Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 01-01-08

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

CONTENTS

[01] Call for EU policies to protect Balkan populations from 'exacerbated environmental conditions'

[02] Karamanlis proposes national strategy for Hellenism

[03] Prodi says Greece' EU convergence will be made step by step

[04] Japanese prime minister to visit Greece

[05] Mitsotakis blasts government on new int'l airport, 2004 Olympics preparations

[06] Turkish FM says Turkey may annex occupied territory in the event of Cyprus EU accession prior to solution

[07] Canadian minister calls for return of Parthenon Marbles

[08] Turnover more than doubles in Greek bond market

[09] Greek stocks end week with a free-fall

[10] Greece's closed-end investment funds' assets fall in 2000

[11] Thessaloniki Exchange Center increases share of Greek capital market in December

[12] Labor minister's slain son buried in Athens

[13] Rocket attack against OSE bus in Albania

[14] Top guidance system considered for Ioannina airport

[15] ABNA Seminar on Sports and Olympic Games in Digital Era

[16] Clerides says efforts underway to settle Cyprus issue

[17] German FM Joschka Fischer says European rapprochement strategy for Turkish stability necessary

[01] Call for EU policies to protect Balkan populations from 'exacerbated environmental conditions'

Athens, 08/01/2001 (ANA)

National defense minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos, in a letter to the Swedish chairman of the European Union council of defense ministers, also called for an investigation into a potential connection between incidents of leukemia diagnosed in troops serving in the multinational force in Kosovo (KFOR) with bombs containing depleted uranium (DU) dropped by NATO during its 78-day bombing campaign in 1999. The low-radiation depleted uranium was also contained in ammunition in NATO bombing campaigns against Serb forces in Bosnia in 1994-5.

Concerns over the affects of exposure to DU among Balkan veterans first arose in December after six Italian soldiers died of leukemia. Other countries with contingents in KFOR and the Stabilization Force (SFOR) in Bosnia have also reported leukemia deaths among the veterans.

A team of Greek experts is due to arrive in Kosovo Monday afternoon to conduct radiation readings, particularly in the town of Kurosevac where the Greek KFOR contingent is stationed. The team includes a nuclear physicist and a radiation expert from Greece's Demokritos national research center, and several experts from the Army General Staff's war and chemical substances directorate.

On Tuesday, the committee of NATO permanent representatives will meet to discuss investigations into the problem and into whether the weapons systems used have contaminated the Balkan environment.

Tsohatzopoulos called for the classification of all instances of blood diseases in the past decade so as to ascertain whether there has been an increase in the incidence of such diseases recently.

Meanwhile, a Greek junior officer who had served in Bosnia three years ago and diagnosed with leukemia would be examined Tuesday by experts at Demokritos.

Thirteen incidents of leukemia were recorded in the Greek armed forces in 2,000 and of those only the junior officer had served in Yugoslavia.

Tsohatzopoulos is also due to meet this week with the chairman of parliament's standing committee on foreign affairs and defense to brief the committee on the problem.

Asked by reporters if the Greek contingents in KFOR and SFOR would be withdrawn in the event a health hazard was confirmed, the defense minister said all the measures necessary to confront the problem would be taken, reiterating an earlier statement that the troops from the 47 countries serving in the region were there not on an excursion but to ensure peace.

Karamanlis calls for parliament to be briefed on Balkans Syndrome: Main opposition New Democracy leader Costas Karamanlis on Sunday called on the prime minister to brief parliament on all existing information on concerns that exposure to depleted uranium (DU) used in NATO bombs dropped on Yugoslavia was causing leukemia among peacekeepers, a condition dubbed 'Balkans Syndrome'.

Karamanlis discussed the problem Sunday with national defense minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos, and told the press later that the government had "huge responsibility", calling on premier Costas Simitis to brief the 300-member House.

The main opposition leader further called for the creation of an experts' committee to investigate the issue in depth, and for the withdrawal of the Greek peacekeepers and students from the area if the health hazard was confirmed.

He reiterated earlier ND proposals that the EU Council of Ministers should include DU bombs among the prohibited nuclear weapons and lift the "political obstacles to the provision of humanitarian aid to Yugoslavia".

Karamanlis noted that ND had objected to the NATO bombing of Kosovo from the outset, adding that once again it's view had proved correct.

Greece, he said, now needed to undertake major international initiatives, adding that his party planned to do so.

Also present at the meeting were ND's shadow foreign and defense minister Dora Bakoyianni and shadow health minister Nikitas Kaklamanis, and National Defense General Staff chief Gen. Manoussos Paragioudakis.

'Balkan Syndrome' scare leads to additional protection, checks for Greek troops: The political fall-out in Europe emanating from concerns that depleted uranium-coated (DU) rounds dropped on strife-torn Kosovo have caused serious health problems to many multinational peacekeepers continued on Friday, with a handful of countries already having ordered checks on their troops.

In Greece, both the government and military leadership said areas where Greek troops are deployed have been checked for radiation, with results showing nothing out of the ordinary. The issue of additional protection and the screening of soldiers that serve or have served in Kosovo were also decided.

Press reports from Italy this week cited the detection of leukemia among six servicemen who served in Kosovo, a development that caused health services in other countries to focus on the health of their veterans as well as currently stationed troops in the troubled Yugoslav province now administered by NATO and the UN.

The entire health scare has been dubbed the "Balkan Syndrome" by the media.

While the Greek government reiterated that no health hazards have been detected near Greek troops, many opposition politicians called for their return from Kosovo and Bosnia, before again heaping criticism on the NATO alliance for its bombardment of Yugoslavia last year.

On his part, main opposition New Democracy leader Costas Karamanlis on Friday charged that the government was "covering-up the truth" and of "misinforming the public opinion".

Karamanlis referred to an instance of a Greek army NCO being diagnosed with leukemia after serving in Bosnia. He will be briefed on the "Balkan Syndrome" issue by the defense ministry's leadership on Sunday over the issue, a ND statement read.

In a response, the government spokesman countered that the entire issue was being dealt with a "serious and responsible" manner, adding that the matter should not be confused with petty politics.

Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas repeated that Athens has taken all the necessary precautions for its troops, while Greece has also brought the issue of DU contamination to the attention of both the European Union and the United Nations. Finally, he noted that Greece has led efforts to offer every form of assistance to the Yugoslav people following last year's conflict.

Meanwhile, the Greek chapter of the "Doctors of the World" organization called for extensive and reliable testing on the general population and military personnel in Kosovo, with results to be published in international scientific journals. The group also called on the Greek health ministry to increase the amount of humanitarian aid it is sending to Yugoslavia.

On Thursday, Athens emphasized that it will check the health of all military personnel who serve or have served in Kosovo as part of NATO's multinational force (KFOR).

On his part, Greek PM Costas Simitis added that necessary measures would be taken to ensure that the health of Greece's troops in Kosovo, deployed mainly around the southern town of Urosevac.

The country's national defense general staff command in statements on Thursday said there "are no indications that cause concern, as no infection (involving radiation) has been recorded while no officer or enlisted person that serves or has served in Kosovo has been diagnosed with DU infection."

According to the Greek military, 1,481 men and women serve in the Greek contingent based in Kosovo, while specific orders have been given to keep safe distances from suspected contaminated sites, such as destroyed tanks.

Christodoulos blasts 'Christian' countries over DU bombs in Yugoslavia: The head of the Greek Orthodox Church on Sunday blasted the 'Christian' countries that dropped bombs containing depleted uranium (DU) in Yugoslavia, amid growing concern that exposure to DU was responsible for leukemia among peacekeepers serving in the area.

"We are witnessing these days the immense crime that has been committed in (Yugoslavia), unfortunately by Christian countries which should be the first to respect humanity and people and not use weapons which have been condemned by the United Nations, such as nuclear weapons," Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and All Greece said from the pulpit of the church of Panagia (The Virgin) in Athens.

Christodoulos wondered who would seek responsibility from "those who with profuse provocativeness and impunity decided to drop those bombs, knowing that they spread death and pollution of the world's environment?

[02] Karamanlis proposes national strategy for Hellenism

NICOSIA, 08/01/2001 (ANA-G. Leonidas)

Karamanlis set out the three focal points, which ND believed that national strategy should be founded on in order to face the challenges and priorities of 2001.

First of all, he said, the Greek government should take advantage of the significant pressure levers of the European Union so as to persuade the Turkish side that a Cyprus solution should be in line with European law.

Second, EU enlargement could not take place without Cyprus, and this position of the Greek side should be made crystal clear, Karamanlis said, adding that this was a position of principle, credibility and self-respect.

Third, messages of firm unity should be sent abroad, Karamanlis said, adding that it was the duty of all to strengthen the negotiating position of the Cyprus government.

[03] Prodi says Greece' EU convergence will be made step by step

Athens, 08/01/2001 (ANA)

Greece's entry into the eurozone "will help towards convergence because it will help the Greek economy to change. Not with decisions taken else where but through a process of an internal adaptation," Prodi said in an interview with the Athens 'Sunday Vima' newspaper, published on Saturday.

"The Greek economy will be pressed to modernize, just as it happened in Italy, but this would be for its own benefit," he said.

Prodi also said that EU enlargement would help Greece to come closer to the EU's "center". In that case, he said, the Union will have to play a more important role in the Balkans where Greece has a substantial presence.

Addressing the Cyprus' EU accession course, Prodi said that a solution to the protracted Cyprus problem before accession would be beneficial. Otherwise the EU Council would be facing a "difficult decision". "Everybody's interest commands that the (Cyprus) problem be solved before enlargement," he added.

[04] Japanese prime minister to visit Greece

Athens, 08/01/2001 (ANA)

Mori arrives in Athens on January 13 for a two-day visit, according to a Japanese Embassy announcement in Athens.

In 1999, Greece and Japan marked the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Mori will meet with Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis for talks on Greek-Japanese relations as well as regional issues of concern to the two countries.

The visit is considered very important for the further development and improvement of the relations between the two countries, the Embassy announcement said.

[05] Mitsotakis blasts government on new int'l airport, 2004 Olympics preparations

Athens, 08/01/2001 (ANA)

Main opposition New Democracy (ND) honorary leader Constantine Mitsotakis said it was becoming apparent that there would be a postponement of the full operation of Athens' new Eleftherios Venizelos international airport in Spata, east of the capital, despite repeated assurances by the country's environment, town planning and public works minister Costas Laliotis, that the airport will be fully operational by March 1 this year.

In a written statement, Mitsotakis said that "after 1993, the PASOK government renegotiated and altered, for the worse and in the benefit of the Germans (the consortium building the airport led by Germany-based firm Hochtief), the contract (for the Spata airport) which our (New Democracy) government had reached".

The former premier accused the PASOK government of being "totally incapable of elementarily fulfilling its own responsibilities and obligations".

He said that the access roads to the airport would not be completed on time, "at the exclusive responsibility of the government", while state-run national carrier Olympic Airways "will not be able to transfer its basic operations" to the new facility by the opening date and the Civil Aviation Authority (YPA) "has not prepared the necessary infrastructures".

Consequently, Mitsotakis warned, the country risked "international humiliation" and the Greek taxpayers faced the prospect of "paying the German company unjustifiable penalties foreseen in the contract that the PASOK government itself has signed".

He claimed that the "Spata airport fiasco" strengthened "fears expressed by all sides" that the "with the present government and the sorry condition of the Greek State", the country "will not be able to meet the great challenge of the 2004 Olympics".

[06] Turkish FM says Turkey may annex occupied territory in the event of Cyprus EU accession prior to solution

NICOSIA, 08/01/2001 (ANA/G. Leonidas)

Cem voiced his threats during an interview with well-known Turkish journalist Mehmet Ali Birand.

Birand said Cem did not use the term annexation but all that he had told him added up to this.

However, Turkish Education Minister responsible for the Cyprus issue Sukru Sina Gurel claimed the new Turkish plan should not be evaluated as an effort to annex occupied territory to Turkey, but as an elimination of economic and social difficulties resulting from the embargo being implemented, as he said, on occupied territory.

The so-called Association Council between Turkey and the pseudo-state is expected to convene in Ankara on January 12, at which the plan on closer cooperation between the two sides will be discussed.

[07] Canadian minister calls for return of Parthenon Marbles

Athens, 08/01/2001 (ANA)

"Our dream is for the Marbles to return to the Parthenon, where they belong, by the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens," Ashton said during a tour of the Acropolis accompanied by his wife Hari and their daughter.

The Marbles were removed from the Parthenon by British diplomat Lord Elgin in the early 19th century with tacit permission of local Ottoman administrators then ruling in the area. Elgin removed the friezes and other parts of the impressive Parthenon temple, dedicated to the ancient goddess Athena, and sold them to the British Embassy, where they are currently housed.

Ashton was emphatic that the Marbles must be returned to Greece, "now", noting Greece's immense contribution to Canada and the world throughout history and adding that "it's time that Canada and the world return something to Greece".

"It is time to say to and pressure Britain to return that which belongs here," Ashton said.

The British-born Ashton said that although he was not born a Greek, "I am a Greek in my heart".

He said that the majority of people in Britain also desired the return of the Marbles to the Parthenon, adding that next week he would be in London to discuss the matter with the British Committee for the Return of the Marbles.

[08] Turnover more than doubles in Greek bond market

Athens, 08/01/2001 (ANA)

Central bank's figures showed that during the first three sessions of Greece's electronic secondary market, daily turnover soared to an average 1l.58 billion euros, or 538.95 billion drachmas, from 500.26 million euros or 170.463 billion drachmas in December.

Bond prices, also, soared by 0.27 to 0.304 points throughout the curve and in particular in long-term bonds, pushing the benchmark 10-year bond at 105.13 points on Friday, up from 103.85 points in December 29, 200.

The Greek/Bund spread fell to 54 basis points from 62 basis points last Friday.

The Bank of Greece attributed the positive developments in the domestic bond market to the increased participation of foreign banks, a sign of improved return prospects in the Greek bond market. Foreign banks were also showing increased interest in obtaining the license of a primary dealer in the domestic bond market.

Buying interest focused on 20-year bonds on Friday, while 10-year bonds came under pressure.

The finance ministry announced it would auction a bond issue, worth 1.4 billion euros (around 500 billion drachmas) paying an annual coupon of 6.0 percent, next Tuesday, January 9. The issue is the largest ever auctioned in Greece.

Euro interest rates fell further in the domestic interbank market, with the overnight rate set at 4.78 percent from 4.82 percent on Thursday, the one-month rate at 4.78 from 4.80 percent and the 12-month rate at 4.45 from 4.50 percent.

[09] Greek stocks end week with a free-fall

Athens, 08/01/2001 (ANA)

Traders said foreign investment funds gave open selling orders for Greek blue chip stocks, like National Bank, Hellenic Telecoms and Panafon, a trend that rapidly expanded to all other sectors in the market.

The general index ended 2.86 percent lower at 3,217.96 points, off the day's lows of 3,198.26 points, with turnover a low 129.47 million euros, or 44.118 billion drachmas.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks ended 2.75 percent down at 1,850.53 points, and the FTSE/ASE 40 index eased 2.11 percent to 377.35 points.

Sector indices ended as follows: Banks: 6,961.39 -3.06% Leasing: 520.31 -2.44% Insurance: 1,367.27 -3.14% Investment: 1,295.91 -3.11% Construction: 1,206.38 -0.23% Industrials: 1,978.99 -2.95% Miscellaneous: 2,696.57 -2.42% Holding: 3,772.93 -1.17%

The parallel market index for smaller capitalization stocks ended 4.05 percent to 290.85 points.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 302 to 32 with another 17 issues unchanged.

National Bank, Alpha Bank and Hellenic Telecoms were the most heavily traded stocks.

Leading shares' closing prices (in euros): National Bank: 38.98 Alpha Bank: 34.08 Commercial Bank: 48.96 Eurobank: 20.00 Piraeus Bank: 15.88 Lambrakis Press: 13.30 Altec: 7.00 Titan Cement (c):

40.62 Hellenic Telecoms: 14.64 Panafon: 7.22 Hellenic Petroleum: 9.88 Attica Enterprises: 7.94 Intracom: 22.40 Minoan Lines: 5.54 Viohalco: 11.78 Hellenic Bottling: 17.00

Greek stocks extend last year's losses: Greek equities extended last year's heavy losses during the first three sessions of 2001 disappointing all those hoping for a recovery of the Athens Stock Exchange due to the switch to the euro currency.

Traders said foreign institutional investors continued liquidating positions in emerging markets hitting blue chip stocks in the banks and telecommunications sectors.

The general index ended the week with a net loss of 4.90 percent, with the FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks losing 5.15 percent and the FTSE/ASE 40 index falling 4.57 percent.

The short-week's turnover totalled 307.1 million euros, to a daily average of 102.4 million euros.

[10] Greece's closed-end investment funds' assets fall in 2000

Athens, 08/01/2001 (ANA)

The investment fund sector's net asset value fall last year ranged from 20.6 percent to 92 percent. Ten investment firms were traded at a discount between 4.1 and 24.2 percent, while the remaining seven were traded at a premium.

The investment sector index fell 4.24 in the period 15-29 December for an annual decline of 52.7 percent, compared with a 38.8 percent fall of the general index over the year.

[11] Thessaloniki Exchange Center increases share of Greek capital market in December

Athens, 08/01/2001 (ANA)

More specifically, the Exchange Center increased its share of the Greek capital market by nearly 12.22 percent in December 2000, almost double the 6.69 percent increase recorded in the same month in 1999.

The increase for the entire year was 7.13 percent, up from a 6.81 percent rise in 1991, while the target for 2001 was a nine percent increase, according to the Thessaloniki Exchange Center management.

Despite the increase in market share, the Centers overall trading in 2000 dropped by 7.7 percent to five trillion dr.

The volume of trade conducted via the Exchange Center in December alone reached 499.936 billion dr., while the top five stock brokerages, by volume of transactions, were Agrotiki Chrimatistiriaki S.A. with 355.688 billion dr., Elliniki Chrimatistiriaki with 18.565 billion dr., Vorioelladitiki S.A. with 17.797 billion dr., Omega Chrimatistiriaki S.A. with 10.752 billion dr., and Sigma Chrimatistiriaki S.A. with 10.520 billion dr.

[12] Labor minister's slain son buried in Athens

Athens, 08/01/2001 (ANA)

As per the family's request, television or photo crews were absent at the funeral, held at the Greek capital's First Cemetery.

Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Christodoulos officiated at the service, attended by Greek Premier Costas Simitis and his Cabinet.

Constantine Giannitsis, a postgraduate student at MIT, had traveled to Mexico with friends just prior to the New Year for a holiday.

[13] Rocket attack against OSE bus in Albania

TIRANA, 08/01/2001 (ANA - Y. Kyrousis)

The explosion in the empty bus occurred early Saturday, at a bus station where two Greek and two Albanian buses were preparing to take on Albanians returning to Greece after the Christmas and New Year holidays.

Fortunately, no one among the more than 300 people in the station at the time was hurt.

The two Greek drivers who were in the front area of the bus at the time of the explosion also escaped unharmed.

The rocket hit low in the back side of the bus, scraped along the metal sides and became embedded in the engine, which in this specific model is located somewhere in the center of the bus.

The drivers said that they heard a strong explosion and the bus was lifted a few centimeters off the ground.

Experts say the fortunately rocket was shot low into the bus and not through the back window, in which case it would have passed through the interior of the vehicle.

Albanian police arrived on the spot and cordoned off the area, and collected shards of the projectile for examination.

[14] Top guidance system considered for Ioannina airport

Athens, 08/01/2001 (ANA)

Some 250 million drachmas has been initially set aside for the purchase and installation of the system, while a tender for a relevant study is expected to issued in the near future.

[15] ABNA Seminar on Sports and Olympic Games in Digital Era

Athens, 08/01/2001 (ANA)

The ABNA seminar/workshop takes place January 8-9 at the Divani-Caravel Hotel in downtown Athens, with the participation of the general directors and 25 other officials from the ABNA member agencies from Albania, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Greece, Moldova, FYROM, Romania and Turkey, as well as from Australia, venue of the recent 2000 Games.

Greece's Special Secretary for the Olympic Games 2004, Mr. Kostas Kartalis will address the seminar, while Athens 2004 Olympics coordinating committee (ATHOC) President Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki will be the keynote speaker at the official luncheon on Monday.

Speakers at the two-day seminar include the chief of the Sports Department at the French news agency AFP Jean-Pierre Gallois, the Australian news agency AAP's organizer of the Sydney Olympic Games coverage John Coomber, the deputy head of the sports desk at German news agency DPA Hans-Mermann Madler, the sports editor at Britain's Press Association (PA) Andy Elliott, the assignment manager and chief photographer at EPA (European Photographic Agency) Anja Niedringhaus, and ATHOC press office director Serapheim Kotrotsos.

The purpose of the seminar is to develop conditions for joint coverage of the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens by ABNA members as well as to provide constant, reliable and adequate information to the people in the region in the run-up to and during the Games.

On Tuesday afternoon, ABNA will hold its annual General Assembly.

ABNA was established in June 1995, during a meeting of Balkan news agency directors in the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki, where the association's archives are housed.

[16] Clerides says efforts underway to settle Cyprus issue

PAPHOS, 08/01/2001 (CNA/ANA)

Speaking from Paphos, the president also said this week's visit to the island by two senior US envoys, dealing with Cyprus, is a routine visit that falls in the framework of visits foreign envoys make as part of the effort to help settle the Cyprus problem.

Asked if the current impasse in the Cyprus question will be overcome, the president said he could not foresee the future and added "what I can say is that efforts are being made to open the way for negotiations to reach a settlement."

Commenting on the visit to Cyprus by US Presidential Emissary Alfred Moses and State Department Coordinator Thomas Weston, he said this was no exceptional visit.

"It is part of the regular visits to Cyprus by foreign envoys who are actively involved in the effort to find a solution of the Cyprus problem," the president added.

Invited to assess Turkish designs to annex the island's Turkish occupied areas, President Clerides said the Turkish Cypriot leader had said the plans did not concern annexation but much closer ties between Turkey and the self-styled Turkish Cypriot regime in occupied Cyprus.

A Turkish daily unveiled this week Ankara's plans to annex the occupied part of Cyprus to mainland Turkey and declare this part the 82nd district of Turkey.

The President was in Paphos to attend a church service on the occasion of the Greek Orthodox Epiphany day.

[17] German FM Joschka Fischer says European rapprochement strategy for Turkish stability necessary

BERLIN, 08/01/2001 (ANA - P. Stangos)

"We need a European rapprochement strategy for the stabilization of Turkey. Whether Turkey will indeed become a full member some day and in what kind of European Union, is an issue on which it will not be us (he means the politicians who took the decision to grant Turkey a candidacy status) who will have to decide. I would consider letting Turkey distancing itself a great mistake. The Kohl government created the problem. With the EU's invitation to Cyprus (he means for a start to accession negotiations) Turkey was indirectly made a factor in EU enlargement, which threatened to block everything. Helsinki (the EU summit) gave a long-term and, consequently, wise response on this problem," he said.

Fischer also reassured in his interview that pressure from the US had not been a decisive factor in granting Turkey candidate status.

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