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Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 02-04-02Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>April 2, 2002CONTENTS
[01] Palestinian president thanks Greece for its support toward peaceAthens 2/4/2002 (ANA)Palestinian President Yasser Arafat sent a message to Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis expressing his gratitude for Greece's support of peace in the Middle East, as Simitis and main opposition New Democracy leader Costas Karamanlis called on the international community to take action in bringing an end to the violence.Arafat’s message to Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis, expressed the hope that Simitis’ voice will be heard by the rest of the international community. According to a government spokesman, Arafat’s message on Sunday reached Athens “with great difficulty”. “Our goal is clear, the cycle of violence must stop immediately. The Palestinian people have the right to create their own state, while the residents of Israel have the right to live with security,” government spokesman Christos Protopapas said on Monday. On his part, Karamanlis, also on Monday urged the international community to take action over the latest escalation of violence in the Middle East, while stressing that Arafat should be protected as the recognized leader of the Palestinian Authority. Karamanlis made the statements after a meeting with Saudi Arabia's ambassador to Greece, Abdullah Bin Saad Al Mahdi, who presented a Saudi plan for a solution to the Mideast crisis. The ND leader described the Saudi Arabian proposal as a ''good basis'' for an overall solution to the problem, while he urged both sides in the conflict to begin negotiations for an end to the violence, in accordance with United Nations resolutions. Karamanlis also noted that the world, particularly the European Union, was now faced with a historic challenge to take action to resolve the crisis, which inaction would simply make worse. Karamanlis also noted that the world, particularly the European Union, was now faced with a historic challenge to take action to resolve the crisis, which inaction would simply make worse. In related government action, Foreign Minister George Papandreou departed for Cairo on Monday for talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and other officials on the latest escalation of violence in the Middle East and the siege by Israeli forces against Palestinian Authority president Yasser Arafat. Among others, Papandreou will also hold talks with Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa, with whom he will discuss developments in the Middle East and the conclusions of the Arab League summit, foreign ministry spokesman Panos Beglitis said. Papandreou had informed the European Union's Spanish presidency of his intended visit, Beglitis added. The foreign minister cancelled earlier plans to visit Tel Aviv after the Israeli side said it could not guarantee the safety of the Greek mission. Papandreou's proposal to the Israeli government for a visit by an EU delegation fell through for similar reasons. [02] Israeli envoy dismisses speculation over FM's postponed visitAthens 2/4/2002 (ANA)Israel’s envoy here denied speculation on Monday that a postponement of Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou’s planned trip to Jerusalem -- along with an expectedly high-profile attempt to meet with Yasser Arafat in Ramallah – came at the Israeli side’s insistence.Ambassador David Sasson referred to a “co-understanding by the two sides (Greece and Israel) that the visit could not go on,” in answering reporters’ questions. The Greek foreign ministry late Sunday afternoon had refuted press reports from Jerusalem quoting Israel’s foreign ministry, which had earlier announced the visit by Papandreou. Sasson reiterated that his government never “forbade” the Greek side from meeting with Arafat at the latter’s tank-besieged headquarters in the West Bank, “we simply explained the situation and told them that it was very hard to secure his (Papandreou’s) safety in the area”. Greece last week vigorously condemned the massive escalation of violence in the Mideast. Following a later meeting with Papandreou, the Israeli ambassador dismissed speculation that Israel was planning to remove Arafat to a third country. In other statements at his press briefing, Sasson defended the IDF’s operations in the West Bank and Gaza, stressing that “what Israel is doing is fighting against terrorism. We have nothing against the Palestinians … I believe, and we believe, that the fight against terrorism is a subject that affects the entire free world.” In echoing the Israeli government, he also said his government has “no interest in harming Arafat...” After Papandreou’s visit was officially postponed on Sunday afternoon, the Israeli embassy had issued a press release stressing that, “the Greek foreign minister is always welcome in Israel ... We never said that we could not guarantee his safety in Israel. Quite simply, we explained that we could not guarantee the Greek delegation’s safety in the Palestinian territories due to the state of war that exists there. Let us stress that any visit by an official from a friendly country and any positive mediation is welcome.” [03] Greek, Turkish FMs discuss developments in the Middle EastISTANBUL 2/4/2002 (ANA - A. Kourkoulas)Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou on Monday discussed with his Turkish counterpart Ismail Cem by telephone, the latest developments in the Middle East.According to the Anadolu news agency, Papandreou called Cem to exchange views on the developments in Ramallah, where Israeli forces continue their operations. [04] ND leader and U.S. ambassador discuss Middle East crisisAthens 2/4/2002 (ANA)US. Ambassador to Athens Thomas Miller and main opposition New Democracy (ND) party leader Costas Karamanlis discussed developments in the Middle East and business issues on Monday.Miller said a statement by Karamanlis (following a meeting with the Saudi Arabian ambassador) was balanced, adding that he appreciates those making balanced statements. Referring to the situation in the region, he said President George W. Bush and Secretary of State Powell have mentioned that terrorism must stop, reminding that the U.S. has voted in favor of the UN Security Council's resolution on the withdrawal of Israeli troops. Miller said it is not the Israelis alone who use force, but the Palestinian kamikaze (suicide bombers) as well, who kill many. On the question of Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, he pointed out that ''nobody wants the PLO's leader to come to any harm.'' Miller also discussed the TVX company (a company mining gold in northern Greece) with Karamanlis, which, as he said, is facing problems with local officials who want to stop its operation, despite the fact it is absolutely legal. [05] Retail gasoline prices jump on Mideast crisisAthens 2/4/2002 (ANA)Retail liquid fuel prices in Greece rose sharply in March, fuelled by a mounting political crisis in the Middle East, with fresh hikes seen ahead, industry officials said on Monday.Under indicative retail prices released weekly by the ministry last month, super petrol sold at 0.719 euros a liter and leadless at around 0.61 euros, both up about 0.6 euros, the officials said. They attributed the rise mainly to an increase in world oil prices stemming from the crisis, with the hike expected to accelerate if the violence continues. [06] Palestinian Doctors in Greece accuse Israel of trading human organsAthens 2/4/2002 (ANA)The General Union of Palestinian Doctors and Chemists of Greece, in an announcement on Monday, accuses the Israeli occupation forces of stealing and trading the human organs of dead Palestinians, as well as of other acts such as the use of Arab detainees as guinea pigs.The announcement says the human organs are removed from the bodies of Palestinians and Arabs killed by Israeli forces during the clashes. It adds that the stealing of human organs and their trading primarily takes place through the Abon-Kabir mortuary in Tel Aviv. The file came to light after the killing of three Palestinian children: Mohamed Abu-Lebte, 16, Ahmed Benant, 15, and Mohamed Madhun, 16, who were killed by the bullets of Israeli occupation forces on December 30, 2001. The General Union said the children's bodies were held at the morgue over a long period of time, where all their internal organs were removed, before being given to their parents for burial. It further said Israeli Health Minister Nasim-Dahan indirectly admitted the acts, confirming that the internal organs are being kept with the ''excuse'' of a post-mortem. Namely, that the causes of death are examined through them as is usual. [07] Rally in Athens in solidarity with the Palestinian peopleAthens 2/4/2002 (ANA)A rally was held in central Athens on Monday afternoon in solidarity with the Palestinian people.The hundreds of protestors called on the Greek government and Parliament to intervene for an end to the siege of Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, the total withdrawal of the Israeli forces from the headquarters of the Palestinian Authority, an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory, support for the immediate proclamation of an independent Palestinian state and the return of all the refugees to their homes. The Athens Labor Center, the Genoa 2001 Initiative, the Greek Committee for International Peace and Security, the Union of Palestinian Workers and Students in Greece and members of the Palestinian community in Athens in a resolution said ''we are deeply concerned about the criminal actions of (Israeli Prime Minister) Ariel Sharon.'' During the rally, a message by music composer Mikis Theodorakis was read. He expressed in his message his solidarity with the Palestinian people and the intifada. After the rally, the demonstrators marched to Parliament where they submitted a resolution to representatives of political parties and to Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis. [08] Greek FM to receive Russian defense minister on ThursdayAthens 2/4/2002 (ANA)Foreign Minister George Papandreou on Thursday will receive Russian Federation Defense Minister Sergey Borisovich Ivanov, who will be in Greece on an official visit.Earlier that same day, Papandreou will also receive Cyprus Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides. [09] Alternate FM Yiannitsis meets Cuban Deputy FM DalmauAthens 2/4/2002 (ANA)Alternate Foreign Minister Tassos Yiannitsis held talks in Athens on Monday with Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Angel Dalmau.In statements to reporters following their talks, the two ministers referred to traditional cordial relations between Greece and Cuba and in particular to bilateral issues in the sectors of trade, tourism, science and culture and to medical aid to third countries. Yiannitsis said the Greek EU presidency in the first half of 2003 will promote relations between Cuba and the EU, of course waiting first for the results of the Spanish and Danish EU presidencies. He said Greece wishes to contribute to the rapprochement between Cuba and the EU. However, he noted that ''we are also waiting from Cuba to give tangible examples that it will attempt on its part to contribute in this direction.'' The European Commission is preparing to open offices in Havana in the near future, it was noted. The Cuban deputy foreign minister referred to what he termed the very good relations between Greece and Cuba and said issues discussed in the talks were matters concerning trade and culture as well as maritime and sea transport issues. Dalmau also noted that sport was a sector of interest to both countries and underlined that Cuba looked forward to the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. The Cuban minister also said that trade relations with EU member states have been promoted. Dalmau further said that Cuba was aiming at receiving one million tourists from the EU this year, as well as another one million tourists from the rest of the world. [10] Deputy FM Magriotis to visit Cyprus this weekAthens 2/4/2002 (ANA)Deputy foreign minister Yannis Magriotis will pay a visit to Nicosia later in the week for talks with the Cyprus government, it was announced on Monday.Magriotis, who arrives in Nicosia on Wednesday for a two-day visit, will have separate talks with Cyprus president Glafcos Clerides and foreign minister Ioannis Kasoulides on developments in the Cyprus issue as well as cooperation in view of the 2004 Olympic Games to be hosted by Athens. Meanwhile, Kasoulides will fly to Athens on Thursday for talks with Greek foreign minister George Papandreou. [11] Patriarch Alexios II express interests for religious tourismAthens 2/4/2002 (ANA)The Patriarch of Moscow and All Russias, Alexios II, ex-pressed his Patriarchate interest for religious tourism in Greece in a meeting with Development Deputy Minister Dimitris Georgakopoulos in the framework of the Greek minister's recent visit in Russia to attend the MIT international tourism trade fair.The Patriarch referred warmly to monuments of the Orthodox religion in Greece and unveiled the strong interest by Russians to visit the country. The two men agreed to form a joint committee to draft a preparation plan to promote religious tourism in Greece. Georgakopoulos announced a decision to organize a Euro-Mediterranean conference on religious-pilgrimage tourism next fall. The conference, to be held in Olympia, near the site of the ancient Olympia, in cooperation with Greece's National Tourist Organization. Invitations will be sent to tourism ministers from Mediterranean countries and from the Black Sea region. [12] PM to chair meetings on Olympics, meet Danish counterpart this weekAthens 2/4/2002 (ANA)During the coming week, Prime Minister Costas Simitis is to chair meetings on the Olympics, Greece's upcoming European Union presidency in 2003 and his own planned visit to the Ionian islands of Zakynthos and Cephalonia, government spokes-man Christos Protopapas announced on Monday.On Thursday, meanwhile, he is to receive visiting Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen. On Monday, the prime minister met the leader of PASOK's MEPs George Katiforis, a group of PASOK MPs for the Ionian islands and businessman Theodoros Angelopoulos, while later in the day he is to meet PASOK secretary Costas Laliotis. After meeting Health Minister Alekos Papadopoulos on Tuesday morning, Simitis will then chair a meeting of the ministerial committee for Olympics preparations that will prepare for a visit by International Olympic Committee (IOC) officials later in the week. Afterward, he will lead a high-level government meeting on planned infrastructure for Thessaloniki, followed by a meeting of PASOK's Executive Bureau on the local government elections. On Wednesday, Simitis will chair a cabinet meeting on Greece's upcoming European Union presidency in 2003. On Thursday morning, the prime minister will head a meeting on his planned visit to Cephalonia and Zakynthos, after which he will meet Finance Minister Nikos Christodoulakis and Transport Minister Christos Verelis. He will receive his Danish counterpart at 13:00. At 10:00 on Friday, Simitis will meet IOC Coordinating Committee chief Denis Oswald in Parliament and attend prime minister's question time before departing for Cephalonia and Zakynthos. [13] PM meets PASOK party parliamentariansAthens 2/4/2002 (ANA)Prime Minister Costas Simitis held consecutive meetings with PASOK Eurodeputy George Katiforis and party deputies from the Ionian islands' region on Monday for talks on problems facing these islands, also in light of his visit to the islands of Zakynthos and Cephalonia at the end of the week.According to an announcement issued by his office, Simitis focused on the political conjuncture and said the main opposition New Democracy party is an exclusive negative interpretation of the country's course and future. He said ND is the expression of social and political conservatism and divergence while, on the contrary, PASOK is the positive interpretation of the country's convergence with its developed partners in the European Union. Simitis said that for the political juxtaposition to be genuine, it should focus on the problems of the country, society and citizens, while the Greek people, with their unerring perception, are well aware which the forces of progress and European convergence are and which are those of conservatism and divergence. Moreover, the announcement said Simitis told his deputies that as a country, a society and as citizens we are called on to give an effective reply to all those desiring to intercept the country's course towards development, progress and the consolidation of the European prospect. ''Those attempting to turn the hands of the clock backwards have failed and shall fail. Those attempting to lead the country to a conservative policy and a social fallback,'' he said. On the question of October's municipal and prefectural elections, Simitis said PASOK will give the battle of the municipal elections in a coordinated fashion because it is a political battle linked to the country's course and development. He further said the municipal elections do not constitute a referendum for government policy, adding that ''in these elections PASOK aims at a wider cooperation with the forces of progress because with these forces we are linked with much more than what separates us.'' [14] PM Simitis holds talks with PASOK's Central Committee Secretary LaliotisAthens 2/4/2002 (ANA)Prime Minister Costas Simitis and ruling PASOK Central Committee Secretary Costas Laliotis held a meeting at the Maximos Mansion on Monday and discussed issues related to the municipal and prefectural elections. No statements were made after the talks, which lasted two hours.Laliotis told reporters he discussed with the prime minister preparations for Tuesday's meeting of the party's Executive Bureau, which will deal mainly with issues concerning the municipal and prefectural elections. The crisis in the Middle East is also expected to be discussed at Tuesday's meeting. [15] Gov't seeks to withdraw residence rights from convicted foreignersAthens 2/4/2002 (ANA)Foreigners who are convicted of a criminal act could in future lose the right to live and work in Greece, if an interior ministry amendment to the bill for ''Upgrading Civilian Protection'' is passed by Parliament.The amendment tabled by Interior Minister Costas Skandalidis on Monday also regulates the automatic removal of foreigners who obtain temporary residence permits from the lists of undesirables. Other parts of the amendment concern miscellaneous regulations mainly concerned with the management of funds by various levels of local government and the organization of municipal police forces, including one setting a 15 per cent quota for the hiring of women. [16] Venizelos says courts should take action over soccer violenceAthens 2/4/2002 (ANA)Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos, whose ministry is also in charge of sports, on Monday called on the justice system to intervene and sort out problems in the Greek football league, following the scenes of soccer violence witnessed during a March 24 match between Panathinaikos and Olympiakos, when outraged fans broke onto the pitch and beat up the referee.Venizelos asked the courts and other competent bodies to take immediate action and provide answers to the questions raised by the public and the State, while noting that General Secretary for Sports Yiannis Kourakis had already sent a letter to the Supreme Court to this effect. Apart from the criminal courts, bodies such as the Greek Football Federation (EPO), the soccer club federation (EPAE) and the referees' committee should impose their own administrative penalties and thus justify their autonomy in the eyes of fans, he said. The minister stressed that the state regarded all forms of soccer violence and hooliganism, whether this was carried out by ordinary fans or by club officials ''responsible under the law'' to be criminal, anti-social and completely unacceptable phenomena. Attempts to ''fix'' the results of the games by bribing referees and other methods were equally contemptible, criminal and unacceptable but were not, in themselves, an explanation or excuse for violence, he added. Both soccer violence and illicit attempts to influence the out-come of football games were automatically prosecutable criminal offences under the law and the criminal justice system should begin investigations and punish these actions as quickly as possible, the minister concluded. Meanwhile, a Piraeus public prosecutor announced on Monday that he was launching a preliminary inquiry into the possibility that soccer games had been ''fixed'' after recordings of suspicious phone conversations between referees and soccer officials were broadcast by the TV program ''Kitrinos Typos'' on Sunday. [17] Justice minister responds to main opposition leader's criticismAthens 2/4/2002 (ANA)Justice Minister Philippos Petsalnikos on Monday responded to comments of main opposition New Democracy (ND) leader Costas Karamanlis on the court system, while he visited a first instance court.''If some heard the comments of Karamanlis, he would have thought two different things. That he either made them in ignorance of what is going on with upgrading the facilities and generally the infrastructures of the court system or that his hypocrisy is overflowing,'' Petsalnikos said. The minister said that a full blown gigantic program has been underway over the past four years to improve and modernize the facilities of the courts and to create new ones in 66 different regions, while 22 of those were being built from the ground up, adding that the program will conclude in two years from now. ''Projects worth 130 billion drachmas have already been delivered to use and among them was the appellate court building of Athens, he said. [18] Greek president in Slovakia this monthAthens 2/4/2002 (ANA)President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos will visit Slovakia between April 8-10 at the invitation of his counter-part Rudolf Schuster.Deputy Foreign Minister Andreas Loverdos will accompany the Greek president on his visit. [19] Ombudsman's report for 2001 presentedAthens 2/4/2002 (ANA)According to the Ombudsman's 2001 annual report presented at a press conference in Athens on Monday by Prof. Nikiforos Diamantouros, 47.32 per cent of citizens' complaints were justified.The remaining 52.68 per cent of complaints were deemed groundless. The justified complaints solved in 2001 reached 91.16 per cent, compared to 90.70 per cent in 2000. Diamantouros said that in 2001 there was an upgrading of relations between the Ombudsman and local government on all levels and better cooperation. The greatest problems of mismanagement, mainly delays, were detected in insurance funds, municipalities and prefectures and in the ministries of finance, education, health and welfare, labor and social security, interior, public order, environment and culture. Most complaints were made in Attica (51.2 percent). Thessaloniki represented 9.4 per cent and the rest of the country 37.9 per cent. Particular problems exist in the procedure for the legalization of immigrants. Assistant Ombudsman George Kaminis said that despite a distinct improvement in legislation in this sector, there are problems in the implementation of the law and of issues of organization, as local government has henceforth undertaken the procedure of legalizing the immigrants. [20] Greek Eurodeputy calls for EU wide history curriculumAthens 2/4/2002 (ANA)PASOK Eurodeputy Myrsini Zorba on Monday called on the European Union council to mandate the increase of the European content of schoolbooks and of the school programs in Union member-states.In her question, to the council, the Eurodeputy notes that ''the aim of a common European identity can not be achieved, unless the students of Europe are taught the common historical course of the European states, the common European civilization and the values that it believes in''. [21] Domestic borrowing holds rising trendAthens 2/4/2002 (ANA)The Bank of Greece, or central bank, said in a report on Monday that domestic borrowing had jumped over the last five years.Household borrowing in 2001 represented 18 percent of gross domestic product against 5-6 percent of GDP in 1996, and the trend remained a rising one, the report said. Consumer loans and mortgages rose by 40 percent (6,720 million euros) in 2001 against a 34.8 percent increase in 2000, the central bank said [22] Recommendations on tax overhaul due April 10Athens 2/4/2002 (ANA)Finance Minister Nikos Christodoulakis is expected on April 10 to release recommendations on reform of the taxation system made by a committee of academics.The minister is also expected to announce the start of consultations with employers, unions and trade groups on the same date, which are due to be undertaken by Deputy Finance Minister Apostolos Fotiadis. The talks are due to end at the end of June, with the government expected to announce the final reform plan in the autumn in the form of a bill. [23] Greek-Turkish trade balance improves in January 2002Athens 2/4/2002 (ANA)Greek exports to Turkey rose slightly to 20.9 million US dollars in January 2002 from 20.2 million in the same month last year, while imports fell to 28.9 million dollars from 36.2 million over the same period, according to official figures published by the Turkish government.The shortfall in Greek-Turkish trade balance widened spectacularly in the previous two years, figures also showed. Exports in 2001 totalled 266.5 million US dollars, sharply down from 430.8 million in the previous year, while imports rose to 472.5 million dollars in 2001 from 437.7 million dollars in 2000. Turkey's exports totalled 2.4 billion US dollars in January 2002 from 2.2 billion in the same month in 2001, while imports fell to 3.1 billion dollars from 4.1 billion over the same period. Exports totalled 31.2 billion US dollars in 2001, up from 27.7 billion in 2000, while imports fell to 40.5 billion dollars in 2001 from 54.5 billion in 2000. [24] New plan to speed-up, simplify land registry proceduresAthens 2/4/2002 (ANA)Environment, Town Planning and Public Works Minister Vasso Papandreou on Monday announced the creation of 103 land registry offices around the country by 2003 and expressed her optimism that the country could finally avoid paying a second tranche in a fine imposed by the European Union on mismanagement and bad operation of the land registry project in Greece.Mrs Papandreou said the new land registry offices would operate under the supervision of local land titles offices and would supply interim land ownership deeds. She noted that a more active participation of local land titles offices in the project would ensure more accuracy, and reduce objections over correctness of initial registrations. Mrs Papandreou said the new plan would simplify and speed-up procedures. Under the new plan, 40 land registry offices would be operational by the end of 2002. Mrs Papandreou also said that the ministry has restarted payment of underwriters following a 10-month pause due to lack of funds. [25] Farmers block customs, highways in Evros, Rodopi prefecturesAthens 2/4/2002 (ANA)Farmers in the Evros and Rodopi prefectures, northeastern Greece, blocked access to the customs offices, as well as highways leading to Turkey and Bulgaria on Monday, demanding that the government subsidize 11 tones of cotton.In the meantime, another group of farmers took over and blocked access to the prefecture administration building of Rodopi, demanding to meet with the political leadership of the agriculture ministry. Larissa farmers announce protests for Wednesday: Farmers' representatives met in Larissa, central Greece on Monday and decided to take their tractors to the streets, roads and highways of the country on Wednesday. ''We will not go out in the streets to wave handkerchiefs,'' Thanasis Nasiokas, a farmer unionist said after the meeting. The farmers announced that one of their demands is to meet with Prime Minister Costas Simitis or with the ruling PASOK party Secretary Costas Laliotis, so as to ask of the government to keep its promise on cotton subsidies, as they said. [26] Bond Market Close: Token trade due to holiday abroadAthens 2/4/2002 (ANA)Bond prices in the domestic secondary market on Monday finished the same as the previous session as only one trade was reported due to the closure of markets abroad for Catholic and Protestant Easter.The Greek benchmark 10-year bond showed a yield of 5.55 percent, and the spread over the corresponding German bund was 30 basis points. Turnover through the central bank's electronic system was five million euros for a lone trade in seven-year paper. [27] ATHOC to present 2004 Olympiad's mascot on ThursdayAthens 2/4/2002 (ANA)The Athens 2004 Organizing Committee (ATHOC) will pre-sent the 2004 Athens Olympic Games mascot to the press and International Olympic Committee (IOC) members, and possibly IOC President Jacques Rogge, at the Zappeion Hall on Thursday.In most Olympiads, the mascot is a symbol following the tournaments before and after the Games and is a figment of imagination, which, however, ''personifies'' Olympic values and gives them a figure, which is simple and accessible to both children and adults. In addition, the Olympic Games mascot, particularly in past years, is a lucrative product for countries hosting the most important sports event on the planet. The mascot was selected from among 196 proposals sent to ATHOC from all over the world and through the processes of a tender starting on February 26 last year and reaching the end of last year. [28] ATHOC chief, minister tour Aghios Kosmas; IOC team in Athens this weekAthens 2/4/2002 (ANA)The head of the Athens 2004 organizing committee (ATHOC) and the public works minister on Monday toured several 2004-related projects in the Aghios Kosmas coastal district, south-east of downtown Athens, where the first test event for the 2004 Games will take place this August.Both ATHOC’s Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki and Minister Vasso Papandreou stressed that ongoing works in the area – adjacent to the former Athens airport -- will also improve the quality of life for local residents. “The deadlines are very tight, but the projects will be ready in 2004, while others will be ready even sooner,” Papandreou, who also holds the town planning and environment portfolio, said. Their tour of Aghios Kosmas comes only days before another high-ranking International Olympic Committee (IOC) delegation returns to Athens to gauge progress for the Games. Beyond surveying the status of several crucial and often-delayed venue projects – which dominated the IOC’s attention in the previous two-year period – the emphasis is now expected to turn to out-right planning for the Games, including ticket sales and marketing, new technologies, press accreditation etc. The issues of transport in normally traffic-congested Athens as well as hospitality should also rank high among the IOC delegation’s inspection list. The Lausanne-based group's representatives will once again be headed by IOC vice-president Denis Oswald, who is also in charge of a coordinating committee set up to monitor progress for the Games. [29] Themeliodomi subsidiary gets deal with Athens Olympics organizersAthens 2/4/2002 (ANA)Iliodomi SA, a subsidiary of engineering contractor Themeliodomi SA and EPV Inc. of the US, has won a contract to de-sign, install and operate photovoltaic energy systems for new offices of the Athens 2004 Olympics organizing committee.The firm is Greece's first manufacturer of photovoltaic systems. [30] Photographic exhibition at Athens' Syntagma Metro on Olympic movementAthens 2/4/2002 (ANA)The ''Athens 2004'' Olympic Organizing Committee (ATHOC) will organize a photographic exhibition at Syntagma's Metro station in central Athens from April 3-7 on Greece's fundamental contribution to the Olympic movement, as is the International Olympic Academy.The exhibition will be inaugurated by ATHOC president Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki and National Olympic Committee president and International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Nikos Filaretos. The visitors will have the opportunity to be informed about the historic protagonists and the role and work of the Academy through the presentation of photographs and documents. The International Olympic Academy has been operating for 40 years at Ancient Olympia. [31] Greece to have its own "Directory of health and welfare" services by year's endAthens 2/4/2002 (ANA)A ''Directory of health and welfare'' is well on its way and it is expected to be completed by the end of the year was presented on Monday at the health and welfare ministry.This ''Directory'' will be a useful tool for citizens, as they will have access to it via the Internet and will include contact information on hospitals and welfare institutions throughout the country. The project has been included and will be funded by the European Union third community support framework fund and will be a constantly updated, dynamic tool for health professionals and citizens alike. Up on its completion, by the end of 2002, the directory will provide epidemiological data, on all regions of Greece and it will also access data from foreign health systems. [32] Foreign minister says UN statement must reflect attitude of two sidesNICOSIA 2/4/2002 (CNA/ANA)Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides has urged the UN Security Council to consider seriously the attitude of the Greek and the Turkish Cypriot sides at the negotiating table, before drafting its statement on the peace process.The Council is due to issue a statement on Thursday on the current state of the UN-led direct talks, after it is briefed by UN Secretary General's special adviser on Cyprus Alvaro de Soto, who is present at the ongoing talks. Kasoulides said it is up to the Council members to assess the conduct of the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides at the negotiating table after they are briefed by de Soto. If the Turkish government has tried to present de Soto with a different picture as to the future intentions of the Turkish Cypriot side, then the Council will have to evaluate the situation, the minister added. Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |