Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 00-11-13

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

CONTENTS

[01] FM Papandreou says a 'reverse countdown' begins for Turkey in its EU relations

[02] Yilmaz terms EU-Turkey partnership text 'acceptable'; Papandreou comments

[03] Greek Economy Minister to hold talks with Yugoslav President Kostunica on Monday

[04] Simitis visits temporary gypsy settlement in Thessaloniki, comments on plight of Rom

[05] Defense minister fully backs planned health reforms, stresses party unity

[06] Cyprus president arrives in Athens after Geneva proximity talks

[07] Simitis sends message of condolences to Austrian chancellor

[08] Karamanlis addresses supporters in SW Peloponnese

[09] Liberals say will have an independent presence but will be open to cooperation

[10] The Socialist International's next conference on local government to be held in Athens

[11] Explosive device goes off in sculptor's workshop

[12] National Economy Minister rules out possibility of incomes policy readjustment

[13] Stephanopoulos attends mass for Iraklion patron saint, TEI awards on Crete

[14] FM says Annan's document contains 'positive and negative' elements

[01] FM Papandreou says a 'reverse countdown' begins for Turkey in its EU relations

Athens, 13/11/2000 (ANA)

In an interview with the Sunday newspaper "Kyriakatiki Eleftherotypia", Papandreou insists on the policy of rapprochement with Turkey and for support for its European vocation, while saying he is undertaking a personal risk concerning the possibility of this option not being vindicated.

Papandreou also gives Turkey ample time to respond to Greece's position, saying that "time will start to count when we shall achieve the partnership relationship and then we will have evidence that we can assess."

It is not the first time Papandreou says that Turkey's European course will benefit both countries. However, in his interview he said it has now been understood that Greece is not obstructing the neighboring country's course to Europe and that its possible interruption will be Turkey's fault exclusively.

Papandreou said that in such a case Turkey "will have lost an important prospect and the two countries will return to periods of certain crises and of an increase in tension, but not through Greece's fault."

"We, however, have consolidated the accession course of Cyprus (regarding the EU) and this fact changes all factors radically," Papandreou added.

On the question of confidence-building measures (CBMs) in the Aegean, on which he and his Turkish counterpart Ismail Cem have agreed to start discussing, he said, "we have not committed ourselves to adopt them. If they do not increase confidence, they will not be adopted."

"We are giving a prospect to our relations at a multipartite level, while we are proceeding slower than in the past on the bilateral relationship," he said.

Papandreou, in an indirect manner, let it be understood that in applying the policy in question he has undertaken a risk by identifying himself with the possibility of "the European vocation helping Turkey", but this risk is personal and not the government's.

"No government and no minister would allow the country to become involved in an adventure," he said.

[02] Yilmaz terms EU-Turkey partnership text 'acceptable'; Papandreou comments

ANKARA, 13/11/2000 (ANA A. Abatzis)

"Turkey is able to fulfill all the conditions included in the text," Yilmaz said while addressing a political rally in Izmir. "...despite the portion that refers to the Cyprus issue, added to the text at the last minute at Greece's behest, the partnership agreement text is acceptable and reasonable for Turkey," the one-time Turkish prime minister and foreign minister said.

Conversely, Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, in commenting on the all-important text, reiterated that "Turkey has al-ways made a distinction between the Cyprus issue and its relations with the EU".

"With a little self-confidence and determination Turkey can meet these conditions quicker that the Europeans expect," Yilmaz, whose portfolio includes relations with Europe, stressed.

On his part, Cem was quoted in the Turkish newspaper "Yeni Binyil" as saying that the Cyprus issue "above all, involves the two sides (on the divided east Mediterranean island)... Turkey continues to consider the decisions by the Helsinki (EU) summit and the written convergence of views with the EU over this issue as the basis for the Cyprus matter."

Finally, Motherland party deputy and former minister Mehmet Ali Irtemcelik on Sunday was quoted by another Turkish mass daily as criticizing Turkish PM Bulent Ecevit's efforts following Helsinki as "amounting to nothing".

"The prime minister (Ecevit) said after Helsinki that the Copenhagen criteria were a simple matter, that 'we can implement them in three to four months and accede to the European Union in 2004'. This shows that either you have misunderstood the criteria or that you haven't understood them at all, or, that you don't consider them important. And that's not a serious stance," Irtemcelik, whose portfolio at one time covered the sensitive issue of human rights in Turkey, was quoted by the "Milliyet" paper.

[03] Greek Economy Minister to hold talks with Yugoslav President Kostunica on Monday

BELGRADE, 13/11/2000 (ANA - M. Mouratidis)

One of the main issues to be discussed will be promoting the Greek Balkan reconstruction plan in the sectors of social and economic infrastructures.

Talks will also focus on continuing economic cooperation between the two countries, as well as on economic aid Greece will give to Yugoslavia to help it meet pressing needs, primarily in the energy sector.

Following a relevant proposal by Prime Minister Costas Simitis, the Greek government has already approved economic aid a-mounting to 15 million dollars.

A cooperation protocol will be signed during the visit between the Athens Stock Exchange and the Belgrade Stock Exchange in the presence of Serb Overseas Economic Relations Minister Goran Pitic.

Papantoniou is being accompanied on his visit by Minister of Macedonia and Thrace George Paschalidis, Deputy National Economy Minister Yiannis Zapheiropoulos, deputies, senior economy ministry officials and 42 businessmen from all sectors of the economy.

[04] Simitis visits temporary gypsy settlement in Thessaloniki, comments on plight of Rom

Athens, 13/11/2000 (ANA)

The prime minister was received on his arrival by National Defense Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos and he addressed the residents of the temporary 'Aghia Sophia' settlement, consisting of 250 prefabricated homes, after a blessing carried out by Neapoli and Stavroupoli Archmandrite Theodoros. Also present were Health Minister Alekos Papadopoulos, Macedonia-Thrace Minister George Paschalidis, Thessaloniki prefect Costas Papadopoulos and his assistant.

In his statements, Simitis stressed that there were still certain groups in Greece that were marginalized and that this was something that should not happen in a modern society. He noted that gypsies, in particular, had trouble adapting to developments and needed the state's assistance to do this.

Outlining a government program designed to improve the living standards and social integration of gypsy populations, the prime minister said that this would seek to resolve problems in housing, education, professional training and health care through welfare organizations. He also noted the newly introduced card for school students, where their progress could be recorded and which would assist when the family moved.

The program's innovations, he added, would be implemented within 'Aghia Sophia' in particular, where an attempt was being made to address the problems through the cooperation of the state, relevant bodies and the gypsy community themselves.

The settlement, he pointed out, already had a day-care center, kindergarten and health center, "which will be extended even more," he added. "In this way," he said, "we mean to show that our society is one of cohesion and solidarity, that we take care of those who face problems and that this is the face that a progressive society must have."

After his speech, Simitis was shown around the settlement and visited the house of its general secretary Panagiotis Sabanis. He ended his tour at the "polycentre" that will eventually house the community's health service and events hall, currently given over to a photography exhibition focusing on the lives of gypsies.

As he was departing, Simitis was approached by the mayor of Echedoros, where the settlement belongs, who asked that there be a permanent solution to the housing of the gypsy community.

[05] Defense minister fully backs planned health reforms, stresses party unity

Athens, 13/11/2000 (ANA)

"There are no differences, there are no divisions of the past, there are policies that converge," he said, adding that there was both convergence and agreement of views.

With regard to the proposed reforms for ESY and the drive toward a "modern social state," Tsohatzopoulos was particularly warm in his praise of Health Minister Alekos Papadopoulos and his bill and said the preparation and promotion of the bill was "a great moment."

"In its time, ESY was a great cosmogenic event, but one that was not completed...this reform comes to finish what was left undone all those years," he said. He particularly stressed the need to provide financial support for the effort to reform the health system, which at another point he described it as PASOK's "great weapon".

