Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 01-10-24

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM announces new gov't following reshuffle

[02] Greece's EU presidency to cost 10 to 13 billion drachmas

[03] Mitsotakis sues Laliotis for slander over airport contract claims

[04] EU presidency expresses regret over T/C side's stance

[05] President Stephanopoulos to attend national holiday parade

[06] ND bill for National Council on Foreign Policy rejected

[07] Greek trade deficit up 400 mln euros in Jan-Sept

[08] Ship owners seek EU support to weather 'storm' raised by Sept. 11 strikes

[09] Beef consumption in Greece drops by 10 per cent in first nine months of 2001

[10] Greek stocks end off-highs on ASE

[11] Athens 2004 preparations in light of the gov't reshuffle

[12] Development minister: All 2004 Games projects will be useful for many years after

[13] President Clerides reiterates his staunch support for the fight to eradicate terrorism

[14] Clerides calls on industrialists to contribute in effort to reverse negative economic climate

[01] PM announces new gov't following reshuffle

Athens, 24/10/2001 (ANA)

Nikos Christodoulakis, previously development minister, was picked to lead the upgraded national economy and finance ministry after Yiannos Papantoniou was shifted to the national defense ministry.

Papantoniou takes over from Akis Tsohatzopoulos, who tapped for the development ministry.

Simitis also changed the ministries' rank of order, viewed as a step towards more closely adapting the Greek government model to European Union developments.

Another high-profile change came at the interior, public administration and decentralization ministry, where outgoing ruling PASOK Secretary Costas Skandalidis takes over from Vasso Papandreou.

On her part, Papandreou was shifted to the environment, town planning and public works ministry, held down by Costas Laliotis -- PASOK's new party secretary -- since late 1993.

Conversely, Foreign Minister George Papandreou remains at the foreign ministry, as does Mihalis Chrysohoidis at the public order ministry; Petros Efthymiou at the education ministry; Christos Verelis at the transport ministry; Evangelos Venizelos at the culture ministry; George Paschalidis at the Macedonia-Thrace ministry; Alekos Papadopoulos at the health ministry and Nikos Sifounakis at the Aegean ministry.

In other changes, Dimitris Reppas moves from the mass media and press ministry to the labor and social insurances ministry. His replacement at the high-profile ministry will be Christos Protopapas, until recently the deputy minister of labor. Former labor minister Tassos Yiannitsis moves to the foreign ministry as the alternate to George Papandreou.

George Drys got a promotion, leaving the finance ministry to head the agriculture ministry as its new minister. The same holds true for Philippos Petsalnikos, who leaves the post of deputy education minister to assume the justice portfolio, while George Anomeritis took over at the merchant marine ministry.

Another noteworthy development was the appointment of Nassos Alevras as the deputy culture ministry in charge of 2004-related projects.

Members of the new government will be sworn-in at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday before President Kostis Stephanopoulos, with a full Cabinet session to follow.

Opposition parties: In reaction, opposition parties quickly aired their criticism regarding Tuesday’s government reshuffle.

On his part, main opposition New Democracy party spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos said “citizens’ problems aren’t solved with the recycling of individuals, but are solved with planning, vision and boldness ... something that neither Mr. Simitis nor PASOK, or even more so, PASOK’s ‘new government’ has.”

Roussopoulos also charged that only a few months ago Premier Simitis referred to his ministers as “tired”, before announcing a “supposedly new government” on Tuesday.

“We are not, therefore, referring to a ‘new beginning’, because nothing has changed, and nothing will change in the country’s governance.”

Top ND cadre and former minister George Souflias echoed Roussopoulos’ comments, as the veteran Larissa-area deputy called the new Cabinet an “old copy with simply a different cut. The same tired individuals are partially being recycled”.

Furthermore, Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) leader Nikos Constantopoulos said the ongoing government policy was at issue, not the changing of roles and individuals, which he called merely a “mass media wrapping”.

Constantopoulos added that the prime minister has made his decisions based on internal party balances, “whereas he should change government policy.”

The Synaspismos president said there is no issue of “modernization” when a Cabinet is comprised of 47 ministers and deputy ministers.

Democratic Social Movement (DHKKI) leader Dimitris Tsovolas, a former top PASOK minister, stressed that the Greek people expect nothing from the latest reshuffle.

“What’s going to happen is that the same and worse neo-liberal, anti-popular policy will continue,” Tsovolas said.

Finally, Athens Mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos, who founded his own “Free Citizens’ Movement” (KEP) party last year, said the latest reshuffle does not meet the Greek people’s needs, but simply caters to internal party balances.

“The purpose of a reshuffle isn’t to shift high-ranking cadres from one ministry to another, but to promote new, highly regarded individuals, especially from the provinces...” he added.

Specifically, the Cabinet includes:

Economy and Finance Minister:

Nikos Christodoulakis

Deputy Minister: Christos Pachtas

Deputy Minister: Apostolos Fotiadis

Deputy Minister: George Floridis

Foreign Affairs: George Papandreou

Alternate Foreign Minister: Tassos Giannitsis

Deputy Minister: Yiannis Zaphiropoulos

Deputy Minister: Yiannis Magriotis

National Defense: Yiannos Papantoniou

Deputy Minister: Loukas Apostolidis

Deputy Minister: Lazaros Lotidis

Interior, Public Administration

and Decentralization: Costas Skandalidis

Deputy Minister: Lambros Papadimas

Deputy Minister: Stavros Benos

Development Minister: Akis Tsohatzopoulos

Deputy Minister: Dimitrios Georgakopoulos

Deputy Minister: Alekos Kalafatis

Deputy Minister: Christos Theodorou

Environment, Town Planning and Public Works Minister: Vasso Papandreou

Deputy Minister: Rodoula Zisi

Deputy Minister: Yiannis Tsaklidis

Education and Religious Affairs Minister: Petros Efthymiou

Deputy Minister: Nikos Gesoulis

Deputy Minister: Eleni Kourkoula

Labor and Social Insurances Minister: Dimitris Reppas

Deputy Minister: Rovertos Spyropoulos

Deputy Minister: Lefteris Tziolas

Health and Welfare Minister: Alekos Papadopoulos

Deputy Minister: Ektor Nasiokas

Deputy Minister: Dimitris Thanos

Deputy Minister: Elpida Tsouri

Agriculture Minister: George Drys

Deputy Minister: Evangelos Argyris

Deputy Minister: Fotis Hatzimichalis

Justice Minister: Philippos Petsalnikos

Culture Minister: Evangelos Venizelos

Deputy Minister: Yiannis Kourakis

Deputy Minister: Athanassios Alevras

Transport and Communications Minister: Christos Verelis

Deputy Minister: Spyros Vougias

Public Order Minister: Mihalis Chrysohoidis

Deputy Minister: Evangelos Malesios

Merchant Marine Minister: George Anomeritis

Mass Media and Press Ministry: Christos Protopapas

Deputy Minister: Telemahos Hytiris

Macedonia-Thrace Minister: George Paschalidis

Aegean Minister: Nikos Sifounakis

Minister of State: Stefanos Manikas

[02] Greece's EU presidency to cost 10 to 13 billion drachmas

Athens, 24/10/2001 (ANA)

The EU summit in Greece will take place between June 19 to 21, 2003, while earlier in March of the same year the informal summit will take place most likely in Brussels.

Issues at the focus of the Greek presidency will be the Union's enlargement, review of the common agricultural policy, relations with the United States and Russia, review of the fiscal prospects and employment.

[03] Mitsotakis sues Laliotis for slander over airport contract claims

Athens, 24/10/2001 (ANA)

Under the lawsuit, submitted by lawyers George Mavros and Christos Markoyannakis, Mitsotakis is seeking one billion drachma for moral damage incurred by Laliotis' recent statements over a contract initialed by Mitsotakis' ND government in 1993 for the construction of the new Athens airport at Spata.

Laliotis' attack came in the wake of a report by a firm of international chartered accountants, Ernst and Young, which said that the Greek state had gained 100 billion drachmas through a new contract drawn up with the German consortium constructing the airport, renegotiated and signed by a PASOK government in 1995.

Laliotis also linked Mitsotakis and his family with an account belonging to the Liberian firm "Mayo Investment Corporation".

In the lawsuit, Mitsotakis describes Laliotis' claims regarding the Liberian firm's account as "false and slanderous", and "devised for the purpose of disorienting public opinion from the economic scandal of the government which is being investigated by justice".

In a written statement, Mitsotakis said he had full faith in and respect for the Greek justice system.

He said that Laliotis was fully aware that neither he nor his family had any relationship whatsoever with the account cited by the minister.

Outgoing public works minister replies to Mitsotakis: Outgoing Environment, Town Planning and Public Works Minister Costas Laliotis, commenting on the lawsuit filed against him on Tuesday by former Prime Minister and main opposition New Democracy party Deputy Constantine Mitsotakis and relevant statements made by him, said "Mr. Mitsotakis' lawsuits, slander, mud and misfiring blanks do not concern and do not touch me."

Laliotis said Mitsotakis is "resorting to justice with evidently hypocritical and theatrical moves, he is speaking vaguely of slander and mudslinging" against him and is avoiding to speak about the essence of the issue.

He reiterated his trust in Greek justice and his certainty that the truth will shine.

[04] EU presidency expresses regret over T/C side's stance

Athens, 24/10/2001 (ANA)

In a declaration unveiled on Tuesday on behalf of the entire Union, the Belgian presidency states:

"The European Union supports the statement by the President of the United Nations Security Council on 26 September 2001, in particular the disappointment expressed at the refusal of the Turkish side to take part in the meeting on 12 September.

"It (EU) continues to back unreservedly the efforts of the United Nations Secretary-General to resume -- without preconditions in line with Security Council resolution 1250 -- the search for a comprehensive and lasting settlement in conformity with the relevant Security Council resolutions, and calls on all parties involved to cooperate in the process with a view to achieving a political settlement before the end of the negotiations for Cyprus' accession to the European Union."

Cyprus has been divided since a 1974 invasion by Turkish troops, who continue to occupy roughly 37 percent of the island republic to this day.

On the other hand, the portion of the island controlled by the internationally recognized Cyprus government is among the leading contenders for the EU's next round of accession.

[05] President Stephanopoulos to attend national holiday parade

Athens, 24/10/2001 (ANA)

On the morning of October 27, he will visit the prefecture of Pella and in the evening he will attend a dinner given in his honor by the commander of the Third Army Corps.

At 10.30 a.m. on October 28, President Stephanopoulos will lay a wreath at the memorial of the Third Army Corps and attend the parade to be held in Alexander the Great avenue afterwards. He will return to Athens in the afternoon.

[06] ND bill for National Council on Foreign Policy rejected

Athens, 24/10/2001 (ANA)

The ruling PASOK asserted at the Parliament's plenum that the syntax of the bill contained legal and technical faults.

However, Foreign Minister George Papandreou promised that in the next few months the foreign ministry will submit a relevant draft law to Parliament, having previously briefed the political parties.

[07] Greek trade deficit up 400 mln euros in Jan-Sept

Athens, 24/10/2001 (ANA)

The trade shortfall totalled 11.3 billion euros (3.85 trillion drachmas) in the January-September period, up from 10.9 billion euros (3.71 trillion drachmas) last year.

UK recorded the biggest trade deficit at 41 billion euros, followed by Spain with 21.4 billion euros.

Germany recorded the biggest trade surplus at 48.3 billion euros, followed by Ireland (20.8 billion).

Greek exports fell 10 percent to 6.2 billion euros (2.1 trillion drachmas) from 6.9 billion (2.3 trillion), over the same period, while imports fell 1.0 percent to 17.5 billion euros (5.9 trillion drachmas) from 17.7 billion (6.0 trillion) respectively.

The EU's statistics agency said the EU's trade transactions with the rest of the world showed a deficit of 3.2 billion euros in the first eight months of the year, down from 8.1 billion the same period in 2000. The eurozone's trade balance with the rest of the world showed a surplus of 5.4 billion euros compared with a deficit of 0.5 billion euros last year.

Budget revenues exceed target in Jan-Sept: Greece's regular budget revenues increased by 5.4 percent in September, compared with the same month last year, for a growth rate of 8.58 percent in the first nine months of 2001, exceeding an annual target of 7.9 percent, finance ministry data showed on Tuesday.

Finance ministry officials said that higher growth rates resulted to a revenue surplus of 54 billion drachmas and noted that the September growth rate was affected by the fact that the month had two working days less than the same month in 2000.

The ministry also said that revenues were up 26.5 percent in the first three weeks of October, according to preliminary figures.

More analytically, tax agency revenues rose 8.24 percent in September for a 7.15 percent increase in the first nine months of 2001, customs' revenues were 3.81 percent and 3.52 percent higher, respectively, while value added tax revenues rose 8.4 percent in September for an increase of 10.56 percent in the January-September period.

[08] Ship owners seek EU support to weather 'storm' raised by Sept. 11 strikes

BRUSSELS, 24/10/2001 (ANA - Y. Zitouniati)

The president of the European Community Ship owners Association (ECSA) Emmanuel Grimaldi noted that insurers had raised insurance premiums for war-related damage in roughly 20 destinations, including Israel, Pakistan and the Persian Gulf and countries "without guarantees of security" such as Algeria, Angola, Liberia, Somalia, Sri Lanka and Egypt.

In some cases the increases were as much as 10,000 per cent, Grimaldi noted, and further burdened the sector, which had already been struggling prior to the attacks, particularly as regards oil tankers.

ECSA's annual report noted that the European-flagged merchant fleet numbered 6900 vessels in April 2001, or 17.2 per cent of the world's total. European-owned ships, however, actually accounted for 40 per cent of the world fleet if one also included those sailing under convenience flags.

According to figures presented by the Union of Greek Ship owners in May 2001, meanwhile, the Greek merchant fleet represented 17.4 per cent of the world fleet in terms of tonnage and Greek-flagged ships represented 38 percent of the EU's merchant fleet.

[09] Beef consumption in Greece drops by 10 per cent in first nine months of 2001

BRUSSELS, 24/10/2001 (ANA - B. Demiris)

This reduction is of the largest recorded in the Union, as only Germany and Spain matched such a drop in beef consumption among the 15 member-states.

In Finland the beef consumption reduction was 8 percent and in France and Italy 7 percent, while in Britain there was an increase of 3-pre cent.

The Commission expects that by the end of the year the Union-wide drop in beef consumption would reach to 10 per cent.

[10] Greek stocks end off-highs on ASE

Athens, 24/10/2001 (ANA)

Sentiment, however, turned sour temporarily one hour from the close when institutional investors took profits after news of a new government formation. This reaction limited gains and led the general index to end at 2,405.22 points, up 0.91 percent. The index was 1.40 percent higher in midday trading.

Turnover was an improved 58.8 billion drachmas, or 172.6 million euros.

The Investment, Insurance and Telecommunications sector scored the biggest percentage gains (2.76%, 1.87% and 1.44% respectively) with only the parallel index for smaller capitalization stocks ending with a loss of 0.02 percent.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks ended 0.81 percent higher, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index rose 0.55 percent and the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index ended 0.79 percent up.

Broadly, advancers led decliners by 218 to 116 with another 28 issues unchanged.

Equity futures end higher: Equity futures on the Athens Derivatives Exchange on Tuesday moved higher in heavy trade, traders said.

The value of transactions was lower at 47,6 million euros with volume at 8,092 contracts.

The underlying FTSE/ASE-20 index for heavily traded stocks and blue chips rose by 0.81 percent; and the underlying FTSE/ASE-40 for medium capitalization stocks gained 0.55 per-cent.

Bond prices rise in heavy trade: Bond prices in the domestic secondary market on Tuesday finished higher in heavy trade focusing on 10-year paper.

The Greek benchmark 10-year bond showed a yield of 5.05 percent, and the yield spread over German bunds was 43 basis points.

Turnover through the central bank's electronic system totaled 1,7 billion euros.

Sell orders accounted for one third of the turnover.

[11] Athens 2004 preparations in light of the gov't reshuffle

Athens, 24/10/2001 (ANA)

The sources said that the premier's aim was to send a message to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and to the citizens of the country that the effort to organize the Games is most important one for the country.

According to government circles, the premier will personally hold the coordination of the preparations, but this time with better "tools", as all six deputy ministers were chosen for being trusted by him and ready to work in the direction the premier will chose.

Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos, who retained his post, will remain as the person responsible for the preparation of the Games, while Vasso Papandreou, as the new environment town planning and public works ministry will complete the difficult work that Costas Laliotis begun, the same sources said.

[12] Development minister: All 2004 Games projects will be useful for many years after

Athens, 24/10/2001 (ANA)

Christodoulakis said that the projects under construction were "for the country's development", adding that there was no problem of energy adequacy during the Games, since any problems that arose were concentrated in June and July, the hottest months of the year, and not in August, when the Games would take place.

Turning to the subject of hospitality during the Games, Christodoulakis said there was a delay in exploiting new technology and more particularly the Internet, noting that the "good tourist" looks up information, plans and makes reservations via the worldwide web.

The minister further said that an agreement had been signed between ATHOC and the Worker Housing Organization (OEK) for the study and planning of the use of natural gas to meet all the needs of the Olympic Village, making the Village a model in that area.

ATHOC president Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki, in a brief greeting, said there could be no Olympic Games without the technological achievements, citing Atlanta and Sydney as examples in that field.

She said the Games provided a unique opportunity for the comprehensive upgrading of networking in Greece, particularly that of the Hellenic Telecommunications Organization (OTE), adding that the infrastructure should be used after the Games to network schools, hospitals, etc.

She further noted the development of cable television and the new TETRAS networking system necessary for pressing and emergency needs.

The ATHOC chief referred to the development of Aeolic (wind energy) Parks in Greece while, with respect to expenditures for technology, she said that ATHOC alone would spend 20 billion dr. on information technology, 12 billion dr. on telecoms, and 12 billion dr. on energy.

[13] President Clerides reiterates his staunch support for the fight to eradicate terrorism

NICOSIA, 24/10/2001 (CNA/ANA)

The president reiterated his staunch support for the fight to eradicate international terrorism and stressed that humanity has no alternative but to win the war against terrorism.

In his address to the Annual General Meeting of the Employers and Industrialists Federation, the president also renewed his appeal to the international community "to exercise to a greater extent its influence on the Turkish side in order to return to the negotiation table with a view to negotiate."

Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, backed by Turkey, withdrew from the peace talks last year and in September this year he rejected an invitation from the UN Secretary General to resume the search for a settlement, claiming the ground was not prepared and demanding recognition of his self-styled regime in Turkish occupied Cyprus.

President Clerides said he has had assurances that those involved in the UN Cyprus peace effort will continue to be interested in this process, aiming at a comprehensive settlement.

"We shall expect to see how their interest will be expressed," he said, noting that US State Department Special Coordinator Thomas Weston arrives here on Thursday, after talks in Ankara and Athens.

In early November the president will be in New York to address the UN General Assembly and is due to meet Kofi Annan and Britain's special representative Lord David Hannay.

"On our part, we will continue our struggle for a solution in line with UN resolutions, the acquis communautaire, human rights conventions and the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights," he said, pointing out that a political settlement will benefit equally Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots and contribute to peace, security, stability and cooperation in the region.

Commenting on terrorism, he reiterated his government's adherence to the effort to eradicate international terrorism and said that perhaps now the need to solve regional problems is even more pressing than in the past.

The president warned against losing the war on terrorism, saying that there is no other choice but to win this war because "if we were to lose it, we would be faced with a backward and blackmarish course."

[14] Clerides calls on industrialists to contribute in effort to reverse negative economic climate

NICOSIA, 24/10/2001 (CNA/ANA)

In his address to the Annual General Meeting of the Employers Industrialists Federation, the president stressed the need to reform the tax system to boost economic activity and reiterated the government's slogan is "development-stability-social justice."

"Our vision is to see Cyprus a fully-fledged member of the European Union," he said before a distinguished audience, including ministers, deputies, foreign dignitaries, party leaders and others.

The president paid "just tribute" to Cyprus' chief negotiator with the EU George Vassiliou for the arduous work he is doing in the harmonization effort and said the government is working to prepare the local economy for accession.

"Our economy has also been affected, as all economies have, by the crisis caused by the barbaric terrorist attack and to reverse the negative climate all social partners, especially the employers' organizations and the trade unions have to make a constructive contribution towards the government's efforts," the president said, stressing that government efforts alone in this direction are simply not sufficient to achieve the desired result.

He said positive economic indicators, including the satisfactory rate of growth, the decline in unemployment, inflation rate and the fiscal deficit, have to be consolidated over the next years.

The president said that tax reform should be the focus of efforts to improve further the local economy and must be carried out without further delay not only because of the need to harmonies legislation with the EU but also to boost economic activity.

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