Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 01-12-15

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

CONTENTS

[01] EU summit to proclaim Euroarmy's operational capacity on Saturday

[02] No breakthrough in Simitis-Verhofstadt talks about European army

[03] Prodi concurs with Greek premier in external border protection issue

[04] 'Plane spotters' released

[05] ND leader Karamanlis lashes out at government

[06] Chytiris urges ND to take a stand over Gryllakis revelations

[07] Deputy FM discusses bilateral economic relations with FYROM

[08] FYROM FM says country's position on name issue unchanged

[09] Greek, Yugoslav deputy defense ministers meet in Athens

[10] Papantoniou: Gov’t to go ahead with reducing military service

[11] Frigate hoists Greek flag at Dutch naval station

[12] Greek government receives letter on ABM issue

[13] Journalists union says situation crucial in media sector

[14] Budget revenue rises 9.9 pct in November

[15] Agriculture minister to hold talks with Spanish counterpart

[16] Gov't aims to forge national exports policy

[17] PPC seen posting profit over Dr 200 bln in 2002

[18] TVX Hellas to resume operations, minister says

[19] Stocks nose up, seeking consolidation

[20] ATHOC president meets with Synaspismos leader

[21] ATHOC, farm ministry agreement

[22] Postage stamps to be issued on Athens 2004 Olympic Games

[23] Athens will request Passaris extradition

[24] Schools get chance of internet access from January

[25] UN Security Council renews UNFICYP mandate

[26] European Parliament satisfied with Clerides-Denktash talks

[01] EU summit to proclaim Euroarmy's operational capacity on Saturday

LAEKEN, 15/12/2001 (ANA - Y. Zitouniati)

Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis said on Friday that Greece insists that the relations of NATO's European countries, which are not EU member-states, with European defense should be defined with a clarity not subject to misinterpretations.

He left open the possibility of the EU's operational readiness being decided on Saturday with an extension of uncertainty regarding the European army to the next six-month period in which Spain will be exercising the EU's presidency.

Simitis also referred to the issue of illegal immigration addressed during the afternoon session, stressing that Greece agrees with the joint handling of the problem in the spirit of the European Commission's relevant report and, in particular, the conclusion of social agreements with third countries on the repatriation of illegal immigrants, common asylum policy and the creation of a guard to protect the EU's external borders.

"Although certain countries, such as Germany, disagree with a joint policy on illegal immigration we believe that the problem affects all countries in the same way," he said.

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, although agreeing with the EU's joint action on crime and terrorism, believes that each country should have its own policy on illegal immigration.

During the discussion on EU enlargement, the summit reaffirmed the time limit for the completion of candidate countries' accession negotiations for the end of 2002, as well as the accession of Cyprus within the timetable and regardless of a solution to its political problem.

The summit also decided on Friday night to upgrade the relation with Turkey to a preliminary stage of preparation for accession negotiations.

The 15 heads of state and government also decided in Laeken to examine the unilateral denunciation by the U.S. of the ABM agreement on the curbing of ballistic missiles, signed by the U.S. and the former Soviet Union, and to have special reference made to the issue in the summit's conclusions.

[02] No breakthrough in Simitis-Verhofstadt talks about European army

LAEKEN, 15/12/2001 (ANA - A. Podimata)

The Greek premier said that Athens had examined the formula proposed by Britain but continued to have serious reservations, believing that it was a departure from standing principles concerning European defense, such as European autonomy in decision-making, consistency with the prospects of European political integration and cooperation on an equal basis with NATO.

Meanwhile, Belgian Foreign Minister Louis Michel announced on Friday that EU leaders at Laeken had decided to go ahead with declaring the EU force operational, while leaving the question of EU-NATO relations open due to Greece's reservations.

The UK-brokered deal with Turkey was examined in depth on Thursday night during marathon talks lasting nearly five hours at the residence of Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt. Apart from Simitis and the Belgian premier, the meeting was also attended by Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou and his Belgian counterpart, EU Foreign Policy and Defense chief Javier Solana and NATO Secretary-General Lord George Robertson.

The agreement sought to ensure access to NATO planning for the 60,000-strong European force, which Greece's arch-rival Turkey had threatened to block unless it had a say in how this would be used.

"We had a long talk with the Belgian prime minister about ...the procedure that should be followed from here on. We agree with the declaration of operational readiness of the EU but do not agree with what is said in the British text (on EU relations with non-EU NATO member-states)," he said.

He said Greece had made various suggestions for improving the text, while the Belgian side had also made various proposals with which Athens did not agree.

The Greek premier stressed that the Greek side wanted a clear framework for common European security and defense policy that would not permit varying interpretations of its regulations.

"European defense will operate much more smoothly if everyone knows exactly what procedures are to be followed without varying interpretations and misunderstandings," he noted.

Simitis said the Belgian presidency had promised to come back with further proposals that might overcome Athens' reservations within a day or two.

Should these again prove unsatisfactory, Simitis said, the most likely course would be for the Laeken summit to declare the EU force operational but leave a final settlement of relations with NATO member-states until later.

As Simitis pointed out during his Friday press conference, certain EU member-states felt that a declaration of operational readiness would lack credibility with assured access to NATO infrastructure.

The Netherlands had said last week that they might not agree to declaring the EU force operational unless there was the issue of relations with NATO were first settled, and this was one of the main issues discussed by Simitis with his Dutch counterpart Wim Kok during a visit to The Hague two days ago.

In statements after the end of the summit's first session, Michel said that the presidency would continue negotiations "with our friends the Greeks" regarding the European crisis management force, in order to make the declaration of operational readiness as "cohesive" as possible and send out a strong political message.

There was complete understanding for Greek arguments and respect for Greece's reservations, he added, while predicting that an overall agreement on the European force was not far off.

Solana similarly separated the issue of declaring the EU force operational from EU-NATO relations in statements on Friday, saying that they were two different issues that were not linked, while expressing hope that there would be a final solution in a reasonable space of time.

EU foreign policy: Turning to issues discussed during the first session of the EU summit on Friday, Simitis said that Greece considered Yasser Arafat the only legal representative of the Palestinian Authority and would not consent to any policy that sought to take him "out of the game".

Regarding Afghanistan, the Greek premier said that Athens had agreed to an international peacekeeping mission under UN auspices, while clarifying that there should be a different structure for the work of distributing humanitarian aid to that of military peacekeeping operations.

[03] Prodi concurs with Greek premier in external border protection issue

LAEKEN, 15/12/2001 (ANA - Y. Zitouniati)

Prodi, in his response to a letter sent by Simitis, thanked "Greece for the cooperation and its support for the promotion of these ambitious goals".

He stressed that the Laeken summit is the right time to evaluate the achievements in the justice and internal affairs sector to date, since the decision of the Tampere summit of 1999 and in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 tragic events, but also in light of the Union's enlargement.

Prodi underlined his understanding of Greece's geographical location in relation to the wave of illegal immigration and the challenge Greece is facing in light of its extensive borders and coastline.

He noted that Commissioner Antonio Vitorino was preparing an announcement for the European Commission in regards to the external borders, which included proposals for the establishment of a European force of border guards.

Without attempts to discuss details of such a plan, Prodi noted that the announcement might include a complete European strategy for the protection of the Union's external borders, which might include operational measures on site and cooperation mechanisms, as well as operational cooperation in the framework of common legislation based on the Schengen Pact.

Regarding agreements with third countries on the deportation of illegal immigrants, Prodi said that Greece supports the undertaking of action on a European Union level, which he considers to be inline with the promotion of a common Union asylum and immigration policy.

Prodi also said that Greece's cooperation with candidate member-states should be promoted to relieve pressure of illegal immigration on Greece's borders.

He concluded noting that the Laeken summit should adopt more specific directives and a time table for the confrontation of such a "burning" issue.

[04] 'Plane spotters' released

Athens, 15/12/2001 (ANA)

At press time, both Dutch citizens and two of the 12 Britons had been released from a jail in Nafplion, east of Kalamata in the NE Peloponnese, while the others were released at 4 p.m. local time.

Among others, British Euro-MP Richard Howie awaited for the 13 detainees in Nafplion, as the only woman of the group was held at Korydallos prison in Athens.

According to reports, bail for the first two Britons - set at five million drachmas (roughly US $14,400) -- was being posted by the London paper "Daily Mail".

[05] ND leader Karamanlis lashes out at government

Athens, 15/12/2001 (ANA)

Addressing a meeting of the ND's Parliamentary group, Karamanlis said that "nobody can trust the government on the basis of the experiences of the previous years and the political choices which it had made."

He added that the government was "damaging the country's interests" and was "creating tension in order to distract the attention of the public from the enormous problems."

Karamanlis accused the government and Prime Minister Costas Simitis "of only caring about staying in power," adding that "the regime is struggling to hold on to power."

He said that "the government was in a state of panic due to the ND's popularity."

"They (the government) divide, we unite" the people, he concluded.

[06] Chytiris urges ND to take a stand over Gryllakis revelations

Athens, 15/12/2001 (ANA)

"We await his position. What sort of political leader is he when he doesn't adopt a position about his own party? Is he ashamed or doesn't he have the courage to condemn?" Chytiris said of ND leader Costas Karamanlis.

Asked whether General Gryllakis and ruling PASOK had cooperated in 1993 over the dispute with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) and its adoption of the name 'Macedonia', Chytiris did not rule out the possibility.

There were no channels of communication with Skopje in 1993, he told reporters, and there may have been some via Gryllakis.

"But you also know PASOK's policy," he added, claiming that this was not an issue.

The affair erupted 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'.

[07] Deputy FM discusses bilateral economic relations with FYROM

Athens, 15/12/2001 (ANA)

A bilateral agreement was signed during the meeting according to which Greece will support FYROM's budget for free with two million euros in funding derived from the Development Cooperation Program and concerning the implementation of a sewage treatment and atmospheric drainage unit in Gevgeli.

Special reference was also made to the overall support provided by Greece for FYROM's government, both regarding the provision of developmental aid and in the framework of Greek initiatives being undertaken, with emphasis being placed on the Greek plan for Balkan economic reconstruction.

Also noted was Greece's active contribution to international funding, as well as the upcoming international conference of donors for FYROM to be held in Brussels.

In statements after the meeting, both sides stressed that developments will show in the best way that the two countries, following economic cooperation, can support stable bonds of friendship.

[08] FYROM FM says country's position on name issue unchanged

SKOPJE, 15/12/2001 (ANA - M. Vichou)

He said that FYROM aims at "maintaining its constitutional name", stressing, however, that the two men did not discuss this issue specifically and adding that "the UN should play their role in resolving the problem".

Speaking on Greek-FYROM relations, he said that they are developing continuously, particularly in the economic sector, and should continue on the same course.

[09] Greek, Yugoslav deputy defense ministers meet in Athens

Athens, 15/12/2001 (ANA)

The two deputy defense ministers also signed a series of agreements concerning the training of officers and exchanges of visits, and examined prospects for further cooperation between the two countries in the defense industry sector.

Replying to a press question after the meeting on Greece's stance on the issue of the "Euro-army", Apostolakis reiterated that if the final text was not satisfactory vis-a-vis Greece's national interests, Greece would even reach the point of exercising its veto.

He added that the continuing deliberations appeared to be heading towards a solution that would serve the country's sovereign rights in the best possible way.

The two deputy ministers opposed any change of borders in the region, and endorses full respect of the treaties and resolutions of the international organizations, adding that their countries would make joint efforts for the realization of the Stability Pact in the region.

Greece further assured that it would contribute towards Yugoslavia's speedy incorporation into the European and NATO structures.

On the issue of terrorism, Ristic reiterated that cooperation among all countries and full exchange of information at all levels were necessary to confront the problem.

Ristic further praised the role of the Greek contingent to the peacekeeping force in Kosovo, especially in the protection of the Albanian and non-Albanian population there as well as the historic and cultural monuments in the area.

[10] Papantoniou: Gov’t to go ahead with reducing military service

Athens, 15/12/2001 (ANA)

There would also be a drive to improve living conditions and training for conscripts, he added.

Papantoniou made the statement during the swearing-in of new conscripts at an infantry regiment in Corinth.

[11] Frigate hoists Greek flag at Dutch naval station

Athens, 15/12/2001 (ANA)

In a statement, Lotidis referred both to the government's continuous efforts to strengthen the country's defense and to the special role the armed forces are being called on to play to enable the 2004 Athens Olympic Games to be held in a climate of security and stability.

The "Boumboulina" will join the Greek naval force in early April on completion of its crew's special training in Britain.

[12] Greek government receives letter on ABM issue

Athens, 15/12/2001 (ANA)

The letter, signed by U.S. President George W. Bush and addressed to Prime Minister Costas Simitis, was delivered by U.S. Ambassador to Greece Thomas Miller to Deputy Foreign Minister Ioannis Magriotis.

Magriotis stressed the need for strengthening relations between the European Union with the U.S. and Russia as a basic pre-condition for safeguarding international peace, cooperation and stability.

[13] Journalists union says situation crucial in media sector

Athens, 15/12/2001 (ANA)

Manolakos said that registered unemployment in the journalistic sector currently amounts to 8 percent and referred to 180 dismissals by the Lambrakis Press Organization, 90 by "Flash GR" and to fewer cases in newspapers.

ESHEA announced a mobilizations program regarding dismissals, the honoring of collective labor agreements and relations and the quality of the media.

A work stoppage will be held at the Lambrakis Press Organization on Tuesday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and all the staff will gather at ESHEA's building.

A work stoppage by the entire journalistic sector will also take place on Thursday and the positions of journalistic organizations will be announced, as well as the perspective of mobilizations after the holidays.

[14] Budget revenue rises 9.9 pct in November

Athens, 15/12/2001 (ANA)

In January to November, budget revenue showed an 8.5 percent rate of increase against the same 11-month period a year earlier, the statement said.

The target set in the budget is growth of 7.9 percent, it added.

[15] Agriculture minister to hold talks with Spanish counterpart

Athens, 15/12/2001 (ANA)

The meeting includes a joint meeting of delegations from the two ministries and a luncheon afterwards at which discussions are expected to be continued.

Issues of Greek interest to be addressed by the Spanish presidency include the allocation of rights and subsidies for tobacco cultivation for the 2002, 2003 and 2004 trade periods, the new regulation on small Aegean islands and the "Green Paper" on fisheries.

[16] Gov't aims to forge national exports policy

Athens, 15/12/2001 (ANA)

"Greek exports are not on the level on which we would like to see them," Magriotis told an exports growth conference.

The foreign ministry was also processing a new strategy for southeastern Europe and another for Eurasia, he said.

The time had come for a major step to aid exports following Greece's entry into the euro-zone and introduction of the euro as a physical currency in January, the minister added.

[17] PPC seen posting profit over Dr 200 bln in 2002

Athens, 15/12/2001 (ANA)

The minister said the company's stock would begin to find its rightful place in the market next week after falling sharply in a declining market on its first two days of trade and edging up on the third day, when the bourse rose.

Tsohatzopoulos was speaking on the sidelines of an e-business forum held in the northern port city of Thessaloniki.

[18] TVX Hellas to resume operations, minister says

Athens, 15/12/2001 (ANA)

"Outstanding matters have been settled and approval has been given for the continuation of operations," the minister told reporters on the sidelines of an e-business forum in Thessaloniki.

A decision is pending from the Council of State on environmental repercussions of the project, the minister added.

TVX Hellas pleased: TVX Hellas expressed satisfaction on Friday night that it will resume operations at Stratoni, Halkidiki, northern Greece, after closing temporarily in compliance with an order from the Northern Greek Mines Inspectorate.

"We are very pleased with the Greek government's positive support on matters related to our activities at Stratoni," TVX Hellas said in a statement. It added that the company will immediately resume its mining activities, meaning that all the 500 workers will return to their work.

TVX Gold has so far spent more than 250 million dollars for the development of mining in Greece.

[19] Stocks nose up, seeking consolidation

Athens, 15/12/2001 (ANA)

State-owned Public Power Corporation (PPC) edged up 0.51 percent on its third day of trade after losing 2.65 percent a day earlier and slumping 5.04 percent on its trading debut.

The general share index gained 0.25 percent to end at 2,571.71 points. Turnover was 210.6 million euros.

The FTSE/ASE-20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks ended 0.36 percent up; the FTSE/ASE-40 for medium capitalization paper 0.25 percent higher; and the FTSE/ASE-80 for small cap equities 0.31 percent up.

Of stocks traded, advances led declines at 163 to 143 with 50 issues remaining unchanged.

The most heavily traded shares were Alpha Bank, EFG Eurobank Ergasias, Aspis Bank, and Athens Medical.

Equity futures rise, show premium: Equity futures on the Athens Derivatives Exchange on Friday finished higher, showing premiums of 1.0-1.5 percent and outperforming a modest rise on the main market, traders said.

Changing hands were 6,487 contracts on turnover of 37.3 million euros.

The underlying FTSE/ASE-20 index for heavily traded stocks and blue chips gained 0.36 percent; and the underlying FTSE/ASE-40 for medium capitalization stocks rose 0.25 percent.

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

The Greek benchmark 10-year bond showed a yield of 5.13 percent, and the yield spread over German bunds was 37 basis points.

Turnover through the central bank's electronic system totalled 2.5 billion euros.

Sell orders accounted for just under half of turnover.

[20] ATHOC president meets with Synaspismos leader

Athens, 15/12/2001 (ANA)

Constantopoulos, in statements to the press after the meeting, said that "the issue of the Olympic Games should not be part of the arsenal for the pre-election confrontation of the two political parties".

According to ATHOC sources, Angelopoulos was particularly satisfied with her contacts with opposition party political leaders, as it is an aim of ATHOC to gain the unanimous support of all of Greece's political forces, necessitated by the huge undertaking of organizing the Games.

[21] ATHOC, farm ministry agreement

Athens, 15/12/2001 (ANA)

The agreement was signed by ATHOC chief Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki and Agriculture Minister George Drys.

ATHOC athletics director briefs Austrian press VIENNA, 15/12/2001 (ANA - D. Dimitra-koudis)

Athens 2004 Olympic Games Athletics Director Ioannis Giannouris on Friday briefed the Austrian press on the progress of projects and the organizing of the Games, during a event at the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna.

On his part, Greek Ambassador to Austria Christos Alexandris addressed the event, referring to the history and importance of the Games both in ancient times and since their reinstitution in 1896.

[22] Postage stamps to be issued on Athens 2004 Olympic Games

Athens, 15/12/2001 (ANA)

It was announced at the event that the Greek Post Office (ELTA) will issue every year, until 2004, two series of postage stamps dedicated to the Olympic Games.

In his address, Venizelos said that postage stamps were also a symbol of culture and peace which can convey the message of the Olympic Games and the Cultural Olympiad.

The series "Ancient Greece: Olympia and Ilida" and "Olympic Medallists 1896-1912" will circulate in 2002, "Coins of Ancient Greece" and "Contemporary Art" in 2003 and "Ancient Olympic Spirit" and "The Olympic Games through the eyes of children" in 2004.

[23] Athens will request Passaris extradition

Athens, 15/12/2001 (ANA)

Passaris was arrested in Bucharest late last month as the prime suspect in an armed robbery at an exchange bureau in the Romanian capital. Two employees were shot dead in that incident.

Greek police have been searching for Passaris since his dramatic escape from an Athens hospital in February, in which two police escorts were killed and a prison guard injured. He managed to evade arrest once again in August, after walking right into and out of a police ambush in a Neos Kosmos district apartment.

[24] Schools get chance of internet access from January

Athens, 15/12/2001 (ANA)

"Under implementation of the information society operational program, we are currently meeting 3,000 requests from the same number of schools that wish to open an information technology workshop," Papaconstantinou said.

He was speaking on the sidelines of an e-business forum in Thessaloniki.

[25] UN Security Council renews UNFICYP mandate

NICOSIA, 15/12/2001 (CNA/ANA)

Resolution 1384 welcomes the report of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, dated November 28, 2001, on the UN operation in Cyprus and "in particular the call to the parties to assess and address the humanitarian issue of missing persons with due urgency and seriousness".

It "urges the Turkish Cypriot side and Turkish forces to rescind the restrictions imposed on June 30, 2000, on the operations of UNFICYP, and to restore the military status quo ante at Strovilia".

The Turkish occupation forces illegally put up a checkpoint in the southeastern area of Strovilia as part of measures against UNFICYP in retaliation to the non-inclusion of an addendum in a previous report by UN chief Kofi Annan for an earlier renewal of the Force's mandate with a Turkish demand for separate discussions with UNFICYP.

The Security Council notes that "the government of Cyprus has agreed that in view of the prevailing conditions in the island, it is necessary to keep UNFICYP beyond December 15, 2001", and "decides to extend the mandate of UNFICYP for a further period ending June 15,2002".

In its resolution, the Security Council "requests the Secretary-General to submit a report by June 1, 2002, on the implementation of this resolution", and "decides to remain actively seized of the matter".

It also welcomes and encourages UN efforts "to sensitize peacekeeping personnel in the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS and other communicable diseases in all its peacekeeping operations".

The Security Council in its resolution 1251 "reaffirms its position that a Cyprus settlement must be based on a state of Cyprus with a single sovereignty and international personality and a single citizenship, with its independence and territorial integrity safeguarded and comprising two politically equal communities as described in the relevant Security Council resolutions, in a bicommunal and bizonal federation, and that such a settlement must exclude union in whole or in part with any other country or any form of partition or secession".

The UN has some 1,200 peacekeepers in Cyprus, who patrol a 180-kilometre-long buffer zone across the island, divided since

Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 percent of its territory in the summer of 1974. Some 200,000 Greek Cypriots, making one third of the island's population were forcibly uprooted from their homes and properties by the Turkish invasion troops. Hundreds of people have been missing since then.

[26] European Parliament satisfied with Clerides-Denktash talks

LAEKEN, 15/12/2001 (CNA/ANA)

Speaking at a press conference at the beginning of the two-day EU Laeken Summit and asked whether there was a timetable for the beginning of accession negotiations with Turkey, Fontaine noted that Turkey had not yet complied with the Copenhagen criteria and that the problems related to the respect of human rights and the Cyprus issue were still pending.

"I am very pleased that the dialogue between Cyprus President (Glafcos Clerides) and the representative of the Turkish Cypriot community (Rauf Denktash) resumed and this is a development we follow closely," Fontaine said.

She added that in order to begin negotiations with Turkey on the economic criteria political criteria would have to be respected.

Addressing the European Council, Fontaine said a statement that at least ten countries will be in a position to join the Union before 2004 and thus take part in the next European elections might have an adverse impact on public opinion in Romania and Bulgaria, left on the sidelines without a fixed date for accession to the Union.

"I hope that they will be given an opportunity to catch up. Should it ultimately emerge that the countries in question do not meet the accession criteria, our responsibility would be to lay down with them a clear timetable demonstrating that they are already 'part of the European family'," she added.

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