Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 02-04-27

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

CONTENTS

[01] Gov't lifts emergency measures for virus epidemic

[02] Church of Nativity crisis central to his Mideast trip, FM says

[03] Athens calls for better EU-wide cooperation to stem illegal immigration

[04] PASOK announces list of local election candidates

[05] ND announces first batch candidates in local elections

[06] Freedom House releases 2001 report on freedom of the press

[07] 12 British and 2 Dutch plane spotters given suspended sentence

[08] Amnesty Int'l to stage protest in Athens on Saturday

[09] PM and wife arrive in Patras on Friday

[10] Development minister pledges more EU funds to SMEs

[11] Greek workers', employers' unions sign new labor agreement

[12] Commercial Bank of Greece, Credit Agricole set up insurer

[13] Thomopoulos shows interest in post of Bank of Greece governor

[14] Greece, Yugoslavia due to sign economic cooperation pact

[15] Cooperation between Greek and Albanian businessmen

[16] Lambrakis gets majority shareholding in publisher

[17] Agriculture minister to attend informal council meeting

[18] Eurostat: Crete boasts the fewest hotel stays by Greek travelers

[19] Banks open May 1 for limited services

[20] Greek economic weekly review

[21] Greece-FYROM accelerate procedures for stock market partnership

[22] ASE ends week with gains

[23] Athens 2004 hires Sydney Games' security chief as top adviser

[24] Two more agreements signed on Olympiad training facilities

[25] International Judo Federation concludes visit to ATHOC

[26] British historian lectures on Greek independence struggle

[27] Gov't: New voter cards delivered by May 30

[28] Another eight illegals intercepted off Samos

[29] Book published on former U.S. Secretary of State Kissinger

[30] Clerides and Denktash continue Cyprus talks

[31] US following Cyprus talks with June timetable in mind

[32] Settlement is the first priority, says House EU Committee chairman

[01] Gov't lifts emergency measures for virus epidemic

Athens, 27/04/2002 (ANA)

A health ministry announcement said that day-care centers would re-open on Monday, following signs that the epidemic was on the wane.

On Tuesday the government had ordered all schools, universities, day-care centers and private tuition centers to close to limit the potential spread of the virus.

Reports from the Center for Monitoring Infectious Diseases, meanwhile, said that only two new cases had been reported on Friday, one in Patra and one in Larissa, indicating that the virus was now under control.

Health Minister Alekos Papadopoulos warned the public, however, that they should continue to meticulously observe the rules of cleanliness and personal hygiene, since the evidence pointed to an enterovirus (intestinal virus) being responsible for the sometimes fatal cases of heart inflammation reported all around Greece in recent days.

He said the virus was not unknown and would be definitively identified by scientists in the coming days.

Papadopoulos said that in the wake of Friday's developments, one can reliably speak of a waning phenomenon, adding that surveillance will continue in the coming days.

The health departments of prefectures have also been instructed to continue taking special preventive measures in places of hygienic interest.

He further said that as of Monday babies' day-care centers, preparatory schools, etc can function as normal since the continuation of special preventive measures is not necessary.

Commenting on reports of travel advisories on Greece, Papadopoulos said the World Health Organization had adopted the positions of the Greek center for infectious diseases and had announced on Thursday that Greece was a country free of viruses that could cause serious health problems or complications.

Health ministers meet PM: Earlier on Friday, Papadopoulos met Prime Minister Costas Simitis accompanied by deputy health ministers Ektoras Nasiokas and Elpida Tsouri to discuss reforms to the national health system.

The virus epidemic was not discussed during the meeting, Papadopoulos said.

He told reporters that the prime minister had been full briefed on the action taken so far and planned action until the end of the year.

Emerging from the meeting, the minister said that a collective and methodical effort was underway and would be completed in spite of all the problems and communications 'guerrilla war'. He also advised patience, saying that health-sector reforms were achieved through painstaking and time-consuming effort.

First mystery virus death not dueto Coxsackie, experts say: The first woman to die of heart complications following a bout of flu had not been infected with the Coxsackie virus, the Iraklion University Hospital's virology laboratory announced on Friday.

