Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 00-04-08

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

CONTENTS

[01] Simitis fires last shot in election campaign

[02] ND leader calls for Sunday vote to shape future

[03] Final actions of party leaders less than 48 hours before polls open

[04] Cyprus issue the catalyst, Venizelos says

[05] KKE calls for 'genuine' public health system in World Health Day message

[06] German president to meet Patriarch Vartholomeos on Saturday

[07] Wholesale prices jump 7.2 pct in February yr/yr

[08] Consumer price inflation up 3.1 in March yr/yr

[09] Greek stocks end sharply up ahead of Sunday's elections

[10] Derivatives prices end sharply up

[11] Bonds edge up in scant trade

[12] Drachma flat vs euro, drops vs dollar

[13] Greek bourse cautiously awaits Sunday's election outcome

[14] Bulgarian minister says cabinet approval by Thursday on BTC sale

[15] Public debt agency announces auction programme

[16] Eight burned alive in car collision

[17] Greece submits case against ex-king's property appeal

[18] Migrant smuggler given prison term for ferrying illegals into Greece

[19] Authorities on Samothrace investigate whether decomposed body belongs to missing Spaniard

[20] National Bank branch near Serres robbed

[21] Harold Pinter honored at event held at Greek ambassador's residence in London

[22] Seriously injured ethnic Greek boy rushed to Greece from Albania

[23] Conscript dies in traffic accident

[24] Forgotten ND supporter, 88, found wandering around stadium after rally

[25] Sunshine in many parts 1of the country Saturday

[26] The Athens dailies at a glance

[27] Clerides says Denktash the cause of impasse in Cyprus problem

[28] EU to take into account developments in Cyprus' political process

[29] Turkish Cypriot father denies bone marrow donor found for his son

[01] Simitis fires last shot in election campaign

Prime Minister Costas Simitis on Friday wound up the campaign for Sunday's election with an appeal for trust in his government's record and experience at a crucial turn in the country's progress, and against what he called the adventurist policies of the main opposition New Democracy.

"Greeks do not wish adventures, social upheaval, conflict, experimentation and a partisan state ... Greece and its economy are a safe and tidy house offering security, prosperity and progress, and for this reason the people will not let the liberal typhoon blow the economy sky high," Simitis told a party rally in central Athens.

Stressing the differences between the two main parties, he said, "we know the economy, we know the society and have proved that we know how to turn our commitments into deeds".

He reiterated his vision of a strong Greece and set out seven specific personal commitments that will make it a reality.

"I have a vision for Greece, the vision of a strong Greece, the vision of the proud Greek ... This election is the first of the 21st century, with a long-term impact on the country and future generations," he said.

The first commitment was the fight against unemployment.

"I do not compromise on unemployment. I know what unemployment means for a family's life, I know what dignity for the unemployed means," he said.

The second commitment referred to the development of the country, which meant higher incomes, more prosperity and more social justice, while the third was for balance in that development through the allocation of 80 percent of investment funds to the regions.

The fourth commitment concerned the revitalization of rural areas and the fifth the upgrading of the country's standing on the international scene.

The sixth commitment was in regard to the continuation of the reforms in all sectors that affected the daily life of citizens, with particular emphasis on health and public administration.

The seventh commitment concerned the future of education and culture.

"The future of Greece is education and culture. This is our identity," he said.

"Greece must not enter into adventures. It must not miss the opportunity," he urged.

[02] ND leader calls for Sunday vote to shape future

Greeks will decide on their future and that of their children as well as the country's course within the Economic Monetary Union (EMU), main opposition New Democracy (ND) party leader Costas Karamanlis said in his final election message, in light of this Sunday polls.

"We are deciding for our future and that of our children, for the course of the country in the post-EMU era, for real economic development, which means prosperity for the majority of the citizens," Karamanlis said.

"They are proposing that we remain in the past, that we remain at the same stage. We are asking to move forward, while at the same time taking care of those around us. With new ideas, new faces who are eager to offer," he added.

"They are proposing pseudo-dilemmas to force partisanship and to block the expression of other political forces. And those are indeed pseudo-dilemmas that they are creating, since Greeks are not divided, today, by the lines of the past.

"The dividing lines of the past were erased. We can all move on together, to cooperate, at last, with political forces. Everybody is useful," Karamanlis concluded.

[03] Final actions of party leaders less than 48 hours before polls open

Less than 48 hours before the general elections, Prime Minister and PASOK President Costas Simitis closed the election campaigning with his final address at a party rally in central Athens.

Environment, Town Planning and Public Works Minister Costas Laliotis accused main opposition New Democracy (ND) of mindlessly leaking to the press "like parrots" opinion poll results.

He also noted that PASOK achieved the largest ever transport of voters to the towns and cities where they are registered so they might vote.

On his part, ND spokesman Aris Spiliotopoulos appeared certain of his party's victory in the election.

Communist Party of Greece (KKE) leader Aleka Papariga visited the Haftia district of down town Athens.

Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) leader Nikos Constantopoulos was on an election tour of northern Peloponnese.

Democratic Social Movement (DHKKI) leader Dimitris Tsovolas cancelled his election campaigning for the day, in mourning over the death of his mother-in-law. In a statement, however, Friday evening, Tsovolas harshly criticized Simitis' speech in a central Athens party rally.

[04] Cyprus issue the catalyst, Venizelos says

The Cyprus issue was the catalyst for everything, and the catalyst for the Cyprus issue was Cyprus' accession to the EU, which Greece will fight for, Greece's development minister Evangelos Venizelos said Friday in a televised interview with the Cyprus radio and television foundation RIK.

"The Cyprus issue is the catalyst of everything, and the catalyst for the Cyprus issue is Cyprus' entry into the European Union," Venizelos said on RIK television programme "Proektaseis", in response to a comment that the Cyprus issue had been pushed aside following the improvement in Greek-Turkish relations.

Venizelos said that the Cyprus issue was the most important chapter contained in the Helsinki decision because, without that, there would have been no chapter on Greek-Turkish relations.

Consequently, the Cyprus issue was the catalyst, Venizelos said.

[05] KKE calls for 'genuine' public health system in World Health Day message

A genuinely "public" -- for all the people -- health system was necessary, in the framework of a people-oriented economy, that would place the respect deserved by the working people above profit, the Communist Party of Greek (KKE) said Friday, inn a message marking World Health Day.

The KKE said that this year's World Health Day, which fell just two days ahead of general elections in Greece, found the 'dialogue' on the National Health System (ESY) to have acquired its own niche in the pre-electoral bargaining of the two main parties aimed at collecting votes.

A 'dialogue', it said, that was characterized by arbitrary promises and a war of campaign ads.

World Health Day further found the people in neighboring Yugoslavia and the wider Balkans of living in a "nightmare scenario for their future health", threatened by leukemia, teratogenesis and cancer, "because the bombs (dropped by) the NATO planes in their raid last year spread not only death but also environmental destruction, as they contained uranium, albeit depleted," the KKE said.

[06] German president to meet Patriarch Vartholomeos on Saturday

German President Johannes Rau, currently on an official visit to Turkey, will meet Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos at the Phanar on Saturday morning.

Rau has had talks with Turkish President Suleyman Demirel, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and representatives of human rights organizations.

[07] Wholesale prices jump 7.2 pct in February yr/yr

The wholesale price index rose by 7.2 percent year on year in February against the same month of 1999, the Greek National Statistics Service said on Friday.

The index rose by 1.2 percent month-on-month in February from January, the GNSS said in a statement.

[08] Consumer price inflation up 3.1 in March yr/yr

Greece's consumer price inflation jumped to 3.1 percent in March compared with the same month last year, up from 2.4 percent in February, the National Statistics Service said on Friday.

The rise in the March consumer price index is attributed to a 4.0 percent increase in durable goods-household items and services, a 13.9 percent jump in clothing-footwear and a 2.5 percent rise in transport prices.

NSS's secretary-general Nikos Karavitis said he expected the harmonized consumer price index (used to compare Greek inflation with other European Union members') to remain at 2.0 percent in March.

[09] Greek stocks end sharply up ahead of Sunday's elections

Equity prices rebounded spectacularly in heavy volume on the last trading session ahead of Sunday's general elections, a sign that the Athens bourse was beginning to discount a positive outcome in the April 9 polls.

The general index ended at 4,934.81 points, up 2.56 percent, off the day's highs of 4,965.03 points. Turnover was an improved 230 billion drachmas.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks ended 1.83 percent higher at 2,774.57 points and the FTSE/ASE 40 index jumped 4.51 percent to 698.95 points.

The parallel market index for smaller capitalization stocks soared 7.28 percent to end at 873.81.

Broadly, advancers led decliners by 327 to six with only one issue unchanged.

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

[10] Derivatives prices end sharply up

Derivatives prices ended sharply up on Friday reflecting a strong recovery in the two benchmarket indices,

FTSE/ASE 20 and FTSE/ASE 40, in the Athens Derivatives Exchange.

Turnover was significantly improved at 10.2 billion drachmas.

A total of 1,304 future contracts were traded on the FTSE/ASE 20 index, with a turnover of 6.9 billion drachmas. The April expiring contract ended at 2,750 points, the May at 2,752 and the June contract at 2,758 points.

A total of 1,357 futures contracts were traded on the FTSE/ASE 40 index, with a turnover of 3.3 billion drachmas. The April expiring contract ended at 705 points, the May at 708 and the June contract at 708 points.

[11] Bonds edge up in scant trade

Bond prices nosed up on Friday and turnover again dropped sharply in the last trading session before national elections on April 9. The Greek benchmark 10-year bond showed a yield of 6.16 percent from 6.13 percent a day earlier and 6.10 percent on Wednesday.

The paper's yield spread over German bunds was 94 basis points from 93 basis points in the previous session and 97 basis points on Wednesday.

Turnover through the central bank's electronic system totaled 22 billion drachmas from 40 billion drachmas a day earlier and 108 billion drachmas on Wednesday.

Of Friday's total, buy orders accounted for 20 billion drachmas of turnover and sell orders the remaining 2.0 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.

[12] Drachma flat vs euro, drops vs dollar

The drachma was flat against the euro and fell versus the US dollar in the domestic foreign exchange market on Friday in the final trading session before national elections on April 9. The central bank intervened in the market, selling a minor sum of around 20 million euros.

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 Friday, the euro was set at 334.870 drachmas for the second straight session from 334.860 drachmas on Wednesday.

Also at the fixing, the US dollar was set at 349.040 drachmas from 347.810 drachmas in the previous session and 347.030 drachmas on Wednesday.

[13] Greek bourse cautiously awaits Sunday's election outcome

The Greek stock market moved on the sidelines during the week under review, cautiously awaiting the outcome of Sunday's general elections with the exception of Friday when investors returned in the market discounting a positive result.

Analysts said that a strong government coming from the polls would directly and favorably affect climate in the market. Others, however, believe that the impact from Sunday's elections would be gradually felt in the market which is expected to set its sights again on economic fundamentals (lower interest rates and the Greek market's upgrading to a mature market).

The general index ended the week 141.34 points, or 2.95 percent higher. Turnover was thin, however, to a weekly total of 775.274 billion drachmas, or a daily average of 155 billion, up from 152.6 billion the previous week.

Shares in the Holding and the Parallel Market for smaller capitalization stocks scored the biggest percentage of the week (up 6.38 and 5.73 percent respectively).

[14] Bulgarian minister says cabinet approval by Thursday on BTC sale

The Sofia government's cabinet will give its approval for the sale of Bulgaria's state-owned Telecoms utility by Thursday, while the purchase contract with a Greek-Dutch consortium will be signed in the first half of the year, the country's transport minister announced here.

Bulgarian minister Anton Slavinski noted that "significant progress" has been achieved in talks between Sofia and the consortium composed of Greece's state-run telephony utility (OTE) and KPN of the Netherlands, thereby increasing possibilities that a deal will be struck soon.

Slavinski made the televised comments during an interview focusing on the biggest deal envisioned in an ambitious privatization programme announced by the government.

The Greek-Dutch consortium was the sole bidder in a tender announced by Sofia although a final sale agreement has been severely delayed by repeated disagreements over terms.

[15] Public debt agency announces auction programme

The finance ministry's Public Debt Management Agency on Friday announced its bond auction programme for the rest of April and May.

Securities' auctions are as follows:

* April 11, 40 billion drachmas of 12-month treasury bills

* May 9, 20-year bonds

* May 16, 12-month treasury bills

* May 23, five-year bonds

[16] Eight burned alive in car collision

Eight persons, believed to be mostly illegal Iraqi immigrants, were burned to death in a car collision near the town of Agrinion in northwestern Greece early Friday, police said.

The incident occurred at 03.10 local time when a private car collided with a truck, with Albanian license plates, at a crossing on the Antirrio-Ioannina national highway near Agrinion.

The dead, among them three children, include the private car's driver. Both cars burst into flames as the car smashed on the truck's gas tank causing the fire. The driver of the truck, an Albanian identified as Anesti Doga, was arrested. they said that the truck entered the highway after coming out of a parking lot without noticing the oncoming car.

A preliminary police inquiry showed that two of the victims in the car carried Iraqi identification papers leading them to the assumption that the rest of the victims, except for the driver, were illegal Iraqi immigrants of Kurdish origin.

[17] Greece submits case against ex-king's property appeal

Greece on Friday submitted to the European Court of Human Rights its positions countering ex-king Constantine's appeal against the transfer of his property to the State, a foreign ministry statement said.

The file was submitted by Alternate Foreign Minister Christos Rokofyllos in view of the discussion of the case in Strasbourg on June 14.

"The Greek government's arguments comprehensively and fully counter the plaintiff's claim that the State violated its international obligations regarding respect for property rights", said the statement.

The issue has been settled according to the Constitution and the country's international obligations, it added.

[18] Migrant smuggler given prison term for ferrying illegals into Greece

A 45-year-old local man was sentenced to almost eight years in prison on Friday after his conviction on charges of transporting illegal immigrants into Greece.

Thirty-five illegals, from Bangladesh and India, were discovered hidden behind a load of firewood in a truck driven by Nikolaos A. Geroyiannis.

According to testimony, the illegals had crossed the Evros River separating Greece and Turkey in a boat, ferried over by an Iranian migrant smuggler identified only as "Ali".

A court in the border town of Alexandroupoli also ordered the confiscation of the suspect's truck and a fine of close to $9,000.

[19] Authorities on Samothrace investigate whether decomposed body belongs to missing Spaniard

The body of a man was found on the northwest Aegean island of Samothrace on Friday, with authorities examining the possibility that the decomposed corpse is that of a missing Spanish hiker.

Cura Guillem Folc disappeared more than a month ago after he had ostensibly set out to trek from one area on the picturesque volcanic isle to another site. According to reports, the body, belonging to a male in his early '20s, was discovered some 20 metres from the coastline at the Kipoi site.

Three compatriots had declared Folc's disappearance at the time, while a hiking sack and jacket had been found near the coast. An autopsy and skeletal examination is expected to shed light on the identity of the body.

[20] National Bank branch near Serres robbed

Two masked gunmen made off with more than 4.5 million drachmas from a National Bank branch in Irakleia, Serres prefecture, on Friday.

According to reports, the two suspects forced a teller to hand over the money at gunpoint before fleeing on a high-powered motorcycle. Witnesses in the northern Greece township described the perpetrators as between 20 and 25 years old.

[21] Harold Pinter honored at event held at Greek ambassador's residence in London

Noted British author Harold Pinter was honored by the expatriate Greek community here on Thursday evening.

The event was organized at the Greek ambassador's official residence in light of an April 18 ceremony awarding Pinter an honorary doctorate of literature by the Thessaloniki University's faculty of philosophy. The author himself will be on hand to receive the honorary diploma in Thessaloniki.

"I've always felt a strong sympathy in my ties with Greece and the Greek people. I know the Greeks as a highly independent people..." he said.

[22] Seriously injured ethnic Greek boy rushed to Greece from Albania

Greek National Defense Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos on Friday mediated to ensure the air transportation of a seriously wounded 9-year-old ethnic Greek boy from Albania to Greece.

Costas Xatheris arrived at Thessaloniki airport early on Friday afternoon on a C-130 military plane, after suffering a road accident in Elbasan, Albania, in which he lost both his parents.

The boy was taken to the "Ippokratio" hospital.

The transportation of the boy to Greece took place at the request of Albania to the Greek embassy in Tirana.

[23] Conscript dies in traffic accident

A 20-year-old conscript was killed and three teens injured Friday morning after a traffic accident in the Koropi region of eastern Attica.

The two-car accident occurred when the car driven by the victim, Georgios Rizos, collided with another vehicle he was attempting to pass.

[24] Forgotten ND supporter, 88, found wandering around stadium after rally

An 88-year-old Kalamata man who attended New Democracy's main campaign rally in Athens on Thursday evening was found wandering at the Olympic Stadium in the wee hours of the morning, apparently forgotten by his son, who also attended the event.

Police said pensioner Georgios Petreas had traveled from the village of Kambos, Messinia prefecture, to attend the campaign address by main opposition leader Costas Karamanlis. However, the elderly man apparently was separated from his family only to be found by security guards in the early morning. His son told police he believed his father was returning home in another coach after failing to meet him at a pre-specified location.

Authorities later traced his family in the village, while the man was later taken to the home of a grandson who lives in Athens.

[25] Sunshine in many parts 1of the country Saturday

Sunshine and scattered cloud are forecast in most parts of the country on Saturday, with showers likely in the northeast. Temperatures will remain fairly high for the time of year.

Winds northwesterly, moderate to strong. In the north, temperatures will range from 5C to 14C; in the rest of mainland Greece and the Ionian from 7C to 18C; and in the Aegean islands from 12C to 20C.

Mostly sunny in Athens with temperatures ranging from 9C to 18C. Same in Thessaloniki, with temperatures between 7C and 13C.

[26] The Athens dailies at a glance

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS (Mitsis) front-paged a full-page picture of Costas Karamanlis addressing a New Democracy mass electoral rally at the Olympic stadium in Athens Thursday night under the banner headline: "Karamanlis embraced Greece yesterday at the Olympic stadium; the tour of triumph".

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS (Rizos) also front-paged a photo from the New Democracy mass rally under the headline: "Singing victory, Costas Karamanlis was wildly cheered; Athenians flocked to the Olympic stadium in a rare spectacle of Culture and Politics".

AKROPOLIS: "Athens voted Karamanlis; a wind of victory from the packed and vibrating Olympic stadium".

ATHINAIKI: "Simitis and Karamanlis: they promise paradise and prepare for hell," and elsewhere: "Armed forces alert over the suspicious forest fires".

AVGHI: "PASOK and New Democracy with rumors are setting up coercive dilemmas; a Coalition of the Left conscience vote is the resistance to polarization".

AVRIANI: "With 400 coaches from the provinces, he did not succeed in filling up the stands; a terrible Karamanlis mess-up at the Olympic stadium", a reference to the N.D. mass rally Thursday night.

CHORA: "The latest opinion poll; New Democracy is ahead with two percentage points; International press: a nightmare for Simitis".

ELEFTHERI ORA: "New Democracy is not a rightwing party; only the National Alliance party represents the right".

ELEFTHEROS front-paged a picture from the New Democracy rally at the Olympic stadium under the headline: "An earthquake for Karamanlis".

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "New Democracy's rally at the Olympic stadium exceeded every expectation; a feast of victory and unity".

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "Simitis answers 6,000 calls on seven crucial issues; a dialogue with young people on the Internet".

ESTIA: "The generation of the 40-year-olds; a radical change if Karamanlis is elected (prime minister)".

ETHNOS: "General mobilization tonight (Friday) at 7.30 p.m. at the Pedion tou Areos park in Athens the answer to the gray opinion polls ", a reference to the PASOK mass rally to be addressed by prime minister Costas Simitis.

EXOUSIA: "The five keys for the winner of the elections: latest opinion polls give PASOK a slim but clear lead".

KATHIMERINI: "Costas Karamanlis 'plays' the supremacy card; he proclaims consistency and commits himself for a government without distinctions".

LOGOS: "Polling companies deny the secret opinion polls rumors; the mechanisms of the New Democracy headquarters collapse".

NIKI: "Akis (National Defense minister Tsohatzopoulos) makes up the difference; he won the Thessaloniki battle (where he addressed a rally Thursday); PASOK's major rally in Athens tonight (Friday)".

RIZOSPASTIS: "Communist party of Greece (KKE), a wind of optimism and militancy".

STO KARFI carried a front-page picture of Karamanlis and Aris Spiliotopoulos (ND's press spokesman) under the headline: "The duo has declared bankruptcy and pulls down the shutters....".

TA NEA carried an interview with prime minister Costas Simitis under the front-page headline: "Minimum pensions of 150,000 drachma from all social security funds" and elsewhere; "PASOK's main (election) rally at Pedion tou Areos tonight".

TO VIMA: "All forecasts conclude that the elections will be a cliffhanger; increased rallying in PASOK, while New Democracy ....celebrates disproportionately".

VRADYNI published an interview with Costas Karamanlis after the main mass rally under a front-page picture of the Olympic stadium gathering and the headline "We're turning a page with a strong government of consistency and creativity".

President Clerides to hold talks with British premier on Monday NICOSIA, 08-04-2000 CNA/ANA)

Monday's meeting between Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides and British Premier Tony Blair is expected to focus on efforts to solve the Cyprus question and on the Republic's European Union accession process.

The two leaders are also expected to discuss ideas that could help

the UN in their bid to upgrade the proximity talks, due to resume on 23 May in New York, and render them more substantive.

Talks will include an exchange of views on the current situation in efforts to solve the Cyprus problem and Cyprus' EU membership bid, spokesman for the British High Commission here Jonathan Allen told CNA on Friday.

"Prime Minister Tony Blair is expected to reassure the President of Britain's commitment to a bizonal, bicommunal federation and express his encouragement for the third round of talks next month," he said.

He said Britain plays a positive role in both issues and reiterated London's wish to see a "change of gear" in the ongoing dialogue. Replying to questions, he said "the two leaders are expected to discuss ideas to encourage the UN to change gear but how this is done is a question for the UN."

Britain's representative for Cyprus Sir David Hannay told a press conference here last month that "we have to change gear" in the UN-led talks.

Hannay is expected to be in Cyprus for another round of contacts with the two sides the first week in May.

Referring to the future status of the two military British Bases in Cyprus when the Republic joins the EU, Allen explained that "the SBA (sovereign base area) is not part of EU territory and is not covered by EU legislation."

Britain, he said, is well aware of this issue, which is a technical question that will be sorted out.

[27] Clerides says Denktash the cause of impasse in Cyprus problem

Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides on Thursday said that the impasse in the Cyprus problem will be broken only if Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash change his position for recognition of his illegal regime and negotiates during the next round of the UN-sponsored talks on Cyprus.

Speaking on the "Cyprus problem : an update" at the Middle East Briefings, President Clerides said he cannot report any progress so far on Cyprus and called on Turkey and Denktash to abide by the G8 statement for unconditional talks.

"We are not going to recognize the breakaway state and as far as the international community, they made it clear to Mr. Denktash that they have no intention of recognizing his breakaway state," the president stressed.

The two rounds of the proximity talks, he said, did not produce any results and a third round is up for May 23.

"If the impasse is to break, it will be necessary for Denktash to change his position" which is that he wants recognition for his illegal regime in order to talk. Denktash and Ankara will "have to be persuaded to follow the resolution of the G8 that all the issues are on the table, negotiations will take place on all substantive issues of the problem," the president said.

[28] EU to take into account developments in Cyprus' political process

European Union Commissioner responsible for enlargement Gunter Verheugen has said developments in the political process in Cyprus is one of the factors the EU will take into account, when it has to decide on accepting Cyprus as a full member with or without a political settlement.

He also said Greek and Turkish Cypriots now have an incentive to support the accession process since neither is guaranteed EU entry for Cyprus, irrespective of a settlement.

Verheugen reiterated the EU summit conclusions in Helsinki that solution of the Cyprus question is not a precondition for accession and said there is excellent cooperation between the UN, the US and the EU.

The EU Commissioner, who was speaking at a press conference here, said "one of the most important changes of the enlargement strategy in Helsinki was that option is now open to accept Cyprus as a divided island. Of course the member states will consider the relevant factors," he said.

One of these factors, he explained, will be "how the political process developed and who was supportive and who was not."

Verheugen said he told the Greek Cypriots that there was no guarantee that they can be a member of the EU if the conflict is not settled and he told the Turkish Cypriots they have no guarantee this will not happen.

"So there is an incentive for both sides to support the accession process," he added.

The EU Commissioner said Cyprus accession process would facilitate the settlement of the political conflict and added "I see some progress there".

He said it would be much better to have the political settlement first and then the accession process finalized.

[29] Turkish Cypriot father denies bone marrow donor found for his son

The father of a young Turkish Cypriot boy has denied reports that a bone marrow donor was found for his son.

The father of 12-year-old Kemal Saracoglu told London Greek Radio that no donor was found for his son and appealed for more effort to find a suitable donor.

Kemal is suffering from leukemia and is receiving treatment at the Royal Free hospital.

A spokesman for the hospital said he was not in a position to give any information on the matter.

A so-called official of the illegal Turkish Cypriot regime in occupied Cyprus had told a foreign news agency that a bone marrow donor had been found.

Kemal's predicament and that of a six-year-old Greek Cypriot boy, Andreas Vasiliou, sparked an outpour of emotion on both sides of the divide in Cyprus with thousands of people coming forward to give blood in a bid to find a suitable bone marrow donor for the two boys and other patients waiting for a transplant.

Andreas is now in the US receiving treatment and waiting for a donor.

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