Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 06-11-08

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

CONTENTS

[01] Socialist International adopts 'viable globalization' term

[02] Deputy FM Stylianidis and Bavarian deputy PM discuss bilateral and European issues

[03] Foreign minister to meet Romanian counterpart on Wednesday

[04] DM to pay official visit to Serbia, comments on Kosovo

[05] Gov't to allow citizenship for ethnic Greeks of Albania

[06] Health Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos visits Albania

[07] Gov't spokesman refers to 'management deficit' at universities

[08] Gov't on pay hike for police, minister's stance

[09] PASOK spokesman comments on economy, education and police bonus

[10] Deputy foreign minister visits San Francisco Greek community

[11] KKE delegation in Lisbon communist meeting

[12] New Israeli ambassador to Greece presents credentials

[13] Parliament ratifies bill on creation of Islamic Mosque in Athens

[14] FinMin: Fiscal efforts to continue; cites positive Commission report

[15] Greece could exit excessive deficit procedures in spring, Almunia

[16] Greece backs EU-wide rule for working hours

[17] Northern Greek firms welcome outcome of Bavaria trip

[18] Tourism minister in talks with Expedia

[19] Greece takes part in Global Village trade fair

[20] Greek banking system to continue rapid growth, report

[21] Greek cooperative banks reports significantly improved nine-month results

[22] Foreign investors' participation in Greek blue chip index rose above 50 pct in October

[23] European stock markets sign new code of conduct to boost transparency and lower costs

[24] Athens Bourse Close: Stocks rise

[25] 6th Mobius Digital Creation Competition comes to an end

[26] Air Force to put on five-day celebration in honor of patron saint

[27] Joint Greek-Turkish exercise on handling natural disasters

[28] Parliament President Anna Benaki-Psarouda congratulates new Cyprus Archbishop Chrysostomos

[29] Greek engineering students to take part in collegiate Formula design/race competition

[30] Cross-border cooperation for protection of brown bear discussed

[31] Rare Armenian manuscripts to be loaned to Greece

[32] Cyprus and Croatia see room to improve bilateral relations

[33] Lillikas: We will judge Turkey based on its EU accession progress

[01] Socialist International adopts 'viable globalization' term

SANTIAGO, 8/11/2006 (ANA-MPA)

Socialist International President and main opposition PASOK party leader George Papandreou said during his address on Tuesday's SI Council session that issues which the Socialist International will be promoting to achieve viable globalization include the democratization of international organizations, the establishment of more democratic procedures in taking and checking decisions, achieving a greater balance between developed and developing countries, equality in access to new technologies and the handling of such phenomena as organized crime or huge health problems.

Papandreou said that handling this last issue is a great necessity which, as he said, will be the main issue at the Socialist International’s conference that will be taking place in about a year's time.

He also referred to the initiative he has undertaken in the Middle East which, as he said, will be continued and expressed the SI's full support for the Lebanese government of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora.

Commenting on the conviction of Saddam Hussein, Papandreou said that the socialists believed justice should be served, but they were opposed to the death penalty.

The president of PASOK called for the greater participation of women in the Socialist International and called on parties that are its members to have a greater participation in the organization's procedures.

Papandreou has had many bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the Socialist International's Council, including meetings with Costa Rican President, Nobel Peace Prize winner, Oscar Arias, former Chilean president Ricardo Lagos, Women's Socialist International President Pia Locatelli, the niece of assassinated Chilean president author Isabelle Allende, a delegation of the Turkish Cypriot Republican Party and Turkish Republican Party President Deniz Baykal.

Papandreou also attended a reception on Monday night that was given in honor of the Council's members by the country's President Michelle Bachelet, who welcomed him with the Greek greeting "kalispera" (good evening) and informed him that from searching she has carried out so far she believes that she has a Greek origin on the part of her mother and wishes to visit Greece to continue her searching.

[02] Deputy FM Stylianidis and Bavarian deputy PM discuss bilateral and European issues

MUNICH, 8/11/2006 (ANA-MPA)

Referring to relations between Europe and Turkey, the interior minister said that it was agreed that negotiations must not come to an end, but there should be no discounts in Turkey's evaluation, while reiterating the position of the Christian Democrat Party, to which he belongs, saying that in the party "we have a general reservation on the accession of Turkey and we support a privileged relationship with the EU."

