Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 01-04-09

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

CONTENTS

[01] Karamanlis leaves open possibility for cooperation with Avramopoulos

[02] Greek foreign ministry denies that Greek aid to Turkey was discussed in bilateral meeting

[03] Greek defense minister addresses round table on economic, social development

[04] "Eurofighter" contract may be delayed, deputy defense minister says

[05] Latest opinion poll gauges voters' preferences

[06] President Stephanopoulos attends celebrations at Mesolonghi

[07] Greek cultural creation to participate in Cultural Olympiad with 'Culture State'

[08] Greece to organize Biennale of Europe's New Creators in 2003

[09] Supreme court prosecutor is said to deny retrial of journalist involved in Polk affair

[10] Memorial services held at WWII-era border fortresses

[11] Kasoulides calls on the US to maintain its interest in solving the Cyprus problem

[12] Austrian foreign minister begins official visit Tuesday

[13] Turkish proposal on executing European Court of Human Rights decision to be debated this month

[01] Karamanlis leaves open possibility for cooperation with Avramopoulos

Athens, 09/04/2001 (ANA)

In an interview published by an Athens paper on Sunday, Karamanlis specifies, however, that any future cooperation between his main opposition party and the former career diplomat depends on the latters acceptance of NDs political planks and commitments.

Additionally, he ruled out any post-election cooperation with Avramopoulos party, dubbed the Movement of Free Citizens and known by its Greek acronym of KEP. Along those lines, Karamanlis stressed that his party avidly favors strong and autonomous governments as resulting from national elections.

Mr. Avramopoulos made his choices, which will be judged by the Greek people, Karamanlis was quoted as saying by the Apogevmatini daily.

Referring to another one-time top ND cadre who left the main opposition party to found his own political formation, ex-minister Stephanos Manos, Karamanlis spoke of closer cooperation with the latter. Manos created the neo-liberal formation Liberals Party after falling out with NDs leadership over a controversial public sector reform bill tabled by the PASOK government, legislation Manos publicly favored at the time.

Referring to the recent rapprochement between ND and popular Larissa politician and former minister George Souflias who returned to ND in a high-publicized appearance at the main opposition partys congress last weekend Karamanlis said the development lifted a weight off his chest.

Concerning the opposition strategy followed by his party, the ND leader emphasized that ND isnt engaging in a loyal opposition from the couch; nor one from the streets. Greek citizens cannot tolerate shouting, they want points of argument and clear-cut positions.

In a sharp criticism of the governments recent decision announcing cutbacks in defense allocations in favor of social spending for at least the next three-year period, Karamanlis charged that the so-called packages dolled out by Mr. Simitis are empty.

He also claimed Prime Minister Costas Simitis was using Third World dilemmas, such as arms versus social spending, as a smoke screen to plug various fiscal black holes, while calling the state budget fake and showing a deficit.

Finally, Karamanlis announced that he would visit the capitals of other Balkan states after Easter as part of a European Peoples Party (EPP) initiative.

[02] Greek foreign ministry denies that Greek aid to Turkey was discussed in bilateral meeting

Athens, 09/04/2001 (ANA)

"Reports on the Turkish press are false, regarding the talks of the two ministers, they are not true and they raise questions regarding the purpose they serve," a foreign ministry press release said.

"During the meeting, (the two ministers) discussed the possibilities of economic cooperation between the two countries, on the basis of the agreements that have been signed and there was a briefing on the domestic economic condition of Turkey," the press release concluded.

[03] Greek defense minister addresses round table on economic, social development

BELGRADE, 09/04/2001 (ANA - M. Mouratidis)

The round table discussion was organized by the European Socialist Party, the European Forum for Democracy and Solidarity, the foundations FES, Westminster, Renner and the Institute of Strategic and Development Studies Andreas Papandreou (ISTAME).

[04] "Eurofighter" contract may be delayed, deputy defense minister says

Athens, 09/04/2001 (ANA)

"It is a government decision, it is an issue of the collective body to decide what will transpire," Apostolakis said, in the wake of a inner cabinet decision to look into defense spending cuts that may include the "Eurofighter" contract, which is estimated to worth more than a trillion drachmas.

