On Sunday, shortly after voting at an indoor arena adjacent to the Athens Olympic stadium, where the congress is being held, Simitis said:

"PASOK's congress is taking place at a time when international developments are casting a heavy shadow over our country. This necessitates unity, in order for us to provide answers and to check situations ...

"This was exactly the message that the congress provided: Unity to strengthen the country's international position; unity for stability in our economy to exist; unity in order for there to be high rates of development, so that a heightened social cohesion and solidarity emerges," he added.

Skandalidis: Meanwhile, when asked by reporters about the composition of a new Cabinet that the prime minister is expected to announce in the coming period, outgoing PASOK secretary Skandalidis said: "I don't know if I'll have a seat, Akis (Tsohatzopoulos) though, will have a seat".

Skandalidis is expected to be succeeded by top PASOK cadre and Public Works Minister Costas Laliotis.

On his part, Foreign Minister George Papandreou said the 6th PASOK congress will provide the ruling party with a new impetus and a new mandate so that it can proceed with an in-depth reorganization.

Finally, Tsohatzopoulos on Sunday told reporters after casting his ballot that, "with our vote, we are contributing to the completion of this procedure, one that yesterday concluded, impressively, with a new political agreement."

FM Papandreou calls for renewal, says Simitis is party leader with fresh mandate:

The ruling PASOK party has a leader, Costas Simitis, "and in fact with a fresh mandate," foreign minister George Papandreou said Saturday, addressing the party's 6th Congress, and shrugged off what he called the "succession talk" as "extremely negative". "We have a party president, Costas Simitis, and indeed with a fresh mandate," Papandreou said.

As for his own position, he said it had always been crystal-clear: "I have never refused to assume my responsibilities when PASOK requested it, but the position of greatest honor is that of PASOK member".

He called on fellow delegates at the Congress to "unite our hearts and, beginning tomorrow, help in the renewal of the movement".

Earlier in his address Papandreou spoke of the changes needed to be made to the party, in the framework of a "PASOK of democracy, peace and solidarity".

"PASOK is a social force that can express society," he said, and rejected the idea of a "party of mechanisms", which he said would be "lost in society" as such a party would not be able to stand up against the established interests, or to formulate views.

"PASOK can break the mechanisms, fight corruption, enter into the service of the citizen. We want a movement of participation, composition, unity, without camps," Papandreou said, and reiterated his proposal for "universal voting" for election of the party leader by the party's rank and file and of the party secretary by the Congress.

"The dialogue in society has already begun. If we wish to prove our determination for a renewal of substance, we must decide -- as soon as today, if it is possible -- that in 2002 we shall hold a Congress for statutorial changes in the party", he continued.

Papandreou further spoke of the 'barbarity' of the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States and the quandary of choosing between "deepening of the democratic procedures to reinforce the democratic institutions" and "becoming witnesses of isolationism, fanaticism and sui generis fascism".

He said today had a voice that was heeded. "The strongest voice does not belong to the rich and strong, but to the one who remains devoted to his principles," Papandreou said, adding that the party's priority was to "not forget the tradition created by Andreas Papandreou and carried on by Costas Simitis, namely the tradition of peace, patriotism and democracy".

As for anti-American sentiment in Greece, an issue which he said had been broached to him abroad, Papandreou noted that there had been "historic and psychological reasons" for it.

"We are carrying on a tradition of principles, meaning that we stand for democracy, international law, the peaceful settlement of differences, and against terrorism and violence," he said.

Turning to Cyprus, he said that "with the struggles of PASOK and (late deputy foreign minister) Yannos Kranidiotis, Greece will accede the European Union regardless of a solution to the Cyprus problem".

On Turkey, he said Greece was promoting the neighboring country's European course, its approach to a "community of principles that respects the international court of justice at The Hague, international law, etc.".

"If Turkey respects those principles, it will be our friend and we will support it, otherwise Greece is prepared to defend its borders in all ways and with every means," the foreign minister said.

Referring to his scheduled trip to Damascus on Sunday, Papandreou said that PASOK was "reviving" the traditional friendship and cooperation with the Arab World.

He said his trip to Damascus was an "effort to contribute to world peace".

"Greece is determined in the struggle for peace and cooperation among peoples," he said, adding that when peace finally prevailed in the Middle East and cooperation between Israelis and Palestinians "it will once again be PASOK that will plant an olive tree in Andreas Papandreou Square" to honor the tradition of peace launched by the late PASOK founder.

Laliotis reiterates candidacy for PASOK Secretary: Environment, Town Planning and Public Works Minister Costas Laliotis, reiterating his candidacy for election for the post of Secretary of the ruling PASOK party's Central Committee, told the PASOK congress on Saturday that he would assume his duty for the future of PASOK.

Earlier, Laliotis said that PASOK must be daring and for this reason "we must give creative battles for what is yet to come."

Interior Minister Vasso Papandreou said that "it was time for there to be a great agreement within PASOK for the new path of the Movement." She added that "it is time for us to move aggressively, with new strategic choices for our country and for PASOK. And for this to happen, we need great agreements. We need a great social agreement."

Members address PASOK Congress: The four-day 6th Congress of the ruling PASOK party continued Saturday with addresses by party and government members.

Press and Media minister Dimitris Reppas backed the "unity of all the PASOK members", and voiced opposition to the idea of "carte blanche authorization", but also to "creating a white cell to render useless the national capital called 'Costas Simitis'".

He also called on the party youth to "hold high your ideals and guarantee that the river will not turn back", adding that they could live without authority, but not without their principles and conscience.

PASOK Eurodeputy Alexandros Baltas reiterated his interest in the post of PASOK secretary, but added that if Costas Laliotis was elected to the post "I will applaud him".

Outgoing central committee member and former PASOK Youth president Tonia Antoniou said that the progressive proposal the ruling party must put forward was "just distribution of the national product, modernization of public administration, reduction of the working hours, guarantee of social security rights", and the cost for those should be shouldered by "those who have", as they had benefited from the redistribution of wealth effected over the past two years via the stock market and the Community funds.

"We must commit ourselves to reversing this situation," she said.

She intimated that certain government policies had distanced PASOK from large population groups such as the farmers, the unemployed and the youth.

Culture minister Evangelos Venizelos described as "outdated scenario" the thoughts put forward in the run-up to the Congress that a change was needed at the party and government helm.

"The people's mandate was clearly and personally for (premier) Costas Simitis," Venizelos said.

As for the PASOK of the 21st century, he said the ruling party needed to evolve into an open party of the citizens, a decentralized party with cadres capable of properly representing it in the media, with rank and file organizations that operate politically and not bureaucratically.

"We cannot speak of the direct election of the (party) leader without these ideological prerequisites," he said.

Israeli embassy clarifies minister Sneh's address to PASOK Congress: The Israeli embassy in Athens on Saturday issued a press release clarifying the greeting addressed by Israel's transport minister Ephraim Sneh to the PASOK Congress, saying there had been some problems and misunderstandings in the simultaneous translation.

The embassy said it was issuing an "accurate translation" (in Greek) of the disputed parts of Sneh's greeting, delivered Friday to the PASOK Congress.

According to the Embassy announcement, Sneh said: "Over the past 12 months, 190 Israeli citizens -- men women and children -- had met with tragic deaths. Unfortunately, nearly half of them were murdered by members of 'Al Fatah', Mr. Arafat's Movement. This is the hand for peace that Mr. Arafat proposed yesterday" (in his own greeting to the PASOK Congress).

"In our country, every restaurant, every discotheque and every bus stop is a target for suicide bombers. The organizations that carry out these attacks are Islamic extremist organizations, which are the spiritual brothers of Osama bin Laden," Sneh said, according to the Embassy announcement.

"PASOK has the privilege of ruling Greece and it will lead your country to the future. We, the Labor Party of Israel, twice won elections with the slogan of peace with the Palestinians, but we lost the government twice because the response to all our peace proposals was bombs, bombs and more bombs," the embassy cited Sneh as saying.

Sneh also said that Greece, which was the EU member geographically closes to the Middle East, "must exercise your influence so that an end may be put to terrorism and violence, and you must support peace in the Middle East. I am certain that if you do that, you will contribute to the good and benefit of the peoples of the Middle East, just as you contribute to the good and benefit of your own people", the embassy statement added.

[02] ND leader criticizes premier during Ioannina visit

Athens, 15/10/2001 (ANA)

Commenting on premier Costas Simitis' opening address to the ongoing PASOK Congress, Karamanlis said that at a time when international conditions and the country's priorities required "political stature, a language of understanding and high responsibility", the head of the government was "acting like a petty party leader".

"At the dawn of the 21st century, we are obligated to find a language of dialogue, to make every effort to achieve understanding," Karamanlis said during a visit to Ioannina, adding that New Democracy was doing precisely than.

He said those who were trying to draw petty political benefits on the basis of disagreement, exacerbation, fanaticism and trenches had no relationship to modern Greek society and were offering 'bad services'.

"It is simply an effort to grasp onto a past that has closed for this country and its citizens, regardless of their individual political preferences," he said.

Later, during a visit to a military outpost in the village of Argyrochori, near the border with Albania, Karamanlis said the main concern of the State should be to ensure the safety of its citizens.

"The State must protect the citizens, strike out at terrorism and organized crime, both local and imported," he said.

"A well-governed State must know who comes in and out of the country, what he/she is doing in the country, and his/her character", Karamanlis said, adding that it was necessary to have a clearly-defined migration policy" that discerns between "the economic refugees, people who are looking for a better fate, and criminal elements".

Greece was also obliged to persist, within the European Union, for the formulation of a uniform European migration policy.

"It is an hour of responsibility for everyone. We believe that national policies are needed today on the major issues", which could be achieved through dialogue and national understanding only if the dividing lines of the past were left behind, Karamanlis said.

Karamanlis also visited a border guard post in Delvinaki before returning to Ioannina to board a plane for Athens.

ND Central Committee Secretary: The Secretary of the Central Committee of the main opposition New Democracy (ND) party, Evangelos Meimerakis, addressed the Central Committee of the party's Youth Organization on Sunday, criticizing the ruling PASOK's congress.

"As is known, party congresses are meant to discuss the problems of society and of the citizens, to put forward ideas and proposals and mainly to find solutions to confront these problems," Meimerakis said.

He said that the ruling PASOK congress only managed "to achieve an internal redistribution of power," while there was "a complete lack of political substance and indifference to the problems of the citizen." Meimerakis added that it was therefore a natural consequence "for the citizen to also be indifferent to PASOK and its policy."

"As of tomorrow, there will be the usual scene. Superficial 'unity', compromises and reshuffles of convenience."

Meimerakis noted that Prime Minister Costas Simitis' speech "closed the way it started, with provocative danger mongering."

He concluded by saying that "without a clear policy, the prime minister prides himself of arrogance and the absence of political responsibility."

[03] Greek foreign minister holds talks with Syrian political leadership

DAMASCUS, 15/10/2001 (ANA - M. Savva)

Following his meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, which Papandreou described as "useful and constructive," the Greek foreign minister said that Syria plays a very important role in the region and the Arab world and that the two men decided that this close cooperation could develop into a broader dialogue.

Papandreou stressed that the crisis which broke out in the aftermath of the terrorist attack in the United States could be regarded as an opportunity to handle regional crises.

In his lengthy meeting with the Syrian president, Papandreou discussed an initiative which was processed quite a few years ago by the late president Hafez-al Assad and the late Greek prime minister Andreas Papandreou. It concerns the idea of the convening of an international conference against terrorism under the auspices of the United Nations at which representatives of the western, Arab and Moslem world will be called upon to attend.

This initiative had been discussed at a meeting the then Greek prime minister had in Damascus in 1995.

The Greek foreign minister, in a press conference he gave following his talks in Damascus, said that Syria plays a particularly major role in the region and can contribute to a solution of the Palestinian problem. Papandreou said he supported an overall solution, based on UN resolutions and stressed that the international coalition against terrorism is very difficult to operate when there is such tension on a regional level.

Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara, when asked by journalists whether in the eventuality of his country becoming a target of military operations in case it does not answer satisfactorily to American demands, said "I will make no comment."

According to reports, during the meeting Papandreou had with the Syrian president, it was made clear that Syria would wish to receive even symbolic messages by the United States, in order for it to be included in the international efforts against terrorism. In any case, the fact that Syria had been accepted at the United Nations Security Council constitutes proof that the alignment of Damascus in the condemnation of international terrorism could bring about a further improvement in Syria's relations with the United States.

Papandreou also had talks with Patriarch Ignatios of Antiochia, with whom he discussed the proposal for an international conference to be held of religious leaders from the various religious faiths.

Papandreou briefed his fellow speakers on the contacts he had over the past ten days in Moscow, Washington and Europe, and committed himself to brief Greece's partners in the West on the contacts he had in Damascus.

[04] Stephanopoulos inaugurates museum in Ambelakia

Athens, 15/10/2001 (ANA)

The semi-mountainous communities that comprised the Ambelakia district were a noted economic and cultural hub in the two centuries before Greece gained its independence from Ottoman rule. In fact, the region's first co-operative was founded there two centuries ago.

[05] No case of anthrax disease at Greek hospital, minister assures

Athens, 15/10/2001 (ANA)

The rumors had raged since Saturday when a woman who came from the United States went to the outpatients section of the hospital believing that some of the symptoms she had were related with the anthrax disease.

The microbiological laboratory went on the alert and all the necessary tests were made. Assurances were given that the woman had not been affected by the anthrax disease.

The reconfirmation of the negative results was made by Health Minister Alekos Papadopoulos who was briefed on the matter. The minister said that the woman was simply afraid that she had contracted the anthrax disease and went for tests.

Papadopoulos said that Greece was taking all the necessary measures and that the country possessed antidotes for the diseases such as antibiotics and other types of medicine.

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