Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 00-07-05

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

CONTENTS

[01] President Stephanopoulos holds talks with Irish political leadership

[02] Greece will resist Turkish attempts to change status quo in Cyprus

[03] Greek Euro-MPs raise Turkish advance on Cyprus at European Parliament

[04] Simitis-chaired meeting focuses on war reparations issue

[05] Case of convicted Iranian Jews continues to draw int'l reaction

[06] Reppas rejects ND proposed bill as 'rearguard action'

[07] Greek premier receives widow of slain British defense attache

[08] Greece to pay 20,000-euro fine for ignoring European Court order

[09] PM Simitis meets with Youth Parliament delegation

[10] ND leader Karamanlis visits earthquake victims in Menidi

[11] Anti-racist rally calls for legalization of all immigrants

[12] Ethnic Greek village in Albania attacked

[13] Budget surplus expected to total 550 bln drachmas this year

[14] Alenia confirms interest in Hellenic Aerospace privatization

[15] Greece to harmonize transport statistics with EU

[16] Economy ministry hires consultants for private sector's participation in infrastructure projects

[17] Fuel prices to drop for week starting Thursday

[18] New firm to manage GNTO's real estate

[19] Greek stocks remain under pressure, end lower

[20] Emergency services on alert for heat wave

[21] Organizers present program for July forum on children's rights

[22] Airliner lands in second attempt

[23] "Earning" from one's mistakes, courtesy of the Sydney Olympics organizers

[24] UN chief expresses full support for proximity talks

[25] President Clerides arrives in Geneva

[26] Cyprus addresses letter to UN on Turkish Cypriot measures

[01] President Stephanopoulos holds talks with Irish political leadership

DUBLIN, 05/07/2000 (ANA - N. Megadoukas)

President Stephanopoulos, who is accompanied on his visit by Alternate Foreign Minister Elizabeth Papazoi and Deputy National Economy Minister Yiannis Zaphiropoulos, met McAleese in the morning and afterwards he planted an oak tree in Phoenix Park as a token of Greek-Irish friendship. Later, he laid a wreath at the Monument of the Fallen for Ireland.

President Stephanopoulos held talks with Ahern at noon, saying that they ascertained that the views of Athens and Dublin on the problems facing the EU are "very close."

Ahern said no problems exist in bilateral relations, which are at an excellent level. He congratulated President Stephanopoulos on Greece's accession to Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), adding that it was an extremely difficult target.

The two leaders also discussed Greece's role in Balkan stability, Greek-Turkish relations, the situation in the Mediterranean and the Cyprus issue.

"We have relations of friendship and cooperation," President Stephanopoulos said, summing up his talks with Ahern.

Later in the day, President Stephanopoulos held private meetings with the Irish foreign minister and the parliament president.

President Kostis Stephanopoulos said the European Union should introduce a common foreign, security and defense policy, based on the rules of international law, to enable it to have a strong voice in world affairs. He was speaking during an official dinner given in his honor by his Irish counterpart Mary McAleese at Dublin Castle on Tuesday night.

President Stephanopoulos referred at length to the two countries' participation in European institutions and added that they had to have imagination and vision to face the future and the challenges currently facing the international community and Europe in particular.

He also focused on Greece's role in the Balkans, stressing that with its knowledge of the region it will not stop warning of the great dangers that any change in borders in the region will create.

President Stephanopoulos further highlighted Greece's policy towards Turkey, aimed at improving bilateral relations through talks in sectors not focusing on the two countries' sovereign rights.

"We hope the Turkish European Union candidacy, to which Greece has also consented, will have positive repercussions on the promotion of democratic institutions in Turkey and on respect for human rights, as well as on the development and normalization of Greek-Turkish relations, if indeed Turkey desires its rapprochement with the European Union," he said.

President Stephanopoulos said Greece is working on the basis of UN resolutions for a peaceful and permanent solution to the Cyprus issue, which is a problem of the military occupation of part of the territory of an independent country and a source of tension and destabilization in the eastern Mediterranean.

[02] Greece will resist Turkish attempts to change status quo in Cyprus

Athens, 05/07/2000 (ANA)

"Greece will insist on a return to the previous status quo," government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said in reference to last Friday's advance of Turkish occupation troops to a new check-point in the buffer zone separating the two communities on the island-republic.

