Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 03-07-15

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

CONTENTS

[01] FinMin unveils privatization plans

[02] Gov’t expects to raise 3.0 bln euros from stake offers

[03] FM Papandreou discusses bilateral relations, Cyprus with Turkish counterpart

[04] Greece says Denktash's proposal is maneuver

[05] PM to receive visiting Italian president this week

[06] Italian president to carry out three-day visit to Athens

[07] Defense minister meets with FYROM counterpart in Athens

[08] Deputy FM Loverdos discusses visit to Sarajevo with Bosnian charge d’Affaires

[09] Main opposition rules out dialogue on electoral law reform

[10] PM to reinstate ousted MP Chrysanthakopoulos, sources say

[11] Deputy FM discusses development cooperation issues with Chinese ambassador

[12] Greek employment lags behind EU average rates, report says

[13] Sanyo Hellas Holdings postpones share capital increase plan

[14] Cosmote says customer base sharply up in 2nd quarter

[15] Labor confederation condemns redundancies at cement maker

[16] OTE Plc plans to issue bond

[17] Greek stocks jump 3.25 percent on Monday

[18] Premier Simitis inaugurates Auditing Council building

[19] Gov't: Citizens Service Centers to provide additional services

[20] Defense witnesses for Yiannis Serifis testify in N17 trial

[21] Deputy FM praises GSGA hospitality programs for Greeks abroad

[22] Culture minister inspects projects in Patra in light of Cultural Capital year

[23] Israeli police chief discusses int'l police cooperation with Greek minister

[24] Greece cited by European Commission for 'public procurement discrepancies'

[25] ''Axis 10'' initiative takes off from Thessaloniki on Monday

[26] Cyprus House ratifies Accession Treaty unanimously

[27] EU Commission calls for early resumption of UN talks on Cyprus

[28] President to reply to Annan on Denktash's letter

[01] FinMin unveils privatization plans

Athens 15/07/03 (ANA)

Mr Christodoulakis also urged for the market to be left outside political harassment and to be left alone to function on their own devices.

The Greek minister, speaking to reporters, said that the government's privatization program has raised 1.408 billion euros so far, a sum expected to total to 1.847 billion euros by the end of August with the sale of a 33.4 percent equity stake in Hellenic Stock Exchanges, the flotation of a 25 percent equity stake in Piraeus Port Organization and the sale of a lottery license.

Mr Christodoulakis said that the government would complete on Tuesday the transfer of a 33.4 percent equity stake in Hellenic Stock Exchanges to seven Greek banks and that the state would put 89 million euros in its coffers.

He also announced a procedure to liquidate a development investment company to use its reserves, totalling 23 million euros, to fund a New Economy Fund

Mr Christodoulakis said that the government expected to raise more than 3.0 billion euros from the sale of its equity holdings and that a proceedings would hold to reduce the country's public debt.

"Our ideological and political command is to boost employment and to combat unemployment," Mr Christodoulakis stressed.

[02] Govt expects to raise 3.0 bln euros from stake offers

Athens 15/07/03 (ANA)

A joint announcement by Economy and Finance Minister Nikos Christodoulakis, Development Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos and Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos, said that OPAP's third flotation was 6.5 times oversubscribed with a price range of 8.50 to 9.70 euros. The government expects to put in its coffers more than 700 million euros from OPAP's latest public offering, and to raise around three billion euros from the sale of equity stakes in other public enterprises in the next few months.

The government expects to complete the sale of a 34 percent equity stake in Hellenic Stock Exchanges, the operator of Athens Stock Exchange, to seven Greek banks, and public offerings in Piraeus Port Organization, Public Gas Enterprise, Public Power Corporation, Hellenic Post, Athens Water and Post Savings Bank.

[03] FM Papandreou discusses bilateral relations, Cyprus with Turkish counterpart

ISTANBUL 15/07/03 (ANA - A. Kourkoulas)

Papandreou added that the reforms are not only necessitated by the need of convergence with the European Union, but have been adopted by Turkish society and the Turkish government.

The Greek foreign minister further said he and Gul discussed developments in Cyprus, issues concerning bilateral relations and developments in Iraq.

Foreign Minister George Papandreou on Monday gave a joint lecture with former Turkish foreign minister Ismail Cem on the Cyprus issue at Istanbul's Bilgi University.

Papandreou referred to the course of Greek-Turkish relations over the past three years and the experience of his cooperation with former Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem in particular.

He explained that the Greek government is adopting a new policy towards Turkey, one encouraging convergence with the EU.

Papandreou outlined the outcome of this policy and replied to questions by students participating in the Bilgi University's summer program, which is dedicated to history and is being attended by Turkish and Greek students.

Papandreou has been in the city since Sunday, while this morning he called on Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos at Fanar.

On Sunday night, the Greek minister had a meeting and later lunched with Cem, who is credited alongside Papandreou with the considerable improvement in relations between their two countries through so-called 'earthquake diplomacy' after devastating quakes that hit the two countries within weeks of each other in 1999 helped bring Greeks and Turks closer together.

[04] Greece says Denktash's proposal is maneuver

Athens 15/07/03 (ANA)

Commenting on a proposal by Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash to reopen the airport of Nicosia, Government Spokesman Christos Protopapas in his daily briefing said ''it is clear that the proposal is a maneuver.''

''These maneuvers do not convince anybody any more,'' Protopapas said, adding that Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots should enter negotiations to resolve the Cyprus issue ''on the basis of UN proposals''.

Denktash called on Friday for the reopening of Nicosia's airport in a fresh attempt to seize the initiative after he was blamed for the failure of a UN reunification bid for Cyprus.

Denktash said he had asked UN chief Kofi Annan to revive confidence-building measures first proposed a decade ago to the Greek Cypriots, also including the reopening of the coastal resort of Varosha, which has become a ghost town

[05] PM to receive visiting Italian president this week

Athens 15/07/03 (ANA)

The premier started the week on Monday by inaugurating the new Auditing Council building with Justice Minister Philippos Petsalnikos, followed by a meeting at 13:30 with the head of ruling PASOK MEPs George Katiforis and a meeting with Health Minister Costas Stefanis at 14:15.

On Tuesday morning, Simitis will attend a meeting between Development Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos and deputy development ministers Kimon Koulouris and Dimitris Georgakopoulos with newly-elected PASOK secretary Mihalis Chrysohoidis, which will seek to coordinate action by the government and party on current issues.

At noon on Tuesday, meanwhile, the prime minister will meet central bank governor Nikos Garganas.

On Thursday, Simitis will start the day by meeting Athens super-prefecture head Fofi Gennimata in the morning, followed by Interior Minister Costas Skandalidis at 11:00. At noon he will chair the regular inner cabinet meeting, which will be attended by Chrysohoidis, Parliament Speaker Apostolos Kaklamanis, Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos, Protopapas and deputy press minister Telemahos Hytiris. A luncheon and speech by the prime minister will follow.

On Friday, the prime minister is to meet Education Minister Petros Efthymiou at 10:30 , Kaklamanis and Skandalidis at 11:30 to discuss the additional measures relating to 'statement of means' declarations. AT 13:00, Simitis is to meet Greek European Commission Anna Diamantopoulou, followed by state television ERT president Angelos Stagos.

[06] Italian president to carry out three-day visit to Athens

Athens 15/07/03 (ANA)

According to an announcement, Ciampi will be received by President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos at the presidential mansion shortly after his arrival on Tuesday afternoon, after which he will attend an official dinner in his honor hosted by Stephanopoulos.

On Wednesday, the Italian president will meet Parliament Speaker Apostolos Kaklamanis, who will present him with the Greek Parliament's Gold Medal.

Afterward he will meet Prime Minister Costas Simitis and attend a working luncheon at the prime minister's mansion, while on Wednesday afternoon he is scheduled to meet main opposition New Democracy leader Costas Karamanlis, the leaders of the smaller opposition parties and Athens Mayor Dora Bakoyianni.

[07] Defense minister meets with FYROM counterpart in Athens

Athens 15/07/03 (ANA)

Coming out of the meeting, the Greek minister said Greece, an ardent supporter of NATO's enlargement, was championing for applicants Albania and FYROM, adding that the assistance of Turkey, Italy and Croatia would be sought toward that effort.

With regard to the controversy created over FYROM's name, Papantoniou said there was still some distance between the negotiating positions of the two sides, but he believed that a common point could be found through additional efforts toward a settlement.

''A fair settlement would contribute to FYROM's membership in Euro-atlantic structures'', he said, adding that, in his view, a solution was feasible with the new administration of the neighboring country.

Moreover, Papantoniou said that it was agreed that the Greek Army General Staff would initiate procedures for the training of FYROM special services officers, and that there would be an increase in the number of FYROM students at Greek armed forces production schools.

Furthermore, it was agreed that Greek defense companies would assist in the reconstruction of the defense industry in FYROM, which Buckovski said was in ''very bad economic state''.

Following the land-locked former Yugoslav republic's declaration of independence in the early 1990s, Athens continues to strenuously object to the use of the name Macedonia, citing historical reasons and the fact that the republic shares a border with a major northern Greek province with the same name. Past concerns also centered on irredentist language in FYROMs constitution. However, the name issue today is the only outstanding Greek-FYROM difference, as relations have reached a more-or-less excellent level since the two signed an interim agreement in September 1995 to negotiate a final settlement.

Regarding the mission of the European Unions Rapid Reaction Force contingent in FYROM since mid-March, Papantoniou said it would come to an end at some point.

Codenamed ''Concordia'', the EU's 350-strong maiden military operation on 31 March replaced a NATO peace-keeping mission deployed in FYROM in August 2001 following the signing of the Ohrid accord that ended clashes between Albanian rebels and government security forces.

In late June, Skopje said ''Concordia'' would be the last foreign military presence in the country, which in practice means that the mandate of the EU mission will not be renewed past the December 15 deadline.

Finally, Papantoniou called on the neighboring country to proceed with necessary reforms to fully incorporate minorities within its system, to ensure the integrity and cohesion of FYROM.

[08] Deputy FM Loverdos discusses visit to Sarajevo with Bosnian charge dAffaires

Athens 15/07/03 (ANA)

The course of the Balkan Program in this country was discussed, with emphasis on the financing of the reconstruction of the Common Institutions Building in Sarajevo.

[09] Main opposition rules out dialogue on electoral law reform

Athens 15/07/03 (ANA)

Speaking at a press conference at the Foreign Press Association, Karamanlis also repeated that he did not trust the government to carry out dialogue on election law reform and noted that such a debate might take place after the next elections, while pointing out that no electoral system was absolutely fair and just.

He reiterated a call for early elections, saying that the country could not afford to wait 'a single day' nor an extended election run-up, and once more called for a government bill lifting the confidentiality of MPs' stock market codes.

He said his party would table such a bill in Parliament if the government did not and repeated a call for a parliamentary investigation into the Greek bourse.

If the government did not legislate for opening MP stock market codes, he added, ND did not object to the opening of the codes of its own MPs and party members.

ND's leader appeared to distance himself, however, from statements made earlier by ND honorary president Constantine Mitsotakis, who said that elections might take place in September if President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos should resign.

According to Karamanlis, the veteran politician and former prime minister was giving ''a technical description of how early election might arise''.

''I'd be the last person to try and suggest to the president of the Republic what he should do,'' Karamanlis added.

With respect to Greek-Turkish relations, meanwhile, ND's leader promised 'continuity' in Greek foreign policy and said his party favored normalizing relations, though noting that ''it takes two to tango''.

Karamanlis also supported including the European Union's Christian traditions in the new European Constitution, though clarifying that this should not become a condition for excluding countries where the majority were Muslim.

On relations with the United States, Karamanlis denied the existence of 'structural anti-Americanism' in Greece and accused PASOK of following a hypocritical policy during the Iraq crisis, with the government appearing at turns pro-European and pro-Atlantic, even as the party machinery was whipping up ''hysteria and fanaticism into anti-Americanism''.

He said his own party would avoid both extremes and stressed that ''channels of communication and sincere cooperation with the U.S.'' had to remain open.

Finally, Karamanlis announced that he was at the prime minister's disposal for a televised debate.

Government spokesman: Responding to Karamanlis' statements, government spokesman Christos Protopapas said that ND's leader had said ''nothing new'' and had made no proposals or comments about the problems of the Greek people.

''With this stance, Mr. Karamanlis has confirmed our position that he is trying to undermine the Greek economy,'' Protopapas said.

In statements earlier on Monday, Protopapas had accused Karamanlis of deliberately attempting to undermine a climate of increased stability and optimism over the economy triggered by "recent developments".

He also slammed the comments made by Mitsotakis as ''very unfortunate'' and said they ''cultivated a climate of political abnormality and instability''.

Regarding ND's refusal to discuss changes to the electoral law, Protopapas said the government was prepared to talk with the main opposition for a new electoral system that would go into effect from 2008 and accused Karamanlis of reacting as an ''extreme conservative that refuses all change''.

[10] PM to reinstate ousted MP Chrysanthakopoulos, sources say

Athens 15/07/03 (ANA)

Simitis had ordered Chrysanthakopoulos' expulsion from the party's Parliamentary Group in January 2002 after the MP was shown gambling on an illegal electronic slot machine on nationwide television.

