Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 00-07-11

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

CONTENTS

[01] EU foreign ministers adopt common position on the Cyprus problem

[02] Denktash positions 'no basis' for further talks, says Reppas

[03] FYROM defense minister says issue of the state's name will be resolved within the year

[04] Papazoi sets out Greece's positions on EU policy in western Balkans

[05] Europarliament report says no progress achieved in human rights sector in Turkey

[06] Simitis says in reply to ND leader Karamanlis that he does not accept lessons in moral sensitivity and dignity

[07] Government 'not connected' to black propaganda alleged by Christodoulos, Reppas says

[08] Prodi gets thumbs-down in straw poll of Brussels journalists and analysts

[09] Government services to observe minute's silence for terrorism victims at Wednesday noon

[10] EU Commission and UN High Commission target nationalism and xenophobia

[11] Simitis and Athens 2004 president hold talks in light of Interministerial Committee meeting

[12] Deficit in balance of payments increases over first four months of 2000

[13] Agricultural Bank of Greece flotation by end of 2000

[14] ASE chairman to present 1999 results on Wednesday

[15] Greek stocks end mixed in subdued trade

[16] Government spokesman says "no new taxes"

[17] McDonald's plans 100 fast-food outlets by 2004 in Greece

[18] Wildfires spread across Greece, massive blaze continues on Samos

[19] President Stephanopoulos gives prizes to overseas Greek media

[20] Establishment of Museum of Greek Art discussed by Victoria State premier and culture minister

[21] UN envoys investigate into positions of two sides at proximity talks

[22] List of missing persons published

[01] EU foreign ministers adopt common position on the Cyprus problem

BRUSSELS, 11/07/2000 (ANA-M.Spinthourakis/CNA)

At the same time, Greece's Foreign Minister, George Papandreou, raised the issue of the situation near the village of Strovilia, in southeast Cyprus, where Turkish forces moved forward by building a new checkpoint in violation of the current status quo, on 1 July.

The common position was achieved during consultations between Papandreou and his British counterpart, Robin Cook, on the sidelines of the General Affairs Council, held in Brussels.

The position outlines that "the EU considers the status quo in Cyprus to be unacceptable and supports the Secretary-General's efforts for a negotiated, comprehensive, just and lasting settlement, consistent with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions. The EU reaffirms its commitment to the stability and prosperity of the Mediterranean region".

Papandreou described the statement as "satisfactory for both Greece and Cyprus, bearing in mind that it is within the framework of the latest decisions of the EU and the Group of Eight most industrialized nations".

Regarding Strovilia, Papandreou said the matter was raised during the ministers' luncheon. He said that although the UN is handling the issue, he called on his colleagues and the French presidency of the EU to take action towards restoration of the situation in the area. The Greek positions were noted down and there was no reaction by EU member states.

Papandreou also said that EU Enlargement Commissioner Guenter Verheugen is monitoring the Geneva proximity talks methodically and that he was assured by him that recent statements he made to a magazine on Cyprus are in harmony with decisions taken at the EU Helsinki summit and should not be interpreted differently.

On the question of EU-Turkey relations, Papandreou appeared satisfied when Verheugen assured him that ratification of the partnership relationship between the EU and Turkey, as well as the ratification of fiscal regulations for Turkey, would coincide in about mid-October.

Papandreou said he and Cook discussed efforts being made to detect those responsible for last month's murder of British military attache Stephen Saunders. He added that the British side is satisfied with its cooperation with the relevant Greek authorities and that a special meeting will be held in Athens on Tuesday between Greek and British officials from the two countries' public order ministries.

Meanwhile, the Strovilia issue was also raised at a session of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament in Brussels, during a debate on the Turkish candidature and many Euro MPs condemned the Turkish provocation. France's Euro MP and rapporteur for Turkey's candidacy, promised to include the issue in the report he is preparing on Turkey.

[02] Denktash positions 'no basis' for further talks, says Reppas

Athens, 11/07/2000 (ANA)

"Turkey and Denktash are not prepared to contribute to a solution to the Cyprus problem," the spokesman said, while adding that their stance revealed their intentions and that responsibilities should be attributed where they lay over the violation of the United Nation's resolutions for Cyprus.

The spokesman said that Denktash was attempting to create 'faits accomplis' and noted that there was no precedent in recent history for this kind of attitude.

With regard to the Strovilia advance, where Turkish occupation forces set up a checkpoint further into the UN-controlled buffer zone, Reppas said that this was an act directed against the United Nations given that it humiliated the international organizations, while noting that the UN seemed unable to deal with the situation.

Tsohatzopoulos says Cyprus is the sole country in Europe continuing to be divided into two parts: National Defense Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos said on Monday Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash and Turkey are insisting steadfastly on a policy contrasting with UN resolutions, namely trying to resolve the Cyprus issue through the finalization of the occupation of northern Cyprus which cannot be accepted by anyone.

Tsohatzopoulos, who was referring to the latest illegal action by the pseudo-state on the island to advance its position in the buffer zone, also condemned the fact that Cyprus is the sole state in Europe, which continues to be divided into two parts.

He called on Denktash and Turkey to "take advantage of the prospect provided for them for a solution to the Cyprus issue through dialogue to find a unified and democratic solution for all of Cyprus". He added that the accession of the Republic of Cyprus to the European Union would influence a positive solution to the issue.

Tsohatzopoulos was speaking after holding talks with his counterpart from the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) Nikola Klusev.

On his part, Klusev expressed support for the handling of problems before their appearance and, in general, for a peaceful solution to all problems.

[03] FYROM defense minister says issue of the state's name will be resolved within the year

Athens, 11/07/2000 (ANA)

On the question of FYROM's name, Klusev said politicians and diplomats would work for its solution within the year. Both ministers also expressed opposition to any irredentist intervention aimed at changing the existing borders of Balkan countries.

They agreed to increase the effectiveness of their forces on the two countries' borders with Albania to avert new dangers posed for them by illegal immigration, drug trafficking and international terrorism.

Tsohatzopoulos once again called for immediate implementation of Stability Pact programmers and reiterated Greece's support for FYROM's request for accession to NATO and the European Union.

The two ministers also signed an agreement of cooperation between the two countries defense industries.

[04] Papazoi sets out Greece's positions on EU policy in western Balkans

BRUSSELS, 11/07/2000 (ANA - V. Demiris)

Alternate Foreign Minister Elizabeth Papazoi, who represented Greece together with Foreign Minister George Papandreou, focused her address on the EU's policy in the western Balkans and the issue of Cyprus.

Papazoi said the EU's policy in the western Balkans should concern the consolidation of the security framework in the region based on the principles of the inviolability of borders and respect for international law; the democratization of countries in the region with the strengthening of political and social institutions and respect for the human rights and rights of minorities, as well as economic development, regional cooperation and the combat-ting of corruption and organized crime.

On the question of Cyprus, Papazoi appealed to the Turkish Cypriot side to stop the policy of refusal and provocations to enable the finding of a just and viable solution to the protracted problem on the basis of relevant UN Security Council resolutions.

She said the unimpeded European Union accession course of Cyprus and the granting of candidate status to Turkey create a new dynamism and hope that the framework of relations in the region will from now on be based on respect for international law and the disposition for peace and cooperation.

[05] Europarliament report says no progress achieved in human rights sector in Turkey

BRUSSELS, 11/07/2000 (ANA - V. Demiris)

The European Parliaments Foreign Affairs Committee discussed Philip Maurillons report on Turkeys appeal for accession to the European Union and the state of negotiations on Monday.

The report ascertains that the Turkish authorities have toughened their stance on human rights issues lately, while an amendment ratified by the Committee calls on Turkey to take immediate measures to abolish capital punishment in the framework of reforming the penal code.

On the question of Cyprus, the Turkish government was called on "to participate in the creation of a climate suitable for dialogue between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leadership to enable the finding of a political solution which will be acceptable by both sides."

The Committee also ratified two amendments calling on Turkey to promote cooperation of all kinds aimed at resolving the Kurdish problem and not to go ahead with building nuclear energy plants in seismic areas.

[06] Simitis says in reply to ND leader Karamanlis that he does not accept lessons in moral sensitivity and dignity

Athens, 11/07/2000 (ANA)

In his letter to Simitis on July 4, Karamanlis had called on him to take an initiative to shield democracy and protect the public interest in cooperating with all the political forces in the country raising the issue of transparency in public life.

"We shall not allow the country's political life to be trapped in a witch hunt," Simitis said in his reply.

The contents of both letters were publicized by the Prime Minister's office on Monday.

[07] Government 'not connected' to black propaganda alleged by Christodoulos, Reppas says

Athens, 11/07/2000 (ANA)

Saying that, in the government's view, these statements were "not worth wasting words on" and that they were claims without basis in fact, he concluded that they do not concern the government.

