Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 09-04-30

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

CONTENTS

[01] European social model must be shielded, PM Karamanlis tells EPP conference

[02] Meimarakis: Greek-U.S. relations strategic and vital

[03] FM Bakoyannis : ECJ ruling on property case in Cyprus important

[04] Inner cabinet approves spatial plan for tourism

[05] Minister inspects swine flu measures at Athens airport

[06] PASOK leader tours east Attica prefecture

[07] Bakoyannis critical of Papandreou statements abroad

[08] Conflicting conclusions on Pavlidis case by majority MPs, opposition

[09] Gov't spokesman on Parliament vote

[10] Ruling ND's report on the Pavlidis case

[11] Main opposition PASOK calls for additional charges

[12] Development Minister meets Ecumenical Patriarch

[13] Civil defence meeting ahead of wildfire season

[14] FM Bakoyannis presents book at War Museum

[15] BoG unveils real estate price index

[16] BoG: Credit expansion slowed significantly in March

[17] Global economic stability, prosperity necessitate EU-U.S. cooperation, deputy FM says

[18] European Commission report on public expenditures, aging populations

[19] Athens, Skopje eye joint EU programs

[20] Gov't unveils new int'l tourism ad

[21] ERT-ARTE sign two-year cooperation agreement

[22] Greek insurance brokers: Turnover up 9.4% in '08

[23] Deputy FinMin on second-hand car duties

[24] ASE suspends trading in Altius Investment Fund shares

[25] Stocks soar 4.36% on Wed.

[26] ADEX closing report

[27] Greek bond market closing report

[28] Foreign Exchange rates - Thursday

[29] Climate change could turn Med into tropical sea, warns French oceanographer Bethoux

[30] New archaeological park in Athens

[31] New Hellenic Studies chair at Rhode Island Uni (URI)

[32] Wreck of small Israeli aircraft found - Passengers dead

[33] Foreign nationals arrested for using clone cards

[34] Colombian fugitive arrested in Athens

[35] Science Film Fest in Athens

[36] Aegean University cultural centre inauguration

[37] Cloudy, rainy on Thursday

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

[39] P5 close to agreement on UNSC presidential statement on Cyprus

[40] House President: no arbritration and no timeframes in peace talks

[41] President flies to London on private visit Politics

[01] European social model must be shielded, PM Karamanlis tells EPP conference

Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis addressed the European Peoples' Party (EPP) conference, ahead of the June euroelections, here on Wednesday, stressing the need for shielding the European social model and maintaining the balance between the market and social responsibility.

The conference was attended by most prime ministers of the European Union member-states, as well as a considerable number of party leaders, both from member-states and EU accession candidate countries.

Karamanlis referred during his address to the "unprecedented crisis" that is harassing both the European and the global economy, pointing out that the EPP's steadfast position in favour of the "social economy of the market" probably constitutes the only exit from this crisis.

"We must use the market because it is the best means for producing wealth. In parallel, however, we must ensure the correct distribution of this wealth, so as to curb the negative repercussions of the crisis for the financially weaker classes," the prime minister said, adding that the economic crisis is a challenge for the renewal of the EPP's programme arsenal and the strengthening of the EU member-states' coordination.

"We must focus our attention on boosting employment, placing special importance on sectors such as green development," Karamanlis noted and pointed at the same time to the need of promoting structural changes in the direction of increasing competitiveness and productivity.

Referring to the government's policy in Greece, Karamanlis said that an integrated programme is being implemented with targeted activities in sectors such as health and education. When the economic crisis will be over, this programme will allow the return to growth rates based on better foundations, he said.

The prime ministerb added that the word key is "confidence" and that the EPP has always placed emphasis on the social dimension of the European undertaking and the boosting of economic cohesion and social solidarity.

Karamanlis underlined, however, that confidence entails sincerity and responsibility and stressed that the parties comprising the EPP have never concealed the truth from the European peoples and, consequently, they do not intend, at this stage, to undermine the longterm prospects of the European economies to appear pleasant for the voters during the short term.

Lastly, the prime minister underlined that the EPP has contributed to the creation of a united Europe more than any other European political family and expressed confidence that in the upcoming Euroelections the parties comprising it will succeed once again in making it first among the preferences of the European voters.

Karamanlis had a brief meeting with his Polish counterpart Donald Tusk on the sidelines of the EPP conference.

[02] Meimarakis: Greek-U.S. relations strategic and vital

Greece's Defence Minister Evangelos Meimarakis on Wednesday underlined the strategic nature and vital importance of relations between Greece and the United States in southeast Europe and the Mediterranean.

He was speaking at a Greek conference organised jointly by the Institute of Foreign Policy Analysis (IFPA), the Constantine Karamanlis Foundation and the Greek national defence ministry's Defence Analyses Institute on "A New NATO, Euro-Atlantic Security and the Greek-American Partnership".

