Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 02-01-29

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

CONTENTS

[01] Cem: Turkey accepts 'Agenda 2000' proposals regarding Aegean

[02] Protopapas presents PM's agenda for the week

[03] PM Simitis addresses event on information and technology

[04] Gov't on Clerides comments over alleged US pressure

[05] ND leader chairs party's analysis group meeting

[06] President of the republic to visit Syria

[07] Education minister presents first stage of school intranet

[08] National Council for German reparations

[09] NATO SE Wing 50th anniversary marked in Athens

[10] Greek FM to address Rand Corporation event

[11] Greek deputy FM to visit Istanbul on Tuesday, Wednesday

[12] Public prosecutor orders investigation on ETBA Finance

[13] Coalition party, Greenpeace discuss public health issues, safe food

[14] Farmers muster for roadside rallies, possible highway blockades

[15] Greek per capital GDP lowest in EU in 1999, report

[16] EU official says Greek employment rate must track growth

[17] Piraeus port ranked seventh in EU in 1999

[18] Commission announces two regional programs for Greece

[19] Bankruptcies rise in December yr/yr

[20] Greek stocks flat in subdued trade

[21] Austrian FM signs statement in support of Olympic Truce

[22] Rail line to airport, 2004 preparations dominate gov't meeting

[23] Olympic projects to proceed at rapid pace, minister says

[24] German general consul lays wreath for WWII Thessaloniki Jews

[25] Clerides and Denktash hold fifth meeting on Cyprus' future

[26] Cyprus to receive 150 m. euros on accession for development in the north

[27] President Clerides denies any pressure from USA on weapons

[28] Occupation regime blocks bicommunal meeting Greece, Turkey to talk soon on taking Aegean continental shelf issue to The

Hague BRUSSELS, 29/01/2002 (ANA - M. Spinthou-rakis)

Greece and Turkey will begin talks in the near future with the purpose of reaching a compromise "formula" to take the Aegean Sea continental shelf issue to the Inter-national Court at The Hague, Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou said on Monday.

Speaking to Greek journalists after a meeting of the European Union's General Affairs Council, Papandreou said that the talks will get underway at the level of political directors from the foreign ministries of the two countries.

The Greek minister stressed that it was Greece's standing position that the issue should be tabled at the international court, adding that Greek political parties showed a "rare consensus" on Greek-Turkish affairs during a closed-door meeting of the Parliament's foreign affairs committee last week.

Papandreou underlined that the continental shelf issue and the Cyprus problem are the two issues that will determine, to a great extent, Greece's positions regarding Turkey's compliance with the acquis communautaire of the European Union, adding that the extent of compliance will be assessed during the next Turkish-EU Association Council, which will take place during the EU's Spanish presidency.

The Greek minister noted that the EU's General Affairs Council discussed in detail the Spanish presidency's program and focused on Greek-Turkish affairs, the Cyprus issue and developments in the Balkans and the Middle East.

He welcomed the priorities of the Spanish presidency, expressing Greece's satisfaction over the fact that the EU's enlargement process is at the top of the presidency's agenda.

Speaking on Greek-Turkish relations, he underlined the "good climate" in the diplomatic talks between Greece and Turkey, which resulted in the signing of a series of agreements that are a hopeful element in the continuation of Greek-Turkish talks.

He stressed that the preconditions Turkey must fulfill for the smooth continuation of its European course were clearly stated in the Helsinki EU summit's decisions.

Papandreou underlined that he briefed his counterparts on this period of mobility regarding the Cyprus issue and noted that it was due to dynamism created by the progress of Cyprus' accession course to the EU.

"The accession is a catalyst, not only for the recent developments, but for the general concern over the future of Cyprus," Papandreou said, expressing the hope that "the return of Mr. (Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf) Denktash to the talks reflects a sincere will for the just resolution of the Cyprus problem, a permanent one, a functional one in accordance with the resolutions of the United Nations, as well as with the acquis communautaire," Papandreou said.

Speaking on the Euroforce issue and especially on the agreement between EU and NATO, Papandreou underlined that Greece was moving on the basis "of a European logic", aimed at avoiding problems in the European security and defense policy.

He added that the issue will be discussed internally, within the EU, on the basis of processes chosen by the Spanish presidency and did not rule out the possibility that the issue may once again be discussed in the framework of NATO.

Papandreou also spoke of the issue of illegal immigration, saying that Greece's request for the establishment of a European Immigration Watch still stands, noting that the security of the EU's external borders should be the common responsibility of all member-states.

He added that Europol should be strengthened to combat organized rings of smugglers who facilitate the entrance of illegal immigrants to the EU.

The Greek minister said that the council also focused on conditions in the Balkans.

He noted that he stressed to the council that "under the superficial calm none of the essential problems (of the Balkans) have been resolved and that there are many possible flashpoints, such as the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Kosovo, Albania and Bosnia".

He said that the EU should send clear political messages that it is not willing to tolerate nationalist flare-ups, armed terrorist actions and border changes and also the EU should come to an understanding on these issues with the United States.

In closing his remarks to the press, Papandreou also said that the council discussed conditions in the Middle East, saying that the 15 ministers agreed that there is a void of political power in the region, which has resulted in violence.

Papandreou noted that Greece hails the intention of the Spanish presidency to increase the EU's intervention in the troubled region, while he added that Yasser Arafat is the recognized leader of the Palestinian people as far as the EU is concerned.

[01] Cem: Turkey accepts 'Agenda 2000' proposals regarding Aegean

ISTANBUL, 29/01/2002 (ANA – E. Aretaios)

He made the statement to the local CNN-Turk channel, adding that “these specific methods of resolution are listed in the following order in these documents: Holding face-to-face talks; arbitration; indirect talks, mediation … and referral to the International Court is included. We accept these,” the Turkish minister said.

“We met recently with Mr. George Papandreou (the Greek FM) and we will meet in New York for the Davos meetings … Let us begin talks by first pin-pointing the points over which we agree on the Aegean, and where a complication arises let us resort to the other methods in succession.”

Cyprus: Regarding the Cyprus issue and restarted direct contacts between Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, he said “Turkey will make every possible effort for the further acceleration of talks.”

Additionally, he said Ankara hopes for a successful conclusion of bi-communal talks on the divided island republic within 2002.

“After 2002 I believe the Greek Cypriot side may reach the point from where there is no return in its relations with the European Union, and then the ‘TRNC’ may reach the other point from where there is no return,” the Turkish foreign minister said in reference to the T/C pseudo-state illegally declared in 1983 in the parts of Cyprus occupied by the Turkish military.

“That’s why we’re calling on parties, such as the EU, the US and the Organization of Islamic States, which have at various times pressured us over a solution, to now pressure the Greek Cypriot side…” he was quoted as telling CNN-Turk.

Greek gov’t: In response to Cem’s statements, the Greek government reiterated Athens’ standing position that the only outstanding difference between Greece and Turkey is the Aegean’s continental shelf.

A government spokesman added that Ankara’s acceptance of The Hague solution – namely, to refer the Aegean continental shelf issue to the international court -- would be a positive development.

According to government spokesman Christos Protopapas, contacts at the ministry level will begin in order to consider such a solution, “which must come within the framework of Inter-national Law and Europe’s acquis communautaire”.

Finally, Protopapas said the Greek and Turkish foreign ministers may have similar “exploratory contacts” at their tentatively scheduled meeting later this week in New York.

[02] Protopapas presents PM's agenda for the week

Athens, 29/01/2002 (ANA)

The meeting is to focus on the conclusions reached up to this point regarding preparations for the Games, he said.

On Monday night at 21:00 p.m. Simitis is to attend a dinner by the IT Entrepreneurs Association.

On Tuesday, the prime minister will begin the day by meeting Interior Minister Costas Skandalidis at 9:45 a.m., followed by a visit to the Olympic Village at 11:00 a.m. accompanied by Labor Minister Dimitris Reppas.

Immediately afterwards, the premier will depart for Brussels, where he plans to attend a meeting of the European Commission on Wednesday and have talks with European Commission President Romano Prodi and EU Agriculture Commissioner Franz Fischler.

On Thursday, Simitis is to speak at the European Institute in Bruges on "The future of Europe and cohesion policies" and will be back in Athens on Friday morning for the customary prime minister's question time, followed by a meeting at noon with Finance Minister Nikos Christodoulakis and the euro committee for the latest update on the euro's circulation after the first month.

At 14:00 p.m. he is to meet with the leadership of the media ministry.

On Monday next, Simitis will hold a government meeting to prepare for his trip to Romania, followed by a meeting with PASOK Central Committee Secretary Costas Laliotis at 12:30 p.m. on preparations for a meeting of the Executive Bureau that is to take place at 19:00 p.m. the same day.

[03] PM Simitis addresses event on information and technology

Athens, 29/01/2002 (ANA)

Simitis underlined that it is forecast that Greece will be the fastest developing economy among the OECD countries and that the aim of the government is real convergence on the level of the other European Union partners, using among others, as a basic "tool" the implementation of the plan for Society and Information.

The prime minister said that already great steps forward have been taken and so Greece, from being at the bottom of the table in expenditures for technology, informatics and communication as a percentage of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at the start of the previous decade, is currently almost level with the EU average.

Simitis criticized both the "conservative proposal" expressed by various political sectors and which opposes any innovation as well as the "neoliberal proposal" which asks for minimal intervention by the state and society in the development procedure. "We reject this point of view," he said, stating that it is "anti-social and anti-development" and leads to an economic impasse.

He stressed that the government was advancing a policy for a modern and competitive society of information, without inequalities and exclusions, which will free businesses from the bonds of state bureaucracy but where the state will also have an important role in shaping the new landscape but without policies of intervention.

Simitis said that the private sector consequently has a decisive role in the new technologies and for this reason the first priority of the government's policy is to strengthen informatics companies in a variety of ways.

He added that the relevant initiatives will be financed by the Operational Program "Society of Information", within the framework of the 3rd Community Support Framework (CSF) which is the greatest of this kind in Europe today.

[04] Gov't on Clerides comments over alleged US pressure

Athens, 29/01/2002 (ANA)

Earlier, Clerides categorically denied press reports claiming that the US ambassador in Nicosia called on the Cyprus government to remove specific National Guard weapon systems.

In a written statement read out by the Cypriot government spokesman, Clerides said no decision was taken or will be taken for the removal of any weapons belonging to Cyprus’ forces.

Additionally, he described as a "fabrication" press reports claming that Cypriot Defense Minister Socrates Hasikos had tendered his resignation because of his disagreement over such an issue.

According to a government spokesman in Athens, the Greek government supports Clerides’ position.

[05] ND leader chairs party's analysis group meeting

Athens, 29/01/2002 (ANA)

Reports said that evaluations on the time of the next general elections were made, while the dominant assessment was that the elections will probably take place after the European Union's Greek presidency, in the autumn of 2003, but some members believe that PASOK will stay in power for its full four-year term and hold elections a few months before the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.

However, others believe that the possibility of developments taking place earlier cannot be ruled out, after the results of this October's municipal and prefectural elections, stressing that ND should be prepared at all times.

The reports said that a discussion was also held on a possible change in PASOK's leadership, while it was underlined that ND has no reason to fear such a development.

According to other views heard, Prime Minister Costas Simitis will not leave his position of PASOK president and that Foreign Minister George Papandreou, considered the favorite for succession, will not wish to take risks before the elections.

On the question of farmers' rallies, ND cadres stressed that the party should once again raise the problem of farmers in Parliament, but no decision was taken on how this will be done.

Karamanlis visit to UK next week: Main opposition New Democracy leader Costas Karamanlis is expected to visit the United Kingdom over the weekend and early next week for talks with British leadership, including Foreign Secretary Jack Straw and Conservative Party leader Ian Duncan Smith. He is also scheduled attend a luncheon in London hosted by the Greek Shipping Cooperation Committee’s presidium.

Karamanlis will also visit Scotland, where he is set to meet with former foreign secretary and influential Scottish Tories’ leader Sir Malcolm Rifkind.

Additionally, he will speak at the University of Edinburgh on the issue of democracy in the western Balkans. The latter address comes as part of his initiative on behalf of the European Peoples Party (EPP) grouping.

The ND leader’s planned trip to Bavaria was postponed.

[06] President of the republic to visit Syria

Athens, 29/01/2002 (ANA)

Merchant Marine Minister George Anomeritis and Deputy Foreign Minister Andreas Loverdos will accompany the president.

[07] Education minister presents first stage of school intranet

Athens, 29/01/2002 (ANA)

Efthymiou pointed out during the presentation that Greece had already met the 2004 target of least one computer for every 15 students in schools, which had been decided on in Lisbon.

The ultimate goal, he added, was to create a single network for the entire educational system, linking all schools, universities, technical schools, research institutes, libraries, museums and other sources of information, as well as the Internet.

The minister said that 99.81 per cent of secondary schools (3,660 of 3,667), all vocational training schools and 17.08 per cent of primary schools (1,059 out of 6,400) had so far been added to the school intranet.

The school system overall had 3,133 computer labs, containing a total of 39,980 PCs, he said. The ratio of computers to students was currently 1:16 in high schools, 1:13 in lyceums and 1:13 in technical schools.

Efthymiou said the government's target was to add all primary schools to the school intranet by the end of 2002 and to train 75,000 teachers in the use of the new technology.

Efthymiou also answered questions regarding the closure of the Athens, Patras and Larissa Technical Educational Institutes (TEI) on Monday, who joined the Piraeus and Thessaloniki TEIs in their protest against the government's education bill.

The minister said the demands by TEI teachers for a return to the previous state of affairs were not acceptable, while he stressed that no teacher's job was at stake, even if they failed to meet the criteria required under the new laws within seven years.

[08] National Council for German reparations

Athens, 29/01/2002 (ANA)

National Council President Manolis Glezos called on members to participate en masse in the conference by the network of the 66 martyred towns of Greece during the 1941-1945 period, to be held at the end of February, the conference of the Panhellenic Federation of Unions of Nazi Occupation Victims at the end of March and the scientific conference on destruction caused in Greece by the Nazis and Germany's reparations in April.

Glezos said that the purpose of the last conference is to register losses and destruction and highlight all crimes perpetrated by the Germans against the economy and the people, since there has been no full registration so far.

[09] NATO SE Wing 50th anniversary marked in Athens

Athens, 29/01/2002 (ANA)

Defense minister Yannos Papantoniou, addressing the event, stressed the need for close cooperation and coordination among all security forces on a global scale.

He also spoke of "distinct but not separated" duties of NATO and the EU.

The minister reiterated Greece's objections to the text on the Euro-army, noting that Greece opposed the transfer of problems from NATO to the EU, particularly when those problems originated from a non-EU member country.

Greece also felt that an Organization should not interfere in the internal affairs of another particularly in reference to its own initiatives.

Addressing the same event, US ambassador in Athens Thomas Miller endorsed the establishment of a European defense and security identity, but opined that the creation of new infrastructures for its materialization would be "unwise" and "financially unbeneficial".

"We must achieve a smooth cooperation between NATO and various organizations ... This is the challenge before us," the envoy said.

Both Miller and NATO's supreme commander of European forces (SACEUR) Gen. Joseph Ralston backed an increase in defense spending to confront future threats so as to consolidate a sense of security throughout the world.

Ralston and German ambassador to Athens Karl Heinz Kunha praised Greece's role in consolidating a climate of security in SE Europe.

Earlier, Papantoniou had received a 15-minute courtesy call by Ralston, attended by Greece's National Defense General Staff (GEETHA) chief Gen. Manoussos Paragioudakis

[10] Greek FM to address Rand Corporation event

Athens, 29/01/2002 (ANA)

[11] Greek deputy FM to visit Istanbul on Tuesday, Wednesday

Athens, 29/01/2002 (ANA)

The minister will attend a dinner in honor of the Greek community's teachers, organized by the Ecumenical Patriarch.

During his stay in the city, the Greek deputy minister will meet leaders of the local Greek community and attend a dinner given by the Turkish-Greek Council of Business Cooperation's President Sarik Tara.

[12] Public prosecutor orders investigation on ETBA Finance

Athens, 29/01/2002 (ANA)

The investigation will focus on determining any financial losses and any parameters in the case including illegal exploitation and embezzlement of ETBAbank's capital by an unknown, up to now, number of persons.

According to a report by the government's financial crimes squad the embezzlement totalled Dr 10 billion.

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 financial crimes squad.

ETBAbank said on Monday that any losses resulting from the embezzlement case in its subsidiary ETBA Finance would not affect the bank's privatization, as the final loss would be cleared with the price that the state would receive from the transfer of ETBAbank's shares to Piraeus Bank. The transfer is expected to be completed immediately after completion of the sale of Hellenic Shipyards to a German consortium led by HDW-Ferrostaal, expected next month.

ETBAbank's board immediately suspended ETBA Finance's managing director, the firm's director and the supervisors of the accounting and financial services departments.

Panayiotis Eliadis, a former ETBAbank director, was appointed new managing director at ETBA Finance.

[13] Coalition party, Greenpeace discuss public health issues, safe food

Athens, 29/01/2002 (ANA)

Constantopoulos afterwards said that public health was a basic requirement for protecting society and a fundamental sector of governmental responsibility, since it determined quality of life.

The Coalition leader added that the rapid succession of diet scares, one after the other, proved that there were no systematic institutions or processes for preventing and handling them.

[14] Farmers muster for roadside rallies, possible highway blockades

Athens, 29/01/2002 (ANA)

The heads of the three largest farming unions, PASEGES, GESASE and SYDASE, were divided on the issue on Monday, each favoring a different line.

PASEGES chief Tzanetos Karamihas was opposed to blocking the highways and 'maximalist' demands that could not be met. GESASE's Giorgos Goniotakis left open his group's participation in this form of protest, while Yiannis Pittas of SYDASE said he was against blocking roads but did not rule out his members participation in certain areas.

Farmers had announced last week that they would be stepping up protests in support of their demands for higher crop subsidies - especially for cotton - and immediate compensation for their losses in a recent wave of bad weather.

A meeting of Thessaloniki and Halkidiki farming associations on Monday morning ended with a decision not to block the highways but to range tractors alongside them. The final decision on the form of protest, however, was left to on-the-spot meetings by farmers in each area.

Minister Drys replies to KKE deputies on government's agricultural policy: Agriculture Minister George Drys, replying to a question by Communist Party of Greece (KKE) deputies concerning the government's agricultural policy, said on Monday that the Organization for Control Payments and EU Subsidies for Orientation Guarantees (OPEKEPE) had submitted from January 1, 2001 to January 28, 2002, a total of 561 billion drachmas, that is 62 per cent of total subsidies.

He noted that on January 31, when the ginning period comes to an end, the ministry will announce precisely the final cotton production and according to assessments made so far, the paying off of the subsidy may reach up to 50 dr a kilo.

He termed as "a major success" the securing until 2006 of EU funds amounting to 11 trillion drachmas for the development of the countryside.

On the issue of compensation to farmers due to the recent bad weather, Drys noted that he shared the concern of the deputies, stressing however that the delay was due to the extent of the damage and to individualized checks.

He accused the opposition parties of "pretending to be concerned because what they are (really) betting on is the vote from the countryside at a time when the government is investing productively through the conversion of the agricultural policy into a policy of development and prosperity for the countryside." At the same time, Drys called on the KKE to make clear its position whether it wants to overturn the common agricultural policy.

[15] Greek per capital GDP lowest in EU in 1999, report

Athens, 29/01/2002 (ANA)

The EU executive's statistics agency said in a report that Greece's per capita GDP totalled 68 percent of the EU's average, with Epirus, Reunion and Guyana (with 51 percent each) ranking last among the EU's 211 regions.

Luxembourg was the "richest" country with a per capita GDP of 186 percent, followed by Denmark (120%), the Netherlands (114%), Ireland (112%), Austria (111%), Belgium (107%), Germany (106%) and Italy (103%). Spain (82%), Portugal (74%) and Greece (68%) were the "poorest" EU members.

Eurostat said that London was the region with the highest per capita GDP in the EU (242 percent of the EU average), followed by Brussels (217%), Luxembourg (186%) and Hamburg (183%).

Greek regions ranked as follows: Central Greece 83%, south Aegean 80%, Attica 77%, central Macedonia 69%, Crete 68%, western Macedonia 65%, north Aegean 64%, Thessaly 60%, Ionian Islands 60%, eastern Macedonia-Thrace 56%, Peloponnese 55%, western Greece 53% and Epirus 51%.

[16] EU official says Greek employment rate must track growth

Athens, 29/01/2002 (ANA)

Social Affairs Commissioner Anna Diamanto-poulou said that in order to match the two, the state should improve its job agency; invest in training to include the regions; devise policies for workers over 55 years of age; and introduce a policy framework for the employment of women, with Greece ranking third from bottom among EU members in the latter category.

Diamantopoulou, who was addressing a news conference held by the Foreign Press Association, said Greece's high unemployment rate was to some extent expected due to delays in carrying out structural changes and entering the eurozone.

Joblessness among the young was due mainly to a lack of part-time work, she added.

[17] Piraeus port ranked seventh in EU in 1999

Athens, 29/01/2002 (ANA)

The EU executive's statistics agency said that passenger traffic totalled 9,589,695 in the port of Piraeus in 1999. Cargo traffic totalled 112.549 million gross tons in the same year.

Dover, Calais and Helsinborg were the three biggest passenger ports in the EU in 1999.

[18] Commission announces two regional programs for Greece

BRUSSELS, 29/01/2002 (ANA - M. Spinthourakis)

According to the Commission's announcement, European fun-ding of these regions will attract about 1.47 million euros over the 2002-2003 period as further investments from the public sector and about 1.4 million euros from the private sector. The sum of EU, private and public investments will total 8.4 million euros.

It further said that the programs have different priorities and focus in general on innovative regional and local development in the sectors of new technologies, the informatics society, regional identity and preservative development.

[19] Bankruptcies rise in December yr/yr

Athens, 29/01/2002 (ANA)

Declared bankruptcies rose to 58 in December last year, up 16 percent from the same month of 2000, said Teiresias, which belongs to the Union of Greek Banks.

[20] Greek stocks flat in subdued trade

Athens, 29/01/2002 (ANA)

The general index ended 0.25 percent higher at 2,624.46 points, with turnover a low Dr 48.1 billion, or 141.3 million euros.

The IT and the Wholesale sectors scored the biggest percentage gains (1.90 percent and 1.33 percent), while the Cement, Holdings and Food-Beverage sectors suffered the heaviest losses.

The parallel market index for smaller capitalization stocks rose 0.65 percent.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks ended 0.28 percent higher, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index rose 0.25 percent and the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index ended 0.53 percent up.

Broadly, advancers led decliners by 182 to 125 with another 53 issues unchanged.

The most heavily traded shares were National Bank of Greece, Xifias, ALTE, Hellenic Telecommunications Organization, and Panafon.

Bond Market Close: Prices slump in heavy trade: Bond prices in the domestic secondary market on Monday finished lower in heavy trade focusing on 10-year paper followed by five-year securities.

The Greek benchmark 10-year bond showed a yield of 5.37 percent, and the spread over German bunds was 37 basis points.

Turnover through the central bank's electronic system totalled 2.8 billion euros.

Sell orders accounted for the bulk of turnover.

Derivatives Market Close: Futures at discount in shortened session: Equity index futures on the Athens Derivatives Exchange held their discount on Monday in a session severely abbreviated by technical problems, traders said.

Changing hands were 1,672 contracts.

The underlying FTSE/ASE-20 index for heavily traded stocks and blue chips gained 0.28 percent; and the underlying FTSE/ASE-40 for medium capitalization stocks rose 0.25 percent.

[21] Austrian FM signs statement in support of Olympic Truce

BRUSSELS, 29/01/2002 (ANA - Y. Zitouniati)

The statement has already been endorsed by many personalities from the international political and cultural sectors.

Waldner congratulated Papandreou for the initiative, praising international cooperation and the common vision of peace which should be utilized primarily in regions of conflict where children and young people are the victims.

The statement is expected to be signed by many more of his counterparts, political and religious leaders as well as artists, according to Papandreou. It refers to the Olympic Truce "as a means of promoting peace and reconciliation in places of conflict", while committing leaders to make every possible effort, at personal and collective level, encouraging the peaceful resolution of differences and not only ceasefires during the Olympic Games.

Ferrero said "it is a strong message of hope to the international community."

On his part, Papandreou said the period of the Olympic Games is an opportunity for dialogue and the seeking of lasting solutions for peace to be restored in all places of conflict where children, women and the elderly are the first victims.

[22] Rail line to airport, 2004 preparations dominate gov't meeting

Athens, 29/01/2002 (ANA)

The meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Costas Simitis and attended by the Athens 2004 organizing committee’s (ATHOC) leadership.

Among others, the deputy press minister later told reporters that an Athens metro extension line will connect the Stavros inter-section, in northeast Athens, with the new Eleftherios Venizelos airport at the Spata site, east of Athens proper.

Telemahos Chytiris added that diesel-powered trains may initially be used instead of trains powered by electricity, an issue that even garnered IOC executive Denis Oswald’s attention last week. Chytiris did mention that the “diesel solution” would be temporary.

Oswald, the head of the all-important IOC commission supervising progress for the 2004 Games, offered his opinion last week during a press conference that diesel engines would be both less effective and ‘environment-friendly’ than a normal metro line.

According to reports, the government will purchase rolling stock from the state-run Skaramangas Shipyards compatible with both systems.

Initially, the so-called “suburban rail line” was envisioned as connecting Stavros with the new airport.

Olympic hospitality: In terms of another current “thorn” in preparations, namely, the hospitality sector, the government will take final decisions at another inter-ministerial meeting on Feb. 26.

Meanwhile, Chytiris said 11 cruise ships (6,500 rooms) would be used to host 13,500 members of the extended “Olympic family”.

On his part, Transport Minister Christos Verelis said 2,500 new buses and 300 trolleys will be purchased for the greater Athens area, as an ATHOC executive said 600,000 people will travel to Olympic facilities on a daily basis during the Games – double the current rate.

Olympic Village: Unlike the complex issue of Olympic transports, Cabinet members and ATHOC officials were briefed that the Olympic Village project was ahead of schedule, whereas it was announced that the “International Zone”, adjacent to the Olympic Village, will host a shopping mall, sponsors’ facilities, restaurants, public offices and press centers.

Finally, Chytiris announced that Simitis would visit the Olympic village on Tuesday.

[23] Olympic projects to proceed at rapid pace, minister says

Athens, 29/01/2002 (ANA)

Speaking at the XENIA tourism industry exhibition in the port city of Piraeus, Papandreou said that the major public projects currently in progress would contribute to the qualitative and quantitative growth of tourism in Greece.

She called on all businessmen in the field to turn their attention to the Olympics prospects and make investments that will contribute to the successful organization of the Games.

[24] German general consul lays wreath for WWII Thessaloniki Jews

Athens, 29/01/2002 (ANA)

The reason for the symbolic act, hailed by the leadership of the local Israelite community, was the celebration of Holocaust memory day in Germany on January 27, while the event was attended by the community's president David Saltiel and members of the directorate.

The German diplomat said in his address that it is difficult for one to realize how a German regime dared believe that it had the right to decide who would be allowed to live and who not.

Out of about 1,000 Thessaloniki Jews who survived the concentration camps 62 are alive today.

[25] Clerides and Denktash hold fifth meeting on Cyprus' future

NICOSIA, 29/01/2002 (CNA/ ANA)

The meeting, which lasted for about 65 minutes, took place at premises near the Nicosia airport, in the UN-controlled buffer zone.

Clerides was accompanied by his advisers, Attorney General Alecos Markides, government spokesman Michalis Papapetrou and Undersecretary to the President Pantelis Kouros.

[26] Cyprus to receive 150 m. euros on accession for development in the north

BERLIN, 29/01/2002 (ANA - P. Stangos)

The programs will extend to 2006 and will be primarily funneled to the northern part of the Republic of Cyprus, occupied by Turkish forces since the 1974 invasion, to support the region's economic development when the republic enters the EU.

The proposals for funding the 10-member EU's enlargement will be presented on Wednesday and the full package of aid includes 25 billion euros for regional aid and 10 billion euros in funds for agriculture for the 2004-2006 period.

During this first phase the new members will receive less funding than older members of the EU until 2007 regarding structural funds and until 2012 regarding the common agricultural policy.

This general policy, however, will have several exceptions in the form of "special programs", one of which will be that for the economic reconstruction of northern Cyprus.

The basis for this program is the "working hypothesis" that the negotiations between Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot community leader Rauf Denktash will have a successful outcome and the political problem will have been resolved before the accession of the island republic to the EU.

[27] President Clerides denies any pressure from USA on weapons

NICOSIA, 29/01/2002 (CNA/ANA)

In a written statement read for him by government spokesman Michalis Papapetrou President Clerides stressed that no decision was taken or will be taken for the removal of any weapons of the island's army.

At the same time, President Clerides described as "fabrication" press reports that Defense Minister Socratis Hasikos had tendered his resignation because he had disagreed on this issue.

President Clerides expressed regret that such "delicate issues" relating to the island's defense are made public "in the form of irresponsible rumors in which, unfortunately, members of the House of Representatives are involved."

Hasikos: No pressure was exercised for the removal of weapons: Defense Minister Socratis Hasikos said on Monday that no pressure was ever exercised on him for the removal of weapons from Cyprus or for not buying any weapons.

Speaking on his arrival from China, via London, where he was on a four-day official visit, Hasikos also said that under no circum-stances will any weapons in Cyprus be removed nor the buying of such weapons be postponed or suspended, as long as the Cyprus problem remains unsolved.

In connection with his visit to China the minister of defense said that he met his Chinese counterpart with whom he had talks, as well as the President of the House of Representatives of the country.

"We briefed them on our problems and they briefed us on theirs," he said, adding "we also visited military installations."

Hasikos expressed satisfaction about the interest shown by the People's Republic of China on the problems of Cyprus as well as for the hospitality given to the Cyprus delegation.

[28] Occupation regime blocks bicommunal meeting

NICOSIA, 29/01/2002 (CNA/ANA)

"Our Turkish Cypriot colleagues informed us on Friday that they would not be coming to tomorrow's meeting at the Ledra Palace, in the UN-controlled buffer zone," Erotokritos Koumides, of the organizing committee of SEK, one of the two largest Greek Cypriot trade unions, told CNA on Monday, adding that protest letters have already been sent to the UN, the European Union and overseas trade unions.

Koumides said the EU, the UN, foreign embassies here and the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) have all been notified about the obstacles the occupation regime is raising to block bicommunal contact.

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