Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 01-01-10

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

CONTENTS

[01] Government may investigate possibility of cover up regarding the use of DU weapons by NATO

[02] European Commission to set up committee of experts to look into effects of depleted-uranium bombs used in Kosovo

[03] US envoys hold talks in Athens, pledge continued efforts to resolve Cyprus problem

[04] Gov't spokesman calls for sanctions against recalcitrant Turkish-Cypriot leader for stalling Cyprus talks

[05] Greece steadfastly supports status quo in the region

[06]

[07] PASOK party's Coordinating Agency examines preparation of congress starting on February 11

[08] Speakers at ND Parliamentary Group meeting make a common call for unity within the party

[09] Book presented at foreign ministry examines worst refugee crises over past 50 years

[10] Environment minister meets PM, reiterates that new airport will be ready on time

[11] PM Simitis and justice minister hold talks on bill for speedier court case hearings

[12] Greek inflation eases to 3.9 percent in December

[13] Greek stocks suffer heavy losses on ASE

[14] Tax on interest from euro-zone currency deposits at 15%

[15] OA shows rise in passengers Nov-Dec. 2000

[16] Postal Savings Bank, Hellenic Post sign cooperation deal

[17] Olympic Games coverage by news agencies the focus of ABNA seminar

[18] Greeks are among peoples of the world expecting 2001 to be worse than 2000

[19] Interior minister and US ambassador sign cooperation protocol for dealing with emergencies and disasters

[20] Culture ministry calls 2001 "Empirikos Year"

[21] President Clerides meets top US envoys dealing with Cyprus question

[22] Cyprus government says Denktash remains intransigent in his position not to attend peace talks

[01] Government may investigate possibility of cover up regarding the use of DU weapons by NATO

Athens, 10/01/2001 (ANA)

Responding to reporters' questions during the regular press briefing, Reppas said that this was "an issue to be looked into" and that there had to be an investigation into how the problem arose and whether there were ways to prevent it.

He said the government did not intend to make an issue out of the participation by EU foreign and defense policy chief Javier Solana - who was NATO's secretary general at the time of the bombing campaign in Kosovo and Serbia - in such an investigation.

He added that NATO should give all the evidence on the matter, so that everyone would know exactly what happened and make the right decisions in a rational way, not in a climate of hysteria and panic.

Asked whether Solana's participation in an investigation that was essentially investigating his own actions was not a paradox, the spokesman repeated that excluding Solana was not an issue.

He did point out, however, that Greece had not voted for Solana at the Cologne Summit that had chosen him to head the EU's joint foreign and defense policy.

With regard to Defense Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos, Reppas denied that Prime Minister Costas Simitis was dissatisfied with his handling of this issue. He pointed out that the decision to send Greek troops to Kosovo and Bosnia as peace-keepers had been taken unanimously by the Cabinet and served national interests. He also denied the existence of disagreements between Tsohatzopoulos and his fellow ministers.

Asked about the possibility of pollution spreading to Greece, Reppas said that the government had given all the answers it could on this issue and would now handed the reins over to the scientists.

He added, however, that the great concern displayed was to a large measure excessive, since existing measurements showed that radioactivity in Greece was at normal levels.

Asked about similar DU weapons reported to exist in Greece, Reppas said that only the Navy possessed missiles of this type, which were bought by a New Democracy government.

He said that the sea was a safe way of storing such weapons provided they had not exploded and that specialists say there is no danger.

The spokesman concluded by saying that Greece had taken more stringent measures than any other country in order to protect its troops stationed in Bosnia and Kosovo.

Defense minister to brief Parliament on "Balkan Syndrome": Defense Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos on Wednesday will brief the Parliament's Defense and Foreign Affairs Committee on the "Balkan Syndrome", following a petition tabled by main opposition New Democracy former president Miltiades Evert.

Laliotis calls on NATO to release all info on DU: Greece's environment minister on Tuesday called on NATO to make public all the information it had regarding contamination from depleted uranium (DU) in order to be assessed so that all the necessary decisions could be taken.

Environment, town planning and public works minister Costas Laliotis said after a meeting with prime minister Costas Simitis that Greece was confronting the issue with "sensitivity, responsibility and transparency".

Laliotis said that he had no new information that would warrant concern or not, but just the data from the readings of radiation and dioxin levels carried out in April and May 1999, during the NATO bombing campaign in Yugoslavia, which he said had been made public and showed that there was no problem.

Laliotis recalled that his ministry had taken up the issue with the United Nations on its own initiative during the NATO campaign, but had received support only from Russia, and had also brought up the problem of the effects of the war on the Yugoslav population and troops stationed there at the EU environment ministers' council meetings.

"We had taken initiatives in advance, and not after the fact," Laliotis said.

Efthymiou rules out transfer of students at Yugoslav universities to Greece: Education Minister Petros Efthymiou said that he was considering a request for a meeting with Greek students taking courses in Yugoslavia and their parents on Tuesday, but told reporters that there could not be any special initiative by the ministry for these students.

Asked whether they would be allowed to transfer to Greek universities, Efthymiou said:

"The issue is being dealt with by the Greek government with care, responsibility and sensitivity. There cannot be a special initiative by the ministry in relation to these students."

The issue as a whole, he added, is being dealt with through procedures that the government had repeatedly explained. Therefore, he said, the issue of a special initiative could not be raised. "

It is an overall issue and is being dealt with as such by the Greek government, the European Union and NATO countries," he concluded.

[02] European Commission to set up committee of experts to look into effects of depleted-uranium bombs used in Kosovo

BRUSSELS, 10/01/2001 (ANA - V. Demiris)

A European Commission spokesman announced that the committee would be made up of independent experts from the 15 member-states of the European Union and that the results of their investigation would be announced at the beginning of February.

He further explained that the experts in question are members of the special team "Group 31" that was created by the European service for atomic energy, Euratom.

The spokesman said that "all available information" would be used during the course of the investigation and he did not rule out a trip by committee members to the area in question, if necessary.

Radiation monitoring stations to be set up in Kosovo, Bosnia: The Greek Atomic Energy Commission (EEAE) is planning to install permanent radiation monitoring stations in Greek Armed Forces' camps in Kosovo and Bosnia, as well as in and around weapons storage facilities in Greece, Development Minister Nikos Christodoulakis announced on Tuesday.

The minister referred to the Greek forces operating in Bosnia and Kosovo under the United Nations mandate as peacekeepers.

He added that the EEAE currently operates a network of such stations throughout the country and especially in northern Greece, but has not discovered any indications of radioactivity within Greece.

"The Greek region in totally free of any kind of dangerous radioactivity" he said.

Servicemen Solidarity Committee calls for return of Greek troops stationed in Kosovo to Greece: A Committee of Solidarity with Servicemen expressed outrage during a Tuesday press conference over the non-return of Greek troops stationed in Kosovo as NATO peace-keeping forces following the revelations in the press over the dangers of depleted-uranium bombs and "Balkans syndrome".

The committee claimed that 286 soldiers had submitted requests to be transferred back to Greece, while several wanted to but were afraid of the consequences.

They also urged the Greek government and armed forces to fully brief servicemen about the weapons used by the Greek army and their dangers and to make a full inventory of weapons containing uranium and destroy them.

The group also presented a statement written by army doctor Dimitris Poulikakos, which claimed that those invited to volunteer for service with peace-keeping units in Yugoslavia had not been informed of the possible dangers to their health, just as there was no information on the weapons systems used within Greece to those doing their national service.

[03] US envoys hold talks in Athens, pledge continued efforts to resolve Cyprus problem

Athens, 10/01/2001 (ANA)

Moses and State Department Cyprus Coordinator Thomas Weston, arrived in Greece on Tuesday following a one-day working visit to Cyprus and before their visit to Turkey.

Following the meeting, Papandreou said that they discussed the steps that should be taken to advance the process of resolving the Cyprus problem, adding that this process should continue.

He thanked Moses for his efforts and expressed the wish for him to continue being active in the efforts to resolve the Cyprus problem, saying, "I believe he feels for the Cyprus issue as much as us".

Moses, on his part, said that efforts to resolve the problem should continue as they are in the interest of the people living in Cyprus, adding that he was convinced that there is no alternative but to support the process that begun under the auspices of the United Nations.

He stressed that outgoing U.S. President Bill Clinton had repeatedly encouraged both sides to resolve the problem, adding that the U.S. would continue their efforts in order to satisfy the hopes of the Cyprus people to live in conditions of peace and security.

When asked to provide his assessment on the U.S. Cyprus policy under the Bush administration he said that it would be as involved as any other, noting that "indeed President Clinton has shown great interest in resolving the Cyprus problem ... other American governments in the past worked toward that direction

I can't imagine that the United States would change their stance".

He noted, however, that there have been no statements by U.S. President elect George Bush or his staff, saying "lets wait for a few more weeks until the new administration makes its statements".

Commenting on the same issue, Papandreou said that the Greek government is looking forward to a close cooperation with the new U.S. administration, expressing the belief that "efforts will continue on the same line and with the same goals".

FM Papandreou and Foreign Office special coordinator discuss Cyprus issue: The British Foreign Office's special coordinator on Cyprus Sir David Hannay arrived in Athens from Ankara on Tuesday and discussed latest developments on the Cyprus issue with Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou.

Hannay later said that in all his discussions with Turkish officials during his visit to Ankara, it was made clear the annexation of Turkish-occupied territory in Cyprus "does not constitute part of their agenda."

He was referring to recent statements by Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, as they were conveyed in an article by Turkish journalist Mehmet Ali Birand in the Turkish press.

Hannay said the process of the Cyprus talks, started in November 1999 for the finding of a spherical solution, is at a crucial phase, adding that this process "is not an easy process and just as it had ups and downs in 2000 it will also have them in 2001."

Papandreou said "we had the opportunity to discuss the situation in Cyprus and efforts being made for a solution by the UN and see the difficulties being experienced by this issue in the present phase and to evaluate the efforts being made."

He also said Hannay briefed him on efforts being made by the British government to secure the release of Greek Cypriot Panikos Tsiakourmas who has been abducted and is being held in Turkish-occupied territory.

Hannay said the British government is in contact with all the sides involved to settle the issue, adding that he cannot go into details because "this is not in the interests of anyone and neither of Mr. Tsiakourmas and his family."

Hannay will leave for Nicosia on Wednesday for talks with Cypriot leaders.

[04] Gov't spokesman calls for sanctions against recalcitrant Turkish-Cypriot leader for stalling Cyprus talks

Athens, 10/01/2001 (ANA)

Reppas was commenting on Denktash's refusal to take part in a new round of UN-sponsored Cyprus proximity talks to find a solution to the Cyprus problem.

The spokesman described Denktash's attitude as "absolutely negative" and said this had been noted by the international community. He added, however, that simply noting was perhaps no longer enough and that it was time for sanctions to be imposed on the party that was responsible for the current situation, who should be called on to face his responsibilities.

He concluded by saying that it was not possible for Cyprus to continue to be held hostage by a small group or an occupation regime and for the international community to tolerate this.

[05] Greece steadfastly supports status quo in the region

Athens, 10/01/2001 (ANA)

The statements were made during a briefing at the ministry of national defense on the Greek policies on defense and security.

[06]

Athens, 10/01/2001 (ANA)

Later, Daskalaki said "the 2004 Olympics will take place with absolute success."

Daskalaki had met with Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos on Monday and had discussed all issues concerning the course of preparations for the 2004 Olympic Games, while earlier on Monday Venizelos held talks with Simitis.

According to reports, the main issue discussed between Simitis and Daskalaki is the bill being prepared by Venizelos on pending issues concerning preparations for the Olympiad.

[07] PASOK party's Coordinating Agency examines preparation of congress starting on February 11

Athens, 10/01/2001 (ANA)

The meeting also examined the issue of municipal and prefectural elections due to take place in October 2002, but for PASOK the process will start immediately after elections are held in the party.

PASOK Central Committee secretary Costas Skandalidis, questioned by the press, denied press reports claiming that he has received approval from Prime Minister Costas Simitis to contest the mayorship of Athens, saying that the issue of persons is not preoccupying the government.

[08] Speakers at ND Parliamentary Group meeting make a common call for unity within the party

Athens, 10/01/2001 (ANA)

He ruled out changes that contravened the party's charter, however, saying he would not negotiate over the rules that bound the party.

During his speech he reminded his listeners that ND represented 43 per cent of voters and urged ND politicians to stand together in order to attain victory in the end.

Speaking after Karamanlis, ND deputy Yiannis Varvitsiotis said that it was up to ND's members to make sure that the new party proposed by Athens Mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos remained an intention or was pushed into the margins. Throughout his speech, he was critical of several ND politicians, ranging from Dora Bakoyianni to Aris Spiliotopoulos, as well as a group of ND politicians that had tagged him as "ageist".

The meeting was then addressed by Tzannis Tzannetakis, who said that mistakes had been made by all sides and that the organization and operation of the party had always been inadequate.

Tzannetakis said he disagreed with Karamanlis' decision to expel high-ranking party members from the party last year and said that the return of Stephanos Manos, through the alliance of the Liberals party and ND, was a positive step.

"I would like them all with us," he added, "especially George Souflias."

Many deputies appealed for an end to introversion and for the party to go forward united in order to win the next elections.

Kaklamanis offers to resign as ND section-head for health: Main opposition New Democracy cadre Nikitas Kaklamanis announced that he would be resigning as ND section-head for health on Tuesday, during a meeting of ND's Parliamentary Group.

Kaklamanis' decision followed criticism over the way ND leader Costas Karamanlis had appointed the section-heads and he said the Parliamentary Group should decide whether it would be the party leader's privilege to appoint section-heads or whether they should be elected by the group to a one-year term.

He was seconded by George Alogoskoufis, who said that the resignations of the section-heads were at Karamanlis' disposal if there was a problem with them.

Kaklamanis called on Karamanlis to give a final end to the issue of whether George Souflias would return to ND with some sort of initiative.

[09] Book presented at foreign ministry examines worst refugee crises over past 50 years

Athens, 10/01/2001 (ANA)

The book examines the worst refugee crises over the past 50 years and the course of the international community's response to the problem of the forced removal of populations.

Papandreou said the book is more than a registration of events and includes the moral that humanism should constitute the nucleus of relations regarding nations and entities and contribute to a decrease in inequalities between rich and poor in the world.

Questioned on the wave of refugees and environmental pollution in the Balkans, Papandreou said Greece was one of the first countries to enter Kosovo to help the displaced.

On the question of environmental pollution, he said "we want repercussions examined in depth by NATO, the European Union and the UN and this is of interest to us regarding both the life of the local population and our own soldiers, as well as the economy and development of the wider region."

[10] Environment minister meets PM, reiterates that new airport will be ready on time

Athens, 10/01/2001 (ANA)

"I have said many times that the new airport will operate normally as a completed and safe project in accordance with the schedule in March 2001," Laliotis said.

The meeting with the Prime Minister apparently centered chiefly on the new airport and the furor over the depleted uranium missiles used in Kosovo and their consequences for the Balkans, as well as the environment and public works ministry's scheduled projects.

Laliotis said that he and the premier had discussed the environment ministry's program and policies, which he said were crucial for development and quality of life. He noted that 35 per cent of the state's investment program is conducted through the environment ministry.

[11] PM Simitis and justice minister hold talks on bill for speedier court case hearings

Athens, 10/01/2001 (ANA)

They also discussed the refusal of a former CIA chief to testify concerning the elusive November 17 Greek terrorist organization.

Stathopoulos referred to the provisions of the bill for speeding up the administering of justice, both in penal and political court cases.

The minister briefed Simitis on the refusal of former CIA chief Woolsey to give testimony to the Greek judicial authorities concerning remarks he had made in a press conference last summer about November 17.

[12] Greek inflation eases to 3.9 percent in December

Athens, 10/01/2001 (ANA)

Greek inflation was 2.7 percent in December 1999, year-on-year.

The consumer price index rose 0.3 percent from the previous month, reflecting a 0.9 percent increase in food and non-alcoholic beverages' prices, a 4.0 percent rise in hotel-restaurant prices, and a 2.0 percent increase in goods and services.

NSS also published Greece's harmonized inflation figures, used for comparisons with other EU member-states.

The harmonized consumer price index eased to 3.7 percent in December from 4.0 percent in November, for an average year-on-year rate of 2.9 percent.

[13] Greek stocks suffer heavy losses on ASE

Athens, 10/01/2001 (ANA)

Analysts said that the market was currently in an "oversold" area.

The general index fell for the fifth consecutive session, ending 1.50 percent lower at 3,097.74 points, with turnover a low 162.297 million euros, or 55.302 billion drachmas.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks ended 1.20 percent lower at 1,799.10 points and the FTSE/ASE 40 index dropped 3.15 percent to 345.87 points.

Sector indices ended as follows: Banks: 6,802.66 -0.93% Leasing: 479.02 -1.51% Insurance: 1,222.56 -6.07% Investment: 1,247.77 -1.16% Construction: 1,132.29 -2.20% Industrials: 1,900.69 -1.48% Miscellaneous: 2,409.62 -4.19% Holding: 3,307.50 -7.37%

The parallel market index for smaller capitalization stocks ended 4.20 percent lower at 270.23 points.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 304 to 35 with another 14 issues unchanged.

Sanyo Hellas, Hellenic Telecoms, Papafilis and Alpha Bank were the most heavily traded stocks.

Leading shares' closing prices (in euros): National Bank: 38.26 Alpha Bank: 33.44 Commercial Bank: 47.38 Eurobank: 19.74 Piraeus Bank: 15.34 Lambrakis Press: 11.04 Altec: 6.38 Titan Cement (c): 40.22 Hellenic Telecoms: 15.00 Panafon: 6.84 Hellenic Petroleum: 9.74 Attica Enterprises: 6.96 Intracom: 20.16 Minoan Lines: 5.02 Viohalco: 10.26 Hellenic Bottling: 17.56

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

The FTSE/ASE 20 index closed 1.20 percent down, and the FTSE/ASE 40 ended 3.15 percent lower.

Turnover was 34.721 billion drachmas.

A total of 3,496 contracts were traded on the FTSE/ASE 20 with turnover at 32.290 billion drachmas.

On the FTSE/ASE 40 index, 1,789 contracts changed hands on turnover of 6.4 billion drachmas.

Derivatives exchange rejects media attacks of manipulation: The Athens Derivatives Exchange on Tuesday rejected media allegations that the market was linked to manipulation of blue chips on the bourse by players wanting to make profits through equity futures.

The exchange's authorities said in a statement that it had found no evidence of coordinated action by playing trying to exploit the two markets, backing its argument with recent trading data.

Bond prices drop in heavy trade: Bond prices in the domestic secondary market on Tuesday finished lower in heavy trade with players focusing on 10-year paper.

The Greek benchmark 10-year bond showed a yield of 5.29 percent from 5.27 percent a day earlier.

The yield spread over German bunds was 54 basis points from 56 basis points in the previous session.

Turnover through the central bank's electronic system totaled 820 million euros (about 279 billion drachmas) from 580 million euros (around 197 billion drachmas)in the trading day before.

Bids surge for five-year euro bond issue: Greece's first auction of euro state securities was met with heavy demand by domestic and foreign investors on Tuesday.

Bids submitted for a five-year bond issue, worth 1.4 billion euros and paying an annual coupon of 6.0 percent, totaled 6.959 billion drachmas, almost five times more than the asked sum.

The finance ministry finally accepted bids totaling 1.680 billion euros.

The average weighed interest rate of the issue fell to 4.88 percent from 6.83 percent in the previous auction last November.

Credit expansion growth steady in October: Greece's credit expansion growth was unchanged in October, year-on-year, although growth in consumer and mortgage loans accelerated, according the figures released by the Bank of Greece on Tuesday.

Mortgage credits increased by 31 percent in October, up from a 30.4 percent increase the previous month, while consumer loans rose 35.1 percent, from 32 percent in September.

Credit expansion growth was steady at 18.8 percent in October 2000 from the same month the previous year, compared with 18.6 percent in September.

The central bank said credit figures were affected by a sharp appreciation in the US dollar and the Japanese yen rates, which account for about 50 percent foreign exchange loans to the private sector in Greece.

Credit expansion to the private sector rose by 21.5 percent in October, while credit expansion to the public sector increased by 15.2 percent.

[14] Tax on interest from euro-zone currency deposits at 15%

Athens, 10/01/2001 (ANA)

Euro-zone currencies are no longer classed as foreign currencies since the drachma's entry into the single-currency group on January 1, explaining the realignment of tax on interest, the directive said.

Tax-free status remains in place for non-euro zone currencies, it added.

[15] OA shows rise in passengers Nov-Dec. 2000

Athens, 10/01/2001 (ANA)

According to the data, the parent company and its subsidiaries moved 1,050,000 passengers at home and abroad in that period, up 11.3%, the statement said.

The figures showed that the airline held 75% of the domestic market, it added.

[16] Postal Savings Bank, Hellenic Post sign cooperation deal

Athens, 10/01/2001 (ANA)

The agreement was signed by Hellenic Post chief executive Panos Kyriakopoulos and Postal Savings Bank chairman Androniki Boumi in the presence of National Economy and Finance Minister Yiannos Papantoniou and Communications and Trasport Minister Christos Verelis.

The two ministers, speaking to reporters, said the agreement would form a framework to developing and benefiting small depositors, who were suffering from a sharp decline in savings interest rates by commercial banks in the country.

The Postal Savings Bank has currently 4.5 million customers with deposits exceeding 2.5 trillion drachmas, or 12 percent of total savings in the country, and credits totaling 300 billion drachmas, a 2.0 percent share in the market.

They also said that the agreement would offer online links between all branches and that the Postal Savings Bank could be listed on the Athens Stock Exchange in the next two years.

[17] Olympic Games coverage by news agencies the focus of ABNA seminar

Athens, 10/01/2001 (ANA)

Entitled "Sports and Olympic Games Coverage in the Digital Era", the seminar was hosted and organized by the Athens News Agency (ANA) on the occasion of a general assembly by the Association of Balkan News Agencies (ABNA), of which ANA held the rotating presidency.

As Greek 2004 Olympics organizers enter the crucial three-year period prior to the next Games, Balkan agency directors and sports staff were briefed by several top international press agency executives.

The Australian Associated Press (AAP) editor in charge of organizing that agency's coverage of the Sydney Games "in its back yard" outlined his firm's goals prior to the 2000 Olympics, namely:

"Service subscribers with a quality file; remind subscribers that they need us; discover new markets for multimedia content; expand into websites, audio, video and pictures, as well as to emphasize reporting of results; start lists and 'medal snaps'."

In terms of the greatest difficulty AAP faced, John Coomber bypassed technology and accreditation concerns and pointed directly at staffing.

"It's your greatest difficulty ... you have to balance veterans that have the experience with younger staff members who are often more enthusiastic," Coomber said, adding that agencies must "advertise for interest" internally and name their team at least 18 months in advance of the Games.

As an example, Coomber said AAP's finance director revealed that she was an avid fencer and her interest in covering the Olympic sport for the agency.

On his part, AFP sports chief Jean Pierre Gallois outlined how his international agency prepares for its Olympic coverage, beginning from the moment the host city is chosen by the IOC, to the urgent matter of reporters' and technicians' accommodation to data transmission, now entirely carried out in digital format.

Among AFP's concerns for accommodation are single rooms, a telephone with a data plug in the rooms and a television for monitoring Olympic events.

EPA assignment manager and chief photographer Anja Niedringhaus briefed the seminar's participants on Tuesday over the group's complete transition to digital technology along with expanded wireless transmissions, beginning with the Euro 2000 championship in the Netherlands and Belgium.

"We sent photos from the soccer matches either directly by DITB queue to the satellite that our clients immediately accessed. We estimated that the first pictures of an Euro 2000 match arrived on the editing server 15 seconds after it's shot ... our clients had a partial image from a soccer match three to four minutes after the kick-off ... It was for EPA the first major coverage at which high-speed wireless networks have been established to get photos onto our picture network quickly".

Niedringhaus, who is also responsible for planning and organizing EPA's Olympic 2004 coverage, added that the 2004 Olympics should be the first entire "wireless and digital Games".

In terms of the set-up and equipment, the EPA executive noted that all of the trans-European agency's photographers at the Euro 2000 championship used 3 Mb/s PCMCIA wireless local area network adapters with two antennas. Each adapter was connected to each photographer's laptop to wireless access points set up at the stadiums to receive the data transmitted by the laptops.

Other speakers included DPA deputy head of sports Hans-Hermann Madler and Press Association sports editor Andy Elliott.

2004 organizing committee president Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki addressed delegates on Monday.

[18] Greeks are among peoples of the world expecting 2001 to be worse than 2000

Athens, 10/01/2001 (ANA)

Greece, according to the report, appears to be the most pessimistic country among European Union countries, while last year it had been considered one of the most optimistic countries for the new year.

More specifically, 39 percent of Greeks expect 2001 to be worse than 2000, 32 percent believe it will be better and 21 percent believe it will be the same.

On the question of the economic situation for 2001, 49 percent of Greeks expect it to be a year with economic difficulties, 32 percent that it will be the same as 2000 and only 13 percent expect an improvement.

Regarding the crucial issue of unemployment, Greece is the sole EU country with such a high degree of pessimism, expecting unemployment to either increase a great deal in 2001 (30 percent) or a little (another 30 percent), while 56 percent of Greeks said they would face difficulties in finding a job if they became unemployed.

Replying to the question whether 2001 will be a peaceful year without many international conflicts and turmoil, 9 percent of Greeks said the year will be peaceful, 39 that the year will be the same as 2000 and 38 percent that it will be a year with turmoil.

[19] Interior minister and US ambassador sign cooperation protocol for dealing with emergencies and disasters

Athens, 10/01/2001 (ANA)

The protocol calls for cooperation between the General Secretariat for Civilian Protection with the US federal service for handling emergencies, and will facilitate the exchange of experts and scientific data and methods between the two countries.

[20] Culture ministry calls 2001 "Empirikos Year"

Athens, 10/01/2001 (ANA)

The central event showcasing the work of the poet will take place in the island of Andros from June 29 to the 31 and will be entitled "Today as tomorrow and as yesterday".

The total cost of the series of event will be 150 million drachmas.

Along with the events, works by Empirikos will be published in French and in English and will be available in the US and England, while in December an exhibition on his life and work will take place in Athens.

[21] President Clerides meets top US envoys dealing with Cyprus question

NICOSIA, 10/01/2001 (CNA/ANA)

Asked if they expect the UN proximity talks to resume as planned, US Presidential Emissary Alfred Moses said after a meeting with Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides, whom they met after their working breakfast, "we will have to wait and see that. We certainly hope so."

This, Moses added, is a position that "we continue to support and we have not changed our views on this at all."

In a brief statement after the breakfast President Clerides hosted for them, Moses restricted himself in saying that he had "another excellent meeting with the President."

Moses was in Cyprus with State Department Coordinator Thomas Weston.

The two officials were accompanied by US Ambassador in Nicosia Donald Bandler. All three of them have been on the wings of the five rounds of proximity talks the UN has conducted with the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides.

The UN has invited the two sides back to Geneva for late January for another round of talks. The Greek Cypriot side has said it would attend but Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash reiterated on Monday his long standing demand for recognition of his illegal regime in the Turkish-occupied part of Cyprus before he returns to the negotiating table.

The US envoys met Denktash on Monday in the occupied part of Nicosia.

[22] Cyprus government says Denktash remains intransigent in his position not to attend peace talks

NICOSIA, 10/01/2001 (CNA/ANA)

Government spokesman Michalis Papapetrou told his daily briefing on Wednesday that it appears top US officials, who had meetings here over the past two days, have not managed to convince Denktash that it would be to his benefit to participate in talks.

The UN-led proximity talks opened in December 1999 and five rounds of meetings have been held so far aimed at reaching a comprehensive settlement in Cyprus, divided since Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 percent of its territory in 1974.

The government has said it would participate in the next round of talks called by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan for later this month, while the Turkish Cypriot side is refusing to participate unless the self-styled regime is recognized.

Papapetrou said that at its forthcoming meeting the National Council, top advisory body to the President on the Cyprus issue, would discuss various scenarios and thoughts regarding the Greek Cypriot side's stance if the Turkish Cypriot leader refuses to participate in the next round of talks.

He rejected as "unacceptable" Denktash's insistence on talks between "two states" and underlined that "such talks have not and will not take place".

The illegal regime is recognized only by Turkey while numerous UN resolutions call on all member states not to recognize or facilitate it in any way.

The spokesman agreed with a comment that US Presidential Emissary for Cyprus Alfred Moses and State Department Cyprus Coordinator Thomas Weston appear not to have convinced Denktash that the continuation of the UN-led process would be to his benefit.

"I think they have not convinced him," he said, adding however that the American officials "are trying to pass a somewhat optimistic message that in the end they will achieve Denktash's participation and the continuation of the effort".

Asked if he believed talks would be held at the end of January, Papapetrou expressed the view that until today Denktash remains intransigent.

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