Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 01-08-24

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

CONTENTS

[01] FYROM FM in Athens for talks as first Greek troops head for Skopje

[02] Prime minister calls on ministers to intensify efforts to complete projects

[03] PM to speak at PASOK event in Argos next Saturday

[04] Launch date for first Greek-, Cypriot-owned satellite next year

[05] Education ministry program to introduce wider use of computers in schools

[06] Bill for regional health system supplies tabled

[07] ND leader conveys condolences over Donetsk mining accident

[08] Political Secretariat of the Coalition of the Left convenes

[09] Long-term unemployed insured with IKA given opportunity for full pension

[10] Evert calls on gov't to face decline in tourism proposes five-year scheme

[11] Greek stocks continue moving sideways

[12] Dozens of acres of forest land burnt in Kavala

[13] Alpha Bank to introduce new products, services all in the Olympic spirit

[14] Cyprus government says would welcome return of Denktash to negotiating table

[15] British High Commissioner says UN process on Cyprus "is continuous"

[01] FYROM FM in Athens for talks as first Greek troops head for Skopje

Athens, 24/08/2001 (ANA)

"We have no illusions that the problem is being solved for good, rather we need to examine the tactics we use every moment, if we want to contribute toward achieving peace, we can not be absent," Simitis said, during a briefing on conditions in FYROM delivered by Foreign Minister George Papandreou and Defense Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos.

The two ministers briefed the cabinet on the deployment of Greece troops in the small Balkan republic, saying that the mission to disarm the Albanian extremists and to resolve all problems is an especially difficult one.

Papandreou reiterated that Greece had set four conditions in place for the deployment of Greek forces in FYROM, which were all met.

Namely these were: the political parties in the neighboring country arrive at a political agreement; commitments for the respect of the Albanian minority rights; a plan for the disarmament of the Albanian extremist and the signing of a truce.

He added that the mission of the Greek forces in FYROM would be to disarm the Albanians without the use of violence.

Meanwhile the dire situation in neighboring FYROM and the dispatch of a Greek contingent as part of a newly approved NATO force in that country dominated talks in Athens between Papandreou and his FYROM counterpart Ilinka Mitreva.

The FYROM foreign minister arrived in Athens as part of her tour of Balkan capitals in light of a peace deal signed less than two weeks ago between the Skopje government and two of the largest Albanian parties in the land-locked country. A 3,500-member NATO force will be called upon to collect weapons laid down by Albanian rebels, one of the most crucial aspects of the NATO-brokered agreement.

Although the peace deal was high on the agenda of talks, the “name issue” still separating Athens and Skopje was also discussed, although no new developments were announced.

In statements afterwards, Mitreva said the peace pact signed on Aug. 13 contained elements of compromise, while stressing that Skopje "had not hesitated in choosing the difficult path of solving differences via peaceful means."

She also thanked Athens for its support and insistence on preserving sovereignty, territorial integrity and existing borders in the region.

Finally, Mitreva said her government would do everything possible to protect the considerable Greek investments and property in the neighboring country.

On his part, Papandreou urged all sides in FYROM to contribute to the disarmament process and adhere to signed agreements, while he also pledged to convey Skopje’s request for immediate financial assistance at the next EU foreign ministers' meeting.

Additionally, Papandreou said he would organize a meeting of donors to rally more support for the beleaguered, of late, country.

He particularly emphasized efforts to develop infrastructure in FYROM, saying that Greek business ventures and investments in the neighboring country would continue to pour in.

Commenting on the recent destruction of a historic Orthodox monastery in western FYROM, an act blamed by many in the country on Albanian guerrillas, Papandreou condemned all acts of terrorism, saying Greece was prepared to assist in the restoration of vandalized monuments.

Mitreva met with the Greek premier later in the day.

Tsohatzopoulos- Buckovski: FYROM's Defense Minister Buckovski, Vlado expressed his country's satisfaction for the participation of the Greek contingent in the NATO forces charged with the mission to disarm the Albanian extremists, during a telephone conversation with Tsohatzopoulos on Thursday, sources said.

The same sources noted that the two ministers discussed details of the mission of the Greek forces.

Meanwhile, the Greek Parliament scheduled for Wednesday the special session of the Foreign and Defense Affairs committee meeting on FYROM, requested by Tsohatzopoulos to brief the members of Parliament on conditions in the neighboring republic and the Greek forces' mission there.

Karamanlis: Mitreva later met with main opposition New Democracy leader Costas Karamanlis.

Afterwards, a ND spokesman said the talks touched on stability and peace in the Balkans and the main opposition party’s support for the Greek contingent’s participation in the NATO force.

According to the spokesman, greater activity on the part of the international community was also needed.

Other issues included bilateral relations, described as good, economic cooperation and the last remaining “thorn” in Greek-FYROM ties, namely, the “name issue”.

Athens has been at odds with FYROM for a decade over the issue of latter state's name, insisting that the word "Macedonia" should not be included in the name of the former Yugoslav republic, since it implies expansionist designs against Greece’s own large northern province known by that same name – Macedonia -- since antiquity.

However, relations between Greece and FYROM have improved dramatically since the two countries signed an interim agreement in New York six years ago under the UN’s auspices. Under the terms of that agreement, Athens and Skopje are to proceed with discussions to find a mutually acceptable solution for the name issue.

First Greek soldiers head for Skopje: At talks were taking place in Athens, earlier in the morning the first portion of a 411-man strong Greek army contingent – all volunteers -- set off for FYROM to participate in NATO's "Operation Essential Harvest" – the alliance’s mission to collect weapons from Albanian rebels.

Troops from the 525th army motorized battalion are expected to travel from their base in northern Greece’s Kilkis prefecture to the Krivolak site, south of Skopje.

Constantopoulos: Mitreva later met with Coalition of the Left (Synaspismos) president Nikos Constantopoulos, with the latter roundly condemning NATO’s policies in the Balkans.

Specifically, Constantopoulos charged that NATO’s strategy aspires to creating chaos, while he called on Athens to request the holding of an international summit for the Balkans, as well as holding of a special EU summit meeting regarding stability and security in SE Europe.

Regarding the name issue, the Synaspismos leader said he favors a composite term that’s mutually acceptable.

Asked about the procedure to disarm the Albanian rebels in FYROM, Constantopoulos said it was incomprehensible to use the extremists as a lever to destabilize and create tension among the Balkan countries.

Papariga calls for Parliament briefing: Finally, Communist Party of Greece (KKE) leader Aleka Papariga on Thursday called for a briefing in Parliament by Prime Minister Costas Simitis over the issue of sending a Greek force to FYROM, in a letter to Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis.

“Despite the signed peace agreement (in FYROM), the situation in the region appears uncertain and dangerous, something that’s accentuated by NATO’s intervention and the dispatch of a military force,” Papariga said.

She also charged that the “government’s decision to send a Greek contingent (as part of a NATO force) was taken without Parliament’s approval.”

[02] Prime minister calls on ministers to intensify efforts to complete projects

Athens, 24/08/2001 (ANA)

The cabinet meeting discussed and approved the new three-year education program of the government and was briefed by Foreign Minister George Papandreou and Defense Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos on developments in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) and the deployment of Greece troops in the small Balkan republic.

The premier reportedly appeared satisfied by the reports of his ministers on their projects and requested further intensification of government projects to meet the Athens 2004 Olympic Games projects' deadlines in light of the scheduled visit by International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge in September.

He called on ministers to complete the necessary processes for the funding of projects from the European Union third community support framework fund, so as to increase employment and reduce inequalities, "so as not to lose any funds from the EU programs", and to promote structural changes.

Speaking on the Social Security issue, Simitis said that discussions with unions and other social bodies would begin in September.

[03] PM to speak at PASOK event in Argos next Saturday

Athens, 24/08/2001 (ANA)

As head of the PASOK party, Simitis will also be briefed on problems faced by Argolida prefecture and the Peloponnese

[04] Launch date for first Greek-, Cypriot-owned satellite next year

Athens, 24/08/2001 (ANA)

Hellas-Sat’s two satellites will be jointly owned by Athens and Nicosia, with the first set to be launched on Aug. 31, 2002 and the second on March 31, 2004. Their geostatic orbit will be fixed at 39 degrees east. Hellas-Sat’s “footprint” is expected to cover some 28 countries and a total population of 400 million people.

Hellas-Sat is comprised of the companies Avacom Net (33.4%), based in Cyprus, Greece’s telephone utility OTE with 25 percent, Cyprus’ development bank with 19.6 percent, the Hellenic Aerospace Industries (HAI) with 10 percent and Telesat with 2 percent.

The first satellite will be constructed by Boeing’s Sat Systems division and launched from the European Space Agency Station at Kourou, in French Guiana.

The agreement was signed by Greek Transport Minister Christos Verelis, on behalf of Athens, and by his Cypriot counterpart Averof Neofytou.

[05] Education ministry program to introduce wider use of computers in schools

Athens, 24/08/2001 (ANA)

Minister of Education Petros Efthimiou presented the program designed to promote the new technologies in the classroom.

The program, which was approved by a government cabinet meeting, calls for all secondary schools to have access to the Internet, while an ambitious computer training program aiming to instruct some 75,000 teachers nationwide on the new trends and technologies is set to begin in September.

The three-year program also calls for the hiring of more computer science instructors for secondary schools, as well as providing college students with an opportunity to better their skills with the all the new technologies.

Commenting on the government's new program, main opposition New Democracy spokesman Theodore Roussopoulos said in an announcement that the nation is just witnessing another ploy from the government who apparently wants to give the impression that it wants to indeed reform the education system.

[06] Bill for regional health system supplies tabled

Athens, 24/08/2001 (ANA)

The bill regulates details concerning supply contracts for regional health system central services and hospitals, including the types of products to be supplied, machinery, materials etc, and regulatory issues concerning supplies.

[07] ND leader conveys condolences over Donetsk mining accident

Athens, 24/08/2001 (ANA)

“In sharing your grief and sorrow, let me personally express to you, Mr. President, and to the families of those who mourn their loved ones, my wholehearted sympathy and sincere condolences for the tragedy that befell your country and which cost the lives of so many workers at the Zasyadco mine,” Karamanlis’ telegram reads.

[08] Political Secretariat of the Coalition of the Left convenes

Athens, 24/08/2001 (ANA)

The party's first priority is the success of its congress in January 2002.

The Political Secretariat also decided to extend its contacts with movements against neoliberal globalization and examined the party's participation in international action in the coming period.

Discussion was also held on the party's best possible preparation for the municipal elections.

[09] Long-term unemployed insured with IKA given opportunity for full pension

Athens, 24/08/2001 (ANA)

The circular concerns long-term unemployed people insured with IKA who have a remainder of five years to get a full pension.

[10] Evert calls on gov't to face decline in tourism proposes five-year scheme

Athens, 24/08/2001 (ANA)

In an announcement Evert noted that the decrease in tourist arrivals has already resulted in problems for the economy and should be dealt with in light to the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.

The ND deputy thus proposed a five-year development program that involves issues such as the supply of electricity, water, telecommunications, health services and chiefly transport means and the improvement of motorways in a number of tourist areas.

[11] Greek stocks continue moving sideways

Athens, 24/08/2001 (ANA)

Traders said the Greek market would continue finding resistance at the 2,700 level and support at the 2,650 level in the short-term.

Trading activity focused in the smaller capitalization sector leaving the banks and telecommunications sectors accounting for only 12.01 percent of the day's turnover.

The general index ended 0.22 percent higher at 2,696.98 points, off the day's highs of 2,702.48 points. Turnover was an improved 122.74 million euros, or 41.83 billion drachmas.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for smaller capitalization stocks ended at 1,496.01 points, up 0.17 percent, the FTSE/ASE 40 index rose 0.54 percent to close at 312.56 points, and the FTSE/ASE SMALLCAP 80 index ended at 907.97 points, up 0.90 percent.

The parallel market index for smaller capitalization stocks ended at 268.05 points, up 0.71 percent.

Broadly, advancers led decliners by 243 to 70 with another 48 issues unchanged.

Prices mixed in heavy trade: Bond prices in the domestic secondary market on Thursday finished mixed in heavy trade.

The Greek benchmark 10-year bond showed a yield of 5.32 percent, and the yield spread over German bunds was 47 basis points.

Turnover through the central bank's electronic system totalled 935 million euros.

Sell orders accounted for around half of turnover.

Futures flaccid in lower turnover: Equity futures traded on the Athens Derivatives Exchange ended lower on Thursday, with a premium of 0.4 percent at the start of the day moving into the red to become a 0.50 percent discount by the close.

Changing hands were 2,763 contracts on turnover of 17.4 million euros, traders said.

[12] Dozens of acres of forest land burnt in Kavala

Athens, 24/08/2001 (ANA)

The fire broke out from two different points almost simultaneously in the area of Kokkala. It is believed that the fire was the work of arsonists.

[13] Alpha Bank to introduce new products, services all in the Olympic spirit

Athens, 24/08/2001 (ANA)

This new initiative, which is also aimed to advance the participation of nation in one Greece’s biggest historical moments, will include the “Alpha Bank’s Olympic Panorama of Athletics” which will be presented in various cities across the country, as well as in Cyprus, until June, 2004.

[14] Cyprus government says would welcome return of Denktash to negotiating table

NICOSIA 24/08/2001 (CNA/ANA)

The Cypriot official told his daily press briefing that the Cyprus government would wait patiently to see Denktash's stance on fresh UN efforts to achieve resumption of the peace process.

Commenting on Denktash' recent statements, Papapetrou noted it was not the Cyprus government but Denktash, backed by Ankara, who abandoned the talks and noted that perhaps now the Turkish Cypriot leader was seeking ways to return to the negotiating table.

Denktash had said that the resumption of the UN-led talks depended on the result of the meeting he will have with the UN Secretary-General, on August 28, in Salzburg, Austria.

Papapetrou said information that the talks will resume in New York is still valid. Invited to comment on Denktash's remarks that his forthcoming separate meetings with Annan and EU Commissioner Gunter Verheugen are indicating a form of recognition of his "entity", Papapetrou recalled that the UN and many countries have explicitly ruled out the possibility of recognizing Denktash' self-styled regime, in the areas occupied by Turkish troops since 1974.

Asked to comment on the illegal visit to the occupied areas on Thursday of a delegation of the Turkish Foreign Ministry, Papapetrou said as usual such visits aim at the coordination of the Turkish government and Denktash prior to the start of a new initiative to solve the Cyprus problem.

[15] British High Commissioner says UN process on Cyprus "is continuous"

NICOSIA 24/08/2001 (CNA/ANA)

Invited to comment on whether Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash tries to downgrade the UN efforts on Cyprus, Clay said Denktash "can make his own effort", adding, "the rest of us are responsible for our own efforts and we would make our best efforts."

The UN has embarked on a fresh effort to convince the Turkish Cypriot leader to return to the negotiating table to solve the Cyprus problem, which he abandoned in November 2000 with Turkey's full backing.

Annan will meet Denktash on August 28, in Salzburg, Austria. The UN Chief's special adviser on the Cyprus problem Alvaro de Soto plans to visit Cyprus from August 29 to September 5 for consultations with Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides and Rauf Denktash, to try to pave the way for the resumption of the UN-led Cyprus peace talks in New York.

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