Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 00-08-26

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greece back on track, but still has to beat the clock for 2004, IOC delegation says

[02] Seven dead in forest fires as state stretches resources to the limit

[03] Eastern Mediterranean becoming increasingly important in strategic considerations - Tsohatzopoulos

[04] Kaklamanis to attend NY conference of national parliaments

[05] Archbishop Christodoulos meets Arafat in Bethlehem

[06] New Democracy announces replacement of party spokesman by journalist Roussopoulos

[07] Recent events in Turkey demonstrate its undemocratic stance, Reppas says

[08] Equity futures drop, tracking Athens bourse

[09] Derivatives investors seen doubling in 2001

[10] Bonds flat in negligible trade

[11] Drachma ends down vs euro, up vs dollar

[12] Sato buys out German office furniture firm

[13] Seven people die in Ioannina blaze

[14] Woman found dead in her apartment, police suspect fould play

[15] Arsonists set fire to a Yugoslav embassy vehicle

[16] Thessaloniki priest reprimanded for demanding taxi fare from parishioner seeking last rites

[17] Cycling tour for the environment starts in Alexandroupolis

[18] Cyprus FM Kasoulides to visit Athens on Tuesday

[19] Greek ambassador blames Denktash for economic crisis in Turkish-occupied areas

[20] Cyprus journalists condemn 'fascisit campaign' by Denktash regime

[01] Greece back on track, but still has to beat the clock for 2004, IOC delegation says

Athens, 26/08/2000 (ANA)

"We must not add pages to the calendar. Time is passing swiftly," said IOC coordinating commission president Jacques Rogge, who headed the delegation, adding that organisers faced a "marathon that must be run at sprinting speed."

Rogge said that the basic elements of the preparations had been set up on firm foundations, noting the personal interest shown by Prime Minister Costas Simitis and the now excellent relations between the government and the organising committee.

Rogge also expressed satisfaction over the progress made on the question of hospitality and the agreement signed with hoteliers. "In May the agreement with hoteliers had not been signed. This has been done now and covers 65 per cent of the bookings," he said.

Regarding the 14 projects taken over by the Environment, Town Planning and Public Works ministry, Rogge said he was pleased with the progress being made, while noting that they would leave a useful legacy to the city of Athens after the 2004 Olympics. With respect to the construction of five sports installations, which the ministry has taken over, Rogge said the May 2004 deadline was too late. "These works must be ready much earlier, so that some test events can take place."

He said that Environment Minister Costas Laliotis had stressed that the schedules would be speeded up and that the deadlines for the works being carried out by the General Secretariat for Sports would be re-examined.

Environmental groups hoping for IOC support in their efforts to block the construction of a canoeing and rowing center in Schinias, some 50 km northeast of Athens, were disappointed, however. Rogge said that while the IOC was very interested in the environment, it was satisfied with the assurances of the Greek government and that the IOC had approved the plan, which he said would "be a good legacy for Greece." Environmental groups insist, however, that the works will degrade the Schinias wetlands and that the IOC bears great responsibility for covering up such damaging constructions.

[02] Seven dead in forest fires as state stretches resources to the limit

Athens, 26/08/2000 (ANA)

Speaking after a meeting at the Fire Brigade Headquarters where she described the situation as critical, she called for the help of citizens as well as outside help.

"There is an extensive mobilization of forces, but this is not enough. We ask for the participation of all citizens in this critical moment for our country. We naturally requested help from other countries, but unfortunately they are unable to help as almost all of southern Europe is facing the same problems with fires as we are. Italy, France and Spain are facing enormous problems. Don't forget that some of the large fires on our borders came from neighboring countries," Papandreou said.

Only Israel responded to Greece's call for help. Two fire-fighting helicopters and a C-130 transport plane with 60 men were expected to arrive in the southern town of Kalamata on Friday night.

Fires were blazing out of control in eleven regions of the country, notably in the north-west prefecture of Ioannina, where the seven people lost their lives in the village of Aghia Marina, and in Arkadia prefecture, in the Peloponnese, where many villages have been evacuated.

Gov't spokesman

Later in the day, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said the human factor had also played a part in the catastrophic spread of the fires that have swept the country.

The spokesman said that the situation in certain areas was critical, such as in the prefectures of Ioannina and Arcadia, or in Sperhiada in Fthiotida prefecture.

Fire-fighting forces were on Friday struggling to contain over 30 blazes around the country, including one that migrated into northern Ioannina prefecture from neighboring Albania and has claimed the lives of seven civilians.

Expressing the government's grief over the civilian deaths in Ioannina, Reppas said that state services were doing their utmost to limit the extent of the disaster.

He also blamed difficult weather conditions for the extensive damage caused by fires this summer, saying that fire-fighting forces - in spite of being stronger than in any previous year - had been unable to fully cope.

Meanwhile, police reported the arrest of 45-year-old livestock farmer Vassilis Rigopoulos on charges of arson, in connection with the fire that has been raging in Megalopolis since last Monday. According to fire-fighters, there is strong evidence that Rigopoulos, a resident of Vlahorafti, was part of an organized arson plan. In Kozani, meanwhile, fire-fighters have arrested Liakos Ilias, 58, who admitted to starting a camp-fire on Mount Taygetos that spread and set fire to the surrounding forest. Back in Athens, meanwhile, in a letter to Prime Minister Costas Simitis and Parliament speaker Apostolos Kaklamanis, Communist Party of Greece General Secretary Aleka Papariga has demanded that the government immediately brief Parliament on this year's disastrous fires so that there can be a debate on the issue.

[03] Eastern Mediterranean becoming increasingly important in strategic considerations - Tsohatzopoulos

The eastern Mediterranean is becoming one of the increasingly important barometers in international politics, and there is a clear shift in the center of gravity of European external policy from central to southeastern Europe, Defense Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos said on Friday.

"A new strategic view of the region is emerging due to complex challenges. The Mediterranean basin and Europe now appear more than ever interlocked in political, economic and security considerations," he said in a speech at Trinity College on the new security architecture in the rapidly changing international environment.

Greece has a twin geopolitical role as a Balkan and Mediterranean country in a region which serves as a link between southeastern Europe and the Middle East, said

Tsohatzopoulos, who was the key speaker in a European Socialist Party conference on conflict resolution, European Union enlargement and the new relations between European and the United States.

Tsohatzopoulos said the top challenges in Europe in this decade would be E.U. enlargement eastwards and whether a strong relation with Moscow could substitute for the need for U.S. support in providing a balance with Russia.

[04] Kaklamanis to attend NY conference of national parliaments

Athens, 26/08/2000 (ANA)

The New York meeting is organized by the Interparliamentary Union (IPU) in cooperation with the UN.

The conference will have as its theme "The Parliamentary Vision on International Cooperation at the Dawn of the Third Millennium".

[05] Archbishop Christodoulos meets Arafat in Bethlehem

Archbishop of Athens Christodoulos on Friday had an hour-long meeting with Palestinian President Yasser Arafat during the course of an official luncheon at the Presidential Mansion in the center of Bethlehem.

Christodoulos was addressed by Palestinian Vice-President Mahmud Abbas, who emphasized the affinity of the Palestinians for the Greek people. He also assured Christodoulos that the holy shrines will remain in the possession of the Greek Orthodox and that the privileges that the Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem enjoys since 636 will be maintained.

The Archbishop thanked Arafat "for his sincere love and appreciation of the Patriarchate." He noted that "many of the holy shrines of the Christian faith are in the territories of the Palestinian Authorities" and are being protected.

Archbishop Christodoulos is due to visit Nazareth and Galilee on Saturday.

[06] New Democracy announces replacement of party spokesman by journalist Roussopoulos

Athens, 26/08/2000 (ANA)

According to the announcement, ND leader Costas Karamanlis had met with Spiliotopoulos and accepted the resignation offered by the latter on June 12.

The 34-year-old state deputy and press spokesman had been strongly opposed by certain party members and some blamed his novel tactics in the pre-electoral race for ND's marginal loss in the elections. He had also suffered rough treatment at the hands of the Greek media, including broad hints that he was homosexual.

Commenting on his resignation, former ND leader Miltiadis Evert said it was "politically brave" and that he should continue to offer his services to the party, above and beyond his capacity as parliamentary deputy.

Regarding the appointment of Roussopoulos, Evert said it was a "great success for the ND faction," and said his contribution to democracy had been important in all positions he had held. He stressed that the ND party members now had a duty to concentrate only on national, economic and social problems that concerned the people and the nation.

Roussopoulos' appointment was also welcomed by government spokesman Dimitris Reppas, who said he was an old friend and that "politics has gained a good journalist."

"I don't know whether our friendship will make our working together easier or harder," he added, taking the opportunity to point out that he would be ND's fourth spokesman since Reppas had first taken charge of the Press and Media ministry.

[07] Recent events in Turkey demonstrate its undemocratic stance, Reppas says

Athens, 26/08/2000 (ANA)

Reppas said that the recent events were a prime example of Turkey's undemocratic stance, such as the recent public "recommendation" by Turkey's National Security Council toward the Turkish president. Turkey cannot be counted among the democratic countries of Europe, the spokesman said.

Asked to comment on the twinning of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia town of Tetovo with the Morfo municipality in the occupied territories on Cyprus, Reppas said only that the Denktash regime was seeking to find ways out of the international impasse, as it had done in the past.

"What's important," the spokesman added, "is for all international organizations to maintain a united stance against the pseudo-state in the occupied territories."

[08] Equity futures drop, tracking Athens bourse

Athens, 26/08/2000 (ANA)

The FTSE/ASE 20 index closed 1.18 percent down, and the FTSE/ASE 40 ended 0.34 percent lower.

Turnover was 10.6 billion drachmas. A total of 1,100 contracts were traded on the FTSE/ASE 20 with turnover at 4.5 billion drachmas.

On the FTSE/ASE 40 index, 3,131 contracts changed hands on turnover of 6.1 billion drachmas.

[09] Derivatives investors seen doubling in 2001

Athens, 26/08/2000 (ANA)

Alexakis told a news conference that he hoped especially to draw institutional investors abroad to the exchange. They currently number forty.

The derivatives market has more than doubled its net profits to 140.6 million drachmas, he added.

[10] Bonds flat in negligible trade

Athens, 26/08/2000 (ANA)

The Greek benchmark 10-year bond showed a yield of 6.051 percent from 6.037 percent in the previous session.

The Greek paper's yield spread over German bunds was 82 basis points from 81-83 basis points a session earlier.

Turnover through the central bank's electronic system was 6.0 billion drachmas from 12 billion drachmas the day before.

[11] Drachma ends down vs euro, up vs dollar

Athens, 26/08/2000 (ANA)

At the central bank's daily fixing, the euro was set at 337.490 drachmas from 337.470 drachmas in the previous session.

Also at the fix, the dollar was set at 374.350 drachmas from 374.680 drachmas a day earlier.

[12] Sato buys out German office furniture firm

Athens, 26/08/2000 (ANA)

The Greek firm said on Friday that the plan entailed taking over companies or purchasing holdings in market-leaders abroad.

Grammer's turnover in 1999 was 9.2 billion drachmas, expected to rise to 10 billion drachmas in 2000, Sato said in a statement.

[13] Seven people die in Ioannina blaze

Athens, 26/08/2000 (ANA)

An elderly couple identified as Christoforos Kyritis, 80, and his wife Maria, 78, as well as an unidentified elderly woman were found burnt to death on Thursday in the mountainous village of Aghia Marina, while the charred bodies of Maria Makri, 73, Paraskevi Alexiou 75, Polyxeni Prentzou 72 and an elderly woman named Papageorgiou were found on Friday in the village of Lavdani.

Unconfirmed information said there were still two more people missing.

The blaze in the Ioannina prefecture started on Albanian territory and crossed the border, spreading out of control.

Hundreds of firefighters assisted by planes and helicopters are struggling to contain over 30 fires that broke out throughout the country, which, fueled by a combination of heat and high winds, have destroyed vast areas of forests and farmland.

[14] Woman found dead in her apartment, police suspect fould play

Athens, 26/08/2000 (ANA)

A coroner's examination revealed that the body of Olga Costopoulou, who had been sharing her Stavroupoli, Thessaloniki residence with her 42-year-old son, bore evidence of asphyxiation, despite initial estimates that her death might be due to natural causes, the authorities said.

Sources said that the men of the crimes-against-life squad in Thessaloniki were conducting intense preliminary investigations and that they were very close to locating and arresting Costopoulou's assasin.

[15] Arsonists set fire to a Yugoslav embassy vehicle

Athens, 26/08/2000 (ANA)

A group self-dubbed Anarchist Struggle in anonymous telephone calls to "FLASH" radio station and to Athens daily "ELEFTHEROTYPIA" claimed resposnibility for the attack on the diplomatic vehicle which was parked at Goudi disctrict in Athens. There were no reports of injuries.

[16] Thessaloniki priest reprimanded for demanding taxi fare from parishioner seeking last rites

Athens, 26/08/2000 (ANA)

The woman's daughter, Vasso Eleftheriadou, told reporters that local parish priest Father Frangiskos had refused to come to the house on Thursday morning unless she could make arrangements for a car or taxi to pick him up and return him to his church, since he didn't want to cover the distance on foot because of the heat. Eleftheriadou said the priest asked her to cover the cost of the taxi fare herself, which she couldn't do. She finally called in a priest from another parish close by. Called to explain himself on Friday morning, Father Frangiskos claimed that he had offered to pay for the taxi himself and had arranged to come the following morning, but that Eleftheriadou decided to call another priest anyway.

[17] Cycling tour for the environment starts in Alexandroupolis

Athens, 26/08/2000 (ANA)

[18] Cyprus FM Kasoulides to visit Athens on Tuesday

Cyprus Foreign Minister, Ioannis Kasoulides flies to Athens on Tuesday for same-day meetings with his Greek counterpart George Papandreou,and Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos.

Kasoulides and Papandreou are expected to focus on coordination between the two governments in view on the fourth round of UN-led proximity talks on the Cyprus problem, scheduled to begin September 12 in New York.

Proximity talks, separate meetings of the UN with President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, began last December, in an effort to prepare the ground for substantive negotiations, leading to a comprehensive settlement in Cyprus, divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied the northern third of the island.

Nicosia and Athens will coordinate themselves on backstage moves, bilateral cooperation and contacts with foreign envoys, in an effort to bring about substantive negotiations.

The two foreign ministers are also expected to discuss Turkey's partnership with the European Union and exchange views on Greeek-Turkish relations.

With Tsohatzopoulos, Kasoulides will discuss the issue of persons missing since the 1974 invasion and ways to persuade Greek relatives to enrich the genetic material bank, in an effort to determine the fate of their war dead and missing persons.

Only a limited number of relatives of Greek missing persons have come forward so far and Kasoulides will bring up the issue with Tsohatzopoulos, in order to coordinate actions to highlight the significance of the matter to the relatives and urge them to give genetic material samples.

Kasoulides' meeting with Papandreou will take place Tuesday at 13:00 local time, to be followed by lunch, and with

Tsohatzopoulos at 18:00 local time. The Cypriot inister will return to Cyprus on Wednesday.

The foreign minister will accompany President Clerides to New York on September 4, where he will meet with some of his counterparts.

[19] Greek ambassador blames Denktash for economic crisis in Turkish-occupied areas

Greece's Ambassador to Cyprus, Kyriacos Rodousakis, has stated that the economic crisis facing the Turkish- occupied areas is a result of the insistence of Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash on a so-called "state" which cannot survive.

He also described as "unfortunate" the fact that Turkish Cypriots did not wish to take advantage of Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides' invitation to participate in European Union accession negotiations, as the umbrella of the European Union provides political and economic protection to all member states, especially weak areas.

Rodousakis, who will be assigned next month to a different post in the Greek Foreign Ministry, reiterated that "Greece is by the side of President Clerides, the Cypriot political leadership, the Republic of Cyprus, in the handlings of President Clerides", such as the recent letter he sent to the UN Secretary-General, requesting that talks on the Cyprus problem become more substantive.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied the northern third of the island.

UN-led proximity talks, separate meetings of the UN with President Clerides and Denktash, began last December. A fourth round of talks is scheduled to begin on September 12 in New York, aiming at preparing the ground for substantive negotiations, leading to a comprehensive settlement.

Rodousakis noted that "we do not distance ourselves from the (UN) resolutions (on Cyprus) and their provisions, and condemn every effort to promote issues outside the resolutions".

Responding to questions on the discussion at Turkey's National Security Council on Cyprus, regarding the situation in the pseudostate, Rodousakis said that "Greece is monitoring developments, reactions and the positions of Turkey, and takes a stand", noting that the economic problems in the Turkish-occupied areas prove the total failure of the Turkish invasion in 1974.

"Twenty six years later, Turkey and Denktash are trying to maintain a bogus-state, recognised only by Turkey", he said, adding that "the whole history of economic problems is the result of the insistence of Denktash on a 'state', which cannot survive".

Government spokesman Michalis Papapetrou, said on Thursday that the self-styled Turkish Cypriot regime in the Turkish-occupied part of Cyprus cannot survive on its own accord, in the wake of weeks of unrest and protests against the occupation regime and the dire economic circumstances Turkish Cypriots have to face.

[20] Cyprus journalists condemn 'fascisit campaign' by Denktash regime

The Union of Cyprus Journalists (UCJ) "strongly condemns the fascist campaign" launched by Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash's regime and the Turkish occupation army "to silence and muzzle" Turkish Cypriot daily newspaper "Avrupa". UCJ calls on international, European and other media and human rights organisations to make "urgent representations" to the government of Turkey and Denktash to stop the prosecution of the newspaper and to ensure the freedoms of press and expression in the Turkish Cypriot community.

In a press release, UCJ notes that the "ruthless prosecution" of the daily continues "with the aim of muzzling it", adding that its Editor-in-Chief, Shener Levent, faces possible imprisonment, along with a number of Turkish Cypriot political party leaders, opposing Denktash's regime.

UCJ points out that on August 21 "bailiffs" went to the newspaper's printing house to take note of its equipment, saying that they would be back to "confiscate" it later on.

Levent and other "Avrupa" journalists were "arrested" on charges of "treason" and "espionage" against the Turkish occupation troops but were later released pending further investigation by the illegal regime.

The regime also fined "Avrupa" 225,000 dollars in December for allegedly libeling Denktash and later seized computers when the newspaper failed to pay the fine.

Meanwhile, "Avrupa" reported that "gangs of the son of Denktash are walking everyday around the offices and the printing house of the paper, threatening and frightening the staff", making its publication "increasingly difficult, if not impossible".

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