Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 02-12-13

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM Simitis says Cyprus will join EU regardless of political solution

[02] Simitis: Athens' goals include Cyprus' accession, solution to island's problem

[03] Rasmussen says Cyprus problem cannot obstruct EU enlargement

[04] DM Papantoniou anticipates smooth EU accession for Cyprus

[05] ND leader calls for Cyprus accession without preconditions

[06] U.S. official says Turkey must do great deal for EU entry

[07] Italian premier supports setting of date for negotiations for Turkey

[08] Demonstrators call for a single, independent and non-aligned Cyprus

[09] 36 Turkish war planes infringe on Athens' FIR, violate Greek airspace

[10] Deputy DM meets with French DGA, visits Dassault facilities

[11] Mitsotakis vs Laliotis: countersuits for libel heard together

[12] KKE supports mobilizations against Greek EU presidency's actions

[13] New controls on EU-funded projects

[14] Greece's EU presidency to seek summit for social partners

[15] CEO: No threat to Olympic Airways from EU call for cash return

[16] FYROM PM discusses investment plan with Greek official

[17] Greek and French ministers probe common agricultural policy

[18] Greece's EU presidency to back sustainable development

[19] Deputy minister says pension cost affects economic stability

[20] Athens Bourse Close: Stocks slip, Public Power Corp. drops

[21] Armed forces to contribute in the security of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games

[22] Another 11 km of Attica highway to be ready by end of January

[23] Dialogue held in Athens on water resources management

[24] Greece and Turkey fail in joint bid to host 2008 Eurosoccer

[25] Presence of Cyprus National Council underlines determination, government spokesman says

[26] UN continues to work for Cyprus agreement, says UN envoy

[27] Eckhard confirms Annan not to travel to Copenhagen

[28] Annan remains hopeful Copenhagen will yield positive results

[01] PM Simitis says Cyprus will join EU regardless of political solution

COPENHAGEN 13/12/2002 (ANA - V. Mourtis)

Speaking at a press conference at the end of the first day of deliberations of the EU two-day summit here, Simitis said that two further major issues are expected to be solved on Friday. The first issue concerns certain problems raised by some candidate countries and the second issue concerns the setting of a date for the start of EU accession talks with Turkey.

As stated by Simitis, Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen informed the ''15'' that he would present the conclusions for Cyprus' EU accession on Friday on the basis of two alternative texts, according to whether a settlement of the Cyprus issue will be promoted or not.

The first text will take into consideration the possible progress of efforts for a settlement of the Cyprus issue, while the second will concern Cyprus' accession without the settlement of the political problem.

As Rasmussen explained, this procedure will follow after a telephone conversation he had with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, who informed him that proximity talks between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides will be held on Friday and maybe an agreement may be reached.

Rasmussen informed Annan that the Council can wait until Friday afternoon at 16:30 the results of the negotiations.

In any case, a decision will be taken on Friday afternoon on Cyprus' EU accession and as stressed by Simitis, all agreed that Cyprus' accession will take place even if there is no agreement for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem.

The Greek prime minister assessed that Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side are not showing up to now a will to contribute so that an agreement is reached for a settlement of the political problem of the island republic.

He also stressed that Greece always supported that the discussions for a settlement of the Cyprus problem can also continue after the Copenhagen summit, and that the solution of the problem was of interest for the presence of Cyprus in the EU, as well as for stability and peace in the region.

Simitis further stressed that the possibility must not be given to the Turkish Cypriot and Turkish side to use the Cyprus issue every time there are various problems, so that they can take exchanges.

Simitis said that at Friday's session, ways must be discussed in order for the dynamics of understanding which was created in the recent period be extended and for there to be results in due time.

He added that the Turkish Cypriot side should not be allowed to exploit the facts, such as Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash's illness, and to perpetuate the partition.

Simitis also said that the European Union leaders agreed to review Turkey's candidacy in December 2004 and to open accession talks as soon as possible thereafter providing that Turkey fulfills the EU's political criteria.

