Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 00-09-06

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

CONTENTS

[01] Simitis leaves for New York

[02] Public Order Minister visits Washington, expected to sign memorandum of cooperation

[03] Papandreou begins three-day tour of FYROM, Serbia, Montenegro and Kosovo

[04] Spokesman on Cem letter

[05] Bank of Greece cuts intervention rates by 75 basis points

[06] Turkish newspaper article opens discussion on September 1955 incidents against Greeks in Istanbul

[07] ND section-heads confer over issues to be raised at TIF

[08] Coalition of Left leader discusses transparency issue with PASOK Central Committee Secretary

[09] First session of new Holy Synod discusses religious education

[10] Liberals, POL.AN leaders visit TIF

[11] ICAO chief pleased with standard of Greece's civil aviation

[12] Govt says earthquake cost estimated at 900 billion drachmas

[13] Government, unions head for clash over employment proposals

[14] Greek stocks surge 5.05 pct on ASE

[15] Maillis Group expands presence in Poland

[16] Merchant marine minister says progress made in cleaning up oil spill

[17] Chrysohoidis heads meeting on violence in sports events

[18] Athens 2004 delegation departs for Sydney

[19] Annan states need for substantive negotiations on Cyprus problem

[20] Clerides due to meet UN chief

[21] Clinton backs bizonal, bicommunal federation in Cyprus

[01] Simitis leaves for New York

Athens, 06/09/2000 (ANA)

On Wednesday, the prime minister is scheduled to attend a working dinner hosted by U.S. President Clinton for the 14 heads of state and government who participated in the Berlin conference on progressive governance earlier this year.

The meeting is expected to enlarge on the issues discussed in Berlin, such as the reform of the welfare state, the evolution of health service systems, the fight against crime, respect for human rights, sustainable development, and the role of technology in the battle against social exclusion.

Simitis is due to address the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday and will participate in roundtable discussions to be chaired by Secretary General Kofi Annan on Thursday and Friday.

In his speech the prime minister is expected to refer to the new global environment, the new setting of international and inter-state relations and the evolving supranational organizations, and stress the necessity for strengthening of the role of the UN in the consolidation of peace and cooperation.

Four OA employees relieved of duty for failing to issue notam on premier's flight: Olympic Airways (OA) President Dionisios Kalofonos on Tuesday announced that four employees of the company's flight logistics office were relieved of their duties pending an internal investigation, as the office failed to issue a notam to the Yugoslav authorities notifying them of the passage of Prime Minister Costas Simitis New York bound flight, a press release from the company noted.

Apparently, the notam for flight OA 411 from Athens to New York, transporting the premier and government member to the UN Tuesday afternoon special summit sponsored by the United Nations for the new millennium, was not submitted to Yugoslav authorities.

The initial flight plan was to take the premier aircraft via Italy, while the change of the flight path at 9:06 am taking the aircraft via Skopje and Yugoslavia to central Europe and then to New York, was not related to Yugoslav authorities, and thus they requested a diplomatic clearance number or contact with that country's foreign ministry, regarding the flight.

On his part, Communications and Transportation Minister Christos Verelis communicated with OA requesting an investigation. In response, the Flight Logistics Manager, the specific flight's logistics officer and two employees responsible for failing to sent the notam were relieved of their duties, meanwhile the General Directorship of the Flight Operations of the company is expected to undergo restructuring, according to the press release.

[02] Public Order Minister visits Washington, expected to sign memorandum of cooperation

Athens, 06/09/2000 (ANA)

The minister is expected to sign a memorandum of cooperation between Greece and the US on issues of terrorism and crime between the two countries.

He will head a delegation of Greek police officials.

During a press conference on Tuesday, Chrysohoidis said that this memorandum of cooperation is an important step forward in the cooperation between the two countries in combatting crime and terrorism.

"This memorandum, is the expressed political will of both countries toward law enforcement cooperation in a series of issues...The contents of the memorandum are in total agreement with the Greek Constitution, the protection of human rights and the general interests of the country, while it does not create binding legal obligations," Chrysohoidis said.

The Minister especially noted that the signing of this memorandum will lift a climate of mistrust between the two countries and will allow for better cooperation between Greek and US law enforcement agencies, noting the examples of the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) that led to the confiscation of eight tons of cocaine in August.

[03] Papandreou begins three-day tour of FYROM, Serbia, Montenegro and Kosovo

Athens, 06/09/2000 (ANA)

He will first visit FYROM where he will meet the country's prime minister, Ljubco Georgievski, the opposition leader and the leader of FYROM's Albanians.

Municipal elections will be held in FYROM on Sunday.

On Thursday, Papandreou will visit Belgrade where he will meet his Yugoslav counterpart Zivadin Yovanovic and main opposition candidate Vojislav Kostunica, in light of the presidential elections on September 24. He will also meet Serbian Patriarch Pavle.

On Friday, Papandreou will visit Kosovo (where local elections will be held on October 28) and Montenegro.

[04] Spokesman on Cem letter

Athens, 06/09/2000 (ANA)

"What is significant, however, is that it is the '15' (EU member countries) who decide on the European Union's relationship with Turkey," Hytiris added.

He was replying to press questions on the government's position regarding a letter sent by Cem to the EU accusing Greece of avoiding dialogue on a series of issues that Greece considers to be Turkish demands.

[05] Bank of Greece cuts intervention rates by 75 basis points

Athens, 06/09/2000 (ANA)

The timing of the rate cut, which is usually announced during morning trade on Wednesdays, took the market by surprise.

In a statement on Tuesday, the council announced that the two-week interbank rate would drop to 7.50 percent from 8.25 percent; the overnight rate to 6.50 percent from 7.25 percent; and the Lombard rate to 8.25 percent from 9.0 percent.

After the cuts, the country's base money market rate will stand 3.0 percent higher than the euro's rate, the statement said.

The rate reduction's early timing may be linked to a meeting of National Economy and Finance Minister Yiannos Papantoniou and Bank of Greece governor Lucas Papademos scheduled for Wednesday, market analysts said.

National Bank follows central bank rate cut: The National Bank of Greece (NBG), the country's largest commercial bank, said on Tuesday it was reducing its lending and savings rates by up to 0.75 percent in response to the Bank of Greece's equal cut in key intervention rates earlier in the day.

NBG's standard savings rate comes down from 5.50 percent to 4.75 percent and lending rates for working capital from 9.50 percent to 9.00 percent.

[06] Turkish newspaper article opens discussion on September 1955 incidents against Greeks in Istanbul

ANKARA, 06/09/2000 (ANA - A. Ampatzis)

Cumhurriyet published an in-depth article by Cnueit Akalin underlining that the "incidents" of September 6, 1955, led to violence that killed "among them a priest," in the demolition of "73 churches, one synagogue, eight religious fountains, two monasteries and a factory, while there were extensive damages to 5,538 buildings of which 3,584 belonged to Greeks."

He also stressed that "with the September incidents the pages of a history book were concluded. The Turks and Greeks, who lived together in Istanbul for 500 years, ceased to coexist. The desertion of the Greeks was escalated following the 1964 Cyprus crisis."

The article also criticized "Turkish intellectuals, who claimed that they are investigating Turkish history with a critical outlook and so they do sometimes in investigating some issues down to their details, but do not show the same attitude for the September incidents".

[07] ND section-heads confer over issues to be raised at TIF

Athens, 06/09/2000 (ANA)

According to party spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos, these included rising unemployment in Greece, the sharp drop in the Athens Stock Exchange since last year, where the general index has fallen by 45 per cent, labor relations and education issues.

[08] Coalition of Left leader discusses transparency issue with PASOK Central Committee Secretary

Athens, 06/09/2000 (ANA)

Skandalidis, while agreeing with Constantopoulos on certain issues, voiced his opposition to "barren conflicts" and the creation of anti-government fronts.

Constantopoulos noted that new conditions in the economy and in technological developments demanded additional, effective and reliable measures to ensure honesty in public life. He said his party proposed a new legislative framework and effective implementation of the existing legislation, while suggesting that these problems might also be dealt with through constitutional clauses.

Skandalidis agreed with his assessment in general, saying that the relationship between politics and the economy would to a large extent govern how democratic societies evolved throughout the world.

He added, however, that the government was strict in implementing the existing laws and was taking steps to establish transparency with absolutely clear principles and goals - up to and including incorporating measures in the constitution. He also questioned whether a confrontational approach was the best way to deal with such issues.

"I think," he said "we should quit barren conflicts and creating images of anti-governmental fronts and draw the dividing line where it truly belongs."

Constantopoulos also met with Democratic Social Movement leader Dimitris Tsovolas.

Papariga and Constantopoulos clash over issue of vested interests: Coalition of the Left leader Nikos Constantopoulos on Tues-day slammed Communist Party Secretary General Aleka Papariga for her rejection of his proposal for meetings among political leaders to discuss the issue of overlapping political and business interests.

In a letter to political leaders earlier, Papariga said what was properly required in the present circumstances was to fight the policies that feed the monopolies, rather than selective opposition to certain of them.

"Attributing the present situation to the overlapping of interests of one party or the other with a particular business group and emphasis placed on the indisputably close relations of the government with specific businessmen is well below today's requirements ... Such revelations now would only serve as a smokescreen, as they legitimize the basic and fundamental causes of the phenomenon," she said.

Responding, Constantopoulos described Papariga's argument as outrageous and stressed that exorcising the problem in the name of generalized perceptions caused confusion and perpetuated existing situations.

Acting gov't spokesman on opposition leaders' meeting to discuss transparency: Acting government spokesman Telemachos Hytiris once again rose to the defense of the government's record on transparency on Tuesday, saying that the existing legislative framework was adequate.

Hytiris was responding to questions regarding a Monday meeting between Coalition of the Left and Progress leader Nikos Constantopoulos and the leader of main opposition New Democracy, Costas Karamanlis, who have both implied the existence of powerful vested interests operating behind the scenes.

"The fact that there are economic interests and that these apply pressure is well-known and obvious. These do their job and the government defends the interests of the Greek people with full transparency," Hytiris countered.

He refused to name any of these "interests" on demand, however, directing reporters to look to media reports "to discover what everyone wants."

"The government isn't here to name names," he added.

[09] First session of new Holy Synod discusses religious education

Athens, 06/09/2000 (ANA)

He said that a new letter had been sent to Education Minister Petros Efthymiou, saying that the decision would marginalize the subject in the eyes of students.

He also said that the Church insists on its positions as regards the issue of identity cards (and the government's decision to drop the record of religious affiliation on these) and for the time being will not agree to discuss any other issue.

Archbishop rails against government in ecclesiastical gazette: Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and All Greece, the head of the Greek Orthodox Church, lashed out against the government and the media on Tuesday in an article appearing in the ecclesiastical gazette "Efimerios".

Describing the ruling party members as "misinformation scientists" he claimed that their decision to drop the religious beliefs category on citizen identity cards victimized the "Greek people of the Church" and constituted "moral harassment" of the public expression of their culture and faith. The powers that be, he added, were trying to impose a "model of existence hitherto unknown to the Greek people" and "contrary to the wishes of the popular majority," while he hinted that foreign interests might be behind the issue.

Charging that the government was deliberately aiming to "neutralize the influence of the Church over the people" he also accused the media of aiding and abetting this goal in the way they were covering the dispute.

[10] Liberals, POL.AN leaders visit TIF

Athens, 06/09/2000 (ANA)

The two leaders, who paid separate visits at TIF, met with TIF S.A. Managing Director Haralampos Tsarouhas and HELEXPO S.A. Managing Director Chrysostomos Geroukis, two companies that were created when the TIF-HELEXPO S.A. was split in two.

Manos discussed with the directors the aims and prospects of the companies as they move toward privatization.

Samaras on the other hand noted that "every exhibition space was filled with new technology products and especially computers."

[11] ICAO chief pleased with standard of Greece's civil aviation

Athens, 06/09/2000 (ANA)

Kotaite, who was also received on Tuesday by President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos, noted a significant reduction in flight delays this summer and an increase in air traffic. He also praised the high standard of the country's air traffic control.

He said that there will be a major increase in air traffic in the coming years and that governments must be prepared to face the challenges of the future.

The modern model of flight organization, Kotaite added, should be based on two axes, namely the finding of better and more economical solutions both for airline companies and the passengers and the high standard of flight safety.

The agenda of his talks includes issues such as flight safety and environmental concerns linked to noise pollution and aircraft exhaust fumes.

[12] Govt says earthquake cost estimated at 900 billion drachmas

Athens, 06/09/2000 (ANA)

Speaking to reporters, Laliotis said the figure included the cost of financial support to citizens hit by the quake and the reconstruction and repairing of public and private buildings. He said that measures taken totalled 200 billion drachmas already.

Laliotis announced the creation of a special registry for building hit by the earthquake.

"A lot has been done, but more must and will be done," Laliotis said.

A total of 19,000 buildings (private houses, flats and factory sites) have already been included in reconstruction programs while applications for housing support have totalled 2,330, with 1,550 have been approved, Laliotis said.

[13] Government, unions head for clash over employment proposals

Athens, 06/09/2000 (ANA)

GSEE officials said that the union's final decision on a dialogue with the government would be determined on Wednesday at a meeting of the executive committee.

GSEE's chairman, Christos Polyzogopoulos, reiterated however that the union was determined to move ahead with its decision for a pan-Hellenic 24-hour strike in October and said it was preparing to fight against government proposals for more flexible labor relations.

Polyzogopoulos noted that there were some new moves in government tactics, but said that unions were not willing to start talks on deregulating the current status on massive lay-offs, promoting part-time employment, or rescheduling the working hours regime on an annual basis.

He said that GSEE would attend a Friday meeting with Labor Minister Tassos Yiannitsis but said that it would reject any government pressure to discuss industrial relations issues.

"Our aim is to promote a 35-hour week," Polyzogopoulos said.

Meanwhile, Hellenic Telecommunications Organizations staff on Tuesday called for repeating 24-hour strikes following tabling in parliament of a draft bill envisaging the sale of the organization to private investors by the government. Workers' unions in Public Power Corporation and State Railways have responded positively to a call by Hellenic Telecoms' unions for a joint action against plans for the full privatization of state enterprises.

OTOE, the union of bank employees, also called for a 24-hour strike for September 22.

Labor ministry proposals 'the answer' to unemployment, spokesman says: The Labor ministry's proposals for social dialogue and the positions presented by Labor Minister Tassos Yiannitsis are "the answer to the problems of unemployment," acting government spokesman Telemachos Hytiris said on Tuesday.

According to Hytiris, the positions represent a "framework-proposal" in view of social dialogue on labor issues and a "consensus model for modern and better labor relations."

The spokesman also ventured that the proposals would dispel the climate of suspicion that had developed recently.

[14] Greek stocks surge 5.05 pct on ASE

Athens, 06/09/2000 (ANA)

Traders said a wave of buying orders by foreign institutional investors, focused on blue chip stocks, led the Greek bourse higher.

An expected interest rate-cut by the Bank of Greece also encouraged sentiment in the market.

The general index ended at 3,839.76 points, up 5.05 percent with turnover a heavy 121.08 billion drachmas. The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks ended 5.32 percent higher at 2,191.16 points and the FTSE/ASE 40 rose 4.80 percent to 515.51 points.

Sector indices ended as follows: Banks: 7,371.25 +4.85% Leasing: 664.24 +3.31% Insurance: 2,295.55 +3.95% Investment: 1,482.08 +4.69% Construction: 1,769.81 +6.22% Industrials: 2,379.80 +4.37% Miscellaneous: 4,109.81 +5.93% Holding: 4,495.49 +9.85%

The parallel market index for smaller capitalization stocks ended at 624.27 points, up 5.03 percent.

Broadly, advancers led decliners by 334 to 15 with only two issues unchanged.

Hellenic Telecoms, Commercial Bank, National Bank, Intracom, Panafon and Bank of Piraeus were the most heavily traded stocks.

Leading shares' closing prices (in Drs): National Bank: 14,000 Titan Cement (c): 14,990 Alpha Bank: 12,630 Hellenic Telecoms: 7,895 Commercial Bank: 17,430 Panafon: 3,930 Hellenic Petroleum: 4,140 Eurobank: 8,995 Attica Enterprises: 2,995 Bank of Piraeus: 6,240 Intracom: 12,940 Lambrakis Press: 9,530 Minoan Lines: 3,560 Heracles Cement: 6,145

Hellenic Bottling: 4,470

Equity futures end higher in record turnover: Equity futures traded on the Athens Derivatives Exchange finished higher on Tuesday, in line with the indices on which they are based. Turnover posted a record high.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index closed 5.32 percent up, and the FTSE/ASE 40 ended 4.80 percent higher.

Turnover was an all-time high of 27.2 billion drachmas.

A total of 4,085 contracts were traded on the FTSE/ASE 20 with turnover at 17.5 billion drachmas.

On the FTSE/ASE 40 index, 4,779 contracts changed hands on turnover of 9.6 billion drachmas.

Bond prices end higher in heavy buying: Bond prices in the domestic secondary market on Tuesday finished higher in brisk, buy-oriented trade focusing on five-year paper.

The Greek benchmark 10-year bond showed a yield of around 6.01 percent, roughly the same as in the previous session.

The Greek paper's yield spread over German bunds was 79-80 basis points from 81 basis points a trading day earlier.

Turnover through the central bank's electronic system totalled 110 billion drachmas from 40 billion drachmas the session before.

Of the total, buy orders accounted for the bulk of trade.

Announcement that the central bank would lower its money market intervention rates by 75 basis points from Wednesday sparked a fresh round of buying in after-hours trade.

Greek long-term bond yields fall substantially: Long-term bond yields fell substantially during Tuesday's regular state bond auction by the Public Debt Management Organization.

The average weighed yield of a five-year bond issue, worth 200 billion drachmas and paying an annual coupon of 5.95 percent, fell to 5.99 percent from 6.13 percent in the previous auction of same bonds in July 18.

Bids submitted totalled 780.5 billion drachmas, almost four times more the asked sum.

Drachma down vs. euro, dollar: The drachma on Tuesday ended lower 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 337.640 drachmas from 337.550 drachmas in the previous session.

Also at the fix, the dollar was set at 378.920 drachmas from 374.680 drachmas a day earlier.

[15] Maillis Group expands presence in Poland

Athens, 06/09/2000 (ANA)

A company statement said that Marflex would join forces with M.J. Maillis Poland Sp. Z.o.o, a combination to result in significant synergies and savings.

Marflex is the biggest stretch film producer in Eastern Europe and the biggest producer of plastic bags in Poland.

Maillis plans to more than double Marflex's production capacity to a combined production of more than 70,000 tones of stretch film, accounting to annual sales of more than 35 billion drachmas.

[16] Merchant marine minister says progress made in cleaning up oil spill

Athens, 06/09/2000 (ANA)

The prosecutor requested special note be taken on the possibility of state agencies' lackluster performance of their duties.

Meanwhile, Merchant Marine Minister Christos Papoutsis noted that there was marked progress in cleaning up the oil spill, stressing after a meeting with local port authority officials and residents that "there has been marked progress in confronting the pollution. Following the great efforts of the port authority personnel and the cooperation of all local residents of the region and the local administration, the first results can be seen."

"I am hopeful that in the event that no further problems appear or another leakage, in a short time, we will soon be able to give back to the residents the coastline and the sea to use as before," he added.

The oil spill was a result of the sinking of the dry cargo vessel "Eurobulker 10", which snapped in two and sank off the coast of at Dilesi, northern Attica.

Authorities were still hard at work on Tuesday morning, trying to mop up an oil spill caused by the sinking of a dry-cargo freighter in Halkida last Friday. The "Eurobulker 10" split in two while being loaded with a consignment of cement, probably because of a badly distributed load, pouring the entire contents of its fuel tanks into the sea.

According to latest reports, the spill has traveled down the Euboean gulf as far as the Attica seaside resorts of Oropos and Dilesi, where it has caused extensive damage.

On its part, Greenpeace called attention to another pollution problem caused by shipping to the quality of coastal waters in Greece.

Namely, TBT pollution, which according to the non-govern-mental organization is a threat to all life in coastal waters.

TBT is used in the waterline painting of vessels to protect them from plant growth and it contains a dangerous poison that ends up polluting the waters as it deteriorates or during maintenance.

Greenpeace noted that the levels of TBT in the ports of Piraeus and Thessaloniki reached at 1.8 million times the internationally accepted levels as most maintenance of ships in Greece is conducted at port and not at dry dock as is done in other countries, such as Germany.

[17] Chrysohoidis heads meeting on violence in sports events

Athens, 06/09/2000 (ANA)

They concluded that the measures needed will include a ban on multi-party tickets to games, the transport of team supporters to out-of-town games around the country and the installation of cameras in sports stadiums to identify troublemakers.

These measures are expected to decrease the number of police officers needed in games, freeing up about 18,000 police officers who policed the games up to now.

[18] Athens 2004 delegation departs for Sydney

Athens, 06/09/2000 (ANA)

On departing, Angelopoulou-Daskalaki said "Athens 2004 will be in Sydney for the Olympic Games go gain the know-how and experience from the grandest event organized on the planet that will last for 17 days. Its not just us, people who work in Sydney have departed already, they will note conditions, they will follow the development of events, possible problems and everything else we should know."

[19] Annan states need for substantive negotiations on Cyprus problem

NEW YORK, 06/09/2000 (CNA/ANA)

Speaking at a press conference for the UN Millennium Summit, Annan said "we will press hard for a discussion on the core issues, we will want to get into the substance", adding that "we have gone beyond the stage where we get together to have talks about talks and I think we now really have to push the substance".

He said "that is what we intend to do and I hope the leaders will come prepared to do so".

Proximity talks, separate meetings of the UN with President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, began last December and a fourth round is scheduled to start on September 12, in New York, aiming at paving the way for substantive negotiations leading to a comprehensive settlement in Cyprus, divided since Turkey invaded and occupied the northern third of the island in 1974.

Asked who is to blame for the current deadlock in the Cyprus problem, Annan said: "Do you expect me to answer that and then sit with them on September 12?"

About 150 leaders of states and governments will attend the Summit, which will begin on Wednesday and end on Friday.

Among the most important issues to be discussed at the Summit are those of poverty in third world countries, especially Africa, the strengthening of UN peace operations, and ways to effectively tackle international environmental problems.

[20] Clerides due to meet UN chief

NICOSIA, 06/09/2000 (CNA/ANA)

Government spokesman Michalis Papapetrou told his daily briefing here on Tuesday that the investigative phase has been completed and the UN-led talks should now go into the substance, even though he appeared pessimistic over the prospects of the talks beginning in New York next week given the Turkish side's intransigence.

Replying to questions, the spokesman said President Clerides is in New York to discuss the core issues of the Cyprus problem and any ideas relating to confidence building measures between the two sides should be put forward in Nicosia.

Referring to the meeting the President was due to have with Annan late on Tuesday night, Papapetrou said Clerides "will raise ways of making the talks more substantive as a dialogue of the deaf cannot continue."

Asked if the Cypriot president has specific suggestions he will put to the UN chief, he said President Clerides "will put down certain ideas, including of procedural content, regarding the need for the preparatory phase to be considered as completed."

The spokesman once again called for substantive talks within the parameters set out by UN decisions, explaining that "until today Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash has been using the procedure in the hope that his illegal regime will be recognized."

He stressed that Denktash will never achieve recognition of his illegal regime in the areas of Cyprus occupied by Turkey since 1974 and the soonest he (Denktash) comes to acknowledge this fact the better it is for the Turkish Cypriots.

[21] Clinton backs bizonal, bicommunal federation in Cyprus

NICOSIA, 06/09/2000 (CNA/ANA)

In a letter accompanying his bimonthly report to Congress on progress towards a negotiated settlement in Cyprus, covering the period June 1 to July 31, President Clinton reiterates US commitment to the UN process aiming at establishing a bizonal, bicommunal federation on the island.

"The US remains committed to the UN process and efforts to bring about a solution based upon a bizonal, bicommunal federation," he says in his letter dated August 30.

In violation of UN resolutions and two agreements reached between the two sides in the 1970's stipulating for a bizonal, bicommunal federation, the Turkish side has been insisting on a "confederation of two states" and the recognition of the illegal regime in the areas of Cyprus occupied by Turkey since 1974.

President Clinton refers to the latest UN effort to bring about comprehensive negotiations between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities, that opened last December, and notes the proximity talks are continuing.

"However," he adds, "as my colleagues at the G8 Summit in Okinawa (Japan) and I agreed, the two parties need to intensify negotiations in order to bring about a just and lasting settlement."

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