Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 00-11-14

Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] Papantoniou pledges Greek support for Yugoslavia's economy

[02] Clerides briefs Greek political leadership on Cyprus developments

[03] Defense, foreign ministers dissolve WEU

[04] Greek defense minister recounts WEAG successes during Greece's presidency

[05] Greece benefits from government's policy in Greek-Turkish relations

[06] Greek president begins official visit to Czech Republic

[07] Simitis to meet health and labor ministers, chair meeting on Olympics

[08] Simitis receives Greek Paralympics medallists

[09] Ecumenical Patriarch arrives in New York

[10] Press report cites Vatican recognition of 1915 Armenian massacres

[11] Greek stocks end sharply lower on ASE

[12] Bank of Greece meets on Tuesday to discuss monetary policy

[13] More than 2.5 mln British tourists expected to visit Greece in 2001

[14] Public Power Corporation to bid for telecom license

[15] Health Ministry allots 80 bln drachmas for Athens 2004 Olympics

[16] F-16 crashes in sea off central Greece, pilot dead

[17] Group claims three bomb attacks

[01] Papantoniou pledges Greek support for Yugoslavia's economy

BELGRADE, 14/11/2000 (ANA - M. Mouratidis)

Papantoniou, who heads a delegation of ministers, Parliament deputies and businessmen, began a Balkan tour that also includes Bulgaria and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM, on Sunday afternoon.

He called the talks with the Yugoslav leadership, very positive and substantive, stressing Greeces wish to support Yugoslavias economy and to aid the Balkan country in overcoming the difficulties it's being faced with, so that it may re-enter the international community and international economic organizations.

He said that toward that aim Greece granted 15 million dollars in emergency aid to Yugoslavia, while another 250 million dollars of the Greek Balkan reconstruction plan were set aside for Yugoslavia.

Papantoniou noted that the 250 million dollars were earmarked for reconstruction of infrastructures in the transportation, telecommunications, energy, healthcare and education sectors.

Papantoniou also said he agreed with Labus to maintain cooperation between their two ministries in selecting plans regarding the allocation for the aforementioned funds. The two ministers also agreed for Greece to allocate another 100 million dollars in credits to Yugoslav businesses to facilitate exports, as foreign currency reserves in that Balkan country are very low.

Papantoniou also said that Kostunica and Labus provided guarantees that agreements regarding Greek investments will be respected and would not be amended or renegotiated.

"There must be legal security for these agreements, so that foreign businessmen may trust and invest in Yugoslavia," Papantoniou said, adding that Greek investments to date did not face any problems.

He also said that Greece would aid Yugoslavia to re-enter the international community and improve its relations with the European Union and expressed the belief that the Yugoslav economy would soon begin developing.

On their part, Kostunica and Labus thanked Papantoniou for the 15 million dollars in emergency aid, which was necessary to overcome the immediate problems of the oncoming winter, especially regarding acute problems in the energy sector.

Labus stressed that he was impressed by the way Papantoniou handled issues during the talks, leading to agreements in a very short time, and reiterated the commitment of the Yugoslav government to do everything in its power to maintain pre-existing agreements with Greek companies.

He called on Greek businessmen to cooperate with their partners in Yugoslavia, as the necessary preconditions for the continuation of their cooperation would be created, toward their common benefit.

In a related development, Athens Stock Exchange's president, who is part of the Greek delegation, signed a cooperation memorandum with his Belgrade counterpart.

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 43 businessmen from all sectors of the economy.

The Economy minister and the Greek delegation arrived in Sofia early Monday night.

[02] Clerides briefs Greek political leadership on Cyprus developments

Athens, 14/11/2000 (ANA)

Clerides arrived in Athens on Saturday afternoon after the conclusion of the 5th round of Cyprus proximity talks in Geneva to 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 the UN-brokered proximity talks in January.

Karamanlis said after the meeting that a text on Turkeys partnership with the EU presented by the European Commission last week was "unacceptable", adding that the Greek government should "demand the self-evident" because "there is no more room for concessions".

The Commission last week in Brussels approved the EU "Accession Partnership Accord" for Turkey, which comprises a 'roadmap' for membership in the 15-nation bloc.

The partnership accord, 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.

Karamanlis expressed his party's solidarity with Cyprus and rejected any solution for Cyprus that envisioned a confederation because such an eventuality would make "Cyprus the hostage of Turkey".

He also said that an EU enlargement without Cyprus' entry was "inconceivable".

"We cannot approve the accession of any country in the EU without Cyprus' accession proceeding," the ND leader said.

Mitsotakis told reporters after his own meeting with Clerides that "this time there are serious discussions being made, on the part of the Turkish side too" regarding the Cyprus issue and, although he would not say that he was optimistic, "I am not pessimistic, either".

He is due to hold talks with Prime Minister Costas Simitis on Tuesday before returning to Cyprus.

Cyprus' Clerides expects UN to present draft settlement 'at some stage': Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides said that after five rounds of UN-led peace talks one can be more optimistic that the Greek Cypriot side "can to a large extent exert its influence towards finding a bizonal, bicommunal solution based on UN resolutions, international law, human rights conventions and the European Union laws and regulations".

Speaking at an event at the Athens Agriculture University on Monday evening, President Clerides underlined he will never accept a confederation in Cyprus, said that at some stage he expects the UN to present a draft settlement and noted that good relations between Greece and Turkey cannot be consolidated without progress in the Cyprus issue.

Referring to the five rounds of UN-led talks for a settlement, that opened last December, the President said "we expect that at a future stage, if the talks continue, we will find ourselves before a draft solution".

He said that through negotiations "we will have the opportunity to set out our positions and our arguments in detail, on all aspects of the Cyprus problem" and noted that a settlement must be in line with "UN resolutions, international law, human rights conventions and the European aquis communautaire".

"I am determined to continue this effort in all responsibility," the Cyprus president said, adding that a federal and united state which is demilitarized and a member of the European Union is to the benefit of both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots.

The president said that Turks in Turkey and Turks in Cyprus should be considered as future friends, but on their part "they must give convincing evidence that they want a peaceful settlement based on Security Council resolutions and they realize that they will benefit from permanent peace, real security, democratic stability and economic development in the wider region."

"We will continue to respond positively in cases where we believe that an initiative proposed by the UN may create prospects for a substantive dialogue," he said.

Referring to the strengthening of relations between Greece and Cyprus he described them as "an historic necessity" and said that until a peaceful settlement is reached the Republic will continue to strengthen is defenses.

Nicosia welcomes Annan observation as placing Cyprus issue in 'correct framework': Cyprus' government spokesman on Monday welcomed recent observations by United Nations chief Kofi Annan at the end of the fifth round of proximity talks between the two communities on the island republic.

Annan forwarded his positions on what he considers the basis for a "fair and viable" solution on the progress so far in the UN-led proximity talks on Cyprus, which started last December, while inviting the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot sides to take the negotiations further by taking into consideration his assessment.

Annan's 11-page non-paper refers to a "single international legal personality" of Cyprus, guarantees for human rights in "one sovereign indissoluble common state", points out that state law will overrule regional law, and stressing that the solution should not raise obstacles to Cyprus' accession to the EU and that the legal right to property should be respected.

The spokesman said a document by Annan forwarded to both the Greek- and Turkish-Cypriot sides places the course of talks in the "correct framework".

"It also clears up issues which, one way or another, created justifiable concern in Nicosia and Athens," Cypriot spokesman Mihalis Papapetrou told a press conference in Athens.

Papapetrou said the 11-page document tabled by Annan also spells out in great detail how the international organization views on solving the long-standing Cyprus problem. Annan's special adviser on Cyprus, Alvaro de Soto, prepared the observations.

Conversely, he said negative points also exist in the text, something that Nicosia will attempt to nullify. However, he added that on the whole numerous positive elements are found in the Annan document that "we must exploit in order to return to the basis of a bizonal, bicommunal federation (solution)."

Papapetrou further said the Turkish Cypriot side's negative reaction was unjustified, as the federation solution wasn't an initial Greek Cypriot choice but a compromise on its part as far back as 1977.

He also termed cooperation between Athens and Nicosia as excellent, while expressing the Cypriot government's satisfaction with the Greek political world's solidarity, saying characteristically that the Cyprus issue has "ceased to be an issue of internal conflict and opposition."

In an unrelated matter, asked if Nicosia planned on recognizing an independent Palestinian state, the Cypriot spokesman reiterated that his government has conveyed to all sides its position that it would be preferable of the declaration of a Palestinian state result from a resolution at the negotiating table and not from a unilateral action.

Simitis meets with Cyprus' House speaker Kyprianou: Prime Minister Costas Simitis received on Monday Cyprus' House of Representatives Speaker Spyros Kyprianou and discussed developments of the Cyprus problem, and the island republic's accession course to the European Union.

Emerging from the meeting, Kyprianou said that recent talks on the Cyprus problem in Geneva had barely dented Turkish intransigence and that the texts presented by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan "contain many negative elements" for the Greek-Cypriot side.

"The latest developments in Geneva proved that the Turkish side is not satisfied with anything, is completely intransigent and will give up nothing of its expansionist policies - regardless of the fact that there are many negative elements for us in the texts given by the UN Secretary General," Kyprianou said.

Kyprianou also met with President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos.

Earlier in the day, after a meeting with Greek Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis, Kyprianou had noted that decision-making centers in the US were not just the White House, but also the Pentagon, the State Department and others. Therefore, he said, he did not expect any dramatic changes in Washington's stance.

Kyprianou also met with Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Christodoulos and according to an Archbishopric's press release Kyprianou expressed fears that a resolution of the problem based on a confederate system might be promoted, which he called "the worst possible and unacceptable".

On his part, Christodoulos expressed the unqualified support of the Church for the "struggling Cyprus Hellenism".

[03] Defense, foreign ministers dissolve WEU

MARSEILLES, 14/11/2000 (ANA)

The ministers also held two separate meetings, with Greek National Defense Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos presiding over the meeting of the Western European Armaments Group and French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine presiding over the 15 EU foreign ministers' meeting.

Alternate Foreign Minister Elizabeth Papazoi was also present at the meeting.

Tsohatzopoulos told the press after the joint meeting that WEU's operational capabilities henceforth come under the exclusive responsibility of the EU which in the future will in turn be responsible for the implementation of a defense and security policy for the EU which has already been decided on.

He added that WEU's parliamentary assembly is changing character and ceases to represent or express the operation of WEU. The assembly will function as the parliamentary assembly on European security and defense.

The message, he added, is that implementation of security and defense policy is now the responsibility of the EU.

[04] Greek defense minister recounts WEAG successes during Greece's presidency

MARSEILLES, 14/11/2000 (ANA)

Tsohatzopoulos recounted the results of the WEAG Greek presidency, calling for realistic and effective cooperation in armaments and stressed that discriminations among WEAG countries based on placing member-states on three categories should end, so that the Common Foreign and Defense Policy may provide Europe with the international prestige it deserves.

He noted that during the Greek presidency, six new members entered the group, cooperation in the research and development sector was developed even further and more countries participated.

Tsohatzopoulos also noted that the Greek presidency prepared the Memorandum of Understanding Europa, aiming to support the participation of more countries in joint programs. He noted that this memorandum would be signed as soon as the staff of the member-states will approve it.

He stressed that during the Greek presidency the preparations for the creation of the European Armaments Service begun and that committees were created to study joint programs for future projects such as the new fighter jet.

[05] Greece benefits from government's policy in Greek-Turkish relations

Athens, 14/11/2000 (ANA)

Reppas termed as bold the initiative undertaken by Foreign Minister George Papandreou to reshape Greek-Turkish relations.

Reppas noted that Turkey is obliged to harmonies with international law in order for it to join western institutions and to acquire a political culture similar to the other European Union countries.

[06] Greek president begins official visit to Czech Republic

PRAGUE, 14/11/2000 (ANA - N. Megadoukas)

The aim of his contacts with the Czech government's leadership is to further strengthen bilateral relations, mainly in the commercial, economic and cultural sectors.

Stephanopoulos will hold talks with Havel on Tuesday morning and attend an official dinner given in his honor by his counterpart.

A luncheon will also be given in honor of Stephanopoulos by the parliament president. The Greek president is also due to meet with the mayor of Prague.

Stephanopoulos is accompanied by Agriculture Minister Giorgos Anomeritis, Alternate Foreign Minister Elizabeth Papazoi, National Economy Deputy Minister Yiannis Zapheiropoulos and a team of Greek businessmen.

During his talks, Stephanopoulos is expected to reiterate Greek support of the Czech Republic's efforts to join the European Union.

Speaking to the press on the Cyprus issue, he said that a settlement should be reached based on the UN Security Council resolutions.

On Greek-Turkish relations, he expressed the need for rapprochement between Athens and Ankara.

High-ranking ND official calls for changes in party, elections for ND leader

Main opposition New Democracy MP Dora Bakoyianni, widely regarded as the party's most popular member after leader Costas Karamanlis, called for changes within the party and a renewed mandate for its leader on Monday, through an interview appearing in the Greek daily "Eleftherotypia".

She proposed a new leadership organ to decide party policy and said she would "personally prefer it" if Karamanlis sought to renew his mandate as party leader at the next conference - something that he had ruled out when speaking at the Thessaloniki International Fair in September.

Bakoyianni also criticized Athens Mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos - who has hinted broadly at plans to found a new party - saying that she wanted to keep the political center-right united.

Finally, she called for improvements in ND's communications policy and said that Karamanlis had followed the "easy road" in trying to promote party unity by expelling members that went public with their disagreements and discontent with the leadership.

[07] Simitis to meet health and labor ministers, chair meeting on Olympics

Athens, 14/11/2000 (ANA)

The spokesman said that the government had asked a UK firm of financial consultants to make an assessment of problems in state insurance, and expected its report in January. He said the next steps would be discussed in the context of measures carried out in common by all EU member-states.

According to Reppas, few EU countries had established such a broad range of measures for the weaker classes in society.

He added that the premier would follow up the Wednesday meeting with a visit to the five new Metro stations from Syntagma to Dafni.

On Tuesday, the spokesman continued, the premier would begin the day by meeting with Interior Minister Vasso Papandreou and Public Order Minister Michalis Chrysohoidis.

On Tuesday evening, Simitis is to chair a ministerial meeting for the Athens 2004 Olympics, while on Thursday he will chair a cabinet meeting to discuss issues pertaining to the Justice ministry. On Friday, finally, Simitis has a meeting with PASOK Central Committee secretary Costas Skandalidis.

[08] Simitis receives Greek Paralympics medallists

Athens, 14/11/2000 (ANA)

Also present at the meeting were Culture Minister Theodoros Pangalos, Sports Minister Giorgos Floridis and members of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games Organizing Committee.

[09] Ecumenical Patriarch arrives in New York

NEW YORK, 14/11/2000 (ANA - M. Georgiadou)

Vartholomeos visited the seat of the Archbishopric of America and officiated in a liturgy at the city's Orthodox Cathedral, while later in the day he was due to be hosted to dinner by the New York Scenic Hudson environmental group, in recognition of his efforts toward the protection of the environment.

[10] Press report cites Vatican recognition of 1915 Armenian massacres

ROME, 14/11/2000 (ANA - L. Hatzikyriakos)

According to the Rome-based "Republica", an official Vatican document refers to the "national and religious cleansing" of 1915, adding that it resulted in the elimination of a Christian community and death of 1.5 million people.

The paper also says that recognition of the genocide is included in a joint communique issued here on Sunday, following a meeting here between Pope John Paul II and the head of the Armenian Church, Karekin II.

In the statement, both churches cite that the 20th century was stained by acts of extreme violence, whereas the Armenian genocide at the beginning of the century marked a precursor for the atrocities that followed: two world wars, innumerable local conflicts, and organized campaigns of annihilation that cost the lives of millions of faithful.

Karekin's visit to Rome comes on the heels of a recent warming of ties between Armenia and the Vatican. The pope, meanwhile, has been invited to Yerevan, with the spring of 2001 appearing as the mostly likely date for a visit there.

In addition, the issue of recognizing the 1915 Armenian genocide may cause friction in Italian-Turkish relations as well, as the issue is expected to be raised in Italy's parliament, with three different questions by deputies on the issue having been tabled.

Earlier in the month, Turkey warned France that relations between the two countries would be damaged if its assembly passed a bill accusing Ottoman Turkish forces of large-scale massacres in 1915.

That incident came only weeks after a crisis with Washington over a similar resolution before the US Congress. That motion, sponsored by Armenian groups, was dropped after US President Bill Clinton warned Congressional leaders it could damage ties with Turkey.

Armenians have long maintained that 1.5 million of their compatriots were slaughtered by Ottoman troops in 1915 in eastern Asia Minor. Turkey fiercely rejects the accusation, claiming that both sides suffered during partisan fighting as the Ottoman empire collapsed.

[11] Greek stocks end sharply lower on ASE

Athens, 14/11/2000 (ANA)

Traders said investors' attention was now focusing to Bank of Greece's moves on monetary policy, with analysts doubting that a significant cut in interest rates this week could dramatically change the climate in the market.

Shares in the construction and mobile telephony sectors came under strong pressure to end sharply lower.

The general index ended 1.63 percent lower at 3,560.06 points, off the day's lows of 3,541.11 points. Turnover was a low 44.2 billion drachmas. The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks ended 1.41 percent lower at 2,054.83 points, and the FTSE/ASE 40 index dropped 2.82 percent to 421.86 points.

Sector indices ended as follows: Banks: 7,519.05 -1.68% Leasing: 533.57 -1.18% Insurance: 1,636.97 -0.74% Investment: 1,213.58 -2.74% Construction: 1,456.72 -5.89% Industrials: 2,139.92 -0.57% Miscellaneous: 3,224.63 -1.90% Holding: 4,249.01 -0.03%

The parallel market index for smaller capitalization stocks ended at 374.90 points, off 4.81 percent.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 305 to 37 with another 11 issues unchanged.

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

Leading shares' closing prices (in Drs): National Bank: 13,790 Alpha Bank: 13,370 Commercial Bank:

17,540 Eurobank: 9,965 Piraeus Bank: 5,745 Lambrakis Press: 6,500 Heracles Cement: 4,880 Titan Cement (c): 14,305 Hellenic Telecoms: 6,445 Panafon: 2,975 Hellenic Petroleum: 3,735 Attica Enterprises: 2,980 Intracom: 10,015 Minoan Lines: 1,800 Hellenic Bottling: 5,295

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

The FTSE/ASE 20 index closed 1.41 percent lower, and the FTSE/ASE 40 ended 2.82 percent lower.

Turnover was 13.9 billion drachmas.

A total of 2,732 contracts were traded on the FTSE/ASE 20 with turnover at 11.2 billion drachmas.

On the FTSE/ASE 40 index, 1,592 contracts changed hands on turnover of 2.7 billion drachmas.

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

The Greek benchmark 10-year bond showed a yield of 5.921 percent unchanged from Friday.

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

Turnover through the central bank's electronic system totalled 28 billion drachmas from 68 billion drachmas in the trading day before.

Drachma eases against US dollar, euro: The drachma fell against the US dollar on Monday, following a similar trend by the euro currency in the international foreign exchange markets.

The Greek currency fell to 395.140 drachmas per dollar at the day's fixing, from 393.590 drachmas on Friday.

The drachma was little changed against the euro at 340.160 drachmas per euro, from 340.110 drachmas of Friday's fixing.

[12] Bank of Greece meets on Tuesday to discuss monetary policy

Athens, 14/11/2000 (ANA)

Bank of Greece sources said that a decision to cut interest rates could be taken either this week or the next, and that monetary policy could be further relaxed in December.

[13] More than 2.5 mln British tourists expected to visit Greece in 2001

Athens, 14/11/2000 (ANA)

Present at the inauguration of the exhibition was National Tourist Organization of Greece (NTOG) General Secretary Evgenios Yiannakopoulos and Aegean Minister Nikos Sifounakis.

[14] Public Power Corporation to bid for telecom license

Athens, 14/11/2000 (ANA)

They also discussed the reconsideration of a public tender issued by the company for the acquisition of filters for its lignite plant in Kozani, northern Greece.

[15] Health Ministry allots 80 bln drachmas for Athens 2004 Olympics

Athens, 14/11/2000 (ANA)

During the Games, there will be about 17,000 athletes with their aides, about 21,000 journalists and at least five million tourists.

The special team set up by the ministry will include 4,000 volunteer doctors and nurses as well as ordinary citizens.

The program also includes the purchase of 100 new ambulances and motorbikes for doctors.

[16] F-16 crashes in sea off central Greece, pilot dead

Athens, 14/11/2000 (ANA)

The crash occurred at roughly 11:45, immediately after a mock strafing run at a nearby firing range.

An experts' committee is currently investigating the causes of the accident, while it was reported that the pilot had 550 hours of flight time.

[17] Group claims three bomb attacks

Athens, 14/11/2000 (ANA)

In the first attack, a homemade explosive device went off in a ground-floor workshop belonging to the sculptor Papayiannis in the Athens region of Metamorphosis late on Sunday night. The explosion was of limited force and only shattered windowpanes in the workshop.

An anonymous caller telephoned the Athens daily "Eleftherotypia" half an hour before the explosion, warning that "at 22:40 a bomb will explode in the basement sculpture workshop belonging to the sculptor Papayiannis, who is sold out to the Americans".

Ten minutes later the same person called the newspaper and warned that two bombs were to explode in 20 minutes at branches of CitiBank and Barclays Bank in the seaside suburb of Voula.

Explosions occurred at the two branches at 11:10 and 11:20 p.m. respectively, causing minor damage to the banks' entrances.

Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article