Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 04-06-26

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greece beats France 1-0 and qualifies for semi-finals in Euro 2004

[02] Karamanlis addresses ONNED's national congress

[03] PM Karamanlis confers with foreign, defense ministers ahead of NATO summit

[04] PM holds meeting on transparency problems with justice, interior ministers

[05] Athens mayor to meet London mayor Ken Livingstone

[06] Deputy foreign minister receives Alexandria Patriarch Petros

[07] Trade balance deficit increases 21.8 pct in first-quarter 2004 over same period in 2003

[08] Tourism flow will 'gradually balance out', tourism minister Avramopoulos tells conference

[09] Bank of Greece figures show rise in central government deficit on a cash flow basis

[10] Greek-US customs cooperation on container security

[11] Patras, Kavala, Kalamata show highest jobless rates in Greece

[12] Commerce sector to get equal treatment under EU funds

[13] Greek, Bulgarian customs policy experts meet in Ognianovo

[14] SDOE to closely monitor market next trimester

[15] The Olympic Flame arrives in Paris

[16] Development minister Sioufas certain no problem of electricity adequacy will arise during Olympics

[17] Public Order Minister meets U.S. officials for talks on Olympics security

[18] Euripides 'Troades' to be performed at ancient theatre of Troy

[19] Lyricist, radio producer Ifigeneia Yannopoulou dies, apparently of allergic shock to injection

[20] Greece pays homage to soldiers of Korean War

[21] G. Papandreou visits anti-drugs organization

[22] Dioxin and furan levels in Greek foods below EU average, EFET reports

[23] Flurry of minor tremors cause concern in Ioannina

[24] Charter flight foul-up leaves Greek fans headed for Euro match stranded

[25] EU Commission assesses convergence program of Cyprus

[01] Greece beats France 1-0 and qualifies for semi-finals in Euro 2004

LISBON 26/6/2004 (Reuters/ANA)

Greece, among the rank outsiders when the tournament started, scored the only goal after 65 minutes when Angelos Haristeas rose unchallenged to power a header past French goalkeeper Fabien Barthez from six meters.

It was the third time in four matches that France had fallen behind but this time there was no way back.

Their dream of becoming the first team to retain the Henri Delaunay trophy is over and Greece will now face the Czech Republic or Denmark in the semi-finals.

It is the first time in its history the Greek national soccer team qualifies for the semi-finals in an international tournament.

Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis, main opposition PASOK leader George Papandreou as well as other political party officials and members of the government congratulated in statements the national soccer team and its coach Otto Rehhagel.

[02] Karamanlis addresses ONNED's national congress

Athens 26/6/2004 (ANA)

"We are steadily re-establishing the State and together we are building a State that is responsible, humane, and which will not be paralyzed by bureaucracy, a plethora of laws and corruption," he added.

Karamanlis asked the young attendees to feel free to convey their thoughts, suggestions and proposals to the government and asked them to contribute to the goals the government has set with their knowledge, innovative ideas and dynamism.

He also mentioned that the country is at the beginning of a new historical cycle which is defined by vital issues such as EU enlargement, intergovernmental agreement on the first EU constitution, the Athens Olympic and Paralympic Games, and the change of government that came after the March 7th general elections.

"We are the party of liberal choice, of social solidarity and of the centre; we are the predominant social force of the centre, of the middle ground and of responsibility, leaving extremes and excesses to others," he said. "We constitute a broad social alliance that transcends the dividing lines of the past, and it is on this basis of constructively overcoming the past that the political change of March 7th was possible," Karamanlis added.

Speaking of the country's current problems and challenges the prime minister said, "We realize the country's real economic state, the great fiscal problems, the lack of competitiveness, the rigidity and the dependence on the past which have immobilized society's productive forces." In trying to solve these problems, Karamanlis explained that the government will focus on the great social problems of regional and social inequality, poverty and unemployment - especially among women and young people - as well as drugs which are increasingly affecting younger age groups.

Additionally, Karamanlis emphasized that his government is not simply handling affairs, but implementing dynamic policies whose objective is to promote a new economic and development policy through fiscal revitalization, limits on state spending, tax reduction, liberalization of markets, a national strategy for development in the provinces, support of entrepreneurship, and the expansion and upgrading of tourism.

"It is time that we dare a revolution in the quality of services, products and production; that we invest in new technologies, research and innovation; that we capitalize on our country's advantages and that we create a new entrepreneurial environment of new investment, new business, new employment opportunities throughout the country," Karamanlis stressed.

[03] PM Karamanlis confers with foreign, defense ministers ahead of NATO summit

Athens 26/6/2004 (ANA)

No statements were made to the press after the one-hour meeting.

Greek Communist Party to send representative to anti-NATO protests in Turkey:The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) on Friday announced that it will be represented by KKE Central Committee member Stratis Korakas at the anti-NATO demonstrations being organized in Istanbul on June 27-28 to protest against the occupation of Iraq.

Korakas departed for Turkey on Friday, at the invitation of the Turkish Communist Party, and will also be speaking at the 'Worker's anti-Summit' on June 28.

[04] PM holds meeting on transparency problems with justice, interior ministers

Athens 26/6/2004 (ANA)

[05] Athens mayor to meet London mayor Ken Livingstone

LONDON 26/6/2004 (ANA - L. Tsirigotakis)

Afterwards, Bakoyannis was to attend a reception being given by the London mayor for the torch bearers that will take part in the Olympic Torch Relay through London on Saturday.

The Olympic torch will travel along a 48-kilometre course through the city, starting at the central court in Wimbledon, where the renowned tennis tournament is now taking place.

One of the first torch-bearers will be Sir Roger Bannister, the first man to break the barrier of the four-minute mile half a century ago. Other runners will include Britain's current tennis champion Tim Henman, entrepreneur and Virgin Airlines owner Sir Richard Branson, Britain's Olympic rowing champion Sir Steve Redgrave, veteran boxer Frank Bruno and well-known model Heather Mills, the wife of Paul McCartney.

Parliament Speaker Psarouda-Benaki expresses solidarity with Cyprus people

NICOSIA 26/6/2004 (CNA)

Benaki who met Papadopoulos for approximately one hour said their meeting was very cordial and very sincere and that President Papadopoulos briefed her on recent developments in the Cyprus

question.

''I am grateful that he shared with us his concerns and of course the close cooperation with Greece and solidarity of Greece and especially of the parliament that I represent, with the struggle of the Cyprus people were reaffirmed,'' she added.

Psarouda-Benaki said she wished President Papadopoulos ''strength, courage and free thinking which he has always had, enabling him to make the appropriate steps.''

The Parliament president, who pays a three-day official visit to Cyprus since Thursday, also met with Cypriot party leaders and representatives. Before her departure on Saturday, she will hold a joint press conference with Cyprus House of Representatives Speaker Demetris Christofias.

[06] Deputy foreign minister receives Alexandria Patriarch Petros

Athens 26/6/2004 (ANA)

Patriarch Petros briefed the minister on the Patriarchate's progress and on the work being carried out with the assistance of Greece.

Skandalakis outlined the efforts being made by Patriarch Petros on the African continent and described him as a "major ambassador of Hellenism and a loyal and unassuming servant of the Orthodox faith", pledging the state's support for his efforts.

Asked about the prospects that the Ecumenical Patriarchate's School of Theology on Halki will reopen, the minister said that things were "on a good path" and that he was optimistic.

"Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis has made this one of his top priorities and I am sure that he will find a solution," the minister said.

[07] Trade balance deficit increases 21.8 pct in first-quarter 2004 over same period in 2003

Athens 26/6/2004 (ANA)

The trade balance deficit reached 6,841.3 million euro in the first quarter (January-March) of 2004, marking a 21.8 percentage point rise against 5,615.8 million euro in the same quarter last year.

The deficit resulted from the difference between the value of imports and the value of exports.

More specifically, The total value of imports-arrivals in the first quarter of the year reached 9,604 million euro, up 11.0 percent from 8,653.2 million euro in the same quarter of 2003, while the total value of exports-dispatches in the first quarter of 2004 reached 2,762.7 million euro, down by 9.0 from 3,037.4 million euro in the corresponding quarter of 2003.

[08] Tourism flow will 'gradually balance out', tourism minister Avramopoulos tells conference

Athens 26/6/2004 (ANA)

"The strategy being formulated for Greek tourism will start yielding from the following year. Already, the necessary preparations are underway so that Greece will emerge dynamically as one of the top destinations in the world market as of next October," Avramopoulos said, adding that, for this year, he predicted that things will "balance out".

Avramopoulos reiterated his view that Athens' hosting of the Olympic Games should have been linked with the tourist projection of Greece "which, for inexplicable reasons, was not done". he further announced that a new form of projection and advertisement of the Greek tourist product, to be introduced by his ministry, would be unveiled soon.

Meanwhile, Miltiades Evert, a former leader of the ruling New Democracy party, said Friday that all data pointed to a decline in tourist flow in the current holiday season that was expected to exceed 15 percent in relation to 2003.

Evert attributed the anticipated decline to high prices, profiteering, bad services, and total lack of projection of the country's tourism advantages.

He said the newly-created ministry of tourism "must prepare from now and program its tourism policy for 2005, so that we will not have the same tragic results next year".

[09] Bank of Greece figures show rise in central government deficit on a cash flow basis

Athens 26/6/2004 (ANA)

They also show that the problem in public finances that first became apparent in 2003 is continuing into the current year and will likely hamper efforts to bring public debt into line, in accordance with the recommendations of the European Commission.

The budget cash flow deficit was enlarged to 7,263 billion euros from January to May, or 4.4 per cent of GDP, increasing by 33 per cent relative to the same period in 2003, when it had stood at 5,462 billion euros, or 3.6 per cent of GDP.

Though not directly comparable with the figures released by the finance ministry for the state of the economy, the Bank of Greece figures are a clear indication of the course of this year's budget.

[10] Greek-US customs cooperation on container security

Athens 26/6/2004 (ANA)

"I am deeply grateful for the support of the Greek government for the implementation of CSI in Piraeus. Because CSI will detect and deter attempts by terrorists to exploit cargo containers, CSI is an insurance policy against terrorism. It protects and secures trade between our two nations as well as the global trading system," Loy said.

As part of the CSI program, US and Greek customs officials will identify and screen cargo containers that are destined for the United States. In addition, the US will lend Greece equipment to screen goods delivered to Olympic venues during the 2004 Athens Games.

[11] Patras, Kavala, Kalamata show highest jobless rates in Greece

BRUSSELS 26/6/2004 (ANA/G.Zitouniati)

In addition, data on urban cinemas showed that Athens ranked fourth with 44 seats per 1000 inhabitants; and Thessaloniki fifth at 38.4 seats.

In a report entitled the Urban Audit, Eurostat said that whether as homes, workplaces or centers of learning, cities have a major impact on the lives of many of Europe's citizens.

Assessing the impact is a prerequisite for any improvement in the quality of urban life, but needs to be based on comparable data. In the past, comparing cities in the European Union was fraught with problems due to differences in definitions and data collection methods across such a geographically vast and culturally varied area, the survey said.

The Urban Audit is a response by the European Commission to this growing demand for an assessment of the quality of life in European towns and cities, where a significant proportion of EU citizens live. This project is a joint effort by Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities, and the Directorate-General for Regional Policy to provide more comparable information on selected urban areas in Member States of the EU, Bulgaria and Romania.

Following a pilot study in 58 cities, the Urban Audit has been expanded to cover 258 large (over 250 000 inhabitants) and medium-sized (between 50 000 and 250 000 inhabitants) cities in the EU25, Bulgaria and Romania. The cities were selected in collaboration with the national statistical offices, and are geographically dispersed to ensure a representative sample, meaning that the 258 cities chosen are not necessarily the largest. The city has generally been defined with reference to the administrative unit which is responsible for local government. Due to the varying structures of local government, this concept is not always strictly comparable between countries.

The areas covered by the variables collected include demography, housing, health, the labor market, the economy, education, the environment, transport and culture. The data refer to the most recent year available, which is in general 1999, 2000 or 2001, Eurostat said.

[12] Commerce sector to get equal treatment under EU funds

Athens 26/6/2004 (ANA)

In addition, the minister said that the government's new development bill would appear in its final form by September and go into effect by the end of the year.

Folias was addressing the Thessaloniki Chamber of Trade and Industry.

[13] Greek, Bulgarian customs policy experts meet in Ognianovo

Athens 26/6/2004 (ANA)

Customs policy experts from Greece and Bulgaria took part in the meeting in Ognianovo, which is near the town of Gotse Delchev, which was organized by the Bulgarian foreign ministry's department for communications strategy. The experts discussed the role of border crossing stations between Greece and Bulgaria, particularly in the context of a Europe without borders.

Heading the Greek prefectural-level delegation was Drama deputy prefect Argyris Patakakis, a former mayor of the border town of Nevrokopi, Drama, through which the international road (vertical axis) between Bulgaria and Greece is expected to pass. This road will be the access route for the entire bulk of land-transported trade from Bulgaria to Drama, and then on to the new port in Kavala being built in the eastern section of the prefecture, near the Kavala-Xanthi national highway.

[14] SDOE to closely monitor market next trimester

Athens 26/6/2004 (ANA)

[15] The Olympic Flame arrives in Paris

PARIS 26/6/2004 (ANA/O.Tsipira)

The torch relay will end at the Eiffel Tower around 8:45 p.m. in the presence of Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannis Valinakis and Secretary General for the Olympic Games Spyros Capralos. Because of the football match which will take place on Friday night between France and Greece, the Municipality of Paris has decided to light the Tower in the colors of the winning team.

[16] Development minister Sioufas certain no problem of electricity adequacy will arise during Olympics

Athens 26/6/2004 (ANA)

Prime minister Costas Karamanlis held a meeting Friday with Sioufas and deputy development minister George Salagoudis, which examined, inter alia, electricity adequacy and the security of power installations with respect to the Games.

They also discussed other issues, such as the energy landscape arising in the wider region, details on the natural gas infrastructures, following Thursday's announcement by the development ministry of a planned expansion of the natural gas network to 11 more regions.

After the meeting, Sioufas told reporters that no problems were expected regarding electricity adequacy.

[17] Public Order Minister meets U.S. officials for talks on Olympics security

Athens 26/6/2004 (ANA)

Present at the meeting were Fran Townsend, deputy national security adviser for the U.S. president on counter-terrorism issues, Ambassador Francis Taylor, Assistant Secretary of State for diplomatic security, Ambassador Cofer Black, State Department coordinator for counterterrorism and deputy assistant FBI director for counter-terrorism issues John E. Lewis.

It was also attended by Deputy Public Order Minister Christos Markoyiannakis, Public Order General Secretary Leonidas Evangelidis, Greek police chief Lieutenant General Fotis Nasiakos, the head of the Greek intelligence service EYP Pavlos Apostolides and the head of the Olympic Games Security Directorate, Major-General Vassilios Constantinidis, and U.S. Ambassador to Greece Thomas Miller.

[18] Euripides 'Troades' to be performed at ancient theatre of Troy

ISTANBUL 26/6/2004 (ANA - A. Kourkoulas)

First written in 415 B.C. in Athens, at a time when Troy was already in decline, it is doubtful whether Euripides' tragedy was ever performed there in antiquity.

Described by director Diagoras Chronopoulos as 'the anti-war classic of all time', the play kicked off this year's Epidavros Festival on June 18-19 and is also scheduled to tour Greece throughout the summer.

According to Chronopoulos, its central message is still as acutely relevant today as when it was first written, being in effect a criticism of the arrogance and brutality shown by Athens, then a major power, in its dealings with other states.

The production has been staged by the Diadromi Theatre group, with actress Anna Vagena in the lead role as Hecuba, the tragic queen of Troy, Tania Trypi in the role of Andromache and Katerina Lehou as Helen of Troy. The rest of the cast include Yiannis Vouros, Dimitris Lignadis and Peggy Trikalioti.

The play has been translated into modern Greek by Costas Myris, with music by Stavros Xarhakos and costumes by Yiannis Metzikov.

[19] Lyricist, radio producer Ifigeneia Yannopoulou dies, apparently of allergic shock to injection

Athens 26/6/2004 (ANA)

According to family sources, however, it is believed that she died from an allergic reaction to an injection. She was in her mid-forties.

Yannopoulou had collaborated with numerous newspapers and magazines, a large number of theatrical productions, and with top names in Greek music and theater.

Sources close to the family said that Yannopoulou went to a hospital Thursday to have an injected for a medical problem that had arisen, and developed an allergic reaction that caused her death.

An autopsy was scheduled to pinpoint the cause of death.

[20] Greece pays homage to soldiers of Korean War

Athens 26/6/2004 (ANA)

"The erection of this monument is an indication of respect and honor to Greek soldiers who stayed true to the universal values of freedom and democracy, sacrificing their lives in the fight for South Korea's independence," Deputy Defense Minister Ioannis Lambropoulos said during his speech. He also thanked South Korea's government for its initiative.

The South Korean Embassy in Athens has organized a performance of the Seoul Performing Arts Company which was due to be held at a central Athens theater on Friday evening. Deputy Defense Minister Vassilis Michaloliakos was to attend the performance.

[21] G. Papandreou visits anti-drugs organization

Athens 26/6/2004 (ANA)

In light of the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on Saturday, OKANA Chairman Christos Giannakis and Assistance Centre Director Teta Papoutsopoulou, briefed Papandreou on the Organization's activities and operations. Papandreou also met with OKANA patients who said they were satisfied with the care they received.

Papandreou told journalists that during its seven years of operation OKANA has helped reduce the number of drug-related deaths and illnesses and congratulated the Assistance Center's staff who treats patients "as ordinary people, not criminals." He also emphasized the need for cooperation among all agencies, especially local authorities. Papandreou referred to PASOK's proposal, which has been accepted by the bi-partisan Parliament committee, which calls for the close cooperation between Local and Prefecture authorities in helping in the rehabilitation of those suffering from drug addiction. He also stressed his party's goal of raising public awareness on drugs and their consequences.

During its seven-year history, OKANA has helped 36,000 patients, while the Assistance Centre has received approximately 6,000 between the ages of 12 and 53. The Centre, located on September 3rd Avenue, provides medical exams for patients and prepares them for admission into a rehabilitation centre.

[22] Dioxin and furan levels in Greek foods below EU average, EFET reports

Athens 26/6/2004 (ANA)

The announcement came out shortly after the publication of the World Health Organisation's report entitled "Atlas of Children's Health and the Environment", which reports that the average concentration of the two substances in foodstuffs is one part per trillion.

EFET said the report was based on figures produced by a Russian research centre that are believed to be the result of mathematical calculations rather than laboratory analysis.

The Greek agency also reported finding dioxin and furan concentrations that were below the EU average in tests conducted in 2003 on Greek milk and dairy products, meat, fish, poultry and oils, as well as products derived from these.

[23] Flurry of minor tremors cause concern in Ioannina

Athens 26/6/2004 (ANA)

None of the tremors have measured above 4 on the Richter scale and have therefore not been announced by the Athens Observatory Geodynamic Institute. The last two tremors at 7:30 and 7:50 on Friday morning were most strongly felt, measuring around 3.7 on the Richter scale.

According the Patras Seismological laboratory, the epicenter of the quakes is a few kilometers north of Ioannina.

[24] Charter flight foul-up leaves Greek fans headed for Euro match stranded

Athens 26/6/2004 (ANA)

According to the Hellenic Association of Tourist and Travel Agencies (HATTA), none of the Greek travel agencies were responsible for the cancellations that prevented Greek fans from attending Friday's game. They blamed Portuguese authorities for allowing charter flights carrying England fans back to Britain on Friday to remain in the airport, so there was not enough space for Greek charter flights to land.

According to sources, meanwhile, one of the cancellations involved the Czech airline Travel Service that had leased charter planes to carry Greek fans, since the first plane did not fulfill requirements for the necessary permits. The company was forced to bring a second plane but with a substantial delay and only had time to carry one group of Greek fans to Portugal, since the second group would in any case have missed the match.

Travel agencies are reimbursing all fans that were unable to travel to Portugal.

[25] EU Commission assesses convergence program of Cyprus

NICOSIA 26/6/2004 (CNA/ANA)

The program envisages the deficit to narrow from 6.3% of GDP in 2003 to below 3% in 2005 and to fall further thereafter. ECOFIN Council is expected to adopt, on 5 July 2004, an opinion on the

convergence program, a decision on the existence of an excessive deficit and recommendations to Cyprus on how to bring this situation to an end.

The aim of the convergence program is to reduce the general government deficit to below 3% of GDP in 2005 (from 6.3% of GDP in 2003 and 5.2% of GDP in 2004) and below 2% of GDP by 2007. The fiscal adjustment is based on containing public consumption expenditure and improving revenue. The deficit target is thus envisaged to satisfy the reference value from 2005 onward.

Jaquin Almunia, Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs, has told a press conference in Brussels that her bilateral contacts with ministers, including those from the new ten states, permitted her to be optimistic about the economic and budgetary coordination.

Almunia said the convergence programs of the new members was ''tangible proof that these countries are preparing their entry to the euro.''

''We concluded that it is appropriate and realistic to encourage each country to implement the policies included in its own convergence program,'' Almunia added.

The Commissioner said more focus on debt and sustainability during the budgetary surveillance process and more incentives for fiscal consolidation during periods of economic growth were needed.

Earlier this week, the Commission adopted the strategies for the Structural Funds program for the ten new member states and together with the Cohesion Fund allocations, the Structural Funds will make more than EUR 24 billion available form the EU budget to the ten states, including Cyprus, between 2004 and 2006.

For Cyprus, one program of 28 million euro aims at sustainable rural development and the development of urban areas in difficulty. A second program of 22 million will seek to revitalize the labor market and promote continuous training and education. Cyprus receives 3.4 million euro under a program to support its fisheries sector.

Commissioner Markos Kyprianou said he was delighted with the approval of these programs, saying it was a perfect example of how EU membership was having an immediate positive effect on the lives of ordinary citizens.

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