Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 09-04-08

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

CONTENTS

[01] Karamanlis-Sarkozy meeting on Thursday

[02] PM Karamanlis to pay official visit to Cyprus

[03] Greek student's body recovered from ruins in earthquake-stricken Italy

[04] Gov't condolences for the Greek student killed in Italy's earthquake

[05] Italian embassy press release

[06] Free ferry route for Greek students in L'Aquila region

[07] Obama meeting with Ecumenical Patriarch

[08] Non-existent foreign policy creates great concern, PASOK spokesman says

[09] Special committee for Pavlidis case announced

[10] Parliamentary enquiry committee in Pavlidis issue must do proper job, PASOK spokesman says

[11] PASOK unveils bill for consumer 'bankruptcy' process

[12] KKE leader Papariga addresses rally in Piraeus

[13] SYN's Tsipras tours Pella Prefecture, northern Greece

[14] FM Bakoyannis to receive new British ambassador

[15] Spidla, Avramopoulos sign agreement for mental health reforms

[16] Message by Interior minister on International Roma Day

[17] EU action against Greece over crime victim compensation

[18] Papoulias briefed by chamber president; army chief

[19] Bill on overseas Greeks vote fails to achieve 2/3 majority

[20] Economy grows 2.4% in '08

[21] State bill auction raises 1.62bln

[22] Parliament discusses contract on Olympic Airways privatisation

[23] Deputy FM Varvitsiotis stresses need for close cooperation between production agencies, education

[24] Public works minister to deliver two new sections of Egnatia Motorway

[25] Enterprises want better management of social insurance contributions

[26] Local farmers, meat traders fail to agree on Easter lamb price

[27] Development ministry sees meat prices at last year's levels

[28] Foreign investors cut participation in ASE

[29] Greek stocks end 0.70% down

[30] ADEX closing report

[31] Greek bond market closing report

[32] Greek bond market turnover up in March

[33] Foreign Exchange rates - Wednesday

[34] Culture ministry proclaims 2009 "Yiannis Ritsos' Year"

[35] 'Archaeological walkabout' for Kassandria Wall visitors

[36] Drexel Univ. president Taki Papadakis passes away

[37] Nikos Paleokostas, notorious fugitive's older brother, convicted again of bank robbery

[38] Cloudy on Wednesday

[39] The Tuesday edition of Athens' dailies at a glance

[40] Egyptian President supports reunification of Cyprus Wednesday, 8 April 2009 Issue No: 3165

[01] Karamanlis-Sarkozy meeting on Thursday

The government spokesman on Tuesday announced the premier's trip to the French capital, adding that Karamanlis will also meet with French Prime Minister Francois Fillon.

Karamanlis is set to inaugurate the exhibition "Athos and the Byzantine Empire: Treasures of the Holy Mount" at the Petit Palais gallery.

[02] PM Karamanlis to pay official visit to Cyprus

After his visit to Cyprus, Karamanlis will visit Bulgaria, April 24-25, where he will attend the Summit on Energy entitled "Natural gas for Europe: Security and Cooperation".

On April 26-27 Karamanlis will visit Albania and on April 29-30 he will pay a visit to Poland.

[03] Greek student's body recovered from ruins in earthquake-stricken Italy

Vassilis Koufolias was trapped in the ruins of the four-storey apartment building he was living in with his sister, also a student, had initially been located on Monday and was in contact with rescuers trying to extricate him and other survivors, but his body was among others recovered on Tuesday by emergency units. His sister, who suffered several fractures when the building collapsed in the early hours of Monday, was hospitalised in a nearby town while with four other Greek students were in other hospitals. All five were reported to be not in serious condition.

A total of 160 Greek university students from the earthquake-stricken L'Aquila region were returning to Athens on Tuesday, following coordinated efforts by the Greek Embassy in Rome.

The students were returning on special flights set up by Olympic Airlines (OA) and Aegean Airways, which offered to bring back the students free of charge immediately after news of the devastating quake broke.

The quake has claimed the lives of at least 179 people, and another 250 were still unaccounted for on Tuesday morning, while thousands have been left homeless.

[04] Gov't condolences for the Greek student killed in Italy's earthquake

Antonaros stated that the foreign ministry and all responsible Greek State authorities stand by the Greek students and their families offering any possible assistance.

[05] Italian embassy press release

The embassy noted that a special phone line has also been opened by the civil defence operations centre for those wishing to be briefed on the situation in the affected areas: +390668201, or at the email HYPERLINK "mailto:salaoperativa@protezionecivile.it" salaoperativa@protezionecivile.it

[06] Free ferry route for Greek students in L'Aquila region

[07] Obama meeting with Ecumenical Patriarch

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I on Tuesday expressed optimism for the reopening of the Halki seminary and resolution of the long-standing problems faced by the Ecumenical Patriarchate, after a meeting here with new US President Barack Obama.

"The Ecumenical Patriarchate is much more optimistic, both on the Halki theological seminary and regarding the problems we face, in general," Bartholomew said after a 15-minute in-camera meeting with Obama, held at the hotel where the US president is staying in the Bosporus metropolis. The meeting was also attended by White House chief of staff Rahm Emmanuel and Greek Orthodox Archbishop of America Demetrios.

The Ecumenical Patriarch thanked Obama "for all he said concerning Halki yesterday (Monday) from the podium of the Turkish national assembly", underlining to the US president that the operation of the Orthodox Christian seminary on the eponymous Sea of Marmara island was essential for the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

"This institution is necessary to renew its (the Ecumenical Patriarchate's) clergy and officials and to fulfil its lofty mission with dialogues with other Christian Churches, as well as the dialogue we have commenced in the past 20 years with the other monotheistic religions," the spiritual leader of the world's 300 million Orthodox Christians emphasised.

Bartholomew further expressed appreciation for Obama's backing for Turkey's European course, which "we, as the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and I personally, have been doing for years and continue to do so".

The Ecumenical Patriarch commented that Obama had been "very unassuming and very friendly, while he added that the congratulated the US president for the University of North Carolina's (UNC) victory in the NCAA final a day earlier.

"He was impressed that I knew of it and was very pleased, laughed, and thanked me, and in that pleasant atmosphere we parted," the Ecumenical Patriarch stated.

[08] Non-existent foreign policy creates great concern, PASOK spokesman says

"Our concern is great over the non-existence of foreign policy over the past five years," he said in connection with "both the upgrading of Turkey's role in the wider region and the moves by American foreign policy that we saw with the visit to Turkey by Mr. Obama."

Papaconstantinou also said that Greece "loses when it is phobic, when it does not take initiatives and does not participate in international discussions as has, unfortunately, taken place over the past five years."

[09] Special committee for Pavlidis case announced

All five parties in Parliament are represented, with seven MPs for ruling ND, three for main opposition PASOK, one for the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), one for the Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA) and one for the Popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS).

The decision to conduct a Parliamentary probe into allegations that Pavlidis had demanded kickbacks from a shipowner was taken by MPs in a majority vote early on Tuesday.

In a speech in Parliament late on Monday night, the Dodecanese district MP vociferously denied that he or his aide demanded under-the-table kickbacks from shipowner Fotis Manoussis in order to give him subsidised contracts for ferry routes to remote islands, claiming he was wrongfully accused and refusing to resign his seat in Parliament.

Commenting on Parliament's decision, government spokesman Evangelos Antonaros said that "the priority is a full and in-depty investigation of the case".

Antonaros stressed "this case, like any other case, should be cleared up beyond any doubt."

Asked whether the government can depend on Pavlidis' vote in Parliament politically -- in order to maintain its majority -- Antonaros stated that democracy operates based on specific rules.

Pavlidis himself welcomed the decision in a comment on Tuesday:

"Last night's decision by members of Parliament, the taking of which I believe I also contributed to, leads to the formation of a Special Parliamentary Committee to carry out a preliminary investigation of the Manoussis case. I state that I look anticipate with faith the judgement of its members, certain that the truth will be fully revealed."

[10] Parliamentary enquiry committee in Pavlidis issue must do proper job, PASOK spokesman says

He added that the creation of the committee will help in restoring the political world's prestige.

Papaconstantinou stressed that what he noted from Monday's process in the House -which voted for the creation of an enquiry committee- and not only, "is that the government is being dragged by the weight of various scandals and it is unable to handle the citizens' big problems."

[11] PASOK unveils bill for consumer 'bankruptcy' process

The bill was presented in a press conference on Tuesday by the party's economy sector spokeswoman Louka Katseli and its development sector spokesman Mihalis Chrysohoidis.

Among the conditions for such a debt write-off are a lack of property assets and that the consumer's current income is not sufficient to service his loans. In this case, the consumer would have to deposit a part of his income decided by the court to his creditors each month for three to five years in order for his remaining debt to be written off.

Designed to assist individuals having little or no independent economic activity, the new process must be preceded by an attempt to reach an out-of-court settlement for rescheduling the outstanding debt. If this is not successful, the debtor can then apply to begin the process for relieving him of his debts with the assumed consent of his creditors. If they contest this, a court process begins to settle the debts and it is up to judicial authorities to check if the necessary conditions for this apply.

PASOK said the process was substantially different to bankruptcy for businesses, having as its main aim the return of the over-indebted consumer to economic and social life by writing-off debts that he or she were unable to pay. They pointed out that household debts to banks had tripled from 2003 to 2008 and that Greece had seen the sharpest rise in the number of bad loans in 2007.

The party said it was presenting its proposed legislation for public debate and intended to table the final text in Parliament by April 30.

[12] KKE leader Papariga addresses rally in Piraeus

"Whether we have Euroelections, or national elections the politicians of the European Union and of the government are judged at the same time," she said.

Papariga further said that both the Euroelections and the national elections must open a new page, saying that "the ballot box cannot function as a washing machine for (ruling) New Democracy and (main opposition) PASOK," adding that the citizens must not show any tolerance for the other parties as well since, as she pointed out, they are ready to support the policies of either the ND party or of the PASOK party.

The KKE leader also accused the European Union and PASOK of an "anti-communist campaign," saying that the European Union is equating fascism with communism and noted that anti-communism is not only targeting KKE but the entire movement, since the peoples have raised their heads and are beginning to feel the lies and the deception and because they are becoming stronger.

Lastly, Papariga called on citizens to rally with KKE for the reversal, as she said, of the antipopular policies of the European Union and of ND and PASOK.

[13] SYN's Tsipras tours Pella Prefecture, northern Greece

Tsipras expressed support for their social insurance demands, adding that he will bring the issue to parliament. He stated that Pella Prefecture is a "workshop of flexible labor relations" and workers are treated like "guinea-pigs".

Female seasonal workers in the prefecture of Pella are roughly 2,500 (1,700 in the city of Giannitsa alone) and the majority of them are employed in fruit processing and canning factories.

[14] FM Bakoyannis to receive new British ambassador

[15] Spidla, Avramopoulos sign agreement for mental health reforms

After visiting mental health facilities with Spidla, the minister stressed that the government intended to go through with reforms and that Greek authorities would carry out everything that was agreed.

"All that we have agreed upon jointly is now part of our policy for psychiatric reform and mental health," he said.

Spidla noted that psychiatric reforms in Greece had not been completed, despite the progress made, but that there was an agreement with the Greek government regarding the framework and schedule for psychiatric reform. He said the Greek minister had assured him that Greek authorities will provide the people and financial resources to complete the programme and goals that had been set.

[16] Message by Interior minister on International Roma Day

"We have focused, over the past years, our efforts in the direction of securing conditions guaranteeing full respect for the rights of Greek Gypsies, particularly the free development of personality and their equal participation in all sectors of the country's social, economic and political life," he said.

The minister further said that the ministry has gone ahead with considerable institutional interventions, through the processing and implementation of an Integrated Action Programme, for the substantive upgrading of the Greek Gypsies' quality of life, their housing restoration and the building of necessary networks and infrastructures in their settlements.

"Moreover, we are taking absolute care to secure their equal and unimpeded access to all the crucial sectors of daily life, such as the labour market, education and health," Pavlopoulos said.

[17] EU action against Greece over crime victim compensation

The European Commission on Tuesday announced that it has initiated action against Greece at the European Court of Justice for failing to notify the Commission about measures taken to incorporate an EU directive facilitating cross-border compensation of crime victims into its national legislation.

The Commission said that Greece had failed to set up a national system for compensating victims of intentional violent crimes on its territory, as it was obliged to by a Community directive.

Greece is the only member-state that has failed to inform the Commission of the measures taken, while another 22 member-states did so within the set deadline and four (Italy, Romania, Lithuania and Malta) did so after the deadline had expired.

[18] Papoulias briefed by chamber president; army chief

The chamber president briefed Papoulias on the situation of the economy and the impact of the economic crisis on small and medium sized enterprises, as well as on chamber proposals on how to exit the crisis.

Michalos handed the president an ACCI study on the consequences of the economic crisis on SMEs as well as an issue of the German magazine "Der Spiegel" featuring a full-page ad by the German employment ministry backing fully subsidised part-time employment. The chamber has submitted a similar proposal suggesting the establishment of a solidarity fund for enterprises that meet criteria set by the government to fully guarantee employers' income.

Asked about early elections -- a favorite question by reporters on the political beat -- the ACCI president stated that it would be a worst case scenario at this particular moment, adding that prolonged speculation and rumor-mongering over the prospect of early elections is equally bad.

Papoulias later received Lt.-Gen. Dimitrios Voulgaris who briefed him on issues falling under his authority.

[19] Bill on overseas Greeks vote fails to achieve 2/3 majority

Out of 267 deputies casting votes, 159 deputies of the ruling New Democracy (ND) party and of the Popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS) party voted in favour of the bill, while 106 deputies of the main opposition PASOK party, the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) and the Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) voted against and two deputies, Grigoris Psarianos of SYRIZA and the independent Petros Tatoulis declared themselves "present."

Parliament President Dimitris Sioufas said that due to the failure of two-thirds of the votes being achieved, the continuation of the discussion on the bill's articles is meaningless.

Financial News

[20] Economy grows 2.4% in '08

The Greek economy grew by 0.3 pct in the fourth quarter of 2008, compared with the third quarter of the year, Eurostat said on Tuesday. The EU executive's statistical agency, in a report said the Eurozone economy shrank by 1.6 pct in the October-December period, while the EU-27 economy also fell into recession (-1.5 pct).

Besides Greece, Slovakia (2.1 pct), Cyprus (0.6 pct) and Poland (0.3 pct) were the only EU member-states to record positive growth rates in the fourth quarter of 2008, with all other members (excluding Luxembourg, Bulgaria and Romania for which there were no figures available) recording negative growth rates, led by Ireland (-7.1 pct), Estonia (-4.3 pct), Slovenia (-4.1 pct) and Latvia (-3.9 pct).

Greek economic growth rate was 2.4 pct last year, while the EU-27 and the Eurozone recorded negative growth rates (-1.4 pct and -1.5 pct, respectively).

[21] State bill auction raises 1.62bln

Bids for the 52-week bills were 4.31 times more totaling 3.017 billion euros, with the Greek state finally accepting bids totaling 775 million euros at lower rates of 1.78 pct, down from 2.67 pct in the previous auction in January.

Bids for the 26-week bills were 5.26 times more, with the Greek state accepting bids totaling 845 million euros at 1.48 pct, down from 2.46 pct in the previous auction.

[22] Parliament discusses contract on Olympic Airways privatisation

The rapporteur for the majority, Katerina Papakosta, said that "we succeeded because we had a plan. We have created three new companies with the same emblem, rid of the burdens of the past. We convinced the employees with a package of measures which is equal, in a depth of 25 years, with Olympic's deficits for three years. While until now, Olympic had cost the state 350 million euros a year, from now on, apart from the initial amount of 170 million euros, we shall have revenues amounting to 150 million euros a year."

PASOK party rapporteur Nikos Sifounakis said that the agreement "does not safeguard the company's nationality and the initial right to repurchase the shares is not anticipated for the Hellenic state and in the case of disagreement it has not been established that Greek courts will be resorted to."

Communist Party of Greece (KKE) special speaker Nikos Karathanasopoulos said that it is not possible for Olympic to be viable, moving in the framework of competition, as is imposed by European directives, without violating the employees' rights.

Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) representative Panayiotis Lafazanis termed the privatisation "a major economic scandal and crime in relation to the country's security."

Lastly, Popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS) party special speaker Dimitra Arapoglou expressed support for the bill, considering it "important that the company will pass on to a group of Greek interests that desires to upgrade it."

[23] Deputy FM Varvitsiotis stresses need for close cooperation between production agencies, education

Addressing an audience of students and new graduates, Varvitsiotis placed emphasis on extroversion and pointed out that Greek firms in the Balkans are maintaining their momentum despite the international crisis, which must not be allowed to impede the continuation of Greek entrepreneurship's extroversive activity.

"We are supporters in this effort, that preserves jobs, contributes to the competitiveness of mother companies and constitutes a pole of attraction for foreign investors," he said.

The deputy minister further said that the conditions require from the Greek firm to create organisational structures for high education employment, but that at the same time require a productive and effective state, "a direction in which we are making interventions."

[24] Public works minister to deliver two new sections of Egnatia Motorway

The first concerns the Arachthos bridge at Baldouma, in the Ioannina prefecture, having a length of about 1,100 metres, which is the biggest road bridge in the country. One lane in each direction of the bridge will be opened to traffic on Wednesday, while the remaining two lanes will be completed soon.

Consequently, motorists using the Egnatia Motorway will be needing 15-20 minutes to travel between the city of Ioannina and Metsovo, instead of one hour that had been the case until now.

The section of the Egnatia Motorway between Metsovo and the Panagia Intersection will also be opened to traffic, making access to the region of Thessaly in central Greece from the northern region of Epirus easier and faster, while the old national motorway passing from Katara will no longer be needed.

[25] Enterprises want better management of social insurance contributions

Daskalopoulos reiterated that Greek employers would honour a collective labour agreement, envisaging a 5.5 pct wage increase this year, despite the fact that employers were facing the biggest problems.

He said that lack of needed will by trade unions, public administration, a state of bureaucracy and corruption and political parties has led to a worsening fiscal condition in the country and said that although political consensus was a utopia, a social consensus would be reached. Daskalopoulos said priorities were a consensus on restructuring the pension system, cutting a fiscal chaos in the health sector, opening of markets to full competition (particularly energy and closed professions) and drastically cutting over-legislation and bureaucracy.

A vast majority of Greeks (76.9 pct) said that the upgrading of the Greek economy could not be achieved without bold reforms, a survey by MRB said on Tuesday. The survey was presented during the Open Forum. The survey also said that 60.1 pct of citizens believed that the economy would exit the crisis after the second half of 2010.

[26] Local farmers, meat traders fail to agree on Easter lamb price

Sheep farmers are seeking a price of about 6.5 euros per kilo - claiming that at this price they will only just break even - while wholesale dealers are insisting on last year's prices of 4.7-5.0 euros per kilo.

The farmers' negotiating position is undermined, however, by the large amounts of cheap imported meat entering the market over the past month. According to the president of the Panhellenic Livestock farmers Union (PEK) Dimitris Kabouris, farmers had been considering a blockade of Greek customs posts as a means of pressure but were now abandoning the idea, considering that it would make little difference because of the large numbers of imported lambs and kids entering the country in the past weeks.

He did not rule out a major mobilisation, along the lines of those held by crop farmers earlier in the year, after the Easter holidays.

[27] Development ministry sees meat prices at last year's levels

Vlachos stressed that there were adequate supplies and that prices would be affordable, with the Easter feast possibly even costing less than last year, while he asked consumers to prefer meat produced in Greece.

Papadopoulos stressed that the agriculture ministry was stepping up inspections to prevent imported meat from being sold as Greek, in order to support Greek producers.

[28] Foreign investors cut participation in ASE

Greek investors' participation in the market rose to 52.20 pct in March, up from 51.86 pct in February, with foreign investors recording a net capital outflow of 73.69 million euros in the month. Greek investors were net buyers, with a capital inflow of 64.13 million euros.

The value of turnover in March totaled 2.377 billion euros, up 12 pct from February (2.119 billion euros), and 64 pct down compared with March 2008 (6.550 billion euros). Daily average turnover was 118.9 million euros in March, from 105.9 million in February and 436.7 million euros in March 2008.

The Greek market's capitalisation was 63.1 billion euros at the end of March, up from 58.4 billion a month earlier and down 59.3 pct from March 2008.

[29] Greek stocks end 0.70% down

Most sectors moved down, with the Food/Beverage (3.44 pct), Commerce (2.53 pct) and Financial Services (1.67 pct) suffering the heaviest percentage losses of the day, while Media (1.96 pct), Utilities (1.72 pct) and Travel (0.85 pct) scored gains.

The FTSE 20 index fell 0.68 pct, the FTSE 40 index eased 0.83 pct and the FTSE 80 index dropped 0.66 pct. Broadly, decliners led advancers by 120 to 68 with another 60 issues unchanged.

Sector indices ended as follows:

Insurance: -1.29%

Industrials: -0.98%

Commercial: -2.53%

Construction: -0.46%

Media: +1.96%

Oil & Gas: -0.52%

Personal & Household: +0.12%

Raw Materials: -0.65%

Travel & Leisure: +0.85%

Technology: -1.40%

Telecoms: +0.52

Banks: -1.43%

Food & Beverages: -3.44%

Health: -0.31%

Utilities: +1.72%

Chemicals: -1.54%

Financial Services: -1.67%

The stocks with the highest turnover were National Bank, Alpha Bank, OPAP and Public Power Corp (PPC).

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

Alpha Bank: 5.55

ATEbank: 1.11

Public Power Corp (PPC): 13.83

HBC Coca Cola: 11.05

Hellenic Petroleum: 6.84

National Bank of Greece: 12.50

EFG Eurobank Ergasias: 4.72

Intralot: 4.10

OPAP: 19.10

OTE: 11.56

Bank of Piraeus: 5.19

Titan Cement Company: 15.80

[30] ADEX closing report

Volume in futures contracts on equities totaled 6,452 contracts worth 5.488 million euros, with investment interest focusing on National Bank's contracts (2,534), followed by Eurobank (300), Piraeus Bank (515), Alpha Bank (767), Ellaktor (361) and Hellenic Postbank (366).

[31] Greek bond market closing report

In interbank markets, interest rates fell further. The 12-month Euribor rate was 1.79 pct, the six-month rate 1.63 pct, the three-month 1.45 pct and the one-month rate 1.03 pct.

[32] Greek bond market turnover up in March

Benchmark bond prices rose by 37 to 270 basis points in the month, with the 10-year benchmar bond price rising to 101.88 at the end of March, from 99.18 at the start of the month.

[33] Foreign Exchange rates - Wednesday

U.S. dollar 1.336

Pound sterling 0.912

Danish kroner 7.508

Swedish kroner 10.965

Japanese yen 133.86

Swiss franc 1.529

Norwegian kroner 8.879

Canadian dollar 1.663

Australian dollar 1.886

General News

[34] Culture ministry proclaims 2009 "Yiannis Ritsos' Year"

The local administration in Laconia Prefecture and the municipality of Monemvasia in the Peloponnese, where he was born, have also announced a number of events aimed at presenting his work and, at the same time, promote the region.

The scheduled events will be launched on May 1 to coincide with his birthday on May 1, 1909 (he died in Athens on Nov. 11, 1990) and will last until September 15, 2009.

[35] 'Archaeological walkabout' for Kassandria Wall visitors

A preliminary architectural study suggests that the "archaeological walkabout" will be built adjacent to the outer side of the 1,200-meter-long wall spanning from Toroneos Bay, in the east, to Thermaikos Bay in the west, one that will allow visitors to a have a full view of the monument.

The study features the construction of a reception pavilion, informative signs, parking space, a walk made of wooden planks at the outer side of the wall and a bicycle route.

The wall is located in Nea Potidea, Halkidiki, and constituted an important fortification project protecting Kassandria, a city built by Kassandros in 316 BC in the area where ancient Potidea was located.

[36] Drexel Univ. president Taki Papadakis passes away

Dr. Constantine 'Taki' Papadakis, president of Drexel University in Philadelphia (Pennsylvania), died on Monday night at the age of 63 from a pulmonary edema after a long battle with lung cancer.

The Cretan-born engineer and former Bechtel Corp executive served as president of Drexel University for 13 years, during which he oversaw a major expansion of the University. When he took over the helm, Drexel rated 175th among the 3,500 universities in the US, and brought it up to 89th place this year.

Papadakis studied at the National Metsovion Polytechnic University of Athens and left in 1969 for the US for post-graduate and PhD studies.

During Papadakis' presidency the number of professors, students and employees of Greek descent at the university increased greatly, while he had also set up a scholarship program and every year organised special events on Greek culture.

Papadakis was diagnosed with cancer a year ago while on a business trip following a chest x-ray after he sustained an injury.

The late university president, whose lung cancer had been in remission, had gone on medical leave on Thursday.

"This is a day of profound mourning for the entire Drexel community of students, faculty, staff and administrators, our alumni worldwide and friends everywhere," the university's Board of Trustees president Richard Greenawalt said, while Philadelphia mayor Michael Nutter called Papadakis an "incredible visionary".

[37] Nikos Paleokostas, notorious fugitive's older brother, convicted again of bank robbery

Paleokostas appeared calm before the court and denied all charges, maintaining that he had no involvement in the robbery.

Security measures were tight and armed special police force officers escorting him remained in the courtroom throughout the trial, while everyone attending was required to pass through a metal detector.

On March 19, a court of appeals in Lamia, central Greece, had sentenced him to six years in prison after finding him guilty of robbing a National Bank branch in Karpenisi in 2001.

Nikos Paleokostas was Greece's most wanted man and a fugitive until September 2006 when he was arrested near Arachova, central Greece, after a police chase.

Weather Forecast

[38] Cloudy on Wednesday

[39] The Tuesday edition of Athens' dailies at a glance

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "All scenarios possible for government - Pavlidis refused to resign from MP seat and claimed he is innocent".

APOGEVMATINI: "Preliminary investigation committee on Pavlidis case - Late-night vote in parliament".

AVGHI: "Pavlidis....government - Former Minister threw down the gauntlet to prime minister Costas Karamanlis 'I do not accept recommendations, I do not facilitate , I will not resign or declare myself an Independent'."

AVRIANI: "Karamanlis decides on early elections after Pavlidis' refusal to resign from MP post".

CHORA: "Hell! 10,000 buildings collapsed - Italy experiences the tragedy of the century".

ELEFTHEROS: "ND'S deputies furious with former minister: Pavlidis, resign, you are not welcome in the party."

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "Elections on the horizon - Establishment of preliminary investigation committee decided in parliament".

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "Carnage - Nightmare 6.3 Richter quake ravaged the medieval city L'Aquila in Italy".

ESTIA: "Turkey is not welcome in the European Union - The Europeans do not want them in the EU".

ETHNOS: "Preliminary investigation committee is a smokescreen - ND's rapporteurs hastening to exonerate Pavlidis".

KATHIMERINI: "Preliminary investigation committee for Pavlidis who refused to resign - The committee will be a catalyst for political developments".

LOGOS: "Hecatomb in Italy - Rescue teams are racing against time".

NIKI: "ND leaves Pavlidis unprotected".

RIZOSPASTIS: "Communist party (KKE) makes broad political overture throughout the country ahead of europarliament elections".

TA NEA: "Race against time for those buried alive - Death toll exceeds 150 in Italy".

TO VIMA: "Ballots and then ....new taxes on real estate, semi-enclosed balconies, gas and cigarettes".

VRADYNI: "Lament in Italy: Biblical disaster on the dawn of Catholic Good Monday".

Cyprus Affairs

[40] Egyptian President supports reunification of Cyprus

President of Egypt Hosni Mubarak has expressed his country's support for UN Security Council resolutions on Cyprus, efforts to reunify the island and its people and the termination of foreign military occupation of Cyprus, Cypriot President Demetris Christofias said after a meeting in Cairo with his Egyptian counterpart on Tuesday.

President Christofias, on a three-day official visit to Egypt, met Tuesday his Egyptian counterpart, with whom he signed a joint declaration.

In statements to journalists after the meeting with Mubarak, President Christofias said he welcomes Egypt's stance on Cyprus and expressed Nicosia's support and solidarity for President Mubarak's efforts to reach a resolution of the Palestinian issue on the basis of UN resolutions for the creation of an independent Palestinian state.

He also said that Egypt plays a key role in efforts to solve the Middle East problem.

The Cypriot president announced that the Egyptian President promised to visit Cyprus.

''I consider this promise as very important", he went on to say. The Cypriot president described the meeting as ''very warm and very cordial'', adding they reaffirmed the long friendship and cooperation between Cyprus and Egypt.

President Mubarak, he said, "showed vivid interest in developments regarding the Cyprus issue".

"I explained our positions and our efforts towards the solution of the Cyprus problem", President Christofias added.

He noted that during the meeting they reaffirmed "EgyptÔs support for UNSC resolutions on Cyprus, the efforts for the reunification of Cyprus and its people and the termination of foreign military occupation".

"It is very important that a great country like Egypt is a good friend of Cyprus", he said.

Expressing the conviction that the joint declaration and the four bilateral agreements they have signed would enhance relations, President Christofias said that bilateral ties should be further enhanced on all levels.

He also expressed hope that Egyptian ministers would soon visit Cyprus in an effort to boost bilateral ties, including the energy sector.

''When I talked about the development of our ties in all sectors, of course I also meant the energy sector and the common efforts to exploit the exclusive economic zone and the common area at that zone", he explained.

According to the joint declaration, Egypt welcomes the decision of the leaders of the two communities in Cyprus, Cypriot President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, to begin a negotiations process with the aim to reach a just and viable solution of the Cyprus problem, based on international law, the UN Charter and the relevant UNSC resolutions.

The declaration adds that Cyprus will support Egypt's efforts to upgrade its relations with the EU as well as its contribution to further enhanced dialogue between Cyprus and the Arab League.

Cyprus also supports the Egyptian initiative to deal with the situation in Gaza, an initiative widely supported by the EU.

The two countries stress the strong bonds of friendship between the people and the states as well as their good bilateral relations in all fields and express their determination to further deepen and upgrade their bilateral ties especially in the areas of politics, economy, social and cultural affairs.

They also reaffirm their commitment to the UN role in maintaining international peace and security.

Through the joint declaration, the two countries agree to encourage regular meetings of their Ministers of Foreign Affairs in Egypt and Cyprus to exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual concern and examine ways to expand their bilateral cooperation.

They also agreed to promote the implementation of joint projects in the framework of the Barcelona Process Ø Union for the Mediterranean.

The two countries have agreed to cooperate closely for the commencement of the peace process in the Middle East for the creation of a viable, independent Palestinian state on the basis of the Arab Peace Initiative and the relevant UNSC resolutions.

The Cypriot delegation in Egypt comprises Minister of Finance and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Charilaos Stavrakis, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism Antonis Paschalides, Government Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou, Director of the President's Office Vasos Georgiou and other officials.

Cyprus President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat have been engaged in direct talks since September last year with a view to reach a comprehensive solution to reunify the island remains divided for thirty five years after the 1974 Turkish invasion.

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