The Greek delegation was greatly moved when it visited the grave of Constantine Karatheodoris, one of the greatest mathematicians in the world, according to mathematician and researcher of his work, N. Lygeros, who was present at the religious service held at the cemetery in Munich. The ceremony was the first honor given by the Greek authorities, 56 years after the death of the man who was Albert Einstein's teacher.

Speaking before the gravestone that has the form of a Greek pillar, on which his name and those of his wife and son were inscribed, Stylianidis referred at length to the personality of Karatheodoris.

[03] Foreign minister to meet Romanian counterpart on Wednesday

ATHENS, 8/11/2006 (ANA/MPA)

They are expected to discuss progress in bilateral political and economic relations with emphasis on potential for cooperation after Romania's accession to the EU in a Community frame-work.

They will also discuss regional issues - such as the situation in Kosovo, the Black Sea Economic Cooperation pact and the stability pact for SE Europe - and international affairs like the crisis in the Middle East.

The Romanian minister will also attend a working dinner with Bakoyannis and meet Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis.

[04] DM to pay official visit to Serbia, comments on Kosovo

8/11/2006 (ANA/MPA)

Meimarakis is scheduled to meet with his Serbian counterpart, Defense Minister Zoran Stankovic, for talks on matters related to military and technical defense cooperation between the two countries.

He will also meet separately with Serb President Boris Tadic, Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica, and with Patriarch Pavle of Serbia.

Meanwhile, in statements to the Tanjug news agency on Tuesday, Meimarakis reiterated Greece's support for a permanent and viable solution in Kosovo.

The minister echoed Athens' position of avoiding any "imposed solution" in the region and observed that the process for a settlement of Kosovo's status has entered a sensitive phase, while adding that today's uncertainty should not continue because it could have a negative impact on stability throughout the Balkans.

"For the sake of security and stability both sides should work for a mutual compromise," he stressed, while expressing a hope that negotiations will follow a positive course and lead to the right conditions for a permanent and viable.

He also referred to EU's support for Kosovo institutions to be established after the status question is settled.

[05] Gov't to allow citizenship for ethnic Greeks of Albania

ATHENS, 8/11/2006 (ANA/MPA)

The meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis.

Interior Minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos reminded that the delay in settling the long-standing issue emanated from a previous lack of guarantees by the Albanian state regarding the property and political rights of eligible ethnic Greeks in case of dual citizenship.

He explained that the decision to naturalize eligible and registered members of the ethnic Greek minority follows revisions to the Albanian constitution and after negotiations with Tirana. Naturalization procedures can start immediately, depending on when an individual was registered by the Greek state as a member of the ethnic Greek minority, he said.

Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis underlined that the government was responding to a long-standing demand by members of the minority, while pointing out that there was broad-based agreement amongst Greek political forces on the issue.

She also underlined that the Albanian constitution now guarantees its citizens the right to hold a dual nationality, whereas Albania is taking steps to harmonize its legal frame-work with the European acquis and to fulfill EU criteria.

Earlier, the prime minister held a separate meeting with Environment, Land Planning and Public Works Minister George Souflias.

Decision positive, PASOK spokesman says: Main opposition PASOK party spokesman Nikos Athanasakis said on Tuesday that the government's decision to grant Greek nationality to expatriates from Northern Epirus was "positive."

"We shall await the special announcements that Mr. Pavlopoulos spoke of so that we can see how this decision is specialized," the spokesman said, adding that "the implementation of the decision must be simple and take place with transparency, without obstacles being added for expatriates and, of course, it must take place without partisan games."

Athanasakis noted that for this decision "the previous PASOK government had worked a great deal, it was an issue that had to be resolved (and) PASOK had submitted an amendment in July 2005, that had not been accepted by the government at the time, while it had also submitted a relevant draft law in December 2005."

He further said that PASOK leader George Papandreou had repeatedly raised the issue, as was the case during his latest meeting with Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha.

[06] Health Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos visits Albania

Health Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos met here on Tuesday with his Albanian counterpart Maxim Cikuli and it was decided that the Greek health and social solidarity ministry will shoulder the expenses for the establishment of a blood dialysis unit in the city of Korce and will provide aid for the hospital in Gjirokaster.

The twinning of the Athens Laiko Hospital and the Tirana University Hospital was also decided during the meeting, as well as strengthening cooperation between Greece and Albania in the health sector.

The Albanian health minister thanked Avramopoulos for medical care provided by the Greek government, both for Albanians living and working in Greece and for those resorting to Greek hospitals for medical reasons.

Avramopoulos and Cikuli then visited Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha and briefed him on the texts of bilateral agreements being prepared in the health sector.

The Greek minister's visit to Albania was concluded with a meeting with the Archbishop of Tirana and All Albania Anastasios.

[07] Gov't spokesman refers to 'management deficit' at universities

ATHENS, 8/11/2006 (ANA/MPA)

"A different type of operation is needed to give universities the ability to better absorb funding," he said during his regular press briefing and in a response to questions over the education minister’s statements a day earlier.

"The government believes that funding should increase for education. If it did not believe this then the increases over the past two years would not have exceeded the increases made by the previous government in six years," he said.

During an address on Monday, Minister Marietta Yiannakou criticized university administrations for failing to absorb funds provided to them, while promising that "there will be a dramatic increase in funding with an honorable agreement between university foundations and the education ministry regarding evaluation, quality control and social accountability on the part of universities."

[08] Gov't on pay hike for police, minister's stance

ATHENS, 8/11/2006 (ANA/MPA)

"All government ministers equally try to solve problems within their scope of responsibility. There are no good or bad ministers ... the finance and economy ministry cooperates with other ministries," government spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos said in response to a bevy of questions during a regular press briefing.

[09] PASOK spokesman comments on economy, education and police bonus

ATHENS, 8/11/2006 (ANA/MPA)

"What they are telling us from the government, regardless of how the story of predictions and reports is appearing, is that its economic policy will not change. It will continue to be an economic policy at the expense of the many and it will continue to compress the labor classes. It is a policy that downgrades the state of the middle classes and only favors the few and friends," Athanasakis said.

PASOK's spokesman also rejected all that had been stated on Tuesday by the government spokesman regarding education expenditures, stressing that Theodoros Roussopoulos "insists on stating that expenditures for education have been increased during the period of New Democracy governments from 2004 onwards" and pointing out that "expenditures for education, as a percentage of the GDP, are decreasing every year with the ND government" and that "comparisons being made are not made with absolute figures but with percentages of the GDP."

Lastly, on the question of a special bonus being provided for the police, Athanasakis said that "for as long as the serial between the trade unionist public order minister and the economy minister on how much and what will be given continues, the level of the unreliability of the ND government is merely highlighted."

Gov't spokesman: Replying to Athanasakis, Government Spokesman Roussopoulos made the following statement:"The government, as is also certified by the European Commission, is following a course that secures fiscal stability and strong and balanced development. Meaning, the reliable foundations for a fairer distribution of wealth produced."

[10] Deputy foreign minister visits San Francisco Greek community

SAN FRANCISCO, 8/11/2006 (ANA-MPA)

He made the promise during a welcome party put on by the city's thriving Greek community, numbering an estimated 110,000 Greek-Americans that are both well-educated and prosperous.

The city was his first stop on a tour of the U.S. and Canada that began on Sunday.

Kassimis noted that Greeks living abroad appeared keen to keep in contact with Greece and Greek traditions and liked to feel that Greece showed an interest in them.

"You should be proud of Greece as we are proud of you," he said in his address to the gathering, stressing that Greece had come a long way since the days when their grandparents were emigrating in the hope of finding a better life abroad.

The following day, the minister was shown around the Agia Triada parish Greek school and briefed on after-school Greek classes available to the Greek community's children, as well as groups learning traditional Greek dances and the annual Greek festival organized by the Greek Orthodox Church in the city.

[11] KKE delegation in Lisbon communist meeting

8/11/2006 (ANA/MPA)

In the meeting, which will be attended by 70 communist and workers' parties, the "dangers and the possibilities in the present international situation", "imperialist strategy and the energy problem" and "the peoples' struggles and the prospects for socialism", will be debated.

[12] New Israeli ambassador to Greece presents credentials

ATHENS, 8/11/2006 (ANA/MPA)

According to a press release issued by the Israeli embassy in Athens, Yahya, a Muslim described as one of the highest-ranking officials of Arab origin in the State of Israel, was born in Israel in 1947.

An educator by profession, Yahya served as Israel's ambassador to Finland (1995-1999) and as coordinator of the Israeli foreign ministry's special project divisions for the Middle East and the Mideast Peace Process. He has also served as the head of Israel's liaison office in Qatar and at the country's UN delegation.

Additionally, the new Israeli envoy previously headed the Ulpan Akiva Institute, a language immersion program focusing on the study of Hebrew and Arabic for visitors and high-ranking officials to the Jewish state, while he has worked as an Arab language and culture instructor at the University of Tel Aviv, Hebrew University, the Israeli Senior Police College, Israel's High Army Academy and the Foreign Ministry Cadet Training Program, according to the embassy.

Awards include the Knesset Speaker's Prize, the Histradrut (Israeli Labor Union) Prize for Co-existence, the prestigious Israeli Prize and recognition by the US Senate for the “Promotion of Peace through Language and Literature.”

The new Israeli ambassador is a graduate of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He is fluent in Arabic, Hebrew and English.

Yahya replaces Amb. Ram Aviram in the post.

[13] Parliament ratifies bill on creation of Islamic Mosque in Athens

ATHENS, 8/11/2006 (ANA/MPA)

Education and Religion Minister Marietta Yiannakou called on all sides to vote in favor of the bill and not to insist with their reservations so that "another 20 years will not be necessary" for the creation of the mosque, in the district of Eleonas in Athens, ever since the building of a mosque in the Athens suburb of Pallini had been planned.

[14] FinMin: Fiscal efforts to continue; cites positive Commission report

BRUSSELS, 8/11/2006 (ANA-MPA)

Speaking to reporters after an ECOFIN meeting, the minister said the European Commission's autumn forecasts were particularly positive, as they acknowledged significant growth dynamism for the Greek economy accompanied by a major increase in investments, higher employment and lower un-employment.

Alogoskoufis noted that the Commission's report also acknowledged a significant fiscal effort made over the last two years, pushing the country's fiscal deficits below 3.0 percent of GDP this year and over the next two years.

The Greek minister, however, underlined that fiscal efforts were not complete, adding: "we are in the crucial last stage of reducing deficits below 3.0 pct in 2006. This does not mean the end of our fiscal effort as we have a duty under a Stability and Growth Pact to present balanced or slightly surplus budgets as soon as possible."

"Greece still has major fiscal problems, such as a high public debt, and for this reason it should continue its fiscal restructuring effort, although at a slower pace, to achieve fiscal stabilization," he said.

He also stressed that efforts should focus on reforms and improving competitiveness.

[15] Greece could exit excessive deficit procedures in spring, Almunia

BRUSSELS, 8/11/2006 (ANA-MPA)

Speaking to reporters, after a Eurogroup meeting late on Monday, Almunia said the European Commission was awaiting the verification of Greece’s revised GDP figures by Eurostat before approving the new Greek GDP figures.

Government on EU Commission's report on Greek economy: Greece still has some distance to travel before it corrects its fiscal problems, government spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos told reporters on Tuesday, while commenting on the European Commission's autumn forecasts for the economy.

"No one doubted that the country's deficit had unfortunately reached 7%. With much struggle by Greek citizens, the government managed to correct the problem. The observations of the European Commission regarding the course of the Greek economy show that we are moving in the right direction but we still have a way to go. We are near the end of the road but we have before us one more crucial effort that will yield its results within 2007," he said.

[16] Greece backs EU-wide rule for working hours

BRUSSELS, 8/11/2006 (ANA-MPA)

Employment and Social Protection Minister Savvas Tsitouridis told a meeting of his peers in the Belgian capital that Greece is opposed to exempting states from a ruling on the maximum working week, in agreement with other south European states, as contravention of the European model of social values.

The United Kingdom and many eastern European countries believe that maximum working time should result as an agreement negotiated between an employer and employee.

Ministers fail to agree: The EU's employment ministers were unable to agree on the EU's directive for the maximum working week, and opt-out clauses, a move that Tsitouridis welcomed.

Deflected were efforts by the British-led bloc to define the maximum working week in a way that would fail to ensure the health and safety of workers, the minister noted.

Opposing opt-out clauses were France, Cyprus, Italy and Spain, who collectively blocked a compromise proposed by the EU's Finnish presidency.

[17] Northern Greek firms welcome outcome of Bavaria trip

MUNICH, 8/11/2006 (ANA-MPA/N Melisova)

The Greek executives held 124 meetings in Bavaria, Germany's wealthiest state, with German executives in which interest was expressed in areas including solar energy, construction materials, especially aluminium products, and foodstuffs, Stylianidis said.

The firms should make use of a strong ethnic Greek presence in Bavaria totaling about 60,000 people, he urged.

Stylianidis also met the managing director of the Aldi supermarket chain, who said the company was interested in investing in Greece and in selling Greek products in its stores.

He also held talks with Bavaria's deputy premier and interior minister, Gunter Beckstein, and the state's minister for European affairs, Emilia Mueller, with the two sides pledging to encourage investment, boost trade, and exchange know-how in order to increase competitiveness.

On Monday, the Thessaloniki-based Association of Northern Greek Industry noted that the visit by Stylianidis and the roughly 30 executives accompanying him had special significance for the northern Greek business world.

"Arranging this specific delegation is a bold move as Greek companies are not facing the market of a lesser developed country than their own, for example in the Balkans, but rather the mature and demanding German market," the association said.

In addition, the trip was an innovation for Greece in economic diplomacy as the delegation was arranged between regions rather than countries; and the visit helped to reinforce policies of Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis for an outward-looking approach to business by firms in the region.

Greek exports to Bavaria in the first half of 2006 were 225.5 million euros. Of the total, 46% of sales were finished products, and 35% foodstuffs, according to provisional ministry data.

Bavarian exports to Greece in the same period totaled 609 million euros, with 75% in ready products and 12% in foods, the ministry's northern trade bureau said.

[18] Tourism minister in talks with Expedia

LONDON, 8/11/2006 (ANA-MPA)

"The reason we would like Expedia to cooperate with Greece is that there are massive opportunities in Greek tourism," David Roche, chairman of Expedia, told reporters.

The minister reported that the groundwork had been laid for a second meeting with Roche, this time in Athens in 10 days time.

"Cooperation with Expedia is very constructive for the future of Greek tourism," Petralia noted.

The meetings were held on the sidelines of the World Travel Market in the UK capital, where the minister inaugurated Greece's pavilion.

Expedia is the largest online travel agency in the world, the third largest travel company in the US, and the fourth largest travel company in the world.

[19] Greece takes part in Global Village trade fair

8/11/2006 (ANA/MPA)

Meliti LLC, a member of the Melith group, is handling the pavilion.

About 50 countries are to take part in the annual event.

[20] Greek banking system to continue rapid growth, report

ATHENS, 8/11/2006 (ANA/MPA)

The listed bank, in its annual report on the Greek banking system, said mortgage loans would grow by an annual rate of 25 percent this year, exceeding a 9.5-pct growth rate in the Euro zone, and by 22 percent in 2007 --compared with a 10.5-pct forecast in the Euro zone.

Consumer loans are expected to grow by 20.5 pct this year (4.0 pct in the Euro zone) and by 19.5 pct in 2007 (4.5 pct in the EU-12). Corporate borrowing is projected at 11 pct in 2006 (10 pct in the Euro zone) and by 10 pct in 2007 (9.0 pct in the Euro zone). Growth rates are climbing to 14 pct and 13 pct for 2006 and 2007, respectively, in the issuance of corporate bond loans was included.

Eurobank's analysts expect the Greek economy to grow by 3.9 pct this year and 3.5 pct in 2007, while stressing that the domestic banking system has significant growth prospects, being the least mature system in the Euro zone with total asset per GDP unit at 158 percent, compared with a 296-pct figure in the Euro zone.

The report underlined that a heavy consolidation in the banking system was necessary to create strong banking groups capable of competing with international banks and able to play a role in the wider region. The domestic banking system has further growth prospects in credit expansion, since bank loans account for 90 percent of savings deposits, compared with 113 pct in the Euro zone.

The report stressed that any risks to the banking system could stem from high credit expansion growth rates burdening the quality of loan portfolios, adding that the key was to expand activities.

[21] Greek cooperative banks reports significantly improved nine-month results

ATHENS, 8/11/2006 (ANA/MPA)

Nikos Myrtakis, the president of the Association of Cooperative Banks, presenting the nine-month results said assets totaled 2.474 billion euros (up 22 pct), deposits rose 22 pct to 2.054 billion euros, loans increased 19 percent to 1.836 billion euros, pre-tax profits totaled 34.5 million euros (up 18 pct) and equity capital rose 12 percent to 307.2 million euros.

Commenting on the figures, Myrtakis said they showed the very good performance of cooperative banks and noted that the banks' members rose to 172,080.

Panhellenic Bank SA, the central bank of the Association, also reported sharply improved figures in the January-September period, with assets up 53 pct to 664 million euros, loans rising 61 pct to 407 million euros, deposits growing 53 pct to 573 million euros and pre-tax profits up 53 pct to 4.0 million euros.

The Association of Cooperative Banks and Panhellenic Bank operate a branch network of 165 units around the country.

[22] Foreign investors' participation in Greek blue chip index rose above 50 pct in October

ATHENS, 8/11/2006 (ANA/MPA)

Foreign investors' participation in the FTSE/ATHEX Small Cap 80 index rose to 16.16 percent in October, from 16.57 pct in September, while participation in the FTSE/ATHEX Mid Cap 40 index eased to 41.25 percent from 48.06 pct over the same period. Both declines reflected changes in the composition of the two indexes in October. Foreign investors raised their participation in the FTSE 140 index to 46.86 pct in October from 46.30 pct in September.

Foreign investors were positive in their transactions across the board in October, resulting to a total inflow of investment capital of 3.731 billion euros so far this year.

Turnover in the Athens Stock Exchange totaled 7.142 billion euros in October, up 30 percent from September, while the average daily turnover rose 24 percent to 324.6 million euros from 260.83 million euros over the same periods, respectively.

The Greek market's capitalization totaled 148.808 billion euros in October, up 5.7 pct from the previous month.

[23] European stock markets sign new code of conduct to boost transparency and lower costs

8/11/2006 (ANA/MPA)

The code, signed in Brussels at the presence of EU Commissioner Charlie McCreevy, is the result of negotiations between the European Commission and FESE (the federation of European stock exchanges), EACH (the association of clearing houses) and ECSDA (the association of depository firms).

The code covers: 1) price transparency: all trading platforms and clearing & settlement houses are obliged to publish their pricing policy by the end of the year and to cooperate with the European Commission on drafting a price comparability system, 2) access and operation: all trading platforms and clearing & settlement houses will be obliged from June 30, 2007 to facilitate access and the signing of cooperation agreements with other EU organizations, 3) separation of services and accounting: from January 1, 2008 stock markets and clearing houses will have to publish pricing of all services offered, 4) supervision of implementing the code.

The Code of Conduct for Clearing & Settlement was signed by the largest European stock markets, such as London Stock Exchange, Borsa Italiana, Deutsche Borse, Euronext, OMX, SWX, Virt-X, Euroclear, Iberclear, LCH-Clearnet and Eurex Clearing.

Spyros Kapralos, the chairman of the Athens Stock Exchange, speaking to reporters after the signing ceremony said: "The Greek stock market with today's signature is fully harmonized with new developments in the European Union. We will follow the course towards restructuring pricing services, lowering costs and boosting transparency for investors and market participants with not discounts in quality and safety of services."

[24] Athens Bourse Close: Stocks rise

ATHENS, 8/11/2006 (ANA/MPA)

The FTSE/ASE-20 index for high capitalization shares ended 0.38% up; the FTSE/ASE-40 for medium cap stocks 0.37% higher; and the FTSE/ASE-80 for small cap shares finished 0.04% down.

Of stocks traded, advances led declines at 130 to 123 with 59 remaining unchanged.

Stock Futures: