Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 02-10-21

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

CONTENTS

[01] Simitis congratulates new prefects, mayors; says 'conservative side' failed

[02] ND leader certain that his party won the election

[03] Comments on election results

[04] Interior minister calls election process a ''celebration of democracy''

[05] Public order minister to arrive in Washington on Monday

[06] U.S. Congress congratulates Greece for contributing in war on terrorism

[07] Cyprus president meets with KKE leader

[08] 21 illegals intercepted on Greek-Turkish border post

[09] Clerides satisfied with decisions taken in Athens

[10] Kasoulides: We are not ready to accept anything for a Cyprus settlement

[11] Cyprus EU membership will increase chances for solution, says Fischer

[01] Simitis congratulates new prefects, mayors; says 'conservative side' failed

Athens, 21/10/2002 (ANA)

Speaking at ruling PASOK headquarters before visiting the party’s successful Athens-Piraeus supra-prefecture candidate Fofi Gennimata and the losing candidates for Athens and Piraeus mayoral racers Christos Papoutsis and Manolis Beteniotis, Simitis also cited what he called the “conservative side’s failure”.

“The failed, as we witnessed today, attempt at extremist partisan politics in the municipal and prefectural elections showed the major weakness of the conservative side, which is being built exclusively on the denial and empty sloganeering,” he said.

Simitis also noted that PASOK called on citizens in every municipality and prefecture to rally around a “unified, bi-partisan, pluralistic and progressive movement for the promotion of candidates that believe in the vision for development and social cohesion.”

“PASOK respects the citizens’ decision in every prefecture and every municipality. However, we have a responsibility to evaluate and judge the results in every prefecture and region of the country, on its own and with particular attention. A specific conclusion emerges from every region; where we had successes, and where we recorded failures; in order to help local government ... The study of these results will comprise for us the basis for strengthening a modern democratic and progressive movement that emerged today,” he added.

In departing from the local government sphere and turning to his government’s agenda, Simitis reiterated that the country’s major goals include the pending EU accession of Cyprus; Greece’s successful assumption of the Union’s rotating EU presidency in the first half of 2003; the successful hosting of the 2004 Athens Games as well as continuing development of the Greek economy.

“These are some of the major goals we have placed for Greece, and we must work for towards these; to now proceed all together so we can achieve them,” he concluded.

[02] ND leader certain that his party won the election

Athens, 21/10/2002 (ANA)

''Today the institution of local government won the day, ND won the day. ND is a force of trust, responsibility and certainty, which expresses the will of a wide social majority, which wants us to move faster and more decisively,'' Karamanlis said.

The ND leader congratulated all those that were elected, reiterating his commitment to cooperate with everyone without discriminations and underlined that the results show that the ideas, principles and beliefs of ND make up the dominant current in Greek society.

Karamanlis said that citizens took a stand against polarization, intolerance and divisiveness as well as regime-like mentality, stressing that his thoughts were with all those that supported ND's struggle for Greece.

''I listen to all views, I understand very well the demands of society, which believes and wants us to be the next government. We will evaluate all the conclusions of this election result with sobriety and responsibility and with certainty that we can begin a new dynamic jump to tomorrow, that awaits us, because Greece forges ahead,'' Karamanlis said.

[03] Comments on election results

Athens, 21/10/2002 (ANA)

She said that the people would confront in the future the indifference of the municipalities and the prefectures, which will not implement the ''illustration paper programs''.

According to Papariga, KKE will study the election results and this process will be completed by November, stressing that KKE will continue with intensity its action aiming to organize the people in the local government sector.

On his part, Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) leader Nikos Constantopoulos called the election results very positive for his party, taking, however, the position for the changing of the election law and the abolition of second, run off, round between the two candidates with the most votes.

He stressed that new mayors and prefects will be judged everyday for their credibility and effectiveness, adding that Synaspismos did not believe local government to be an appendix of any party.

Democratic Social Movement (DHKKI) leader Dimitris Tsovolas said that ruling PASOK's leadership should ask for forgiveness from the Greeks that are not privileged, instead of trying to justify the unjustifiable and cover up its great political responsibilities.

Bakoyianni refers to Olympics as victory looms: High-profile New Democracy (ND) deputy Dora Bakoyianni, Athens mayor elect, on Sunday referred directly to the city’s assumption of the Olympic Games in less than two years’ time, as the Greek capital's first female mayor appears more than assured hours before midnight.

“We’ll be together during the Olympics, when Athens will be the proudest municipality in the world,” she told thousands of cheering supporters at her campaign headquarters only a stone’s throw from Greece’s Parliament.