On Sunday, Christodoulos had criticized the media's treatment of him while speaking during a Church radio broadcast, and had talked about attempts to "reduce [his] prestige and influence with the people" and of "black propaganda whose purpose is to get rid of [him]."

The Greek Orthodox Church and government have yet to reconcile their differences over a government decision to omit reference to religious affiliation from new state-issued identity cards.

[08] Prodi gets thumbs-down in straw poll of Brussels journalists and analysts

BRUSSELS, 11/07/2000 (ANA)

In the report published on Monday, Greek Commissioner for employment and social affairs Anna Diamantopoulou was among the high-scoring members of the EU's executive, scoring seven out of ten in the three categories on which commissioners were marked: intellectual grasp of dossier, technical competence and projection skills.

The commission's president, by contrast, scored just four, three and two in the three categories respectively - earning him the lowest individual and overall scores in the entire Commission.

The highest scoring of all was competition commissioner Mario Monti, Prodi's compatriot, who was rewarded for his tough opposition of big mergers and state aids and his energetic support of consumer rights.

[09] Government services to observe minute's silence for terrorism victims at Wednesday noon

Athens, 11/07/2000 (ANA)

At the same time, the spokesman said, television channels would broadcast a message against terrorism.

[10] EU Commission and UN High Commission target nationalism and xenophobia

Athens, 11/07/2000 (ANA)

The Health and Welfare Ministry secretary general M. Beldekou said the refugee issue concerned all the European Union countries and Greece even more due to its geographical position.

On the question of refugees living in Greece, she said the best solution is for them to be incorporated in Greek society with the assistance of the state, non-governmental organizations and citizens.

[11] Simitis and Athens 2004 president hold talks in light of Interministerial Committee meeting

Athens, 11/07/2000 (ANA)

Daskalaki made no statement afterwards but, according to reports, she and Simitis discussed the issues contained in the Interministerial Committee's agenda concerning radio and TV coverage of the Olympic Games, the Olympic Village and other current issues.

[12] Deficit in balance of payments increases over first four months of 2000

Athens, 11/07/2000 (ANA)

The increase in the deficit in the balance of payments is primarily due to the increase in the trade deficit, while the surplus in the transfer balance increased considerably over the same period.

The increase in the deficit is located exclusively in the first quarter of the current year, while the deficit in April was slightly lower than in April last year.

[13] Agricultural Bank of Greece flotation by end of 2000

Athens, 11/07/2000 (ANA)

A timetable for the partial privatization of the bank envisages the listing of its shares on the Athens bourse in December, while the government is expected to take its final decisions on the size of the sale in the coming months.

National Economy officials said that the timetable for the flotation of Agricultural Bank of Greece was progressing smoothly aiming to promote the bank's restructuring and modernization.

[14] ASE chairman to present 1999 results on Wednesday

Athens, 11/07/2000 (ANA)

Spyros Kouniakis, ASE's chairman, addressing the event, is expected to present his views on the development of the Greek capital market and a plan for the ASE's flotation.

Representatives from listed companies, securities firms, mutual funds companies, investment houses and financial institutions are expected to attend the event.

[15] Greek stocks end mixed in subdued trade

Athens, 11/07/2000 (ANA)

Dealers said the market managed to hold above the 3,900 support level helped by renewed, although light, buying interest in banks.

The general index ended 0.06 percent higher at 3,916.42 points, off the day's lows of 3,876.40 points. Turnover was a low 62 billion drachmas.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks ended 0.22 percent higher at 2,168.34 points and the FTSE/ASE 40 index rose 0.20 percent to 565.34 points.

The parallel market index for smaller capitalization stocks ended 0.84 percent higher at 755.09 points.

Broadly, advancers led decliners by 225 to 107 with another 11 issues unchanged.

Doudos, Hellenic Telecoms, Athenian Holdings, Naoussa Spinning and Klonatex were the most heavily traded stocks.

Leading shares' closing prices (in Drs): National Bank: 13,480 Alpha Bank: 13,375 Commercial Bank: 15,500 Eurobank: 9,200 Lambrakis Press: 10,050 Heracles Cement: 7,500 Hellenic Telecoms: 8,510 Panafon: 3,985 Hellenic Petroleum: 3,750 Attica Enterprises: 3,565 Intracom: 12,200 Minoan Lines: 3,570 Hellenic Bottling: 5,455

Subdued climate in bonds market: The volume of transactions at the secondary bond market reached 6 billion drachmas on Monday, two billion of which concerned buy orders and the rest sell orders.

The margin between the yield of Greek 10-year bonds and the corresponding German bunds was limited to 0.8 percent.

The Greek benchmark 10-year bond showed a yield of 6.10 percent and the German 5.294 percent.

Drachma drops slightly against dollar but remains stable against euro: The drachma on Monday fell slightly against the US dollar but remained stable against the euro in the domestic foreign exchange market.

At the central bank's daily fixing, the euro was set at 336.790 drachmas, at exactly the same level as in the previous session.

Also at the fixing, the US dollar was set at 354.300 drachmas from 354.620 in the previous session.

[16] Government spokesman says "no new taxes"

Athens, 11/07/2000 (ANA)

[17] McDonald's plans 100 fast-food outlets by 2004 in Greece

Athens, 11/07/2000 (ANA)

MacDonald's recently launched its latest outlet in Patras and will soon expand its fast-food chain in Corfu, Volos, Giannena, Ilion and Evosmos in Thessaloniki.

The Patras outlet's cost totalled 250 million drachmas and created 50 new jobs.

McDonald's began operating in Greece in 1991.

[18] Wildfires spread across Greece, massive blaze continues on Samos

Athens, 11/07/2000 (ANA)

A blistering heat wave along with brisk Mediterranean winds helped turn some 130 locations in the Greek countryside into infernos over the weekend and early Monday, aided by what government spokesman Dimitris Reppas called " arson, negligence and accident".

Thousands of hectares of woodlands, crops and some 50 rural homes have been turned into ashes on Samos, a lush eastern Aegean island lying just across the Asia Minor coast. Additionally, the body of a 92-year-old woman was pulled out of her charred home on Friday after she had been evacuated at least once. Several tourist hotels were evacuated on Sunday evening near the village of Kokari, as the 10-kilometres-long blaze was moving at press time towards the Platanos and Vourliotes sites.

Mainland situation: The situation was just as dire in the mainland prefecture of Fthiotida, central Greece, where local authorities declared the prefecture in a state of emergency after 12 separate fires broke out within a span of a few hours, threatening scores of local villages and communities.

In the worst case, a forest fire near the village of Malesina reportedly sprang up in seven different locations before spreading to the Athens-Lamia highway, essentially cutting the country's main road artery in half for around two hours.

Adjacent Magnesia prefecture fared no better, as half a dozen forest and brush fires were reported on Monday morning. The worst blaze erupted in the Almyros district on Sunday afternoon, decimating crops and rural homes along its path.

Elsewhere, two separate forest fires were reported in Corinth prefecture, including one at the Derveni site that briefly interrupted traffic on the Athens-Patra highway. In northern Greece, a forest fire burned forestland on the verdant island of Thassos, just across from Kavala prefecture, where blazes erupted over the weekend at the Elafohori, Eleftheroupolis and Polynemi sites.

Finally, some 80 hectares were burned in the border prefecture of Evros, specifically at the Soufli region. Authorities said the fire started at a local landfill, spreading rapidly to a nearby forest of oaks as well as brush lands.

Gov't: During a lighting visit to fire-stricken Samos, Development Minister Nikos Christodoulakis on Monday promised economic assistance for local residents who saw their properties go up in smoke during the last five days, including farmers and stockbreeders.

"We'll assess the situation and decide on measures. At present, relevant authorities are visiting stricken areas in order to see, firsthand, the situation..." the minister said.

The head of Greece's fire brigade, Panayiotis Fourlas, also traveled to the island to personally coordinate fire-fighting efforts by more than 700 firefighters.

The outspoken prelate of the Greek Orthodox Church, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Christodoulos, also arrived on Samos to provide comfort for the massive wildfire's victims, as he noted.

Simitis: Back in Athens, the government cited the volatile situation with the multiple fires as necessitating a postponement of Prime Minister Costas Simitis' visit to the northern town of Grevena between July 14-15.

Spokesman Reppas also said the Greek premier may tour at least one of the fire-ravaged regions, before again referring to the extreme weather conditions throughout the country and instances of suspected arson -- especially at the Gargalianous village in the SW Peloponnese and at Grammatikos, near Marathon.

Additionally, the spokesman said Simitis will convene a high-ranking government meeting on Wednesday to discuss additional measures for combating the recent spate of destructive forest fires, a session that will be attended, among others, by Interior Minister Vasso Papandreou.

Suspected arsonist escapes: Finally, an unidentified individual was spotted setting fires in a forest in Hortiati, Thessaloniki prefecture, before fleeing from police, the local fire brigade said on Monday.

A spokesman for the fire brigade told ANA that an unidentified man in a white pickup truck was spotted around midnight lighting fires at four spots in the forest area.

The volunteer forest guards who spotted the man alerted police, who chased the vehicle, aided by civilians, although the suspect managed to escape under the cover of the night.

The fires were immediately extinguished before they could spread, whereas firefighters found remnants of gas-doused cotton wadding at the scene.

[19] President Stephanopoulos gives prizes to overseas Greek media

Athens, 11/07/2000 (ANA)

Addressing the event, Press Minister Dimitris Reppas said they were not merely "prizes for journalism but signs of a national presence, since the overseas Greek media forge ties with the national center on the one hand and promote overseas Hellenism as a fertile multiplier of Greece's voice in the world on the other".

Reppas said the overseas Greek media are a bridge of information and a corridor for the transfusion of culture, the understanding of culture and of peoples from other parts of the world, adding that without the overseas Greeks the national front for defending the interests of Hellenism weakens.

[20] Establishment of Museum of Greek Art discussed by Victoria State premier and culture minister

Athens, 11/07/2000 (ANA)

The premier of Australia's Victoria State arrived in Athens Sunday on a brief visit, for talks with the ministers of transport and communications, culture, and education on topics including the future of the Olympic Airways flights to Melbourne, the Museum of Greek Art and Antiquities in Melbourne, and the prospect of a formal agreement with Greece on exhibition exchanges.

He will also discuss matters related to the teaching of the Greek language in Victoria, and hold consultations with Secretary General for Greeks Abroad Dimitris Dollis, a former aide of his.

Pangalos and Bracks also discussed preparations for the Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004 Olympic Games.

[21] UN envoys investigate into positions of two sides at proximity talks

GENEVA, 11/07/2000 (CNA/ANA)

The diplomatic sources, closely monitoring the proximity talks since they opened July 5, said the situation in Strovilia as well as the leak of a document with the Turkish Cypriot side's positions was also raised.

The Greek Cypriot side insists that it could not have given the document to the media, as it does not have it in its hands.

Meanwhile, foreign government envoys in Geneva to monitor the talks have been meeting with the UN officials and the two sides.

Britain's envoy Sir David Hannay was scheduled to have a working lunch with Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides Monday, while earlier he met with Alvaro de Soto.

The Secretary General's advisor also met the German envoy, the country's Ambassador to Cyprus Peter Witting who is scheduled to meet President Clerides on Tuesday.

On Tuesday the Cyprus President is expected to meet the Russian Special Representative for Cyprus Prygin Vladimir and Finnish representative Jaakko Blomberg.

The talks adjourn on July 12, but it is yet unknown whether the UN will give the two sides ideas to take back with them, as was initially expected.

Sources said that if any ideas were given, they would basically contain headlines with general guidelines on a settlement.

If the UN do not hand in their views during this round, it is expected they will do so when President Clerides and the Turkish

Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash return here to resume talks on July 24.

The Greek Cypriot side conveyed its positions orally, in the talks that took place in February, while "much work" still has to be done with the Turkish Cypriot side, the sources said.

Denktash, de Soto meeting: Alvaro de Soto and Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash, described as "useful" a long meeting they had Monday afternoon here within the framework of the third round of the UN-led proximity talks on Cyprus.

Denktash told reporters after the three-and-a-half-hour meeting that "we had a very good session". Asked why the meeting was so long, he replied, "because we worked very hard".

Asked if any proposals were submitted to bridge the differences, Denktash replied, "nothing of that sort", and neither anything was expected to be submitted on Tuesday.

On his part, de Soto said it was "a long and useful working session".

The two men are expected to meet on Tuesday at 1000 local time. The meeting between Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides and the UN envoy is expected to be held in the afternoon.

[22] List of missing persons published

NICOSIA, 11/07/2000 (CNA/ANA)

According to the Gazette, there are 1.493 persons listed as missing, of the original number of 1.619, excluding 126 persons whose files were not submitted to the Committee of Missing Persons for investigation into the circumstances of their disappearance.

It said the relatives of the 126 were informed about the reasons for which the files were not submitted to the committee and at the same time their views were also noted down.

The list excluded three missing persons whose remains were found and identified through DNA testing.

The publication by the Presidential Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs follows a cabinet decision earlier this year. The government embarked last year on a painstaking effort to exhume and identify bodies, buried during the summer of the Turkish invasion, in the chaos of the war.

The list includes the names, date and place of birth and last known whereabouts of each person, the majority of whom were soldiers in action.

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