the smallest increase since 2005.

According to figures collected by the Observatory for 2008, four in 10 Greek households are connected to the Internet and computers are now household appliances. The average rate of increase of households having Internet access in the last four years is estimated at 17.6 percent, compared to the EU-27 average of 7.7 percent, while 2008 marked the biggest rise of the past four years.

One in three Greeks uses the Internet once a week, while Greeks using the Internet daily have risen by 66 percent in 2008. Greek Internet users are mainly young male urban residents of high or medium-level education. In addition, nine in 10 people aged 16-24 now use the Internet, while there is a high rate of use independent of educational level, gender or region. The younger generation is thus seen to have converged with the European average.

Internet use also increased among those aged 35-54 in 2008 but still lagged considerably behind the European average rate, while this group also showed the greatest disparities in relation to gender, educational level and place of residence.

Lack of Internet use appears to be due both to conscious refusal and to a lack of skills, especially in older age groups, indicating a need for action to combat fear of technology and to increase familiarity through some form of training.

For the first time in the last four years, there is a change in the reasons why people use the Internet in Greece. Users appear to be shifting away from the 'traditional' e-services, such as searching for information about products and services, sending and receiving e-mail, etc and moving on to more advanced communication and entertainment options on offer.

For example, 64 percent of users in the last trimester of 2008 said that they were using the Internet to carry out telephone and video calls, conversing through instant messages, holding discussions in electronic forums and visiting blogs. One in two used the Internet to download and listen to music, while one in five played online games.

There was also an increase, for the first time, in the percentage of the population that has made purchases over the Internet, though Greek consumers are still wary of shopping over the Internet.

The number of Greek households having a broadband connection has increased to 23 percent in 2008 (from 1 percent in 2005), while seven in 10 Internet users had a broadband connection at home in the last trimester of 2008. While there was a sharp drop in dial-up and ISDN connections relative to DSL connections, broadband penetration in rural areas was significantly lower (53 percent) as it was for users with a lower or medium-level educational level (58 percent and 60 percent).

Seven of the 20 main state-sector services are now fully available online and one in five Greeks uses in the Internet in their transactions with the public sector, while there has been a marked increase in all on-line transactions with state services, including the submission of completed forms.

Finally, the cost of acquiring a PC has dropped further, with the average computer purchase in November 2008 estimated at 450 euros - a price comparable to the EU-27 average.

[17] Internet use by Greek businesses

E-commerce was still at very low levels in 2008, however, with only one in five businesses carrying out electronic purchases and only one in 10 reporting electronic sales, with e-commerce accounting for only 0.8 percent of their total turnover.

Also low were connections with other businesses and transactions with financial organisations, while there was extensive use of electronic transactions with the public sector by eight in 10 businesses having 10+ employees.

For companies with less than 10 employees, one in two had access to the Internet and 39 percent of their employees used the Internet on a weekly basis. There was also a significant increase in broadband connections in this group, from 4.7 percent in 2005 to 37.8 percent in 2008. One in four small businesses used public-sector electronic services.

[18] GENOP-DEH holds protest outside Development ministry

He added that this policy "is leading to the intentional downgrading of DEH with the aim of having private business interests benefitting in the energy sector" and stressed that "DEH cannot be used as a mediator to enable some smart-aleks to grab the money of the Greek people, it canot become prey in the hands of state-fed pseudo-investors."

The GENOP-DEH president further reported that DEH is not permitted to participate in tendering for adding new power to make it certain that the job will be taken by private individuals.

[19] Higher EIB presence in Greece for '09

Speaking to reporters in Athens, Sakellaris said the new loans would cover all major sectors of the economy, such as transports, energy, joint ventures between public and private sector companies and funding of small, medium and large enterprises.

EIB also plans to reach lending agreements with local authorities in the country.

Sakellaris said EIB will sign partnership agreements with Alpha Bank and Eurobank, totaling 500 million euros to fund small- and medium-sized enterprises and noted that the bank, the investment arm of European Union, will offer loans to Greek enterprises with favourable terms to boost liquidity in the real economy and to support infrastructure projects.

[20] Viohalco reports mixed 2008 results

Pre-tax, interest and amortization earnings (EBITDA) dropped 53 pct to 182.5 million euros in 2008, while the company reported a pre-tax loss of 34.6 million euros last year, after profits of 210 million euros in 20070. Group net results after tax and minorities showed a loss of 11.3 million euros (or 0.057 euros per share), after profits of 83.9 million euros in the previous year.

Viohalco said its 2008 results were negatively affected by the international financial crisis and an economic slowdown. Net borrowing fell by 321 million euros to 1.114 billion euros in the fourth quarter of 2008.

Viohalco said parent pre-tax profits eased to 33.2 million euros last year, from 73.1 million in 2007, while net after tax earnings fell to 32.1 million euros from 71.5 million euros, respectively. The company plans to pay a 0.06 euros per share dividend to shareholders.

[21] Hotel federation categorically rejects press claims of price hikes, says rates falling

In a statement, the Federation said a 15-pct rise of hotel prices in Greece, as presented by several Greek newspapers and TV channels, was the result of average hotel room prices in British pounds, and stressed that this figure - without taking into account a 22-pct depreciation of the UK currency against the euro in the period from the fourth quarter of 2007 to the fourth quarter of 2008 -- would lead to erroneous conclusions.

As a result, most European countries included in the survey appear to have raised hotel room prices in the October-December period last year. The correct interpretation of the figures, the Federation stated, was that the cost for British tourists was higher because of the decline in the value of the sterling against the euro.

The Hellenic Hoteliers Federation stressed that Greek hotel prices have fallen further since the start of 2009, in certain cases to their lowest levels in the last few years.

[22] Greek PMI down to 38.2 points in March

A Markit Economics monthly report said factory prices fell more rapidly in March, while import prices fell at a slower rate, a sign of further pressure in companies' profits.

The employment rate in the Greek manufacturing sector fell to a record low in the same month. The Purchasing Managers' Index measures business activity in the manufacturing sector. Readings above 50 indicate a growing sector, while readings below 50 a shrinking sector.

[23] Greek stocks end 0.34% down

Most sectors moved down, with the Chemicals (2.65 pct), Financial Services (2.05 pct) and Travel (2.01 pct) suffering the heaviest percentage losses of the day, while Raw Materials (2.14 pct), Media (2.11 pct) and Personal/Home Products (1.67 pct) scored gains.

The FTSE 20 index fell 0.26 pct, the FTSE 40 index ended 0.37 pct up and the FTSE 80 index eased 0.48 pct. Broadly, decliners led advancers by 100 to 93 with another 61 issues unchanged.

Sector indices ended as follows:

Insurance: -0.83%

Industrials: +0.13%

Commercial: +0.15%

Construction: -0.79%

Media: +2.11%

Oil & Gas: -1.91%

Personal & Household: +1.67%

Raw Materials: +2.14%

Travel & Leisure: -2.01%

Technology: +1.36%

Telecoms: -1.51%

Banks: +1.07%

Food & Beverages: -0.60%

Health: -0.66%

Utilities: +0.72%

Chemicals: -2.65%

Financial Services: -2.05%

The stocks with the highest turnover were OPAP, National Bank, Alpha Bank and Bank of Piraeus.

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

Alpha Bank: 5.19

ATEbank: 1.12

Public Power Corp (PPC): 13.75

HBC Coca Cola: 10.74

Hellenic Petroleum: 7.03

National Bank of Greece: 11.51

EFG Eurobank Ergasias: 4.34

Intralot: 3.77

OPAP: 19.34

OTE: 11.07

Bank of Piraeus: 5.00

Titan Cement Company: 15.80

[24] Greek bond market closing report

In interbank markets, interest rates fell further. The 12-month Euribor rate was 1.80 pct, the six-month rate 1.65 pct, the three-month rate 1.49 pct and the one-month rate 1.10 pct.

[25] Foreign Exchange rates - Thursday

U.S. dollar 1.335

Pound sterling 0.927

Danish kroner 7.507

Swedish kroner 11.017

Japanese yen 131.91

Swiss franc 1.522

Norwegian kroner 8.956

Canadian dollar 1.689

Australian dollar 1.923

General News

[26] PM, Patriarch at landmark art Paris exhibition featuring Mt. Athos-Byzantium

The landmark cultural event was presented in a press conference by Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis, who also inaugurated the renovated George Seferis Hall in the foreign ministry building.

"The exhibition reflects the broad cooperation shared by Greece and France," Bakoyannis stressed, speaking in the presence of French ambassador to Greece Christophe Farnaud. Referring to the exhibition, she pointed out that it highlights the ties between the autonomous all-male monastic Community and the 1,000-year Byzantine Empire.

Exhibits include magnificent icons, monumental paintings, original manuscripts and exquisite miniature artifacts that provide information on Byzantine institutions and Mount Athos' artistic legacy and as the spiritual centre of Orthodox Christianity. The exhibition features 180 exhibits that will be on display for the first time outside the all-male community, offering a unique opportunity to women visitors.

The exhibition will continue until July 5.

[27] Pavlopoulos on Philhellenism and International Solidarity Day

April 19 has been proclaimed Philhellenism and International Solidarity Day commemorating the anniversary of the death of poet and philhellene Lord Byron, a human rights advocate and among the first to voice opposition to the looting of the Parthenon Marbles by Lord Elgin.

Pavlopoulos also stated that this year's celebration coincides with the 200th anniversary of Lord Byron's first visit to Greece.

Lord Byron was a great philhellene and his early poetry had contributed to sensitizing the Europeans to the plight of Greece under the Ottoman Turks. In 1824, he joined the Greek liberation fighters at Messolonghi, where he died of malarial fever on April 19.

[28] International Astronomy Year events hosted by National Observatory of Athens

On April 2-5, internet users can visit the website www.astro.noa.gr <http://www.astro.noa.gr> and pose questions to the National Observatory astronomers, while a series of lectures, film screenings and telescope presentations are also scheduled.

Events will be held at the Astronomy Stations in Penteli and Krioneri as well as at the the Helmos Observatory in Kalavrita, southern Greece.

[29] Ancient cemetery yields clues about 'isolated' Kilkis community

The ancient cemetery dates back to the Hellenistic and Roman eras and occupies a slope northwest of the village Mikro Dasos and the east bank of the Axios River.

Archaeologist Magda Valla, who will present the finds made at the dig at the "22nd Meeting for Archaeological Work in Macedonia and Thrace" at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH) old Philosophy School on Saturday, said that archaeologists had expected to find a cemetery in the area since discovering an ancient settlement on a nearby hill.

The dig has unearthed some 110 graves dated from the 2nd century BC until the end of the 4th century AD. The fact that the cemetery was in use for more than 500 years is an indication that this was an important settlement about which there is very little information.

There were two types of burial carried out in the graveyard. Until the 2nd century AD there were cremations in shallow pits surrounded by low walls forming a rectangular outline, or by roughly-made stone enclosures of either rectangular, circular or indeterminate outline. From the 3rd century AD, the custom of cremation was replaced by that of burial in graves with tiled roofs, while the graveyard was organised into clusters with the help of large circular compounds and walls.

Valla said the peculiar organisation and form of the graveyard were the clues that indicated a community that was conservative and isolated from the centres of its time.

Finds at the site include ceramic vessels and figurines, coins, jewels, weapons and tools. Among notable finds is the presence of hand-made undecorated vessels of the 2nd century B.C. that are typical of prehistoric times and have never before been found in a Hellenistic graveyard in Greece.

[30] Greek company to paint Eiffel Tower for 120th 'birthday'

The Thessaloniki-based Greek technical firm STELMA S.A. has won an international tender for the project of painting the Eiffel Tower in Paris bronze, to mark the Tower's 120th anniversary, which is being celebrated in France from March 31 (the anniversary of its inauguration in 1889) to the end of 2009.

This will be the 19th repainting of the Eiffel Tower, which is painted over in a different color every seven years.

The Tower has gone through several colors since the original red chosen by its designer and contractor, engineer Gustave Eiffel in 1889, going from red-browns to mustard yellows and ochre, back to red-brown and, more recently, variations of brown, with the color slightly hued off towards the top to ensure that the color is visually the same all the way up as it stands against the Paris sky.

The new color has been officially labelled "Tour Eiffel Bronze", while the previous paint job began in December 2001 and was completed in June 2003.

Inaugurating the new "birthday paint job", the first stroke of the paint brush was symbolically made on the 324-meter-high Eiffel Tower on Tuesday.

STELMA founder and president Eleftherios Mamatzis and his son, company vice president Dimitris Mamatzis, expressed their joy at being assigned the prestigious project, calling it "a life's dream".

Sixty tons of paint are necessary to cover the Tower's surface, which is expected to require at least 20 months, depending on the weather, while the Tower will be painted going from top to bottom, with 16 painters starting off at the initial stage, while another 10 painters will join them at the base.

The Tower will be painted in three gradated shades of bronze, going from the lightest shade at the top, while the darkest shade will begin from the base, going up to the first 56 meters.

The cost of the project is estimated at 4.5 million euros without VAT.

