Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 01-04-23

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greece supports initiatives for Turkey's economic stability, Papantoniou says

[02] EU national economy ministers express concern over negative economic developments in US

[03] PASOK delegation meets with Syrian leadership

[04] Labor ministry circular says new social security measures do not concern current pensioners

[05] Communists organize march in Thessaloniki in memory of junta victims

[06] Naval exercise to take place in various parts of the Aegean between April 24-27

[07] Israelite community in Thessaloniki honors memory of 50,000 Jews killed in Nazi concentration camps

[08] President Stephanopoulos attends events commemorating Greek Revolution hero

[09] Professor calls on US to acknowledge Armenian genocide

[10] ND leader inaugurates book exhibition on 'Globalization and Books'

[11] Makeshift firebomb explodes outside Patriarchate bureau in Athens

[12] Cyprus ready to present economic program of convergence with the EU

[13] President says Ankara's stance will have consequences on its EU course

[01] Greece supports initiatives for Turkey's economic stability, Papantoniou says

MALMO, 23/04/2001 (ANA - Y. Zitouniati)

Papantoniou said "Greece supports international initiatives which promote economic stability in Turkey and, consequently, agrees with the provision of additional economic aid decided by the Council to support the restructuring program for the Turkish economy which has been prepared by the government in Ankara."

Special aid to be given to Turkey by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank will amount to about 10 billion drachmas.

Speaking to reporters on the European Commission's predictions that the slowdown in the economy of the US will not substantively effect the growth rate in the euro zone in 2001, Papantoniou said Greece is the country which will have the smallest repercussions possible, compared to the remaining 11 countries of the euro group, as a result of the US economy's slowdown, adding that it continues to be a little below but close to the initial target of a 5 percent growth rate.

Papantoniou said that during the evaluation of economic developments, alternative approaches to the issue did not arise, neither from the European Commission nor the European Bank, while most ministers referred in their addresses primarily to economic developments in their countries.

On the question of energy taxation, Papantoniou said Greece's position is that the processing of the relevant directive can continue, but issues concerning Greek competitiveness should be taken into serious consideration.

"Greece will not accept settlements which will aggravate the competitiveness of Greek industry and the Greek economy," he said, adding that in any case these settlements will be delayed and no decision is looming, at least in the short term.

"It is a long-term plan which has a record of many years and the feeling I have is that it will continue to be discussed for many years to come," he added.

The first step towards dialogue, at economic level, with candidate countries, including Cyprus and Turkey, was taken here on the issue of monitoring their economic development and promoting their nominal and real convergence with EU countries in light of enlargement.

Cyprus was represented by Finance Minister Takis Klerides who said in a statement that the first meeting of finance ministers from candidate countries with their 15 future counterparts, as well as the separate one between the 13 candidate countries which followed, were very useful and will be continued on a regular basis.

[02] EU national economy ministers express concern over negative economic developments in US

MALMO, 23/04/2001 (ANA - Y. Zitouniati)

EU national economy and finance ministers, together with the governors of EU state banks attending the informal ECOFIN Council here, expressed concern in the wake of negative developments in the US but took no specific measures.

"We did not discuss the adjustment of European interest rates," European Central Bank Governor Vim Duisenberg told a press conference, while the Swedish chairman said it is difficult to assess the negative trend in the economy of the US, without ruling out a further slowdown in US growth rates.

On the question of direct taxes, the discussion focused on the taxation of businesses and pensions, while the Council also underlined the great importance of member-states' harmonization in energy taxation, both for the appropriate functioning of the unified market and the improvement of the environment.

The Council was attended for the first time by the finance ministers and central bank governors of candidate countries, including Cyprus and Turkey, which requested special economic aid to help it meet the needs of its economic crisis.

[03] PASOK delegation meets with Syrian leadership

DAMASCUS, 23/04/2001 (ANA - P. Dimitropoulos)

The PASOK delegation, headed by Secretary Costas Skandalidis, met with ruling Baath party Secretary Abdallah al Ahmar and with Syrian government vice-president Abd al-Halim ibn Said Khaddam.

In comments to reporters after the talks, Skandalidis noted that Athens' presence in the Mideast over the past decade did in fact pale in comparison to the past, mainly because of the country's commitments to meet certain crucial European Union goals - especially Economic Monetary Union (EMU) and subsequent inclusion into the "euro-zone".

"We hope that our meeting will mark an opportunity to upgrade our bilateral relations," the PASOK secretary said, adding that Athens is again aiming to reinvigorate its presence in the Mideast.

He also reiterated Greece's standing position in favor of a peaceful resolution to the region's problems within the framework of International Law, while voicing support for an independent and free Palestinian state.

Skandalidis later met with the Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch Ignatius at the latter's ecclesiastical seat in Damascus, as well as representatives of the ethnic Greek community in the country.

The PASOK delegation next travels to Lebanon for talks with Lebanese President Emile Lahud as well as the leadership of the Lebanese Socialist Party, including its leader Walid Joumblatt.

[04] Labor ministry circular says new social security measures do not concern current pensioners

Athens, 23/04/2001 (ANA)

Among others, the circular says the new measures do not concern present-day pensioners and they also do not concern all insured people who will have the right to a pension by December 31, 2006. They will be pensioned off according to legislation existing at present.

The new proposal, it was added, concerns all the insured with all insurance funds without exception, without distinguishing between those insured before and after 1993, and without distinction between men and women having the right to a pension as of January 1, 2007.

According to the labor ministry, the transition from the old to the new system will take place with transitional phases and over a long period of time, while the gradual increase in age limits up to the age of 65 will take effect as of January 1, 2007 and will take place with the addition of six months every year.

KKE leader says party will not participate in dialogue on social security: Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Secretary General Aleka Papariga, in an interview with the state NET TV channel on Sunday, said there was no basis for dialogue with the government on the social security issue, adding that in this sense her party would not participate in neither a social nor a political dialogue of any kind.

"It is not a bill facing problems, in which case we can discuss and say our views, but a bill which is rejected 100 percent as an intention, as a handling and as a strategy," she said.

Papariga said KKE would like all the Greek people to be vigilant and not only to prevent the bill from going through but to reverse this policy radically as well.

Referring to the possibility of cooperation with other parties, she said "when we say cooperation we mean at a social and political level together. Cooperation between parties should be based on a certain summit agreement level."

Coalition of the Left leader accuses government of double standards in social security policy: Coalition of the Left and Progress leader Nikos Constantopoulos on Saturday accused the government of applying double standards in social security policy, saying double standards confirm the expediencies and ruthlessness of government policy.

Constantopoulos, who was speaking at a press conference in Volos, eastern Greece, said "it is provocative and inconceivable for Parliamentary deputies to be excluded from the government's measures."

He said the government will be firm with low pension earners, of course, and pondered whether it will do the same with Parliamentarians.

"No Parliament has the moral right and the social legitimacy to ratify such measures on the social security system, unless it takes a decision on the pensions of Parliamentary deputies first," he said.

[05] Communists organize march in Thessaloniki in memory of junta victims

Athens, 23/04/2001 (ANA)

The march started from the party's local offices and ended in front of the building used to house political detainees, where wreaths were laid and a minute's silence was observed in memory of the junta's victims.

The march also included members of the Solidarity Committee for political prisoners in Turkey and Kurdistan, who were protesting the use of F-type prisons for political prisoners in Turkey.

[06] Naval exercise to take place in various parts of the Aegean between April 24-27

Athens, 23/04/2001 (ANA)

During the ships' crossing from the Saronic Gulf region, a memorial service will be held on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the sinking of Greek ships by the German air force and honors will be bestowed on crewmembers that sacrificed their lives in the line of duty.

[07] Israelite community in Thessaloniki honors memory of 50,000 Jews killed in Nazi concentration camps

Athens, 23/04/2001 (ANA)

Minister of Macedonia and Thrace George Paschalidis, Parliamentarians and city representatives attended the event.

Paschalidis said in his address "the Jewish Holocaust condenses the inconceivability of all acts and crimes against humanity" and added that no theory can legitimize such acts.

National Defense Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos stressed in a letter that the people of Thessaloniki will always honor the memory of the city's 50,000 Jews and expressed the wish that no people will ever again experience such tragedies.

The President of the Israelite community of Thessaloniki Andreas Sefiha said in his address it is a day of memory for the bleak events which took place 58 years ago when 96 percent of the city's Jewish population was exterminated, since out of the city's 50,000 Jews only 1,950 returned after the tragedy was over.

Archbishop Christodoulos attends service for Jewish Holocaust victims: Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Christodoulos on Sunday attended a memorial service at an Athens cemetery for the Jewish victims of the Holocaust during WWII, along with representatives from the country's political world.

The Primate of the Greek Church, among others, addressed the service, where he also made an indirect reference to the issue of listing of religious affiliation on state-issued identification cards.

"We have our religion as our banner, in front of us. We should not be ashamed of saying that we are Orthodox Christians, or you saying you are Jews ... there are no greater roots than religion. If we cast out (religion) then we will be worthy of our fate, and we will not have the right to conduct such services."

The Jewish community of the Greek capital organized the memorial service at the Athens Third Cemetery, which houses the Jewish Cemetery.

[08] President Stephanopoulos attends events commemorating Greek Revolution hero

Athens, 23/04/2001 (ANA)

Stephanopoulos attended a church service at the Agios Nikolaos Cathedral and then went to the town square where he was proclaimed an honorary citizen.

