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Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 01-12-14Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>December 14, 2001CONTENTS
[01] Athens warns of 'Euro-force' veto if sovereign rights infringedAthens, 14/12/2001 (ANA)Athens stressed on Thursday that it would reject any agreement over a proposed “Euro-force” if the European Union’s position doesn’t consolidate the country’s sovereign rights at this weekend’s EU Laeken summit.“If the text satisfies us, we will vote for it," Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou told members of Parliament’s foreign affairs and defense committee on Thursday morning, shortly before he was to depart for Belgium to join Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis. Arriving in Brussels, Simitis was due to discuss European defense issues on Thursday with his Belgian counterpart Guy Verhofstadt, the current head of the European Council. According to sources, Papandreou would also be present at the meeting, along with his Belgian counterpart Louis Michel, NATO Secretary General Lord George Robertson and EU High Commissioner for Defense and Foreign Policy Javier Solana. In Athens, meanwhile, Papandreou told Greek deputies that even if Greece did resort to a veto, “this does not mean that discussions would not continue”. Papandreou spoke before a Greek Parliament committee where nearly all of the ruling PASOK party’s deputies rejected a recent high-profile US-British compromise deal with Turkey as "unacceptable”. In fact, 30 PASOK deputies declared in a written statement that they backed the government's position of using a veto in the event of an “arrangement” that "nullifies the autonomous entity of Euro-defense and contravenes the decision of the Nice summit". Communist Party of Greece (KKE) deputy Orestis Kolozov endorsed the veto idea, while Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) deputy Maria Damanaki said that displays of "bravado", such as use of the veto, were not helpful. Karamanlis: On his part, main opposition ND leader Costas Karamanlis took the Greek campaign on the "Euro-force" issue to the European People's Party (EPP) fold during the political grouping's summit in Brussels, as he tabled the matter in an off-the-agenda discussion. The ND emphasized that "certain circles" are attempting to include Turkey in the "Euro-force's decision-making process ... a country (Turkey) that is not part of the European Union." "What kind of Euro-army would this be if it couldn't operate in the Aegean and Cyprus if necessary; one that would leave Greece, an EU member-state, exposed?" he asked. "Don't those espousing these views remember or know that Greece is a country under threat? These are unacceptable things; I consider that it is not only inconceivable for us to accept this, but even to compromise." Finally, he said it was the Greek premier's duty to categorically reject any such notion. When EPP President Wilfried Martens reportedly asked Karamanlis during the session whether both the government and main opposition in Greece shared the same viewpoint on the "Euro-force" issue, Karamanlis replied that it was a "common Greek position", sources said. Gov't spokesman: In later statements, the government spokesman reiterated that Athens wasn't ruling out the possibility of amending or supplementing the recently unveiled US-British formula to allay Turkish disagreements over the establishment of a "Euro-force" by European Union member-states. Such a force would have close ties to NATO, of which Turkey is a member. According to spokesman Telemachos Chytiris, if the changes requested by Athens are not made then the issue will be delayed. PASOK deputies' text: The statement released by the 30 PASOK party deputies reads: "We, the undersigned deputies, feel the need and obligation to express our deepest concerns over what is presented as an 'unofficial' English-US-Turkish agreement, which not only ex-cludes Greece and Cyprus from the common defense system - of which we will contribute approximately 10 percent - but also does not safeguard our country from the possibility of a Turkish military action. We consider it imperative that clear, specific and binding answers be given to (Parliament's) foreign affairs committee, and for us to express our own views and positions". The deputies' text also lists four of positions: -- It must be made clear to our partners that the proposed arrangement abrogates the autonomous entity of a Euro-defense and contravenes the Nice summit agreement. For us, whatever form of exclusion of Greece and Cyprus from the Euro-defense will cancel out one of the two primary reasons for our participation in the European structure, namely, the economy and defense. -- We back the (Greek) government's position to veto any such arrangement. -- Rejection of this 'agreement' must be unequivocal without any vagueness and differing wording that would result in pretexts for a new round of friction and a further exacerbation of Greek-Turkish relations. -- The entire spectrum of Greek-Turkish relations must be re-examined, taking into account the fact that Turkey is escalating its irrational demands, and with its claims for our exclusion from the Euro-defense it (Turkey) essentially raises the right of an armed intervention against our country". [02] PM, party leaders to attend ESP, EPP meetings in BrusselsBRUSSELS, 14/12/2001 (ANA - M. Spinthourakis)Prime Minister Costas Simitis, main opposition New Democracy leader Costas Karamanlis and Coalition of the Left and Progress leader Nikos Constantopoulos were among the several heads of state, government and parties that arrived in the Belgian capital on Thursday in view of the EU summit.They were joined by tens of thousands of protestors from all over Europe, who jammed the streets in the center of the city, lending the proceedings a by now familiar note. Due to be held on Thursday, prior to the start of the EU summit, are the traditional meetings of the European Socialist Party (ESP) and the European People's Party (EPP). Simitis will represent Greece at the ESP meeting, which is also to be attended by the prime ministers of Britain, France, Sweden, Finland and Portugal, and EU High Commissioner for Foreign Affairs and Defense Javier Solana. The meeting is to focus on European policy for boosting employment and growth, a political plan for the future of Europe and institutional changes to the EU. Karamanlis will attend the EPP meeting, along with the prime ministers of Spain, Italy, Luxembourg, Austria and Denmark and DHSY party leader from Cyprus. The conference is expected to discuss a clear definition of the European borders and the creation of a new European structure for candidate countries not included in the first wave of EU enlargement. Greek PM to discuss Euro-defense with Belgian EU presidency: Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis is to discuss European defense issues during a meeting on Thursday in Brussels with Belgian Premier Guy Verhofstadt, current head of the European Council, according to sources at the Belgian presidency. The same sources said that Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou would also be present at the meeting, along with his Belgian counterpart Louis Michel, NATO Secretary-General Lord George Robertson and EU High Commissioner for defense and foreign policy Javier Solana. The Belgian presidency's spokesman said that no time had yet been said for the meeting, which would discuss all the problems related to European defense and putting a European military force for crisis management into operation. [03] Chytiris slams opposition, Mitsotakis over Gryllakis revelationsAthens, 14/12/2001 (ANA)Acting government spokesman Telemachos Chytiris launched a heated tirade against main opposition New Democracy, honorary ND president Constantine Mitsotakis and ND spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos on Thursday over their stance to the Gryllakis affair.Chytiris said that the issue was not past history but very relevant today, since Mitsotakis was still active in politics and honorary president of the main opposition, which he claimed was maintaining a 'guilty silence' on this issue. ND leader Costas Karamanlis, he added, sought to become prime minister of the country at the head of a party and party cadres that had committed all these acts. He also slammed Roussopoulos for "resorting to witticisms instead of giving answers". Earlier on Thursday, Mitsotakis dismissed Gryllakis' accusations as an attempt by the government and party secretary Costas Laliotis to sling mud by reviving forgotten issues that had failed to stick the first time round. Asked about the affair in Brussels, where he is attending a European Peoples Party meeting, Karamanlis refused to comment. The issue arose when retired general Nikos Gryllakis, a former associate of Constantine Mitsotakis who served as Greek prime minister between 1990-1993, claimed in an interview with the MEGA television channel on Tuesday that the CIA had wanted to help ND win elections since 1988 and that the Mitsotakis government had not been toppled by former ND deputy and foreign minister Antonis Samaras in 1993 but by ND deputy Miltiades Evert. Evert dismissed the claims as 'not serious'. [04] Justice minister on European arrest warrantAthens, 14/12/2001 (ANA)There will be few changes in the Greek penal code following the acceptance of the final text on the issue of the European arrest warrant, Justice Minister Philippos Petsalnikos said at a press conference on Thursday.Petsalnikos said that once Greece determines the definition of terrorism, as it is obliged to do so in the context of the regulations for the start of the implementation of the European arrest warrant, set for 2003, there will be few changes in the Greek penal code and legislation. However, the justice minister said that Greek legislation should be harmonized regarding racism and xenophobia. For this reason, he said, a special working group has been set up to enable Greek legislation to be harmonized in 2002. [05] Justice minister on Greek-American prison inmate in U.S.Athens, 14/12/2001 (ANA)Replying to a question by the press on Thursday whether the Greek government has started proceedings for Greek-American Steven Lalas (who has been sentenced to 14 years imprisonment in the U.S for spying) to serve his remaining prison term in Greece, Justice Minister Philippos Petsalnikos said that a few years ago the U.S. had refused to accept a relevant request by the Greek foreign ministry.[06] Justice minister signs request for extradition of PassarisAthens, 14/12/2001 (ANA)Justice Minister Philippos Petsalnikos on Thursday signed a request for the extradition of wanted criminal Costas Passaris from Romania to Greece.The request will be conveyed by the Greek foreign ministry via diplomatic channels to Romanian judicial authorities. Passaris is wanted by Greek authorities for intentional man-slaughter, two attempted manslaughters, robberies, thefts and other crimes, while several prison sentences imposed on him by Greek courts for various offences are still outstanding. [07] Gov't unveils prison building program; inmate figures citedAthens, 14/12/2001 (ANA)The government announced on Thursday that it would build 17 prisons and correctional facilities by 2006, along with three new drug rehabilitation centers.Justice Minister Philippos Petsalnikos made the announcement to reporters, while saying that the new penitentiaries will be able to house another 4,760 inmates. The budget for new prisons was placed at 110.5 billion drachmas, 21 billion for the three new drug rehab centers. Petsalnikos said 8,633 people are currently incarcerated in Greek correctional facilities, of which 3,936 are foreign nationals, including 2,002 Albanian citizens. Additionally, out of the total prison population, 3,578 people are serving time for felony drug convictions, he said. [08] Harbor Corps receives new patrol boatsAthens, 14/12/2001 (ANA)The Harbor Corps on Thursday received new patrol boats, buses and patrol cars during a delivery ceremony at-tended by Merchant Marine Minister George Anomeritis and the Harbor Corp's leadership.The delivery concerns 12 patrol dinghies 10.25 meters long, having a speed of up to 50 nautical miles. The vessels, costing about 335 million drachmas, will be used in border regions to improve surveillance in such areas. Also received were 15 1,500 cc patrol cars, to be used by new harbor corps regional services and port authorities, and eight buses costing 58,350,000 and 200 million drachmas respectively. [09] Environment minister discusses Greek Land Register with commissionerBRUSSELS, 14/12/2001 (ANA - Y. Zitouniati)The funding of the Greek Land Register by the 3rd Community Support Framework (CSF) will continue regardless of complications so far, Environment, Town Planning and Public Works Minister Vasso Papandreou said here on Thursday. She noted that regarding the 57 million euros which must be returned to the EU, a settlement has been reached for 32 million to be paid as a first installment and for the remaining sum to be reassessed by a special committee. She implied that the second installment may not finally be submitted following the reassessment.The Greek environment minister made the statement following a meeting she had with Regional Policy Commissioner Michel Barnier. The commissioner in an announcement assured of the European Commission's willingness to support the Greek Land Register as a fundamental project for Greece's development. He noted that the EU's funding cannot exceed 50 per cent of the cost of the project, the implementation of which will be monitored by an independent experts committee. Barnier and Papandreou referred to the entire program until 2006. Papandreou briefed Barnier on preparations for the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, noting that all the projects will be ready within the time frame set. [10] Education bill tabled in ParliamentAthens, 14/12/2001 (ANA)A new education bill tabled in Parliament on Thursday introduces a system for assessing teaching staff and their work, as well as creating an organization providing extra training for teachers.Other measures introduced by the bill are bonuses for school heads and deputy heads and school boards, as well as the hiring of librarians to organize the libraries of larger schools. [11] 10 per cent of sports TV rights to be allocated to police, Venizelos saysAthens, 14/12/2001 (ANA)Ten per cent of the athletic events income derived from television rights will be allocated to the police, Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos said on Thursday, noting that the issue will be discussed in a meeting of officials between the culture ministry and the ministry of public order.The regulation under consideration will be included in a bill of the national economy ministry regarding business activities. "The whole issue, as we agreed with (Public Order Minister Michalis) Chrysohoidis, will be discussed over the next few days in a meeting, which will take place with the participation of the two ministries and elements of the soccer and basketball sector, so as to formulate a just and functional system, but of course this whole regulation will not regard the Olympic Games," Venizelos said. [12] SAE international assembly concludes proceedings, reelects AthensAthens, 14/12/2001 (ANA)The World Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE) concluded the proceedings of its 4th International Assembly on Thursday in Thessaloniki, having reelected Andrew Athens as its president and ratified two resolutions, one for the Cyprus issue and the other condemning terrorism.The council also decided to work harder to come close to all Greek expatriates over the next two years and noted the spirit of unity between the expatriate Greeks and the Orthodox Church, which was underlined in the presence of Ecumenical Orthodox Patriarch Vartholomeos. The results of the assembly's proceedings were announced during a press conference in Thessaloniki, by a panel that included Athens, Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannis Magriotis, Secretary General for Expatriate Greeks' affairs Dimitris Dollis and the president of the Parliament's permanent interparty committee Grigoris Niotis. [13] US envoy pays courtesy call on Athens MayorAthens, 14/12/2001 (ANA)The new US ambassador to Greece, Thomas Miller, on Thursday paid a courtesy call on Athens Mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos and discussed relations between Athens and US cities, as well as issues concerning the Greek-American community.Miller expressed enthusiasm over the aesthetic changes in Athens effected under Avramopoulos' mayorship, adding that "my wife and I like to walk about...I am not speaking only of the Metro, but also of the pedestrian walks introduced by the Mayor and his associates, making the city more functional and beautiful". The new US envoy further praised the general improvement in relations between Greece and the US. Asked by a reporter after the meeting on whether he was aware of CIA involvement in the 1989 general elections in Greece, as claimed Wednesday by a former aide of New Democracy former premier Constantine Mitsotakis, Miller replied in the negative, while Avramopoulos interceded that Greece could not move forward if it had a "hostage relationship with the past". During a televised interview on Wednesday, retired general Nikos Gryllakis, a former associate of Constantine Mitsotakis, Greece's prime minister between 1990-1993, caused an uproar in claiming that U.S. intelligence (the CIA) had in 1988 broached New Democracy on helping the main opposition party win the Greek general elections. [14] SYN delegation in Brussels to join protestsAthens, 14/12/2001 (ANA)A delegation of the Coalition of the Left and Progress (SYN), headed by party leader Nikos Constantopoulos, has gone to Brussels to take part in the mass demonstrations in view of the EU summit in Laeken."The Europe of the peoples and citizens, Europe, with its political integration and strategic autonomy over Euro-Atlanticism, cannot move forward with the absence of society, solely with technocratic decisions by an internal intergovernmental and interstate circle of power," Constantopoulos said before departing Athens. He added that the liberal policies applied by the present-day European Commission only served to increase the social and political deficit and proved the European leaders' discrepancy with the demands of the times and the needs of the peoples". [15] Protest in Athens against European armyAthens, 14/12/2001 (ANA)A protest rally against the creation of European army and police forces was organized outside the Athens University on Thursday by trade union and pacifist organizations, social agencies and student groups, in light of the European Union's Laeken summit. A march to the U.S. embassy in Athens followed.Police measures had been taken during the march to prevent possible incidents from taking place, while police also threw a cordon round the U.S. embassy. [16] Athens bourse transactions total Dr 78.5 bln euros Jan-NovAthens, 14/12/2001 (ANA)Transactions on the Athens Stock Exchange totalled 78.5 billion euros in January to November, the Association of Athens Stock Exchange Members said on Thursday.Of the total, transactions in November came to 9.0 billion euros, the association said in a monthly report. In January to November, ranking top among brokerages in transactions were Sigma Securities at 6.84 percent of the market, followed by P&K Securities at 6.37 percent, EFG Eurobank Ergasias at 6.18 percent, and National Securities at 5.33 percent, the report said. [17] UK patients get organized access to InterBalkan Medical CenterAthens, 14/12/2001 (ANA)Patients in the United Kingdom are to have organized access to treatment at the InterBalkan Medical Center in the northern city of Thessaloniki under a deal forged by the hospital's owner, the Athens Medical Group, and Operations Abroad Ltd of the UK.At a ceremony marking the new contract that was held at the Greek embassy in London on Thursday, the group's deputy president, Vassilis Apostolopoulos, said the hospital could treat 25,000 British patients, easing long waiting lists in UK state hospitals. Operation Abroad Ltd is to be the hospital's exclusive representative in arranging trips for treatment by UK patients. Apostolopoulos said the Balkan Medical Center ranked among Europe's most modern and integrated treatment units, as acknowledged by Imperial College of London in a report following a visit there by senior officials of its medical school in February. Under the arrangement, UK patients will fly to Thessaloniki by Olympic Airways at special rates. Among officials attending the ceremony were the Greek ambassador in London, Mr. Santis, and the president of the Athens Medical Group, George Apostolopoulos. [18] Exporters want more backing from the state, survey showsAthens, 14/12/2001 (ANA)Domestic exporters want indirect state financing, less red tape and backing from state bodies to promote sales, according to a sector survey released by ICAP on Thursday.Polled were 80 sizeable manufacturing enterprises on November 5-15. Exporters said that among the main problems they faced were tough competition, the risk of non-payment from buyers, the cost of promotion of products, the low competitiveness of domestic products, and a low level of penetration in markets abroad regardless of the quality of products. Asked to state the contribution of the European Union's Third Community Support Framework package of funds to the promotion of exports, 45 percent of respondents said that its contribution would not be decisive in the growth of exports, while 19 percent said its contribution would be moderate. [19] Tax, pharmaceuticals amendments withdrawn from billAthens, 14/12/2001 (ANA)Amendments on tax and the price of pharmaceuticals that the government appended to a bill on modernizing the state's Social Security Foundation (IKA) were withdrawn in parliament on Thursday.Parliament speaker Apostolos Kaklamanis said that tacking irrelevant amendments onto a bill breached the constitution and parliamentary rules. The finance ministry had submitted amendments on taxation for repos, and the abolition of stamp duty on wages; and the deve-lopment ministry an amendment on setting a price ceiling for pharmaceuticals. Kaklamanis rapped Deputy Finance Minister Apostolos Fotiadis and Deputy Development Minister Christos Theodorou for adding the amendments, saying the move undermined the status of Parliament. [20] Anomeritis: new laws for passenger shipping will be implementedAthens, 14/12/2001 (ANA)The government was determined to put the new framework of laws governing domestic passenger shipping into operation, Merchant Marine Minister George Anomeritis said on Thursday.The new regulations have been opposed from the start by the union of domestic passenger shippers, while the whole issue came to the fore once again a few days ago after ship owners said they would take their grievances to the European Union and the Council of State, Greece's supreme administrative court. The minister said that if ship owners objected to details or individual aspects of the new laws, they could discuss this with himself or staff at the ministry. [21] Greek National Tourism Organization gets new chiefAthens, 14/12/2001 (ANA)The Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) announced on Thursday that it had appointed Yiannis Patelis as its new president.Patelis, who assumes his duties on Friday, is an economist and engineer with experience in financial and technical studies for the management and evaluation of European Union programs, and in tourism studies, the GNTO said in a statement. He has worked for the EU in evaluating the bloc's Mediterranean funding progams; and for the GNTO as an adviser on managing the Community's Second Community Support Framework funds. Patelis, who replaces Evgenios Yiannakopoulos, has also con-ducted tourism growth studies including golf and conference tourism. He is a member of AIEST, a world organization of tourism experts. [22] Deadline for payment of 2002 road tax extendedAthens, 14/12/2001 (ANA)The deadline for paying the road tax on private cars and motorbikes for 2002 has been extended to December 21, the finance ministry announced on Thursday.The extension was given due to problems that arose in banks providing the special stickers, but the stickers will only be available from tax offices from December 17, while they will be available in banks until the end of the original deadline, December 15. [23] Stocks slump, dampened by markets abroadAthens, 14/12/2001 (ANA)The Athens bourse finished lower on Thursday with adverse sentiment in European markets spurring selling and lowering prices. State-owned Public Power Corporation (PPC) lost 2.65 percent on its second day of trade after slumping 5.04 percent on its trading debut a day earlier.The general share index shed 1.54 percent to end at 2,565.29 points. Turnover was 146.67 million euros. The FTSE/ASE-20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks ended 1.44 percent down; the FTSE/ASE-40 for medium capitalization paper 2.25 percent lower; and the FTSE/ASE-80 for small cap equities 3.45 percent down. Of stocks traded, declines led advances at 315 to 29 with 12 issues remaining unchanged. The most heavily traded shares were Public Power Corporation, Hellenic Tele-communications Organization, Sidenor, Alpha Bank, National Bank of Greece, Kreka and Hellenic Bottling HBC. Bond Market Close: Prices drop in heavy trade: Bond prices in the domestic secondary market on Thursday finished lower in heavy trade again focusing on ten-year paper. The Greek benchmark 10-year bond showed a yield of 5.10 percent, and the yield spread over German bunds was 38 basis points. Turnover through the central bank's electronic system totalled 3.0 billion euros. Sell orders accounted for the bulk of turnover. Derivatives Market Close: Equity futures slump: Equity futures on the Athens Derivatives Exchange on Thursday finished lower, tracking a decline in the main market. Changing hands were 7,971 contracts on turnover of 50.1 million euros. The underlying FTSE/ASE-20 index for heavily traded stocks and blue chips shed 1.44 percent; and the underlying FTSE/ASE-40 for medium capitalization stocks lost 2.25 percent. [24] Papariga briefed on Olympics preparations by ATHOC chiefAthens, 14/12/2001 (ANA)Communist Party of Greece (KKE) leader Aleka Papariga met with Athens 2004 Olympics Organizing Committee (ATHOC) head Gianna Angelopoulos on Thursday, who briefed her on the progress of preparations for the Olympics.Emerging from the meeting, Papariga accused the government of using the Olympics as a means to promote its political ends and to effect deep changes in labor relations. She said the briefing had been comprehensive and that her party would examine the information it had been given before presenting its position. The KKE leader also expressed concern that the budget for the Games was getting out of control and about the environmental impact of various projects associated with it. [25] Gov't announces hefty budget for sports facilitiesAthens, 14/12/2001 (ANA)The government announced an ambitious budget on Thursday to fund the building of new sports facilities around the country, in tandem with the holding of the 2004 Olympic Games.The initiative, entitled "Greece 2004", features a hefty price tag of 432 billion drachmas, while Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos said the funding "is not an obligation for the 2004 Olympics, but aims at averting feelings of inequity among Greece's provinces." Asked about relations between the government and the Athens 2004 organizing committee (ATHOC), Venizelos said there was no "differentiating of roles ... We are a unified (organizational) entity." [26] Kalavryta massacre 58th commemoration eventsAthens, 14/12/2001 (ANA)Events commemorating the 58th anniversary of the slaughter of some 1,300 men and boys by WWII Nazi occupation forces in Kalavryta, Peloponnese, took place on Thursday.Minister of State Stephanos Manikas represented the government, stating that the message of Kalavryta is always current, adding that freedom is paid in blood. [27] Cyprus satisfied with UN statementBRUSSELS, 14/12/2001 (CNA/ANA)Cyprus Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides has expressed satisfaction with Wednesday's statement on Cyprus by the UN Security Council President describing as important the fact that the statement did not just welcome the resumption of the UN-led talks on Cyprus, through direct negotiations, scheduled to begin in mid-January 2002, but also reiterated the UN Secretary General's good offices mission, based on UN resolution 1250 that defines, as Kasoulides noted, the negotiating rules.This ascertains that no communique, as the one issued after the meeting between Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash in Nicosia, December 4, could substitute UN resolutions, Kasoulides told CNA, while asked what Cyprus expects from the Laeken EU Summit due to begin on Friday, he welcomed the paragraph on Cyprus included in the text on enlargement concluded by EU General Affairs Council in order to be tabled before the European Council, for adoption. Kasoulides noted that this paragraph reaffirms the EU position that a settlement of the Cyprus question should be based on UN resolutions and be in line with EU principles and indicates the need for a solution prior to accession, stating that should this not be achieved, then the EU Helsinki Summit conclusions - that a solution is not a precondition for accession - will apply. He stressed the fact that in this text for enlargement, Turkey is urged to contribute actively towards finding a settlement on the Cyprus problem. In Nicosia, government spokesman Michalis Papapetrou, echoing the minister's views, said the Security Council statement "reiterates once more the fact that talks beginning on January 16 are taking place within the framework and on the basis of UN Security Council resolutions." The statement, he pointed out, leaves no room for any misinterpretation. [28] Annan hopes for comprehensive settlement in CyprusNICOSIA, 14/12/2001 (CNA/ANA)UN Secretary General Kofi Annan regards the start of direct talks between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides a "positive development" and hopes negotiations will take place in good faith and lead to a comprehensive settlement.In a letter to the President of the Security Council, Annan in-forms members that talks will start on 16 January 2002 at his invitation in the exercise of his mission of good offices. President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash agreed on 4 December to begin direct talks with no preconditions, all issues on the table, negotiate in good faith until a comprehensive settlement is reached and to agree to nothing until everything is agreed. "This agreement is a positive development and I would like to hope that, as they have agreed, they will negotiate in good faith until they achieve a comprehensive settlement," he said, in his letter dated December 10, which circulated Wednesday as an official UN document. Annan referred to the December meeting and expressed pleasure in informing the Council that Clerides and Denktash had agreed to begin direct talks, at his invitation in the exercise of his mission of good offices on 16 January. [29] Romano Prodi says Cyprus will take its deserved place in theEU NICOSIA, 14/12/2001 (CNA/ANA)European Commission President Romano Prodi has expressed the conviction that Cyprus will soon take its deserved place among the member states of the EU.In a letter to Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides, dated November 9, Prodi says he hopes that "a lasting and equitable settlement of the Cyprus question will bring peace and reconciliation in the island". "I am grateful to you personally and to your administration for our warm and productive discussions during my stay", Prodi notes, adding that he left the island encouraged by the work done by the Cyprus government and the House of Representatives in the transposition of the acquis communautaire. [30] Major General Jin Ha Hwang new UNFICYP chiefNICOSIA, 14/12/2001 (CNA/ANA)Major General Jin Ha Hwang has been appointed as Force Commander of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), to succeed Major General Victory Rana, who relinquishes his post on December 15. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan announced the appointment on Wednesday.According to a UN press release issued on Thursday, Major General Hwang is a graduate of the Korean Military Academy and of the US Army Command and General Staff College and Central Michigan University. He has held various military appointments in the service of his country, and has also served as colonel and general officer primarily in political-military affairs and in strategy and policy positions with the Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Ministry of the National Defense. The 55-year-old Major General, father of three, is presently serving as Defense Attache in the Embassy of the Republic of Korea to the United States in Washington DC. Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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