Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 01-06-22

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

CONTENTS

[01] PASOK party congress dates moved up to October

[02] FM spokesman reiterates Greece's willingness to participate in FYROM peace force

[03] FYROM president says Greece makes most important investments in country

[04] Greek and Turkish FMs to meet on the weekend on Samos island

[05] Greek envoy: Athens-Belgrade ties upgraded

[06] Belgian royal couple visits royal tombs at Vergina before flying home

[07] Russian President Putin to visit Greece in December

[08] Cyprus has highest purchasing power among EU candidate countries

[09] New Cyprus House speaker to visit Athens July 4

[10] Burns on Crete for brief holiday

[11] DM says Navy's shipbuilding program budgeted at 830 billion drachmas

[12] Athens sends demand for Parthenon Marbles' return to new UK gov't

[13] Israeli security forces arrest two Palestinians in connection to the murder of priest

[14] Kaklamanis to attend conference on abolishing the death penalty

[15] International Communist party conference in Athens on Friday

[16] Cyprus, Aegean and Thrace journalists meet in Evros, Rodopi prefecture

[17] Greece has one of lowest employment levels in

[18] Finance minister says ASE comparable to other developed stock exchanges in EU

[19] Phone nos. to gain digits in phased change to boost capacity

[20] Greece unveils ambitious transports program

[21] OA's technicians to strike on Tuesday

[22] Greece announces ban on use of food scraps as animal feed

[23] OTE appoints CEO to Armentel

[24] Shipbrokers hold global forum in Athens

[25] ETBAbank's governor says ASE "extremely undervalued"

[26] Hellenic Telecoms to buy back stock in July-September

[27] Three Greeks on Forbes Global billionaires list, due out on Monday

[28] Greek stocks plunge to three-year lows

[29] Composer to receive title of Knight of the Order of the Legion of Honor

[30] Concert revenues to be used for building oncological paediatric hospital

[31] 'Year of Socrates' events in Athens, Delphi next month

[32] Events leading up to 7th Symi Festival

[33] Anti-drug march in Athens for international Day against Drugs

[34] Ancient graves and an ancient road found near site slated for Athens 2004 Olympic Games

[35] EU official says Cyprus will close seven remaining chapters by first half of 2002

[36] Spokesman comments on reports for the resumption of talks

[01] PASOK party congress dates moved up to October

Athens, 22/06/2001 (ANA)

Simitis made the announcement himself, justifying the change in the congress because of a need for a strong government, which will be able to confront the problems of the country.

Simitis will present the EB's decision to a Central Committee meeting on July 13-14 for final approval.

Simitis admitted that the government cannot function effectively due to the prevailing uncertainty and for this reason he decided to seek recourse in moving up the dates of the congress in efforts to resolve the political problems that have caused this uncertainty.

"The uncertainty over PASOK's will to confront the problems of the country is prevailing, that is on whether it can handle crisis. The current political situation is to the detriment of the country and for this reason there is a need for a clear-cut solution. The country needs a strong and effective government," Simitis said.

The prime minister also said that the current situation is based on several factors, such as the handling of the social security issue, the different approaches of party officials to the economic course of the country and the continual doubting of the governmental work from "all those that are against the modernization of the country".

These factors lead, Simitis said, to the current conditions and the continual crisis of politics.

"We all agreed in the Executive Bureau that there should be a quick and effective solution. For this reason the process of the congress is being moved up," Simitis said.

He stressed that the congress will be one of cohesion, unity and victory, adding that the general elections for parliament will be held at the end of the four-year government term, while local elections next year and the EU Greek presidency in 2003 are intermediate aims.

He finally predicted that PASOK would come ahead.

Initially the congress was scheduled for March, but recent polls, which showed a sharp decline in the public's support for the government party and conflicts between the government and trade unions over structural changes in Greece's economy led to a slow down in the government's planned projects.

The PASOK Executive Bureau will meet again on Wednesday to discuss procedural issues, which must be resolved in light of the congress, thus there may be a postponement of the planned premier's visit to China, press sources said.

Gov't spokesman rules out prospect of cabinet reshuffle: Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas on Thursday ruled out all prospects of a cabinet re-shuffle, saying that no one on Prime Minister Costas Simitis' team had either proposed or claimed the opposite.

Earlier on Thursday, Defense Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos had said that decisions on a re-shuffle or change of policy "would arise through the conditions of the time."

Tsohatzopoulos was answering questions related to a recent MRB poll that showed main opposition New Democracy to have a comfortable lead over PASOK in voter preference.

Questions on the MRB poll were also made to Development Minister Nikos Christodoulakis, who accused ND of exercising a 'putting an embargo on the positions it has proposed' and trying to preserve its advantage through silence.

The two ministers made the statements at the Skaramanga Shipyards, where they attended ceremonies for the building of a Navy vessel and to lay the foundation stone of a submarine factory.

ND spokesman says government in deep crisis, premier has lost control: Main opposition New Democracy party spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos said on Thursday the government was in a deep crisis and Prime Minister Costas Simitis has lost control.

Commenting on statements made by Simitis after his ruling PASOK party's Executive Bureau decision to move up to October the party's congress, Roussopoulos said the prime minister's "public confession that he is being doubted by party cadres is unprecedented".

Roussopoulos said that, in essence, the prime minister "confessed today his inability to rule", adding that "he confirmed that he himself and his government are cut off from society and the country's problems."

He also said the prime minister "even today is incapable of receiving the message being sent to him by Greek society. The country's problems demand political will and radical solutions. They cannot be resolved through in-party balances and special congresses."

In a similar announcement, the Coalition of the Left and Progress said decisions taken by PASOK's Executive Bureau "reveal the deadlocks of government policy and conservative insistence on the same choices."

"In essence, Mr. Simitis admits inability in the country's governance. And yet, once again, what is to blame according to Mr. Simitis is communication propaganda, as well as the external enemies of his false modernization and in party rivals," the announcement added.

[02] FM spokesman reiterates Greece's willingness to participate in FYROM peace force

Athens, 22/06/2001 (ANA)

Beglitis said discussions have not yet been completed and the dispatch of the peacekeeping force is also linked to the course of political dialogue in Skopje.

He added that this development is anything but positive at the moment since the dialogue has been led to deadlock.

He went on to say that for NATO and the European Union, the positive development of this dialogue, primarily on issues concerning the ceasefire and disarmament are also linked to the sending of the peacekeeping force.

Beglitis disclosed that Foreign Minister George Papandreou had a telephone conversation with EU High Representative Javier Solana on Wednesday, who is expected in FYROM on Friday for a series of new contacts with political party leaders and President Boris Trajkovski, in an effort to give dialogue a new impetus.

Referring to Albanian demands considered excessive by President Trajkovski, the foreign ministry spokesman, invoking information from Skopje, the EU and NATO, said that in the framework of the discussion the issue of the recognition of a state with two ethnic groups was raised.

He said that in other words it meant organizing a federal model in FYROM, which is not acceptable by the political forces of the "Slav Macedonians."

Beglitis said the EU's position is clear on this issue. It supports dialogue in the direction of political and constitutional reforms for the creation of a multinational state in Skopje with respect for human and minority rights. He added that the EU is negative regarding the participation of Albanian extremists in dialogue.

Beglitis further said that countries expressing willingness so far to participate in the peacekeeping force are France, Britain, Italy, Poland, the Czech Republic, the United States, and, of course, Greece and Turkey.

He clarified that the peacekeeping force is an ad hoc peaceke-0eping force aiming at supervising the ceasefire and contributing to the disarming of paramilitary organizations and the extremist forces of the Albanians.

[03] FYROM president says Greece makes most important investments in country

ISTANBUL, 22/06/2001 (ANA - A. Kourkoulas)

Trajkovski, in an interview with the newspaper "Radikal", said "Germany and the U.S. make considerable investments, but the most important investments are made by Greece."

He said past problems in relations between his country and Greece do not have a negative impact on economic relations between the two countries.

Trajkovski went on to say that Turkey's presence in FYROM is lacking in relation to Greece's presence and noted that "Turkey's presence in FYROM is not in accordance with its 'displacement'."

"There is no difference of views between Ankara and Skopje," Trajkovski said and stressed that Turkey's economic presence is "lacking."

[04] Greek and Turkish FMs to meet on the weekend on Samos island

Athens, 22/06/2001 (ANA)

Local administrators and representatives of trade and industrial chambers of the two countries will be present at the meetings, which will aim at bringing closer the Greek and Turkish business communities, in efforts to materialize the content of the recent bilateral agreements in support of the business community and bilateral trade.

[05] Greek envoy: Athens-Belgrade ties upgraded

BELGRADE, 22/06/2001 (ANA - M. Mouratidis)

In an interview published by a local weekly newspaper, Greek ambassador Mihalis Spinellis stressed that the previous Belgrade government under Slobodan Milosevic liked to promote, "for propaganda reasons", its good relations with Athens.

"But it (the Milosevic regime) never took into consideration Greece's warnings that Yugoslavia proceed with democratization, a free mass media as well as honest and democratic elections."

Regarding the situation in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Spinellis reiterated Athens' position that the land-locked republic can emerge from the ongoing crisis as a stable country with its territorial integrity safeguarded. He also emphasized Greece's standing view over the inviolability of borders in the strife-torn Balkans.

[06] Belgian royal couple visits royal tombs at Vergina before flying home

Athens, 22/06/2001 (ANA)

The royal couple showed great interest in the findings and in details of the lives of Macedonian kings. They also visited workshops where findings are being preserved and examined some of them.

Returning to Thessaloniki, northern Greece, they were given a guided tour of the city's monuments such as the White Tower, Agios Dimitrios Cathedral and Byzantine castles.

At noon, Minister of Macedonia and Thrace George Paschalidis hosted a dinner in honor of the royal couple.

Addressing the minister, King Albert praised the role played by Thessaloniki and northern Greece in the effort to achieve the economic development and convergence of southeastern Europe, saying that this role has been recognized by the European Union.

[07] Russian President Putin to visit Greece in December

Athens, 22/06/2001 (ANA)

Beglitis said the Russian president would arrive in Greece either on December 6 or 8.

[08] Cyprus has highest purchasing power among EU candidate countries

BRUSSELS, 22/06/2001 (ANA – Y .Zitouniati)

The EU statistics regarding the year 2000 confirm the high standard of living in Cyprus, which is higher than that of other candidate countries, while the Cypriots' purchasing power increased especially during the last three years.

A chart issued by the European Committee shows that Cyprus' Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita reached 18500 PPU during the last year.

Greece's figure is 15000 PPU compared to an average of 7900 for candidate countries and an EU average of 22500.

Cyprus is followed at a short distance by Slovenia (16100 PPU), while other candidate countries are a long way behind.

The lowest GDP per capita appears in Bulgaria with 5400 PPU, followed by Romania with 6000 and Turkey with 6400.

[09] New Cyprus House speaker to visit Athens July 4

NICOSIA, 22/06/2001 (ANA - G. Leonidas)

According to an announcement Thursday, Christofias will hold talks with Kaklamanis and Greece's political leaders.

[10] Burns on Crete for brief holiday

Athens, 22/06/2001 (ANA)

Burns said it was a purely private visit and that he would be staying on the island for four days, during which he would tour the sights and visit various resorts.

Asked about his successor Tom Miller, Burns said Miller was "a good friend and an excellent diplomat."

[11] DM says Navy's shipbuilding program budgeted at 830 billion drachmas

Athens, 22/06/2001 (ANA)

The location where three new submarines will be built for the Greek Navy was also inaugurated.

Tsohatzopoulos said in his address that programs being implemented at the Skaramangas Shipyards amount to 830 billion drachmas.

He added that the programs concern the building of four new gunboats worth 62 billion drachmas, the building of three submarines, the total cost of which amounts to 430 billion, and the building of an additional submarine and another two gun-boats and the modernization of S-type frigates (the total cost of the programs amounting to 400 billion).

[12] Athens sends demand for Parthenon Marbles' return to new UK gov't

Athens, 22/06/2001 (ANA)

Congratulating her on her position in the new cabinet formed after the UK elections, Venizelos backed his request with arguments that the sculpted ancient frieze removed from the Parthenon, currently on display at the British Museum, was needed for the restoration of the Acropolis.

"At this crucial stage in the restoration program for the Acropolis, specifically the columns of the Parthenon, architectural elements are needed that are now in the British Museum," he wrote.

Venizelos has asked his UK counterpart to respond to his demand.

[13] Israeli security forces arrest two Palestinians in connection to the murder of priest

Athens, 22/06/2001 (ANA)

According to the press release, Ismael Daoud Hsen Radaida, 20 and Yasser Muhamed Abed Rabaya, 27 carried out the deadly attack against Father Germanos Tsibouktsakis and escaped to the Arab village of Azaria.

[14] Kaklamanis to attend conference on abolishing the death penalty

Athens, 22/06/2001 (ANA)

In his address to the conference, Kaklamanis is expected to support the abolition of the death penalty for humanitarian and correctional reasons and as a sign of respect for the value of human life and human dignity.

[15] International Communist party conference in Athens on Friday

Athens, 22/06/2001 (ANA)

So far, about 60 Communist parties from various countries have said they will be participating.

This is the fourth such meeting and its theme is 'Communists and the labor and trade union movement'. The conference is also expected to focus on issues such as the recent violent protests in Gothenburg and the situation in the Balkans.

In addition, the parties will explore ways of cooperating and joint action against multinational companies.

The conference will end on Sunday.

[16] Cyprus, Aegean and Thrace journalists meet in Evros, Rodopi prefecture

Athens, 22/06/2001 (ANA)

The meeting is organized by the cultural information societies "Posidonion of Nicosia" and "Posidonion of Thrace".

[17] Greece has one of lowest employment levels in

EU BRUSSELS, 22/06/2001 (ANA / B. Demiris)

In 2000, Greece's employment index was 55.9 percent, third from the bottom after Spain at 54.7 percent and Italy at 53.4 percent. The EU average was 63.1 percent.

The Greek index in 1999 was 55.4 percent and 55.6 percent in 1998.

The EU's target is an employment rate of 67 percent by 2005.

The Eurostat data showed that the level of vocational training was low in Greece, and that its employment rate in agriculture was the highest in the EU.

Greece also has the lowest level of salaried staff, the lowest rate of part-time workers, and one of the highest rates of joblessness among youth aged 15-24, the long-term unemployed, and first-time job seekers, Eurostat said.

[18] Finance minister says ASE comparable to other developed stock exchanges in EU

Athens, 22/06/2001 (ANA)

Referring to the Greek economy, Papantoniou said that despite negative international developments and the slowdown of the world economy the Greek economy's growth rate will exceed 4.5 percent and will be the highest in the past 25 years.

The presidents of the stock exchanges of New York, Madrid and Italy were also invited to the anniversary celebration.

ASE President Panagiotis Alexakis attributed the negative image presented by the Greek stock exchange in past months both to negative developments on the international scene and to the big transitional period required for the Greek stock exchange to pass from the developing to the developed markets.

[19] Phone nos. to gain digits in phased change to boost capacity

Athens, 22/06/2001 (ANA)

In the first phase beginning on July 8, fixed-line phone numbers will become 10-digit from the current seven digits, with the same number to be dialed in local and long-distance calls. There is no change in rates.

The new code to be added is the existing area code, plus zero, plus the subcriber's number. This will be used when dialing from nearby or from long-distance locations.

From October 2002, the first digit of the area code, or zero, will change to 2; and the starting zero of mobile phone numbers will switch to 6.

Verelis told a news conference that the new system would also allow the provision of new services to subscribers, and help harmonies fixed-line and mobile arrangements.

The National Telecoms and Post Offices Commission is to launch a publicity campaign for the changes estimated at 225 million drachmas.

[20] Greece unveils ambitious transports program

Athens, 22/06/2001 (ANA)

The program aims to significantly improve Greek citizens' living standards and to upgrade the country's transports system.

The program was presented during the opening meeting of an Operational Program Monitoring Committee in an Athens hotel.

It envisages financing railways projects, worth 1.3 trillion drachmas, with the construction of a new high-speed track linking Patras – Corinth – Athens – Thessaloniki with the Skopje borders.

Trains using the new track will be running at maximum speeds of 200 km per hour and cover the Athens-Thessaloniki distance in 3.5 hours, from 5.45 currently, and the Athens-Patras distance to 2.3 hours, from 3.30 currently.

The plan also envisages the construction of a rail track linking the Aharnes railway station with the new Athens airport at Spata.

The Transport and Communications Ministry hopes that the new project would lead to a 68 percent increase in kilometer passengers and a 332 percent rise in kilometer tones of cargo.

The ministry has also earmarked 235 billion drachmas for projects to upgrade the country's urban transport system with the purchase of new buses and electric buses and implementing a new management information system. It also plans to boost the Athens urban rail line's passenger capacity by 50 percent from 400,000 to 600,000 by 2003, through the renovation of its 23 stations and the construction of a new one.

The program also envisages projects to upgrade the facilities at the airports of Thessaloniki and Heraklion, worth 95 billion drachmas.

[21] OA's technicians to strike on Tuesday

Athens, 22/06/2001 (ANA)

In addition, air hostesses and stewards may hold a three-hour work stoppage on Monday from 0700 to 1000. The airline's management has sought a court ruling declaring the strike illegal.

Court rules OA seasonal workers' strike illegal: Anticipated problems for domestic air travel on Friday may yet fail to materialize, after an Athens court ruled that a 24-hour strike called by Olympic Airways seasonal staff for that day was illegal and abusive.

After the Thursday ruling, OA's management warned its seasonal workers that it would break their contracts and replace them with other seasonal employees on its hiring lists unless they conformed to the court's decision.

[22] Greece announces ban on use of food scraps as animal feed

Athens, 22/06/2001 (ANA)

The EU Agriculture Ministers' Council decided to extend the ban of meat meal feeds for another six months during a meeting in Luxembourg.

[23] OTE appoints CEO to Armentel

Athens, 22/06/2001 (ANA)

OTE, a heavily traded stock on the Athens bourse, has laid emphasis on seeking business in the Balkans.

[24] Shipbrokers hold global forum in Athens

Athens, 22/06/2001 (ANA)

Merchant Marine Minister Christos Papoutsis opened the meeting that focused on the role of shipbrokers in the market.

Papoutsis underlined the importance of quality services at competitive prices.

On Friday, the Hellenic Shipbrokers Association will host a gala for leading shipping officials.

[25] ETBAbank's governor says ASE "extremely undervalued"

Athens, 22/06/2001 (ANA)

Addressing the bank's annual general shareholders' meeting, Kasmas said that the Greek bourse was undermined by negative international developments and a negative sentiment among domestic investors.

Replying to strong shareholders' protests over a sharp fall in the bank's share price, Kasmas stressed that the course of a share price was determined freely by market forces and that ETBA bank's management had not responsibility.

Development Minister Nikos Christodoulakis, addressing ETBA bank's shareholders' meeting, said that a tender for non-binding bids for the privatization of the bank would begin June 25 and that a deadline for submitting bids in a tender to sell Skaramanga Shipyards would end on July 9.

Christodoulakis said the government was examining plans for ETBAbank's partnership of merger with another bank and the an Industrial Real Estate Company, to include all industrial areas in the country, would be set up in September.

Kasmas said a decision to private the bank would not hinder its operations.

ETBAbank said profits totalled 8.3 billion drachmas in the first five months of the year, from 26 billion in 2000 (reflecting 16 billion drachmas in profits from securities' transactions).

The shareholders' meeting approved a plan to pay a 100 drachmas per share dividend to shareholders.

[26] Hellenic Telecoms to buy back stock in July-September

Athens, 22/06/2001 (ANA)

The buyback to support the state-owned company's stock has a ceiling of 14,000 drachmas per share, OTE said in a statement.

Shareholders of OTE approved the move on June 29, 2000, the statement added.

[27] Three Greeks on Forbes Global billionaires list, due out on Monday

Athens, 22/06/2001 (ANA)

According to a press release, issued by Forbes Global - the British edition of the US publication - the United States features first with 271 billionaires out of 538 making the list, that also includes eight Russians, five Turks and for the first time one from New Zealand.

Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft, continues to hold the first place for the seventh consecutive year, despite the sharp downturn in hi-tech stocks, while newly elected Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi made the 29th spot on the list with a fortune estimated at 10.3 billion dollars.

Thirty seven women made the list making up only 7 per cent of the total, with Alice and Hellen Walton topping all other women on the list, with fortunes of 18.5 billion dollars each, money based on their father's founding of the Wal-Mart retail chain.

The 15th consecutive year of the drafting of the list is once again dominated by media moguls as 62 fortunes that made the list were based on media and entertainment ventures, with finance coming a close second with 61 spots on the list and hi-tech third with 57 fortunes, despite a period of turbulence in the hi-tech markets.

[28] Greek stocks plunge to three-year lows

Athens, 22/06/2001 (ANA)

Traders said the Greek bourse celebrated its 125 birthday with the sixth record-low close this year.

Telecom stocks offered support to the wider market for the second consecutive session, helping in reducing earlier sharp losses, with Cosmote, Panafon and Hellenic Telecoms scoring moderate gains.

The general index ended 0.25 percent lower at 2,799.76 points, off the day's lows of 2,788.08 points, with turnover a disappointing 149.78 million euros, or 51.04 billion drachmas.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks ended at 1,620.17 points, off 0.42 percent, the FTSE/ASE 40 index fell 0.76 percent to 319.15 points, and the FTSE/ASE SMALLCAP 80 index ended at 890.39 points, off 0.28 percent.

The parallel market index for smaller capitalization stocks ended at 266.49 points, off 0.46 percent.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 188 to 121 with another 49 issues unchanged.

Albio Holdings, Lanacam, Mouzakis, Sarandis, Desmos, Fitco, Levenderis, MLS Informatics, Tasoglou and Athenian Holdings scored the biggest percentage gains, while Zampa, Iaso, Kordelou Bros, Atemke, Minoan Lines, Informer, Karamolegos, Tzirakian and Xylemporia suffered the heaviest losses.

Sidenor, Hellenic Cables, ETEBbank, Hellenic Telecoms and Panafon were the most heavily traded stocks.

Bond prices up in brisk trade: Bond prices in the domestic secondary market on Thursday finished higher in heavy trade with players focusing on 10- and 20-year paper.

The Greek benchmark 10-year bond showed a yield of 5.41 percent, and the yield spread over German bunds was 47 basis points.

Turnover through the central bank's electronic system totalled 1.0 billion euros (357.7 billion drachmas).

Buy orders accounted for over half of turnover.

Equity futures show intra-day premium drop in edgy trade: Equity futures on the FTSE/ASE-20 traded on the Athens Derivatives Exchange posted an intra-day drop in premium on Thursday after high capitalization stocks on the main market were unable to hold onto early gains. Trade was nervous and volatile

The underlying FTSE/ASE 20 index closed 0.76 percent down, and the FTSE/ASE 40 ended 0.42 percent lower.

Traded were 9,274 contracts.

[29] Composer to receive title of Knight of the Order of the Legion of Honor

Athens, 22/06/2001 (ANA)

Papathanasiou is being honored by France for his contribution to Greek and European culture and the cultural multiformity of today's world.

According to an announcement by the French embassy, French Education Minister Jack Lang will decorate Papathanasiou at the end of the concert the composer will be giving with his sym-phonic work "Mythodia" at the Olympieion, central Athens, on Thursday June 28.

[30] Concert revenues to be used for building oncological paediatric hospital

Athens, 22/06/2001 (ANA)

The concert was held to facilitate the aims of the Society of Friends of Children with cancer "ELPIDA" (Hope).

Apart from spectators in the theatre, the performance was watched by thousands of people on a huge screen placed at Thisseion Square, as well as in France since the concert was being broadcast at the same time by the channel M6, participating in celebrations for "Music Day."

Visibly moved by the public's warm welcome, the artist said shortly afterwards "the Greek public really felt what I wanted to give to the Acropolis."

On the previous night, at the end of his first impressive concert at the Herod Atticus theatre, Jarre, who is an ardent supporter of the Parthenon Marbles being returned to Greece, had delivered to Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos a papyrus containing the partitures of his composition named "Hymn for the Acropolis."

[31] 'Year of Socrates' events in Athens, Delphi next month

Athens, 22/06/2001 (ANA)

Noted Greek poet Costas Varnalis wrote the work.

Additionally, an international philosophical conference focusing on the life, death and teachings of the ancient Athenian philosopher is set for July 14-15 at the Zappeion Hall, shifting to the European Cultural Center at Delphi from July 16-19.

The latter conference is co-organized by the universities of Oxford, Princeton, Berne and Venice.

Finally, a competition for high-schools pupils of ancient Greek classes in EU schools will be organized. The top students from each country along with their teachers will be hosted in Greece.

[32] Events leading up to 7th Symi Festival

Athens, 22/06/2001 (ANA)

The Symi Festival takes in all the smaller Dodecannese islands and is heralded by four pre-Festival events that will take place on Rhodes, Athens, Thessaloniki (for the first time ever) and Elefsina.

Founded in 1995, the Symi Festival is sponsored by the Symi municipality and islanders living abroad, while the artists and organizers participate on a voluntary basis.

The Festival's program includes concerts of classical, traditional and modern music, theatre, films, poetry, dance and art exhibition, and the participating islands are Karpathos, Kasos, Kastellorizo, Nisyros, Symi and Halki.

Since 1998 the festival has been international through its participation in the European Union's 'Kaleidoscope' program, which this year includes events organized in Rome and Berlin.

[33] Anti-drug march in Athens for international Day against Drugs

Athens, 22/06/2001 (ANA)

Starting from four different locations in central Athens simultaneously - Omonia Square, Kaniggos Square, Exarchia Square and Kotzia Square - the marchers will converge on Syntagma Square opposite Parliament, handing out balloons with the message 'Many have been lost, don't you get lost too' on the way.

[34] Ancient graves and an ancient road found near site slated for Athens 2004 Olympic Games

Athens, 22/06/2001 (ANA)

The grave was part of a wider cemetery complex fenced off in ancient times by a wall fitted with a roof and further archaeological investigation will be conducted.

No installations were planned for the immediate area where the graves were found.

[35] EU official says Cyprus will close seven remaining chapters by first half of 2002

NICOSIA, 22/06/2001 (CNA/ANA)

Speaking at a joint press conference in Nicosia with the Chief Negotiator for Cyprus' accession into the EU, George Vassiliou, Maurer said that chapters to be negotiated under the Belgian presidency have been prepared by Cyprus' and EU's negotiating teams and "we are going into the last chapters which should be finalized under the Spanish presidency next year".

Maurer expressed his team's satisfaction on the progress made by Cyprus regarding the implementation of the aquis communautaire and added that the harmonization process "is running smoothly".

Referring to the British Bases' status in Cyprus after Cyprus' ac-cession in the EU, Maurer said that this is "a technical issue", while on his part Vassiliou stated that the accession of Cyprus will "not affect the way the Bases operate today".

Britain retains since 1960, when Cyprus became an independent state, two Sovereign Bases on the island.

Cyprus opened negotiation talks with the EU in April 1998 and has closed until today 22 of 29 chapters.

[36] Spokesman comments on reports for the resumption of talks

NICOSIA, 22/06/2001 (CNA/ANA)

He pointed out that since Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash continues to maintain his negative stance regarding the talks, then the Security Council should deal with the issue.

Earlier Thursday, UN Secretary General told CNA in London, where he is meeting British governmental officials, that his Special Adviser on Cyprus Alvaro de Soto is exploring the issue concerning the resumption of talks with the parties and others concerned and that he hopes "between now and the end of the year we may be able to get the parties back to the table."

"The government wishes and aims at the resumption of the talks at the stage where they were left", the spokesman said.

In January Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash abandoned the UN-led proximity talks, which started in December 1999, declaring them dead and demanding recognition of his self-styled regime in Turkish occupied Cyprus before he returns to the negotiating table.

President Glafcos Clerides, who represents the Greek Cypriot side at the UN talks, has said he is ready for talks any time the UN calls for them. The president has warned the international community in no uncertain terms against any attempt to appease Denktash.

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