Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 03-07-21

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greece terms Erdogan's statements on Cyprus 'provocative'

[02] Greek deputy FM Magriotis certain of developments for Cyprus solution ahead

[03] Leading political figures comment on proposed changes to electoral law

[04] Opinion poll: Elections should be held in October, respondents say

[05] Ecumenical patriarch ends his visit to the island of Limnos

[06] Development minister praises initiative for environment-friendly economic growth

[07] Patras university team wins 'Formula Student' competition

[08] Cretan vendetta claims Ukrainian woman as 'collateral damage'

[09] Australia wins world junior basketball championship in Thessaloniki

[10] Memorials and gatherings mark invasion anniversary

[11] Lefka passage considered unsafe by UNFICYP

[01] Greece terms Erdogan's statements on Cyprus 'provocative'

Athens on Sunday slammed statements made by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the anniversary of Turkey's invasion of northern Cyprus in 1974 as provocative and said that they went counter to the interests of both Turkey and the Turkish-Cypriot community.

''Calling the blood-steeped offensive a 'peacekeeping operation' is a provocation for all humanity, the international community and the United Nations, which has officially classed the Turkish operation as an invasion and occupation of Cyprus,'' government spokesman Christos Protopapas said in comments on Erdogan's message for the anniversary.

''These cannot be accepted. At the end of the day, these things turn against Turkey and against the Turkish-Cypriot community,'' he noted.

Turkey has to fully understand that its only road to Europe passes through the erasure of the 'green line' dividing the Cyprus Republic, Protopapas stressed.

''If they want a solution to the Cyprus problem let them begin dialogue based on the proposals of the United Nations, based on the proposals made by [UN Secretary General Kofi] Annan. This is the only way we can move forward,'' the Greek spokesman added.

Erdogan's message was also commented on by main opposition New Democracy spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos, who said the expectations created by the Turkish prime minister's election, had been dashed by his provocative statements.

In a message sent to Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash on Saturday, Erdogan had termed the invasion a ''peacekeeping ope-ration'' that had ''helped Turkish-Cypriots face the future in safety and allowed the two nations'' - as he termed the two communities on the island - ''to coexist in peace and security''.

At another point, he also referred to two ''states'' on Cyprus and said that Turkey would continue to guarantee ''continued peace, stability and calm on the island''.

He said efforts for a solution to the Cyprus problem should be based on the ''fact'' that there were ''two separate nations'', two ''different republics'' and two ''different states'' on the island.

The internationally-recognized government of the Cyprus Republic wants a solution based on a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation within the framework a single state.

The self-styled ''Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus'' is recognized only by Turkey.

[02] Greek deputy FM Magriotis certain of developments for Cyprus solution ahead

NICOSIA 21/7/2003 (ANA - G. Leonidas)

He said that Cyprus' EU accession, "the fruit of a long-term effort and common initiatives by Greece and Cyprus", was the first step for the future security of the island republic, "the first and decisive step to pave the way for a just, viable and functional solution" to the Cyprus problem.

Speaking after a memorial service for those who died during the Turkish invasion of Cyprus on July 20, 1974, Magriotis said his presence at the memorial reflected the total support of the Greek government and people for the struggle of the Cypriots and Cyprus for reunification of the island and for a just and viable solution to its political problem.

Asked to comment on reports that the UN intended to begin in September an effort for a new round of negotiations between the two sides on Cyprus, in view of Cyprus' formal accession to the EU on May 1, 2004, Magriotis said that the Greek side had stated its preparedness to discuss a Cyprus solution on the basis of UN secretary general Kofi Annan's draft, and on the basis of the new status quo created by Cyprus membership in the European Union.

He said that the EU acquis communautaire provided solutions that benefited both the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities on the island, the reunification of the island, and also a "common, peaceful future with stability, security and prosperity for all the Cypriots".

Asked if there were any guarantees from the Turkish side, Magriotis said the time had come for Ankara to overcome its old ideologies and took more decisively and boldly at its own future, too.

He said that Turkey knew very well that all it had maintained to date, namely the "theory of faits accomplis" on Cyprus, do not hold true.

