Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 00-04-10

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

CONTENTS

[01] Ruling PASOK assured of victory, Simitis says new government will be for all Greeks

[02] President of the Republic, party leaders cast ballots in Greece's general elections

[03] Caretaker interior minister praises problem-free election

[04] Close Nicosia-Athens cooperation will continue regardless of Greek election results

[05] Swedish parliamentary delegation arrives in Cyprus on Monday

[01] Ruling PASOK assured of victory, Simitis says new government will be for all Greeks

Athens, 10/04/2000 (ANA)

PASOK is assured of 157 seats in the new parliament and New Democracy 126 seats. The Communist Party of Greece (KKE), which garnered 5.46 percent, appeared to be assured of 11 seats, while the Coalition of the Left and Progress Party (SYN) with 3.16 percent, won six seats. The Democratic Social Movement (DHKKI) failed to gain a seat in parliament, as its 2.67 percent score was less than the three- percent needed to enter parliament.

Prime Minister Costas Simitis, in a televised statement at around 2 a.m. on Monday, reiterated his commitment to form a government for all Greeks.

It will be a four-year term for all Greeks, a four-year term of aiming high and of creation, a four-year term of unity and work for our common home, Greece, Simitis said.

The premier stressed that it was a very important political victory, which was won following a harsh election battle and underlined that the importance of this victory was much greater than the figures showed.

The result vindicates the will of all Greeks to struggle for a powerful Greece, a Greece that is an equal partner in Europe, for a society of justice and solidarity. (The victory) is a response to the doubts over Greeces course over the past four years, he said.

It gives the mandate to PASOK, to continue this course with renewed ideas, renewed forces, along with those who demand a society of freedom and solidarity, a society of development and creativity, he added.

My colleagues and I, in the new government are committing ourselves today to work hard with faith, persistence and sincerity to transform the promises we made, for the next four-year term from 2000-2004, into action.

Especially those commitments for a social state, a society with a human face, employment, balanced development and the new opportunities and abilities for the youth," Simitis said.

"These priorities of ours, I believe, reflect the will of the Greeks, as was expressed by the election results," he added.

"I call on all Greeks to join us, regardless of party confrontations, toward our common goals for a powerful, modern and socially just Greece, a Greece which will be at the front lines of the European Union. A Greece, which has a voice and prestige, a force of peace, stability and cooperation," he added.

"This four-year term will be one of uplifting and creativity for all Greeks, one of unity and work for our common home, our Greece. That is my commitment, PASOK's commitment. A commitment of a party which unites all Greeks," Simitis said.

"Our government will be a government of all Greeks," the premier concluded.

Karamanlis calls election results a victory for his party: The election results constitute a victory for main opposition New Democracy (ND), as well as a base and a spring board for a new beginning, party leader Costas Karamanlis stressed in a televised address, following the election results showing ruling PASOK victorious.

"The government can not move forward without the consent of ND," Karamanlis said, adding that the political movement for the "new beginning" is all-powerful and is part of Greece's inheritance for the 21st century.

Karamanlis said that soon the positions of his party would be vindicated by the potential registered in the elections, adding that his party waged the election battle with high ethics, good manners and respect for the political opponent.

He thanked party officials and the supporters of ND, as well as all Greek citizens for the struggle they waged, stressing that Greeks honored ND's proposal for cooperation and consent.

During his address, almost all the party cadres flanked Karamanlis.

KKE: Communist Party of Greece (KKE) leader Aleka Papariga said that her party withstood pressures exerted over many years.

She said that the election confrontation was waged under harsh conditions and under the pressure of this election law, adding that even so her party maintained its strength.

Papariga also noted that the government won the election by a slight margin, adding that it will be met with strong resistance in parliament and in society, not by main opposition New Democracy, but by KKE.

Coalition of the Left: Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) leader Nikos Constantopoulos reassured party supporters that he will continue his efforts, within and out of parliament, in confronting the country's problems.

He congratulated Greek citizens for voting for his party after having to overcome pressures created by the two major parties, which "presented blackmailing dilemmas".

DHKKI: Democratic Social Movement (DHKKI) leader Dimitris Tsovolas in a televised statement commented on his party's exclusion from parliament.

Tsovolas thanked his voters for their support and congratulated the candidates of his party for their "political and ethical resistance, as they did not submit to the miserable, politically unethical, anti-democratic blackmail and the pressures of the (ruling) PASOK mechanisms".

"I hope that it will be proven that the presence of DHKKI and Tsovolas was the one that brought all ill in parliament, to the country and to the average Greek citizen," he said bitterly, adding that no one in his party is without a profession.

"We warned and we reiterate, that should main opposition New Democracy or PASOK win the election and can form a majority government they would put an end to the (Greek) national issues to the detriment of Greece and would apply an anti-popular policy, harsher than the one the people lived through since 1990," he added.

"For three and a half years we gave everything we had with our daily presence. It seems that the people do not want leaders and political parties that honor their vote," he commented.

"The two party system has won and I congratulate the United States of America and the great publishing houses. I hope that this vote by the people will not prove fatal for Greece, Cyprus and the average Greek citizen," he concluded.

[02] President of the Republic, party leaders cast ballots in Greece's general elections

Athens, 10/04/2000 (ANA)

President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos on Sunday at around 10:45 a.m. voted at his home district of Patra, wishing success to all parties.

He also expressed his wish that the result of this elections is the best and most beneficial for Greece. Peloponnese

Prime Minister and PASOK President Costas Simitis on Sunday at around 10:30 a.m. voted at his home district of Piraeus, at the Kaminia neighborhood.

"Today we vote for stable economic progress, more prosperity for all. We vote to complete the social state, peace and cooperation. For a Greece, which will be more powerful, with a presence in the Balkans and the European Union...Today with your vote, the victory is ours," Simitis said.

Main opposition New Democracy (ND) leader Costas Karamanlis was the first of Greece's political leaders to vote, at around 8:30 on Sunday morning, in his home district of Thessaloniki, as party obligations forced him to return to Athens on the same morning.

In a very short statement Karamanlis appeared certain of his party's victorious showing in this general election.

Communist Party of Greece (KKE) leader Aleka Papariga on Sunday cast her ballot in blue collar Aegaleo municipality, western Athens metro region, expressing her optimism as she came out of the polling center, that her party will harness more votes in this election compared to the last.

Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) leader Nikos Constantopoulos, who also cast his ballot in Athens, stated to the press, at his exit from the polling station, "I am optimistic because Synaspismos waged a good fight, we trust the knowledge and responsibility of the Greek people".

Democratic Social Movement (DHKKI) leader Dimitris Tsovolas cast his ballot in a polling station in Peristeri municipality, western Athens metro-region, stating upon exiting his belief those voters would "brake" from the two major parties.

The Greek Constitution prescribes mandatory balloting by all citizens over the age of 18, while penalties for abstaining without reason include up to a year's time imprisonment, loss of political rights or offices for up to three years. In contrast with other democratic countries, Greece does not require land proof of educational level or other prerequisite to voting.

According to the existing articles of the Constitution and relevant laws citizens have the right to abstain from voting, if they are over 70 years old; those who live more than 200 kilometers away from the city or town, in which they are registered to vote; public servants who must remain at their posts and have not registered in the locality of their post; and those citizens suffering from illnesses that may keep them away from the polling stations.

However harsh the measures and penalties of the Constitution and relevant laws rarely if ever were applied.

[03] Caretaker interior minister praises problem-free election

Athens, 10/04/2000 (ANA)

"All's well that ends well... The elections were held in an impeccable manner. No significant delays were recorded and we're now counting the votes," caretaker Interior Minister Giorgos Koumantos said.

As far as the nationwide vote tally for the state deputies' slate, Koumantos said the figure would be released only when the election result is irreversible.

"The difference is small and that's why the result may come late," he added.

Election polls throughout Greece closed at exactly 7 p.m., following 12 hours of voting. It was generally accepted only a few hours after the end of voting that nary a problem was recorded in the voting procedures.

[04] Close Nicosia-Athens cooperation will continue regardless of Greek election results

LONDON, 10/04/2000 (CNA/ANA)

Referring to the elections taking place in Greece on Sunday, the president said close cooperation between Nicosia and Athens will continue with whomever is in power, as national problems should come above political beliefs.

The president was speaking at a dinner organized on Sunday night by the UK branch of right-wing DISY party, of which he is the founder and honorary president.

"The position expressed by the Turkish Cypriot leader that he will not negotiate unless his illegal regime is recognized has been rejected by all parties interested in the Cyprus question, the UN, the US and Britain, who are trying to convince Turkey and Denktash that he must sit at the negotiating table," President Clerides said.

He added that they have told Denktash his illegal regime, unilaterally set up in 1983 and recognized only by Ankara, will not be recognized by any other country.

President Clerides said they have also encouraged the Turkish Cypriot leader to accept his proposal to nominate representatives in the official team negotiating the Republic's accession to the European Union since 1998. So far Denktash has been rejecting Clerides' proposal despite numerous efforts to convince him of the benefits Turkish Cypriots would have.

The president also expressed concern with the problem that has come up in Turkey regarding the country's presidency, and said the Cyprus peace talks will be affected if the present government resigns or if elections are held.

Two rounds of UN-led proximity talks, separate meetings with the two sides in Cyprus, have been held so far and a new round is scheduled to begin on May 23 in the US, in a bid to pave the way for substantial negotiations.

Referring to the Greek elections, the president revealed he had asked all political leaders not to include the Cyprus question in their pre-election campaigns.

"There must be close cooperation between Greece and Cyprus regardless of political beliefs," Clerides said, noting that "national problems must come above ideologies".

"We will continue to cooperate with every democratically elected Greek government," he added.

[05] Swedish parliamentary delegation arrives in Cyprus on Monday

NICOSIA, 10/04/2000 (CNA/ANA)

During its stay the Swedish delegation will be received by President of the Republic Glafcos Clerides and Kyprianou.

The delegation, comprising MPs Tapio Karjalainen, Kari Myllyniemi, Paula Kokkonen and Esko-Juhani Tennila, two members of the Swedish parliament international relations department and the country's ambassador to Cyprus, will also meet acting Foreign Minister, Finance Minister Christodoulos Christodoulou.

The foreign deputies are scheduled to meet the head of Cyprus' team negotiating accession to the European Union.

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