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[13] IOC technocrats' inspection focuses on test events

International Olympic Committee (IOC) technocrats in concluding their inspections on Thursday, less than one month ahead of the test events in August, seemed overall satisfied, however with some reservations, over progress with Olympic preparations in Athens.

In contrast with past inspections, the focus of the inspectors' reservations shifted from the main events to concerns over the preparedness of facilities for the test events in early 2004, which some feel was an indication of the high degree of progress made with the Olympic projects.

The IOC inspectors were happy with the projects carried out on the venues at the coastal areas of Phaliro and Aghios Kosmas, slated to host the sailing events, but expressed reservations whether the Karaiskakis soccer stadium, near the port of Piraeus, would be ready in time for the Events.

They attested to significant progress made with the two closed fields at the site of the former Hellenikon airport, but expressed some reservations whether they would be ready for the test events in January 2004, also having reservations about the ''canoe-cayak'' and ''slalom'' venues being ready in time for the test events in February 2004.

They were reportedly happy about the rate of progress with the Rowing Centre at Schinias, an area near the ancient site of the Battle of Marathon, as well as the Goudi Olympic Complex slated to host the pentathlon and badminton events, the Press Village in Marousi north of Athens, the bicycle race-track, the Olympic overlays - the refitting of buildings to meet Olympic Games standards - and the surrounding area of the Main Olympic Stadium (OAKA), but expressed reservations whether the re-furbishing projects for OAKA (based on plans by Spanish architect Santiago Kalatrava) would be ready on time due to tight deadlines.

They also expressed reservations whether the Olympic Swimming Venue would be ready in time for the test events in April 2004.

The IOC technocrats found that rapid progress had been made with the project of the Suburban Railroad and they requested more information regarding operation and capacity.

They had no questions over the projects involving the Athens Attiko Metro or the Electric Railroad Company (HSAP), but had reservations about the Tram being ready on time. Finally, they were satisfied with the overall road network project.

[14] Athens municipality to get 180-mil-euro loan in view of the Olympic Games

The Athens municipality council on Thursday approved a proposal put forward by Mayor Dora Bakoyianni for getting a 180-million-euro loan toward the municipality's investment program in view of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games.

The money from the loan will be used for social activity programs, including new child care centers, disabled accessibility projects and new areas of green.

[15] Seven sports test events to take place at Olympic Games installations in August

Seven sports test events, a contractual obligation for the 2004 Athens Olympic Games Organizing Committee (ATHOC), will be taking place between August 6-28.

The test events are a unique opportunity for every Organizing Committee to try its plans, systems and human potential and note mistakes or omissions, which will be analyzed and avoided during the Olympic Games.

A total of 40 test events have been scheduled for the Athens Olympic Games, whose preparation has begun since September 2002, in cooperation with international federations.

The test events will take place at Olympic Games installations with the fullest possible composition of Installations Groups and in accordance with the Olympic Games Administration Formation.

[16] Ecumenical patriarch officiates at church service, plants olive tree on Lemnos

Visiting Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos officiated at a service at Agia Marina Cathedral at Nea Koutali, in the north Aegean island of Lemnos, on Thursday, during the second day of his visit to the island.

Vartholomeos, was addressed by the Metropolitan of Lemnos Ierotheos during the church service, planted an olive tree at Nea Koutali with earth he brought to the island from Koutali.

He spoke once again of the need for peace and called on the inhabitants of the village to go with him to Koutali next summer and hold a service out in the open there since there are no churches any more.

The patriarch will be visiting the island of Agios Efstratios on Saturday and will be ending his five-day visit to Lemnos on Sunday.

[17] Roma gypsies making run at border turned back by police

SKOPJE 18/07/03 (ANA - N. Fragopoulos)

The Roma refugees, who went to FYROM in 1999 fleeing the NATO bombings and conflict on the ground in Kosovo, have for the past two months been staying at an improvised camp at Medzitlija that was shut down due to sanitation concerns.

They have so far rejected all proposals presented to them for a solution to their residence issue and demand that they pass into Greece and from there to other countries of the European Union.

[18] Evidence against Giotopoulos fabricated, N17 trial witness asserts

The alleged leader of ''November 17'' Alexandros Giotopoulos should be acquitted since the evidence against him was fabricated and had been chosen to ''fit'' a frame-up against him, a defense witness asserted at the ongoing trial of 19 suspected N17 terrorists on Thursday.

Standing before the Three-Member Criminal Appeals Court to continue testimony he had begun the day before, witness Antonis Skordilis said the existence of evidence did not mean there was no frame-up, because such a thing would have been stupid.

He went on to claim, however, that this evidence was fake.

On Wednesday, Skordilis had told the court that he had no personal acquaintance with Giotopoulos but had studied the case in depth.

Also appearing as a defense witness for Giotopoulos was the writer-director Viktor Anagnostopoulos, who said they had met when they were both in the anti-junta resistance movement ''29 May'' and later the Popular Revolutionary Resistance (LEA).

The witness said both these groups were fiercely resistant to the single leader model and that their action was chiefly a symbolic way to highlight the people's resistance to the junta.

The witness also noted that the CIA and British intelligence service had somehow come across the name Giotopoulos two years before N17 was dismantled, while in April 2002 he had received a visit from a British agent who claimed that Giotopoulos was leader of N17 and that Anagnostopoulos himself was on the list of suspects.

He claimed that Giotopoulos had been framed, noting that all the evidence against the accused dated from after his arrest and none from before.

Last on the stand was Giotopoulos' partner Marie-Therese Peynaud, who said she had met him during a demonstration in Paris in 1973 as Mihalis or Michel, not finding out his real name until after he was arrested.

According to Peynaud, it was logical for her partner to change his name given his dynamic resistance to the junta, the outstanding court martial sentence against him and the fact that French authorities were looking for him after they found material belonging to one of the organizations he had belonged to.

He had simply chosen to keep the new name after the fall of the dictatorship, she added.

''I do not say democracy because I do not believe there has been a return to democracy,'' she told the court.

She also claimed to feel affinity for the analysis, ideology and policy of N17, saying she could not condemn ''any group that has some ideal''.

She added that special public prosecutor for terrorist issues Ioannis Diotis had pressured her to ''cooperate with the authorities'' by claiming there was evidence that she was the woman sought in connection with in N17.

[19] Former Greek royals plan christening at Porto Heli resort

The grand-daughter of former Greek monarch Constantine is to be christened in a ceremony taking place at the Pantanassa Monastery near the coastal resort of Porto Heli in Greece on July 19, Constantine's London office announced on Thursday.

The baby is to be named Anna-Maria after her grandmother.

According to her mother Alexia, daughter of the ex-royal, and her father Carlos Morales Quintana, she is to be christened within the Greek Orthodox Church and among her seven god-parents will be her uncle Pavlos on her mother's side and her uncle Don Alejandro Morales Quintana on her father's side.

[20] Papadopoulos: G/C and T/C can live together in bicommunal federation

NICOSIA 18/07/03 (CNA/ANA)

Addressing a rally to condemn the 1974 military coup against the democratically-elected President of Cyprus and the Turkish invasion, which followed five days later, which resulted in the illegal occupation of 37 percent of the Republic's territory and its de facto division, Papadopoulos said the rally is not only for Greek Cypriots but also for Turkish Cypriots "because we want to state the common feelings of the entire people of Cyprus, because Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, for 29 years now, are the tragic victims of the invasion and occupation".

Referring to the UN Secretary General's plan, President Papadopoulos clarified that "we remain ready and willing, without conditions and preconditions, to respond to any invitation by the UN Secretary-General to resume bicommunal negotiations for an overall settlement of the Cyprus problem, within the framework of the Annan plan, which undoubtedly will have to be amended, taking into consideration the accession of the Republic of Cyprus in the EU and the collapse of the myth that Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots cannot live together".

He added "we cannot find a solution to the Cyprus alone by accepting the Annan Plan as it is. The key to a solution is with the Turkish side. This side, the guilty side, has the sole responsibility for both the crime against Cyprus and for the numerous collapse of efforts to find a solution to the Cyprus problem", Papadopoulos said.

"Our fundamental aim is before May 2004 (when Cyprus will enter the EU) to secure a viable and functional solution to the Cyprus problem so that a reunited Cyprus can enter the EU", the president pledged.

He added that "good neighborly measures" do not constitute a solution to the Cyprus problem, "neither are a step towards a solution" and pointed out that "the partial lifting of the signs of illegality imposed by the Turkish invasion do not constitute an 'initiative' by the Turkish side".

He also said that the acceptance of the Annan plan as it is does not constitute an initiative.

"The Annan plan contains provisions for extended periods concerning the return of refugees and the maximum number of displaced persons who will be granted the right to return. The Annan plan can be amended and improved, especially in view of Cyprus' accession to the EU, so that it can become functional and viable", the president added.

He further said "if the plan is accepted as it is, and its functionality and viability are not improved, then there is a danger that those who reject it and consider it 'dead' will make the division permanent, which is the result of the invasion and occupation".

President Papadopoulos condemned the coup of July 1974 , noting it "was a well prepared national crime with Cyprus as its victim, bringing the national disaster which led to the continued occupation and cost the lives of the heroic children of Cyprus, making one third of its people refugees in their own country".

He made special praise to the displaced persons, the missing persons and their families, and the enclaved.

On the rally, the president said "it is not a rally only for Greek Cypriots, it is a rally for our Turkish Cypriot compatriots, because with today's rally we want to state the common feelings of the entire people of Cyprus, because Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots for 29 years now are the tragic victims of the invasion and occupation".

"We believe that in a reunited Cyprus, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots can live together again, in peace, understanding and equally share the common and increased welfare", he added.

The rally was attended by around seven thousand people who chanted "no again to the events of 1974", demanded the return of the refugees, withdrawal of Turkish troops and settlers, the ascertainment of the fate of the missing and the reunification of Cyprus within a European solution.

They also held placards, which read "European solution for a European Cyprus", "Human rights for all", "Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots together against the occupation".

Participating were AKEL, Democratic Party, Socialdemocrats Movement EDEK, New Horizons, United Democrats, the Struggling Democratic Movement (ADIK), the Environ-mentalists-Ecologists Movement, the Eurodemocratic Renewal Party and the Movement to Restructure the Centre.

Also attending the rally where members of the Cabinet, Greece's Ambassador to Cyprus Christos Panagopoulos, Church representatives, Nicosia Mayor Michalakis Zambelas, representatives of refugee organizations, families of the missing and those who fell during the invasion and representatives of youth organizations.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 percent of the island's territory.

[21] Government says Denktash's proposal changes nothing

NICOSIA 18/07/03 (CNA/ANA)

The spokesman said that the Turkish side is expected to lift the occupation of the island's northern third and allow the rightful inhabitants to return, in compliance with UN resolutions.

Denktash's statements were ''unreservedly'' denounced by House of Representatives President Demetris Christofias, who said the Turkish Cypriot leader was trying ''to cheat not only his own community but also the international community''.

''I think that these games of Denktash are well-known to the international community and will not pass'', Christofias added.

Chrysostomides said ''it appears that Denktash's interest is belated.

He is suddenly interested in not letting the town become deserted and forgets that the Turkish occupation for 29 years now has imposed the desertion of the town''.

He added that the town of Famagusta is under the control of Turkish troops and that UN resolutions call for the resettling of the town by its rightful inhabitants.

''This is not the content of Denktash's proposals. In previous stages, he submitted a proposal for Greek Cypriots to resettle Famagusta under Turkish Cypriot administration, something which was discussed, and the reply was that no one returns under Turkish Cypriot administration'', he added.

The UN said in resolution 550 of 1984 that it considers any attempt to ''settle any part of Varosha (Famagusta) by people other than its inhabitants as inadmissible and calls for the transfer of this area to the administration of the UN.''

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.

[22] Spokesman says position on Annan plan unchanged

NICOSIA 18/07/03 (CNA/ANA)

Chrysostomides was invited to explain a reference by President Papadopoulos in a recent speech that the acceptance of the plan presented to the two sides in Cyprus by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan for a settlement of the political problem was not an initiative but instead the acceptance of the invasion and occupation of the island's northern third.

The spokesman said President Papadopoulos sent this message to all those who believe that there should be an initiative on behalf of the Greek Cypriot side to accept the Annan plan as it is.

He explained that President Papadopoulos said the Annan plan could not be accepted as it is, mainly because its acceptance would ''reduce our negotiating potential and give negotiating cards to Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash''.

Chrysostomides reiterated that the National Council had accepted the plan as a basis for negotiations, with a view to begin negotiations without any preconditions, in order to improve the plan so that it would respond to the acquis communautaire to the highest possible degree.

Commenting on the same issue, House of Representatives President Demetris Christofias said the Greek Cypriot side was ''unconditionally ready to participate in talks on the Annan plan and pursue changes that would make the plan functional and able to be implemented''.

The position of the President of the Republic and the National Council is that ''the Annan plan, with a decision of the National Council, is a basis for discussions and we are ready, whenever the UN Secretary General requests so and without any terms, to participate in talks to reach a settlement of the Cyprus problem'', Christofias added.

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