"Climate change and movement of populations, attacks in cyberspace, energy security and the re-emergency of piracy compose the contemporary threat environment," Meimarakis said, painting the picture of a new and extremely uncertain global environment dominated by asymmetric threats, in which the relationship between Europe and the US remained the sole stable parameter.

In this context, he said that bilateral cooperation between Greece and the U.S. would not only maintain but actually increase its momentum, as was confirmed during recent meetings between U.S. President Barack Obama and Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis, that between Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and his own meeting with U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates.

On southeast Europe, Meimarakis said that Greece and the U.S. shared common interests and that Greece supports the EuroAtlantic prospects of all the western Balkans, on condition that they met the accession requirements.

Turning to the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (fYRoM) and Greece's dispute with that country over the name 'Macedonia', Meimarakis stressed that this was a far from trivial issue but one intimately linked with the security and stability of the region as a whole.

He stressed that Greece's relations with fYRoM would be fully normalised once a solution to the name dispute was agreed, opening that country's path to NATO and the EU and boosting regional stability by confirming the spirit of reconciliation necessary between allied countries.

Greece's prime minister, himself a native of the Greek province of Macedonia, had agreed to accept a composite name for fYRoM that included the term 'Macedonia' - and incurred significant political cost at home - without any matching gesture from Skopje up to this time, Meimarakis added.

Regarding Turkey, the minister noted that despite continued Greek efforts to improve bilateral ties there had been little change on the Turkish side, which continued incursions into Greek airspace and territorial waters in the Aegean and maintained its 'casus belli' threat against Greece.

Finally, Meimarakis stressed Greece's contribution in the framework of NATO, such as its participation in operations like Active Endeavour in the Mediterranean or the peacekeeping missions in Kosovo and Afghanistan, as well as its role in the EU naval operation Atalanta against piracy at sea.

[03] FM Bakoyannis : ECJ ruling on property case in Cyprus important

In a statement on Wednesday, Bakoyannis notes that :"This is an important ruling which points out the clear legal dimensions of the property issue in Cyprus and marginalises efforts to render this issue a political affair."

"The Court decision constitutes one more vindication for the thousands of Greek Cypriot refugees who are deprived of their property in the northern part of the island of Cyprus for the past thirty-five years", she added.

The Grrek foreign minister also underlined that "it is particularly important that the decision of the ECJ reaffirms the single and unified status of the sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus."

The Court ruling refers to the Apostolides vs Orams case and was issued on Tuesday after a dispute before the Court of Appeal of England and Wales between Greek Cypriot refugee Meletis Apostolides and British couple David and Linda Orams, in relation to the recognition and enforcement of a judgment of the District Court of Nicosia.

The Court of Appeal requested a preliminary ruling from the Court of Justice, with respect to the dispute.

The court in the government controlled southern areas of Cyprus had delivered a judgment ordering the Orams couple to vacate an area of land in the Turkish occupied north and to pay various monetary amounts.

The British couple had purchased the land from a third party and built a holiday house on it. According to the findings of the court in Cyprus, however, the rightful owner of the land is in fact Apostolides, whose family was forced to leave the north as a result of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974 and the occupation of the island's northern third.

[04] Inner cabinet approves spatial plan for tourism

Souflias stressed that after several decades, the country was finally acquiring a comprehensive spatial plan that was essential for its organised development and the protection of the environment. Following the cabinet's decision, the plan for tourism would augment the national plan and the special plans for renewable energy sources and for industry already passed into law, the minister added.

Still outstanding in terms of the country's spatial planning legislation were two bills described by Souflias as having "secondary importance" relating to coasts and mountains, which would be prepared and presented for consultation in the coming period, after which Greece's legislative framework for spatial planning would be completed.

[05] Minister inspects swine flu measures at Athens airport

The first thermal cameras were installed at the country's largest airport on Tuesday night within the framework of the preventive measures taken by Greece to head off the swine flu or Novel Influenza Virus as it has been named temporarily by the World Health Organization (WHO).

"Within three hours following the news of the swine flu outbreak in Mexico, Greece activated the "Artemis" emergency plan with 8 thermal cameras being added to the country's entry points in addition to 2 special scanner devices in operation," Avramopoulos said, adding that all international airports in Greece will soon be supplied with such scanners.

He stated that doctors and specialized personnel examine all passengers with suspicious symptoms, adding that printed material with useful information is being distributed in all entry points.

The four key-measures taken at Athens' Airport are, the installation of thermal cameras monitoring the body temperature of passengers to trace incidents of fever; distribution of printed material with information in Greek and English by police officers or customs officers (depending on the countries passengers come from, inside or outside Schengen); operation of a 24-hour airport clinic with health ministry appointed doctors to handle passengers with suspicious symptoms before being forwarded to Sismanogleio Hospital specializing in infectious diseases and the operation of a "temporary waiting room for passengers" featuring the necessary sanitation infrastructure to receive multiple flu cases.

The health minister will be in Brussels on Thursday to attend an extraordinary Summit of the EU Health Ministers.

[06] PASOK leader tours east Attica prefecture

Papandreou accused ruling New Democracy of "promoting profiteering through a spatial plan adopted that leads to inhumane cities without green areas," adding that "infrastructures that are left with no maintenance." He also stated that "the police force does not have an adequate organization and has been virtually taken apart as a result of ND policies."

During his visit to the health clinic he was briefed by medical personnel on the problems they face.

[07] Bakoyannis critical of Papandreou statements abroad

She had been asked whether the government's attack on Papandreou was "excessive".

"This country is neither blue, nor green, nor red," she said, referring to the colours of the top three political parties. "It is an obligation for all of us, when we are abroad, to defend it and to not defame it," Bakoyannis stressed.

[08] Conflicting conclusions on Pavlidis case by majority MPs, opposition

According to a report issued by the ruling New Democracy MPs, the Parliamentary probe found no evidence to support charges that Pavlidis -- also a ruling party MP representing the Dodecanese islands precinct for more than two decades -- was involved in the extortion of ship-owner Fotis Manoussis by one of Pavlidis' aides, Panagiotis Zachariou.

On a political level, however, the governing majority said Parliament would have to evaluate actions that were not linked to criminal offences but raised issues of propriety, such as Pavlidis' decision not to remove Zachariou from his office after the allegations against him were made public but to re-hire him in a different capacity after just one day.

Opposition parties, by contrast, said there were "strong indications" of wrongdoing that required further investigation whereas main opposition PASOK, in particular, called for additional charges and a second Parliamentary inquiry into the former minister's activities, in addition to that of instigating extortion.

The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) proposed charges against Pavlidis for moral complicity in instigating blackmail, while the Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) called for an indictment on charges related to blackmail and accepting bribes, as did the Popular Orthodox Rally (LA.OS).

A vote by the Parliamentary plenum on the special committee's reports will be held at midnight on Monday.

[09] Gov't spokesman on Parliament vote

"It is self-evident that there is not and cannot be an issue of a 'line' in such cases," he stressed.

Concerning PASOK's request for a second Parliamentary inquiry into Pavlidis' actions as minister, Antonaros said the government refused to "participate in a process whose aim is to continue to degrade both justice and the political life of the country," and accused PASOK of grasping at any opportunity to "sink the country in unending scandal-mongering". He clarified that a case file sent to Parliament by a Rhodes examining magistrate on this issue did not have any evaluations or recommendations attached.

[10] Ruling ND's report on the Pavlidis case

The seven MPs on the investigating committee said that none of the testimony heard during the hearings could support charges against the former minister, nor back up the allegations of extortion levelled against his former aide Zachariou.

They claimed the case against Pavlidis had obvious "holes" that had not been explained, such as why a purportedly intelligent man like Zachariou would choose to take bribes in the form of post-dated bank cheques and they referred "the blatant unreliability of Manoussis", whom they accused of constantly shifting positions.

The ND section of the committee also considered that arguments about alleged discrepancies between the testimony of Aristotelis Pavlidis, his daughter and his brother Anastasios concerning sums spent on a house had been effectively answered, as had those concerning the legality of tenders to assign subsidised shipping lines under Pavlidis, with MPs pointing out that Manoussis had been awarded 12 out of a total of 37 tenders held during Pavlidis' time at the ministry.

They also opposed the main opposition's demand to bring additional charges against Pavlidis, saying that the committee was not empowered to do this, regardless of whether there was evidence for such charges or whether it was feasible to combine them.

[11] Main opposition PASOK calls for additional charges

Unlike their ND colleagues, PASOK believes the testimony yielded strong indications that Pavlidis, through "encouragement and suggestions", was guilty of morally inciting Zachariou to extort Manoussis so that they could both make illegal gains, while they do not question that Manoussis was extorted with the threat of harm against his business.

They also accuse Pavlidis of receiving unspecified amounts from Manoussis via Zachariou for his services as Aegean minister, specifically so as not to act prejudicially against Manoussis in tenders for subsidised shipping lines to remote islands, thus making him guilty of accepting bribes.

PASOK also asserts that Pavlidis knowingly concealed the true origins of his assets used for the purchase of an apartment by his daughter Angeliki Pavlidi and the existence of an account in the National Bank of Greece, as well as the origins of amounts paid into that account as split deposits, in violation of laws against money-laundering.

A fourth accusation against Pavlidis during his time as minister was that he failed to award the subsidised shipping line from the ports of Thessaloniki to Mytilene on Lesvos to the ship "Samothraki" owned by the shipping firm "Niki Samothraki NE" - which had offered to carry out the service for free - deciding that the line should remain with the ship "Penelope" for the sum of 37,684 euros a week and thus knowingly harming state interests, while he also further harmed state interests by a returning bank letters of guarantee for 120,120 euros to the shipping firm "Penelope SA" when they should have been withheld.

PASOK argues that Pavlidis was guilty of dereliction of duty by directly awarding the above line to the "Penelope" over the company that won the tender, since the ship did not meet the legal requirements (because it had anonymous shares), and thus acted to secure illegal assets of 452,208 euros for its owners.

The party on Wednesday submitted a request for a second Parliamentary inquiry to investigate the Dodecanese island ferry lines assigned under Pavlidis, which was rejected by the government.

[12] Development Minister meets Ecumenical Patriarch

After the meeting, Hatzidakis stressed "I am always moved when I visit the Ecumenical Patriarchate and meet with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, who is an exceptional hierarch. It's our duty, both as Greek citizens who are sensitised on human rights and as Orthodox Christians, to stand by the Ecumenical Patriarchate".

Hatzidakis arrived in Istanbul on Tuesday, at the invitation of Turkey's energy and natural resources minister Hilmi Guler, to take part in an international conference focusing on solutions to energy security problems, which is organised by the Turkish War Academy.

[13] Civil defence meeting ahead of wildfire season

"We are ready to do everything possible to protect the environment and people. Last year we were better prepared than previous years and results were visible," Pavlopoulos said, also underlined the excellent cooperation between local administration and the fire brigade that has allowed the firefighting forces to do their job.

Agency secretary general Margaritis Mouzas stated the necessary funds for the adoption of wildfire prevention measures have been approved and will be distributed based on specific criteria.

[14] FM Bakoyannis presents book at War Museum

Bakoyannis referred to the joint effort by the scientific agencies of the two countries, speaking of proof of the fact that Greece and Bulgaria have finally turned a page in the relations between them.

"In the ranks of the same European family and both of us now being members of the Atlantic alliance, having left the past behind us, Greece and Bulgaria are cooperating closely at all levels - political, economic, energy, cultural - and we form a strong axis of stability and developmnent for the entire southeastern Europe," she said.

Bakoyannis conceded that the issue contained in the book is very complicated "since mere reference to it creates different reflexes, not only to Greeks and Bulgarians, but to almost all peoples in our region."

The foreign minister also focused on the issue of the name of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), saying that "Greece has repeatedly proved in practice its clear will and adherrence to the goal of a mutually acceptable solution being found" and added that "indeed, in the past years we pursued and achieved a new mobility, a new international impetus in the direction of finding a solution."

Bakoyannis congratulated and thanked all who participated in the publishing effort and, referring to the work of the Macedonian Studies Society, spoke of systematic and scientifically perfect work, while congratulating the Society's President Nikolaos Mertzos in particular.

Financial News

[15] BoG unveils real estate price index

George Provopoulos, the central bank's governor, addressing a seminar on developments and prospects in the domestic real estate market, said the aim was the introduce a reliable index, with modern methodology, that will be certified by an international agency. This index will be published periodically and will gradually cover the majority of the country's regions and property categories, Provopoulos said.

The BoG governor said investments in the residential market last year accounted for 25 pct of total investments in the country, while more than 80 pct of the country's wealth was linked with real estate assets.

Real estate prices were down 7.0 pct on average in the period starting after the summer of 2008 until now, Theodoros Mitrakos, the bank's head of property market analysis department, told the seminar, with home prices in Athens down 3.5 pct in the first quarter of 2009.

Gkikas-Hardouvelis, a Eurobank financial consultant, said investments in homes and other buildings in Greece accounted for 5.4 pct of GDP last year.

[16] BoG: Credit expansion slowed significantly in March

The central bank, in a monthly report, said credit expansion slowed significantly both towards enterprises and households. Net lending to enterprises totaled 282 million euros in March for an annual growth rate of 12.2 pct, down from 15.2 pct in February and 18.7 pct in December 2008.

The report attributed this development to higher corporate securities sales abroad and said that excluding corporate bond sales, credit expansion should have been 13.5 pct in March. Credit expansion growth in the manufacturing sector slowed to 9.0 pct in March, from 12.9 pct in February, while in the commerce sector growth slowed to 16.6 pct from 19.3 pct in February 2009.

Net lending to households was 127 million euros in March 2009, for an annual growth rate of 9.2 pct, down from 10.3 pct in February and 12.8 pct in December 2008. Net mortgage lending totaled 199 million euros in March, for an annual growth rate of 8.7 pct, down from 9.6 pct in February and 11.5 pct in December 2008. Consumer lending fell by 56 million euros for an annual growth rate of 10.9 pct (12.3 pct and 16.0 pct in February 2009 and December 2008, respectively).

Other loans to households fell by 17 million euros in March, for an annual growth rate of 2.4 pct, from 5.8 pct in February and 9.5 pct in December 2008.

[17] Global economic stability, prosperity necessitate EU-U.S. cooperation, deputy FM says

Deputy Foreign Minister Miltiades Varvitsiotis, participating in a roundtable discussion at the Woodrow Wilson Centre here, said that global economic stability and prosperity necessitate cooperation between the European Union and the United States while Greece's role is highlighted in this framework as a democratic and liberal country, having historical, economic and cultural backing in the wider region of southeastern Europe, the Caucasus, the Middle East and the Arab peninsula and it is a good pipeline for the messages of the West.

The discussion was attended by officials from the U.S. foreign affairs and trade ministries, as well as representatives from the embassies of Britain, Cyprus, Turkey, Bulgaria, Armenia and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) in the American capital.

Varvitsiotis stressed that Greece is a considerable economic power of stability in the region and, during the economic crisis, it is making an effort to maintain and strengthen the rate of the Greek investments inflow towards the wider region of southeastern Europe, spending considerable amounts for the creation of infrastructures in the wider region.

He further said that Greece, in past years, has been attracting investments from China and the Arab countries, while it is expected to become an energy gateway for the Balkans.

Greece is seeking the enlargement of the European Union with the "Europeanisation" of the countries of southeastern Europe and converges with the United States in supporting Turkey's course towards its full accession to the EU.

The deputy foreign minister underlined the significance of regional cooperation, which is being inaugurated in the framework of solving economic issues and facilitating economic and commercial cooperation between the countries of southeastern Europe, cooperation that, while having immediate favourable results for the economies of the countries taking advantage of this, at the same time it paves the way and considerably strengthens the effectiveness of political diplomacy.

[18] European Commission report on public expenditures, aging populations

Public expenditures in Greece concerning pensions amounted to 11.7 percent of GDP in 2007 and are expected to increase by 12.4 percentage points in 2060, according to a European Commission report on "aging population and economic and monetary predictions for the European Union member-states", that was publicised here on Wednesday.

Public expenditures for pensions in the EU were 10.2 percent of GDP in 2007 and are expected to increase by 2.4 percentage points. The increase in public expenditures in Greece is the second highest in the EU, behind Luxembourg (15.2 percentage points).

Generally speaking, public expenditutees related to the aging population were 22.1 percent of GDP in 2007 and are expected to increase by 15.9 percentage points, while in the EU they were 23.1 percent of GDP and are expected to increase by 4.7 percentage points.

The Commission expects that during the 2007-2060 period in the EU the correlation of the number of people having a working age with people over 65 years of age will change from four to one to two to one, adding that what is necessary for this reason is a renewed strategy on the upcoming demographic challenges and the phenomena of aging populations.

According to the Commission, in the year 2060 the EU's population will be at about the same level as in 2007 but it will be much older.

[19] Athens, Skopje eye joint EU programs

Economic and trade development initiatives and projects, particularly in the border areas shared by Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (fYRoM), are eligible under the EU programme.

IPA funding for Greece reaches 5.54 million euros for the 2007-09 period, and 3.59 million euros for fYRoM, an EU candidate-state since 2005.

According to the EU website, the programme offers "rationalised assistance to countries aspiring to join the European Union for the period 2007-2013 on the basis of the lessons learnt from previous external assistance and pre-accession instruments..."

Despite a district chill in bilateral political relations due to the still unresolved "name issue", economic and trade ties between the two neighbouring countries still appear robust.

[20] Gov't unveils new int'l tourism ad

Presenting the new international ad campaign, designed by Ashley & Holmes with Karamella, Tourism Development Minister Costas Markopoulos said the nine "Greece, the True Experience" themes remained, and will be joined by the campaign "Greece, 5000 Years Old" along with the "A Masterpiece You Can Afford" theme.

The Greek minister said the advertising campaign is designed so that "people around the world will hear, see and feel Greece."

[21] ERT-ARTE sign two-year cooperation agreement

Cooperation will concern joint productions, the joint organising of "nights on special events" on a European scale, cooperation in various European events and the purchase and sale of television programmes.

Speaking at a press conference that followed, ERT's president stressed the significance of the agreement, in the framework of the overall strategy of public television in the sector of international joint productions, adding that ERT has gone ahead with over 60 joint productions with big international agencies over the past two years.

[22] Greek insurance brokers: Turnover up 9.4% in '08

The top 15 insurance brokerage firms reported a rise in turnover between 4-38 pct last year, compared with 2007, covering 26 pct of total turnover in the market to 58.083 million euros.

Insurance brokers attributed their improved results to higher turnover in the fire and car insurance sectors in 2008.

George Karavias, president of the Federation of Greek Insurance Brokers, said the crisis should not scare the insurance industry.

[23] Deputy FinMin on second-hand car duties

The tax bill concerning, among other things, taxation clauses and instructions on income, capital and VAT, was ratified in principle.

Replying to criticism that large cars benefitted from the development, the deputy minister said that the decrease is the same for all cars and the buyer's benefits are in accordance with the car's value.

He further said that with the bill's clauses the government is aiming at boosting the market that has been in a state of decline lately.

[24] ASE suspends trading in Altius Investment Fund shares

[25] Stocks soar 4.36% on Wed.

All sectors moved higher, with the Health (7.66 pct), Financial Services (6.74 pct), Banks (5.90 pct) and Raw Materials (5.83 pct) scoring the biggest percentage gains of the day.

The FTSE 20 index rose 4.76 pct, the FTSE 40 index ended 5.0 pct higher and the FTSE 80 index was up 2.92 pct. Broadly, advancers led decliners by 218 to 26 with another 25 issues unchanged.

Sector indices ended as follows:

Insurance: +1.48%

Industrials: +4.85%

Commercial: +4.00%

Construction: +4.58%

Media: +4.91%

Oil & Gas: +3.28%

Personal & Household: +5.62%

Raw Materials: +5.83%

Travel & Leisure: +1.40%

Technology: +3.44%

Telecoms: -3.84%

Banks: +5.90%

Food & Beverages: +3.81%

Health: +7.66%

Utilities: +2.61%

Chemicals: +4.57%

Financial Services: +6.74%

The stocks with the highest turnover were National Bank, Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation (OTE), OPAP and Alpha Bank.

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

Alpha Bank: 6.91

ATEbank: 1.27

Public Power Corp (PPC): 14.69

HBC Coca Cola: 12.26

Hellenic Petroleum: 7.20

National Bank of Greece: 14.98

EFG Eurobank Ergasias: 5.80

Intralot: 4.32

OPAP: 22.25

OTE: 11.35

Bank of Piraeus: 6.50

Titan Cement Company: 18.66

[26] ADEX closing report

[27] Greek bond market closing report

In interbank markets, interest rates were largely unchanged. The 12-month Euribor rate was 1.73 pct, the six-month rate 1.56 pct, the three-month rate 1.37 pct and the one-month rate 0.95 pct.

[28] Foreign Exchange rates - Thursday

U.S. dollar 1.337

Pound sterling 0.905

Danish kroner 7.507

Swedish kroner 10.845

Japanese yen 129.56

Swiss franc 1.518

Norwegian kroner 8.801

Canadian dollar 1.607

Australian dollar 1.858

General News

[29] Climate change could turn Med into tropical sea, warns French oceanographer Bethoux

Speaking to ANA-MPA in Thessaloniki, he stressed that recent research and studies focusing on the Mediterranean region allow for the drawing of conclusions that concern the entire planet, considering that the changes noticed are environmental and not just climate related.

"The advantage of monitoring the deep waters of the Mediterranean Sea is that they provide a long-term picture of developments that will take place on the surface spanning over a period of 10 to 50 years into the future. For example, in the '90s data derived from the sea were used to prove the existence of the 'greenhouse' effect. Previously, the phenomenon in question was only calculated based on the changes in the concentration of 'greenhouse' gases in the atmosphere," he stressed.

He also spoke of an ecological crisis which, in the Mediterranean, is associated with "the population increase and the subsequent increase in the phosphorus concentration in the water combined with the emergence of new marine species in the Mediterranean," adding that "climate change could turn the Mediterranean into a tropical sea."

Bethoux has served as Research Director at the French National Centre of Scientific Research, participated in 20 oceanographic expeditions and is a member of the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change that shared the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize with former US Vice President and environmental activist Al Gore.

Referring to the environmental research conducted by the panel, he underlined the dramatic change of data recorded in just a few years.

"In 1990, the first research conclusions spoke of climate changes attributed to natural causes. In 1995, this impression was replaced by evidence proving that the human factor has a decisive effect on climate change. Today, early evidence has evolved into certain conclusion: man is responsible for the climate change. This certainty expressed by the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change is the first step for the measures that need to be taken," he stressed.

"Now is the time for politicians and decision makers to take the necessary measures," he warned.

His predictions regarding the future are rather ominous. "Unfortunately, the climate change will not be reversible until the carbon dioxide emissions are reduced," he said, stressing that "it will take decades or even a century for this to happen."

Bethoux will give a lecture on Monday at the Journalists Union of Macedonia-Thrace (ESIEMTh) building in Thessaloniki, within the framework of an event hosted by the Institut Francais and the Aristotle University (AUTH) Viable Development Network, under the auspices of the Ministry of Macedonia-Thrace.

The event is supported by the French General Consulate in Thessaloniki, the AUTH Polytechnic and the ESIEMTh.

[30] New archaeological park in Athens

Samaras said that a protective canopy will be built over the antiquities in the palestra (wrestling arena) of the lyceum's gymnasium and they will also be linked with the Byzantine Museum.

The project was first initiated in 1996, when excavation works revealed the archaeological findings and the site. They started with restoration works on the site in 1997, followed by the announcement in 2002 of a tender for a technical study on building the canopy and associated works that is finally being carried out this year.

The construction will be sponsored by OPAP (Greek Organisation of Football Prognostics).

[31] New Hellenic Studies chair at Rhode Island Uni (URI)

The architectural and landscaping studies for the building complex that will house the Hellenic Studies program and the university's Greek Amphitheater have already been completed. The building will be named "Rodos" after the Greek island of Rhodes (Rodos) and Rhode Island. According to URI, the leading theory on how Rhode Island got its name is that Giovanni da Verrazano, after viewing Aquidneck Island (now Rhode Island) in 1524, wrote to the King of France saying that the island reminded him of the Isle of Rhodes.

According to Rhode Island Senator Leonidas Raptakis, who has been a driving force in the establishment of the Hellenic Studies chair, the Rodos will accomodate some 22,000 students, and provide facilities for the Hellenic Studies programs and for URI's Humanitarian Studies Center. The complex will further have a chapel dedicated to Aghios Loukas (St. Luke) reflecting Byzantine architecture, art and history.

PAIDEIA further proposes the construction of an outdoor Classical Studies Amphitheater and a "Socrates' Corner".

The project is estimated at over 500,000 dollars.

PAIDEIA was established in 1977 by a group of Connecticut students and professors for the purpose of advancing Hellenic Studies to US universities. The first Hellenic Studies Center set up by PAIDEIA was at the University of Connecticut in 1995, where more than 300 students are studying the Greek language today.

[32] Wreck of small Israeli aircraft found - Passengers dead

The bodies of the aircraft's two passengers, a man and a woman, were found by the military helicopter's crew.

The man and woman had flown on the small plane from Israel to the island of Cos and from there to Zakynthos, before leaving the latter island on Tuesday afternoon headed with their plane to the island of Corfu.

[33] Foreign nationals arrested for using clone cards

According to police the two men were arrested in the act outside a bank branch in Thessaloniki, and are accused of stealing bank card information through a tap device they installed at an ATM.

Police found 4,350 euros in cash in their possession, while are also believed to have tapped another ATM in Thessaloniki on 21 and 22 April from which they withdrew an as yet unknown amount of money.

Last week Thessaloniki police dismantled a ring of Romanians stealing money from an ATM using the same method.

[34] Colombian fugitive arrested in Athens

The suspect, identified as Rudy Alonso Suarez Corrales, was arrested along with his wife, also a Colombian national, identified as Nidia Angela Garsia Bravo. The latter was charged with harboring a fugitive and illegal entry into Greece.

The former is expected to face a deportation hearing before an appellate-level prosecutor in Athens.

[35] Science Film Fest in Athens

CAID, (Centre of Applied Industrial Design) the organiser of the Festival, will screen over 150 films in 5 different theatres throughout Athens in an attempt to acquaint people with science.

The festival will start at CAID's new premises in Athens and the public will be able to watch films from several countries that cover a wide range of scientific fields, presenting what's new and innovative in scientific research. The film screenings wil lbe from 16:00 to 21:00. The films will be presented in their origin language, most in English.

The themes of the films include the Mayan and Aztec civilizations, robots and dinosaurs, ants and somnambulists, travels in Africa and the Antarctic, exploring lost Antlantis and the Parthenon, breaking secret codes and spendind a day with Darwin or swimming in the Mediterrenean Sea, and maybe find the elixir of life. Spectators will also be asked to vote for the best films, which will be presented during the second part of the festival.

Entrance to the screenings is free.

[36] Aegean University cultural centre inauguration

A students' club, a psychological support centre and the European Research and Documentation Centre "G. Papadimitriou" will also be housed at the newly established centre.

Weather forecast

[37] Cloudy, rainy on Thursday

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

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "Yes to restriction of smoking in public areas - Survey: Smokers and non-smokers in Greece agree ".

APOGEVMATINI: "8,518 hirings in public sector".

AVGHI: "A step before a pandemic - Swine flu spreads, new cases reported in USA, Canada, Spain and Britain".

AVRIANI: "Siemens culprits' 'colpo grosso' to avoid imprisonment, block Justice and put the blame on the political system".

CHORA: "The scandals stench suffocating the people - Scandal-mongering creates murky climate".

ELEFTHEROS: "The clash between Popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS) and Communist Party of Greece (KKE) on Germanos company acquisition by Cosmote escalates".

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "PASOK will continue scandal-mongering tactics despite the fact that the citizens are against it".

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "The 50 billion euros state borrowing are a confession of failure - Spending out of control and inability to collect the revenues forecast".

ESTIA: "Ruling New Democracy traps itself - Its stance on Pavlidis case lacks reason".

ETHNOS: "Amnesia and 'black' loans - Implicated persons in Pavlidis case make preposterous allegations in their testimonies".

KATHIMERINI: "State borrowing will exceed 50 billion euros - Substanstial loss in incomes".

LOGOS: "State borrowing skyrocketed to... 50 billion euros for 2009".

NIKI: "Government pens in the deputies - Unbearable pressure and threats of double elections".

RIZOSPASTIS: "We strike on May 1, against plutocracy".

TA NEA: "World Health Organisation warns: Get ready for spread of swine flu".

TO VIMA: "The new (swine) influenza is spreading - Summer and medicines against the virus- International Health Organisation: It can no longer be contained".

VRADYNI: "Hospital medical staff new salaries - The payroll , shifts and benefits".

Cyprus Affairs

[39] P5 close to agreement on UNSC presidential statement on Cyprus

The five permanent member states of the UN Security Council are close to an agreement regarding the presidential statement to be issued Thursday after the conclusion of a briefing on the Cyprus negotiations by UNSG's Special Advisor for Cyprus Alexander Downer.

The P5 continued Tuesday night their consultations regarding the content of the presidential statement.

According to diplomatic sources, improvements have been recorded as regards the joint statements of the leaders of the two communities in Cyprus and the decoupling of the progress in the negotiations from any timeframes.

The P5 were expected to hold more consultations later Wednesday during which they would finalize the presidential statement paper, which would be later on presented to all members for approval.

Downer was expected to inform the P5 about the course of the Cyprus talks, which began early last September with a view to reunify Cyprus, divided since the Turkish invasion of 1974.

According to UN sources, Downer would express the view that progress has been achieved at the negotiations and will ask the UNSC and others to maintain the momentum that would lead to a Cyprus solution.

He would also discuss with members of the UN Secretariat ways to contribute to the next phase of the negotiations by respecting the agreed principle that there should be no arbitration during the talks.

The leaders of the two communities in Cyprus, Cypriot President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat have begun early September 2008 direct negotiations with a view to reach a solution of the Cyprus problem and reunify Cyprus, which has been divided since the Turkish invasion of 1974.

[40] House President: no arbritration and no timeframes in peace talks

Cyprus House President Marios Garoyian stressed on Wednesday that the Greek Cypriot side does not accept tight timeframes or any form of arbitration in the ongoing peace talks between the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot sides.

He called on the international community to exert pressure on Turkey to abandon its intransigence.

Garoyian said that unfortunately the Turkish side submits positions and proposals at the negotiating table aiming at a confederation and a political settlement providing for two states.

Referring to a ruling by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) on Apostolides vs Orams case, Garoyian underlined its importance and said that the decision reinforces the positions of the Greek Cypriot side on the issue of property and in general the rights of the Greek Cypriots, in the framework of efforts to reach a settlement of the Cyprus question.

The Court's ruling refers to the Apostolides vs Orams case and came after a dispute has arisen before the Court of Appeal of England and Wales, which has requested a preliminary ruling from the Court of Justice, between Greek Cypriot refugee Meletis Apostolides, and British couple David and Linda Orams, in relation to the recognition and enforcement of a judgment of the District Court of Nicosia.

The court in the government controlled southern areas of Cyprus had delivered a judgment ordering the Orams couple to vacate an area of land in the Turkish occupied north and to pay various monetary amounts.

The British couple had purchased the land from a third party and built a holiday house on it. According to the findings of the court in Cyprus, however, the rightful owner of the land is in fact Apostolides, whose family was forced to leave the north as a result of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974 and the occupation of the island's northern third.

[41] President flies to London on private visit

Cyprus President Demetris Christofias and his spouse Elsi departed Wednesday for London, on a private visit until Sunday.

During his visit President Christofias will brief the Cypriot overseas community there about the Cyprus issue and the ongoing direct negotiations, which began between the leaders of the two communities here with a view to reunite the island, divided since the Turkish invasion of 1974.

On Friday, the Cypriot President will attend a lunch hosted by the National Federation of Cypriots in the United Kingdom.

On Saturday evening, President Christofias will attend a dinner hosted by the Board of the Cypriot Communal Centre, celebrating its 30th anniversary since its foundation.

President Christofias will also attend a dinner by the Greek Association of the Metropolitan Police.

The president did not make any statements to the press on departure from Larnaca airport.

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