Stephanopoulos also visited the area where, according to tradition, Karaiskakis was born in a cave

[09] Professor calls on US to acknowledge Armenian genocide

Athens, 23/04/2001 (ANA)

In his address on "The Armenian genocide and American foreign policy", he said the genocide of the Armenians influenced American public opinion, but 86 years later the US, following the policy of "equal distances", use such expressions as "so-called genocide" or "allegations" of genocide when referring to the 1915 tragedy.

National Defense Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos stressed in his message of greetings that recognizing the genocide "is not an action of hatred and should not be considered as raising walls between peoples. On the contrary, they build bridges of friendship and cooperation with peoples with the criterion of historical truth and build walls against policies causing genocides."

[10] ND leader inaugurates book exhibition on 'Globalization and Books'

Athens, 23/04/2001 (ANA)

Addressing the event, Karamanlis said that at this transitional stage the state has the obligation and duty to support a national policy on books and "marry" technological development with tradition.

Athens Mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos in a message expressed certainty that the century coming will be the century of books.

[11] Makeshift firebomb explodes outside Patriarchate bureau in Athens

Athens, 23/04/2001 (ANA)

According to reports, an anonymous caller later called the Athens daily 'Eleftherotypia' to claim responsibility for the attack, saying it was the work of the shadowy self-styled anarchist group "anti-state struggle".

No injuries were reported from the blast, only material damages from a resulting fire at the two-story building's entrance -- located in the upscale central Athens district of Kolonaki.

The incident was recorded at around 3:30 p.m. local time, while authorities said the device was comprised of small cooking gas canisters.

The Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople is based in Istanbul, Turkey.

Government condemns: Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas on Sunday condemned the firebomb attack at the Ecumenical Patriarchate's offices in Athens earlier in the day.

"We condemn the terrorist attack at the Ecumenical Patriarchate's representation offices in Athens with abhorrence. This hideous act is directed against Hellenism in its entirety and for which the Istanbul Patriarchate constitutes a spiritual peak," he said.

Reppas further said "Greek citizens are confronting these forces in a unanimous and determined way, which are attempting to promote such undemocratic and anti-Greek designs."

[12] Cyprus ready to present economic program of convergence with the EU

NICOSIA, 23/04/2001 (CNA/ANA)

Speaking to CNA from Sweden on Sunday, Klerides said most candidate states face similar problems and that Cyprus is ready to present an economic program of convergence with the EU aquis communautaire (laws and regulations) by the end of this month.

"As the time of accession approaches the need for an exchange of views between the EU and the candidate states becomes stronger," he said.

The Cyprus Republic is among the six countries that opened accession talks with the EU in 1998 and is considered to be doing very well in the harmonization process.

The EU ministers and bankers met to discuss the world economy and for the first time sat around the same table to talk with their counterparts from the 13 candidate states.

[13] President says Ankara's stance will have consequences on its EU course

NICOSIA, 23/04/2001 (CNA/ANA)

President Clerides was speaking at a press conference in Cairo on Friday after wrapping up his private visit to Egypt with a meeting with the country's Prime Minister Atef Ebeid, during which they discussed the further development of cooperation between the two countries and Cyprus' role as a bridge connecting Europe to this region, according to an official press release issued on Saturday.

Replying to claims by a Turkish journalist that Ankara wants peace, the president wondered: "If they really want peace then why do they refuse to return to the peace negotiations".

After five rounds of proximity talks that started in December 1999, Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, with Ankara's full backing, announced he will no longer participate unless the illegal regime in the areas of Cyprus occupied by Turkey since 1974 is recognized and there is a change in the format followed.

President Clerides said the Turkish side's stance and its unacceptable demands, that are not in line with UN resolutions stipulating for the establishment of a bizonal, bicommunal federation, have brought the Cyprus peace effort "to a standstill".

On the Republic's EU accession course he said Cyprus is included in the first wave of countries expected to join and recalled the conclusions reached in Helsinki in December 1999 that Cyprus could become a member of the 15-member block even if a settlement is not reached.

Invited to comment on statements made by Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, in the Turkish occupied areas of Cyprus last week, regarding the Republic's EU accession, President Clerides said that "if they constitute a threat we are not afraid."

"If they aim at changing the EU's stance towards Cyprus the only thing they could achieve is to bring about a change in Europe's position towards Turkey herself," he added.

During his illegal visit Cem had said Cyprus' accession to the EU would be a "Pyrrhic victory" and claimed it would bring new suffering to the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities.

Replying to a question on Cyprus' position on the Palestinian issue, President Clerides expressed support to an immediate settlement through unconditional negotiations, pointing out that this is what Cyprus wants for itself.

We support the Palestinians right to have their own independent state, he added.

Referring to his six-day stay in Egypt, he said that even though it was a private visit he had useful talks with the President, the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister which covered a number of bilateral, regional and international issues.

According to an official announcement, in their meeting Friday President Clerides briefed the Egyptian Premier on the Cyprus issue and the Republic's course for EU accession, underlining the role Cyprus will have as a bridge connecting Europe with Egypt and the region.

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