Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 01-09-15

Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] Memorial ceremony at Athens Cathedral for victims of terror attack on US

[02] Vartholomeos holds memorial service for US terror attack victims)

[03] Archbishop Dimitrios holds service for Twin Towers dead

[04] Karamanlis attends service in Boston for terror victims

[05] Joint EU statement calls for crusade against terrorism

[06] Defense minister says article five of NATO treaty not a blank check

[07] Athens 2004 organizers: Security our No. 1 priority

[08] Greek, FYROM DMs confer on sidelines of military exercise

[09] Greece, France plan 'model cooperation' in education

[10] Joint Greek-Turkish natural disaster exercises planned

[11] Justice minister will not sign order to confiscate German properties in Athens

[12] Ecumenical Patriarch receives Greek agriculture minister

[13] Irineos to be enthroned as Jerusalem Patriarch on Saturday

[14] Greece's main opposition leader holds talks in NY with Cyprus' FM

[15] Cyprus' KISOS leader opposes rotating presidency, confederation

[16] European New Left representatives meet in Athens

[17] IOC & EU sign cooperation agreement to promote sports values to youths

[18] Greek budget revenues up 8.88 percent in August

[19] Greek bourse falls in wake of terrorist attack

[20] Olympics organizers, Athens airport sign cooperation memo

[21] Legendary laika singer Kazantzidis dies after bout with cancer

[22] President Clerides returns

[23] Cyprus FM meets Arab ambassadors in US:

[24] DM comments on possible contribution of Cyprus to NATO operations

[01] Memorial ceremony at Athens Cathedral for victims of terror attack on US

Athens, 15/09/2001 (ANA)

The noon-time service was attended by President of the Republic Costis Stephanopoulos, Prime Minister Costas Simitis, foreign minister George Papandreou, MPs from nearly all the political parties, representatives of foreign embassies in Athens.

"Today is a day of mourning for the thousands of citizens and for the Greek-Americans, who were killed in the terrorist attack in the United States," premier Simitis said after the service.

"Terrorist violence has not outlet, it leads nowhere. It only leads to destruction, to a closed and freedom-lacking society. We must, and it is our duty to, rally against such a development," he added.

Foreign minister Papandreou said "we all mourn together", adding that "what occurred was a crime against humanity and against the open and democratic societies".

He said the Day of Mourning for the victims of the terrorist attacks in the US declared for Friday by the EU was a "deeply symbolic move that shows our determination to jointly confront this scourge and protect the democratic values for which we have fought for so many generations, to consolidate them in our country but also in many regions of the world".

"I believe that from here on the close cooperation of all and wide consensus not only between Europe and the US but also among many more countries which have already voiced their intention to cooperation, such as Russia, China and Yasser Arafat in Palestine, is important," the foreign minister said.

"We must all work together to be able to confront not only the perpetrators but also the causes which have given rise to such rationales and tactics, so as to truly secure the democratic institutions," he added.

Friday has been declared a day of mourning throughout the European Union for the victims of the terrorist attack in the United States.

All EU citizens were called on to observe three minutes of silence from 1:00 p.m. to 1:03 p.m. in memory of the dead from Tuesday’s terrorist hits in New York and Washington D.C.

The Greek ministry of interior, public administration and decentralization ordered that flags on all public, municipal, community and state run enterprises and agency buildings be flown at half-mast, in observance of the decision of the European Union council of ministers.

In observance of the mourning, the Athens News Agency (ANA) suspended news and photograph transmissions from 1:00-1:03 p.m. local time.

[02] Vartholomeos holds memorial service for US terror attack victims)

ISTANBUL 15/09/2001 (ANA - A. Kourkoulas)

Also participating in the service was the Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church Shenuda III, currently on a visit to Istanbul at the head of a delegation of Coptic Church metropolitans.

Vartholomeos had conveyed his deep sorrow to the US leaderships soon after hearing about Tuesday's heinous attack on the World Trade Center and Pentagon.

The Patriarchate also cancelled a scheduled visit by the Patriarch to Crete.

Two Coptic metropolitans that were to accompany Shenuda on his visit to Istanbul were unable to come due to the ban on flights to and from the US.

[03] Archbishop Dimitrios holds service for Twin Towers dead

NEW YORK 15/09/2001 (ANA - M. Georgiadou)

Before the service, Dimitrios met with members of the various forces brought in to help rescue survivors of Tuesday's horrific attack, such as police, firemen, servicemen from the army's special security forces, the National Guard and rescue teams.

He blessed their mission and expressed the "unstinting support of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America,"

The Archbishop also sent up separate prayers for the recovery of the injured and survivors and for the success of the "Herculean task of saving those missing," as well as for the families, relatives and all the victims of the terrorist attack.

Meanwhile, authorities confirmed that one more Greek expatriate was among the dead, identifying him as Michael Theodoridis, 32, a member of the board of a company based in Boston. Theodoridis was a passenger on the plane that the hijackers rammed into the first of the twin towers to be hit.

[04] Karamanlis attends service in Boston for terror victims

BOSTON 15/09/2001 (ANA)

The service was held at the Brookline-based Hellenic College Holy Cross School of Theology, and officiated by Archbishop of America Demetrios.

The ND leader later met in private with the Archbishop, with discussions focusing, among others, on the Archbishopric’s assistance and support towards the families of victims.

The mayhem in the US air transport sector in the wake of the deadly “air terror attacks” has stranded Karamanlis in the United States, something that caused a cancellation of his scheduled tour and address at the 66th Thessaloniki International Fair over the weekend.

Costas Karamanlis will visit Thessaloniki on Sept. 29 and 30, instead of this Saturday and Sunday, where he was to deliver the main opposition leader's traditional address at the Thessaloniki International Trade Fair (TIF).

[05] Joint EU statement calls for crusade against terrorism

Athens, 15/09/2001 (ANA)

In a joint declaration by the heads of state and government, the president of the Europarliament, the president of the Commission and the high representative of the CFSP, stressed, among others, that:

"International organizations, and the United Nations in particular, must make this an absolute priority. To eliminate this evil, the police and judicial authorities of all our countries must, in the coming days, intensify their efforts," the declaration stressed, adding: "It is not tolerable for any country to harbor terrorists."

Additionally, EU leaders said the 15-member bloc would work to promote "an international framework of security and prosperity for all countries, and to contribute towards the emergence of a strong, sustained and global action against terrorism. "

Efforts to develop an EU common foreign and security policy "with a view to ensuring that the Union is genuinely capable of speaking out clearly and doing so with one voice.

"The US administration and the American people can count on our complete solidarity and full cooperation to ensure that justice is done," EU leaders added.

"We will not, under any circumstances, allow those responsible to find refuge, wherever they may be. Those responsible for hiding, supporting or harboring the perpetrators, organizers and sponsors of these acts will be held accountable ... This assault on humanity struck at the heart of a close friend ... and were also directed against us all, against open, democratic, multicultural and tolerant societies," the statement concluded.

Greece will not be affected by the attacks in the US, spokesman says: The Greek government does not believe that the course of the country's national issues will be affected negatively from Tuesday's terrorist attacks on the US.

This was stated on Friday by government spokesman Dimitris Reppas who, especially on the Cyprus problem, said Greece hoped that at last a just and viable settlement will be reached on the issue.

Regarding the other possible repercussions on the national economy, Reppas said that Greece would not suffer negative consequences and neither will the country's course in the framework of the European Union be harmed.

The spokesman noted that Greece has healthy democratic institutions and political stability and is a country, which plays a positive and constructive role in international developments.

Concerning the joint statement by the leaders of the European Union, Reppas said that the statement expressed the strong will of all within the framework of the EU to find effective methods to confront and eliminate the phenomenon of international terrorism.

He said that he believed that because these attacks were turned against democracy, freedom and peace, they will be answered through the strengthening of the rights of citizens.

The spokesman denied that the authorities possessed a list of Arabs living in Greece and who are involved in terrorist activities.

SEB condemns terror attacks on US: The Federation of Greek Industries (SEB) on Friday condemned the terrorist attacks in the United States, which it said were a blow against civilization and democracy.

SEB expressed grief for the "death of thousands of innocent citizens", and said Tuesday's attacks in New York and Washing-ton were "a blow against civilization and the fundamental values of democracy".

