Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 00-07-24

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

CONTENTS

[01] German FM Fischer outlines federal prospects of unified Europe

[02] PM Simitis, ND leader and parties issue messages on anniversary of restoration of democracy

[03] Deputy National Defense Minister Apostolakis says Greece's role is recognized by the US NEW

[03] Sparti Fire Brigade Chief dies at military hospital in Athens

[04] Over 2,000 mountaineers go to Mount Olympus over the weekend

[05] Illegal immigrants arrested off Kos island

[06] President Clerides arrives in Geneva for proximity talks

[07] Defense Minister to meet with Solana

[01] German FM Fischer outlines federal prospects of unified Europe

Athens, 24/07/2000 (ANA)

Fischer said the prospects of a European federation will be based on national states and will not be a super state leveling differences and particularities.

Presenting his ideas on Europe, Fischer said unified Europe is the reply to the destruction of Europe. He said artificial differences delayed European unification. However, present prospects are for a Europe having 20, 25 or 30 countries, which will have to decide together and function in a unified manner, and therefore a step towards their political unification is essential. He further said this future federation or confederation would have nothing to do with federal states known until now.

Fischer spoke of enlargement, Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) and globalization, which is the third and most important challenge, saying that European countries can no longer handle all the political, economic and other problems alone.

He considers a constitution allowing a balance among the peoples of Europe as being essential. However, he left open the issues of central executive power, the president and Parliament or the Senate and said they will have to be discussed in the years to come.

In a brief address, Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou said all agree on values and ideals, values which started here, while individual differences might exist, "but all should contribute to the discussion on the prospects of Europe and the ideas of Joschka Fischer are useful and important".

[02] PM Simitis, ND leader and parties issue messages on anniversary of restoration of democracy

Athens, 24/07/2000 (ANA)

A message by Prime Minister and PASOK leader Costas Simitis and the party's Executive Bureau said "July 24 is a day of memory and honor for all the known and unknown who stood their ground and even gave their lives in the struggle against the colonels."

It said the government's target is the creation of a modern and viable social state, the modernization of Greek society and making Greece a factor of security, stability and peace.

"26 years after the collapse of the seven-year dictatorship, which heightened with the betrayal of Cyprus, we are no longer in danger from wretched coup organizers. Democratic institutions have been widened and strengthened. Democratic legality has been consolidated and popular sovereignty has been established," the message said.

In a similar message, main opposition New Democracy party leader Costas Karamanlis said "Parliamentary rule has been consolidated for good and no force can brush aside democratic institutions."

Karamanlis added, however, that in past years "forces are developing and relations are being shaped which constitute a threat against the quality and the essence of democracy. Precisely for this reason, the duty is presenting itself clearly for new struggles to strengthen the institutions of the form of government and shield the state from phenomena of decadence which deal a crude blow at common interest."

The Coalition of the Left and Progress said in its message the collapse of the junta and the steadfast restoration of democracy constitute an achievement, adding that this achievement was not accompanied by the defeat of anachronistic structures and conservative concepts.

It said a change in the system of governance and of policies applied is necessary to secure economic development, a decrease in social inequalities and the defining of a perceptive foreign policy.

Democratic Social Movement (DHKKI) leader Dimitris Tsovolas said in his message that 26 years after the junta's collapse Parliamentary democracy in Greece is characterized by strong signs of fatigue.

Tsovolas said political life is being poisoned by "unreliability on a daily basis, while the government is selling out national wealth, leading wide popular classes to impoverishment and is promoting, through secret diplomacy and without the people's knowledge, solutions to the major national issues which are dangerous for the country's national interests and sovereign rights."

Memory of anti-junta resistance fighters honored: A event in honor and memory of those who died in the struggle against the military junta was held on Sunday at "Freedom Park" in Athens, the location of the EAT-ESA military police's detention cells, by the Federation of Jailed and Exiled Resistance Fighters of the 1967-1974 period.

Speaking at the event, the Federation's President Mihalis Vardanis said "today, with the event held, all paid tribute to the dead fellow resistance fighters who fell in the struggle against tyranny. We owe a great deal to the long list of martyrs and we should safeguard the story of their struggles, their honored course in the struggle against the dictatorship."

[03] Deputy National Defense Minister Apostolakis says Greece's role is recognized by the US NEW

YORK, 24/07/2000 (ANA - M. Georgiadou)

Speaking about contacts he had in Washington on Friday with US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Franklin Kramer, Apostolakis said talks with his counterpart on issues of mutual concern regarding Greece and the US were a double success.

