Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 06-10-10

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM announces state measures for northern Greece flood victims

[02] PASOK leader meets Turkish PM Tayyip Erdogan

[03] Government contradicts Papandreou claims on relations with Turkey

[04] PASOK spokesman on Greek-Turkish relations

[05] Striking teachers attempt to force meeting with minister

[06] Gov't warns against takeovers, points to 'N17' provocation

[07] Bill on Islamic mosque tabled in Parliament

[08] Foreign minister condemns N. Korea nuclear test

[09] Global climate change on agenda of Dimas-Gore meeting in Brussels

[10] 'The enemy is called corruption', justice minister says

[11] ND Deputy Kyriakos Mitsotakis meets Australian prime minister

[12] PASOK's Damanaki slams country's medical system

[13] Synaspismos leader Alavanos meets ESHEA board

[14] New missile boat launched

[15] Joint ministerial decision on saving energy in public sector

[16] Finance minister holds talks with Luxembourg PM

[17] Employment minister announces creation of 'Tiresias' for social security system

[18] Eurobank to expand activities in Turkey

[19] Greek inflation dropped to 2.9 pct in September, yr/yr

[20] Greek budget revenues up 8.9% in Jan-Sept

[21] Intralot member of joint venture undertaking S. Africa lottery's operation

[22] Foreign Exchange Rates - Tuesday

[23] Premier visits new Acropolis Museum under construction

[24] Events of 'Greek autumn in Vienna' continuing

[25] Cyprus from Aphrodite to Melusine exhibition inaugurated in Geneva

[26] Ministry of Public Order and TEE cooperation on road safety

[27] European Cinema Panorama between October 12-22

[28] School for Komotini Prison inmates

[29] Irish President strongly supports restarting of Cyprus process

[30] Irish President receives Golden Key of the city of Nicosia

[01] PM announces state measures for northern Greece flood victims

THESSALONIKI, 10/10/2006 (ANA/MPA)

The premier had departed for Thessaloniki at short notice on Monday to meet a team of senior government officials that arrived earlier that morning to inspect the damage, and chaired an emergency meeting between government and local officials held at the Stavros town hall in Halkidiki prefecture.

This was the second state of emergency declared in Halkidiki in the space of just two months, following the devastating fires that raged for days in forests and tourist resorts in Kassandra at the end of August.

Karamanlis' scheduled noon-time meeting with merchant marine minister Manolis Kefaloyannis was postponed for Tues-day morning.

In statements after the meeting, the prime minister stressed that state services had responded promptly to the emergency and that the state's support was "tangible".

The measures he announced in response to the crisis included immediate payment of compensation for damaged household effects, the declaration of a state of emergency in the affected areas so that they could claim the full range of benefits and aid allowed by law and immediate compensation for farmers by the agriculture ministry and ELGA crop insurance fund for losses to crops and livestock.

For damaged warehouse inventory and stored goods, Karamanlis said that a Civil Emergency Planning program would be submitted to the European Union for approval as soon as possible, so that compensation might be paid to businesses.

Compensation would also be paid out to business enterprises for other damage, after recording damage, while damaged infrastructure would be repaired, he added.

The prime minister also emphasized that essential anti-flooding infrastructure, which had been delayed and neglected over several years, would be inducted into the EU's Regional Operational Programs (ROP) for funding.

The team of government officials that arrived earlier, headed by interior, public administration and decentralization minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos, assessed the damage caused by the heavy storms throughout the weekend. The meeting, initially chaired by Pavlopoulos, was also attended by agricultural development and food minister Evangelos Basiakos, environment, town planning and public works deputy minister Themistoklis Xanthopoulos, civil protection secretary general Panagiotis Fourlas, regional governor of Central Macedonia George Tsiotras, the prefects of Thessaloniki and Halkidiki and local mayors.

Pavlopoulos, Basiakos and Xanthopoulos left shortly after the meeting to tour the stricken areas.

Damage assessment got underway on Sunday, while the government has pledged to pay "substantial" compensation according to Macedonia-Thrace minister George Kalantzis, who visited the flood-stricken areas early in the day.

The minister also said that the state response had been adequate, even though it faced problems on many fronts simultaneously, such as in the villages of Melissourgos, Stavros, and Olympiada, as well as in Arnea and Paleochori in the prefecture of Halkidiki, and along the Thessaloniki-Kavala stretch of the national highway.

The villages of Nea Apollonia, Modi, and Varvara were without electricity on Monday morning, while Fire Department crews continued to pump out flooded homes in Vrasna, Stavros and Olympiada.

Serious problems were also reported in surrounding municipalities, especially Redina, where 500 homes were flooded, five were completely destroyed, crops were flooded and a lot of livestock perished by drowning.

Traffic problems occurred throughout the Thessaloniki and Halkidiki road network because of landslides, while the old Thessaloniki-Kavala national highway at the Modi intersection remained closed for motorists after a bridge collapsed, and efforts were underway to remove the debris covering the surface of the road.

The weather in Thessaloniki and Halkidiki has slightly improved since the early morning hours, but the state mechanism was still in a state of alert, while rain continued in western Macedonia, but without causing serious problems.

A state of emergency was declared in the region on Sunday, after 20 hours of non-stop rain.

The Fire Department has received a total of 145 calls to pump out flooded homes mainly from Stavros, Melissourgos, Nea Apollonia, Olympiada, and Arnea. A total of 70 Fire Brigade fire engines and 230 firemen assisted by EMAK special rescue teams, Hellenic Rescue Team volunteers and the Thessaloniki Commando Club managed to evacuate all those at risk using crawlers and rescue boats.

Electricity supply was restored to 20 villages and municipalities, while the rainfall caused traffic problems in large sections of Thessaloniki, where many traffic lights went out of order, thus causing traffic jams.

The villages of Asvestochori, Exohi and Filiro were left without electricity when a tree fell on the PPC main supply network. Electricity problems were also reported in parts of the city of Thessaloniki in the district of Toumba and around the Thessaloniki Aristotle University campus, while the Fire Department received many calls to free people trapped inside elevators stuck between floors.

Meanwhile, rescue teams continued their search for a 25-year-old driver whose car was swept by floodwaters in the village of Aghios Dimitrios in Argolida prefecture, northwest Peloponnese, on Saturday. Rescuers found the car on Sunday, but without the driver.

Problems were also reported from the island of Samothrace, where a bridge fell and cut off access between Kamariotissa and Therma, as well as the area's water supply and phones.

Meanwhile, a team from the Geological and Mining Studies Institute has been sent out to the flood-stricken area to determine the causes of the extensive destruction and propose ways of restoring the damage and avoiding similar incidents in the future, by order of Development Minister Dimitris Sioufas.

The Greek weather service has issued further storm warnings for Tuesday and Thursday, urging the public to take necessary precautions.

PASOK spokesman on flooding: Main opposition Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) spokesman Nikos Athanassakis, commenting on Monday to the heavy storms which swept the county over the weekend and to the floodings which were caused as a result, said that "the support of those affected must be immediate and substantial, in the quickest way possible and in the best manner."

He underlined that "there are question marks, given that there were announcements by the National Meteorological Service (EMY) about the inclement weather conditions, as well as questions in Parliament for anti-flooding projects, or requests by mayors, which were not met."

[02] PASOK leader meets Turkish PM Tayyip Erdogan

ANKARA, 10/10/2006 (ANA-MPA/A. Ambatzis)

"We socialists have a clear position on the European prospect of Turkey with a real candidacy, but with all obligations as well," Papandreou said after the meeting.

Referring to Turkey's obligations, Papandreou said that the delegation underlined "freedom of speech and the rights of religious communities and minorities" and noted that he had the opportunity to raise all the issues of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the issue of Cyprus, as well as Turkey's obligation to respond to the Customs Union.

Papandreou was due to leave for Athens on Monday night, while the European Socialist Party's delegation will be continuing its contacts on Tuesday.

The conclusions of the delegation's contacts in Ankara will be announced at the European Socialist Party's conference in Porto in December by George Papandreou and Paavo Lipponen, who are its joint presidents.

[03] Government contradicts Papandreou claims on relations with Turkey

ATHENS, 10/10/2006 (ANA/MPA)

According to government spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos, when the New Democracy government took over after the 2004 elections, a memorandum on the progress of Greek-Turkish exploratory talks presented to the then new foreign minister Petros Molyviatis by departing minister Tassos Yiannitsis had not indicated that any kind of progress had been made.

The spokesman was responding to questions regarding Papandreou's statement in the interview with "Ethnos", in which he said that the two sides "had reached a point where we would have agreed on a procedure through which Turkey would have withdrawn its 'grey-zones' type demands," and where all that was needed to reach an overall agreement was a "final push".

During the interview, Papandreou asserted that he and then prime minister Costas Simitis had discussed whether they should proceed with such an agreement but decided to wait until after the 2004 elections, when they would have a fresh mandate, because they believed that Costas Karamanlis would refuse to accept the deal and claim that it was not binding for him in the run-up to the elections.

Commenting on Papandreou's reference to talks on a "political level" with Turkey, Roussopoulos challenged PASOK's leader to reveal what these contacts were, who had made them, what their object and results were and whether Papandreou had informed anyone apart from then premier Costas Simitis.

He also noted that PASOK officials claimed that "as if by magic, all issues from Greek-Turkish relations to the Macedonia name issue, would have been solved by March 2004 or at the latest April 1 of 2004. And that everything stopped to move when ND became government."

"I would like to point out that Mr. Papandreou was deputy minister at the foreign ministry for two years and a minister for eight years," Roussopoulos added.

[04] PASOK spokesman on Greek-Turkish relations

ATHENS, 10/10/2006 (ANA/MPA)

Athanassakis noted that Papandreou's comments "are not like the way with which the government spokesman, and the government in general, wishes to directly describe them or through insinuations."

"Because on certain issues they (the government) pretend that they do not know anything and finally they will tell us that not even negotiations are being held or that they had not been informed, I read to you an interview of the then foreign minister to 'Kathimerini' newspaper on April 18, 2004, where, to a question if the more than 25 rounds concerned only the continental shelf, Mr. (Petros) Molyviatis answered that 'the discussion really concerns the delineation of the continental shelf with the difference that through the development of the Law of the Sea, but also of technology and the treaties in general, this delineation of the continental shelf also involves other matters'."

[05] Striking teachers attempt to force meeting with minister

ATHENS, 10/10/2006 (ANA/MPA)

They were turned back by police guards and a scuffle ensued, which ended when police resorted to using tear gas.

The protestors then regrouped and remained outside the ministry, shouting slogans for free education and against privatization in education.

According to a later ministry announcement, the request for a meeting with the minister was just a ruse on the part of protestors, who had not asked for any meeting beforehand. It also condemned the attempt to enter the building by force as an "attempt to create impressions and serve ulterior ends that offer nothing and have been irrevocably condemned in the eyes of the Greek people".

The ministry said that the incidents were begun by roughly 15 demonstrators that attempted to enter the ministry by force, after which the head of the primary teachers' union federation DOE Dimitris Bratis had claimed that he himself had led the group in order to seek a meeting with the ministry's political leadership.

The ministry announcement said that a senior official had contacted Bratis on the phone as soon as his claim became known, pointing out that no such request and been made and stressing that it would be granted as soon as the request was made through official channels.

Earlier, the head of the primary teachers' union federation DOE Dimitris Bratis stressed that teachers' were "holding out" and that the strike would continue until they had won.

"Those who think that the fighting spirit of teachers can be cowed are sorely mistaken," he added.

He also called on the government to come forward with a "serious and responsible counter-offer" to the teachers' financial demands, saying that the promise of a "paltry benefit" undervalued their struggle.

Both teachers and the government are equally adamant that they will not back down, with the government refusing to discuss the teachers' demands. These include a substantial pay increase of about 47.3 percent for newly-appointed teachers, so that their salaries reach €1,400 a month from €950 at present, and the immediate payment of a €105 benefit promised by the government, which wants to pay the benefit in six-monthly installments over three years, so that the immediate rise in take-home pay for teachers will be just €17.5.

[06] Gov't warns against takeovers, points to 'N17' provocation

ATHENS, 10/10/2006 (ANA/MPA)

Among others, the teachers' union is demanding a more than 40-percent salary increase in the base pay of educators, along with a dedicated 5 percent of GDP towards the education sector. Junior and high school teachers along with some university students' groups and a professors' union have also warned that they may join the mobilizations.

Beyond pay hikes, educators' unions are also unanimously opposed to the repeal of a constitutional amendment (Article XVI) banning the founding and operation of private, non-profit universities in the east Mediterranean country -- a situation that the government has promised to overturn.

Gov't reaction: Meanwhile, during a regular press briefing the same day, government spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos roundly condemned the possibility of "takeovers" of high schools by pupils, following several days of speculation and various reports in the press.

"The practice of taking over schools has been repeatedly condemned by public opinion ... no one has the right to play with our children's future," the spokesman said.

Moreover, Roussopoulos called on all political parties to clarify their positions regarding "this phenomenon, which is apparently being incited by some".

Asked what the government would do in case of threatened takeovers, Roussopoulos said:

"The government respects every view, as long as a relevant decision is within the framework of constitutionality," he said, while at the same time pointing directly to an incident over the weekend at the University of Athens' main administrative offices, the neo-classical Propylaea building next to the Athens Academy that served as the first university in modern Greece.

"...we saw a takeover of the university's main administrative building by people that raised a banner promoting a demand that prisons be disbanded and that a member of N17 (the ultra-leftist terror gang) be freed. What democratic conscience isn't enraged by such a demand?" he asked.

Opposition reaction: In a later reaction, the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) reiterated that it backs educators' demands and mobilizations by students and pupils, while "condemning the government's stance and a policy of suppression".

On its part, the Coalition of the Left (Synaspismos) party took umbrage with a reference to its leader, Alekos Alavanos, by the government spokesman during the latter's press briefing.

Roussopoulos' indirect mention of Alavanos' comments in Parliament late last week in response to a question regarding "incitement" of school takeovers generated a heated response by Synaspismos.

[07] Bill on Islamic mosque tabled in Parliament

ATHENS, 10/10/2006 (ANA/MPA)

The building of the mosque is expected to be implemented by the education ministry within the limits of the Athens municipality on land to be provided by this purpose by the Hellenic state or some local administration body.

The bill anticipates the appointment of an Imam for a two-year tenure by the education minister, who will have his salary paid by the ministry's budget.

The cost of building the mosque is expected to amount to 15 million euros, while 335,000 euros will be paid annually for the operational costs of the mosque and its administrative committee.

[08] Foreign minister condemns N. Korea nuclear test

ATHENS, 10/10/2006 (ANA/MPA)

"Greece condemns such a provocative action, which contravenes the Nuclear Arms Non-Proliferation Treaty, ignores UN Security Council resolution 1695 and constitutes a threat to international stability, security and peace," she said in the announcement.

On his part Christos Papoutsis, main opposition PASOK party's foreign policy chief, said that N. Korea's decision to proceed to a nuclear weapons test "constitutes a direct questioning of the international law order and violates the treaty for the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons."

"We categorically condemn nuclear tests and we are expecting the UN Security Council and the European Union to take the necessary political decisions asking to be fully informed by N. Korea on the conditions and the results of the nuclear test as well the immediate return (of N. Korea) to direct dialogue and negotiations with the international community and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Otherwise, we expect the necessary political decisions and the necessary sanctions against N. Korea," he added.

[09] Global climate change on agenda of Dimas-Gore meeting in Brussels

BRUSSELS, 10/10/2006 (ANA-MPA / M. Aronis)

According to a Commission press release, the 2000 US presidential contender will meet with Dimas shortly before a documentary on climate change and the "greenhouse effect", presented by Gore himself, debuts to a Belgian audience.

The screening will take place at the Palais des Beaux Arts.

[10] 'The enemy is called corruption', justice minister says

ATHENS, 10/10/2006 (ANA/MPA)

"We are really in confrontation with an enemy which had deeply rooted in the State, the economy, in society itself. Our government is daily battling relentlessly with this enemy, in an unegotiable manner and without exceptions. The outcome of this battle depends on our own conscience, our will and persistence," the justice minister said.

Papaligouras noted:"During the past 20 years, the average citizen started to live corruption all the more painfully, in the myriad of its forms. Gradually, the mentality of easy profit with the minimum of effort, the informal legalization of transactions and graft, the questioning of the system of values and the status of impunity, created a breeding ground for corruption to grow, creating conditions of total disintegration, harming the fundamental principles which weave social cohesion and secure progress."

"The 'centers of infection' are more or less known to all of us: Corruption has its roots in the untransparent possession of the entire network of public works, state procurements, contracts and the major Community (European Union) subsidies by a system of 'partners'. This oligopoly marginalized the majority of people and healthy businesses, distorted the functioning of the economy, adulterated competition and undermined the real modernization of the country," Papaligouras added.

[11] ND Deputy Kyriakos Mitsotakis meets Australian prime minister

MELBOURNE, 10/10/2006 (ANA-MPA/S. Hajimanolis)

The two men had a brief discussion at a reception given by Howard in honor of the conference's participants.

Howard referred enthusiastically to Australia's Greek community and pointed to it as an example of an ethnic group that was incorporated in the country's social framework with absolute success, while preserving its national characteristics.

Mitsotakis conveyed to Howard greetings from Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis. He also visited the ND party's local offices in Sydney.

[12] PASOK's Damanaki slams country's medical system

ATHENS, 10/10/2006 (ANA/MPA)

She said that "the new debts and poor management, the lack of personnel, the soaring of partisanship, the queues of waiting patients in the morning medical centers, the uncontrolled pharmaceutical expenditures and the commitments for transparency, meritocracy and reality, constitute the five scourges in the health sector."

[13] Synaspismos leader Alavanos meets ESHEA board

ATHENS, 10/10/2006 (ANA/MPA)

After the meeting, Alavanos said that "during this period of time in Greece, we are living worse moments than even when (former Italian prime minister Silvio) Berlusconi was in power in Italy."

The Synaspismos leader stressed that his party is "opposite to every form of censorship, is in favor of the freedom of the press and in favor of objective condemnation, criticism and revelations which are made by journalists and can help democracy."

[14] New missile boat launched

ATHENS, 10/10/2006 (ANA/MPA)

The new missile boat will be named the "Nikolaos Ritsos", after the commander of a Greek navy landing party who died in battle on Nov. 16, 1912 during operations to liberate the eastern Aegean island of Hios.

The vessel is being constructed at the Elefsina Shipyard, west of greater Athens.

Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Christodoulos officiated at a brief ceremony, with Deputy DM Vassilis Mihaloliakos representing the government.

[15] Joint ministerial decision on saving energy in public sector

ATHENS, 10/10/2006 (ANA/MPA)

The measures concern buildings in the public sector (either owned or rented), local administration and supervised agencies.

Sioufas said on the occasion that "saving energy constitutes one of the most important parameters of the energy policy we have been implementing over the past 30 months. The aim of government policy is for the saving of energy to be the basic element of the daily life of the Greek citizen and consumer. A new national target with economic and environmental repercussions."

[16] Finance minister holds talks with Luxembourg PM

BRUSSELS, 10/10/2006 (ANA-MPA/M. Spinthourakis)

The meeting was held in Luxembourg where the minister arrived to represent Greece at the Council.

According to well-informed sources, Alogoskoufis briefed the European Union officials that Greece's gross income, based on updated assessments by the National Statistical Service of Greece, will increase in the region of 25 percent. The finance minister said that this increase will be reflected in the Greek budget for 2007.

Juncker and Almunia told Alogoskoufis that, as anticipated by EU legislation, the updated assessments of the National Statistical Service must also be verified by the European Statistical Service to enable necessary changes in EU statistics to be made.

As regards timetables, some months will be required until ratification is carried out by the European Statistical Service. However, Greece hopes that this process, that had reached nine months for other EU member-states in the past, could be completed by spring in 2007 so that the Commission's spring assessments will take into consideration the new factors concerning the Greek economy.

[17] Employment minister announces creation of 'Tiresias' for social security system

ATHENS, 10/10/2006 (ANA/MPA)

During a debate in Parliament, in response to questions by Coalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology (Synaspismos) deputies regarding the Social Security Foundation (IKA), Tsitouridis stressed that "this initiative is taking shape."

"Through this system, the social security agencies will ascertain the social security behavior of every citizen. Who owe from real need and who systematically take advantage of the vacuum in the system," Tsitouridis clarified.

"With the implementation of a system similar to "Tiresias" in the social security system, an end will be put to the necessity of legislative interventions," the employment minister added.

[18] Eurobank to expand activities in Turkey

ATHENS, 10/10/2006 (ANA/MPA)

The Greek banker also announced Eurobank's intention to expand its activities in the Turkish market. He was speaking to reporters during a visit to Istanbul on the occasion of completing takeover procedures of Turkish bank Tekfenbank.

"Our visit to Istanbul signals Eurobank Group's interest in Turkey where we expand our activities with careful and steady steps," Nanopoulos. He noted that the Group's strategy to expand activities of Tekfenbank, currently operating a network of 30 branches and employs 600 workers, would focus on expanding activities in corporate portfolio and retail banking.

Nanopoulos said Eurobank would have invested around one billion euros in Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, Poland, Ukraine and Turkey by the end of 2006, developing a network of more than 700 branches with 10,000 employees. The Greek banker stressed that average lending, outside the Greek borders, rose by 81.5 pct in the first six months of 2006, while saving deposits were up 65.2 pct and assets rose 81.5 pct over the same period.

Nanopoulos said growth prospects of banking services in these countries were great since the countries were still at very early stages of developing a financial sector, with household borrowing at around 10 percent of GDP, compared with an average 57 pct in the European Union.

[19] Greek inflation dropped to 2.9 pct in September, yr/yr

ATHENS, 10/10/2006 (ANA/MPA)

NSS, in its monthly report, said the harmonized inflation rate also fell to 3.1 pct in September from 3.4 pct in August.

The statistics service attributed the decline in the consumer price index to a fall in core inflation (excluding fuel and vegetable price) to 2.4 pct in September from 2.6 pct in the previous month. An 11.2 pct drop in the price of petrol, compared with the same month last year, was the main reason for the significant slowdown in the inflation rate.

NSS's secretary-general Manolis Kontopyrakis, speaking to reporters, said he expected a further decline in the inflation rate in October if oil prices continued falling and predicted that the average inflation rate this year could ease to 3.2 pct.

The statistics service said the decline in the consumer price index reflected a 3.5 pct fall in transportation prices, a 0.8 pct rise in food and beverage prices, a 16.2 pct jump in clothing and footwear, a 0.2 pct rise in housing prices, a 3.5 pct increase in education fees and a 0.2 pct rise in restaurant prices.

[20] Greek budget revenues up 8.9% in Jan-Sept

ATHENS, 10/10/2006 (ANA/MPA)

Deputy Finance Minister Antonis Bezas, presenting a monthly report on budget revenues, said tax revenues rose 6.8 percent, exceeding a 6.5 pct budget target for the year. The ministry report said VAT proceeds were satisfactory with a growth rate of 11.4 pct, for a 12.9 pct growth rate in the January-September period, sharply up from a budget target of 7.2 pct this year.

Tax agencies' revenues rose 3.4 pct in September, while custom revenues grew 5.7 pct and other categories of revenues were up 4.2 pct.

Bezas said the ministry was continuing its pre-emptive inspections in domestic markets in an effort to combat tax-evasion.

[21] Intralot member of joint venture undertaking S. Africa lottery's operation

ATHENS, 10/10/2006 (ANA/MPA)

Revenues from this project for the Gidani joint venture are expected to be 90 million euros a year on average, while it has been estimated that over 3.5 billion euros will be provided throughout the entire duration of the project for socially beneficial purposes.

Intralot South Africa, in which Intralot is a majority shareholder, is participating in the Gidani joint venture with an 18 percent stake and it is the second biggest shareholder in the venture after the government, that will participate with 20 percent.

[22] Foreign Exchange Rates - Tuesday

ATHENS, 10/10/2006 (ANA/MPA)

U.S. dollar 1.260

Pound sterling 0.675

Danish kroner 7.456

Swedish kroner 9.28

Japanese yen 150.09

Swiss franc 1.589

Norwegian kroner 8.42

Cyprus pound 0.576

Canadian dollar 1.415

Australian dollar 1.692

[23] Premier visits new Acropolis Museum under construction

ATHENS, 10/10/2006 (ANA/MPA)

The prime minister said that the new museum provides a very powerful argument to Greece in support of the return of the Parthenon Marbles, adding that a very important step is being made toward the realization of a vision shared by all Greeks and all of Greece’s friends around the world.

Prime Minister Karamanlis underlined that the new Acropolis Museum project has entered the finishing stretch, with construction slated for completion in the first half of 2007.

He said that it will be the most up-to-date archaeological museum in the world, and worthy of the Acropolis exhibits. Soon, said the prime minister, both Greek and foreign visitors will be able to admire up-close the archaeological treasures brought to light by excavations in the wider Acropolis area.

[24] Events of 'Greek autumn in Vienna' continuing

VIENNA, 10/10/2006 (ANA-MPA/D. Dimitrakoudis)

The painting exhibition, inaugurated on Saturday by the Greek ambassador in Austria, Theodoros Sotiropoulos, displays 12 paintings each of two young men, as well as of Greek artists known in Austria and of the painters Dominique Dougeni and Dimitris Ververidis.

Dougeni, whose works on display at the exhibition are portraits showing her unique artistry, was born in Athens and carried out a series of studies in Philadelphia in the United States, Perth in Australia, Vienna and Salzburg.

The "Greek autumn in Vienna" is aimed at presenting characteristics and different aspects of modern Greek culture in Vienna and includes exhibitions, musical and dancing performances, lectures, literary evenings, the screening of films and Greek music concerts.

[25] Cyprus from Aphrodite to Melusine exhibition inaugurated in Geneva

GENEVA, 10/10/2006 (ANA-MPA)

A series of 10 lectures shedding light on aspects of the island's long historical and cultural course were scheduled at the initiative of the general consulate of Cyprus in Geneva.

Relations maintained by Cyprus through the dynasty of the Lusignans with the city of Geneva, as indicated by the city's historical archives, were promoted and used during the presentation.

The idea of organizing lectures, their support and the responsibility for their coordination was assumed by the Honorary General Consul of Cyprus Veatriki Dimitriadi.

[26] Ministry of Public Order and TEE cooperation on road safety

ATHENS, 10/10/2006 (ANA/MPA)

Polydoras praised TEE’s academic and practical contribution to road safety on the occasion of the publication of a relevant guide distributed in the ministry of public order.

Greek Police Chief Dimoschakis stated that 1,200 copies of the guide will be distributed to Traffic Police agencies, adding that schools will be supplied with relevant audio-visual material. He also referred to the great work done by the OEPTA (traffic accident control and prevention teams) since early October as well as to the traffic police reports on traffic accident prevention.

Polydoras stated that road safety is a top priority for the ministry of public order, described the guide as valuable and easy to use and pledged that cooperation between the ministry and TEE will improve further.

On his part, the TEE president commented that the goal is to materialize the EU target for less traffic accidents, underlining the excellent cooperation between TEE, the Traffic Police, the Fire Department and the Ministry of Public Order.

[27] European Cinema Panorama between October 12-22

ATHENS, 10/10/2006 (ANA/MPA)

Films from England, Austria, Germany, France, the Czech Republic and Slovenia will be participating, while dedications will include Nobel prize winner Harold Pinter, the classical and modern Italian cinema and American film director Sam Peckinpah.

The official inauguration of the Panorama will take place on October 12 with the new film by Nikos Panayiotopoulos titled "Dying in Athens."

[28] School for Komotini Prison inmates

10/10/2006 (ANA/MPA)

Most of the prison inmates are illiterate and the courses offered were an initiative by the prison warden. The program, which commenced a month ago, was warmly received by the inmates, considering that 40 of them have applied for the program.

However, the number of the inmate-students had to be kept low and courses at present are being attended by 18 inmates (10 Greek, 6 Albanian 1 Pole and 1 Iranian).

[29] Irish President strongly supports restarting of Cyprus process

NICOSIA, 10/10/2006 (CNA/ANA-MPA)

Speaking after talks with her Cypriot counterpart Tassos Papadopoulos on Monday, President McAleese said "we have offered to the President any help that we can give from our own historic experience in peace processes."

President Papadopoulos, responding to questions, noted that "a number of aspects of the Cyprus problem soon enough they are coming to be discussed within the EU, also within the framework of EU-Turkey relations" and expressed the hope that "we will have the support and understanding of Ireland as a member of the EU."

"The European Union remains very interested in the Cyprus process. I think that it is commonly agreed that the right umbrella which Cyprus problem can be solved will be the United Nations but Europe can not be indifferent", the president said, noting that negotiations have to be well prepared and well considered.

The Cypriot president said that the two countries enjoy friendly relations and cooperate in all the fora they participate and expressed gratitude to Ireland for the immense help it has given to Cyprus over the years with UNFICYP, in which 10.000 soldiers periodically have served on the island as well as for assistance and advice given to many other fields of cooperation.

In statements, the two presidents said they had the opportunity to discuss building up the excellent bilateral relations which have moved beyond mere historic friendship into a partnership within the European Union. "We are also very conscious of building up our bilateral relationships and we are very pleased that we have a joint initiative, ie on development aid in the tragic country of Lesotho", McAleese added.

McAleese further said she was honored to be the first Irish head of state to visit Cyprus, a long-standing friend and noted: "We understand partition, we understand division, we understand the complexity of peace processes possibly better than any other state in the world, we have a natural mutual empathy".

The Irish president thanked the President Papadopoulos "for the tremendous help that was given during the very recent conflict in Lebanon, "when Cyprus of course was almost overnight plunged into the middle of that dreadful situation and coped so incredibly well with people who were displaced overnight including many Irish people who have your government and Mr. President to thank for their easy passage home in very difficult circumstances".

Referring to the partnership within the EU, the Irish president said "we look forward to exploring many of the opportunities that the membership of the Union presents us with, but we are also very conscious of building up our bilateral relationships and we are very pleased that we have a joint initiative ie on development aid in the tragic country of Lesotho".

As regards the Cyprus issue, she said she heard with great interest to President Papadopoulos putting to context the divided Cyprus' preoccupations in terms of building up the peace and building a development process which would allow for the reunification of the island, a bi-zonal, bi-communal and federal Cyprus, a full inclusive settlement through which the right of all the people will be accommodated.

Concluding, she said that around 60,000 Irish visit Cyprus as tourists every year and return home as ambassadors for Cyprus.

As regards Saturday's football match, between the national teams of the two countries, which she watched with President Papadopoulos, President McAleese said: "I thought you were brilliant", adding that "we have been comprehensively beaten by a very skillful and brilliant much better team."

"Certainly I don't know if anybody had ever scored five goals against us in living memory and I am also told that Cyprus has never scored five goals before so it was really good to be here for an epoque meeting, historic night," President McAleese added.

She concluded "we were outclassed, you were two and a half times better than us, and we hope that we will learn from that".

In July Papadopoulos and the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community agreed to talks, between their top aides, with a view to set up technical committees to discuss issues that affect the day to day life of people as well as substantive issues.

[30] Irish President receives Golden Key of the city of Nicosia

NICOSIA, 10/10/2006 (CNA/ANA-MPA)

Receiving the Golden Key, the Irish President said she was so very proud to have the key "of this beautiful divided city. I hope to come one day back to see this city united and one," she added.

She thanked the Mayor and the city council for the honor which, as she said, she deeply appreciates.

McAleese noted that Cyprus and Ireland although are in the opposite sites of the EU they are very much bonded in spirit by the very complex historic circumstances.

"One of the reasons why we understand each other so well it's because I come from an island that is also divided. The tragedy of division and partition is bad enough with borders and lines of divisions separating neighbor from neighbor. At Belfast we have a peace line," she added noting that "in both our islands we work to find ways of living together on peace and prosperity and partnership and we work to end these dreadful divisions that really have cost us."

The Mayor of Nicosia said that his ultimate goal is the reunification of the city, in the framework of a comprehensive Cyprus settlement.

He expressed the belief that a united Nicosia and a united Cyprus will be in a better position to fulfill its obligations and play its role as the EU southern boarder.

Handing over the golden key to the Irish President, Zambelas said that this underlines the friendship and cooperation between the two peoples.

McAleese visited later the old city of Nicosia and the ceasefire line, escorted by Zambelas.

Earlier McAleese had met with Cyprus House President Demetris Christofias, who underlined during their meeting, efforts made by the Cyprus government and the Greek Cypriot side both for the rapprochement between the two communities on the island (Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot) and to promote a settlement of the Cyprus question, in line with the international and European law.

An official press release quoted Christofias as saying that despite the disappointment due to the Turkish side's stance, "we will continue efforts towards this direction".

Christofias thanked McAleese for the solidarity of the government and the people of Ireland to end Cyprus' division and to reach a viable settlement of the problem, based on principles.

Christofias also expressed the belief that without external interventions the Cyprus question could be more easily solved.

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