Reppas said that among other things, Greece had asked United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan to deal with the matter personally. Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots are due to begin intercommunal proximity talks in Geneva on Wednesday.

"If Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots insist on their stand, the international community must hold them responsible for any (adverse) developments," said Reppas.

He added that Greece had also briefed all EU member-states and that Foreign Minister George Papandreou would raise the issue with the General Affairs Council on Monday, which will discuss issues, which France will promote during its six-month presidency.

[03] Greek Euro-MPs raise Turkish advance on Cyprus at European Parliament

STRASBOURG, 05/07/2000 (ANA- Y. Zitouniati)

"Turkey is a candidate country for EU membership and must show, through the Turkish Cypriots, a better disposition towards its obligations, undertaken at the Helsinki EU summit," said head of PASOK Eurodeputies Giorgos Katiforis, warning that the situation that had arisen could develop dangerously.

The head of main opposition New Democracy party's Euro-MPs, Marietta Giannakou, said the European Parliament should sent a message to Turkey that it could not hope to make progress in its relations with the EU if it continued to exhibit such behavior. She added that the aggressive action of the Turkish Cypriots posed a problem to the United Nations, and called on the Speaker of the European Parliament to address a letter to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on the matter.

Communist Party Eurodeputies Costas Alyssandrakis and Stratis Korakas also condemned the act of Turkish occupation troops, which took place "before the eyes of British forces" stationed in nearby bases on the island.

[04] Simitis-chaired meeting focuses on war reparations issue

Athens, 05/07/2000 (ANA)

Among others, Justice Minister Mihalis Stathopoulos and Foreign Minister George Papandreou attended the meeting at Simitis' office.

According to reports, the government is focusing on a policy that balances demands by victims - favorably adjudicated recently in a ruling by Greece's Supreme Court -- with those of maintaining the Mediterranean country's very close bilateral ties with Berlin.

The issue will again be discussed in an upcoming meeting chaired by Simitis.

Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said on Monday that nobody in Greece could expropriate or confiscate property belonging to a foreign state without the expressed prior permission from the justice minister. He was responding to a statement by an attorney representing victims from the central Greece town of Distomo, who said he would set in motion proceedings to confiscate German state assets in Greece.

Reppas said the issue of German reparations is important and that it is being handled by the Greek government in order to achieve the best possible results. He added, however, that the statements that were made were premature and should be avoided

[05] Case of convicted Iranian Jews continues to draw int'l reaction

Athens, 05/07/2000 (ANA)

Israeli diplomatic sources, for instance, called on the Greek government, Parliament deputies and local NGOs to take an "official stand" on the issue, while at the same time expressing appreciation of Greek leadership's "subtle" initiatives over the past few months aimed at averting the group's persecution.

Efforts by Greek President Kostis Stephanopoulos in face-to-face talks with the Iranian leadership -- during his recent state visit to Iran -- as well as contacts by Greece's foreign and defense ministers, George Papandreou and Akis Tsohatzopoulos, were cited by the same diplomatic sources.

Greek Euro-MPs Anna Karamanou and Yiannis Trakatellis have also brought up the issue in the Europarliament.

Israel has categorically denied that the 13 Iranian Jews - who include a footwear shop owner and a butcher - have any links whatsoever to its intelligence services.

Iran, meanwhile, has accused western critics of meddling in its internal affairs and its ability to conduct delicate judicial proceedings.

Asked about Tehran's intentions, diplomatic sources rejected any notion of a "trade-off" being engineered by Iran for Lebanese Islamic guerrillas being held in Israel, attributing the Shiraz trials to one of three reasons: a 'power-play' between reformers and hard-liners, with the latter attempting to block modest modernization attempts by the former; the Iranian leadership's effort to portray itself as the 'frontline' nation against Israel in the Islamic world, or, "just plain anti-Semitism."

Out of 13 Jews brought up on espionage charges during closed-court proceedings, 10 were convicted on sentences ranging from three to 13 years. Two Moslems were also sentenced to two years on collaboration charges, whereas the remaining three Jews and another two Moslems were acquitted.

Among others, "national security reasons" were cited for the closed-door hearings.

Israel estimates that 25,000 Jews remain in Iran, out of the 90,000 that lived in the predominately Shiite Moslem country before the toppling of the Shah in the late 1970s. That number still ranks Iran's Jewish community as the largest in any predominately Islamic country. Additionally, some 17 Jews have been executed on various charges since 1979, Israel says.

