Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 01-12-11

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

CONTENTS

[01] FM objects to U.S. – British proposals on Turkey – ESDP relations

[02] Defense ministry bill tabled in Parliament

[03] Greek defense minister in Albania this week

[04] ND leader says problem of Greek economy political

[05] Gov't spokesman replies to ND leader's newspaper interview

[06] Coalition of the Left and Progress turns down cooperation proposal of PASOK

[07] ND leader to tour W. Balkans, visit Brussels as EPP vice-president

[08] Greek-Cypriots back Cyprus' EU entry, poll says

[09] Greek PM continues private visit in Germany

[10] Athens' EU agenda in health sector outlined in Paris

[11] Gov't spokesman on Manos mayoral bid speculation

[12] Ecumenical Patriarch announces initiative for dialogue of religions

[13] Gov't to speed up privatization

[14] Opposition blasts government's economic policy

[15] Farmers protest, block roads throughout Greece

[16] Greek farming needs long-range planning, conference says

[17] Gov't carries out plan to extend summer tourism season

[18] Greek minister supports Belgian proposals for research funding

[19] Greece to face EU action related to gathering CO2 emission data

[20] Stocks slump in thin trade

[21] ND's Karamanlis briefed on 2004 preparations

[22] SAE congress focuses on 2004, expatriates' participation

[23] Parliament President opens exhibition on 'Children in War'

[24] PM addresses message on 'World Children's Day'

[25] Amnesty charges authorities of turning away asylum seekers

[26] Athens seminar on sex trade, trafficking in women

[27] UN resolution on return or restitution of cultural property

[28] Greek-Turkish committee for 2008 European Soccer Championship meets in Athens

[29] MPs call for respect of EU accession 'road map'

[01] FM objects to U.S. – British proposals on Turkey – ESDP relations

BRUSSELS, 11/12/2001 (ANA - Ő. Zitouniati)

Foreign Minister George Papandreou said that Greece submitted to the EU Council of General Affairs in Brussels on Monday its objections on the U.S.-British proposals which concern Turkey's relations with the European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP) which is being shaped.

Consequently, the issue will be referred to the EU summit in Laeken on December 14-15 or even later, if a mutually accepted solution is not found by either the heads of state or government.

"Despite the fact the we view as urgent the disengagement of the European defense from the Turkish demand to have special treatment in the EU's defense decisions, to the degree with which the structures of NATO are used, we cannot accept the existence of special provisions," Papandreou said.

The Greek foreign minister told the Council that certain principles should be secured, such as the autonomy of the EU's decisions towards countries which are not members, in accordance with the Nice summit, but at the same time the equal treatment of all the European countries which are members of NATO, without them participating in the EU (Norway, Iceland and Turkey), Papandreou said.

If there is a provision of particular consultations, it should be of a consultative nature and concern all the NATO countries which do not participate in the EU, he said.

Within this general context, Papandreou said, "we are open to start negotiations on a diplomatic level until Laeken, without excluding the extension of the pending issue to the next six months of the Spanish presidency, or even later, during the discussion on the future of Europe (during the assembly which starts in March 2002 and lasts until June 2003)."

Replying to reporters, Papandreou acknowledged that pressure was being exerted on the part of Greece's EU partners, in particular by Britain, The Netherlands and Spain, for the issue of European defense to be closed the soonest possible. He stressed, however, that Athens would continue to defend its view which is similar to that of Portugal's.

He avoided speaking in detail on the U.S.-British proposals and on the Greek positions, beyond those on the specific principles, stating that he would brief the Greek Parliament on Thursday.

Papandreou noted that the EU foreign ministers also had separate talks with their Israeli and Palestinian counterparts in an effort to break the deadlock and create confidence-building measures for the resumption of peace talks.

[02] Defense ministry bill tabled in Parliament

Athens, 11/12/2001 (ANA)

The bill provides for wider powers over the Armed Forces by the chief of the Armed Forces General Staff, with more specialized and deep involvement in matters concerning two or more of the three branches of the armed forces.

The bill will also create a General Secretariat for Economic Planning and Defense Investments, which unifies the general directorates for procurements, defense industry - research and technology and the service for utilizing and transferring army camps.

[03] Greek defense minister in Albania this week

Athens, 11/12/2001 (ANA)

A joint press conference is scheduled after the two ministers' meeting.

Albanian President Rexhep Meidani and Prime Minister Ilir Meta will also receive Papantoniou, while Greece's ambassador to Tirana will host a reception in his honor as well.

Other contacts include separate meetings on Tuesday with Albanian Foreign Minister Arta Dade and Archbishop of Tirana and All Albania Anastasios.

On Wednesday, the Greek minister - who was shifted from the national economy to the defense ministry following a government reshuffle in October - will tour the "ELDAL-3" contingent's camp and a military hospital in Gjirokaster, southern Albania.

[04] ND leader says problem of Greek economy political

Athens, 11/12/2001 (ANA)

Karamanlis called on the government to "abandon its options urgently", adding that the blend of policy it followed to enable the country's entry to Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) was mistaken.

"Overtaxing harms the investing climate, it halts the development process, pressures the competitiveness of the economy and burdens households excessively. So-called creative accounting means secret debts and the removal of revenues from the budgets of coming years," he said.

Karamanlis, criticizing the government, said "it does nothing else than demolish all that had been planned before it had been reshuffled."

"The mere fact that the same persons, under the same prime minister, are overturning the options of their predecessors from different positions indicates that this government has no program, target and sustained policy," he said.

Karamanlis termed the state budget false, saying that with such budgets the real situation does not change and spoke of "creative accounting" and "secret debts" which are placed accumulatively after the next elections and noted that "it is a practice which looks like the placing of a mine at the entrance to the next four years."

Karamanlis further said that the country has two extremely important factors before it which are EU inflows through the 3rd Community Support Framework (CSF) and the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.

Outlining his proposals, Karamanlis spoke of the need for defining a national strategy to attract foreign investments and a national strategy for exports.

He also reiterated his positions on structural changes, market deregulation, an end to state monopolies and tax reform which will simplify the tax system.

[05] Gov't spokesman replies to ND leader's newspaper interview

Athens, 11/12/2001 (ANA)

"Greece is neither bleak nor ruined," Protopappas said and added that reality itself disproves Karamanlis absolutely. He went on to say that it is not possible for the main opposition party leader to be trying to support his policy on a fictitious reality.

Protopappas further said that this tactic by Karamanlis proves a lack of arguments, propositions and any other outlet on the part of ND.

In another development, Protopappas attributed statements by Interior Minister Costas Skandalidis on possible backing for Stephanos Manos by the ruling PASOK party for the Athens mayorship to a misinterpretation.

"I think Mr. Skandalidis' statement was not interpreted correctly," Protopappas said, adding that the interior minister merely stated that the committee created by PASOK, under the chairmanship of the party's Central Committee Secretary Costas Laliotis, is examining all proposals.

[06] Coalition of the Left and Progress turns down cooperation proposal of PASOK

Athens, 11/12/2001 (ANA)

His comments were made in response to recent statements made by Labor Minister Dimitris Reppas and those by other government cadres.

[07] ND leader to tour W. Balkans, visit Brussels as EPP vice-president

Athens, 11/12/2001 (ANA)

On Monday afternoon he chaired a meeting of his party's political analysis team where, according to sources, the Cyprus issue and the Euro-army issue were discussed.

[08] Greek-Cypriots back Cyprus' EU entry, poll says

BRUSSELS, 11/12/2001 (ANA - B. Demiris)

The poll was conducted among the 13 candidate-states for EU enlargement and gauged levels of support among citizens.

In Cyprus, the poll was carried out with a sample of 500 people by Cymar Market Research.

According to the results, 51 per cent of Greek Cypriots consider EU entry a positive event, 31 per cent consider it neither positive nor negative and 13 per cent see it as negative. Sixty-two per cent of those responding said they would vote for EU entry in a referendum and 25 per cent said they would vote against.

The results of the poll for all 13 candidate-states showed that 59 per cent view EU entry favorably, 22 per cent considered it neither good nor bad and 10 per cent saw it as negative. In a referendum, 65 per cent said they would vote in favor of EU entry and 18 per cent against.

[09] Greek PM continues private visit in Germany

BERLIN, 11/12/2001 (ANA)

Simitis, who is accompanied by his wife Daphne, will depart for The Hague on Wednesday for a working visit and talks with Dutch Prime Minister Wim Kok.

The two-day European Union summit in Laeken, Belgium on Dec. 14 and 15 follows on the Greek prime minister's schedule.

Greek diplomatic sources emphasized on Monday that no official or unofficial meetings with German government cadres are planned during Simitis' stay in the country, where he is being hosted by his brother.

[10] Athens' EU agenda in health sector outlined in Paris

Athens, 11/12/2001 (ANA)

Papadopoulos also spoke at a symposium to mark the 20th anniversary of ELGA, a Greek-French non-governmental, non-profit organization established in 1981.

The symposium was held at the French national assembly, while Papadopoulos addressed the topic of public policy on a regional level.

Conversely, bilateral cooperation was also discussed in his talks with Kouchner, the former head of the UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK).

The French minister is expected to visit Greece next March.

[11] Gov't spokesman on Manos mayoral bid speculation

Athens, 11/12/2001 (ANA)

"I don't think Mr. (Costas) Skandalidis' comment was correctly interpreted," government spokesman Christos Protopappas said at his regular press briefing on Monday.

He merely added that ruling PASOK is "examining all solutions" in regards to its candidate lists for next year's municipal and prefectural elections.

Manos, who served as ND's national economy minister, among others, later founded the Liberals Party following a falling out with ND, before suspending its activities last month.

[12] Ecumenical Patriarch announces initiative for dialogue of religions

Athens, 11/12/2001 (ANA)

He made the announcement during his meetings with Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos and Macedonia-Thrace Minister George Paschalidis in Thessaloniki, northern Greece, where he participated in the General Assembly meetings of the World Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE).

The prelate of the Orthodox Church departed for Istanbul on Monday afternoon.

In statements to the press, Venizelos noted that "the ministry of culture supports the efforts of the Ecumenical Patriarchate for the intra-religious dialogue", adding that "the Ecumenical Patriarchate is ready to offer its assistance for the preparations of the Olympic Games".

Paschalidis stressed that initiatives such as the one for the dialogue between religions will strengthen the peacemaking efforts not only in the Balkans, but around the world, especially after the tragic events of Sept. 11.

[13] Gov't to speed up privatization

Athens, 11/12/2001 (ANA)

"Greece has major opportunities, but time is not its ally," Christodoulakis told a conference in Athens arranged by the Hellenic-American Chamber.

"Only an acceleration of growth initiatives can enable the country to win the struggle at the right time, and promote real convergence with the most advanced economies of the European Union," the minister said.

The first bill, destined for parliament by the end of this year, is to provide incentives for the creation of robust enterprises.

"On their part, companies have to respond directly, to move towards alliances, cooperation and mergers with their European equivalents. We now have to look at the European market," Christodoulakis said.

The second bill, which is to reach parliament by February, aims to attract investment from abroad.

The third bill will round off the government's phased overhaul of the taxation system. It is due in parliament at the end of the first half of 2002.

"Tax reform will be completed within 2002. It is centered on greater simplification of the taxation system, strengthening of the economy's growth aspect and a fairer distribution of the tax burden," the minister said.

The fourth bill will help to support returns on investment and allow for greater involvement by banks in the evaluation of investments that require funding. The bill is due for parliament at the end of the first half of next year.

[14] Opposition blasts government's economic policy

Athens, 11/12/2001 (ANA)

The main opposition New Democracy party's economics spokesman, George Alogoskoufis, said that the government had focused totally on nominal convergence with the European Union, neglecting real alignment.

The error in emphasis had led to higher unemployment, created problems in competitiveness, increased unfairness in the distribution of income, and lowered the margins for growth, Alogoskoufis said.

He cited EU surveys that gave Greece low rankings for productivity and competitiveness, also for having a high public debt, stagnant exports, and declining farmers' income.

Alogoskoufis also charged that the national budget for 2002 should be more honest, avoiding what he called creative accounting to cover up shortcomings.

The leader of the Coalition of the Left and Progress, Nikos Constantopoulos, told the conference that the economy's staying power was less than it should be because the government had failed to complete preparations for monetary union in time.

He also said that social protection was lacking to back low incomes, and that the government had no integrated policy to tackle unemployment and promote structural reform of the economy.

The budget for 2002 was antagonistic to working people, Constantopoulos added.

[15] Farmers protest, block roads throughout Greece

Athens, 11/12/2001 (ANA)

The meeting decided that tractors would be used in the protests but not to set up long-term roadblocks on national highways, so as not to lose the public's support.

A three-day tractor roadblock sealed off Trikala's central square, organized by the farming unions "Anixi" and "Solidarity". Tractors rolled into the streets around the square at around 11:00 am and half an hour later their owners abandoned the vehicles and returned home, leaving a rally committee behind to look after them.

Farmer unions said this form of protest had been decided on as a way organizing a mass demonstration without losing the support of other workers and professions.

Farmers on Crete blocked access to the Giofyrou junction on Monday as a protest against the government's "indifference" to their problems.

They presented a resolution with their demands to Crete's regional authority, including a rise in farming pensions, a change in policy on olive oil subsidies, a change in regulations for raisins and exempting the countryside from land usage taxes, among others.

The turnout for a farmer protest in Patras was not very big, though the protestors drove in convoy to the prefecture offices in tractors and farm vehicles, where they emptied out potatoes, olives and oranges at the entrance.

Farmers in Kilkis, meanwhile, blocked the Thessaloniki-Evzones highway for half an hour on Monday at the Polykastro junction in protest over cotton prices, while in Thessaloniki prefecture farmers had ranged their tractors along the Thessaloniki-Yiannitsa highway between the Nea Halkidona and Halastra junctions.

In the northern Greek prefecture of Serres, farmers drove tractors and other farm machinery into villages, slowing down the flow of traffic, while 200 tractors were driven into the central square of Kroni by farmers who held a rally to protest against the measures announced in Larisa by Agriculture Minister George Drys for cotton prices.

Serres farmers demanded at least 300 drachmas per kilo for cotton, while they also opposed plans to stop community subsidies for tobacco after 2003. Serres is one of the major tobacco farming districts in Greece, with over 6,000 tobacco farmers.

In Larisa, meanwhile, another 400 tractors were lined up along either side of the old Volos-Larisa national road on Monday, joining in the three-day peaceful protest.

The relatively low turnout was expected to increase later on Monday, when farmer unions would stage meetings to assess the situation.

[16] Greek farming needs long-range planning, conference says

Athens, 11/12/2001 (ANA)

The two-day conference that began on Thursday was organized by the Association of Northern Greek Industrialists working with the Netherlands embassy in Athens. It was held under the aegis of the Greek agriculture ministry.

Delegates from the two countries had told the first day of the conference that the Dutch model of farming, which depends on effective liaison among parties throughout the agricultural chain of production to the consumer, would aid the Greek sector.

Attending part of the conference was Agriculture Minister George Drys.

[17] Gov't carries out plan to extend summer tourism season

Athens, 11/12/2001 (ANA)

Under the three-year program that began in autumn 2001, a subsidy of 40 euros is awarded per tourist arrival from October 15 to April 30, the GNTO said in a statement.

Extra arrivals recorded so far were 55,000 in the autumn and 20,000 in the 2001-2002 winter period, with 35,000 booked for spring 2002, the statement said.

[18] Greek minister supports Belgian proposals for research funding

BRUSSELS, 11/12/2001 (ANA - M. Spinthourakis)

The budget for the program was set at 17.5 billion euros, of which 16.27 will be funneled to the EU's Technological Development Program and the remaining 1.23 billion euros to the Euratom Framework Program.

The 6th Research Framework Program includes, among others, projects of biotechnology and health, projects related to the society of information, sustainable development and the protection of the environment, security and the quality of foods.

The Greek minister supported the proposal of the Belgian presidency regarding the allocation of funds and noted that this proposal secures a significant increase of funds in sectors of interest to Greece, such as small and medium size businesses and the improvement of the network for providing high-speed Internet services for researchers.

[19] Greece to face EU action related to gathering CO2 emission data

BRUSSELS, 11/12/2001 (ANA - M. Spinthourakis)

The EU directive of 2000 aims to ensure the collection of a minimum amount of data that would allow a community system for average CO2 emissions from new cars to operate effectively.

The directive also required each country to provide data to the Commission on demand, to set up a new body to collect and pass on the information and to submit a report to the Commission on how they intended to implement the directive. The data and the report were both due by Feb. 28, 2001.

[20] Stocks slump in thin trade

Athens, 11/12/2001 (ANA)

The general share index shed 1.56 percent to end at 2,661.96 points. Turnover was 125.1 million euros.

The FTSE/ASE-20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks ended 1.73 percent down; the FTSE/ASE-40 for medium capitalization paper 1.18 percent lower; and the FTSE/ASE-80 for small cap equities 1.65 percent down.

Of stocks traded, declines led advances at 279 to 58 with 21 issues remaining unchanged.

The most heavily traded shares were Space, Hellenic Telecommunications Organization, Electra, Cosmote and Panafon.

Equity futures drop, tracking main market: Equity futures on the Athens Derivatives Exchange on Monday finished lower, tracking a decline in the main market, traders said.

Changing hands were 4,262 contracts on turnover of 27.5 million euros.

The underlying FTSE/ASE-20 index for heavily traded stocks and blue chips shed 1.73 percent; and the underlying FTSE/ASE-40 for medium capitalization stocks lost 1.18 percent.

Bond prices mixed in moderate trade: Bond prices in the domestic secondary market on Monday finished mixed in moderate trade again focusing on ten-year paper.

The Greek benchmark 10-year bond showed a yield of 5.23 percent, and the yield spread over German bunds was 39 basis points.

Turnover through the central bank's electronic system totalled 1.9 billion euros.

Sell orders accounted for just over half of turnover.

[21] ND's Karamanlis briefed on 2004 preparations

Athens, 11/12/2001 (ANA)

ATHOC President Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki briefed the ND delegation at the organization’s headquarters.

"Not one day should be lost and no one can be left unused in this effort," Karamanlis said after the two-hour meeting.

"I want to hope that the government will meet the challenges and will not continue delays as well as a lack of coordination it has demonstrated over the past few years. The Olympic Games are a major national affair, that's the way we viewed them from the beginning, and that's how we'll continue to view them and the reason we continue to support this effort," he said.

On her part, Angelopoulos-Daskalaki emphasized that cooperation all "involved parties is necessary".

She also noted that recent changes in completion deadlines for certain new Olympic venues and renovations at existing facilities have caused problems in terms of scheduling for the pre-2004 test events.

Karamanlis was accompanied by a handful of top ND deputies active in the sports sector as well as the party's spokesman

[22] SAE congress focuses on 2004, expatriates' participation

Athens, 11/12/2001 (ANA)

On his part, Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos reiterated his conviction that the Athens Games will among the finest ever held. Conversely, he did recognize that certain high-profile delays have hampered preparations to day, adding that others may also spring up heading into 2004, although the important point was that "we have the knowledge and methods to solve problems".

Finally, Venizelos said the first-ever "Cultural Olympics" accompanying and complimenting the 2004 Games will emphasize the theme of "civilization of civilizations" as opposed to the oft-repeated notion of late citing a "clash of civilizations".

"The civilized world is not just the West ... we must also deal with the 'civilization of survival', namely, alleviating poverty in the Third World and others," he said.

[23] Parliament President opens exhibition on 'Children in War'

Athens, 11/12/2001 (ANA)

The exhibition marked the beginning of a three-month campaign launched by the ruling PASOK party's youth organization to make the public aware of the plight of children in war-ravaged Afghanistan.

The campaign is held in cooperation with UNICEF, the Doctors Without Frontiers and the UN High Commission.

In a brief address at the exhibition, Kaklamanis underlined that a peace campaign should be launched so as to protect the children of the world against the acts of violence by adults.

The Parliament President referred to "the victims of this terrible war (in Afghanistan)", as well as to the victims of war in Serbia and the Middle East, stressing that "the children are the future of humanity."

[24] PM addresses message on 'World Children's Day'

Athens, 11/12/2001 (ANA)

Simitis said in his message that "a developed and open society is a society which nurses a high degree of respect for the life, living conditions and dignity of the child. It is the society which places the shielding and protection of childhood at the focal point of its attention. It is a society which is anxious about the children of war, which feels pain for the children which are starving."

Such a society "is a society which is interested in children living in the margins of society, which cares and tends to children falling victim to exploitation and abuse, which takes care for children living under difficult conditions, which provides security for the street children and which provides a big and loving hug for every child which is suffering," Simitis added.

[25] Amnesty charges authorities of turning away asylum seekers

Athens, 11/12/2001 (ANA)

Amnesty International in an announcement said that "the Greek authorities on December 3 had sent back to Turkey, through the use of force, 34 Iraqis, Kurds and Afghani illegal immigrants" who had entered Greece illegally by sea, with another 55 of their compatriots, "without permitting them to apply for asylum".

Amnesty international expressed fear that the Greek authorities will most likely deport the remaining 55 to Turkey "where they are in danger of being returned by force to their countries of origin or to other countries."

According to sources, however, the remaining 55 have been set free and have been transferred to Athens where they will be given the choice of submitting an application for asylum if they so desire.

[26] Athens seminar on sex trade, trafficking in women

Athens, 11/12/2001 (ANA)

Among those addressing the seminar was Bonnie Miller, wife of the US Ambassador, who researched this issue extensively in Bosnia, and who made some startling revelations about the situation in Greece.

Describing the often dire circumstances of women trapped by the global sex trade, with an estimated 20,000 women working at brothels and clubs throughout Greece, she noted that conditions in Greece for these women were better than that in Albania but significantly worse than in Bosnia, a country that had recently emerged from several years of war and upheaval.

Bosnian police did everything they could to set these women free, Bonnie Miller told the seminar, while the women were not abused or maltreated by their clients, who used condoms and prevented the spread of disease and unwanted pregnancy.

She suggested that Greece cease to treat such women as criminals and provide them with shelter, medical care and psychological support - as well as the means to live and work in Greece legally.

US Ambassador Tom Miller pointed out that these phenomena were not restricted to Greece but worldwide, including the US, and stressed the importance of international cooperation to combat human trafficking, congratulating Greek police chief Fotis Nasiakos and Public Order Minister Mihalis Chrysohoidis for their efforts in this direction.

Nasiakos announced the formation of a special police squad to combat the trade in humans, which would be meeting for the first time next week under his leadership.

This squad would soon set up a program for informing the public and create a database on decisions, declarations and laws on the issue of human trafficking by international organizations and other countries.

The police, he added, were looking into a pilot program for the voluntary repatriation of victims of the trade in humans, so that they could return home at no cost.

[27] UN resolution on return or restitution of cultural property

NEW YORK, 11/12/2001 (ANA - M. Georgiadou)

Gounaris said "the draft resolution we are presenting today, without reference to a main committee, has been before the General Assembly for many years and reflects serious concerns that are shared by a vast number of member-states of the United Nations."

He referred to the relevant report by the secretary general and to the fact that UNESCO is promoting the issue methodically and thanked the 22 member-states of the "Intergovernmental Committee for Promoting the Return of Cultural Property to its Countries of Origim or its Restitution in Case of Illicit Appropriation", for their valuable recommendations adopted this year under the Chairmanship of Ethiopia, during the eleventh session of the Committee, held in Phnom Penh.

"Raising public awareness is essential for combating the illicit traffic of 'cultural property'. This year's draft Resolution, in full compliance with existing working methods of the United Nations, promotes the electronic transmission of information concerning stolen cultural property, and the linking of existing databases, in particular, the one developed by the International Criminal Police Organization, as well as other identification systems developed by UNESCO," Gounaris said.

Among others, the draft resolution commends the UN's Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the Intergovernmental Committee for promoting the return of cultural property to its countries of origin or its restitution in case of illicit appropriation.

It reaffirms the importance of the provisions of the Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict and invites member-states that have not already done so to become parties to the convention and to promote its implementation.

In addition, the draft resolution urges member-states to introduce effective national and international measures to prevent and combat the illicit trafficking in cultural property.

[28] Greek-Turkish committee for 2008 European Soccer Championship meets in Athens

Athens, 11/12/2001 (ANA)

The committee, in this second meeting, approved the logo proposed for the games, which will be presented to UEFA and then will be presented to the public. The committee also decided to closer cooperate with the Greek-Turkish, Turkish-Greek Association of Business Cooperation.

The committee, among other subjects, also discussed and approved the budget of the joined candidacy, which stood at $ 2 million.

[29] MPs call for respect of EU accession 'road map'

NICOSIA, 11/12/2001 (CNA/ANA)

In a statement issued after their 7th semi-annual meeting in Ljubljana, December 7, the Chairmen called upon the EU to fully respect the "road map" and the basic principles of the accession process and the existing member states to ratify the Treaty of Nice in view to allow the candidate countries to participate in the European Parliament elections of 2004.

They also called upon the European Union to consider convening the next Intergovernmental Conference upon the accession of new member states and expressed expectation that they would be invited at all stages of the debate about the future of Europe on an equal footing with the current member states.

The Chairmen of the parliamentary European Affairs Committees of the "Luxembourg Group" strongly condemned the terrorist attacks against the United States of September 11 and expressed support to the enhanced international cooperation in the fight against terrorism, particularly between the member states of the European Union and the candidate countries noting that "the enlargement of the EU has now become even more important since European integration is a guarantee of stability and security of the entire European continent."

They decided that their 8th meeting will take place in Cyprus, in spring 2002.

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