Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 03-11-06

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

CONTENTS

[01] EU warns Turkey of serious problems, if no Cyprus settlement reached

[02] US State Department agrees solution for Cyprus must be found before May 1, 2004

[03] Visiting Bulgarian president meets PM, President of Republic

[04] Shimon Peres in Greece this week

[05] Phanar sees major crisis emerging in Church relations, blames Archbishop

[06] Orthodoxy Assembly secretary general calls for peace in Church sector

[07] Deputy FM holds talks with Chinese foreign ministry delegation

[08] Deputy FM Magriotis receives president of Kyrgyzstan’s Lower House

[09] State Department spokesman says no US military forces at Athens Olympic Games

[10] DEKO rates rises to be kept below inflation in 2004

[11] Gov't on cancelled Solbes-Christodoulakis meeting

[12] Greek mutual funds' assets rise slightly in October

[13] Greek tourism authorities to launch promotion in China

[14] Jobless women more than double unemployed men, ministry says

[15] Coalition leader demands gov't scrap 'special accounts'

[16] International Polis 2003 exhibition to be held in Thessaloniki

[17] Greek stocks end flat on Wednesday

[18] Bulgarian President Parvanov briefed on 2004 Games preparations

[19] European Commission promoting equal treatment for men and women outside work

[20] Defenses for Kondylis, Serifis, Papanastasiou present final arguments

[21] Exhibition on Tennessee Williams this month at HEU

[22] Ombudsman's office draft report on mobile telephony antennas

[23] Swedish ambassador visits prefect of Irakleio

[24] Cyprus Government satisfied with Commission reports on Cyprus and Turkey

[25] Cyprus Government says Denktash letter to UN a 'repetition'

[01] EU warns Turkey of serious problems, if no Cyprus settlement reached

The European Commission has warned Ankara that the absence of a political settlement in Cyprus could spell out serious trouble in Turkey's EU aspirations.

In a report Wednesday on Turkey's progress in meeting the membership criteria, the Commission said it considers that ''Turkey does not yet fully meet the Copenhagen political criteria'' and expressed concern at Turkey's failure to execute many judgments of the European Court of Human Rights.

The report, entitled Strategy Paper and Report of the EU Commission on the progress towards accession by Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey, noted that Turkey's alignment with the acquis has progressed in most areas but remains at an early stage for many chapters.

''The Commission recalls that efforts to resolve the Cyprus problem form part of the enhanced dialogue between the European Union and Turkey,'' the report said. It reiterated the Council's view that Turkey, together with all parties concerned, ''has a decisive interest in providing determined support for efforts towards a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem.''

''The Commission considers that there are favorable conditions for the two communities to reach a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem before Cyprus' accession to the EU on 1 May 2004,'' it added.

''The absence of a settlement could become a serious obstacle to Turkey's EU aspirations,'' it warned. The report recalled the EU Council conclusions in Copenhagen and Thessaloniki, it noted that Turkey has taken important steps to ensure effective implementation of the political criteria.

''A clear framework for guaranteeing political, civil, economic, social and cultural rights is not fully established, and more efforts are needed to enhance the coherence of legal provisions and practice,'' the report said.

The Commission recommended that particular attention is paid to the exercise of fundamental freedoms, ''further alignment of civil-military relations with European practice and the situation in the South east.''

It called on Turkey to strengthen the implementation of reforms and noted that responsibility for enforcing reformed legislation related to fundamental freedoms and respect of European Court judgments lies largely with the judges and prosecutors.

''It is of great concern that Turkey has not executed many judgments of the European Court of Human Rights by means of ensuring payment of just satisfaction or reversing decisions made in contravention of the Court.''

With regard to Turkey's alignment with the acquis, the Commission said that further legislative work is required in all areas and Turkey should focus on implementing its National Program for the adoption of the acquis.

''In many fields implementation is weak,'' it said, adding however that alignment has progressed in most areas. It said that Cyprus, peaceful settlement of disputes and human rights are issues discussed between the EU and Turkey as part of the enhanced political dialogue.

The report also calls on Turkey to take a constructive stance concerning the re-opening of the Halki School of Theology and to end the discriminatory handling of minorities.

Special mention was made to the limitations that were seen in the hiring of teachers and the supply of educational materials in Greek schools.

The same report also noted the development of Greek-Turkish relations, which ''continue to develop in a positive way with the two governments undertaking public commitments in the highest level for the continuation of the rapprochement''.

EU commissioner says no solution for Cyprus a serious obstacle for Turkey: Turkey's European Union accession course and its connection with a solution to the issue of Cyprus before May 1, 2004, when Cyprus will formally become an EU member-state, dominated the presentation of assessment reports for candidate countries at the European Parliament here on Wednesday.

The EU commissioner responsible for enlargement, Gunter Verheugen, sent a ''clear message'', as he said, to the Turkish government that failure in solving the Cyprus issue by the EU's enlargement date will be considered a ''serious obstacle'' in promoting its candidacy.

''It is not a legal precondition,'' he said, adding that ''it is a major political issue.''

Referring to Cyprus, he also said ''it is not possible for a member-state of the EU to be protected by UN forces'' and stressed ''we do not deserve such a thing.''

Verheugen further said that at the end of 2004 the Commission will prepare Turkey's assessment report on its course throughout the entire period of time since the Helsinki summit in 1999 onwards, on determining a date for the beginning of negotiations, when all the steps it will have taken in its approach to Europe will be taken into consideration.

He also spoke of ''indiscretion'', letting it be understood that he was pressured by Turkey to change the report's text at the point linking its accession course with a solution to the Cyprus issue.

Verheugen provided the Commission's undivided support for the Turkish government to enable it to handle problems preventing it from speeding up reforms and approaching the EU.

Replying to a question by Germany's SPD Eurodeputy Mathilde Rothe on ''elections'' in Turkish-occupied northern Cyprus in December, Verheugen underlined that the EU does not recognize the ''state'' of Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash and shared her anxiety over efforts for the manipulation of Turkish Cypriot public opinion, calling on the European Parliament to monitor the situation.

European Commission President Romano Prodi expressed his conviction that the Cyprus issue can be resolved by May 1, 2004, stressing that he ''hopes and it is for Turkey's interest as well for Cyprus to join the EU united'', while underlining that the Commission intends to offer its help in this direction.

[02] US State Department agrees solution for Cyprus must be found before May 1, 2004

WASHINGTON 6/11/2003 (ANA/T. Ellis)

However, it avoided to accept publicly the linking of a solution to the problem to the securing of a date for the beginning of Turkey's accession negotiations which is made clear in the EU's report.

''Our view is that we agree with the formulation made in the Commission's report which says that a solution must be found to the Cyprus issue based on the plan of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan by May 1 next year,'' said State Department spokesman Adam Ereli who, asked to comment on the indirect linking of a solution to the start to negotiations, added that ''apart from this I have nothing more to say.''

Ereli termed the Commission’s report ''positive and objective'' and congratulated Turkey for progress it has achieved towards fulfilling criteria on the beginning of accession negotiations, saying ''we steadfastly support the European expectations of Turkey and particularly its effort to secure a date for the beginning of accession negotiations in December 2004. We congratulate Turkey and we encourage it to continue to implement the reforms required for it to fulfill the criteria.''

The spokesman also referred to the recent tour of the region by State Department special coordinator Tom Weston, saying it ''went well'' and mentioned that the US official handling the Cyprus issue returned optimistic on prospects appearing to enable new mobility towards a solution to the problem, following ''elections'' to take place in Turkish-occupied northern Cyprus on December 14.

Ereli disclosed Weston's intention to return to the region in a few weeks to continue, as he said, to promote the positions of the US to all interested parties.

[03] Visiting Bulgarian president meets PM, President of Republic

Athens, 6/11/2003 (ANA)

Greece firmly supports Bulgaria's entry in Euro-Atlantic institutions, Stephanopoulos said after his meeting with Parvanov.

Parvanov reiterated his country's commitment to completing the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline and they also discussed the opening of new crossing points on the Greek-Bulgarian border.

The Bulgarian president noted that the six months of the Greek European Union presidency had had very positive results for the Balkan region.

Commenting on Athens' support for his country's efforts to boost its European prospects, Parvanov said this was like ''a following wind in Bulgaria's sails on the road toward Brussels''.

In an equally friendly meeting with the prime minister afterward, Parvanov and Simitis reconfirmed their desire for closer economic ties and to open new border-crossings on their shared borders.

With regard to the Burgas-Alexandroupolis pipeline, Simitis said this would be discussed later on Wednesday in a meeting between ministers on both sides.

Answering questions about the operation of the nuclear power plant in Kozloduy, Parvanov said the first and second reactions had been shut down and that the other two would be inspected by the EU.

Simitis was also asked to comment on a progress report about Turkey released in Brussels on Wednesday, in which the EU has inserted a strong statement about the need for a solution to the Cyprus issue and for Turkey to improve relations with neighboring countries.

''We are monitoring Turkey's progress and we will insist that though Turkey has made some important steps toward the acquis communautaire, this alone is not enough, it must also implement these legislative measures,'' Simitis said.

President hosts dinner for Parvanov, speaks of high level of bilateral relations: President Kostis Stephanopoulos on Wednesday said relations between Greece and Bulgaria have progressed to a high level of development and stability, while they are continuing to advance.

Stephanopoulos, speaking during a dinner he hosted for his visiting Bulgarian counterpart Georgi Parvanov, stressed that ''relations between Greece and Bulgaria have achieved a particularly high level of development and stability and are moving on at a speedy rate to new forms of cooperation, new forms that are offered by the wide framework of the European and Euro-Atlantic structures''.

He noted that Greece was one of the first countries to realize the significance of Bulgaria's entry into NATO for the consolidation of peace and security in the region and thus supported Bulgaria's bid to join the organization with all the powers at its disposal.

Stephanopoulos reassured Parvanov that Greece will continue to stand by Bulgaria, since it believes that the accession of that country to NATO and the European Union is in the interest of Greece, as well as of the Balkans.

''This policy of ours strengthens the hope that the accession of Bulgaria to the EU and NATO will become a strong motive for the rest of the region's countries to abandon the practices of the past forever and to focus their efforts on building a new Europe,'' he said.

He noted the overwhelming pace of the development of relations in the economic and trade sectors between the two countries, adding that the construction of the Burgas-Alexandroupoli pipeline will delineate a secure and beneficial byway for petrol and will upgrade the strategic relation of the two countries.

Concluding, Stephanopoulos noted his certainty that the two countries will maintain in the future their common views and will cooperate closely to secure international law, the implementation of international treaties and the promotion of a central role for the United Nations in its efforts for peace and security in the world.

Bulgarian President meets with Greek opposition leaders: Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov on Wednesday met with main opposition New Democracy (ND) leader Costas Karamanlis, Communist Party of Greece (KKE) leader Aleka Papariga and Coalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology (Synaspismos) leader Nikos Constantopoulos.

The Bulgarian president and the leaders of the Greek parliamentary opposition leaders discussed bilateral relations and the neighboring country's prospects concerning its course to the EU.

[04] Shimon Peres in Greece this week

Athens, 6/11/2003 (ANA)

Peres arrives in Athens on Friday for meetings with Foreign Minister George Papandreou and main opposition New Democracy (ND) leader Costas Karamanlis.

The northern Greek port city was the home to the largest Sephardic Jewish community in the world prior to the Second World War.

[05] Phanar sees major crisis emerging in Church relations, blames Archbishop

ISTANBUL 6/11/2003 (ANA - A. Kourkoulas)

It blamed the crisis on attempts by the head of the Greek Church, Archbishop Christodoulos, to pave the way for changes to the existing ecclesiastical status quo in Greece.

After an emergency meeting to discuss Tuesday's speech by Christodoulos before the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece, the Patriarchate's Holy Synod on Wednesday unanimously agreed that Christodoulos' statements had indirectly but unmistakably questioned the validity of a 1928 Canonical Act and of the existing ecclesiastical regime in Greece, which was partly based upon it.

''In this way, and despite the assurances to the contrary, he is paving the way for regime changes, with the strong support of some prelates attending yesterday's meeting...'' the announcement said.

The Ecumenical Patriarchate was obliged to insist once more on the strict implementation of the 1928 Act, which the Archbishop had himself described as 'a most holy and fair ecclesiastical statutes document', the announcement added.

The extraordinary session opened by Christodoulos on Tuesday is to continue until Thursday and will discuss relations with the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

The crisis between the two churches erupted a few months ago when the Ecumenical Patriarchate demanded to view and approve a list of candidates for the vacant seat of the Thessaloniki metropolitan.

This was the first time the Patriarchate had made such a request since it “temporarily” shifted administrative control of the so-called “New Territories” to the Greek Church with the Act of 1928. The “New Territories” are the bishoprics in northern Greece and the eastern Aegean islands liberated by Greece from 1912 to 1918.

Speaking in Athens on Tuesday, Christodoulos said that the status quo was the one that had been ''formulated'' over the years and that the Church of Greece would be breaking subsequent laws if it sent a list to Phanar, thus making the elections of new bishops invalid.

Greek Church Holy Synod continues discussion on relations with Phanar: The Holy Synod of the Church of Greece on Wednesday continued its extraordinary three-day session, due to end on Thursday, discussing issues concerning its relations with the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

The agenda includes four main issues: the continuation of the dialogue with the Ecumenical Patriarchate; the commitment that the Patriarch's name will be noted in the bishoprics of Northern Greece; the recognition of the Patriarchate's spiritual jurisdiction over the bishoprics of Northern Greece and the possibility of sending a list of candidate prelates for vacated seats of bishoprics in Northern Greece.

Following Tuesday's address by Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Christodoulos and other bishops on the problems that have surfaced lately between the mother and daughter churches, Bishop of Philippi Prokopios' address was read to the plenum of the Holy Synod.

His letter to the Synod entitled ''The status of the Church of Greece. The 5th Term of the Patriarchal and Synodical Act of 1928''.

In his letter, Prokopios supports that the ''dispatch of the list for approval, as a contractual obligation of the two parties of the agreement, is not an undue burden for the Church of Greece, which in any case is obliged to accept the proposals and the approved list of the Ecumenical Patriarchate''.

''Such an obligation could have the character of ratification. Thus guided by the light of the Orthodox Ecclesiastic Literature and in the spirit of canonical tradition we may push forward with clarity and peace to face in common details and secondary issues, having first concluded our obligation desired by our Mother Church, which was set by the Patriarchal and Synodical Act,'' Prokopios said.

Following the conclusion of the letter's reading, Bishop of Kaisariani Daniel addressed the Synod on the same issue as Prokopios, but was forced to forego his conclusion as the session came to a close and he will conclude on Thursday.

Before the session was concluded, Bishop of Zakynthos Chrysostomos left the room in protest at not having in writing the positions of the speakers as it is mandate, also complaining that such papers are given to journalists first and then to bishops.

Relations between mother and daughter churches became strained over the past few months as the Istanbul-based Ecumenical Patriarchate demanded from the Church of Greece the submission of a list of candidates for approval to fill the vacant Metropolitan of Thessaloniki ecclesiastical throne.

This is the first time the venerable Patriarchate has made such a request since it “temporarily” shifted administrative control of the so-called “New Territories” to the Greek Church with a Canonical Act in 1928. “New Territories” refer to bishoprics in northern Greece and the eastern Aegean islands liberated by Greece from 1912 to 1918.

Earlier in the day, the Patriarchate issued a statement warning that a major crisis with ''extremely serious consequences'' was emerging in relations between Phanar and the Autocephalus Church of Greece.

It blamed the crisis on attempts by the head of the Greek Church, Archbishop Christodoulos, to pave the way for changes in the existing ecclesiastical status quo in Greece.

In response, speaking to journalists, Bishop of Sparta Efstathios declined any comment.

In a related development, also responding to questions by journalists concerning these church problems, Greek government spokesman Christos Protopapas said that ''we are following the developments. Many elements are not pleasant, but we hope that a solution will be found through dialogue, which will be developed within the Church''.

''The balance threatening to be upset, between the autocephalous Church of Greece and its special relation with the Patriarchate, should be safeguarded,'' he said, stressing that intervention by third parties should be avoided since, as he said, ''historically the interventions of the state lead to extreme situations''.

[06] Orthodoxy Assembly secretary general calls for peace in Church sector

NEW YORK 6/11/2003 (ANA/P. Panagiotou)

Replying to a question by the Athens News Agency (ANA) on the ongoing crisis between the Greek Church and the Istanbul-based Ecumenical Patriarchate, Papathemelis said ''the Assembly of Orthodox Deputies does not wish to get involved in ecclesiastical disputes, but my position is that we should not fan the flames.''

Papathemelis further said ''we are watching the upsurge in tension with concern and we hope common logic and the feeling of measure and of Christian speech will prevail. The problem is not difficult to solve. It is one of the problems that can be resolved, provided there is goodwill. Since it is also a national problem, the nation does not have the luxury of splits.''

[07] Deputy FM holds talks with Chinese foreign ministry delegation

Athens, 6/11/2003 (ANA)

Li Bingcai briefed Magriotis on his country's policy on the issue of Taiwan, which is summed up in one phrase ''one country two systems.''

He also underlined the significance the peaceful policy followed by China has for the wider region.

Magriotis referred to the great importance of the 2004 Olympic Games for Greece, saying that a small country such as Greece and a great one such as China, both having a great history and civilization, have undertaken to host the Olympic Games in 2004 and 2008 respectively. He also briefed Li Bingcai on developments in Greek-Turkish relations and on the course of the Cyprus issue.

The deputy foreign minister further referred to the success of the UN General Assembly's unanimous ratification of the Olympic Truce and pointed out to Li Bingcai that Greece supported Shanghai's candidacy for the 2010 EXPO and thanked him for his statement that China will support the candidacy of the Greek city of Thessaloniki for the 2008 EXPO.

Both sides agreed that relations between the two countries are at a very good level.

[08] Deputy FM Magriotis receives president of Kyrgyzstan’s Lower House

Athens, 6/11/2003 (ANA)

The parliamentarians from Kyrgyzstan referred during the discussion to their traditionally friendly relations with Greece which, as they said, date back to the era of Alexander the Great.

On his part, Magriotis focused on the great possibilities of further developing relations between the two countries, as well as relations between Kyrgyzstan and the European Union.

[09] State Department spokesman says no US military forces at Athens Olympic Games

WASHINGTON 6/11/2003 (ANA - T. Ellis)

The US official added, however, that as is the case at every international sports event and the Olympic Games in particular, specific measures are taken which are aimed at strengthening security.

He reiterated that the US government has ''the conviction that Greece has the political will and the means to organize safe and successful Olympic Games'' and in this framework he stressed that the US is cooperating closely with the Greek government for the common aim to be achieved.

[10] DEKO rates rises to be kept below inflation in 2004

Athens, 6/11/2003 (ANA)

That is the message delivered to public utility heads during a meeting with Economy and Finance Minister Nikos Christodoulakis on Wednesday.

The meeting agreed to limit promotion spending by public utilities and in particular all those presenting deficits and to encourage synergies between public sector enterprises.

Mr Christodoulakis stressed that public utilities and corporations adhered to the government's incomes policy but urged for more efforts as he noted that wage costs in public enterprises rose by 5.5 percent in 2002 while employment rose by 1.0 percent over the same period.

Referring to moves aimed to encourage synergies between DEKO enterprises the Greek minister said that the government planned to take initiatives for closer cooperation between the National Tourism Organization and the Export Promotion Organization.

The meeting also agreed that public utilities and corporations contain their borrowing to 2003 levels next year.

Public sector enterprises are expected to invest a total of 1.827 billion euros this year, while borrowing is expected to reach 1.513 billion euros.

Mr Christodoulakis agreed to meet with DEKO heads in December 10 to finalize public sector enterprises' rates policy for next year.

The Greek minister reiterated that this year's budget was progressing as planned, with revenues rising by 5.5 percent in the first 10 months of the year, while he forecast that the country's budget deficit would total 1.4 percent of Gross Domestic Product in 2003.

[11] Gov't on cancelled Solbes-Christodoulakis meeting

Athens, 6/11/2003 (ANA)

Government spokesman Christos Protopapas, speaking at his regular press briefing, merely added that both men met recently during an EU session in Venice. Conversely, Christodoulakis did meet in Brussels with EU Commissioner for Regional Development Michel Barnier.

Meanwhile, an ANA dispatch from Brussels quoted a European Commission spokesman on Wednesday as saying that there was no issue of holding or not holding a meeting between Solbes and Christodoulakis on the sidelines of Tuesday’s ECOFIN council meeting.

The same spokesman said the procedure by which the Greek national economy ministry conveys Greece’s budget figures to the Commission’s services is underway within the framework of drafting next year’s national budget.

[12] Greek mutual funds' assets rise slightly in October

Athens, 6/11/2003 (ANA)

A monthly report by the Union of Institutional Investors showed that domestic money management funds reported inflows totalling 117.14 million euros in October, domestic equity funds saw their assets rise 4.72 percent to 3.90 billion euros (reflecting an improvement in the Athens Stock Exchange), foreign equity funds' assets rose 35.88 percent to 586.49 million euros, domestic combined funds' assets dropped 3.98 percent to 3.0 billion euros, foreign combined funds' assets rose 20.78 percent and domestic bond funds' assets fell 1.76 percent in October.

The report also showed that all categories of mutual funds, with the exception of bond funds, reported higher returns in October from the previous month, with domestic equity funds returning 17.06 percent so far this year compared with a 21.31 percent rise in the general index of the Athens Stock Exchange.

Foreign equity funds and international equity funds saw their annual returns rise by 5.99 points and 5.97 points, respectively in the month, while money management funds' returns were unchanged and bond funds' returns eased in October.

More analytically:

Bond funds saw their market share decline to 22.08 percent in October from 22.46 percent in September. Domestic bond funds' assets fell to 5.29 billion euros, down 1.76 percent in October. The category reported outflows of 63.71 million euros and an average annual return of 1.94 percent.

Foreign bond funds' assets fell 1.40 percent to 773.85 million euros. The category reported outflows of 2.33 million euros and an average annual return of -0.28 percent.

International bond funds' assets rose 2.57 percent to 577.57 million euros and inflows totalling 16.20 million euros in October. The category reported an average annual return of -0.71 percent.

Money management funds saw their market share ease to 52.25 percent in October from 52.50 percent in September.

Domestic funds' assets fell 0.16 percent to 15.56 billion euros, while inflows totalled 117.14 million euros. The average annual return was 1.85 percent.

International money management funds' assets rose 3.06 percent to 146.73 million euros. The category reported inflows totalling 4.04 million euros and an average annual return of -1.26 percent.

Equity funds saw their market share rise to 15.13 percent in October from 14.07 percent in September.

Domestic equity funds' assets rose 4.72 percent to 3.90 billion euros. The category reported inflows totalling 4.74 million euros and an average annual return of 17.06 percent.

Foreign equity funds' assets jumped 35.88 percent to 586.48 million euros. The category reported inflows totalling 126.92 million euros in October and an average annual return of 11.19 percent.

International funds' assets rose 5.77 percent to 59.19 million euros. Inflows totalled 3.46 million euros and the category reported an average annual return of 14.55 percent.

Combined funds saw their market share ease to 10.54 percent in October to 10.97 percent in September.

Domestic combined funds' assets fell 3.98 percent to 3.0 billion euros. The category reported outflows totalling 129 million euros and an average annual return of 8.66 percent.

Foreign funds' assets rose 20.78 percent to 7.47 million euros in October. The category reported inflows totalling 1.21 million euros and an average annual return of 2.75 percent.

International funds' assets fell 1.80 percent to 156.42 million euros. Inflows totalled 538,000 euros, while the category reported an average annual return of 1.18 percent.

[13] Greek tourism authorities to launch promotion in China

Athens, 6/11/2003 (ANA)

GNTO will soon publish promotion printed material for Greece in the Chinese language and launch a website in China, while it also plans to produce a television documentary for Greece.

A group of Chinese officials are expected to visit Crete and Santorini, while China's Development Deputy Minister Mr Li Zibin will visit Greece in December, heading a seven-member delegation, on the official invitation by Greek Development Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos.

[14] Jobless women more than double unemployed men, ministry says

Athens, 6/11/2003 (ANA)

Of total unemployed people, 57 percent are long-term jobless, which means for a duration over one year, OAED said in a report.

In addition, part-time work has risen to 4.5 percent, still low compared to the rest of the eurozone; but with a key difference. One in two part-time workers in Greece would have preferred a full-time job but were unable to obtain one, the report said.

[15] Coalition leader demands gov't scrap 'special accounts'

Athens, 6/11/2003 (ANA)

Speaking during a press conference, Constantopoulos said a lack of true transparency and effective control caused distortions within the political system, weakness in the economy and distrust in society.

He gave a detailed presentation of special accounts maintained by every ministry, claiming that dozens of new special accounts had been opened under the governments of Prime Minister Costas Simitis to cover excessive deficits and consumer spending not included in the budget.

[16] International Polis 2003 exhibition to be held in Thessaloniki

Athens, 6/11/2003 (ANA)

Exhibitors are local and state authorities and private companies, trade fair organizer Helexpo said in a statement.

Arranging the two-yearly event with Helexpo is the Greek Local Development and Government Association.

Polis 2003 is being held under the aegis of the ministries of interior, public administration and decentralization, development, culture and Macedonia-Thrace, along with sector associations, the statement said.

[17] Greek stocks end flat on Wednesday

Athens, 6/11/2003 (ANA)

The general index ended 0.10 percent higher at 2,158.15 points after moving within tight ranges throughout the session. Greek investors remained on the sidelines awaiting the announcement of nine-month results in the next few days.

Turnover was a moderate 104.3 million euros.

The Holding, Telecommunications and Retail sectors scored the biggest percentage gains of the day (0.78 percent, 0.51 percent and 0.44 percent, respectively), while the Insurance, Publication and Construction sectors suffered the heaviest percentage losses (0.55 percent, 0.53 percent and 0.48 percent, respectively).

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks rose 0.15 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index ended 0.03 percent down and the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index eased 0.66 percent.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 191 to 95 with another 76 issues unchanged.

Derivatives Market Close: Turnover at 57.1 mln euros Wednesday

Equity Index Futures: