Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 01-03-19

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greece counts its population

[02] First section of Elefsina-Spata highway project inaugurated

[03] Simitis reiterates arguments for reform to close PASOK meeting

[04] Karamanlis ends ND conference by renouncing 'past prejudices'

[05] FM concludes three-day tour of Thrace with visit to Alexandroupolis

[06] Municipal Networks cooperation protocol between Greece and Turkey

[07] Papandreou speaks on modernizing civil service in Italy

[08] PASOK Central Committee secretary proposes radical changes in government and party

[09] Mayors and community leaders in southeastern Attica request meeting with PM to outline regional problems

[10] Clerides says Cyprus still needs joint defense doctrine

[11] 2.4 billion dollars in Greek capital invested in Balkans in recent years

[12] PASKE carries GSEE elections, but falls short of overall majority

[13] University deans threaten reprisals if TEI bill remains unchanged

[14] Greek consul charged for refusing alcohol test in Perth

[15] Cyprus EU negotiator to visit Brussels on Monday

[16] Cyprus finance minister underlines government's will to combat money-laundering

[01] Greece counts its population

Athens, 19/03/2001 (ANA)

Officials said the census was going smoothly, except for some cases where problems did arise such as in the municipalities of Petroupolis and Ilion, in the Attica prefecture, where some citizens refused to register, claiming that the limits of the two municipalities are vague.

The service's general director, Yiannis Karavitis said all the information Greek citizens will be providing will be treated confidentially and will be protected by legislation, while it cannot be given or communicated to any agency, either private or public.

Census officials took up positions at airports, ports, train stations and inter-city bus stations from early morning to register all travelers.

Greek citizens are obliged to answer questions concerning their household, the members of their family and whether they are employed or are studying or are preoccupied with something else.

Questionnaires contain 26 questions for women, 24 for men and 13 for children. The census is compulsory and people failing to fill in a form are subject to fines similar to those imposed during general elections for abstaining from voting.

People who are not counted for any reason are obliged to go to the police precinct in their area or to the offices of the municipality where they live or to prefectural offices on Monday to fill in a census form.

The last census in Greece was held in 1991 when the country's population was found to be about 10.3 million.

[02] First section of Elefsina-Spata highway project inaugurated

Athens, 19/03/2001 (ANA)

Environment, Town Planning and Public Works minister Costas Laliotis inaugurated the section of the highway linking the new Eleftherios Venizelos Airport - which is due to be inaugurated March 27 - with Pallini boulevard and Geraka, and another section linking the Metamorphosi juncture on the Athens-Lamia national highway with Kymis boulevard.

The sections inaugurated comprise 21 kilometers of high-standard motorway with three traffic lanes per direction and one emergency lane.

Motorists using the highway will not pay tolls for the section from Pallini to the airport until Easter, while after Easter the toll fee has been determined at the "symbolic" sum of 200 drachma per vehicle, Laliotis said at the ceremony, which was attended by ministers, MPs, Liberals party leader Stephanos Manos and other officials, but boycotted by main opposition New Democracy, which sent no representatives.

"Attiki Odos is an ambitious project of development and hope that will radically change our life for the better," Laliotis said, criticizing detractors as engaging in "danger-mongering and disinformation".

The 435 billion-drachma project, which is being constructed with the method of concession and co-exploitation, comprises a total of six sections and is being financed mainly by loans from the European Investment Bank (EIB) and Greek commercial banks.

According to a spokesman for the Attiki Odos contracting consortium building the highway, several more sections will be delivered at the end of 2002, while the total project is slated for completion at the end of 2003.

When completed the highway is expected to absorb 10 percent of total traffic in the Attica prefecture, serving an anticipated 180,000 motorists daily but with a capacity of serving up to 300,000. Motorists will be able to access the motorway at one of 32 junctions along its length.

The entire route from Elefsina to the new airport is estimated to take 30 minutes, about one third of the time required at present.

The section inaugurated Sunday is expected to serve some 30,000 motorists daily, taking about 8 minutes to get from Pallini to the airport.

It is fully equipped, with emergency telephones situated every two kilometers using the four-digit number 1866 for communication between drivers and the highway's central assistance services.

Underground sensors have been placed every 500 meters along the entire highway to gauge the number of vehicles and traffic flow, while computers, assisted by closed-circuit television, will be able to pinpoint any problems arising.

In September, an ultra-modern traffic management system will commence operation in the region of Paiania that will monitor movement along the length of the highway.

In addition, two vehicle service stations will be built at Pallini and Aspropyrgos.

The Elefsina-Spata highway, or Attiki Odos, is one of the biggest concession projects being constructed at this time in Europe.

[03] Simitis reiterates arguments for reform to close PASOK meeting

Athens, 19/03/2001 (ANA)

Responding to earlier criticism of the government's record, he admitted that there had been mistakes in the practical application of policy, but that these did not justify accusations, division or resignations.

These reactions, he added, were to be expected, while he said that attempts were being made to distort the facts.

Justifying the bid to restructure the party, Simitis said that people did not want a party that was an electoral mechanism for the personal choices of its members on local and national committees but one that addressed the concerns and problems of the country.

To close, the prime minister repeated that PASOK must be open and must address citizens who did not trust or stayed away from politics, as this was expressed by the parties of today.

PM calls meeting on Olympics as Central Committee debates party reform: Even as a PASOK Central Committee meeting continued at the Intercontinental hotel on Saturday morning, Prime Minister Costas Simitis had ensconced himself in room on the floors above for an off-the-cuff meeting with Environment Minister Costas Laliotis and Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos, apparently to discuss preparations for the Athens Olympics in 2004.

Shortly after his one-hour meeting with the two ministers, Simitis then called for Transport Minister Christos Verelis, to whom he spoke for just a few minutes.

Meanwhile, at the party meeting below, some sharp criticism was being leveled against the government's bid to restructure PASOK and against its record after one year in office. Also included among the critics of the party 'renewal' was Minister of State Miltiadis Papaioannou, who said it was a "huge mistake" to attempt to implement the reform with leftist forces that "history and political reality has left behind."

Still to come is a speech by Defense Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos, while the meeting will end on Saturday evening with closing arguments from the prime minister.

PM reiterates support for FYROM to PASOK central committee: Greece is in constant contact with the government of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) regarding the crisis in that country, Prime Minister Costas Simitis told PASOK's central committee on Saturday, as he took the stand to make the final speech at the party organ's meeting.

Reiterating Athens' support for the Skopje government, he stressed that international law had to be implemented and that the UN resolutions for Kosovo were binding for all.

Simitis said that the borders of Kosovo into other countries had to be controlled by UN forces, so that extremist elements could not use that area for incursions into neighboring countries.

Greece, the prime minister added, condemns the use of force and is against secessionist tendencies. At the same time, Athens believes that any differences must be resolved using democratic and political means and that every effort must be made to this end.

[04] Karamanlis ends ND conference by renouncing 'past prejudices'

Athens, 19/03/2001 (ANA)

"There is nothing that divides us from our fellow citizen whose parents happened to be on the 'other side' in the difficult years during the 1940s," he said, stressing that ND's current leadership was not concerned with the prejudices of the past.

Getting past these 'obstacles' and historical prejudices, he said at another point, was what the political 'middle ground' was all about.

Commenting on the government, Karamanlis once again raised the issue of vested interests, referring specifically to the state-run betting agency OPAP and charges of holding fixed tenders that favored specific private-sector business groups.

[05] FM concludes three-day tour of Thrace with visit to Alexandroupolis

Athens, 19/03/2001 (ANA)

Papandreou said the multicultural nature of Thrace constitutes an advantage for the region, while the Evros prefecture is a pioneer in cooperation with neighboring countries.

"It has gone out in front and this is a message to all of Greece and to Athens," he said.

Papandreou later met with representatives of repatriated Greeks who delivered a memorandum to him containing claims concerning their housing arrangements.

On Saturday, Papandreou visited the prefecture of Rodopi and attended an open regional council in the city of Komotini, organized by regional authorities of eastern Macedonia and Thrace.

Papandreou said the region "can be none other than the center of cooperation between countries in the region", adding that "the foreign minister is acting at a diplomatic level to safeguard the best possible relations and always in the framework of respect for our sovereign rights and always in the framework of respect for basic principles which is the explanation for good cooperation and good relations."

Referring to developments in Tetovo, southern Serbia and Kosovo, Papandreou said problems "are not resolved with force, terrorism or a change of borders, but are solved by an in-depth probing of issues and with respect for democratic processes by all sides. Respect for borders, respect for minority and human rights. These go hand in hand and this a European perspective."

[06] Municipal Networks cooperation protocol between Greece and Turkey

Athens, 19/03/2001 (ANA)

The Protocol of Cooperation of the Greece-Turkey Municipalities Network, which envisions comprehensive cross-border cooperation in the fields of trade, tourism and culture, was hailed by both Papandreou and Yalova as an "important initiative" that will further strengthen ties between the two peoples and boost cooperation in the economy, tourism, communications and culture.

Papandreou said the "initiative of the organized local governments" followed in the steps of Greek and Turkish statesmen Eleftherios Venizelos and Kemal Ataturk and later by Andreas Papandreou and Turgut Ozal, "as well as the major initiatives of the two peoples during the recent earthquakes".

"Foreign policy is becoming a cause among the primary institutions of popular sovereignty, with a common European vision, and this comprises a message for stability, a message for the countries of former Yugoslavia that are still witnessing clashes. A message for Bosnia all the way to Cyprus, that, here, we can build the Europe of the citizens, the multi-culture Europe, the Europe of the peoples," Papandreou said.

He said the new road being paved would benefit the region of Thrace, where the two countries shared a common border, as it was "a path for our common interest, through respect of common principles, via the new agreements signed and ratified between Greece and Turkey," he added.

Papandreou said he had "every reason to believe" that "this collaboration among the peoples and local government agencies, the cooperation that we have developed in all sectors, will create confidence and allow us to face with courage, frankness and respect, the historic problems that have divided our two countries".

Yalova congratulated the mayors of both countries for their initiative, which began three years ago, saying the cooperation launched would "serve as a model for the new century".

He said that "in the near future, when Turkey becomes a member of the EU, the Greek local authorities will generously convey their experiences and knowledge to their counterparts in the Turkish regions that border with Greece".

"I am also certain that with the same generosity the market of 65 million Turks will open up for the producers of Western Thrace," he added.

The Protocol: "The 'Network of Municipalities of Western and Eastern Thrace' of Greece, called 'Polis', and the 'Union of Municipalities of Western and Eastern Thrace' of Turkey, called 'Trakyakent', desiring to contribute, in the framework of their activities and purposes, to the promotion, development and strengthening of cultural, social, tourist, trade and economic relations between the Republic of Greece and the Republic of Turkey, agreed and accepted the following:

1 - To advance the cross-regional and cross-border cooperation of the Municipalities of Western and Eastern Thrace, through their agencies. Each agency is governed and functions in accordance with its charter and rules of operation.

2 - At regular intervals, to exchange information on the economic, commercial, tourist, agricultural, social and cultural activities, developments and interests to the two sides aiming at reinforcing their relations and promoting cross-border cooperation.

3 - At reciprocal meetings, to discuss issues of common interest, for the purpose of materializing joint programs, projects, actions and initiatives.

4 - At regular contacts, within the framework of their bilateral multi-aspect cooperation, to strengthen the social, cultural, educational, tourist, agricultural, commercial and economic collaborations with the following methods:

A) Cooperation among the non-governmental and non-profit social and cultural partners, agencies, unions, cooperatives, organizations from each region.

B) Advancement of joint ventures and cooperation in the sector of technical assistance among the members, in the area of small and medium size enterprises, trade, tourism, agriculture, culture, the arts, sports, ecology, etc.

C) Cooperation for common actions with third countries and agencies.

D) Keeping their members informed on the existing possibilities for cooperation that arise, and support for the success of the cooperation.

E) Development of initiatives through the organization of exchanges and participation in exhibitions and actions organized by one or the other side.

F) Organization of cultural, social, business and trade conferences, events and projects.

5 - To propose, to their governments, plans, programs and ideas regarding the resolution of problems arising in their regions, which concern the cross-border cooperation.

6 - To investigate the prospects for and cooperating closely in programs of cross-regional and cross-border cooperation co-financed by the European Union. The Greek side, as a full member of the European Union, will undertake the effort of supporting the Turkish side in fulfilling its desire to take advantage of the opportunities provided by the European organizations.

7 - To submit applications for membership in the European alliances of border regions, Unions and Organizations of 'Euro-regions', as well as in all other kinds of organizations, unions, and non-governmental and non-profit organizations that serve their (the two agencies') purposes.

8 - To assume all kinds of initiatives related to the materialization of the goals of this agreement and the goals contained in the charters of the two agencies.

The two sides accept the terms of this agreement and commit themselves to working to achieve its targets, with the firm point of reference being the reinforcement of the friendship, peace and cooperation of the peoples of Greece and Turkey.

The Agreement enters into effect as of the day of its signing and automatically ceases to be in effect if one of the two signatories renounces it.

The agreement is signed in three exact copies, in the Greek, Turkish and English languages. The two signatories hold copies of equal validity. The enclosed founding charters and rules of operation of the two agencies constitute an indivisible part of the agreement."

[07] Papandreou speaks on modernizing civil service in Italy

NAPLES, 19/03/2001 (ANA)

During her speech based on the theme "Opportunities and risks in a European electronic policy for public administration and self-government," Papandreou stressed the importance of simplifying and modernizing services to citizens for the economic and social development of European countries.

While admitting that new technologies were a powerful tool to aid government, however, she said policies were still the key, while she also highlighted the need to change attitudes and retrain within the civil service.

She is also reported to have met with her French and Italian counterparts on the sidelines of the conference, to discuss cooperation in efforts to harmonies public administration in the EU, as decided at the Lisbon and Feira summits.

[08] PASOK Central Committee secretary proposes radical changes in government and party

Athens, 19/03/2001 (ANA)

Skandalidis said the issue is not to change a "government of prime ministers" with a "government of mediocrity", adding that what is necessary is a "change in the model of power management."

He expressed support for the party's president being elected with a universal vote and said PASOK requires renewal and that "new personalities will come to supplement PASOK's historic members who are bearers of a victorious strategy, but who are unable to complete the self-renewal effort by themselves."

"All personalities desiring either to come or to cooperate with PASOK are welcome, but provided they respect its historical course and its campaigners," he said.

Skandalidis said an open dialogue with parties of the other left is urgent and, asked whether Simitis should meet Constantopoulos said "why not, what do they have to separate?"

[09] Mayors and community leaders in southeastern Attica request meeting with PM to outline regional problems

Athens, 19/03/2001 (ANA)

The memorandum highlights a lack of infrastructure works and, among others, calls for flood-protection works, drainage, new roads, social welfare projects, the creation of new schools, the development of a suburban railway and the preservation of cultural heritage.

[10] Clerides says Cyprus still needs joint defense doctrine

NICOSIA, 19/03/2001 (ANA - G. Leonidas)

Clerides was speaking at an event to celebrate the 40th anniversary since the foundation of the "Faros Acropolis" club.

[11] 2.4 billion dollars in Greek capital invested in Balkans in recent years

Athens, 19/03/2001 (ANA)

The article said that 2.4 billion dollars in Greek capital has been invested in recent years in Albanian, Bulgaria, FYROM, Romania and Yugoslavia, while total investments in those countries was estimated at 5,667 billion dollars.

In Albania, 200 Greek investments had been made, valued at 150 million dollars.

Greek investments in Bulgaria totalled 456 million dollars for 3,362 investment projects.

In FYROM, 150 investments by Greek concerns totalled 300 million dollars.

In Romania, 1,755 investments by Greek concerns totalled 427.4 million dollars.

In the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Greek investments totalled one billion dollars for 230 investment projects.

At the same time, those countries absorbed some 20 percent of Greek exports, amounting to 102 billion dr. in the first 10 months of 2000 against 113.4 billion in all of 1999 and 186.5 billion dr. in 1998.

In statements to To VIMA, national economy deputy minister Yannis Zaphiropoulos said that the Greek business penetration in its Balkan neighbors would be strengthened even further over the next four years via the 180 billion drachma Greek plan for Balkan Reconstruction.

He said that the "bilateral agreements with each country separately" would be signed by early April, after which the final selection would be made of the projects to be incorporated in the Program, which would be followed by the submittal of the investment proposals.

He said the contribution of the Greek investments in creating new jobs was "particularly significant", as 5,000 jobs were created in FYROM alone.

[12] PASKE carries GSEE elections, but falls short of overall majority

Athens, 19/03/2001 (ANA)

In elections held at the end of GSEE's 30th Congress, PASKE received 208 votes and took 22 seats on the 45-seat board.

In second place was the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) affiliated DAS with 98 votes and 10 seats, followed by the main opposition New Democracy-affiliated DAKE with 88 votes and 9 seats (losing one seat on the board), and Autonomous Intervention with 19 votes, maintaining its three seats.

ASKE, the group comprising former DAKE trade unionists from the banking sector, received 13 votes and took one seat on the board.

Current GSEE president Christos Polyzogopoulos is expected to be re-elected to the post, while DAS is expected to abstain from the new presidium despite coming out in second place in the elections.

[13] University deans threaten reprisals if TEI bill remains unchanged

Athens, 19/03/2001 (ANA)

Education Minister Petros Efthymiou did not attend the meeting as earlier expected, while the issue of a government bill to put technical schools on a par with universities dominated the proceedings.

University deans called for a more gradual approach, so that technical schools could attain true university standards, before the change was pushed through.

If their proposals were ignored, they said, they would begin by closing universities for three days, and that they were prepared to go as far as calling an indefinite suspension of university operation.

Protesting students interrupt dean congress on TEI upgrade: The congress of university deans at a hotel in Hania, Crete was seriously disrupted on Saturday, when students from nearby Crete Polytechnic and other university schools barged in and began to protest against a bill that would make degrees from technical schools equal to those of universities.

The congress was temporarily interrupted and began again after a short recess, which allowed tempers to cool off.

[14] Greek consul charged for refusing alcohol test in Perth

MELBOURNE, 19/03/2001 (ANA - S. Hatzimanolis)

George Aravositas, 35, the Greek consul in Perth, faces charges of refusing to submit to an alcohol-levels test by claiming diplomatic immunity.

According to reports, Aravositas was pulled over by police on December 31, 2000, and asked to take a test but he refused on the grounds that he was covered by diplomatic immunity.

Perth police pressed charges against him anyway, for refusing to obey a police officer, after first informing the Australian foreign ministry. Police sources quoted the foreign ministry in Canberra as saying that diplomatic immunity did not apply in such cases.

During the first hearing, Aravositas lawyer claimed that laws on diplomatic immunity covered his client at the time he was stopped because he had been going about consular business.

The court postponed the hearing until April 4, so that the defense could produce proof of this claim. Sources at the Greek consulate in Canberra, meanwhile, say that Aravositas will not claim diplomatic immunity when the case goes to trial.

In a similar case in 1999, Yugoslavia's General Consul in Sydney was convicted and fined 500 dollars by an Australian court.

[15] Cyprus EU negotiator to visit Brussels on Monday

NICOSIA, 19/03/2001 (CNA/ANA)

During his stay in Brussels, Vassiliou will meet EU Foreign Common Policy High Representative Javier Solana as well as Commissioner for Foreign Relations Chris Patten and Education and Culture Commissioner Vivienne Redding.

Vassiliou, a former Republic President, has been carrying out the talks since they opened in 1998.

Cyprus is considered to lead in the process of adopting the European laws and regulations and has already closed 17 of the 29 chapters of the aquis communautaire.

The European Parliament Committee organizes such meetings to exchange views with candidate states. The EU Chief Negotiator also participates.

[16] Cyprus finance minister underlines government's will to combat money-laundering

NICOSIA, 19/03/2001 (CNA/ANA)

In his meeting with William Ryback, Associate Director for Banking Supervision and other officers of the US Federal Reserve Bank, the Minister discussed issues relating to money laundering and the Republic's cooperation with the Yugoslav authorities.

Klerides discussed trade between the two countries and Cyprus' European Union accession course with Assistant US Trade Representative for European and Middle Eastern Affairs, Catheryn Novelli.

On Yugoslavia's hunt for hidden accounts belonging to former President Slobodan Milosevic, the Cypriot Minister said there is close cooperation with the Yugoslav authorities and noted this was pointed out by the Governor of the country's Central Bank Mladjan Dinkic, who said during a visit to the island this week that Cyprus is the first country to offer specific cooperation.

He said that no concrete information emerged during Dinkic's visit that could link institutions on the island with Milosevic.

The Finance Minister also said Cyprus advised the Yugoslav authorities that any information they have must be channeled through the International Tribunal in the Hague, with which the Republic is cooperating, or they have to report it to the Economic Crime Investigating Unit.

In his meetings, the Finance Minister also referred to Cyprus' good economic development, noting in particular the low inflation and unemployment figures and the decrease in public deficit.

With regard to the Republic's European Union accession talks, that opened in 1998, he said 17 of the 29 chapters have been closed and Cyprus along with Slovenia are leading the other candidate countries in adopting the Union rules and regulations.

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