"We believe that despite the huge unrest, stability and confidence will be restored in short time," SEB said in a statement.

"The business world shares in the grief, and we have the conviction that it will react to this provocation with calm and creativity," SEB added.

SAE sets up fund for families of victims of terror attacks in US: In a show of solidarity with the American community by Greek-Americans throughout the US, the World Council of Overseas Greeks (SAE) has established a fund to provide assistance to the families of the victims of the recent terrorist attacks in the United States, it was announced Friday.

The funds collected will be given to the appropriate authorities, together with the list of donors, a SAE official told ANA.

SAE called on all Greek-American organizations and individuals to deposit contributions in a bank account established for that purpose, noting that the contributions were tax-deductible.

Deposits can be made personally at any branch of the Atlantic Bank (New York or Chicago) to the SAE Assistance Fund, account no. 59004581, or by check payable to "SAE Assistance Fund" which should be mailed to SAE, 360 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 1109, Chicago IL, 60601.

The official also said that the offices of SAE North and South American Region have been swamped with hundreds of phone calls by the Greek media and many citizens of Greece who anguish over the deadly situation created by Tuesday's terrorist at-tacks on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.

"The foremost thing in their mind, along with the horror and anger over the gruesome assault, is the number, identity and fate of those individuals of Hellenic descent working there," the official said.

"SAE has been doing its best to provide truthful and responsible answers to all these questions. To this end help is needed. SAE calls upon all Greek-Americans who may have concrete information about individuals who were working at or visiting the places of disaster to step forward" and call (312) 357-0027 or visit the website "http:www.saeamerica.org/terrorattack" or "http://www.sae.gr/terrorattack" with any such information.

Athens Journalists' Union expresses abhorrence for terrorist attack on US: The Athens Union of Journalists (ESHEA) on Friday expressed abhorrence for the recent terrorist attacks in the US and grief for the victims of the attacks.

In a letter to the press unions of the US and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the ESHEA board of directors expressed the deep grief of the press, radio and television journalists of Athens for the victims of the tragedy.

"What took place in New York and Washington create in very human being (the feeling of) abhorrence and horror over the irrationality of violence which, in all its forms, is apparent throughout the world. We are experiencing a new form of globalization, that of fear and insecurity," ESHEA said.

ESHEA expressed certainty that, "amid this general irrationality", the journalistic world "will serve all those values that ensure the life, peace, liberty and prosperity of humanity".

US Embassy and consulate to reopen on Monday: The American Embassy in Athens is to resume normal operations on Monday, September 17, after a period when operations were reduced due to the heinous terrorist attacks in the United States.

According to an announcement on Friday, a book of condolences will be opened at the lobby of the Embassy throughout the coming week between the hours of 10:00-12:00 a.m. and 2:00-4:00 p.m. for those who wish to sign it.

Similarly, the US Consulate in Thessaloniki will also resume operations next week and will be open to the public on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 a.m.

A book of condolences will be opened at the consulate on Monday and Wednesday for the public in northern Greece.

[06] Defense minister says article five of NATO treaty not a blank check

Athens, 15/09/2001 (ANA)

Article five of the treaty prescribes that all members of the alliance are obliged to provide their support and solidarity to any member state that is under attack.

Following a meeting with ruling PASOK Eurodeputies, Tsohatzopoulos said that the activation of article five obliges all to cooperate for the forms of actions in the framework of dialogue and discussions and not the blank authorization for any and all actions.

[07] Athens 2004 organizers: Security our No. 1 priority

Athens, 15/09/2001 (ANA)

“We’re cooperating in this sector with the state and with experts from the International Olympic Committee (IOC). As soon as new data is available, we will include it in our operational planning,” high-profile ATHOC president Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki told reporters in Athens.

The woman credited with leading Athens’ successful campaign to win the 2004 Olympiad also reiterated her condolences towards the American people.

On Friday, Angelopoulos-Daskalaki also signed a memorandum of cooperation on behalf of ATHOC and the administration of the new international Athens airport. General Director Matthias Mitscherlich represented the new Eleftherios Venizelos Airport.

Rogge: Meanwhile, according to an ANA dispatch from Brussels, new IOC chief Jacques Rogge, who previously chaired an all-important IOC committee monitoring Athens’ preparations for the 2004 Games, warned that “everything has now changed” in terms of security for the Olympics.