An estimated 60 tons of paint will be required to cover the Tower's 250,000 square meter surface, as well as 50 kilometers of security cords for the workers' safety, 2 acres of protective netting, 5,000 sanding discs, 1,500 paint brushes, an equal number of sets of workclothes and 1,000 pairs of leather gloves. All the work will be carried out by hand using only paint brushes.

The Tower will remain open to the public throughout the project.

[31] Noted therapist, author Yalom lecture in Athens

An audience of more than 3,000 people flocked to the Megaron-Athens Concert Hall to hear Yalom, a Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry at Stanford University, while a few hundred who others could not find seats in the auditorium were obliged to leave.

The translator of Yalom's books into Greek, adjunct professor of psychiatry Yiannis Zervas, introduced the psychotherapist/author and most prominent advocate of the US existential school of thought, noting that, with his work, Yalom has succeeded in popularizing his academic knowledge, while his significant theoretical and literary work was written in a simple and intelligible, but not at all simplistic, language.

"You have the feeling that his books don't teach in general, but specifically you, the reader. That stance of the psychotherapist Yalom is psychodynamic, not psychoanalytical. His relationship with the patient is at times on an equal basis, to the degree, of course, that it does not hurt the therapy. Yalom is, as he himself says, a fellow traveler in life".

Yalom opened his lecture, titled "Staring at the Sun: Overcoming the Terror of Death", with references to his book of the same title, which is inspired by a 17th century British adage that says you can't stare the sun or death in the face.

Yalom is the author of several highly acclaimed textbooks, including Existential Psychotherapy and The Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy. He is also the author of stories and novels related to psychotherapy, including Love's Executioner, When Nietzsche Wept, Lying on the Couch, Momma and the Meaning of Life, Existential Psychotherapy and The Schopenhauer Cure. His latest non-fiction book is Staring at the Sun: Overcoming the Terror of Death. In 2000 He was awarded the Oscar Pfister prize for important contributions to religion and psychiatry by the American Psychiatric Association.

In May 2005, Yalom was presented with an honorary Doctorate from the Panteion University in Athens.

[32] Anniversary of film 'Z' by Costa-Gavras

All were the guests of French Ambassador Christophe Farnaud, who had the idea of honouring the 40th anniversary of "Z" in an "absolutely Greek-French evening," that was also attended by President Karolos Papoulias.

"You are a great film director, as well as an honourable person in the classic sense of the term, a humanitarian who makes the soul breathe," the French ambassador told Costa-Gavras, terming the film and the cinema course of Costa-Gavras a contribution "to awakening consciences in light of the dangers of totalitarian systems."

Composer Mikis Theodorakis and former president Christos Sartzetakis took part in the discussion and remembered and conveyed to the public great moments from that difficult time.

The event was attended by many artists and politicians, Culture Minister Antonis Samaras, PASOK party deputies Maria Damanaki and Theodoros Pangalos, journalists from the French media and many members of the French community in Athens.

'Z' is a 1969 French language political thriller directed by Greek-French Costa-Gavras with a screenplay by Gavras and Jorge Semprun based on the novel by Vassilis Vasilikos. The film presents a thinly fictionalized account of the events surrounding the assassination of Left-wing Greek deputy Gregoris Lambrakis in 1963, in Thessaloniki.

[33] Photo exhibition at HFC Centre in Belgrade

Photographers from Greece, Bulgaria, Albania, Croatia, Serbia, Romania, Turkey and Bosnia will present 10 photos each in the exhibition, under the title "Light and Shadows in the Balkans", highlighting the will for cooperation, exchange of viewpoints and presentation of common elements found in the region's cultures.

The exhibition will run until May 24 and is scheduled to tour Balkan capital cities. The next stop will be Bucharest in June-July 2009.

[34] Voutsis trial for bank robbery begins

Voutsis-Vogiatzis was caught red-handed after he robbed a branch of the National Bank of Greece in Gyzi on October 3, 2007, assisted by an accomplice that has yet to be identified, taking 23,000 euros.

Four employees at the branch testified as witnesses for the prosecution, confirming that the two robbers were holding weapons but not that they had a hand-grenade. They also confirmed that the robbers sent a woman holding a baby out of the bank while the robbery was taking place.

Witnesses for the defence included the father of the accused, Nikos Voutsis, who said that he did not approve of his son's actions but considered that his motives had not been personal enrichment and that he intended to use the money to further a political cause.

Voutsis-Vogiatzis has admitted the charge of robbery but not to criminal charges of possessing an explosive device.

