Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 01-12-31

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

CONTENTS

[01] Hope and concern over arrival of euro

[02] No pressures on Cyprus on EU accession during direct talks, Cyprus FM says

[03] PM visits merchant marine ministry for rescue briefing

[04] New special court for gov't members, per demand of the Constitution

[05] Almost all of Greece's ATMs to dispense euros on new-years day, bankers say

[06] Farmers decide to protest policies, decreasing income

[07] Culture minister attends festive event for expatriates

[08] Parliament President and parties issue New Year messages

[09] Archbishop calls on people to preserve faith and tradition

[10] Illegal immigrants arrested off Kos

[11] Greek, Turkish coast guards foil attempt of would illegal immigrants

[12] President Clerides-Denktash dinner held "in good atmosphere"

[01] Hope and concern over arrival of euro

Athens, 31/12/2001 (ANA)

Concern regards the transition process to the new currency, since it is a great undertaking, and possible cases of profiteering. Hope also exists because all are expecting positive results with an increase in employment and growth and dynamic aggression by the euro against the other powerful currencies in the world, primarily the U.S. dollar.

In Greece, the banks' automatic cash machines will be providing drachmas until late on Monday afternoon. However, as of 5 p.m. and according to the banks the machines will gradually cease their operation to be equipped with euros, which they will either be providing shortly after midnight or by the morning of New Year’s Day.

[02] No pressures on Cyprus on EU accession during direct talks, Cyprus FM says

Athens, 31/12/2001 (ANA)

The interview was published on Saturday morning as Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot community leader Rauf Denktash were preparing to meet later in the day.

Kasoulides noted that the EU wants Cyprus to enter the Union and thus will not allow for the formulation of a solution to the problem that would be incompatible with the island republic's accession course.

He stressed that there are abilities to disengage or react effectively in case that the process proposed by Denktash is an effort to entrap the republic or place obstacles to the accession process.

Kasoulides underlined that "since we know of these dangers, we also know ways to deal with them".

He avoided any assessment over the prospect of the talks, saying that it would be wiser to wait and see what the attitude of the Turkish Cypriot side will be.

He said, however, that there are no indications of a change in Denktash's attitude, attributing the optimism of Britain's envoy Lord Hannay to the usual practice of foreign envoys that are trying to establish a positive climate.

The EU, the United States and Britain favor a resolution of the problem and are encouraging all in that direction, the Cypriot minister said, adding that during these first stages they will avoid any intervention in the process, hoping that that the two leaders will be able to seek solutions on their own.

As for United Nations special adviser Alvaro de Soto, Kasoulides said that his mission stems from the 1250 resolution of the United Nations Security Council and based on that he will be able - at a later stage - to intervene with ideas and opinions.

Kasoulides based his optimism over Cyprus' accession to the Union on the declarations of the Union that Cyprus will enter it, whether the problem of the island republic is solved or not.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded the island republic and to this day occupy the northern part of the island. The recent talks between the two leaders aim at resolving the long-standing problem, which makes Nicosia - the capital of Cyprus - the only divided city in Europe.

[03] PM visits merchant marine ministry for rescue briefing

Athens, 31/12/2001 (ANA)

He was welcomed by Merchant Marine Minister George Anomeritis and the Harbor Corps' military leadership headed by Vice Admiral Andreas Syrigos.

Simitis communicated with the Greek ship "New York Express", a container carrier, sailing in the Atlantic. He spoke with the ship's captain who briefed him on the vessel's mission, its cargo and on the good weather conditions prevailing in the area.

The prime minister also conveyed his greetings by satellite to the crews of all Greek ships sailing in seas all over the world at present and wished them well for the New Year.

[04] New special court for gov't members, per demand of the Constitution

Athens, 31/12/2001 (ANA)

According to sources, the ministry is following up on the mandate of the amended Constitution, which prescribes that the state is obliged to provide the venue for Parliament to bring charges against the government and its members, having the sole responsibility for such action.

The same sources said that according to the draft the court will be comprised of 13 members, which will include six judges from the Council of State - Greece's highest administrative court - and seven judges from the Arios Pagos - Greece's supreme court.

The members of this new court will be drawn by chance at a public meeting of the Parliament by the president of the legislative body.

The president of each session of this court will be the senior Arios Pagos judge selected with the aforementioned process.

[05] Almost all of Greece's ATMs to dispense euros on new-years day, bankers say

Athens, 31/12/2001 (ANA)

Greece's banking system is working overtime these last few days of the year to usher euro, materializing the historic change that is about to take place in 12 of the 15 European Union member-states that decided to participate in the monetary union of the European Union.

The bankers also stressed that there will be no problem of liquidity in the market both regarding drachmas and euros.

[06] Farmers decide to protest policies, decreasing income

Athens, 31/12/2001 (ANA)

They voiced their intent of taking their protest to the streets and highways of Greece, while they announced that they will seek a meeting with the leadership of the agriculture ministry and the representatives of political parties to brief them of their demands.

[07] Culture minister attends festive event for expatriates

Athens, 31/12/2001 (ANA)

"The integration of expatriates from countries of the former Soviet Union is a precondition for our social cohesion these days as well, which are days of love. Our gaze should be directed at those sections of Greek society which have some particular problem," Venizelos said in his address.

He further said that "the expatriates have a great cultural wealth, habits, customs and traditions and all these should be considered parts of our cultural tradition and of our cultural wealth."

"A special policy is necessary for these social categories and these cultural factors and so we shall establish a series of cultural centers concerning this social group," he added.

[08] Parliament President and parties issue New Year messages

Athens, 31/12/2001 (ANA)

"In 2002, European integration is moving away from the field of declarations and is becoming everyday, matter-of-fact, reality through our common currency ... In this new era Greece can look forward to the future with optimism and hope. A necessary precondition is the continual vigilance of our people and especially that of youth and the participation in political and social struggles," Kaklamanis said.

The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) said in its message that 2002 is bringing along preparation for "savage blows against rights concerning social security, human living standards and labor".

"No new page is opening for working people with the establishment of the euro. A new page is opening for plutocracy. A new page will only open for the people when they themselves come out onto the forestage to determine their own course," KKE said.

In his own message, Democratic Social Movement (DHKKI) leader Dimitris Tsovolas expressed the hope that "2002 will be a year for the activation or ordinary citizens to enable the creation of better conditions for an improvement in the living standards of the people."

"DHKKI, being a purely patriotic, democratic, progressive and popular movement, will continue steadfastly to struggle for the creation of a powerful patriotic and progressive social front against the barbarity of neo-liberalism," he added.

[09] Archbishop calls on people to preserve faith and tradition

Athens, 31/12/2001 (ANA)

Christodoulos said many gamble during the holidays and referred to the phenomenon of the increase in the number of casinos. He compared Greeks to the Indians who were alienated by the "conquerors" through various things such as liqueur and tobacco.

[10] Illegal immigrants arrested off Kos

Athens, 31/12/2001 (ANA)

In another development, a Greek coast guard vessel spotted the 15-metre Turkish-flagged boat "Igur Bay" rudderless on the borderline between the Turkish coast and the island of Chios with 50 illegal immigrants on board.

The Turkish coast guard was notified and sent a patrol boat and a tugboat, which led the boat back to the Turkish coast. It is the seventh time that Greek and Turkish harbor authorities have cooperated following the signing of the Cooperation Protocol between Greece and Turkey on issues concerning illegal immigrants.

[11] Greek, Turkish coast guards foil attempt of would illegal immigrants

Athens, 31/12/2001 (ANA)

[12] President Clerides-Denktash dinner held "in good atmosphere"

NICOSIA, 31/12/2001 (CNA/ANA)

Reliable sources told CNA, President Clerides raised the humanitarian issue of missing persons in Cyprus right at the offset of the discussions around the table, which seem to have been led to a successful conclusion.

Talks around the dinner table covered the living conditions of Greek Cypriots enclaved in the Turkish-occupied northern part of Cyprus, who face a lot of restrictions.

As the two leaders were having dinner, women relatives of missing persons demonstrated outside the president's residence, demanding to know what has happened to their loved ones.

This is the first time since the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus that Denktash has crossed into the government-controlled southern part of the island. Clerides extended an invitation to dinner after he had attended a dinner in the Turkish-occupied part of Nicosia at Denktash's home earlier this month.

Demonstrations against Clerides-Denktash dinner: Sixty persons gathered in Eleftheria Square in central Nicosia on Saturday night, to demonstrate against the Turkish occupation of Cyprus' northern third and the dinner given by President Clerides for Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash. The demonstrators were members of refugee and anti-occupation associations, students, relatives of persons missing since the 1974 Turkish invasion, and members of a political party youth organization, as well as Democratic Party MPs.

They were holding placards with various slogans, including "Denktash, you will go to court", "One people, one land, one state", and "The dinner overrides the crime".

A huge black sheet was hung on the Venetian wall outside the Nicosia Town Hall reading "No dinner with the conqueror as long as the occupation lasts in Cyprus".

During the demonstration, members of the group set a table for two and placed a model of divided Cyprus on a serving plate.

Denktash: we will do all required for the issue of missing: Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash has said that both sides will do all that is required to deal with the issue of missing persons in Cyprus.

According to Turkish Cypriot Daily "Halkin Sesi" Sunday, on his return Saturday night to the Turkish occupied part of Cyprus from the government controlled areas of the Republic, Denktash said "both sides will do everything that is required for the issue of missing persons."

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