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Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 00-03-15Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] Simitis formally requests dissolution of Parliament, 3 new caretaker ministers announcedAthens, 15/03/2000 (ANA)Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis on Tuesday chaired the last Cabinet meeting of the current government before officially handing the president of the republic a letter requesting the dissolution of Parliament and general elections for April 9.In the letter containing the Cabinets decision for early elections, Simitis refers to the prospect of maintaining the high level of progress the country has made in regards to reaching Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) entry, stressing that negotiations for Greeces equal participation in the euro zone necessitate a government with a strong popular mandate. He read out the letter to the Cabinet. Simitis also noted that the first Parliament session after the April 9 elections would be set for Thursday, April 20. Caretaker ministers: During the meeting, Simitis also announced that three ministerial posts would be replaced with caretaker ministers in light of the elections. Specifically, Giorgos Koumantos will takeover at the interior and public administration ministry, Dimitris Gourgourakis at the justice ministry and Argyris Fatouros at the mass media ministry. A swearing in ceremony is scheduled for Monday. Conversely, the Greek Prime Minister said he did not consider replacing of Public Order Minister Mihalis Chrysohoidis as being expedient. In regards to the same issue, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas later told reporters there was no reason for a change in the public order ministry, but only in posts deemed to have a direct influence on the election process. Additionally, Reppas said the Prime Minister had a brief conversation with President Kostis Stephanopoulos when received by the latter. Simitis reportedly told the recently re-elected by Parliament head of state that with the elections the country was closing a fruitful and historic cycle, citing expected EMU entry and the new level of Greek-Turkish relations following the EU Helsinki summit. [02] President dissolves parliament, formally calls elections for April 9Athens, 15/03/2000 (ANA)President Kostis Stephanopoulos on Tuesday signed a Presidential Decree dissolving parliament and formally proclaiming general elections on April 9. These will be the 10th parliamentary elections since the restoration of democracy in Greece in 1974 after a seven-year military dictatorship[03] Premier calls on Greeks to grant government a fresh mandateAthens, 15/03/2000 (ANA)Prime Minister Costas Simitis on Tuesday committed to move forward as he did in the past so as to "realize a strong and socially just Greece". "We successfully concluded a great national effort. We succeeded our participation, on an equal footing, at the central nucleus of decision making of the European Union (EMU). We won our position in Europe with our sword," Simitis said in a message after the Parliament's dissolution and the official call for general elections on April 9, the same day."A new age is before us. An age in which we can multiply our benefits, stemming from the country's international position. We can widen development and prosperity for increasingly more people. We can provide safety and security for our future and that of our children. We can continue the policies of peace and cooperation in our turbulent region. "Our aim is to build on solid institutions a society of solidarity and cohesion, a society of knowledge and culture; to formulate a net of social security for every Greek citizen; to combat unemployment, social disenfranchising and crime; to secure a new era of rebirth in rural areas. The thousands of small and large projects, which are under construction all around the country, are the base of a balanced development throughout all regions. All this can be done. We are in a fertile route of a new historical cycle," he said. "By 2004 we could be residing in a different Greece, much better Greece. The decision is up to us; our fate is within our hands. The critical issue for succeeding in all these aims will be our course, following Greece's accession to the (EMU) European Monetary Union," Simitis added. "The day after will depend upon the great negotiation, which will take place over the next few months. The capabilities and obligations, which we will have as a framework over the next few years, will be born of these negotiations. "For this negotiation, Greece must be politically all-powerful. This means that the people should have given a fresh mandate to its government. This is what the interest of Greece demands. For this reason I requested from the President of the Republic to call early elections. "The Greek people are called upon to decide to whom they will grant their trust for the next four-year term. Whose proposals, knowledge, and responsible attitude and effectiveness they trust," the premier said. He concluded his message with a call for a new strong and socially just Greece. April 9 election crucial for Greece's negotiations for EMU Simitis: Prime Minister Costas Simitis said on Tuesday that the most significant issue at stake in the April 9 elections was which government would conduct the negotiations for Greece's accession to European Economic and Monetary Union. "The decision to call an early election was the result of main opposition New Democracy's continuous disputing of the government's economic successes, which impeded the negotiating capability of the country," he said in an interview with Mega TV channel. Referring to developments in the Athens Stock Exchange, he stressed that there were no government responsibilities for the continuous fall in stock prices and the anger of thousands of small investors, re-iterating that "the government did not at any time encourage anyone to purchase stocks", adding that it was the sole responsibility of the investor to judge where he placed his capital. Addressing concerns expressed over the future of social security and pension funds, Simitis called them "unfounded", re-iterating that "those who will retire in the immediate future have nothing to fear". [04] Karamanlis says Greece needs 'balanced development' and 'more humane' societyAthens, 15/03/2000 (ANA)Main opposition New Democracy party leader Costas Karamanlis said on Tuesday his party would pursue pollicies for balanced development and a more humane society if elected on April 9."We must formulate a new prospect for Greece, with dynamic and balanced development and a society with greater humanism," he said in a statement on the occasion of the formal opening of the pre-election period. Karamanlis said his party's tactics during the election campaign would be based on presenting its detailed proposals for every policy sector and each area of Greece and would insist on consensus and synthesis of views once in power. "As the party of the middle political ground it rejects the practices of sharp and sterile conflict," he said. [05] Pre-election activities heat up; Simitis to detail social programAthens, 15/03/2000 (ANA)Ruling PASOK's social program and priorities for the next four years will be detailed by Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis on Wednesday during an event in central Athens, as the pre-election season heads into the last month before the polls open.On its part, the main opposition New Democracy party's leadership is expected to announce the names for the party's state deputies' election slates in a few days. On Wednesday, ND president Costas Karamanlis is scheduled to speak at a pre-election rally in the town Veria, north central Greece. On Tuesday, Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) president Nikos Constantopoulos met with veteran leftist politician and noted wartime resistance figure Manolis Glezos, before touring the west Athens municipality of Petroupoli. Finally, Democratic Social Movement (DHKKI) leader Dimitris Tsovolas visited a tax office in the Greek capital and was scheduled to tour the Nea Smyrni district in the afternoon. [06] G. Papandreou cites new 'dynamic' of Turkey's Euro-prospects in talks with UN's De SotoAthens, 15/03/2000 (ANA)Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou met with UN special envoy for the Cyprus problem Alvaro De Soto in Athens on Tuesday for talks that covered both the Cyprus issue, as expected, but Greek-Turkish relations as well.After the 45-minute meeting, the Greek minister underlined that Turkey's European vocation lends a "new dynamic" to the overall framework for the Cyprus problem. On his part, De Soto stressed that compromises are necessary from both sides on the island republic, while emphasizing that the current political situation favors a solution to the long-standing problem. The UN envoy did note, however, that direct negotiations between Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash aren't foreseen in the near future, whereas ongoing proximity talks can be very substantive, even if they are not held "face to face". The latest round of proximity talks between the two communities on the divided island deals with issues related to allocation of executive powers, territory, security, as well as property rights and compensation. Turkish forces since a 1974 invasion have occupied one-third of the island republic. [07] Greek stocks collapse on ASEAthens, 15/03/2000 (ANA)Equity prices collapsed on Tuesday to end at their lowest levels since August 10, 1999, on the Athens Stock Exchange. Dealers said the market ignored the announcement of very positive news on the country's economic course, such as a decision by international credit rating agency Fitch IBCA to place the country's foreign exchange debt on a upgrade alert, positive predictions on the Greek stock market's course made by Salomon Smith Barney and favorable comments on the economy by EU officials.Selling pressures hit all market sectors, including blue chips, with only eight shares ending higher. The general index ended at 4,542.65 points, down 6.60 percent, off the day's lows of 4,509.23 points. Turnover was a low 165 billion drachmas. The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks ended 6.18 percent lower at 2,577.96 points and the FTSE/ASE 40 index dropped 7.01 percent to 656.07 points. Sector indices ended as follows: Banks: 8,806.09 -5.79% Leasing: 1,012.37 -8.02% Insurance: 3,004.98 -9.55% Investment: 2,335.85 -3.28% Construction: 2,127.79 -6.22% Industrials: 2,663.54 -7.06% Miscellaneous: 4,968.91 -9.27% Holding: 4,537.17 -6.62% The parallel market index for smaller capitalization stocks collapsed. It ended at 833.24 points, off 8.47 percent. Broadly, decliners led advancers by 329 to eight with another four issues unchanged. Desmos, Metka, Egnatia Bank, Mohlos, Alco, Lambropoulos scored the biggest percentage gains. Hellenic Telecoms, Panafon and Hellenic Petroleum were the most heavily traded stocks. Leading shares' closing prices (in Drs): National Bank: 22.460 Alpha Credit Bank: 23.900 Commercial Bank: 20.490 Ergobank: 8.400 Eurobank: 11.520 Heracles Cement: 8.400 Titan Cement: 14.150 Hellenic Petroleum: 4.005 Intracom: 15.130 Minoan Lines: 6.945 Hellenic Telecoms: 9.450 Panafon: 5.470 No intervention in the stock market's operation, Papantoniou says: National Economy and Finance Minister Yiannos Papantoniou on Tuesday appealed to all parties not related with the Athens Stock Market (ASE) to assist in its disengagement from politics and the pre-election campaign. Speaking to reporters after a meeting with the governors of National Bank of Greece, Theodoros Karatzas, Agriculture Bank of Greece's Petros Lambrou and Commercial Bank's C. Georgoutsakos, Athens Stock Exchange chairman Spyros Kouniakis and Capital Markets' Committee chairman Stavros Thomadakis, Papantoniou urged all those not participating in the bourse's procedures to let it operate unhindered, while he urged retail investors to remain confident on the country's economic course. "There will be no intervention in the stock market's operation," Papantoniou said. He added that participants at the meeting agreed that efforts to link the stock market with politics were the reason for the current negative climate in the market. "Outside interventions, verbal or otherwise, can only have negative effects," he noted. Papantoniou said the country's economic course and the "sealed" prospect of Greece's EMU membership signaled positive developments for the economy and the stock market. "Interest rates will fall to very low levels in the next few months, equity yields look more and more attractive and the economy is growing rapidly. Greece will be the 12th member of EMU in June. The economy is moving on the right track and economic rules lead to positive developments in the market. Therefore, private investors should remain confident on the Greek economy and 'shut their ears' to political sirens". The government has two basic duties, Papantoniou said: The first is the institutional support of the stock market with measures aiming to secure investors' interests. "This duty is fully met," he stressed. The second refers to the market's regulatory authorities, "which are alerted to avert and deal with phenomena that could damage private investors". "The guardians are aware. There will be no intervention in the stock market's operation. This institution must function according to market rules," he said. Papantoniou added that he has not given any orders for an inspection on the stock market's procedures by the financial crime squad. Reppas: bourse's developments unexplained in economic terms: Government spokesman Dimitris Repppas said on Tuesday that recent developments in the Athens Stock Exchange could not be translated in economic terms. He was answering to journalists' questions whether there was political interference in the stock market. Reppas stressed that a meeting on Tuesday between national economy minister and other government and political party officials did not related with stock market developments. He said it was sad that main opposition party ND officials talked of "pyramid" schemes in the market and said that this irresponsible attitude was damaging the general interest. Mini riot outside bourse sparked by Tuesday's plunge: Violence erupted outside the Athens Stock Exchange on Tuesday as some 500 angry retail investors tried to break into the bourse's trading floor before clashing with riot police, a fracas that followed the market's same day 6.60-percent plunge. Police later ordered the evacuation of the trading floor as a precautionary measure. Earlier, angry investors attacked the president of Greece's union of listed companies' shareholders, Dimitris Karagounis, and also vandalized several luxury cars parked outside the central Athens bourse. In a related development, an independent investors' union, chaired by professor Ion Steriotis, urged National Economy Minister Yiannos Papantoniou to urgently meet with representatives from all parties active in the stock market (investors, securities firms, institutional investors and listed companies) to find a solution to the recent downturn. The union warned that the situation could get out of control and lead to a temporary suspension of trading on the ASE. Karamanlis urges government to apologize to bourse investors: Main opposition New Democracy party leader Costas Karamanlis on Tuesday urged the government to apologize to thousands of small investors after a dramatic fall in the Athens Stock Exchange (ASE) composite price index on Tuesday. "Let them look in the eye the thousands of small investors and ask for forgiveness. They should be ashamed and apologetic," he said in a statement after investor panic caused the index to fall 6.6 percent. Karamanlis accused the government of meddling in the stock market and using it for political purposes. "The stock exchange is a lever for economic development and will pick up again if interventions cease. Our proposals and positions guarantee its institutional buttressing and strengthening "...Should we forget PASOK's (Euroelections) spot last year, warning that if New Democracy won the stock market would fall "...Should we forget that the national economy minister together with the heads of public sector banks organized the artificial fall of the index, thereby injuring the stock market?" he asked. Derivatives prices end sharply lower: Derivatives prices plunged on Tuesday on the Athens Derivatives Exchange following a collapse in the two benchmark indices, FTSE/ASE 20 and FTSE/ASE 40, that ended 6.18 and 7.01 percent lower respectively. A total of 1,313 futures contracts were traded on the FTSE/ASE 20 index, worth 6.9 billion drachmas. The March expiring contract ended at 2,563 points, the April contract at 2,610, the May contract at 2,625 and the June expiring contract at 2,650 points. A total of 1,033 contracts were traded on the FTSE/ASE 40 index, worth 2.8 billion drachmas. The March expiring contract ended at 651 points, the April contract at 661, the May at 666 and the June contract at 685 points. Bonds gain momentum: Bonds in the domestic secondary market traded briskly in moderate turnover on Tuesday, in sharp contrast to the Athens Stock Exchange, traders said. The Greek benchmark 20-year bond showed a yield of 6.26 percent from 6.28 percent on Friday. The paper's yield spread over German bunds fluctuated between 90 and 92 basis points against 91 basis points on Friday. Trade through the central bank's electronic system totalled 44 billion drachmas from 112 billion drachmas on Friday, while 15 billion accounted for purchase orders. Drachma firms vs. euro, retreats vs. dollar: The drachma on Tuesday rose against the euro and retreated against the US dollar in the domestic foreign exchange market. At the central bank's daily fixing, the euro was set at 333.600 drachmas from 333.740 drachmas in the previous session on Friday. The central bank purchased 250 million euros as demand for drachmas rose. Also at the fixing, the US dollar was set at 346.460 drachmas from 345.320 on Friday. [08] Budget revenues rise 22.3 percent in FebruaryAthens, 15/03/2000 (ANA)Greece's regular budget revenues increased 22.3 percent in February compared with the same month last year, while revenues in the first two months of 2000 rose 15.3 percent, sharply up from a government target for an annual rise of 3.5 percent.Figures released on Tuesday by the finance ministry showed that higher revenue growth rates resulted to a budget surplus of 148 billion drachmas in the period January-February this year. Tax agencies' revenues rose 34.3 percent in February for a 18.3 percent increase in the first two months of 2000. Customs revenues were 14.7 percent higher in the month and 7.8 percent up in January-February, while value added tax revenues jumped 46.3 percent in February for a 20.1 percent rise in the first two months of the year. [09] Fitch IBCA places Greece on 'upgrade alert' statusLONDON, 15/03/2000 (ANA)Fitch IBCA, the international rating agency, on Monday placed Greece's long and short-term foreign currency ratings of "BBB+" and "F2", respectively, as well as the long-term local currency rating of "A-" (A minus) on its so-called "Rating Alert" positive status.According to a Fitch executive in the British capital on Tuesday, the move does not translate into an automatic upgrade but means that there is "more than a 50 percent chance" that the rating agency will proceed with an upgrade in the next few months. A previous ANA dispatch from London had referred to an outright upgrade. [10] Retail sales value index up 3.8 percent in DecemberAthens, 15/03/2000 (ANA)Greece's retail sales value index rose 3.8 percent in December 1999 compared with the same month the previous year, National Statistics Service said on Tuesday. The NSS attributed the rise to increases in the food index (5.3 pct), clothing/footwear (6.8 pct) and furniture (6.5 pct).[11] European Commission publicizes report on Basic Economic Policy Orientations for 1999BRUSSELS, 15/03/2000 (ANA - V. Demiris)The European Commission on Tuesday publicized the report on the implementation of the Basic Economic Policy Orientations for 1999 in the European Union's 15 member-states.The main conclusion drawn from the report is that the restructuring of the EU member-states' public finances is proceeding at a satisfactory rate. The same applies to Greece which, however, shows weaknesses in employment, productivity, the rate of privatizations and the harmonization of national and EU law. The purpose of the report is to show if and how the Basic Economic Policy Orientations for 1999 were applied in member-states. The section on Greece examines five sectors: macroeconomic developments, fiscal policy and structural changes in product markets, capital markets and the labor market. On the issue of macroeconomic developments, the European Commission notes that "in the past four years development rates in Greece were higher than the EU average and amounted to 3.5 percent in 1999. These high development rates were fuelled primarily by increased domestic demand, despite the crisis in the Balkans and the decrease in Greek exports. The increased domestic demand is due to high private consumption and investments. Consumption is expected to increase further in 2000, while investments in the construction sector will also increase. The main cause for the increase in investments are repairs to restore damage caused by the disastrous earthquake in Athens (in September 1999) and preparation for the Olympic Games in 2004." The report also said that unemployment decreased from 10.7 percent in 1998 to 10.3 percent in 1999, whereas employment increased 1.2 percent in 1999, while in 1998 it had increased by 3.4 percent. [12] Greek-Turkish Business Council organizes forum in Athens in AprilAthens, 15/03/2000 (ANA)The first Greek-Turkish business forum is scheduled to take place in Athens on April 20, organized by the Greek-Turkish Business Council, officials announced during a press conference in Athens on Tuesday.The President of the Greek-Turkish Business Council, Panayiotis Koutsikos, the President of the Turkish-Greek Business Council, Sarik Tara, and the Turkish Ambassador to Athens, Ali Tinaz Tuygan, held a joint press conference to announce the four-day forum, which aims at promoting business cooperation between the two neighboring countries. The event will host an exhibition of products by about 70 Turkish firms. A similar event has been planed for April 2001 in Istanbul, Turkey. Tuygan said that Greek-Turkish relations are at a better point now than in the past, adding that within the last six months, officials exchanged visits to each others' countries and signed cooperation agreements, while universities of both countries are moving forward with cooperation schemes. Tara noted the need for an agreement to resolve the double taxation problem, for companies with activities in both countries, stressing that if the two nations worked together they could double the 20 million tourists they now host and effectively compete with other tourist destinations, such as Italy and Spain. On his part, Koutsikos noted that only 32 Greek businesses are active in Turkey, mostly in the tourist industry, for a total investment of 226 billion Turkish liras, while the bilateral trade reached 720 million dollars, adding that it could increase to 4 billion dollars over the next five years. [13] Turkish chamber of commerce delegation in Greece this monthAthens, 15/03/2000 (ANA)A Turkish chamber of commerce and business delegation is scheduled to visit Greece between March 21-24. Representatives of the neighboring country's Aegean region industrial chamber will head the roughly 150-member delegation, while participants will include MPs, local government officials and journalists.An event is planned for Athens on March 22 and in Thessaloniki on March 23 at the corresponding Greek chambers, while a protocol of cooperation is also expected to be signed. [14] Diamantopoulou targets full employmentBRUSSELS, 15/03/2000 (ANA- Y. Zitouniati)Full employment must become the medium-term target of the economic and social policy of the European Union, with a view to reducing the percentage of people living under the poverty level to 10 percent by 2010, Commissioner said at the Social Affairs Council session on Tuesday."We know that 65 million Europeans live under the poverty line of 60 percent of the average income ... The European Commission's new target provides for a reduction in the number of people living under the poverty line from 18 percent today to 15 percent in 2005 and 10 percent in 2010," she said. President of the Council, Portuguese Social Affairs Minister Eduardo Ferro-Rodriguez, said after the end of the session that full employment was no longer a utopia but a feasible target due to the EU's optimistic growth prospects. "Growth rates must reach three percent on average in the next decade," he said. According to Diamantopoulou, such growth rates could create 10 million new jobs in a Europe, which now numbered 15 million unemployed, reducing the unemployment rate to four percent. According to the latest figures, unemployment is now 8.8 percent of the economically active population in Europe and only four percent in the United States. [15] Despec to buy stake in Turkish companyAthens, 15/03/2000 (ANA)Despec Hellas has reached a preliminary agreement for the acquisition of a 50 percent stake in Despec Turkey through a holding company it set up in the neighboring country.The company, which distributes consumables and information system peripherals, already has subsidiaries in Romania and Cyprus and plans to further expand in Turkey, Bulgaria and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Despec Hellas expects its consolidated turnover in 2000 to approach 40 billion drachmas and pre-tax profits more than two billion drachmas, up from 14.3 billion and 1.07 billion drachmas respectively in 1999. [16] Bank of Piraeus launches asset management subsidiaryAthens, 15/03/2000 (ANA)The Bank of Piraeus on Tuesday announced the creation of a subsidiary, which will act as the mutual funds arm of the group after the bank's merger with Macedonia-Thrace and Xios banks. The merger process is projected to be completed by June. The group is expected to announce plans for internet and mobile phone banking facilities at a news briefing on Friday.[17] German tourists numbers up 5-6 pct this yearAthens, 15/03/2000 (ANA)The number of German tourists likely to visit Greece this year will rise by 5-6 percent compared with 1999's figures under normal conditions, with their number expected to exceed 2.5 million in 2000 and the three million mark in the next two years, Greek Tourism Organizations secretary-general Evgenios Yiannakopoulos said on Tuesday.He was speaking to reporters during his visit to an international Tourism Fair (ITB) in Berlin where 60 Greek tourist enterprises were promoting the country's tourist product. His optimistic estimates were made following contacts with big German tour operators, TUI, LTU, Neckermann, Reisen and FTI Touristik. [18] European Commission resorts to European Court against Greece on taxation of non-Greek European citizensBRUSSELS, 15/03/2000 (ANA - M. Spinthourakis)The European Commission announced on Tuesday that it has decided to resort to the European Court against Greece over the status of discriminatory tax treatment of non-Greek European citizens during the purchase of real estate with foreign exchange.The European Commission believes that the granting of a preferential percentage on the taxation of real estate transfers only for Greek citizens constitutes a violation of the European Union's fundamental principle of no discrimination based on citizenship. An announcement by the European Commission said that Greek legislation anticipates a decreased tax percentage for the transfer and purchase of real estate with foreign exchange for Greeks who are working, or have worked in any capacity, abroad for at least six years, Greek seamen who are working, or who have worked, on Greek or foreign-flagged ships for at least six years, which carry out overseas sailings, even if they call at Greek ports, and whose main salary is paid in foreign exchange and for Greeks living abroad for at least six years. [19] Furniture exhibition to be inaugurated in Thessaloniki on WednesdayAthens, 15/03/2000 (ANA)Macedonia-Thrace Minister Yiannis Magriotis will inaugurate the FURNIDEC-FURNIMA furniture exhibition on Wednesday in Thessaloniki's International Trade Fair grounds. The exhibition will feature 55 different designs of chairs by Greek designers and ten historical chair designs, one for every decade of the 20th century.The inauguration will be followed by a one-day conference entitled "Design: Drafting and Production", while the panel of the conference will be composed of university professors and industry moguls. [20] Eurodeputies to support Greek claim for return of Parthenon MarblesLONDON, 15/03/2000 (ANA)Prime Minister Tony Blair is to face unexpected pressure from the European parliament to reopen the vexed question of returning the Elgin marbles to Greece, according to a report by David Hencke published in the "Guardian" newspaper on Tuesday.The parliament is sending a delegation to give evidence to next month's Commons culture committee hearing. The delegation will be led by Willy De Clercq, former deputy prime minister of Belgium and European commissioner for external affairs. Ana Palacio Vallelersundi, a Spanish MEP, and Giorgio Ruffolo, an Italian socialist MEP and former environment minister will support him. The MEPs are expected to urge that the British Museum should give up the marbles after a museum is built near the Parthenon to house the artifacts in 2004. Gerald Kaufman, chairman of the committee, is planning to look at the future of the marbles as part of a wider inquiry into the restitution of artifacts. [21] Agreement between Greece and South Australia on educational and cultural exchangesMELBOURNE, 15/03/2000 (ANA - S. Hatzimanolis)South Australia State Prime Minister and Multicultural Affairs Minister John Olsen announced that his government would sign an agreement on educational and cultural exchanges with Greece.Addressing thousands of overseas Greeks at an event organized by the Greek Adelaide Festival, he said that his state's cultural and educational ties with Greece would be strengthened with the agreement. Olsen called for the return of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece and for respect for the human rights of the people of Cyprus. He also announced that the Secretary General of Overseas Hellenism Dimitris Dollis will be visiting his state on March 20. [22] National Defense General Staff Chief to start three-day official visit to France on WednesdayAthens, 15/03/2000 (ANA)National Defense General Staff Chief general Manoussos Paragioudakis will start an official three-day visit to France on Wednesday, at the invitation of his French counterpart general Jean Pierre Kelche.Talks between the two military leaders will focus on issues of mutual military interest, while general Paragioudakis will also visit the Branch Operation Center and the Taverni airbase. [23] FINABEL Army General Staff chiefs to convene in Strasbourg on March 16-18Athens, 15/03/2000 (ANA)The annual session of Army General Staff chiefs from FINABEL countries will be held in Strasbourg, France, between March 16-18 to schedule FINABEL's work for the next year. The purpose of the meeting is to support cooperation between the armies of the 10 permanent member countries of the Western European Union and NATO.Greek Army General Staff chief Lieutenant-General Constantine Panayiotakis held the presidency of the committee of chiefs over the 1998-1999 period, while the French Army General Staff chief holds the presidency over the 1999-2000 period. [24] Danish Defense Academy students visit Kavala and other parts of northern GreeceAthens, 15/03/2000 (ANA)Students of the Danish National Defense Academy visited the city of Kavala and other parts of northern Greece on Tuesday, while the commander of the 11th Kavala Division Mihalis Nikoloudakis briefed them on a series of defense issues concerning the region under the division's jurisdiction.Commemorative gifts were exchanged on the occasion and a reception was given in honor of the Danish students. Later, they went sightseeing in the city and the surrounding area and were also briefed on economic activities in both the city and the prefecture. [25] Economic Crime Squad confiscates 315,000 packets of bootleg American cigarettesAthens, 15/03/2000 (ANA)The Economic Crime Squad located and confiscated 315,000 packets of bootleg cigarettes concealed in a container at the port of Piraeus last week. The cigarettes were of American origin and of the Hollywood brand and are similar to those sold in street markets which, according to the Economic Crime Squad, are smuggled into Greece and other European countries by a well-organized gang. The Economic Crime Squad is also in contact with the Italian authorities to probe the case.An announcement by the Economic Crime Squad on Tuesday said that the 315,000 packets of Hollywood cigarettes were found following an analysis and utilization of loading and transport documents and a check of the container's contents. [26] British envoy calls on Cyprus sides to abandon 'zero-sum game'NICOSIA, 15/03/2000 (CNA/ANA)The chances of reaching a solution at present are far better than in the past several years and in the years to come ahead, Britain's envoy for Cyprus, Sir David Hannay has said, pointing out however that it is up to the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides to make decisive progress towards a settlement.Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, the British diplomat called for "a gear change" at the resumption of the third round of UN-led proximity talks on 23 May and invited the two sides to encourage the UN to be proactive in its search to bridge the gaps between them. Furthermore, he said the two sides should abandon what he described as "zero-sum game", whereby in making any shift each side tries to score a point against the other. Sir David welcomed the improvement in Greek-Turkish relations, noted the sustained and determined involvement of the international community in the Cyprus peace effort and said the European Union dimension is working in a very positive way as all concerned are now trying to reach the same goal, EU accession. Referring to the format of the talks, Hannay dismissed press suggestions that direct negotiations was "really the heart of the matter" and said the UN would take into serious consideration the views of both sides before it embarks on person to person negotiations. [27] Cyprus president to meet French counterpart in Paris on WednesdayNICOSIA, 15/03/2000 (CNA/ANA)France will try to promote Cyprus' accession to the European Union, a French Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday in a statement on President Glafcos Clerides' working visit to Paris, noting that the visit takes place in a positive framework because of the resumption of UN-led proximity talks on Cyprus.The island's accession course as well as developments in the current process of UN-led proximity talks aiming to pave the way for direct talks for a Cyprus settlement, will be discussed during President Clerides' working visit to Paris. Noting that President Clerides' visit takes place in the framework of a promising prospect because UN-led proximity talks have resumed, the French spokesperson says developments in the current process will be reviewed. Referring to Cyprus' course for accession to the EU, the spokesperson said France will try to promote Cyprus' European course and recalled the European Council Helsinki Summit conclusions last December, which disassociate the island's accession to the EU from a solution to its political problem. Bilateral economic and cultural issues will also to be discussed. President Clerides will address on Wednesday morning the Foreign Relations Committee of the French National Assembly and meet in the afternoon his French counterpart Jacques Chirac. Cyprus Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides will meet French Minister for European Affairs Pierre Moscovici. The Cypriot president will return to Cyprus on Thursday. [28] Cook says there could be no Turkish veto on Cyprus' EU membershipLONDON, 15/03/2000 (CNA/ANA)British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook said on Tuesday that although it would be better for Cyprus to join the European Union as a unified state, a solution to the political problem could not be a precondition for membership.Speaking after a meeting in London with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Cook said that Cyprus' membership should be considered on its own merits, and that there could be no Turkish veto. He said "the position of the British government has been clear and consistent since we took office and indeed in this we have been more supportive of Cyprus than the policy adopted by our conservative predecessors". Cook added "our position has always been that it would be better for Cyprus and it would be better for Europe if Cyprus could join as one single unified state and that is why we strongly support the UN process to try and resolve the division of the island". He added "Cyprus is entitled to its membership to be considered on its own right and on its own merits, which are strong", and that at the EU Helsinki Summit "it was Britain which was successful in getting the other countries to agree to a clear statement that the unification of Cyprus is not a precondition of its membership of the EU. "That is our position, that is what we stand by and there is no Turkish veto", he said. Apart from the Cyprus problem, Cook and Annan discussed the situation in Kosovo, Iraq, the Middle East and Africa. Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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