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Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 03-01-03Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>January 3, 2003CONTENTS
[01] Greek gov’t to present "popular" state bills this monthAthens, 03/01/2003 (ANA)The Greek government is expected to present a new series of interest-baring state bills offering higher returns compared with deposit interest rates this month, Deputy Finance Minister George Floridis said on Thursday.In a radio interview, Mr Floridis, however, declined to unveil specific dates but stressed that announcements would be made soon by Economy and Finance Minister Nikos Christodoulakis. The Greek minister said that the ministry was examining issuing three-, six- and 12-month T-bills, while it was also considering issuing three- and five-year bonds. The so-called "popular" state bills will offer annual nominal return ranging from 0.5 to one percentage point above the annual inflation. Commercial banks' deposit rates range from 0-2.0 percent currently, significantly below the current rate of inflation in the country (3.5 percent). Mr Floridis noted that "banks cannot be indifferent" to this reality and added that the finance ministry's plan to issue "popular" state bills was aimed to offer alternative forms of higher returns to depositors. [02] Dutch daily Financieele Dagblad hosts article on Greek premierTHE HAGUE 03/01/2003 (ANA)The daily newspaper Financieele Dagblad's Thursday edition hosted an article on Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis in light of the Greek EU presidency already two days old.The ''Simitis: from being a socialist to becoming a realist'' article by Matthijs Smits details a portrait of the Greek prime minister, who will be coordinating the action of the ''15'' leaders of the European Union over the next six months. The article sheds a positive light on Simitis, going back in time and highlighting his successes and concluding that as it has happened in other countries with socialdemocrat leaders so it has in Greece, where the Greek premier transformed from a classic socialist of the past to a staunch realist. The article noted that Simitis is ''an introvert, a technocrat, a politician with prestige who is respected by his fellow citizens, without causing feelings of adoration toward his person.'' It added that Simitis is credited to a great degree with the successful accession of Greece to the EMU. [03] Greek EU summit to take place in Halkidiki in JuneAthens, 03/01/2003 (ANA)The European Union's Greek presidency summit in June will take place in Halkidiki in northern Greece.Reports said two big hotel complexes, one in the Kassandra peninsula and the other in Sithonia, are ''contesting'' the important event. Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannis Magriotis, speaking in Thessaloniki on Thursday after meeting Minister of Macedonia and Thrace George Paschalidis, said the venue will be officially announced over the next few days. The two officials said the Greek presidency will be successful, despite difficulties which might appear, and agreed that their ministries will have close cooperation on issues concerning both the presidency and the summit. ''We believe that the preconditions exist to enable this summit to be linked to important political decisions based on the priorities discussed by the cabinet council,'' Paschalidis said. Commenting on the repercussions for the Greek presidency by a possible attack in Iraq, Magriotis said ''an intervention will also change the presidency's agenda, but it will not move us from our basic targets.'' [04] ND's Karamanlis in Istanbul over the weekendAthens, 03/01/2003 (ANA)Main opposition New Democracy (ND) leader Costas Karamanlis will visit the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul during the upcoming Epiphany religious celebration, following an invitation by Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos.Karamanlis will depart Athens for Istanbul on Saturday, while on Sunday he is set to tour Patriarchate’s closed theological seminary on the Sea of Marmara island of Halki. Turkish authorities ordered the academy closed in 1971, while Ankara remains steadfast in the face of international pressure to allow the important religious school to re-open. Vartholomeos will receive the ND president on Monday. No information was given over planned meetings with Turkish officials. [05] Avramopoulos reportedly cites interest in Parliament seatAthens, 03/01/2003 (ANA)Former Athens mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos, who vacated the post he held for two terms just days ago, has reportedly announced that he plans to again vie for Parliament, although he declined to say if he’ll knock on ruling PASOK or main opposition New Democracy’s door.The ex-mayor was quoted in an interview published by a local magazine. The one-time career diplomat founded and subsequently suspended operation of his new political party – the Movement of Free Citizens (KEP). Avramopoulos unveiled his new party in March 2001 and was elected party leader at a founding congress in November 2001. "The party suspends operation but our political proposal still remains autonomous and will continue its contribution to political life, away from behind-the-scenes machinations and haggling," Avramopoulos said last June in announcing KEP’s dissolution. He opted not to run for a third term last year as head of the country’s largest municipality, with high-profile ND deputy Dora Bakoyianni subsequently overcoming former EU Commissioner and PASOK minister Christos Papoutsis during last October’s municipal election. Avramopoulos was backed by ND in his two mayoral campaigns. [06] Key priorities of Greek EU presidency in maritime transportationAthens, 03/01/2003 (ANA)Merchant Marine Minister George Anomeritis said that the top priorities of the Greek EU presidency included activities and initiatives to attract quality maritime ships to the Community registers, enhance the image of the marine profession, safeguard a high level of ship safety and promote maritime transportation.''Maritime transportation is vital for the integrated Europe, since over 90% and 41% of its external and internal commerce respectively are transported by sea'', the minister said, adding that ''now more than ever before, security, competitiveness and the protection of maritime transportation are pressing priorities for the enlarged EU''. The accelerated phase-in of double hull for single hull oil tankers, the transfer of ships from one register to the other within the Community, marine training systems, maritime transportation security and attracting young people to the marine profession will also be the focus of discussion during the Greek EU presidency, he said. Anomeritis said that his ministry was going to cooperate with other ministries and work hard toward balancing out conflicting interests. ''Within a multi-lingual environment, we are going to work hard during our mandate at the EU Presidency in order to have, wherever required, unanimity or increased majority in the decisions'', the minister said. The improved image of community shipping, maritime safety and quality shipping, as well as measures for the protection of maritime transportation and ports from terrorism and other illegal actions will be on the agenda of a meeting between the ministers of foreign affairs and merchant marine and transportation to be held at the foreign ministry on Wednesday. Within the framework of the Greek EU presidency, the minister of merchant marine and transportation on 10 January will meet with EU Commissioner Antoni Vitorino on migration issues and in the afternoon of the same day with EU Commissioner Loyola de Palacio on maritime transportation issues, while on 11 January he will meet with International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary-General William O’Neil. [07] Greek PMI eases to 52.1 in DecemberAthens, 03/01/2003 (ANA)Greek Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) fell to 52.1 points in December from 53.2 in November, official figures showed on Thursday, reflecting a moderate improvement in employment conditions in the manufacturing sector in the country.The report showed that Greek businessmen expanded with production levels in December, with the level of their activities increasing at a faster rate. Manufacturing orders also increased in December, with demand remaining positive every month - except one - since May 1999 when the report was launched. Foreign demand rose in December, maintaining a trend that started in September 1999. Employment, however, eased for the third consecutive month in December, although changes in total employment levels were minimal in the last few months with the Greek manufacturing sector's workforce remaining relative steady since July. The PMI is a composite index designed to offer a general view of conditions prevailing in the Greek manufacturing sector. The survey is compiled by UK company NTC Research in cooperation with the Greek Purchasing Managers' Institute. [08] CSF funds to upgrade rented roomsAthens, 03/01/2003 (ANA)A Greek National Tourism Organization (EOT) committee has so far evaluated 1,428 proposals by firms and entrepreneurs, totaling some 60.5 million euros, all part of programs to upgrade rented rooms enterprises and to improve competitiveness in the tourism sector.The programs are being funded via the 3rd Community Support Framework package. [09] ASE announces new board membersAthens, 03/01/2003 (ANA)The Athens Stock Exchange on Thursday announced the composition of its new board as of January 1, 2003, after a decision by Economy and Finance Minister Nikos Christodoulakis.The new board consists of: Panagiotis Alexakis, chairman, Socrates Lazaridis, first executive vice-chairman, Leto Ioannidou, second executive vice-chairman, Panagiotis Drakos, executive chairman of the Union of Listed Companies, Vasiliki Cambell, chairman and CEO at SIGMA Securities SA, Constantine Pentedekas, representative of ASE Members, Mihail Karamanof, representative of ASE Members, Ioannis Gousios, representative of the Bank of Greece, Eleftherios Kourtalis, representative of the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dimitris Rizos, representative of the Union of Institutional Investors and Fotini Varvaroussi, representative of ASE employees. [10] ASE launches new FTSE/ASE 140 indexAthens, 03/01/2003 (ANA)The Athens Stock Exchange in cooperation with FTSE International, a worldwide provider of stock market indexes, on Thursday launched a new index FTSE/ASE 140 aimed to offer a wider coverage of the Greek market to both domestic and foreign investors.The FTSE/ASE 140 index was launched with a base-price of 2,000 points and will include all 140 stock shares currently included in the market's three other indices (FTSE/ASE 20 of blue chip and heavy traded stocks, FTSE/ASE MID 40 and FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80). The index will be calculated in real time and will be reviewed every April and October, according to FTSE International practices. "The addition of the new index FTSE/ASE 140 means that investors, both domestic and foreign, will be able to measure the Greek market's performance by using an internationally accepted benchmark," Peter de Graaf, FTSE Europe managing director said. ASE chairman, Panagiotis Alexakis said that the "new index will enhance the image of Greek companies both in the domestic and international market." [11] Greek stocks welcome 2003 with hefty gainsAthens, 03/01/2003 (ANA)Greek stocks soared in the first trading session of 2003 reflecting investors' hopes of better days ahead after three years of dismal performances in the Athens Stock Exchange.The general index rose 1.64 percent to end at 1,777.09 points, with turnover a low 44.7 million euros. All sector indices scored gains, with the Publication (9.89 percent), Textile (6.59 percent), IT Solutions (5.30 percent) and IT 4.82 percent) sectors leading gains. Banks (0.73 percent) and Investments (0.30 percent) recorded the smallest percentage gains of the day. The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks rose 1.12 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index jumped 2.77 percent and the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index soared 4.67 percent. The new FTSE/ASE 140 index rose 1.77 percent. Broadly, advancers led decliners by 293 to 32 with another 23 issues unchanged. Derivatives Market Close: Turnover at 28.5 mln euros Thursday Equity Index Futures: Stock Futures: Day's Market Turnover: 28.5 mln euros Bond Market Close: Mixed market on Thursday Greek Benchmark 10-Year Bond [12] ATHOC head calls Games a 'challenge for entire country'Athens, 03/01/2003 (ANA)Athens 2004 Organizing Committee (ATHOC) President Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki called the hosting of the upcoming Games as a “challenge for the entire country”.Angelopoulos-Daskalaki was quoted in an interview published in the latest edition of the Greek-language edition of “Foreign Policy”. She also underlined the enormous significance the Games will have for Greece’s growth as well as its image towards the outside world, citing the thousands of media professionals in Athens for the Olympics and billions of television viewers around the world -- “who will see a modern and effective Greece”. Asked about her cooperation with the various government ministries and services, Angelopoulos-Daskalaki called it “superb”, while adding that her personal cooperation with Prime Minister Costas Simitis “exceptional”. The premier offered her the top post at ATHOC during a difficult turning point for the Games’ preparation. [13] PASOK Eurodeputy Anna Karamanou visits Korydallos prisonAthens, 03/01/2003 (ANA)PASOK Eurodeputy and President of the European Parliament's Women’s Rights and Equal Opportunities Committee Anna Karamanou visited the women's prison at Korydallos on Thursday, on the occasion of the New Year, accompanied by Equality Secretary General Efi Bekou.They offered gifts to the children of imprisoned women and had a dialogue on living conditions in the penitentiary. They also had a two-hour meeting with inmates close to the three women who died of drugs earlier this week. Three imprisoned women died on Tuesday when they mixed alcohol, prescription drugs and heroine pills given to them by an inmate. Commenting on the tragic incident during her departure from the prison, Karamanou said ''the tragic death of the three young women held in the Korydallos prison, an extreme and rare case, has shocked me. I have been convinced now that it is necessary for us to revise the traditional strategy of handling drugs and see users as patients needing therapy and not punishment.'' [14] Alleged terrorist Sotiropoulou ends hunger strikeAthens, 03/01/2003 (ANA)Alleged terrorist Angeliki Sotiropoulou on Thursday ended her hunger strike, having received the reassurances of prison prosecutor Aristidis Fragiadakis that he will satisfy some of her demands.Sotiropoulou, an alleged member of the murderous ''November 17'' terrorist group, is the only woman to be arrested to date in connection with the scores of murders and terrorist actions in Greece claimed by ''N 17''. The alleged terrorist demanded that the door of her cell remain open during the hours of her walks in the prison's yard and that her rights to communication should be taken care of. Fragiadakis also said that the rest of the alleged terrorists will soon enjoy the same rights as the other Korydallos prison inmates. [15] ''N17'' actions ''criminal'' & not ''political'', appellate court council saysAthens, 03/01/2003 (ANA)The Athens appellate court judges council on Thursday issued a ruling that the actions of the murderous ''November 17'' terrorist group fall under the category of the criminal code and they are not political crimes.The judges ruled that terrorist actions involved innocent victims and caused the death of people unable to defend themselves. Also the crimes did not fall under the category covered by the statue of limitations, as the participation in a criminal organization is a continual crime. As for the infamous ''N17'' in particular, the judges said that the members of the group were discovered and arrested due to the explosion of the bomb alleged terrorist Savvas Xiros attempted to place in Piraeus end of June 2002. Finally, the judges said that the founding members of the group were alleged terrorists Alexandros Giotopoulos, Nikos Papanastasiou, Yiannis and Pavlos Serifis and a woman codenamed ''Anna'' who is still at large. [16] Ten illegal immigrants and Turkish trafficker arrested on Lesvos islandAthens, 03/01/2003 (ANA)Lesvos island port authority police on Thursday morning arrested 10 illegal immigrants of Iraqi origin and a Turkish immigrant trafficker after locating a speedboat which had ran aground on the shores of the region of Xambelia. They were found wandering in the area.Initial investigations revealed that an accomplice of the Turkish trafficker was also aboard the vessel and had managed to escape to a mountainous region of this Aegean island. [17] Felony charges filed in prison drug overdose deathsAthens, 03/01/2003 (ANA)A Piraeus prosecutor has filed felony charges against two individuals and misdemeanor counts against the warden of the women’s facility of Korydallos prison, following the drug overdose deaths of three inmates last week.Felony drug possession and smuggling narcotics into a correctional facility charges, among others, were filed against Argentine national Dora-Carmen Villaba, as well as against a man identified only as Dimitris Pena. The two are accused of supplying an unknown quantity of heroin to inmate Sofia Bakea, 39. The latter, along with another two female inmates, were also charged with involuntary manslaughter. Conversely, warden Elizabeth Sarilava was charged with misdemeanor dereliction of duty in the case. According to reports, the three women died when they mixed alcohol, prescription drugs and heroin pills supplied by Bakea. A total of five inmates consumed the drug/alcohol “cocktail”, with two surviving –one of the two vomited the concoction while the other fell into a coma before recovering at a local hospital. A guard found the bodies of the trio in their group cell on Tuesday. The victims were identified as Maria Mihail, 19; Dimitra Hatzidimitriou, 42; and Aleka Voulgari, 22. All three had prior drug offence convictions, according to reports. The victims were housed in the same wing -- at Korydallos Prison in southwest Athens -- as are several suspected “November 17” terrorists. [18] Cyprus Government spokesman says Erdogan's statements could create conditions for solutionNICOSIA 03/01/2003 (CNA/ANA)Government spokesman Michalis Papapetrou believes that statements by Turkish leader Tayyip Erdogan on Cyprus could create the right conditions for a political settlement by the end of February, the timeframe set by the UN.''Erdogan's remarks create preconditions for a solution in Cyprus by February 28,'' Papapetrou told CNA on Thursday, and reiterated the readiness of the Greek Cypriot side to work towards this direction. Erdogan, leader of the ruling Justice and Development party, has called for a shake-up of Turkish policy on Cyprus and urged Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash to take into consideration the recent protests by Turkish Cypriots in occupied Cyprus calling for a solution on the basis of a UN proposal. The spokesman said Erdogan's statements directly and clearly cast doubt on Denktash. ''Essentially Erdogan sides with the Turkish Cypriot parties which oppose Denktash's policies and are out in the streets protesting against it,'' the spokesman added. ''We have to assess the situation very carefully,'' Papapetrou said. Replying to questions, he said all indications are that the new Turkish government seems to be gaining the upper hand in its confrontation with the Turkish establishment. ''I am not in favor of following the Cyprus policy that has been followed for 30 or 40 years,'' Erdogan told a Turkish television station Wednesday, adding that the protests by 30,000 Turkish Cypriots cannot simply be sidelined. The Turkish politician also said that if a decision in the direction of a solution is not reached by the end of February, then things will get harder. The UN has called on the two sides on the island to intensify their efforts in the first two months of the year with a view at reaching a settlement and allowing a reunited Cyprus to sign its accession treaty in mid April for European Union membership. Erdogan's statements indicate end of Denktash era, says FM Kasoulides: Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides said Erdogan's statements confirm the view that we are witnessing the beginning of the end of the Denktash era. Kasoulides described Erdogan's statements as ''very interesting,'' noting that this time his positions conclude that ''Mr. Denktash cannot decide on his own on a very important issue which concerns the whole of Turkey'' and that ''Turkey must be the one to decide for herself.'' Erdogan had said he is ''not in favor of following the Cyprus policy that has been followed for 30 or 40 years,'' adding, ''this business is not Mr. Denktash's personal business. It's not Ahmet's or Mehmet's or Tayyip Erdogan's. It's the struggle of a nation for existence.'' Kasoulides said Erdogan's statements signify a failure of the Turkish policy so far and added that some people should undertake responsibility for this failure. ''These statements confirm what we have been saying in the recent past that the rigid Turkish policy has ended, the mirror has cracked,'' he added. ''Hearing statements of this kind leads me to believe that we are witnessing the start of the end of the Denktash era is being confirmed. The sooner Mr. Denktash realizes it and resigns, the better. If he does not realize it, the only thing left for him to do is either to be forced to comply with the new policy or sidelined,'' he added. Asked if someone can expect important developments in Turkey, Kasoulides said important changes are expected, but the question is when will these changes take place. Replying to questions, he called on the Greek side to continue being positive and constructive in its policies, which has led Cyprus to the EU. The EU's role as a catalyst on the peace effort is certain to lead Cyprus to reunification, he added. [19] President Clerides does not expect major developmentsNICOSIA 03/01/2003 (CNA/ANA)President Glafcos Clerides has said he does not anticipate at this stage any major developments with regard to a political settlement, because of the different approaches on Cyprus expressed by the Turkish government on one hand and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash and those backing Denktash's policies on the other.''Turkey's stance on Cyprus is expected to be clarified at some point. This current phase requires strong nerves, firmness in our positions and at the same time we have to consolidate further the view that the absence of a solution is not due to our unwillingness or lack of political will,'' the president said. These, he pointed out, are fundamental elements of the policy which should be followed in the next months. Asked how the Greek Cypriots can show solidarity with the Turkish Cypriots in the occupied areas of Cyprus, in their demonstrations in favor of a solution and accession to the European Union, President Clerides said that ''we welcome this, but we should not get involved in it, because the mobilizations are an internal matter of the Turkish Cypriot community.'' The president explained that the situation in the Turkish occupied areas seems to be due to the EU decision to accept Cyprus as a full member. ''The Turkish Cypriots are expressing their concerns. They want to see a solution, to be able to enjoy with us the benefits of the EU,'' he added. Noting that during the efforts for a solution, ''we should not ignore the new developments in Europe,'' Clerides said that ''from this standpoint, accession to the EU has great significance and sends the message to our Turkish Cypriot compatriots that the principle of two states with borders is outdated and that the only solution that can be achieved is through the spirit of European unity.'' ''Decisions on certain issues which were of enormous significance for one or the other community will not be taken in Cyprus,'' once the country joins the EU, he explained. On EU membership, the president said that as far as procedure is concerned the European Parliament and subsequently the national parliaments of the member states will have to ratify enlargement. Clerides did not shed light on whether he intends to seek re-election during the February 2003 presidential elections. He was quoted as saying in an interview with Reuters on Thursday that he is considering re-election, although he has not decided. ''If a solution is found on the 25th or 28th of February there will not be any reason for me to ask to continue as President of the Republic of Cyprus,'' Clerides told Reuters. ''If it's not, then it would be very unwise in the middle of the negotiations to walk out and give the matter to somebody else.'' Asked by reporters if his statement to Reuters meant he would seek re-election, Clerides replied ''no''. ''Whoever begins negotiations should inform his successor to know what's going on,'' he added. The Copenhagen European Council in December 12-13 invited Cyprus, along with nine other countries, to join the European Union in May 2004 as full members. The accession treaty will be signed during the Greek EU Presidency. Greece assumed the EU's rotating presidency from Denmark on Wednesday. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan is making efforts Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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