In February, a Piraeus first-instance court ruled in favor of Chrysanthakopoulos in his civil suit against the television station and the reporters involved, finding that their use of hidden video cameras had been illegal, and awarded him compensation for moral damages.

[11] Deputy FM discusses development cooperation issues with Chinese ambassador

Athens 15/07/03 (ANA)

Tang once again expressed the Chinese government's appreciation for the sending by Greece of humanitarian aid worth 200,000 euros to China to help tackle problems caused by the devastating earthquake, measuring 6.8 points on the Richter scale, which struck regions in the northwest of the country last February.

Also discussed was the participation of Greek businessmen in the 11th Food-Hotel China exhibition due to take place in Shanghai in September, while Tang reassured that there is no cause for concern regarding the SARS virus.

Loverdos provided a briefing on all actions he has taken to ensure good organizing for the Greek participation such as, among others, addressing letters to businessmen interested and close cooperation with the Export Promotion Organization.

Preparations for the 8th Joint Interministerial Committee between the two countries, to be held in Athens in October this year, were also discussed.

[12] Greek employment lags behind EU average rates, report says

Athens 15/07/03 (ANA)

The EU executive's report on Greece said that the country presented a relatively low employment rate, particularly among women and young people, while the average Greek worker has a relatively lower education level compared with other European workers and that part-time employment was significantly limited in Greece.

The percentage of economically active men in the population totalled 71.7 percent, while for women was 42.7 percent, compared with 72.9 percent and 55.5 percent in the EU average, the report said.

The Commission said that 47.3 percent of Greek workers have completed basic education, aged 25-64 years, another 35.1 percent have higher education and 17.6 percent have university diplomas.

The average rates in the EU were 35.4 percent, 42.9 percent and 21.8 percent, respectively.

The report said that Greece was facing problems with the employment of young people aged 15-24, with the country reporting that economically active employment accounting for 27 percent in this category of the population, down from an EU average rate of 40.5 percent.

The EU report said that part time employment accounted for 4.5 percent of the economically active population, sharply down from an 18.2 percent average in the EU.

Greece also reported a significantly higher rate of farm population, accounting for 15.8 percent of economically active population, compared with a 4.0 percent average rate in the EU.

The manufacturing sector employed 22.5 percent of the workforce in Greece, down from 28.2 percent in the EU, while the services' sector employed 61.7 percent, from 67.8 percent in the EU.

Salary earners accounted for 60.2 percent of total economically active population in Greece, sharply off compared with a 84.4 percent average rate in the EU.

[13] Sanyo Hellas Holdings postpones share capital increase plan

Athens 15/07/03 (ANA)

Its shareholders also agreed to postpone a decision on a share capital increase plan ahead of continuing talks to find a strategic investor.

[14] Cosmote says customer base sharply up in 2nd quarter

Athens 15/07/03 (ANA)

Cosmote said its subsidiary in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Cosmofon, reported that it attracted more than 20,000 customers in the first three weeks of operation.

[15] Labor confederation condemns redundancies at cement maker

Athens 15/07/03 (ANA)

''The redundancies are arbitrary and unwarranted,'' the GSEE, which represents around 800,000 workers, said in a statement.

The union umbrella group said it believed that fresh redundancies were likely at the group, especially in core administration.

It also claimed that the redundancies breached management pledges of job retention.

[16] OTE Plc plans to issue bond

Athens 15/07/03 (ANA)

OTE Plc has asked a series of banks to handle the issue. The banks are Citigroup, Credit Suisse First Boston, Deutsche Bank, Morgan Stanley and National Bank of Greece, the parent company said in a statement.

[17] Greek stocks jump 3.25 percent on Monday

Athens 15/07/03 (ANA)

The general index soared 3.25 percent to end at 2,041.99 points, with turnover an improved 224 million euros.

The Publication sector was the only one to end lower (0.36 percent), while the Construction (4.47 percent), Banks (3.79 percent), Wholesale (3.42 percent) and Telecommunications (3.15 percent) sectors scored the biggest percentage gains of the day.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks rose 3.75 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index ended 1.64 percent higher, the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index ended 3.21 percent up and the FTSE/ASE 140 index rose 3.33 percent.

OPAP's shares ended 5.01 percent higher after hitting an intra-day high of 11.2 percent.

Broadly, advancers led decliners by 317 to 37 with another 14 issues unchanged.

Derivatives Market Close: Turnover at 104.2 mln euros Monday

Equity Index Futures: