Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 00-04-07

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

CONTENTS

[01] Karamanlis concludes campaign, target on undecided voters

[02] Simitis disputes opposition poverty claim

[03] Leftist parties accuse major parties of empty promises

[04] Voter statistics for April 9 general elections

[05] Rehearsal of election results transmission meets with success

[06] Greek, German foreign ministers visit Hios, discuss EU-Turkish relations

[07] FYROM media say soldiers' abduction attempt at swap for outlaw Albanian

[08] Representatives of Europe's Orthodox Churches meet in Istanbul

[09] Athens seminar focuses on efforts to inaugurate trade, investment with SE Asian 'tiger' markets

[10] Capital Markets' Committee imposed fines worth 1.07 billion Drs in 1999

[11] Greek stocks remain rangebound ahead of elections

[12] Panafon reports 49 pct rise in subscribers' numbers in 1st quarter

[13] PASOK leads in election spending on ads

[14] Vardinoyiannis inaugurates UNESCO resource center for children

[15] Jewish community upset over German president's failure to visit Holocaust monument

[16] Greek Olympics Day celebrated

[17] Suspect forest fire extinguished on Samos

[18] Canadian documentaries to be screened in Athens on April 11-12

[19] Government describes Verheugen's statements on Cyprus as 'very positive'

[20] Common view that proximity talks on Cyprus should be upgraded

[21] American-Jewish Committee says closely monitoring situation in Cyprus

[22] Clerides says promotion of Cyprus' culture abroad 'contributes towards our struggle'

[01] Karamanlis concludes campaign, target on undecided voters

Athens, 07/04/2000 (ANA)

"I ask you to lower the party flags and hoist high the flag of Greece. This is not the time for rejoicing it is a time for recollection and responsibility. New Democracy does not distinguish between Greeks, its sole criterion is competence and honesty," he said at his party's final rally at the Athens Olympic Stadium.

Karamanlis accused the government of posing pseudo-dilemmas, because "it does not wish the parliamentary representation of all political forces and views".

"Democracy needs everyone. All five parties represented in the present Parliament tables useful proposals. New Democracy declares that separating lines have long gone and parties, despite their differences, must maintain open communication channels, at least for major national issues, such as foreign policy and education," he said.

He rejected suggestions that his party's victory would jeopardize Greece's progress towards joining the euro zone next year.

"We are the authentic expression of a European orientation," he said.

Karamanlis said his party's election victory would spell a break with the past.

"Now is the time for a break with old party mentalities, for mending the inefficient state, the strengthening of the welfare state, a collision with phenomena of corruption and decadence," he said.

Finally, he reiterated his party's proposals for development, social sensitivity, supporting farmers and the low-paid, fighting bureaucracy, a revolution in education, fighting crime and upgrading the country's health care system.

[02] Simitis disputes opposition poverty claim

Athens, 07/04/2000 (ANA)

In the first interview of a Greek prime minister in cyberspace and just three days away from the general election, Simitis said that the claim, made by the main opposition New Democracy party, was based on a 1995 survey which used data of the early 1990s when that party was in power.

"Things have changed radically since then and real wages have risen by 15 percent ... Today, 70 percent of Greeks are home owners, the highest rate in Europe, while 19 percent, who are farmers also have incomes from the production they use for their own consumption. On the basis of such data, we are at about the average level of the European Union," he said.

He also noted that Greece lacked the large regional income inequalities of other countries, such as Italy, and said that investment funds for the poorer Greek regions would be multiplied in the next six years.

Simitis said the investment program also envisaged funds of one trillion drachmas for the society of information, which was necessary to prepare young people for the fast-changing world. He reiterated that the government would create 300,000 new jobs in the next four-year term, as well as 600,000 positions for training and re-training to acquaint workers with the new technologies.

PASOK's policy aims to support rural development, premier says: Prime Minister Costas Simitis on Thursday said that PASOK's main policy aim is the development of rural areas and the support of the income and pensions of farmers.

Addressing a PASOK party rally in Pyrgos, Peloponnese, Simitis accused main opposition New Democracy (ND) of "discovering" lately the existence of farmers, adding that ND is attempting to harness votes with empty promises.

"Greek agriculture and Greek farmers have PASOK to depend upon for their income," Simitis said.

"Unlike ND, PASOK knows the problems of the people," he added, stressing that after the elections he will personally undertake the necessary restructuring of the public sector and services, the health sector, education and in whichever other sector it is necessary.

He said that the government secured 45 trillion drachmas for the "social affairs budget" for the next four years, while he accused ND for wanting to win the election "just so it can take care of its 'party army of supporters' and to apply its neo-liberal policies as it did in 1989".

He stressed that ND wants to repeat the policies of 1990-93, using laws that facilitate profiteering, "thus to destroy all that was built and to undermine the social conquests of the Greek people".

Finally, the premier spoke of projects the state had undertaken in the Olympia region, near Pyrgos, in light of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games.

He spoke of the special program for the development of Ancient Olympia, by creating the necessary infrastructure, in support of the Cultural Olympics, the Olympic Youth Festival and the Olympic Truce, all of which will be based in the Olympia region.

[03] Leftist parties accuse major parties of empty promises

Athens, 07/04/2000 (ANA)

"Whoever abstains from voting, supports the two big parties. The two big parties want to increase their percentage of votes, using alchemy as prescribed by the elections law, as those parties benefit from abstention and invalid ballots," Constantopoulos said, addressing a party rally in Thessaloniki.

"This stand helps and supports the sole rule of the two big parties," he added.

On his part, Democratic Social Movement (DHKKI) leader Dimitris Tsovolas, also in Thessaloniki, accused both the ruling PASOK and main opposition New Democracy (ND) leaderships for empty election promises, as they do not coincide with their policies while in government.

Addressing a party rally, Tsovolas said that neither Prime Minister Costas Simitis nor ND leader Costas Karamanlis intend to amend the budget for 2000, should they win the elections.

He also presented his party's "alternative", as he called it, program of government, which includes aggressive development policies.

[04] Voter statistics for April 9 general elections

Athens, 07/04/2000 (ANA)

According to figures released by the interior ministry, a total of 8,976,135 registered voters will cast their votes to elect 300 Members of Parliament from the candidate lists of 26 competing political parties at 18,959 polling stations throughout the country.

The polls will open at 7:00 a.m. and close at 7:00 p.m.

A minimum of three percent nationwide is required for a party to gain a seat in parliament.

Although the voting age was recently reduced to 18, the new regulation is not yet in effect, and 18-year-olds will not be among the 454,900 new registered voters compared to the 1996 parliamentary elections.

The electoral body comprises 4,593,955 (or 51.2 percent) women and 4,382,180 (48.8 percent) men.

There were, however, more men among new voters (227,788 or 5.2 percent of the overall electoral body) than women (227,122 or 4.9 percent of the overall electoral body).

With respect to age, the largest group of voters, or 3,017,821 persons, were in the 25-45 age bracket, while 802,411 were in the 21-25 age bracket.

The largest electoral districts are the Athens B' district with 1,120,917 registered voters electing 38 MPs, followed by Athens A' district with 564,036 voters electing 19 deputies, Thessaloniki A' district with 417,170 voters electing 14 seats in parliament, the "Rest of Attica" district with 296,864 voters electing 9 MPs, Achaia with 251,812 voters (9 seats), Aetoloakarnania with 246,956 voters (8 seats), and Piraeus B' district with 245,476 voters (8 seats).

Voting is mandatory for all eligible voters, although administrative sanctions against no-shows are rarely enforced, while exceptions are made for persons 70-years-old and up, or for persons residing at a distance greater than 200 klm from their polling station, who must go to the local police station on voting day and ask for a stamped verification

[05] Rehearsal of election results transmission meets with success

Athens, 07/04/2000 (ANA)

Polls will close at 19:00, and the first results are estimated to start coming in between 19:30 and 19:45, but the first nationwide totals will be given only when there is a sample broad enough to provide a reliable projection of the winner, the officials said.

[06] Greek, German foreign ministers visit Hios, discuss EU-Turkish relations

Athens, 07/04/2000 (ANA)

Fischer wished success in the Sunday elections to "his friend George Papandreou", adding that Greece needs a government with "European vision, so on Sunday night, if I hear good news for my friend George, I will drink water to his health".

Responding to a question on the resolution of the Cyprus problem, in light of the up coming meeting of the Association Council of the European Union and Turkey, Papandreou said that this was a political affair.

He, however, announced that the issue would be tabled at the General Affairs Council of the Union on Monday, so as to secure a clear mention of the European stand, calling for the need of a resolution of the problem in the framework of the United Nation's decisions.

Fischer stressed "we all are interested in the peaceful resolution of the Cyprus problem. Both us and Greece will expend every effort to find a solution at the European Union level," adding that the Helsinki decision was the beginning of a process of clarification by the Union to Turkey on the terms of its accession.

"In the end we will only see victors," Fischer said.

Addressing questions on conditions in Yugoslavia, Fischer accused Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic for his "nationalistic policies", which, as he said, caused all the hardship to the Serbian people.

The two men visited the boats at the Hios port that are now connecting the island with the Turkish coastal towns.

Later in the day Fischer left for Berlin, via Athens, and Papandreou remained on the island where he was scheduled to deliver an election address at a PASOK party rally.

[07] FYROM media say soldiers' abduction attempt at swap for outlaw Albanian

SKOPJE, 07/04/2000 (ANA - M. Vihou)

According to media reports in the land-locked Balkan country's capital of Skopje, the soldiers' abduction by rebels belonging to the so-called "Kosovo Liberation Army" aimed at securing the release of an ethnic Albanian recently extradited by KFOR troops to FYROM. The suspect, identified as one Jevit Hasani, was wanted on charges of attempted murder against a FYROM police officer. Reports state that Hasani had fled to the Yugoslav province of Kosovo two years ago and assumed a leading role in the ethnic Albanian rebels' conflict with Yugoslav forces.

The abducted soldiers, ambushed while on a routine patrol at the Tabanaftse site, were taken some 20 kilometers inside the now UN- and NATO-controlled province only to return to FYROM the next day wearing NATO military uniforms and without their weapons.

[08] Representatives of Europe's Orthodox Churches meet in Istanbul

The meeting, held at a central Istanbul hotel, was in preparation for the "Ecumenical Charter", which concerns the European Union's cooperation with all Christian Churches.

"Our participation in building the common European edifice will make a substantive contribution to the enrichment of European peoples," said Vartholomeos.

[09] Athens seminar focuses on efforts to inaugurate trade, investment with SE Asian 'tiger' markets

Athens, 07/04/2000 (ANA)

Entitled "Southeast Asian Economies and Business Opportunities", the event was the latest seminar organized by the Athens-based Institute of International Economic Relations, following similar sessions on the People's Republic of China, Japan, Iran and other significant Asian nations.

While discussion centered on the unprecedented growth potential of the major countries in SE Asia (such as Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam and Indonesia) as well as their comeback from a crippling banking and financial implosion two years ago, participants were also briefed on a series of events scheduled for late May in Thessaloniki.

Specifically, the "Asia 2000" Forum will organize a series of seminars and lectures focusing on SE Asian markets and prospects for cooperation with Greek entrepreneurs.

"During discussions we had with delegations from these countries and in the documents we signed one sentence kept cropping up, it was as if they had talked about this in advance - they asked us (Greece) to become a bridge to the European Union; of course, Greece is a crossroads to several markets, the EU, the Black Sea region, it's a Mediterranean country with traditionally good relations with Russia and the Arab world. Therefore, we had a very concrete interest to bring the Asian and European markets together," one of the speakers, Prof. Marios Nikolinakos, told the gathering.

The Asia 2000 program focuses on meeting the ever-widening "information gap", as its organizers stress, related to the dynamic markets of Asia, as well as to support the development of Asian studies in Greece. Upcoming seminars will focus on the Japan, South Korea, India and the SE Asia states.

The Greek Association of Societe Anonyme and Ltd. firms in 1993 founded the Institute.

[10] Capital Markets' Committee imposed fines worth 1.07 billion Drs in 1999

Athens, 07/04/2000 (ANA)

In its report for 1999, the Committee said it has also made 167 inspections on share trading following accusations by investors and it revoked the licenses in one securities firm and four brokerage intermediaries.

The Capital Markets' Committee also temporarily suspended the operation of nine brokerage intermediaries, which violated market rules.

Four listed companies were imposed fines worth 145 million drachmas for offering false information to investors and the market's regulatory authorities over their business activities.

A total of 515 million drachmas, in fines, were imposed on 26 persons charged for insider trading and share manipulation.

The Committee implemented two significant measures aimed to boost transparency in the market. These included: a company is obliged to publish every change in voting rights rates exceeding five percent, all securities firms have to inform the committee on block trades in stock shares under surveillance.

The Committee also agreed to raise the ceiling in fines to 300 million drachmas.

The Capital Markets' Committee also actively participated in the drafting of a law covering the operation of the Market for New Enterprises (NEXA).

[11] Greek stocks remain rangebound ahead of elections

Athens, 07/04/2000 (ANA)

Buying focused on smaller capitalization stocks with the sector showing the biggest percentage gains.

The general index ended 0.03 percent lower at 4,811.62 points. The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks ended at 2,724.68 points, down 0.04 percent and the FTSE/ASE 40 index fell 0.53 percent to 668.80 points.

Sector indices ended as follows: Banks: 9,448.45 -0.07% Leasing: 1,074.64 0% Insurance: 3,242.65 -0.15% Investment: 2,042.95 -0.07% Construction: 2,334.54 -0.83% Industrials: 2,817.53 -0.15% Miscellaneous: 4,992.15 +0.55% Holding: 5,361.85 0.77%

The parallel market index for smaller capitalization stocks ended at 814.51 points, up 1.07 percent.

Broadly, advancers led decliners by 175 to 152 with another 10 issues unchanged.

National Bank, Hellenic Telecoms, Hellenic Petroleum, Commercial Bank and Athens Water were the most heavily traded stocks.

Leading shares' closing prices (in Drs): National Bank: 24,600 Alpha Credit: 23,990 Commercial Bank: 22,450 Ergobank: 8,260 Eurobank: 11,600 Heracles Cement: 9,935 Titan Cement (c): 14,850 Hellenic Petroleum: 4,480 Intracom: 14,450 Minoan Lines: 6,795 Hellenic Bottling: 6,355 Hellenic Telecoms: 9,800 Panafon: 4,900

Derivatives prices rebound on ADEX: Derivatives prices ended higher on Thursday reflecting investors' optimism of a recovery in the Greek bourse in the short-term and despite a slight fall in the two benchmark indices, FTSE/ASE 20 and FTSE/ASE 40.

Turnover, however, remained subdued at 5.12 billion drachmas.

A total of 593 future contracts were traded on the FTSE/ASE 20 index, with a turnover of 3.1 billion drachmas. The April expiring contract ended at 2,688 points, the May at 2,690 and the June contract at 2,705 points.

A total of 766 futures contracts were traded on the FTSE/ASE 40 index, with a turnover of 2.02 billion drachmas. The April expiring contract ended at 663 points and the May contract at 662 points.

Bonds flaccid in slim trade: Bond prices nosed up on Thursday and turnover dropped sharply in the second-to-last trading session before national elections on April 9.

The Greek benchmark 10-year bond showed a yield of 6.13 percent from 6.10 percent a day earlier and 6.16 percent in the two previous sessions.

The paper's yield spread over German bunds was 93 basis points against 97 basis points in the previous session and 96 basis points on Tuesday.

Turnover through the central bank's electronic system totalled 40 billion drachmas from 108 billion drachmas a day earlier and 48.5 billion drachmas on Tuesday.

Of Thursday's total, sell orders accounted for 24 billion drachmas of turnover and buy orders the remaining 16 billion drachmas.

According to the final opinion polls allowed under electoral law, the ruling socialist PASOK party and main opposition conservative New Democracy party are likely to run neck-and-neck in voting.

Drachma drops against euro, dollar: The drachma fell against the euro and the US dollar in the domestic foreign exchange market on Thursday as the country neared national elections on April 9.

The central bank did not intervene in the market for the third straight session.

On Monday, the Bank of Greece had sold around 35 million euros to meet demand for euros after releasing around 250 million euros a session earlier. It sold over a 100 million euros over the last two weeks.

At the central bank's daily fixing on Thursday, the euro was set at 334.870 drachmas from 334.860 drachmas a day earlier and 334.870 drachmas on Thursday.

Also at the fixing, the US dollar was set at 347.810 drachmas from 347.030 drachmas in the previous session and 351.090 drachmas on Tuesday.

[12] Panafon reports 49 pct rise in subscribers' numbers in 1st quarter

Athens, 07/04/2000 (ANA)

Panafon's non-contract customers, representing 62 percent of its total customers' base, at 1,100,000, accounted for the biggest part of new subscriptions in the first quarter of 2000.

Panafon expects to launch this month its Internet portal (www.pan.gr) in connection with its Panafonet service.

[13] PASOK leads in election spending on ads

Athens, 07/04/2000 (ANA)

PASOK spent 1.66 billion drachmas against the main opposition conservative New Democracy party, which lagged slightly at 1.2 billion drachmas in the same month, Media Services said on Thursday.

The spending total covered television, radio, magazines and newspapers.

[14] Vardinoyiannis inaugurates UNESCO resource center for children

BETHLEHEM, 07/04/2000 (ANA)

The centers construction and operation will be funded by UNESCO and Vardinoyiannis, will include a children's library, theatre, music resource facility and classrooms in a facility complex along with a kindergarten and a multi-grade school.

President Yasser Arafat's representative Dr. Emil Jarjoui, Ms Suha Arafat, Bethlehem's Mayor Hanna Nasser Said and other notables of the Palestinian Authority and UNESCO were present at the inauguration.

"Children, the citizens of tomorrow's world, are worth of a better future," Vardinoyiannis said, adding "this is a symbolic gesture at a place symbolizing peace ... the most important objective of this center is to promote the culture and education of peace in this area".

She thanked Ms. Arafat for placing the event and the new facility under her auspices, noting that this "is a fact that confirms our effort and encourages us to continue our work."

On his part Jarjoui extended the deep appreciation of Palestinians to UNESCO and Vardinoyiannis for what he called a "living example of solidarity and support of the Palestinian people".

Addressing the event Nasser Said noted "its time now to provide them (children) with the necessary facilities to live, play and learn, similar to those enjoyed by the children of neighboring countries".

Earlier in the day Vardinoyiannis met with President Arafat in the city of Ramallah. Arafat thanked Vardinoyiannis for her efforts to serve the children of the region.

[15] Jewish community upset over German president's failure to visit Holocaust monument

Athens, 07/04/2000 (ANA)

"Our community feels deeply insulted, as Mr. Rau's stand was a grave insult to our departed (members of our community)," Thessaloniki Jewish Community leader Andreas Sefiha said, during a press conference.

He added that the German president did not visit the Jewish Holocaust monument in Thessaloniki calling his stance a "great ethical issue".

"He did not do it, he did not even make a statement of apology, even though it would have not been enough. The obligation of Germans to honor their victims for whom they are responsible was not kept," he said, adding that following this reaction all German government actions for Jews "will be hypocritical and not acceptable".

He also said that the Thessaloniki Jewish community would brief the American Jewish Committee over Rau's stand. The German president is scheduled to address an event of that American non-governmental organization in May, in Washington.

During his three-day official visit to Greece earlier this week, Rau visited Thessaloniki on Wednesday, while on Tuesday he had visited Kalavryta, Peloponnese, where he laid a wreath at the tomb of civilians executed by the Wermacht during the Second World War.

[16] Greek Olympics Day celebrated

Athens, 07/04/2000 (ANA)

The organizing committee said that it is fully aware of the responsibility it has undertaken, and honors the anniversary of the modern Olympic Games, which began in Athens on April 6, 1896.

The 2004 Games will be a lever for development and the driving force for Athens to become a modern metropolis and Greece a modern country with upgraded infrastructures and services, the announcement said.

[17] Suspect forest fire extinguished on Samos

Athens, 07/04/2000 (ANA)

[18] Canadian documentaries to be screened in Athens on April 11-12

Athens, 07/04/2000 (ANA)

The event entitled "Country in focus: Canada", will take place in Athens on April 11-12 at the Pallas Theatre (1, Voukourestiou St.).

The screening program includes eight documentary films that were particularly well received by the audiences at the 2nd Thessaloniki Documentary Film Festival. Among these is the documentary by Frank Cole "Life Without Death" that was awarded with the Foreign Press Prize in Thessaloniki.

[19] Government describes Verheugen's statements on Cyprus as 'very positive'

NICOSIA, 07/04/2000 (CNA/ANA)

"We consider Gunter Verheugen's remarks as very positive and we welcome them. We share his views on Turkey's relations with the EU and we also agree with his interpretation of the Helsinki conclusions, which disengage the solution of the Cyprus question from the Republic's accession," government spokesman Michalis Papapetrou said here on Thursday.

The spokesman was commenting on the EU Enlargement Commissioner's position that membership talks cannot begin with Turkey, an EU candidate, unless Ankara complies with the Copenhagen criteria, a precondition set for all candidate countries.

Verheugen told his audience in Washington on Wednesday that the EU expects Turkey to follow a steady process for changes in its criminal and political code, promote justice and deal with human rights issues.

The Commissioner, who has visited Nicosia and Ankara in the recent past, also said that the solution of the Cyprus problem is not a precondition for the Republic's accession, something the EU summit in Helsinki decided last December.

Cyprus started accession negotiations in November 1998 and at present it is ahead of other candidate countries.

[20] Common view that proximity talks on Cyprus should be upgraded

NICOSIA, 07/04/2000 (CNA/ANA)

Government spokesman Michalis Papapetrou told his daily briefing on Thursday that President Glafcos Clerides "discussed ways to upgrade the talks in the third round in such a way that they become more effective" with US Presidential Emissary for Cyprus Alfred Moses in New York on Wednesday.

He avoided revealing any details of the president's discussions but said "there is in general terms an understanding that the talks must be upgraded."

"There was a review of the situation at present and they discussed ways to upgrade the talks and render them more productive," Papapetrou said.

Asked if Moses was talking on behalf of the UK and the UN as well, he said the Cyprus envoys who met earlier this week in New York have "common views" to a larger or lesser degree on the need to render the UN peace talks more productive.

UK representative Sir David Hannay told a press conference during his recent visit to Cyprus that the talks need a "change of gear".

At the New York meeting, the envoys said they intend to visit Cyprus before the resumption of talks on 23 May.

[21] American-Jewish Committee says closely monitoring situation in Cyprus

NEW YORK, 07/04/2000 (CNA/ANA)

Speaking to CNA after a working breakfast on Thursday with Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides, David Harris, Executive Director of the Committee said during their one-hour meeting "we talked both about the next steps in the Cyprus talks and in the context of Greek Turkish relations."

"We talked also about the president's recent visit to Israel", Harris said.

"We are interested in Cyprus for a number of reasons. First of all we have a historical connection with Cyprus, which is always present in our mind", Harris told CNA.

Secondly, he said, "Cyprus is an important part of the eastern

Mediterranean and plays a significant role in matters relating to the US, Israel, Europe and the Mediterranean".

"Therefore we want to stay very much in touch with Cypriot officials, understand the situation on the ground, understand what is going on respecting the unresolved Cypriot question and also gain a Cypriot understanding of what's going on in the Middle East", he said.

Cyprus, he added, "has good relations both with Israel and a number of Arab countries" and it "is always beneficial for us to get from the president his perspective on the developments in the Middle East".

Asked if the American-Jewish Committee will act towards Turkey to be flexible in the forthcoming round of the proximity talks on Cyprus, Harris said, "we have long made clear our hope that the issue of Cyprus can be resolved soon and peacefully".

[22] Clerides says promotion of Cyprus' culture abroad 'contributes towards our struggle'

NEW YORK, 07/04/2000(CNA/ANA)

Addressing a dinner given by the Leventis Foundation to celebrate the opening of the Metropolitan Museum of Arts Galleries of Cypriot Art,

President Clerides said promotion of the island's culture also is "an effective weapon" against "the destruction of our cultural heritage in the areas outside the control of the Cyprus government" as a result of the 1974 Turkish invasion and occupation of 37 per cent of the island's territory.

He paid tribute to the A. G. Leventis Foundation for "contributing generously every year for the conservation and preservation of archaeological sites and ancient monuments in Cyprus".

Referring to the Foundation's endowment of one of the four permanent galleries of Cypriot antiquities at the MMA, known as the A. G. Leventis Foundation Gallery Classical Cypriot Art, Clerides also thanked Constantine Leventis for the Foundation's "generosity and vision".

Replying, Leventis, Chairman of the Foundation, described the whole occasion as an "adventure". He said "it is an adventure for so many of us to find ourselves in this part of the world who gathered here for this occasion".

"It was certainly an adventure for one and a quarter centuries ago for thousands upon thousands of artifacts to set off from Cyprus on their reverse Odyssey through the Levant to Europe and thence to the New World. So much of an adventure that one whole shipload of them ended up at the bottom of the Eastern European Mediterranean Sea".

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