Given that Turkey's own future in the EU would be determined in December 2004, Magriotis continued, "it is in Ankara's interest to proceed bravely and discuss, on the basis of the Annan plan, for a just and viable solution to the Cyprus issue". Other-wise, he warned, Turkey would be "undermining its own future as well".

Cyprus solution linked to anti-imperialist struggle, KKE says:

In a message marking the 29th anniversary since the invasion of northern Cyprus by Turkish occupation troops, the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) on Sunday stressed that the Cyprus problem remained unsolved and trapped ''between the mill-stones of the imperialist new world order''.

Reiterating that the Cyprus problem was an international problem of the invasion and occupation of part of an independent, sovereign state and member of the United Nations, the party stressed that a just and viable solution to the Cyprus problem could only exist through the implementation of the decisions of the UN Security Council and on the basis of an independent, non-aligned federal bi-communal, bi-zonal and demilitarized Cyprus that would guarantee a state with a single sovereignty, nationality, and international identity.

A just and viable solution to the Cyprus problem "is inextricably linked with the generalized anti-imperialist struggle of the peoples of the region", KKE added.

The party said this struggle had to further intensify after the US-British invasion and occupation of Iraq in order to counteract the overall plan that the US wished to impose on the entire region through the ''road map'' for settling the Palestinian problem, the announcement concluded.

[03] Leading political figures comment on proposed changes to electoral law

Reactions continued on the outline of proposed changes to the electoral law unveiled by Prime Minister Costas Simitis last week, with political party leaders and high-ranking officials out-lining their views in interviews in the Sunday newspapers.

Foreign minister George Papandreou, in an interview with the Sunday issue of To Vima, said that PASOK would have no objection to a commitment that, in the event that intermediate elections arose in 2005, the new electoral system would not be applied then but would enter into effect as of the following elections.

He also explained that the proposals for changes to the electoral system were not linked with the next elections, but with the formulation of the political terms for the coming decade at least, through modernization of the political system and rationalization of the electoral process, the renewal of the country's political life, putting forward the need for greater decentralization through strengthening the role of the periphery, the new forms of democracy, and a more efficient management.

On other issues, he expressed hope that Costas Laliotis would remain a ''front-line'' cadre of PASOK, stressed that his relations with Simitis were characterized by straightforwardness, transparency and frankness, and developed and were founded on principles, and on common perceptions on the future and strengthening the country's international position.

Finally, Papandreou opined that after May 2004 there would be developments on the side of Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot regime enabling talks to begin again between the two communities within the framework of the UN and on the basis of the revised Annan plan. He also expressed hope that before end-2004 there would be concrete results concerning the resolution of the difference on delimitation of the Aegean continental shelf.

Defense minister Yannos Papantoniou, in an interview with the Sunday issue of Kathimerini, said that PASOK was willing to introduce a provision to the electoral law that it would enter into effect after the first half of 2005, so that there would be complete certainty that elections would be held normally at the end of the next four-year term.

He also listed PASOK's ''trump cards'' as being the economy, the upgrading of the country's international position, and the efforts currently underway for reform of the institutions in the direction of transparency, streamlining and modernization.

Main opposition New Democracy (ND) parliamentary spokes-man Prokopis Pavlopoulos, in an interview with the Sunday edition of Ethnos, said that the premier's proposal that the new electoral law enter into effect after 2005 ran counter to the recently amended Constitution, and reiterated that ND would not legitimize the dialogue.

He further ruled out that ND would make any move that would lead the country to early general elections in the event that the new electoral law was tabled for voting in parliament, although he opined that the prime minister would be obliged to call early elections in the fall.

In a similar interview in the Sunday edition of Kathimerini, ND parliamentary group secretary general Dimitris Sioufas attributed ND's refusal to participate in the discussion on the electoral law as a matter of ''principles and political ethos'', and wondered how it was possible that today, a parliament that had yet to be elected should make commitments.

He listed PASOK's trump cards as being the media, money and the State, and ND's trump cards as being many more capable cadres, its plan, program and vision for the Greece of 2010, and its commitment to form a government of all the Greeks.

Coalition of the Left and Progress (SYN) leader Nikos Constantopoulos said in an interview with the Sunday edition of Eleftheros Typos that his party rejected the government's proposals on the electoral law across the board.

He criticized the proposal as "maintaining the counterfeit self-sufficiency of the reinforced proportional system", creating two types of parliamentarians, maintaining the stealing of votes from the smaller parties, limiting the ideological and program-oriented argumentation, and reinforcing the lobbies, the star system and the non-institutional centers.

Communist Party of Greece (KKE) leader Aleka Papariga, also in an interview with the Sunday edition of Eleftheros Typos, said her party remained firm in its demand for the establishment of a simple proportional electoral system, and charged that the draft law introduced by PASOK aimed at reinforcing the two-party system.

She said that the draft law also maintained the "element of blackmail and inequality" by maintaining the 3 percent thresh-hold (for acquiring a seat in parliament) and of preserving the ability of a party, without a majority vote, to set up a government with a parliamentary majority based on seats stolen from the smaller parties.

Democratic Social Movement (DHKKI) leader Dimitris Tsovolas, in an interview with the Sunday edition of Eleftheros Typos, disagreed with the rationale of the reinforced proportional system that he said was maintained in the draft electoral law because that system is "undemocratic and politically dishonest, benefits the two-arty system, and alters the desire of the electoral body".

He said, however, that his party would take part in the dialogue on the proposed electoral law because that constituted a "fundamental characteristic of democracy" and so that he could put forward the demand for a genuine simple proportional representation electoral system.

[04] Opinion poll: Elections should be held in October, respondents say

Early general elections should be called for October, according to 49.3 percent of respondents in an opinion poll conducted by RASS and appearing in Sunday's edition of Eleftherotypia news-paper.

According to the poll results, 49.3 percent of respondents -- of which 35.1 percent said they were supporters of the ruling PASOK party -- believed that elections should be held in October, while 42.6 percent said they believed elections should take place at the end of the current four-year term.

Also according to the poll, which was conducted from 11 to 16 July, 34.6 percent believed that a change of the electoral system would contribute to improving the government's image.

In addition, 76.8 percent of those polled believed that main opposition New Democracy party should take part in the dialogue on the electoral law, of which 64.6 percent said they were ND supporters.

A 57 percent majority of respondents, of which 70.5 percent said they were PASOK supporters, further believed that there were still margins for PASOK to win the elections.

Regarding the recent government reshuffle, 41 percent of responds believed it did not improve the government's image, while 34 percent believed that it harmed the government's image.

Finally, 39.6 percent of the respondents believed that PASOK, with current party leader and prime minister Costas Simitis as its leader, had the best prospects in elections, while 31.7 percent felt that PASOK would have the best prospects with George Papandreou (the present foreign minister) at the party helm.

PASOK secretary meets party officials in Thrace, Macedonia Athens 21/7/2003

Continuing his tour of regional and prefectural party committees, PASOK Central Committee Secretary Mihalis Chrysohoidis held a meeting in Komotini with local party officials of Thrace and Eastern Macedonia.

Also present at the Friday night meeting were Deputy Finance Minister Apostolos Fotiadis, Deputy Environment Minister Yiannis Tsaklidis and Eastern Macedonia-Thrace General Secretary Aris Papadopoulos.

''We are building the PASOK of the new age methodically and according to plan, in the same way that we are building a strong Greece. PASOK remains the most trustworthy political force in the country and this can be seen from the results that we have presented to the Greek people up until this time,'' he said in statements to the closed meeting.

Referring to the proposals for a new electoral law, Chrysohoidis said this was a progressive proposal that answered the demands of several decades.

He criticized New Democracy for refusing to discuss the proposal, saying that this was indicative of how that party thought.

''I want to stress that we are the ones that will create the conditions and terms of our course from here on. And this course will be one of victory,'' he added.

PASOK secretary outlines his vision for 'new PASOK' in 'Ta Nea':

Ruling PASOK's newly-elected Central Committee Secretary Mihalis Chrysohoidis on Saturday outlined his personal vision for the "new age of PASOK" in an interview published by the Greek daily "Ta Nea".

