Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 02-05-09

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

CONTENTS

[01] Athens looks to UN chief to bring results in Cyprus issue talks, FM says

[02] Foreign ministry condemns latest suicide bomb attack in Israel

[03] Premier to visit Belgrade, meet with Yugoslav head of state

[04] DM participates in Brigadier Saunders' memorial service in London

[05] Defense minister speaks at the London School of Economics

[06] Bulgarian PM to hold talks with Macedonia-Thrace minister

[07] FM briefs Political Spring leader on Mideast and Cyprus

[08] EU's envoy in Ankara denies anti-Turkish statement

[09] Greeks expect gov't to complete its work, gov't spokesman says

[10] Parliament Speaker to visit the United States

[11] 2002 Lambrakis peace march to support Palestinian cause

[12] Economy Minister begins two-day visit in Turkey

[13] Turkish finance minister says there is much Greece & Turkey can do together

[14] New EU member-states to receive financing for agriculture

[15] Gov't pledges investment, job creation in Attica port town

[16] Unions claim 70 pct strike turnout, disruption in 48-hour walkout

[17] Greece, China discuss closer tourist cooperation

[18] Greek stocks jump 2.54 percent on Wednesday

[19] Culture minister and PM discuss Olympics preparations strategy

[20] Gov't to focus on upgrading tertiary school quality in everyday functions

[21] Yiannis Kouros comes first in super marathon

[22] UN Secretary General to arrive in Cyprus on May 14

[23] Spokesman: Turkish Cypriot proposal not in line with UN resolutions

[24] Cox sees chance for Cyprus settlement before EU enlargement

[01] Athens looks to UN chief to bring results in Cyprus issue talks, FM says

Athens, 09/05/2002 (ANA)

The negotiations between the Turkish-Cypriot and Greek-Cypriot sides have not achieved the results anticipated so far but Athens hoped that Annan's presence on Cyprus would contribute to achieving them, the foreign minister added.

Pointing out that visits to the region by officials of such high rank were relatively rare, Papandreou said Annan's trip indicated the great importance attributed by the UN to achieving a solution on Cyprus.

The Greek minister also noted that all the sides involved had to take advantage of the historic opportunity for resolving this major issue that now presented itself, especially the Turkish-Cypriots.

Papandreou also said that he and the premier agreed that special emphasis should be given to the Cyprus problem at this point, because ''we are reaching a very critical moment for the Cyprus problem''.

''We want to help as much as we can to arrive at a final solution, but up to this point we have not had the results we expected and this is not a Greek conclusion alone, but one of the United Nations as well,'' he said.

Papandreou called on the Turkish side to make a greater effort and expressed his belief that Annan will contribute to promoting the resolution of the problem.

The Cyprus problem was an international issue but one that caused a rift between Greece and Turkey, whose bilateral relations could improve more rapidly once a solution had been achieved, he said.

Regarding Cyprus' bid to join the European Union, Papandreou said the island republic was making good progress in its accession efforts. He noted that certain obstacles might arise but that these would be overcome with the ''battles we will give''.

The foreign minister also said that he and the premier discussed developments in the Middle East and noted that Athens was following with special attention the events concerning the Nativity Church.

''We have been involved with our proposals in the effort to resolve this problem. Our proposals, which have been submitted, still hold in the discussion that is taking place between the two sides,'' he said.

''The Patriarchate of Jerusalem plays a particularly important role in the negotiations. We are expecting to see if there will be some developments from the meeting between (Israeli Prime Minister Ariel) Sharon and (U.S. President George) Bush,'' he added.

''In any event we will remain active in this effort to be able to resolve this problem, which concerns us directly, as an Orthodox country and with special bonds with the Patriarchate of Jerusalem,'' Papandreou said.

He announced that Greece will maintain its contacts with other Arab countries and countries of the Middle East, continuing the initiative ''we have undertaken and of course preparing the Greek presidency'' of the European Union.

Responding to the question of whether the 13 Palestinians, of those trapped in the Nativity Church, that are slated for exile by Israel, would be coming to Greece, Papandreou said that no such request has been made officially yet.

''We have said that we can help in facilitating the transport of as many Palestinians would want to go to a third country, but the issue of coming to Greece has not been tabled,'' Papandreou said.

He also said that he discussed with Simitis the premier's visit to Belgrade, which will take place on Thursday and announced that he discussed the Euroforce issue, for which he added that ''we are continuing the negotiations within the framework of the European Union and we have regular contacts with the EU presidency and (EU high representative on foreign policy and defense Javier) Solana.''

[02] Foreign ministry condemns latest suicide bomb attack in Israel

Athens, 09/05/2002 (ANA)

He also pointed to the strong condemnation of the terrorist attack late on Tuesday by Palestinian Authority leader Yasser Arafat, and noted that Arafat would have a very important role to play in the critical period that would follow.

Arafat's role had also been recognized by the European Union, the spokesman added, while he described Israel's efforts to remove Arafat from authority as ''leading nowhere''.

In response to questions on whether Greece would accept exiled Palestinians once the Church of the Nativity siege had ended, Beglitis said such no such request had been made to Athens, either officially or unofficially.

In another part of his statements to the press, Beglitis referred to a planned trip to Cyprus by United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, saying that it confirmed the UN's desire for a solution to the Cyprus problem.

''Apart from its symbolic meaning, the visit also has a practical significance. We expect Mr. Annan to contribute to defining a solution to the Cyprus problem,'' Beglitis said.

Asked to comment on the European Commission's decision to set up a joint border guards force for the EU, the foreign ministry spokesman said that this was a long-standing Greek demand that had been raised by repeatedly at successive EU summits as well as being a key priority of the upcoming Greek EU presidency.

Regarding the addition of the Kurdistan Worker Party (PKK) to the EU list of terrorist organizations, Beglitis said this was not a problem for Greece since there were no PKK offices on Greek territory.

[03] Premier to visit Belgrade, meet with Yugoslav head of state

Athens, 09/05/2002 (ANA)

This is the first visit by a Greek premier to the neighboring country in the past 16 years, and its agenda will focus on conditions in the Balkans and in Southeastern Europe in general, as well as bilateral relations.

[04] DM participates in Brigadier Saunders' memorial service in London

LONDON, 09/05/2002 (ANA)

''It was a necessary moment for Greece to participate in this event,'' Papantoniou said of his participation in a ceremony in the memory of the brigadier, during which he met with Heather Saunders, the late brigadier's wife, according to a press release issued by the defense ministry.

''It was an emotional event in the memory of Brigadier Saunders, a man who fell for his country believing in certain values. Greece has stated that it struggles to locate these murderers, those responsible for this crime and that there is close cooperation between the Greek authorities and their British counterparts, aiming to find the guilty parties and in general to uncover the culprits of the 17 November murders,'' Papantoniou said.

''I expressed my condolences, in person, to the widow of Saunders, the solidarity of all Greek people toward her and her family for the unjust and tragic loss,'' he added.

''I also stated to her that we Greeks want to give her any help and anything else she thinks that she may ask from us, in the memory of her husband,'' he concluded.

[05] Defense minister speaks at the London School of Economics

LONDON, 09/05/2002 (ANA)

Speaking on the Euroforce issue, he said that the document of Ankara was unacceptable by Greece, stressing that it was drafted outside the European Union processes, adding that the adoption of that text could paralyze the European common policy on security and defense in southeastern Europe as Turkey could raise within the EU baseless claims against Greece.

Discussing the Cyprus issue he stressed that it is a historic opportunity in light of the island republic's accession to the Union, which will also be to the benefit of the Turkish Cypriot side, adding that the resolution of the Cyprus issue will be a positive development for Turkey as well, as one more obstacle will be removed from Turkey's path to the Union, all the while securing the improvement of the Greek-Turkish relations.

Papantoniou also spoke of the conditions in the Middle East and the Balkans.

[06] Bulgarian PM to hold talks with Macedonia-Thrace minister

SOFIA, 09/05/2002 (ANA - B. Borisov)

Saxe-Coburg-Gotha will arrive in Thessaloniki on his way to Mount Athos' Zografou monastery, which is comprised by Bulgarian monks. He will participate in Friday's annual religious celebrations of the monastery at the invitation of Abbot Ambrosios.

Saxe-Coburg-Gotha will remain in Greece until Saturday.

[07] FM briefs Political Spring leader on Mideast and Cyprus

Athens, 09/05/2002 (ANA)

Samaras later said they had a ''civilized political discussion'', adding that ''once you have a friendly political discussion, from then on it is not correct for you to go out and say whether you had coincidences (in views), where you differ and where you diverge.''

Commenting on Tuesday's terrorist attack in Israel, Samaras said it is an "unfavorable development but on the other hand this does not mean that peace initiatives should stop'' and went on to say ''I already believe that matters are showing that they can be better.''

[08] EU's envoy in Ankara denies anti-Turkish statement

ISTANBUL, 09/05/2002 (ANA - A. Kourkoulas)

''We have repeated on every opportunity that the foreign representatives in Turkey should avoid making statements on the Cyprus issue which shall have a negative effect on developments on the issue,'' Dirioz said during his regular weekly press briefing.

On his part, Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash said ''I hope Turkey will be rid of Mrs. Fogue and a new and more realistic person will come who will send more realistic reports to the EU.''

In the Turkish press Fogue was reported as saying, in the corridors of a conference on the Cyprus issue organized at the Bosphorus University, that ''our struggle is to detach the Turkish Cypriots from Turkey and save them from Mr. Denktash.''

Fogue denied allegations of making statements against Turkey and said ''there is no question of my having made such a statement'', adding that ''the European Commission which I represent wants the ongoing talks in Cyprus to succeed and reach some sort of a compromise which shall benefit both sides.''

Nobody attending the conference had heard these remarks, which Fogue said it is inconceivable for her to have done.

The EU envoy was recently the target of attacks by the nationalist press, which republished excerpts from Fogue's tapped electronic mail to prove that she is ''conspiring against Turkey.''

[09] Greeks expect gov't to complete its work, gov't spokesman says

Athens, 09/05/2002 (ANA)

They are expecting ''from us to realize the reforms of the taxation system and the social security system. To provide solutions for the national issues, by promoting the accession of Cyprus to the European Union. To succeed in the Olympiad. To create prosperity, to guarantee the future of the Greek people,'' Protopapas said.

''To all these we turn our attention, for a complete program, which combines the efforts of the government and the PASOK party, a PASOK that wages at the same time the battle for the future of the local government, for victory in the prefecture elections and the municipal elections''.

[10] Parliament Speaker to visit the United States

Athens, 09/05/2002 (ANA)

Before traveling to Washington, Kaklamanis will stop in New York for meetings with New York State officials.

[11] 2002 Lambrakis peace march to support Palestinian cause

Athens, 09/05/2002 (ANA)

The march will begin in Marathon at 8:00 in the morning, with events organized in Aghia Paraskevi along the way, and end at the Israeli Embassy at 18:00.

At a press conference in Athens on Wednesday, the march organizing committee said the European demonstrations would come one day after a major rally planned by peace groups in Tel Aviv on May 11, while the traditional peace march in Italy from Perugia to Assisi had been moved from October to May 12 to join with demonstrations supporting the Palestinian cause.

In addition to the peace marathon, the organizers also announced a second march with a number of athletes participating that would begin at the Peace and Friendship Stadium in Paleo Faliro at the same time and head for the Israeli Embassy in Athens.

The central message of the march, they said, was that the Palestinian struggle represented more than a people struggling for survival and freedom - it was also a struggle for the honor and dignity of humanity as a whole, a struggle for a different world in which people came above profit.

The speakers condemned what they called the hypocrisy of the international community, which failed to enforce the decisions of the United Nations, but also of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

The peace marathon is held each year in mid-May and is dedicated to the memory of peace activist Grigoris Lambrakis.

[12] Economy Minister begins two-day visit in Turkey

Athens, 09/05/2002 (ANA)

Mr. Christodoulakis will discuss ways to promote joint Greek-Turkish businesses and bilateral cooperation in the framework of European Union rules, with Turkish bankers in Ankara and Istanbul.

The Greek minister, who will lead a delegation of Greek bankers and businessmen, will speak at the Bilkent University of Ankara on "Greece's European convergence" and will meet with Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem.

[13] Turkish finance minister says there is much Greece & Turkey can do together

ISTANBUL, 09/05/2002 (ANA - A. Kourkoulas)

''I firmly believe in the meaning of good economic relations between neighboring countries. When your neighbors are doing well then you are doing well.

''I believe there is much we can do together, I believe in cooperation in tourism, in cooperation in joint investments. The more we do together the better it will be,'' Dervis said.

Dervis was speaking to Greek television channel NET on the meeting he will have with Christodoulakis and on the problems faced by the Turkish economy.

Commenting on Greece's experience in the European Union and on Turkey's relations with the EU, Dervis said ''we have big problems to solve but as long as this message of step by step progress exists, I believe this will be very positive for the Turkish economy.''

[14] New EU member-states to receive financing for agriculture

BRUSSELS, 09/05/2002 (ANA - G. Daratos)

This amount is expected to finance, according to associates of Agriculture Commissioner Franz Fischler, EU subsidies for the agricultural sectors of the new member-states.

In January the European Commission had proposed the funding of enlargement with 40 million euros over the 2004-2006 period.

According to Fischler's associates, the accession of so many new countries together will cause functional imbalances and other problems in agricultural product markets, as well as job losses in the European agricultural sector.

A recent study by the Union of European Industries (UNICE) on enlargement and its repercussions said that it has been estimated that as things stand at present the cost of Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), together with that of regional policy, will triple with the accession of all candidate countries, amounting to 43 billion euros in 2013.

The funding of candidate countries by the CAP alone will require 17 billion euros over the same period, according to UNICE.

[15] Gov't pledges investment, job creation in Attica port town

Athens, 09/05/2002 (ANA)

A new 400-megawatt electricity output plant would be built in Lavrio by the Athens-quoted Public Power Corporation, the port would be upgraded and the road network improved, Tsohatzopoulos said.

The minister was speaking during a visit to an arts and technology park in the area set up by the National Technical University of Athens.

[16] Unions claim 70 pct strike turnout, disruption in 48-hour walkout

Athens, 09/05/2002 (ANA)

More staff in private banks reported for work than in state sector enterprises, the OTOE federation said in a statement.

In addition, the major payments division of the Bank of Greece, or central bank, was obliged to halt operations following intervention by OTOE officials.

The result was that interbank transfers at home and with central banks in Europe could not be made, as well as transactions through Europe's Target clearing system, the statement said.

Furthermore, many cash point machines for the public ran out cash, it added.

Bank workers staged the strike following a breakdown in pay talks with employers.

The Union of Greek Banks has proposed a two-year collective labor agreement with pay rises of 3.5 percent in 2002 and 3.0 percent in 2003. OTOE is seeking a 6.0 percent increase for this year.

Another point of contention is a shorter working week.

Bank workers are seeking a 35-hour week. Employers are willing to consider a reduction in the working week but want opening hours to the public increased, which OTOE has rejected on the grounds that the pace of work may increase sharply.

[17] Greece, China discuss closer tourist cooperation

Athens, 09/05/2002 (ANA)

Mr. Georgakopoulos told reporters, after the meeting with officials from China's development ministry and national tourism agency, that the two countries were developing a very constructive cooperation in tourism.

"Greece is interested in attracting massively Chinese tourists, while China is showing increased interest for sea tourism and sea cruises in the Greek islands," Mr. Georgakopoulos said.

He stressed that there was particular interest in exchanging know-how on the management of hotel units and the development of conference tourism.

The meeting also agreed to continue efforts for closer bilateral cooperation ahead of a visit by China's first deputy Prime Minister in Greece in May and an expected official announcement by China that it was accepting a Greek demand to announce Greece as a tourist destination country.

The Chinese delegation also repeated a proposal for establishing direct flights between Beijing and Athens.

China begun developing external tourism in 1997, with 12 million Chinese visiting foreign countries last year, of which 1,017,000 visited Europe.

[18] Greek stocks jump 2.54 percent on Wednesday

Athens, 09/05/2002 (ANA)

Traders said that a positive climate in other European bourses encouraged sentiment in ASE.

Institutional investors were active buyers of blue chip stocks, particularly banks.

The general index jumped 2.54 percent to 2,274.55 points, with turnover an improved 103.6 million euros.

The Retail, Banks, Publication and IT Solutions sectors scored the biggest percentage gains of the day (3.98 percent, 3.75 percent, 3.68 percent and 3.60 percent, respectively).

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks jumped 3.07 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index rose 2.28 percent and the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index ended 2.20 percent higher.

Broadly, advancers led decliners by 322 to 23 with another 17 issues unchanged.

The most heavily traded shares in value were Hellenic Telecoms, National Bank of Greece, Vodafone, Alpha Bank, and Public Power Corporation.

Equity index futures at slight premium: Equity index futures on the Athens Derivatives Exchange finished at a slight premium in brisk trade on Wednesday, despite a major rise on the main market fuelled by banks.

Turnover was 81.3 million euros.

The underlying FTSE/ASE-20 index for heavily traded stocks and blue chips gained 3.07 percent; and the underlying FTSE/ASE-40 for medium capitalization stocks rose 2.28 percent.

Bond prices drop in moderate trade: Bond prices in the domestic secondary market on Wednesday finished lower in light to moderate trade focusing on five-year paper.

The Greek benchmark 10-year bond showed a yield of 5.49 percent, and the spread over the corresponding German bund was 31 basis points.

Turnover through the central bank's electronic system was 1.5 billion euros.

Sell orders accounted for the bulk of trade.

[19] Culture minister and PM discuss Olympics preparations strategy

Athens, 09/05/2002 (ANA)

Venizelos, whose ministry has been put in charge of supervising the overall effort for the 2004 Games, said his meeting with the prime minister had focused on the political framework for carrying out projects linked to the Olympiad.

These projects would have an impact on the entire political, social and economic life of the country and would significantly boost employment, he added.

According to the minister, this effort was not politically neutral since it was directed by a ruling PASOK government and prime minister, thus making a political framework of action necessary. He particularly stressed this in relation to the work of promoting the Olympics preparations and the 'real Greece' at home and abroad.

Fielding questions regarding PASOK's recent drubbing in a number of opinion polls, the culture minister appeared sanguine, saying that the government had ''two creative years'' and the ability needed to turn the situation around.

Regarding the upcoming local elections in municipalities and prefectures, meanwhile, Venizelos said it would be a mistake to draw political conclusions from their results, since they were not strictly comparable with nationwide parliamentary elections.

Individuals and local conditions greatly affected the results of local elections, he stressed, while the fact that they were conducted in two rounds gave added weight to the stance of the smaller opposition parties.

[20] Gov't to focus on upgrading tertiary school quality in everyday functions

Athens, 09/05/2002 (ANA)

The two-day conference will focus on ''The New Technologies in Tertiary Education'', with the participation of some 300 teachers from Greece and Cyprus, while several of the speakers are university professors.

The deputy minister focused his address on the government's efforts to introduce new technologies in schools, stressing that some 75,000 teachers were undergoing training to learn the operations of information systems in the educational process.

[21] Yiannis Kouros comes first in super marathon

Athens, 09/05/2002 (ANA)

The end of the 48-hour run found the Greek runner having covered 436.702 kilometers and exceeding by far his 48-hour world record of 373 kilometers achieved in 1996, again in the city in west-central France.

Kouros also succeeded in breaking the 300 km world record with 28 hours and 16 minutes, the 350 km one with 34 hours and 39 minutes, the 400 km with 41 hours and 53 minutes, the 200 miles with 30 hours and 42 minutes and 20 seconds, the 24 hours with 261.500 km and the 36 hours with 360.400 kilometers.

During the race, Kouros had been hampered by flu and gastric trouble, as well as unfavorable weather conditions (wind, rain and dampness) and was forced to stop many times to change clothes.

His next race will be the super marathon in Hungary and Romania where he will be covering about 800 kilometers.

[22] UN Secretary General to arrive in Cyprus on May 14

NICOSIA, 09/05/2002 (CNA/ANA)

CNA has learned that Annan will hold separate meetings on May 15 with Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.

Later on he will hold a joint meeting with the leaders of the two communities on the island and have dinner with them at the residence of Deputy Special Representative in Cyprus Zbigniew Wlosowicz.

On May 16, Annan will pay a visit to the UN Peace Keeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) installations and later on the same day he will leave the island.

Annan to encourage leaders to achieve something by June: The UN Secretary General's Special Adviser on Cyprus, Alvaro de Soto, said here on Wednesday that during his forthcoming visit to the island, UN chief Kofi Annan would like to encourage the leaders of the two communities to continue their talks so that they come up with something tangible by the end of June.

Speaking after being received on Wednesday morning by Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides, de Soto said the United Nations were prepared to actively intervene in the talks at any moment.

The Peruvian diplomat attends UN-led face-to-face talks between President Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash. The leaders of the two communities began talks in mid-January with a view to negotiate in good faith until a solution is found to the problem of Cyprus, divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.

The UN envoy said that Annan ''would like to come here to encourage the two leaders to press on and to come up with something tangible by the end of next month''.

Asked what method of encouragement Annan, who arrives here on May 14, would use, de Soto said: ''Persuasion''.

Invited to say whether the UN chief would have a pleasant surprise up his sleeve, de Soto said ''I don't want to rule out anything''.

Referring to the UN's role over the next few weeks, de Soto said ''it will continue to be a role of good offices, because that is how it is defined, that is how it was defined by the Security Council and how it was phrased in the invitation the Secretary General issued for the meeting to which the two sides agreed''.

''Good offices means encouraging the two sides and being of help in whatever way we can on the substance and on the procedure'', he added.

Asked if it was time for the UN to intervene in the talks more actively, de Soto said ''that is one of the things we are prepared to do at any moment but that is not new, that is something that has been available to the two sides since the beginning and I am sure it is one of the things that the Secretary General will want to discuss with the two sides''. ''The Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots must agree on a comprehensive settlement. That is how it has got to be and they have to come to the conclusion, which to me is self-evident, that it is in their interest to reach a comprehensive settlement and to reach it very soon'', he added.

[23] Spokesman: Turkish Cypriot proposal not in line with UN resolutions

NICOSIA, 09/05/2002 (CNA/ANA)

He also said that the Turkish Cypriot approach in this proposal is not at all in line with constitutions of countries it quotes, including Canada and the US.

The spokesman, speaking days before UN Secretary General Kofi Annan arrives here to give a push to the peace talks, did not rule out the possibility of a deadlock in the UN-led negotiations.

''I deny categorically that the proposal Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash has put forward is based on UN resolutions, as claimed in reports carried by Anatolia news agency,'' Papapetrou said.

He stressed that Denktash's positions at the negotiating table ''are in complete contradiction with the letter and the spirit of UN Security Council resolutions.''

The spokesman also denied that Anatolia reports that Denktash's proposal is similar to constitutional provisions which apply in Switzerland, Canada, Belgium, the US and Germany.

Papapetrou refrained from any further comment and explained that he was forced to make these remarks because of the Anatolia reports about Denktash's proposals. ''I will neither deny nor confirm the reports,'' he said.

Replying to questions, he said ''the risk for a deadlock exists since, after three months of talks and pressed by time constraints, there is no convergence and basically we are where we started off.''

''Annan's trip to Cyprus and last week's statement by the Security Council, urging the Turkish side in particular to cooperate fully with the Secretary General's Special Adviser, are not irrelevant to this assessment of the situation in the peace effort,'' Papapetrou said.

He pointed out that if there were dramatic changes in the position of the Turkish side, the Council statement would have been different.

Questioned on the timing of the leaked information, he said this was ''odd.''

[24] Cox sees chance for Cyprus settlement before EU enlargement

LARNACA, 09/05/2002 (CNA/ANA)

Speaking on his arrival at Larnaca Airport, Cox said "it is no accident that I come to Cyprus precisely at this moment", noting that "the (accession) negotiations on behalf of the Republic of Cyprus have been the most advanced of all of the candidate states and so we are approaching a very decisive moment".

Welcoming Cox at the airport, Cyprus House President Demetris Christofias expressed certainty that during his stay, the President of the European Parliament will "contribute to further promoting the acceptance of the EU by the people of Cyprus, Greek and Turkish Cypriots, and of course the acceptance of the Republic of Cyprus as a new member of the EU in the context of the enlargement".

He also expressed certainty that Pat Cox's stay on the island would be "pleasant and constructive to the benefit of the whole of Cyprus and will have its own contribution to our struggle for the reunification of Cyprus and our people, in the context of a bizonal, bicommunal federation, which will be based on UN resolutions".

Cox said the message of the European Parliament and the EU on Cyprus and enlargement is "very clear", that is "when Cyprus is ready, subject to the Council review of all relevant factors, there will be no external veto on the right of accession".

"In that context, which is shared by all the European institutions", he said, "we still of course like so many of you carry the hope that there could be still a chance for this island to seize the opportunity of the new future in Europe together to bring about a comprehensive political settlement".

He said that on Thursday's Schumann Day he wishes to convey to Cyprus Europe's message of "reconciliation as a foundation for peace and prosperity".

During his stay, Cox will have a series of meetings, including talks with President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash. He will also address the House of Representatives and deliver a lecture on the future of Europe.

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