Rogge, who spoke at a press conference with EU Commissioner for education and culture Viviane Reding, also cited security as the number one priority for the Games. Among others, he referred to the unprecedented terrorist strike at 1972 Munich Games, which cost the lives of 11 Israeli athletes, as something that can never be repeated.

Beefed up security measures at the upcoming Salt Lake City winter Games will be on Rogge’s agenda next week with organizers in the US city.

[08] Greek, FYROM DMs confer on sidelines of military exercise

Athens, 15/09/2001 (ANA)

Greek Defense Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos and his FYROM counterpart Vlado Buckovski met on the sidelines of a wide-ranging military exercise in northern Greece.

Tsohatzopoulos assured the FYROM defense minister of Athens’ standing policy aimed at supporting the neighboring state’s independence and national sovereignty. He also cited the Greek side’s continuing interest in a partnership based on ratified bilateral agreements.

On his part, Buckovski thanked Athens for its support in helping efforts to defuse the crisis that bedeviled FYROM since February, while forecasting that the military exercise he just observed – “Filippos 2001” – will lead to other joint maneuvers.

Regarding the prospect of extending the mandate of a NATO force deployed in FYROM to collect weapons from Albanian rebels, Tsohatzopoulos said such an option depends on discussions taking place at an international level.

Conversely, when asked about the potential success of the NATO mission in his country, the FYROM defense minister said it doesn’t depend on the number of firearms collected, but rather on the percentage of refugees that return to their abandoned homes.

He added that, so far, the mission has been successful because a cease-fire has held, whereas only sporadic violence has been reported.

[09] Greece, France plan 'model cooperation' in education

PARIS 15/09/2001 (ANA - O. Tsipira)

The minister said the French side had also shown strong interest in reviving the teaching of Greek.

He stressed, however, that this cooperation would be confined to state universities only, not private institutes offering degrees that had been set up in Greece by foreign universities.

"...as a result, cooperation between French universities and so-called 'free studies centers' will be discouraged. Both France and we do not accept that these centers can act as universities. That's over," he said.

Apart from meeting with his French counterpart Jack Lang, Efthymiou also met with French Alternate Education Minister Jean-Luc Melenchon and discussed the implementation of a pilot program for a unified EU diploma, initially for professions in the hotel sector.

Linguistics conference: During Efthymiou's visit, Paris hosted a linguistics conference focusing on Greek at the Sorbonne that ends on Saturday.

At a cocktail party for the conference, Lang told reporters that the French government hoped to revive the teaching of ancient Greek in France, and possibly introduce modern Greek as well.

He said the matter would be raised again in October, and would start with the foundation of a Greek-French school in Paris where both languages would be taught.

[10] Joint Greek-Turkish natural disaster exercises planned

Athens, 15/09/2001 (ANA)

Among others, the joint holding of exercises in both Greece and Turkey, along with the text of a relevant protocol agreement were discussed on Friday. Other talks focused on details for establishing a joint Greek-Turkish standby disaster response unit.

The Athens session comes after a first meeting by the two delegations in Ankara last May, as well as contacts between scientists from both countries in the Greek capital earlier this month.

The Greek delegation was led by Prof. Dimitrios Papanikolaou, whereas the Turkish group was led by Ambassador Ertugrul Apakan. UN representative Sergio Piazza also attended the meeting.

[11] Justice minister will not sign order to confiscate German properties in Athens

BERLIN 15/09/2001 (ANA -P. Stangos)

In statements to the German daily "Frankfurter Algemeine Zeitung", Stathopoulos said that in the event that the appellate court decides that the order of confiscation needs to be approved by the minister of justice, he would not sign such an authorization.

Meanwhile, in Athens, lawyers representing Berlin said that the appellate court accepted their motion stating that the decision to execute the lower court ruling was invalid because consent of the Greek justice minister was required for the seizure of foreign assets, something that had not been obtained.

Also in Athens, sources said that the High Special Court (AED) will postpone its Wednesday meeting to discuss the subject, as the draft report on the issue was not completed and more time is needed as the case involves complicated nuances of Greek and international law. A new date for discussion will be set on Wednesday.

AED is a special judicial body composed of justices of Areios Pagos - Greece's supreme court - and by justices of the Council of State - Greece highest administrative court. AED is called to session when the two judicial bodies issue conflicting decision over the same case, as it happened in this instance.

This was one of the very rare instances that AED has been called upon to decide a case.

At stake, in this complex legal battle, are the buildings housing the Goethe Institut and the German Archaeological Society in Athens.

One of the points raised in the German side’s appeal cites a pending ruling by a special high court over the issue of exterritoriality, i.e. whether Greek lower courts retain jurisdiction to hear cases involving foreign states.

The Livadia ruling had initially found in favor of the relatives of 214 Distomo villagers shot by German occupation forces, ordering Germany to pay 9.4 billion drachmas in compensation.

Berlin has consistently refused to entertain the possibility of more compensation payments, saying that no private citizen can sue a state and that Germany has already paid blanket compensation under post-war reparations to Greece.

In 1960, then West Germany paid a total of 115 million German marks to Greek victims of Nazi oppression. The relevant treaty signed between Germany and Greece did not, however, exclude other Greek citizens with claims from coming forward and seeking compensation.

Stathopoulos made his statements in Nuremberg, Germany, where he is participating in a three-day law conference, in his capacity as a university professor. About 1,500 law professionals from 35 countries are participating in the conference.

[12] Ecumenical Patriarch receives Greek agriculture minister

ISTANBUL 15/09/2001 (ANA - A. Kourkoulas)

Anomeritis, accompanied by his associates, briefed the Patriarch on the Balkan Cooperation Agreement which will be signed during his stay.

The agriculture minister expounded to the Patriarch the activities of his ministry, which he said attributed particular importance to the development of an education, which will respect the environment and cooperation with neighboring countries in the sector of agriculture.

[13] Irineos to be enthroned as Jerusalem Patriarch on Saturday

JERUSALEM 15/09/2001 (ANA)

Greek President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos is scheduled to attend

[14] Greece's main opposition leader holds talks in NY with Cyprus' FM

Athens, 15/09/2001 (ANA)

The two men discussed the latest developments in the Cyprus issue, in relation to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan's efforts, as well as Cyprus' European Union accession course.

Karamanlis reiterated ND's position for the soonest possible entry of Cyprus to the EU, and to be definitely in the first group of candidate countries in the EU enlargement.

They also discussed the latest developments in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on the United States and the repercussions, which they are expected to have on US foreign policy, the Middle East and the eastern Mediterranean.

[15] Cyprus' KISOS leader opposes rotating presidency, confederation

Athens, 15/09/2001 (ANA)

Omirou, who replaced Vassos Lyssarides as KISOS leader, said that he was opposed to a rotating presidency or to a confederation, stressing the danger of the Cyprus issue turning from a problem of invasion and occupation to a problem of border and constitutional settlements. He also criticized UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan for "appeasing" Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.

The KISOS leader underlined the need for international initiatives, in order to avert the likelihood of Cyprus being blackmailed to accept an unacceptable solution in order for it to join the European Union.

He also called for a strong message to be delivered that the solution of the Cyprus problem is a prerequisite for harmonious relations between Greece and Turkey.

[16] European New Left representatives meet in Athens

Athens, 15/09/2001 (ANA)

The representatives met to discuss and prepare for their next forum, which will be held in Athens from November 2-4 at the initiative of the Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos).

Other than the preparations for the November summit, talks centered on the terrorist attacks in the US and the possible consequences, which they will have on the world scene.

Taking part in the meeting, other than Synaspismos, were representatives of left-wing parties from Spain, Germany, Italy, Denmark and Norway.

[17] IOC & EU sign cooperation agreement to promote sports values to youths

BRUSSELS 15/09/2001 (ANA - M. Spinthourakis)

The agreement aims to "promote the moral values of sports to European students and to counterbalance the different negative examples of the athletics current affairs," the press release of the Commission said.

IOC Chairman Jacques Rogge noted that it was a timely decision as the next Olympic Games in 2004 will be held in the European Union, in Athens, "this event should be taken as an advantage, which we should benefit from to promote educational, social and cultural values of sports by young Europeans".

[18] Greek budget revenues up 8.88 percent in August

Athens, 15/09/2001 (ANA)

A finance ministry report said that budget revenues in the first eight months of 2001 increased by 9.0 percent, exceeding a budget target for an 8.0 percent annual rise.

Tax agencies' revenues rose 8.64 percent in August and by 7.0 percent in the January-August period, customs' revenues were 3.81 percent and 4.49 percent higher, respectively, while value added tax revenues jumped 12.8 percent in August and by 10.92 percent in the first eight months of the year.

Greece's exports boom in 2000, by an impressive 18.5 per cent: Greek exports rose by 18.5 per cent during 2000, the highest since 1990, a Eurostat report, parts of which were published by the Northern Greece's Exporters Association, noted.

Greek exports rose in value to 11.6 billion euros, the report stated, adding that the reasons behind this impressive jump was the drop in the euro's value compared to the dollar, while the normalization of conditions in Kosovo further strengthened Greece's position in the Balkans.

The report also noted that the increased crude oil prices, which in turn forced prices petroleum by products up, benefited Greek exporters of petroleum products to countries in the region.

The export sector to witness the best performance in 2000 was petroleum product manufacturing with 1.7 billion drachmas in revenues and 14 per cent of the total exports, while the second placed the sector of knit clothing with a total value of exports reaching 1.1 billion euros or 9.3 per cent of Greece's total exports.

[19] Greek bourse falls in wake of terrorist attack

Athens, 15/09/2001 (ANA)

The impact of the terrorist attacks on the world economy, however, is too soon to be evaluated, although many fear that it could lead the US economy into recession.

World investors are anxiously waiting to see the reaction of Wall Street on Monday, when it will reopen after a four-day closure for the first time in the market's history.

In the same time, with international markets stabilizing with the help of a concerted intervention by central banks, the Athens Stock Exchange collapsed in the week under review, with the general index ending more than 15 percent lower in the week, or almost 33 percent since the start of the year.

Analysts said the market's sharp decline was badly savaging the country's mutual funds sector. Domestic equity and combined mutual funds saw their negative returns fall further this year, in some cases exceeding -40 percent, although small investors have not yet showed signs of panic.

During the week under review, three commercial banks, EFG Eurobank Ergasias, Citibank and General Bank, announced savings and lending interest rate cuts, a move likely to be followed by other banks.

No rise seen on Athens bourse before ruling party congress: A steady upward trend on the Athens Stock Exchange is unlikely to emerge until the second half of October due to political uncertainty before a congress of the ruling PASOK party, Schroder Salomon Smith Barney (SSSB) said on Friday.

Prime Minister Costas Simitis brought the congress forward to the middle of October from spring 2002, when it was originally due to be held.

The market report by SSSB analyst Miranda Xafa said that stocks on the Athens bourse were currently regarded as low in price compared with other eurozone markets due to a fresh decline recently, but this was probably not enough to counter the political effect.

In a past analysis, Xafa had said the government was a hostage to powerful trade unions that controlled about a fifth of the vote in the October congress; and that the unions were against the sale of majority holdings in state firms.

Furthermore, it was unlikely that the government would speed up structural changes to the economy after the party congress as local elections were due in October 2002, Xafa had said earlier.

In her current report, the analyst also forecast that Greek growth this year would be about 3.6 percent of gross domestic product, lower than an original estimate of 4.0 percent.

SSSB is a member of Citigroup, the world's largest financial and banking corporation.

Greek stocks plunge 5.38 pct, outlook uncertain: Equity prices plunged to their lowest levels since early 1998 on the Athens Stock Exchange on Friday, hit by a volatile international environment and by a wave of selling by domestic institutional investors during the last hour of trading.

Traders said that domestic mutual funds liquidated positions in blue chip stocks leading smaller investors to a panic exit from smaller and medium capitalization stocks.

Talk that several Greek securities firms were unable to cover their liabilities to the market's depository - although officially denied - also contributed to the creation of a very negative climate in the Greek bourse.

The general index ended 5.38 percent lower at 2,248.39 points, off the day's lows of 2,226.89 points, for a net loss of 15.07 percent in the week.

Turnover was a low 168.03 million euros, or 57.25 billion drachmas.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks ended at 1,268.79 points, off 4.86 percent, the FTSE/ASE 40 index plunged 8.26 percent to 231.54 points, and the Small Cap index ended at 668.39 points, losing 8.81 percent.

The parallel market index for smaller capitalization stocks ended at 207.77 points, off 7.83 percent.

Equity futures down, tracking main market:

Equity futures on the Athens Derivatives Exchange on Friday finished at a discount, tracking the main market in brisk trade.

The underlying FTSE/ASE-20 index for heavily traded stocks and blue chips shed 4.86 percent; and the underlying FTSE/ASE-40 for medium capitalization stocks ended 8.26 percent down.

Changing hands were 9,626 contracts on turnover of 54.7 million euros, traders said.

Prices fall in heavy trade: Bond prices in the domestic secondary market on Friday finished lower in heavy trade focusing on 10-year paper, with buying restricted to short-term securities.

The Greek benchmark 10-year bond showed a yield of 5.29 percent, and the yield spread over German bunds was 51 basis points.

Turnover through the central bank's electronic system totalled 910 million euros.

Sell orders accounted for the bulk of turnover.

[20] Olympics organizers, Athens airport sign cooperation memo

Athens, 15/09/2001 (ANA)

Under the terms of the agreement, signed by committee president Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki and the head of the airport, the cooperation between the two sides covers the run-up to the Games, their duration and the period after the event.

Angelopoulos-Daskalaki told the signing ceremony that the airport would play a key role in the arrival and departure of hundreds of thousands of athletes, visitors, VIPs and journalists.

[21] Legendary laika singer Kazantzidis dies after bout with cancer

Athens, 15/09/2001 (ANA)

Kazantzidis, who was immensely popular in the country and with expatriate Greeks and considered by many as the most prolific and stirring singer of Greek popular music, or 'laika', had worked with many of Greece's most renowned composers, and one of the first composers he ever worked with described Kazandzidis' voice as "made for expressing anguish".

Kazantzidis was born on August 29, 1931, and at the tender age of 13 lost his father, a resistance fighter who died from the

hardships and torture suffered during the Nazi occupation of Greece.

Kazantzidis' life as a young boy was full of hardships. He worked as a baggage-carrier in Athens' central Omonia Square and at an inter-state bus company, roast chestnuts at open markets (laiki agora), and was a laborer at the New Ionia textile mills.

His military service was equally hard, as he spent a long term on Makronissos island to his political convictions.

But his life changed when the owner of a factory in the Perissos working district gave him a guitar, which he would spend hours playing, channeling his hardships and feelings into music and songs and singing mostly about the anguish of the hardworking factory workers and the Greeks who were forced to emigrate abroad to seek a living, leaving behind their beloved homeland which was trying to mend the wounds of war.

Kazantzidis made his first appearance in a night club, in Kifissia, in the early 1950s, and two years later he made his first studio recording, phonographing a song by renowned laika composer Apostolos Kaldaras, titled 'I'm going swimming, come along if you like".

This was quickly followed by his first commercial success, "The Suitcases" by another popular composer, Yannis Papaioannou, and then a string of more successes, all talking about love, anguish and the hardships of the working class.

His career was marked by collaborations with most of the best-loved and renowned composers of Greece, including Manolis Hiotis, Yorgos Mitsakis, Vassilis Tsitsanis, Manos Loizos, Manos Hatzidakis, Miki Theodorakis and Stavros Xarhakos.

In 1976, after the circulation of his hit album "Yparcho", Kazantzidis stopped recording. He spent much of his time fishing, his favorite hobby, in Aghios Konstantinos, Lokrida prefecture, where he spent most of the months of the year, saying he felt freedom and tranquility fishing with his friends, far away from the commercial circles of the music industry, which he felt had betrayed him.

His health problems first emerged in early April, when he was hospitalized at the Athens Medical Center with problems in his left lung. This was followed by a trip to Germany a month later for treatment at a specialized cancer hospital, where he stayed three weeks.

Kazantzidis was rushed again to the Athens Medical Center in early July, where he died.

Condolences over death of legendary Greek singer Kazantzidis

Political leaders on Friday sent messages of condolences to the family of Stelios Kazantzidis, one of Greece's most popular singers, who died earlier in the day at the age of 70 from cancer.

Prime Minister Costas Simitis expressed his "deep grief" over his death and said that "that our authentic popular culture lost one of its significant representatives."

Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos said that "the voice of Stelios Kazantzidis is in the soul of every Greek" and that he will be remembered through his songs.

Main opposition New Democracy Party (ND) leader Costas Karamanlis said that "Stelios Kazantzidis, with his unique talent and voice, sang with passion and touched the soul and heart of every Greek."

Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Secretary Aleka Papariga said that the death of Kazantzidis "caused grief to the people who adored and loved him," and that his career lasted "half a century."

Coalition of the Left and Progress Party (Synaspismos) also bid "farewell" to the legendary singer.

Athens Mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos said that through his songs, Kazantzidis "knew how to speak to our people." He added that "through his unique voice, he will always remain alive in our memory."

[22] President Clerides returns

LARNACA 15/09/2001 (CNA/ANA)

President Clerides returned home Friday evening from Montreal via Zurich. A Swissair plane carrying him to New York on Tues-day had to divert to Canada after the closure of the US airspace because of the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington. He was bound to meet UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on Wednesday.

Speaking at Larnaca airport, Clerides stressed that the new situation created after Tuesday's terrorist attacks in the US should be followed with great caution and with no hurry and noted that Cyprus acting in the right way denounced the terrorist acts and expressed its sympathy to the relatives of the victims.

Clerides said he intended to look into the current situation along with the National Council (top advisory body to the President on the handling of the Cyprus problem) in order to "decide how we will proceed, always in concert with the Greek government." He also referred to the possibility of the postponement of the forthcoming UN General Assembly, which he is scheduled to address on September 25. He added the Secretary General might brief the Security Council on the Cyprus issue at the end of September. "I don't think that the Cyprus problem has been shelved but when there are such problems big countries have to deal with, other problems remain aside," he added.

Invited to say whether he believes that Turkey's role will be upgraded after last Tuesday's events and how such a possibility will be confronted President Clerides said that "surely we will look into all matters."

Replying to another question Clerides said he did not think that

western powers would request Cyprus' contribution to an operation against countries harboring terrorism.

[23] Cyprus FM meets Arab ambassadors in US:

WASHINGTON 15/09/2001 (CNA/ANA)

Speaking to CNA from New York where he is now, the minister said "I have explained to the ambassadors that President Glafcos Clerides is ready to meet Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash within the framework of the UN-led talks and within the parameters these talks set out."

President Clerides, responding positively to an invitation by the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan for the resumption of peace talks in New York on 12 September, was on his way to the UN seat on Tuesday, only to be diverted to Canada, as a result of the terrorist attacks against the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. The President returned to Cyprus this afternoon.

Present at the dinner were a representative of the Islamic Conference and the ambassadors of Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates to the UN.

Kasoulides also had a working lunch in New York on Thursday with UN Secretary General's Special Adviser on Cyprus Alvaro de Soto for a review of recent developments in UN efforts to resume the stalled peace talks, in the light of the refusal of Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash to accept the UN chief's invitation for talks.

As Alvaro de Soto had told CNA, after his return to New York on Monday, Thursday was his first day at work to try and catch up with what is happening.

Earlier Thursday Kasoulides met with Under Secretary General for peacekeeping operations Jean Marie Guehenno and discussed with him a wide range of issues relating to the UN peacekeeping force in Cyprus (UNFICYP).

[24] DM comments on possible contribution of Cyprus to NATO operations

NICOSIA 15/09/2001 (CNA/ANA)

Invited to say what kind of assistance could Cyprus provide to a NATO's operation against countries, which give refuge or accommodate terrorists Hasikos noted, "Cyprus is not a NATO member and consequently has no commitment in participating in this potential operation."

"However, Cyprus, as a candidate country for accession to the EU has made its contribution to the European Defense Force which comprises mainly of providing facilities to military forces which would launch operation in the broader region, like, for example facilities in terms of airports, ports, radars, research and rescue, etc," Hasikos noted and added that "when the EU decides to contribute to this NATO effort and requests us to dispose of these facilities then the Government of the Republic of Cyprus will look into the matter in all seriousness and take its decisions accordingly."

Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article