Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 01-01-23

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greek military KFOR camps in safe, non-DU polluted regions, experts say

[02] Greece proposes probing of repercussions of war in Yugoslavia on the environment

[03] US expert says leukemia from DU contamination improbable, 'something else is out there'

[04] Greece's political world condemns bomb attack against ND deputy

[05] Gov't to step up efforts to counter terrorism, Simitis says

[06] ND leader Karamanlis says legislative initiative necessary to tackle terrorists

[07]

[08] FM to brief parliament on ministry-funded programs

[09] Governments elected by people, not opinion polls, gov't spokesman says

[10] Greece's foreign ministry aids coordination of SE conference

[11] Papariga to head KKE delegation to Yugoslavia, hold talks with Milosevic

[12] Supreme Allied Commander of Europe and US forces to visit Greece on Tuesday

[13] Greece to spend 180 billion drachmas in Balkan aid

[14] Greece, Turkey plan joint natural gas pipeline

[15] State owed Dr 3.0 trillion in overdue payments

[16] State hospital doctors begin 3-day nationwide strike

[17] Dairy produce manufacturers bid for sponsorship of Athens 2004

[18] Belgrade court rules in favor of Greek company, against local bank

[19] ASE announces changes in trading floor

[20] Greek stocks plunge to 24-month lows

[21] Foreign minister says Belgian state secretary issue closed

[22] Greek and Turkish Cypriot political parties meet

[01] Greek military KFOR camps in safe, non-DU polluted regions, experts say

Athens, 23/01/2001 (ANA)

Leonidas Kamarinopoulos, the Commission's president, said that a delegation of EEAE visited Kosovo and took measurements from Jan. 9 to 21.

The exposure to (radioactivity) in the open air is at regular levels of base radioactivity occurring in nature, comparable with the naturally occurring radioactivity in different parts of our own country, Kamarinopoulos said, reporting the finds of the delegation.

No hot zones areas with high radioactive pollution caused by shells - were found in any of the camps, or the operational positions proposed for checks by the Greek military officers to the delegation, he added.

The current results, Kamarinopoulos said, stem from the completion of 40 per cent of the ground samples taken from Kosovo.

He reported on the example of the Rigas Ferraios Greek camp in Kosovo, saying that the first results published showed not depleted uranium traces, rather naturally occurring uranium was found in the ground water, but in amounts ten times lower that the government set limits in Canadas drinking water and twenty times lower that the comparable limit in the USA.

Concerning air DU pollution, Kamarinopoulos said that of a total of 10 samples two per Greek camp - analysis of eight has been completed and has shown lower levels than what is normal for any region of Greece, adding that the actual amount was one nanogram to the power of three.

He also said that the air quality was comparable to Yugoslavias past as data was collected from the region before the NATO bombings.

[02] Greece proposes probing of repercussions of war in Yugoslavia on the environment

BRUSSELS, 23/01/2001 (ANA - Y. Zitouniati)

Alternate Foreign Minister Elizabeth Papazoi, representing Greece, said that apart from the investigation on depleted uranium being promoted by the EU, Balkan reconstruction necessitates the listing of all problems for the environment emanating from heavy metals (toxic substances), as well as epidemic studies for their consequences on the health of the region's population to enable the promotion of restoration through the relevant Cards program or the Stability Pact.

The Greek proposal, which the EU's Foreign Relations Commissioner Chris Patten termed "important", anticipates the preparation of a scientific and reliable study for Serbia, Kosovo and Bosnia, the carrying out of an environmental investigation for both bombed areas and the countries in the region in general, as well as an epidemic investigation for local populations, international military forces and the members of non-governmental organizations.

Papazoi said that while Greece is monitoring its own area, there are no corresponding initiatives for the environment either in Bulgaria or the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), rendering the expansion of investigations necessary since environmental problems have no borders.

Safe for consumption all produce imported from Balkan countries: Vegetables and other produce from Balkan countries were found safe for consumption following checks by Greece's Atomic Energy Research Institute "Demokritos", according to an announcement by the ministry of agriculture on Monday.

Produce imported in Greece from Yugoslavia, Albania, Bosnia, Bulgaria and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) are checked at their entirety for traces of uranium 238 and other radioactive elements since the beginning of the year.

Spot checks on such produce were performed in over the last month for produce harvested in 2000 as well.

The ministry of agriculture, responsible for food safety also said that imports from the aforementioned countries are only a very small fraction of the total produce imported in Greece.

70 Greek KFOR troops come home: Seventy troopers of the Greek peacekeeping forces in Kosovo returned to Greece on Monday, following their expressed request to depart the region.

They were escorted to the Thessaloniki "Karatassou" military camp and they made no statements to the press.

Sources said, that they noted that the government had fully briefed them on the "depleted uranium" issue adding that they felt safe while serving in the region.

[03] US expert says leukemia from DU contamination improbable, 'something else is out there'

Athens, 23/01/2001 (ANA)

The Athens news conference, organized by US Information Service, comes amid a whirlwind of concern and even condemnation by several NATO members - Greece included - over the fact that a disproportionate number of military personnel who served in Bosnia or Kosovo, have been diagnosed with leukemia.

Thousands of DU-coated shells fired by western forces at Yugoslav units have drawn the "lion's share" of scrutiny as the insidious cause behind what's now being called the "Balkan Syndrome". In Greece, the government has ordered a number of measures to better protect its peacekeepers in Kosovo from environmental hazards, whereas all 14 of country's firing ranges are being tested for radioactivity levels.

In presenting portions of a voluminous body of scientific research to a group of local reporters via a satellite linkup, Dr. Naomi Hallden Harley from the New York Medical Center emphasized that decades of research shows that direct and prolonged contact with a DU-coated metal cannot cause leukemia or practically any other form of cancer.

"The dose rate isn't enough to even cause skin cancer. Of course, it's not a good idea to have something with even a slight radiation on your person. But it is not enough radiation to cause any real harm," she said.

Asked to offer an explanation on the reported instances of leukemia diagnoses among troops who served in Kosovo -- particularly a statistically high number in Italy -- in light of her elimination of DU contamination as a "Balkan Syndrome" cause, Harley was quoted in a news conference with Italian media as stating:

"This is a very good question, because these soldiers are sick, and there's certainly some cause for this. So, there should be a study to find out if this is an unusual occurrence of the disease ... physically, it is impossible to get leukemia from uranium. There's too much history regarding this. In the Gulf War the veterans really had neurological problems. And again, this really is not related to uranium exposure," she said, while referring to a study by the Rand Corp. on the likely causes of "Gulf War" illnesses.

"... There are eight volumes in all in this Rand series. DU is number seven. Number five, just to note, is a rather thick volume on biological warfare. There's one on the vaccine pyridostigmine bromide... There's a volume on oil fires... So again, DU surfaces as a natural possibility.

"As you know uranium is radioactive, and so it's very good to look at the background information and decide yes or no if it's a problem. But certainly, from all these historical data it does not appear to be the problem. Something else it out there," Harley, a member of her university's "medical isotope committee" noted.

In terms of Greece's distinct "back yard", Harley said there were, at best, "negligible risks" from thousands of DU-coated shells that according to reports missed their intended target during aeronautical exercises over the years before ending up in the Aegean Sea.

In referring to other contemporary studies on the issue of DU radiation, Harley mentioned material found at the www.nap.edu site, as well as the Swedish Radiation Protection Institute's site, www.ssi.se

[04] Greece's political world condemns bomb attack against ND deputy

Athens, 23/01/2001 (ANA)

Michaloliakos was injured in a bomb blast Sunday night as he was emerging from his car and preparing to enter a building where his apartment is located in Piraeus. Glass shards in the chest injured him and legs but his life was not in danger after undergoing late-night surgery to remove the shards, according to the Tzanneion hospital where he was rushed.

The blast, which was attributed to a homemade explosive device detonated by remote control and planted under a nearby motorcycle, caused extensive damage in the area.

No group immediately assumed responsibility for the attack, but eyewitnesses said they saw two young men fleeing from the scene immediately after the explosion, and police believe they escaped on a motorcycle waiting nearby.

The 48-year-old MP, who is elected in the Piraeus A' electoral district and recently moved to Piraeus, was being kept in the hospital's intensive care unit for security reasons, according to hospital sources.

Deligiorgi Street in Piraeus, the small side street where the MP lives and which was the site of the explosion, remained cordoned off Monday as the police anti-terrorist squad combed the area for remains of the explosive device and other clues.

Public order minister Michalis Chrysohoidis, who was keeping the prime minister up to date on the injured MP's condition and investigations into the attack, said early Monday, after visiting Michaloliakos in hospital, that "the attack against the distinguished New Democracy deputy" was a "blatant provocation against democracy and democratic normality".

Calling the terrorists "murderers", the minister warned that "the political world is united, our democracy is strong and, very soon, these 'gentlemen' will be led before justice to account for their deeds".

Earlier, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said the attack provoked "abhorrence and indignation against those who try to promote their criminal designs through the use of violence as a weapon".

He said Simitis and the entire government were "at our colleague's side".

"We condemn this act in the most categorical manner and reaffirm our volition to tackle mechanisms aimed at destabilizing and harming the country's interests," Reppas said.

Main opposition New Democracy leader Costas Karamanlis said after visiting Michaloliakos in hospital late Sunday that "the terrorists once again made their appearance", this time against "a member of our party and an important cadre".

"Democracy does not fear terrorists. But it is time for all to finally shoulder our responsibilities and 'do our duty' vis-a-vis the terrorists," Karamanlis said.

Prominent ND deputy Dora Bakoyianni said after visiting Michaloliakos in hospital late Sunday that "the entire Greek people realize that the time has come to wipe out terrorism and that everyone must assume their responsibilities".

In a statement Monday, Communist Party of Greece (KKE) MP Antonis Skyllakos said condemnation of the "murderous attempt is self-evident", but "equally self-evident is the fact that for 26 years no government has tackled the problem of the 'terrorist organizations' action".

He put blame on "the two 'governmental' parties" (PASOK and ND), noting that "the 'strings' of the 'terrorist organizations' should be sought in the activity of the secret services, particularly the foreign secret services, and the purposes served".

The Coalition of the Left and Progress (SYN), in its own statement on Monday, said its "abhorrence" at the attack and "relief" that Michaloliakos had survived the attack "accompany our political appraisal that once again, dark circles are attempting to entrap democratic developments within a rationale of violence and blood".

SYN said that "condemnation of this rationale and practice will be effective only if it comprises the expression of a social and political front of realization and aversion of the painful repercussions to the democratic course of the country, through ensurance, and not curtailment, of the democratic guarantees of the legal system in force".

The Democratic Social Movement (DHKKI) also expressed "abhorrence and condemnation" of the "murderous action".

Michaloliakos, born in Mani in the Peloponnese in 1952 and a doctor by profession, was a founding member of the ND youth organization ONNED and the ND-affiliated student organization DAP-NDFK in 1974. He served as ONNED president from 1982 to 1984, and was elected to parliament for the first time in 1990 on the ND ticket in the Piraeus A' electoral district, where he was consecutively re-elected in 1993, 1996 and 2000.

He is also a member of the ND central committee and executive committee.

No one has claimed responsibility for the attack. Anti-Terrorist Squad police say the method of operation is reminiscent of the November 17 organization, but they have no evidence proving the elusive organization is behind the blast.

Police bomb-disposal experts collected fragments of the explosive device used and ascertained that it had been placed on a motorbike parked on the pavement next to the entrance to the apartment building where Michaloliakos lives.

The motorbike had been stolen from the Athens district of Vyronas in August and, according to eyewitnesses, it had been parked outside the building for the past 10 days.

The blast destroyed the motorbike completely, while Michaloliakos was saved miraculously because he had been shielded by the enclave of the building's entrance, which he had reached when the bomb exploded.

Michaloliakos had arrived outside the building with his brother Kyriakos who had stayed in his car and escaped the attempt unscathed.

The type of explosive used has not been ascertained, but experts believe that it was probably a plastic explosive equal to two kilos of dynamite.

Remote control, the stolen motorbike, the organization and method of operation used in the attack leave little doubt for police that it is a terrorist attack. However, until the nature of the bomb is ascertained and a proclamation claiming responsibility is sent to clarify the motives for the attack, nobody can speak of a specific organization.

Michaloliakos was visited in hospital on Monday by ND leader Costas Karamanlis, ND Honorary President Constantine Mitsotakis and his daughter Dora Bakoyianni, Coalition of the Left and Progress leader Nikos Constantopoulos and many Parliamentarians.

Mitsotakis condemned what he said was a cowardly act and stressed the danger of Greece losing the 2004 Olympic Games due primarily to terrorism.

He said terrorism is causing great damage to the country, it is running the risk of destabilizing political life and is creating problems in the country's international relations, adding that terrorism is probably its number one problem.

Constantopoulos said on his part "such blows are directed exclusively against democracy which cannot possibly function unless measures are taken against the terrorists."

[05] Gov't to step up efforts to counter terrorism, Simitis says

Athens, 23/01/2001 (ANA)

Public Order Minister Michalis Chrysohoidis briefed Prime Minister Costas Simitis on the attack, adding that concerted efforts have been underway for some time and expressing optimism on the results of the investigations.

Press and Media Deputy Minister Telemachos Hytiris, following the meeting said, that by February the government would table a bill in Parliament dealing with organized crime similar to those in force in other European Union member-states.

"We have the answers, we are organized, a fact recognized by all here and abroad," Hytiris said.

Simitis, on his part, said called for more intense efforts to soon achieve results, since attacks like the one on main opposition New Democracy deputy Vassilis Michaloliakos, give the opportunity to circles in Greece and abroad to mar Greece's image.

He also asked that the attack not be connected with the Olympic Games.

[06] ND leader Karamanlis says legislative initiative necessary to tackle terrorists

Athens, 23/01/2001 (ANA)

Karamanlis, referring to Sunday's terrorist attack against ND Deputy Vassilis Michaloliakos during an address to party trade unionists, said "it is time for us all to assume our responsibilities to eradicate this evil."

He also called on the government to undertake a legislative initiative to tackle terrorists and organized crime.

Karamanlis referred to recent opinion polls showing that if Athens Mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos creates a party it will get about 15 percent in elections, saying that the ND party will win an absolute majority "whatever obstacles are placed before it". He criticized the government over its policy on the Athens Stock Exchange, speaking of abuse full of unlawful acts and the redistribution of wealth "at the expense of the many", adding that the situation cannot be remedied if those responsible remain in their positions.

[07]

Athens, 23/01/2001 (ANA)

The meeting, among others, focused on the Olympic Village, a bill by Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos on the Olympiad's preparation, infrastructure works and health issues.

It was the first to be held this year and comes a month before the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) Coordinating Commit-tee arrives in the country for a regular check.

Referring to the Olympic Village, Venizelos said the important project is going ahead as normal, while the file on its auctioning will be ready on February 2.

Venizelos also said the bill on the Olympiad's preparation, which will solve various problems concerning coordination in promo-ting preparations for the Olympiad, will be tabled in Parliament for ratification in February.

Health Minister Alekos Papadopoulos spoke of the need of purchasing new ambulances and of manning them for the Olympiad, saying the Attica prefecture requires 200 vehicles (at present there are only 60) and about 2,000 paramedics should be hired to man them.

[08] FM to brief parliament on ministry-funded programs

Athens, 23/01/2001 (ANA)

The committee is also slated to review developments in the Balkans, Greek-Turkish relations, EU-Turkey relations, and the Cyprus issue.

[09] Governments elected by people, not opinion polls, gov't spokesman says

Athens, 23/01/2001 (ANA)

On the question of whether the government is concerned about Avramopoulos' party, Reppas said the government is judged by its work and has no reason to be concerned since it performs this work in a positive way.

According to an opinion poll publicized over the weekend, Avramopoulos' party enjoys support by 14.7 percent of respondents, while the main opposition New Democracy party 29.4 and the ruling PASOK party 29.2.

[10] Greece's foreign ministry aids coordination of SE conference

Athens, 23/01/2001 (ANA)

Also in light of the upcoming conference's summit in Skopje, Greek officials will arrive in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) on Tuesday.

The two-day summit is planned to begin on Feb. 22.

[11] Papariga to head KKE delegation to Yugoslavia, hold talks with Milosevic

Athens, 23/01/2001 (ANA)

Papariga, heading a party delegation, leaves for Yugoslavia on Wednesday for a five-day visit that will include talks with Serbian socialist party leader and ousted Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic and participation in rallies in Belgrade and Novi Sad.

The KKE delegation will also present the party's positions to the Yugoslav Foreign Policy Council and on the Yugoslav media, and visit hospitals as well as refugees from Kosovo and the towns of Pancevo and Novi Sad in northern Serbia, which the announcement said had been hit by NATO's depleted uranium (DU) bombs.

The delegation will further meet with leaders of Yugoslav left-wing and communist parties and other organizations to discuss ways of developing the "action of the Balkan anti-NATO center" and events in March 2001 marking the second anniversary of the NATO campaign in Yugoslavia, the KKE announcement said.

[12] Supreme Allied Commander of Europe and US forces to visit Greece on Tuesday

Athens, 23/01/2001 (ANA)

[13] Greece to spend 180 billion drachmas in Balkan aid

Athens, 23/01/2001 (ANA)

Presenting the Greek government's plan, Zaphiropoulos said the money would be spent to support social infrastructure, financial infrastructure and services and production.

The Greek plan envisages spending of 17 billion drachmas on aid in Albania, 18.5 billion drs in Bulgaria, 25.5 billion in FYROM, 24 billion drachmas in Romania, 70 billion in Yugoslavia (excluding Kosovo) and 25 billion drachmas in Kosovo.

Zaphiropoulos also announced a plan to raise Greece's economic and trade affairs offices abroad from 59 to 81. The plan envisages opening of new offices in Havana, St Petersburg, Ankara, Alma-Ata, Amman, Bombay, Wellington, Jerusalem, Islamabad, Caracas, Lagos, Luxembourg, Melbourne, Mexico City, Bangkok, Bratislava, Nairobi, Oslo, Ottawa, Rabat, Riga, Shanghai, Santiago, Sarajevo, Singapore, Izmir, Taskend, Jakarta and Hong-Kong.

[14] Greece, Turkey plan joint natural gas pipeline

Athens, 23/01/2001 (ANA)

The Greek-Turkish memorandum, signed in Ankara, is part of the Inogate Umbrella Agreement, signed earlier by the two countries, to secure continual energy supplies to European Union member-states.

The joint desk studies of the project will be submitted to the European Investment Bank and other European Union bodies by May for approval and funding.

Greece's state natural gas company DEPA and its Turkish counterpart BOTAS were expressly noted in the agreement.

[15] State owed Dr 3.0 trillion in overdue payments

Athens, 23/01/2001 (ANA)

Fotiadis said that his ministry had set a priority on boosting revenue from tax by collecting Value Added Tax that should have been paid, and raking in the overdue payments.

He was speaking to reporters in Thessaloniki after a meeting with senior tax officials in the northern port city.

[16] State hospital doctors begin 3-day nationwide strike

Athens, 23/01/2001 (ANA)

Only emergency cases will be treated.

Doctors at state hospitals are against a provision making it illegal for medical school-affiliated physicians, even ones working in research groups or units established within national health system facilities, to retain private clinics and offices.

The controversial provision was nevertheless was found constitutionally valid on Monday by a relevant Parliamentary law department

Additionally, the Athens Medical Association has called for a 48-hour strike as of Tuesday.

[17] Dairy produce manufacturers bid for sponsorship of Athens 2004

Athens, 23/01/2001 (ANA)

Negotiations would have to be completed by April 2, the ATHOC press release said.

[18] Belgrade court rules in favor of Greek company, against local bank

Athens, 23/01/2001 (ANA)

The appellate court in Belgrade ordered the Yugoslav bank to pay Mytilineos US$ 46.92 million plus interest dating to August 1999.

Mytilineos has demanded the termination of a multimillion-dollar contract with Jugobanka for the funding of five-year deal signed between the Greek group and the Yugoslav mining complex Trepca - the largest industry in Kosovo -- and Ganex, the state export organization.

The deal had been originally announced in 1995 and finalized in May 1997 amid a considerable amount of publicity.

The appellate court's decision is final, allowing for its immediate execution.

[19] ASE announces changes in trading floor

Athens, 23/01/2001 (ANA)

CMC's president Stavros Thomadakis and ASE chairman Panagiotis Alexakis, addressing the event said the two bodies were cooperating closely to lead the Greek bourse into the league of the world's mature markets, following the steps of other big European markets.

An ASE announcement on Monday dismissed recent talk that the ASE board and securities firms were leading to a clash, talk that undermined sentiment in recent sessions.

The Athens Stock Exchange also announced plans to end the use of trading floor in the market and to adopt fully electronic trade.

Brokers deny rift with bourse over floor trading: The Association of Athens Stock Exchange Members on Mon-day denied that it had clashed with bourse authorities over a plan to switch fully to electronic trading.

The statement followed media reports that brokers opposed the bourse's intention to abolish floor trading, which would mean that all trades would be conducted from brokerage offices.

Brokers had no objection to the move, the statement added.

[20] Greek stocks plunge to 24-month lows

Athens, 23/01/2001 (ANA)

Market analysts said the market would test the 3,050-point support level on Tuesday, a strong support level for the general index.

The index ended 2.26 percent lower at 3,081.85 points, off the day's lows of 3,081.85 points, with turnover a low 101.97 million euros, or 34.746 billion drachmas.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks ended 2.06 percent lower at 1,818.61 points, and the FTSE/ASE 40 index dropped 3.35 percent to 313.09 points.

Sector indices ended as follows: Banks: 6,862.49 -2.02% Leasing: 471.24 -4.54% Insurance: 1,150.31 -2.21% Investment: 1,199.56 -3.66% Construction: 1,101.37 -2.53% Industrials: 1,822.98 -2.79% Holding: 3,124.57 -1.02%

The parallel market index for smaller capitalization stocks ended at 240.76 points, off 4.26 percent.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 316 to 29 with another 12 issues unchanged.

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

Leading shares' closing prices (in euros): National Bank: 38.12 Alpha Bank: 34.22 Commercial Bank: 49.94 Eurobank: 20.08 Piraeus Bank: 14.78 Lambrakis Press: 9.10 Altec: 5.80 Titan Cement (c): 39.34 Hellenic Telecoms: 16.74 Panafon: 7.34 Hellenic Petroleum: 9.28 Attica Enterprises: 6.12 Intracom: 18.88 Minoan Lines: 4.46 Viohalco: 9.94 Hellenic Bottling: 18.02

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, traders said.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index closed 2.06 percent down, and the FTSE/ASE 40 ended 3.35 percent lower.

Turnover was 40.3 million euros on 6,018 contracts traded, the dealers said.

Bond prices drop in selling: Bond prices in the domestic secondary market on Monday finished lower in heavy trade for the third straight session.

The Greek benchmark 10-year bond showed a yield of 5.38 percent from 5.36 percent a day earlier.

The yield spread over German bunds was 52 basis points from 54 basis points in the session before.

Turnover through the central bank's electronic system totalled 755 million euros (around 256 billion drachmas) from 1.11 billion euros (about 379 billion drachmas)the trading day before.

Euro/dollar rate drops below 93 cents: The European Central Bank set its reference rates on the euro/dollar rate at 92.90 cents on Monday, from 94 cents in Friday, pushing the drachma/dollar rate at 366.79 drachmas.

The euro currency's rate against the yen was set at 108.28 yen (3.14 drachmas), the euro/sterling at 0.6390 (533.25 drachmas), the euro/Swiss franc at 1,5340 francs (222.13 drachmas) and the euro/Cyprus pound at 0.5579 (589.63 drachmas).

[21] Foreign minister says Belgian state secretary issue closed

LARNACA, 23/01/2001 (CNA/ANA)

"It has become clear that Belgium recognizes only one Republic of Cyprus and that if there is to be recognition of an equal status between one and the other, as is the case with all federations this will occur within the framework of a future settlement," Kasoulides told reporters at Larnaca airport before his departure for an official visit to Spain.

During her visit here last week Neyts expressed her personal impression, and not the official Belgium government's position as she had said, that "some form of recognition of each other's existence is absolutely fundamental."

Her statements gave rise to speculation that she implied recognition of the self-styled Turkish Cypriot regime in Turkish occupied Cyprus, which nobody but Turkey, recognizes. The UN has branded the said regime "legally invalid" and has called on all states not to recognize or facilitate it in any way.

On Saturday her spokesman Hubert Cooremans told CNA "the Belgian government's position concerning Cyprus is on the one hand a full commitment to the UN process and on the other a full commitment also to the Helsinki principles."

This, he added, means that the Belgian government "sees the Republic of Cyprus as a single, sovereign state with a recognition of the equal status of the parties in a future united Cyprus."

[22] Greek and Turkish Cypriot political parties meet

NICOSIA, 23/01/2001 (CNA/ANA)

In a joint statement issued on Monday after a meeting in Nicosia, organized by the Embassy of the Slovak Republic in Cyprus, the leaders and representatives of the parties "call upon the leaders of the two communities to respond positively to the UN Secretary-General's appeal for the continuation of the talks".

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