Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 03-01-21

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

CONTENTS

[01] Simitis: Rio-Antirrio Bridge walkway to be ready in time for Olympic Torch relay

[02] PM praises new Patras by-pass in visitto highway control centre

[03] U.N. weapons inspector says not enough evidence on Iraq

[04] Papandreou: contacts with EU counterparts for a common position on Iraq

[05] Greek EU Presidency outlines cooperation-development priorities

[06] Alternate FM outlines EU Presidency targets, expectations

[07] Minister relays Greek EU presidency input to Cyprus entry pact

[08] Simitis criticizes ND's stance on Greek EU presidency

[09] Protopapas: Greece wants reinforced European course for Turkey

[10] ND leader says state source of corruption and impunity

[11] PM to meet Romania's Nastaze, Norwegian PM this week

[12] EU Presidency statement on OSCE Moscow Mechanism to Turkmenistan

[13] Non-Muslim minorities face problems in Turkey, Verheugen says

[14] Minister outlines EU Greek presidency's priorities in culture and sports

[15] Deputy defense minister Apostolidis concludes visit to Tunisia

[16] Communist party announces new policy of 'rallying and cooperation'

[17] Protopapas: PM appreciates Angelopoulos family's contribution to N17 case

[18] Culture minister defends legality of ban on women's access to Mt. Athos

[19] Parliament president says parliaments need more active role

[20] T/C opposition figures, AKEL rep touch on Annan plan, Denktash

[21] Coalition party leader departing for Brazil on Tuesday

[22] Greek current account deficit widens to 1.47 bln euros in November

[23] Econ Deputy Minister to unveil regional policy aims

[24] Christodoulakis to chair euro group, ECOFIN meetings

[25] Greek stocks end to new five-year lows on Monday

[26] First ATHOC bureau outside Athens in Thessaloniki

[27] Culture Minister briefs Euro-MPs on return of Parthenon Marbles

[28] Photography exhibition on attitudes to Europe to open in Brussels

[29] Final judges panel in N17 case to be chosen on February 3

[30] Foreign Minister: We will assist UN with regard to Iraq

[31] Second week of negotiations begins

[32] De Soto: Solution possible if there is willingness to compromise

[33] UN says hard to see opportunity to compare with current one

[34] Italian Speaker warns Turkey against non solution in Cyprus

[35] Foreign minister expects ''explicit report'' from

[01] Simitis: Rio-Antirrio Bridge walkway to be ready in time for Olympic Torch relay

Athens, 21/01/2003 (ANA)

Simitis said that the pedestrian walkway of the new bridge will have been completed in time so that the Olympic Flame may be carried across by runners en route to the venue of the 2004 Olympic Games next August.

Simitis made the announcement during an inspection of progress on the bridge, accompanied by environment, town planning and public works minister Vasso Papandreou, transport minister Christos Verelis, ruling PASOK secretary Costas Laliotis and numerous government officials.

Simitis described the Rio-Antirrio bridge as a ''cutting edge technological project for all of Europe'', and referred to its unique technical specifications given that the area was highly seismic, combined with its geological characteristics and great depth.

Under the terms of the contract, the Gephyra consortium building the project is due to complete the project by December 2004, but it is expected that the pedestrian walkway will be completed before August so that the runners carrying the Olympic Torch may cross it on foot.

Simitis said that the bridge was a very important project for western Greece, since it linked the port of Patras with the port of Igoumenitsa. He said the Via Ionia motorway would be developed and business activity would be kindled, creating thousands of new jobs. The area around the bridge was also expected to develop, making use of the 70 stremma of land currently comprising the bridge's worksite.

The premier said he was completely satisfied with the progress on the bridge project.

Simitis was taken by boat to the bridge's M3 pylon, the middle of three massive pylons designed to hold up the structure. The pylon presently stands at a height of 45 meters above the surface of the sea, and 110 meters above the seabed. When finished, it will stand 160 meters above the sea's surface and 227 meters above the seabed.

A French-Greek consortium, Gefyra SA, won an international tender to construct the bridge with a build-and-operate agreement, signing a contract with the state in January 1996. Initial construction work began in earnest in 1998, after a financing deal was approved in July 1997. Preliminary work and underwater drilling had commenced in October 1996.

More than two million vehicles cross the Rio-Antirrio strait aboard ferry boats each year, at an average time of 45 minutes. Once completed, the bridge will drastically reduce the crossing time for cars to five minutes

The Rio-Antirrio cable bridge will have two traffic lanes in each direction and one emergency lane. Its length is 3.5 kilometers, including accesses, and its width is 25 meters.

The bridge was incorporated into the trans-European transport network in 1994, and ranks among the European Union's 14 top priority projects.

[02] PM praises new Patras by-pass in visitto highway control centre

Athens, 21/01/2003 (ANA)

Simitis hailed the completed section of roadway and accompanying infrastructure as the fulfillment of ''a decades-long dream'' for residents in the western Peloponnese, which would help show visitors to the Athens Olympics in 2004 that Greece was a modern country, which was small but powerful and the equal of its partners in the EU.

He stressed that the completed project, which was used by more than 15,000 vehicles a day, had been built to the most modern quality and safety specifications and would greatly improve quality of life for people in the Patras district, reducing traffic congestion, air pollution and noise.

The prime minister also noted the benefits for the transport system, since the by-pass could be traversed in 12 minutes and had greatly speeded up access to the regions of Ilia, Kefallonia, Zakynthos and the entire southwestern Peloponnese.

The 18.5-kilometre stretch of highway has an average width of 24.5 meters, while the project also includes 12 tunnels measuring five kilometers in length, eight valley bridges measuring 2.6 kilometers, nine overpasses and five split-level junctions, 63 kilometers of service roads and three service buildings.

One and a half million meters of fiber-optic cable and copper wiring were used in its construction, and 350,000 meters of pipe work for fire-fighting, water supply and wiring.

The project has reduced travel time near the city of Patras from one hour during peak traffic to 15-20 minutes.

PM blasts previous municipal authority during visit to Patras: Prime Minister Costas Simitis on Monday blasted the former Patras mayor for inadequate work on a dossier for the city's stint as European cultural capital in 2006 during a visit to the Patras Town Hall and the current municipal administration.

Simitis said he expected the decision to make Patras cultural capital to be finalized in the presence of Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos in Brussels on Monday but stressed the problems created by the dossier put together by the city, saying it had mainly focused on activities on a local level that were not connected to European cultural activities.

He then underlined the important role the city would play in regional development, through projects such as the Rio-Antirrio bridge.

Simitis later visited Achaia Prefect Dimitris Katsikopoulos, where he promised that the government would seek to meet the needs of the prefecture in order of priority.

He noted that the Achaia prefecture was one of the regions hardest hit by the crisis in the textile industry and changes in production methods that led to recession and de-industrialization. He predicted an end to the slump for the region through works such as the new road network that would make Achaia competitive and able to attract investments that created new jobs.

The prefect handed the premier a list of top priority public works in Achaia, as compiled by the prefectural council, noting that these were necessary for the region's development.

Gov't spokesman highlights current public works projects: A number of important public works were currently under construction in Greece through the use of 3rd Community Sup-port Framework (CSF) funds, government spokesman Christos Protopapas stressed on Monday.

Announcing the inauguration of a by-pass motorway in Patras, the spokesman noted that public works projects currently accounted for 16 per cent of the country's GDP and employed 17-18 per cent of the workforce.

He also stressed that the completed works would "change the form of the country" and make a great contribution to the future of development and employment in Greece by improving the climate for investments and increasing productive activity.

"It would consequently be a mistake for doubts to be cast that do not refer to specific facts - a systematic practice for (main opposition) New Democracy," Protopapas added.

He also stressed government measures to increase transparency in public works contracts, such as the automatic control of all contracts above one billion drachmas by the Auditing Council, a new mathematical formula used to lower the average budget overruns, and others.

[03] U.N. weapons inspector says not enough evidence on Iraq

Athens, 21/01/2003 (ANA)

''We are not those who will decide but we do not have enough evidence to have the Iraq file closed,'' Blix told reporters after talks in Athens on Monday evening with Greek Foreign Minister and current EU Council of Ministers President George Papandreou.

Expressing doubts over the findings of the inspector’s team working in Iraq, he avoided commenting categorically on the outcome of the checks, adding that ''we do not know whether what we are seeing is pieces of ice or the entire iceberg.''

Atomic Energy Committee President Mohamed ElBaradei also participated in the talks.

Blix said if the Iraqis want to convince the international community they must cooperate.

''If Iraq cooperates we will not need much time from now on. We shall have results soon,'' he said.

Blix further said ''we are not saying they have no weapons. We are saying we are not sure they have weapons'' and pointed out that one cannot be categorical and everything will depend on the Iraqis' cooperation.

ElBaradei said war is not inevitable and referred to checks which had started since 1991, adding that in 1998 they succeeded in annihilating the country's infrastructures for the production of nuclear weapons and it is important that since then such weapons are not being deployed.

Papandreou praised the inspectors' work and said the EU has every reason to play a constructive role in the region. He appealed to Iraq's leadership to fully cooperate to enable the inspectors to carry out their duty, noting that checks currently taking place in Iraq are of special importance for the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

He reiterated that war can be averted and that conflict is not a foregone conclusion provided Iraq proves that it is cooperating. He added that a very good checking apparatus has already been developed and when the UN decides unanimously it is reliable. The EU supports the UN and the function of the inspectors group.

Speaking to reporters on his arrival in Athens, Blix said there is some progress regarding practical issues in checking Iraq's arsenal. However, he added that issues which have remained pending in the past have not been discussed with the Iraqis.

[04] Papandreou: contacts with EU counterparts for a common position on Iraq

Athens, 21/01/2003 (ANA)

Replying to reporters' questions, following his meeting with Western European Union Assembly President Jan Dirk Blaauw, Papandreou said that if measures against Iraq were to escalate, a new UN directive would be required.

Within the next few days, Papandreou will hold talks with representatives of the permanent members of the UN Security Council, while later on Monday he will be briefed directly in Athens by visiting UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspections Commission (UNMOVIC) Executive Chairman Hans Blix and Atomic Energy Committee (IAEA) Director General Dr. Muhamed El Baradei.

''Our objective is the unimpeded implementation of UN resolutions, as well as the unobstructed mission of the inspectors who conduct the inspections to verify whether there are weapons of mass destruction in Iraq'', Papandreou said.

On his part, Blaauw thanked Papandreou for briefing him on Greek EU presidency issues, adding that they exchanged opinions on European defense and security issues, immigration issues and issues concerning the role of Europe in the Western Balkans, as well as the relations of Europe with the United States.

''The inter-Atlantic dialogue is an issue of concern for us, but if the war breaks out the agenda will change,'' Blaauw concluded.

On the same issue, foreign ministry spokesman Panos Beglitis on Monday told reporters that there should be a positive approach to the possibility of a second resolution by the UN Security Council. He reiterated that there was still no common EU position on the issue, and did not venture any interpretation of statements made by community officials on this issue before the planned discussion at the EU Foreign Ministers Council in Brussels on 27 January.

Beglitis noted that the positions of some countries coincided with the Greek approach and that there was strong concern, while he urged EU governments to pay heed to peace movements and the wish of the EU citizens.

[05] Greek EU Presidency outlines cooperation-development priorities

Athens, 21/01/2003 (ANA)

Loverdos said that in the six-month Greek EU Presidency (especially during May’s EU General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC), significant decisions are to be taken that would influence the course of the policy on cooperation for development.

The priorities decided by the Greek EU Presidency, following deliberations with the EU Commission, were outlined by Loverdos:

1. Implementation of the Barcelona and Monterrey EU Councils’ decisions - the EU presidency supports Commission efforts for an increase in the official aid for development to 0,39%, as the union’s average on the basis of member-states’ GDP.

2. Unblocking of aid – a difficult technical issue owing to differing approaches taken by EU member-states. The Greek Presidency will make efforts - through the methodical processing of a Nov. 2002 GAERC document by the Commission - to adopt relevant conclusions within the first semester of 2003.

3. Immigration and Development – an issue to be dealt with in a binding way in order to promote EU decisions respecting pledges to both EU citizens and third countries. A long-term aim still remains the development of poor nations and strengthening of local communities to empower them to deal themselves with local problems.

4. Europe-Africa relations – promotion on all levels of existing cooperation agreements, focusing on political dialogue in view of the Lisbon Summit, and on the basis of EU pledges on Africa during recent major meetings.

5. Promotion EU-Eastern and Central Europe relations.

6. Strengthening of the role of NGOs within the context of EU developmental policy – NGOs have now become a significant factor of development policy and have been globally recognized thanks to their effective action and flexibility in program implementation. The Greek EU Presidency looks up to the autonomy of NGOs and will seek substantive dialogue with such organizations to redefine the framework of cooperation in policy directions in each area.

Closing his address, Loverdos said Greece was intending to cooperate closely with the Euro-Parliament and the Commission to achieve solution to issues to be discussed by the Working Groups, promoting the European notion of global cooperation and a more equitable world.

[06] Alternate FM outlines EU Presidency targets, expectations

FLORENCE 21/01/2003 (ANA - S.Aravopoulou)

Yiannitsis touched upon the significant problems the EU is urged to tackle, many of which will be dealt with during the Greek EU Presidency and would define the union’s course in the next two decades. He explained that the first target of the Greek EU Presidency was the union’s successful completion of the expansion process safeguarding that the admission of the 15 future member-states would not strain existing members.

EU decisions bearing a direct impact on the European citizen, such as employment, quality and sustainability of development, competitiveness and the union’s social agenda,

were quoted by Yiannitsis as the second major target.

A third primary issue is immigration and illegal immigration. The Greek EU Presidency believes that dealing with such issues is a collective job of the EU, and as such, solutions required that common responsibilities be undertaken.

Special emphasis was placed by the Greek minister on EU’s external relations, as the ‘new’ Europe must have a global role and be a factor of stability and cooperation. In that context, the promotion of relations between the EU and the Balkans, Russia, the Ukraine and the Caucasus region is among Greece’s high priorities, said Yiannitsis.

Closing his speech, Yiannitsis pointed to Greece’s role of making all possible efforts for the European Union to adopt common positions, avoiding letting its citizens down.

[07] Minister relays Greek EU presidency input to Cyprus entry pact

Athens, 21/01/2003 (ANA)

Drys also told his visiting counterpart, Kostas Themistocleous that the EU had approved the allocation of 5.1 billion euros for 2004-2006 to 10 countries set to become new members of the union, including Cyprus.

The island republic's entry treaty is to be signed in Athens on April 16.

[08] Simitis criticizes ND's stance on Greek EU presidency

Athens, 21/01/2003 (ANA)

Speaking to representatives of the organized citizen groups of the city of Patra, he also criticized the main opposition party for a ''war of madness'' against the government and constant doubting of the great development projects underway throughout the country.

''The examples are many,'' he said, adding ''I will remind you of ND's stance on the EMU, on Helsinki, Copenhagen, and the accession of Cyprus. For the social state, for the economy and the big projects''.

''Over the next few months and years, we will deliver significant projects all over the country. The main opposition party is attempting to create a negative image that supposedly the projects were not completed in accordance with EU standards and the public interest was not secured. These projects, however, were done with perfect transparency, tenders, control and judicial processes. Anyone can seek recourse to the European Union,'' he said.

During his speech, the premier also dealt with local issues as well as with the impact of the Olympic Games in the region of Achaia.

[09] Protopapas: Greece wants reinforced European course for Turkey

Athens, 21/01/2003 (ANA)

Clarifying that his comment on this issue did not represent a response to views published in the media but a stance on the substance of the issue, Protopapas said that since ''Turkey is a country with big internal problems and contradictions, Greece wishes to have as a neighbor a country that functions on the basis of European principles and with respect for human rights, in which case there will be general conditions that promote peace, security, development, arms reduction, and efforts to increase employment.''

Referring to the conclusions of the Copenhagen Summit, Protopapas reiterated that the European Union recognized the need to expedite the course toward the start of accession negotiations between the EU and Turkey.

''The European Union offered Turkey some opportunities. Will Turkey take advantage of them?'', Protopapas said, adding ''this is unknown. But it concerns Turkey, not us. Therefore, we support Turkey's European direction''.

[10] ND leader says state source of corruption and impunity

Athens, 21/01/2003 (ANA)

Karamanlis, who was addressing a meeting of his party's Women's Secretariat, criticized the government on account of latest events in the public sector with reports of businessmen being blackmailed and developments professional soccer clubs.

He warned that nothing is forgotten or written off, adding that initiatives are necessary which will secure observance of legality and that ''our clash with corruption and impunity was and is a frontal one.''

Karamanlis further said the government has been surpassed by its own mistakes and by society's increased needs, noting that from managing conservation it has passed to managing disorientation.

He added that the government's policy statements on a social state are proving to be words of inconsistency and that it is a common ascertainment that major problems facing citizens do not interest the government and only enter the government's vocabulary during an election period.

[11] PM to meet Romania's Nastaze, Norwegian PM this week

Athens, 21/01/2003 (ANA)

During the week, Simitis is also to chair a government meeting to discuss the Athens Olympics on Wednesday morning, with Finance Minister Nikos Christodoulakis, Deputy Finance Minister George Floridis, Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos, Deputy Sports Minister Nassos Alevras, Culture ministry general secretary Costas Kartalis and Deputy Press Minister Telemachos Hytiris.

The premier will subsequently have meetings with Education Minister Petros Efthymiou and PASOK Central Committee Secretary Costas Laliotis at 12:30 and 13:30 respectively.

Protopapas said that on Tuesday he would announce the make-up of a government organ that is to convene on Thursday.

[12] EU Presidency statement on OSCE Moscow Mechanism to Turkmenistan

Athens, 21/01/2003 (ANA)

The statement called upon the president and the government of Turkmenistan ''to cooperate fully with the process launched in the framework of the OSCE under the mechanism agreed at the 1991 Moscow meeting of the conference on the human dimension.''

The EU urges the government of Turkmenistan to facilitate the visit to that country of a fact-finding mission, in accordance with its international commitments.

The central and eastern European countries associated with the European Union, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, the Slovak Re-public and Slovenia, the associated countries Cyprus and Malta, and the EFTA countries Iceland, and Norway, members of the European Economic Area also align themselves with this declaration.

[13] Non-Muslim minorities face problems in Turkey, Verheugen says

BRUSSELS 21/01/2003 (ANA -M. Spinthourakis)

A press release issued by Xarhakos' office in Brussels said that even the new reforms announced by Turkey recently, according to Verheugen ''do not cover all the problems of the religious minorities concerning the rights of property, while there are difficulties of recording the property data of some minority institutions, something that holds true for some Christian Orthodox institutions as well, including those of (the islands of) Imvros and Tenedos''.

The same press release noted that Verheugen said that ''the Commission expects from Turkey to continue its efforts for the fulfillment of the priorities agreed and signed in the association agreement''.

[14] Minister outlines EU Greek presidency's priorities in culture and sports

BRUSSELS 21/01/2003 (ANA - V. Demiris)

He said EU enlargement with the accession of the 10 new countries and the discussion on the future of Europe are the main elements affecting the Greek presidency's priorities.

Referring to the agenda of the next Council of Culture Ministers, due to be held on May 5-6, he said the target is the approval of a resolution on the obligation of all cultural aspects being taken in the remaining EU policies to enable the promotion of European cultural multiformity.

Regarding the informal Culture Council to be held in Thessaloniki on May 24-25, Venizelos said the main issues of discussion will be the European cultural identity as a basis for the operation of the single market, the cultural heritage of European significance, the future of the European audiovisual sector after enlargement and inter-religious dialogue in the EU.

Venizelos, replying to questions from the press after the meeting, expressed satisfaction because the presentation of the EU Greek presidency's priorities in the culture and sports sectors led to a very interesting and positive discussion at the Culture Committee under the chairmanship of Michel Rocard.

He also referred to the presentation of the program of Patra ''Cultural Capital of Europe'' in 2006 and stressed that the city is Greece's gateway to the West.

Venizelos further said the institution of Cultural Capital of Europe is an institution of Greek inspiration and is due to the late Greek actress Melina Mercouri.

[15] Deputy defense minister Apostolidis concludes visit to Tunisia

Athens, 21/01/2003 (ANA)

Security issues in the Middle East and the broader region with emphasis on the Iraq issue and the Palestinian crisis, developments in the Euro-Mediterranean dialogue and in the Mediterranean dimension of the European Union's Common Foreign and Security Policy and Defense Policy (CFSP), as well as a broader bilateral cooperation were the focus of talks between the two men, a ministry announcement said Monday.

During his visit, the Greek deputy defense minister also met with Tunisia's secretary of state to the minister of foreign affairs Saida Chtioui.

[16] Communist party announces new policy of 'rallying and cooperation'

Athens, 21/01/2003 (ANA)

With this proposal, KKE intended to initiate dialogue with political and social organizations, bodies, the workers and supporters of other parties, but also with former KKE supporters that had chosen to depart from the party for various reasons in recent years.

She said there was no deadline for the end of this dialogue but that it would have a definite direction, with the final aim being to ensure necessary agreement on substantive opposition to major capital and imperialism.

She also invited all social forces and political camps to attend the events planned by the party in Nafplio over the next few days, responding to criticism from the Coalition of the Left and Progress party that KKE was fragmenting the working-class movement.

[17] Protopapas: PM appreciates Angelopoulos family's contribution to N17 case

Athens, 21/01/2003 (ANA)

He also stressed that the public prosecutor in charge of the "November 17" terrorism case had received a copy of the documents given by the family to the prime minister within hours of Simitis.

Protopapas was referring to a new twist in the N17 case, brought to light by a fragment from the diary of N17-victim Dimitris Angelopoulos, one of the country's most prominent captains of industry at that time. The new evidence was handed to prime minister in person and to the authorities by members of the Angelopoulos family.

The diary entry describes a suspicious encounter with an Athens-based publisher and has given rise to conjectures that the threat of a hit by N17 may have been used to blackmail members of the business community.

[18] Culture minister defends legality of ban on women's access to Mt. Athos

Athens, 21/01/2003 (ANA)

Venizelos explained the legal status of the 20 monastery strong community that enjoys special status for Mount Athos established in the Accession Treaty of Greece to the EEC, which was reaffirmed in Amsterdam.

He also stressed that the peninsula is self-governed and all the land there belongs to the monasteries and is therefore private, without exception and without any of it belonging to the public or the central Greek state.

Venizelos alluded to the status of the Roman Catholic Church, while the Vatican, although being a member of the Council of Europe as a state, is represented solely by men and the European Union correctly accepted a close relationship with that state.

''The ban on women at Mt. Athos and the regulations of administration of the Catholic Church, as well as that of other churches and all similar issues, are elements of a tradition which the EU should confront with tolerance and a pluralistic attitude which characterizes European civilization,'' Venizelos said.

No objections were raised by the Eurodeputies or Rocard.

The issue of Mt. Athos' ban was raised in Europarliament last week when a slim majority voted a non-binding resolution against the ban.

The all-male monastic community on a peninsula in northern Greece is semi-autonomous and has for 10 centuries barred the entry of women, as they dedicated their community to the memory of Mary the Mother of God, thus their monastic community is also called the ''Garden of Mary the Theotokos''. The ban is not enforced by the Greek government but by the elected council of the monastic community, which is multinational, as monastic communities on Mount Athos represent all nationalities of the Orthodox Christian Church.

[19] Parliament president says parliaments need more active role

Athens, 21/01/2003 (ANA)

The meeting was attended by the secretary of the WEU's Parliamentary Assembly Colin Cameron and the head of the Greek delegation Theodoros Pangalos.

Agreement was ascertained regarding issues of parliamentary control for European security and defense policy, which is currently the focus of attention following a series of crises in the Balkans and elsewhere.

On his part, Blaauw said parliamentary control should acquire a wider dimension through the WEU's Parliamentary Assembly ''because it is necessary to limit the distance between the citizen and governments, and even in parliaments on issues concerning Europe.''

[20] T/C opposition figures, AKEL rep touch on Annan plan, Denktash

Athens, 21/01/2003 (ANA)

On his part, AKEL representative Nikos Katsourides stressed that his party, throughout its history, has represented all of Cyprus’ communities, whereas its supporters today in the government-controlled portions of the island republic have been brought up without negative stereotypes of Turkish Cypriots.

“We do not accept ideas, that from time to time, favor a ‘double-enosis’, division, a confederation, the regime of not solving the Cyprus solution, or any ‘solution’ that in reality maintains the status quo,” he underlined.

On his part, Mehmet Segis, the general secretary of the general confederation of Turkish Cypriot workers (DEV-IS), noted that the recent Annan plan is the “best (submitted), because it entails the fewest difficulties from any of the previous ones”.

“Demographic changes occur on almost a daily basis and against the Turkish Cypriots,” he stressed, adding: “We want (Rauf) Denktash’s resignation because his stance is negative … If Denktash is forced to resign by the latest developments we hope that the Turkish Cypriots will be represented by the pro-peace side, and that the old policy of rejecting proposals submitted by both sides will not continue.”

Finally, Turkish Cypriot journalist Sevgul Uludag cited, among others, the latest high-profile mobilizations against the Denktash regime in the Turkish-occupied part of Nicosia – the only remaining divided capital in Europe.

Uludag noted that a hunger strike by artists is currently taking place in Kyrenia, a coastal town on the occupied side, as the hunger strikers are asking supporters to place peace messages in plastic bottles in order to pile them up and build a “mountain” higher that the T/C leader’s home, as she said.

“We refuse to live amid insecurity and uncertainty regarding the future,” she added, “we want to live normally and not in a surrealistic landscape.

In earlier comments, AKEL’s Katsourides emphasized that his party would have “no problem” with Turkish Cypriots serving as both president and prime minister in a federally ruled Cyprus, while noting that what must be “understand by all is that for a viable Cyprus solution it must be accepted by the average Turkish Cypriot and average Greek Cypriot.”

The three will speak at the Athens Journalists’ Union (ESHEA) on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m., an event sponsored by the weekly “Epochi”.

[21] Coalition party leader departing for Brazil on Tuesday

Athens, 21/01/2003 (ANA)

During his stay in Brazil, Constantopoulos is also expected to meet the country's newly-elected President Loula.

Referring to the planned war against Iraq, Constantopoulos called on the government to take initiatives to have the war averted and stressed the need for no Greek force to participate in the military plans and for preventing the European Union from becoming a ''political clone'' of the United States.

[22] Greek current account deficit widens to 1.47 bln euros in November

Athens, 21/01/2003 (ANA)

This increase resulted mainly from the widening of the non-oil trade deficit and, to a lesser extent, from the fall in the services surplus. By contrast, the transfers surplus grew and the income account deficit decreased.

The widening of the trade deficit was accounted for by the rise in the non-oil import bill and the fall in non-oil export receipts. The net oil import bill remained approximately at November 2001 levels. The decrease in the services surplus mainly resulted from the apparent drop in net travel receipts.

The income account deficit was reduced in November 2002, mainly because of the decrease in net payments for interest, dividends and profits. Finally, the increase in the transfers surplus reflects the rise in net receipts of general government from the EU in that month.

During the January-November 2002 period, the current account deficit grew by 791 million euros, compared with that in the corresponding 2001 period, and came to 7,851 million euros. This development reflects mainly the narrowing of the transfers surplus and the widening of the trade deficit, which was connected to a rise in both the non-oil trade deficit and the net oil import bill. A small increase was also recorded in the income account deficit. These developments were only partly offset by the considerable rise in the services surplus.

The non-oil trade deficit grew by 568 million euros during the January-November 2002 period, as a result of the considerable reduction (of 647 million euros) in export receipts and despite the small decrease (of 80 million euros) in the import bill. At the same time, net oil imports rose by 318 million euros.

Financial account balance: In November 2002, flows of both residents' direct investment abroad and non-residents' direct investment in Greece were small. Under portfolio investment, a net inflow of 1,473 million euros was recorded, which mainly reflects non-residents' investment in Greek bonds. As regards ''other investment'', a small net inflow of 82 million euros was recorded, connected mainly to the increase in deposits and repos holdings by non-residents, which was almost offset by the increase in residents' deposits abroad and the outflow for repayment of general government loans.

During the January-November 2002 period, direct investment recorded net outflows of 517 million euros, mainly attributable to residents’ investment abroad. During the period under review, there was a substantial net inflow (of 10,983 million euros) for portfolio investment, connected with the considerable inflow of foreign investors’ funds, mainly for the purchase of Greek bonds and, to a lesser extent, for the purchase of shares. The outflow of funds for the purchase of, mainly, foreign bonds by Greek investors is also considerable. The continuing shift of both foreign and Greek investors to the bond market reflects the cautiousness with which investors still view developments in the international capital markets. Finally, ''other investment'' recorded a small net outflow of 32 million euros.

At end-November 2002, Greece’s reserve assets came to 9.1 billion euro.

[23] Econ Deputy Minister to unveil regional policy aims

Athens, 21/01/2003 (ANA)

During his visit, Mr Pahtas will meet Mr Luciano Caveri, chairman of the Europarliament Commission on Regional Policy, Transport and Tourism, along with representatives of the Regional Commission of the EU.

The Greek minister is also scheduled to participate in an open debate along with EU Regional Commissioner Michel Barnier on "The future of Regional Policies in an Expanded Europe" and the "Future of Europe".

Mr Pahtas is expected to present the Greek EU presidency's aims on regional and cohesion policies. The Greek presidency plans to support actions promoting more efficient policies and means to enhance economic and social cohesion in the EU and simplifying procedures to implement development programs.

[24] Christodoulakis to chair euro group, ECOFIN meetings

Athens, 21/01/2003 (ANA)

The euro group meeting, including finance ministers from the 12 eurozone states, will discuss the agenda of the Greek EU presidency, global economic conditions with IMF's representative Michael Deppler and latest budget developments with the updated stability programs from France, Germany, Greece, Italy and Finland.

The euro group meeting will also discuss developments in a process to draft a European Convention.

The ECOFIN meeting on Tuesday will discuss the Greek EU presidency's main targets, a proposal to tax savings and an agreement with Switzerland and Third Countries. The meeting will also discuss proposals on a code of conduct for businesses, the issue of withholding tax and a plan to impose energy taxes.

[25] Greek stocks end to new five-year lows on Monday

Athens, 21/01/2003 (ANA)

The general index dropped 1.30 percent to end at 1,667.67 points, with turnover a low 54.2 million euros.

The IT, IT Solutions, Banks, Cement and Construction sectors suffered the heaviest percentage losses of the day (3.15 percent, 2.81 percent, 2.55 percent, 2.38 percent and 2.04 percent, respectively), while the Industrials and Metals sectors suffered the smallest losses (0.39 percent and 0.34 percent, respectively).

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks fell 1.31 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index ended 1.83 percent lower, the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index dropped 1.95 percent and the wider FTSE/ASE 140 index ended 1.47 percent down.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 253 to 54 with another 42 issues unchanged.

Derivatives Market Close: Turnover at 188.3 mln euros Monday

Equity Index Futures: