Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 00-09-16

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

CONTENTS

[01] Territorial aspect of Cyprus problem focus of UN-led talks, Clerides say

[02] FM Papandreou holds talks with Turkish counterpart Cem

[03] Greece insists on substantive Cyprus talks, FM Papandreou says

[04] Papandreou addresses UN General Assembly on global and regional issues

[05] NATO military chiefs conclude annual convention

[06] Turkish warplanes infringe Athens FIR near island of Kos

[07] Laliotis expresses full support for

[08] Fotiadis to visit Copenhagen on Sunday for talks on interstate cooperation

[09] Checks prevent new fuel price increases

[10] Greek stocks end volatile session lower

[11] Greek companies to build power station in FYROM

[12] Greece to auction 20-year bond issue on Tuesday

[13] Company bankruptcies down 90 percent in August, yr/yr

[14] Environment minister to hold press conference on European day without cars

[15] Simitis visits school providing pilot informatics lessons

[16] International gifted students' conference to begin in Thessaloniki on Monday

[17] EU's chief negotiator for Cyprus says island on right track

[18] Sweden says will push European Commission to promote Cyprus' EU accession

[19] Council of Europe protocol to go into effect in Cyprus

[01] Territorial aspect of Cyprus problem focus of UN-led talks, Clerides says

NEW YORK, 16/09/2000 (ANA M. Georgiadou/CNA)

Clerides also said that he met with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan earlier in the day. The two-hour and ten-minute meeting with de Soto was part of the fourth round of UN-led proximity talks on the Cyprus issue between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities.

We will continue the discussion on the issue on Monday, Clerides noted, adding that Fridays discussion focused on the size of the cantons to be set up as part of a comprehensive solution of the Cyprus problem.

References in a statement by the UN Secretary General on the Cyprus peace talks, which were opened to different interpretations, have been fully clarified to President Clerides, before he returned Friday to the UN-led proximity talks after a two-day absence.

The president, having received assurances that negotiations are taking place in the framework of the UN Security Council resolutions, said, through his spokesman, that he is not looking for excuses to leave the dialogue, because such a move would perpetuate the division of Cyprus.

Kofi Annan's statement, issued as the peace talks opened here Tuesday, raised concerns among the Greek Cypriot side with regard to references stressing the need for explicit recognition of the equal status of the parties (engaged in negotiations) in the comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus question.

Speaking after a lengthy meeting with Cypriot party leaders here, Government Spokesman Michalis Papapetrou said, "all unclear references, everything that could have been exploited by the Turkish side, have been fully annulled and revoked".

"President Clerides has received assurances, through public statements and in private, that the negotiations are continuing strictly in the framework set out by the UN Security Council resolutions," Papapetrou said.

The spokesman also said the president received assurances that the political equality, which is interpreted by Security Council resolutions, is a notion that should be seen along these interpretations.

The UN defines political equality not as numerical equality but sufficient representation in the governance of the federal state, which will emerge from the talks.

Noting that the president did not attend the talks in the past couple of days, he said, "we gave a big diplomatic battle and we believe we have won this battle."

"In view of the above and because President Clerides does not seek to find excuses to leave the talks, as this would perpetuate the status quo in Cyprus and the division of Cyprus, he has decided to go to the dialogue to carry on the discussion on this basis," Papapetrou added.

He also pointed out that the president seeks to break the current deadlock and find a solution of the Cyprus question, by reuniting the island in the framework of a bizonal, bicommunal federation, as provided by the UN decisions.

"Our side will not under any circumstances facilitate Mr. Denktash (Turkish Cypriot leader) and his intransigent stance and put on our shoulders the responsibilities which he bears," the spokesman said.

Denktash has been demanding recognition of his self-styled regime in Turkish occupied Cyprus and has often stated his goal is to establish two separate states on the island.

[02] FM Papandreou holds talks with Turkish counterpart Cem

NEW YORK, 16/09/2000 (ANA-M. Georgiadou)

According to press sources, the talks between the two ministers focused on Greek-Turkish relations and the Cyprus issue.

[03] Greece insists on substantive Cyprus talks, FM Papandreou says

NEW YORK, 16/09/2000 (ANA-M. Georgiadou)

"As you know, my delegation and I, personally, are making coordinated, systematic efforts with the delegations of all countries involved in any way with the Cyprus problem," said Papandreou, in New York for the UN general assembly that were to coincide with the resumption of UN-brokered proximity talks between the Cyprus government and the Turkish Cypriot community aiming at a solution of the 26-year-old problem.

Annan's statement, which was open to differing interpretations, resulted in the abstention from the proximity talks by Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides since it was made public on Tuesday. Clerides also called an emergency meeting of the Cyprus National Council.

Papandreou said the he had expressed to Annan the Greek side's concern over the turn in the developments, and over the interpretation of the UN chief's statements, "which can be interpreted in a variety of ways, and which, in fact, have been interpreted in a very negative manner by certain sides".

"Consequently, I asked for assurances, and Mr. Annan's response was positive. He gave us important and necessary assurances on the course and framework of the (Cyprus) talks. I also asked that he (Annan) also brief President Clerides," Papandreou said, adding that Annan had briefed Clerides by phone in his presence during their meeting.

"I also just spoke with Mr. Clerides on the phone," he added.

Papandreou said he believed that "we are (heading) in a positive direction for overcoming this impasse", but declined further comment and said that Clerides and the Cyprus National Council, which was due to meet "very soon", were the appropriate authorities to speak on that matter.

Asked by reporters whether Annan's clarifications were satisfactory, Papandreou noted that the clarifications had been made to both the Greek and Cypriot governments, and said that the Cyprus National Council and Clerides would make the final assessment.

Asked whether the fourth round of proximity talks would begin as planned, Papandreou said that would be decided soon at the National Council meeting to be chaired by Clerides.

Papandreou declined to give his own interpretation to the Annan statement, saying the purpose of his visit with the UN chief was to ensure that the necessary clarifications were presented to the Cyprus government, which would in turn assess them, "but I cannot know what the final stance will be of the Cyprus side, which will assess the tactic of the entire negotiation, which is at a very critical stage".

"I wish to stress here that Greece insists that there must be substantive talks and that the Cyprus issue must finally be resolved. We have an opportunity. We hope that all the sides will correctly appraise this opportunity. I hope that Turkey will finally realize that it is standing in front of its responsibilities and will have to make substantive efforts finally for the settlement of the issue".

Turkey's stance on the Cyprus issue "will be decisive for its relations not only with the Greek Cypriots, but with Hellenism in general, with Greece, and of course with the wider international community and the European Union," the Greek foreign minister said.

In reply to press questions, Papandreou said that Greek prime minister was being constantly updated on the situation and the steps being taken.

Meanwhile, the UN Secretary General's spokesman Fred Eckhart said that the assurances provided by the secretary general's special adviser on Cyprus, Alvaro de Soto, during his meeting with Clerides that Annan's statement did not mean recognition of the Turkish Cypriot pseudo-state were "fully adopted" by the UN chief.

In Nicosia, president of the United Democrats party and head of Cyprus' team negotiating the island republic's European Union membership, George Vassiliou, said that the various interpretations of the controversial Annan statement were "wrong", and the reactions to the statement "excessive".

The former Cyprus president conceded, however, that Annan had "made clear his effort to satisfy (Turkish Cypriot leader) Rauf Denktash, but he went a bit too far".

Vassiliou said he agreed with de Soto that the statement did not mean recognition of the pseudo-state, nor did it underline a tendency for recognition.

He declined to comment on the handling of the matter by the Cyprus delegation in New York, but said that "what caused concern to us was the fact that voices were heard (calling) for withdrawal from the proximity talks, which would be catastrophic not only for the resolution of the Cyprus issue but also for Cyprus' EU accession course".

Spokesman comments on Greek FM's handling of crisis in Cyprus talks: Foreign Minister George Papandreou is the prime mover of Greece's foreign policy, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said on Friday, and through his presence is making a contribution to resolving the issue that has arisen regarding the Cyprus talks.

The spokesman added that for Greece and the rest of the international community, the only legal authority on Cyprus was the Cyprus Republic.

Reppas was referring to the controversy that followed the presentation by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan in New York on Wednesday, of a statement that called on both sides in the fourth round of Cyprus proximity talks to continue negotiations as "political equals...each representing his own side... and no one else."

Reppas noted that the Cyprus issue had now entered a crucial phase, and added that Athens was waiting for Annan's response with regard to his statements before it decided its position.

Annan's statements provoke reaction from Arsenis, welcomed by Ecevit: Former national defense and education minister under PASOK, Gerassimos Arsenis, on Friday called on the government to help the Cyprus Republic "maintain a firm stance against multiple pressures," following the "provocative and unacceptable statements of UN Secretary-General [Kofi Annan], in which he upgrades the occupied part of Cyprus into a regime with an equal standing to the Cyprus Republic."

In a statement read out to Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash at the start of a fourth round of Cyprus proximity talks at the UN on Wednesday, Annan essentially appeared to bow to years of pressure from the Turkish side to recognize the occupied north as an independent state, saying that two sides should continue talks as political equals.

The statement read: "In the course of these talks I have ascertained that the parties share a common desire to bring about, through negotiations in which each represents its side -- and no one else -- as the political equal of the other, a comprehensive settlement enshrining a new partnership on which to build a better future in peace, security and prosperity on a united island."

The breakaway Turkish-Cypriot regime is not recognized by anyone apart from Turkey, and the Cyprus President is officially regarded as representing the whole of the island.

In his announcement, Arsenis said that Annan's statements "complete goes against the resolutions of the UN General Assembly and the decisions of the Security Council and he overlooks the international dimensions of the problem, which is one of illegal military occupation of the territory of an independent UN member-state."

He also said that to accept Annan's recommendation to continue Cyprus proximity talks on this basis would be extremely dangerous for the future of Greece in general, since legalizing the Turkish-Cypriot regime would "turn Cyprus into a Turkish protectorate and open up new fronts in the Aegean and in Thrace."

Meanwhile, according to a report by the ANA correspondent in Ankara Aris Abatzis, Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit has once more welcomed the UN Secretary-General's statements as an "important development" since he accepted that "the two sides on Cyprus cannot represent each other and that they have a different identity and sovereignty."

"The existence of two separate states on Cyprus has, for some time, been an indisputable reality," the Turkish premier continued "and this reality the world will accept, sooner or later."

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish occupation troops took over the northern third of the island and barred Greek-Cypriots from entering or reclaiming property in the occupied territories. The regime to the north is recognized only by itself and Turkey, and they have indefatigably resisted all international and UN-brokered attempts to reunite the island, demanding independent statehood.

The occupied north's population of approximately 160,000 includes some 80,000 settlers brought over from Turkey since 1974.

Bakoyianni criticizes government over developments on Cyprus issue: Main opposition New Democracy party representative for foreign and defense affairs Dora Bakoyianni said on Friday "Greece's policy is being led to total collapse following the extremely dangerous developments in New York on the Cyprus issue."

Bakoyianni placed responsibility on the Simitis government for developments and said "the unilateral policy of appeasement in general, which lacks strategic processing, and the continuous mistakes on the Cyprus issue in particular are allowing the UN secretary general and the mediators of the major powers on the Cyprus issue to transfer all the pressure on the Greek side now and indeed with the substantive adoption of basic Turkish and Turkish Cypriot positions."

She said "the Simitis government should adopt clear and steadfast positions on the national issue to enable all to know what the limits of our policy are.

"Vagueness and incompetence fuel pressures against us," she added.

[04] Papandreou addresses UN General Assembly on global and regional issues

NEW YORK, 16/09/2000 (ANA - M. Georgiadou)

"Violence might be an intrinsic part of humanity. But, so are humanity's relentless efforts to rule out violence, regulate antagonism, peacefully solve confrontational situations and prevent hatred and prejudice. Whether we come together to understand each other or to debate each other, our goal has always been to better our lives and build a more secure future," Papandreou told the assembly.

This month was marked by two events "that will bring our world closer together than any other time in history" -- the UN Millennium Assembly and the Sydney Olympic Games. "At the dawn of the 21st century, nations shall meet, compete, clash, differ and disagree. And yet our world has never looked closer together or more determined to tackle its problems as one, indivisible community," Papandreou said.

Greece has become deeply conscious of the fact that what goes on in a neighboring community directly affects the way, which its children will grow and develop. "So we have made a commitment to our world, and more specifically to our region".

Papandreou said two global events this month -- the current Assembly and the 2000 Olympic Games -- "symbolize the beginning of an era" for Greece.

"For the next four years, Athens has committed itself to run both an athletic and a cultural Olympiad. Today, I commit our country to an Olympiad for Peace: four years of the most relentless effort to inspire the international community with a fight against the evils that have kept our community of nations at war, under totalitarianism and in oppression," Papandreou said adding that Greece's efforts will focus on several levels.

"We shall fight in international fora. We shall take initiatives wherever we feel we can make a difference. And we shall fight relentlessly for peace and prosperity in our own region...I pledge to you today that when the Olympic flame of our ancestors rises over the Athenian sky, it will light up more than a shiny stadium. It will light up a whole area fighting for peace, democracy and justice. Athens will use this flame to light up a region committed to its children and proud of its history".

Globalization, he warned, "while creating incredible wealth for many, (also) fosters conditions for conflict. The new global economy cannot be dominated by interests and must be monitored to promote human security".

For the next four years, he pledged, Greece will take an active role in international fora to do its part in dealing with globalization, and this was why the country had "enthusiastically accepted" an invitation to join the Human Security Network.

In the next four years, "we commit Greece to an effort to transform the multitude of races, religions and ethnicities in the region into an instrument of solidarity, stability, a beautiful kaleidoscope of creative multicultural cooperation.

Greece's vision for the Balkans, the foreign minister continued, "is one of a region in which democracy finally becomes the norm; where citizens' aspirations can finally be realized through peaceful and democratic practices; where the rights of minorities are respected; where governments are accountable, economies are transparent and politics allow for the fullest participation of all elements of society".

But the world also had a responsibility to support this vision for the region. "First, we need to empower the region that has historically been handicapped, dependent and divided by a world community of competing interests and a babble of conflicting signals. This 'balkanization' of the region must be replaced by coordination of international efforts. Secondly, we need to support cooperation within the region. Thirdly, we need to invest in the region: in infrastructure and, most importantly, in education in order to tap into its full human potential," Papandreou said.

Greece, he said, had actively supported and promoted this new vision with the international community and, last year, its efforts helped more than 40 countries develop a unique contract between the international community and SE Europe, known as the "Stability Pact".

"We have a clear sense of how the Stability Pact can achieve its goals and it is an optimistic sign that the EU, the US and Russia cooperate closely within its framework," he added.

Greece's stand in international organizations and its agenda for the next four years is also colored by its recent experience with Turkey, Papandreou said. "The earthquakes that shook Greece and Turkey a year ago created a new climate for the first time in our recent diplomatic history. Tragedy generated a genuine feeling of human warmth between two peoples involved in historic strife. Spontaneous acts of fraternity and solidarity...short-circuited elaborate diplomatic strategies and exerted powerful pressure on our governments to move ahead boldly. Our mandate was clear. Our peoples desire to live in peace together".

Since the earthquakes, he continued, Greeks and Turks have taken every opportunity "to explore their newfound neighbors and come together, exchange experiences and make up for lost time".

On a bilateral level, the two countries have signed 10 agreements "that will radically change the environment in which we interact", an "honest" dialogue has opened up and, "although we may and do differ on many issues, such as how we see Cyprus and how we approach our bilateral relations, this open approach can only lead to a progressive resolution of our problems," the foreign minister explained.

"I believe that Greece and Turkey have no choice but to explore new avenues for cooperation. I believe our mutual interests can outweigh our political differences. We can and must resolve these differences through peaceful means at the International Court of Justice," he said.

The EU decision to upgrade Turkey's status to that of candidate country in Helsinki in December "marked a historic turning point in Greek-Turkish relations".

Helsinki, he said, did not signal the end of Greece's efforts, but rather the "beginning of new and equally courageous Greek initiatives. We believe that Turkey will succeed in showing the same courage. We hope to capitalize on the positive climate to resolve issues such as the continental shelf and the Cyprus question".

Papandreou said that problems "like Cyprus -- which is not a bilateral issue-- do exist", and it was "most distressing that a variety of statements and acts still undermine this very genuine and difficult effort", but it was the two countries' "historical duty to overcome these difficulties and maintain the momentum".

The minister said that a solution to the Cyprus problem should be seen as a "win-win situation".

A Cyprus solution, he said, was "vital for peace, stability and security in our region", and called on Ankara to "show its political will in order to eliminate the most apparent cause of tension that threatens regional peace, as well as European and NATO coherence and integrity".

"We believe that stability in our region is the pre-requisite for Greek security and we define stability to mean the practice of democracy, the strengthening of institutions that provide transparency and accountability, the reduction of economic inequalities and the rule of law in our societies and between our countries. Our security lies in being members of the European Union and of NATO and we work so that countries of the region may benefit from the stabilizing influence of membership in these institutions," Papandreou said.

"We believe that if our principles apply to our practice in our immediate geographical vicinity, then they must also apply globally," the minister continued.

"The final area of our concentration is new international initiatives in which our country can play a role. Drawing on our ancient traditions, we are working to re-establish the practice of Olympic Truce. We aspire to the day when the tradition of suspending all hostilities during the Olympic Games becomes the seed of a more lasting peace."

For that purpose, in close cooperation with the International Olympic Committee, Greece has established the International Center for Olympic Truce in the village of Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympic Games in antiquity.

He explained that in both ancient and modern Greek, the word for truce, "ekecheiria", had a dual meaning. "It mean's setting one's weapons aside and it means reaching out one's hand in friendship".

"We do not simply aspire to a momentary truce but a continuous truce; an 'active Truce'...We aspire to a truce where the cessation of hostilities during the Olympic Games will be sued to engage in activities that can have a long-lasting effect towards peace and reconciliation" such as humanitarian aid, dialogue between civil society leaders, and exchanges of youth in an effort to discover each other's culture.

An Olympic Truce "can add an important new dimension to already flourishing activities for peace. It can complement the work of national and international organizations specializing in conflict prevention and resolution, and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations sharing similar objectives".

"It is a worthy project, upon which we all place high hopes," Papandreou said.

[05] NATO military chiefs conclude annual convention

ISTANBUL, 16/09/2000 (ANA - A. Kourkoulas)

At the end of the last session, Turkey's National Defense General Staff Chief General Husein Kivrikoglu and the Chairman of the Military Committee Italian Admiral Guido Venturoni held a joint press conference.

Responding to a relevant question, Kivrikoglu said that "there will be further positive developments between Greece and Turkey ... in parallel with the political developments their will be developments on the military levels as well".

"My Greek counterpart (Greek National Defense General Staff Chief General Manoussos Paragioudakis) and I have a very good relationship," he said, adding, "the Confidence Building Measures (CBM) are issues on which the politicians of the two countries should decided on".

On his part, Venturoni said that CBMs between Greece and Turkey were not on the agenda of the conference, adding that this was an affair to be dealt with by the political leaderships of Greece and Turkey.

"The conference dealt mainly with the reorganization of NATO's forces, so as for them to adjust to the new international and regional needs. We agreed on the criteria according to which we will select later on the locations of the three Immediate Response General Headquarters of the alliance," he said.

"We did not discuss at all the locations, but we agreed on the criteria according to which we will select these locations ... Readiness, deployment of forces, flexibility of movement, the infrastructure of communications with other NATO mechanisms, infrastructure and telecommunications are some of the criteria on which we agreed," he stressed.

Later in the day, Turkish President Ahmed Sezer was expected to host a dinner for the military leaders of NATO, here in Istanbul, while on Saturday the participants of the conference will tour historical and archaeological sites of the city.

In a related development, Paragioudakis, along with his NATO counterparts, observed war games of the Turkish Armed Forces, organized in light of the conference.

Following the war games the Greek General said, "the military war games were impressive", adding that the coordination of the forces' movements were excellent.

The convention began in an Athens hotel last Sunday and continued in Istanbul from Wednesday to Saturday, as this annual event always includes visits, entitled MC Tour, in two to three NATO countries.

All 19 NATO member-states participated via their National Defense General Staff Chiefs, while the Supreme Alliance Commander Europe and the Supreme Alliance Commander Atlantic represented the high command of the alliance.

The convention was initially scheduled to take place in Greece and Turkey last year but was rescheduled due to the earthquakes that hit Turkey on Aug. 17, 1999 and Greece on Sept. 7, 1999. Last year's convention was moved to Brussels.

[06] Turkish warplanes infringe Athens FIR near island of Kos

Athens, 16/09/2000 (ANA)

A total of 8 Turkish warplanes made two air traffic regulation infringements of the Athens FIR in the area of Kos. The formations of Turkish warplanes also made two national airspace violations in the region.

The Turkish warplanes were recognized and intercepted by Greek warplanes. The Turkish F-16s, which flew in groupings of four, were unarmed and no engagements occurred during the interception.

[07] Laliotis expresses full support for

Athens, 16/09/2000 (ANA)

"My support for the [2004 Olympics Organizing] Committee and Mrs. Gianna Angelopoulou-[Daskalaki] personally was and is a fact, because [the committee] has for some time now shown energy, an action plan, recognition but also results," the minister stressed in response to questions.

He added that his collaboration with Angelopoulou-Daskalaki had been "productive and effective" and that the Olympics Organizing Committee, its chairwoman, the government delegation and the Greek athletes at the Sydney 2000 Olympics were ably representing the country and promoting a national affair, which was the organization of the Olympic Games in Athens in 2004.

With regard to the 2004 Olympics, Laliotis concluded, Greece and the Greek people faced a great challenge and had only one option: success.

Reppas expresses government's support for "Athens 2004" chairwoman: "Gianna Angelopoulou-Daskalaki (chairwoman of the "Athens 2004" Olympics Organizing Committee) is the choice of the government that is supported by the majority of the Greek people," government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said on Friday. She also enjoys the support of all the parties, Reppas continued, and has dealt successfully with many of the problems that have arisen in the organization of the 2004 Olympics.

The spokesman made these statements in response to questions regarding the head of the "Athens 2004" Olympics committee, who has come under attack recently over the high salaries paid to the top executives of "Athens 2004". According to Reppas, Angelopoulou-Daskalaki was the right person for the job, who would successfully carry out her task.

He also noted that in a democracy, no one was above criticism and scrutiny but that there were no obstacles standing in the way of Mrs. Angelopoulou and her work, only a desire to help.

[08] Fotiadis to visit Copenhagen on Sunday for talks on interstate cooperation

Athens, 16/09/2000 (ANA)

The Greek delegation will visit Denmark's tax and customs authorities for a briefing on services provided for the public through modern technological infrastructures.

During his stay in Copenhagen, Fotiadis will meet with members of the Greek community in Denmark to discuss issues currently preoccupying them.

[09] Checks prevent new fuel price increases

Athens, 16/09/2000 (ANA)

It is reminded that it was agreed in a meeting between Development Minister Nikos Christodoulakis and representatives of oil refineries, petroleum companies and petrol station owners that gasoline prices should remain unchanged until midnight on September 20. Until this date the suggested price of super gasoline will be 273.3 drachmas per liter in the Attica basin and Thessaloniki and that of unleaded 257.1 drachmas per liter.

[10] Greek stocks end volatile session lower

Athens, 16/09/2000 (ANA)

Traders said foreign investors were cautiously buying in the telecommunications sector.

The general index ended 1.00 percent lower at 4,247.12 points, off the day's highs of 4,350 and the day's lows of 4,191.35 points. The index was 4.05 percent lower in the week.

Turnover was a moderate 155.29 billion drachmas, or an average 159.363 billion in the week, down from 170.75 billion the previous week.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks ended at 2,399.42 points, off 1.19 percent, and the FTSE/ASE 40 index fell 0.88 percent to 562.99 points.

The parallel market index for smaller capitalization stocks ended 2.72 percent lower at 665.94 points.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 254 to 90 with another 10 issues unchanged.

Alpha Bank, Hellenic Telecoms, National Bank, Commercial Bank, Panafon, Piraeus Bank and Hellenic Stock Markets were the most heavily traded stocks.

Equity futures end down, tracking Athens bourse: Equity futures traded on the Athens Derivatives Exchange finished lower on Friday, in line with the indices on which they are based.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index closed 1.19 percent down, and the FTSE/ASE 40 ended 0.88 percent lower.

Turnover was 28.5 billion drachmas.

A total of 4,356 contracts were traded on the FTSE/ASE 20 with turnover at 21.5 billion drachmas.

On the FTSE/ASE 40 index, 2,965 contracts changed hands on turnover of 6.9 billion drachmas.

Bond prices end mixed in moderate trade: Bond prices in the domestic secondary market on Friday finished mixed in moderate trade with players buying into medium-term paper and selling 20-year securities.

The Greek benchmark 10-year bond showed a yield of 6.078 percent from 6.05 percent in the last session.

The Greek paper's yield spread over German bunds was 80 basis points, the same as a trading day earlier.

Turnover through the central bank's electronic system totalled 82 billion drachmas from 150 billion drachmas in the session before.

Of the total, buy orders accounted for 44.0 billion drachmas of trade.

Drachma ends down vs. euro, dollar: The drachma on Friday 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 338.650 drachmas from 338.510 drachmas in the previous session.

Also at the fix, the dollar was set at 391.890 drachmas from 389.850 drachmas a trading day earlier.

[11] Greek companies to build power station in FYROM

Athens, 16/09/2000 (ANA)

The power station, powered with natural gas, will have an electrical power of 160 MW and a thermal power of 150 MW.

Prometheus Gas, a member of Copelouzos Group, is the representative of OAO Gazprom, Russia's biggest natural gas producer, in the Balkans and has secured amble quantities of natural gas (around 250 million cubic meters annually) to power the new station.

Demco is a member of Kontominas Group.

The new power station is expected to be operational in mid-2003.

[12] Greece to auction 20-year bond issue on Tuesday

Athens, 16/09/2000 (ANA)

The bond, paying an annual coupon of 6.50 percent, is a re-opening of a previous issue dated October 22, 1999.

Settlement date was set Friday, September 22.

[13] Company bankruptcies down 90 percent in August, yr/yr

Athens, 16/09/2000 (ANA)

Company bankruptcies totalled 448 in the first eight months of 2000, down 18.4 percent from the same period last year. A total of 23 companies filed for bankruptcy in August, down 84.2 percent on a year-on-year basis, for a total of 1,070 in the January-August period.

Bouncing bills totalled 23,667 pieces in August, worth 6.362 billion drachmas, a fall of 18.1 percent in volume and 21.5 percent in value.

Bouncing checks totalled 6,325 pieces, worth 12.430 billion drachmas in the same month, down 21.0 percent in volume and 31.6 percent in value.

Payment orders totalled 2,327 in August, down 47.4 percent from the same month in 1999.

[14] Environment minister to hold press conference on European day without cars

Athens, 16/09/2000 (ANA)

The "European day without cars - in a city without cars" is scheduled for next Friday and was a joint initiative of environment ministers from all 15 member-states of the Union. Sixty municipalities from around the country are participating under the auspices of the ministry of environment.

Laliotis stressed that next Friday all should leave their cars for that one day, adding that the day's message should be "red light for cars- green light for citizens" - the slogan of the ministry to promote abstinence from private car usage for one day.

"Let's make a new start, on Friday, September 22, the 'Day without cars" will be applied in many European cities, aiming to sensitize citizens, " Laliotis said.

"We would like to be optimistic that given the correct information, the awakening and consensus of the people, the citizens, 'The day without cars' can and should have a longer duration. It can and should have a wider scope in urban centers," he added. "We hope that next year the municipalities participating will be double. The European experience has show as much. When the first effort was made in 1998 in France 33 municipalities participated, a year later the number rose to 158 of which 66 in France and 92 in Italy. This year, 13 European countries are participating with a total of 700 municipalities," Laliotis noted.

Specifically, in Athens only several streets will be closed to traffic, mostly in and around the old historical center of the city.

[15] Simitis visits school providing pilot informatics lessons

Athens, 16/09/2000 (ANA)

Simitis, who was accompanied by Education Minister Petros Efthymiou and Deputy Mass Media Minister Telemahos Hytiris, expressed his satisfaction and stressed the need for pupils to become acquainted with electronic computers.

[16] International gifted students' conference to begin in Thessaloniki on Monday

Athens, 16/09/2000 (ANA)

The eight-day conference will begin on Monday at the "Ioannis Vellidis Conference Center" in Thessaloniki, with the participation of 200 students from Greece, Australia, Great Britain, China, Cyprus, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Norway, the Philippines, Singapore and several African countries.

The 200 participants belong to an Internet connected network and despite their youth, they have already distinguished themselves in several scientific fields.

[17] EU's chief negotiator for Cyprus says island on right track

NICOSIA, 16/09/2000 (CNA/ANA)

Speaking during a press conference on Friday, Maurer and Cyprus' chief negotiator George Vassiliou both said that a series of matters had been clarified, so that more chapters of the acquis communautaire could be wrapped up, noting that there was still quite a lot of work to be done.

Maurer said "we are progressing quite well" and that "Cyprus is the first of all the candidates with already 16 chapters provisionally closed".

He noted that implementation and enforcement of all the laws and regulations have also become more important now in this phase of the process, adding that this "will be monitored by us quite closely" and that it was not possible "for a country to have in place all the legislation but on the real ground nothing takes place".

The EU negotiator noted that "relations between Cyprus and the EU are becoming closer every day, like in the field of financial cooperation, where we will start a procedure where Cyprus will have to behave already like a member-state concerning funds".

He also said "we have to prepare the regular report with a complete picture given on the situation in Cyprus, also political, but most importantly the state of play in the negotiations and especially in the field of implementation of the acquis and the institution building".

Maurer said the report would be presented to the heads of state and government at the European Council to be held in Nice, France, at the end of this year.

Vassiliou said negotiations were "intensive" and that "the general conclusion is that firstly Cyprus is on the right track and secondly we clarified a series of elements to prepare the ground in order to temporarily close more chapters".

[18] Sweden says will push European Commission to promote Cyprus' EU accession

NICOSIA, 16/09/2000 (CNA/ANA)

She stressed the Swedish presidency will push the European Commission to promote Cyprus' accession to the EU, but it will also push Cyprus to complete its harmonization process.

Winberg, who is on holiday on the island, was speaking at a press conference in Nicosia in the framework of her communication with the people of Cyprus and the other candidate countries in view of the Swedish presidency.

She said she wanted also to present the program of the Swedish presidency on both agriculture and gender equality.

Winberg pointed out Cyprus and Sweden have very good long-standing relations and referred to the Swedish participation in the UN peacekeeping force in Cyprus (UNFICYP).

She said during her stay in Cyprus she met with Minister of Justice and Public Order Nicos Koshis, Minister of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment Costas Themistokleous, Cyprus' chief negotiator in the EU accession talks George Vassiliou and the EU chief negotiator for Cyprus Leopold Maurer, who is at present visiting the island.

Winberg said she agreed with Koshis "to start a formal deeper cooperation between Sweden and Cyprus on the gender equality" with visits from each country to the other.

As for agriculture, this is a big question for the post communist countries but this is not a big question here and "the so called problems in agriculture are not so big" regarding Cyprus' accession course, she noted.

Asked how the Swedish presidency plans to promote Cyprus' accession course to the EU, Weinberg said it "will give the highest priority to three issues, employment, environment and enlargement".

Sweden has always been pushing for enlargement and "we will put a special pressure on enlargement, and that means for Cyprus that we will push the Commission to produce those papers needed, but we will also push Cyprus", she said and added:

"They have to push themselves. That is what we can do and of course try to develop the process."

Asked whether Sweden can in any way help to promote a solution to the Cyprus problem, she said "I wish we could, but I am afraid...".

"The position of Sweden from the beginning was that we first wanted a solution before accession", but the Council in Helsinki while saying that "yes, it would have been the best thing", it accepted that Cyprus' accession process should go on, Winberg noted.

"I do not think that Sweden can solve the (political) problems but if we can play a role, we will. This is a question for the UN", she pointed out.

[19] Council of Europe protocol to go into effect in Cyprus

NICOSIA, 16/09/2000 (CNA/ANA)

The protocol will enter into force for Cyprus on December 1, 2000.

Ambassador Christophoros Yiangou, Permanent Representative of Cyprus to the Council of Europe, handed the instrument of acceptance to Walter Schwimmer, Secretary General of the organization.

Protocol Nr. 7 guarantees the right of aliens to procedural guarantees in the event of expulsion from the territory of a state, the right of a convicted person to have his sentence reviewed by a higher court and the right to compensation in the event of a miscarriage of justice.

It also guarantees the right not to be tried or punished in criminal proceedings for an offence for which one has already been acquitted or convicted. The protocol safeguards the equality of right and responsibilities of spouses.

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