Radiologist Despina Ieronymou Kalisperaki, 47, died of myocarditis (an inflammation of heart tissue) 20 days ago on Crete and sparked off concerns of a potential lethal virus epidemic that spooked the government into closing schools, universities and other educational establishments for Easter two days early.

Virology professor Dimitris Spantidos said the blood sample taken from the unlucky woman had tested negative for the Coxsackie virus according the latest methods, which could not be contested.

[02] Church of Nativity crisis central to his Mideast trip, FM says

Athens, 27/04/2002 (ANA)

Papandreou was in Israel and the West Bank on Wednesday and Thursday on a symbolic joint visit with his Turkish counterpart Ismail Cem, during which they had talks with Palestinian Authority leader Yasser Arafat at his besieged headquarters in Ramallah and with the Israeli government.

A solution of the problem would greatly contribute to easing tension between the Israelis and Palestinians, and Greek diplomats had been very active on this issue, Papandreou said.

He noted that a joint letter by the three Christian denominations sharing the supervision of the church had been sent to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and to Arafat, while talks were underway with Israeli and Palestinian officials with various countries acting as mediators.

The minister saw some encouraging developments coming out of this process, pointing to an agreement to bring out the dead and children trapped within the Church that was reached shortly before he left the region.

''I hope for a permanent solution within the next days. Of course, no one can guarantee a solution because the situation is extremely tense, tempers are high and the slightest detail could trigger a new disagreement and flare-up. From Yiannena I appeal to the two sides to work together with a spirit of respect for the site and contribute to a solution of the problem,'' he said.

Papandreou also noted that his Turkish counterpart had been very supportive of the initiative for the Church of the Nativity, recognizing that hostilities there would have wider consequences.

Speaking in Ioannina, the minister stressed that the Church of the Nativity was particularly important to Greece because the Orthodox Jerusalem Patriarchate was among those administering it, apart from its international importance as a site of tension, where a bad turn of events could have unforeseen consequences and cause a dangerous situation to spill over into other regions.

Regarding the results of his trip overall, the Greek minister said that Arafat recognized the support shown by Greece and other countries and regarded Athens as a traditional friend. The Israelis had similarly welcomed the initiative and recognized both Greece and Turkey as countries also friendly to Israel.

''I want to stress that we are a friendly country to Israel as well. This does not mean that we cannot agree or disagree with a policy that is being followed and, of course, we insist on the implementation of United Nations resolutions,'' Papandreou emphasized.

He underlined that Israel could not be safe and secure without the existence of a Palestinian state with a viable democratic government that was able to uphold the laws and the security of the country.

Asked to comment on reports that members of PASOK's Executive Bureau had been opposed to the joint trip with Cem, the minister said the decision for the initiative had been taken with Prime Minister Costas Simitis and the government, while hinting that the reports were misrepresenting the facts.

He also pointed out that the initiative had been important for Greek interests in the region, not only because of the Church of the Nativity and the Jerusalem Patriarchate but also for economic and security reasons, such as the effect the continued crisis would have on tourism, and because there was a moral obligation.

Finally, he pointed out that peace in the region would open up important new opportunities for economic growth.

Protopapas: Greek-Turkish Mideast initiative a gov't decision: Government spokesman Christos Protopapas stressed on Friday that a joint trip to the Mideast by Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou and his Turkish counterpart Ismail Cem was a decision made by the government and had been carried out with the consent of Prime Minister Costas Simitis.

The spokesman was commenting on a report that the trip was opposed by PASOK Central Committee Secretary Costas Laliotis, run by the newspaper 'To Vima'.

PASOK was a large party and officials had their own views, but it would be better if they raised these directly rather than through leaks to the press, Protopapas added.

Responding to complaints that the trip had not been discussed within the party organs, the spokesman said the job of the party organs was to discuss general policy directions and not individual actions, while noting that the prime minister had been informed.

Regarding the results of the initiative, he said these had been good given the framework in which it was undertaken and that negotiations were already underway for a solution to the problem with the Church of the Nativity.

''Some negotiations have started, we mustn't judge the outcome in advance, I hope there will be no threat to this historic monument,'' he said.

[03] Athens calls for better EU-wide cooperation to stem illegal immigration

BRUSSELS 27/04/2002 (ANA – V. Demiris)

The EU council of justice and public order ministers also approved of a Community Directive aimed at establishing a set of Union-wide living condition standards for individuals applying for political asylum in a member-state.

Conversely, stepped up measures and better cooperation to combat illegal immigration and migrant smuggling also dominated discussions by the Union’s relevant ministers.

Greek Public Order Minister Mihalis Chrysohoidis emphasized that Greece is increasingly the first EU destination for groups of sea-bound illegal immigrants, whereas smugglers oftentimes combine migrant trafficking with the illegal narcotics trade.

To make his point, the Greek minister cited the interception of a decrepit Turkish-flagged freighter off the Ionian island of Zakynthos last November that was crammed with more than 1,000 illegal immigrants, including 300 children.

Chrysohoidis called for the quicker implementation of cooperation and solidarity pacts among EU member-states to stem the tide of illegal migration and trafficking via the sea.

Meanwhile, Greek Justice Minister Philippos Petsalnikos called on his Russian counterpart to establish a central prosecutor’s office to liaise with EU judicial officials, before citing the need for an agreement between Russia and “Eurojust”, the Union’s judicial cooperation agency.

Petsalnikos’ comments came during contacts on the sidelines of the council meeting between EU ministers and Russian officials regarding efforts to combat organized crime, illegal migration and to better police external borders.

[04] PASOK announces list of local election candidates

Athens, 27/04/2002 (ANA)

In an accompanying announcement, PASOK said that the candidates supported by the party had been selected through open procedures and open dialogue in each local community.

It also said that the candidates supported by PASOK in each municipality and prefecture were free, with secure terms of autonomy and independence and on their own initiative and responsibility to put together representative and broad-based tickets and to formulate their progressive programs.

[05] ND announces first batch candidates in local elections

Athens, 27/04/2002 (ANA)

The names were released by ND Central Committee Secretary Vangelis Meimarakis and the head of the local elections committee, Tzannis Tzannetakis.

Commenting on the choices, Tzannetakis said that ND believed in local government that had freedom and thus focused more on the election of able people who have a sense of what their area needs.

Meimarakis said that the battle at the level of prefectures and their capitals would be political and political conclusions could be drawn from the results.

He said there were no central agreements between parties for the support of candidates from other political camps, while leaving this possibility open.

Announcements regarding the candidates for the Athens-Piraeus 'super-prefecture', where a decision appears to be difficult, and regarding the candidates for Thessaloniki and Piraeus are to be made by ND leader Costas Karamanlis after Easter, while the names of five prefectural candidates and 200 mayoral candidates will be released on Monday.

[06] Freedom House releases 2001 report on freedom of the press

NEW YORK 27/04/2002 (ANA)

Despite the initial fears of restrictions on the media, which covered the war in Afghanistan, the Freedom House report did not ascertain similar cases.

Of the 186 countries included in the 2001 report, 75 (40 per cent) were considered as free, without major restrictions on the press, 50 (27 per cent) as partly free and 61 (27 per cent) as not free. Greece was included in the free category.

On Greece the report noted the closure of 66 radio stations in Athens on the argument that their programs on certain frequencies obstructed the smooth operation of Athens' international airport in Spata.

Cyprus was also classified in the free category. However, it drew a comparison between the Greek Cypriot government controlled part and the Turkish occupied northern part where it noted that the freedom of the press was violated. It gave as an example the closure of the newspaper ''Avrupa'', stressing that Turkish Cypriot television remained a state monopoly.

[07] 12 British and 2 Dutch plane spotters given suspended sentence

Athens, 27/04/2002 (ANA)

The court rejected the defendants' argument of exercising an ''innocent and eccentric hobby'' and found eight of them guilty of illegally obtaining state secrets, imposing a three-year jail sentence on them, while the remaining six were given one-year sentences for complicity in the offence.

The defendants had initially been charged with spying but the charge had later been changed to extracting state secrets.

In their testimonies, the defendants said they were members of an aviation enthusiasts club in Britain, which organizes trips to air shows and air force facilities around Europe.

Plane spotting is virtually unknown in Greece, which has strict military controls because of its longstanding dispute with neighboring Turkey.

[08] Amnesty Int'l to stage protest in Athens on Saturday

Athens, 27/04/2002 (ANA)

The protesters, who will use as their slogan ''no more broken lives'', will express their solidarity to the people whose human rights have been violated.

The international human rights organization has declared April 27-28 as ''International Days of Mourning''.

[09] PM and wife arrive in Patras on Friday

Athens, 27/04/2002 (ANA)

The couple stayed in Patras for a short while and strolled in a downtown square, as well as stopping at a cafeteria in the square for coffee.

[10] Development minister pledges more EU funds to SMEs

Athens, 27/04/2002 (ANA)

Speaking to an audience of Greek businessmen from the commerce sector, Mr. Tsohatzopoulos said the government would submit to parliament after the Orthodox Easter holidays a draft bill on a Guarantee Capital to support SMEs and urged businessmen from the sector to submit their proposals on the issue.

He also referred to the need of cooperation between public and private enterprises and noted that the state "must limit itself to its executive role."

Christos Folias, chairman of the National Conference of Greek Commerce, said that commerce was a dynamic factor of the economy and that the government has to have an integrated policy to support the sector's growth.

[11] Greek workers', employers' unions sign new labor agreement

Athens, 27/04/2002 (ANA)

This year's pay increase will be given in two tranches: the first, 2.5 percent from January 1, 2002, and the second, 1.8 percent from July 1. The new agreement also envisages a protection clause for an additional pay rise of 1.0 percent against any increase in the inflation rate above budget targets.

GSEE, Greece's largest trade union umbrella, and SEB, the Greek Industries Union, also commented on their positions over plans to change labor legislation in the country.

GSEE's chairman, Christos Polyzogopoulos, noted that labor relations in Greece were flexible enough and stressed the problems of black labor market and cases of breaching collective labor agreements. He was adamant that workers did not agree to any further flexibility in labor relations.

SEB's vice-chairman, Nikos Analytis, however, said that employers were seeking to improve labor relations and said the sector needed a change since it was based on 1920 legislation. Analytis urged for the need to boost part-time work in Greece, although he acknowledged that any changes should be agreed first with workers.

Main opposition charges gov't with failure to boost employment: A former leader of the main opposition New Democracy party, Miltiades Evert, on Friday accused the government of failing to boost employment.

''The only way to tackle the problem of joblessness is to accelerate the rate of GDP growth through a rise in investments,'' Evert said in a statement.

He claimed that unemployment data released by the Greek National Statistics Service clashed with figures given by the prime minister.

[12] Commercial Bank of Greece, Credit Agricole set up insurer

Athens, 27/04/2002 (ANA)

The two banks each own 50 percent of share capital in newly created Commercial Life, which is to operate in the Greek market through the parent bank's branches, senior executives told a news conference.

The firm was set up by Commercial Bank and Predica, Credit Agricole's insurance arm.

Commercial Life's president is Dimitris Frangetis, and its managing director Michel Zanatta.

Predica, a market leader in Europe in bancassurance and the second largest life insurer in France, has premiums of 10 billion euros and capital under management of more than 70 billion euros.

Presenting the new company were Commercial's president, Yiannis Stournaras, and the general director of Predica, Michel Villatte.

[13] Thomopoulos shows interest in post of Bank of Greece governor

Athens, 27/04/2002 (ANA)

Speaking to reporters, after a half-an-hour meeting with Prime Minister Costas Simitis after the banker's request, Mr. Thomopoulos said: ''I think, I have given signs of very good operational performance with the Bank of Greece all these years.''

Mr. Thomopoulos, however, noted that he did not discuss the issue with the prime minister and said ''I don't know if I am a candidate, nor if there are other candidates.''

He said his request to meet the prime minister was related with the end of a cycle in the central bank after the departure of Mr. Papademos. ''A cycle in the bank is closing. A cycle with great successes, like the participation of Greece in the eurozone, the circulation of the euro currency. From here on, we have new problems to face at the bank.''

Bank of Greece governor Lucas Papademos was elected as vice-president at the European Central Bank. His approval is expected to be completed by May.

[14] Greece, Yugoslavia due to sign economic cooperation pact

Athens, 27/04/2002 (ANA)

Signing of the pact is expected in the first half of May when Prime Minister Costas Simitis visits Belgrade, accompanied by business representatives interested in sounding out investment opportunities in the neighboring country.

The cooperation agreement was initialed in Athens on Friday by Yugoslavia's deputy minister for external economic relations, Boran Karajole, who told reporters that Athens-quoted Hellenic Petroleum had expressed investment interest to the government.

Titan Cement Co., a blue chip on the Athens bourse, recently launched operations in Yugoslavia; and National Bank of Greece, also a blue chip company and the country's largest bank, was considering opening outlets in major cities after recently launching a branch in Belgrade, the official noted.

During his stay in Athens, Karajole met Deputy Foreign Minister Andreas Loverdos and National's governor, Theodoros Karatzas.

[15] Cooperation between Greek and Albanian businessmen

Athens, 27/04/2002 (ANA)

EVETH's first vice president Ioannis Dambasinas referred to the need to strengthen trade and economic relations between Greece and Albania, as well as to the role Thessaloniki can play in this direction.

According to latest available data, in 1999 Greece's exports to Albania increased 21 percent and neared 210 million euros, making the neighboring country the 13th most important market for Greek products.

Exports primarily concern foodstuffs (50.5 million euros) petroleum products 927 million euros, textiles and clothing (23 million euros) and metals (22 million euros).

[16] Lambrakis gets majority shareholding in publisher

Athens, 27/04/2002 (ANA)

Lambrakis said in a statement that it upped its stake in the company to 51 percent from 49 percent.

[17] Agriculture minister to attend informal council meeting

Athens, 27/04/2002 (ANA)

The informal council, due to focus on ''agricultural development and European agriculture'', will be concluding its work on Tuesday April 30.

[18] Eurostat: Crete boasts the fewest hotel stays by Greek travelers

BRUSSELS 27/04/2002 (ANA – V. Demiris)

Specifically, only 6.6 percent of overnight stays at hotels and rented rooms on popular holiday destination Crete are booked by Greek vacationers and travelers, compared to 68.9 percent in more remote eastern Macedonia and Thrace.

As a whole, Greece also has one of the lowest rates of overnight stays by domestic holidaymakers and travelers (24.3 percent), second from last only to Luxembourg, which posts an expectedly low 9.4 percent.

Conversely, some 86.5 of guests in Germany’s lodgings are German nationals; followed by Sweden (78.4 percent) and Finland (75.8 percent).

In terms of other figures, Athens’ 788 hotels account for 9.6 percent of all accommodations in Greece, while the Aegean islands and Crete account for 43.7 percent. Finally, the Aegean island and Crete recorded 53.9 percent of hotel bookings in 1999.

[19] Banks open May 1 for limited services

Athens, 27/04/2002 (ANA)

Transactions available on May 1 will not include money transfers at home or abroad, and business will be dated May 2, the employers' group said in a statement.

In addition, the Athens stock market and derivatives exchange will shut on May 1, also due to the closure of Europe's interbank clearing system.

The May Day holiday has been partially moved to May 7 in Greece due to the proximity of Orthodox Easter this year.

Markets will again close on May 7 for the transferred holiday.

[20] Greek economic weekly review

Athens, 27/04/2002 (ANA)

The European Commission predicted that Greek inflation would accelerate this year, while economic growth rates would remain high (more than double the EU average). The Commission's report also warned over the slow pace of reducing the country's public debt.

Prime Minister Costas Simitis this week expressed his satisfaction over the results of a National Action Plan on Employment and said that unemployment fell by one percentage point last year. Mr. Simitis said that 90,000 new jobs were created last year and that the government was on the right track to achieve a target of creating 300,000 jobs in 2002.

Mr. Simitis said that the election of Bank of Greece's governor, Lucas Papademos, for the post of vice-president at the European Central Bank was a "great honor for Greece."

Greek tourist enterprises expressed their concern over the likely impact on tourist arrivals in the country because of a flu outbreak in Greece.

Ernst & Young and Andersen announced the merger of their Greek operations. Under the agreement, all Andersen's partners and staff will be absorbed by Ernst & Young under the latter's name.

Visa cardholders in Greece totalled 3,981,000 last year, an increase of 47.4 percent from 2000, the company said. The number of credit cards rose 32.3 percent to 2.7 million, while debit cards rose 98.2 percent to 1.2 million. The value of credit card transactions increased 28.2 percent to 2.83 billion euros last year. The figures were released by Visa International during a special event on the occasion of announcing Visa International as an international sponsor to the Athens 2004 Olympic Games.

[21] Greece-FYROM accelerate procedures for stock market partnership

Athens, 27/04/2002 (ANA)

The decision was taken after a two-day meeting of the experts committee at the Thessaloniki Exchange Center’s facilities.

The two capital markets signed a bilateral partnership agreement in March 28. The agreement envisages that Hellenic Stock Markets, operator of the Athens Stock Exchange, will acquire a 10 percent equity stake in Skopje's stock market. The meeting also agreed to hold two road shows, in Athens and Thessaloniki, in June to present the neighboring country's stock market to Greek investors.

The committee also approved the listing of FYROM's Toplifikacija A.D. shares on the Athens Stock Exchange by the end of 202.

[22] ASE ends week with gains

Athens, 27/04/2002 (ANA)

The general index ended at 2,225.14 points, up 0.85 percent.

The Publication, Wholesale, Textile and Construction sectors scored the biggest percentage gains of the day (4.24 percent, 3.48 percent, 2.64 percent and 1.72 percent, respectively).

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks rose 0.58 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index jumped 1.80 percent and the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index rose 1.66 percent.

Broadly, advancers led decliners by 287 to 44 with another 30 issues unchanged.

Turnover was an improved 109.4 million euros. The general index ended the week with a net gain of 0.01 percent.

The most heavily traded shares in value were Hellenic Telecommunications Organization, Alpha Bank, National Bank of Greece, Sex Form and Technical Olympic.

Equity index futures rise: Equity index futures on the Athens Derivatives Exchange finished higher in moderate trade on Friday, tracking the main market.

Turnover was 58.6 million euros.

The underlying FTSE/ASE-20 index for heavily traded stocks and blue chips gained 0.58 percent; and the underlying FTSE/ASE-40 for medium capitalization stocks increased 1.80 percent.

Contracts on both indices showed a premium of around 1.0 percent, traders said.

Bond prices rise in brisk trade: Bond prices in the domestic secondary market on Friday finished higher in active trade focusing on 10-year paper.

The Greek benchmark 10-year bond showed a yield of 5.46 percent, and the spread over the corresponding German bund was 32 basis points.

Turnover through the central bank's electronic system was 2.1 billion euros.

Buy orders accounted for the bulk of trade.

[23] Athens 2004 hires Sydney Games' security chief as top adviser

Athens, 27/04/2002 (ANA)

Ryan, a former high-ranking police official and one-time caretaker Home Office undersecretary in his native Britain, is expected to act as a liaison between Greek police (EL.AS) -- the body entrusted with security for the Olympics -- and ATHOC.

Organizers said Ryan is expected to work permanently out of Athens prior to the Games.

Local and international concerns over security have climaxed in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the United States, with Athens Olympic organizers promising more than US$600 million in a multi-layer scheme to ensure “nary a nose bleed” during the holding of the closely watched Olympics -- a plan that has initially garnered kudos from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and several foreign governments.

[24] Two more agreements signed on Olympiad training facilities

Athens, 27/04/2002 (ANA)

The first agreement was signed with Amarousion Mayor Panayiotis Tzanikos and concerns the indoor municipal gym ''Agios Thomas'' which will be used for basketball training sessions.

The second was signed with the President of the Niki Volos club Constantine Lazos and concerns the use of the club's soccer stadium for soccer training for the Olympic soccer tournament.

[25] International Judo Federation concludes visit to ATHOC

Athens, 27/04/2002 (ANA)

The IJF's technical directors and members of the Executive Committee Francois Besson and Juan Carlos Barcos were briefed by ATHOC's adviser Spyros Kapralos, sports general director Makis Asimakopoulos, the games director Yiannis Yiannouris and members of the sports department on the progress of preparation concerning the organizing of the Olympic judo tournament.

The IJF's representatives were briefed in particular on the sectors of food provision services, accreditation, doping, the awarding of medals, Olympic installations, test events, the program of events and hospitality.

[26] British historian lectures on Greek independence struggle

Athens, 27/04/2002 (ANA)

The historian outlined Britain’s role in the Greek fight for liberation from Ottoman rule in the early 19th century, as well as on the specific role of British foreign secretaries dating to the era of Castlereagh and Canning.

He also touched on differing interpretations of London’s stance vis-a-vis the Ionian islands and on two loans granted by Britain to the neophyte Greek state during that crucial period.

The event was organized by the British embassy in Athens in cooperation with the Athens daily “Kathimerini”.

[27] Gov't: New voter cards delivered by May 30

Athens, 27/04/2002 (ANA)

Use of the new cards comes prior to October’s municipal and prefectural elections.

One side will list the holder’s name, his parents’ name, date of birth, municipal registry number, election precinct and a 13-digit code. However, prospective voters will not be obliged to present the new cards at election precincts, as only one’s police-issued ID is required.

The other side of the new voter card features 19th Greek statesman Harilaos Trikoupis addressing a plenary session of Parliament in 1887.

During a tour on Friday of the unit producing the cards, Interior Minister Costas Skandalidis promised that they will reach respective municipalities by May 30.

[28] Another eight illegals intercepted off Samos

Athens, 27/04/2002 (ANA)

According to reports, the eight illegals were spotted on a tiny rock islet between Samos and the narrow strait of Mykali, which separates the verdant Greek isle from the nearby Turkish coast.

As in similar cases over the past year and a half, the two Iranians and six Afghan nationals used flimsy inflatable dinghies to crossing onto a Greek island, the nearest EU territory in southeast Europe.

The entire group was detained pending arraignment before a local prosecutor.

A total of 60 illegals, mostly from the Mideast, were also intercepted in various parts of the Aegean over the past week, along with two Polish nationals charged with migrant smuggling.

In all instances, the illegal immigrants told authorities they had set off from the opposite Turkish coast.

[29] Book published on former U.S. Secretary of State Kissinger

Athens, 27/04/2002 (ANA)

In over 3,000 pages, Costas Venizelos and Mihalis Ignatiou provide the Greek reader with the opportunity to become acquainted with backstage actions made by the former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger to substantiate Turkey's ''right'' to invade Cyprus.

Revealing documents are also produced, including a map showing the regions to be occupied during the second Turkish invasion, codenamed ''Attila-2'' two days before the corresponding Turkish military operations were carried out.

The book was presented by Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos and the main opposition New Democracy party's policy planning secretary Mihalis Liapis.

[30] Clerides and Denktash continue Cyprus talks

NICOSIA 27/04/2002 (CNA/ANA)

Present at the meeting were the UN Secretary General's Special

Adviser on Cyprus Alvaro de Soto and aides to the two leaders.

The next meeting between Clerides and Denktash will be on Monday, April 29.

The leaders of the two communities will resume their regular pattern of two weekly meetings on May 7, after a short break in the talks when Greek Cypriots celebrate their most important religious feast, Easter. De Soto is planning a trip to New York to brief the UN Security Council during that time.

President Clerides is accompanied at the talks by Attorney General Alecos Markides, government spokesman Michalis Papapetrou and Undersecretary to the President Pantelis Kouros.

Direct talks began in mid-January this year with a view to negotiate in good faith until a comprehensive settlement is found to the problem of Cyprus, divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.

De Soto will brief the Security Council on the course of direct talks on the Cyprus problem on May 2 instead of May 3, which coincides with the Greek Orthodox Good Friday.

The date was shifted after a request put forward by Russian Permanent Representative Sergey Lavrov, who is an Orthodox Christian.

[31] US following Cyprus talks with June timetable in mind

NICOSIA 27/04/2002 (CNA/ANA)

Weston, who discussed here on Friday developments in the peace process with Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides, over a working breakfast, said that his country would continue to assist efforts to reach an agreement ''basically by providing diplomatic support in whatever way the leaders and the (UN) Secretary General believe is useful for us to provide support.''

Government spokesman Michalis Papapetrou told the press after the working breakfast that the US official, who came here after visiting Ankara and Athens, had not presented anything new before the Cyprus government or any concrete proposal.

Weston, who was due to meet on Friday in Cyprus' Turkish occupied areas with Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, noted that ''we are looking to the talks (between Clerides and Denktash) very much with our mind to the timetable that the Security Council continues to believe that is very important to adhere to and that is to do everything we can do to foster an agreement by June.''

Invited to say whether June is a realistic target, Weston noted that ''both leaders involved in the talks have continued to say that it is possible to get an agreement by June.''

Asked whether it is time for papers to be put forward at the negotiating table, the US official suggested the press ask those who are engaged in the talks and not him.

Weston will travel from Cyprus to New York, where on May 3 the UN Secretary General's Special Adviser on Cyprus Alvaro de Soto will brief the Security Council on the talks.

The government spokesman said that ''June is an important date not in the sense of a deadline but because during this time Cyprus' EU accession negotiations will be nearing their conclusion''. He also noted that it should be clear by June whether these negotiations have any prospect of success. ''In this sense, June is a milestone and not a deadline,'' he added.

He also said that if the current process reaches a deadlock ''we have to prepare the conditions for a fresh effort in the future.''

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. President Clerides and Denktash have been engaged in face-to-face talks since mid-January, with a view to negotiate until a settlement is found.

[32] Settlement is the first priority, says House EU Committee chairman

Cyprus' first priority is to seek a solution of the island's division by June to enable the country, reunited, to join the European Union, Tassos Papadopoulos, chairman of the House of Representatives European Affairs Committee, has stressed.

Addressing a meeting on Friday of his counterparts from other candidate countries, he also said that ''unfortunately indications until now are not encouraging'' in the UN-led peace talks, which started in January this year.

''Our first priority is to pursue a solution by June, so that a reunited Cyprus can join the EU,'' he told deputies from the Luxembourg group of countries (Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Poland and Slovenia) who are meeting here.

The solution, however, is not a precondition for accession, Papadopoulos stressed, recalling an EU decision in Helsinki in

December 1999 that a settlement would facilitate accession but it is not a precondition for it.

He said that candidate countries have come a long way in their path towards EU membership and now they are nearing the end of the road.

The EU is expected to announce the names of those candidates to be invited to join the Union in December.

The meeting of the Luxembourg group is focusing on the Convention on the future of Europe and the Accession Treaty for those countries that will join first as well as Treaty procedures.

In his address, the head of the European Commission Delegation in Cyprus Ambassador Donato Chiarini said the launching of the Convention and in particular the engagement with candidate countries in an inclusive spirit shows that the Union ''is serious about tackling the future.''

He said the Convention should present a document with recommendations to the Intergovernmental Conference where consensus could be reached, explaining that national governments have no legal constraint to accept these recommendations.

The Convention, which should wrap up by summer next year, will also discuss four blueprints on the project of a federal Europe, the model of a ''federation of nation states'', the community method and the organization of EU institutions as agreed in Nice.

Chiarini said European integration has a lot to offer in external relations, the economy, justice and home affairs and preparing for the future.

''The accession of the candidate countries will broaden the task of increasing coherence and identity and helping Europeans understand themselves better, further and make it even more urgent,'' he said.

The meeting is due to adopt a final declaration on Saturday.

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