According to Chrysohoidis, PASOK planned its policies on a "broad alliance of the middle and working classes," while its central message was progressive social change.

He said the party was open to the new international state of affairs, with political support and alliances that promoted Greeces interests, while also being open to modern movements that pointed out the negative consequences of globalization.

PASOK also accepted the multicultural nature of modern Greece and sought social co-existence with immigrants, he added.

Regarding the next elections, the party secretary said PASOK would not wage the battle with "defeatist behaviors" but would allow its "members and friends" to join its for a fourth consecutive election victory through its behavior and initiatives.

Asked about the stance of his predecessor Costas Laliotis, Chrysohoidis said that Laliotis had never divided PASOK and would not do this now, stressing that the party's unity would not be judged on this level but on its ability to apprehend changes and stay in touch with society.

Regarding the new composition of the party's Executive Bureau, he said this reflected the need for an autonomous presence and action by PASOK, which should not be identified with government activity.

[05] Ecumenical patriarch ends his visit to the island of Limnos

Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos ended his visit to the island of Limnos on Sunday by heading the morning mass at the Aghia Triada Metropolitan Church in Myrina and the christening of the daughter of Aegean Minister Nikos Sifounakis and businesswoman Maris Daskalantonaki in the afternoon.

During his sermon at Myrina, the patriarch referred to the anguish felt by the "Church of Constantinople" at what he called attempts by members of the Orthodox faith to "undermine the institutions, foundations and roots of existence of us, the remaining few".

In a symbolic move on Saturday, meanwhile, Vartholomeos had visited the village of Ai Strati, where he carried out a blessing for "all our brothers on this island that died in exile, bitterness or tribulation".

After the service, he planted an olive tree in the village square as a symbol of peaceful coexistence and cooperation by humanity.

Also present at Sunday's christening service were Interior Minister Costas Skandalidis and Press and Media Minister Christos Protopapas.

[06] Development minister praises initiative for environment-friendly economic growth

Commenting on the results of an informal meeting of European Union energy, development and environment ministers held in Florence, Greek Development Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos on Sunday praised the Italian EU presidency for calling a meeting to discuss ways of achieving 'environmentally-friendly' economic growth.

He said that Greece was working alongside its EU partners to develop environmental policies that would disengage high rates of economic and social growth from the added environmental

burden and falling quality of life that was normally associated with them.

He said the talks had focused on specific proposals for using renewable energy sources, such as wind power, solar power, biomass and hydrogen cells, as well as new mechanisms like trading in pollution that aimed to make polluters pay the cost of their emissions.

[07] Patras university team wins 'Formula Student' competition

A racing-car design developed by a team of students from the Patras University mechanical and aircraft engineering department won first place in the Formula Student exhibition held each year in Leicester, Britain.

Contestants have to design and build a one-seated amateur racing car simulating real market conditions. They are asked to work as though they have been commissioned to develop an original design by a car manufacturer for testing with a view to production.

The aim is to build an amateur racing car destined for mass production, with high performance acceleration, brakes and driving behavior that is also low-cost, easy to maintain and reliable and attractive to buyers due to its design features and easily available spare parts. The assumption is that the manufacturer will produce up to 1,000 units a year at a cost of less than 21,000 euros per car.

The Greek design team was set up in 2000 under the supervision of postgraduate research student Panagiotis Stavropoulos, gaining fourth place in its first attempt in 2002.

This year, the Greek design also won the first prize for design innovations from the British Institute of Mechanical Engineers.

[08] Cretan vendetta claims Ukrainian woman as 'collateral damage'

A 39-year-old Ukrainian woman identified as Ina Tarantai was killed at midnight on Friday in Hania, the apparent victim of a bloody vendetta between two branches of a Cretan family.

According to the coroner, the unlucky woman was shot five times and had taken bullets in the chest, neck and limbs.

Police believe, however, that all the shots were intended for the man she was living with, 38-year-old Iosif Athitakis, while the primary suspect is the man's cousin, Mihail Athitakis, aged 26.

Iosif Athitakis was also shot five times in his vital organs, and is now in critical condition in hospital.

The culprit shot at the couple as they were returning home late at night on a motorbike, letting off 13 rounds with a 7.65-calibre gun. The woman fell dead on the spot but Iosif Athitakis retained consciousness long enough to name his cousin as the shooter on his way to hospital.

Iosif Athitakis is the son of Ioannis Athitakis, who on March 7 shot and killed his nephew Panagiotis, brother of the alleged killer, after a party.

Police later found Mihail Athitakis at home asleep and arrested him on suspicion of murder, though the suspect has presented an alibi. He is to be led before a public prosecutor on Sunday.

[09] Australia wins world junior basketball championship in Thessaloniki

Australia won the World Junior Basketball Championship in Thessaloniki on Sunday, beating opponents Lithuania by 126 points to 92 points.

Greece came in third, followed by Croatia and the United States.

[10] Memorials and gatherings mark invasion anniversary

NICOSIA 21/7/2003 (CNA/ANA)

Air-raid sirens wailed across the island at dawn remembering the morning when Turkish troops landed first, at the now occupied town of Kyrenia, while flags flew half-mast in the free areas of the Republic. Thousands of Greek Cypriots flocked to the churches where memorial services were held for those who fell and prayers were offered for the people still missing.

The main ceremonies were held in Nicosia at the Church of Faneromeni, in the presence of President Tassos Papadopoulos and the island's political and church leadership.

In his statements, President Papadopoulos said ''we are deter-mined to try, until the end, in a peaceful manner and through negotiations, to end the invasion and occupation. The people should be brave, patient and work hard'', he added.

Invited to comment on statements by the Commander of the Turkish Ground forces where he claimed that Turkey is monitoring the increase of the defense systems in the government-controlled areas of Cyprus, Papadopoulos replied, ''Turkey should be the last one to make such allegations''.

He said that since he has undertaken the presidency of the Republic last February, ''the government has ordered no weapons system''.

Speaking at the memorial service, Minister of Defense, Kyriacos Mavronicolas assured the Greek Cypriot side will continue with a positive and constructive manner to encourage the resumption of the talks under the UN auspices.

He added that Turkey should understand that the occupation of a European country cannot be accepted and that its European future lies with the demolition of the occupation wall in Cyprus.

Greek deputy Foreign Minister Ioannis Magriotis, who represented Greece at the events, assured that by following the stable course mapped out by the island's accession to the EU, ''we will have better prospects for solving the Cyprus problem''.

He also said that Cyprus' accession to the EU, ''is the fruit of a long-term effort and common initiatives and unity between Greece and Cyprus and was the first step to achieve the island's security in the future''.

[11] Lefka passage considered unsafe by UNFICYP

NICOSIA 21/7/2003 (CNA/ANA)

Asked if there is a decision by the UN on the opening of the passage at Lefka, UNFICYP Spokesman Brian Kelly said on Saturday the "whole matter at the moment is under review and discussion so no decisions have been made".

He told CNA that "from the UN point of view the primary consideration at any time involving the movement of civilians and troops is to facilitate a safe passage".

Kelly said that "the area, initially proposed for Lefka was considered by us to be unsuitable" not only because of the fact that there are land mines in the area "but also because the terrain itself was not in our view, and the road condition was not what we consider to be a safe passage for more traffic".

Obviously, he said, "the presence of mine fields in the area is also a consideration", stressing that at some points "the road is very narrow and the presence of a minefield means that the road cannot be widened".

Asked if there are any discussions underway with both sides to open new passages Kelly said UNFICYP is "always happy to facilitate freedom of movement on the island and we are open to any suggestions from either side in this regard".

The crossings began in late April when the illegal Turkish Cypriot regime announced a partial lifting of restrictions on free movement it had imposed in 1974 after the Turkish invasion.

The Cyprus government has since repeatedly stressed that these crossings do not constitute a solution of the political problem and reiterated its wish to resume negotiations under UN auspices with a view at reaching a settlement.

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