He also proposed that there should be 13 separate conferences to discuss the proposed reforms, one in each geographic region of Greece, since the decentralization built into the new plans would place much of the burden of implementing them on local communities.

PASOK general secretary wraps up conference: Speaking to delegates in Thessaloniki, PASOK General Secretary Costas Skandalidis closed the party's two-day conference on health policy on Saturday with a speech that stressed PASOK's unity.

He said that the image of a rift within the party cultivated by the television media was created by "self-appointed interpreters" who had read more into statements made by Prime Minister Costas Simitis and other conference speakers than was war-ranted. He also urged delegates to help put an end to such phenomena, saying that it was demeaning for them when others undertook to interpret the intentions and positions when they made statements.

He said a speech made earlier by Defense Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos was "uniting," while he described comments made about him personally by Health Minister Alekos Papadopoulos as "favorable".

[06] Cyprus president arrives in Athens after Geneva proximity talks

Athens, 13/11/2000 (ANA)

Clerides will brief the Greek government and political parties on the latest developments in the Cyprus issue and what must be done between now and the start of the 6th round of proximity talks in January.

On Monday there will be a meeting between Clerides and President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos, followed by a meeting with main opposition New Democracy leader Costas Karamanlis and ND honorary president Constantine Mitsotakis. He will meet Prime Minister Costas Simitis the following day, prior to his departure for Cyprus late on Tuesday afternoon.

Kyprianou meets Alternate Foreign Minister Papazoi in Athens: Cyprus Parliament speaker Spyros Kyprianou met Alternate Foreign Minister Elisavet Papazoi on Saturday in Athens, in the first of a series of meetings he is scheduled to have during his stay in Greece.

In statements after the one-hour meeting, Kyprianos said it had been interesting and useful and that they had discussed the Cyprus issue, Cyprus course to EU accession and Greek and Turkish relations.

[07] Simitis sends message of condolences to Austrian chancellor

Athens, 13/11/2000 (ANA)

"Mister Chachellor, please accept the warmest condolences of the Greek government and myself personally for the terrible accident...as well as the deepest sympathy of the Greek people toward the Austrian people and the relatives of the victims of this unexpected tragedy," Simitis noted in his message.

[08] Karamanlis addresses supporters in SW Peloponnese

Athens, 13/11/2000 (ANA)

Among others, the ND leader called the rail network in the Peloponnese "unacceptable", adding that its maintenance must be a priority.

Karamanlis also criticized the government for neglecting the region, as he said.

He further touched on health care, agriculture policy and national issues in his address.

[09] Liberals say will have an independent presence but will be open to cooperation

Athens, 13/11/2000 (ANA)

"We clarified our strategy and positions. From now on we shall work with all the means at our disposal for the unity of the liberal world. New Democracy appears to be plagued by the internal rivalries of the popular right and its weakened liberal wing. The Mayor Mr. (Dimitris) Avramopoulos and (former ND Deputy George) Souflias are staying on the sidelines of politics. But Greece is in urgent need of deep liberal modernization," Manos said in his closing address.

"On this front there is place for several liberal politicians who are currently in PASOK and the left. PASOK is at the end of the present course. The scene is changing. And it should change. We want to be a decisive factor in the recomposition of the political and party system, recomposition that has already started. We are at the beginning of the shaping of the day after," he added.

[10] The Socialist International's next conference on local government to be held in Athens

Athens, 13/11/2000 (ANA)

The meeting also focused on the consequences of globalization for Africa and latest developments in the Middle East.

The Greek delegation held bilateral contacts with delegations from Balkan socialist parties on the sidelines of the meeting.

[11] Explosive device goes off in sculptor's workshop

Athens, 13/11/2000 (ANA)

The organization "Revolutionary Nuclei" assumed responsibility for the blast in a warning telephone call made to the Athens daily "Eleftherotypia" half an hour before the explosion.

"At 22.40 a bomb will explode in the basement sculpture workshop belonging to the sculptor Papayiannis, who is sold out to the Americans," the unidentified caller had said.

[12] National Economy Minister rules out possibility of incomes policy readjustment

Athens, 13/11/2000 (ANA)

"A possible incomes policy readjustment would merely have an absolute influence on inflation and would be a development at the expense of wage earners and pensioners," he said.

Papantoniou expressed some optimism that the target of inflation dropping to 2.3 percent in 2001 can be achieved. He said this would happen on condition that the price of oil will decrease even slightly internationally and the euro will recover somewhat.

The economy minister also defended the social character of economic policy and said that the increase in the tax-free amount of income, the increase in farmers' pensions, the decrease in taxation for small and medium-bracket wage earners by 10 percentage points, anticipated in the state budget for the new year, are some of the measures showing the social character of government policy in the economic sector.

Papantoniou said he is being pressured on two sides. By big "economic interests" and by "trade union interests."

"The government is being attacked by business interests who are struggling to gain contracts with the old traditional ways which the prime minister has ruled out," he said.

Papantoniou also said implementation of the government's program in such sectors as education and health are fronts, which the government has opened and which "lead us to confrontation with powerful interests which had been spoilt in past decades by a system of clientele relations."

[13] Stephanopoulos attends mass for Iraklion patron saint, TEI awards on Crete

Athens, 13/11/2000 (ANA)

The Orthodox Church of Crete is a semi-autonomous church officially headed by the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul.

The mass was led by Archbishop of Crete Timotheos, while the president read out the Lord's Prayer and other sections of the service. Speaking from the pulpit afterwards, Timotheos thanked the president for attending the city's holiday and referred to the close relations between the nation and the Church.

There followed a procession of the holy relic and icon of St. Minas through the city, which was followed by Stephanopoulos, Deputy Defense Minister Dimitris Apostolakis, parliamentary deputies and local government officials.

After the procession, the president attended a reception at the Archdiocese headquarters and then held a press conference. In response to questions regarding a debate on the identity-card issue by the Church of Crete Holy Synod, he said that this was exclusively an internal issue of the Church and that any decision the Holy Synod made would be acceptable.

Later on Saturday, the president attended an award ceremony at the Technological Educational Institute, where internationally renowned composer Eleni Karaindrou received the institute's annual prize for achievement. Before this, the president himself was given the institute's medal from Dean Markos Karanastasis.

During his acceptance speech, Stephanopoulos stressed the importance of the training offered by technological institutes, recently designated as tertiary education establishments, and their role in providing the specialist graduates demanded by contemporary job markets.

[14] FM says Annan's document contains 'positive and negative' elements

PAPHOS, 13/11/2000 (CNA/ANA)

Speaking at Paphos Airport on his return to Cyprus from Geneva on Saturday, Kasoulides said the document contained quite a few positive elements, but pointed out that "it also contains some negative" references "which we must strive to improve, because our aim in this negotiation is to continuously improve our position".

Asked to evaluate the current situation of the Cyprus problem, Kasoulides said the fifth round of proximity talks was productive, noting that "yet another step forward" had been made in efforts to find a comprehensive settlement in Cyprus, divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied the northern third of the island.

UN-led proximity talks, separate meetings of the UN with President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, began last December. Annan has invited the two sides to a sixth round in late January.

Kasoulides said that during the fifth round, which was wrapped up on November 10, the UN presented the two parties with a series of documents and positions, and that feedback from either side spurs the preparation of fresh papers, in which way the proximity talks are conducted.

The foreign minister also said that the National Council, top advisory body to the president on the Cyprus problem comprising parliamentary party leaders, would study Annan's paper over the next few weeks and collectively determine the Greek Cypriot side's further moves.

Asked if the Greek Cypriot side would attend the next round of talks, Kasoulides expressed hope that "developments would not be such so as to make us leave".

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