In a dispatch from New York, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan urged Tehran to show "compassion and mercy" in future appeals, although he stopped short of condemning the verdict.

On his part, US President Bill Clinton also voiced his concern over the trial and convictions, saying it was clear the Iranian Jews were not "accorded due process of law", while calling the trial "seriously flawed", statements also echoed by US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and Washington's ambassador to the UN, Richard Holbrooke.

France, speaking for the European Union, sharply criticized the verdict as well, saying it hoped the sentences would be overturned in the appeals process.

On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak branded the shadowy trials a "farcical procedure", while Israel asked Germany to cancel an upcoming visit by Iranian President Mohammad Khatami to Berlin.

[06] Reppas rejects ND proposed bill as 'rearguard action'

Athens, 05/07/2000 (ANA)

The spokesman said ND's proposal was linked to its inability to put together a program that dealt with the problems that actually concern Greek citizens.

Reppas also said that the main opposition was being swept by the tides of events and headlines created by others and for this reason "deserves its unhappy fate."

Papandreou says reference to religion on IDs unconstitutional: Interior and Public Administration Minister Vasso Papandreou said on Tuesday the inscription of citizens' religious persuasion on identity cards was unconstitutional.

"Lawmakers have judged that the compulsory or optional inscription of one's religious persuasion on identity cards is unconstitutional," she said during a parliamentary debate on an opposition bill proposing the optional inscription.

Main opposition New Democracy party rapporteur Vyron Polydoras said the government was engaged in a show of force, and claimed that the decision of the Authority on the Protection of Personal Data in favor of the abolition of the inscription was merely consultative and was not legally binding.

Coalition of the Left deputy Maria Damanaki supported the government's position, saying its handling of the issue was legally sound.

Communist Party deputy Antonis Skyllakos said his party would vote against the bill as it was against its principles and the optional inscription held greater dangers for human rights.

[07] Greek premier receives widow of slain British defense attache

Athens, 05/07/2000 (ANA)

Saunders was murdered by the elusive "November 17" terrorist group early last month in Athens as he was driving alone in morning rush hour traffic.

After the half-hour meeting, Heather Saunders renewed her appeal for anyone who had information regarding the killing to contact police, before stressing that the Greek premier had assured her that any witnesses coming forward would have the "maximum amount of protection possible."

"I asked him (Simitis) to help me and help support the police in everything they are doing to try and catch my husband's killers. Again, I want to appeal to anybody who saw anything on their way to work that morning (June 8)," she said, adding:

"The eyes of the world are upon you and you have the opportunity now to get rid of this group (Nov. 17) once and for all. They are a small group of people and you've got to get rid of them before they become a cancer that takes over your country."

Saunders was accompanied to the meeting by British ambassador to Athens David Madden.

Reppas says that foreign diplomats should feel safe in Greece: Citizens living in Greece should feel safe because they are safe, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said on Tuesday, in response to alleged claims by members of Britain's Foreign Office that British Embassy staff in Athens were the targets of terrorist attacks.

Reppas expressed his intense disagreement with the statements, saying that the British Embassy was not in grave danger and that foreign diplomats should feel safe in Greece. In support of his position, he pointed to statements made on Monday by US Ambassador in Athens Nicholas Burns.

[08] Greece to pay 20,000-euro fine for ignoring European Court order

BRUSSELS, 05/07/2000 (ANA - V. Demiri)

According to an announcement, the fine will be in force from the day of the decision, Tuesday July 4, until Greece complies with the previous 1992 court decision.

This is the first time a fine has been imposed on an EU member-state by the European Court for failing to carry out one of its previous decisions. It is given this power under the terms of the Maastricht Treaty, and sources at the court have said that the ruling will act as an incentive to member-states to comply with community laws. Speaking to the press in Athens, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said that Greece would pay the seven-million-a-day fine but was scathing about local authorities on Crete that created the problem, saying that the money should rightfully be withheld from funds earmarked for regional and local bodies in the area.

It would be unfair, he added, for all Greek taxpayers to saddled with a burden that should be paid by those directly responsible.

Prime Minister Costas Simitis, Development Minister Nikos Christodoulakis and Environment Minister Ilias Efthymiopoulos during a meeting on Tuesday afternoon also discussed the issue.

