[02] PASOK voters back PM for holding party congress early-survey

Athens, 02/07/2001 (ANA)

Those in favor of the move thought it would have a positive impact on the government's work, said the poll by VPRC, published in the Sunday Eleftherotypia newspaper.

Of PASOK voters polled, 67.9 percent backed the earlier date; and of respondents in general, 49.1 percent, according to the poll conducted in Attica.

The majority of respondents also opposed any proposal being made at the PASOK congress for a change in the party's leadership.

In addition, the majority of respondents wanted a change in policy by Simitis, rather than his replacement, with 55 percent backing a policy shift versus 14.5 percent who wanted to see a change of party leader. Another 18.9 percent wanted both a policy change and a new leader.

Of PASOK voters, 72 percent wanted a policy shift with 7.3 percent backing the replacement of Simitis by another party leader and 8.7 percent wanting to see both.

Backing a government reshuffle were 63 percent of respondents overall, versus 69.3 percent of PASOK voters who supported new cabinet appointments.

In the survey, 42.6 percent of people wanted early elections, with 53.9 percent seeing no need for recourse to the ballot box. Among PASOK voters, 81.7 percent were against early elections versus 67 percent of voters in the main opposition New Democracy party, who were eager for early polls.

[03] Defense minister says Yugoslav president is pivot in crisis

Athens, 02/07/2001 (ANA)

"The resignation of the federal government has sparked a political crisis. President Kostunica is responsible for moving, within the framework of the constitution, towards a political solution of the problem," Tsohatzopoulos told reporters late on Friday during a tour of the Drama prefecture.

"I believe that he has the support of a large majority of the Yugoslav people, so that he can proceed with a democratic solution," the minister added.

In addition, he charged that financial aid for Yugoslavia from abroad had been delayed.

An acceleration in the dispatch of funds for reconstruction would aid the drive to achieve stability in the country, Tsohatzopoulos said.

On Friday, Zoran Zizic, prime minister of the rump federation of Serbia with Montenegro, resigned in protest at the way Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic allowed the handover of former leader Slobodan Milosevic for trial at the UN war crimes tribunal.

The handover prompted the collapse of the federal government, revealing tensions among ruling reformers in Serbia and creating political instability.

On Saturday, parliament president Apostolos Kaklamanis told reporters that Milosevic's handover was not conducive to stability in the Balkans.

"This counts as a development that fails to aid stability and security in the long-suffering southeast European region. Mr. Milosevic is not, of course, free of blame for what has happened in the region, but the manner in which this affair has proceeded is definitely adding fuel to the fire," he said.

Earlier, Kaklamanis told a contact group preparing for a Euro-Mediterranean meeting of parliament presidents that the European Union should play a more active role in seeking world peace, including southeastern Europe.

Also on Saturday, the spokesman for the main opposition New Democracy party, Thodoris Roussopoulos, issued a statement on the aftermath of Milosevic's handover, saying the move raised questions.

"The matter mainly concerns the citizens of Yugoslavia. However, the maintenance and cohesion of the Yugoslav Federation is a factor for stability in the Balkans, and support for this country is essential for the European Union and for the international community," Roussopoulos said.

"Equally important is that the international penal justice system should always work on the basis of fixed rules and principles," he added.

Nikos Constantopoulos, leader of the Coalition of the Left and Progress, charged that Serbian authorities had been blackmailed by forces in the West, and criticized the European Union for falling in with NATO policy.

Addressing a central committee meeting on preparations for the party's congress in January, Constantopoulos said the alleged blackmail and the way in which Milosevic was handed over had set the tone for global action that was governed by the law of the powerful, with no reference to international law and order.

[04] Karamanlis accuses gov't of allowing the regions to decay

Athens, 02/07/2001 (ANA)

"Unfortunately, after 20 years (in power), the government's incapacity and paralysis have led the Greek regions to abandonment and decay," Karamanlis told residents of the eastern Aegean island of Psara.

He vowed that if elected to power, New Democracy would forge an integrated policy of growth for the islands that would reverse the trend of flight to the cities.

[05] Gov't to lower military service, hire professional soldiers

Athens, 02/07/2001 (ANA)

The move would be followed by another two-month cut in mandatory duty in 2002, which meant that in 2003, military service would have fallen to 12 months. Similar reductions would apply to the air force and navy, Tsohatzopoulos told reporters while touring Kavala.

As part of the same plan, the government would begin in October hiring 5,000 privates for the armed forces. The process would be repeated in 2002 and 2003 to total 15,000 new staff over three years, he said.

It was the first time that privates would be hired as professional soldiers as opposed to commissioned and non-commissioned officers, the minister added.

[06] No US plans to pull out of the Balkans, ambassador says

Athens, 02/07/2001 (ANA)

"We currently have forces in FYROM, Kosovo and Bosnia; we have sent US diplomats to every point in the region; we have allocated hundreds of millions of dollars for reconstruction of the Balkans; and we are reinforcing our Thessaloniki consulate to meet these challenges," Burns told Thessaloniki's Sunday Angelioforos newspaper.

"Everything we are doing is sending the message that we are staying, that we are not leaving...We stopped the war in Bosnia with the Dayton agreement. We are proud we stopped Milosevic's ethnic cleansing against the Albanians in Kosovo in 1999," he added.

[07] Arben Xhaferi wants multi-ethnic justice in FYROM-not partition

SKOPJE, 02/07/2001 (ANA / M. Vihou)

"We do not want the territorial solution, but we do want a type of humane mechanism that would protect the interests of Albanians in society, where they are extremely marginalized," Xhaferi told the Athens News Agency in an interview.

Xhaferi accused FYROM's government of arming Slavo-Macedonian citizens against Albanians, saying he backed NATO's strong presence in the country in order to avert civil war.

He also denied unsubstantiated talk that armed Albanians were preparing to operate in Greece.

In addition, protesting Tsamides in Albania were extremists whose demands were unacceptable. Extremists were present everywhere and should be handled through democratic means, Xhaferi added.

Finally, the Albanian party leader said he believed that destabilization of the Balkan region would occur if a political solution was not found in FYROM.

[08] Integrated Airline Solutions details bid in OA sale tender

Athens, 02/07/2001 (ANA)

Integrated said that it had offered more than 200 million euros in shareholders' equity for 100 percent of the new Olympic Airways to emerge from a share capital rise, claiming that this was the only full privatization bid in the tender as it required no financial involvement by the state.

Under the terms of the bid, Integrated would maintain 5,000 existing permanent workers and 2,000 seasonal workers, who would continue work as usual, the company said in a statement.

On Saturday, the president of Cyprus Airways, Haris Loizidis, said that he believed both his carrier and Axon Airlines had been recommended to the Greek government as potential buyers of Olympic Airways in the tender.

Loizidis said that according to his information, the government's tender consultant, Credit Suisse First Boston, had named the two airlines as candidates for a continuation of sale negotiations in the tender.

Handling the sale from London, the consultant had made the recommendation to the ministries of national economy and transport, which are both involved in the sale, he added.

In Athens, sources said on Friday that the government had received a recommendation from its consultant on the winner of the tender.

The sources said that the national economy ministry might release a statement following the recommendation by Credit Suisse First Boston.

The latest, extended deadline for bids was June 18, and four groups submitted separate offers - Axon Airlines SA, Golden Aviation Services (the Restis shipping group), Integrated Airline Solutions of Australia, and Cyprus Airways.

Integrated Airline Solutions, which had pulled out of the tender, as it could not meet the original deadline, returned to the bidding due to the extension.

Credit Suisse said that the bids should meet the following criteria set by the government:

When bids are submitted, the government will begin talks with the interim winner of the tender, Credit Suisse First Boston said.

[09] State doctors extend strike to August 3

Athens, 02/07/2001 (ANA)

Doctors at university teaching hospitals in Athens and Thessaloniki are to continue their walkout until July 6.

[10] Seminar on water resource management begins Monday

Athens, 02/07/2001 (ANA)

The seminar is arranged by the development ministry working with other organizations involved, including the Public Power Corporation. Also taking part is the EU's environment directorate.

Among the speakers is Deputy Environment Minister Ilias Efthymiopoulos.

[11] Noted criminal lawyer found dead off Spetses

Athens, 02/07/2001 (ANA)

Bathers found the body off Ligoneri beach shortly after noon, and informed authorities.

The Spetses Harbor Corps has launched an investigation into the death, and an autopsy is to be conducted at the Piraeus mortuary on Monday, the ministry said in a statement.

Doctors at the Spetses Health Center who examined the body said the lawyer, who spent his weekends on the island at his holiday home, appeared to have died from drowning.

He leaves a wife and son.

Born in Trikala in 1942, Pappas was exiled during the 1967-1974 dictatorship. In 1993, he was elected president of the Athens Bar Association, a post he held until 1996.

Pappas stood for election twice as a deputy for the ruling PASOK party - in 1985 and 1996 - and for the Democratic Social Movement (DIKKI) in 2000.

Prime Minister Costas Simitis mourned the loss of Pappas, whom he said was an uncompromising and tireless proponent of democracy and an outstanding professional.

DIKKI president Dimitris Tsovolas said he was deeply grieved at the untimely death of Pappas, a champion of democracy, and his personal friend and lawyer.

Merchant Marine Minister Christos Papoutsis issued a statement saying he deeply regretted the loss of Pappas, a distinguished humanist and leftist.

Costas Karamanlis, the leader of the main opposition New Democracy party, said Pappas was a distinguished lawyer and a perseveringly pro-democracy politician.

The president of the Athens Bar Association, Antonis Roupakiotis, extolled Pappas' work, including his support for the public in conflict with authority.

Also expressing condolences were the ruling PASOK party, which lauded Pappas' work for democracy and freedom; and lawyer Nikos Constantopoulos, the leader of the Coalition for the Left and Progress, who praised Pappas' humaneness and professionalism.

[12] Archaeological photo exhibit by Geneva Museum of Art History

Athens, 02/07/2001 (ANA)

The exhibition - entitled Waldemar Deonna-Paul Collari: Two Swiss Archaeologists Photograph Greece - is organized by the Swiss Archaeological School in Greece and Geneva's History of Art Museum.

[13] Foreign minister in London for talks

NICOSIA, 02/07/2001 (CNA/ANA)

"Talks in London will focus on the ongoing efforts to see the stalled peace talks resume," he told CNA before leaving, noting that other issues will also be on the agenda, including bilateral relations.

Kasoulides, in London to inaugurate a photographic exhibition by Cypriot and British artists, said the last time he met Lord Hannay was in April on his way back from a meeting in the US with his American counterpart Colin Powell.

The Turkish Cypriot side, backed by Ankara, interrupted the UN-led proximity talks last year, saying they were a waste of time. It now demands recognition of its illegal regime in Turkish occupied Cyprus before it returns to the negotiating table.

Replying to questions, Kasoulides said issues pertaining to the British Bases in Cyprus might also be raised, especially in view of the country's prospective accession to the European Union.

EU high-ranking officials were recently in Cyprus and discussed this issue with the authorities of the Bases, which are exempt from EU norms as they are not part of EU territory even though Britain is. Invited to comment on remarks by EU Commissioner Gunter Verheugen that the Cyprus problem could be resolved by the end of 2002, Kasoulides said in diplomatic language "optimism" can be interpreted as an expression of a kind of pressure and persistence on the objective at hand.

The EU has said a solution of the political problem would facilitate accession but it is not a precondition. The Cyprus government has always maintained that the country cannot be held hostage to the lack of political will by the Turkish side for a negotiated settlement and considers that Cyprus with or without a solution can join the EU.

[14] House president calls for pressure on Turkey

NICOSIA, 02/07/2001 (CNA/ANA)

He also said the government should protest the Turkish threats, seek action from the international community to contain them and adopt such strategies that would allow Nicosia to deal with them effectively, in consultation with Athens.

"Given the intransigent and divisive policies of Ankara, the prospects for a speedy, just and viable solution do not appear hopeful and overoptimistic remarks about a possible settlement in 2002 are not realistic," Christofias said at a memorial service for five people, killed in the summer of 1974.

He said the Turkish side is showing no signs of change of heart in its policies towards Cyprus. On the contrary, he added, it is increasing its intransigence, threatening unavoidable conflict and a Bosnian-like situation on the island, if Cyprus joins the EU before a solution.

"We believe that the Security Council and the EU have an obligation and a duty to take a stance against these threats and come out rejecting and condemning them in a decisive manner," he said.

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