Athens News Agency: News in English, 02-12-05

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

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

CONTENTS

[01] Premier calls for speedy utilization of third community framework funds

[02] MRB poll gives main opposition 6.1 per cent lead over PASOK

[03] Athens accuses Denktash of not wanting Cyprus solution

[04] EU commissioner inaugurates anti-Semitism events

[05] Four overseas women to be honoured for their contribution

[06] Foreign Exchange Rates - Friday

[07] Athens Bourse Close: Stocks drop in glum trade

[01] Premier calls for speedy utilization of third community framework funds

''The effectiveness in implementing the third community support framework funds will judge the totality of our efforts, since the progress of projects has very significant effects on the income of citizens,'' Prime Minister Costas Simitis said on Thursday at the cabinet meeting he chaired, according to government spokesman Christos Protopapas.

''The third community support framework funds is the base for the increase in the prosperity of the Greek people and the preconditions for that are very good,'' he added, following the proposals tabled by Finance Minister Nikos Christodoulakis, Interior Minister Costas Skandalidis, and Deputy Economy Minister Christos Pachtas.

The premier underlined that there should be a full equalization of the central urban areas with those of the regions, adding that this should become apparent not only in indexes but also in the public feeling of citizens.

Speaking on the problems of bureaucracy, an issue tabled by several ministers, the premier said bureaucracy should be confronted and so there should be predetermined quantitative targets, deadlines and flexibility in the ability to issue tenders for projects in other agents when there are delays.

The premier also noted that the ministries should submit the detailed programs of advertising to the press and media ministry so as to achieve cohesiveness in messages that are broadcast and so to have a better result.

Simitis also spoke of the government's program, which includes the taxation system and social insurance system reforms, the country's entry in the Eurozone and the high rates of the GDP's increase, stressing, however, that the upcoming months will be difficult and great care is necessary.

''We will deal with the national issues, with issues of international relations, with the economic and social convergence,'' he said, adding that since during the Greek EU presidency the government members will have to travel a great deal around the EU, special attention should be paid to domestic affairs.

[02] MRB poll gives main opposition 6.1 per cent lead over PASOK

The main opposition New Democracy party leads ruling PASOK by 6.1 percent in an MRB opinion poll released on Thursday evening, while ND leader Costas Karamanlis appears to be slightly ahead of Prime Minister Costas Simitis with a 0.4 percent lead on who would make best premier.

Analytically, 38.5 percent of respondents said they would vote for ND in the next elections, 32.4 percent for PASOK, 5.3 percent for the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), 3.5 percent for the Coalition of the Left and Progress, 2.2 percent for the Democratic Social Movement (DHKKI) and 2.3 for the newly formed party LA.O.S. headed by Parliament deputy George Karatzaferis, while 15.8 percent answered don't know/won't say.

In the question on who was most suitable for prime minister, Karamanlis came first with 39.5 percent and Simitis second with 39.1 percent. In an MRB poll last September Karamanlis' lead was 2.9 percent, while in a similar poll in July it was 3.5 percent. The main opposition leader also swept ahead in popularity, garnering 44.2 percent in positive opinions compared to 36.3 percent for Simitis.

ND also leads on the question of which party was most likely to win an election if one was held immediately - regardless of what respondents would themselves vote for - with 59.1 percent predicting an ND victory and 27.8 percent expecting victory for PASOK.

The developments of the Cyprus issue occupied a large portion of the opinion poll, showing 28.1 percent of respondents as optimistic regarding the U.N plan for the resolution of the Cyprus problem, 31.9 percent noted their neutrality toward the plan and 27.5 percent said they were pessimistic.

A 35.1 percent considered the submitting of the plan a positive development, 27.5 percent was neutral to the affair and 22.9 percent considered it a negative development.

[03] Athens accuses Denktash of not wanting Cyprus solution

The delay by Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash in giving an answer to the United Nations regarding the blueprint Cyprus solution showed his deep denial of the attempted solution to the Cyprus problem, the Greek government said on Thursday.

Government spokesman Christos Protopapas dismissed Denktash's reasons for the delay on Wednesday night as laughable, saying that his actions caused hilarity and had exposed him completely. The stance of the Turkish-Cypriot side was a ''serious problem'' and the international community should not accept its stalling, he added.

The Greek side was approaching the plan presented by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan in good faith, he stressed.

If a solution was not achieved, Greece should be able to prove that the Turkish side was responsible for the failure, he added.

''In all major issues everything is taken into account and the stance we have shown is a weapon in our hands,'' the spokesman noted.

Responding to questions about statements by Turkish ruling Justice and Development Party Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Protopapas said that Greece appreciated the positive messages coming out of Turkey but wanted tangible proof of its good intentions on the Cyprus issue and the Euroforce.

[04] EU commissioner inaugurates anti-Semitism events

BRUSSELS (ANA - Y. Zitouniati) - European Union Employment and Social Affairs Commissioner Anna Diamantopoulou inaugurated a series of events against anti-Semitism and Islamophobia here on Thursday, stressing the need of promoting intercultural dialogue.

The Greek commissioner's initiative stems from the ascertainment of an increase in anti-Semitic and xenophobic attacks after September 11, 2001, and the second ''Intifada'' and constitutes, as it was pointed out, the tangible continuation of her recent visit to Israel and Palestinian territory.

''European society cannot tolerate national or religious discriminations,'' she said, adding that ''physical or verbal attacks emanating from longterm racial or religious hatred constitute an affront for the handling of which all political leaders are responsible.''

Phenomena of anti-Semitism observed in certain EU member-states were analysed during the first event held on Thursday, while an analysis was also made of the meaning of the term in modern society.

The next event, concerning the issue of Islamophobia, will be held in February, 2003, while intercultural dialogue will be discussed in March.

[05] Four overseas women to be honoured for their contribution

Four Greek women living abroad will be honoured by the foreign affairs and interior ministries, the Overseas Hellenism General Secretariat, the Equality General Secretariat and the Overseas Hellenism Council for their contribution to overseas Hellenism and the promotion of Greek culture.

The women are Eleni Bakopanou, a deputy of Canada's federal government, Anastasia Krystallidou, manager of a model school in Johannesburg, Theodosia Antoniadou Tziveli, a businesswoman and member of UNESCO's Italian industrialists' Federation of businesswomen of Europe and Maria Vamvakinou, a deputy of Australia.

The four women will be honoured in the framework of the conference titled ''The overseas Greek woman'', due to begin in Thessaloniki, northern Greece, on Friday.

Speaking at a press conference, Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannis Magriotis said ''we symbolically selected one woman from each continent in the name of all overseas women'' and referred in particular to the role of overseas Greek women regarding the strengthening of their children's Greek spirit.

[06] Foreign Exchange Rates - Friday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 1.007

Pound sterling 0.641

Danish kroner 7.485

Swedish kroner 9.130

Japanese yen 126.1

Swiss franc 1.484

Norwegian kroner 7.332

Cyprus pound 0.577

Canadian dollar 1.570

Australian dollar 1.795

[07] Athens Bourse Close: Stocks drop in glum trade

The Athens bourse finished lower on Thursday in gloomy trade despite a drop in European Central Bank rates and a rise in European markets. Smaller capitalisation stocks again were the hardest hit.

The general share index shed 0.78 percent to end at 1,844.75 points. Turnover was 85.5 million euros.

The FTSE/ASE-20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks ended 0.64 percent down; the FTSE/ASE-40 for medium capitalisation paper 0.99 percent lower; and the FTSE/ASE-80 for small cap equities finished 1.97 percent down.

Of stocks traded, declines led advances at 287 to 25 with 51 issues remaining unchanged.

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