Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 00-03-24

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM cites Athens bourse's prospects of joining pan-European stock market

[02] EU leaders focus on employment, growth at Lisbon summit

[03] Latest opinion polls give PASOK marginal lead in voter preference

[04] ESP leaders express certainty over PASOK's reelection

[05] Karamanlis outlines to teachers his party's proposals on education

[06] Greece and Turkey call for implementation of UN resolution 1244 for Kosovo

[07] Cypriot leftist AKEL party leader pessimistic over Cyprus issue

[08] Political parties see new prospects for Greece

[09] New gov't must aid economy within euro zone, think tank says

[10] Greek stocks remain under pressure, end lower

[11] Gov't may up stake of Agri-Bank privatization bonds to farmers

[12] Greek, Turkish chambers sign cooperation protocol

[13] Turkish privatization officials in Athens

[14] Shareholders of Black Sea bank to meet in Greece

[15] Olympic Airways ratifies decision to renew airline's fleet

[16] Passenger shipping companies seek 9.7 pct fare increase in 2000

[17] Italian delegation specializing in class holidays to visit Greek tourism destinations

[18] British parliamentary committee investigating illicit trades in cultural property due in Athens to discuss Parthenon Marbles

[19] Mild earthquake jolts Athens

[20] Athens exhibition details three centuries of Russia-centered Hellenism

[21] The National Gallery of Greece acquires El Greco painting

[22] President to inaugurate prehistory museum on the island of Santorini

[23] Burns announces formation of 'Friends of Greek Baseball' group

[24] Verheugen says Cyprus is frontrunner in EU accession negotiations

[01] PM cites Athens bourse's prospects of joining pan-European stock market

LISBON, 34/03/2000 (ANA - V. Mourtis)

The Greek prime minister, attending a special EU summit organized by the Portuguese presidency, said the Athens bourse was already in contact with other European stock exchanges, and that it was following the road of integration, especially after a merger deal announced a few days ago between the Paris, Amsterdam and Brussels stock markets.

National Economy and Finance Minister, Yiannos Papantoniou, last week discussed with the chairman of the London Stock Exchange ways to accelerate procedures for the Athens stock market's participation in a pan-European market.

Papantoniou expects the integration procedure to be completed in 2001 with the single stock market having three pylons, London, Frankfurt and Paris.

He said that a pan-European stock market would offer Greek investors an expanded investment product range, while Greek businesses could be listed in this market and raise capital in other European countries.

Papantoniou said listing terms would be unified across the European Union and the listing would be made simultaneously in all European bourses.

[02] EU leaders focus on employment, growth at Lisbon summit

The issue of EU-wide employment, of course, was the dominant issue discussed in the Portuguese capital by the Union's leaders during a special summit.

Additionally, Simitis told Greek reporters that EU leaders agree over the need for an upgraded European social model that includes full employment as a characteristic, as well as efforts to combat social exclusion and to ensure state-generated supports for the economically weaker strata.

Regarding the issue of EU-wide growth, Simitis said economic reforms strengthening competition, and based on innovation and new technologies, must proceed.

The Greek PM noted that EU leaders focused on the issue of employment during their morning session, as well as on shrinking the differences in employment rates between member-states. He added that timetables for set targets have been approved, while saying the Greek side maintained that such targets should be few, attainable and equally distributed.

[03] Latest opinion polls give PASOK marginal lead in voter preference

Athens, 24/03/2000 (ANA)

According to the results of a poll conducted by Opinion, appearing in Thursday's edition of ELEFTHEROTYPIA afternoon daily, PASOK held a marginal 0.4 percentage point lead over ND, while an MRB poll released Wednesday night on private MEGA television station put PASOK 0.3 percentage point ahead of ND.

In the Opinion poll, PASOK led with 35.1 percent, followed closely by ND with 34.7 percent.

Third in voter preference was the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) with 4.9 percent, followed by the Democratic Social Movement (DHKKI) with 4.1 percent and the Coalition of the Left and Progress (SYN) with 3.9 percent, while a sizeable 17.3 percent of respondents were undecided.

To a question on who was the most appropriate candidate for Prime Minister, Simitis led with 48.6 percent against Karamanlis with 31.6 percent, while voter devotion to their party was put at 89.6 percent for ND and 78.8 percent for PASOK.

In the MRB poll, PASOK led with 34.5 percent over ND with 34.2 percent, followed by the KKE with 4.9 percent, SYN with 4.0 percent and DHKKI with 3.6 percent, while 18.8 percent were undecided.

Asked which party would win the April 9 early parliamentary elections, a majority 50.7 percent of respondents believed the ruling PASOK would be re-elected, against 30.8 percent who believed ND would emerge the winner.

[04] ESP leaders express certainty over PASOK's reelection

LISBON, 24/03/2000 (ANA - B. Mourtis)

During a dinner, on Wednesday night, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, Sweden's Prime Minister Goran Persson and Denmarks Prime Minister Paul Rasmussen expressed their certainty that PASOK will emerge victorious in the upcoming elections, and commented on Simitis' success regarding the economy.

Schroeder called Simitis' plan, for Greece's modernization, "far reaching", adding that he has the support of all Europeans, while he expressed the hope that Simitis' policies will continue, as they are in Greece's benefit.

[05] Karamanlis outlines to teachers his party's proposals on education

Athens, 24/03/2000 (ANA)

Karamanlis spoke of the need for a national dialogue to be enacted to enable the shaping of a system spanning a 20-year period. He also proposed abolition of examinations for the senior high school second grade, adding that 5 percent of GDP and 20 percent of the 3rd Community Support Framework should go to education, a tutorial salary scale should be drawn up and a new system of teachers' appointments should be established with the abolition of the waiting list.

Other proposals made by Karamanlis include the possibility of schools to choose their books freely, the gradual establishment of 12-year compulsory schooling, the development of a scholarships and loans system for students, automatic recognition of European university degrees, administrative and economic self-sufficiency for universities and the creation of non-state universities.

Karamanlis criticized government policy and said that Greece can conquer the new era "provided we get away from the distortions of the past and rid ourselves of the mentalities of the most morbid establishment experienced by the country."

Karamanlis also took the opportunity to focus on ecological problems, migration, AIDS, crime, drugs and such social phenomena as cynicism, individualism and the cultivation of subculture.

[06] Greece and Turkey call for implementation of UN resolution 1244 for Kosovo

Athens, 24/03/2000 (ANA)

The two delegations agreed on the need for full implementation of UN Security Council resolution 1244, respect for the inviolability of borders and the territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and respect for the rights of all ethnic groups living in Kosovo.

They also discussed the granting of humanitarian aid to Kosovo and the region's reconstruction.

Left-wingers protest NATO presence in Kosovo: Members of the Greek Communist Party (KKE) and other leftist organizations on Thursday evening staged a rally and marched to the American embassy in Athens to protest the presence of NATO forces in Kosovo.

A strong police force kept a close eye on the march and prevented the protesters from reaching the embassy building and handing a petition.

Members of KKE's youth organization burned an American flag.

[07] Cypriot leftist AKEL party leader pessimistic over Cyprus issue

Athens, 24/03/2000 (ANA)

Christofias, who was addressing a press conference on the occasion of his visit to Greece for talks with Foreign Minister George Papandreou and Greek party leaders, said that the Turkish position is contrary to UN resolutions, as well as to agreements concluded in the past by Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash with the late Cyprus president Archbishop Makarios and former Cyprus president Spyros Kyprianou, providing for a federal solution.

He said that the international element should pressure decisively to have Turkey abandon its partitionist policy and speak the language of federation.

"We do not want talks for the sake of talks. Major powers and the UN should move and pressure Turkey to change position," he said.

Christofias further said that his party does not share the euphoria created following decisions taken at the European Union's Helsinki summit last December.

He said that these decisions anticipate that all parameters will be taken into consideration at the end of accession negotiations and before Cyprus' accession to the EU.

He added that this meant that despite the fact that, theoretically, accession is separated from a solution to the Cyprus issue, in practice it is very possible that this will not be the case if a solution to the political problem of Cyprus is considered by the Europeans as being a decisive parameter for accession.

"For us accession is not a purpose in itself. Our main problem is the division of our country, the invasion and occupation of the northern part of Cyprus," he said.

Referring to his visit, earlier this week, to the Turkish occupied part of Cyprus and his meeting with the enclaved Cypriots in the Karpass peninsula, Christofias said that the Turkish Cypriots are a minority in the occupied part of the island now. He said that settlers from Turkey are the majority and if the present situation continues in a few years time settlers who will consider it a district of Turkey will populate the occupied part of Cyprus.

On the question of the joint defense doctrine between Cyprus and Greece, he reiterated that his party was against it from the start.

"Nobody should have the illusion that the Cyprus issue can be resolved with the force of arms. Whenever we embarked on this logic, it turned against us," he said.

Christofias will also address an event organized at an Athens hotel by the Federation of Cypriot Societies of Greece on Friday night.

[08] Political parties see new prospects for Greece

Athens, 24/03/2000 (ANA)

"We are moving in a radically new international setting, in a mercilessly competitive international environment. We are facing new challenges, threats, but also possibilities and prospects," he said.

"March 25 is not just a formal event. It is an opportunity to see yesterday's historical lessons in the light of today. Historical self-knowledge is a condition for the nation's progress," he added.

Main opposition New Democracy party leader Costas Karamanlis said Greeks had to show alertness, prudence and decisiveness in order to protect the country and create a more balanced and humane society, but also work for greater cooperation with other peoples in the region.

"We are in a new era. The times are tricky. The Balkans continue to present dangers of tension and destabilization. Our eastern neighbors, despite our favorable stand towards them, are refusing to withdraw from the faits accomplis of violence and the occupation of part of Cyprus, from the unilateral and arbitrary claims against our sovereign rights ... We want our country to be factor of peace and stability, a protagonist in European evolution," he said.

The Coalition of the Left said in its message that Greece had all the opportunities and the potential to open new paths of progress.

"This requires a radical change in the existing political scene and system of government, the formation of a reliable progressive alternative and majority for the modernization of the country," it said. It warned that tensions in Kosovo and the Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis in his message said:

"In these days our thoughts turn back in time to the Revolution of March 25, 1821, which shook civilized humanity and brought forth countless legions of heroes and martyrs. National conscience bows piously before those uncompromising Greeks, who set off to free the motherland and fought an empire to shatter the four-centuries-old bonds of slavery."

[09] New gov't must aid economy within euro zone, think tank says

Athens, 24/03/2000 (ANA)

In its latest report on the economy, IOBE confirmed that the short-term outlook was healthy but a priority should now be set on boosting competitiveness in order to ensure viability after entry into the euro zone, expected on January 1, 2001.

"Greece devoted much time and energy to attaining the Maastricht Treaty criteria (for entry), neglecting the structural changes needed to achieve sustainable growth, progress and prosperity," the report said.

"No more time should be lost," it added.

Among structural reforms that needed swift implementation were the deregulation of labor and capital markets, improvement of the state procurements system, and an overhaul of the state's supervisory mechanisms, IOBE said.

[10] Greek stocks remain under pressure, end lower

Athens, 24/03/2000 (ANA)

Dealers said lack of buying interest was leaving share prices vulnerable to selling pressures.

The general index ended 1.53 percent lower at 4,650.77 points, off the day's lows of 4,587.11 points. A wave of buying by institutional investors during the last half-hour of trading managed to cut early sharp losses in the market. Turnover was a low 142 billion drachmas.

Smaller capitalization stocks were particularly hit while Leasing and Information Technology shares ended higher.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks ended 1.10 percent down at 2,620.09 points, while the FTSE/ASE 40 index dropped 3.22 percent to 686.60 points.

Sector indices ended as follows: Banks: 8,950.46

-0.72% Leasing: 1,068.26 +0.81% Insurance: 3,065.44 -0.91% Investment: 2,187.04 -2.71% Construction: 2,304.17 -4.26% Industrials: 2,744.22

-2.35% Miscellaneous: 5,103.08 -1.46% Holding: 4,898.05 -1.39%

The parallel market index for smaller capitalization stocks ended at 844.49 points, off 6.99 percent.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 300 to 34 with another three issues unchanged.

Hellenic Telecoms, National Bank, Athens Water, Panafon and Intracom were the most heavily traded stocks.

Leading shares' closing prices (in Drs):National Bank: 23,480 Alpha Credit: 23,350 Commercial Bank: 20,000 Ergobank: 8,200 Eurobank: 11,430 Heracles Cement: 8,850 Titan Cement (c): 13,900 Hellenic Petroleum: 4,140 Intracom: 15,530 Minoan Lines: 7,000 Hellenic Telecoms: 9,730 Panafon: 5,005

Derivatives prices end lower on Thursday: Derivatives prices came under pressure to end lower on the Athens Derivatives Exchange on Thursday following declines in the two benchmark indices, FTSE/ASE 20 and FTSE/ASE 40, which ended 1.10 and 3.22 percent lower, respectively.

A total of 1,263 futures contracts were traded on the FTSE/ASE 20 index with a turnover of 6.6 billion drachmas. The April expiring contract ended at 2,623 points, the May at 2,650 and the June contract at 2,660 points.

A total of 1,272 futures contracts were traded on the FTSE/ASE 40 index, with a turnover of 3.4 billion drachmas. The April expiring contract ended at 688.50 points and the May contract at 694.75 points.

Bond prices rise, fuelled by German bunds: Bond prices in the domestic secondary market gained 20-25 basis points in buy-oriented trade on Thursday, propelled by German bunds, traders said.

The Greek benchmark 10-year bond showed a yield of 6.13 percent from 6.17 percent a day earlier and 6.13 percent on Tuesday.

The paper's yield spread over German bunds was 96 basis points from around 93 basis points in the previous session and between 91 and 92 basis points on Tuesday.

Turnover through the central bank's electronic system totalled 100 billion drachmas from 28 billion drachmas a day earlier and 40 billion drachmas on Tuesday.

Sell orders accounted for 92 billion drachmas of Thursday's turnover, traders said

Drachma drops vs. euro on demand for single currency: The drachma on Thursday fell against the euro in the domestic foreign exchange market on heavy demand, mainly from abroad, for the European single currency, and the central bank stepped into the market. The drachma gained versus the US dollar, dealers said.

The Bank of Greece sold around 250 million euros in the wake of a similar intervention the previous day when it made available around 150 million euros.

The purchase by banks of euros for drachmas was linked to political uncertainty ahead of national elections in Greece on April 9, dealers said.

At the central bank's daily fixing, the euro was set at 334.150 drachmas from 333.980 drachmas a day earlier and 333.850 drachmas on Tuesday.

Also at the fixing, the US dollar was set at 347.280 drachmas from 347.940 to the drachma in the previous session and 343.680 drachmas on Tuesday.

[11] Gov't may up stake of Agri-Bank privatization bonds to farmers

Athens, 24/03/2000 (ANA)

Deputy Finance Minister Nikos Christodoulakis told a news conference that the amount would be determined by market research now underway among farmers, agricultural cooperatives and country dwellers, and the amount of paper destined for farmers could top 70 percent.

Due to the interest shown, a publicity campaign in rural areas that is also sounding out the response of farmers to the bond issue would be extended beyond March 28, said state-owned Agricultural's governor, Petros Lambrou, who spoke at the same news conference.

The third speaker, Agriculture Minister George Anomeritis, said he expected farmers to heavily oversubscribe the three-year bonds, which are convertible into the bank's stock on listing.

Farmers are to receive a 5.0 percent discount on each share they buy.

Agricultural, which has 460 branches, showed profits in 1999 of 215 billion drachmas, estimated to rise to 240 billion drachmas in 2000, Lambrou added.

[12] Greek, Turkish chambers sign cooperation protocol

Athens, 24/03/2000 (ANA)

Attending the signing ceremony were about 130 members of a visiting Turkish business delegation currently visiting Greece as part of a climate of rapprochement between the two countries.

Also present were Macedonia-Thrace Minister Yiannis Magriotis and the Turkish Ambassador in Athens, Ali Tuygan.

Magriotis said that the Cyprus problem should be resolved through UN resolutions so that the island republic became a bridge to link the two countries, ceasing to divide two peoples.

Expressing agreement was Atil Akan, president of the Turkish chamber.

The visiting official also invited Greek businesses to take part in Turkey's privatization of its ports.

He added that the volume of trade between the two countries totalled 670-700 million US dollars that could rise to 5.0 billion dollars by 2010.

[13] Turkish privatization officials in Athens

ISTANBUL, 24/03/2000 (ANA - A. Kourkoulas)

The foreign officials, headed by the president of Turkey's Privatization Organization Ugur Bayar, are expected in Athens on March 27 for a presentation at the Grande Bretagne hotel.

The Turkish government is selling 15 percent of Turpas shares.

[14] Shareholders of Black Sea bank to meet in Greece

Athens, 24/03/2000 (ANA)

The bank's share capital of 1.2 billion US dollars is distributed among Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine.

On the same day as the shareholders' meeting, a business forum will be held to be attended by representatives of the 11 countries involved.

The aim of the bank, which launched operations in June 1999, is to aid growth in the Balkans and Black Sea region, and boost economic ties among shareholding countries.

[15] Olympic Airways ratifies decision to renew airline's fleet

Athens, 24/03/2000 (ANA)

The company's strategy, as determined by the operational plan and fleet planning, anticipates further replacements of older aircraft to enable the airline to have one of the most modern aircraft fleets in the world soon.

[16] Passenger shipping companies seek 9.7 pct fare increase in 2000

Athens, 24/03/2000 (ANA)

Greece's Passenger Shipping Owners Union recently demanded a 9.71 percent increase in shipping fares this year because of higher oil prices, although this week's oil price drop restored some confidence back in the passenger shipping market.

Passenger shipping fares have frozen in the last two years and ship owners seek an increase citing a 28 percent rise in fuels, a 10.9 percent increase in maintenance and repairing costs, a 5.0 percent rise in sailors' wages and a 16 percent increase in other operating expenses.

The Passenger Shipping Union agreed a 4.0 percent rise with the Panhellenic Seamen's Federation for the year 2000, a fortnight ago.

[17] Italian delegation specializing in class holidays to visit Greek tourism destinations

Athens, 24/03/2000 (ANA)

The delegation will be hosted by the Greece's National Tourism Organization (EOT).

Members of the delegation specialize in booking and arranging holidays for HS classes.

[18] British parliamentary committee investigating illicit trades in cultural property due in Athens to discuss Parthenon Marbles

Athens, 24/03/2000 (ANA)

The committee, which examines issues of illicit trade in cultural treasures, will travel here as part of an inquiry on whether the marbles -- housed in the British Museum -- should be repatriated.

The committee, headed by its chairman Gerald Kaufman, is due to meet Tuesday with foreign minister George Papandreou and culture minister Elisavet Papazoi, before departing Athens on Wednesday for Italy to continue its inquiries.

According to a press release by the British Embassy in Athens released Thursday, the Culture, Media and Sport Committee of the House of Commons will be visiting Greece between March 26-29 as part of its inquiry on "Cultural Property: Return and Illicit Trade.

The aim of the inquiry, according to the press release, is to "gather information about the extent and impact of the illicit trade in cultural property".

With respect to illicit trade, the committee is investigating the impact of illicit trade in cultural property, methods of counteracting this illicit trade and the impact on the legitimate trade, the policies and procedures of museums relating to the acquisition and return of cultural property which has been illicitly removed, and the operational effect of European legislation relating to the return of cultural objects unlawfully removed and prospects for further European legislation.

It is also examining "the advantages, disadvantages, requirements and consequences of United Kingdom ratification of the 1995 UNIDROIT Convention on the International Return of Stolen or Illegally Exported Cultural Objects and the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property".

With respect to the so-called "return issues", the committee is looking into claims for the return of items of cultural property which were historically removed and not necessarily acquired as a result of the illicit trade, the policies and procedures of museums relating to such claims, including solutions other than return, guidance and advice for museums from central sources on acquisition and return, and current legislation relating to return and other solutions to claims and arguments for an against legislative change.

According to the press release, the committee is willing to receive submissions relating to individual claims for return, but expects its report arising from the inquiry to concentrate on general policies towards return and the illicit trade rather than making recommendations relating to individual claims.

The committee will visit Thessaloniki -- including a trip to the archaeological site at Vergina -- and Athens, and will visit sites of interest and meet experts in the fields of Ancient, Byzantine and modern cultural property.

The cross-party committee of MPs, chaired by Gerald Kaufman, also comprises Ronnie Fearn, Christopher Fraser, Llin Golding, Alan Keen, John Maxton, Diana Orgam, Claire Ward, Julie Kirkbride, and Derek Wyatt, who will be accompanied by two Parliamentary Clerks -- Colin Lee and Richard Cooke.

The select committees of the House of Commons -- the British parliament's lower chamber -- have no executive authority, and any recommendations they make are non-binding on the British government.

The Greek government on March 9 submitted to the committee a four-page memorandum that briefly outlined the Greek demand for the return of the Parthenon friezes and other architectural parts of the Parthenon to Greece, listed and described the Marbles currently in the British Museum, chronicled the Greek campaign for the Marbles' return, and outlined the damage caused to the Marbles by the British Museum during a cleaning operation in 1937-38.

The Parthenon friezes, which date from between 447 BC and 432 BC, were removed from the Parthenon -- the temple dedicated to the ancient goddess Athena that crowns the Acropolis -- in Ottoman-occupied Athens in the early 19th century by British diplomat Lord Elgin, who then sold them to the British Museum.

[19] Mild earthquake jolts Athens

Athens, 24/03/2000 (ANA)

The tremor was recorded at 5:09 a.m. local time, coming from the Parnitha fault, which produced the devastating September 1999 earthquake that claimed 143 lives and left thousands homeless.

Seismologists told ANA the tremor was part of the post-quake activity from the September earthquake.

The Athens Observatory's Geodynamic Institute and Thessaloniki Aristotelion University's Geophysics Laboratory put the magnitude at 4.1 on the Richter scale, and Geodynamic Institute director George Stavrakakis told ANA there was no cause for concern, as such a tremor had been expected.

"It was an after-shock that does not worry us. Because it emanated from closer to the surface and was slightly greater in magnitude (than the more recent after-shocks), it was perhaps felt more intensely. We were expecting such a tremor, albeit a 3.9 magnitude and not a 4.1 magnitude jolt, be we are not concerned," Stavrakakis said.

Seismology professor Akis Tselentis said the quake came from a depth of five kilometers, which explained why it was felt so intensely and was accompanied by a rumbling.

He said an after-shock of this magnitude was absolutely normal despite the fact that so many months had passed since the main quake in September, and predicted that post-seismic activity would continue for another 3-4 months, while the largest after-shock would not exceed a magnitude of five on the Richter scale.

[20] Athens exhibition details three centuries of Russia-centered Hellenism

Athens, 24/03/2000 (ANA)

Entitled "Greeks in Moscow", the exhibition will feature centuries-old portraits, books and state documents collected by the Czarist bureaucracy, all dealing with Hellenism and the ethnic Greek community in the empire.

According to the exhibition's organizers, the exhibits on display underline the fact that Moscow served as a significant center of pre-Revolutionary activities by Greek expatriates -- including clerics, scholars and philosophers - as well as highlight Czarist Russia's mission to liberate Greece and the Christian nations of the Balkans from Ottoman yoke. The ties between then Orthodox champion Russia and the last vestiges of Byzantium are depicted with the 1472 marriage of Ivan III, Grand Duke of Moscow, with Zoe (Sophia) Palaeologos, the niece of the last Byzantine emperor.

Part of Zoe's dowry included hundreds of invaluable Greek-language tomes later translated into Russian by scholar and theologian Maximos Graikos (Mihail Trivolis) in 1518. Both portraits of Graikos are on display at the exhibition.

The Athens Municipality Museum is located on 7, Paparigopoulos St.

[21] The National Gallery of Greece acquires El Greco painting

Athens, 24/03/2000 (ANA)

The painting entitled "the Burial of Christ" was created by the Crete-born artist between 1568 and 1570 and bares the marks of El Greco's turn to more western elements.

The National Gallery also owns two more of Dominicos Theotokopoulos' works, the "Concert of Angels" and "St. Peter".

The purchase became possible through donations of Greek State enterprises solicited by Development Minister Evangelos Venizelos, during his tenure at the Culture Ministry. About one third of the money stemmed from sales of a CD Vaggelis Papathanassiou composed for the benefit of the gallery.

[22] President to inaugurate prehistory museum on the island of Santorini

Athens, 24/03/2000 (ANA)

The exhibit's finds dating back to 4500 BC to 1700 BC, include plant life before humans reached the island, the island's geologic history during that period, copper tools and weapons and writing tablets among others.

Culture Minister Elizabeth Papazoi will also be present during the event.

[23] Burns announces formation of 'Friends of Greek Baseball' group

Athens, 24/03/2000 (ANA)

A U.S. Embassy press release said the group, which will be co-chaired by Ambassador Burns and Peter Angelos, owner of the Baltimore Orioles baseball team, will encourage the development of baseball and softball in Greece and provide assistance to the Hellenic Baseball Federation and the Hellenic Amateur Softball Federation.

"This organization is a natural outgrowth of the agreement on sports cooperation which I signed with the Deputy Minister for Sports in 1998. It will be particularly important to bringing together those Greeks and Americans who will field the first Greek Olympic baseball team in 2004," said Burns on the sidelines of the Summit.

The ambassador said the 2004 Olympiad was a "window of opportunity" for bringing the sport to Greece.

The participants at the Summit included officials from the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Greek academics and Sports Federation officials, Greek-Americans who are committed to the sport, and locally resident Americans.

[24] Verheugen says Cyprus is frontrunner in EU accession negotiations

LARNACA, 24/03/2000 (CNA/ANA)

Speaking on his arrival at Larnaca airport on Thursday for a three day visit, Verheugen said December's Helsinki summit opens a window of hope. He expressed the view that Cyprus' accession process can facilitate efforts to reach a settlement on the island and described the Republic as the frontrunner in the accession talks with the EU.

Welcoming the European official, who is on a tour of candidate countries, Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides said the visit "will give us the opportunity to see together the developments in our course for accession but also to discuss efforts to reunite Cyprus with the hope that Cyprus joins the EU as a reunited country."

Verheugen said he is here to get direct information about the people, the political situation and a little bit about the country, and will discuss in detail the "state of play of the accession negotiations".

"I am happy to say that Cyprus is the frontrunner in the negotiations and as far as I can see nobody is challenging that," he said.

"Political relations between Cyprus and the EU are excellent," Verheugen said, adding that "since Helsinki we have a new and promising situation. It seems to me that there is a window of opportunity and we should try to use that."

"Since the Helsinki decision of the European Council I believe we have a better chance to find a solution for the political conflict on the island," he said.

During the Helsinki summit the EU decided to give Turkey a candidate status and reconfirmed Cyprus can join its ranks even if a settlement to its political problem is not reached.

In December last year the UN initiated a new effort to reach a settlement in Cyprus, divided since Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 percent of its territory in 1974, through proximity talks.

A third round of proximity talks are scheduled to open in New York on May 23.

"The EU still wants to welcome a united Cyprus as a member of the Union and we think that the accession process can facilitate the political process that is going on under the auspices of the UN," Verheugen said.

Asked about his comments in Ankara concerning the accession negotiations, he said "it is clear that the international community recognizes the Republic of Cyprus as a representative of Cyprus as a whole, that was never questioned."

"On the other side," he added, "I have only said that Mr. Clerides was not elected by the Turkish community and that it is regrettable. That is the consequence of the situation we have in Cyprus".

Asked if the Cyprus government is negotiating for the whole of the island, he said "it is clear that the government of Cyprus is representing Cyprus as a whole, nobody questions that".

"As you know we would prefer a situation where the Turkish community would participate in the negotiations but we would and can never accept a policy that would lead to separate negotiations, we cannot do that and will not do that."

The Turkish Cypriot side has turned down a proposal by President Glafcos Clerides to nominate representatives in the official team negotiating Cyprus' accession since 1998.

Verheugen held talks with Kasoulides on Thursday evening and will call on President Clerides on Friday. The Commissioner is also scheduled to meet Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.

Adding a personal tone to his statements on his arrival, Verheugen said he would never forget his last visit to Cyprus about 30 years ago as he had come here for his honeymoon.

The Daily Bulletin

will not appear on Saturday, due to the celebration of Greek Independence Day. It will be with you again on Monday morning.

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