Athens News Agency: News in English, 05-10-03

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

CONTENTS

[01] Athens rules out renegotiation of paragraph 5 in EU-Turkey talks framework

[02] Zero tolerance for corruption, PM tells ruling party MPs

[03] Govt aims to further cut its general government deficit in 2006

[04] PASOK leader hosts dinner for Eurobasket victors Greece

[05] Clear skies gave unobstructed view of partial eclipse on Monday

[01] Athens rules out renegotiation of paragraph 5 in EU-Turkey talks framework

Earlier, diplomatic sources said that Greek Foreign Minister Petros Molyviatis had informed the British EU presidency during bilateral contacts that changes to paragraph 5 would mean renegotiating a whole series of issues, which Athens would bring to the negotiating table, from scratch.

Despite the best efforts of the British presidency, hopes that accession negotiations with Turkey might begin in the near future were looking more and more faint as Monday progressed.

One stumbling block was Austria's insistence that Turkey's negotiations should not automatically lead to full membership of the bloc. Another were last-minute objections raised by Ankara to paragraph 5 in the negotiations framework, which is considered particularly important for the interests of Greece and Cyprus.

The clause in question stipulates that Turkey, in the period leading up to its accession, must gradually harmonise its policies toward third countries and its positions within international organisations, including those related to the participation of all EU member-states in these organisations, with the policies and positions of the EU.

In effect, paragraph 5 indirectly requires Turkey to lift the obstacles it has raised so far to the Cyprus Republic - now a member-state of the EU - joining NATO and other international organisations.

Greek diplomatic sources said the British presidency, after being informed of Athens' positions, was continuing to make strenuous efforts to achieve a compromise and lead the EU out of the impasse.

According to an announcement from the Turkish foreign ministry, meanwhile, Ankara had rejected all changes to the negotiating framework for its talks with the EU. A spokesman said that Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul would not depart for Luxembourg until a solution concerning the negotiations framework had been found.

[02] Zero tolerance for corruption, PM tells ruling party MPs

He said that the citizens could not be inconvenienced by demands for bribes by civil servants who did not respect their vows adding that "we are in a head-on collision with them".

Karamanlis said that the government would exhaust all its severity with respect to such public functionaries and on all illegal practices. "We will not back down in this clash," he said.

Government moving ahead with reforms, PM says

Karamanlis also reassured MPs that his government was firmly moving ahead with reforms and changes in all sectors, with society as its ally, to render Greece a modern and efficient State, adding that the ministries had the obligation of continuing the effort for transparency and stamping out bureaucracy and wasteful spending.

Karamanlis referred to the streamlining of the DEKO public utilities and organisations in order to reinforce their social role, with respect for the taxpayers' money and increased productivity, as well as healthy competition.

On foreign policy, he reiterated that Greece backs Turkey's EU prospect, had waged a battle with Cyprus to secure the two countries' interests in the text of the framework being set by the EU for Turkey's accession course.

He noted that, provided Turkey met all the conditions put forward by the EU, it had the right, at the end of a long course, to become a full member of the EU.

Monday's meeting of the parliamentary group had a symbolic, anniversary nature, as it marked the 31st anniversary of ND's founding.

[03] Govt aims to further cut its general government deficit in 2006

The Greek minister presented the 2006 draft budget plan envisaging a speedier reduction of the countryâs public debt, containing consumer spending and implementing all pre-election commitments.

Next yearâs budget envisages a growth rate of 3.8 percent from 3.6 pct this year, and increases in investments, private consumption and real wages by 1.7 pct.

Alogoskoufis said that 2006 would be a crucial year for the economy and stressed that big steps have been taken to reduce deficits. The Greek minister noted that deficit would be reduced through containing public spending and combating tax evasion.

The 2006 budget envisages a 7.6 percent increase in credits to the Labour ministry, 8.4 pct to Interior ministry, 7.0 percent to Education ministry, 6.1 pct to National Defence, 8.8 pct to Agricultural ministry, 7.6 pct to Merchant Marine ministry and 7.5 pct to Tourism ministry.

The Public Investments Programme is expected to reach 8.7 billion euros in 2006 from 7.7 billion this year.

Direct tax revenues are forecast to rise by 6.0 percent to 19.046 billion euros, while indirect tax revenues to rise by 8.4 pct to 25.612 billion euros.

The government will prepare the Post Savings Bank and the Athens International Airport for listing in the Athens Stock Exchange while it will seek a more efficient use of the countryâs ports.

Next yearâs budget is based on a forecast that average oil price will range from 55 to 60 US dollar per barrel in 2006.

[04] PASOK leader hosts dinner for Eurobasket victors Greece

PASOK's leader also invited Greek basketball federation officials and was accompanied by PASOK spokesman Nikos Athanassakis and former Piraeus MP Panagiotis Fassoulas, himself a legendary basketball player on the Greek scene.

The dinner was attended by six of the players, since the rest had already returned to their teams abroad.

Papandreou said he had raised basketball at his party's political council, noting that the team's success showed what Greece was capable of when it wanted to achieve something, not just in sport but in any team endeavour.

[05] Clear skies gave unobstructed view of partial eclipse on Monday

The eclipse was total for sections of Spain, Portugal and Africa and partial in Greece, with a maximum 57 per cent coverage of the sun's surface over Iraklio.

The phenomenon began on Crete at around 11:42 and reached peak coverage of the solar disc at 12:40, ending three hours later at 14:11.

Among observers of the phenomenon were astronomy students at Crete University, using a telescope with a special solar filter and a telescope owned by the Crete University Physics Department, again equipped with a special solar filter. Both telescopes were placed on the roof of the physics department, eight kilometres outside the city of Iraklio.

Scientists advised the public that special glasses or other specialised equipment are needed in order to observe a solar eclipse and cautioned against the use of ordinary sunglasses, which do not provide adequate protection. They also noted that smoked glass, which is often used in order to observe an eclipse, does not block ultraviolet rays.

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