Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 03-11-14

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

CONTENTS

[01] PASOK-gov't meeting focuses on regional restructuring, local government

[02] Interior Minister presents new local gov't administration system

[03] Iraq situation a priority at upcoming EU session, spokesman says

[04] Cyprus and Greek foreign ministries coordinate future planning

[05] EU to assess Turkey on Loizidou case also, foreign ministry warns

[06] PM addresses PASOK Central Election Committee, attacks ND

[07] PASOK's Executive Bureau discusses new electoral system

[08] Europarliament to discuss Albanian municipal election irregularities

[09] Car belonging to community president blown up in Drymades, Albania

[10] Israeli education minister's letter on Theodorakis statement on Jews

[11] PM conveys condolences to Italian counterpart over Nassiriya attack

[12] Gov't spokesman says Nassiriya attack by definition a terrorist act

[13] Karamanlis expresses condolences to Berlusconi over attack in Iraq

[14] Karamanlis congratulates Koizumi over election victory

[15] MP resigns from ND parliamentary group after arrest of his son

[16] Foreign investors have confidence in Greek banks, bankers say

[17] Gov't reports 74.3 pct rise in assessed tax cases

[18] Greece to bid in sale of Bulgarian electricity distributors

[19] EU auditors rap handing of Greek funds for cotton, livestock feed

[20] Deutsche Bank sells 9.2 of stock in EFG Eurobank

[21] Benroubi Group reports 42.41 pct rise in nine-month EBITDA

[22] Medical Center signs partnership deal with Olympiakos FC

[23] Cyprus seeks foreign investment

[24] Chipita Intl says net profit up 17.8 pct in Jan-Sept

[25] Gov't comments on negative 'Economist' report

[26] ELBO in 1.5 mln dollar supply deal with Albania

[27] Strong banks offer ASE support on Thursday

[28] WWF report reveals weaknesses in water directive in most European countries

[29] Cooperation agreement reached between prefectures of Evros and Haskovo

[30] Bomb-scare calls a hoax, police report

[31] Sweep at train station intercepts 8 Iraqi illegals

[32] Documents from anti-junta struggle on show in Thessaloniki

[33] Group of protesters takes over radio station studio in Crete

[34] Kaklamanis, Pangalos attend TEDKNA conference

[35] Akrotiri archaeological site at Thera to close until March

[36] Erdogan might announce initiative on Famagusta, says Iacovou

[37] Cyprus parliament denounces UDI

[01] PASOK-gov't meeting focuses on regional restructuring, local government

Athens, 14/11/2003 (ANA)

Speaking after a meeting attended by government ministers and top echelons of ruling PASOK at the party's offices, Simitis stressed that actual decisions on all these issues would be left until after the upcoming general elections, however.

According to the Prime Minister, radical changes and a new organization for administration and government were imposed by developments within the EU. Whereas until recently the only central policy had been the Common Agricultural Policy, more and more policy issues, such as recent decisions on illegal immigration, were now being decided centrally, he said.

New directions and structures were needed for the country to be able to meet the new requirements and be able to participate in the 4th Community Support Framework without any problems, Simitis added. He said that Thursday's four-hour meeting had focused on the above issues and had decided to initiate public dialogue on regional restructuring and a new system of local government, beginning with a PASOK conference that would be followed by an open dialogue with the participation of all the political parties, representatives of local government and important social bodies.

According to Simitis, the changes aimed to create powerful regions with healthy development and employment and an effective administration that was answerable to citizens, that were decentralized and coordinated. They also aimed at progressive government of the country for a powerful and modern Greece within the European Union, he said.

Simitis said the government and PASOK were veering toward the establishing Regional Authorities as a third-level of elected local government, above municipalities and prefectures, that would be a ''an administrative region that was self-governing''.

These would co-exist with prefectural authorities, which were considered a ''vital nucleus for the formulation of administrative policy in the implementation of the people's decisions and that of central government,'' Simitis added.

[02] Interior Minister presents new local gov't administration system

Athens, 14/11/2003 (ANA)

He said the basic points are the creation of fewer but larger and stronger administrative regions; the upgrading of regional administrative general secretaries; transforming prefectural administration, through the co-existence of the regional and prefectural administrations; and organizing the Metropolitan system of local government for the prefectures of Attica and Thessaloniki.

He added that the breakup of the country into larger regional administrations will be carried out on the basis of the population, and not the land size, of a region.

[03] Iraq situation a priority at upcoming EU session, spokesman says

Athens, 14/11/2003 (ANA)

US Secretary of State Colin Powell is also expected to meet with his EU counterparts during the meeting for talks on the thorny situation in Iraq, while the EU troika is expected to meet in Brussels with Israel's foreign minister as well.

EU countries' respective ministers overseeing the (foreign) developmental cooperation portfolio will meet on Monday, with Deputy Foreign Minister Andreas Loverdos representing Greece.

[04] Cyprus and Greek foreign ministries coordinate future planning

NICOSIA, 14/11/2003 (ANA/N. Melissova/CNA)

Discussions were held between delegations of the two ministries headed by Cyprus Foreign Minister George Iacovou and Greece's Alternate Foreign Minister Tasos Yiannitsis.

The Greek minister said after the talks that he hoped that the European Commission's reference to the Cyprus issue and the excellent progress which Cyprus has done in implementing the acquis communautaire will be included in the conclusions of the General and Foreign Affairs Council and the future EU councils.

Iacovou said their talks covered future planning from today until the end of 2004, starting from the General and Foreign Affairs Council which will take place on Monday, the European Council of December, as well as the celebration events which the government plans for the 1st of May 2004 when the island will join the EU.

They also discussed the forthcoming illegal elections in the occupied areas, the possibilities of resuming the UN talks on Cyprus the soonest, and what will happen after the first six months of 2004 if there is no solution to the Cyprus problem. Iacovou said they also discussed issues concerning consular cooperation, noting Greece is willing to help Cyprus in the field of visas from 1st January 2004.

Yiannitsis said it is especially significant for good cooperation to exist, especially on how each side views certain issues and evaluates developments, noting that ''the discussions show that the systematic recording and exchange of views leads us to new evidence which are useful for the political and other moves that must be done''.

The Greek minister said both governments are on standby, noting that ''we are at a critical phase'' but results have been extremely good.

Asked what can Cyprus anticipate from the EU General Affairs Council, Iacovou said the reports which have been published by the European Commission will be examined, therefore it is unavoidable that there will be some reference (to Cyprus) and ''we must assure that it will be for the benefit of our side''. Yiannitsis said ''we are anticipating that the Cyprus issue and the reference to the excellent progress which Cyprus has done in implementing the acquis communautaire will be included and reflected in the conclusions of Monday's Council and the councils to come''.

The Greek minister will be received on Friday morning by President Tassos Papadopoulos and House President Demetris Christofias.

[05] EU to assess Turkey on Loizidou case also, foreign ministry warns

Athens, 14/11/2003 (ANA)

Foreign ministry spokesman Panos Beglitis was commenting on Wednesday's decision by the CoE Committee of Ministers, which ordered Turkey to promptly pay compensation awarded to Greek-Cypriot Titina Loizidou by the European Court of Human Rights in 1998 in her case against Turkey.

In the resolution on Wednesday, the Committee criticized Turkey for consistently putting off payment due to Loizidou and said it ''strongly urges Turkey to reconsider its position and to pay without any conditions whatsoever the just satisfaction awarded to the applicant by the Court, within one week, i.e. 19 November 2003 at the latest.''

The resolution, the fourth such made to Turkey by the Committee over this affair, also declared the Committee's resolve to take all adequate measures against Turkey if it once more failed to pay.

Loizidou was awarded 640,000 dollars compensation by the ECHR in her case versus Turkey as compensation for being forced to abandon her home in Kyrenia due to the Turkish invasion of the north of Cyprus in 1974 and the continued occupation since that time by Turkish troops supporting an illegal Turkish-Cypriot regime.

[06] PM addresses PASOK Central Election Committee, attacks ND

Athens, 14/11/2003 (ANA)

Simitis said PASOK can win the elections, normally due in April next year, but it must wage a battle and underlined that the great option the party has now is the option of victory in the 2004 elections.

He said PASOK will base its effort for the new election victory on promoting the government's work and the program for the next four-year term, as well as the effort to ''reveal ND's secret program and double face''.

Focusing on the next election, the prime minister said ''every election is a great and difficult but a good struggle and these elections are no different from all the others''.

Simitis further said PASOK will speak during the election period with positions and a program and at the same time it will refer to events, actions and attitudes which the people must know to enable them to judge persons and things.

Politics, he added, cannot be a public relations exercise but the revelation of the truth.

Simitis stressed that the ''unsuitability of the right and its leadership to rule the country will be highlighted and these views will be substantiated and bold''.

He went on to say the ''policy of fireworks is the policy of ND and it will lead it to the opposition once again''.

PASOK, he pointed out, will have an ''offensive stance'' and, referring to ND's policy, said ''if it prevails it will dynamite social calm and social peace''.

Focusing in particular on ND's program for the ''re-founding of the state'', Simitis said ''it is a provocative announcement which contains profound denial and revanchism, which are elements characterizing the main opposition party''.

Referring to opinion polls, Simitis said vote certainty is very low and reaches about 65 percent on the day elections are announced, adding that before the elections are announced certainty is even lower.

He predicted that voters will decide on which party to vote for during the last five weeks before the elections and stressed that it is an undeniable truth that elections are judged in Greece at sunset and when ballot boxes close and reminded of the impressions created during the elections in 2000 before the results were finalized.

Moreover, the prime minister said the centre-left is the overwhelming majority in the country and its strength is greater than what is expressed by ballot boxes.

Simitis, closing his address, said ''PASOK is here to win the elections in 2004, because this is its duty towards Greece and the Greeks''.

[07] PASOK's Executive Bureau discusses new electoral system

Athens, 14/11/2003 (ANA)

PASOK's Central Committee Secretary Mihalis Chrysohoidis said the first proposal concerns the increase by one of the number of candidate deputies in regions having three to six seats, adding that this proposal will be brought to the attention of parties to enable it, if agreement is reached, to be applied in the elections in 2004.

The second proposal concerns the fragmentation of the big electoral regions.

Chrysohoidis said the new electoral law proposed is more proportional and more democratic since it promotes the representation of the electorate and, in parallel, secures political stability.

According to reliable sources, the proposal will anticipate proportionality reaching 85 percent since 260 seats will be distributed with the proportional representation system, while the remaining 40 seats will be provided for the first party in an election.

[08] Europarliament to discuss Albanian municipal election irregularities

STRASBOURG,14/11/2003 (ANA)

The issue is expected to be discussed by the European Parliament next week in Strasbourg.

The EPP urged that the issue, highlighted in a proposal tabled by New Democracy Euro-deputy Christos Zaharakis, also be moved up on the Europarliament's docket, while approving of a relevant resolution on the matter.

The resolution cites the European Parliament's keen interest in the situation in Albania, especially in terms of respect for human rights and political rights. The resolution also calls for the Tirana government's attention on the need to avoid any new illegality in the upcoming second round of elections, so that serious and negative repercussions in Albania's relations with the European Union can be avoided.

Several ethnic Greek organizations in the Himarra district, which has traditionally hosted a predominately Greek-speaking and Christian population, have decried what they called outright interference and vote-rigging by Albanian state services last month - charges that generated heightened attention in Greece, the country's southern neighbor.

[09] Car belonging to community president blown up in Drymades, Albania

GJIROKASTER, 14/11/2003 (ANA/P. Barkas)

Stramarkos linked the incident to repeat elections due to take place at four polling stations in the municipality of Himarra on November 16, including the polling station at Drymades.

''It is the third time that both I and my family are receiving threats,'' Stramarkos said and called on the police, justice and the mass media for protection.

Police in Vlore made no announcement on the perpetrators and reasons of the incident.

[10] Israeli education minister's letter on Theodorakis statement on Jews

Athens, 14/11/2003 (ANA)

It is recalled that Greek government spokesman Christos Protopapas on Wednesday night, in a statement, had made it clear that the government did not share the views expressed by Theodorakis

In her letter to Efthymiou, Livnat said she had been shocked when she read ''the news coverage of Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis' anti-semitic statements''.

Noting that less than 60 years had elapsed since the ''horrible Holocaust of the Jews of Europe'', she warned that ''today, the seeds of destruction are being cultivated once again''.

''If we do not succeed in wiping out hatred and anti-semitism from the face of the earth, they may lead to a new, terrible tragedy,'' she said.

Stressing that she had ''no doubt that the entire government of Greece'' and Efthymiou personally ''reject the statements by Mr. Theodorakis'' and her certainty that ''the Greek people, who also suffered under the Nazi occupation'' could not share Theodorakis' ''racist statements'', Livnor called for ''a clear-cut and concise public condemnation of his statements'' in order to ''uproot those seeds of hatred''.

''With sincere admiration for your Nation, and certainty of the warm relations that exist between our two countries, I dare to express the hope that both the government but also the public opinion in Greece will reject these anti-semitic statements with abhorrence and make it clear to Mr. Theodorakis that racism has no place among the esteemed Greek people,'' the Israeli minister added.

On Wednesday night, Protopapas had said that ''the government does not share and does not agree with the views expressed by Mr. Theodorakis, during an event, about the Jews'', noting that the Greek people ''during their historical course, have defended the Jewish Community in Greece, which Mr. Theodorakis himself has honored with his musical composition Mauthausen''.

''Of course, apart from our disagreement with this position, Mikis Theodorakis always remains high in our esteem for the work he has offered and for his great contribution to our culture and our country,'' Protopapas added.

Theodorakis himself issued a statement on Wednesday expressing surprise over the reactions caused by his recent statement about the Jews, saying ''my opinion regarding the Israeli people has been known for a long time, as is the case with any views on any other issue''.

''I have always supported the weak, those people who have fought for their rights, including the Israeli people'', Theodorakis said, adding that ''it is precisely for these reasons that I am totally against Sharon's policy and I have repeatedly stressed it. I have also repeatedly condemned the role played by eminent American-Jewish politicians and intellectuals in designing the present aggressive so-called 'policy' of George W. Bush.''

Theodorakis further stressed in his statement that ''only on purpose could somebody confuse the Israeli people, whom I admire and whom I have repeatedly honored, in deed, with these negative, condemnable phenomena. Because it is THESE PHENOMENA that blot the image of Israel, that constitute anti-Semitism, that are on the side of Evil, at the root of Evil, as I recently said'' .

[11] PM conveys condolences to Italian counterpart over Nassiriya attack

Athens, 14/11/2003 (ANA)

''On behalf of the Greek government and myself personally I wish to express my profound sadness to you over the tragic loss of so many Italian soldiers who fell victims of the heinous bomb attack in Iraq during the course of duty. I convey to you and to the families of the victims my most sincere condolences,'' Simitis said in his message.

[12] Gov't spokesman says Nassiriya attack by definition a terrorist act

Athens, 14/11/2003 (ANA)

[13] Karamanlis expresses condolences to Berlusconi over attack in Iraq

Athens, 14/11/2003 (ANA)

[14] Karamanlis congratulates Koizumi over election victory

Athens, 14/11/2003 (ANA)

In his letter, Karamanlis stressed that the return of his party to the organization will be a significant opportunity for the further strengthening of ties between ND and the Japanese party LDP, Koizumi leads.

[15] MP resigns from ND parliamentary group after arrest of his son

Athens, 14/11/2003 (ANA)

The group were caught pulling over cars and buses on Messogeion Avenue pretending to be police officers carrying out inspections.

This was the second time that 22-year-old Solon Katsikis has fallen foul of the authorities, following his arrest in the centre of Athens a few months before.

On that occasion, he and two Albanians were caught carrying minor quantities of cannabis and driving his father's parliamentary car without a driving license.

While claiming to believe in his son's innocence, the senior Katsikis on Thursday said he did not want his son's behavior to be seen to be damaging ND. He will remain in Parliament as an independent MP until the next elections, while ND headquarters have not made it clear whether he will be a candidate in the next elections.

Solon Katsikis and his four friends were charged by a first-instance public prosecutor with five misdemeanors on Thursday and later released.

[16] Foreign investors have confidence in Greek banks, bankers say

Athens, 14/11/2003 (ANA)

The executives stressed that Deutsche Bank's move was part of its wider strategy to sell minority equity participations in Germany and abroad and it was not related with Eurobank's or the Greek economy's conditions.

Foreign institutional investors, and large European banking groups have confidence in the domestic banking system and invest in its outlook, a trend reaffirmed recently with the sale of an 8.5 percent equity stake by Alpha Bank. Foreign institutional investors now hold an equity stake exceeding 18 percent in Alpha Bank.

This trend was also reaffirmed by a successful sale of a 10 percent equity stake in National Bank of Greece by the Greek state to institutional investors.

Banking executives stressed that Credit Agricole, France's largest banking group, owned an 11 percent strategic stake in Empiric Bank, with the two banks cooperating in promoting joint services in the bank assurance and consumer credit market. The Greek state plans to sell another 10 percent equity stake in Emporiki Bank either to Credit Agricole, or to foreign institutional investors which currently own 9.0 percent of the bank's capital.

Piraeus Bank and ING Group are enjoying a strategic partnership, with the Dutch group having a 5.0 percent equity stake in the Greek bank, while foreign institutional investors own around 14 percent in Piraeus Bank.

Greek banks offer significant comparative advantages to foreign banks and institutional investors, such as great growth prospects and profitability in retail banking, and increased presence in the wider Balkan and Southeast Mediterranean regions.

[17] Gov't reports 74.3 pct rise in assessed tax cases

Athens, 14/11/2003 (ANA)

Assessed taxes referred to inspections of past tax statements, mainly by large corporations (up 60.1 percent) in the January-October period.

[18] Greece to bid in sale of Bulgarian electricity distributors

Athens, 14/11/2003 (ANA)

The officials were speaking at a presentation of the company after a recent stock sale.

[19] EU auditors rap handing of Greek funds for cotton, livestock feed

European Union auditors said on Thursday that financial management in Greece of funds from the bloc for cotton and dry livestock feed were lacking.

In two reports on management of the sets of funds throughout the EU, the auditors found major shortcomings and irregularities in Greece.

Funds for cotton often were often awarded to cultivations that were not eligible, with some cotton producers receiving double funding for the same cultivation area stemming from two declarations.

Greece, Italy and Spain in 2002-2003 exceeded quotas in output of dry livestock feed by 81 percent against a 5.0 percent limit set by the EU.

To blame was a lack of transparency in regulations, which, in turn, had led to a variety of interpretations and methods of application.

[20] Deutsche Bank sells 9.2 of stock in EFG Eurobank

Athens, 14/11/2003 (ANA)

The offer was about 2.2 times oversubscribed at an average price of 13.2 euros per share, lower than EFG's closing price of 13.88 euros.

[21] Benroubi Group reports 42.41 pct rise in nine-month EBITDA

Athens, 14/11/2003 (ANA)

The company said its gross operating results totalled 12.4 million euros, up 19.51 percent from the previous year, while its gross profit margin rose to 22.16 percent in the January-September period from 19.01 percent last year.

Parent turnover rose 15.87 percent to 19.5 million euros, while net pre-tax profits totalled 3.35 million euros over the same period.

[22] Medical Center signs partnership deal with Olympiakos FC

Athens, 14/11/2003 (ANA)

Socrates Kokkalis, chairman of Olympiakos, announcing the deal with Medical Center said it was ensuring full medical coverage for all athletes owned by Olympiakos (football, basketball, volleyball, track and field, etc.) and significant discounts to its members, while Olympiakos will also receive 5.0 percent of Medical Center's annual revenues.

"The deal is part of a program to modernize Olympiakos," Mr Kokkalis said, while Medical Center's chairman, George Apostolopoulos, said he was a fun of the team.

"The agreement between Olympiakos and Medical Center is very significant. We took this decision after examining all other relative proposals, based on the group's very good scientific staff and its modern medical equipment. The deal will cover all athletes in various Olympiakos teams, with special privileges offered to the team's members," Mr Kokkalis stressed.

He noted that Olympiakos has currently more than 50,000 members and said he hoped to reach the number of 100,000 soon, so that Medical Center could have a very big customer base.

[23] Cyprus seeks foreign investment

Athens, 14/11/2003 (ANA)

Foreign investment will contribute to the importation of new technology, also boosting the outlook for growth, Lillikas told a meeting on Cyprus as an international centre for business.

The event was arranged by the Cypriot embassy to Greece in association with the Athens Chamber of Trade and Industry and the Cyprus Chamber of Trade and Industry.

[24] Chipita Intl says net profit up 17.8 pct in Jan-Sept

Athens, 14/11/2003 (ANA)

Sales revenues rose 1.5 percent as they were negatively affected by foreign currency fluctuations.

The group signed a memorandum of cooperation with four Greek banks (Alpha Bank, EFG Eurobank, National Bank and Piraeus Bank) for the issuing of a five-year bond loan, worth 70 million euros. The new capital will be used to refinance a maturing syndicated loan and the group's debt.

The bond issue needs approval from a general shareholders' meeting of the Group, scheduled for December 3, 2003.

[25] Gov't comments on negative 'Economist' report

Athens, 14/11/2003 (ANA)

In his reply, government spokesman Christos Protopapas said the reference in the Economist Corporate Network was "fragmentary", while clarifying that the same report noted that since 1995 economic indicators have improved for the better in the country, including higher growth rates and high rates of social spending as a percentage of GDP.

According to local press reports on Thursday, the same "Economist" report said Greece was a model of what can go wrong after EU accession, adding that past negative performances by the Greek economy during the first 15 years of the country's EU membership were due to massive public spending and a refusal by the first PASOK governments to implement EU Directives.

The result, according to the publication, turned away foreign investments and affected the competitiveness of Greek exports, while the waste of Community resources fed corruption.

Organic farming trade fair opens in Athens

A trade fair of organic farming products opened in the Athens Exhibition Centre on Thursday with more than 150 producers taking part.

The exhibition, which ends on November 16, is arranged by Dio, a quality control organization for the sector, in association with Technical Trade Fairs.

''Backing organic farming is an inextricable part of a unified strategy for the farm sector,'' Agriculture Minister George Drys told the trade fair's opening.

The European Union is planning to launch a unified action plan for organic farming that would allow leeway for national strategies, Drys said.

[26] ELBO in 1.5 mln dollar supply deal with Albania

Athens, 14/11/2003 (ANA)

Hellenic Vehicles Industry manufactures the Mercedes 290 GDT jeep at its facility in Sindos, Thessaloniki. Greek value added has exceeded 50 percent since 1986 making ELBO one of the largest manufacturers for this kind of vehicle.

[27] Strong banks offer ASE support on Thursday

Athens, 14/11/2003 (ANA)

The general index rose 0.06 percent to end at 2,161.33 points, with turnover an improved 197.4 million euros.

The Insurance and Textile sectors suffered the heaviest percentage losses of the day (1.25 percent, 1.11 percent, respectively), while the Bank and Investment sectors (0.83 percent, 1.75 percent, respectively), and scored the biggest percentage gains.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 200 to 102 with another 60 issues unchanged.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks rose 0.35 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index ended 0.35 percent lower and the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index fell 0.52 percent.

The most heavily traded stocks in value were National Bank of Greece, Public Power Corporation, Football Pools Organization, EFG Eurobank Ergasias and Alpha Bank.

Derivatives Market Close: Turnover

90.0 mln euros on Thursday

Equity Index Futures: