Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 05-11-16

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greece to replace Olympic Airlines with new company

[02] Federation of Civil Aviation Societies satisfied with decisions on Olympic Airlines' future

[03] Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos holds talks with Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel

[04] Greece's military role within EU, NATO upgraded

[05] Government rules out withdrawal of Greek troops from Afghanistan

[06] Defense Minister meets with Israeli counterpart

[07] Foreign minister Molyviatis to attend farewell dinner for Fischer

[08] Greece lost two opportunities, PASOK leader says after meeting with Cyprus' Democratic Rally party leader

[09] PASOK leader Papandreou places flower at Athens Polytechnic monument

[10] EU Education Ministers Council examines research in European universities

[11] Gov't stresses ASEP president's support for interviews

[12] Turkish PM Erdogan complains because Greek counterpart Karamanlis 'cannot pay official visit' to Turkey

[13] PASOK leader pledges party's renewal

[14] Supreme court to bring MP Mantouvalos to trial

[15] PASOK's Venizelos accuses govt's policy in the health sector

[16] SAE's Tamvakis hails reduction of army service for ethnic Greeks

[17] Roundtable discussion on UN in Greece to be held at foreign ministry on Thursday

[18] Int'l meeting of communist and labor parties to be held in Athens

[19] Turkish warplanes violate Greek national air space

[20] Roussopoulos defends govt's economic policy

[21] Greece needs to redesign its national energy policy, report

[22] Tourism minister upbeat on sector's performance

[23] Transport minister to Tunis for

[24] Greek economy grew by 3.7 pct in third quarter, Eurostat says

[25] Media employees to hold 24-hour strike on November 24

[26] Greek farm exports up 17.5 pct in Jan-Aug, yr/yr

[27] Hellas SAT expands collaborations, signs cooperation accord with

[28] Greek Network on Partnership Social Responsibility presents first good practices catalogue

[29] Building activity up 5.2 pct in Jan-Aug, yr/yr

[30] KEP centers to take complaints for overcharging

[31] Special Audit Service ascertains that 46 pc of businesses guilty of tax offences in October

[32] Greek stocks ease on profit taking

[33] Interior minister chairs meeting to coordinate preparedness for advent of winter

[34] Weak quake sequence jolts northern Aegean

[35] Composer Mikis Theodorakis honored in Austria

[36] Bulgarian minister visits Mount Athos

[37] SYN leader calls for incentives for use of bicycles in commuting

[38] Gianna Angelopoulos attends presentation of new book on Olympic Games

[39] Cypriot FM pledges reunification through bizonal federation

[40] President pledges to continue cooperating in Turkey's EU path

[41] President to receive T/C party leader

[01] Greece to replace Olympic Airlines with new company

ATHENS, 16/11/2005 (ANA)

Economy and Finance Minister George Alogoskoufis and Transport and Communications Minister Mihalis Liapis, speaking to reporters, after an inter-ministerial meeting to discuss the issue with the government's financial consultant to the sale, said the solution presented was the only alternative choice and that it was aimed to cover the country's air transport needs.

Private investors would have a majority stake in the new airline, along with the management and operation of the company, while the Transport ministry would begin a round of consultation with Olympic Airlines' workers over their labor and pension rights.

Transport Minister Mihalis Liapis said the government would seek approval of the plan by the European Union and stressed the government was committed to adhere to community competition rules.

Legislation regarding the creation of the new company will be tabled in Parliament in coming days, the ministers said.

The government is seeking to achieve the broadest possible consensus, both from employees as well as opposition parties. To this end, Liapis, on Thursday, will be briefing main opposition PASOK MP Evangelos Venizelos and will then brief the Federation of Civil Aviation Societies (OSPA), mainly on issues regarding their employment and pension rights.

After the interministerial meeting, Liapis announced that a leading, international firm has been commissioned to draw up a business plan, which will serve as the basis for the new company to receive its license from the Civil Aviation Authority. Until then, Olympic Airlines will continue operating as usual.

Opposition reactions: Main opposition PASOK MP and former transport minister Christos Verelis termed the situation "Olympic's free fall", while the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) and the Coalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology (SYN) party, accused the government of "selling out" the national air carrier with PASOK's tolerance.

[02] Federation of Civil Aviation Societies satisfied with decisions on Olympic Airlines' future

ATHENS, 16/11/2005 (ANA)

In an announcement, the Federation referred to the government's withdrawal from its initial positions that "Olympic will either be sold or closed" and expressed concern that the national air carrier's further shrinking might be attempted in the new company's business plan. For this reason, the federation has called for the prime minister's intervention "to put an end to dangerous experiments."

Transport and Communications Minister Michalis Liapis has summoned OSPA's board for a meeting on Thursday for a discussion on the latest developments regarding the national air carrier's future.

[03] Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos holds talks with Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel

VIENNA, 16/11/2005 (ANA/D. Dimitrakoudis)

Vartholomeos was speaking after holding talks with Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel in the Austrian capital.

The Ecumenical Patriarch said in a statement to the Athens News Agency (ANA) that he had the opportunity of discussing issues of mutual interest with the Chancellor, also in light of the Austrian EU presidency, and ascertained the "existence of a profuse and general desire for promoting and supporting religious freedoms and human rights in general".

Vartholomeos added that he had made the same ascertainment during talks he had at the Fanar a few weeks ago with Austrian Parliament President Andreas Kohl.

The Ecumenical Patriarch arrived in Vienna on Monday at the invitation of Chancellor Schuessel to participate in the tripartite international inter-religious conference titled "Islam in a pluralistic world."

[04] Greece's military role within EU, NATO upgraded

ATHENS, 16/11/2005 (ANA)

Greece was represented at the meetings by Armed Forces General Staff Chief Admiral Panagiotis Hinofotis.

On Tuesday the Greek defense ministry and NATO signed an agreement regarding the multinational training centre on issues of maritime deterrence, which is being established on the island of Crete.

The agreement concludes the first stage of the center's operation and regulates operational and procedural issues so that the centre can be fully operational by December 2007.

The centre will serve as a reference point in terms of NATO and the Euro-Atlantic Partnership, for specialized maritime training in order to ensure safety in sea transport.

Additionally, during the meeting of NATO's Military Committee at Chiefs of Staff with countries participating in the Mediterranean Dialogue, the majority of military chiefs said that exercises, such as the multinational "Dolphin 2005", which Greece successfully organized, are key in reinforcing cooperation.

They also responded positively to Greece's proposal to conduct a similar exercise in 2006.

Further, Greece and Armenia signed an agreement regarding bilateral, military cooperation for the following year.

During the meeting of the EU's Military Committee, the creation of a Battlegroup, headed by Greece, and including Cyprus, Bulgaria and Romania, was discussed.

A relevant agreement is expected to be signed by Defense Minister Spilios Spiliotopoulos during the EU defense ministers' meeting on November 21.

[05] Government rules out withdrawal of Greek troops from Afghanistan

ATHENS, 16/11/2005 (ANA)

Government spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos said that Greece had sent one company of 128 men from the army engineers corps to support roadbuilding networks and provide humanitarian and public benefit services and, since August this year, an additional 45 troops to provide services to the 291st mobile hospital.

From December 1, meanwhile, another 44 Greek Airforce officers will be sent to the area to take over the rotating command of Kabul airport.

Protest over presence of Greek troops in Afghanistan in Athens: Members of the "Stop the War" coalition on Tuesday held a protest outside the Greek defense ministry in Athens over the presence of Greek troops among the NATO mission in Afghanistan.

The protest was organized after two Greek soldiers stationed in Afghanistan were injured during an attack on a Greek convoy outside Kabul.

According to Alexandros Magakis, a former minister under main opposition PASOK, the injury of the two soldiers highlighted in the most dramatic way the dangers of escalating Greece's involvement in the U.S. war on Afghanistan.

According to coalition member Petros Constantinou, mean-while, the Greek government shared the guilt and responsibility for Bush's crimes by sending troops there.

[06] Defense Minister meets with Israeli counterpart

ATHENS, 16/11/2005 (ANA)

The two officials also renewed the bilateral military and defense agreement, which enables each country to send a team of observers to the training activities and exercises of the other country, to conduct joint military exercises and to cooperate in the areas of defense, research and technology.

Spiliotopoulos reiterated Greece's role in helping to bring stability to the broader region, in comments he made after the meeting.

The Greek minister also placed a wreath where former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated 10 years ago.

[07] Foreign minister Molyviatis to attend farewell dinner for Fischer

LONDON, 16/11/2005 (ANA - L. Tsirigotakis)

Not every EU foreign minister has been invited to attend the dinner and, according to sources, the guest list was drawn up by Straw after consulting with Fischer.

[08] Greece lost two opportunities, PASOK leader says after meeting with Cyprus' Democratic Rally party leader

ATHENS, 16/11/2005 (ANA)

After the meeting, Papandreou said that Greece had lost two very important opportunities -- on December 17, 2004 and on October 3, 2005 -- to "create a new Helsinki, a roadmap for the solution of the Cyprus problem".

Papandreou opined that the situation situation was more difficult following the loss of those opportunities, and endorsed the assumption of substantial initiatives, as soon as possible, and exploitation of the time factor.

Anastassiades said that everyone must realize that "time, when not put in the service of a solution, acts counter to the well-meant interests of the Cypriot Hellenism".

"There are the coming 12, beneficial -- in our view -- months during which Turkey will be under scrutiny as to how compatible Turkish law is with the European acquis. If we use and utilize this time, I believe that we can avert much of what is taking place every day, and which day by day become irreversible," he said.

The Cypriot official described the meeting as "exceptionally useful" because "through George Papandreou's experiences and his genuine interest, we take strength, but also many thoughts which find us in absolute agreement".

Coalition of the Left and Cypriot Democratic Rally party leaders discuss Cyprus issue: Coalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology (Synaspismos) party leader Alekos Alavanos discussed the issue of Cyprus on Tuesday with visiting Cypriot Democratic Rally party leader Nikos Anastassiades and stressed the need afterwards for the shaping of a common stance between Athens and Nicosia on this question.

"We must take lessons from experiences we had so far, we must shape a common stance with specific targets which could be promoted by also utilizing Turkey's accession procedures with the European Union, which in order to be promoted require the consent of all member-states, meaning of the Republic of Cyprus and Greece as well," Alavanos said.

Anastassiades said that he and Alavanos discussed the situation created after October 3 with the purpose of "reaching a solution which will meet the reasonable concerns and claims of the Greek Cypriots and which will be acceptable by both communities."

Athens mayor meets visiting Cypriot party leader: Athens mayor Dora Bakoyanni met Tuesday with visiting Cyprus Democratic Rally party leader Nikos Anastassiades.

After the meeting, Bakoyanni said that "we are all devoted to the great effort, and I want to believe that the year that will commence shortly will bring interesting news for the Cyprus issue".

Anastassiades said he and Bakoyanni discussed "issues concerning Cyprus".

"We have explained how necessary a new effort on the Cyprus issue is, particularly during the next 12 months, which is a period during which Turkey will be under review for its compatibility with the European acquis. The time factor must be taken into consideration, and placed at the service of a solution. Otherwise, the situation, as it is developing in Cyprus, will not be as pleasant as it is made out to appear," he said.

Papariga meeting with Cypriot party leader cancelled: A scheduled meeting between Communist Party of Greece (KKE) General Secretary Aleka Papariga and Cyprus Democratic Rally party leader Nikos Anastassiades was cancelled on Tuesday, after Anastassiades was unexpectedly obliged to cut short his visit to Athens and return to Nicosia.

[09] PASOK leader Papandreou places flower at Athens Polytechnic monument

ATHENS, 16/11/2005 (ANA)

Main opposition Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) leader George Papandreou went to the Polytechnic and placed a flower at the monument.

"I simple came and humanly placed a flower," Papandreou said.

Papandreou noted his respect to the generation of the Polytechnic which struggled for democracy and added that "the slogans for employment are at the forefront of demands."

SYN message, ONNED event marking 32nd anniversary of Athens Polytechnic uprising against the junta: Coalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology (Synaspismos) on Tuesday issued a message marking the 32nd anniversary of the Athens Polytechnic student uprising against the junta on November 17, 1973.

The Synaspismos message said "the Polytechnic lives through the struggles for peace, social liberation, freedom and rights in the tough opposition against the forces of war and neo-liberalism."

SYN noted that this year's anniversary coincides "with the uprising by the socially excluded individuals in France, with the great changes taking place in Latin America and the continuing drama in Iraq."

The message added that the "popular movements confirm the timeless value of the messages for social solidarity, peace and equality which were also the messages of the uprising in November 1973."

The party called on the people, especially the youth, to take part in the events and marches throughout Greece marking the anniversary of the Athens Polytechnic student uprising.

On its part, the ruling New Democracy party's youth organization ONNED, on the occasion of the anniversary, will organize an open debate on the theme "Greek Culture - Foundation stone for freedom and democracy" at the Benaki Museum (138, Pireos Street) in Athens at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

Taking part in the event will be Culture Ministry General Secretary Christos Zahopoulos, actor Antonis Kafetzopoulos, former New Democracy party deputy Dionysis Behrakis and publisher-director of the "Adesmeftos Typos" newspaper" Dimitris Rizos, while the debate will be coordinated by journalist Penelope Gavra.

[10] EU Education Ministers Council examines research in European universities

BRUSSELS, 16/11/2005 (ANA/M. Aroni)

Education Minister Marietta Yiannakou said that in Greece the possibility was enacted this year for Greek universities and technological foundations to carry out joint postgraduate studies with other countries, while universities are operating for working people, such as the Open Greek University in Patra.

The education minister further said that the EU spends 1.9 percent of its GDP on research, while Greece spends 0.6 percent of GDP (from the development budget), an amount expected to reach 1.5 percent of GDP by the year 2008.

She added that her ministry is cooperating with the development ministry on the creation of a "joint committee" which will probe the institutional status of research.

The funding of research in Europe will also preoccupy the spring Council of Education Ministers in Vienna on March 16-17.

[11] Gov't stresses ASEP president's support for interviews

ATHENS, 16/11/2005 (ANA)

Supreme Council for Personnel Selection (ASEP) President George Veis had called for the interviews to be organized by ASEP so that they will be completely unbiased.

Roussopoulos also pointed out that the report had cited 2004 - the first year when the present government was in power - as being the year in which the fewest procedural irregularities in the hiring of staff in the public sector had occurred.

[12] Turkish PM Erdogan complains because Greek counterpart Karamanlis 'cannot pay official visit' to Turkey

ANKARA, 16/11/2005 (ANA/A. Abatzis)

Following his speech, Erdogan replied to questions regarding the re-opening of the Halki Theological School. "The issue of the Theological School is an annoyance between the two sides which has taken a political form," said the Turkish prime minister, who added:"Both sides must make an effort so that an end be put to this issue becoming a political one."

Erdogan linked the issue with Premier Karamanlis' visit to Turkey, stating:"Up to now I have repeatedly visited Greece. However, at this moment, the prime minister of Greece, my valuable friend, cannot come to Turkey. He has come after private invitations, but he cannot come officially. And I cannot ask my friend why he is not coming. Yet, he also came to my child's wedding and was a witness. We have very close relations, but he cannot pay the official visit."

[13] PASOK leader pledges party's renewal

ATHENS, 16/11/2005 (ANA)

Speaking on Tuesday to parliamentary reporters, during a luncheon, the main opposition party leader said that he has proceeded in major organizational changes in the party, noting that "more things have occurred these (past) 18 months than what the ruling New Democracy party had not done in 11 years."

"I have the obligation to bring to the forefront a new generation of politicians," Papandreou said.

"If I were (Prime Minister) Costas Karamanlis I would have a dilemma about conducting early general elections, because in 2007 they would not have been in my favor, and now it would be a risk, according to the latest public opinion polls," The PASOK leader also asserted.

He emphasized that "we believe that we can win (the general elections) whenever they take place."

[14] Supreme court to bring MP Mantouvalos to trial

ATHENS, 16/11/2005 (ANA)

A former deputy with ruling New Democracy, Mantouvalos unexpectedly resigned from the party's Parliamentary group last month in the wake of press reports linking him to scandal and was shortly afterwards expelled from the party. He retained his seat in Parliament as an independent MP.

According to the judicial report, there are adequate grounds for charging Mantouvalos with bribery as a misdemeanor and with legalizing income from criminal activity, a criminal offence.

The acts were allegedly committed on 27-29 November, 2000, and the misdemeanor offence will be automatically statute-barred at the end of November, unless he is charged.

They concern the sum of seven million drachmas deposited by the MP's associate H. Hatzipanagiotou, a partner in Mantouvalos' lawyer's firm, into the account of former first-instance court judge Evangelos Kalousis, who has been remanded in custody to be tried on corruption charges.

Hatzipanagiotou has claimed that the money was deposited on behalf of a woman named Anastasia Delli, who was buying a car for her nephew from Kalousis.

Investigation showed that Delli was in dire financial straits at the time and was also under temporary court protection because she was suffering from dementia.

[15] PASOK's Venizelos accuses govt's policy in the health sector

ATHENS, 16/11/2005 (ANA)

At a press conference in Athens, Venizelos, who presented his general conclusions from the two-day nationwide visit by party members to hospitals, Social Security Foundation (IKA) branches and health centers, criticized the government of "systematic demagogy" and spoke of "two wasted years" in the health sector.

The former minister said there was "a conscious disdain of the public health system" and spoke of "a provocative lack of social consciousness."

[16] SAE's Tamvakis hails reduction of army service for ethnic Greeks

ALEXANDRIA, 16/11/2005 (ANA - N. Katsikas)

In charge of youth issues for the SAE, Tamvakis thanked National Defense Minister Spilios Spiliotopoulos and others involved in the decision, which allows young people of Greek origin to study in Greece and retain their status as permanently resident abroad, as well as reducing the term of army service.

[17] Roundtable discussion on UN in Greece to be held at foreign ministry on Thursday

ATHENS, 16/11/2005 (ANA)

The event will be organized by the Society of UN Cadres, the Greek International Law and International Relations Society and the International Law Society.

[18] Int'l meeting of communist and labor parties to be held in Athens

ATHENS, 16/11/2005 (ANA)

Specifically, taking part will be 42 parties from Europe, nine from the Middle East, seven from Asia, eight from Latin America, two from the North America, three from Africa and one from Australia.

[19] Turkish warplanes violate Greek national air space

ATHENS, 16/11/2005 (ANA)

In all cases, the 35 Turkish aircraft were recognized and intercepted by Greek air force jets, while in four cases the interception process developed into a mock dogfight.

It was also revealed that six Turkish formations were armed.

[20] Roussopoulos defends govt's economic policy

ATHENS, 16/11/2005 (ANA)

Speaking to reporters, during his regular briefing, Roussopoulos stressed that "no other European country has managed to achieve so much in such a short period of time". The government spokesman stressed that the government has achieved in reducing its fiscal deficit by two percentage points and maintain the highest growth rates in the Eurozone and reducing unemployment by one percentage point.

Roussopoulos said the government has reached a decision not to include proceeds from a debt securitization plan in its 2005 budget until completion of technical consultations with Eurostat over the issue. "In any case, debt securitization is a temporary measure and the adjustment from 2005 to 2006 will not change if proceeds were included in budget revenues or not".

The spokesman said EU Monetary Affairs Commissioner Joaquin Almunia "has publicly given a political approval to proceed with the procedure. What is left is to continue a technical consultation between the Greek government and Eurostat, likely to be completed by the end of 2005. Since the Greek budget had to be tabled to parliament in November 21, proceeds from debt securitization were not included in the budget".

Roussopoulos said that a 3.6 percent economic growth rate currently was a success of the government's economic policy -a result of reforms and not of temporary or fake measures.

[21] Greece needs to redesign its national energy policy, report

ATHENS, 16/11/2005 (ANA)

The report also underlines the need for a more effective introduction of recent legislative interventions by the government to ensure a successful transition from a monopoly to a free market model in the country.

IOBE said a deregulation of electricity market in Greece was not followed by competition growth in energy production and distribution with the entry of new businesses in the sector delayed so far due to high capital demands, Public Power Corporation's dominant position in the market, low capability of international interconnections and inadequate regulatory framework.

Domestic final consumption of electricity grew from 23,833 GWh in 1985 to 48,595 GWh in 2003, recording an average annual growth rate of 4.0 percent over this period. Total final consumption was distributed between households (33.8 pct), commerce and services sector (30.8 pct), manufacturing (29.1 pct), farming (5.7 pct) and transportation (0.5 pct).

Average electricity price (pre-tax) for household use fell by 0.3 pct in average in the period 1991-2004, although the price grew by 3.3 percent annually in the last three years. Electricity prices in Greece are lower compared with the average EU-15. Average prices for household use are 40 percent up in the EU while prices for industrial use were 1.0 percent higher.

Public Power Corporation accounted for around 96 percent of total domestic electricity production, while it owned the domestic distribution grid.

Net power of electricity production stations in Greece totalled 12,057 MW in 2003, with thermoelectric power stations accounting for 71 pct of total, hydro-electric stations accounted for 9.8 pct and the remaining 3.0 percent resulting from renewable energy sources.

Power stations using lignite maintained their dominance in the domestic electricity production market, with power stations using oil losing ground in the period 1985-2003, the report said.

IOBE said Greece needed to add around 1,950 MW by 2010 to its electricity grid to ensure safety margin of the system. The report warned that any further delay in adding new power in the system could result to serious power shortages in the future.

IOBE said investment interest in the electricity sector was high and did not exclude the appearance of joint ventures with large foreign enterprises in the domestic market.

[22] Tourism minister upbeat on sector's performance

LONDON, 16/11/2005 (ANA/K.Halkiadakis)

Tour operators were also pleased with the Greek tourism industry, as a result of the ministry's efforts, Avramopoulos told Greek correspondents.

He also announced that the wax figures of former Greek politicians - Eleftherios Venizelos, Constantine Karamanlis and Andreas Papandreou - will soon grace London's Madame Tussaud museum.

Avramopoulos noted that this event, the result of his ministry's efforts, is particularly important given that there was no Greek presence in the museum prior to this.

The minister also referred to the possibility of major movies being filmed in Greece, saying that while there is great interest to do so much better organization is needed.

On Tuesday morning, Avramopoulos addressed an international business forum on tourism investment in Greece, saying that "Greece is opening its doors to the world."

"We are moving forward realistically and with confidence, doing the best we can in order to rise to international challenges," he said.

Avramopoulos presented the ministry's new tourism policy, saying that the objective is to develop year-round tourism, to upgrade services and infrastructure, and to create investment opportunities.

The minister also referred to the new development law, saying that private investment is being bolstered through the adoption of incentives, continuous cooperation, the ministry's active support towards private individuals, and reduced bureaucracy.

Other speakers at the forum included Deputy Tourism Development Minister Anastasios Liaskos, EOT President Aristidis Kalogeropoulos-Stratis, Tourism Development Company (ETA) Managing Director Kostas Zacharopoulos and the ministry's Special Secretary Harris Kokkosis.

The conference was organized by the ministry, the National Tourism Organization (EOT) and the Tourism Development Company in cooperation with the Paris-based newspaper, The International Herald Tribune.

It is the first of 10 forums organized by the IHT and The New York Times at major capitals around the world.

[23] Transport minister to Tunis for

WSIS ATHENS, 16/11/2005 (ANA)

A ministry announcement said that Liapis will be presiding at the summit caucus, which will convene to discuss specialized strategies for the Information Society, the development of electronic applications and content and the use of the information and telecommunications technology for growth, as well as lowering prices for these services throughout the world in order to reduce the 'digital gap'.

There are 193 countries represented at the highest levels at the Tunis summit, which is organized under the aegis of the United Nations.

[24] Greek economy grew by 3.7 pct in third quarter, Eurostat says

ATHENS, 16/11/2005 (ANA)

The EU executive's statistics agency, in a report, said Gross Domestic Product grew by 1.5 percent in the Eurozone and by 1.6 pct in the EU-25 in the third quarter of the year, with Lithuania (8.2 pct) recording the biggest percentage increase and Italy (0.0 pct) the lowest.

Greece's Gross Domestic Product grew by 1.7 pct in the third quarter compared with the second quarter of 2005. GDP growth in the Eurozone and the EU-25 was 0.6 pct in the same period.

[25] Media employees to hold 24-hour strike on November 24

ATHENS, 16/11/2005 (ANA)

Participating in the strike is the Athens Union of Journalists of Daily Newspapers (ESHEA), the Union of Athens Daily Newspaper Staff (EPHEA), the Union of Thessaloniki Daily Newspaper Staff (EPHETh), the Union of Daily Newspapers Technicians, the Union of Athens Newspaper Sellers, the Union of Piraeus Newspaper Sellers, the Union of Attica Private Television Technicians and the Union of Greek Radio Technicians.

The strike will be carried out in collaboration with the union federations of POESY, POSPERT, POEPTYM and Paper in all media companies.

[26] Greek farm exports up 17.5 pct in Jan-Aug, yr/yr

ATHENS, 16/11/2005 (ANA)

The value of farm exports rose to 1.768 billion euros in the January-August period, from 1.505 billion euros last year, with the ministry forecasting that farm exports would exceed the 2.8 billion euros mark recorded in 2004.

Basiakos said the ministry took measures to promote Greek farm products in international food and beverage fairs and promoting simpler export procedures by creating distribution networks abroad.

The minister said Greece was awaiting EU approval on new programs aimed to promote Greek farm products to third countries, such as exporting saffron to Russia, Switzerland and Dubai, promoting mastiche to the US, Japan and the Middle East, introducing advertising campaigns to boost Greek cheese in the US, Canada and Australia, promoting Greek canned fruits to Russia, India, Ukraine and Romania and Greek olives to the US, Canada and Australia.

[27] Hellas SAT expands collaborations, signs cooperation accord with

Greece's telecoms satellite Hellas-SAT on Tuesday announced an expansion in its collaborations, with the signing of a cooperation agreement for the use of capacity of the Hellas-SAT 2 satellite by the European satellite organization SES ASTRA.

The agreement allows SES ASTRA to include the Hellas-SAT 2 capacity in its offers, and to provide an integrated European-wide coverage to its clients.

Hellas SAT and SES ASTRA have been closely collaborating in recent years by virtue of various services agreements, while the SES ASTRA subsidiary company SatLynx already uses capacity of Hellas-SAT 2 in its Eurozone services platform "Connect", providing Eurozone (broadband) services from one end of Europe to the other.

[28] Greek Network on Partnership Social Responsibility presents first good practices catalogue

ATHENS, 16/11/2005 (ANA)

Development Minister Dimitris Sioufas congratulated the president and board of the Greek Network for "the effort they have undertaken to promote the meaning and basic principles of the social responsibility of businesses and organizations in our country".

He said in a brief address that the meaning of Associative-Social Responsibility and the principles developing at the Network's initiative exceed by far what is necessitated by law.

"Associative-Social Responsibility is not limited to the compliance of businesses with the existing legislative framework, with existing laws. It concerns the willing and voluntary development of initiatives which exceed those that are necessary," Sioufas said.

Analytis expressed satisfaction over the circulation of the first Good practice catalogue in Greece. He said that most companies that are members of the Network have included specific action in their business strategies which show in practice that they are interested in concerns preoccupying society and communities though which they are active.

[29] Building activity up 5.2 pct in Jan-Aug, yr/yr

ATHENS, 16/11/2005 (ANA)

Private building activity rose by 4.5 percent and 1.2 percent, respectively, over the same period, with building activity recording a spectacular 40.8 percent increase in August. The sharp increase was attributed to the fact that building activity almost froze in August 2004 due to the Athens Olympic Games.

[30] KEP centers to take complaints for overcharging

ATHENS, 16/11/2005 (ANA)

Consumers can now fill in a special form outlining their complaints at their local KEP centre, which will then forward these to the consumer secretariat so that the businesses involved can be inspected and the required penalties imposed on offenders.

[31] Special Audit Service ascertains that 46 pc of businesses guilty of tax offences in October

ATHENS, 16/11/2005 (ANA)

The highest levels of offences were ascertained in Western Macedonia (61 percent), Ipiros (62 pc), the Peloponnese (61 pc) and Central Macedonia (51 pc).

The Service also registered considerable offences during checks made in October in the sale of products, since 4,113 checks were made and 554 offenders were found.

[32] Greek stocks ease on profit taking

ATHENS, 16/11/2005 (ANA)

The composite index eased 0.39 percent to end at 3,428.61 points, with turnover an improved 227.2 million euros.

Sector indices ended lower with the Refineries (3.05 pct), IT (2.62 pct), Constructions (1.72 pct) and Retail (1.65 pct) suffering the heaviest percentage losses of the day. The IT Solutions (1.91 pct), Banks (1.14 pct), Investment (0.61 pct) and Insurance (0.31 pct) scored gains.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks fell 0.18 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index ended 0.86 percent lower and the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index fell 0.70 percent.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 197 to 83 with another 57 issues unchanged.

Stock Futures: