Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 03-02-08

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

CONTENTS

[01] Peaceful way out of Iraq crisis still possible, Greek and Egyptian FMs say

[02] FM on Iraq: Chance for peace still exists

[03] Euro-Parliament President throws his support to an EU council on Iraq

[04] EU Troika, headed by FM Papandreou, to visit China on Feb. 14 as scheduled

[05] PM Simitis confers with German, Luxembourg leaders on Iraq situation

[06] PASOK Eurodeputy says everything possible should be done to avert Iraq war

[07] Synaspismos leader criticizes gov't over Iraq crisis stance

[08] Papandreou delays North Korea visit

[09] UN special envoy for Kosovo urges inclusion in EU integration process

[10] Social cohesion and full employment to be included in EU Constitutional Treaty

[11] Telemahos Hytiris to take over PM's press office

[12] Premier meets with healthcare minister

[13] Roundup of deputy FM Loverdos' Washington visit for Balkan reconstruction talks

[14] ND leader says party rejects polarization tactics and dividing lines of the past

[15] Kaklamanis receives his Serbian counterpart Micic

[16] Parliament speaker seeks 'open' vote for lifting MP immunity

[17] Defense minister meets US ambassador to Greece

[18] ELA still an active organization, appeals magistrate insists

[19] Macedonia-Thrace minister visits Komotini

[20] Papademos & Solbes address conference in Athens

[21] Minister says Greek economy must grow at a rate of 4-5% until 2015

[22] Greek economic weekly review

[23] Greek tourism resisting int'l pressures, Tsohatzopoulos says

[24] Greek stocks rebound strongly on Friday

[25] Simitis-Bakoyianni meeting focuses on funding prior to 2004 Games

[26] French former soccer star Michel Platini to help Olympic Games' int'l promotion

[27] Captain of the tanker 'Prestige' released on bail

[28] Two sides to attempt trade offs at talks

[29] Clerides informed about Annan's letter to Simitis

[30] Agreement on security would send correct signals, says FM Kasoulides

[01] Peaceful way out of Iraq crisis still possible, Greek and Egyptian FMs say

CAIRO 08/02/2003 (ANA - S. Aravopoulou)

Greece currently holds the European Union's rotating presidency.

''We believe there is still a window of opportunity for a diplomatic solution,'' Papandreou said during a joint press conference with Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher, while he noted that Europe supported the work of United Nations weapons inspectors and hoped that it would be completed.

Egypt's desire for a peaceful way out of the crisis was also underlined by Maher, who said that Egypt would continue to send messages to Saddam Hussein urging a peaceful and diplomatic solution of the problem.

''There are still margins for finding a solution, we want Saddam to fully comply and show the world that he does not possess weapons of mass destruction,'' Maher stressed.

The Egyptian minister said that Papandreou's visit had given them the opportunity to discuss problems in Iraq and the Middle East and to jointly insist on the need for a diplomatic, peaceful solution.

They had emerged from the meeting with reinforced positions as regards their will for a peaceful solution, and they would continue efforts to find a peaceful way out of the crisis in coordination and cooperation with the UN, he added.

Maher said that Egypt did not intend to send envoys to Baghdad, while he stressed that UN weapons inspectors must continue their work.

Papandreou pointed out that the inspectors were traveling to Baghdad on Friday and, depending on whether their specific demands were met, a peaceful resolution was still possible.

He stressed that Saddam Hussein had to demonstrate that he was fully cooperating with the UN and convince the world that he did not possess weapons of mass destruction.

He also noted that the EU had a common position on the Middle East crisis.

Responding to questions, Papandreou said there were no plans for an EU-Arab mission to Baghdad but noted that there were several other ideas currently under discussion.

The Greek foreign minister and head of the EU Ministers' Council is currently on the last leg of a tour of Arab countries that he began on February 2 to discuss the Iraq crisis.

Papandreou-Moratinos: all possibilities must be exhausted to avoid war: Both Greek foreign minister George Papandreou, the current EU council of ministers president, and the European Union's envoy to the Middle East Miguel Angel Moratinos stressed in Cairo on Friday that all possibilities for avoiding a war in Iraq should be exhausted.

Papandreou, who is on the last leg of a crucial Mideast tour that he began on February 2 for talks to avert a possible war in Iraq, said: ''We must exhaust all possibilities to avoid war, I am confident there is still hope''.

