Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 09-04-06

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

CONTENTS

[01] Karamanlis pleased with NATO, EU Summits; meeting with Obama

[02] Ecumenical Patriarch receives FM

[03] Top ministers' press statements

[04] Papandreou: Education a top priority

[05] Papariga: Crisis a symptom of rotten system

[06] KKE anti-NATO rally

[07] Tsipras blasts gov't, PASOK

[08] Polls: PASOK lead continues over ND

[09] fYRoM ruling party youth group's bid to join YEPP blocked

[10] Suspended sentence for woman in police interference case

[11] False alarm on passenger jet

[12] Greek Superleague results

[13] The Sunday editions of Athens' newspapers at a glance

[01] Karamanlis pleased with NATO, EU Summits; meeting with Obama

Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis on Saturday expressed his satisfaction with the decisions taken at the NATO Summit in Strasbourg, as well as with his first meeting with new US President Barack Obama, following the conclusion of the Alliance's 60th anniversary summit in the historic French border city.

Karamanlis cited an invitation extended by President Obama for him to visit Washington D.C., while the Greek government returned the invitation, inviting the hugely popular US President to visit Athens.

Speaking at a press conference in Strasbourg, Karamanlis noted that the Alliance had welcomed Obama's arrival in Europe and France's return to the military arm of NATO, as well as the accession of new members Albania and Croatia.

The prime minister reiterated Greece's solid support for further NATO enlargement, on condition, however, that candidate-countries fully meet membership conditions set out by NATO, especially with respect to establishing and maintaining good-neighbourly relations.

Karamanlis further expressed satisfaction with the procedures set in motion for reform of NATO's military dogma.

As for Greece's contribution in Afghanistan, the prime minister noted that Greece will assume command of Kabul International Airport (KAIA) in 2010 and for that purpose a Greek contingent will be reinforced with 30-40 officers. He added that a battalion specialised in bridge construction has also been despatched to Afghanistan, while Greece would also contribute substantially to the training programmes for the police force in the strife-plagued Central Asian country.

Further, Greece will take party in humanitarian actions, Karamanlis said, stressing that all these would be done with absolute respect of the country's defence priorities.

Karamanlis also said that Greece welcomed the selection of Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen as the new NATO secretary general, adding that Athens enjoys a long-standing cooperation with Denmark and that the Greek government would support him.

On his meeting with Obama, Karamanlis said he was "absolutely satisfied" with the content of the discussion, noting that the Greek side put forth all of the basic issues concerning Athens' foreign policy, such as the long-standing Cyprus issue as well as the lesser but still thorny fYRoM "name issue".

President Obama expressed his desire to visit Athens, while he was briefed by Karamanlis on Greek foreign policy regarding the wider region of the Balkans and SE Europe.

Obama statements

"We had the opportunity to celebrate Greek Independence Day in the White House. And it was a reminder for all of us that not only is the United States inspired by Greece, not only were our Founding Fathers inspired by the values of ancient Greece, but that Greek independence was also inspired by the United States. It gives you a sense of the fact that we have shared values, a shared belief in democracy and liberty; that we have struggled and fought for that democracy and liberty as fellow members of NATO. Now in the 21st century, we continue to fight on behalf of those issues shoulder to shoulder," the US president said, adding:

"So I'm very grateful to the Greek community in the United States for being such a wonderful bridge to Greece. Our relationship is strong, but I'm confident that in the years to come, on a whole host of issues -- from dealing with the economic crisis to dealing with terrorism to dealing with energy -- that the United States and Greece will be critical partners in all these international efforts."

Karamanlis on NATO, Russia, econ crisis

Turning to NATO relations with Russia, Karamanlis expressed satisfaction over the normalisation of relations between the two sides and the full activation of dialogue. He also stressed the need for continuous exchanges of views between NATO and Russia and the need for promoting cooperation on the basis of the principles of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).

Questioned on the state of the Greek economy, the prime minister reiterated that the global financial was going through a period of deep crisis and, just like the economies of all the other countries of the world, the Greek economy too had its strong points and weak points, citing the fiscal problem and the large state debt.

Regarding the fiscal deficit of 2008, Karamanlis acknowledged that there was a divergence in relation to earlier forecasts. He explained that this divergence chiefly concerned the situation of specific Funds, and the inflows of some Community resources, which were not recorded in 2008 but which would be recorded in 2009, thus improving the country's fiscal condition.

Finally, regarding the fYRoM "name issue", Karamanlis reiterated Greece's steadfast position in favour of the neighbouring country's Euro-Atlantic prospects, while he recalled a unanimous NATO decision at last year's summit in Bucharest and final communiqué references on the need for a resolution of the issue of a permanent name for fYRoM. Karamanlis noted that the existing problems need to be resolved on the basis of the contemporary perceptions, and not on the basis of perceptions that date to the 19th century.

EU-US Summit

A day later in Prague, PM Karamanlis referred to a very useful and productive exchange of views between EU leaders and Obama, in comments immediately after the conclusion of a closely watched EU-US Summit in the Czech capital.

"The common values shared by Europe and America are a given, as is their combined special weight on the international scene, whereas we noted, with heightened attention, the emphasis that the new US administration bestows on international cooperation and dialogue," Karamanlis said in brief statements to reporters after the Summit.

During to the ongoing international economic crisis that ranks at the top of most multinational organisations' agenda, Karamanlis said it was unavoidable that certain differences exist between individual countries over the level of the financial intervention, and specifically in terms of the fiscal intervention that the global community will take. However, the Greek premier said it was important for the EU, the G20 and all international entities to "move in the same direction" with qualitative and similar goals.

"With this view, the G20, and of course the EU, are sending the right messages, and contributing to the restoration of trust between citizens and markets," he said.

Karamanlis said the goal of all is to stimulate the real economy, protection of employment and protection of incomes.

Turning to another pressing global issue, namely, climate change, Karamanlis served as the EU's rapporteur on the specific matter, where he outlined the Union's energy policy. He cited the EU's priority for energy conservation and developing alternative forms of energy, ones more environmentally friendly.

Along these lines, he said that as long as "we will need to import energy for some time, we should take steps to diversify, both in terms of sources as well as on the level of pipelines. The further interconnection of pipelines, particularly amongst member-states, is a supremely important strategic target".

Karamanlis, who met separately with Barack Obama in Strasbourg on Saturday, emphasised the importance that the European Union attaches to a change in stance by the new US administration to dealing with climate change, adding that an agreement at a meeting in Copenhagen at the end of the year is necessary.

Mediterranean, western Balkans

In more regional matters, the Greek premier said an overview of the situation in the Mediterranean was discussed at the Summit, echoing a statement he made about Afghanistan a day earlier, namely, that exclusively military solutions will not remedy problems, such as terrorism.

Even closer to Athens, Karamanlis said EU leaders discussed the significance of the western Balkan states for the Union, along with the need to support all the candidate states' European prospects, "in tandem, of course, with the need to continue reforms on their part".

"These countries are very important for the Greek economy, as they are a source of exports and an investment destination."

Finally, the prime minister expressed his satisfaction over the climate of cooperation at the EU-US Summit, reminding that the world is "multi-polar" with the evaluation of other global powers, such as Russia, China, India and Brazil.

Opposition reaction

Meanwhile, opposition parties reacted on Saturday to Karamanlis' statements.

Main opposition PASOK spokesman George Papaconstantinou said the government was collapsing under the weight of the impasses of its policy and its inability to handle the problems that have accumulated in Greece.

This inability, he claimed, was fully reflected in Karamanlis' press conference after the NATO summit.

The Communist Party of Greece (KKE), in a press release, said the Alliance of the Greek governments and bourgeois parties with the United States, as well as the 58 years of Greece's participation in NATO, "which the Greek prime minister is proud of", have had a great cost for the Greek people, the Cyprus issue and the Balkan peoples.

KKE said the Athens government's "agreement for Greece's more active participation in the NATO war in Afghanistan, the Greek participation in the intra-imperialistic competitions for control of the energy routes in the Balkans and the wider region in the present conditions of exacerbation of the financial crisis" entailed "new dangers for the Greek people and the other peoples, and for peace in the region".

This was more so following the accession of Albania and Croatia in the Alliance, the KKE said.

The KKE also called for the immediate withdrawal of Greek forces from Afghanistan and wherever else Greek military contingents or other missions were despatched and taking part in "occupation forces".

Coalition of the Left central political committee secretary Nikos Hountis said that -- on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of NATO -- the only wish one could make was that it will fall apart.

Greece, he added, should have a pro-peace policy and demand a solution of the problems in international relations on the basis of the UN Charter and international law, and not on the intermediation or arbitration of the US.

Popular Orthodox Rally (LA.OS) MP Kyriakos Velopoulos said the handshakes and photographs with Obama were fine, but the outcome for Greece's foreign policy was the worst possible.

Gov't reaction

Government spokesman Evangelos Antonaros on Sunday evening replied to main opposition PASOK party spokesman George Papaconstantinou's criticism of PM Karamanlis' meetings in Strasbourg and Prague, and especially with US President Barack Obama.

"If PASOK's spokesman remembers to ask his party leader how foreign policy is practiced responsibly, he may be informed of the self-evident: that in this sensitive area, exultation and trumpet-beating have no place ... it is evident that the word responsibility is unknown to him..."

Earlier, Papaconstantinou referred to the prime minister's "courtesy meeting" with President Obama and government's drum roll, charging that the highlights of the premier's participation in international meetings over the past two days cannot hide the country's current position abroad.

[02] Ecumenical Patriarch receives FM

Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis was received here on Sunday by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I at the Fanar district Patriarchate.

After the meeting, Bakoyannis said she briefed the Ecumenical Patriarch on the latest developments, and especially on Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis' meeting with US President Barack Obama on Saturday.

Bartholomew and Bakoyannis discussed Turkey's European course, with the former stressing that Turkey's accession to the EU must proceed with the criteria and conditions that apply for all candidate-countries.

He also noted that a difference in religion should not be an obstacle for predominately Muslim Turkey's accession.

Bakoyannis underlined that the Turkish state must respect religious freedoms, referring specifically to the reopening of the Orthodox seminary on the isle of Halki.

Finally, Bartholomew again reiterated that a full normalisation of Greek-Turkish relations will be to the benefit of both peoples.

[03] Top ministers' press statements

Education Minister Aris Spiliotopoulos said a new system for university admissions would need at least three years to implement, while adding that the selection of undergraduates in tertiary education will be part of an exhaustive dialogue with parties and educators.

Spiliotopoulos, in an interview published in the "Eleftherotypia" newspaper", underlined that the "asylum" status enjoyed by Greek universities will not be changed, whereas what is necessary is implementation of current legislation.

On his part, Defence Minister Evangelos Meimarakis, who was previously ruling New Democracy party's secretary, dismissed any notions of a "leadership issue" for the party, while adding that results from the June Euro-elections is by no means a measure of comparison for national elections, given the "loose and protest vote" usually associated with the mid-term poll.

Meimarakis' comments were carried in the Sunday edition of "Vima".

Culture Minister Antonis Samaras was quoted as reiterating that early elections useless for the country, especially amid international crises.

"Whoever is betting on election defeat and succession is going to lose," he said, in an interview to "Eleftheros Typos".

Finally, Deputy Interior Minister Christos Markoyiannakis, who holds the public order portfolio, said the heated issue of citizens' security and crime-fighting measures is a priority for the government.

He characteristically noted that there is no need for stricter measures, merely the "adherence to legality, without any discounts".

[04] Papandreou: Education a top priority

Papandreou spoke at party conference focusing on the education sector, held at a hotel in downtown Athens.

He told party cadres that an investment in the younger generations is a matter of survival and for an exit from the economic crisis, veering into criticism of the government's policy amid the international economic crisis.

"A government fatigued from its impasses is vacillating without an exit plan, by implementing an unprecedented practice of imposing new tax measures," said Papandreou, adding: "What the country wants is to change governments and this will happen very soon".

Referring to PASOK's promises for education, Papandreou said the new generations are facing major problems, listing off globalisation, the economic crisis and the surge in immigration.

Within this framework PASOK's leader also promised to allocate 2 percent of GDP to research and technology and to double the number of kindergartens and the all-day schools in the country.

Gov't reaction

In a later reaction, government spokesman Evangelos Antonaros said "Mr. Papandreou's comments, yet again, were confined to an effortless essay, avoiding to provide answers to crucial queries, such as:

"Which governments and which policies increased the state's debt to current levels and burdened the younger generation's shoulders with the cost of yesterday's poor administration? Which political forces continue to block every reform for better quality and a competitive public education? Which party leader retreated from the responsible position of consensus in the necessary reform of Article 16, persisting in petty politics?"

[05] Papariga: Crisis a symptom of rotten system

She also noted that the communist party is ready for "double elections" in June, should early national elections be declared.

In echoing standing KKE policy, she said the Euro-elections should serve as a condemnation of the European Union itself, as well as Greece's mainstream parties. Along these lines, she said "popular development is inconceivable within the framework of the EU."

Meanwhile, speaking to an Athens daily, she said the international economic crisis "is a symptom of a rotten system."

She also forecast "dramatic developments" for Greece if SE European countries' economies collapse.

Referring to government, she said it does whatever possible to shift the burden of the crisis onto the shoulders of the working classes.

[06] KKE anti-NATO rally

The demonstrators, shouting anti-NATO slogans, marched through the central streets of Thessaloniki to the US Consulate General and from there to the port's main gate, where they burned a NATO flag.

The rally was addressed by KKE official Aggelos Tzekis.

[07] Tsipras blasts gov't, PASOK

Criticising the government's policy on confronting the global financial crisis, Tsipras said that "what we are seeing is an effort to back the banking sector at any sacrifice", adding that the banking sector throughout the preceding years had grown rich due to arbitrariness and abusive actions implemented at society's expense.

"And it managed this by virtue of the support and legitimisation by all the recent governments, both PASOK and New Democracy," he added.

"We also see a government tht claims that it is trying to face the repercussions of the crisis. But the only drastic measure it has announced is the abolition of the classification duty on luxury cars," Tsipras continued.

The SYN leader said the government was pursuing a strategy of increasingly impose more taxes on the lower income strata, and a campaign to get rid of jobs and convert them into part-time employment, while the social sector was shrinking "in the name of containing the deficits".

As for the prime minister, Tsipras said that Karamanlis' policy was like the fairy tale of the emperor's new clothes. "It is naked, weak, self-serving, and lacks any social contact," he said, warning that "faced by a united society that defends its dignity, it is a policy that will collapse like a paper castle".

As for PASOK, "throughout the last period, we did not see it putting forward an agenda for safeguarding society," he said, adding that the main opposition party's entire strategy was being "invested" in creating the impression that PASOK leader George Papandreou would have handled the present situation more productively than Karamanlis.

On the Euroelections, Tsipras stressed the need for waging a hard battle, noting that "if the radical left succeeds in a big result (votes), many things will begin to change on the political scene", and expressed hope that the SYN-led Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA parliamentary alliance) will elect 3-4 deputies to the European Parliament.

[08] Polls: PASOK lead continues over ND

One poll gives PASOK 33.4 percent of respondents' preferences to 28.4 percent for ND. The Communist Party (KKE) garners 8.1 percent; the Coalition of the Left (Synaspismos) 5.6 percent and the Popular Orthodox Rally (LA.OS) 4.2 percent.

The poll was conducted by the firm Alco and published by the weekly "Proto Thema".

In the second opinion poll, PASOK retains a 3.6-point lead over ND in terms of the coming European Parliament election, 32.5 percent to 28.9 percent. KKE picks up 7.8; Synaspismos is picked by 7.3 percent of respondents and LA.OS receives 5.5 percent. The poll gives 3 percent to a "greens/ecologists" formation.

This poll was conducted by the firm MRB and published in the Sunday edition of the newspaper "Eleftheros Typos".

[09] fYRoM ruling party youth group's bid to join YEPP blocked

Ôhe youth group affiliated with ruling New Democracy party, ONNED, announced over the weekend that a bid by the youth group affiliated with the ruling party in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (fYRoM), VMRO-DPMNE, was prevented from joining the youth wing of the European Peoples Party (EPP).

According to ONNED, the VMRO-DPMNE youth group had submitted a request to join the YEPP during the latter's summit in Rome (April 2-5) with only the name "Macedonia" on the application, instead of the UN- and EU-recognised fYRoM.

ONNED recommended a rejection of the application, with an open ballot subsequently held, where the application failed to win approval.

Following a motion by the Junge Union -- the German CDU party's youth group -- a secret ballot followed, where the application was rejected by an even higher margin.

VMRO-DPMNE's youth group will be eligible to re-apply after two years.

General News

[10] Suspended sentence for woman in police interference case

The woman, a resident of the Kypseli district of downtown Athens, was convicted on a single charge of aiding in the escape of a prisoner. She was also given three years probation.

The court nevertheless recognised that the woman assisted the injured police officers after they were shot and wrote down the license plate of the getaway motorcycle.

Two suspects, identified as Russian speakers, are sought by police.

[11] False alarm on passenger jet

The plane had departed Paris for Athens with 169 passengers on board.

Sports

[12] Greek Superleague results

Results of the Greek Superleague

Panathinaikos Athens - Xanthi 2-0

Panthrakikos Komotini - AEK Athens 1-1

Larissa - Panionios Athens 0-0

Thrasyvoulos Athens - Iraklis Thessaloniki 1-1

Ergotelis Crete - Panserraikos Serres 2-2

Asteras Tripolis - PAOK Thessaloniki 0-2

Aris Thessaloniki - OFI Crete 4-1

Standings (after 28 matches)

Olympiakos 65 champion

Panathinaikos 57 play-offs

PAOK 57 play-offs

AEK 54 play-offs

Larissa 43

Aris 41

Xanthi 35

Ergotelis 34

Asteras Tripolis 33

Panionios 31

Iraklis 30

Levadiakos 29

OFI 23

Panserraikos 23

Thrasyvoulos 14 relegated

Weather Monday

Chance of rain

Spotty weather is forecast around the country on Monday. Mostly cloudy in the north parts with the possibility of rain, and temperatures ranging from 5C to 18C. Rain on the rest of the mainland, 6C-19C; 10C-18C on the islands. Winds on the seas between 4 to 5 on the Beaufort scale. Scattered showers in Athens, 7C-17C; cloudy in Thessaloniki, 7C-18C.

[13] The Sunday editions of Athens' newspapers at a glance

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "One billion euros to SMEs".

APOGEVMATINI: "New wage scale: Wage hikes in private sector as of May 1".

AVGHI: "Gambling with the scandals, ND and PASOK choose Euro-elections based on their scandals".

AVRIANI: "Obama a Skopjean too. He referred to Skopje as Macedonia".

CHORA: "Eight secrets for fewer taxes".

ELEFTHERI ORA: "Did Dora (Bakoyannis) overcome (George) Souflias or vice-versa?"

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "Election dilemma: Karamanlis or Papandreou?»

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "Bombshell in ruling ND over Pavlidis case".

EPOCHI: "G20: Competing interests seeking balances".

ETHNOS: "Paralysed state: Economy collapses; crime rampant".

KATHIMERINI: "Wrong choices, the Pavlidis case and scenarios for early elections".

LOGOS: "Karamanlis states: I am present on front line of battle".

NIKI: "Euro-election results a milestone for ruling ND".

PARON: "President Karolos Papoulias: Crisis will pass, but we should not be left in shambles".

PROTO THEMA (weekly): "Scam worth 180 million euros with state limousines".

REALNEWS: "Only Pavlidis case was missing from government's attention".

RIZOSPASTIS: "With optimism and combativeness in the fight for Euro-elections. Major KKE campaign to the people".

VIMA: "Seven days that will change the world: Negotiations, decisions and behind-the-scenes parlaying".

VRADYNI: "Wages: Who wins, who loses. Two speeds for civil servants".

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