Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 01-03-05

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

CONTENTS

[01] Athens considering possibility of buying Hellenistic period statues in Afghanistan

[02] National defense minister holds talks with Syrian President Assad

[03] FM Papandreou arrives in Vienna on three-day official visit

[04] US ambassador says Greece one of few countries in the world to stand by US in all crises and wars in past two centuries

[05] ND leader says one does not want a Europe of accountants but a Europe of great steps

[06] Communist party leader rules out cooperation with PASOK and ND in municipal elections

[07] Synaspismos leader rejects center-left scenarios

[08] London metro police chief to meet with Greek ministers, in Athens, on Monday

[09] Panagiotis Lambrias, journalist and politician dies at 74

[10] Deputy foreign minister to promote Athens 2004 volunteerism in Canada

[11] Focus on environmental impact, quality of product to mark the new Greek farming policy

[12] Development minister presents strategy for upgrading Greek tourism

[13] Iranian news agency delegation arrives in Athens for meetings with ANA leadership

[14] "Sunday of Orthodoxy" celebrated by Ecumenical Patriarchate, Church of Greece

[15] Greek and Turkish cinema critics exchange views on national cinema roles in globalization era

[16] Groups of Turkish citizens visit Crete

[17] Greek lawyers representing Nazi victims to seek recourse in international forums

[18] Greek men are getting taller, the Hellenic Armed Forces stats reveal

[19] Cyprus, Albania to sign several agreements

[20] Cyprus hosts EAVE Workshop

[01] Athens considering possibility of buying Hellenistic period statues in Afghanistan

Athens, 05/03/2001 (ANA)

Spokesman Panos Beglitis also said that due to the fact that many of the aforesaid statues and monuments bear characteristics of the Hellenistic period, said the government "steadfastly bent on the principles and values of culture, is considering the possibility of buying and transporting these statues to Greece."

Beglitis said Athens, together with its European Union partners and the other members of the international community, is watching latest developments in Afghanistan with great concern, following the decision taken by the Talebans' spiritual leader Mullah Omar to have all statues and monuments dating back from the Buddhist period located in Afghanistan to be destroyed.

He said that given that they are priceless relics of the common cultural heritage of mankind and not of Afghanistan alone, the Taleban government is called on to reconsider its decision because "a possible carrying out of the threat to destroy these relics will also irreparably harm the very interests of the Afghan people."

[02] National defense minister holds talks with Syrian President Assad

DAMASCUS, 05/03/2001 (ANA - D. Konstantakopoulos)

Tsohatzopoulos, who paid an official visit to Damascus and met with his Syrian counterpart general Mustafa Tlas and Prime Minister Muhammad Mustafa Miru, said his meeting with the Syrian president "is a great moment in relations between the two countries."

Tsohatzopoulos said bloodshed should stop immediately and the peace dialogue in the Middle East should resume on the basis of UN resolutions. He also assessed that in the new phase of resolving the Middle East issue, on the one hand the European Union has an upgraded role to play and, on the other, Greece should move along a new and creative base.

He said Greece's aim is the development of bilateral relations with countries in the region such as Syria, Iran and Armenia, combined with the new relationship Athens is forming with Israel and Turkey.

Tsohatzopoulos referred to the two defense ministries' converging strategy at regional level which is aimed at increasing their armed forces' deterrent capacity and strengthening the social and development role played by the armed forces, particularly with the transfer and use of new technologies.

He also congratulated the new Syrian president on his election and wished him every success in his task. He also mentioned past cooperation established between the two countries by the late Syrian President Hafez al-Assad and the late Greek Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou.

Tsohatzopoulos, commenting on Greece's relations with Israel and Turkey, spoke of a wider regional security policy in the area which should include peace in the Middle East, the revocation of Turkey's unilateral demands from Greece, a solution to the Cyprus issue and a change in past relations with Israel to enable relations with Tel Aviv and the Arab countries to be placed on an equal base.

The national defense minister also met with Patriarch Ignatios and members of the Greek community in Damascus.

[03] FM Papandreou arrives in Vienna on three-day official visit

VIENNA, 05/03/2001 (ANA - D. Dimitrakoudis)

Talks with his Austrian counterpart Benita-Maria Ferrero-Waldner, Austrian President Thomas Klestil, Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel, Parliament President Heinz Fischer and main opposition Socialdemocrat Party leader Alfred Gusenbauer are expected to focus on possibilities of further improving what are considered as being excellent relations between Athens and Vienna in various sectors, the Cyprus issue and the future accession of Cyprus to the European Union, Greek-Turkish relations, developments in the Balkans, particularly in Yugoslavia, the EU's enlargement and institutional reforms and cooperation between the two countries in international organizations.

Papandreou's visit to Vienna is the first official bilateral contact between a Greek minister and the Austrian political and state leadership, following the assumption of power by the new Austrian government coalition formed by the conservative People's Party and the far-right and nationalist Freedom Party, whose swearing-in last February led to the taking of measures by the governments of the remaining 14 EU member-states which isolated it for eight months.

An official visit Greek President Kostis Stephanopoulos made to Austria in February 1999 was a recent milestone in the history of official contacts between Greece and Austria.

FM Papandreou says his policy towards Turkey is a policy of dialogue: Foreign Minister George Papandreou, who arrived in Vienna on Sunday night for a three-day official visit to Austria, said in an interview with Monday's edition of the Austrian weekly magazine "Profil" that his policy towards Turkey is a "policy of dialogue" which is acceptable to the people and constitutes a change in the method of "instead of observing problems, we are seeking common interests."

Papandreou said the issue of Cyprus is an issue linking or separating Greece from Turkey, which will either make it a model for cohabitation between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots or remain the great feud, in which case rapprochement between the two countries will be very difficult.

He said the European vocation not only of Turkey but all of the Balkans could change the base of relations of all the peoples in the region in the direction of mutual respect, cooperation and respect for international law. He added that this cannot take place automatically, but only with cooperation can the region acquire a voice in a globalized world and a voice, which can be heard.

Papandreou said the Balkan Stability Pact is a historic change in Balkan policy, adding that dissolution and conflicts in the region were often the expression of the policy of superpowers and the transfer there of rivalry between foreign interests.

Papandreou also expressed solidarity for his German counterpart, Joschka Fischer, who is currently under pressure in Germany for his past as an activist in militant anti-establishment circles.

"I was militant too," Papandreou said, adding that "I too took part in many demonstrations, in the occupation of buildings, of military bases as well."

[04] US ambassador says Greece one of few countries in the world to stand by US in all crises and wars in past two centuries

WASHINGTON, 05/03/2001 (ANA - T. Ellis)

Burns was addressing an event at the American Hellenic Institute in Washington, where he was honored together with three distinguished overseas Greeks and Republican Maryland Congresswoman Constance Morela, on the role played by overseas Greeks as a bridge between Greece and the US.

Burns said he is proud of serving in Greece for three-and-a-half years and for the fact that during his period of office he had the opportunity of loving Greece and the Greeks, who were very warm and hospitable even in the most difficult of moments such as the war in Kosovo.

Referring to present-day reality, he also reminded that American and Greek soldiers are serving together in Bosnia and Kosovo.

Burns expressed the desire of the US for peace and unity in Cyprus and praised the Greek government's initiative for rapprochement with Turkey, which has led to a sharp increase in bilateral trade and of tourist movement on both sides, as he said.

Replying to questions put to him by the audience, Burns said the US does not apply a policy of double standards towards the two allies, Greece and Turkey, and does not favor one against the other.

He said the US government supports the efforts of the UN secretary general on the Cyprus issue and is actively interested in a solution to Greek-Turkish differences, which can be referred to third parties (such as the International court at The Hague). In this context, he said a possible publication of the US State Department's legal opinion on the status of sea borders in the Aegean would neutralize the mediating role of the US.

On the question of terrorism, Burns said a moratorium should prevail in relevant statements, adding that a series of measures has been taken to combat the problem in the past year, but noted that the issue cannot be ignored since members of the embassy and other people have lost their lives.

[05] ND leader says one does not want a Europe of accountants but a Europe of great steps

Athens, 05/03/2001 (ANA)

Karamanlis was speaking at the close of a party conference, ahead of the party's upcoming congress, in Irakleio on the island of Crete.

Referring to issues concerning insular Greece, Karamanlis said "can one imagine Greece without islands, without the Aegean? Our islands are our identity, they are ourselves and they are our culture together with all the other Greeks."

"Culture and education are the implement for the country's development and at the same time they are the country's prestige. They are the great contribution Hellenism can give to the modern world and Europe," he said.

On the question of local administration, Karamanlis said it means confidence in citizens and confidence in local societies and pondered who chooses priorities and who plans development.

"Sterilized technocrats, heartless bureaucrats or rodents and flatterers. For this reason ND says local societies should have the first say. Our top priority is to be by the side of the underprivileged Greek because he is the backbone of this country," he said.

Karamanlis said the party's opponents "are those who want to keep Greece low, those who, supposedly in the name of a free economy, ultimately circumvent every rule and immunity reigns."

Harsh criticism for the policies of the government and certainty for the victory of main opposition New Democracy (ND) in the next elections marked Karamanlis' address to the same conference that begun in Crete on Saturday.

"Never did a government took so much and gave so little," Karamanlis said, adding "we will rid the country of the conservative management and corruption".

"They (the ruling PASOK party) reached to the point to identify Greece with lack of restraint and corruption, which was revealed by the tragic shipwreck of 'Express Samina' ... they had the political audacity to tell us that this the Greece that is fitting for us".

Main opposition leader focuses on 1985 Stazi slander against former party leader: The forgery of documents by former Eastern German secret service, Stazi, that aimed at destroying the reputation of former New Democracy (ND) president Constantine Mitsotakis, were the focus of an off-text remark by the current ND leader Costas Karamanlis late on Saturday.

Speaking at a party conference in Crete, Karamanlis said that "we are still waiting, and there have been several days, for them to answer for all that was uncovered regarding the plot against ND from the infamous Stazi".

"They seem to not have the ability to speak for the shameful slander against Mitsotakis just before the elections of 1985," he said.

[06] Communist party leader rules out cooperation with PASOK and ND in municipal elections

Athens, 05/03/2001 (ANA)

Papariga said cooperation would be pursued with personalities to be supported by KKE as mayoral or prefectural candidates, provided they fulfill certain criteria.

She also referred to problems related to the island's main product, olive oil, and the insurance bill by Labor Minister Tassos Giannitsis.

[07] Synaspismos leader rejects center-left scenarios

Athens, 05/03/2001 (ANA)

Summing up the two-day discussion, Coalition leader Nikos Constantopoulos indirectly but clearly condemned left-left scenarios, as well as different views voiced by party deputy and former party leader Maria Damanaki who supported the creation of a left-left grouping with the participation of the Coalition.

Constantopoulos criticized government policy, both on domestic and foreign issues, and added that government policy "constitutes a greenhouse for the development of vested interests".

[08] London metro police chief to meet with Greek ministers, in Athens, on Monday

Athens, 05/03/2001 (ANA)

According to a press release issued by the British embassy in Athens on Saturday, the chief of the formerly named Scotland Yard now known as London Metropolitan Police will hold a press conference on Tuesday following his meetings with Greek officials.

[09] Panagiotis Lambrias, journalist and politician dies at 74

Athens, 05/03/2001 (ANA)

He was born in Athens and was married to Aggeliki Loukopoulou. He studied law in the University of Athens and spoke French, English and German.

He practiced law and was a journalist in the Greek capital from the 1950s to 1968 when he left the country, in self-exile to London, where he published the "Greek Report" magazine.

In 1974, during the first free elections after the seven-year dictatorship he run for a Parliament seat in Athens and was elected under the flag of the New Democracy party.

He was elected to the Europarliament for the first time in 1984 and was re-elected to that post three consecutive times. During his tenure in the Europarliament he was elected as one of the European Popular Party's (EPP) vice-presidents and held the post from 1984 to 1989.

In his marriage with Loukopoulou he had two daughters.

Upon receiving the news of Lambrias' death, Press and Media Minister and government spokesman Dimitris Reppas issued a statement noting: "the death of Takis (Panagiotis Lambrias is a loss for the public life. A prudent politician, he served from different posts the interest of the country and more so during critical times. This considerable offer will make us remember him for ever."

Prime Minister Costas Simitis on Saturday expressed his sorrow over the death of Panagiotis Lambrias.

"I express my sorrow over the death of a worthy politician. Journalism brought him to the limelight and politics won him over. His contribution to the consolidation of Parliamentary Democracy was significant during the first years after the fall of the military dictatorship," the premier said.

"I express my deepest condolences to his party and his family," he concluded.

On his part, Main opposition New Democracy (ND) party leader Costas Karamanlis said that the public life of the country lost the services of a worthy, indefatigable, and distinguished servant.

"ND bid farewell today to the fighter, the honest and selfless politician who connected his name with the great historical moments for the land and our people," Karamanlis concluded in his statement.

Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) leader Nikos Constantopoulos stressed that Lambrias was a creative spirit, a tender man and a rare friend, in biding farewell to the departed politician and journalist.

Athens Journalists' Union (ÅSÇÅA) also issued a press release expressing its condolences over the death of one of its members.

The funeral services will take place on Monday at 3:30 p.m. at the A' Cemetery of Athens.

[10] Deputy foreign minister to promote Athens 2004 volunteerism in Canada

MONTREAL, 05/03/2001 (ANA - I. Frangouli)

During his visit Niotis will meet with new Canadian Foreign Minister John Manley.

On the evening of March 16, Niotis will depart for New York, where he will participate in the March 25th Greek National Independence Day celebrations organized by the Greek expatriate community.

[11] Focus on environmental impact, quality of product to mark the new Greek farming policy

Athens, 05/03/2001 (ANA)

"Who ever does not adjust to the new demands of the market, where the dominant variable is quality, will be the great loser. Before these new developments, we are building the policies of quality and we will take out of the game the 'subsidy hunters'," the minister stressed.

He added that the aim is to achieve quality in all stages, from production to consumption, based on the European Union and national directives, by 2004 or even earlier.

He announced that the new Union policies aim at subsidizing a common farming policy based on respect for the environment and support for local rural communities as part of a general plan for the restructure of the rural areas of the Union.

He stressed the need for product quality certification, which will be managed by the Agricultural Products Certification and Supervision Organization (Agrocert), a sine qua non for the promotion of Greek products in foreign markets.

He noted that changes could already be seen toward the aforementioned direction as the Union has certified 77 Greek products, such as olives, cotton, cheeses etc, with the certificates of Appellation of Origin, while certification for another 70 is pending.

[12] Development minister presents strategy for upgrading Greek tourism

BERLIN, 05/03/2001 (ANA - P. Stangos)

The new period of Greek tourism aims at holding the Olympic Games in Greece in 2004, while steps to upgrade it include the building of new infrastructures, environmental protection and improving services provided, he told his audience.

Emphasis was also placed on utilizing the Greek Tourist Organizations (EOT) tourist assets by the subsidiary Greek Tourist Real Estate with an invitation to German investors to participate in relevant programs, Christodoulakis added.

However, the main interest of tourist agents and special journalists involved in the sector, who attended the press conference, focused on to what degree the new Athens airport at Spata will operate on time.

The minister expressed certainty that the airport will operate fully on March 28 and attributed whatever problems were created in the building of access roads to the fact that many projects are being carried out at the same time.

[13] Iranian news agency delegation arrives in Athens for meetings with ANA leadership

Athens, 05/03/2001 (ANA)

The delegation headed by IRNA President Fereydoun Verdinejad also includes General International News and Cooperation Director Shapour Jomeh-Farsangi and the Director of International Relations Touraj Shiralilou.

The delegations of IRNA and ANA will discuss the development of their relations for the exchange of news and photographs, as well as technical know-how, etc.

The IRNA delegation will meet with the Athens Journalists Union (ESHEA) President Nikos Kiaos on Monday and the Press and Media Deputy Minister Telemachos Hytiris on Wednesday.

Following their visit in Athens, which ends on Wednesday, the IRNA delegation will visit Cyprus at the invitation of the Cyprus News Agency (CAN).

IRNA President Verdinejad, being considered one of the basic supporters of reform minded Iranian President Ali Mohammad Khatami-Ardakani, has been brought before the country's special court many times, following accusations by several hard-line Islamic organizations and extremists, on charges of transmitting "false news".

[14] "Sunday of Orthodoxy" celebrated by Ecumenical Patriarchate, Church of Greece

ISTANBUL, 05/03/2001 (ANA- A. Kourkoulas)

Greece's Ambassador to Ankara Ioannis Korantis represented Greece in one of the most important annual events of Orthodox Christianity, marking the restoration of icons in worship that ended in the 8th century A.D.

Ambassadors for Russia, Georgia, the Ukraine, Bulgaria, Albania, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Moldavia, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Finland and Poland were also present at the events, which concluded with a dinner hosted in honor of Vartholomeos at the Greek Consulate of Istanbul.

Meanwhile, in Greece, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Christodoulos officiated in events marking the same anniversary at the Athens Metropolitan Cathedral, in the presence of President Kostis Stephanopoulos and the country's political leadership.

[15] Greek and Turkish cinema critics exchange views on national cinema roles in globalization era

Athens, 05/03/2001 (ANA)

The conference, focusing on the issue of the cinema as a means of determining national identity, was held in the framework of the March 3-5 cinema festival-taking place in the city.

Turkish cinema critic Netzla Algun said the cinema helps nations and helps one to understand both the national and the global and to understand one another.

Stratos Kersanidis referred to the great risks of homogenization and pulverization of cultures, which is created by the dominance of one type of image, and this means, he said, the gradual loss of national characteristics and absolute flattening.

The President of the Union of Cinema Critics Constantine Terzis and Demosthenes Xifilinos also addressed the Greek-Turkish cinema conference, organized by the Alexandroupolis Cinema Club in cooperation with the Unions of Cinema Critics of Greece and Turkey.

Films from both countries are also being screened over the three-day period.

[16] Groups of Turkish citizens visit Crete

Athens, 05/03/2001 (ANA)

The first stopover of the 47-member group was the western Cretan city of Hania, where they were welcomed by the local authorities and leaders of the Greek Asian Minor community living on the island since the 1920s.

In the early 1920s, following the First World War Greece and Turkey having continued on their conflict in Asia Minor and concluded it in 1923 with the signing of the treaty of Lausanne, according to which the two countries exchanged populations to avert any future conflicts.

In memory of the peaceful times that followed the treaty, which was signed by the national leaders of the Greece Eleftherios Venizelos and Turkey Kemal Mustafa "Ataturk", the group laid wreaths on the graves of the Venizelos family.

[17] Greek lawyers representing Nazi victims to seek recourse in international forums

Athens, 05/03/2001 (ANA)

According to a press release by the union of lawyers, the decision was made after Arios Pagos, Greece's supreme court, initially decided for the plaintiffs, but later a section of the court, withdrew the previous decision adopting the opinion of the minority of the court's plenum.

[18] Greek men are getting taller, the Hellenic Armed Forces stats reveal

Athens, 05/03/2001 (ANA)

Specifically, the data published by the Army General Staff notes that Greek men's median height rose by 5-6 centimeters over the past seven years.

According to the newspaper report, the percentages of "tall" and "very tall" categories rose dramatically, but the surprise was that the category set by the military entitled "giants", classifying those with height over 1.97 meters increased three fold during the last seven years.

In fact the data revealed that the category "tall" rose from 39.1 percent of the population under arms in the early 1990s to 53,1 percent by the end of the decade.

The "very tall" category, meaning those with height of over 1.85 meters, showed an increase from 13.6 percent to 21.1 percent during the same time period, while the "giants" grew from 0.2 percent to 0.7 percent.

The data was collected regularly as the military uses them to provide the necessary logistical support for the men at arms, such as clothing, bedding etc.

[19] Cyprus, Albania to sign several agreements

NICOSIA, 05/03/2001 (CNA/ANA)

The foreign ministers of the two countries held talks on Saturday in Nicosia to examine ways of enhancing bilateral relations between the two countries and the opportunities for cooperation before them, and also signed a Protocol of Cooperation between the two Ministries.

Albanian Foreign Minister Paskal Milo told a press conference, held after the talks, that he and his Cypriot counterpart Ioannis Kasoulides "have identified a lot of areas of cooperation", while on his part Kasoulides noted that a number of agreements were being prepared and "we will work diligently and quickly to complete them."

Milo expressed his surprise "to find such a strong will and readiness from the Cyprus government for cooperation between our two countries," noting at the same time that "today we have realized a good step ahead to create the legal basis for our mutual cooperation, especially in the economic and the trade fields."

He also said that during the talks they drew the main lines of cooperation in the framework of the Stability Pact for the Balkans, the Adriatic and Ionian initiative, the fight against illegal trafficking and organized crime.

"We have discussed how to work together for our common goals, the European integration of our countries, for giving our contribution for the stability and security in South East Europe and the Mediterranean area and how to work together as countries not only for mutual understanding but also for much more broader understanding in sensitive issues in South East Europe, Kosovo, FYROM, Montenegro and Cyprus," the Albanian foreign minister added.

Kasoulides noted that the agreements to be signed between the two countries "will create the legal framework and open the way for the private sector of both countries to invest or participate in projects in the economy of our two countries in areas like reconstruction, telecommunications, tourism and employment."

The two ministers also discussed developments in the Cyprus problem and Milo expressed the belief that the island "will be prosperous and united."

Milo, who paid a three-day official visit to the island and departed on Sunday, was received earlier on Saturday by President of the Republic Glafcos Clerides.

He also met with House of Representatives President Spyros Kyprianou, Finance Minister Takis Klerides and Nicosia Mayor Lellos Demetriades.

[20] Cyprus hosts EAVE Workshop

NICOSIA, 05/03/2001 (CNA/ANA)

The workshop, which started on Saturday and ends on March 11, under the auspices of the Press and Information Office, will focus on development.

During Saturday morning's session, three special seminars were given for Cypriot producers in the audiovisual industry and directors by prominent foreign producers, professors and cinema experts.

This year, 50 audiovisual professionals from all over Europe develop and refine their production skills with EAVE.

The larger objective of EAVE is the strengthening of the economic viability of the audiovisual industry within Europe, enabling them to compete on an international level.

The second 2001 EAVE workshop will take place in Sweden in June.

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