Athens News Agency: News in English, 06-09-28

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

CONTENTS

[01] Ionic column capital replica inserted on Parthenon

[02] PM briefed on '07 budget to be tabled on Mon.

[03] PASOK leader critical of gov't during Lesvos visit

[04] FM analyses trans-Atlantic relations at Georgetown

[01] Ionic column capital replica inserted on Parthenon

Papoulias, who was accompanied by Culture Minister George Voulgarakis, was briefed in detail on the Acropolis restoration project by archaeologists. He later described the restoration as "a national project of exceptional importance".

Moreover, in a clear reference to the Parthenon Marbles, he said the message was to "all those who are obliged to return some of the masterpieces back to their home", expressing a hope that "very soon we will be able to enjoy this aesthetic masterpiece in its entirety".

The visit coincided with the placement of a replica of an Ionic capital atop the second Ionic column of the western hall of the Propylae monumental gate to the Parthenon temple.

The 2.2 ton marble replica is an exact copy of a 5th century BC Ionic capital, and took artisans more than two years to carve by hand via ancient techniques.

Decorated with graceful spirals and moldings, the Ionic capital replaces one of the original six in the Propylae, which also contained a group of six capitals designed in the more austere Doric style.

Caption: The replica of the capital is lowered unto the Parthenon column on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2006. ANA-MPA photo / O. Panagiotou.

[02] PM briefed on '07 budget to be tabled on Mon.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Alogoskoufis stressed that the target of containing the 2006 deficit at 2.6 percentage points of GNP have been met, while the target for 2007 was to further contain the deficit at 2.4 percentage points of GNP.

Alogoskoufis stressed that the fiscal adjustment applied by the present government was a success, given the substantial reduction of the deficit from the 7 percentage points of GNP inherited from the preceding government.

Contributing to the decline in the deficit were the high growth rates and the increase in real revenues, Alogoskoufis explained.

Replying to questions, he said that the revision of the GNP and its increase by 25 percent was due to the tertiary sector, in other words, the increase in trade, services, construction and tourism. Alogoskoufis further clarified that the original figures had been calculated with 1988 as the base year, while in the revised figures the base year was 2000.

Questioned on the black economy, Alogoskoufis said that it accounted for 0.7 percentage points of the 25 percent increase in GNP.

ANA-MPA file photo of Alogoskoufis.

[03] PASOK leader critical of gov't during Lesvos visit

Speaking on the second day of his visit to Lesvos, Papandreou said that the infrastructures have helped the island enter the field of specialised tourism, adding that the marina could be instrumental in developing quality tourism, while he also accused the current local government on the island of leaving a section of the marina unexploited, thus leaving the marina infrastructure incomplete.

He described the marina as a very important project for the entire northern Aegean, at the least.

The PASOK leader also accused the government of displaying indifference regarding the periphery, despite its big campaign pledges, and of being indifferent to the reality, preferring instead to concentrate on the political friends and holding the citizens captive for vote-grabbing reasons.

Papandreou said he was in Lesvos to manifest his party's support to the island's inhabitants who, during the summer, like the inhabitants of the other islands, witnessed the lack of policy and indifference of the government with respect to transport means and coastal shipping, "another indication of the rationale of the current government, which naturally has negative effects on tourism".

[04] FM analyses trans-Atlantic relations at Georgetown

Speaking at the University's Gaston Hall in an event organised by the BMW Center for German and European Studies and the Greek embassy in Washington, Bakoyannis first referred to the prejudices, disfunctions, lack of understanding as well as lack of knowledge that often divides the peoples and the politicians on the two sides of the Atlantic, citing Henry Kissinger, who had once asked: "If I want to speak to Europe, what number do I call?"

The European Union, despite the difficulties it faces in its integration, nevertheless constitutes a major achievement, since it has succeeded in uniting countries that were once enemies and in averting clashes throughut the world, Bakoyannis said, adding that the EU also assisting in cementing democracy and prosperity in Spain, Portugal and Greece.

The EU created the largest economy in the world with a GDP that exceeded 12 trillion dollars in 2005, and constitutes the biggest commercial power in the world, Bakoyannis said, adding that the EU of 25 (currently) or 27 (after the expected accession of Bulgaria and Romania as of January 1, 2007) countries was trying to face the challenges of its enlargement, in which Greece was a protagonist, and to eliminate the democratic deficit in the function of its institutions. The European Constitution and its rejection (in referenda) in France and the Netherlands was another outstanding issue in the course towards EU integration, so that Europe can one day speak with one voice to the entire world, she said.

The prospect of Turkey's accession to the EU has divided the Europeans, given that its 75 million Muslim population is considered by many a threat to the social and, chiefly, the cultural substance of Europe, Bakoyannis said, adding that she did not know what the outcome would be of the dialogue on the future nature of the EU, but expressed hope that it would achieve a synthesis of the views for a new institutional framework that will allow the Union to be at the same time more democratic and more efficient.

Greece, she said, was at the core of the countries waging the battle for greater incorporation. It was already a participant in the euro-zone, the Schengen Treaty, and the common European Defence and Security Policy, while Greece was also one of the countries that have ratified the proposed Euro-Constitution, the foreign minister continued.

On US-Europe relations, Bakoyannis stressed the common effort against nazism and for freedom and human rights throughout the world, despite their occasional disagreements. Whether within or outside NATO, the US and Europe faced together the challenges of World War II, the Cold War, and every other crisis, securing the stability and economic prosperity of their peoples, she said.

Europe and the us could, together, effectively face the regional challenges, Bakoyannis said, and for this reason Europe must develop its own military potential. This necessity was of vital importance for the regions in which Europe was more easily accepted as an intermediary force, she said, adding that this had become crystal clear during the recent crisis in the Middle East.

The US and Europe could also guarantee, together, safe access to energy sources and manage crises such as the development of nuclear weapons by Iran, Bakoyannis continued.

A Europe that has achieved synthesis of views internally can better determine its relationship with the US and develop it more effectively, Bakoyannis concluded.

ANA-MPA file photo of Bakoyannis.

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