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Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 00-11-28Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] Athens condemns latest Denktash threats to withdraw from proximity talksAthens, 28/11/2000 (ANA)Greece reiterated on Monday that Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash and those who support him, offer negative services to the cause of solving the island republics protracted problem.Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas made the statement in response to the T/C leaders threats last week to withdraw from UN-sponsored proximity talks, now into the fifth round. Neither Mr. Denktash, nor those who are behind him, are interested in seeing progress in procedures for a solution to the Cyprus problem, Reppas said, adding that the international community must condemn those who place obstacles for a solution. On its part, the Cyprus government on Friday vigorously condemned Denktashs threats to leave the UN-led proximity talks, calling on the United Nations, the European Union and the international community not to concede to what it called the latest Turkish intimidation. Cyprus has warned that Denktashs threats are aimed at forcing the UN and the EU to change their stance regarding the general principles governing a Cyprus solution, as well as on the all-important EU- Turkey partnership agreement. In a related development, a US State Department official on Friday noted that, from our stand point, we cannot see how such a decision (by Denktash) serves the rights of the Turkish Cypriots or Turkey the United States strongly supports the United Nations process. Meanwhile, the United Nations expressed a hope that Denktash will attend the next round of UN-led proximity talks, scheduled for late January in Geneva. UN spokeswoman in Cyprus Sarah Russell said, however, that Mr. Denktash has not been in direct contact with the UN and it would be inappropriate to comment on press reports. She also noted that the UN Secretary General's special adviser for Cyprus, Alvaro de Soto, will be on the island in early December and will meet with Denktash in the republic's Turkish-occupied sector Meanwhile in Vienna, Cyprus Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides said that Denktash should come to the proximity talks to discuss the Cyprus problem on the pre-agreed terms and conditions. Following his meeting with Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou at the sidelines of the 8th Foreign Ministers' Conference of the Organization for the Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Kasoulides said that the government of Cyprus would not accept any action that disputes the resolutions of the United Nations and especially resolution 1250. He also said that Cyprus would not accept any effort aiming to appease Denktash, but is against the Greek Cypriot side or international law. On his part, Papandreou -discussing the positions of the European Union member-states - said that the Union certainly supports the efforts for the continuation of the proximity talks, as it has done for all efforts toward the resolution of the Cyprus problem. He reiterated that the Union has reaffirmed that even if these efforts to resolve the Cyprus problem do not yield results, the island republic is in any case on its way to enter the EU. During his stay in Vienna, Papandreou also met with his Austrian, Swiss, Spanish, Yugoslav and Maltese counterparts, while late Sunday night he briefly met with his Turkish counterpart, at the sidelines of the OSCE conference. [02] President and PM discuss EU Nice summitAthens, 28/11/2000 (ANA)President Kostis Stephanopoulos and Prime Minister Costas Simitis met on Monday and discussed domestic and foreign issues, while they focused on the European Union Summit due on Dec. 8.Following the meeting Simitis said they also discussed the partnership relation between Turkey and the EU, developments in the Balkans and developments in the Greek economy. Simitis said issues concerning European development will be discussed at the Nice summit and termed the summit a crossroads for Europe's course during an exchange of greetings with the President. He also referred to the partnership relation between the EU and Turkey, expressing the hope that a decision will be taken on the issue. On the question of developments in the Greek economy, Simitis said the conditions have been created for steady development, while the framework exists for investments in coming years. Appealing to businessmen, he said "we want to activate businesses and private citizens in a framework for speeding up development" and expressed the hope that "we shall proceed steadfastly on this course with the mobilization of the citizens' society." [03] ATHOC head briefs PM over last week's high-profile IOC inspectionAthens, 28/11/2000 (ANA)The head of Athens' 2004 organizing committee (ATHOC) on Monday briefed Greek PM Costas Simitis over last week's crucial three-day visit by a high-level International Olympic Committee (IOC) delegation.Although no statements to reporters were made afterwards, ATHOC chief Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki and her associates reportedly earned Simitis' praise for the recent progress recorded in preparations for the 2004 Games, while the former touched on remaining "weak points" in preparations while warning against "slackening efforts", according to sources. The IOC delegation was led by the Lausanne-based organizations influential vice-president Jacques Rogge, who stressed before leaving Athens on Friday that it's "in the Greek government's hands" to successfully complete all the necessary projects for the upcoming Olympics. Rogge effectively took back the IOC's 'yellow card' on Friday by stressing that preparations for the 2004 Games are "on track", whereas he emphasized, during an Athens press conference, that there is no issue of the next Olympics not being hosted by Athens and no contingency plans for such an option. "I'm glad to note that these changes have been put in place," Rogge, who also heads an IOC commission overseeing the Athens Games, said in reference to the changes that the organization demanded from the Greek government and organizers. "There is a new spirit, a new dynamism, a new flexibility ... the key to the success of the 2004 Games is in the Greek government," he told reporters at the end of the inspection visit and consultations with ATHOC and government officials, including Premier Simitis. The Belgian IOC executive also praised organizers for their progress, nearly seven months after outgoing IOC chief Juan Antonio Samaranch issued an unprecedented warning to Greece that it was falling dangerously behind in preparations. "We believe these plans and deadlines are very realistic, but we insist that time remains the critical factor. There is no question of time left, because time has been lost in the past," Rogge said. The IOC delegates, among others, met with Simitis and other top ministers involved in the preparations, particularly in the construction of 2004-related sports venues. Culture is a strategic advantage for Greece, ND leader says: Culture is a strategic advantage for Greece and Greeks around the world and should be fully utilized through the Cultural Olympiad, main opposition New Democracy (ND) party leader Costas Karamanlis said on Monday Karamanlis, who was inaugurating a conference on the Cultural Olympiad organized by his party at the Zappeion Mansion, said the event got underway at the initiative of Miltiades Evert and is a national issue. He also said the effort is an invitation to all and a challenge for competition among ideas and proposals. The conference was further addressed by the President of the Athens 2004 Organizing Committee Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki, as well as by Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos who said he accepted the event as a proposal for cooperation in good faith and added that the available amount of 40 billion drachmas is adequate for the Cultural Olympiad's budget. [04] Athens adamantly refuses negotiations with deposed monarchAthens, 28/11/2000 (ANA)The Greek government on Monday dismissed an offer by deposed monarch Constantine to negotiate compensation for three valuable properties that the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) re-awarded him and two relatives last week."Greece does not negotiate with those that turn against it," government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said. "Everyone will realize that his (Constantine's) stance is condemnable, both morally and politically, by the whole of the Greek people," he added. Meanwhile, an ANA dispatch from London stated that the former Greek king, who fled the country in December 1967 after a botched attempt to overthrow a military dictatorship instituted a few months earlier, is not considering the option of removing the title "ex-king of Greece" he uses to this day and of adding a surname. "It's too early to deal with this issue at present," was his statement. Conversely, he emphasized that he recognizes Greece's form of government - a presidential republic. "The people have decided; the form of government has been solved and I respect the Constitution of Greece," he added. The 60-year-old Constantine added that an international firm has assessed the value of the contested properties at 180 billion drachmas ($450 million), while he said he isn't aware of any taxes owed to the Greek state. Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis also sharply criticized the ex-monarch on Friday, saying that "he's received much more than what he claims he's lost", before terming the former royal family's challenges as "unacceptable" and promoted by an individual who is responsible for the seven-year dictatorship (1967-74) in Greece and the nation's long economic stagnation. The ECHR on Thursday ruled by 15-2 that Athens violated Article 1 of the first protocol of the European Convention of Human Rights, which guarantees the right of property. The court said it would examine the issue of compensation for the members of the ex-royal family at a later date, whereas the government has warned that Constantine is liable for taxes on the seized property if the ECHR grants compensation. Constantine has demanded US1.4 billion dollars compensation for the contested properties, namely, the Tatoi country estate outside northern Athens, the Mon Repos summer palace on the Ionian island of Corfu and the Polidendri forest estate in the foothills of Mount Olympus. The Greek government had seized these on the grounds that Constantines ancestors obtained them under dubious circumstances and had never really been private property, but public property set aside for the use of the royal family. The ex-monarch, his sister Irene and his aunt Ekaterini, had taken their case before a European human rights tribunal in Strasbourg in 1994, claiming that the Greek state had violated their rights to family life, dignified treatment, access to the courts and their property. The 1967-74 Greek military junta first seized the properties, while the monarchy was abolished in a referendum after the fall of the military regime. In 1979, the expropriation of the land was overturned and then seized again in 1994 by the then newly elected PASOK government. [05] Patriarchate to remain in Istanbul, Vartholomeos saysISTANBUL, 28/11/2000 (ANA - A. Kourkoulas)Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos on Monday said in no uncertain terms that the Patriarchate would remain here, during his address to the Church's clergy and faithful conference."We trust in Divine Providence and not in secular leaders," he said, adding, "Divine Providence wants this historical throne (of the Patriarch) to this side of the world and not anywhere else". Thus he responded to questions regarding the future of the Patriarchate in a city inhabited largely by Muslims. Vartholomeos said that this is not the first time in history that the Patriarchate existed in a this city, with a very small minority of Orthodox Christians, reminding the participants of the conference of the St. Gregory of Nance times, (the fourth century AD) when the Patriarchate was but a small community around the St. Athanasia Temple. [06] Alternate foreign minister briefs heads of Greece's and Cyprus' press bureausAthens, 28/11/2000 (ANA)Alternate Foreign Minister Elizabeth Papazoi on Monday briefed the heads of Greece's and Cyprus' press bureaus at a conference held at the Zappeion Mansion, saying that Greece is one of the 20 most developed countries in the world, it has a strong and stable economy and consolidated and secure democratic institutions.Papazoi said the country's main target remains equal and full participation in the process of European integration and the process of deepening the EU's economic and political unification. Referring to Greek-Turkish relations, she said Greece continues to support Turkey's European vocation, adding that it wants a European Turkey, a Turkey adjusted to European established practice and a Turkey, which shall constitute a factor of stability in the region and not the contrary. Papazoi reminded that the sole pending difference between Greece and Turkey is that of defining the continental shelf, adding that there can be no full normalization of Greek-Turkish relations without a solution to the problem of Cyprus. [07] Greek-Swedish conference focuses on Europe's 'southern, northern dimensions'Athens, 28/11/2000 (ANA)Sub-regional cooperation and European integration was the focus of a Greek-Swedish conference on Monday in Athens, with participants highlighting the need for improved cooperation and shared experiences between SE Europe and the Baltic Sea region.Greek Alternate Foreign Minister Elisavet Papazoi along with the Swedish ministry of foreign affairs' deputy director general, Hans Magnusson, among others, addressed an audience at the foreign ministry. The conference, organized within the framework of Stockholm's "Year of the Baltic States" initiative, was arranged jointly by the Swedish Institute of International Affairs (SIIA) and the Greek Center of European Studies and Research (EKEME). It was held under the auspices of Greece's foreign ministry. "Coming from Zagreb, from the EU-western Balkans summit, I am more convinced than ever that sub-regional cooperation is both feasible and highly desirable. Such cooperation in the Balkans will support the reconstruction of a region that has recently suffered a most severe crisis and will contribute to its integration in the structures of the European Union," Papazoi said in the beginning of her address. In expanding on the conference's theme, Papazoi said three conditions must be met for regional cooperation to function as a factor for stability, namely: - All partner-countries must adhere to a system of basic principles that govern modern democratic societies. - Clear objectives should be set within the wider framework of development, peace and stability. - Regional cooperation should also contain an operational aspect, in producing flexible policies. "Greece, both a country of the Balkans and an EU member-state, is a major factor of stability in SE Europe and is playing a particular role in promoting EU policy in the Balkans", she added. [08] Bulgarian President to visit Greece next weekAthens, 28/11/2000 (ANA)Bulgarian President Petar Stoyanov will visit Greece next week at his Greek counterpart's invitation, it was announced Monday.A Presidency announcement said Stoyanov would pay a state visit to Greece on December 4-5 at the invitation of President of the Republic Costis Stephanopoulos. The visit "will comprise another important step in reinforcing the very good level of bilateral relations" between Greece and Bulgaria, the announcement said. The situation in the Balkans, European developments, and bilateral issues, particularly in the sector of the economy, are expected to be at the center of Stoyanov's talks here with Stephanopoulos and the country's political leadership. [09] Public order minister to visit BelgradeBELGRADE, 28/11/2000 (ANA - M. Mouratidis)Public Order Minister Christos Chrysohoidis will pay an official visit to Belgrade on Tuesday for talks with Yugoslav Interior Minister Zoran Zivkovic on combatting smuggling and illegal migration.[10] Solidarity Committee for Turkish and Kurdish political detainees stage solidarity marchAthens, 28/11/2000 (ANA)Members of the "Solidarity Committee for Turkish and Kurdish political detainees", as well as of leftist organizations, staged a solidarity march on Monday for the 816 political detainees who have been on a hunger strike in 18 Turkish prisons over the past 39 days.Scores of protesters gathered on the Athens University campus to protest what they termed the explosive situation prevailing in Turkey's prisons and marched to the Turkish embassy where they burnt a Turkish flag and the model of a white cell. The purpose of the strikers is to prevent the mass transfer of political detainees from present prisons to the new modern "white cells" being built in various parts of Turkey and which, according to the political detainees' lawyers, are cages of eight square meters without any sunlight and fully isolated and sound-proof. [11] Law enforcement seminar begins on Wednesday on copyright infringementAthens, 28/11/2000 (ANA)The "Athena" seminar for the confrontation of copyright infringement and computer software theft is set to begin on Wednesday, organized by the Greek public order ministry, in central Athens.The three-day seminar will feature lectures by Greek, European Union and United States law enforcement experts, who will address the issue in an effort to brief local law enforcement agents. [12] EU, Greece sign major regional fund package for 2000-2006BRUSSELS, 28/11/2000 (ANA/B.Demiris)The European Union on Monday approved a funding package of 44.29 billion euros for 2000-2006 that will aid growth in Greek regions lagging the rest of the 15-nation bloc.Signing the Third Community Support Framework (CSF), the framework for the funding, on behalf of the EU was Michel Barnier, regional policy commissioner; and signing for Greece was National Economy and Finance Minister Yiannos Papantoniou. Of the total financing package, around 22.71 billion euros will come from the EU's budget with the balance provided almost equally by the Greek state (11.20 billion euros) and private sector (10.38 billion euros). "There is a real prospect that Greece can close the development gap with other member states in the run-up to the next enlargement of the Union. This means not only making full use of a huge amount of development resources, but also spending them well," Barnier told the signing ceremony. "The task now is to translate into reality, in partnership, the high ambitions we have set ourselves, building on the foundations of Greece's healthy macroeconomic position. Ensuring the highest standards in the public administration of development funds is a priority," he added. The Community's contribution will come from the four structural funds - regional, social, agricultural guidance and fisheries guidance. Added to the CSF funds are further monies that are linked to the cohesion fund, totalling around 6.4 billion euros, of which 3.3 billion euros are the EU's contribution plus Greek state and private sector input. Overall, the EU will contribute some 26 billion euros in grants, which is equivalent to over 3.0 percent of Greece's gross domestic product and at least 45 percent of public investment. The EU said in a statement that it was providing the financial assistance on the understanding that the following priorities were accepted: On October 31, 2000, the Greek parliament voted through a law on the organization of management of CSF funds. The law was an important step forward, creating a new legal framework that is necessary for an efficient and transparent management of the CSF and its operational programs, the EU statement said. Separately, the EU's Greek commissioner for social affairs, Anna Diamantopoulou, welcomed the funding package, especially for its social angle. She said it was the main funding mechanism to support the Greek government's national action plan on employment. [13] Papantoniou says signing of 3rd CSF the completion of tough battleBRUSSELS, 28/11/2000 (ANA - Y. Zitouniati)National Economy and Finance Minister Yiannos Papantoniou said on Monday the signing of the 3rd Community Support Framework (CSF) was a "great day", adding that it was the formal completion of a tough battle given in Berlin (extraordinary summit held on March 25, 1999).He said the funds are of decisive importance for upgrading Greece's infrastructures over the 2000-2006 period and "it constitutes a unique and unprecedented opportunity", adding that "we hope Greece will not need similar aid five years later." During the Council of Economy and Finance Ministers (ECOFIN) and the euro group (the 11 countries belonging to the euro zone and Greece), held here on Sunday and Monday with the participation of European Central Bank President Vim Duisenberg, an assessment was made of the international economic conjuncture and the conclusion was reached that neither the decline of the euro nor the increase in oil prices will affect the EU's development prospects which anticipate development rates of 3.1 percent for 2001 and 3.2 percent for the euro zone. Regarding Greece, Papantoniou said a small divergence occurred from the European Commission's prediction on development rates, which reached 4.1 percent this year, while the Commission's prediction was 3.5 percent and that of the government 3.8 percent. For 2001, the Commission's corresponding prediction is 4.5 percent and the government's 5 percent, while for 2002, the Commission's prediction is 4.8 percent and the government's 5.2 percent. [14] Greece welcomes EU pact on tax, banking secrecyBRUSSELS, 28/11/2000 (ANA/M. Spinthourakis)National Economy and Finance Minister Yiannos Papantoniou on Monday welcomed an agreement reached by the European Union to curb tax evasion that may eventually end banking secrecy.Most EU states will share information on non-residents' savings income so it can be taxed in their EU home country. Countries opposed to this can instead impose a withholding tax on savings income for a seven-year transition period. Luxembourg and Austria, which maintain domestic bank secrecy laws, were given time to fall into line. Joined by Belgium they will, for seven years starting from January 1, 2003, instead levy a withholding tax on non-residents' investment income. The rate will be fixed at 15 percent for three years, rising to 20 percent. The agreement also included a code of conduct to curb competition for corporate tax revenues and a technical law designed to stop double taxation of royalty and interest payments. [15] Greece's trade deficit up 1.5 billion euros in Jan-AugAthens, 28/11/2000 (ANA)Greece's trade deficit rose by 1.5 billion euros (around 510 billion drachmas) to 12.3 billion euros (4.18 trillion drachmas) in the first eight months of 2000 compared with the same period last year, Eurostat, the EU's statistics agency, said on Monday. The country's trade deficit was 10.8 billion euros, or 3.67 trillion drachmas, last year.Greek figures are the third largest deficit among EU member-states, lagging behind UK (42 billion euros) and Spain (25.2 billion euros), in first and second place, respectively. Germany reported the largest trade surplus with 36.9 billion euros, followed by Ireland with a surplus of 18 billion euros. Greek exports rose 22 percent in the first eight months of 2000, to 7.8 billion euros, from 6.3 billion last year, while imports rose by 17 percent to 20.1 billion euros from 17.1 billion in 1999. [16] Gov't sees tax revenue surplus of Dr 900 bln by end-yearAthens, 28/11/2000 (ANA)Deputy Finance Minister Apostolos Fotiadis said on Monday that he expected a tax revenue surplus of 900 billion drachmas by the end of the year.He told reporters in the northern port city of Thessaloniki that this would break the country's record in tax collection. Data on tax collection for the first ten months of the year showed a surplus of 725 billion drachmas, which was the basis for the end-year forecast, Fotiadis added. [17] Labor unions call strikes in protest of fiscal, labor policiesAthens, 28/11/2000 (ANA)Public services are expected to be disrupted on Tuesday as the Civil Servants Supreme Administrative Council (ADEDY) called for a 24-hour strike to protest government fiscal policies and changes to labor policies.ADEDY also called on its members to a rally on Tuesday at 11 am in central Athens. Responding to the ADEDY call, Olympic Airways and Olympic Aviation employees' unions also called a strike for Tuesday, thus most flights will be cancelled and only one flight per destination will be conducted. In a related development state workers' insurance fund employees were on strike on Monday and will strike on Tuesday as well, and the municipal sanitation employees union called for rotating 48-hour strikes for the aforementioned reasons. Meanwhile, the General Confederation of Workers of Greece (GSEE) called for a countrywide strike on Thursday, seeking the 35-year employment term, or 10,500 work stamps, as the sole precondition for pensioning for all. [18] Greek stocks end lower in extremely thin tradeAthens, 28/11/2000 (ANA)Equity prices ended lower on Monday, although off their day's lows, in extremely thin trading conditions on the Athens Stock Exchange.Traders said banks' shares offered support to the wider market, with smaller capitalization stocks suffering heavy losses and 60 stock shares falling to their lowest levels this year. The general index ended 0.28 percent lower at 3,312.08 points, with turnover a low 49.15 billion drachmas, of which 19 billion accounted for block transactions in Astir Hotels and Piraeus Leasing. The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks ended 0.20 percent off at 1,892.81 points, and the FTSE/ASE 40 index ended at 398.62 points, down 0.96 percent. Sector indices ended as follows: Banks: 6,902.08 +0.26% Leasing: 567.45 +1.50% Insurance: 1,534.51 -0.71% Investment: 1,161.14 -1.29% Construction: 1,236.33 -3.59% Industrials: 2,035.58 +0.09% Miscellaneous: 3,061.00 -1.30% Holding: 4,069.57 -0.66% The parallel market index for smaller capitalization stocks ended 2.05 percent lower at 346.69 points. Broadly, decliners led advancers by 241 to 95 with another 19 issues unchanged. Piraeus Leasing, Astir Hotels, National Bank, Hellenic Telecoms and Alpha Bank were the most heavily traded stocks. Leading shares' closing prices (in Drs): National Bank: 12,830 Alpha Bank: 12,350 Commercial Bank: 16,600 Eurobank: 8,770 Piraeus Bank: 5,010 Lambrakis Press: 5,500 Heracles Cement: 5,230 Titan Cement (c): 13,700 Hellenic Telecoms: 5,645 Panafon: 2,890 Hellenic Petroleum: 3,645 Attica Enterprises: 2,880 Intracom: 8,470 Minoan Lines: 1,990 Hellenic Bottling: 5,270 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 0.20 percent down, and the FTSE/ASE 40 ended 0.96 percent lower. Turnover was 13.6 billion drachmas. A total of 3,035 contracts were traded on the FTSE/ASE 20 with turnover at 11.7 billion drachmas. On the FTSE/ASE 40 index, 1,132 contracts changed hands on turnover of 1.8 billion drachmas. Bond prices nose up in thin trade: Bond prices in the domestic secondary market on Monday finished higher in scant trade with some selling seen in long-term securities ahead of a finance ministry auction in the next session. The Greek benchmark 10-year bond showed a yield of 5.819 percent from 5.819 percent in the previous session. The Greek paper's yield spread over German bunds was 69 basis points for the third straight session. Turnover through the central bank's electronic system totalled 18 billion drachmas from 68 billion drachmas in the session before. Buy orders accounted for around 12 billion drachmas of trade. Drachma loses more ground against US dollar: The drachma ended lower against the US dollar on Monday, extending its previous week's losses, after the euro/dollar rate fell below the 84 cents level in international markets. The Greek currency fell to 405,320 drachmas per dollar at the day's fixing, from 403.900 on Friday. The drachmas moved closer to its central parity against the euro, at 340.350 drachmas. [19] New trains received by Athens-Piraeus Electric RailwaysAthens, 28/11/2000 (ANA)The Athens-Piraeus Electric Railways (HSAP) received a number of new trains on Monday, while Transport and Communications Minister Christos Verelis said in a brief ad-dress that the government is determined to support the role of commuter services such as the Metro, HSAP and the tram in the future.All HSAP stations will have been renovated by 2003 and 20 new trains will have been received. Consequently, a 50 percent increase in the number of passengers will be achieved, compared to the present figure, on a daily basis and over 600,000 passengers will be served. Verelis also said the property of the electric railways should be protected from troublemakers who damage trains on Sundays when soccer matches are played, adding that in the case of a relapse trains will not circulate on days when important matches take place. [20] 38th conference of European Journalists begins in ThessalonikiAthens, 28/11/2000 (ANA)European Union Culture and Education Commissioner Viviane Reding addressed the opening of the 38th conference of the European Journalists Union, in Thessaloniki, northern Greece, on Monday.She appeared optimistic over the future of journalism, terming digital technology an opportunity. The conference is entitled "Democracy, journalism and culture in the 21st century-Challenges and new conditions." Reding, who is a journalist, said the journalist should function as a "filter" between events and the public, adding the need for safeguarding the Europe's cultural quilt. She said that in the first month of the new year the EU program Media Plus will start being implemented to encourage cinema production, while its total budget amounts to 400 million euro, namely about 174 billion drachmas. [21] President inaugurates museum of modern art in central AthensAthens, 28/11/2000 (ANA)President Kostis Stephanopoulos on Monday inaugurated the Center of Modern Greek and European Art-Museum Frisyra in the picturesque central Athens district of Plaka.The owner of the museum, Mr. Frisyras, hailed the presence of the president, saying that his presence "honors culture, art and painting." The museum is exhibiting 3,000 paintings from Greek and European artists. The paintings cover an 80-year period of the 20th Century. [22] Kasoulides says Denktash should return to Cyprus peace talksNICOSIA, 28/11/2000 (CNA/ANA)Cyprus Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides has stressed that Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash should return to the UN-led talks on the basis of the agreed parameters.Kasoulides, speaking on the sidelines of the 8th meeting of Foreign Minister of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) also stressed the Greek Cypriot side would not accept any move which may put in doubt UN resolutions and especially Security Council resolution 1250.The Minister made it clear that the Greek Cypriot side will not accept any attempt to appease Denktash at its expense and the expense of international law. His comments come in the wake of unacceptable threats by Denktash that unless and until his self-styled regime in Turkish occupied Cyprus is recognized, he has no intention of returning to the negotiating table. Denktash described the yearlong UN proximity talks as a waste of time, which he claims so far have led nowhere. UN top envoy on Cyprus Alvaro de Soto has conducted five rounds of talks with the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides and expects to carry the negotiations further in late January in Geneva. Resolution 1250, which called for the negotiations with a view to reach a comprehensive settlement, laid down the terms of the talks - no preconditions, all issues on the table, commitment in good faith to continue negotiate until a settlement is reached and full consideration of relevant UN resolutions and treaties. In his remarks after a meeting with Kasoulides, Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou reiterated European Union strong support for the UN efforts to continue the talks, and recalled that if the talks did not yield results, Cyprus would still be on the road for accession. Papandreou said the UN and the Secretary-General had made important efforts at the Cyprus negotiations, adding that the Republic of Cyprus had shown a most constructive approach because the resolution of the Cyprus question is an urgent priority for the government. The Greek Foreign Minister had separate meetings with his counterparts from Turkey, Austria, Switzerland, Spain, Yugoslavia and Malta. [23] Britain urges constructive efforts in Cyprus peaceLONDON, 28/11/2000 (CNA/ANA)Britain has urged the parties in the Cyprus peace effort to engage constructively in the UN process, reiterating its support for the UN Secretary-General's effort to find a comprehensive settlement.The comments from a spokeswoman of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office come in the wake of public statements by Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash that the proximity talks so far have been a waste of time and that he sees no reason he should attend unless and until his breakaway regime in Turkish occupied Cyprus is recognized. "UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has asked all parties concerned to avoid any comment on the procedure as well as the substance of the process", she said, adding that London respects that request. She also said Britain continues "to give full support to the Secretary-General's effort to reach a just, lasting and comprehensive settlement". "We urge the parties to engage constructively in the UN process attending the next round of talks in Geneva next January", she concluded. Annan's Special Adviser on Cyprus Alvaro de Soto has con-ducted five rounds of proximity talks with the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides during which he presented them with a plethora of non papers on the four core issues under discussion for consideration. The issues at hand relate to the constitution, security, territory and refugees-property. A new round is set for late January in Geneva. Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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