Moreover, in response to a question about whether he was afraid about a possible explosive reaction by the Arab world in the event of a war in Iraq, Moratinos said ''I am afraid about many things, but it is my wish to assist with stabilizing the situation''.

''We are here to support a diplomatic way and for continuing peaceful efforts toward a settlement of the Middle East problem'', the Greek minister said, adding ''As European Union, we support the Cairo talks, asking also for the implementation of the 'Road Map' between Israelis and Palestinians''.

An Egyptian initiative led to a second meeting of all Palestinian organizations on Wednesday and Thursday in a bid to get them to commit to a denunciation of violence and a clear condemnation of terrorist activities.

Papandreou met with his Egyptian counterpart Ahmed Maher and he is expected to meet later in the day with Secretary-General of the Arab Association Amr Mousa.

[02] FM on Iraq: Chance for peace still exists

CAIRO 08/02/2003 (ANA – S. Aravopoulou)

Earlier, Papandreou met with his Egyptian counterpart Ahmed Maher before the two men held a joint press conference.

Following his meeting with Moussa, Papandreou said the Arab League feels the obligation to assume initiatives for cooperation with the EU. “The final chance for cooperation with Saddam Hussein has, therefore, not been lost,” he said.

In reply to a press question, Moussa said the Arab world is “truly” ready to work with US President George Bush to achieve goals dealing with the weapons of mass destruction.

Asked about the Union’s stance, Papandreou said Europe is unified in its support his current tour of the Middle East, as the initiative was unanimously authorized.

[03] Euro-Parliament President throws his support to an EU council on Iraq

Athens, 08/02/2003 (ANA)

“At a time of international tensions and high public opinion concerns over the likelihood of a war on Iraq, European peoples are expecting a decisive, cohesive and unanimous European effort by the ultimate political level to secure respect for the United Nations, the multilateral procedures and a last effort to persuade (Iraqi leader) Saddam Hussein and the Iraqi regime over the absolute need to voluntarily comply fully with the will of the international community as unanimously expressed in UN Security Council resolution 1441,” the announcement read.

“Owing to the urgent nature of the matter and in view of the forthcoming second report by UN weapons inspectors, I fully support, in the name of the European Parliament, the demand addressed to the Greek Presidency to call a Special Summit Meeting of the leaders and governments of the member states to demonstrate their leading role and decisiveness to resolve the problem at a period when the European Union, EU-US relations and the international community are tried”.

Concluding, Cox said: “That is why I have called for a special meeting of the European Council on Iraq. It is high time for the EU leaders to get their act together: Europe’s peoples expect no less.''

[04] EU Troika, headed by FM Papandreou, to visit China on Feb. 14 as scheduled

Athens, 08/02/2003 (ANA)

With regard the visit to North and South Korea, in light of the EU Council of Foreign Ministers decisions on January 27, consultations are continuing between the EU member-states and the Greek EU presidency to determine when it can be conducted.

[05] PM Simitis confers with German, Luxembourg leaders on Iraq situation

Athens, 08/02/2003 (ANA)

In their phone conversations, the leaders assessed the conditions following US secretary of state Colin Powell's briefing of the UN Security Council.

Protopapas said that all information and data, and consequently including that presented by Powell at the UN, should be examined by the UN arms inspectors as that was demanded by their role and good faith.

He further said that the possibility of calling an emergency EU summit and an EU Council of Ministers general affairs meeting was still being examined, and final decisions would be taken after Monday.

[06] PASOK Eurodeputy says everything possible should be done to avert Iraq war

Athens, 08/02/2003 (ANA)

Zorba visited the offices of the UN's delegation in Athens to convey her impressions of the situation prevailing in Iraq, which she visited over the past three days together with other European Parliament members.

She said the people of Iraq have been living under dramatic economic conditions over the past decade following the imposition of the embargo, while the regime remains unshakable.

Zorba added that the people should not have to pay an even higher price now concerning the political options of the dictatorial regime. War will cause the deaths of thousands of people and will lead many more to desperation, as well as to the specter of starvation and the lack of drinking water.

She further said that even at the last moment one should wait for the UN secretary general to take initiatives for a change in regime without bloodshed.

In a letter to the UN secretary general, the 36 Eurodeputies from 12 EU countries who visited Iraq pointed out that in their majority European citizens are opposed to the war which will inaugurate the new era of pre-emptive wars.