[02] Simitis: Athens' goals include Cyprus' accession, solution to island's problem

COPENHAGEN 13/12/2002 (ANA - V. Mourtis)

Speaking at a press conference, Simitis said Greece arrived at the Copenhagen Summit with three goals: Cyprus’ EU accession; a solution to the long-standing Cyprus problem and a decision over a future date for Turkey to begin negotiations with the Union.

According to the Greek premier, there is no possibility of any condition propping up vis-a-vis Cyprus’ expected accession. He added that even a reference to “hopes” for negotiations leading to a solution will not be tabled as a condition.

At this point the prime minister said Cyprus' accession course was without problems and the fact that no overt objections were heard was due to the major efforts of the Greek government.

Moreover, Simitis said the island republic’s EU accession would promote stability and peace in the region, while adding that, indeed, a Cyprus solution would have been preferable before the Summit.

He added that any such solution is difficult to arrive at over the next two days of the Copenhagen Summit, saying UN Chief Kofi Annan would have been in the Danish capital that if such a prospect was possible.

In response to relevant press questions, Simitis said a solution to the Cyprus problem cannot await Turkey’s future accession. He also did not agree with an assessment that hopes for a solution have dissipated.

Finally, he reiterated, as he did earlier in comments following a meeting with Turkish ruling party leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Abdullah Gul, that Greece believes Turkey “could be given a date” for starting negotiations with the EU in 2004.

PM meets with Erdogan, Turkish counterpart Gul: Prime Minister Costas Simitis on Thursday reiterated Athens’ emphasis for a “sincere effort to solve the Cyprus problem” following his meeting here with Turkish political leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the winner of last month’s election in Turkey, and new Turkish Premier Abdullah Gul.

In statements touching directly on one of Ankara’s loftiest goals, namely, a starting date for Turkey’s accession negotiations with the Union, Simitis said accession negotiations “could begin in 2004”.

Simitis said he also stressed to his Turkish interlocutors that a solution to the Cyprus problem is imperative, due to its effects on Euro-Turkish and Greek-Turkish relations.

On his part, Gul said Turkey wants to solve the Cyprus problem, while underlining that the 15 EU Member-States’ leaders should issue a fixed date for accession negotiations in 2003.

“The road then will be much easier, we will be in the European home, and all the minor problems will be able to be solved,” Gul said.

The high-level contacts come hours before a landmark EU Summit in the Danish capital is expected to pave the way for the Union's largest enlargement to date. Cyprus is a front-runner amongst 10 candidate-states applying of EU membership.

The Greek premier, meanwhile, noted that Greece believes in the “indispensability” of EU-Turkey relations, as such cooperation will strengthen the Union’s role in Asia and the Arab World.

Along those lines, he said Ankara has taken “positive steps” in meeting Copenhagen criteria, while it is continuing to implement reforms – reasons he cited as behind Athens’ view that accession negotiations can begin in 2004.

Echoing Turkey’s position throughout the past week, Gul stressed that his country has, in fact, fulfilled the Copenhagen criteria and should be given a date to begin accession talks in 2003.

Finally, in regards to Cyprus, Gul said: “We want to solve the Cyprus problem, because lack of a solution is not a solution. There is an easy way to solve problem,” he added in reference to Turkey’s hoped for EU accession.

[03] Rasmussen says Cyprus problem cannot obstruct EU enlargement

COPENHAGEN 13/12/2002 (ANA - M. Spinthourakis)

Speaking during a press conference just before the opening of the Summit, Rasmussen referred to the Cyprus issue and the talks underway to resolve the political problem of the island republic during the Summit, saying that he could not guarantee that a resolution will be forthcoming during the Summit, adding, however, that the Cyprus problem ''can not obstruct - and it will not obstruct - the European Union's enlargement''.

The Danish prime minister did not, however, reveal the content of his proposal he will table to the European Union leaders, during their Summit, concerning the setting of a date for Turkey to begin negotiations with the Union.

Rasmussen said that he recognized Turkey's progress toward the fulfillment of the criteria for the initiations of negotiations and expressed the hope that the compromise solution he will propose will be accepted by the leaders of the Union and Turkey.

Concerning his telephone conversation with U.S. President George Bush and the latter's urging to give consideration to Turkey's negotiation process, the Danish premier said that the negotiations will begin as soon as Turkey fulfills the necessary criteria and preconditions.

Rasmussen also said that the candidate countries that will not accept the proposals of the ''15'' concerning the fiscal part of the enlargement, they will not enter the Union during this first wave and are in danger of having to wait for the next wave, which is set possibly for 2007.

No obstacle to Cyprus' EU accession, gov't reiterates: Cyprus' accession to the European Union was settled and would take place without the slightest obstacle, acting government spokesman Telemachos Hytiris said on Thursday.

''This is an important day for Hellenism,'' he stressed, just hours before EU leaders were due to begin consultations to decide the Community's enlargement in Copenhagen.

Regarding a sermon given on Thursday by Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and All Greece on the dangers for Cyprus' future, Hytiris said the head of the Greek Orthodox Church had exceeded his role and made ''political statements''.

''We do not go around making religious statements and in this case we do not even want to comment politically,'' he added.

Asked to comment on violations of Greek airspace by Turkish military aircraft, the spokesman said that a complaint over these had been lodged by Defense Minister Yiannos Papantoniou in a meeting with his Turkish counterpart on Wednesday.

[04] DM Papantoniou anticipates smooth EU accession for Cyprus

Athens, 13/12/2002 (ANA)

Speaking on the sidelines of a seminar on psychological/social support for military personnel, Papantoniou opined that Cyprus's membership would be endorsed at the Copenhagen summit, since, as he said, there appeared to be no major problem in the accession process.

"What is of importance is the momentum that will develop for a solution to the Cyprus issue itself, in conjunction with Turkey's accession process," he said.

Turkey, he said, needed to receive a "positive message" from Europe, and the (EU) door should remain open for the neighboring country.

"Tonight or tomorrow, we will ascertain Turkey's true stance on the critical issues concerning Europe, Greece and Cyprus," he added.

On recent violations of Greek national airspace by Turkish fighter planes, Papantoniou described the situation as "unacceptable", and recalled that he had discussed this matter with his Turkish counterpart on Wednesday on the sidelines of a meeting of SE Europe defense ministers in Rome, to whom he pointed out that, provided Turkey's provocations stopped, the road would be open even for defense cooperation between the two countries.

[05] ND leader calls for Cyprus accession without preconditions

COPENHAGEN 13/12/2002 (ANA - B. Demiris)

Karamanlis underlined that the Copenhagen summit should be concluded with the accession of Cyprus to the European family, without even a term.

Speaking of Turkey, Karamanlis stressed that ''we encourage the European orientation of that country, but before all this it is Turkey itself that should prove fully that it totally satisfies all the criteria set and this also means the criteria that concern domestic democratization reforms, as well as the criteria that concern the adaptation of European behavior rules in its foreign relations with its neighbors''.

Karamanlis also said that during his meetings with many European leaders he had the opportunity of discussing the European Union's enlargement, tabling the well-known Greek positions concerning Cyprus' accession.

Earlier in the day, Karamanlis met with Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides, saying after the meeting that irrespective of evaluations made on the U.N. plan for the resolution of the Cyprus problem, it has become apparent which side did not want to help and to contribute to the progress of negotiations.

[06] U.S. official says Turkey must do great deal for EU entry

WASHINGTON 13/12/2002 (ANA - T. Ellis)

Grossman, who was speaking during the two-day annual conference of the Union of Turkish-American Organizations which opened here, said progress in Euro-Turkish relations and a solution to the Cyprus issue are targets of U.S. foreign policy.

He spoke of the ''opportunity being presented'' at the moment in Euro-Turkish relations and the Cyprus issue and expressed the support of the U.S. for Turkey's EU accession course, saying it is in the interests of the West in general.

Grossman said Turkey is moving in the right direction and that it is going ahead with political and economic reforms, not to satisfy the U.S. or the EU but because it is in its own interest.

Referring to the issue of Cyprus, Grossman said Washington supports the efforts of the UN secretary general and the revised plan on a solution to the problem in particular and for this reason it has intervened at the highest level.

Grossman also called on Turkish expatriates to develop relations of cooperation with the Greek and Armenian communities in the United States.

[07] Italian premier supports setting of date for negotiations for Turkey

COPENHAGEN 13/12/2002 (ANA - B. Demiris)

''I will support the Turkish application as if it were my own,'' he said, stressing that there should not be a connection made between the resolution of the Cyprus issue with Turkey's application, explaining, however, that the setting of date could facilitate the resolution of Cyprus' political issue.

[08] Demonstrators call for a single, independent and non-aligned Cyprus

Athens, 13/12/2002 (ANA)

The rally was organized by a number of peace and labor movements.

[09] 36 Turkish war planes infringe on Athens' FIR, violate Greek airspace

Athens, 13/12/2002 (ANA)

The same sources said that all 36 Turkish fighter-jets responsible for the infringements and violations were intercepted by Greek Air force jets.

[10] Deputy DM meets with French DGA, visits Dassault facilities

Athens, 13/12/2002 (ANA)

Discussions between the two men revolved around the European Union and focused on the necessity for the continuance and completion of the autonomous European security and defense identity.

Earlier in the day, Apostolidis visited the facilities of Dassault located in Argenteuil, where he was shown the production line of the Mirage 2000-5 fighter-jets, Greece has under order.

[11] Mitsotakis vs Laliotis: countersuits for libel heard together

Athens, 13/12/2002 (ANA)

Each of the plaintiffs is seeking one billion drachmas compensation.

An Athens first-instance court on Thursday heard Laliotis accuse Mitsotakis of using 'slanderous and abusive designations', including personal attacks on himself, during statements in October 2001 regarding the new airport at Spata in which he claimed that the Greek state had lost tens of billions of drachmas through the new contract signed by a PASOK government with the company Hochtief.

Mitsotakis, meanwhile, is seeking compensation regarding Laliotis' claim that the Greek state would have been set back a further 100 billion drachmas if a contract drawn up with Hochtief for the airport by the ND government of 1990-1993 had been signed. New Democracy's current honorary president has also pressed charges against Laliotis over the latter's claim that ND and the Mitsotakis family had used the accounts of an offshore Liberian company to secretly move illegal funds.

Testifying on Laliotis' behalf on Thursday was Labor Minister Dimitris Reppas, while taking the stand for Mitsotakis were ND MPs Nikitas Kaklamanis and Christos Markoyiannakis.

Reppas said that Laliotis had been provoked before making the statements and also had evidence to back up his claims regarding the offshore company's account.

Kaklamanis pointed to the results of a public prosecutor's inquiry into Mayo, which concluded that there was no evidence of any illegal activity, and the fact that the original contract with Hochtief had never been signed, making damage to the state or bribery impossible.

The two sides have been asked to submit their proposals to the court in writing by next Thursday, while the court has reserved judgment until that time.

[12] KKE supports mobilizations against Greek EU presidency's actions

Athens, 13/12/2002 (ANA)

Papariga said that ''these are mobilizations stemming from popular-struggling, radical forces which are getting ready to confront the full frontal assault of the European Union and the Greek presidency, which will set in motion a new package of reactionary measures.''

[13] New controls on EU-funded projects

Athens, 13/12/2002 (ANA)

The system will also have a retroactive effect for projects already completed or underway, Pachtas told a news conference.

Undertaking tighter national controls, finding any breaches of EU rules, and putting them right would pre-empt fines from the bloc's executive Commission, he added.

[14] Greece's EU presidency to seek summit for social partners

Athens, 13/12/2002 (ANA)

The summit for social partners would enable the three sides to officially hold consultations on a European level, Reppas told reporters.

He was speaking after a meeting in Athens with deputies of the European parliament's employment committee to brief them on priorities of the Greek presidency.

[15] CEO: No threat to Olympic Airways from EU call for cash return

Athens, 13/12/2002 (ANA)

"Olympic Airways is in no danger from the decision, but it is in danger from an unprecedented campaign launched by rivals, who are talking of a fine of about 193 million euros, concealing the content of the decision's pronouncement, which speaks only of 41 million euros, equivalent to OA's share capital rise in 1998," Kalofonos said.

Olympic's operations would continue unhampered while the airline challenged the EU decision in court, he added.

[16] FYROM PM discusses investment plan with Greek official

SKOPJE 13/12/2002 (ANA - N. Frangopoulos)

The managing director of ELPE, which bought out the majority package of OKTA's refinery in Skopje, said after the meeting that OKTA will continue its development course in FYROM, adding that the company's course is considered satisfactory and contributes positively to the development of FYROM's economy.

He further said OKTA will honor the decision taken by FYROM's constitutional court on Wednesday which ruled as unconstitutional a law permitting OKTA to have a monopoly in FYROM's petroleum products market.

This privileged treatment of OKTA primarily concerns the import of fuel from Greece, paying duties amounting to one percent, while other companies pay the state of FYROM duties amounting to 20 percent for the same reason.

The lifting of OKTA's monopoly had been announced by Crvenkovski several days ago, while the European Union had also exerted pressures in this direction, which believed that privileged treatment for OKTA contrasts with free economy rules governing the EU and given that FYROM has signed the Association and Stabilization Agreement with the EU.

[17] Greek and French ministers probe common agricultural policy

Athens, 13/12/2002 (ANA)

Gaymard raised issues concerning French farmers and fishermen in a meeting carried out in a very positive climate and which led to the conclusion that France and Greece have common interests and can have common positions on crucial issues European agriculture will have to face.

Both sides termed as very positive the common stand observed by France and Greece and the other countries participating in the ''Friends of Fishing'' movement on European fishing policy issues.

The will was also stressed of enabling the Council of Agriculture and Fishing Ministers, due to begin in Brussels on Monday, to reach decisions regarding the first package of measures on changes in common fishing policy.

[18] Greece's EU presidency to back sustainable development

Athens, 13/12/2002 (ANA)

The secretary general of the industry ministry, A. Mitsis, was addressing a seminar in Athens held by the development ministry and British department of trade and industry.

[19] Deputy minister says pension cost affects economic stability

Athens, 13/12/2002 (ANA)

''The total cost for pensions affects the country's economic stability and its future,'' he said and, referring to law 3029, he noted that it shapes rules for the organizational unification of main and auxiliary social security funds.

''The challenge posed over the next 3-4 years is identified with the challenges of the social security funds' organizational unification'' and called on all political forces to follow a convergent course in this sector.

He concluded by saying that ''with the social budget the existing framework of the working people's position is improved and a new framework is not being created which, in any case, would not be feasible under conditions shaped by the Stability Pact.''

[20] Athens Bourse Close: Stocks slip, Public Power Corp. drops

Athens, 13/12/2002 (ANA)

The general share index shed 0.19 percent to end at 1,828.09 points. Turnover was 192.0 million euros, fuelled by 97 million euros in trades in new shares of Public Power Corporation (PPC) following a new public offer last week.

PPC started 2.5 percent down to close at a loss of 0.60 percent.

The FTSE/ASE-20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks ended 0.33 percent down; the FTSE/ASE-40 for medium capitalization paper 0.32 percent lower; and the FTSE/ASE-80 for small cap equities finished 0.75 percent down.

Of stocks traded, declines led advances at 224 to 84 with 47 issues remaining unchanged.

The most heavily traded stocks in value were Hellenic Telecommunications Organization, Hellenic Technodomiki, Football Pools Organization, and Public Power Corporation.

Market Close: Turnover at 88.0 mln euros Thursday

Equity Index Futures: