Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 05-06-22

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM Karamanlis confers with finmin Alogoskoufis on economy, reforms

[02] PM Karamanlis and interior minister hold meeting to discuss fundamental overhaul for state sector

[03] SYN leader comments on high oil prices, government's public sector reform

[04] Public Order Minister received by President Papoulias

[05] Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to visit S. Korea on Tuesday

[06] Greek Communist Party expresses indignation over assassination of former Lebanese Communist Party secretary general

[07] Memorial service for former PM to be held Wednesday

[08] Tourism Minister meets China Tourism Administration chief during official visit to Beijing

[09] EU Farm Ministers Council approves new regulation

[10] Government spokesman on strikes

[11] Bank workers declare new 48-hour strike in protest at gov't pension plan

[12] Labor confederation calls 24-hour strike on Friday

[13] Civil servants' union announces work stoppage on Friday

[14] Greece sets up energy and environmental management agency in Thessaloniki

[15] Greek stocks end 1.18 pct lower

[16] Greek-German journalism prize 'Eleni Vlachou' awarded to Costas Iordanidis

[17] Hellenic Austrian Association stages event dedicated to Hellenism

[18] Education and health ministers give press conference on teenagers' consumption of drugs, alcohol and cigarettes

[19] Kurd asylum-seeker in hospital after 35-day hunger strike

[20] Cyprus says Brussels talks fail due to Turkish stance

[21] Cyprus says Russian statement positive

[22] Australian FM set to review advice on property in occupied Cyprus

[01] PM Karamanlis confers with finmin Alogoskoufis on economy, reforms

Athens, 22/06/2005 (ANA)

Alogoskoufis told reporters after the meeting that an ad-hoc parliamentary committee would begin discussion later in the day on the amendments concerning the bank employees' social insurance and the restructuring of the OTE Hellenic Telecoms Organization, and the bill on the capital market.

He said that the solution being forwarded by the government on the bank employees' social insurance was a balanced one, since it would boost competitiveness, and resolve the social insurance problem without harming the rights of the employees affected, and without cost to the taxpayers.

Asked to comment on the bank employees' reactions, Alogoskoufis said that the government had exhausted all the margins of dialogue, which had lasted for six months, adding that all the views had been heard. He stressed that the government had provided a solution without taking the side of one or the other view.

Questioned on the Fourth Community Support Framework (CSF), Alogoskoufis said that the agreement achieved in the EU was relatively satisfactory, and that issue at hand was for the country to secure the relevant funds over the coming months, intimating that the government opposed a change of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), which he said certain other EU member countries wanted.

[02] PM Karamanlis and interior minister hold meeting to discuss fundamental overhaul for state sector

Athens, 22/06/2005 (ANA)

In statements afterwards, Pavlopoulos stressed that the premier was greatly interested in these issues and in the reorganization of the public administration, while more meetings on the same issue will follow and the main framework for the reforms will be complete by autumn.

The minister also announced that a draft bill on immigration policy is to be tabled in Parliament shortly, while the civil servants' code and the municipality code were now nearing completion.

The civil servants' code addresses issues such as transfers and promotions, making the former voluntary and giving incentives for staff in remote or problem areas, as well as making criteria for promotion more objective.

Regarding civil service wages, Pavlopoulos said that this was an issue for negotiation with the civil servants' union ADEDY. These negotiations are set to being in early July after an invitation to attend talks is sent out to ADEDY from the government. ADEDY's agenda for the talks includes discussion on benefits and the placement of certain categories of employees into the heavy and hazardous labor bracket for pension purposes.

[03] SYN leader comments on high oil prices, government's public sector reform

Athens, 22/06/2005 (ANA)

He noted that the pre-tax price of Greek petroleum is the highest in Europe and emphasized the need for the government to reduce the special tax that applies in order to lighten the burden on consumers and the economy.

Regarding the changes the government is trying to implement in the broader public sector, Alavanos said that it seems the government is trying to link salaries to productivity. He said that this was an idea that the previous PASOK government had initiated.

He added that "if the government wishes to implement it as a pilot program it should do so starting with the Ministerial Council."

[04] Public Order Minister received by President Papoulias

Athens, 22/06/2005 (ANA)

Voulgarakis said that he had been able to brief the president in detail on issues concerning the police and fire department and the National Intelligence Service (EYP), explaining changes that had been made and further changes that are envisaged.

"I also had the opportunity to invite the president to visit the public order ministry, the coordinating centre for the fire department and the Athens General Police Headquarters, the crime section and to see the laboratories that are there. He gladly accepted the invitations and we decided the visit to the fire department will take place in early July."

The minister also stressed that he had benefited from the president's advice and his great experience in Parliament and politics, on issues concerning the safety of the public and instilling a sense of security and efficiency.

[05] Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to visit S. Korea on Tuesday

ISTANBUL, 22/06/2005 (ANA - A. Kourkoulas)

During his visit to Korea, Patriarch Bartholomew will present the Metropolitan of Korea Sotirios with the charter of the diocese of Korea and its charitable organization at a session of the metropolitan council attended by representatives of the parish councils.

The Ecumenical Patriarch is also scheduled to meet S. Korean President Roh Moo-Hyun and will be proclaimed an honorary lecturer at the University of Hankook, as well as attending dinners given in his honor by the ambassadors of Greece and Turkey.

Other planned engagements for Bartholomew include a visit to the ancient city of Gyeongju and attending the launch of a new built ship ordered by the Tsakos Company from Hyundai Shipyards.

This is Patriarch Bartholomew's third visit to South Korea.

[06] Greek Communist Party expresses indignation over assassination of former Lebanese Communist Party secretary general

Athens, 22/06/2005 (ANA)

In a letter addressed to the Lebanese Communist Party's Central Committee, KKE said "comrade Hawi struggled with consistency all his life from the most responsible posts in your party for labor and popular interests, the liberation of southern Lebanon from Israeli occupation forces and the confronting of multiform imperialist interventions in Lebanon and the policy of 'divide and rule'."

[07] Memorial service for former PM to be held Wednesday

Athens, 22/06/2005 (ANA)

Members of the main opposition PASOK party will be in attendance.

[08] Tourism Minister meets China Tourism Administration chief during official visit to Beijing

Athens, 22/06/2005 (ANA)

In statements afterward, Avramopoulos said that important facts had emerged during the meeting and that a visit by a Chinese minister to Greece might be expected in this context.

The two men discussed future estimates of tourist traffic between Greece and China, with Greece anxious to increase the numbers of Chinese tourists visiting the country. According to Avramopoulos, the Chinese show a great interest in Greek culture but Greece had failed to make it onto the 'map' of favorite destinations for the Chinese in recent years.

Later on Tuesday, Avramopoulos inaugurated an exhibition of contemporary Greek art in Beijing entitled "The Art of Greece meets China", while on Wednesday he will be inaugurating the tourism trade fair BITE, at which Greece is the honored country, as well as an office of the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) in Beijing.

[09] EU Farm Ministers Council approves new regulation

Athens, 22/06/2005 (ANA)

Greek Farm Minister Evangelos Basiakos, in his intervention, stressed that the Farm Ministers Council should send a clear message of reaffirming the stability of community support to European farmers and urged the Council to include, in its decision, a special note on fiscal prospects in the period 2007-2013. His proposals were unanimously approved and included in the new regulation.

The Greek minister said the EU should take action to modernize the community fishing fleet, to offer support to new fishermen and small- and medium-sized aquaculture enterprises. He urged the Council to monitor closely conditions in Greece and other EU member-states in the wheat market ahead of the new crop to take further action if necessary to protect producers' income. Basiakos also called for the need to introduce measures to combat bird flu in the EU.

[10] Government spokesman on strikes

Athens, 22/06/2005 (ANA)

Responding to questions during a press briefing, Roussopoulos, vis-a-vis a query on the bank employees' social insurance fund, recalled that the provisions of the Reppas law (passed by the preceding PASOK government) were in force, "which provides that all the Funds must be incorporated under IKA (the state social insurance foundation) by 2008".

Roussopoulos said that all the relevant amendments would be voted on by the present parliament, via a bill that would be tabled possibly this week.

[11] Bank workers declare new 48-hour strike in protest at gov't pension plan

Athens, 22/06/2005 (ANA)

The secretariat of the OTOE bank staff union unanimously decided to continue the strike on Tuesday, while the General Confederation of Employees of Greece (GSEE) has called a national strike on Friday.

OTOE also decided that it will send additional strikers to certain branches of the National Bank of Greece, Agricultural Bank and Emporiki Bank to provide back-up to skeleton staff.

Furthermore, the bank union said that it will soon be ready to file lawsuits against those banks which do not enforce the terms and conditions of existing pension funds and will also demand from Greek and EU courts that the relevant law be repealed.

[12] Labor confederation calls 24-hour strike on Friday

Athens, 22/06/2005 (ANA)

GSEE's board will convene again on June 30 to assess developments and discuss the possible escalation of strike action.

The main issues Friday's strike will focus on are the banks' social security issue, changes threatened in labor relations and in the 8-hour work day, respect for collective labor agreements, the attempt to categorize working people into 'old' and 'new' employees, the deregulation of shops' working hours and the privatization of major public enterprises.

[13] Civil servants' union announces work stoppage on Friday

Athens, 22/06/2005 (ANA)

The stoppage was decided so as to allow civil servants to participate in the national strike and rallies organized by the General Confederation of Employees of Greece (GSEE).

ADEDY's Executive Committee has also called for a meeting of the union's general council on June 27 in order to assess developments and to define the unions' strategy in negotiations with the government regarding civil servants' minimum wages, occupational safety and other issues.

Both ADEDY and GSEE have decided on strike action as a show of solidarity to bank workers who have been on a rolling strike since last week and have announced another 48-hour walkout beginning on Wednesday.

Bank employees and their union OTOE are protesting against the government's plans to reform the sector's pension system.

[14] Greece sets up energy and environmental management agency in Thessaloniki

Athens, 22/06/2005 (ANA)

The memorandum was signed by the heads of the three bodies in the presence of Development Deputy Minister George Salagoudis.

The non-profit company is expected to present its business plan by mid-August offering services such as: energy inspections and agreeing gas emissions, implementing and monitoring energy and environmental management systems, drafting feasibility studies, issuing certificates on environ-mental and energy management projects, linking with universities and research centers to promote joint actions and offering consultancy on energy saving programs.

Speaking to reporters, Salagoudis said the Centre for Energy and Environmental Management would offer consultancy services to businessmen for the benefit of enterprises, national economy and the environment.

[15] Greek stocks end 1.18 pct lower

Athens, 22/06/2005 (ANA)

All sector indices ended lower with the Bank (2.38 pct), Textiles (1.68 pct), Publications (1.63 pct), Investments (1.55 pct), IT (1.39 pct) and Wholesale (1.31 pct) suffering the heaviest percentage losses of the day.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks fell 1.44 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index eased 0.53 percent and the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index fell 0.54 percent.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 191 to 64 with another 71 issues unchanged.

[16] Greek-German journalism prize 'Eleni Vlachou' awarded to Costas Iordanidis

Athens, 22/06/2005 (ANA)

The prize was awarded by Parliament President Anna Psarouda-Benaki during a special ceremony at the Zappeion Building in central Athens. Among those attending were German Ambassador to Athens Albert Spiegel, alternate government spokesman Evangelos Antonaros, the president of the National Broadcasting Council Yiannis Laskaridis and the president of the assessing committee for the prize Dimitris Glavas.

Also among the speakers was the general director of the Athens News Agency (ANA) George Tambakopoulos, who was one of the members of the assessing committee, who spoke about Iordanidis' life and work as a journalist.

Also present at the ceremony were former ANA general director Andreas Christodoulides, Communications general secretary Margarita Papada, among others.

[17] Hellenic Austrian Association stages event dedicated to Hellenism

VIENNA, 22/06/2005 (ANA/D.Dimitrakoudis)

The event, which included speeches, lectures, documentaries and discussions, drew dozens of distinguished members from the country's intellectual and cultural arenas, as well as representatives of the Greek community in Austria.

Speaking at the event, Association President Andreas Traichel referred to the organization's future plans which aim to establish a strong Greek intellectual and cultural presence in Austria.

Greek Ambassador to Austria Theodoros Sotiropoulos wished the association success in its future endeavors.

Other speakers included Maria Stassinopoulou, Professor at Vienna University's Institute for Byzantine Studies and Maria Vassilakou, Chairwoman of the Green Party in the Vienna City Council.

[18] Education and health ministers give press conference on teenagers' consumption of drugs, alcohol and cigarettes

Athens, 22/06/2005 (ANA)

One out of 10 pupils in Greece, meaning about 70,000 belonging to the 14-17 age bracket, have tried some type of drug. Cannabis is the most popular drug, while the number of teenagers who have tried cannabis three or more times has been increasing since 1984.

Inhaled substances are also popular among teenagers, while 200,000 pupils in the country aged between 14 and 17 consume alcohol two or three times a week.

The two ministers said the preferences of teenagers have changed compared to past years. They drink hard spirits more frequently but fewer pupils in Greece, compared to other countries, drink spirits to the point of getting drunk.

Moreover, the consumption of tobacco among Greek teenagers is again less widespread compared to other European countries. Three out of 10 pupils aged 14 have smoked at least one cigarette, while seven out of 10 aged 17 have smoked at least one cigarette.

An estimated 24.6 percent of teenagers smoke at least one cigarette a day and 14 percent smoke at least 10 cigarettes a day. The average age of pupils smoking for the first time is 14 and the average age of those becoming systematic smokers is 15.2.

The press conference was held ahead of June 26, the International Day against Drugs.

According to Kaklamanis, a draft presidential decree which will open the way for the creation of private rehabilitation centers will be ready next week.

Furthermore, the education and health ministries will work in partnership in launching drug prevention programs.

[19] Kurd asylum-seeker in hospital after 35-day hunger strike

Athens, 22/06/2005 (ANA)

Zulkuf Murat Bora, also known as Bahoz, has been granted a residence permit for humanitarian reasons by Public Order Minister George Voulgarakis but he is insisting that both he and Turkish refugee Yusuf Temiz be granted political asylum.

He was admitted to Aghios Pavlos Hospital on Saturday after authorities became concerned for his health, when after 33 days of denying food he also stopped taking salt and sugar on June 15.

Bahoz is refusing treatment, however, and is still taking only plain water.

Born in 1973, Bahoz has made two applications for political asylum in 1995 and 2001, both of which were rejected.

Anti-racist and activist groups in Thessaloniki on Tuesday carried out symbolic protests in the city, such as taking over the EU information office on Aristotelous road, in support of Bahoz's demands and plan to organize a rally later on Tuesday evening.

[20] Cyprus says Brussels talks fail due to Turkish stance

NICOSIA, 22/06/2005 (CNA/ANA)

Chrysostomides dismissed Turkish Cypriot press reports that the Greek Cypriot side was negative during recent talks in Brussels. ''I wish to categorically dismiss this. I wish to say that the Luxembourg presidency acted tirelessly and objectively and made every effort to reach a solution, which the Cypriot government notes with gratitude,'' he said.

He added that ''the whole effort failed due to the insistence of the Turkish Cypriot side on its positions.''

Asked if the Greek Cypriot side rejected a proposal from the Turkish Cypriot side to receive Famagusta in exchange for direct trade between the EU and the Turkish occupied areas of the island and the operation of the town's port by the Turkish Cypriots, Chrysostomides said ''the stance of the Turkish side was 'what's ours is ours and what's yours is also ours'.''

''What they asked for is for the adoption of the two regulations on financing and direct trade beforehand, the opening of ports and airports and, if this was done, then they would be willing to discuss the issue of Varosha, namely the opening of the closed town of Famagusta,'' the spokesman pointed out.

He added that on Monday Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat said it was not possible to open Famagusta because this would obstruct a Cyprus settlement.

Chrysostomides wondered how the Turkish Cypriot side proposed opening Famagusta on the one hand and said it could not on the other hand.

Asked if efforts for direct trade would continue under the British presidency of the EU and if Britain had any proposal to make,

Chrysostomides said he had no official information on this.

[21] Cyprus says Russian statement positive

NICOSIA, 22/06/2005 (CNA/ANA)

Council to renew the mandate of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), Government Spokesman Kypros Chrysostomides said on Tuesday.

''It reiterates the willingness of the Russian Federation to help in any possible way to promote efforts for a solution of the Cyprus problem and considers the resolution to be positive,'' Chrysostomides added.

The Russian ministry had said Russia steadfastly supports ''a just, viable and comprehensive settlement'' of the Cyprus problem, based on ''UN Security Council resolutions and the voluntary agreement of the Greek and Turkish communities on the island. Russia will continue to make efforts in the UN and on a bilateral level to achieve this goal,'' the statement added.

Asked what the Cyprus government expected from Wednesday's briefing of the Security Council by UN Under-Secretary General Sir Kieran Prendergast on his recent visit to Cyprus, Chrysostomides said he did not know the content of Sir Kieran's report.

''What we expect is for him to clearly state our readiness to resume the process and renegotiate, so that a final settlement of the Cyprus problem is achieved,'' the spokesman added.

[22] Australian FM set to review advice on property in occupied Cyprus

NICOSIA, 22/06/2005 (CNA/ANA)

Downer made this pledge on Monday to a delegation of the Federation of Cypriot communities in Australia and New Zealand, which had handed him a resolution on the question of Cyprus, a press release issued here on Tuesday said.

Downer also said that Canberra's position with regard to Cyprus would not change.

The resolution calls upon the Australian government and the international community ''to avoid taking measures towards the Turkish Cypriot community that, under the guise of economic development, may encourage further cementing of division.''

It also calls on Canberra to ''intensify its efforts in preventing the ongoing exploitation of properties in the areas of Cyprus that are not under the government's control, reminding that a large number of these properties are owned by Cypriot-born Australians who have been forcefully displaced from their land.''

In the past twelve months there has been a boom in the construction industry in Turkish occupied Cyprus, coupled with sales of property which more often than not is owned by Greek Cypriots, without the owners' permission.

A number of lawsuits have been filed against non Cypriot nationals who have bought such property. There are also some cases pending before the local courts against Turkish Cypriots, using Greek Cypriot property.

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