Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 02-01-28

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

CONTENTS

[01] Continually improving competitiveness the key of the new economy, premier says

[02] Greek FM calls international law key parameter in Greek-Turkish affairs

[03] Greek promotional campaign in Turkey

[04] Greek FM: EU against Montenegro secession

[05] Clerides expected to visit Athens

[06] ND leader focuses on Cyprus' EU accession, Greek-Turkish affairs

[07] KKE leader addresses regional Meeting of Communist and Labor parties

[08] Farmers' rallies expected this week

[09] Latest poll shows 'mixed results' for political leaders

[10] Internal PASOK developments cited by top party cadres

[11] New president at Greece's Technical Chamber

[12] ND criticizes ruling PASOK on ETBA alleged funds' mismanagement

[13] PM's article cites importance of 2004 Games for Greece

[14] Rogge on security for Olympic Games

[15] Stolen radioactive device located

[16] Shipping industry should aid in Parthenon marbles' return, minister says

[17] More seismic activity in Ionian reported

[18] SAE Europe meets in Thessaloniki to draft 2002 action plan

[19] US view on Cyprus hasn't changed at all

[20] Clinton regrets not being able to persuade for a solution in Cyprus

[01] Continually improving competitiveness the key of the new economy, premier says

Athens, 28/01/2002 (ANA)

Speaking at the inauguration of the Athens Stock Exchange (ASE) Viohalko Group SOVEL plant, Simitis stressed that in the new economic environment businesses are called to plan and build their own independent course, to undertake the dangers and make their choices in full knowledge of all conditions and data.

"This is the new reality, in which the undertaking and expanding of business action, has a fully new content. A content adjusted to the conditions of international competition and of the developed economies to which the Greek economy is part of anymore," Simitis said.

He stressed that this new environment allows the Greek economy to use better than ever the significant funds that the government secured from the European Union, funds which allow for the completion of the modernization effort, with special emphasis place in the country's non-urban areas.

Political leaders of both major Greek parties, banking and business leaders were present at the inauguration.

Mitsotakis' statement: Speaking on the new plant, main opposition former president Constantine Mitsotakis said that the new Sovel plant is a message of hope and confidence in the Greek economy, adding that the private sector was responding in an excellent way.

About SOVEL: Sovel, a steel mill and steel products company, was created by Sidenor and Viohalko. The initial investment was that of 150 million euros in a plant with a capacity to produce 600,000 tons of steel semis per year, a rolling mill with a capacity of 530,000 tons per year, a pipe mill of 135,000 tons per year and a unit producing construction steel rods (130,000 tons per year),

The plant employs 500 people and it is ISO 9002 certified.

[02] Greek FM calls international law key parameter in Greek-Turkish affairs

Athens, 28/01/2002 (ANA)

International Law, Papandreou said, "includes, of course, the legal right recognized to us by Maritime Law to expand our territorial waters to 12 miles".

In his interview, Papandreou defended the government's policy in Greek-Turkish affairs, saying "this policy of ours, as was stated in Helsinki, meets with the wider consensus of the political forces of the country - I at least have never heard of a credible alternative proposal".

When asked to comment on the results of the Greek-Turkish rapprochement from it's initiation - with the 1999 earthquakes - to date, Papandreou said "we formulated a strategy with depth of time, which is not influenced by the circumstance and its demands...In foreign policy, one can not make short term assessments, time is needed, much more so, when it is about a complex problem as are the Greek-Turkish relations".

"Have the dangers of a new crisis and tension with Turkey been wiped out? This I cannot say, I believe, however, that our policy is one of deterrence - and I do not mean only military deterrence - and not one of appeasement. We are a country with a strong economy and defense, with upgraded power in the international community and we have the power to create the necessary deterrents for possible dangers," he added.

Speaking on Prime Minister Costas Simitis' trip to Washington D.C. and the issue of the U.S. maps that forewent sea borders between Greece and Turkey, Papandreou said that he posed a relevant question to his counterpart Collin Powell and the answer he received was that the U.S. does not use delineation of sea borders on any map, adding that this case had nothing to do with Greek-Turkish affairs.

"You do understand, however, that in this case we can easily score against our own team, since an issue that is not existent for us, the issue of borders, we did not want to raise it at the level of the American president, as the primary issue," he noted.

Addressing terrorism in Greece and reports in the foreign press that ruling PASOK members were involved in such actions, Papandreou said "no way, whether they are those that struggled from PAK (precursor to PASOK) or later in PASOK, can not be identified with those several terrorist organizations, as several slanderous statement have said in the press".

[03] Greek promotional campaign in Turkey

ISTANBUL, 28/01/2002 (ANA)

A consulate delegation will tour several major economic and trade centers in Turkey in order to brief local business leaders and to examine the possibility of joint ventures between Greek and Turkish companies.

The first round of visits is co-organized by Turkey's council for foreign economic relations (DEIK).

[04] Greek FM: EU against Montenegro secession

Athens, 28/01/2002 (ANA)

In comments just prior to attending a trilateral meeting in the northern port city of Thessaloniki between diplomats from Austria, Italy and Greece to examine the situation in southeast Europe, Greek FM George Papandreou said such a development will intensify instability in the region.

"It's not certain that we will have a referendum (in Montenegro). The international community is extremely wary over such a development. The European Union's view, as well as that of the international community, is that new secessions and new states in the region create instability and should be avoided," he said, adding:

"Greece and the other European Union countries advice the peoples of the region that it is better to work towards a common European vocation -- because we will all be under one roof, while the issue of borders has, in the end, very little importance - instead of searching to create new structures, which create more tension..."

Ambassadors of the three countries - Austria, Italy and Greece -- serving in several Balkan countries will attend the meeting.

[05] Clerides expected to visit Athens

NICOSIA, 28/01/2002 (ANA)

According to reports, coordination between Nicosia and Athens in light of a first round of direct Clerides-Denktash talks is expected to dominate discussions.

[06] ND leader focuses on Cyprus' EU accession, Greek-Turkish affairs

Athens, 28/01/2002 (ANA)

"Once again I am stressing clearly, very clearly, that no Turkish effort can stop the accession of the Republic of Cyprus. Turkey is not in a position to acquire a 'veto' on the decisions of the European Union with its intransigence and this is so in every case," Karamanlis said. Speaking on the Euroforce, Karamanlis said that "it should not be that we strengthen the capability of Ankara's extremists to threaten us and to initiate tension to the detriment of peace".

"Greece needs at last a unified and long-term foreign policy. It needs a clear voice that calls things by their name. All that is whispered by the government lately about so called initiatives are cause for concern," he said, in regards to the country's foreign policy.

"All that is taking place in the foreign ministry give birth to negative thoughts," Karamanlis claimed.

The ND leader also focused on Athens 2004 Olympic Games construction projects and criticized the government for what he said was delays in completion timelines.

[07] KKE leader addresses regional Meeting of Communist and Labor parties

Athens, 28/01/2002 (ANA)

She stressed that in the current conditions of "imperialist aggression" the efforts for the common confrontation of the problems, the coordination and joint action should be further strengthened.

Papariga analyzed the positions of KKE regarding the use of the Sept. 11 terrorist attack against the United States by the imperialist forces, adding that terrorism was connected directly or indirectly with secret services, which aim at damaging national liberation movements and revolutionary movements around the world.

[08] Farmers' rallies expected this week

Athens, 28/01/2002 (ANA)

Dozens of farmers in the province are expected to park their tractors along side the main Athens-Thessaloniki highway at the Tempi juncture on Monday, whereas authorities have also reportedly taken measures to prevent any road blockades.

Meanwhile, in reference to the recent farmers' mobilizations and rallies, Prime Minister Costas Simitis said on Saturday from Volos that the farm sector policy applied by the country is the one decided at the European Union level, namely, the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

He also said that cotton prices will be finalized in April or May, with rates between 265 to 270 drachmas.

[09] Latest poll shows 'mixed results' for political leaders

Athens, 28/01/2002 (ANA)

According to a poll featured in the Sunday edition of "Eleftherotypia", Prime Minister Costas Simitis was picked by 33.7 percent of respondents in the category of "most ideal political leader". Some 28.7 percent of respondents picked "no one" in the same category, while main opposition New Democracy (ND) leader Costas Karamanlis was picked by 23.6 percent of respondents.

Conversely, Karamanlis is ahead of Simitis by two percentage points in the category of "most capable person as the next prime minister". The ND leader polled 22.4 percent to Simitis' 20.5, whereas Athens Mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos garnered 17.5 percent and Foreign Minister George Papandreou 11.1 percent.

As far as the grading of political figures on a scale of one to 10, Papandreou earned a 6.7, ahead of Karamanlis' 6.4, Avramopoulos' 6.3 and Simitis' 6.2.

Another interesting result is an overwhelming response by respondents in favor of coalition governments (64.7 percent).

Finally, 70.3 percent of respondents said they will cast their vote on the basis of personal interests; 14.4 on the basis of ideological principles and 14.7 percent for the "country's good".

The opinion poll was conducted by the firm "Focus" with a phone sample of 1,201 respondents aged between 16 to 75 years old.

[10] Internal PASOK developments cited by top party cadres

Athens, 28/01/2002 (ANA)

"We would be unworthy of the occasion if we wasted the Greek people's trust in a vapid promotion of personal strategies," the minister said in reference to various scenarios regarding Simitis' successor.

She added, in statements to the "Kyriakatiki Eleftherotypia" newspaper that "incessant deliberations over successors" and "skirmishes amongst would-be successors only create disdain and turn away PASOK's supporters."

On his part, PASOK secretary Costas Laliotis told the "Ethnos" newspaper that the ruling party is "entering the election battle to win and not to lose."

However, he noted that results of municipal and prefectural elections in October do not constitute a referendum for the government's policy or a preview of upcoming general elections.

"Fatalism and lost battles before the fact do not reflect PASOK," he said.

In a decidedly more negative tone, former PASOK minister Theodoros Pangalos said recent internal brewing within the ruling party and the government ranks as a "resounding failure of the congress", a direct reference to the ruling party's congress last October.

Speaking also to "Ethnos", Pangalos criticized what he called the premier's close advisers, which he said "monopolize decision-making centers as part of an ever-decreasing circle."

Asked what would happen if PASOK lost the next elections, Pangalos said he doubted whether developments would proceed on the basis of today's scenarios of succession, saying that "every kind of flower would bloom".

[11] New president at Greece's Technical Chamber

Athens, 28/01/2002 (ANA)

Panagiotopoulos, who represents the main opposition New Democracy affiliated Democratic Movement of Engineers, received 98 votes, while Tonia Moropoulou, representing the ruling PASOK affiliated PASKE, received 81 votes.

[12] ND criticizes ruling PASOK on ETBA alleged funds' mismanagement

Athens, 28/01/2002 (ANA)

"The case that came to light with the great scandal in state run ETBA, shows the way in which the party officials of PASOK are managing the assets of the state," ND deputy in charge of economic affairs George Alogoskoufis said.

"The process of privatization had to begin for such a scandal to see the light," he added.

[13] PM's article cites importance of 2004 Games for Greece

Athens, 28/01/2002 (ANA)

"The Olympic Games have already begun. For our country, the Olympiad is not a matter of a few weeks in the future, during which several competitions will take place. Greece is already at the center of the international spotlight," Simitis writes.

The Greek premier adds that the country is already reaping the benefits of the 2004 Games, citing its heightened international prestige, better infrastructure and economic gains.

Reiterating that the 2004 Games are a "national issue", he notes that they also constitute a significant opportunity to promote Greece as well as to showcase the need for a policy of peace, friendship and cooperation on an international basis.

Besides the greatest sports event on earth, Simitis said the Olympics are a great opportunity to accelerate development in the east Mediterranean country of around 11 million, citing some 130,000 new jobs as well as a direct impact on GDP every year until 2004, especially in the tourism, construction and industrial sectors.

[14] Rogge on security for Olympic Games

Athens, 28/01/2002 (ANA)

Rogge adds that the seminal question is what do the Greek people expect from the 2004 Games.

The Belgian IOC chief also points to security as the IOC's No. 1 priority during the Games, noting that "we will continue with the same persistence to cooperate with responsible authorities in order to guarantee the greatest possible security both in the near future and in the long term."

As far as next month's winter Games in Salt Lake City are concerned, he said the IOC requested additional security and more funding in certain areas.

Finally, Rogge admitted that no one can guarantee 100 percent security during the holding of the Olympic Games.

His interview was reprinted on the website "flash.gr".

[15] Stolen radioactive device located

Athens, 28/01/2002 (ANA)

No further details were given.

The device, containing radioactive iridium, is used to detect leaks in gas pipelines.

According to a group of researchers from the national atomic energy commission, which eventually located the device, it had not been opened from its reinforced container.

[16] Shipping industry should aid in Parthenon marbles' return, minister says

LONDON, 28/01/2002 (ANA)

He said that all ship owners and others in the sector should work toward the return of the Parthenon Sculptures on the grounds of uniqueness, adding that Greece would not ask for any other antiquities to be returned.

He finally said that he supported the Greek ministry of culture's position to cooperate with the British Museum.

[17] More seismic activity in Ionian reported

Athens, 28/01/2002 (ANA)

The quake was recorded at 10:05 p.m. No damages were reported.

On Friday an earthquake measuring 4.6 on the Richter scale was recorded at 7:55 p.m. in a sea region south of another island in the Ionian sea, Cephallonia.

[18] SAE Europe meets in Thessaloniki to draft 2002 action plan

Athens, 28/01/2002 (ANA)

They were to also focus on the contribution of Greek expatriates in the organization and promotion of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games.

[19] US view on Cyprus hasn't changed at all

WASHINGTON, 28/01/2002 (CNA/ANA)

Invited to comment on US Ambassador to Greece Tom Miller's statement that the US would support the European Union membership of Cyprus, whether there is a solution to the Cyprus problem or not, Reeker said on Friday that his country's view on Cyprus hasn't changed at all, and that the US have welcomed the positive steps in terms of the UN-sponsored process between the two sides on the Cyprus issue.

Speaking at the Washington Foreign Press Center, Reeker said his country's "view on Cyprus hasn't changed at all, and certainly we have welcomed the positive steps we have seen in terms of the UN-sponsored process between the two sides on the Cyprus issue" and that "we would like to see more on that." He added that the US "keeps watching that closely."

The leaders of the two communities in Cyprus, President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash are currently engaged in direct negotiations, with a view to finding a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus question.

Cyprus opened accession negotiations with the EU in 1998 and it has so far provisionally closed 24 out of the 29 acquis chapters.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of its territory.

[20] Clinton regrets not being able to persuade for a solution in Cyprus

NEW YORK, 28/01/2002 (CNA/ANA)

Speaking Saturday to a Greek American audience in New York, Clinton said he has had few regrets about his service as US President, adding that one of which is that he "could never persuade the parties in question to solve the problem of Cyprus."

He said "if Greece and Turkey could put their past behind them and build their common future, it would change the future of that part of the world. From the Balkans, backwards towards the islands of Greece," expressing belief that "eventually it will happen."

He added however that "when it happens, it will have to be, not just in the favor of the head, but in the favor of the heart."

Clinton was addressing a special event organized by Greek American John Katsimatides, aiming, among other, at raising funds in order to reconstruct the Greek Orthodox Church in Manhattan. So far a total of 400.000 dollars have been collected to this aim.

Present at the event were among others, Senator Hillary Clinton, Governor of New York George Pataki and Archbishop of America Demetrios.

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