She also said that voters’ message throughout Greece was a “message of renewal”, while in referring to a hoped for tally of 60 percent in the run-off race against rival Christos Papoutsis, she said “60 percent is a devastating responsibility.”

In his later comments, Papoutsis congratulated Bakoyianni and thanked voters from other parties that supported him in the second round, while stressing that predictions over the months that his ticket would fail to make it into the run-off were disproved.

PASOK's Papoutsis concedes to Bakoyianni pledges support: Athens' mayoral candidate Christos Papoutsis, backed by ruling PASOK, conceded to ND's Dora Bakoyianni and thanked the citizens that trusted him with their vote, promising to honor their trust throughout the four-year term of the municipal council.

''The people of Athens decided, we believe in the democracy of popular sovereignty, we respect the decision of the majority of the people of Athens,'' Papoutsis said, congratulating mayor elect ND's Dora Bakoyianni and wishing her success in her work, to which he said ''we are resolved to contribute with all our power''.

Piraeus reelected mayor makes victory speech: Reelected Mayor of Piraeus Christos Agrapidis, backed by main opposition New Democracy, on Sunday night called on his rival Manolis Bedeniotis, backed by ruling PASOK to ''lend a hand'' for the benefit of Piraeus.

''Today's victory is a victory of all the people of Piraeus and justifies the great effort that we began four years ago with my associates to change the image of the city. We promise that every day that passes by Piraeus will be becoming better,'' Agrapidis said, speaking to a crowd of about 1,000 of his supporters.

''The door of my office will be open to proposals and ideas, both of his (Bedeniotis) as well as those of the rest of my opponents from the first round,'' he said.

Main opposition New Democracy (ND) leader Costas Karamanlis called Agrapidis and congratulated him on the occasion of his victory.

Athens-Piraeus Supra-Prefect elect makes victory speech: Athens-Piraeus Supra-Prefect elect Fofi Gennimata, backed by ruling PASOK, celebrated her victory on Sunday night in the presence of Prime Minister Costas Simitis and several ministers of the government and PASOK cadres.

She thanked all those that made honor to her and trusted her with their vote, adding that over the past two months of the election campaign her staff worked hard, but with good manners hearing the people of the prefecture.

''Now we are committed to claim, to make reality, to struggle in a positive manner and creatively and to give this institution content, projects, as well as responsibilities that belong to it,'' Gennimata said.

''All progressive opinions will have space to be heard. In local government there are no winners and losers,'' she concluded.

ND backed Athens supra-prefecture candidate concedes: Athens-Piraeus Surpa-Prefect candidate Yiannis Tzannetakos, backed by main opposition New Democracy (ND), on Sunday evening conceded his election defeat congratulating his opponent Fofi Gennimata, backed by ruling PASOK.

Tzannetakos stressed that Gennimata ''bears none of the responsibility for the abjection of the ruling PASOK, that took place without her aid. We will support her in all her positive steps, aiming for a strong prefectural self-government and she will find us opposing her if she subjugates to the audacious and centralizing state government''.

He thanked ND for choosing him as its candidate, adding ''it was proven that ND is the party that dares to make a reality the composition, it fights against and with passion the efforts to divide the people, to old type party politics and to polarization''.

Athens' outgoing mayor wishes mayor elect ''every success'': Outgoing Athens Mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos on Sunday evening wished success to Athens Mayor elect Dora Bakoyianni, backed by main opposition New Democracy, and called her experienced and tested.

Avramopoulos also wished every success to newly elected Supra-Prefect for Athens-Piraeus Fofi Gennimata, backed by ruling PASOK.

In statements to the press, the outgoing mayor called on both women to develop relations of cooperation between them for the benefit of the Athenians, until the moment comes that his proposal for a metropolitan administration of greater Athens is adopted, as has been done with most large cities of the world, as he said.

Avramopoulos expressed his satisfaction for the presence of important persons from the entire political spectrum in the new municipal council, which has been upgraded with their presence.

The outgoing mayor also spoke of what he called the polarization of these elections, saying that this polarization led the pre-election campaign to the wrong direction and several of the candidates to behavior that was anything but in line with the modern public ethics.

Avramopoulos concluded that the ''liberal middle space'' was proven to be the decisive element for the political course of the country, adding that this space is one of dialogue and balance, which cannot exist as an autonomous political proposal under conditions of harsh two party politics.

[04] Interior minister calls election process a ''celebration of democracy''

Athens, 21/10/2002 (ANA)

''Today I can say with certainty that the elections were a real celebration of democracy. A perfect election process of a European level, without the slightest problem from one end of the country to the other, took place and we are proud for this,'' Skandalidis said.

''The citizens proved with their stance that they support the changes we are attempting and with their vote they of course strengthen the institution of the local government,'' he added.

''However, for us, these were triple elections. Along with the municipalities and the prefectures the first step in reforming the system was judged,'' Skandalidis stressed.

''I thank you all for a prefect cooperation and your creative contribution to our difficult effort,'' he concluded.

Second round vote: Greek voters returned to the polls on Sunday to vote in run-off municipal and prefectural elections, with a handful of races dominating the national spotlight, including the Athens and Piraeus municipalities as well as the Athens-Piraeus supra-prefecture spot.

Conversely, several candidates managed to gain more than 50 per cent of the vote last Sunday and secure election as mayors or prefects, whereas the second round allows the two top vote-getters to face-off when no candidate garners more than 50 percent in the first round.

Thousands of residents in Greece’s largest urban areas also headed to the provinces to vote in the hometowns, according to traffic police reports.

Top political leaders: President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos on Sunday voted in the western city of Patra -- his hometown and the region he represented in Parliament for many terms -- declining to comment afterwards.

Prime Minister Costas Simitis and his wife voted just before 2 p.m. at an election precinct in the Kolonaki district of downtown Athens, as the premier was met there by Interior and Public Administration Minister Costas Skandalidis.

Afterwards, in brief comments to reporters, Simitis praised the election process as faultless, while noting that “today we are voting for the mayors and prefects that have a vision for progress, development and social cohesion in their prefectures and municipalities.”

Main opposition New Democracy leader Costas Karamanlis visited his party’s overall campaign headquarters in central Athens on Sunday morning, as he did not did need to travel to Thessaloniki in order to vote. ND-backed candidates won out Thessaloniki prefecture and its namesake northern Greek port city last week.

In brief statements, he noted that citizens on Sunday will have “their say and state their position over the daily reality they are experiencing, evaluating candidates and policies”.

[05] Public order minister to arrive in Washington on Monday

Public Order Minister Michalis Chrysohoidis will arrive here early on Monday (Greek time) to meet with U.S. government secretaries and other high-ranking officials.

The Greek minister is expected to focus his discussions on the latest developments in Greece's domestic terrorism front, the international cooperation for combatting organized crime and against terrorism, as well as conditions in Southeastern Europe.

Chrysohoidis' last visit here was in September 2000, when he signed a memorandum for the cooperation of law enforcement agencies of the two countries.

On Monday, the Greek minister will meet with Assistant National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley, at the White House, while later in the day he will meet with CIA Chief George Tenet, as well as with other officers of that agency.

Also on Monday, Chrysohoidis will meet with Greek-American Senator Paul Sarbanes.

On Tuesday, Chrysohoidis will give an interview to C-SPAN, a cable channel covering the U.S. administration and Congress.

Later in the day he will arrive at the State Department where he will have meeting with Assistant Secretary of State Richard Armitage, with the coordinator on terrorism issues Francis Taylor and with other members of the State Department. After his contacts the minister will hold a press conference.

On Wednesday, the final day of his stay in the U.S. capital, Chrysohoidis will meet with Domestic Security chief Tom Ridge at the White House, while at the Justice Department he will meet with Assistant Secretary of Justice Larry Thompson and later in the day with FBI Director Robert Mueller, at the FBI head-quarters.

Chrysohoidis will be accompanied by Lt. Gen. of police Nikos Tasiopoulos, chief of the public order ministry's security branch, Lt. Gen. of police Stelios Syros, chief of the anti-terrorist squad and Lt. Gen. of police Vassilis Konstantinidis, Olympic Games security director.

[06] U.S. Congress congratulates Greece for contributing in war on terrorism

The United States Congress plenum approved unanimously in a voice vote resolutions congratulating Greece for its contribution to the international alliance against terrorism, as well as for the dismantling of the "November 17" murderous terrorist group.

The resolutions will also be tabled for approval in the Senate.

During the same session the Congress also approved resolutions by voice vote recognizing Turkey's contributions to the war against international terrorism and for its economic reforms.

[07] Cyprus president meets with KKE leader

Athens, 21/10/2002 (ANA)

Following their meeting Papariga said, "unfortunately once more it has been reaffirmed that the Cyprus issue is at its most critical turn. In our view, the scale is weighted down in favor of a plan that will abolish the unified sovereignty, it will create two sovereignties, something that will create problems, not only for the region, but possibly for the Greek-Turkish relations from now on".

"For us the decisions of the United Nations, should be implemented without changes. Any deviation from those decisions will create new tension in the region and undoubtedly it will create tension in the lives of the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots," she concluded.

[08] 21 illegals intercepted on Greek-Turkish border post

Athens, 21/10/2002 (ANA)

Authorities said many of the same individuals, from Georgia and Armenia, had unsuccessfully attempted to enter Greece last Sunday on the belief that the first round of local government elections in Greece would cause lax security on the country’s border posts. Forged visas were cited last week in preventing the group from entering the country.

The coach’s driver, 26-year-old Ioannis Kessidis, a Thessaloniki resident, was arrested on the spot, while the vehicle was confiscated. The illegal migrants, excluding four children, as well as the driver are due to face a local prosecutor in the northeastern town of Alexandroupoli.

[09] Clerides satisfied with decisions taken in Athens

NICOSIA 21/10/2002 (CNA/ANA)

Speaking to the press after his arrival from Athens on Saturday, where he held talks with the Greek Government and political party leaders, Clerides said he was very satisfied ''with the exchange of views and the decisions we have taken with Greek Government.''

''We looked into two issues. The first one is our course towards the EU - as we are now on the final phase - and of course the Cyprus problem, various possible scenarios, not because we had any information about them,'' President Clerides said, adding that ''we took some unanimous decisions.''

President Clerides also said that UN Secretary General's Special Adviser on Cyprus Alvaro De Soto had told him when they met Thursday, at Larnaca Airport, that the UN Secretary General had not yet decided whether he would submit a plan.

Furthermore the president said that De Soto had not told him that he had discussed a plan during his recent visit to Ankara. Clerides added that from what the Peruvian diplomat told him it seemed that the Turkish side is still insisting on its positions.

Invited to say whether he believes that Cyprus' accession course will be obstructed Clerides said he did not believe there will be any obstacles adding that ''if obstacles appear they will not only be for Cyprus.''

Asked whether the Greek Cypriot side would discuss any plan put forward by the UN, Clerides said ''we will first look at it'' to see if there are issues that can be discussed or not.

Invited to say whether the UN Secretary General has given any indications under which circumstances he would submit his proposals, Clerides noted that Annan had said that he would submit them, if he decided to do so, after the Turkish elections, ''having in mind the period after November 15.''

''The SG had stressed he had not decided yet. He would wait and see what government will come out of the elections in Turkey'', Clerides added.

Asked whether the Greek Cypriot side is concerned about the plan expected to be submitted Clerides said that ''one should have in mind that a plan might include things we are not going to like,'' adding that ''we don't know what these things are going to be.''

''I don't think that the SG would satisfy the positions of either side as a whole. So one could think that some things may not be as we would want them to be,'' he added.

[10] Kasoulides: We are not ready to accept anything for a Cyprus settlement

NICOSIA 21/10/2002 (CNA/ANA)

Invited to say whether the Greek Cypriot side has set limits as regards what it is going to accept, Kasoulides said that ''we do not take decisions by determining the bottom line'', but noted that ''margins have been set out by us and we will make it clear to the UN representatives that we will not go further than them, under any circumstances.''

Asked about the annual military exercises of Cyprus and Greece Nikiforos and Toxotis, the minister said that ''we are ready to take steps towards the reduction of tension in such a critical period'' noting however that this will depend on the Turkish side's stance.

Kasoulides also noted that if the Turkish side accepted the demilitarization of the island ''we would have proceeded with it''.

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

[11] Cyprus EU membership will increase chances for solution, says Fischer

NICOSIA 21/10/2002 (CNA/ANA)

Speaking after a meeting with the President of the Republic Glafcos Clerides, Fischer added that ''if Turkey is also interested in joining the EU, they know (in Turkey) that they have to solve some problems before a membership becomes thinkable and conceivable.''

Fischer said that President Clerides briefed him on the Cyprus problem and they discussed about the progress of Cyprus accession course to the European Union and the referendum held on Saturday in Ireland for the ratification of the EU Nice Treaty.

Asked about the referendum, Fischer expressed his satisfaction about its results. He added that the results were expected ''but it is better if you have the results and not only the expectations.''

''We are very happy about the results of the referendum. And now the process will continue and we will greet Cyprus as a member of the European family according to schedule,'' the Austrian official said.

Fischer visited on Saturday, accompanied by the House President Dimitris Christofias the village of Pyla, where Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots continue to live together.

He congratulated the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot inhabitants of the village because they successfully manage to coexist proving that the two communities of Cyprus can live peacefully together.

Christofias said that he was happy to welcome the President of the Austrian National Council at Pyla, where people from the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities in Cyprus promote common understanding and mutual respect between them.

Fischer was due to leave the island on Sunday.

Cyprus, which opened accession negotiations with the EU in 1998, has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory.

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