Athens News Agency: News in English, 05-02-01

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

CONTENTS

[01] Rio-Antirrio suspension bridge reopens after cable fire

[02] EU Court's advocate general says Greece failed to repay aid granted to national carrier

[03] President Stephanopoulos visits Belgium for last official trip as Greek President

[04] Three top judicial officials to face firing in bribery-for-parole case

[05] Turkish warplanes violate Greece's national air space

[01] Rio-Antirrio suspension bridge reopens after cable fire

The Rio-Antirrio suspension bridge reopened at dawn Tuesday, but only in one lane, after remaining closed since last Thursday when one of the supporting cables suddenly caught fire and eventually snapped.

For a section covering approximately one kilometre, traffic is conducted with caution and a speed level of 40 kilometres per hour due to repair work being carried out in the other lane, which is expected to take approximately one month.

According to the French president and managing director of the Gefyra S.A. consortium, the bridge's builders and operators, &quot;the Bridge is in excellent condition and has not suffered any other damage apart from the snapped cable&quot;.

Regarding the causes of the fire, consortium technicians have concluded that an electrical discharge was to blame, either due to lightning or the concentration of electricity.

The technicians did not rule out the possibility of the bridge's anti-lightning system being re-examined.

Final conclusions will be issued after an analytical examination of the cable was completed.

Also, Patras appeals court judges director Anastasios Kanellopoulos has ordered a preliminary investigation by the Fire Brigade into the causes of the fire.

[02] EU Court's advocate general says Greece failed to repay aid granted to national carrier

Greece has not taken all the measures neccesary to secure repayment of the aid granted to Olympic Airways that was deemed to be incompatible with the common market, the European Court of Justice's advocate general Leendert Geelhoed said in his conclusion in the case of European Commission versus Greece.

In his conclusion, Geelhoed said that the Greek law prevented recovery of the aid from the company which carried out the economic activities in respect of which the aid was paid.

The European Commission in 1998 approved the aid granted by Greece for the restructuring of the Olympic Airways (for the period 1998-2002). In 2002 it initiated procedures against Greece on the grounds that the restructuring plan had not been carried out and that certain conditions envisaged in the decision approving the aid had not been met. As the information supplied by Greece was inadequate, the Commission then found that there had been an infringement, claiming, furthermore, that there was new operating aid. The Greek state was said to have tolerated non-payment of: social security contributions, VAT on aircraft fuel and spare parts, rent payable to airports, airport charges and passenger tax payable at all Greek airports. Consequently, the Commission ordered Greece to recover from the recipient company, without delay and with interest, the second instalment of the restructuring aid and also the new operating aid.

The Advocate General, in his opinion, considers that the recent Greek law creates legal or economic obstacles to the effective implementation of the Commission decision. That decision has as its objective the recovery of the aid whereby the Greek state unlawfully supported the economic and business activities of Olympic Airways, thus distorting competition in the civil aviation sector.

The Advocate General has noted unjustifiable delays by Greece in implementing the EU decision and has recommended that the Court find that Greece has failed to fulfil its obligations under community law.

The opinion is not binding on the Court of Justice. The judges of the Court are now beginning their deliberations in the case and a judgment will be given at a later date.

[03] President Stephanopoulos visits Belgium for last official trip as Greek President

Stephanopoulos was met on his arrival at Brussels airport on Tuesday by Belgium's Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde and Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt.

Immediately afterward, Stephanopoulos was accompanied to the Royal Palace where he was greeted with all due ceremony by the King and Queen.

There followed a trip to the Monument of the Unknown Soldier, where Stephanopoulos laid a wreath before returning to the palace to dine with the royal family.

On Tuesday afternoon, Stephanopoulos visited the Brussels Town Hall at Grand-Place square in the city centre before attending a concert by a Greek choir.

He visited the Belgian Parliament for talks with the presidents of the Belgian Parliament and Senate, followed by a meeting with Verhofstadt.

On Tuesday night, the Greek president made his way to the royal palace at Laeken to attend an official dinner given by the Belgian royal couple.

[04] Three top judicial officials to face firing in bribery-for-parole case

The three individuals were identified as assistant appeals court prosecutor N. Athanasopoulos, first instance judge Antonia Ilia and first instance judge Panayiota Tsevis.

The president of first instance court judges, L. Stathis, has already been referred for termination.

Supreme Court President George Kapos on Tuesday noted that the action ?aims to get at the bottom of this case. Competent authorities will not face obstacles and will not be deterred. Heads will roll where the judicial authorities feel this is necessary. Justice does not need the protection of anyone, except for its own organs. It is not an institution under supervision?? he said.

[05] Turkish warplanes violate Greece's national air space

According to press reports, eight formations of Turkish warplanes entered the Aegean and in eight cases violated the national air space in the region of the central and northern Aegean as well as in the region east of Rhodes.

In all cases, the 22 Turkish warplanes were recognised and intercepted by corresponding Greek fighter jets, while in two instances the interception evolved into mock dog-fighting.

It was reported that three of the planes were armed.

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