Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 06-10-21

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM says energy policy, innovation on first day's agenda at informal EU summit

[02] PM confers with Cyprus President ahead of EU informal summit

[03] Main opposition's Papandreou calls for 'no discounts' in Turkey's EU course

[04] Rehn again outlines EU-Turkey issues to Athens audience

[05] Interior minister speaks on regional growth in view of 4th CSF

[06] Education not a party-political matter, minister tells TEI presidents

[07] PASOK calls for postponement of discussion on article 16 on higher education

[08] Elementary school teachers to continue their strike next week

[09] Ecumenical Patriarch meets Education Minister in Thessaloniki

[10] IMF urges reforms to pensions, social security system

[11] Government must 'come clean' on women's retirement age, PASOK's Damanaki says

[12] EIB considering lending to Greece in transport, energy, schoolbuilding projects

[13] NBG deputy CEO on Finansbank acquisition at EIB annual meeting

[14] IOBE report on FDIs to Greece

[15] OSE agreement with Bulgarian railways

[16] Danaos Shipping' capitalization totals 1.2 bln US dollars in NYSE

[17] Athens Bourse Close: Stocks rise sharply

[18] President to attend October 28 celebrations in Thessaloniki

[19] Targets of new Greek Culture Promotion Organization president

[20] 337th Squadron's 110 Fighter Wing reopens in Larisa

[21] Greek Police Chief meets Cypriot counterpart, directors of int'l organizations

[22] Monument to Hungary's Greeks to be unveiled on Sunday

[23] Women Migrant Network event in Thessaloniki

[24] PAOK Thessaloniki soccer club celebrates 80th anniversary in presence of Ecumenical Patriarch

[25] President Papadopoulos discusses Finnish proposal with EU leaders

[26] House approves participation in UN peace keeping force in Lebanon

[01] PM says energy policy, innovation on first day's agenda at informal EU summit

LAHTI, Finland, 21/10/2006 (ANA-MPA)

"It's obvious that ensuring the EU's energy supplies is a necessary precondition for its development, while investment in innovation is a one-way street for the EU," he said just prior to a dinner hosted for EU leaders and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Karamanlis added that discussions at the informal summit focused on the uninterrupted supply of energy as well as combating climate change via the use of renewable energy sources.

"Greece backs the development of a multi-dimensional energy policy, one harmonized with the national policies of member-states. We believe that the current junction is well-suited for the promotion of an internal energy market through a treaty for a European energy community, which was recently signed in Athens. The latter comprises, in our opinion, the best platform for the development of a foreign energy policy," he said.

Moreover, the Greek premier again stressed that Russia is a "preferential" partner of the EU, with cooperation in the energy sector as well as in investments entailing a strategic significance. Along these lines, he cited the progress to finalize plans for an oil pipeline connecting the Black Sea with the Aegean (Burgas-Alexandroupolis).

Regarding the issue of innovation, Karamanlis said EU leaders exchanged views on how to allow for the more effective investment in knowledge, "and the creation of a comprehensive strategy for copyright and the strengthening of cooperation between businesses and research institutes".

He also said Athens supports the Commission's proposal for the creation of a European technological institute.

In other developments, the Greek premier briefed EU counterparts on the problem of illegal immigration faced by Greece, while at the same time re-tabling Athens' proposal for the future creation of a European coast guard force to seal the Union's borders from illegal immigration, an idea he said can first be promoted by holding joint patrols.

"This (issue) remains one of Greece's priorities, and is constantly upgraded within the EU as well..." he said.

Finally, asked about earlier comments by main opposition PASOK leader George Papandreou, who is also in Helsinki, merely noted that "my standing position is that issues of foreign policy and the national issue are above political parties."

[02] PM confers with Cyprus President ahead of EU informal summit

LAHTI, Finland, 21/10/2006 (ANA-MPA)

Karamanlis made no statements to the press after the meeting, while Papadopoulos explained that it was one of the customary contacts he has with the Greek prime minister whenever they were both attending the same forum.

Asked whether there was understanding from the Greek side, Papadopoulos replied that "never has understanding been lacking on the part of the Greek side, except only for the press...our cooperation, in action, is excellent".

The Finnish EU presidency is continuing its deliberations over the proposal it has submitted aiming at finding a compromise solution to keeping the Turkish accession process on track.

Karamanlis and Papadopoulos had a private discussion, before they were joined by the Greek and Cypriot delegations, which included Greece's deputy foreign minister Yannis Valinakis, the director of the prime minister's diplomatic office Alexandros Sandis, Greece's permament representative to Brussels Vassilis Kaskarelis, and deputy government spokesman Evangelos Antonaros, as well as the director of President Papadopoulo's diplomatic office Tassos Tzionis, Cyprus ambassador to Helsinki Loria Markidi, and Cyprus' permament representative to Brussels Nikos Aimiliou.

[03] Main opposition's Papandreou calls for 'no discounts' in Turkey's EU course

HELSINKI, 21/10/2006 (ANA-MPA)

Emerging from talks with the Finnish presidency of the EU, the head of the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) said his message was directed equally to all sides, including the Greek government. The Finnish EU presidency is currently preparing to present a proposal that it hopes will overcome the EU-Turkey deadlock over the Ankara Agreement, which is blocking Turkey's accession progress, and persuade Ankara to open its ports and airports to Cyprus.

Papandreou is continuing contacts in Helsinki, which will also take in the Cypriot and Turkish sides, in what he says is a bid to protect the interests of Cyprus and Greece in view of the Finnish proposals.

PASOK's leader had a meeting with Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos on Friday morning, while a week earlier he held talks with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

"I will continue these efforts with the aim of making Turkey respect its obligations toward a member-state of the European Union, the Cyprus Republic," Papandreou told reporters after his meeting with Finland's Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja.

[04] Rehn again outlines EU-Turkey issues to Athens audience

ATHENS, 21/10/2006 (ANA-MPA)

On Friday, Rehn spoke at an event sponsored by Athens-based think tank ELIAMEP (Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy) on the occasion of the release of his book, entitled "The Next Borders of Europe".

The EU Commissioner specifically cited use of the word "borders" instead of "limits", saying the former refers to opportunities and not to restrictions.

In terms of Turkey, probably the timeliest issue facing the Union at present, Rehn said there are no alternate routes for Turkey's accession into the EU, as the latter must use the "normal road".

Moreover, he once again reiterated that as far as the Commission is concerned, full implementation of the Ankara protocol is a totally separate procedure from whatever implementation of a protocol allowing direct trade between the Union and the Turkish-Cypriot community.

[05] Interior minister speaks on regional growth in view of 4th CSF

21/10/2006 (ANA-MPA)

The meeting dealt with regional growth and the initiatives for cohesion, in view of the 4th Community Support Framework (CSF) program period.

"The shaping of all the necessary conditions for the promotion of regional growth, the strengthening of social cohesion and the consolidation of a dynamic economy, constitutes the government's primary policy," Pavlopoulos told the meeting.

""Following the Cabinet's session, the prime minister (Costas Karamanlis) announced that decision was reached for 82 per cent of the 4th CSF, for the period 2007-2013, to be directed towards the safeguarding of the regions' balanced and viable growth. The sum of the total EU and national participation amounts to 36.4 billion euros," Pavlopoulos said.

[06] Education not a party-political matter, minister tells TEI presidents

ATHENS, 21/10/2006 (ANA-MPA)

"It is extremely scientific, and whatever goes counter to science and new developments will at some stage collapse, it cannot be preserved for any length of time," she said.

She added that the education ministry was working with the TEI academic community to induct the TEI into the country's higher education system, with greater autonomy and on an equal basis to universities, not just in name but also in fact.

To this end, Yiannakou pledged higher funding from the EU's 4th Community Support Framework (CSF), noting that the education ministry is to receive double the percentage that it received the last time. She said these funds would be directed toward new infrastructure and "scientific policies that will concern the human factor".

According to the minister, the government also intends to propose that the new equal status of T.E.I. to universities be expressly stated in the revised Constitution, to clear up ambivalences in previous measures, while a draft bill is being prepared that will allow T.E.I to offer autonomous post-graduate courses after an evaluation.

"We want T.E.I that carry out research, with a strong scientific staff, that cooperate with other educational institutes and produce work. Studies have value when they yield results in society and the education ministry will give its support," she said.

She also referred to the measure establishing a minimum pass of 10 (out of 20) for entry into degree courses, saying that there would be discussion on this between the ministry and T.E.I, while expressing her opinion that the pass mark was not a problem but an opportunity to substantially upgrade the country's technological institutes.

The T.E.I presidents and vice-presidents, who concluded their two-day meeting on Friday, asked the minister to lift legal obstacles to the status of T.E.Is as higher education institutes on a par with universities, including the professional rights afforded their graduates. They also raised economic issues, such as funding for research and education and higher salaries for teachers.

[07] PASOK calls for postponement of discussion on article 16 on higher education

ATHENS, 21/10/2006 (ANA-MPA)

The controversial article was due to be addressed by the relevant Parliamentary Committee on Wednesday.

According to PASOK's rapporteur, it had already been agreed from the beginning of the constitutional revision Committee's work that controversial articles concerning higher education, relations between the state and the Church, the protection of forests, etc, were to be discussed separately at the end of the relevant process, in January.

Teachers and secondary school professors will be holding a rally outside Parliament on Wednesday.

Responding to a question by the press, the president of the Committee for the Revision of the Constitution, Yiannis Tragakis, said that "I contacted the government and it was decided that since PASOK is officially requesting a postponement, we have no reason not to facilitate it."

In a related development, the press office of the Coalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology (Synaspismos) said that "the consensual and concerted time concession alone of (ruling) New Democracy (ND) and PASOK concerning the discussion on the amendment of article 16 of the constitution is a first small result of the struggles of the education front."

The Coalition party added that "we call on both the government and the main opposition party to revise their position and commit themselves that no amendment of article 16 will take place that will allow the operation of private universities in any form because in January, when they are scheduling the discussion, the struggles of the educational alliance will be even more strong and effective."

[08] Elementary school teachers to continue their strike next week

ATHENS, 21/10/2006 (ANA-MPA)

As announced by the teachers after a lengthy session, the board of the Federation of Teachers of Greece (DOE) decided the continuation of the strike, for five days, where there is no second round of local government elections, and a four-day strike where there is, for the week from October 23 to 27.

[09] Ecumenical Patriarch meets Education Minister in Thessaloniki

ATHENS, 21/10/2006 (ANA-MPA)

In statements after a dinner which was hosted in honor of Vartholomeos, the education minister said "the Ecumenical Patriarch's visit is of great importance for us Greeks and all the Orthodox."

Yiannakou added:"The Patriarch's visit, with many parameters, such as him talking with the political leadership, but also coming to Thessaloniki to attend the conference of presidents of higher education technical institutes (TEI), shows his interest in all the spectrum of education and of higher education, but at the same time also shows the Patriarch's great initiatives for inter-religious dialogue, the reduction of tension and of fanaticism."

While in the city, the Ecumenical Patriarch laid the foundations of a home for the elderly, in the courtyard of Aghios Athanassios Church, a donation of the Papageorgiou Foundation, honoring the donors.

The "Home for the Elderly" will have an expanse of 3,000 square meters, have 110 beds and will cost 7,200,000 euros.

Ecumenical Patriarch inaugurates 'Kivotos' center in Thessaloniki: The newly-built “Kivotos” center at the Holy Metropolis of Neapolis and Stavroupolis in Thessaloniki was inaugurated on Friday by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.

The Ecumenical Patriarch stressed that the center will be a shelter for all young people wishing to live as true Orthodox Christians in a provocatively de-Christianized world.

The Ecumenical Patriarch also attended the opening of the meeting of the TEI (Technological Education Institutes) presidents held in the presence of Education Minister Marietta Yannakou. Addressing the participants he commented that when life is ideologically trapped in anthropocentric systems of knowledge, dynamism is absent and creative spirit ceases to exist.

The education minister stressed that she completely supports the recognition of the Patriarchate’s Ecumenical role, adding that in view of Turkey’s EU accession process the Patriarchate should gain everything that it deserves.

The Ecumenical Patriarch arrived in Thessaloniki from Athens late on Thursday night on board the prime minister’s aircraft and was formally greeted at Macedonia Airport with honors reserved for heads of state.

The initiative to invite the Ecumenical Patriarch to Thessaloniki, who will also visit the monastic community of Mount Athos, was undertaken by the PAOK soccer team veterans on the occasion of the football clubs 80th anniversary.

[10] IMF urges reforms to pensions, social security system

21/10/2006 (ANA-MPA)

The IMF delegation, in an official visit to Athens to discuss the country's economic condition and outlook with government ministers, bankers and trade unions, also urged changes in the labor market. Speaking to reporters during a news conference, the delegation underlined the need for changes in the social security system, while Greek Economy and Finance Minister George Alogoskoufis said a dialogue was currently underway on the issue.

IMF, in a draft report for the Greek economy, said the economic performance was very good and predicted strong economic growth rates next year as well. They cited, however, certain risks such as a high current account deficit. The international organization said wages have risen significantly over the last few years, further burdening the economy, while credit expansion continued growing -although it remained lower compared with other developed economies- but risks could emerge for the banking system if high economic growth were not sustained.

Richard Ford, the head of IMF's delegation, welcomed the successful efforts made to reduce the country's fiscal deficit but said the job was not completed since the country must present a surplus budget by 2012.

Commenting on the social security system, Ford said spending was expected to rise over the years and solutions should be found and structural reforms in the labor market were needed to ease the pressure on the country's current account balance.

Solutions offered by other member-states vary, with retirement ages rising, or higher pension payments offered to persuade workers to remain longer at work. Other solutions include reducing social benefits, or a mixture of initiatives. The IMF delegation stressed that the longer it took to introduce the necessary solutions to the problem, the worse the conditions would be for the country.

The Greek minister, speaking to reporters, said the government would have to present surplus budgets by 2012 and that fiscal adjustment should equal 0.50 percent of Gross Domestic Product annually.

Alogoskoufis also said efforts were made to expand the tax base in the country and stressed that tax-evasion was a big problem.

Mr Ford said that GDP revisions should be made every five years and stressed that in other countries the Statistics Services were independent bodies.

Coalition of the Left (SYN) slams IMF proposals, government's silence: The IMF proposals were criticized by a senior member of the left-wing Coalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology (SYN) party, Dimitris Stratoulis, who pointed out that the IMF 'recipe' had failed spectacularly when implemented in other parts of the world.

"Entire countries have been driven to economic disintegration and collapse and millions of citizens to poverty, misery and unemployment," he said.

He especially slammed the lack of reaction by Alogoskoufis, saying that his silence again confirmed that ND's government had decided to move in this direction, continuing a policy of "tough, one-sided austerity at the expense of workers".

[11] Government must 'come clean' on women's retirement age, PASOK's Damanaki says

ATHENS, 21/10/2006 (ANA-MPA)

"Pensionable age for women cannot be separated from the reality that Greek women face at the home and in society. It cannot be dealt with in isolation from the care of children and the family and from the protection of maternity by social insurance," she said.

[12] EIB considering lending to Greece in transport, energy, schoolbuilding projects

21/10/2006 (ANA-MPA)

More specifically, with respect to the transport sector, financing procedures were underway for a 200 million euro EIB loan for the Corinth-Tripolis-Kalamata national highway project, another 100 million euros for the Lefktro-Sparta national highway project, 150 million euro for the Thessaloniki underwater tunnel project, and 100 million euros for port projects.

In the energy sector, financing procedures were underway for a 100 million euros loan to the Public Power Corporation (DEH) and another 50 million euros for natural gas projects.

Regarding the sector of local government authorities, the EIB was examining loans of 50 million euros to the City of Athens and 20 million euros for the municipality of Kozani, while it was further examining a 100 million euro loan to the Athens-Piraeus Water Board (EYDAP).

Meanwhile, EIB president Philippe Maystadt, who is currently in Athens for the annual EIB meeting that is taking place in the Greek capital for the first time, told a press conference on Friday that the EIB was interested in participating in the financing of the Burgas-Alexandropoupolis oil pipeline.

Other EIB officials added that the Bank was also interested in participating in the financing of projects in Greece in the sectors of energy, education, local government, and research and innovation.

Indeed, they was announced that the EIB and Greece's Schoolbuildings Organization (OSK) were due to sign an agreement later in the day for a 200 million euro loan to finance the renovation and construction of 230 schools throughout the country. The EIB officials also opined that the EIB-OSK cooperation would be continued over the next few years, while they also expressed interest in extending the collaboration to the field of universities as well.

The EIB further announced the signing of loan agreements of 50 million euros with Eurobank and 40 million euros with General Bank for the financing of SMEs, as well as a 110 million euro loan with the Attiko Metro company for financing the extension of the Athens Metro.

EIB aims to support development of SMEs: The strategy of the European Investment Bank (EIB) focuses on the development of small- and medium-sized enterprises within the European Union, the bank's executives said during their annual general assembly here on Friday.

EIB aims to facilitate access of SMEs to funding sources with four different mediums, covering the whole specter of available sources in the market. These mediums are EIB's loans, activities by the European Investment Fund, guarantees offered by EIF for loan portfolios to SMEs and a new Jeremie initiative aimed to combine the afore mention sources of funding along with EU funds.

EIB offers medium- and long-term credit facilities to an intermediate agency or a bank for limited scale investment projects.

The European Investment Fund, in which EIB owns 62 pct and the European Commission another 30 pct, finances small- and medium-sized enterprises with activities mainly in high-technology and venture capital enterprises.

[13] NBG deputy CEO on Finansbank acquisition at EIB annual meeting

ATHENS, 21/10/2006 (ANA-MPA)

"Had we not made this move, we risked remaining a large bank in a small market - i.e. Greece - with no prospects of attaining critical size in a European context," Pechlivanidis said, adding that "looking forward, our main challenge will be to integrate the new acquisitions and to obtain a meaningful size in Romania", thus rendering National Bank a regional leader in the wider region of SE Europe with a notable presence on a European level.

Referring to the presence of Greek banks in general the SE Europe region, Pechlivanidis said that, according figures available at the end of 2005, Greek banks had a network of 963 branches, with 16,000 employees, and controlling 15 percent (10 billion euros) of the overall assets of the region's banking system, coming behind the Austrian banks, which controlled 24 percent, and ahead of the Italian banks, which controlled 14 percent.

Pechlivanidis noted that Greek banks earn about 6 percent of their total profits from their activities in the SE Europe region (approx. 147 million euros) "and are targeting a higher share going forward, both through organic growth as well as through acquisitions".

He noted, however, that "the scope for further acquisitions in SE Europe, and to a lesser extent Turkey, is nearing its limits as few opportunities remain, and their prices reflect their scarcity value as well as their bright prospects", citing Romania's fourth largest bank, the CEC, as one of the last remaining important acquisition opportunities in the region.

[14] IOBE report on FDIs to Greece

ATHENS, 21/10/2006 (ANA-MPA)

In a report, analyzing a UN's "World Investment Report 2006", IOBE's research director professor Theodosios Palaskas said the prospects of attracting foreign investments to Greece would continue to be unfavorable as long as policy measures failed to create the necessary positive environment. The Institute said a decline in the position of Greece in the international list highlighted the rise of maintaining a status quo at a time when Central and East European countries rapidly promoted economic reforms boosting their attractiveness.

Professor Plutarhos Sakellaris, chairman of the Council of Economic Experts of the Economy ministry, said that foreign direct investments to Greece totaled 9.7 billion US dollars in the decade 1996-2005, and cited bureaucracy and low competitiveness as the main hurdles of attracting more investments in the country.

The Greek professor said the government's economic policy was steadily contributing in the improvement of the business and investment climate in the country. Foreign direct investments worldwide totaled 916 billion US dollars, up 29 pct from 2004, the highest level in five years, while in Greece FDIs fell to 607 million dollars in 2005 from 2.1 billion dollars in 2004 (a decline of 71 pct).

Foreign direct investment inflows as a percentage of gross fixed capital investments totaled 9.4 pct worldwide, 16.1 pct in the EU and 1.1 pct in Greece last year, compared with readings of 7.7 pct, 8.6 pct and 4.0 pct in 2004, respectively.

FDI outflows from Greece jumped 41 pct in 2005 to 1.4 billion US dollars from 1.03 billion in 2004 and 412 million in 2003, with the bulk of foreign direct investments directed mainly to Balkan states, North Africa and the US.

IOBE's report said Greece gained a head start from other Balkan states being the only EU member-state in the wider region.

Large Greek enterprises' investments abroad are having a positive impact on the Greek economy, IOBE said. Greek exports grew an average annual rate of 17.9 pct in 2001-2004 with the average annual growth rate of exports by domestic multinational companies -with investments abroad- at 169.4 pct over the same period.

The report also noted a spectacular increase in the number of workers in subsidiaries and parent Greek companies to 35,000 in 2005 from 16,000 in 2001.

[15] OSE agreement with Bulgarian railways

ATHENS, 21/10/2006 (ANA-MPA)

The signing of a business memorandum is pending governing the sum of rail transports in the Balkans.

The agreement was signed on Wednesday by OSE representatives and Bulgarian counterparts in the Bulgarian city of Koulata.

In a related development, container transport multinational Maersk announced the scheduling of a second daily route between Thessaloniki-Sofia and Sofia-Thessaloniki.

[16] Danaos Shipping' capitalization totals 1.2 bln US dollars in NYSE

21/10/2006 (ANA-MPA)

Danaos Shipping said its market capitalization totaled 1.2 billion US dollars. The company operates a fleet of 27 container ships with a total capacity of 116,114 TEUs. Danaos is the largest company in the sector to list its shares in the US market and one of the largest worldwide. The company has placed orders for 16 new container ships due to be delivered by the end of 2009.

Merrill Lynch & Co and Citigroup Corporate and Investment Banking were the main underwriters of the public offering.

[17] Athens Bourse Close: Stocks rise sharply

ATHENS, 21/10/2006 (ANA-MPA)

The FTSE/ASE-20 index for high capitalization shares ended 1.14% up; the FTSE/ASE-40 for medium cap stocks 1.78% higher; and the FTSE/ASE-80 for small cap shares remained level.

Of stocks traded, advances led declines at 149 to 107, with 58 remaining unchanged.

The share index ended 1.20% up on a weekly basis.

Foreign Exchange Rates

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank:

U.S. dollar 1.261

[18] President to attend October 28 celebrations in Thessaloniki

21/10/2006 (ANA-MPA)

The celebrations will be launched on Wednesday morning with the procession of the holy icon of Saint Dimitrios, the city’s patron saint. A formal doxology will be held at the Saint Dimitrios Cathedral on Thursday, while a student parade will take place on Friday followed by a military parade on Saturday, October 28.

[19] Targets of new Greek Culture Promotion Organization president

VIENNA, 21/10/2006 (ANA-MPA)

Siopsis was speaking to the ANA-MPA here in his first public statements since he assumed his duties about a month ago.

He said that cultural issues can provide common targets for all the peoples of Europe and of the world and Greece is a pioneer in this sector of culture.

The Organization’s new president announced that it was chosen by the Inner Cabinet and by Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis himself as the management and coordination agency of Greece's presence in China during the period between September 2007 and October 2008, when Greece will be the theme country in light of the Beijing Olympic Games.

Siopsis considers this fact as being very important because "it can pull the Organization out of whatever obscurity and operational problems it had and for this reason the Organization is being restructured by order of Culture Minister George Voulgarakis, precisely to be in a position to meet its new duties."

[20] 337th Squadron's 110 Fighter Wing reopens in Larisa

21/10/2006 (ANA-MPA)

The squadron has 20 F16 Block52+ aircraft and is operationally upgrading the Air Force units in the region.

[21] Greek Police Chief meets Cypriot counterpart, directors of int'l organizations

21/10/2006 (ANA-MPA)

Present at the meeting were EUROPOL Chief Max-Peter Ratzel, SECI director and president, Mitja Mocnik and George Kounadis, respectively, PAMECA Chief, Klaus Schmudt, as well as ELAS officials.

[22] Monument to Hungary's Greeks to be unveiled on Sunday

VIENNA, 21/10/2006 (ANA-MPA)

The idea of setting up a monument was initiated by the Greek Embassy in Budapest and the Greece-Cyprus-Hungary Friendship Association and carried out with the assistance of the Greek and Cypriot governments, the Prefecture Administrations Union and Greek business people operating in Hungary.

Yiannakou will also represent the Greek government at events to mark the 50th anniversary since the Hungarian Revolution of 1956, that will take place in Budapest on Sunday and Monday.

[23] Women Migrant Network event in Thessaloniki

21/10/2006 (ANA-MPA)

They will refer to the hardships they went through before being assimilated into Greek society, while the common element shared by all of them is their love for the country that has become their home.

Soccer

[24] PAOK Thessaloniki soccer club celebrates 80th anniversary in presence of Ecumenical Patriarch

21/10/2006 (ANA-MPA)

"The emotion is very great. With the 80 years of life as a starting point, we believe that our club can and must offer more to sport, society and culture. We hope that PAOK's emblem, the double-headed eagle, with character and dignity as it deserves, will continue to fly high and flutter in our hearts," said the president of the veteran players federation George Koudas, who gave the Patriarch a commemorative plaque.

"The association of PAOK with Constantinople and the unforgettable homelands is not only historic in name but also with its emblem. At the same time, PAOK's name became known throughout the entire spectrum of sport and created worthy athletes and champions," the Patriarch said on his part.

Greetings by President Karolos Papoulias were conveyed to the celebration, a letter from Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis was read out, while addresses were made, among others, from the podium by Minister of Macedonia and Thrace Yiannis Kalantzis and Deputy Sports Secretary George Orfanos.

[25] President Papadopoulos discusses Finnish proposal with EU leaders

LAHTI, Finland, 21/10/2006 (ANA-MPA)

In statements after the EU informal heads of state and government meeting held in Lahti, President Papadopoulos said that he had the chance to discuss the Finish proposal with some of the EU leaders on the sidelines of the informal meeting, since the Cyprus question was not on the agenda of the meeting.

''I had the opportunity to talk with many of my colleagues and explain our positions on the proposal,'' he said, noting that ''we are not negative to an arrangement at the epicenter of which will be the return of the fenced-off town to its legal inhabitants within a determined time frame or under measurable facts that will ensure this return.''

He noted that ''the deliberations of the Finnish Presidency concern the way of implementing a regulation for free trade (between the EU and the Turkish Cypriots) in combination with the return of the fenced-off town of Famagusta,'' adding that ''the discussion has no relation with the implementation of Turkey's obligations towards the EU, it is another separate issue.''

Asked which the main points of the Finnish Presidency's proposal were, President Papadopoulos said that the Finnish Presidency has various ideas which it continuously discusses and that these ideas are formed depending on the views it receives from the interested countries.

Invited to say if he was optimistic that an agreement would be achieved, President Papadopoulos said that one could not speak about optimism or pessimism.

''The conditions set by our side, that Turkey has to fulfill its obligations towards the EU, are explicit. If Turkey is seeking for a pretext or a breakthrough in order to implement the protocol and ratify it, this is an issue between Turkey and the EU,'' he added, noting that he did not think it was rational for Cyprus to be called on to pay the price for Turkey to implement its own obligations.

Referring to the issues discussed during the informal meeting, President Papadopoulos said that, regarding the issues of the EU energy policy, many countries wanted a common agreement of all European countries to safeguard the security of the supply, noting however that there were many differences between member states, especially countries which did not have good relations with Russia.

''Our view is that, despite different views on side issues and as regards the intensity and emphasis every country gives to aspects concerning it, there is a broad field for common policy,'' he said.

In an intervention at the informal meeting, President Papadopoulos said that Cyprus and Malta, and Ireland to a smaller extent, as island member states, which have no access to the EU networks, must be treated by the EU in a special way for the set up of fuel storage countries and natural gas in liquid form.

He also said that the EU leaders also discussed innovation and research, and that those who took the floor underlined the need to set up a senior level European Technological Institute.

President Papadopoulos noted that another issue related to this is the creation of a European Patent Diploma so that once an innovation product is registered in a European country this certificate will be valid in all EU countries.

As regards accusations against Russia for violations of human rights, President Papadopoulos said that the EU needs to show consistency and adopt a homogeneous position against every human rights violation.

In a reference to Cyprus' case and the human rights violation by Turkey, he noted that the EU must not keep silent and be indifferent towards such violations due to other political expediencies or interests and alliances of EU member states with third countries.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied its northern third.

Turkey, a country aspiring to become an EU member state, does not recognize the Republic of Cyprus and refuses to implement the EU-Turkey Customs Union Protocol, by opening its ports and airports to Cyprus.

According to reports, the Finnish Presidency of the EU is promoting a proposal providing for the opening of the Turkish occupied port of Famagusta under EU administration for 24 months, in combination with the opening of Turkish ports to ships carrying the Cypriot flag and the transfer of the closed city to the UN.

[26] House approves participation in UN peace keeping force in Lebanon

NICOSIA, 21/10/2006 (CNA/ANA-MPA)

The UN Security Council in resolution 1701, adopted 11 August 2006, decided to support the UN force for Lebanon and on 16 August 2006, the Cyprus Republic submitted to the European Union a proposal for the participation in the peacekeeping force of two military officers.

Nicosia will also put National Guard installations at the disposal of the European forces.

The House approved the decision without any objections but called on the government to inform periodically the parliament through bi-annual reports.

The House Defense Committee has welcomed the support of the Republic to the humanitarian aid to the Lebanon in the past months and its contribution as a stabilizing factor in the region.

"The decision of the Republic to participate in the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon proves once more that Cyprus can and must play a role of stability, security, cooperation and peace in the region'', the House of Representatives notes in its decision.

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