Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 02-01-26

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

CONTENTS

[01] Balkans, fight against organized crime dominate Simitis-Meta talks

[02] Athens dismisses Turkish minister's comments over Cyprus

[03] FM meets U.S. ambassador

[04] Protopapas denies rumors surrounding PM's meeting with Kaklamanis

[05] ND leader visits city of Kavala

[06] Justice minister on statutory limitation of offences

[07] Controversy at cross-party meeting for party funding bill

[08] Minister says suitable preparation made for social security issue

[09] Coalition leader says absentee gov’t ruling the country

[10] Chrysanthakopoulos expelled from PASOK's Parliamentary Group

[11] Papandreou to speak at meeting of Greek, Austrian, Italian diplomats

[12] U.S. consulate on 'Trafficking in Human Beings' programs

[13] Recruiting services being upgraded

[14] Junta protagonists deleted from new electoral rolls

[15] Financial crimes squad suspects corruption in ETBA Finance

[16] Protopapas comments on farmers' protests

[17] Aluminium of Greece's energy plan to be approved

[18] Greek National Tourism Organization concludes deal with CNN

[19] Winner of Mount Parnes casino tender to emerge next week

[20] Gov't plans to raise tax break for returns sent via internet

[21] Anomeritis wins London Committee's confidence

[22] New cruise ship operator to enter the market

[23] Noted MIT prof. cites still low Internet use in Greece

[24] Greek social welfare spending increases about 30 per cent in '90s

[25] Annual Xenia trade show opens in Piraeus

[26] Greek stocks fall on profit taking

[27] ABNA conference in Istanbul focuses on mass media's role in regional relations

[28] Patriarch Vartholomeos comments on Pope's 'Prayer for Peace

[29] Training center for Balkan judges announced by minister

[30] Deputy minister presents national policy on transplants

[31] Clerides and Denktash hold fourth meeting on Cyprus' future

[32] Cyprus satisfied with PACE resolution

[33] King of Sweden assures Cyprus Ambassador of his support

[34] Government to destroy arms under UN custody since early 1970s

[01] Balkans, fight against organized crime dominate Simitis-Meta talks

Athens, 26/01/2002 (ANA)

“We’ve had discussions with Albania over how to apply the Greek plan for Balkan restructuring ... There are specific programs underway,” Simitis told reporters after talks with Meta.

Issues related to the ethnic Greek minority in southern Albania were also discussed by the two men, as the matter has long ranked as a top priority for Athens.

In responding to a relevant question, the Greek premier cited what he called progress in the exercise of minority members’ rights, especially after the abolition of so-called minority zones in the neighboring country.

In terms of Albania’s European prospects, Simitis said Tirana would find support from Athens in its efforts to harmonies the country with the EU norms, moreover, so that a stability pact and the EU-Albanian partnership pact proceed unhindered.

On his part, Meta referred at length to the energy problem his small country faces, as numerous power outages from insufficient water reserves in Albania’s hydroelectric dams have hampered production of late. Greece recently supplied its northwest neighbor with 100 megawatts in electricity to help alleviate the shortage.

"The energy problem isn't just an economic problem, it also impedes foreign investment in Albania," Meta explained.

In terms of inter-state law enforcement cooperation, another top priority for Balkan governments, Simitis said Athens wants this bilateral cooperation intensified, especially with stepped up border controls.

In praising Athens for its support of Albania's EU and NATO prospects, Meta noted that "political stability helps in the continuation of our accession course ..." Additionally, he termed bilateral relations on the political level as excellent.

Finally, Simitis mentioned that the issue of health and pension coverage for Albanian nationals working in Greece was also discussed.

Meeting with Karamanlis: Earlier, Meta met with main opposition New Democracy leader Costas Karamanlis, whom he invited to visit the neighboring country.

Afterwards, Karamanlis called his talks with Albania's premier useful, saying bilateral relations, business activity by Greek firms in Albania as well as cooperation to combat organized crime and regional stability dominated the meeting's agenda.

Finally, the ND leader reiterated Greece's sensitivity regarding the ethnic Greek minority in southern Albania, while noting that good relations between Athens and Tirana necessitate satisfactory living conditions and respect for the rights of the Greek Orthodox faithful in Albania.

Parliament president receives Albanian PM: Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis on Friday received Albanian Prime Minister Ilir Meta and discussed issues concerning bilateral cooperation and regional stability.

The two men agreed on the importance of stability in the region for both countries' interests and spoke of developing closer ties between Greece and Albania.

They agreed on the activation of the bonds of cooperation between the parliaments of the two countries, which will be discussed in depth during Kaklamanis' visit to Tirana in March, in the framework of the SE European Parliament Presidents Conference.

[02] Athens dismisses Turkish minister's comments over Cyprus

Athens, 26/01/2002 (ANA)

According to reports, Turkish Minister of State Sukru Sina Gurel said recently that Greece "suffers" from a "complex" due to its European Union membership.

"This policy does not benefit Turkey, it leads it to isolation. At this juncture Ankara should understand that the messages sent out by the international community are for a solution to the Cyprus problem and its EU accession," government spokesman Christos Protopapas said.

[03] FM meets U.S. ambassador

Athens, 26/01/2002 (ANA)

The sources said that the two men discussed the issue of European defense and security policy, in the wake of Papandreou's meeting with his Spanish counterpart whose country is holding the European Union's rotating presidency in the first half of 2002.

[04] Protopapas denies rumors surrounding PM's meeting with Kaklamanis

Athens, 26/01/2002 (ANA)

He said the rumors were probably triggered by Friday's meeting between Prime Minister Costas Simitis and Parliament Speaker Apostolos Kaklamanis, which concerned the generally planning of Parliament's work.

He also denied rumors that the prime minister had described an initiative by 45 PASOK MPs over the social insurance issue as 'hostile'.

[05] ND leader visits city of Kavala

Athens, 26/01/2002 (ANA)

Karamanlis will also visit the city of Drama on Saturday, where he will attend a meeting of prefectural agencies and make an address at the city's indoor stadium.

[06] Justice minister on statutory limitation of offences

Athens, 26/01/2002 (ANA)

"The prime minister has stated that the possibility of extending the statutory limitation period should be examined, but this always concerns the future because retroactivity cannot apply in our justice system in such cases," Petsalnikos said.

Commenting on the social security issue and the initiative undertaken by 45 PASOK deputies on the matter, Petsalnikos said it was unnecessary, adding that "there was no inaction on the part of the labor ministry and the government in general to give an impetus to this issue."

[07] Controversy at cross-party meeting for party funding bill

Athens, 26/01/2002 (ANA)

Party representatives attending a cross-party committee meeting at the ministry argued hotly over this and other changes proposed during the meeting.

The ministry's proposal, if accepted, would allow parties to buy additional broadcast time costing up to 40 per cent of their total election campaign spending.

Other changes proposed were: That campaign centers should not be used to promote individual candidates and that candidates' political offices should be above the ground floor to prevent their parallel use as campaign centers.

That individual candidates be limited to two appearances on each radio station and a total of eight appearances on television. This would, however, exclude party representatives at organized broadcasts where all parties were presented, ministers and deputy ministers, party representatives appointed to answer statements by ministers and deputy ministers and candidates responding to inaccurate, abusive or disparaging reports.

That the upper limit for party electoral spending be 20 per cent of the total funding last received from the state, with a possible rise to 30 per cent if all the parties agree.

The proposals also called for much tougher penalties for transgressors, including the loss of their seat in parliament.

With respect to funding, ruling PASOK and main opposition New Democracy agreed that 80 per cent of this should be moved through bank accounts, while the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) and the Democratic Social Movement (DHKKI) want this percentage reduced.

Interior Minister Costas Skandalidis is expecting the parties to send their observations on this issue in writing so that the matter can be settled and the bill tabled in Parliament.

[08] Minister says suitable preparation made for social security issue

Athens, 26/01/2002 (ANA)

"The government has made the suitable preparation to enable us to be led to a favorable result, creating an economically viable and socially fair social security system in our country," he said.

Reppas also said that the initiative by 45 PASOK party deputies on the issue is legitimate since everyone has the right to express his views, but added that the deputies should have contacted the labor ministry's leadership before publicizing the proposal and if they believed answers given to them were not convincing then they could justifiably undertake initiatives.

Reppas reiterated that the social security issue, as well as other important problems, is not an issue concerning the government or PASOK alone but all of society.

[09] Coalition leader says absentee gov’t ruling the country

Athens, 26/01/2002 (ANA)

He was commenting on reports that the prime minister was 'annoyed' with 45 PASOK ministers that had broken ranks and requested a debate on the social insurance issue.

Just a few months after an early PASOK congress and a government reshuffle, the prime minister was seeing enemies everywhere, Constantopoulos noted.

"It is fair to ask on what the government's policy is based when it is vexed by its own MPs and attacks society when it protests, accusing all and sundry of attempting to undermine it, from one third of its own parliamentary group to pensioners, farmers, students and workers," the Coalition leader added.

Constantopoulos was referring to reports claiming that Prime Minister Costas Simitis had described as 'hostile' a move by 45 PASOK MPs to publicly request a debate on the social insurance issue within the government and party.

[10] Chrysanthakopoulos expelled from PASOK's Parliamentary Group

Athens, 26/01/2002 (ANA)

Earlier and at Simitis' order, Sfyriou had summoned Chrysanthakopoulos to provide an explanation on the issue concerning his appearance in a televised video playing chance games (one-armed bandits), while being president of a parliamentary committee probing the issue.

Speaking to reporters on the issue earlier in the day, government spokesman Christos Protopapas had said "you are addressing the government spokesman who has the duty of providing information on issues related to the course of the government's work", adding that the regrettable issue is not related to the course of the government's work and he could make no comment.

[11] Papandreou to speak at meeting of Greek, Austrian, Italian diplomats

Athens, 26/01/2002 (ANA)

The meeting will be held in the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki and is taking place under the aegis of Greek foreign ministry general secretary George Savvaidis.

[12] U.S. consulate on 'Trafficking in Human Beings' programs

Athens, 26/01/2002 (ANA)

"One of the greatest human rights challenges faced in Southeast Europe as well as in many other regions of the world is trafficking in persons, which is furthermore associated with organized crime and has repercussions for the stability and security of the region. The United States of America and Greece, as well as other Balkan countries, cooperate for the eradication of this phenomenon," the press release said.

A working meeting will be held on January 29 at the Thessaloniki Bar Association's lecture hall, while the program will be repeated, in cooperation with the local prefectures, in Serres on January 30, Florina January 31 and Kilkis on February 1.

[13] Recruiting services being upgraded

Athens, 26/01/2002 (ANA)

The program also anticipates the concentration and codification of all recruiting data ever since the country's establishment and the possibility of electronic access through the Internet with which overseas Greeks will be able to handle their recruiting issues.

[14] Junta protagonists deleted from new electoral rolls

Athens, 26/01/2002 (ANA)

All of them had been stripped of their political rights following their arrest after the fall of the military dictatorship they led.

Those whose names were removed were Nikos Makarezos, Stylianos Patakos, Michail Roufogalis, Theodoros Theofiloyiannakos, all of whom are invalids and being treated at home, Dimitris Ioannidis and Nikos Dertilis, who are still in prison, and Nikos Hatzizisis who has been released.

[15] Financial crimes squad suspects corruption in ETBA Finance

Athens, 26/01/2002 (ANA)

Indications of illegal placements of funds by ETBA Finance came to light over the past year during controls by the bank's management ahead of privatization, which were then investigated by the squad, the government department said in a statement.

The result brought losses to the bank and to the state, the statement said.

Also informed on Friday of the financial squad's findings were the finance ministry, ETBAbank's governor, George Kasmas, the Bank of Greece, or central bank, and the capital market commission.

Immediately suspended by Kasmas were ETBA Finance's managing director, the firm's director, and the supervisors of the accounting and financial services departments.

The financial crimes squad will give the prosecutor a report on its findings on completion of the enquiry, which was ordered by the finance ministry.

[16] Protopapas comments on farmers' protests

Athens, 26/01/2002 (ANA)

The government understood that farmers had the right to react and mobilize, Protopapas added, but was also obliged to protect the economic and daily lives of the rest of the citizens.

Responding to questions, he said that Agriculture Minister George Drys had met with farmer unions on Thursday in an effort to explore ways of reaching a settlement.

The state had already accepted 9,500 demands for restitution for crops and this indicated the respect with which the government treated the real problems faced by the farming community, the spokesman added.

"We want to provide solutions to the problems faced by farmers, but their reactions should also show respect for other citizens," he concluded.

[17] Aluminium of Greece's energy plan to be approved

Athens, 26/01/2002 (ANA)

Tsohatzopoulos made these comments during his visit at the company's facilities in Viotia.

Aluminium of Greece plans to invest initially Dr 15 billion to build the new power station.

Tsohatzopoulos said that Europe was currently in its most critical stage in a drive to deregulate its energy markets and noted that this could be achieved with the use of natural gas and other forms of energy.

"The use of natural gas in electricity production is a main priority for the European Union and it was the base of an EU energy market plan for the period 2000-2006," Tsohatzopoulos said.

Aluminium of Greece's chairman Iason Stratos said that the company has already completed all visibility surveys and it was ready to begin implementing its investment on the precondition that it had secured the state's guarantees and funding from a Third Community Support Program.

"Our contract with Public Power Corporation for the supply of electricity ends in 2006 and we must find new energy sources to ensure our viability," Stratos said.

"Our intention is to build a combined energy system, using electricity and steam, to cover two-thirds of the company's power needs," he added.

Stratos said that DEPA, the country's natural gas distributor, has come up with a plan to distribute natural gas to the company's facilities within the next two years.

[18] Greek National Tourism Organization concludes deal with CNN

Athens, 26/01/2002 (ANA)

Beginning on January 28, the multimillion dollar campaign is the first to use the tourist board's new tagline "Greece, Beyond Words" and aims to raise the profile of Greece as a holiday destination in the run-up to the 2004 summer Olympics.

The news release said the sponsorship package is the first of its kind since CNN's introduction of a new weather forecasting format that airs live seven days a week, with specific forecasts available for 150 cities.

The deal runs for four months initially, it was added, and will see a 10-second branded insert following each CNN weather forecast. The insert will carry the line "This weather update is sponsored by the Greek National Tourism Organization" and will be followed immediately by a 30-second sponsor's commercial. Over five hundred sponsored weather updates will be broadcast over the four-month period.

[19] Winner of Mount Parnes casino tender to emerge next week

Athens, 26/01/2002 (ANA)

Hyatt Regency hotels in December informed the Athens Stock Exchange that it planned to express binding interest in the tender.

The deadline for binding expressions of interest in the sale of a 51 percent stake in the casino and its management was December 28.

Hyatt had told the Athens bourse that it would submit interest jointly with Hellenic Technodomiki, an engineering contractor.

[20] Gov't plans to raise tax break for returns sent via internet

Athens, 26/01/2002 (ANA)

The tax break is currently at 2.5 percent of tax payable, up to 25,000 drachmas.

[21] Anomeritis wins London Committee's confidence

Athens, 26/01/2002 (ANA)

These comments were made during Greek Merchant Marine Minister's, George Anomeritis, visit in the UK capital on Friday.

London Committee's presidency, headed by Epaminondas Empirikos, Stahis Kouloukoutsis and Spyros Polemis, were seeking, for a long time, for a cut in vessel taxation by the Greek government to around 20 percent of the average taxation paid by ship owners in England, Malta, Norway, Liberia and Cyprus.

Anomeritis positively surprised the Committee by saying that the Greek government's intention was to boost merchant marine's competitiveness and announced a plan for a re-examination of maritime education from "zero level".

"Our strategic targets are to strengthen merchant marine's competitiveness, to deregulate the passenger shipping sector, to promote safety in shipping, to protect the sea environment and to support the seamen's profession," he said.

Anomeritis noted that with the new taxation system and measures to boost employment in the sector, the government was building the bases to strengthen Greek fleet's competitiveness.

He also announced a series of new measures, including: a restructuring of merchant marine ministry's and harbor police's operations, a flotation of Piraeus Port Organization, creating a national agency for harbor policy, implementing new regional VTS and a national VTMIS systems, and finally, full deregulation of passenger shipping within 2002.

"We know our weaknesses as well as the power of our prospects. The country's prestige honors the Greek merchant marine and a strong Greek shipping industry is closely linked with a strong Greek economy," Anomeritis said.

[22] New cruise ship operator to enter the market

Athens, 26/01/2002 (ANA)

The firm's share capital is 4.11 million euros, and its president is Mamidaki, also president and managing director of Mamidakis Hotels, Harmony Cruises said in a statement on Friday.

[23] Noted MIT prof. cites still low Internet use in Greece

Athens, 26/01/2002 (ANA)

The celebrated co-founder and director of MIT's famed media laboratory also stressed that the future of the global telecoms industry lies in the use of unlicensed portions of the electro-magnetic spectrum, noting however, that regulatory authorities must examine and act on the issue in the next two to three years.

MIT's Jerome B. Wiesner Professor of Media Technology spoke at the end of a two-day conference on telecommunications organized here by Greece's state-run telecoms utility, OTE, and the "Financial Times" group.

Negroponte, a Greek-American pioneer in the field of computer-aided design and the author of the 1995 best-seller "Being Digital", also touched on Greece during his address, saying the use of the Internet in the country was still low.

He emphasized that the key to expanding Internet use lies in its instruction through the educational system.

Negroponte again appeared as a champion of developing countries' efforts to "join the cyber-highway" of globalization, adding that application of the vaunted 802.11 system should also be applied in Greece.

802.11 is a family of specifications for wireless local area networks (WLANs) developed by a working group of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). There are currently four specifications in the family: 802.11. 802.11a, 802b and 802.11g.

In turning to a more global outlook, Negroponte said a new "instructional culture" in the world of informatics does exist, for example, in Germany, but rather in Costa Rica and Brazil.

He said, among others, that Costa Rica ranks as the country with the highest percentage of telecommunications in schools, whereas 50 percent of its exports hail from telecommunication and not coffee or banana exports.

Additionally, he said that the future of telecoms in the world's most populous nations, China and India, appears ambiguous. India, he said, retains all the tools to play a significant international role, including extensive use of the English language, although the south Asia giant is deficient in the field of education.

Conversely, more authoritarian China, where English is not extensively taught to pupils, excels in computer use among its youth, Negroponte said, while predicting that Chinese will eclipse English at the most prolific language on the Internet in the next few years.

[24] Greek social welfare spending increases about 30 per cent in '90s

BRUSSELS, 26/01/2002 (ANA - M. Spinthourakis)

The reports showed that social welfare spending amounted to 25.5 per cent of GDP in 1999, whereas in 1990 it stood at 22.9 per cent of GDP, while the average for the European Union in 1999 was 27.6 per cent and for 1990 25.5 per cent.

The per capita increase in Greece over this ten-year period was about 30 per cent, while in Europe it was 24 per cent.

[25] Annual Xenia trade show opens in Piraeus

Athens, 26/01/2002 (ANA)

Deputy Development Minister Dimitris Georgakopoulos inaugurated the trade exhibition.

[26] Greek stocks fall on profit taking

Athens, 26/01/2002 (ANA)

The general index ended 0.12 percent lower at 2,617.87 points, with turnover a moderate Dr 47.4 billion, or 139.1 million euros.

The IT Solutions, Publishing and Investment sectors suffered the heaviest percentage losses (1.07 percent, 0.79 percent and 0.77 percent, respectively), while the Retail, IT and Insurance sectors scored the biggest gains (2.01 percent, 0.56 percent and 0.16 percent).

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks ended 0.22 percent lower, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index eased 0.17 percent and the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index fell 0.15 percent.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 169 to 127 with another 66 issues unchanged.

The general index ended the week with a net gain of 2.2 percent.

The most heavily traded shares were ELBAL, Rainbow, Klonatex (common), Panafon, and Public Power Corporation.

Equity futures trade lower: Equity index futures on the Athens Derivatives Exchange traded lower on Friday retaining a small discount.

Changing hands were 4,496 contracts on turnover of 30.3 million euros.

The underlying FTSE/ASE-20 index for heavily traded stocks and blue chips shed 0.22 percent; and the underlying FTSE/ASE-40 for medium capitalization stocks lost 0.17 percent.

Bond prices slump in heavy trade: Bond prices in the domestic secondary market on Friday finished lower in heavy trade focusing on 10-year paper.

The Greek benchmark 10-year bond showed a yield of 5.32 percent, and the spread over German bunds was 35 basis points.

Turnover through the central bank's electronic system totalled 2.7 billion euros.

Sell orders accounted for the bulk of turnover.

[27] ABNA conference in Istanbul focuses on mass media's role in regional relations

ISTANBUL, 26/01/2002 (ANA - A. Kourkoulas)

He noted that newspapers and other mass media play an important role in shaping public opinion in the region and stressed the importance of news editing without commentary.

He stressed that the Greek-Turkish rapprochement should move on in phases divesting with care all prejudices, adding that over the past two years many taboos have collapsed on both sides.

Voulelis underlined that Greece should be the warmest supporter of Turkey's accession to the European Union.

This ABNA conference is organized by Turkey's Anadolu News Agency in cooperation with the Baschesehir University of Istanbul and is focusing on the capabilities of Balkan news agencies to promote communication between the countries of the region.

Turkish Minister Yilmaz Karakoyiounlu inaugurated the conference, in which senior officials from the national news agencies of Greece, Albania, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Romania and Turkey are participating.

In parallel to the conference, ABNA will also hold its General Assembly. Greece is represented by ANA's Managing Director Nicolas Voulelis and the Macedonian News Agency's President P. Paraskevopoulos.

[28] Patriarch Vartholomeos comments on Pope's 'Prayer for Peace

ROME, 26/01/2002 (ANA - L. Hatzikyriakos)

The pontiff had gathered together 200 leaders from a dozen religions in the Italian town of Assisi on Thursday, including Patriarch Vartholomeos, to underline that religion could not and should not be a reason for conflict and violence.

"I saw it as a continuation of my own initiative in Brussels," Vartholomeos told reporters, "in the context of a wider initiative taken by many sides to show that religion unites and does not divide, that religion cannot be recruited to justify violence and terrorism."

He stressed that there had been many initiatives for dialogue between religions, such as his own trip to Iran at the invitation of the country's culture minister, or the meeting being prepared in Istanbul on February 12-13 between the European Union and organization in Islamic nations.

"All these initiatives seek to show that religion is a uniting factor, that religions and cultures should work together," he said.

Regarding dialogue between the Orthodox and Catholic Churches, the Patriarch said that both the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Vatican wanted this to continue and for the remaining obstacles to be overcome.

He noted that dialogue had progressed initially but stopped after 1990, after the revival of the Uniate Church in the former Communist countries, which had been accused of trying to proselytise Orthodox faithful in these countries. The Orthodox faithful believed these obstacles could be overcome, the Patriarch added.

Asked to comment on the absence of the Church of Greece from Thursday's peace and prayer meeting, the Ecumenical Patriarch pointed out that other Orthodox Churches, such as those of Georgia, Finland and the Czech Republic and Slovenia had also failed to send representatives.

It would have been "pleasant" if the Greek Church had sent at least one delegation, he conceded, adding that this was an internal matter for the Church of Greece. He also admitted that the absence had been noted with displeasure by the Vatican.

Vartholomeos announced that talks were underway for a visit by him to Athens in May and expressed hope that steps would be made so that all the Orthodox Churches could come together in promoting ecumenical dialogue.

"The times demand that we do not remain isolated and shut within ourselves, self-satisfied and self-sufficient, and ignore others. This is a time of dialogue. When we have dialogue with Islam, Judaism and the non-Christian Churches, how can we not have dialogue between Christians?" he stressed.

[29] Training center for Balkan judges announced by minister

Athens, 26/01/2002 (ANA)

The minister said the new center would provide additional training to some 200 judges a year, and interest had so far been expressed by the governments of Albania and Turkey.

After talks with the school's management, faculty and students, Petsalnikos announced a decision to increase the course time allocated to foreign languages and computers, as well as a decision to provide each graduate with a portable personal computer at the expense of the justice ministry, in order to speed up the judicial process.

The minister also paid a surprise visit to the site destined to house a primary and appeals court in Thessaloniki to check the progress of work on the building, budgeted at 73.76 million euros.

[30] Deputy minister presents national policy on transplants

Athens, 26/01/2002 (ANA)

Nasiokas said the policy is based on three axes: creation of the necessary institutional framework, inclusion of all activities in one body (EOM) and the sensitization of society.

The new law on transplants, aligned with directives both in the European Union and the rest of the world, is already being applied in the country since 1999.

Nasiokas announced that processes to staff EOM are going ahead and the filling of the first 13 out of 24 posts is being proclaimed, since the organization has only been functioning with detached employees so far.

[31] Clerides and Denktash hold fourth meeting on Cyprus' future

NICOSIA, 26/01/2002 (CNA/ANA)

[32] Cyprus satisfied with PACE resolution

The Cyprus government considers the recent resolution of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe(PACE) to be "positive" on the whole, which does not necessarily mean that it is happy with each line of its text.

Government Spokesman Michalis Papapetrou said on Friday that there were many positive references in the resolution regarding the Cyprus problem, the island's EU accession course, Turkish threats against Cyprus, and the steadfast recognition of the Republic of Cyprus by international organizations.

He said the resolution included "serious positive elements", noting that this did not mean the government was "happy with each and every line or word included in this resolution".

The Spokesman said there were some references that could have been worded differently but which "in no way affect our general concept that it is a positive text" in relation to the Cyprus problem and EU accession.

Papapetrou made special reference to paragraph 9(a), in which the Assembly "welcomes the fact that the leaders of both communities have accepted the invitation by the UN Secretary-General to participate, without preconditions, in the UN resumed talks in order to achieve an overall settlement on the basis of the UN resolutions".

"This reference, apart from being especially important in relation to the reference to UN resolutions as the basis of a Cyprus settlement, clarifies once again the nature of the talks, i.e. that they are being held at the invitation and in the context of the UN", Papapetrou noted.

He also pointed to paragraph 3 of the resolution, which says that" today Cyprus faces a new situation" and that "the Republic of Cyprus is negotiating its accession to the EU". This paragraph also mentions the December 1999 Helsinki conclusions that said a Cyprus settlement was not a prerequisite for accession.

Papapetrou also mentioned other points in the resolution, such as" the firm stance of all international organizations for the exclusive recognition of the state of the Republic of Cyprus", adding that there solution calls on "the Turkish Cypriot authorities to remove restrictions on individual contacts with people living in the Republic of Cyprus and any other obstacles in the way of reconciliation, including contacts with political parties".

Commenting on another paragraph, which refers to "a clearing mechanism through which products and goods from the northern part of Cyprus can be exported to the EU without being hampered by the political differences among the two entities", Papapetrou said "the axes of the government policy were never to strangle or confine any Turkish Cypriot".

[33] King of Sweden assures Cyprus Ambassador of his support

NICOSIA, 26/01/2002 (CNA/ANA)

He also complimented Cyprus for the important progress it has made in the negotiations for accession into the European Union. An official press release issued here today says Papadimas, who presented his credentials to the Swedish King yesterday in Stockholm, conveyed to the King the warm greetings of President Clerides as well as an official invitation to visit Cyprus.

Papadimas also briefed the Monarch on the recent developments in the Cyprus problem and Cyprus' accession course to the European Union.

The Cypriot diplomat thanked the Swedish Monarch for the steady support of Sweden towards Cyprus regarding the efforts for a solution of the Cyprus problem as well as for entering the European Union. The Swedish King returned the good wishes and thanked for the invitation to visit Cyprus in the future. During the meeting they also discussed bilateral relations and the prospects of their further development especially in the sector of tourism as well as other sectors of common interest.

[34] Government to destroy arms under UN custody since early 1970s

The government has taken a decision to destroy arms and ammunition which have been under UN custody since the early 1970s, Government Spokesman Michalis Papapetrou said here on Friday.

UN spokesman Brian Kelly confirmed to CNA on Friday that the government has recently put forward a proposal to this effect and said discussions are taking place to see how this can be accomplished."

There is no reason to keep these arms and we have decided to destroy the arms and the ammunition," Papapetrou told the press, adding that they are old and have been under UN custody since 1972, following an agreement between the UN and the Republic.

Kelly told CNA that "the government has made a proposal for the disposal of the arms, we are currently in discussion as to how this might be accomplished and until such time that these discussions are completed, we will not be in a position to say anything further."

It is estimated that there are 4,500 small arms in UN store areas, which legally belong to the Cyprus police force. The arms were imported to Cyprus in early 1972 from communist Czechoslovakia by the then president of the Republic, the late Archbishop Makarios III to combat illegal activities of paramilitaries on the island against him. Following difficulties that emerged as a result of their presence here, the government came to an arrangement with UNFICYP for their safe-keeping by the UN force.

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