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

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

CONTENTS

[01] Erechtheum fragment returned to Greece

[02] Cyprus Parliament urges UK to seek Parthenon Marbles return

[03] Roussopoulos on rulings for judges, contract worker salaries

[04] President briefed by justice minister

[05] Papandreou on social policy at ISTAME

[06] PASOK official comments on remarks by Turkish National Defense General Staff chief

[07] Deputy FM Kassimis visits Tampa

[08] President Papoulias to visit Vathi, Samos

[09] Deputy DM Yiannis Lambropoulos pays two-day visit to Ioannina

[10] FinMin, public order minister agree over 'hazardous pay' for law enforcement

[11] PASOK party spokesman comments on issue of police bonus

[12] Tourism minister arriving in Antalya on Saturday for 2nd Greek-Turkish ministerial meeting

[13] Black Sea Cooperation moves nearer to EU

[14] Kazakhstan oil may reach Greece

[15] Gov’t announces 15 pct tax on certain categories of banks' reserves

[16] PM meets with Credit Agricole Group chairman

[17] Greek, Cyprus farm ministers hold talks

[18] Greek representation at US Council on Competitiveness anniversary event

[19] KEDKE head on contract worker ruling

[20] Interior ministry replies to Central Union of Municipalities and Communities of Greece on contract workers issue

[21] Low Internet use in Greek households cited by Eurostat

[22] Hellenic Sugar cuts production, turns 2 units into bio-ethanol plants

[23] Athens Bourse Close: Stocks rise

[24] Papageorgopoulos on the BALCINET mayors' summit

[25] Antiracist protest outside Cyprus consulate in Thessaloniki

[26] Change of leadership at Hellenic Canadian Congress

[27] International Conference on the History and Culture of Thessaly

[28] File on Schinoussa artifacts send to prosecutor's office

[29] Turkish embassy car torched in Pangrati

[30] Cyprus President received by the Pope

[31] Pope expresses regret to Cypriot president for destruction of heritage

[32] Cypriot President says EU accession not a la carte

[33] Finnish Ambassador: efforts for compromise to continue unabated

[34] No discount on EU principles, says Acting President

[01] Erechtheum fragment returned to Greece

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

The fragment, a piece of the Ionic temple's elaborately carved architrave (the beam of masonry resting on the columns of Greek temples), was formally handed over to Culture Minister George Voulgarakis on Friday morning by retired gymnastics teacher Birgit Wiger Angner from Sweden, during a ceremony held on the Athens Acropolis.

Angnar had inherited the fragment in 1972 from her father, who was given it as a gift by his brother, naval officer Henning Lund, following a trip to Athens in 1895.

Accepting the fragment, Voulgarakis stressed the great symbolic significance of its return and underlined that retrieving even the least fragment of the Parthenon and the other buildings on the Athens Acropolis was valuable for Greece.

"Mrs Wiger Angner's decision to make this extremely important gesture is linked to the worldwide effort being made for the return of cultural artifacts to their countries of origin. It is chiefly, however, linked with the promotion of the request for the return and reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures (Elgin Marbles)," the minister pointed out.

Voulgarakis said the small piece of marble comes from one of the 28 segments of the Erechtheum's architrave. Three of these are now held at the British Museum, one is at the Munich sculpture gallery, ten complete segments are on the monument itself and another three have been reconstructed from fragments.

"Your gesture offers international public opinion one more stimulus to sensitize it to the fate of a unique monument of international cultural heritage, the Parthenon and the surrounding Athens Acropolis," he told Wiger Anger as he presented her with an honorary plaque on behalf of the Greek State, adding that it was also a message to museums abroad to respond to their moral obligation for the cultural cohesion of united Europe.

Visibly moved, Wiger Angner recounted how she was led to her decision after hearing about the effort for the return of the Parthenon Marbles through a seminar held in Sweden in May 2003 by the Stockholm Mediterranean Museum to mark the foundation of a Swedish committee for the return of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece. After contacting the committee and the museum, she eventually handed over the fragment in her possession to the Stockholm Museum in 2005, which made arrangements for its official return to Greece.

Urging museums that still have sculptured sections of the Parthenon to follow her example, Wiger Angner expressing hope that the British Museum, which is currently in possession of the most significant surviving sections of the Parthenon's sculptured frieze, would do so in the future.

[02] Cyprus Parliament urges UK to seek Parthenon Marbles return

NISOCIA, 11/11/2006 (ANA-MPA)

The Cypriot Parliament said it was "joining its voice with those of the Parliaments of other countries and the European Parliament" to demand the sculptures' return and reunification with the scarred monument.

It also called on all countries, particularly European states, to support Greece's efforts for the return of the Parthenon Marbles, noting that it was a move that could mark the beginning for the return of "other cultural monuments to the states to which they belong".

[03] Roussopoulos on rulings for judges, contract worker salaries

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

The spokesman also stressed that the government was following a strict fiscal policy and that a series of pay rises was not among its intentions.

He was referring to sharply contrasting decisions taken by the Greek Court of Audit, on the one hand, and a special court for settling issues relating to salaries for the judiciary, on the other hand, which received a lot of negative publicity.

In the first decision, the court ruled that temporary public-sector staff that had failed to qualify for permanent positions under government measures passed two years earlier could not now apply for permanent jobs and should be taken off the payroll, while the second accepted a judge's suit seeking a pay increase of over 250,000 euros in the past five years.

Roussopoulos noted that, in the first case, the law had from the start foreseen the number of contract renewals required to qualify for a permanent position, while those taking the jobs had known that they were signing a contract for a specific, limited period. He stressed that the government had taken an "honest approach" to contract workers that had not been taken by its predecessor.

With respect to the salary court ruling, he said the government respected justice and did not comment on court decisions but cited a statement made by Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis in a discussion on revising the Constitution, who said that incomes policy could not be determined by court decisions.

"Money is hard to come by and an effort is being made by the government and by Greek citizens to deal with the problems of the economy," he stressed.

Asked whether the salary court's decision would be carried out, he said that this would be examined by the ministries involved, while he also underlined that the government had no intention of increasing the salaries of MPs.

In its preliminary ruling on Wednesday, a special court for issues concerning judicial salaries accepted a suit filed by Administrative Courts appeals judge Georgia Pavlopoulou, who sought a salary increase of 250,240.87 euros for the years 2000-2005 and compensation of 5,000 euros for failure to increase her salary over that time.

Justifying its decision, the court found that the salaries of higher court presidents in Greece (Supreme Court, Council of State and Audit Council) had to be equivalent with the salary earned by the president of the Telecommunications Com-mission, citing relevant articles in the Greek Constitution which stipulate that the income of judges must be clearly distinguished and higher than those of functionaries or employees in the other two branches of government, "without exception or deviation".

The case was referred to an Athens Administrative First-Instance Court, which has the task of deciding the amount of Pavlopoulou's salary increase.

[04] President briefed by justice minister

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

The decision, following mostly negative comments by practically the entire political spectrum, was also discussed during the meeting, as Papaligouras said any future solution lies in constitutional revision.

"The government will deal with the issue as it should, with an institutional initiative within the framework of constitutional revision," he said after the meeting with the president.

Other issues within the minister's portfolio were discussed.

[05] Papandreou on social policy at ISTAME

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

The working meeting on the theme "New challenges for social policy - assessing the international experience" was organized by ISTAME in collaboration with PASOK's social issues sector. Participants included personalities from Sweden.

According to Papandreou, both PASOK and Socialist International (of which he is currently president) are trying to evaluate the best practices in social policy through an exchange of experiences, so as to "make use of the great wealth of knowledge and experience that exists in the global progressive community".

He also noted that, despite continuing weaknesses in its structures, Greek investment in social policy had made significant strides in recent years.

"We want to have an answer to the easy logic that calls for a reduction in taxes but which essentially reduces the state's power to play an important role in social policy. We have a proposal regarding tax policy that looks more toward the developmental aspect and the ability to help even private companies to invest in employment and development," Papandreou said.

He stressed that PASOK wanted to look at welfare not only through the prism of social solidarity but also in relation to sustainable development.

PASOK's leader finally announced plans for the creation of a "committee of personalities, on a global level, for our proposal as a socialist, social-democrat, and labor family regarding a viable society".

He closed his address by suggesting a series of areas where experiences in social policy might be exchanged.

[06] PASOK official comments on remarks by Turkish National Defense General Staff chief

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

Papoutsis added that provided that "it is part of a steadfast decision by the Turkish political leadership on the final abandoning of disputing our sovereign rights and, of course, the lifting of casus belli."

According to an ANA-MPA dispatch from Ankara, Buyukanit had said, referring to contacts in Athens last week, "our goal is to isolate the climate of tension."

Also commenting on the climate prevailing during his contacts in Athens, the Turkish general said "the interest of the Greek people was very strong. The reaction of the people in the street was very positive and this pleased me in particular."

Buyukanit said that confidence building measures were discussed during his contacts and that "we shall be talking once again next week, during the meeting of NATO's Military Committee in Brussels."

Lastly, the Turkish general said "we shall try and, if we do not succeed, we shall remain at the present spot. We shall not go further back."

[07] Deputy FM Kassimis visits Tampa

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

Kassimis stated that among the priorities of the Greek State is to boost the teaching of the Greek language and announced that a new teaching program will be offered next March on the internet. He also added that a joint effort will be made aimed at increasing the number of young Greek Americans who will be hosted in Greece by the Greeks Abroad General Secretariat.

The deputy foreign minister met with University of South Florida representatives and afterwards, visited Tarpon Springs where he had contacts with Greek American community representatives.

Kassimis departed on Friday for Chicago, the next stop on his tour of the United States.

[08] President Papoulias to visit Vathi, Samos

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

President Papoulias met on Friday with visiting Cypriot Agriculture Minister Fotios Fotiou. The Cypriot minister referred to the cooperation agreements signed with the Greek Agricultural Development and Food Minister and to the meeting he had with Deputy Environment Minister Stavros Kalogiannis.

[09] Deputy DM Yiannis Lambropoulos pays two-day visit to Ioannina

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

Lambropoulos was accompanied by Army General Staff chief Dimitrios Grapsas.

The exercise was part of the framework of reserves' training and 2,500 recruits took part in it.

Lambropoulos expressed his absolute satisfaction over the high level of training and operational readiness of armed forces cadres and reserves, saying that "the sense of duty to the motherland and its history, as well as the morale characterizing them, constitute a model for the young people of our country."

[10] FinMin, public order minister agree over 'hazardous pay' for law enforcement

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

The announcement came after a closely watched meeting here between Economy and Finance Minister George Alogoskoufis and Public Order Minister Vyron Polydoras, given that the latter publicly and vociferously championed the increased remuneration package over the past week.

The compromise also came amid speculation over Polydoras' intentions in case the bonus was not allocated, mostly to eligible police officers.

"With today's decision the government's promise to reverse an injustice against civil servants is implemented ... Other demands were also considered in a positive spirit, some of which were accepted, others, due to fiscal restrictions, were not," Alogoskoufis said told reporters.

On his part, Polydoras said a demand dating back 15 years has been met by the government, while thanking the FinMin for the cooperation the two ministries enjoyed -- a statement aimed to defuse heightened speculation in the press of late claiming acrimonious exchanges between the two ministries and even guesswork that the public order minister would tender his resignation.

"I want to state that throughout these past few days and even months, as I considered the meaning of this resolute promotion of the ministry's requests, I was in no way isolated from the (government's) economic policy and from a social conscience ... I referred to outstanding issues that, if judged within a cost-benefit analysis, had to be met: minimum cost, maximum social and administrative benefit," he said.

Until 2008, the bonus will be paid out in four installments, which Alogoskoufis said now averages to about 28 euros a month.

[11] PASOK party spokesman comments on issue of police bonus

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

Athanasakis said that the prime minister "is merely watching, without taking part, his ministers trying to deceive each other and all of them together trying to deceive the Greek people."

[12] Tourism minister arriving in Antalya on Saturday for 2nd Greek-Turkish ministerial meeting

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

Petralia is being accompanied in Antalya by the ministry's general secretary Maria Yanniri, Greek Tourist Organization (EOT) secretary general Athanasios Economou, businessmen and representatives of tourist agencies.

On August 17, the tourist development minister had met with Turkish Tourism Minister Attila Koc in Mytilene and afterwards they visited Ayvalik. She had said at the time that their meeting was the starting point for closer cooperation between the two countries through tourism and that the increase in the tourist wave from one to the other side of the Aegean would have multiple benefits for both peoples.

[13] Black Sea Cooperation moves nearer to EU

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

"BSEC's Greek presidency was dynamic, with its main aim being closer ties with the EU. Due to the presidency's moves, the climate changed in the EU, which has now taken a positive view of institutional rapprochement with Black Sea countries on a par with the Euro-Mediterranean area," Stylianidis said.

He was introducing the first annual lecture at the International Centre for Black Sea Studies (ICBSS), which was founded in 1998 as a non-profit organization to provide independent research and training. The Athens-based centre is affiliated to BSEC, also serving as its think-tank.

Addressing the ICBSS, Ambassador Leonidas Chrysanthopoulos, secretary general of BSEC PERMIS, noted the need for statutory reform of the organization to improve operations.

Istanbul-based BSEC began operations in 1999, launched by eleven countries: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine. With the entry of Serbia and Montenegro in April 2004, the organization’s member states increased to twelve.

[14] Kazakhstan oil may reach Greece

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

"Politically, the way is open on the part of Kazakhstan and Russia for an inflow of Kazakh oil in the planned Burgas-Alexandroupoli pipeline," the Asian republic's ambassador in Athens, Almas Hamzayev, told the ANA-MPA.

The issue had been raised during a visit to Astana, Kazakhstan's capital, by Deputy Foreign Minister Euripides Stylianidis in July.

"Since then, consultations have been held with Russia, and, politically, the green light has been given for Kazakh oil to flow in the pipeline that will mainly be fed from Russia," Hamzayev reported.

At the same time, a decision has yet to be taken on percentages, he said.

So far, Russia is seeking 51% with Greece and Bulgaria sharing the remaining 49%.

"There is a new dynamic in (Kazakh) relations between Greece and my country, which is part of Eurasia and a major oil producer," noted the ambassador, who is also accredited in Rome.

[15] Gov’t announces 15 pct tax on certain categories of banks' reserves

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

The draft legislation envisages the imposition of a 15 percent tax on reverses resulting from non-taxed earnings and a 15 percent tax on reverses resulting from specially-taxed income

The draft bill excludes tax-exempt reserves resulting from stock share value under a corporate transformation, or revaluation of fixed assets' value.

The Economy ministry expects the measure would add around 200 million euros to the state budget annually.

[16] PM meets with Credit Agricole Group chairman

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

During the meeting, the French banking group's plans for the development and expansion of the Athens-based Emporiki Bank, were discussed, as well as plans for strengthening its competitiveness.

Credit Agricole acquired a 71.97 percent controlling majority stake in Athens-quoted Emporiki Bank of Greece S.A. in August.

[17] Greek, Cyprus farm ministers hold talks

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

Bilateral issues and better coordination within the EU’s relevant work groups was also discussed.

[18] Greek representation at US Council on Competitiveness anniversary event

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

Sioufas was invited to the Nov. 13-14 anniversary event by Council on Competitiveness president Deborah Wince-Smith. The theme of the two-day event will be "Imagination, Vision, Innovation, Influence".

The visit is taking place in the context of the collaboration between the US and Greek competition councils, which was initiated during Wince-Smith's visit to Athens in return of a visit by the development minister to Washington.

[19] KEDKE head on contract worker ruling

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

"Presidential Decree 164/2004 vindicated a small number of contract workers and this is the real problem. The contract workers were never 250,000 and those that must be vindicated are not just 25,000. The only solution is to expand the criteria of [the presidential decree] and this must happen directly and swiftly. KEDKE is undertaking an initiative in precisely this direction," an announcement read.

The Court of Audit found that contract workers who did not qualify for permanent positions under the terms of the presidential decree could not now apply to have their positions made permanent and that they should be taken off the payroll.

[20] Interior ministry replies to Central Union of Municipalities and Communities of Greece on contract workers issue

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

"What had been the position and which initiative KEDKE President Paris Koukoulopoulos had taken on the issue of contract workers in 2003 when, with the presidential decree of Reppas-Skandalidis, not even one contract had been changed into one of an indefinite duration."

The ministry further said that "with an announcement today and when, in accordance with the announcement by the Staff Selection Council (ASEP), the contracts of 32,924 contract workers have been turned into an indefinite duration, the President of KEDKE Mr. Koukoulopoulos believes that 'presidential decree 164/2004 vindicated a small number of contract workers and that this is the real problem' and announces that 'KEDKE is taking an initiative in precisely this direction.'"

The ministry also queried which initiative, corresponding to the one announced on Friday, had Koukoulopoulos taken at the time to handle the problem in the direction of amending presidential decree 81/2003.

[21] Low Internet use in Greek households cited by Eurostat

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

Slovakia (27%), Hungary (32%), Lithuania and Portugal (both 35%) were just ahead of Greece on the bottom end of the survey.

More disheartening was the fact that only 4 percent of households in Greece had a broadband connection, with the second lowest figure, Slovakia at 11 percent, more than double the Greek average.

The EU executive’s statistical office said 52 percent of households had access to the internet during the first quarter of 2006, compared to 48% during the first quarter of 2005, and 32% had a broadband connection, compared to 23% in 2005.

At the beginning of 2006, 94% of enterprises with at least 10 persons employed had access to the internet (91% at the beginning of 2005), and 75% of enterprises had a broadband connection (63% in 2005). In the first quarter of 2006, 47% of individuals1 in the EU25 used the internet regularly.

In the first quarter of 2006, the highest proportions of households with internet access were recorded in the Netherlands (80%), Denmark (79%), Sweden (77%) and Luxembourg (70%). The lowest levels were registered in Greece (23%), Slovakia (27%), Hungary (32%), Lithuania and Portugal (both 35%).

At the beginning of 2006, the highest proportions of enterprises with internet access were recorded in Finland (99%), Denmark and Austria (both 98%) and the Netherlands (97%). Only in Latvia (80%), Cyprus (86%), Lithuania (88%) and Poland (89%) were fewer than 90% of enterprises connected to the internet.

Broadband offers a much faster connection to the internet, and offers the potential of changing the way the internet is used. The proportion of households with a broadband connection in 2006 was highest in the Netherlands (66%), Denmark (63%), Finland (53%) and Sweden (51%), and lowest in Greece (4%), Slovakia (11%), Cyprus (12%) and Ireland (13%). Amongst enterprises the highest levels of broadband connections were recorded in Sweden and Finland (both 89%), Spain (87%) and France (86%), and the lowest in Poland (46%), Cyprus (55%), Lithuania (57%) and Latvia (59%).

In the first quarter of 2006, the highest proportions of individuals regularly using the internet were recorded in Sweden (80%), Denmark (78%), the Netherlands (76%) and Finland (71%), and the lowest in Greece (23%), Cyprus (29%), Italy and Portugal (both 31%).

At EU25 level a higher proportion of men than women used the internet regularly (51% of men compared with 43% of women), and this was true for all Member States, although in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Finland the gap was only one or two percentage points. In Luxembourg the gap was 21 percentage points (men 76%, women 55%).

While nearly three quarters of individuals in the EU25 aged 16 to 24 (73%), and more than half of those aged 25 to 54 (54%), used the internet regularly, only a fifth of those aged 55 to 74 (20%) did so. While the gap in regular use between Member States ranged from one to two for 16-24 year olds (47% in Greece to 96% in the Netherlands) and one to three for 25-54 year olds (27% in Greece to 89% in Sweden), it reached one to fourteen for 55-74 year olds (4% in Greece to 56% in Denmark and Sweden).

The entire Eurostat news release can be found at the website: http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/pls/portal/docs/PAGE/PGP_PRD_CAT_PREREL/PGE_CAT_PREREL_YEAR_2006/PGE_CAT_PREREL_YEAR_2006_MONTH_11/4-10112006-EN-AP.PDF

[22] Hellenic Sugar cuts production, turns 2 units into bio-ethanol plants

11/11/2006 (ANA/MPA)

Hellenic Sugar Industry chairman Thanassis Kaissis did not exclude a possibility of turning a third plant (probably the one based in Plati, Imathia prefecture) into a bio-ethanol unit as well, while he reiterated that no units would be closed unless the change-over plan is be tested before.

Nikolaos Kezos, representing state-run ATEBank (the main shareholders), said all five plants would end up closing in 2007 unless measures were taken, while he stressed that Hellenic Sugar Industry would continue its autonomous course, although he did not exclude the entry of a strategic partner into the bio-ethanol production at a later stage.

Hellenic Sugar will complete the withdrawal of its production quota (valued at 86 million euros) in two trenches, July 2008 and March 2009. The Greek government will receive 78 million euros via restructuring supports, to be offered to sugar beet producers.

Furthermore, a report by the German firm IPRO said the two transformed units could operate with pre-tax profits of 22.95 million euros in the period 2008-09 and 35.23 million euros in the period 2009-10, with a capacity of around 200,000 cubic metres and 300,000 cubic meters of bio-ethanol over the two periods, respectively.

Kaissis said the transformation costs would total 180 million euros.

Hellenic Sugar Industry's shareholders approved a share capital increase plan worth 4,471,117 euros through a two-for-10 share issue to shareholders.

[23] Athens Bourse Close: Stocks rise

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

The FTSE/ASE-20 index for high capitalization shares ended 1.08% up; the FTSE/ASE-40 for medium cap stocks 0.59% higher; and the FTSE/ASE-80 for small cap shares finished 1.10% up.

Of stocks traded, advances led declines at 158 to 90 with 63 remaining unchanged.

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