Athens News Agency: News in English, 05-10-01

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greece to become European energy hub

[02] Northeastern Greece awash in heavy rain

[03] Opposition leader: Upbeat opinion polls reflect party work

[01] Greece to become European energy hub

"Greece is becoming an international energy hub. Its geopolitical role will be enhanced even more. Additional incentives are being created for new investments," Sioufas told the Hellenic-American Chamber of Commerce at the Harvard Club in New York.

"Also further reinforced are the foundations of peace and stability in the entire region," the minister said during a visit to the USA.

On October 25, 14 southeastern European countries will sign a charter in Athens that will form the base of a single regional energy market linked to European Union networks.

Another key project in Greece's move to the forefront in energy is a pipeline due for construction that will carry Russian oil through Bulgaria to northern Greece, acting as a supplementary route for the transportation of Black Sea oil to markets in western Europe and the USA. A political pact has been signed for the project by the three governments involved, Sioufas recalled.

Two other key works are an undersea natural gas pipeline linking Greece and Italy that will also act as an extension of a natgas link between Greece and Turkey, taking the fuel into the heart of Europe, the minister noted.

"This is backed by the European Union as a priority project, as well as by the Greek and Italian governments, which have signed a protocol for the work," he said.

Construction of the pipeline with Turkey was launched in early July by the prime ministers of the two countries.

"Greece, due to its geopolitical location, is the gateway to Europe for countries in the eastern Mediterranean, the Middle East, Asia and North Africa," the minister said.

"We are not waiting around. We are moving ahead rapidly with clear-cut and worthy goals to make up for lost time," he added.

Finally, the minister repeated his call for investment in Greece, noting the work being undertaken to improve competitiveness.

[02] Northeastern Greece awash in heavy rain

In the northern port town of Kavala, a central shopping centre was flooded, halting business and bringing traffic to a standstill.

The overnight rains on Friday through Saturday also flooded country roads, awash in mud and rocks washed down from the hills.

The fire brigade in the prefectures of Thessaloniki and Halkidiki were called to pump water out of hundreds of homes.

Also badly affected was the Ilia prefecture in the western Peloponnese, where crop damage is believed to be extensive.

[03] Opposition leader: Upbeat opinion polls reflect party work

"These show the good work that's taken place in PASOK. Nevertheless, opinion polls are simply a useful tool, and not a guide or an end in themselves," Papandreou told PASOK's national council.

"Our guide is Greece's interest, the interests of the Greek public," he said.

A poll published on Saturday showed PASOK gaining 41.2% of voter preference with the ruling New Democracy (ND) party at 40.3%. Asked to name the party most likely to win national elections, respondents gave ND 46% and PASOK 28%.

Papandreou sharply criticised government policy in its entirety.

"I don't know what they will try to present, I don't know what they will want to say about 2007 as the year of concessions. I do know, however, that in reality, with their policy, they've been wrong on everything," the PASOK leader added.

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