[35] Bank robber abandons loot, escapes

According to police, the man, wearing a hood, gloves and motorcycle jacket, entered an HSBC branch on Marathonas Boulevard at 8:45 a.m., and forced tellers at gunpoint to hand over the money in their registers and in the vault. The entire process took some 20 minutes, as the vault has a timing mechanism. An employee hit the alarm button, enabling police to reach the site before the perpetrator exited the bank.

The robber put the money in a plastic trash back, taking a young woman with him as a hostage to deter police from trying to arrest him.

Police closely followed the robber across the boulevard, where the woman managed to struggle free from his grasp and flee.

The man ran into a nearby house, where he abandoned some of his clothing and hood, as well as the bag with the money and his gun, and fled arrest by jumping into an adjacent land plot.

A strong team of police were scouring the area, but have not located any traces of the robber.

[36] Vandals target university's server, data

Roughly 20 individuals, most wearing hoods or helmets, forced their way into the biology school building, where the university's main server is located, causing extensive damage to the mainframe computer. The vandals smashed computer equipment and caused widespread damage to the building.

In the latest in a long series of vandalisms and attacks on school property, university rector Anastassios Manthos met on the same day with representatives of a janitors' union to discuss renewal of their contracts with the university.

Manthos reportedly contacted the head of the Thessaloniki first instance prosecutor's office during the attack in the computer room to request information on the procedure for lifting the asylum status, which prevents law enforcement officers from entering Greece's scores of universities, colleges and technical institutes.

No decision was taken, however, when the rector later informed the prosecutor's office and police that the group of vandals had left the premises.

The occupation of administrative offices by self-styled anti-state, globalisation/capitalism activists entered a 16th day, with protesters demanding that the university's management cancel contracts with private cleaning firms and revert to university hirings for cleaning staff.

[37] Seven arrested for 'pirate' Nova services

The seven were picked up in a coordinated operation by the Electronic Crimes Squad, after the company "Multichoice Hellas" filed a complaint about someone 'hijacking' its services.

Those arrested used special devices to crack the company's codes and distributed the signal for all Nova channels to other Internet users having similar devices. Police found 511 illegal users of the cracked codes, while the company estimates that the Greek state has lost revenue amounting to 30.52 million euros in 2008 and 2009 as a result of the 'pirate' signals.

[38] Arson attacks at banks in Peristeri

The explosions and ensuing fires caused at the two branches, which are located next to each other, caused minor material damage to the banks' ATM and glass fronts.

Soccer

[39] Greece beats Israel in 2010 World Cup qualifier

Weather Forecast

[40] Cloudy, rainy on Thursday

[41] The Wednesday edition of Athens' dailies at a glance

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "The situation in Universities is critical- Takeovers continue in Thessaloniki and other Universities".

APOGEVMATINI: "Rift among the leaders of the world's most powerful nations - G-20 meeting to begins in London".

AVGHI: "Uprising in Europe - Workers protest against the bankrupt governments and their policies".

AVRIANI: "Detentions in SIEMENS case to start after Easter holidays - Many high-profile businessmen and politicians on the way to jail".

CHORA: "Tourism Minister Costas Markopoulos puts the blame on hotel owners for the dramatic drop in tourism".

ELEFTHEROS: "Ruling New Democracy (ND) party secretary Lefteris Zagoritis lashes out against the dauphins".

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "SOS plan for the one-off retirement benefit".

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "G-20 a Tower of Babel - The differences of opinion among the 20 most powerful leaders adportend failure of the Summit".

ESTIA: "Major opportunity for the economy if the climae of grumbling stops".

ETHNOS: "Explosive plan for the bankrupt civil servants' social security fund".

KATHIMERINI: "G-20 meeting begins with arguments - French President Nicolas Sarkozy threats to walk out of the meeting".

LOGOS: "Government ready to undertake tough measures regardless of the political cost".

NIKI: "Government is 'cooking up' salary cutbacks".

RIZOSPASTIS: "All together in Thursday's labour strike - Industries must be closed and the streets must flood with protestors".

TA NEA: "Economy Ministry is doctoring measures in the tax system and salaries after the new increase in the deficit".

TO VIMA:"The powerful will discuss and the small will agonise - The crucial G-20 meeting begins in London".

VRADYNI: "The civil servants' social security fund sends out an SOS".

Cyprus Affairs

[42] Cyprus President: Thursday's UN-led meeting postponed

Cyprus President Demetris Christofias announced on Wednesday that Thursday's scheduled meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat in the framework of UN-led direct negotiations has been postponed.

In statements, President Christofias said that the meeting was postponed due to Talat's trip to Paris where he will meet UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

According to UN SG's Special Representative in Cyprus Taye Brook Zerihoun, Thursday's meeting would be the last to tackle EU matters and the leaders will then take up the issue of economic matters.

President Christofias and Talat began direct negotiations in September last year with a view to solve the question of Cyprus, which has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.

[43] House President briefs President of Romania on the Cyprus issue

President of the House of Representatives Marios Garoyian was received Wednesday by President of Romania Traian Basescu, whom he informed about the latest developments regarding the Cyprus issue.

Garoyian, who is in Romania for a three-day official visit at the invitation of President of the Senate of Romania Mircea-Dan Geoana, said after the meeting that he expressed Cyprus' gratitude towards Romania for its steadfast positions regarding the Cyprus problem, as well as its support for freedom in Cyprus and reunification of the island.

He described his meeting as "very cordial and substantive", noting that they exchanged views on the latest developments regarding the Cyprus issue.

"I informed the Romanian President about the current stage of the Cyprus negotiations and the problems we face due to Turkey's intransigent stance", he pointed out.

Garoyian said they discussed about Cyprus' efforts to achieve a just, viable and functional solution "based on a bizonal, bicommunal federation, and on political equality, not numerical equality, that would safeguard human rights, civil freedoms and be based on the UNSC resolutions, the EU principles and values".

According to diplomatic sources, the Romanian President showed great understanding for Cyprus' positions regarding the Cyprus problem and said that in the framework of the Romania-Turkey relations, he would stress the need for Ankara to harmonize itself in full with the principles of international law and to fulfill its obligations concerning the EU and Cyprus.

During the meeting, they also exchanged views on bilateral relations, emphasizing on economy and trade.

"Our bilateral relations are excellent, but there is still room to further enhance them", the Cypriot House President said.

On Thursday, Garoyian will be received by Prime Minister of Romania Emil Boc.

Later on, he will address the bilateral Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Romania and Cyprus.

During his visit there, Garoyian will attend a state dinner offered to his honor by the President of the Senate of Romania.

The Cypriot House President will also visit sites of historical and cultural interest. The House President and his entourage return to Cyprus on Friday.

[44] Rehn: Transitional periods for derogations for Cyprus, exceptional

EU Enlargement Commissioner Oli Rehn stressed Tuesday that transitional periods for derogations from EU principles and treaties in a Cyprus settlement could be ''a few and in exceptional cases.''

''I am not marketing derogations from the principles the treaties of the EU,'' Commissioner Rehn said during a meeting of the Turkey- EU Joint Parliamentary Committee.

Rehn was replying to a question of Cypriot MEP Yiannakis Matsis whether derogations from the EU four freedoms and principles could be transformed to permanent derogations in case of a Cyprus solution.

Furthermore, addressing a Breakfast Policy Briefing organised by the European Policy Centre (EPC), Rehn said that the solution of the Cyprus problem in 2009 constitutes a priority for the EU.

The EU Commissioner also said that under his capacity he is the guardian of the EU treaties and principles, recalling that the Commission provides legal and technical support to the current UN-led negotiations so that the solution of the Cyprus problem would comply with the treaties and the principles of the EU.

The solution must be found on the basis of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation with political equality and should respect the UN resolutions, he said, adding that a reunified Cyprus must have one voice in the EU.

Addressing the Breakfast Policy Briefing, Rehn said that the solution of the Cyprus problem in 2009 constitutes a priority for the EU.

He recalled that during his parliamentary hearings in 2004, when he was appointed as the Enlargement Commissioner, he stated that he wanted to deliver on six goals, namely that of an EU of 27 member states by 2009, the accession process with Croatia would reach its final stage, the other Western Balkan countries would be firmly locked into the European orientation by Association Agreements, Turkey would be firmly on a European track, Kosovo's status would be settled and that Cyprus would be reunified.

''Looking back at the past years, we have achieved five out of these six goals set in 2004. We have done so by working together with the European Parliament and the Council. And by the way, there is now a serious process going on to reunify Cyprus - our priority this year,'' he concluded.

Cyprus, an EU member state since May 2004, has been divided when Turkey invaded and occupied 37 per cent of its territory. Cyprus President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat entered since September 2008 in UN-led direct talks for a Cyprus settlement and held 24 meetings so far.

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