Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 02-11-06

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM Simitis says Greece will not accept any Cyprus political settlement for sake of island republic’s EU entry

[02] Athens denies knowing details of UN peace plan for Cyprus

[03] FM Papandreou optimistic toward new Turkish government

[04] Simitis to participate in ESP conference in Warsaw, next week

[05] Gov't: All security precautions for Turkish fans readied

[06] Commission's O'Sullivan in Athens this week

[07] Main opposition leader slams gov't over state of the economy

[08] Government notes Moody upgrade

[09] Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos congratulates Turkey's Erdogan and Baikal

[10] Deputy FM Loverdos to meet Armenian ambassador on Wednesday

[11] EU satisfaction at Greece's adoption of Eurostat regulations

[12] Christodoulakis says stability pact is flexible enough

[13] EU asks Greece to return farm cash

[14] Bourse closes at previous day's levels

[15] IOC inspection team arrives in Athens this week

[16] ATHOC president and minister discuss Olympic Games projects

[17] Bulgarian sports sector supports Athens 2004 Games

[18] Exhibition to be held on 'Post-Byzantine Period'

[19] Court to rule on the rights in the N17 trial of slain police officer's relatives

[20] Fulbright Foundation invites applications for scholarships

[21] Thessaloniki to host largest-ever sociology conference in Greece

[22] Patrol boat finds 81 illegal immigrants on islet

[23] President Clerides sends letter to Kofi Annan

[24] FM Kasoulides says government has political will for settlement

[25] EU Commissioner Verheugen says agreement must be consistent with acquis communautaire

[26] The 'pace is quickening' for Cyprus settlement, says US envoy

[27] US will work closely with new Turkish government for Cyprus solution

[01] PM Simitis says Greece will not accept any Cyprus political settlement for sake of island republic’s EU entry

Athens, 06/11/2002 (ANA)

Simitis, who left later in the afternoon for Paris, where he will meet with French president Jacques Chirac on Wednesday, made the statement after briefing President of the Republic Costis Stephanopoulos on recent developments in the EU, the decision on the European rapid reaction force, and developments regarding Cyprus' EU accession course.

Simitis said that ''the view that the Greek government will agree to any solution to the Cyprus problem just so that Cyprus will accede the EU is wrong''. He reiterated that the two issues may be related and influence each other, but based on the EU Helsinki summit decision, each issue was dealt with separately ''and we insist on that''.

He said Cyprus' EU accession course was proceeding smoothly, adding that the primary goal of the Greek government was Cyprus' accession. ''It was decided at Helsinki that a solution to the political problem does not comprise a condition for accession'', he reiterated.

Simitis also said, in reply to press questions, that it appeared that the UN was preparing to submit a plan for a solution to Cyprus' political problem, adding that the plan would be appraised by the Cyprus government and ''we will discuss it with the government of Cyprus''.

Speaking to reporters before the meeting, Simitis confirmed that he had had a telephone conversation with the winner of the Turkish general elections, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who reiterated his desire to visit several countries, beginning with Greece. Simitis also said that foreign ministry officials would visit Ankara soon to prepare for the visit.

To a comment by Stephanopoulos that Erdogan would be coming here not in the capacity of prime minister, Simitis said that this was a problem, but added that Erdogan was a decisive factor in Turkey.

Simitis and Stephanopoulos agreed that Erdogan's thoughts on Greek-Turkish relations appeared to be "positive", and Simitis added that his thoughts vis-a-vis the Belgian model for the Cyprus problem were far removed from those of Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, "but we'll see how things develop".

[02] Athens denies knowing details of UN peace plan for Cyprus

Athens, 06/11/2002 (ANA)

The current obstacles, namely the ill health of Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash and the political uncertainty in Ankara, were temporary and would not forestall the process, he added.

Regarding a reference to the 'Belgian model' by Turkish political leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose party won Turkey's parliamentary elections last weekend but who is barred from holding office in his country, Protopapas said this had "positive elements".

[03] FM Papandreou optimistic toward new Turkish government

Athens, 06/11/2002 (ANA)

In an interview to Reuters, Papandreou paid tribute to ''positive'' statements by Recep Tayyip Erdogan, leader of Turkey's newly-elected Justice and Development Party (AKP), since his party stormed to power in Sunday's election.

He urged the world to take Erdogan's statements on Turkey's wish to join the European Union, settlement of the Cyprus issue and continued rapprochement with traditional rival Greece at face value unless shown otherwise.

''I think we have to work with Turkey without preconceptions. We have to work with Erdogan without preconceptions and see where we go,'' Papandreou said.

''This could come out as a positive story.''

