![]() |
Compact version |
|
![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
|
![]() |
Thursday, 15 August 2024
![]() |
||
![]() |
![]() |
|
Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 03-07-17Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>July,17 2003CONTENTS
[01] Greek and Italian FMs discuss Cyprus, Balkans and Middle EastAthens,17/07/03(ANA)Foreign Minister George Papandreou and his Italian counterpart and European Union Council of Ministers President Franco Fratini discussed the issue of Cyprus, the Balkans and the Middle East in talks held in Athens on Wednesday.Fratini said later the Italian EU presidency sees no other reliable and serious alternative proposal than the Annan plan for the continuation discussions on the Cyprus issue. The Italian foreign minister said his country will do all it can during its six-month mandate at the Union's presidency to have the Turkish Cypriot side persuaded to sit at the negotiating table Papandreou said recent statements by Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash are in no way compatible with the effort being made, adding that the opportunity currently being presented must not be lost and existing conditions must be utilized. He also said the Cyprus issue was among issues discussed at length and in depth in contacts between Prime Minister Costas Simitis and Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, where the existence of a new European dynamic was ascertained which gives hope, but there should be real will on the part of Denktash and Ankara for it to reach a common solution. The Greek foreign minister stressed that the policy applied by Denktash, threatening on one hand and extending a hand of friendship on the other, shows that he is not sincerely disposed toward a solution to the problem. Talks between the two foreign ministers also touched on other issues of European interest such as the Intergovernmental Conference on the constitution of Europe, which is the responsibility of the new EU presidency, enlargement and matters concerning the wider region. Special reference was made to the issue of immigration, while Fratini said the Italian presidency has committed itself to implement the plan of action developed at the Thessaloniki EU summit which includes a continuous and stringent struggle against illegal immigration, control of European sea borders and close cooperation between the countries of origin and the countries of transit. Fratini spoke of a ''preventive policy'' regarding illegal immigration, stressing that the issue can only be tackled in this way. He added that Italy has concluded 27 repatriation agreements with third countries, while the EU only four. After talks at the foreign ministry, Fratini signed the Proclamation of Personalities on the Olympic Truce and thanked Papandreou for support and close cooperation between the Greek presidency and that of Italy. PM meets Italian president and Italian foreign minister: Prime Minister Costas Simitis on Wednesday received visiting Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, who was accompanied by Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini and an Italian government delegation. The meeting took place at noon, with talks focusing on bilateral issues, European affairs and efforts to complete the European Union draft constitution. After the meeting there was a working luncheon that ended at 14:45. Also present at the meeting was Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou, who departed with his Italian counterpart for a scheduled meeting between them at the foreign ministry at 15:30, at which Frattini is to sign a declaration in support of an Olympic Truce. ND leader meets with visiting Italian president: Greek-Italian relations, European Union prospects and the Cyprus issue were central to discussions at a meeting on Wednesday between main opposition New Democracy (ND) party leader Costas Karamanlis and visiting Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi. The two men discussed possibilities for bilateral cooperation and the advancement of stability and economic development in the Balkans and the Mediterranean, now that Italy holds the rotating EU presidency. The Italian president later held separate meetings with Communist Party (KKE) General Secretary Aleka Papariga and Coalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology party leader Nikos Constantopoulos. Visiting Italian president Ciampi meets Greek parliament leader: The excellent relations between Greece and Italy and the two countries' desire to further develop their cooperation were stressed on Wednesday after a meeting in Athens between visiting Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi and Greek parliament president Apostolos Kaklamanis. Stressing the excellent relations between their countries, the two officials also stressed Greece's and Italy's desire for further development of their cooperation from within the course of EU enlargement and the deepening of its institutions, as well as within the framework of Mediterranean cooperation. Kaklamanis agreed with the Italian president that the future of Europe was linked with the restoration of peace and stability in the region of the Middle East. He stressed that prerequisites for Mideast peace were the creation of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state and the cementing of the security of the citizens of Israel. Athens mayor honors visiting Italian president with gold medal of value: Athens Mayor Dora Bakoyianni met with visiting Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi on Wednesday and honored him with the Gold Medal of Value of Athens. Addressing the Italian president, Bakoyianni referred to the role of the two countries as partners of the European Union, while President Ciampi said ''Athens is today the dynamic capital of a country exercising the responsibilities and making the efforts suiting it from its history and its geopolitical position.'' President Ciampi also said there was a great need in Europe for Mediterranean capitals capable of making their voices strong in Europe. [02] Athens condemns Turkish-Cypriot threats for settlement of VaroshaAthens, 17/07/03 (ANA)A government spokesman on Wednesday condemned the threats hurled by Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash the previous day regarding settlement of the fenced area of Varosha in Turkish-occupied Famagusta in northern Cyprus, and called them provocative, unacceptable and condemnable.''These are senseless maneuvers that mislead the Turkish-Cypriot populace and endanger Turkish-Cypriot and Turkish interests,'' spokesman Christos Protopapas said in his daily briefing, and stressed that Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos was right in seeking dialogue on the basis of the United Nations plan for the island's reunification. Denktash on Tuesday said that Turkish Cypriots settlers would relocate to the fenced-in area of Famagusta in the event that the Greek-Cypriot side did not accept his proposal to reopen the long-abandoned airport of Nicosia. Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops occupied the island's northern part. UN-brokered talks at The Hague collapsed on 13 March in the face of the Turkish-Cypriot side's intransigence, following months of intensive deliberations by Annan on a peace plan he initially tabled in November with the internationally-recognized Cyprus government and the leader of the minority Turkish-Cypriot community for reuniting the divided island republic of Cyprus. The official confirmation of Cyprus' accession into the European Union in mid-April has led to international pressure and pressure from EU partners for a final resolution of the island's political problem and for the Turkish-Cypriot community leadership to abandon its intransigent policy. [03] Foreign minister awards NGOs for humanitarian aid efforts in IraqAthens, 17/07/03(ANA)The foreign ministry on Wednesday awarded three non-governmental aid organizations for their efforts to help the people of war-torn Iraq, in a ceremony attended by Foreign Minister George Papandreou.As he handed awards to representatives of the Greek chapter of Medecins du Monde, and local organizations Greek Rescue Team and Doctors of the Heart, Papandreou said that five million euros in humanitarian aid had been sent to Iraq through the foreign ministry's International Developmental Cooperation Service. According to Papandreou and Deputy Foreign Minister Andreas Loverdos, the response in Greece to the humanitarian problem in Iraq had been immediate, while the country ranked 13th in the world in terms of the amount of humanitarian aid donated to Iraq. Papandreou noted that the ministry had approved the NGOs' programs, including the two shiploads of food and medicine put together by the Greek Rescue Team that departed from Greece on July 4 and July 9. He mentioned two consignments of medical supplies sent by a military C-130 cargo plane to the region by Medecins du Monde, and noted that Doctors of the Heart had crossed the Iraqi-Syrian border five times - once in conditions of war - to provide medical attention to Iraqis and help keep hospitals in operation. The latest Greek initiative organized by Medecins du Monde is to bring Iraqi children needing treatment to Greek hospitals. Twelve children have so far been treated at hospitals in Athens and there are plans to provide treatment for a total of 100. [04] Meeting between PM and foreign minister scheduled for FridayAthens,17/07/03(ANA)A meeting between Prime Minister Costas Simitis and Foreign Minister George Papandreou has been scheduled for 9:30 on Friday morning, government spokesman Christos Protopapas announced.The premier's morning meeting with Education Minister Petros Efthymiou has now been rescheduled for 13:30. At 11:30, Simitis will preside over a meeting to discuss MP 'statement of means' declarations and stock market transactions by PASOK MPs attended by Parliament Speaker Apostolos Kaklamanis and Interior Minister Costas Skandalidis, followed by a meeting at 13:00 with Greek European Commissioner Anna Diamantopoulou. [05] Hellenic Tourism Real Estate to seek listing Oct-NovAthens,17/07/03(ANA)Hellenic Tourism Real Estate SA is to seek listing on the Athens Stock Exchange by early November at the latest, company officials told a news conference on Wednesday.Due for completion by then will be legal and tax controls for Hellenic, the real estate arm of the Greek National Tourism Organization, the officials said. Proceeds from the initial public offer are expected to total around 150 million euros, they added. [06] Piraeus Port Authority to hold IPO on July 23-25Athens,17/07/03(ANA)Piraeus Port Authority SA is to hold an initial public offer (IPO) for listing on the Athens bourse's main market on July 23-25, managing director Sotiris Theofanis said on Wednesday.On offer are 6,072,000 existing common shares with another 303,000 stocks destined for private placement. The paper is owned by the Greek state, Theofanis told a news conference. The company's earnings before tax in 2002 were 30.1 million euros on turnover of 130.8 million euros; and its investment plan for 2003-2007 totals 429 million euros, he said. The main underwriters and coordinators of the IPO are EFG Eurobank Ergasias SA and Agricultural Bank of Greece SA, both quoted on the Athens bourse. [07] Gov't to tender power plant construction in SeptemberAthens,17/07/03(ANA)The government will call a tender in September for the construction of three electricity output plants with a capacity of 1300 megawatts, Development Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos said on Wednesday.The minister was addressing parliament during debate of a bill on geothermal energy. [08] End-June data on benchmark bondAthens,17/07/03(ANA)The Bank of Greece, or central bank, on Wednesday released closing data on the benchmark Greek bond and overall turnover in the secondary bond market for June 30 vs May 31, 2003:[09] EU survey: Two in ten Greeks on brink of povertyAthens,17/07/03(ANA)Two in 10 Greeks are on the verge of poverty, according to a survey by the European Union's statistics service, Eurostat.The study on income and standard of living was conducted in households around the 15-nation bloc in 2002. It was released on Wednesday by the National Statistics Service of Greece. The danger level for a shift into the poverty bracket was set at 19.6 percent in Greece against 21.4 percent in 1995, showing an improvement, the survey showed. Improvement by one percentage point corresponds to 110,000 people. Excluded from the calculation are home ownership and consumption of self-generated products, including pensions. [10] Market authorities not empowered to seek new probe into trading allegationsAthens,17/07/03(ANA)Market authorities would need a parliamentary order to launch a fresh enquiry into allegations of wrongdoing on the Athens bourse by a former minister and a former senior official of the ruling PASOK party, government spokesman Christos Proto-papas said on Wednesday.He was replying to a reporter's request for clarification of a statement by the head of the capital market commission, Stavros Thomadakis while giving evidence to parliament's transparency committee on the allegations of malpractice. An earlier probe by the capital market commission disclosed that a former minister of state, Stephanos Manikas, and a member of PASOK's executive bureau, Mihalis Neonakis, had carried out transactions worth more than 22 billion drachmas on the bourse from 1998 to 2000. Although the enquiry cleared the two officials of wrongdoing, they both resigned their positions in June citing ''sensitivity'' of the issue involving the personal finances of politicians. On Tuesday, Thomadakis told the parliamentary committee that Manikas' and Neonakis' investor behavior was ''normal'' in 1998-1999 trades, an era when players tended to shift positions frequently, spanning many stocks. No evidence had indicated wrongdoing, he said. [11] Onassis foundation to publish Lloyd's List articles on Aristotle OnassisAthens,17/07/03(ANA)The Athens-based Alexander S. Onassis Public Benefit Foundation, in honor of its founder late Greek shipping tycoon Aristotle Onassis, obtained the consent of the London-based Lloyd's List shipping journal to issue a one-volume publication containing the full texts of three features on Onassis that the journal had published in previous years.The three four-page Lloyd's features that were published on 30 March 2000, 1 June 2000 and 6 July 2001 present many unknown aspects of the illustrious business course of Onassis. [12] Athens Bourse Close: Stocks end higher in bid to consolidateAthens,17/07/03(ANA)The Athens bourse finished higher on Wednesday with the market trying to consolidate, traders said.The general share index gained 0.35 percent to end at 2,085.41 points. Turnover was 761.3 million euros, fuelled by a block trade in Football Pools Organization as part of a fresh privatization of stock. The FTSE/ASE-20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks ended 0.28 percent up; the FTSE/ASE-40 for medium capitalization paper 1.04 percent higher; and the FTSE/ASE-80 for small cap equities finished with gains of 0.75 percent. Of stocks traded, advances led declines at 208 to 121 with 41 issues remaining unchanged. Derivatives Market Close: Turnover at 115.9 mln euros Wednesday Equity Index Futures: Stock Futures: Bond Market Close: Buyers outstrip sellers on Wednesday Greek Benchmark 10-Year Bond FOREIGN EXCHANGE Closing rates of July 16 2003 Parities in euro Banknotes For. Exchange Buying Selling US Dollar 1,122 1,097 [13] Greece pledges 250,000 euro to WHO drive against major diseasesPARIS 17/07/03 (ANA - O. Tsipira)Greece on Wednesday announced that it would contribute 250,000 euros to the international effort against AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria through the World Health Organization (WHO).The announcement was made by Greek Deputy Health Minister Vassilis Kontoyannopoulos during an international conference to support the WHO held in Paris. The minister said the three diseases posed a major threat to humanity and that the number of victims they claimed each year had drastically increased. [14] Patient in first Greek artificial heart operation dies of hemorrhageAthens,17/07/03(ANA)The first patient to have an artificial heart implanted by a Greek hospital hemorrhaged to death soon after the operation on Tuesday night, doctors said.Surgeons at the Inter-Balkan Medical Centre were sanguine about the results of the five-hour operation immediately after the patient came out of the operating theatre, saying that they were happy with the outcome and expressing hope that he would soon recover and go home. While in intensive care, however, 54-year-old Haralambos Nenoglou began to hemorrhage profusely and expired just three minutes before midnight. During the course of the operation, the head of the surgical team Dr. Panagiotis Spyrou had noted that death through hemorrhage was a risk associated with this type of operation. Nenoglou, a patient in the terminal stages of heart disease, had been fitted with a DeBakey Ventricular Assist Device, a miniature heart pump based on NASA technology, at the Inter-Balkan Medical Centre in Thessaloniki, northern Greece. Based on technology used in Space Shuttle fuel pumps, the miniature heart pump was named after US cardio-surgeon Michael DeBakey and is intended as a long-term ''bridge'' to a heart transplant or as a semi-permanent device to help patients toward recovery and a more normal life. This was the first attempt by a Greek hospital to implant the device, which has been used successfully on patients in Europe and the United States. [15] Education minister attends ceremony at new University of Central GreeceAthens,17/07/03(ANA)Education Minister Petros Efthymiou on Wednesday attended a ceremony for the installation of the Administration Board of Trustees at the new University in Lamia, central Greece.Speaking at the ceremony, which was also attended by deputies from all political parties and local government leadership, Efthimiou praised the ''ardent and persistent action taken by local government in Central Greece for the establishment of the University'', which he said manifested the government's perception for bipolar development in the provinces. [16] Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos receives warm welcome on arrival in LemnosAthens,17/07/03(ANA)Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos received a warm welcome from hundreds of enthusiastic people on his arrival on the Aegean island of Lemnos, on the first ever visit to the island by a patriarch, on Wednesday, the first day of his five-day visit to both this island and the island of Agios Efstratios.People thronged the airport and later the streets of the town of Myrina and the Cathedral to welcome the patriarch who has linked his work to the concepts of peace, coexistence among peoples and the protection of the environment. Addressing the patriarch, Minister of the Aegean Nikos Sifounakis said ''the people welcome you with enthusiasm and piety'' and referred to his interventions for peace, international cooperation, religious tolerance and dialogue among religions. Vartholomeos said on his part ''we must not only play the role of good neighbors but of peacemakers in the name of Christ as well to enable the blue waters of the Aegean encircling our islands to eradicate whatever mistakes and passions of the distant and recent past and become paths of communication between the hearts of people.' [17] Ten illegal immigrants arrested on LesvosAthens,17/07/03(ANA)Ten illegal migrants, four Somalis and six Palestinians, were arrested early on Wednesday by men of the Central Port Authority on the Eastern Aegean island of Lesvos, where they said they had disbarked from a speed boat.Local authorities are conducting an investigation, while the migrants denied any knowledge regarding information about the speedboat. [18] One man in custody, another sought by police for Internet child pornAthens,17/07/03(ANA)As part of a crackdown on Internet child porn, police on Wednesday said they had seized computers and software, arrested one man, and confiscated equipment from two suspects during a search in various houses in the port-city of Volos, central Greece.Authorities said the two suspects, one of whom is still at large, were distributing child pornography through their Web-page on the Internet, adding that 600,000 ''visitors'' had accessed the site since it first went up on 3 August 2001. On the web-page maintained by the two suspects, which the authorities said showed 4,273 registered members, police discovered 25,000 images of pedophilic content, as well as photos of unsuspecting individuals in private moments which they said had been taken with the use of secret cameras and zoom lenses. The suspect in custody was taken before a public prosecutor in Volos, while police are still searching for the second suspect. [19] Gov't: upcoming reforms to alleviate economic problems at municipalitiesAthens,17/07/03(ANA)Interior Minister Costas Skandalidis on Wednesday told disgruntled Attica mayors and community leaders that imminent legislative reforms would settle financial problems involving old debts and loans taken out by local governments and he agreed to raise the share of road tax revenue given to municipal coffers from 28.8 percent at present to 50 percent.Attica local authority leaders marched to the interior ministry to protest at what they said was an ''economic impasse'' threatening their municipalities, and stressed they were on the verge of bankruptcy due to the State withholding part of institutionalized resources while they were burdened with additional responsibilities for which they received no any additional money. Skandalidis said upcoming law reforms would not lead to reduction of municipality resources and would allow local governments to get low interest 15-year loans. [20] Athens mayor gives deposition regarding attempt against her lifeAthens,17/07/03(ANA)Athens Mayor Dora Bakoyianni on Wednesday gave her deposition to an Athens public prosecutor within the context of an official investigation into whether police officers assigned to her security detail might bear some responsibility for an assassination attempt against her by a 35-year-old man with a history of mental illness in December 2002.Suspect Giorgos Sandalis on 13 December 2002 fired a shotgun at the car carrying then mayor-elect Bakoyianni, narrowly missing her but striking her driver in the neck. The investigation is expected to conclude within the next few days, while the mayor herself has stated that she does not believe her security guards were in any way responsible for the incident. [21] Witnesses in N17 trial unconvinced by evidence against GiotopoulosAthens, 17/07/03(ANA)The ongoing trial of 19 people accused of being members of the terrorist organization ''November 17'' continued before the Three-Member Criminal Appeals Court on Wednesday with more defense witnesses for the man police claim is the leader of the urban guerrilla group, Alexandros Giotopoulos.First on the stand was Dimitris Skarpalezos, a professor at a French university, who had known Giotopoulos and other members of the Peoples Revolutionary Struggle (LEA) - an armed anti-junta resistance group to which Giotopoulos belonged. Skarpalezos was also one of the witnesses on Wednesday who claimed that he was not convinced by the police case against his one-time fellow-student and believed that he might have been framed. The witness said Giotopoulos had made several obvious 'blunders' that were incompatible with his being the leader of a terror group like N17 - such as violating the building code on the island where he lived by painting his house red, having a driving license in a false name and keeping keys to N17 safehouses in his house. In addition, Skarpalezos was dubious about the value of confessions made with the promise of 10 years off the final sentence or those taken from Savvas Xiros while he was in intensive care, describing the last, in particular, as 'impermissible'. He also said there was no link between N17 and groups like LEA that had acted against the 1967-1974 junta and denied that there had been a LEA meeting in Pendeli after the junta fell. While LEA was active, Skarpalezos told the court, its members used one or more codenames, which in Giotopoulos' case were Michel and Themis. He said he had lost touch with many LEA members, including Giotopoulos, after 1975 because of raising a family and continuing his studies. The witness also repeated in court that he had been contacted by a Briton that presented himself as a historian in the spring of 2002 -before the bomb blast that led to the capture of Savvas Xiros and the other people on trial - who was looking for information about Giotopoulos and appeared convinced that Giotopoulos had founded N17. Panteion university professor Kostas Zouraris, also appearing as a defense witness for Giotopoulos, said that N17 was a revolutionary Leftist organization and as such would not be characterized by ''leadership phenomena'' though there might be personalities that stood out within it. Regarding N17's proclamations, he said these used language typical of the Left and were obviously the work of people capable of being informed. Such texts were usually written collectively with one person as the editor, the witness claimed. The last witness was a journalist named Antonis Skordilis who said he did not know Giotopoulos personally but that his study of the case had led him to believe there was a high probability that Giotopoulos had been framed. Skordilis will continue his testimony on Thursday. [22] Iacovou makes representations over Denktash's statementsNICOSIA 17/07/03 (CNA/ANA)Cypriot Minister of Foreign Affairs Georgios Iacovou said on Wednesday that Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash was trying to mislead the international public opinion and obstruct the resumption of Cyprus peace talks, by proposing to reopen the Nicosia Airport and threatening to settle the closed area of Famagusta.Iacovou had separate meetings on Wednesday with the Ambassadors to Cyprus of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, to whom he made representations regarding Denktash's threats, noting that the Turkish Cypriot leader had not managed to convince anyone that his moves were a goodwill gesture. ''On the contrary, all the information we have is that all countries realize that Denktash is trying to obstruct the commencement of negotiations, which is the aim of those countries interested in solving the Cyprus problem'', Iacovou noted. Referring to Denktash's statements, Iacovou said ''it is odd for one to propose confidence-building measures and at the same time threaten'', adding that this had not escaped the attention of the ambassadors of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council. Iacovou said Denktash ''is trying in this way to undermine the efforts of the international community to resume the dialogue''. During the meetings, Iacovou made three observations, namely who is responsible for the situation in the fenced-off area of Famagusta, the position the Security Council has adopted on the return of Famagusta to its rightful inhabitants, and the continued violation of the status quo at Strovilia, despite the most recent UN Security Council resolution calling for the restoration of the status quo ante in the area. Referring to Strovilia, Iacovou said the non-implementation of the UN resolution ''has obviously encouraged Denktash to make such statements and voice such threats''. Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. [23] Spokesman says Denktash's arrogance ''abysmal''NICOSIA 17/07/03 (CNA/ANA)Cypriot Government Spokesman Kypros Chrysostomides on Wednesday accused Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash of abysmal arrogance over the latter's threat that Turkish Cypriots will settle in the closed area of Famagusta if the Greek Cypriot side does not accept his proposal to reopen the Nicosia Airport.''I think the arrogance of Denktash is abysmal'', Chrysostomides said, commenting on the Turkish Cypriot leader's threats, adding that 29 years after the occupation and deserting of the town, Denktash ''suddenly says he does not wish to be accused by foreigners of leaving Famagusta to become deserted''. Chrysostomides said Denktash's position ''is not serious'' and reiterated that ''the lifting of occupation measures is an obligation of the occupation force, according to international regulations''. He added that ''only the occupation force can lift, for the time being, these restrictions''. Asked when the President of the Republic would be replying to Denktash, the spokesman said that on Tuesday the National Council decided to set up a subcommittee to help the president write his letter of reply. Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |