Europe Intelligence Wire articles from July 2003

Europe Intelligence Wire archives from July 2003

Music therapy hits right note with cancer patients.
July 31, 2003... (From HMG - Health Newswire Professional) LONDON By Rebecca Oppenheim Patients who have undergone bone-marrow transplants report less pain and nausea if they take part in music therapy, according to US researchers.The therapy...

Tosovsky refuses to testify against Nomura -- press.
July 31, 2003... (From Czech News Agency) PRAGUE, July 31 (CTK) - Former Czech National Bank governor and Prime Minister Josef Tosovsky has refused to testify for the state in a dispute against investment bank Nomura, daily Mlada fronta Dnes (MfD) says...

Bush not interested in meeting Klaus.
July 31, 2003... (From Czech News Agency) PRAGUE, July 31 (CTK) - U.S. President George W. Bush told former president Vaclav Havel last week that he is not interested in meeting Havel's successor, President Vaclav Klaus, the daily Mlada fronta Dnes (MfD)...

CKA OKs conditional takeover of Cayman funds -- press.
July 31, 2003... (From Czech News Agency) PRAGUE, July 31 (CTK) - The supervisory board of state-run bail-out agency CKA has approved a takeover of so-called Cayman structures from CSOB bank, daily Pravo says today. But the approval is subject to a...

Czech press survey.
July 31, 2003... (From Czech News Agency) PRAGUE, July 31 (CTK) - Jan Machacek comments on the statement made by U.S. President George W. Bush to former Czech president Vaclav Havel last week that Bush is not interested in meeting with Havel's...

Official: Yukos Affair Is Tricky.
July 31, 2003... (From The Moscow Times) President Vladimir Putin is determined to keep the escalating investigations into Yukos from evolving into a wholesale review of early privatizations, according to a senior official. "We have to steadily move...

A Day at the Solnyshko Summer Camp.
July 31, 2003... (From The Moscow Times) SOLNYSHKO CAMP, Moscow Region -- While there is no shortage of food at the Solnyshko summer camp, young campers do have to run a few gauntlets to get into the cafeteria. Not that they mind. There's clearly...

Record Heroin Bust In Moscow Region.
July 31, 2003... (From The Moscow Times) Moscow region police seized 220 kilograms of pure heroin Wednesday in the country's largest-ever heroin bust, Interior Minister Boris Gryzlov said. With help from Federal Security Service agents and sniffer...

Bodyguards Watch Their Backs.
July 31, 2003... (From The Moscow Times) A bodyguard spends his career protecting others from harm. Now, a group of local bodyguards are teaming up to protect their own. More than 100 people -- many with arms thicker than a newspaper reporter's legs...

12th Woman Strangled to Death.
July 31, 2003... (From The Moscow Times) An 18-year-old woman has been found strangled to death in Khimki, bringing the number of stranglings in northern Moscow this month to 12, police said Wednesday. Police, who as recently as Monday had been...

Stepashin: Loopholes Cost Budget $3.7Bln.
July 31, 2003... (From The Moscow Times) The black holes in the federal budget got smaller but tax loopholes and evasion still cost the government nearly $4 billion last year, according to parliament's budgetary watchdog. "The federal budget received...

Goldman Sachs Bets on Russia.
July 31, 2003... (From The Moscow Times) The world's leading investment bank is betting on Russia, or rather offering a new way for others to bet on Russia. Wall Street giant Goldman Sachs has launched a new product for those who want to bet on the...

Local Agency Wins Global Ad Tender.
July 31, 2003... (From The Moscow Times) In what is being billed as big step toward the big time for Russian advertising agencies, a small Moscow firm has won a worldwide tender to create ads for South Korean electronics giant LG. Immedia-Holding...

OMON Raid: Trip to Russia's Darker Side.
July 31, 2003... (From The Moscow Times) To Our ReadersHas something you've read here startled you? Are you angry, excited, puzzled or pleased? Do you have ideas to improve our coverage? Then please write to us. All we ask is that you include...

Problems of Unstable Privatization Edifice.
July 31, 2003... (From The Moscow Times) To Our ReadersHas something you've read here startled you? Are you angry, excited, puzzled or pleased? Do you have ideas to improve our coverage? Then please write to us. All we ask is that you include...

Putin in Stalin's Footsteps.
July 31, 2003... (From The Moscow Times) It's official: President Vladimir Putin has declared the end of military reform in Russia. Meeting with military top brass in the Kremlin this week, he announced that any talk of a serious reorganization of the...

Political Support for AES Project Uncertain.
July 31, 2003... (From PARI Daily) Byline: Svetoslava BANCHEVA The US company has not yet reached agreement on the acquisition of its offshore partner's minority stake THE TERM which the ministry of energy gave to US AES to buy out the minority...

UtDF Suggests Extension of BNB Governor Term.
July 31, 2003... (From PARI Daily) Byline: Vesela YANEVA THE UNITED Democratic Forces (UtDF) suggest an amendment to the Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) Act to extend the term of the current governor, Svetoslav Gavriiski, until a new governor is...

Kavarna Turns Down Five-Star Hotel Project.
July 31, 2003... (From PARI Daily) Byline: Kremena KAPRALOVA THE KAVARNA municipality will terminate its contract with a prominent Bulgarian businessman, Plamen Hrankov, for the construction of a 5-star hotel. The term of the contract expires on...

New Transplantation Act Becomes Effective 2004.
July 31, 2003... (From PARI Daily) PARLIAMENT passed on second reading the Transplantation of Organs, Tissues and Cells Act. A major amendment in the new law is that people shall expressly state readiness for donorship. Currently people are by default...

Achievable Requirements Posed to EDC Candidates.
July 31, 2003... (From PARI Daily) Byline: Svetoslava BANCHEVA REPRESENTATIVES of the energy ministry met with the top ten of a total of 52 companies assessed as potential bidders in the tenders for privatisation of Bulgaria's seven electricity...

BAE Bids for USD 100m Defence Deal.
July 31, 2003... (From PARI Daily) THE LARGEST British defence manufacturer, BAE, is bidding for a USD 100 million contract for upgrading Bulgaria's helicopter fleet. Mark Stevens, BAE director for Bulgaria, Romania and Hungary, announced his company...

Constitutional Amendments Ready by End-September.
July 31, 2003... (From PARI Daily) THE DEPUTY chairperson of the National Assembly, Kamelia Kassabova, announced that the pending amendments to the effective constitution of the Republic of Bulgaria will be approved by the end of September. Kassabova...

Legislative Amendments Ease Cash Transactions.
July 31, 2003... (From PARI Daily) Byline: Gergana IVANOVA BANK transfers of amounts equivalent to more than BGN 30,000 (EUR 1 = BGN 1.95583) will not require any formalities in Bulgaria in case the source of the funds has been declared, according to...

NEC Invests in New Power Lines.
July 31, 2003... (From PARI Daily) By Svetoslava ANTONOVA THE REGIONAL energy market is expected to start functioning according to the rules of the EU energy system, hence as early as 2005 there will be options for supply contracts between...

Opposition Urges for Cancellation of BTC Deal.
July 31, 2003... (From PARI Daily) Byline: Vesela YANEVA THE COALITION for Bulgaria, the United Democratic Forces (UtDF) and the National Idea for Unity (NIU) urged for cancellation of the procedure for privatisation of the Bulgarian...

New Deputy Premier Transforms State Agencies.
July 31, 2003... (From PARI Daily) Byline: Tatyana YAVASHEVA BULGARIA'S state agencies must be transformed into executive bodies directly subordinated to the respective line ministries, according to a working plan devised by deputy prime minister...

RINGS Processes BGN 14.912bn in Two Months.
July 31, 2003... (From PARI Daily) Byline: Valentina ILIEVA THE REAL-TIME interbank gross settlement (RINGS) system has processed a total of 36,932 transactions for a total of BGN 14.912 billion (EUR 1 = BGN 1.95583). The average daily RINGS workload...

Metro opens third Cash and Carry store in Vietnam in Asia roll-out.
July 31, 2003... (From Agence France Presse) Germany's Metro Group, the world's fifth-largest trading company, has opened its third wholesale "Cash and Carry" store in Vietnam as part of its ambitious roll-out programme in Asia. The company opened...

Peru submits extradition request for Fujimori.
July 31, 2003... (From Agence France Presse) Peruvian Ambassador to Japan Luis Macchiavello lodged a formal request with the Japanese government for the extradition of disgraced former president Alberto Fujimori, a foreign ministry official said. But...

South Asia peace icon leaves Indian hospital for Pakistan.
July 31, 2003... (From Agence France Presse) A Pakistani baby, who has come to symbolise South Asian peace hopes, has left a hospital in this southern Indian city after a successful heart surgery two weeks ago. Two-year-old Noor Fatima, dressed in...

Kim Jong-Il "dead wrong" on nuclear blackmail -- Bolton.
July 31, 2003... (From Agence France Presse) Top US arms control official John Bolton warned North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il that he was "dead wrong" if he thought developing nuclear weapons would serve to stengthen his regime. Bolton, who described...

Arroyo says Philippines coup plot "far from over".
July 31, 2003... (From Agence France Presse) President Gloria Arroyo and the Philippines' top general said a military mutiny against her was "far from over" and the government was mounting "preemptive measures" stop the spread of the rebellion. ...

Near-miss between military and passenger planes in Taiwan.
July 31, 2003... (From Agence France Presse) Two Taiwanese fighter jets flew within 1,000 feet of a passenger plane after a blunder by military air-traffic controllers, it was reported here. The Civil Aeronautics Administration was still...

Vatican to call on Catholic politicians to oppose gay unions.
July 31, 2003... (From Agence France Presse) The Roman Catholic Church, in a condemnation of same-sex unions, is to issue a specific call to Catholic politicians to fight legislation allowing gay marriages now recognised in many parts of Europe and North...

Australian-US intelligence muddle blamed on bureaucratic blunder.
July 31, 2003... (From Agence France Presse) Confusion over whether Australia was a potential terrorist target was blamed on a bureaucratic blunder the country's spymaster said. The opposition said Thursday the mix up undermined the Australian...

Out of the closet and into prime time.
July 31, 2003... (From Agence France Presse) Two new reality shows are pushing gay culture into the realm of US prime-time television, to the general delight of gay activists and the dismay of conservative family groups. Leading the way is "Queer Eye...

Gardener sues movie legend Elizabeth Taylor over sacking.
July 31, 2003... (From Agence France Presse) US screen legend Elizabeth Taylor has been sued by a former landscaper who claims the star fired him because he rejected the sexual advances of her butler, court documents showed. Gardener designer Willem...

FreshAer links up with Icelandair.
July 31, 2003... (From Irish Independent) NEW airline FreshAer signed a deal with Icelandair yesterday that puts the company'splans to offer services from Dublin to European destinations firmly on track. Icelandair will operate FreshAer's four...

Battle lines drawn for spoils locked in REO.
July 31, 2003... (From Irish Independent) Noel Smyth is in another bitter property play row,but his new role may give him the whip hand REGARDLESS of the outcome of the Real Estate Opportunities (REO) story,with a bidding war for the split capital...

Markets.
July 31, 2003... (From Irish Independent) IRISH stocks climbed yesterday, with Cement Roadstone and Elan leading the charge. The benchmark ISEQ advanced 48.07 points, or 1.1pc, to 4,388.58. Twenty-one stocks climbed, 13 fell and 18 were...

HAVING A PUNT : We need Russian Rhythm to romp in.
July 31, 2003... (From Irish Independent) LORD of the Turf all but bit the turf as he faded in the final furlong at Galway yesterday to leave us still searching for a winner. This Saturday that should all change, as Russian Rhythm looks nailed on to...

How I lost my house for the price of a second-hand car.
July 31, 2003... (From Irish Independent) It's every family's nightmare. You remortgage your house - and are then are struck down with a serious illness. You are insured - but this proves woefullyinadequate and riddled with restrictive clauses in the...

Lender defends overall policy on arrears.
July 31, 2003... (From Irish Independent) HOW can a family end up losing their home due to illness if they took outinsurance against that very event - and all for the sake of just [euro]13,000 in arrears?. Rather too easily it would appear, from this...

Extensive list of serious illness cover misleading says Irish Life.
July 31, 2003... (From Irish Independent) You've bought serious illness cover and you think you're covered. Check theterms and conditions carefully because all may not be as it seems A ROW between Irish Life and Eagle Star has highlighted what the...

YOUR MONEY : Are you getting the best deals?
July 31, 2003... (From Irish Independent) STOP moaning about being ripped off, and start shopping around. That's the message that emerges from our new revamped Good Buys tables which could save you hundreds of euro a year. You could accept travel...

Elan reprieve on debt deadline.
July 31, 2003... (From Irish Independent) DRUGS company Elan has reduced its exposure to the 30-odd class action legal actionsbeing taken against it after it got a further extension from its bondholders to stop them calling in debts. Shares in Elan...

Trade figures worsen as strong euro hurts.
July 31, 2003... (From Irish Independent) SEASONALLY adjusted trade figures for April reveal a 10pc rise in exports over themonth of March but the initial figures for May show a sharp decline, the Central Statistics Office said yesterday. April...

Rise of wealthy eases off.
July 31, 2003... (From Irish Independent) THE number of high net worth individuals in Ireland failed to rise last year, according to anew report. High net worth individuals are defined as people with assets of at least $1m, excludingproperty assets....

Public services will feed the hungry wolf.
July 31, 2003... (From Irish Independent) With pay taking up over half of total spending and politically unable to fall, services to the public are likely to bear the brunt of trying to balance the books CRIES of "Wolf!" have lost their force when it...

BT moves back into the lucrative mobile market.
July 31, 2003... (From Irish Independent) BT UNVEILED its plans to return to the UK's mobile phone market this weekwith the launch of 'BT Mobile Home Plan' - a service it hopes will have won 1 million customers by the end of 2005. The move comes less...

Tower to build [euro]25m hotel in Castleknock.
July 31, 2003... (From Irish Independent) THE Tower Hotel Group is building Dublin's newest hotel in Castleknock on the west of the city. The [euro]25m four-star investment is being made in collaboration with Monarch Properties,which is contributing...

An Post chief faces challenge.
July 31, 2003... (From Irish Independent) WITH 45pc of letter post revenue open to competition by the end of the year, and An Post's announcement of its biggest ever loss of [euro]70.5m with a continuation of losses in the current year, incoming An Post...

News In Brief.
July 31, 2003... (From Irish Independent) ComReg invitesapplications THE Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) has given all parties interested in applying for new fixed wireless access local area (FWALA)licences from August 11 to...

IBEC warns against 'buying pig in a poke'.
July 31, 2003... (From Irish Independent) IBEC warns against 'buying pig in a poke'The employers lobby is adamant that real transparency and verification of revamped work practices must be seen as a trade-off for the benchmarking pay deal, writes ...

Job-hunting? Look out - the Bogeyman's after you!
July 31, 2003... (From Irish Independent) IT IS my considered opinion that job-hunting is for dummies and that smart people career-hunt. You would never undertake a journey in your car without a destination in mind - you would just panic at the first...

Threat to advertising's screen gems if film industry reels.
July 31, 2003... (From Irish Independent) A RECENT report by new lobby group Screen Producers Ireland has warned that over 3,400 industry jobs could be lost if the Government goes ahead with plans toaxe tax incentives (grouped under the designation...

No kidding in serious debate on children's advertising.
July 31, 2003... (From Irish Independent) CHILD "pester power" for the latest products or services and children's vulnerability toparticular forms of advertising are powerful forces that confront parents. It is an issue that the Broadcasting...

News In Brief.
July 31, 2003... (From Irish Independent) Lansdowne duo launch RED C TWO former directors of Lansdowne Market Research, Richard Colwell and Sinead Mooney, have founded a new independent market research business knownas RED C Research and Marketing....

New planning body to put State schemes on right road.
July 31, 2003... (From Irish Independent) Although the proposed National Infrastructure Board is likely to cause all sorts ofpolitical turmoil,in the long run it will leadto a host of short cuts for the country's development IT will be explosive,...

The main players in property play.
July 31, 2003... (From Irish Independent) TREASURY HOLDINGS: This property company is headed up by John Ronan and Richard Barrett. It owns one-third of REO, and is a co-founder of the company. It owns the Stillorgan Shopping Centre as well as numerous...

FREEMAN : Management the tonic for ailing health system.
July 31, 2003... (From Irish Independent) OUR health system is in crisis, with spiralling costs. But the condition ischronic, rather than acute. Failures result from mismanagement, rather than Scrooge McCreevy. Real health spending has doubled in six...

SHARESCOPE : Fyffes one to watch as dollar fall bears fruit.
July 31, 2003... (From Irish Independent) THIS time last year, there was much talk of the weaker dollar boosting the recovery in Fyffes. Well, since then, the dollar has been well and truly floored - but while the Fyffes shareprice has taken off, it...

Arcon issue turned out to be zinc ointment.
July 31, 2003... (From Irish Independent) ARCON is now the sole Irish company engaged in the production of zinc in Ireland, following the sale by Ivernia of its 50pc stake in the Lisheen mine in Co Kilkenny. The fact that it is still there at all is...

Gent steps down to standing ovation.
July 31, 2003... (From Irish Independent) OUTGOING Vodafone boss Chris Gent received a standing ovation from shareholders yesterday when he stepped down as head of the biggest mobile phone company in the world. Mr Gent retired with a pension packet...

IBEC warns on benchmarking.
July 31, 2003... (From Irish Independent) THE main employers group, IBEC, plans to make the final payment of the public service 'benchmarking bonanza' subject to further negotiation for a follow-on pay deal when talks begin in eight months. The...

HR directors average over [euro]100,000.
July 31, 2003... (From Irish Independent) A NEW survey of human resource (HR) staff reveals that the average pay for humanresource directors has reached [euro]106,000. This was topped up with an additional bonus on an average of their basic salary...

Any Other Business ...
July 31, 2003... (From Irish Independent) Any Other Business... GAA's perfect pitch for park-and-ride PR HOTSHOTS Murray Consultants, managers of the Irish Open at Portmarnock last week, know now you have to be up bright and early to get one over...

Revamp costs push An Post to biggest ever loss of [euro]70m.
July 31, 2003... (From Irish Independent) AN Post management admitted yesterday that the planned reduction of1,140 people from its total workforce was running at least 18 months behind schedule. The [euro]52.5m cost of the rationalisation programme is...

Low-carb diets are not dangerous.
July 31, 2003... (From Irish Independent) Sir - Recently in the media major criticism has been directed towardslow-carbohydrate Atkins-type diets. The 'experts' who criticise these diets merely mimicthe dogma of conventional medicine propagated by both...

Reform of the Garda.
July 31, 2003... (From Irish Independent) Reform of the GardaTHE Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell, has high ambitions for his Garda Siochana Bill 2003. He wants it to set norms for theforce, and lay down police relationships with the executive and...

...and when women walk out after many years of marriage.
July 31, 2003... (From Irish Independent) For some Irish women, the wedding day pledge to stay in a marriage 'for better or for worse' turns out to be more life sentence than emotional commitment. Many Irish women have suffered long years in silence in...

LOVE IN A COLD CLIMATE.
July 31, 2003... (From Irish Independent) *One woman in her 50s (unconnected with Aim Family Services) left her husband six months ago. This is her story. "Myself and my husband were together for over 25 years. Once the kids left the house,there was...

MARRIAGE 2003.
July 31, 2003... (From Irish Independent) Biggest factors for marriage break-ups *Infidelity; addictions ( work, sport, alcohol; abuse (emotional, verbal or physical); lack ofcommunication. The five proven best ways to keep your marriage...

Well, holy matrimania! Weddings are cool again.
July 31, 2003... (From Irish Independent) It seems everyone wants to walk down the aisle these days. But does it mean wedded bliss forever? Not likely, as ANTONIA O'KEEFFE reports 'Before I got divorced, I got married forever, or so I thought," says...

Changes to ensure we will all feel the force is with us.
July 31, 2003... (From Irish Independent) THE Garda Siochana Bill, the heads of which I published yesterday, is thefirst legislative reform package for An Garda Siochana since the foundation of the Stateand it will form the basis for new relationships...

I feel a sense of rage over Neary case.
July 31, 2003... (From Irish Independent) FOR those of us who have worked in the health services as I have the findings in the Neary case are truly shocking. If, like me, they have been involved in thecare of pregnant women the recognition of the damage...

Public confidence in police a major issue.
July 31, 2003... (From Irish Independent) YESTERDAY came yet another announcement of imminent garda reform bythe Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell. Ever since Minister McDowell took office over a year ago, he has been making a great deal of noise...

McDowell lays down the law on Garda plan.
July 31, 2003... (From Irish Independent) JUSTICE Minister Michael McDowell has set out his plans for radical reform of the Garda Siochana. The most extensive shake-up in the history of the force includes provision for a new independent inspectorate...

Silvio and the taking back of Christ . . .
July 31, 2003... (From Irish Independent) HE has angered the Germans, offended Muslims and insulted fans of DavidBeckham. Now Silvio Berlusconi has the National Gallery in his sights. It seems the Italian Prime Minister wants his Caravaggio back. ...

Three-ton crane falls on to street.
July 31, 2003... (From Irish Independent) PEDESTRIANS and shoppers had a lucky escape yesterday when a crane dropped a three-ton machine onto a busy street. The accident happened around 1.45pm on Sugar House Lane, in New Ross, CoWexford. Heavy...

Carbon tax plans under cloud over cost.
July 31, 2003... (From Irish Independent) A RELUCTANT Government last night kicked off a process of consulting the public and companies on the ramifications of introducing a carbon tax. At a Cabinet meeting last week ministers failed to agree on...

The taking of Caravaggio: No Silvio, you can't have it back.
July 31, 2003... (From Irish Independent) THE Department of Arts had heard the rumour. The National Gallery knew about it, too. Nobody was quite sure if Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi had really asked for the return of his Caravaggio....

Swimmers told to avoid 'toxic' lake.
July 31, 2003... (From Irish Independent) LOUGH Derg is out of bounds to bathers because of the presence of apotentially toxic substance. North Tipperary County Council has posted warning signs on the lake's shoreline bathingareas, advising people...