On his way out, Efthymiopoulos told reporters that the government had essentially dealt with the problem with a recent legislative act passed by the Cabinet, providing a solution that would be final. He accused the local authorities on Crete, however, of failing to act on the problem for many years despite being aware of it and said they should be made to cover the cost of the fine.

[09] PM Simitis meets with Youth Parliament delegation

Athens, 05/07/2000 (ANA)

Simitis asked the pupils whether the things they learn helped them to understand the general principles of government policy in major sectors of the government's work. They replied that, despite difficulties they encountered, they acquired an overall picture of these issues after a careful study of each individual group of issues.

He also asked the pupils whether they consider school a place of freedom or oppression. Their response was that they obtained knowledge at school, but they also felt oppressed by anxiety caused by many examinations.

Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis was also present at the meeting.

[10] ND leader Karamanlis visits earthquake victims in Menidi

Athens, 05/07/2000 (ANA)

Karamanlis said all settlements should be equipped with air conditioning appliances and a special electric power policy should be applied.

Menidi was one of the areas worst hit by a killer earthquake which struck the greater Athens area on September 7 and killed 143 people.

[11] Anti-racist rally calls for legalization of all immigrants

Athens, 05/07/2000 (ANA)

The rally, which ended in front of Parliament, was organized by the "Stop Haider Initiative", the Athens Labor Center and the Civil Servants Supreme Administrative Council, as well as by anti-racist and leftist organizations. They called on the government to legalese all immigrants and to stop the closed borders policy of the European Union and the Schengen Treaty.

[12] Ethnic Greek village in Albania attacked

GJIROKASTER, 05/07/2000 (ANA - P. Barkas)

The shooting started at about 11 p.m. and lasted until 4 a.m. on Tuesday.

A small police force arrived in the area which was unable to act effectively. Similar incidents have occurred in the past but Monday night's incident was the worst.

The reasons for the attack are unknown. However, it was thought to be a display of power towards the police and authorities which have been considering intervention in Lazarati to impose order.

Another reason could be that the attack, as well as frequent incidents caused by maverick groups, is aimed at forcing the members of the Greek minority to abandon their property.

Events have reached such a stage that only last week the Council of Europe cautioned the Albanian government to take measures to safeguard the property of members of minorities living in the country.

[13] Budget surplus expected to total 550 bln drachmas this year

Athens, 05/07/2000 (ANA)

A meeting chaired by National Economy and Finance Minister Yiannos Papantoniou with the participation of Finance Deputy Minister George Drys reaffirmed the team's satisfaction over this year's budget implementation process, despite a small rise in spending.

A more optimistic forecast expects the budget surplus to total 800 billion drachmas in 2000.

The meeting agreed that the general government's deficit would fall to 0.7 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product, from an initial estimate of 1.2 pct of GDP. Next year's aim is for a budget surplus of 0.2 percent of GDP and the country's debt to be contained below 100 pct of GDP from an estimated 103.3 pct this year.

[14] Alenia confirms interest in Hellenic Aerospace privatization

Athens, 05/07/2000 (ANA)

"The company is fully committed to increasing its presence in Greece," Alenia chairman Giorgio Zappa told a news conference in Athens.

Zappa added that the Italian aerospace firm was also interested in industrial alliances with Greek enterprises.

Alenia has a 21 percent stake in construction of the Eurofighter jet.

[15] Greece to harmonize transport statistics with EU

Athens, 05/07/2000 (ANA)

To be carried out in 2000, the ministries of national economy, finance and transport and communications are handling the project.

The change in statistical method will allow comparison other EU member states.

In addition, statistical research on the circulation of vehicles will be conducted in 2000 in 2001 in order to help the government forge new policy.

[16] Economy ministry hires consultants for private sector's participation in infrastructure projects

Athens, 05/07/2000 (ANA)

The ministry promotes the implementation of a series of pilot programs in the building or management of infrastructure projects and services, to be funded, totally or partially, by the private sector.

CCF Charterhouse and Lamda SA will consult the ministry on defining the most suitable services to implement a Private Funding Initiative.

UBS Warburg will consult the economy ministry on how to categorize and evaluate projects included in a Third Community Support Framework.

The tender envisages that the two consultants would have completed their work by September.

National economy ministry is also in a procedure to hire a specialized financial consultant to prepare pilot projects and necessary tendering procedures for the projects.

The announcement of tenders to select a financial advisor is expected before the end of July, selection should be completed by the end of the year and tendering on the projects could start in the first half of 2001.

Signing of final contracts are expected in the first half of 2002.

National Economy Undersecretary Christos Pahtas said that the implementation of a Private Funding Initiative would benefit the state in many ways, as it would cut spending.

[17] Fuel prices to drop for week starting Thursday

Athens, 05/07/2000 (ANA)

The sources said on Tuesday that the development ministry would announce a drop of around 4.0 drachmas per liter on gasoline under indicative prices reviewed weekly with Hellenic Petroleum, which is overseen by the ministry.

Official announcement of the price decline is due on Wednesday.

[18] New firm to manage GNTO's real estate

Athens, 05/07/2000 (ANA)

The company, to be named Hellenic Tourism Real Estate SA, will have the right to sell, cede or lease GNTO's property, with several exceptions including border properties, Christodoulakis said.

Creation of the firm, which replaces another with more limited powers, is contained in a bill that was due to be submitted to parliament on Tuesday.

The minister added that next week the government's evaluation would expire of investment consultants to value the property and study its legal status for possible sale or lease.

[19] Greek stocks remain under pressure, end lower

Athens, 05/07/2000 (ANA)

Dealers said the market was undermined by lack of confidence among investors and persistent low liquidity.

Technical analysis showed that the 3,900-3,920 level would be the next support level for the market.

The general index ended at 3,978,98 points, off 1.03 percent, its lowest close since April 18. Turnover was a low 66 billion drachmas, of which 13 billion drachmas were a block trade of Electra's 47 percent equity capital to Bank of Piraeus Group.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks ended 0.91 percent lower at 2,201.90 points and the FTSE/ASE 40 index fell 0.92 percent to 568.25 points.

The parallel market index for smaller capitalization stocks ended at 731.12 points, off 0.51 percent.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 267 to 65 with another 10 issues unchanged.

Electra, Telesis-Dorian Bank, Naoussa Spinning and Panafon were the most heavily traded stocks.

Equity futures drop, tracking stock exchange: Equity futures traded on the Athens Derivatives Exchange finished lower on Tuesday, roughly in line with the two indices on which they are based.

The FTSE/ASE 20 closed 0.91 percent down, and the FTSE/ASE 40 ended 0.92 percent lower.

Turnover was 6.9 billion drachmas from 9.25 billion drachmas a day earlier.

A total of 806 contracts were traded on the FTSE/ASE 20 index with turnover at 3.53 billion drachmas.

Changing hands on the FTSE/ASE 40 were 1,573 futures on turnover of 3.4 billion drachmas.

Bond trade again hurt by technical breakdown: A breakdown in the central bank's bond trading system on Tuesday abbreviated trade in the secondary market for the second straight session.

The Greek benchmark 10-year bond showed a yield of 6.13 percent for the second day from 6.087 percent for two straight sessions before that.

The Greek paper's yield spread over German bunds was 87 basis points, the same as a day earlier.

Turnover through the central bank's electronic system totalled 26 billion drachmas from 6.0 billion drachmas in the previous session.

Sell orders accounted for 24 billion drachmas of turnover.

Drachma down vs. euro, dollar: The drachma on Tuesday fell against the euro and the US dollar in the domestic foreign exchange market.

At the central bank's daily fixing, the euro was set at 336.830 drachmas from 336.770 drachmas in the previous session.

Also at the fixing, the US dollar was set at 355.240 drachmas from 354.850 drachmas a day earlier.

Greek mutual funds' assets fall: Greece's mutual funds' assets fell by 571 billion drachmas in June, compared with the same month last year, to a total of 11.5 trillion drachmas, down 3.79 percent from the start of the year, Association of Institutional Investors' figures showed on Tuesday.

The report attributed the decline in total assets to a 506 billion drachmas (-12.78 pct) fall in domestic equity mutual funds' assets following a new drop in equity prices on the Athens Stock Exchange.

Domestic equity mutual funds' assets fell 29.3 percent in the six-month period from January to June, although shares in circulation rose 7.92 percent over the same period.

Domestic equity mutual funds' share of the total market fell to 31.69 percent in June from 34.35 percent in May and 41.63 percent in December 1999.

All other mutual funds' categories showed marginal changes in June, with the exception of Foreign Equity, which saw their assets rose 3.68 percent, or 170.62 pct this year.

Money market mutual funds' were the main beneficiaries of the decline in domestic equity funds, with their market share rising to 45.31 percent in June from 43.62 pct in May.

Bond mutual funds saw their market share also rise to 13.38 pct from 12.70 pct, over the same period.

Vergina Midcap domestic equity fund topped the list of annual returns, yielding 1.45 percent (the average return of the sector was 25.17 pct). Nationale Nederlanden Info Technology was ahead in the foreign equity category with an annual return of 14.14 pct, up from an average return of 2.2 pct of the sector.

Sogen Money Market topped the list of money market mutual funds with an annual return of 11.50 pct, up from an average yield of 3.81 pct of the sector.

In the bond mutual funds sector, Sogen Income topped the list with an annual return of 16.55 pct, up from an average return of 4.32 pct of the sector.

[20] Emergency services on alert for heat wave

Athens, 05/07/2000 (ANA)

The heat wave is expected to reach its peak on Thursday, with the weather service forecasting temperatures as high as 42C.

The National Emergency Center (EKAB) has urged the capital's residents to remain calm and follow its guidelines, particularly for vulnerable groups such as children and old people.

EKAB advises that babies and small children stay in a cool environment, drink lots of fluids and dress in light-colored clothing. Old people are advised to avoid travelling, have lots of showers during the day and to seek out air-conditioned environments.

Those suffering from long-term problems should consult their doctors, because they may need to change their medication.

Meanwhile, the Monitoring and Control Center set up under the Xenokratis plan is constantly in session so that there is an up-to-the-minute assessment of the situation at all times.

With regard to preparations in hospitals, the health ministry has said that it has long since sent circulars to prefectures and hospitals instructing them to prepare for a heat wave. Athenian hospitals offer air-conditioned rooms for 60 per cent to 80 per cent of their beds.

Some problems still remain, however, particularly in the Metaxa hospital in Piraeus, where the air-conditioning units installed don't work because they overload the hospital's system.

[21] Organizers present program for July forum on children's rights

Athens, 05/07/2000 (ANA)

The forum is taking place under the aegis of Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos and is being jointly organized by the Leros Municipality, the Dodecannese Prefectural Authority, the New Generation General Secretariat, the Rhodes probation service for minors, the Medical Center for Torture Victims, the Children's Institute of Health, the Aegean University, the foreign ministry and UNICEF.

At a press conference on Tuesday, organizers presented the program of events and said that that the forum would discuss the rights of children within the family, in school and in the community. Groups of children coming in from Turkey, Serbia, Bulgaria, Greece and Black Sea countries would be given an opportunity to meet and respected scientists will attend to ex-change information and experiences.

Apart from the various scientific workshops, a number of exhibitions are to run alongside the forum and various activities and a radio workshop will be offered.

Children and young people will also be encouraged to communicate via the Internet, while a special page has been set up at www.unicef.gr where children can exchange views on the question "What helps or hinders your participation in school, the community or your family and what can you do about it?"

[22] Airliner lands in second attempt

Athens, 05/07/2000 (ANA)

Eyewitnesses said the tail of the aircraft --a Tupolev-type plane carrying 76 passengers and crew-- initially touched the ground three times, producing sparks and flame, before the pilot managed to lift the plane up again for the second landing, 15 minutes later, at around 17:15 local time.

A statement by airport authorities said the plane had skidded for about 400 meters before gaining height again. All passengers and crew were reported unharmed.

[23] "Earning" from one's mistakes, courtesy of the Sydney Olympics organizers

Athens, 05/07/2000 (ANA)

The Sydney organizers SOCOG are holding seminars for organizers of major athletic competitions and international athletic bodies, teaching them how not to repeat Sydney's mistakes in preparing for the 2000 Games, with a "tuition" of 1,600 Australian dollars a "student", according to an ANA dispatch from Melbourne.

Indeed, some 80 directors of major athletic events were in Sydney recently to take part in a know-how seminar, including 13 members of the Athens 2004 organizing committee.

SOCOG has also published about 100 different guides on organizing Olympic Games -- fir the first time in the history of the Olympics -- which are sold by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

"These guides will greatly assist the cities that are to organize Olympic Games, beginning with Athens," SOCOG official Bob Elpiston told ANA.

[24] UN chief expresses full support for proximity talks

NICOSIA, 05/07/2000 (CNA/ANA)

A statement issued Tuesday to the press from the spokesperson on behalf of the Secretary-General further expressed the hope the process will be ongoing and intensified and that the parties will respect a press blackout, which is essential for the effectiveness of the talks.

The statement notes that the SG meets on Wednesday in Geneva with the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot community "to continue the proximity discussions which began in December last year. These discussions have been led on Mr. Annan's behalf by Mr. Alvaro de Soto, Special Adviser for the SG on Cyprus".

The process, said the statement released by the UN offices in Geneva which will host the talks, "was initiated after a resolution from the Security Council in June 1999 calling for constructive participation by the parties in a series of talks. Two sets of meetings have taken place so far, in New York in December 1999, and in Geneva last February. Those initial meetings aimed to probe the positions of the parties and to prepare the ground for negotiations leading to a comprehensive settlement".

The SG believes that the process must move on from here "in an earnest way" and that "he will be encouraging the parties to engage in a continuous and intensified process of discussions, which will enable them to engage in detailed examination of main issues".

Furthermore, the statement said Annan "envisages that this process should be ongoing for an extended period into the autumn, with occasional breaks to permit reflection and further preparation as necessary".

The SG "places great importance on the need for confidentiality around the talks", the statement stressed, adding that Annan "will repeat the request for a press blackout, under which the delegations are asked not to disclose the substance or procedure of the discussions" and explains that "based on experience, he sees this as essential for the effectiveness of the process".

At the same time, the SG's notes that "it is certain, however, that Mr. de Soto, as the sole authoritative source on the content of the talks, will meet with the media at an appropriate point during the coming weeks".

Concluding, the SG "offers his full support to the parties and to the UN representative in their efforts to make substantive progress".

[25] President Clerides arrives in Geneva

GENEVA, 05/07/2000 (CNA/ANA)

Annan, who will arrive from Germany, will hold separate meetings with President Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, on Wednesday. He is not, however, expected to stay after Wednesday's meetings.

UN Secretary-General's Special Adviser, Alvaro de Soto will give a press conference the same day.

[26] Cyprus addresses letter to UN on Turkish Cypriot measures

NICOSIA, 05/07/2000 (CNA/ANA)

The UN on their part expressed hope that the Turkish Cypriot side takes seriously into account the points raised in relation to the change they brought about in the status quo on the south eastern part of the island.

The letter also presents the government's demand that the situation near the village of Strovilia, where the Turkish occupation troops built a new check point in violation of the current status quo, is reversed to its original agreed status.

The letter was delivered by Michalis Attalides, Permanent Secretary of the Foreign Ministry, to Zbigniew Wlosowicz, Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Cyprus, who was accompanied by UN Acting Senior Adviser Cibor Wlodzimierz and UN spokeswoman Sarah Russell.

Acknowledging receipt of the letter, Wlosovicz said he understood it to contain the positions of the government on the measures taken against UNFICYP (by the occupation regime).

He said the question of Strovilia was also indicated to him and added "we will go back to our headquarters and study this letter carefully and then I think I will be able to say more about it."

Replying to questions, he said the UN has challenged the construction of a new check point and said this is something "we do not accept and something that I protested against in my letter to Mr. (Rauf) Denktash yesterday."

Last week Denktash, the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community, announced among other measures the closure of all but one point of entry into the illegal regime he set up in the areas occupied by Turkish troops since 1974.

The top UN envoy in Cyprus said he was still waiting for Mr. Denktash's reply and added "I hope my points will be taken into serious consideration and manage to solve this problem fast."

He said there were no other changes along the confrontation line, apart from the situation created by the new checkpoint at Strovilia.

Asked when he hopes to have the problem solved, he said "as soon as possible, I would like to have it solved right now but I cannot predict but I hope it will be solved soon."

He also expressed the sincere hope that the situation does not and will not complicate the atmosphere of the UN-sponsored negotiations, due to resume on Wednesday in Geneva.

Permanent Secretary Attalides confirmed he conveyed the letter to the UN envoy here and added "the letter contains our arguments and our demand that the situation goes back to what it was previously."

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