[05] Latest opinion poll gauges voters' preferences

Athens, 09/04/2001 (ANA)

Ruling PASOK polled 26.7 percent, whereas the newly created "Movement of Free Citizens" -- founded by Athens Mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos -- garnered a surprising 12.7 share of those responding.

Results were published in the "Sunday Eleftherotypia" newspaper.

Additionally, the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) was given 4.4 percent, while the Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) polled 2.8 percent of those responding - a figure which if recorded during national elections would leave it outside Parliament. Both KKE and Synaspismos are currently represented in Parliament.

The small DHKKI party, which failed to poll more than 3 percent of the national vote needed for Parliament representation in last year's April 9 elections, apparently continued its slide, with the "Eleftherotypia" poll giving it only 1.7 percent of the vote.

Finally, 3.3 percent of those polled said they would vote for another party, 4.5 preferred a "blank vote", 4 percent "didn't know" and 8.1 percent of respondents refused to answer.

[06] President Stephanopoulos attends celebrations at Mesolonghi

Athens, 09/04/2001 (ANA)

Speaking to reporters at the end of events, Stephanopoulos said the anniversary does not remind of past glory and great sacrifice alone, it also shows a way which we should and can remember what happened in the town and in the region in those past times.

Press and Media Minister Dimitris Reppas and the main opposition New Democracy party by former Prime Minister Tzannis Tzannetakis represented the government at the event.

[07] Greek cultural creation to participate in Cultural Olympiad with 'Culture State'

Athens, 09/04/2001 (ANA)

The 'Culture State' will be composed of 11 cultural agency networks in each sector, including cultural organization and management, theatre, music, dancing, cinema, books and archaeological sites and monuments.

The cultural networks are called on to develop cooperation and to create "a cultural movement to help people become familiarized with culture," Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos said during the conference.

[08] Greece to organize Biennale of Europe's New Creators in 2003

ROME,09/04/2001 (ANA - L. Hatzikyriakos)

The decision was announced by New Generation secretary general George Sakellion who, heading a delegation, outlined Greece's bid to the committee. Expressing his satisfaction he said the Greek file was complete, full and better than any other country's.

The Biennale will be taking place in Greece for the second time (it had taken place in Thessaloniki in 1986), it will be inaugurated in Athens in September, 2003, and will cost two billion drachmas.

[09] Supreme court prosecutor is said to deny retrial of journalist involved in Polk affair

Athens, 09/04/2001 (ANA)

According to the same sources, the proposal of the prosecutor notes that no new evidence has surfaced, which would warrant a new trial, as was requested by a petition of Staktopoulos' widow Theodora.

After Greece's liberation in 1944, Staktopoulos worked for the Thessaloniki daily "Macedonia" until October 1948 when he was accused of being an accomplice in the murder of American journalist George Polk, who went to the northern Greek capital during the civil war to interview Markos Vafiades, head of the then Communist-led "Democratic Army".

Polk's body was fished out of Thessaloniki bay a few days later.

In April 1949, a Thessaloniki criminal court sentenced Staktopoulos to life imprisonment, but his sentence was reduced twice and was set free, under certain conditions, in 1960.

[10] Memorial services held at WWII-era border fortresses

Athens, 09/04/2001 (ANA)

Wreaths were laid and a roll call of the fallen was read out during memorial services at the Lisse, Rupel and Nymphaio bunkers, the sites of bloody warfare in April 1941 between defending Greek forces and the Wehrmacht on the Greek-Bulgarian border.

[11] Kasoulides calls on the US to maintain its interest in solving the Cyprus problem

NICOSIA, 09/04/2001 (CNA/ANA)

In an interview with CNN International, Kasoulides also said the Cypriot authorities are on a money trail of Yugoslav funds, which is also being tracked by Belgrade, adding that Nicosia is ready to cooperate with any international or national authority to track down any illegal transactions.

Invited to outline what the Bush administration can do with regard to Cyprus, Kasoulides said, "my advice to them is to continue with the priority that was given to this case (Cyprus question) and attach a particular importance to the EU member-ship of Cyprus which may have a catalytic effect on the efforts to solve the problem."

EU membership, he said, would be a way to contain the problem and preserve the present detente and rapprochement existing between Greece and Turkey.

Referring to his contacts in the US, the minister said he would be meeting Secretary of State Colin Powell and National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice on Monday to discuss "issues concerning the efforts to find a settlement in Cyprus, in connection with the pending decision by 2002, of the EU for the accession of Cyprus and therefore the necessity that a solution is found by then."

If there is no solution by that time, Kasoulides said, "Cyprus will have to be admitted into the EU without a settlement."

UN-led proximity talks, which started in December 1999, were unceremoniously interrupted by Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash who, backed by Ankara, refused to return to the negotiating table in late January, declaring the talks dead.

He now demands what he calls state-to-state negotiations in a bid to gain international recognition of his self-styled regime in Turkish occupied Cyprus. Denktash has repeatedly aired his opposition to Cyprus' application to EU accession and threatens with action if the Republic joins prior to a political settlement.

Questioned on allegations that former Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic was channeling funds through Cyprus, Kasoulides said Cyprus is providing all requested information to Belgrade and to the International Tribunal of War Crimes in former Yugoslavia at The Hague to help establish the facts.

"What we are looking at is a money trail, which is also being tracked by Belgrade," Kasoulides said, adding that comparing notes with Belgrade is set to reveal whether any theft or fraud has been committed.

Asked to comment on allegations that Cyprus is a transit point for ill-gotten gains or for people conducting schemes in third-party countries, the minister said that Cyprus has always said that it was prepared to cooperate with any international or other national authority, competent authority or law enforcement authority in tracking down any illegal transactions.

"What Cyprus has been monitoring so far in the evidence that we had was not appearing to be suspicious," he said.

Kasoulides has been in the US for the past six days for a series of meetings with US administration officials and others.

The minister met Saturday with US State Department Special Coordinator for Cyprus Thomas Weston.

[12] Austrian foreign minister begins official visit Tuesday

NICOSIA, 09/04/2001 (CNA/ANA)

She will be received by President Glafcos Clerides, meet House President Spyros Kyprianou, chief negotiator with the European Union George Vassiliou and meet Austrians serving with the UN peace-keeping force in Cyprus.

Talks are expected to focus on developments in the Cyprus question, the Republic's efforts to join the European Union and bilateral issues.

Ferrero-Waldner will visit archaeological sites and attend Easter Mass at Saint Theodoros Cathedral in Paphos. She leaves on Tuesday, 17 April.

[13] Turkish proposal on executing European Court of Human Rights decision to be debated this month

NICOSIA,09/04/2001 (CNA/ANA)

Diplomatic sources in Nicosia and Athens consider the terms set out in the proposal "unacceptable" in that they link the execution of the judgment to a solution of the Cyprus question.

The Committee met on Thursday with a view to discuss the draft text of a third, more stringent, interim resolution on the case of Greek Cypriot Titina Loizidou against Turkey, which put forward its proposal in what appears to be delaying tactics.

The draft resolution as well as the proposal are due to be debated in two weeks' time, after several representatives said they needed time to study Ankara's proposal.

Turkey's representative said payment would be made but under certain conditions. The proposal is said to suggest payment to Loizidou once the Cyprus problem is resolved.

Loizidou challenged Turkey's continuing occupation of Cyprus' northern areas since 1974, prohibiting her from peacefully enjoying and using her property in Turkish occupied Cyprus, in contravention of the European Convention of Human Rights.

The Court ruled that Turkey, through the large presence of her troops on the island, exercises effective overall control in occupied Cyprus, which entails responsibility for the policies and actions of the self-styled Turkish Cypriot regime.

The Court described the regime as a subordinate local administration to Turkey and said Loizidou is and must be regarded as the legal owner of her property and ordered Ankara to pay some 900,000 US dollars in compensation.

The draft resolution is said to call on Turkey to comply without any further delay with the Court judgment.

The second interim resolution of July last year "deeply deplored the fact that Turkey has still not complied with its obligations under the judgment" and said Turkey's refusal to execute the judgment "demonstrates a manifest disregard for its international obligations."

The first resolution of October 1999 "strongly urges Turkey to review its position and pay the just satisfaction" awarded in accordance with the Court decision.

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