Zorba delivered a document to a representative of the UN's delegation in Athens, containing the signatures of over 1,200 politicians, artists and intellectuals from European countries who are opposed to the possibility of war in Iraq.

[07] Synaspismos leader criticizes gov't over Iraq crisis stance

Athens, 08/02/2003 (ANA)

Speaking during a visit to the island of Corfu, Constantopoulos called on the country's political and social forces to participate in a peace rally organized for Feb. 15.

"We call on the Greek government to speak with one voice, one that expresses the will of the Greek people, and to not speak with American rhetoric in favor of the war," he said.

[08] Papandreou delays North Korea visit

Athens, 08/02/2003 (ANA)

Diplomats said Papandreou, who currently represents the Greek EU presidency, was also postponing planned visits to Israel and Beijing.

The Papandreou was scheduled to leave on the tour on February 11-14.

Diplomats said the trips had been put on ice because of the Iraq crisis. ''We do not have any new dates,'' said a Greek diplomat.

Solana will be in Tokyo on February 9 and in Seoul on Tuesday 11.

[09] UN special envoy for Kosovo urges inclusion in EU integration process

NEW YORK 08/02/2003 (ANA - P. Panikos)

Speaking at an open UN Security Council session, Steiner said there was a need for advancing specific targets in the Kossovo region within 2003, and set as priorities the eradication of crime, preservation of the rule of law, cracking down on corruption, economic progress, and the encouragement of a multicultural society.

Also attending the session, Greece's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Adamantios Vassilakis, speaking on behalf of the EU, stressed the need for further progress in the function of local institutions in the region to ensure stability, as well as their multicultural and democratic nature through the implementation of UN Security Council resolution 1244 of 1999.

[10] Social cohesion and full employment to be included in EU Constitutional Treaty

BRUSSELS 08/02/2003 (ANA-A.Simatos)

The plenary session of the Convention resolved that article 2 of the Treaty refers to social justice and solidarity, following a recommendation by the relevant working group and its chairman, Greek Euro-MP George Katiforis (PASOK).

Article 3 of the Treaty, prescribing the EU targets, will incorporate the issues of full employment, sustainable development, social protection, economic and social cohesion, children’s rights protection, gender equality and the promotion of high level public health.

Commenting on the decision, Katiforis said “the EU cannot be a credible force in the world unless it cared for matters such as social protection and poverty, or the professional life and retirement of its citizens.”

[11] Telemahos Hytiris to take over PM's press office

Athens, 08/02/2003 (ANA)

[12] Premier meets with healthcare minister

Athens, 08/02/2003 (ANA)

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Stephanis said that health indicators in Greece are not as low as they are presented sometimes, unfortunately, and the results of work being done will appear in time.

[13] Roundup of deputy FM Loverdos' Washington visit for Balkan reconstruction talks

WASHINGTON 08/02/2003 (ANA - T. Ellis)

At a press conference late Thursday (early Friday, Greek time) after completion of his talks, Loverdos said he had he met with business interest for investments in the Balkans and also the Caucasus and the Black Sea region, where he said more than 3,000 Greek companies and six Greek banks were active.

''Although small by US standards, Greece's 'Balkan Reconstruction Program' budgeted at half a billion dollars was well-received,'' Loverdos said, referring to his meetings with US government officials and American and Greek-American businessmen.

Loverdos presented to US government officials the investment plans for Balkan reconstruction and the opportunities presented for foreign companies. The two sides also agreed to organize a meeting of foreign ministry directors in Athens after Greece completed its current presidency of the EU for the first half of the year.

Loverdos was due in New York on Friday for talks with businessmen.

[14] ND leader says party rejects polarization tactics and dividing lines of the past

Athens, 08/02/2003 (ANA)

Karamanlis, who was addressing an event organized by the party's youth organization ONNED in the Aristotelion University's auditorium in Thessaloniki, northern Greece, said the state was at the mercy of corruption, immunity, intransparency, mutual covering up and impunity.

''What is necessary is breaking with regime mentality and conservatism, which is being reproduced by a state subdued by the party and a party which subjugated the state,'' he said.

Referring to unemployment, Karamanlis said it was an unacceptable fact that ''associates of ministers have up to 10 posts at a time when one out of three young people cannot find employment.''

He added that Greece can not stand any more failed educational reforms, adding that scientists are permitted to make experiments and not politicians.

Karamanlis further said that his party's vision for Greece in the front line of Europe necessitates modern education and is based on its culture.

[15] Kaklamanis receives his Serbian counterpart Micic

Athens, 08/02/2003 (ANA)

“The Greek people will always be on the side of the friendly Serbian people in their efforts to rebuild their country, to stabilize their economy and to fully integrate new democratic structures, as well as their course towards European structures…” Kaklamanis said.

On her part, Micic said both Greece and Serbia’s common interests lie in peace and stability in the Balkans, while thanking her Greek counterpart for Athens’ support to Belgrade and its assistance vis-a-vis the western Balkan nation’s European course.

[16] Parliament speaker seeks 'open' vote for lifting MP immunity

Athens, 08/02/2003 (ANA)

In Kaklamanis' proposal, which he submitted to the committee for Parliamentary procedure, a sub-committee would decide whether requests by public prosecutors to bring charges against a member of the House concerned a genuine legal offence or were politically motivated. The final decision will then be taken by the entire body in an open vote.

Kaklamanis said that Parliament's procedural committee would discuss allowing a secret ballot only when this was requested by the parties or by 15 MPs belonging to the same party as the deputy the vote would concern.

He said that the change in parliament's regulations on this issue will probably be in place by the end of February.

[17] Defense minister meets US ambassador to Greece

Athens, 08/02/2003 (ANA)

Papantoniou reiterated that Athens would provide facilitations, such as docking, but would not actively participate in any military operation against Iraq, defense ministry sources said.

Miller also presented Papantoniou with a copy of the address made by U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell to the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday, the same sources said.

[18] ELA still an active organization, appeals magistrate insists

Athens, 08/02/2003 (ANA)

Suspected ELA members Costas Agapiou and Irene Athanasaki were transferred to the women's prison in Korydallos earlier on Friday after spending the night in lockup at police headquarters, where they joined suspects Aggeletos Kanas and Christos Tsigaridas who had been transferred to the prison the previous day.

All four had been remanded in custody by Appeals Examining Magistrate Leonidas Zervobeakos after appearing before him to respond to the charges against them on Thursday.

According to magistrate, there is no evidence to show that ELA ever ceased operations since the group's last proclamation in 1995 said that ''the struggle will continue''.

In fact, the organization continued to possess weapons, files and all its technical equipment, which led to the opposite conclusion, namely that it planned to commit terrorist actions in the future.

Defense counsel for the accused, however, have submitted a confidential police report to the magistrate that was made public in 2001, in which ELA is referred to as an organization that had been inactive for several years.

According to sources, meanwhile, no fingerprints of any of the four accused have been found on ELA proclamations but the authorities have identified prints on two announcements written by the 'Christo Kassimis' and 'Internationalist Solidarity' organizations.

The authorities are also said to believe that these two an-noun-cements may have been written by the same typewriter as that used to write ELA proclamations.

[19] Macedonia-Thrace minister visits Komotini

Athens, 08/02/2003 (ANA)

Speaking in Komotini, capital of Rodopi prefecture, Paschalidis said that "the picture of development in Thrace, Eastern Macedonia and Central and Western Macedonia is gaining stable characteristics".

The minister also spoke of public projects highlighting the Egnatia Highway which once concluded will traverse all of Northern Greece.

Meanwhile in Northern Greece new Centers for Services to the Citizens (KEP) opened their doors effectively combating bureaucracy.

Deputy Interior Minister Stavros Benos visited cities of the region to inaugurate the offices that have indeed aided the average citizen in by passing bureaucracy.

[20] Papademos & Solbes address conference in Athens

Athens, 08/02/2003 (ANA)

Speaking at a conference organized by the economy and finance ministry in light of the Greek presidency, Papademos defended the policy of the European Central Bank, underlining that stability of prices will be achieved in this way.

He added that this was proved by the fact that during the 1999-2002 period inflation was at 2 per cent, despite unfavorable circumstances.

European Union Commissioner Pedro Solbes also addressed the conference, stressing that Europe was currently experiencing a long period of low growth, with the 2001-2003 period showing a 1.25 per cent GDP growth rate.

[21] Minister says Greek economy must grow at a rate of 4-5% until 2015

Athens, 08/02/2003 (ANA)

In a speech he gave on Friday night at an international conference on the theme "Economic policy and new sources of development for Europe", the minister said that the levers for the development of Europe's economy in the coming years should be the completion of the inter-European infrastructure networks with capital from both the private and public sector, an increase in investments in high technologies, the dissemination of the new technologies in daily life and in production, as well as the strengthening of business in combination with the participation in the procedures of globalization.

Christodoulakis noted that globalization creates opportunities. Referring in particular to the Greek economy, the minister said that in the coming years, it should maintain a rate of growth in the order of 4-5%, so that by 2015 to achieve its real convergence with the other European economies.

The conference was organized by the Economy Ministry at a hotel in the Athens coastal district of Kavouri, within the framework of the Greek EU presidency.

[22] Greek economic weekly review

Athens, 08/02/2003 (ANA)

Economy and Finance Minister Nikos Christodoulakis, commenting on the disappointing developments on the privatization front was adamant, saying "we will not accept cut price privatizations". Referring on the privatization of Hellenic Petroleum, Mr Christodoulakis said that the government would examine the possibility of signing strategic alliances with other groups within 2003.

In other headline news, EU Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner, Pedro Solbes, stressed that all EU member-states should constantly try to improve their pension systems. Mr Solbes met with Economy and Finance Minister Nikos Christodoulakis to discuss economic conditions in Europe. After the meeting, the Commissioner stressed that a possible war in Iraq has increased the risks on European economic prospects, although he sounded optimistic over economic growth in the second half of 2003.

Commenting on the Greek economy, Mr Solbes said that its course was relatively good, but noted that it faced certain short- and long-term problems, such as inflation and demography.

Development ministry said that prices of fresh farm produce were up 39.04 percent so far this year, reflecting bad weather conditions, further burdening the consumer price index in the country.

Domestic equity mutual funds returned an average -4.26 percent in January, while domestic combined mutual funds returned an average -1.23 percent over the same period.

A group of International Monetary Fund's experts, visiting Greece, expressed their doubts over the viability of the country's social security system and urged more reform and promoting a more flexible labor market in Greece.

The government's incomes policy envisages average pay rises of 3.5 percent to workers in the public sector and 4-4.5 percent to pensioners. Economy and Finance Minister Nikos Christodoulakis said that the government would submit a draft law on its incomes policy to parliament as soon as possible.

A meeting between Prime Minister Costas Simitis and ATHOC chairman Yianna Aggelopoulou during the week agreed that a three-member commission will examine the budget of remaining Olympic projects, while ATHOC will submit realistic solutions to cover part of necessary spending.

Economy and Finance Minister Nikos Christodoulakis unveiled the government's privatization program for 2003, envisaging the listing of Hellenic Post in the Athens Stock Exchange while continuing a search to find an international strategic partner. Athens Water will also announce a tender to find a strategic partner, while the government will repeat a tender for its "Xisto" lottery.

[23] Greek tourism resisting int'l pressures, Tsohatzopoulos says

Athens, 08/02/2003 (ANA)

Addressing a meeting of the National Tourism Council, Mr Tsohatzopoulos stressed 2003 could emerge as a relatively good year for Greek tourism if the worse case scenario was avoided.

The Greek minister, however, noted that tourist demand in the first months of 2003 was already falling because of a current climate of uncertainty over international economic and geopolitical developments, and stressed that big tour operators were already pressing Greek hoteliers to reduce their prices.

Mr Tsohatzopoulos reiterated that Greek tourism would be guided by the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, although he noted that it was extremely difficult to estimate the number of expected tourist arrivals during the Games (13 August-30 September). He said that tourist arrivals throughout 2004 were expected to be around 15 million.

"Greece increased visibility because of the Games will upgrade its image in international tourist markets and increase demand in next few years," Tsohatzopoulos said.

The Greek minister stressed that Greek tourism has shown strong resistance to pressures during periods of international crises in the past and noted that this resistance was the base of optimism over Greek tourism's medium-term prospects.

[24] Greek stocks rebound strongly on Friday

Athens, 08/02/2003 (ANA)

Buying interest focused on high capitalization stocks pushing the general index 1.28 percent higher to end at 1,674.20 points. Turnover was a low 59.8 million euros.

The Textile, Holding and Publication sectors scored the biggest percentage gains of the day (3.79 percent, 2.53 percent and 2.13 percent, respectively), while the Insurance and Construction sectors suffered losses (0.26 percent and 0.16 percent, respectively).

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks rose 1.50 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index rose 1.14 percent, the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index ended 1.46 percent higher and the wider FTSE/ASE 140 index rose 1.44 percent.

Broadly, advancers led decliners by 234 to 62 with another 55 issues unchanged.

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