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

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

CONTENTS

[01] Simitis answers policy critics, outlines government's goals for health system

[02] Papandreou comments on Turkey's EU accession course, Ecevit on inclusion of Cyprus reference in EU 'road map'

[03] Karamanlis says economy shows bogus reality

[04] Greek president to visit the Czech republic

[05] Tsohatzopoulos rejects ND claims of lack of transparency in Eurofighter plane deal

[06] Reppas responds to Tsohatzopoulos; says government already has 'post-EMU' plan

[07] NATO's Mediterranean standing fleet arrives in Souda Bay, Crete

[08] Liberals leader addresses opening of party's congress

[09] Money supply growth accelerates in September

[10] Greek stocks end lower in record-low turnover

[11] Greece's harmonized inflation rises to 2.6 percent in October

[12] Business bankruptcies fall sharply in October

[13] Greek delegation begins Balkan tour

[14] Draft deal on 2004 Olympics broadcasting seen by Tuesday

[15] Stake of OA for sale to be set in two weeks

[16] Gov't rakes in bourse tax of Dr 186.80 bln

[17] Piraeus Port Authority to invest Dr 15.6 bln in 2001

[18] Kyriakidis Marble to become strategic investor in FYROM quarry

[19] Athens Medical to launch diagnostic center in Tirana

[20] Sifounakis to award British tourist agencies

[21] Simitis inaugurates 41st Thessaloniki Film Festival

[22] Three Byzantine era exhibitions inaugurated by culture minister

[23] President to visit Irakleio to attend events in honor of city's patron saint

[24] Ecumenical Patriarch leaves for long tour of US, Nepal and India

[25] Madrid requests extradition from Athens of Spanish drug trafficker

[26] Courts postpone hearing of Roussel appeal because of strike by judicial functionaries

[27] Bulgarian students interested in modern Greek language

[28] Next round of Cyprus talks scheduled for January 26, unconfirmed reports says

[29] CoE rapporteur on cultural heritage due in Cyprus

[01] Simitis answers policy critics, outlines government's goals for health system

Athens, 11/11/2000 (ANA)

The prime minister surprised everyone by sending a broader message about PASOK's goals and priorities, rather than focusing exclusively on the government's positions on health policy.

Concerns about the government's and the party's direction had been expressed last Sunday by Defense Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos, originally Simitis' rival for the leadership of the party, who questioned whether the party had given up too much of its original socialist ideals in order to get the country into Economic and Monetary Union (EMU).

In his address on the first day of the health conference, Simitis underlined the government's determination, and his own personally, "not to take even one step back" until his policy choices "for a modern society with a human face," had been justified.

Departing from the text of his speech, he told the assembly that "PASOK cannot be an ossified and closed system of power, nor must it be transfixed to the false inflexible banners and 'certitudes' of the past. On the contrary, PASOK is a living political power of the radical, reformist and modernist Left. It is a living political power of progressive government."

Only if it continued to be a force for change, reversal and renewal, he added, could it have prospects and a future in the new age.

PASOK health policy: In other parts of his speech, the prime minister defended PASOK's record on health and social policy, especially focusing on the National Health System (ESY) that had been introduced by his party 17 years ago.

"It is ours and we love it, despite its shortcomings," he said.

Simitis linked the operation and expansion of ESY with the general rise in living standards and improved level of health of Greek people, noting that since 1983 Greeks have on average lived between three and four years longer, while infant mortality was reduced by more than half and deaths in labor to just two a year.

Behind these numbers are real people, he stressed, and noted that prior to ESY's introduction, health care was a luxury for the privileged few.

Stressing that a strong economy and a social state were not incompatible, Simitis also conceded that the present system did not meet the demands placed by Greek citizens, despite absorbing 6 per cent of GDP.

These problems and inadequacies, he concluded would be addressed by the new plan for reforming the ESY.

Healthcare minister discusses changes in healthcare system: The reform of the National Health System (ESY) will be the fulfillment of a commitment by ruling PASOK to society and the response to Greek citizens' demand for a radical and immediate change in that sector, Health and Welfare Minister Alekos Papadopoulos said, during his address to the PASOK conference on Friday.

He also called on officials and members of the ruling party to "correctly decipher the universal and silent approval of the people for reform" and for them to "undertake the responsibility to move forward in implementing it, so as for the governing party to continue to represent a majority of the Greek people".

"PASOK has a social attitude and is not looking for one, much more so it is not looking for guarantors of its work and policy," he added.

He stressed in detail the existing problems of the healthcare system in Greece, focusing on the sectors of management, organization, operation, effectiveness, the quality of the services rendered and the flood of medical doctors.

He also criticized developments in the private sector, saying that "its speedy and unregulated development and function", was a negative element in healthcare provision in Greece.

"The result of this situation is that patients have to endure hardship and humiliation, creating a climate of insecurity and distrust thus negating the basic principles of the ESY," Papadopoulos said.

He presented the basic principles of the reforms to the system, calling for management and organizational changes of hospitals aiming to combat irresponsibility and non- transparency.

He said however that the ministry was ready to discuss all aspects of its proposal with relevant organizations, but would demand the presentation of alternatives aiming for the same result, stressing that he would not accept any "discounts" to quality healthcare.

Deputy social security minister calls for cutbacks in medicine prescriptions: The Greek state spends up to 45 billion drachmas a year on health problems caused to patients by side effects of medicines that appear due to the extensive unnecessary use of medicines, Deputy Social Security Minister Nikos Farmakis said on Friday, addressing the PASOK conference on health issues.

Farmakis said that the government is obliged to complete a new package of measures, as checks of expenditures for medicines have shown that despite initial measures, increases were recorded again, similar to those that appeared in 1998 and forced the government to implement the first package of measures to limit unnecessary prescription.

The minister said that he believed at least one third of expenditures for medicines and medical check ups of patients was not conducted for the needs of the Greek people, but the needs of doctors.

Med students demonstrate as premier addresses party conference on health sector reform: Medical School students and hospital doctors on Friday staged demonstrations in Thessaloniki to protest a new health bill, as the premier was addressing a local meeting of the ruling party on health matters.

Prime minister Costas Simitis, opening the 2nd nationwide PASOK conference whose theme is 'Modern Social State - ESY (national health system) Reform - Contemporary Welfare Policies', told delegates that the government and he personally were determined not to back down "even one step" until the "choices for a modern society with a human face" had been vindicated.

The goal of a better quality-of-life was a priority emanating directly from the government's commitment to build a new social State in its current four-year term in office, Simitis told the conference.

Hundreds of med school students gathered outside the Chemistry School on Friday morning and marched across the city center to the Macedonian Studies Society building where the conference is taking place.

A strong police contingent did not allow the demonstrators to approach the building, and the protestors, chanting such slogans as "The students are not a guild, they are only fighting for free healthcare", and "This anti-popular policy does not need corrections, but abolition", continued their march along the city center.

The students are protesting at the numerous examinations for specialization introduced by the bill.

[02] Papandreou comments on Turkey's EU accession course, Ecevit on inclusion of Cyprus reference in EU 'road map'

ISTANBUL, 11/11/2000 (ANA - A. Kourkoulas)

Papandreou stressed that, as all EU candidate countries, Turkey's course would be strewn with sometimes painful difficulties, while adding that Greece had also faced many problems prior to joining the EU.

"But don't worry. The price of all of this will be returned in full and then some, it requires patience and persistence."

With regard to the EU-Turkey partnership agreement, Papandreou said that this should be considered a "road map" that indicated the path a candidate-country must follow to reach its goal as quickly as possible.

"I believe that Turkey has the necessary political will to follow the course outlined by the partnership agreement document," he added, while noting that the reforms that Turkey had to make also interested Greece.

With regard to the Cyprus issue, the Greek foreign minister underlined that Cyprus' entry into the EU was "the biggest guarantee that the mistakes of the past would be avoided." He stressed that its entry would benefit both the people of Cyprus and relations between Greece and Turkey.

Reactions within Turkey, however, were less equable, with Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit saying to "Sabah" that the reference to the Cyprus issue in the EU-Turkey partnership agreement dissatisfied Ankara. The reference, he added, had been included to satisfy Greece and the text had been drawn up with full knowledge of Turkey's positions, which were unchanged.

He ruled out extreme measures such as cutting off diplomatic relations with the EU, however, saying that there was no reason to give too much emphasis to the issue. In 1997, Turkey had interrupted political relations with Europe after the Luxembourg summit, in protest to the resolutions made there.

This time, Ecevit claimed that the reference to the Cyprus issue in the EU-Turkey partnership agreement document should not affect the country's accession to Europe, and reiterated Ankara's position that the Cyprus issue and Turkey's EU accession should not be linked.

Objections to EU 'roadmap' indicate Turkey is not prepared to accept the European challenge, spokesman says: Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said Friday that reactions in Turkey over the 'roadmap' to the neighboring country's EU membership recently approved by the European Commission indicated that Turkey was not prepared to accept the European challenge. "The criticism forthcoming from the Turkish side indicates that Turkey is not prepared to accept the European wager," Reppas said in reply to press questions.

The EU "Accession Partnership Accord", approved earlier in the week by the Commission at a Brussels meeting, and which Turkey must unconditionally fulfill, calls for radical reforms in human rights, democracy and the economy, including abolition of child labor, the death penalty and torture, and abolition of laws curbing free speech.

The accord further demands that Turkey "support strongly" the UN-brokered efforts for a settlement of the Cyprus issue.

Expressing the belief that a European perspective was in the best interests of Turkey, Reppas said that the neighboring country must make efforts to comprehend that which the European Union considers a given fact.

And since Turkey chooses the European prospect, "than it cannot but also concern the Cyprus issue, which is an element that must be included in the partnership," Reppas said.

[03] Karamanlis says economy shows bogus reality

Athens, 11/11/2000 (ANA)

Karamanlis, who was addressing the general assembly of the country's 59 Chambers of Commerce and Industry in Tripolis, in the Peloponnese, said the surplus it presents this year, according to the government, is based on a series of assumptions, which are extremely optimistic regarding such things as parities and oil prices.

Referring to the issue of unemployment, he said it has exceeded 12 percent and mentioned the region of Epirus, in northern Greece, as an example, adding that it is the poorest in Europe.

Karamanlis also focused on the agricultural sector and said Greece is suffering in this sector, clear regression appears in the budget and in its own way the government is telling Greek farmers that it does not care about them.

He further accused the government of harboring the phenomenon of corruption. He said when their is a discussion on shady transactions, the government calls on ND to provide evidence for justice, adding that when public prosecutors intervene the government comes and intimidates them.

[04] Greek president to visit the Czech republic

Athens, 11/11/2000 (ANA)

Stephanopoulos will head a delegation of government officials, businessmen and academics, aiming to further bilateral cooperation in tourism, trade, agriculture and transport, while the further development of cooperation between Greek and Czech universities will also be on the agenda.

The Czech republic's bid to join the European Union will be discussed and Greece's support for the bid will be reiterated.

[05] Tsohatzopoulos rejects ND claims of lack of transparency in Eurofighter plane deal

Athens, 11/11/2000 (ANA)

Spiliotopoulos said the government was making a "rushed direct award of the contract" and that there were well grounded suspicions "of vested interests" in the affair.

The crux of Spiliotopoulos' charges rested on accusations that a personal friend of the National Economy Minister and formerly a special secretary at the Economy ministry, G. Kandalepas, was a major shareholder of the company Remaco, that developed the business plan of EAB, the Hellenic Aerospace Industry.

Spiliotopoulos also noted that Kandalepas was an advisor to both the National Economy Ministry and to Daimler Chrysler, the Eurofighter producer and a potential buyer of EAB.

Tsohatzopoulos denied all knowledge of event surrounding Remaco, saying that it was completely disassociated with the Eurofighter purchase.

With regard to the charge that the contract was directly awarded, he said that law foresaw the procedure followed when Greek companies were involved in an international co-production.

"Our country is included as an 'equal member' in a consortium of four countries, which will produce for the first time the fourth-generation Eurofighter aircraft. This consortium has secured the sale of 600 planes and Greece will participate in the manufacturing of 60 planes, which our country will receive by 2005," Tsohatzopoulos said.

The advantages of this arrangement, the defense minister said, were that Greece would fully participate in all the offsets of the rest of the planes that the other four countries were ordering and that it would have the "best fourth-generation aircraft currently in production, when the equivalent US aircraft is due out after 2010."

[06] Reppas responds to Tsohatzopoulos; says government already has 'post-EMU' plan

Athens, 11/11/2000 (ANA)

Reppas was commenting on statements made earlier by National Defense Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos, who had said that Greece needed a new plan to deal with the "post-EMU" era.

He added that the government's work and achievements were there for citizens to see.

At another point, Reppas stressed that all could be present through their statements and that the government is judged by its results. Everyone must show that they can rise to the demands of their mission, he added.

With regard to Tsohatzopoulos' statements about the distribution of income, Reppas said that Greece had a stable economy and that this ensured a just distribution of income.

[07] NATO's Mediterranean standing fleet arrives in Souda Bay, Crete

Athens, 11/11/2000 (ANA)

Greece, France, Turkey, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Great Britain participate with war ships in the force, which was created in 1992.

[08] Liberals leader addresses opening of party's congress

Athens, 11/11/2000 (ANA)

He also criticized the government and Prime Minister Costas Simitis as well as the image of the main opposition New Democracy (ND) party.

Manos called for businesses to be helped through a reduction in taxes in order to fight unemployment. He also called for a restriction in state expenditure and for the abolition of "the state monopoly in higher education".

Manos had some positive remarks on the government's foreign policy although, as he said, it still carried the ruling PASOK party's "internal contradictions which for the last twenty years it uses its foreign policy for local consumption". He said that "of course one could not expect Greek-Turkish relations to improve from one day to another. However, Greeks and Turks can together seek programs of action to their mutual benefit".

[09] Money supply growth accelerates in September

Athens, 11/11/2000 (ANA)

A monthly report by the central bank showed that housing loans' growth topped 30.3 percent in August, up from 26.9 percent in December 1999, while consumer loans' growth slowed to 26.8 percent from 31 percent, over the same period.

The report attributed the jump in the M4N money supply figures to an increase in repos, higher foreign exchange deposits, and to an accelerated credit expansion in the private sector.

The average year-on-year M4N growth in the July-September period was 10.5 percent, up from 9.6 percent in the previous quarter.

Money circulation growth was 9.1 percent in September, up from 6.9 percent the previous month, while private savings rose 6.4 percent from 6.1 percent over the same period.

Total credit expansion in Greece accelerated to 16.5 percent in August, year-on-year, from 15 percent the previous month, reflecting higher credits towards both the public and private sectors (24.1 percent in August, 22.0 percent in July).

The central bank said, however the credit figures were largely affected by foreign exchange changes due to an appreciation of the Japanese yen and the US dollar. Excluding this factor, total credit expansion growth was 15.1 percent in August.

Credits to the manufacturing sector rose 6.7 percent in the January-August period, up from 5.1 percent last year, while credits to trade and commerce soared to 27.4 percent from 6.5 percent, respectively.

[10] Greek stocks end lower in record-low turnover

Athens, 11/11/2000 (ANA)

Shares in the construction sector came under heavy pressure on talk of a delay by the government to approve legislation on the consolidation of the sector.

The general index ended 0.50 percent lower at 3,618.91 points, with turnover a low 31.59 billion drachmas.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks ended 0.27 percent lower at 2,084.22 points, and the FTSE/ASE 40 index dropped 1.02 percent to 434.11 points.

Sector indices ended as follows: Banks: 7,647.49

-0.20% Leasing: 539.94 -0.65% Insurance: 1,649.24 -0.88% Investment: 1,247.71 -0.96% Construction: 1,547.87 -3.62% Industrials: 2,152.29 -0.66% Miscellaneous: 3,287.06 +0.65% Holding: 4,250.26

-1.16%

The parallel market index for smaller capitalization stocks ended 0.90 percent lower at 393.84 points.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 214 to 114 with another 24 issues unchanged.

Hellenic Telecoms, Commercial Bank and Forthnet were the most heavily traded stocks.

Leading shares' closing prices (in Drs): National Bank: 14,085 Alpha Bank: 13,680 Commercial Bank: 17,550 Eurobank: 10,050 Piraeus Bank: 5,875 Lambrakis Press: 6,725 Heracles Cement: 4,890 Titan Cement (c): 14,100 Hellenic Telecoms: 6,480 Panafon: 3,150 Hellenic Petroleum: 3,745 Attica Enterprises: 2,845 Intracom: 10,270 Minoan Lines: 1,860 Hellenic Bottling: 5,160

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

The FTSE/ASE 20 index closed 0.27 percent up, and the FTSE/ASE 40 ended 1.02 percent lower.

Turnover was 12.2 billion drachmas.

A total of 2,231 contracts were traded on the FTSE/ASE 20 with turnover at 9.4 billion drachmas.

On the FTSE/ASE 40 index, 1,600 contracts changed hands on turnover of 2.8 billion drachmas.

Bonds rise in light trade: Bond prices in the domestic secondary market on Friday finished higher in light trade.

The Greek benchmark 10-year bond showed a yield of 5.921 percent from 5.94 percent a day earlier.

The Greek paper's yield spread over German bunds was 69 basis points from 70 basis points for two sessions.

Turnover through the central bank's electronic system totalled 68 billion drachmas from 70 billion drachmas in the trading day before.

Of the total, buy orders accounted for around 45 billion drachmas of trade.

Greek drachma rebounds against the US dollar: A recovery in the euro/dollar rate in international markets, following a new intervention by the European Central Bank on Thursday, helped the drachma to rebound moderately against the dollar in the domestic foreign exchange market on Friday.

The Greek currency rose to 393.590 drachmas per dollar at the day's fixing, up from 398.570 the previous day.

The drachma was slightly weaker against the euro currency at 340.110 drachmas per euro, up from 340.070 of Thursday's fixing.

[11] Greece's harmonized inflation rises to 2.6 percent in October

Athens, 11/11/2000 (ANA)

Harmonized inflation jumped to 3.8 percent, year-on-year, in October from 3.0 percent in September, the NSS said.

[12] Business bankruptcies fall sharply in October

Athens, 11/11/2000 (ANA)

A monthly report by Teresias SA, a company owned by 21 Greek commercial banks, said that bankruptcy applications and payment orders also fell by 63.44 and 34.88 percent, respectively the previous month.

The volume of unpaid bills and bounced checks totalled 11,757 in October, down 54.29 percent from the same month last year, with a total value of 14.927 billion drachmas, off 36.45 percent.

Unpaid bills and bounced checks totalled 290.593 in volume and 239.644 billion drachmas in the first 10 months of 2000, down 18.19 percent and 15.47 percent from the corresponding period of 1999.

[13] Greek delegation begins Balkan tour

Athens, 11/11/2000 (ANA)

Papantoniou will meet with the prime ministers and officials from the three Balkan countries.

The delegation will include Macedonia-Thrace Minister George Paschalidis, deputies and 43 Greek businessmen with economic interests in the region.

[14] Draft deal on 2004 Olympics broadcasting seen by Tuesday

Athens, 11/11/2000 (ANA)

Romero was speaking to reporters in Athens on Friday after meetings with the organizers of the Games.

Negotiations on the text of the agreement are to take place in coming days among the members of the consortium that won the broadcasting tender and five officials of the 2004 committee.

Signature of the draft contract is expected to coincide with a ministers' meeting on Tuesday, chaired by Prime Minister Costas Simitis.

[15] Stake of OA for sale to be set in two weeks

Athens, 11/11/2000 (ANA)

The stake will be sold through an international tender, due to be called in December, and may be around 51 percent, the sources said.

They were speaking after a meeting of National Economy and Finance Minister Yiannos Papantoniou, Transport and Communications Minister Christos Verelis, and executives of Credit Suisse First Boston, the government's advisor in the sale.

[16] Gov't rakes in bourse tax of Dr 186.80 bln

Athens, 11/11/2000 (ANA)

In the whole of 1999, the transactions tax collected totalled 230.1 billion drachmas, the ministry said in a statement.

Turnover at the Athens Stock Exchange has been lower this year.

[17] Piraeus Port Authority to invest Dr 15.6 bln in 2001

Athens, 11/11/2000 (ANA)

The port authority's board expects revenue in 2000 to be 2.0 billion drachmas higher than expected with a surplus from business operations expected to total 3.9 billion drachmas in 2001.

[18] Kyriakidis Marble to become strategic investor in FYROM quarry

Athens, 11/11/2000 (ANA)

Before the deal can go through, the Greek buyer will have to purchase through FYROM's bourse a majority stake in the firm owned by its workers, FHL said in a statement.

[19] Athens Medical to launch diagnostic center in Tirana

Athens, 11/11/2000 (ANA)

The announcement came after talks between the Group's chairman, George Apostolopoulos, and senior Albanian government officials, including the country's prime minister.

In addition, the group will open offices in Tirana, Belgrade, Skopje and Sofia within the month as part of its plan to expand in the Balkans, the statement said.

[20] Sifounakis to award British tourist agencies

Athens, 11/11/2000 (ANA)

Sifounakis, who is due to return to Athens early Wednesday, will present the awards during the inauguration of Greece's pavilion at the four-day World Travel Market that opens in London on Monday.

The awards are being presented to specialized tourism agencies that have contributed to the qualitative tourist development of the smaller islands in the Aegean.

The Aegean ministry has conducted several action programs that include actions and initiatives to increase the awareness of international for and organizations on matters concerning the Aegean islands.

[21] Simitis inaugurates 41st Thessaloniki Film Festival

Athens, 11/11/2000 (ANA)

Simitis, the first premier to ever address the festival, said "the Greece we are building is a Greece of search, creation and wide horizons," welcoming the wide variety of films to be screened.

He added that the festival "which Thessaloniki so generously hosted proves that the filmmaking community in our country is not only able to produce, not only able to honor its worthy representatives, but to also participate in the search and confirmation of new codes and types of expression".

He noted that filmmaking is the art "that always inspires us, entertains, the one that continues to invigorate our imagination. Cinematography provides imagination to everyday life ... the festival is a grand celebration and a chance for meetings and discussions".

National Defense Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos, Press and Media Minister Dimitris Reppas, the mayor of Thessaloniki and deputies were present at the event that was held at the Olympion Cinema, and was followed by the screening of the French film "Vengo".

A total of 167 films will be screened in the international and domestic competitions, themes, the "New Horizons" section and special screenings.

The film festival ends on November 19.

Pangalos announces creation of cinema academy: On his part, Pangalos announced also on Friday the creation of an independent cinema academy and film schools in the universities of Athens and Thessaloniki, noting that a committee headed by film director Theo Angelopoulos was working on the matter.

He added that the first timetable for the creation of the academy would be announced in March.

Addressing a press conference earlier, he also announced the creation of a southeastern European common fund and the creation of a film making office in Thessaloniki for the co-production of movies by the 11 countries of the region, adding that a similar fund would be jointly created by Greece and Cyprus.

[22] Three Byzantine era exhibitions inaugurated by culture minister

Athens, 11/11/2000 (ANA)

The first exhibition is showcasing the changes of Byzantine society during those centuries, as reflected in the architecture, sculpture and objects of the daily life of people of that era.

The second exhibition is showcasing coins and objects used by the administrative elite of that era and the third exhibition deals with the castles built to protect the Balkan regions of the empire, protecting the route from Thessaloniki to the Constantinople, present day Istanbul.

[23] President to visit Irakleio to attend events in honor of city's patron saint

Athens, 11/11/2000 (ANA)

At noon, President Stephanopoulos will attend a dinner given in his honor at a hotel by the Church Council of Aghios Minas. In the evening, he will be meeting Prefect Yiannis Garefalakis and Mayor Costas Aslanis before leaving for Athens at 7 p.m.

[24] Ecumenical Patriarch leaves for long tour of US, Nepal and India

ISTANBUL, 11/11/2000 (ANA - A. Kourkoulas)

The Patriarch will attend events concerning the inauguration of the new wing at the Metropolitan Museum in New York and will visit Detroit, which he had not called at during his official visit to the US.

Vartholomeos will visit Nepal afterwards where he will declare the opening of the International Ecological Conference in Katmandu.

He will also be visiting Malabar, India, after passing from Calcutta.

[25] Madrid requests extradition from Athens of Spanish drug trafficker

Athens, 11/11/2000 (ANA)

Ubiba, 54, is considered by the Spanish government as being one of the biggest European drug traffickers. He has been sought since October 1999 and three international arrest warrants are pending against him.

He disappeared in early October 1999, shortly after a swoop by the Spanish police, which resulted in the arrests of his wife and son and the confiscation of 15 tons of hashish.

Not long after his disappearance, a Spanish court sentenced him to four years and four months in prison for organizing the transportation of 5.7 tons of hashish from Spain to the Netherlands in 1997.

[26] Courts postpone hearing of Roussel appeal because of strike by judicial functionaries

Athens, 11/11/2000 (ANA)

Roussel was accused by the board of trustees of the Onassis Foundation, which is handling the fortune left by shipping tycoon Aristotle Onassis until Athena comes of age, with slanderous defamation, leveling false charges and perjury and was convicted to five years imprisonment by a lower court. The conviction was based on statements he had made to the press and claims he had made in court that the foundation's board and mismanaged the Foundation's finances to the detriment of his daughter's inheritance. In statements to reporters after the postponement of his trial was announced, Roussel said that he would be back in December to attend the trial of another case brought against his family by the members of the Onassis Foundation.

This time the Onassis board members are claiming 700 million drachmas compensation from the teenage Athena herself, and from a Swiss company that is now handling her estate by order of a Swiss court, as back pay for their work in the 11 previous years in managing her estate, which they claim they never received.

Onassis Foundation president Stelios Papadimitriou, meanwhile, in response to questions on whether Athena had been invited to the ceremony for the Onassis awards a few days ago, said that "there is always and open and continuing invitation to Athena, provided she comes without...baggage."

Roussel and the Onassis Foundation board have been involved in a bitter and acrimonious dispute over the handling of Athenas inheritance through the courts and the press. The first intervention by Athena herself came last summer, when she wrote a letter to the board members asking them to stop attacking her family.

Athena Onassis-Roussel, now a teenager, is the daughter of Christina Onassis by Thierry Roussel and the sole heir of the vast fortune amassed by Aristotle Onassis, a man whose ruthless business tactics and glamorous personal life earned him fame, wealth and notoriety in his lifetime.

[27] Bulgarian students interested in modern Greek language

SOFIA, 11/11/2000 (ANA - B. Borisov)

An event was organized to present awards to students of the Greek language program that excelled in their studies.

Bulgaria's Deputy Education Minister Tocev underlined the importance of the modern Greek language studies in his country, calling a bridge of friendship between Greeks and Bulgarians.

On his part, Greek Ambassador to Sofia Michalis Christidis said "we are joyous that so many Bulgarian youths chose to study the Greek language, the Greek civilization and to build in this way indestructible bridges of friendship with the Greek people".

[28] Next round of Cyprus talks scheduled for January 26, unconfirmed reports says

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

He clarified that earlier this week UN chief Kofi Annan put in writing "oral remarks" and not a proposal to the parties and expressed the hope they will reflect on the ideas put to them in the past few months and come back with their own remarks.

Alvaro de Soto said there was no actual give and take in the usual sense in these talks and explained that he could not announce a date for the next round, to which the parties were invited at the end of January in Geneva, because of scheduling reasons, and reiterated that the Secretary-General conducts the talks within his mandate.

"I was not in a position to press the parties for a reply to the Secretary General's invitation since unfortunately for scheduling reasons I cannot give a precise date", he said at a press conference here today, at the close of the fifth round of proximity talks.

Reports suggest that the new round is set for January 26. Referring to the thoughts Annan gave the parties on the procedure and the substantive aspects of a comprehensive settlement, de Soto stressed that the Secretary-General "did not put forward a proposal but made oral remarks which he made available to them in a transcript".

"The Secretary-General hopes the parties will reflect on his ideas about procedure and substance, particularly substance, and they will take them into account", the UN top envoy said, expressing hope that they would reflect on "all these ideas that have been put to them in the past few months in private".

Asked by CNA if a qualitative step towards the ultimate objective for a settlement has been achieved in this round of talks as well, as was in the last in New York, he said the depth and nature of engagement continued here too.

"I believe that the parties are engaged, this does not mean they are entirely or equally happy about the evolution of developments but they are certainly still firmly engaged", he replied.

In another question by CNA if his reply hinted to some extent of disappointment by his remarks, he said "it is not possible to keep everyone happy all of the time and there will be variations".

"We hope that everyone will be equally happy at the end of the day, that is what counts, once they have reached a comprehensive settlement, until then we are in for some episodic and I hope passing unhappiness, here or there or here and there", he added.

Invited to say how Annan would use his remarks, he said the purpose was to "facilitate the parties' effort and to give them an idea of his thinking about some of the elements that might go into a comprehensive settlement".

He pointed out however that these are "general remarks and a lot of details have to be filled out".

Asked if he could report on any progress in this round of talks, he said it is "extremely difficult to measure progress and that no actual give and take is occurring in the usual sense" and that whether progress is made or not will emerge once there is a package deal.

Replying to another question, he said Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash had said he would evaluate the oral remarks and adopt a position in due course, adding that he looks forward to hearing from him in early December when he visits Cyprus.

On the prospect of direct negotiations, he said he did not "foresee moving to a face-to-face format any time soon but that is not something of a particular concern".

Referring to the European Union accession course of both Cyprus and Turkey, he described as a "totally fortuitous and accidental coincidence in time" the publication of the Turkey-EU partnership agreement and the oral remarks by the Secretary-General on the same day.

He reiterated however that "external factors are by enlarge a positive force that should help energies the process".

Replying to other questions, he said the Secretary-General is "acting in conformity with his mandate and is conducting the process from his perspective in the framework of Security Council resolution 1250".

The resolution says talks are to take place without any preconditions, all issues are on the table, continuous negotiations will be held until a settlement and full consideration of UN relevant resolutions will be taken.

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

[29] CoE rapporteur on cultural heritage due in Cyprus

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

Cypriot MP Takis Hadjidemetriou told CNA on Friday his Czech colleague is coming for four days to investigate cultural heritage issues, the need to restore and repair historical and religious monuments and ways of projecting them.

He said Stepova would prepare a report on her findings for the Council of Europe.

According to information gathered by the Cypriot authorities, over 500 churches and other monuments in the areas of Cyprus occupied by Turkey since 1974 have been desecrated, looted or used for other purposes, some of them hundreds of years old, while time has taken its toll on other sites that are in desperate need for restoration.

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