"On the one hand, a coincidence of views was achieved on many issues in line with the interests of both countries. On the other, it is now a fact that Greece's role is recognized all the more by the US, which currently has special interests and concerns in southeastern Europe and the Mediterranean. It was said conscientiously yesterday by Mr. Kramer himself that Greece is now a regional power which is something we have never heard before about our country," Apostolakis said.

[03] Sparti Fire Brigade Chief dies at military hospital in Athens

Athens, 24/07/2000 (ANA)

[04] Over 2,000 mountaineers go to Mount Olympus over the weekend

Athens, 24/07/2000 (ANA)

The mountaineers spent the night on the plateau, one of the most beautiful of its kind in Europe, where various events were held such as rescue exercises, discussions on the environment and theatrical performances.

The mountaineers' annual meeting takes place on a different Greek mountain each time, but every 10 years it is held on Mount Olympus, the mountain of the Gods according to Greek mythology.

[05] Illegal immigrants arrested off Kos island

Athens, 24/07/2000 (ANA)

The vessel, which had its lights switched off, was heading for the coast of the island but came to a halt after the patrol boat fired warning shots in the air.

The trawler, "Alinteri Kusadasi', was carrying 13 Iraqi and Iranian men. The skipper of the trawler, Nihat Kurmas Ers, 35, was also arrested.

The vessel was towed to Kos harbor and the illegal immigrants and the migrant trafficker will be led before the public prosecutor.

[06] President Clerides arrives in Geneva for proximity talks

GENEVA, 24/07/2000 (CNA/ANA)

On their part, parliamentary political party leaders, accompanying the President, said they have come to Geneva because the present situation is crucial, they noted that their presence sends a message of determination for meaningful negotiations and underlined they are here to safeguard the principles for a settlement on the island, to which they have all agreed on.

The first meeting between President Clerides and the UN Secretary-General's Special Adviser for Cyprus, Alvaro de Soto, who is conducting the talks, is scheduled for Monday morning and will be followed by a meeting between the UN envoy and Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash, who also arrived here on Sunday, accompanied by a group of advisers.

The proximity talks, separate meetings with the two sides, opened last December and continued in February and earlier this month. This third round of talks is scheduled to carry on until August 4, with a fourth round to take place in New York in September.

At the end of the talks held earlier this month, the Peruvian diplomat had given the leaders of the two communities some thoughts to reflect upon and give their replies when they return.

The Greek Cypriot side's response is based on UN resolutions and the UN Secretary-General's relevant reports and was prepared by the National Council, which is the top advisory body to the President on the Cyprus problem, comprising parliamentary party leaders.

On his arrival at the hotel, where the Greek Cypriot delegation will be staying during a fortnight of talks, President Clerides refrained from making substantive statements, abiding by a news blackout requested by the UN.

Asked, however, if he is prepared for Mondays meeting, he said "we are all ready".

Invited to say whether he is satisfied with the G8 reference on the Cyprus problem, he said "it is quite good".

The G8, in a statement on regional issues issued during its annual meeting in Japan calls upon the parties in Cyprus "to take the historic opportunity that now exists to intensify the negotiations in an effort to strike the compromises needed to reach a just and lasting settlement that protects the fundamental interests of both parties in an undivided Cyprus giving full consideration to relevant Security Council resolutions."

The Group also recalls the declaration issued at its last meeting in Cologne calling for resumption of comprehensive negotiations under the UN auspices on a Cyprus settlement and commends the UN Secretary General for convening proximity talks between the parties "to prepare the ground for meaningful negotiations leading to a comprehensive settlement."

Left-wing AKEL General Secretary Demetris Christofias, President of the Movement of Social Democrats Vassos Lyssarides, and United Democrats President George Vassiliou, arrived in Geneva with President Clerides, while ruling right-wing Democratic Rally

President Nicos Anastasiades was expected here later Sunday. Center Democratic Party is not sending a delegate.

[07] Defense Minister to meet with Solana

LARNACA, 24/07/2000 (CNA/ANA)

He noted that Cyprus' contribution could be in the form of providing facilities, such as ports and airports, as well as staff at the EU's request.

Hasikos also said he would give special emphasis during the meeting on the situation in Strovilia, where the Turkish Cypriot side has taken measures to restrict the movement of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), including violating the current status quo by setting up a new checkpoint.

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