Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 03-04-15

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

CONTENTS

[01] Imathia plunged into mourning as it buries 21 teenagers killed at Tempi

[02] Transport ministry presents initiative for safer road transports

[03] PM prepares for historic EU accession treaty signings this week

[04] Greek and German DMs discuss European defense

[05] EU ministers discuss UN role, EU involvement in post-war Iraq

[06] Papandreou, Powell hold telephone conversation on Middle East, Iraq

[07] Weston: Some points in Annan plan must be changed in view of EU entry

[08] Cyprus government hopes UN resolution to blame Turkish side

[09] Communist party says Iraq war decided in advance

[10] EU, US joint declaration on Liberia, Cote d'Ivoire

[11] Greek current account deficit rises to 2.279 bln euros in Jan-Feb

[12] EU ministers to hold informal meeting on consumers May 8

[13] Gov’t unveils plan to upgrade Kaiafas thermal springs

[14] Greece has lowest proportion of part-time workers in EU

[15] Women hardest hit by unemployment, union leader says

[16] Greek stocks jump 1.26 percent on Monday

[17] Witness recognizing Xiros, Koufodinas in N17 trial challenged as 'unreliable'

[18] Landmark EU Directive on discrimination to be implemented by July

[19] Erdogan addresses World News Agencies Summit

[20] Greece makes 630 hospital beds available for Iraqi wounded

[21] Spanish authorities intercept trawler carrying 2 tons of cocaine

[22] Security Council blames Denktash for failed talks in resolution

[23] US envoy Weston holds meetings in Cyprus

[24] Papadopoulos says Greek Cypriot side still willing to talk

[01] Imathia plunged into mourning as it buries 21 teenagers killed at Tempi

Athens, 15/04/2003 (ANA)

The coach carrying the 49 teenagers, aged 15 to 16, was an hour from home as an oncoming truck swerved out of control on the winding narrow roads near Tempi on Sunday night, spilling its load of particle board onto the side of the coach, virtually slicing off the roof and killing its occupants. As particle board sheets scattered over the road, three more cars smashed into the wreckage and burst into flames, setting the coach on fire.

The accident -- the worst on the roads in post-war Greece -- has cast the municipalities of Apostolos Pavlos and Antigonidon in mourning, as all the pupils on the bus were from the 1st Lyceum (high school) of Makryhori, which is attended by the children from some six surrounding villages.

Apart from the 21 teenagers killed outright, another 17 were still being treated in hospital on Monday afternoon and at least four of them are considered to be in a serious condition.

The entire prefecture of Imathia on Monday announced a three-day period of mourning in which all schools will remain closed and flags will fly at half-mast.

The funerals began at around 15:00 and continued until 19:00, while Education Minister Petros Efthymiou, Health Minister Costas Stefanis and Deputy Health Minister Ektoras Nasiokas attended, along with Macedonia-Thrace Minister George Paschalidis deputies from all parties in Parliament and local government officials.

According to Larissa police, the exact causes of the accident have not yet been ascertained, though it is believed that the truck had swung onto the opposite lane. A fact-finding team led by Larissa’s public prosecutor has been put together to conduct a detailed investigation.

A team of psychologists, psychiatrists and social workers from all over Greece have arrived in the area, meanwhile, to provide psychological support to the families of the victims and the survivors of the accident over the next few days.

A circular issued by the education ministry has asked all schools to observe a minute of silence on Monday and Tuesday in mourning for the tragic accident and flags will fly at half-mast in Greek schools throughout the week. In addition, headmasters and teaching associations have been instructed to devote two hours of the school day on Monday and Tuesday to discussing the accident with school children, providing them with emotional support and paying due homage to the dead school students.

Commenting on the accident, government spokesman Christos Protopapas on Monday said this was a ''day of sorrow for Greece, youth and Greek society'' and expressed the government's anguish.

He said that Prime Minister Costas Simitis had ordered an in-depth investigation that shed full light on the causes of the accident.

Fielding questions regarding the state of the country's road network, Protopapas noted that 80 percent of the Patras-Athens-Thessaloniki motorway had been completed, though the stretch of the road at Tempi was among three that still presented difficulties.

According to the spokesman, the terrain at that spot made it impossible to widen the road even temporarily and procedures were underway to build a tunnel at that point.

According to the health minister, the response by the ambulance service had been satisfactory and 18 vehicles had arrived on the scene of the accident.

The fire brigade, police and volunteer rescue teams worked late into the night to remove the pupils, who were rushed to hospital in the nearby cities of Larissa and Katerini, while Thessaloniki hospitals were also put on alert.

According to hospital announcements, 32 persons were injured, including 24 pupils, the three teachers accompanying the students, the coach driver, and four passengers from the cars.

The government and opposition parties late Sunday expressed deep grief over the tragedy.

Prime minister Costas Simitis, whose education minister and deputy minister Petros Efthymiou and Nikos Gesoulis rushed to the site of the accident Sunday night, pledged that the causes of the accident would be investigated, but added that ''the tragic fact remains'' and expressed ''my grief and compassion...over the unfair loss of so many young people''.

Main opposition New Democracy leader Costas Karamanlis, also expressed his grief ''over this unspeakable tragedy'' and his condolences to the families of the victims.

Communist Party of Greece (KKE) leader Aleka Papariga sent condolences to the families of the victims, while also the Coalition of the Left and Progress (SYN) expressed grief and sorrow over the tragic event.

Coalition of the Left and Progress party leader Nikos Constantopoulos expressed grief at the accident and stressed that its causes had to be uncovered and corrected.

Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and All Greece said he was ''crushed'' and ''deeply grieved'' by the tragic accident, and expressed his ''paternal sympathy'' for the parents of the victims.

EU Commission, Parliament president express condolences for tragic bus accident: European Commission President Romano Prodi and the members of the European Commission, on being informed of the tragic accident that claimed the lives of so many young people in Greece, expressed their condolences firstly to the families of the victims and also to the Greek government.

Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis also stressed during a press conference that ''irrespective of the level of our responsibility, we should all understand our responsibilities, so as to stop this continual bloodletting''.

''At last, not only the state but society should also take measures. In Europe, we are among those countries that come first every weekend in mourning the scores of the dead. The state should, at last, feel the responsibility as well as sensitivity when such events occur,'' Kaklamanis said.

Cyprus President Papadopoulos expresses shock over accident in Greece: Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos sent a telegram of condolences to Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis on Monday morning, regarding Sunday's tragic accident on the Athens-Thessaloniki road.

Director of the President's Press Office, Marios Karoyan, said Papadopoulos expresses the ''shock of the government and the people of Cyprus'', as well as condolences to the Greek prime minister, the government and the relatives of the victims.

Minister of Education and Culture Pefkios Georgiades has sent a letter of condolences to his Greek counterpart Petros Efthymiou.

In his letter, Georgiades says that on Tuesday students all over the island will hold a one-minute silence in memory of the Greek students.

''Yesterday's accident at Tempi, with the tragic toll of 21 Greek students and other seriously and lightly injured, has touched and shaken us all'', he says.

Colin Powell extends condolences to Greek gov't over tragic traffic accident: During a telephone conversation on Monday, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell extended the condolences of the U.S. government to Foreign Minister George Papandreou over the tragic traffic accident at Tempi on Sunday which cost the lives of 21 teenagers.

Patriarch issues condolences: Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos on Monday expressed both his personal condolences and those of the Ecumenical Orthodox Church to the families of the victims who died in Sunday’s unprecedented bus accident in north-central Greece.

Vartholomeos’ telegram was addressed to Education and Religious Affairs Minister Petros Efthymiou.

As widely reported, a coach carrying high school students home from an excursion collided with a wayward tractor-trailer truck hauling wood panes in the narrow Tempi gorge on Sunday afternoon.

“We wholeheartedly share the national mourning…” the Patriarch said.

[02] Transport ministry presents initiative for safer road transports

Athens, 15/04/2003 (ANA)

In a press release the ministry stated that it had requested since May 2001 of all prefectures to establish Joint Control Teams that will be responsible for the legality and safety of road transports, vehicles and their load.

It also stressed that it had requested that controls should be made during afternoon and evening hours and that the results of the controls should be sent to the ministry.

The press release underlined, however, that only 17 prefectures sent the relevant data they conducted in 2002.

[03] PM prepares for historic EU accession treaty signings this week

Athens, 15/04/2003 (ANA)

After chairing a cross-ministerial meeting on preparations for the 2004 Olympics on Tuesday morning, the Greek premier is to have successive meetings in the evening with European Commission President Romano Prodi at 19:00, the head of the Convention for the Future of Europe Valery Giscard d'Estaing at 20:00 and a working dinner with EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Defense Policy Javier Solana at 21:00.

From 8:30 on Wednesday, Simitis will receive European leaders arriving in Athens for the signing of accession accords by new EU members at a special ceremony beneath the Athens Acropolis in the afternoon.

Protopapas said the ceremony would be preceded by a meeting of EU leaders in the morning focusing on the future of Europe, followed by a press conference at noon, and that a second press conference would be held after the accession treaty ceremony at about 18:30.

On Thursday, there will be a meeting of the European Council called by Simitis that will be also attended by United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan and EU officials.

On Friday at 11:00, Simitis will have a meeting with Transport Minister Christos Verelis and will depart for a visit to Nicosia in the afternoon that begins his tour of European capitals.

He is to visit Helsinki, Stockholm and Copenhagen next week and will return to Athens a week from Wednesday.

A scheduled meeting between Prime Minister Costas Simitis and the heads of Technological Educational Institutes on Monday was cancelled because of a bus accident in Tempi that cost the lives of 21 teenagers, Protopapas announced.

Synaspismos leader hails accession of 10 new members to EU: Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) leader Nikos Constantopoulos on Monday stressed that the accession of 10 new member-states to the European Union is a significant step in the course of the United Europe.

Speaking during a press conference he held in Athens, Constantopoulos underlined that the accession of Cyprus to the European Union can contribute to the just and viable solution of the political problem of the island republic.

He stressed his party's support for the political unification of Europe with democracy, social cohesion and ecological protection, while he defended the need to fund the efforts of the new countries toward integration with the rest of the Union.

[04] Greek and German DMs discuss European defense

BERLIN 15/04/2003 (ANA - P. Stangos)

According to statements made by the ministers after their talks, this is the basic precondition for the two countries' participation in providing humanitarian aid and support staff.

Speaking during a brief press conference, Papantoniou and Struck stressed the importance attributed by both sides to strengthening European defense.

When asked, however, on the controversial ''initiative of the four'' - Belgium, France, Germany and Luxembourg - on the creation of a European Defense Union which will take on a specific form for the first time when these countries hold a summit in Brussels on April 29, both appeared extremely reserved.

Papantoniou termed it ''an initiative which could provide an impetus for strengthening European defense," but let it be understood that Greece will not participate even as an observer and added ''we shall await its outcome.''

Struck attempted to downplay its significance and insisted that ''it is neither a question of separate paths nor separate axes'' but an effort in the framework of the European Security and Defense Policy from which nobody is excluded.

Speaking later to Greek reporters accompanying him on his visits to Berlin and Paris, Papantoniou said the Greek EU presidency is watching the ''initiative of the four'' with great interest, both in its presidential and national capacity, "because we are among the strongest supporters" of beefing up European defense.

He went on to say that he agreed with Struck that in order to have reliability and strength, the backing of European defense should be supported on the widest possible base and have the widest possible participation.

Referring to the crisis in Iraq, Papantoniou ascertained Europe's failure to play the role attributed to it, focusing the main conclusion on the need for speeding up Europe's pace to enable the bolstering of European defense unification.

''So that what happened in Iraq will not be repeated, in which a superpower undertook unilateral initiatives, the European Union and other forces of world policy should cooperate with the United States on the shaping of a new frame of action for handling dangers (concerning terrorism and means of mass destruction) on a multipartite basis and not unilaterally. This discussion must take place and for it to take place in a productive way strengthening Europe's political and defense presence is a precondition. Only then will Europe have the special weight allowing it to influence developments,'' Papantoniou said.

He also said he conveyed to Struck certain main points concerning talks he had 10 days ago with U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and national security adviser Condoleezza Rice.

Papantoniou and his associates have already left Berlin for Paris where he will be holding similar talks with his French counter-part Michele Alliot-Marie on Tuesday.

[05] EU ministers discuss UN role, EU involvement in post-war Iraq

LUXEMBOURG 15/04/2003 (ANA – V. Demiris)

In statements he made after the meeting, the Greek minister said it was necessary to clarify the way in which the EU would operate in the provision of assistance on the “day after” within the framework of the UN, and said that measures should be taken in support of the effective distribution of humanitarian aid in Iraq.

Yiannitsis said discussions among the EU’s “15” were constructive, and stressed the need for continuing talks since the “situation in Iraq remained fluid due to continuing military operations” in that country. Nevertheless, he clarified that talk about essential decisions on the level of the “15” was still premature, since, as he said, further information was required to enable assessment of the situation in Iraq.

He said that more time was needed to clarify the EU’s position before the informal General Affairs Council scheduled for early in May in Olympia, Greece, and he reiterated that pursuant to the resolutions adopted at the EU Summit on 20-21 March, the UN should play a central role in post-war Iraq.

Yiannitsis said that UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan at the invitation of the Greek EU presidency would attend Wednesday’s Summit in Athens, which would promote the key role that the UN could play in Iraq.

Yiannitsis also said he believed that the initiative taken by France, Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg for the creation of a “reinforced cooperation” nucleus in the field of common European defense did not wish to exclude any member-state and it did not intend to replace NATO activities. He also said that EU institutional bodies would not be involved in the discussions of the four states on 29 April in Brussels.

He said the “15” had discussed weapons of mass destruction and agreed that the political and military aspects of the issue should be reviewed by the “15” so that more concrete proposals can be formulated at the informal general affairs council in May.

With regard to the Western Balkans, Yiannitsis said that the EU’s chief diplomat had briefed the “15” on developments in Serbia which he had visited a few days earlier. The Greek alternate foreign minister noted that the “15” supported the efforts made by Serbia and other Western Balkan states with regard to reforms to combat organized crime.

Finally, he said that at the council there was an exchange of views with Afghanistan’s transitional Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah vis-a-vis developments and the situation in that country.

On his part, EU chief diplomat Javier Solana said that these were the first discussions that the “15” held after the end of military clashes in Iraq, and stressed the need for discussions on the issue with the UN secretary general during his visit in Athens so that a “clearer position on possible EU involvement” can be determined at the upcoming informal general affairs council in May.

Solana said that a clear EU position was premature at the time, since, as he explained, the situation was still fluid. The chief diplomat said that the objective of the EU was the most extensive possible UN involvement which should not be restricted to the distribution of humanitarian aid.

Also speaking after the meeting, Enlargement Commissioner Gunter Verheugen said that “we should not be hasty” and he emphasized the need to forge a common EU position on the “day after” in Iraq. Such position he said was totally depending on whether interested member-states would resolve the issue regarding the formulation of an international legal framework for the functioning of a transitional government, which he said was still unclear at this phase.

Verheugen said that a central UN role in post-war Iraq constituted a priority for the European Commission.

Referring to the EU-Turkey Association Council to be held on Tuesday in Luxembourg, the enlargement commissioner said that the “15” were expected to express their satisfaction over the course of reforms taking place at the neighboring country and to ask for the continuation of such reforms. Furthermore, he forecasted that the message from the discussions at the council would be “positive and encouraging” for Turkey and said he was confident that Ankara’s further approach with regard to EU-Turkish relations would be “careful and wise”.

[06] Papandreou, Powell hold telephone conversation on Middle East, Iraq

Athens, 15/04/2003 (ANA)

Papandreou reiterated to his US counterpart the EU position regarding expeditious publication of the “road map”. On his part, the US official requested his mediation to the Palestinian side in order to expedite the new ministerial council under Abu Mazen, the sources said.

The two men also discussed recent developments in Iraq with emphasis on the humanitarian issue. Papandreou pointed to his US counterpart the need for action on the US side to permit the flow of humanitarian aid by non-governmental organizations already in Iraq and, prompted by recently reported looting at Baghdad’s museum, he stressed the need for the protection of that country’s cultural legacy.

[07] Weston: Some points in Annan plan must be changed in view of EU entry

NICOSIA 15/04/2003 (ANA - G. Leonidas)

Cyprus is among 10 east European and Mediterranean countries set to sign Accession Acts this week in Athens leading to membership in the European Union. However, the internationally recognized Cyprus government controls roughly two-thirds of the island republic, while the remaining northern third remains occupied by Turkish military forces.

Following a meeting with Cypriot Foreign Minister George Iacovou, he clarified that the Annan peace plan for Cyprus will not drastically change, while it remains on the negotiating table.

He also said he will relay a message to Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash that the Annan plan is a one-way street, while calling on the former to respond to the UN chief’s and the UN Security Council’s pleas for his cooperation.

[08] Cyprus government hopes UN resolution to blame Turkish side

Athens, 15/04/2003 (ANA)

Speaking at the Athens’s Foreign Press Centre on Monday, Chrisostomides noted that the draft resolution the Security Council members had agreed on referred to Annan's peace plan

for Cyprus as ''a basis for negotiations'' and said that references in certain paragraphs of the plan do not fully satisfy the government.

''Despite the Hague failure, we are continuing efforts for a settlement of the Cyprus issue,'' he said, adding that ''for the first time a report by the UN Secretary-General attributes responsibility to the Turkish Cypriot side.''

Chrisostomides said the Cyprus government was processing ''a batch of measures'' for Turkish Cypriots who are dynamically opposed to Denktash and which the government considers ''allies in the struggle for the termination of the (Turkish) occupation and the settlement of the Cyprus problem.''

The spokesman clarified that these measures will be announced after April 16 and will concern the sectors of movement, employment and the functioning of state institutions.

Chrisostomides noted that the signing of the Accession Treaty in Athens on Wednesday creates new factors and within the framework of the European Union ''a European solution will be sought for the European problem and a functional solution to the benefit of all the citizens of the Republic of Cyprus.''

The reaction of Turkish Cypriots against Denktash's policies was intensifying, the Cyprus government spokesman said, noting in conclusion that ''the Accession Treaty does not alter in any way the Greek side's desire for a settlement of the Cyprus issue.''

[09] Communist party says Iraq war decided in advance

Athens, 15/04/2003 (ANA)

KKE said in announcement on Monday the war in Iraq had been decided in advance with the purpose of redistributing markets in the Middle East, starting with the territory of Iraq, consolidating and widening the global domination of the United States and to enable it to obtain full control of energy sources in the Arab peninsula, where the biggest oil deposits in the world are to be found.

It also assessed that the war had a direct relation to the continuing recession of the U.S. economy, adding that war planning does not end with Iraq since the United States is already threatening Syria and Iran.

KKE further says the EU wants a role for the UN, the illegal war to be legalized afterwards and distribution to take place under the auspices of the international organization.

The Communist party expressed concern over further developments, stressing that the war against Iraq is shaping yet another more dangerous situation for the issue of peace in the region, for the independence and territorial integrity of countries in the region and a new threatening situation for all of mankind.

KKE underlines that, for these reasons, what is necessary is organizing a strong struggle front, both on national and international level, against the policy of the United States.

[10] EU, US joint declaration on Liberia, Cote d'Ivoire

Athens, 15/04/2003 (ANA)

"The International Community has observed the growing and very disturbing practice of forced recruitment of refugees and other civilians to fuel the civil conflicts in Liberia and Cote d'Ivoire. Many civilians have been forcibly recruited by some actors, involved in the conflicts in both Liberia and Cote d' Ivoire, to fight in these civil conflicts.

"The United States and the European Union deplore the forced recruitment of refugees and other civilians to fuel these destructive, corrosive and senseless conflicts. The forced recruitment of civilians further complicates and exacerbates the unstable situation both in Liberia and in other conflicts in the region.

"Forced recruitment of refugees and other civilians compromises the neutrality, non-combatant status and security of entire communities of refugees and civilians. While many of the recruits may be young men, girls and women also find themselves pressed into servitude. We also note particularly and deplore both forced and voluntary recruitment of children into the conflict.

"Forced recruitment also increases the danger to humanitarian workers in the region, a danger that was made all too obvious with the recent killing of three employees of the Adventist Deployment and Relief Agency (ADRA), and of four Ivorian Red Cross volunteers. The United States and the European Union lament these deaths and repudiate the targeting of humanitarian workers.

"Any governments and rebel factions who use various types of coercion to recruit refugees and other civilians, including children, are acting in violation of international law.

The United States and the European Union:

a) condemn those practices,

b) call on those parties involved in force recruiting in Liberia and Cote d'Ivoire to immediately cease them, and

c) underline the penal responsibilities that such actions entail for those responsible.

The Acceding Countries -- Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, the Slovak Republic and Slovenia -- the Associated Countries, Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey and the EFTA countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, align themselves with this declaration."

[11] Greek current account deficit rises to 2.279 bln euros in Jan-Feb

Athens, 15/04/2003 (ANA)

In its monthly report, the central bank, said that this increase resulted from the widening of the income account deficit and the narrowing of the transfers surplus. These developments were largely offset by a decrease in the trade deficit and a small rise in the services surplus, the report said.

The narrowing of the trade deficit was mainly accounted for by the increase in non-oil export receipts, which more than offset the growth of the non-oil import bill, and by the decline in the net oil import bill. Besides, the small rise in the services surplus stemmed from the increase in net receipts from transport services, while net receipts from travel services decreased and net payments for other services showed a small increase. The income account deficit grew because of the rise in net payments for interest, dividends and profits. Finally, the narrowing of the transfers surplus reflects the fall in net receipts of general government (mainly net receipts from the EU).

In January-February 2003 the current account deficit rose by 369 million euros over the same period in 2002 to reach 2.279 billion.

The non-oil trade deficit declined by 103 million euros in January-February 2003 as a result of a 26 million euros rise in export receipts and a fall (of 77 million euros) in the import bill. At the same time, the net oil import bill grew by 121 million euros. The income account deficit grew by 146 million euros, mainly owing to an increase in net payments for interest, dividends and profits, as well as to a decline in net receipts from fees and wages.

Finally, underlying the narrowing (by 226 million euros) of the transfers balance were mainly a reduction in transfers from the EU and, to a lesser extent, an increase in payments by general government. By contrast, net transfers to the other sectors grew.

Financial account balance: In February 2003, both residents' direct investment abroad and non-residents’ investment in Greece were low. Under portfolio investment, a net inflow of 878 million euros was recorded, mainly reflecting non-residents' investment in Greek bonds, and was partly offset by an outflow for purchases of foreign bonds by residents.

"Other investments'' recorded a small net outflow of 1.198 billion euros was observed, connected mainly to an outflow for repayment of general government loans.

In January-February 2003, a net outflow of 285 million euros was observed under direct investment, mainly associated with residents’ investment abroad in January. During the same period, a considerable net inflow of 2.069 billion euros was recorded under portfolio investment.

At end-February 2003, Greece’s reserve assets came to 7.2 billion euros.

[12] EU ministers to hold informal meeting on consumers May 8

Athens, 15/04/2003 (ANA)

On the agenda for debate will be the creation of a database on consumer issues, and proposals being studied by the EU's executive Commission on administrative cooperation for the implementation of laws, and on a draft directive to combat unfair trade practices.

Yiannokopoulou was addressing a meeting of the European Economic and Social Committee's single market monitoring agency held in the northern port town of Thessaloniki.

Greece is currently the EU's rotating president.

[13] Gov’t unveils plan to upgrade Kaiafas thermal springs

Athens, 15/04/2003 (ANA)

The plan envisages the upgrading of the Kaiafas thermal springs, building two modern spa facilities, two hotels with a total capacity of 600 rooms, an 18-hole golf course, sailing sport facilities and tourist apartments.

The plan would significantly contribute to a wider development of the Ilia prefect by investing at least 150 million euros and creating 600-1,200 new jobs in the region.

Mr Georgakopoulos said that Hellenic Tourist Real Estate SA would announce an international tender for the plan in May.

[14] Greece has lowest proportion of part-time workers in EU

Athens, 15/04/2003 (ANA)

The European Union average is 17.9 percent, said the report, which was released on Monday.

Temporary work in Greece totals 9.0 percent against an EU average of 12.6 percent.

Of part-time and temporary workers, 32.7 percent of men find full-time work after a year and 25.5 percent of women, the survey said.

The self-employed in Greece total 43.8 percent against a 16.6 percent average in the EU, the report added.

[15] Women hardest hit by unemployment, union leader says

Athens, 15/04/2003 (ANA)

Joblessness among women is currently at 14.6 percent and 6.2 percent for men, against a European Union average of 8.7 percent for female unemployment, Polyzogopoulos told a women trade unionists' meeting in the western port city of Patras.

Wages in Greece for women are lower than for men holding the same jobs, reflecting a worldwide problem, Polyzogopoulos said.

Greece ranks 20th worldwide in terms of the social position of women and their rights, he added.

[16] Greek stocks jump 1.26 percent on Monday

Athens, 15/04/2003 (ANA)

The general index rose 1.26 percent to end at 1,624.05 points, with turnover an improved 126.8 million euros.

The Textile, IT Solutions and Wholesale sectors scored the biggest percentage gains of the day (6.75 percent, 4.44 percent, and 3.41 percent, respectively).

The Bank sector was the only one to end lower (-0.17 percent), succumbing to early profit taking.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks rose 1.26 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index rose 0.89 percent and the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index jumped 3.75 percent.

Broadly, advancers led decliners by 297 to 38 with another 29 issues unchanged.

Derivatives Market Close: Turnover at 88.4 mln euros Monday

Equity Index Futures: