Read the CSCE Charter for a New Europe (Paris, 21 November 1990) Read the Convention Relating to the Regime of the Straits (24 July 1923) Read the Convention Relating to the Regime of the Straits (24 July 1923)
HR-Net - Hellenic Resources Network Compact version
Today's Suggestion
Read The "Macedonian Question" (by Maria Nystazopoulou-Pelekidou)
HomeAbout HR-NetNewsWeb SitesDocumentsOnline HelpUsage InformationContact us
Thursday, 28 March 2024
 
News
  Latest News (All)
     From Greece
     From Cyprus
     From Europe
     From Balkans
     From Turkey
     From USA
  Announcements
  World Press
  News Archives
Web Sites
  Hosted
  Mirrored
  Interesting Nodes
Documents
  Special Topics
  Treaties, Conventions
  Constitutions
  U.S. Agencies
  Cyprus Problem
  Other
Services
  Personal NewsPaper
  Greek Fonts
  Tools
  F.A.Q.
 

Athens News Agency: News in English, 06-02-13

Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

  • [01] Government will strengthen laws for telecoms security, PM stresses
  • [02] Authorities step up efforts to detect 'bird flu'
  • [03] Israeli president on official visit to Greece

  • [01] Government will strengthen laws for telecoms security, PM stresses

    The government is determined to strengthen current laws for security in telecommunications, Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis stressed on Monday after meetings with the heads of Greece's two independent telecoms regulators - the Authority for Protecting Privacy of Communications (ADAE) and the National Commission for Telecommunications and Post Offices (EETT) - and a group of legal experts.

    The public can now feel that the time of cover-ups is gone and would never return, Karamanlis added.

    The meeting was held to discuss the implications of a mobile phone-tapping conspiracy recently disclosed by the government, to which it had been alerted nearly a year ago. At that time the affair had been kept secret and an unsuccessful 11-month investigation was launched to find those responsible.

    The premier said that improvements to the existing regulatory framework required further strengthening laws and giving the country's independent authorities the staff and means that they need in order to operate in the most effective way, as well as systematic and intensive checking and a series of tougher penalty for those involved in such offences and those using the products of these crimes.

    According to Karamanlis, the task of upgrading telecoms security was a matter for Parliament's Institutions and Transparency committee, to which the independent telecoms authorities were answerable.

    Underlining that the "state will be implacable and the government's will is given, strong and unyielding," Karamanlis stressed that the citizens were being informed, their rights protected, the laws were being strengthened, the state fortified and the country's security upgraded.

    He also made an appeal for unity and a joining of forces and efforts by the political parties on this issue, noting that it was a question of national security that "has no room for petty party politics and irresponsibility".

    Karamanlis noted that the government had revealed and faced a criminal action targeting the country, the citizens and itself and that the country now faced an issue of major importance that demanded from all a sense of seriousness and responsibility and "non-negotiable dedication to the interests of the country and the rights of the citizens".

    Pointing out that investigation of the case had been in the hands of justice from the start, the premier said that this investigation was now in a new decisive phase and that "everything is being investigated in all directions".

    Underlining the government's trust and support for justice, meanwhile, he said the government would not flinch from holding those responsible to account.

    Karamanlis made the announcements after a meeting with ADAE president Andreas Lambrinopoulos and EETT president Nikitas Alexandridis, also attended by Justice Minister Anastasios Papaligouras and Transport and Communications Minister Mihalis Liapis, and a separate meeting with legal experts Dimitris Tsatsos, Antonis Manitakis, Christos Kapsalis and Panagiotis Tsanakas, also attended by the two ministers.

    During the last meeting, a committee was set up to assist state agencies and bodies in strengthening the legal framework for telecommunications privacy and security, which will be made up of the four men attending the meeting in addition to Nikos Androulakis and Giannis Manoledakis, who were absent.

    In a statement afterwards, Tsatsos said the committee would be able to make its recommendations regarding further improvements to laws in about 10 days.

    ANA-MPA Copyright © 2004-2005 All rights reserved.

    [02] Authorities step up efforts to detect 'bird flu'

    Veterinary authorities around the country on Monday stepped up efforts to collect samples from dead wild fowl and poultry, after the deadly H5N1 strain of the "bird flu" virus was detected in three dead wild swans found near Greece's northern borders last week.

    Authorities in the greater Athens area were especially concentrating on taking samples from migratory water fowl -- ducks, geese etc. -- with a directive listing preventative measures sent to park officials and hunting clubs.

    Authorities in the northeastern border prefecture of Evros, where the infected swans were found, also stepped up testing in the area and continued efforts to disinfect vehicles and trains entering the prefecture from neighboring Bulgaria and Turkey.

    Good news, meanwhile, came from the northern city of Thessaloniki, where two individuals that had reportedly come into contact with sick birds over the recent period, before coming down with flu-like symptoms, tested negative for "avian influenza".

    The first individual, a 29-year-old man, is a reportedly a duck hunter, while the second, a 15-year-old youth, brought an ailing bird into his home nine days ago. A second round of testing is pending.

    ANA-MPA Copyright © 2004-2005 All rights reserved.

    [03] Israeli president on official visit to Greece

    Israeli President Moshe Katzav is to begin out a five-day official visit to Greece at the invitation of President of the Republic Karolos Papoulias late on Monday.

    During his visit, Katzav will also make a stop in Thessaloniki to address the local Jewish community in the city.

    The Israeli president is scheduled to meet President Papoulias on Tuesday morning for talks on bilateral Greek-Israeli relations and international current affairs, particularly events in the Middle East following the victory of Hamas in the Palestinian elections.

    The meeting will conclude with the signature of a bilateral agreement for cooperation in industrial research and development by Development Minister Dimitris Sioufas and Israel's Infrastructure, Science and Technology Minister Roni Bar-On.

    Katzav will then call on Parliament President Anna Psarouda Benaki, pay a visit to the National Archaeological Museum and visit Athens Mayor Dora Bakoyianni, who will award him the City of Athens' Gold Medal of Worthy.

    On Wednesday, the Israeli president will have successive meetings with Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis, main opposition PASOK leader George Papandreou, Communist Party of Greece (KKE) General Secretary Aleka Papariga and the president of the Coalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology party Alekos Alavanos.

    He will depart for Thessaloniki on Thursday, where he will lay a wreath at the Holocaust memorial, visit the Royal Tombs and museum at Vergina and speak at the Thessaloniki Synagogue.

    ANA-MPA Copyright © 2004-2005 All rights reserved.


    Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article
    Back to Top
    Copyright © 1995-2023 HR-Net (Hellenic Resources Network). An HRI Project.
    All Rights Reserved.

    HTML by the HR-Net Group / Hellenic Resources Institute, Inc.
    ana2html v2.01 run on Monday, 13 February 2006 - 15:30:15 UTC