The AKP leader has announced his first overseas visit will be to neighboring Greece.

Papandreou said Erdogan's Islamic heritage was an opportunity to show the world that there were universal values.

''I think here we have a classic example of how we should not create stereotypes, particularly religious stereotypes,''

Papandreou said.

He noted that in Europe there were Christian democratic parties and said there was no reason Turkey's new government could not be an Islamic democratic party.

''I think one should see Erdogan coming to power as a possible opportunity for this kind of model rather than as a fear,'' Papandreou said.

Asked about Turkey's chances of getting a date for talks to start on joining the EU at a Copenhagen summit of European leaders in mid-December, Papandreou replied: ''If you had asked me a month ago I would have said the prospects were quite low. I think now, though the odds are still not even, the mood has changed.''

On other issues, Papandreou said Greece, which takes over the rotating EU presidency at the beginning of next year, hoped it could help soothe the rhetoric that at times has disrupted EU-U.S. relations.

''I think we need to sit down and see if there are really issues that divide us or are they simply issues on which we have different approaches,'' Papandreou said.

He suggested closer contacts between institutions like the European Parliament and the U.S. Congress rather than leaving Europe-U.S. ties to deliberations by ministers and officials.

[04] Simitis to participate in ESP conference in Warsaw, next week

BRUSSELS 06/11/2002 (ANA - B. Demiris)

Prime Ministers Costas Simitis of Greece, Tony Blair of Britain, Gerhard Schroeder of Germany, Goran Persson of Sweden and Paavo Lipponen of Finland will participate in a discussion on Nov. 15 and will answer questions submitted by the more than 300 representatives that will participate in the conference.

According to the announcement, Simitis and ESP President Robin Cook will preside over a discussion on European social democratic policy.

The ESP council is expected to adopt the ''Warsaw Declaration'', where the positions of ESP will be presented, concerning the enlargement of the Union and globalization, as well as the future of social-democrat policies.

[05] Gov't: All security precautions for Turkish fans readied

Athens, 06/11/2002 (ANA)

The two teams tied 1-1 last week in Istanbul for the first leg of second round UEFA football action.

Government spokesman Christos Protopapas stressed that Panathinaikos’ management is, in fact, making a “particularly significant effort towards this direction...”

On his part, Panathinaikos president Angelos Filippidis emphasized that management stands by its decision not to supply the team's organized fan clubs with tickets. He cited a danger of the team being severely penalized by UEFA if hooligan violence breaks out.

Filippidis, who attended the first game in Turkey along with several Greek government officials, said the popular Athens team's double European goal is to both advance in the next round of UEFA game and to hold the game with Fenerbahce without incident.

[06] Commission's O'Sullivan in Athens this week

Athens, 06/11/2002 (ANA)

O’ Sullivan’s official visit will mark the first time that a Commission secretary-general arrives here.

The high-ranking Irish Commission official is also expected to meet with EU member-states' and candidate-states’ ambassadors to Athens.

[07] Main opposition leader slams gov't over state of the economy

Athens, 06/11/2002 (ANA)

Karamanlis was speaking after a meeting of ND sector coordinators to discuss the economy and the new budget for 2003 presented by the government.

He accused Prime Minister Costas Simitis of lying to the Greek people for years and deliberately misleading the European Union about Greek economic indices.

Referring to the changes requested by Eurostat to the way the index for public debt and other key indices in the budget were calculated, the main opposition leader noted that the government had claimed the existence of a budget surplus that proved to be fictional and that ND's estimates about the true state of the economy had been confirmed.

After Eurostat's intervention, he noted, public debt now stood closer to 105 per cent of GDP than 99.6 per cent and ND's estimates placed the actual figure even higher.

Karamanlis also claimed that the Greek economy was actually a long way from achieving the target of convergence with the rest of the EU and would require some 80 years to reach that target.

He said Greece had the worst economic performance of any EU member-state and accused the government of dead-end policies that were condemned by the electorate in the local elections.

[08] Government notes Moody upgrade

Athens, 06/11/2002 (ANA)

Protopapas also referred to the positive comments made by European Commissioner Pedro Solbes regarding cooperation between Greek statistics services and Eurostat over the indices question, who said it had been "extremely useful" since it had clarified the situation, while Greece had made a commitment to adapt to the new method for calculating indices.

[09] Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos congratulates Turkey's Erdogan and Baikal

ISTANBUL 06/11/2002 (ANA - A. Kourkoulas)

The Patriarch had said in July that he hoped that ''the new political formations that are taking shape at this moment and which have declared as the main orientation of their activities Turkey's accession to Europe, will look into the problems of the minorities, consequently also that of our (Greek) minority and that of our Patriarchate without prejudice and with more understanding.''

The Patriarch added that ''we are law-abiding citizens and we will never create any problem to the state. It is the state that creates problems to us.''

Vartholomeos had discussed the problems which the Greek minority and the Ecumenical Patriarchate confronted in Istanbul with European Commission President Romano Prodi during a recent visit to Brussels.

[10] Deputy FM Loverdos to meet Armenian ambassador on Wednesday

Athens, 06/11/2002 (ANA)

[11] EU satisfaction at Greece's adoption of Eurostat regulations

BRUSSELS 06/11/2002 (ANA - V. Demiris)

Replying to questions by reporters after the conclusion of a meeting of the Council of euro-zone countries, Solbes described as particularly useful the collaboration between the Greek authorities and Eurostat, which he said had resulted in full verification of the data on the basic fiscal indicators for Greece.

Solbes further expressed satisfaction over the commitments Greece has undertaken on this matter, adding that the Greek initiative was a very good example for the other member states.

Referring to the same issue, Greek economy and finance minister Nikos Christodoulakis, who chairs the Council of euro-zone countries, said that Greece had undertaken an initiative, in cooperation with Eurostat, to adjust certain indicators of the Greek economy so that the developments relating to the public sector deficit and public sector debt would be more compatible, without altering the emphasis placed by the Stability and Development Pact.

It was important that there be comparable and commonly assessable data for all the countries, he explained.

As for the discussion on the Stability Pact, which was also attended by Commission president Romano Prodi, Christodoulakis said that a broad consensus was ascertained in the Eurogroup on the reliability, usefulness and flexibility of the Stability Pact, which ensured fiscal stability for a country and the comparison of the public finance policy of the euro-zone member states.

Christodoulakis said that, during the discussion, Prodi proved to be one of the staunchest supporters of the Stability Pact, stressing that the Pact, beyond the element of stability, also included the element of development.

Regarding the growth rates of the European economy, Christodoulakis acknowledged that they would fluctuate at lower levels than had been forecast in early 2002, but added that improvement should be expected in 2003.

Solbes explained that the growth rates of the European economy would be below one percent for 2002, due chiefly to the limited increase in private consumption and fewer investments than had been initially forecast.

Solbes also stressed the need to further advance the structural changes in the euro-zone member states' economies, in the framework of the Lisbon Strategy.

Solbes, responsible for economic and monetary issues, and Christodoulakis discussed issues concerning the functioning of the Council of eurogroup countries.

[12] Christodoulakis says stability pact is flexible enough

BRUSSELS 06/11/2002 (ANA /G.Zitouniati)

Speaking as president of the eurogroup, Christodoulakis also told the European parliament that structural changes were needed in EU economies in order to attain high rates of growth, along with work to achieve macroeconomic stability.

Taking part in the debate was a eurodeputy of the main opposition New Democracy (ND) party, Yiannis Marinos, who accused the Greek government of ''creative accounting,'' with ruling PASOK deputy George Katiforis countering that the national economy was undergoing revitalization.

In separate statements to reporters, Christodoulakis rejected statements in Athens earlier in the day by ND leader Costas Karamanlis that the Greek economy was in poor shape.

He accused the party of again seeking to undermine genuine economic achievements, at the expense of the nation's interests.

[13] EU asks Greece to return farm cash

BRUSSELS 06/11/2002 (ANA/B.Demiris)

The amount is to be returned to the 15-nation bloc's FEOGA fund, along with cash from eight other EU members who were also accused of irregularities in funding, the Commission said in a statement.

Of Greece's total, 34.3 million euros is for unsatisfactory controls on grants for livestock and 2.4 million euros for inadequate controls in the fruit and vegetable sector, the statement said.

[14] Bourse closes at previous day's levels

Athens, 06/11/2002 (ANA)

The general index ended at 1,834.24 points, with turnover totalling 106.4 million euros. It had closed at 1,834.19 the previous day.

The Insurance, Retail and Telecommunications sectors scored the biggest percentage gains of the day (2.92 percent, 1.96 percent and 1.90 percent, respectively), while the IT Solutions (-2.62 percent), Media (-2.25 percent) and Textiles (-1.79 percent) sectors suffered the heaviest losses.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks rose by a meager 0.16 percent; while the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index (-0.40 percent) and the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index (-0.50 percent) ended lower.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 193 to 119 with another 50 issues unchanged.

The most heavily traded stocks in value were Hellenic Telecommunications Organization, Football Pools Organization, Sex Form, Informatics, and National Bank of Greece.

Derivatives Market Close: Turnover at 62.6 mln euros Tuesday

Equity Index Futures: