Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 02-04-22

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greece says Cyprus will join EU as a whole and de jure

[02] FM has telephone conversation on Mideast with Kofi Annan

[03] Turkish FM comments on visit to Mideast with Greek

[04] PM, ND issue messages on anniversary of 1967 military coup

[05] Aegean minister concludes visit to New York

[06] Justice minister attends bar association presidents' meeting

[07] ND leading PASOK in latest opinion poll

[08] Minister says PASOK determined with regional reconstruction

[09] KKE leader says Greek people should oppose European army

[10] Archbishop praises gov't, opposition on European army stand

[11] Coalition leader says country in transitional period

[12] Amnesty Int'l expresses concern about 'F-type' prisons in Turkey

[13] Event held in Athens on Armenian genocide anniversary

[14] Turkish minister praises Greek-Turkish cooperation

[15] Book on Greek economy presented in Washington

[16] Prof. says there is an epidemic of virus which causes myocarditis

[17] Conference on citizens and the environment continues

[18] Conference on 'City and Culture' ends

[19] Kasoulides says only big political moves can save talks

[20] Christofias expects US involvement to help solve Cyprus problem

[01] Greece says Cyprus will join EU as a whole and de jure

Athens, 22/04/2002 (ANA)

Beglitis was referring to an interview given to the Sunday newspaper ''Vima tis Kyriakis'' by EU Foreign and Security Policy High Representative Javier Solana.

''In any case, the European Commission and its relevant services are working in this direction. The European acquis communautaire is absolutely binding for all and in no way should conditions for misinterpretations be created or mistaken messages be sent,'' he added.

Beglitis also said that Greece possesses all the institutional possibilities to secure the Republic of Cyprus's unimpeded accession in accordance with the EU's collective decisions.

''As is known, the United Nations and the European Union recognizes the Republic of Cyprus as the only legitimate expression of the whole of the Cypriot state. On the basis of this international recognition, the European Union accepted Cyprus' application for accession and decided on the start of accession negotiations while at the Helsinki European Council it did not link accession with a previous settlement of the political problem, confirming yet again the international legality of the Cyprus Republic,'' Beglitis added.

Solana says Greek-Cypriot part of Cyprus will join EU if settlement not reached: In his interview, Solana said that ''if there is no agreement on the Cyprus issue, the Greek-Cypriot part will join the European Union.''

Asked whether half of Cyprus will join the EU, Solana reiterated that ''the part which is ready will join.''

To another question whether the German model - where there was from the start the forecast for the future accession of then Eastern Germany- could be implemented in Cyprus, he noted that ''all these ideas will be examined with an open and creative spirit, but all these matters must be settled before the moment of accession.''

To an observation that the EU Helsinki summit had referred to the whole of Cyprus and not a part of the island republic, Solana said that ''we cannot predetermine the wishes of all. Only if it concerns a country the unity of which is settled. The northern part of Cyprus has not negotiated at all with the EU, therefore it does not fulfill the criteria.''

On the issue of the European army, Solana reiterated the need for a settlement of NATO-EU relations "as soon as possible." As for the impending replacement of the NATO forces by European ones in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), he stated that "those who will not allow us to reach a permanent agreement will also undertake the responsibility for the weakness of the EU to implement this mission."

[02] FM has telephone conversation on Mideast with Kofi Annan

Athens, 22/04/2002 (ANA)

According to diplomatic sources, Annan briefed Papandreou on the UN's decision to create a committee to probe accusations regarding the tragic events in Jenin.

He also expressed satisfaction over the joint initiative by Papandreou and his Turkish counterpart Ismail Cem to visit Israel and Palestinian territory, adding that it is a positive step, which could contribute to the strengthening of peace efforts.

Papandreou and Annan also discussed the situation prevailing in the humanitarian sector, while Papandreou briefed him on the Greek government's actions as regards the sending of humanitarian aid to Palestinian territory and the protection of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.

[03] Turkish FM comments on visit to Mideast with Greek

FM ANKARA, 22/04/2002 (ANA - A. Ampatzis)

Cem, who was speaking to the Turkish television station CNN Turk, was referring to his visit to Israel and Palestinian territory with his Greek counterpart George Papandreou ''at the end of next week.''

He added that during the visit there will be a meeting ''with the President of Palestine Yasser Arafat, Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres and possibly with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.''

Cem went on to say that ''EU representatives have not succeeded so far in meeting Arafat'' and that ''in a sense, Turkey will lead the EU to the Middle East through Mr. Papandreou.''

He further pointed out that ''the world, and the EU in particular, has seen with this initiative that this effort is taking place with Turkey which will provide a great advantage for Turkey's prestige.''

Cem said ''the contacts to be had in Israel by the foreign ministers of two countries which have begun a dialogue process, despite having unresolved problems between them, will be a message of peace.''

[04] PM, ND issue messages on anniversary of 1967 military coup

Athens, 22/04/2002 (ANA)

Outlining present-day reality in the country, Simitis added that ''the widening, deepening and consolidation of human rights and individual freedoms is now a tangible reality, following the latest constitutional amendment.''

In a statement on the same occasion, main opposition New Democracy party spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos said the country has had 28 years of continuous and unimpeded democratic governance, adding that dividing lines among the Greeks have now been removed.

However, he added that democracy is now faced with other more invisible and more treacherous dangers.

Democratic Social Movement (DHKKI) leader Dimitris Tsovolas said the same forces which organized and supported the colonels' junta and sent Attila (the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974 codenamed "Attila") to Cyprus are currently guiding and maintaining Turkish provocativeness against Greek national interests.

Tsovolas also added that with the pretext of terrorism they are infringing human rights and violating international legal order to promote the imposition of the new world order on the planet.

The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) said in an announcement on Saturday, on the anniversary of the military coup in Greece on April 21, 1967, that ''the black anniversary of April 21 1967 reminds that elementary rights and freedoms are constantly dwindling all over the capitalist world with the pretext of confronting terrorism.''

The announcement went on to say that "'our' much-publicized democracy is judged in the Balkans, Afghanistan and in the streets where demonstrators are murdered (Genoa, Goteborg, etc). It is judged in factories and businesses where employers' terrorism reigns."

[05] Aegean minister concludes visit to New York

Minister to the Aegean Nikos Sifounakis concluded his three-day visit to New York on Friday, where he had a series of contacts focusing primarily on preparing an exhibition on ''Naval Tradition in the Aegean.''

Speaking to the local media, Sifounakis referred to meetings held by himself and his advisers with the heads of potential exhibition premises such as the Grand Central station, the Metropolitan Museum, the South Street Seaport Museum and the Alexandros Onassis Foundation (which is currently presenting an exhibition on Cycladic Art).

He also spoke of Greece's effort to have better information provided in the United States on the history of the Aegean. This will assist bilateral relations between the two countries and strengthen the flow of American tourists to Greece.

The minister determined the period between September 2002 and February 2003 as the possible time for organizing the exhibition.

[06] Justice minister attends bar association presidents' meeting

Athens, 22/04/2002 (ANA)

Petsalnikos congratulated the new presidents and said he "looks forward to a permanent, constructive and sincere dialogue with them to secure the better functioning of courts, the constant improvement of conditions for administering justice and the handling of problems faced in the lawyers' sector."

He also said the justice ministry "aims at shaping an environment which will be worthy of the mission of all judicial functionaries with the rule, of course, of serving the citizen."

[07] ND leading PASOK in latest opinion poll

Athens, 22/04/2002 (ANA)

A total of 36.7 of respondents said they would vote for ND if elections were held now, followed by PASOK with 29.4, the Free Citizens Movement (KEP) 5.6, the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) 5.1, the Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) 3.1 and the Democratic Social Movement (DHKKI) 1.9.

On the question of who is most suitable for prime minister, ND leader Costas Karamanlis polled 35.2 percent and Prime Minister and PASOK leader Costas Simitis 34.3.

In addition, 57.3 percent of respondents believe ND would win the elections if they were held now, while 30 percent believe PASOK would win again.

The most popular public figures are President Kostis Stephanopoulos with 92.5 percent, followed by Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos with 75.1, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Christodoulos 70.2 and Athens 2004 Olympic Games Organizing Committee (ATHOC) President Gianna Angelopoulos Daskalaki 60.3.

The most popular party members are George Papandreou (66 percent), Akis Tsohatzopoulos (55.7) and Vasso Papandreou (51.9) for PASOK and Dora Bakoyianni (70.4), George Souflias (66.9) and Theodoros Roussopoulos (56.1) for ND.

Commenting on the opinion poll, government spokesman Christos Protopapas said people think hard and criticize but expect solutions from the government, adding that it appears from the same opinion poll that the public expects nothing from ND.

ND leader visits Elaionas district in Athens: Main opposition New Democracy party leader Costas Karamanlis visited the Elaionas district in Athens on Saturday and criticized the government for doing nothing to upgrade the region.

Karamanlis said that in 1994 the government had committed itself that the Elaionas district would have become an oasis of greenery and life by 2000, while in 1995 it issued a presidential decree, which among others, anticipated the removal of polluting industries from the region.

He added that today, seven years later, nothing had been done and nothing has got underway, while the presidential decree has not been implemented, polluting industries have not been removed and no measure has been taken to improve the situation in the region.

Replying to Karamanlis's criticism, government spokesman Christos Protopapas said ''from 1994 until today, the governments of PASOK have been implementing step-by-step the program for reshaping the Elaionas district and for upgrading the quality of life of municipalities and inhabitants in the region and turning thousands of stremmas into a zone of greenery.''

He added that municipalities and inhabitants in Renti, Tavros, Nikaia, Aigaleo and Peristeri are aware of this and have been cooperating with the public works ministry for years.

Protopapas said all this is of no interest to Karamanlis who is only interested in empty sensationalism, adding that before touring and criticizing he should apologize to the inhabitants for the actions of his own party in the district.

[08] Minister says PASOK determined with regional reconstruction

Athens, 22/04/2002 (ANA)

''The possibility is being provided for people in the countryside to participate all together in this new form of viable development which we need for the decade until 2010, a development in the region of the eurozone and a development which benefits from the advantages of the new environment which has been created,'' he added.

Commenting on the latest opinion poll published in a Sunday newspaper, which shows PASOK trailing to the main opposition New Democracy party by 7.3 points (36.7 to 29.4), Tsohatzopoulos said "opinion polls are the momentary expression of a climate. PASOK should learn to live with both a good and a less good climate."

[09] KKE leader says Greek people should oppose European army

Athens, 22/04/2002 (ANA)

"It is not all at by chance that the creation of the European army is creating additional problems for the country since the American-Turkish document is becoming a European document and, therefore, the doubting of the country's sovereign rights in the Aegean will obtain European legality, meaning the doubting of indisputable Greek borders," she said.

Papariga added that what will count from now on is to what extent the pole of radicalism and the anti-imperialist struggle will be strengthened, as well as the strength and influence of KKE.

[10] Archbishop praises gov't, opposition on European army stand

Athens, 22/04/2002 (ANA)

Archbishop Christodoulos was speaking in the town of Lamia, central Greece, where he arrived on Saturday to attend events commemorating a hero of the 1821 revolution against Ottoman rule.

Choking with emotion, Archbishop Christodoulos said ''I wish to praise them for resisting. Both the government and the opposition. Well done to them. If we agree as well it will be as if we are signing our death warrant. Well done to them that Greece alone is raising its voice against their plans. They came here to pressure for Greece to sign. If we agree as well and do not keep the veto it is as if we are signing our suicide. The Turks will come as far as Larissa and Lamia.''

Archbishop Christodoulos further said " no other European country is being threatened except for our country. They want our signature and when some issue arises they will leave again just as they did in Cyprus and lately in Palestine. There where people are dragging their dead out of the rubble" and termed the international community "hypocrites."

[11] Coalition leader says country in transitional period

Athens, 22/04/2002 (ANA)

Constantopoulos added that instead of the PASOK and New Democracy parties being interested in who will be the exclusive administrator, they should realize that the political system requires structural changes and not effigies or substitutes.

[12] Amnesty Int'l expresses concern about 'F-type' prisons in Turkey

Athens, 22/04/2002 (ANA)

Conditions in the ''F-type'' prisons have been the focus of ongoing protests and a hunger strike which has continued since October 2000 and has resulted in 50 people dying and hundreds with long-term health problems, the organization said.

Amnesty International added that it has repeatedly stressed that the conditions of isolation and solitary confinement carry the risk of serious mental and body damage which can be equivalent to torture or ill-treatment.

[13] Event held in Athens on Armenian genocide anniversary

Athens, 22/04/2002 (ANA)

The main speaker was the main opposition New Democracy party's parliamentary representative Prokopis Pavlopoulos, who said the huge moral issue always raised by the Armenians' genocide is that when it occurred, and until today as well, a big part of international public opinion refused to take a clear stand on the hideous crime.

Government spokesman Christos Protopapas, who addressed the event on behalf of the prime minister and the government, said ''the oppression of minorities is an act jeopardizing international peace, cooperation and security.''

He said Greece is in a position to defend minorities dynamically and is proving this in practice, adding that Greece is a country struggling for freedom, democracy and justice.

The event was followed by a march and the laying of wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in memory of the 1,500,000 victims of the genocide, which took place in 1915.

[14] Turkish minister praises Greek-Turkish cooperation

Athens, 22/04/2002 (ANA)

Dervis, who was vice president of the World Bank at one time, is currently heading the effort aimed at achieving Turkey's economic restructuring.

"This year, and in February in particular, we have already received considerable economic support from the IMF. However, during the current year this aid will decrease and next year only one billion dollars will have remained from this program," he said.

"Turkey faced a crisis due to mistakes in the country's policy and also because international capital markets were so changeable," he added.

[15] Book on Greek economy presented in Washington

WASHINGTON, 22/04/2002 (ANA - T. Ellis)

Garganas underlined that the book analyses a multitude of macroeconomic and structural issues and referred to the change in economic policy since 1994 which led to a fall in inflation and deficits, a high growth rate and finally to Greece's entry to the eurozone.

The publication of the study for Greece is within the framework of the economic publications of Brookings, which study the course of various economies in the world, such as of Sweden, Chile, Australia, Japan and Britain.

The Brookings Institution and the Press Office of the Greek Embassy in Washington organized the event.

[16] Prof. says there is an epidemic of virus which causes myocarditis

Athens, 22/04/2002 (ANA)

The professor said the number of cases allows one to speak of an epidemic, adding that the specific virus affects mostly men, youth and newborn, while it is manifested mainly with pain in the chest and the stomach.

However, experts of the Center for the Control of Special Infections are awaiting samples of the virus, which have been sent for testing to four different laboratories so as to establish its identity. The country's health authorities are meanwhile on the alert.

[17] Conference on citizens and the environment continues

Athens, 22/04/2002 (ANA)

Speakers at Sunday's second day of the conference noted that a necessary prerequisite for viable development can be nothing else other than peace and stability.

Human safety and the protection of human rights, is linked directly with a development, which will have as its center the citizen, the speakers stressed.

They also noted that respect of the environment was an issue, which united all countries.

''The war in the Middle East does not only concern Israel and Palestine. It concerns all of us,'' Environment Minister Vasso Papandreou said on Saturday, adding that terrorism and war are not and cannot be the future of the world and the future of the Mediterranean.

Former foreign minister Karolos Papoulias said the force of war leads to the blind response of the weaker and urged the parties involved to return to the negotiating table as equal partners.

Development Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos said ''we are obliged to see a process developing which is against every principle. A political solution will not be found in a military way and with war'' and stressed that the peoples of the Mediterranean should call for an end to the war and a return to the negotiating table.

[18] Conference on 'City and Culture' ends

Athens, 22/04/2002 (ANA)

It was pointed out during the conference that the role played by KEDKE and local administration should be recognized as a continuation of the cooperation memorandum signed by KEDKE and the Athens 2004 Olympic Games Organizing Committee (ATHOC), while an operational plan should be prepared for the participation of Greek cities in the entire process concerning the Olympic Games.

Moreover, it was stressed that cooperation between the public, private and volunteer sectors, as well as Olympic volunteerism, are very crucial issues in organizing the Olympic Games in 2004.

[19] Kasoulides says only big political moves can save talks

LARNACA, 22/04/2002 (CNA/ANA)

Kasoulides was speaking to the press prior to his departure for Valencia, to attend the 5th Euro-Mediterranean Conference of foreign ministers, a European Union forum to which Cyprus attaches particular importance.

He said that until now there has been no sign of any positive development at the negotiating table, adding that "big" rather than "small" political moves would "save" the Cyprus talks. The minister did not rule out the possibility that Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash may make a move.

Kasoulides said that during the direct talks with President Glafcos Clerides, Denktash has not used the word "confederation".

The Cypriot minister dismissed allegations that the government had given any kind of assurance that there would be a change in Denktash's stance during the third round of talks.

[20] Christofias expects US involvement to help solve Cyprus problem

LARNACA, 22/04/2002 (CNA/ANA)

In remarks to the press on his return to Cyprus, after trips to the United States and Britain, Christofias said US involvement should be prompt.

He added that the US urge the Greek Cypriot side to show patience and that this indicates there is a possibility that Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash will change his tactic in the direct talks between himself and Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides.

Christofias noted there is a possibility Denktash will show a conciliatory spirit in some subsidiary aspects of the Cyprus problem, which will result in some kind of progress.

The House president appeared satisfied with his meetings in the US and said that he did not expect his journey would play a catalyst role in the US intervention to shift Ankara from its stance on the problem of Cyprus, divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.

''Turkey's best interests as well as the ones of the US, Cyprus and Greece, find themselves in the just and viable solution of the Cyprus problem, based on relevant UN resolutions'', Christofias added.

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