Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 06-10-24

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

CONTENTS

[01] Government hails smooth running of local elections

[02] New faces in parliament after local elections

[03] SYN party expected to make positive assessment of local election results

[04] PM himself to meet with teachers' union reps on Tuesday

[05] KKE, SYN parties call on PM to satisfy teachers' demands

[06] Parents demonstrate outside the education ministry building

[07] SI's Committee on Migrations to convene in Rhodes

[08] PASOK's Political Council convenes

[09] FinMin begins visit to China

[10] Greece offers to help domestic investors in China

[11] Eurostat withdraws reservations on Greek budget figures

[12] Minister outlines gov't positions on pension reform

[13] Renovated 'Olive Oil Workshop' inaugurated at development ministry

[14] Greece at Paris food fair

[15] 'Retail Business 2006' awards

[16] Altec ranks among top Euro-firms in R&D spending

[17] Athens Bourse Close: Stocks drop

[18] State broadcaster to hold telethon for SAE's Hellinicare program

[19] Ecumenical Patriarch on Mount Athos

[20] Greece to present anniversary concert at UN General Assembly

[21] Seminar on access to justice at Appeals court on Wednesday

[22] Greek Red Cross to host children from former Yugoslavia

[23] OASA's 'Telematics System'

[24] Twenty-six illegal immigrants arrested on Samos

[25] Greek Super League soccer results

[26] Cyprus' position on Finnish proposal remains unchanged

[27] Cyprus to look into report about missing persons

[28] Estonian Prime Minister in Cyprus for official visit

[01] Government hails smooth running of local elections

ATHENS, 24/10/2006 (ANA)

The spokesman said that 24,744 polling stations operated during the first round and were down to 9,740 in the second round.

Participation in the first round of prefecture elections was 72.4% in the first round (down from 72.7 per cent during the prefecture elections of 2002) and 56.8% in the second round (down from 66.48% in 2002).

In municipal and community elections, participation stood at 72.45% in the first round (up from 69.4% in 2002) and 64.6% in the second round (down from 72.6% in 2002).

Elections were held in a total of 54 prefectures (including the three supra-prefectures), 914 municipalities and 120 communities, and were concluded in the first round in 43 prefectures and 787 municipalities and communities. Seven prefectures and 247 municipalities and communities went on to a second round last Sunday.

Asked to comment on the final result, Roussopoulos cited statements made by Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis on Sunday, who said the choices of electorate were possibly governed chiefly by personal criteria, while noting that every election result "hides some popular wisdom".

Final results of local government elections released: With all the results of Sunday's second round of local government elections counted, the ruling New Democracy party (ND) maintained its lead, with ND-backed candidates carrying a total of 30 prefectures throughout the country, against 22 prefectures carried by main opposition PASOK party and another two prefectures carried by candidates jointly backed by PASOK and the Coalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology (SYN).

According to the official results of the run-off elections in 7 prefectures and 247 municipalities, the ND-backed candidates carried the prefectures of Arcadia and Chania (Crete), while PASOK-backed candidates carried the prefectures of Cephallonia, Lefkada, Magnesia, Serres and Karditsa.

Of the 47 prefectures decided in the preceding Sunday's first round of elections, ND-backed candidates carried 28 prefectures, PASOK-backed candidates carried 17 prefectures, and two prefectures were carried by candidates backed jointly by PASOK and SYN.

In the municipal run-offs, interest was focused mainly on the cities of Thessaloniki and Patras. In Thessaloniki, mayor Vassilis Papageorgopoulos, backed by ND, was re-elected with 52.62 percent over PASOK-backed Chrysa Arapoglou, who received 47.38 percent. In Patras, PASOK's former deputy minister Andreas Fouras was elected with 53.15 percent against 46.91 percent for ND-backed former mayor Evangelos Floratos.

With respect to the 51 prefectural capitals -- Greece has 51 prefectures and three supra-prefectures -- ND-backed mayoral candidates were elected in 26, PASOK-backed candidates were elected in 19, candidates jointly backed by PASOK and SYN were elected in 4, while two SYN-backed candidates were elected in two prefectural capitals with the support of PASOK.

In Attica prefecture, 14 municipalities changed hands according to the results so far. Of the total 122 municipalities in Attica, 30 were carried by ND-backed candidates, 22 by PASOK-backed candidates, 3 by candidates jointly backed by SYN and PASOK, 4 by SYN-backed candidates, 1 by a candidate backed by the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), and 61 by independent candidates.

[02] New faces in parliament after local elections

ATHENS, 24/10/2006 (ANA)

In the first round of local government elections on October 15, New Democracy deputy for the Athens’ 1st electoral district Nikitas Kaklamanis won the mayor of Athens office, while PASOK deputy Evangelia Schoinaraki-Iliaki elected in Iraklio was elected prefect of Iraklio. Kaklamanis and Schoinaraki opened the way to parliament for Maro Kontou of ND and Ioannis Skoulas of PASOK, respectively.

The PASOK deputy for Thessaloniki’s 1st District Chrysa Arapoglou (a candidate for the Thessaloniki mayor's office) and PASOK deputy for the Athens’ 1st district Nora Katselis (the candidate mayor for Nea Smyrni) were not elected in the second round of elections and will return to their parliament seats. Meanwhile, ND's Achaia deputy Theophilos Vasiliou (running for Achaia prefect), ND Evros deputy Stavros Keletsis (Evros prefect candidate - Evros-Rodopi Supraprefecture) and Communist Party deputy Elpida Pantelakis elected in the 1st district of Piraeus (Piraeus mayoral candidate) all lost in the second round of elections.

Finally, the PASOK deputy for the 1st district of Athens, Costas Skandalidis, who was a candidate for the office of the Athens mayor, had resigned from parliament before the municipal elections and was replaced by Gerasimos Arsenis.

[03] SYN party expected to make positive assessment of local election results

ATHENS, 24/10/2006 (ANA)

"The results of the second round complete and increase the success of the first round for the election tickets backed by the radical and ecological Left support by the Coalition," Hountis said in statements to reporters.

[04] PM himself to meet with teachers' union reps on Tuesday

ATHENS, 24/10/2006 (ANA)

The development was announced to reporters by the government spokesman early Monday afternoon, with the latter clarifying that Education Minister Marietta Yiannakou will also participate in the highly anticipated meeting.

"The government's positions are clear ... The prime minister will explain to teachers that the government, which absolutely respects their vocation, has taken specific decisions dictated by the country's economic situation," spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos said, while stressing that the premier will again call on striking educators to return to their classes.

"This call will be made at the highest possible level because the government believes in dialogue and wants to make it crystal clear to all that the economy's problems are not solved overnight and are not problems that someone can anticipate in order to become momentarily pleasant. Decisions weren't taken to harass teachers, but because that is what the economy can handle," Roussopoulos said.

In response to a press question on whether the government will ask for main opposition PASOK leader George Papandreou's assistance to resolve the impasse, Roussopoulos said the government does not need an "intermediary" to talk with professional sectors or with unions.

The spokesman also dismissed a notion that the meeting will set a precedent for direct meetings between striking public sector unions and the head of government, saying that every instance will be judged on a "case by case basis", reminding that Karamanlis met last year with representatives of pensioners' groups.

Finally, asked about a recent postponement in Parliament debate over a future revision of Article XVI in order to allow the establishment of non-state universities in the country, Roussopoulos repeated that "following a request by PASOK the government majority in Parliament had no qualms about accommodating the main opposition. The government, after all, has had a clear position for many years over (revising) Article XVI, and it is a happy coincidence that Mr. Papandreou's view today on the subject converges with ours."

[05] KKE, SYN parties call on PM to satisfy teachers' demands

ATHENS, 24/10/2006 (ANA)

In light of Tuesday's meeting between Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis and the union leaders representing public school educators, the KKE said in a statement that the teachers' demands "are fair and realistic and should be accepted now."

Alekos Flambouraris, Synaspismos' Political Secretariat member, said on his part that the prime minister's meeting with the teachers' representatives "should not be hypocritical and unfruitful," calling on Karamanlis to "give a solution".

[06] Parents demonstrate outside the education ministry building

ATHENS, 24/10/2006 (ANA)

The news that the prime minister will meet with teacher unions on Tuesday came during the demonstration and most of the protesting parents characterized the government initiative as a first positive step toward easing the crisis.

On Friday evening, after teacher unions decided to continue their strike for a sixth week, Primary School Teachers’ Federation (DOE) President Dimitris Bratis appealed to the prime minister to undertake an initiative and meet with the teachers.

The initiative was characterized as positive by high school teachers as well, who stressed that everything will depend on its outcome.

Education Minister Marietta Yannakou is expected to return to Athens on Monday evening from Budapest and will attend the teachers’ meeting with the prime minister.

[07] SI's Committee on Migrations to convene in Rhodes

24/10/2006 (ANA)

The session is jointly organized by the main opposition Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) and Turkey's Socialdemocratic Party.

PASOK leader and SI president George Papandreou will open the Committee's session at the Castle of the Knights at 10 a.m., a PASOK press release said on Monday.

The committee is headed by Amalia Garcia, governor of Mexico's state of Azacatecas.

[08] PASOK's Political Council convenes

ATHENS, 24/10/2006 (ANA)

PASOK leader George Papandreou, following the eight-hour-long session, stated that there was complete agreement on three points:, firstly, that "the political scene is changing," secondly, that the local government elections "send a serious message to the government" and thirdly, that "it constitutes a new starting-point for PASOK in view of the national (general) elections."

Papandreou expressed his conviction that his party will win the general elections.

The PASOK leader also said that in the next two or three weeks, the Political Council will convene anew and in continuation, the party's National Council, "in order for there to be a systematic evaluation of the results and for the necessary moves to be made."

[09] FinMin begins visit to China

ATHENS, 24/10/2006 (ANA)

During the first stop on his Chinese tour, in Beijing, Alogoskoufis met separately on Monday with the governor of China's central bank Zhou Xiaochuan and finance minister Jin Renqing, and on Tuesday he was scheduled to have a meeting with commerce minister Bo Xilai which would also be attended by delegations of the two countries, while Bo was also slated to host a luncheon in honor of the Greek minister and delegation.

Alogoskoufis will give an interview on the local national television station CCTV (Central China TV), and on Tuesday night he will address representatives of the Beijing business community on the theme "Greece in a new era: Business and investment opportunities in SE Europe". The address will cover the positive prospects of the Greek economy and the country's significance as a central pole of rapidly developing region of SE Europe.

The Greek minister would also hold a press conference for the Chinese media after the luncheon.

On Wednesday, Alogoskoufis will meet with Beijing mayor Wang Qishan, before departing for Shanghai where, on Thursday, he was slated to visit the stock exchange and meet with its president, followed by a meeting with the mayor of Shanghai, who will also be hosting a reception in the Greek minister's honor.

On Thursday night, Alogoskoufis will be the guest speaker at a dinner attended by representatives of the Shanghai business community.

Alogoskoufis will visit Hong Kong on Friday, for talks that same day with secretary for economic development and labor Steven Ip and stock exchange president Ronald Arculli.

The Greek minister is accompanied on his China visit by deputy national economy and finance minister Christos Folias, Athens Stock Exchange (ASE) president Spyros Kapralos, Hellenic Export Promotion Organization (HEPO) managing director Panayotis Drossos, Hellenic Investment Centre (ELKE) president Yannis Anastassopoulos, and a large business delegation.

[10] Greece offers to help domestic investors in China

BEIJING, 24/10/2006 (ANA-MPA)

"Ask us what we must do on a political level so that we may go ahead. You are in the front line," the minister told managements of the firms during a visit to China.

The ministry and HEPO, the national exports board, had undertaken a systematic endeavor to promote Greek products in markets abroad, including the sale of domestic olive oil in China, the USA, Canada and Australia, Alogoskoufis noted.

Finally, he said that all sectors of the Greek economy could produce exports, including engineering studies and project construction.

Alogoskoufis' deputy, Christos Folias underlined that China should not be seen as a business threat, but rather as a golden opportunity. And beyond exports, companies from the two countries could forge alliances in both lands.

[11] Eurostat withdraws reservations on Greek budget figures

BRUSSELS, 24/10/2006 (ANA)

The EU executive's statistics agency said it was using the GDP figures notified in April 2006, and not the revised GDP data reported by the Greek authorities on 1 October 2006. Given the magnitude and complexity of the revised GDP data (an increase of 25% compared to the old figures), Eurostat will carry out a complete verification of GDP data once Greece has delivered a full inventory of the sources and methods used for the new calculations.

As far as Greece is concerned, a methodological visit carried out in June 2006 and September 2006 clarified the pending issues mentioned in the Eurostat News Releases of 26 September 2005 and 24 April 2006, concerning the recording of transactions with the EU budget, the accounts of social security and the amounts of other receivables and payables for the years 2002-2005, and resulted in a revision of Greek deficit data. The increase in government deficit for Greece was equal to 0.3% of GDP in 2002 and 2003, 0.9% in 2004 and 0.7% in 2005. The methodological visit will be finalized by the establishment of an action plan for the improvement of Greek government finance statistics, to be carried out during the course of next years, agreed between Eurostat and the Greek statistical authorities.

As announced in April 2006, Eurostat is currently discussing with the relevant technical working groups the accounting treatment to be applied to the following issues: securitization operations undertaken by government, classification of payments for the use of roads, sales or transfers of impaired government claims (notably in the case of foreign claims) and payments in connection with the transfer of pension commitments to government. Furthermore, Eurostat's decision on "The recording of military equipment expenditure" of 9 March 2006 does not seem to have been fully applied by Germany and Greece.

The GDP notified in October 2006 for EDP purposes was revised by small amounts compared to the GDP notified in April 2006 for the reporting period 2002-2005, most notably by Estonia, Cyprus, Hungary and Malta. Changes in GDP affect deficit and debt ratios due to a denominator effect. The revision of the GDP for Greece is still under investigation, owing to the exceptional size of the revision. In effect, there are high statistical uncertainties about these revised GDP data, which require a complete verification by Eurostat once Greece has delivered a fully revised inventory of the sources and methods used for the new calculations.

Eurostat said the increase in deficit in 2002-2005 was mainly due to reduction of surpluses of other central government bodies and social security funds (corrections for transfers received from the ordinary budget in 2002-2005, and change in data sources in 2005).

PASOK's V. Papandreou on Eurostat remarks about Greece: Main opposition Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) deputy Vasso Papandreou, head of the party's Economy Department, in statements on Monday regarding announcements by Eurostat, said that "yet again, the (Prime Minister Costas) Karamanlis government managed to ridicule the credibility of the Greek economy and the Greek statistics authorities."

She added that "following the 'flirtation' with the revision of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), it is proven from the announcements of the European Statistics Service that the New Democracy (ND) government 'inflated' the size of the so-called white hole, during the 2004-2005 period so as to reduce the fiscal deficit which it created with its policy."

[12] Minister outlines gov't positions on pension reform

ATHENS, 24/10/2006 (ANA)

Speaking to reporters during a presentation of the Social Security Foundation's (IKA) budget, Tsitouridis said the government did not intend to discuss these issues in a dialogue over reforming the pension system.

He added that IKA's budget showed a surplus of 40 million euros and predicted even higher budgets in the future. The healthcare sector showed a deficit of 942 million euros, a sum overshadowed by surpluses in other activity sectors.

Tsaousidis said Greece won't accept recommendations undermining the European social standard, such as longer weekly work hours that exceed health and safety standards. He noted that the ministry would table draft legislation in Parliament to promote reforms in the social security system, such as a rescheduling of debt to IKA and other pension funds.

Finally, Tsitouridis noted that the government would unveil measures to combat social contribution evasion by the end of the year, while it will withstand pressure to equalize retirement ages between men and women in Greece.

[13] Renovated 'Olive Oil Workshop' inaugurated at development ministry

ATHENS, 24/10/2006 (ANA)

In an address, the deputy minister referred to the role of the Workshop, underlining that the government in 2006, which was proclaimed Olive Oil Year, started a series of initiatives for the support of Greek olive oil, both domestically and abroad.

The deputy development minister noted that within this context, the government forged ahead to project olive oil to large foreign markets, strengthened the apparatus for quality certification and decisively contributed for the better briefing of the consumer.

Concluding, Papathanassiou said that the development ministry will continue its strict checks in the sector, which it has already started, so as to restrict, to the greatest possible degree, the distribution of loose olive oil.

[14] Greece at Paris food fair

PARIS, 24/10/2006 (ANA/MPA)

The trade fair that began on Sunday and ends on Thursday is host to 5,256 companies and trade groups from 99 countries.

Greece has a large pavilion at the exhibition, which houses a restaurant serving national delicacies as part of the country's Kerasma cuisine publicity campaign.

"Greece's presence at the (two-yearly) Sial has been greatly upgraded, emphasizing the quality of Greek products, which is becoming more and more discernible, along with the competition battle in global markets," the CEO of the Exports Promotion Organization, P Drosos, noted.

[15] 'Retail Business 2006' awards

ATHENS, 24/10/2006 (ANA)

The awards were presented by Deputy Development Minister Anastasios Nerantzis.

The event was held with the support of the Association of Business Retail Commerce and the National Confederation of Greek Commerce, under the auspices of the Development Ministry.

The awards ceremony declared a total of ten winners in the following categories:

 Retailer of the Year: IKEA

 Retail Franchisor: Goody's and 5 A' cec

 Retail Manager: Socratis Kominakis, managing director of TIM Hellas

 Retail Rising Star: Fnac

 Retail Campaign: Germanos

 Retail Store-Super Market: Sklavenitis

 -Retail Store-Dining: Starbacks

 Retail Store-Clothing and Footwear: ZARA

 Retail Store-Electrical Appliances and New Technologies: Fnac

 Retail Department Store: Attica

[16] Altec ranks among top Euro-firms in R&D spending

ATHENS, 24/10/2006 (ANA)

The list of companies - 1,000 from Europe and the same number from outside the bloc - was compiled by Industrial R&D Scoreboard and released by the European Union's executive Commission.

The listed companies invested a total of 371 billion euros in R&D, the survey said.

Altec, one of few Greek firms in the listing, received a ranking for the second straight year, the statement added.

[17] Athens Bourse Close: Stocks drop

ATHENS, 24/10/2006 (ANA)

The FTSE/ASE-20 index for high capitalization shares ended 0.38% down; the FTSE/ASE-40 for medium cap stocks 0.16% higher; and the FTSE/ASE-80 for small cap shares finished 0.59% down.

Of stocks traded, declines led advances at 164 to 92 with 56 remaining unchanged.

Stock Futures: