Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 02-10-12

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greeks go to the polls this Sunday to elect mayors, prefects

[02] FM says effort for Cyprus' EU accession has produced results

[03] FM Papandreou receives Insignia of the Equestrian Order of Pope Pius IX

[04] Greece signs UN protocol against illicit firearms trafficking

[05] PM briefed on educational issues, higher learning

[06] Attica super-prefecture candidate slams major parties' tactics

[07] Gov't again slams prosecutor's case against minister as political ploy

[08] Widow of last 'N17' victim praises Greek authorities' efforts

[09] Journalist Thanassis Paparigas, husband of KKE leader, dies after road accident

[10] Athens mayoral candidate Bakoyianni addresses supporters

[11] ND deputy attends Atlantic Union Treaty general assembly

[12] Coalition leader meets Chinese ambassador in Athens

[13] Dimitris Mardas named new OPE chief executive

[14] Lamda Development completes share capital increase plan

[15] Greek stocks end 4.1 pct up in highest one-day gain in 2002

[16] Security, int'l tender reportedly discussed by ATHOC head, US envoy

[17] Bomb at PASOK local org. office in Kallithea, minor damage

[18] Internet ''chat'' with Valery Giscard d' Estaing

[19] Clerides says Turkey to be given date only on condition

[20] Spokesman: Cyprus backs Turkey's accession course

[21] Cyprus and EIB sign loan agreements

[01] Greeks go to the polls this Sunday to elect mayors, prefects

Athens, 13/10/2002 (ANA)

Athens and Thessaloniki candidates used the television debate style ''confrontations'' widely, more so than any other time in Greek elections' history, and on Friday concluded their appearances as law prescribes.

This will be the first of a possible two Sundays of elections, as many municipalities and prefectures will fail to give the necessary 50 per cent plus one vote to the winning candidate, thus forcing a runoff.

On Friday morning, the ministry of interior conducted a general test of its polling procedures, to verify the ability of the mechanism set up to collect and publish the results of the election from all over the country.

An all-party committee will be present to verify the results of the process, during the day and until late evening when the final tabulations are expected to be concluded.

Meanwhile, the country's largest municipality, Athens has set up special computer centers to inform citizens of their balloting centers and more than 450 taxis and 137 mini-buses were commandeered to transport elderly and handicapped voters.

The 200,000 voters of Athens will have to choose between ruling PASOK's candidate Christos Papoutsis, main opposition New Democracy's Dora Bakoyianni, Communist Party of Greece's (KKE) Spyros Halvatzis, the Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) Fotis Kouvelis and DHKKI's Yiannis Dimaras.

In a related development, the state traffic police announced measures to facilitate the ''traveling voters'', that is residents of large cities who will exercise their democratic right in their rural hometowns.

Interior ministry test for Sunday elections: The interior ministry conducted a general election test run on Friday two days before the first round of municipal and prefectural elections.

According to reports, a bi-partisan committee will be able to check voting results before they are entered by 30 computer operators from the Delta-Singular firm.

[02] FM says effort for Cyprus' EU accession has produced results

Athens, 13/10/2002 (ANA)

Referring to a statement by his Turkish counterpart Sukru Sina Gurel that Turkey will make no concession on the Cyprus issue in its effort to secure a date for the beginning of its accession negotiations, Papandreou said ''we should not forget that Turkey is going through an election period. We are in a period in which Turkey is expecting something very important from the European Union which, however, has quite a few difficulties.''

Papandreou went on to say ''if Turkey proceeds positively in implementing what the European Commission is asking for we shall have, indeed, a revolutionary change. A great change. If it becomes scared, and whatever new government lacks the will, whatever political developments show that it cannot, or it delays a great deal in making these changes, we shall certainly have a stagnation and this stagnation will affect relations and bilateral ones to a certain degree. Not necessarily completely. But, however, it will affect them and it can also affect a solution to the Cyprus issue.''

Papandreou reiterated that Greece believes Turkey's European vocation should be continued ''because, indeed, it will also have a positive influence as such issues as the Cyprus issue.''

''We at least, and publicly, do not set terms and preconditions appearing as blackmail. But it is well known that the Cyprus issue will constitute an issue which will always affect relations between Europe and Turkey,'' he added.

[03] FM Papandreou receives Insignia of the Equestrian Order of Pope Pius IX

Athens, 13/10/2002 (ANA)

''Recalling the warm and generous hospitality shown on that memorable occasion by the Hellenic Government, and by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in particular, the Pope wishes to express to Your Excellency and your collaborators his deep gratitude and personal appreciation by conferring to your Excellency the High Pontifical Insignia of the Equestrian Order of Pope Pius IX,'' Tabet told Papandreou during the ceremony.

''With such a gesture, the Pope also desires to renew his admiration for the important role Greece is successfully playing within the European Union, inspired by the spiritual, moral and social values that flow from its ancestral heritage,'' he added.

On his part, Papandreou thanked and welcomed Tabet saying ''I can only agree with you that our relationship, first of all, between the Hellenic Republic and the Holy See is a very good relationship – a very warm relationship. And, of course, with the visit of Pope John Paul II last year, this gave a new impetus to our relationship, and, as you very rightly said, opened up an new era in relations between the Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church.''

''I want to say that this bodes well for humanity, it bodes well for our region, it bodes well for Europe. We will have the privilege and the responsibility to be in the Presidency soon. After Greece, Italy will be the Presidency of the European Union. I think this is another area where cooperation can be a great fortress,'' he stressed.

''Therefore, I would like to send, on behalf of the Greek government, best wishes to Pope John Paul II, and thank him particularly for all his kind words, his blessing, and in particular I would like you to give him our thanks for his strong support for the ancient Greek ideal of the Olympic Truce,'' Papandreou added.

''And I know he has not only been hoping to be supportive, but he wants to sign this Declaration, and that is a great honor from the Holy See. The president of the International Olympic Committee, a few days ago, in Lausanne, was very impressed about the support of the Holy See,'' he concluded.

Senior Greek diplomat meets FYROM leadership SKOPJE 13/10/2002 (ANA - N. Fragoulopoulos)

In a visit to the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) on Friday, the head of the Greek foreign ministry's Balkan Affairs bureau Alexandros Mallias expressed Greece's boundless support for the republic's efforts to join Euro-Atlantic structures.

During the visit, Ambassador Mallias met FYROM President Boris Trajkovski, Prime Minister-designate Branco Crvenkovski and members of the outgoing government. Mallias also met representatives of the international community in FYROM and the leaders of parties supported by the republic's large Albanian minority.

The Greek official's contacts in FYROM are part of a tour of Balkan countries being conducted in view of Greece's EU presidency at the end of the year. They focused mainly on bilateral issues, the general situation in southeast Europe and particularly how this could be improved through regional cooperation.

Mallias also conveyed messages from Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou to FYROM's leadership, which confirmed the good relations between Greece and its northern neighbor.

The diplomat has earlier visited Kosovo, where he met the local Albanian leadership and Serb community, as well as UN and NATO officials.

[04] Greece signs UN protocol against illicit firearms trafficking

NEW YORK 13/10/2002 (ANA – M. Georgiadou)

The specific agreement – entitled “protocol against the illicit manufacturing of and trafficking in firearms, their parts and components and ammunition, supplementing the United Nations Convention against trans-national organized crime” – was adopted in May 2001. Forty-five countries, including the European Union, Bulgaria and Turkey, have already ratified the protocol.

[05] PM briefed on educational issues, higher learning

Athens, 13/10/2002 (ANA)

The meeting focused particularly on tertiary education (universities and technological educational institutes) and three new higher learning establishments to be founded in Greece - the universities of Central Greece and Western Macedonia and a TEI in the Ionian.

Efthymiou said the premier examined all facets of expanding tertiary education so that Greece could retain its top place within the EU as regards levels of participation in higher learning, where according to Eurostat 58 percent of those aged 18-21 are registered in a university or TEI.

The goal was to retain this lead and ensure that it had the quality required by the 21st century, he added.

[06] Attica super-prefecture candidate slams major parties' tactics

Athens, 13/10/2002 (ANA)

He then slammed the media for not giving equal coverage to all the candidates and accused them of favoring the ruling party PASOK.

[07] Gov't again slams prosecutor's case against minister as political ploy

Athens, 13/10/2002 (ANA)

According to the spokesman, public prosecutor George Gerakis had known that Parliament was shut when he sent the report and would therefore be unable to respond.

He also accused Gerakis of deliberately leaking the contents of the report and the minister's involvement, knowing that Drys could not reply while Parliament remained closed and he did not have access to the file.

''Gerakis' decision was not made at random and gives rise to reasonable questions,'' Protopapas added.

On Thursday, when news that Gerakis had sent the file on the 'Xysto' investigation to Parliament had first been leaked, the spokesman had criticized his timing in sending the report just two days before an election and had hinted that party political motives lay behind the decision.

The investigation followed up a private citizen's report of alleged irregularities involving the Greek scratch lotto.

According to the prosecutor's findings, responsibility was shared by Agriculture Minister George Drys, when he was serving as deputy finance minister, and board members of Intralot, which ran the instant lottery.

Investigators were asked to determine whether the distribution of 'Xysto' profits to winners were being adequately monitored and if the state's renewal of a contract with the Instant State Lottery Consortium on July 31, 1998 was legal. Drys was accused of tolerating the consortium's failure to meet its contractual obligations to electronically monitor winnings.

Lastly, the investigators were asked to look into the 7.6 billion drachmas spent on advertising in the first four years of the 'Xysto' lottery's operation.

[08] Widow of last 'N17' victim praises Greek authorities' efforts

Athens, 13/10/2002 (ANA)

Heather Saunders, the wife of slain British defense attache Stephen Saunders, spoke to reporters at the British embassy in downtown Athens, where her husband was headed to on the morning of June 8, 2000 when he was assassinated by ''N17''.

With British ambassador David Madden at her side, Saunders briefly addressed a room full of reporters and television cameras, offering praise for local police authorities, the government as well as the Greek people and media. Saunders' latest return to Athens comes more than three months into the ongoing and unprecedented effort by police and prosecutors to eradicate the lethal terror group.

Asked about the 17 alleged ''N17'' suspects currently jailed pending trial, Saunders noted that ''if they are proven to be guilty ... I'd just like them to go to prison; to be deprived of the company of their loved ones... just as we've been''.

''We are still victims, despite the fact that some people being held may or may not be the perpetrators,'' she added, before calling on the media to also focus on some of the lesser-known family members of the ultra-leftist terrorist group's victims. Along these lines, she said any compensation emanating from convicted ''N17'' members should be allocated to the ''families of victims in a less fortunate economic condition''.

A day after she provided pre-trial testimony here to an appellate-level investigating magistrate regarding her husband's shooting death and days after filing a civil lawsuit in the case, Heather Saunders avoided speculating on whether every member of the elusive terror group has been apprehended. She also stressed that guilt would be established in a Greek courtroom, where forensic evidence will be presented as well.

In touching on speculation often aired in the local media, Saunders noted that Scotland Yard's involvement in the ''N17'' probe following her husband's death was ''small'', whereas ''Greek police have worked very, very hard ... they've (Greek police) dispelled the doubts''.

Finally, she categorically dismissed a ''claim'' published in a ''N17'' proclamation following her husband's assassination, namely, that he was involved in the NATO military strikes against Yugoslavia during the Kosovo crisis in 1999.

''If it's any consolation, he was against the war in Kosovo,'' she said, adding that her husband believed that ''although some atrocities'' had occurred in the troubled Yugoslav province, the path of negotiations should have been continued.

''Basically, he was a man of peace,'' she said. Heather Saunders also told reporters that her husband was with her in England at the time of the Kosovo crisis.

''Even if someone was involved (in the Kosovo strikes) that's not a reason to be killed by terrorists,'' Ambassador Madden added.

[09] Journalist Thanassis Paparigas, husband of KKE leader, dies after road accident

Athens, 13/10/2002 (ANA)

A KAT hospital announcement said that Paparigas, who had suffered severe head injuries in a traffic accident Wednesday night, died shortly before 6:00 a.m.

It said that compliance with the family's desire that his organs be donated had not been possible given the rapid deterioration of his condition, which did not leave sufficient time for the required medical procedures.

The KAT administration expressed its deep condolences to the family of the deceased.

Aleka Papariga and the couple's daughter were at the hospital at the time of death, while numerous KKE officials and members, colleagues and friends rushed to KAT upon hearing of Papariga's death.

Last services for Thanassis Paparigas held in Athens: Thanassis Paparigas was laid to rest on Friday afternoon by his wife and daughter, as well as by a large crowd of friends.

Attended by Prime Minister Costas Simitis and the country’s political leadership, funeral services for the noted journalist and scholar activist took place at the chapel of the Kaisariani cemetery in Athens, while a few mourning words were spoken by members of the KKE political office and the Communist Youth Organization, expressing their love and gratitude for the deceased’s contribution to KKE party since 1968, especially to the party’s youth and speaking about his deep faith in the communist principles and ideals.

Condolences of parties for death of Journalist Thanassis Paparigas: ''The death of our comrade Thanassis Paparigas, a high ranking member of KKE (Communist Party of Greece), journalist, historian and writer, opens a void in KKE, in Rizospastis newspaper and in 902 TV station,'' a press release issued by the Central Committee of KKE noted.

Government spokesman Christos Protopapas extended the government's condolences and lauded the role of the departed KKE member in journalism and KKE's struggles.

The ruling PASOK party press office issued a press release saying ''with feelings of deep sorrow we were informed of the unexpected loss of Thanassis Paparigas ... we express our condolences to his wife Aleka Papariga, Secretary General of KKE, his family and to Rizospastis''.

Main opposition New Democracy (ND) spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos also extended his party's condolences noting that ''Thanassis Paparigas served with devotion, consistency and high ethics the field of journalism, its principles and ideas''.

The Athens Journalists’ Union (ESHEA) also expressed its condolences in a press release over the ''unexpected and unjust death of Thanassis Paparigas''.

[10] Athens mayoral candidate Bakoyianni addresses supporters

Athens, 13/10/2002 (ANA)

''I shall do my best. Work shall be done. Our great plan for Athens will be honored. This will be my thank you for the wholehearted support you have been giving me for so many months,'' she said.

Referring to her ticket, named ''Athens tomorrow'', she said programs contain a novelty constituting an act of responsibility.

''For the first time, we are separating what we are proposing to the government. Those things that we believe should be done but for which we do not have the jurisdiction or which require colossal amounts,'' she said.

Bakoyianni added that her ticket has been renewed by 80 percent and is a work ticket composed of people who have struggled, worked and distinguished themselves in life.

She went on to say that a period of great changes is beginning for the city, a period of creation and progress aimed at making Athens better and more humane.

Bakoyianni said she will be judged by her work, committing herself to a four-year program and promising that the program will be implemented.

[11] ND deputy attends Atlantic Union Treaty general assembly

Athens, 13/10/2002 (ANA)

The assembly is examining issues concerning terrorism, NATO enlargement, the European security and defense identity, operations outside the alliance's field of responsibility and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

[12] Coalition leader meets Chinese ambassador in Athens

Athens, 13/10/2002 (ANA)

Emerging from the meeting, Constantopoulos said that the world was on the verge of this war and everyone had to do what they could in order to prevent it.

As a country with great weight in international affairs, China could contribute in this direction, he added.

[13] Dimitris Mardas named new OPE chief executive

Athens, 13/10/2002 (ANA)

The decision for Mr. Mardas' appointment was taken by Economy and Finance Minister Nikos Christodoulakis.

Mr. Mardas has previously worked as secretary-general of Commerce at the Development Ministry and as an executive of the European Commission in Brussels.

[14] Lamda Development completes share capital increase plan

Athens, 13/10/2002 (ANA)

The company said the result was satisfactory given the negative climate in international and domestic stock markets recently.

Money raised will be used to fund a project of building the Olympic Press Village, a complex building capable of hosting more than 1,600 journalists.

Lamda Development said its consolidated turnover in the first nine months of 2002 totalled 44.493 million euros and consolidated pre-tax profits totalled 2.989 million euros.

[15] Greek stocks end 4.1 pct up in highest one-day gain in 2002

Athens, 13/10/2002 (ANA)

The general index soared 4.10 percent to end at 1,807.09 points, near the day's highs. Turnover was an improved 98 million euros.

The IT Solutions and Holding sectors scored the biggest percentage gains of the day (6.99 percent and 6.43 percent, respectively), while the Investment, Banks, Wholesale and Telecommunications sectors ended with gains of more than 5.0 percent.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks jumped 5.0 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index ended 3.75 percent higher and the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index rose 3.66 percent.

Broadly, advancers led decliners by 339 to 14 with another 12 issues unchanged.

The general index ended the week with a net gain of 0.82 percent.

The most heavily traded stocks in value were Hellenic Telecommunications Organization, Football Pools Organization, Lantec, Klonatex, and Informatics.

Derivatives Market Close: Turnover at 143.2 mln euros Friday

Equity Index Futures: