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US Dollar 1,090 1,065

[14] Athens Mayor and ATHOC chief have working meeting on Olympic Games

Athens, 05/09/2003 (ANA)

After the meeting, Angelopoulos praised the Athens Municipality on its good organization for the race, saying it showed the high level of municipality services.

Bakoyianni said Athens would continue cooperation with ATHOC with ever increasing intensity up until the Games and that the Municipality's goal was that Athens should gain from this sporting experience.

[15] Alleged N17 leader denies charges, doesn't condemn group

Athens, 05/09/2003 (ANA)

''The actions of the 'organization' constitute armed political struggle, which aimed at overturning the system. Such action did not develop in an angelic society, it can not be judged based on the criminal code,'' Giotopoulos said.

After he concluded his statement, during which he often consulted prepared notes, Giotopoulos stubbornly refused to answer any questions put to him by the prosecutor on the bench, claiming bias on the latter's part, while he refused to remain on the stand to answer questions put by those representing civil suits in the case - a stance also adopted earlier by Dimitris Koufodinas, a man described as the operations chief of the terror group that has admitted his involvement in N17.

Throughout his statement, Giotopoulos strenuously denied any involvement with N17 and claimed that his entanglement in the case was a well set up ''communications plan'' worked out by the British and the Americans. According to the 62-year-old man that went by the alias Michalis Economou for many years, this plan aimed to downgrade a specific political action and to entangle in the case of terrorism people that acted against the dictatorship in Greece (1967-1974) and remained at large.

Asked by presiding judge Mihalis Margaritis, shortly before the end of the court session, whether he would have the courage to admit his involvement if he were a member of the group, as Dimitris Koufodinas had done, Giotopoulos replied:

''I'm heading for a life sentence now, I'd get a life sentence then. What difference would it make? I'm also being called a coward.''

In his statement, Giotopoulos said the fact he had never been arrested during the years of the dictatorship, despite his intense activity as a member of the group LEA, had worked against him since he had not joined any political party after the restoration of democracy in 1974. ''Most of those that resisted (the dictatorship) gained fame following their arrest and conviction,'' he said.

Speaking of his use of an alias, he said that he changed his name to Economou in 1971 in France, when French authorities discovered a suitcase with LEA's archival material.

He added that he kept the alias after the restoration of democracy in Greece, claiming that he had developed social relations with that name, but also mainly because he was afraid that he would have been found and would have to face the consequences of his actions, as he had mainly acted against Americans.

Giotopoulos continued his statement claiming that his name was the only one, among those now accused of N17 actions with him, that had surfaced before and not immediately after the accidental explosion of a bomb in the hands of an N17 member, which led to the unraveling of the murderous terrorist group.

He underlined that his name had been known to the British and American secret services since 2000, adding that his person facilitated the communications plan of the British and Americans, since it covered three basic points.

He outlined the points saying that they included his lack of political cover, the fact that he ''disappeared'' after the restoration of democracy and the past of his late father - an internationally known Trotskyist.

Giotopoulos argued strongly that the communications plan for the arrest of N17 had been drafted by foreign specialists and pivoted on the existence of a leader.

''Any Greek would have knowledge of the Left and would know that this space is by its nature against any form of leadership. This plan was worked out by foreigners who have as their model the IRA and are targeting Anglo-Saxon public opinion, which cannot accept the capture of group without the arrest of a leader,'' he said.

Giotopoulos said police had tried to intimidate him into confessing to the early N17 hits, for which the statute of limitations had expired, in order to support this communications plan and cover up ''their utter ignorance about the creation of N17 and its early activities'', while they had also studiously cultivated the ''myth of a dominant personality within the group'' to support the leader scenario.

Giotopoulos stressed that no small group of the Left has leaders, while even the ''instructors'' are always on the front lines, adding that if that had happened with him there should be scores of witnesses to recognize him as participant in the actions of the terrorist group.

Responding to charges that because of his education was the leader of the terrorist group, he said that seven of his co-defendants had a better educational background than that of his.

Giotopoulos also claimed that he was intimidated by police, which, according to him, threatened to extradite him to the United States and made mention of the deposition of journalist Costas Bakatselos, who was and eye witness to the murder of publisher Nikos Momferatos, saying ''his case was enlightening on how a false witness is made, as well as how the court is ready to support its judicial opinion on this perjury''.

Apart from producing false witnesses, Giotopoulos also accused police of falsifying physical evidence. He said that all of his fingerprints that police claim to have found within N17 safehouses were on movable objects that could have been planted there, while their number was excessively large in comparison with the number of fingerprints found for Savvas Xiros and Dimitris Koufodinas, both of whom admitted having entered the safehouses in question.

Regarding the testimony of Savvas Xiros, he said this had been extracted by the use of mind-altering drugs, while in the case of Patroklos Tselentis, one of the accused that has admitted his membership in N17 and identified Giotopoulos as a member, he claimed that he had a deal with police.

In closing he claimed his innocence once again and said that the majority of the Greek people know this fact, as shown in an opinion poll where only 20 per cent believe him to be the leader of N17.

Giotopoulos' examination will continue on Friday, repeated a request that Giotopoulos be cross-examined simultaneously before the court with fellow-accused Tselentis and Sotiris Kondylis.

[16] European Parliament adopts report on fundamental rights in the EU

STRASBOURG, 05/09/2003 (ANA/O.Tsipira)

The report, which focuses on the conditions for arraignment and detention, the protection of personal data and the right to asylum, makes it clear that the human rights situation in the Union caused concerns in 2002, and that it took a turn for the worse in several cases.

With a special reference to Greece, the Euro-deputies ask that the Greek government abolish the criminal law provisions included in article 43b of legal decree No.2623/1953/A-268, which provide for a penalty of incarceration up to twelve months for women that violate a rule that bans the presence of women at the monastic community of Mt. Athos.

Moreover, they asked for the abolishment of legislation that penalizes religious proselytization and that followers of the Muslim faith are allowed to build mosques.

With regard to military duty, they asked that Greek law ruling on the duration of alternative, non-military duty, be revised.

They also asked that Greece signs the European Chart on regional and minority languages and adopt a more aggressive policy for the eradication of racist behavior.

Finally, they asked that Greece ratifies the framework Agreement of the Council of Europe applying to the protection of national minorities and amend national legislation that provides for different ages of consent for sexual relations based on sexual orientation.

Sylla's report was voted down by the parliamentary group of PASOK deputies.

The head of the PASOK deputies George Katiforis submitted to the Presidium of the European Parliament a written justification for the group's negative vote, which included the following:

''Mt. Athos enjoys a special status which was ensured through Common Declaration No.4 in the Accession Treaty signed between the EU and Greece.

The Annex to the Final Act of the Amsterdam Treaty includes Greece's statement which refers to the Common Declaration on Mt. Athos that was added to the Final Act of Greece's Accession Treaty''

Katiforis noted that this year's resolution on the situation of fundamental rights in the EU presented Greece as having made significant progress in the respect for religious freedom and the freedom to worship.

Moreover, he said Greece was praised for the development of independent services to monitor police activities and the operation of rehabilitation institutions, while the European Parliament welcomed the efforts made by the Greek authorities to put together a program for the incorporation of the Rom population, also recognizing the fact that many positive measures have been taken for gender equality.

''The report makes a series of recommendations to all EU member-states'', Alternate Foreign Minister Tassos Yiannitsis said.

''In reference to Greece, it notes the progress that has been achieved in a number of critical sectors'', he added.

''With regard to Mt. Athos, it should be emphasized that the area is governed by a status tied to a thousand-year-old history, traditions, values, symbols and religious faith for our country ... The position of the Greek government remains consistent in support of this reality. I also feel that the negative stance adopted by Greek euro-deputies on the entire issue expresses and underlines the serious historical, religious and cultural dimension of the issue and the need for respecting divergence within the framework of the complete safeguarding of human rights.''

Greek Euro-deputy Anna Karamanou (PASOK), who also heads the European Parliament's Committee on Women's Rights and Equal Opportunities, in a release, welcomed the recommendations of Sylla's report for the ''safeguarding and implemen-tation of democracy, equality and respect for women's rights in daily life and practice''.

[17] 'Dialogue of Civilizations' world forum begins on Rhodes

Athens, 05/09/2003 (ANA)

The forum on the cosmopolitan Dodecanese island is organized by the Center of National Glory of Russia and the St. Andrew the First Foundation, with dozens of top Russian officials and high-ranking representatives of all three major religions in that country and the Balkans Christianity, Judaism and Islam participating.

Delegates from Asia and the Middle East, including prominent participants from India and Israel, are also attending in the forum, officially backed by the heads of states in Russia, Lithuania, Iran and Uzbekistan.

[18] Report by PASOK Eurodeputy Zorba on European cultural industry adopted

Athens, 05/09/2003 (ANA)

The report refers to the current situation and to the problems faced by European creators of cultural products and makes specific proposals for measures, the implementation of which will be to the benefit of European culture and of European cultural industry, one of Europe's major industries from an economic point of view.

[19] 8th Inter-Christian Symposium being held in Ioannina

Athens, 05/09/2003 (ANA)

The symposium, on the theme ''Spiritualism and Christian Teachings in the East and the West,'' comes to a close on Friday evening.

Addressing the symposium, Ioannina Metropolitan Theoklitos noted that inter-Christian symposiums can contribute to the unity of the world and vindicate the mission of the Church.

[20] Seminar on cultural tourism to be held in Corfu

Athens, 05/09/2003 (ANA)

Scientists and culture and tourism authorities are expected to present their recommendations in the seminar, aimed to help the Balkan region to benefit from an increasing popularity of cultural travel and to promote the region's cultural identity.

[21] Greek writer Ilias Petropoulos dies of cancer

Athens, 05/09/2003 (ANA)

Petropoulos was born in Athens in 1928 and studied law at Thessaloniki University, while he settled permanently in Paris in 1973.

Among his works are "The Handbook of a Good Thief" published in 1979, which helped make him known to a wider audience, and several works of prose and poetry published in Greek and French between 1968 and 1993.

He was notable for his fondly irreverent and acute insight into Greeks and Greek society, which provided the themes for most of his work. His last novel, for example, was entitled the "The Turf-cutter" (O Kouradokoftis) and inspired by the craze for G-strings.

His books managed to earn Petropoulos four convictions for the "anarchist nature" of his writing from Greek courts, three of which were issued during the 1967-1974 dictatorship in Greece.

[22] Ecocinema 2003 to be held in Rhodes from 9 to 14 September

Athens, 05/09/2003 (ANA)

''This year's festival is taking place in the shadow of an unfavorable international political situation," Ecocinema head Elias Efhtymiopoulos said.

Organizers said that selection of this year's films was based on a broad thematic basis, proposing the development of an environ-mental consciousness as an element of daily life.

[23] U.S. extends restrictions on imports of Cyprus Byzantine materials

Athens, 05/09/2003 (ANA)

''The determination to extend this restriction for three years, the maximum allowable by law, was made after considering a favorable recommendation from the Cultural Property Advisory Committee,'' the press release added.

The initial emergency restriction went into effect in April 1999 and came as a response to a request of the Cyprus government, which sought protection of its cultural heritage, calling on Article 9 of the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property.

Cyprus was the first Mediterranean country to seek help from the U.S. in protecting its cultural heritage.

The Byzantine heritage of Cyprus is well known all over the world and many monuments on the island are included in the World Heritage List of protected monuments.

Objects made of metal, ivory, bone, textiles, stone, and frescos are included on the list of the prohibition and the creation dates for such materials range from the 4th century AD to the 15th century AD.

''The Department of State carries out decision-making responsibilities under the Convention on Cultural Property Implementation Act (of the U.S. Congress). The Act enables the United States to impose import restrictions on archaeological and ethnological material,'' the press release underlined.

Since the 1974 invasion and continued occupation of the northern part of the Republic of Cyprus by Turkish forces, many Byzantine monuments and religious artifacts and materials from the occupied regions were plundered and exported for profit, as the government has no control of the region.

[24] Macedonia-Thrace Union of Journalists to boycott all TIF inauguration events

Athens, 05/09/2003 (ANA)

''It is with great regret that we once more discover the government's contempt, and particularly that of Press Minister Christos Protopapas, toward the rule of law that should govern employer-employee relations," said the release which was signed by the Union's Board of Directors.

More specifically, ESHEM-TH said they protested ''the minister's refusal to revise the status of the (journalists) fixed term contracts, which, in place of regular employment contracts, concerns almost all the journalists that offer their services at ERT 3 and the regional ERT radio stations."

The Union's board said they would intensify their efforts until ''full satisfaction of the justified demand of the journalists that work at public radio and TV stations, for the implementation of the principles of labor law, as also foreseen by European Union regulations."

[25] Cyprus spokesman describes Erdogan's statements 'false'

NICOSIA, 05/09/2003 (CNA/ANA)

Invited to comment on Erdogan's allegations that the Greek Cypriot side did not respond to Ankara's substantial steps and that Turkey did not reject the Annan Plan, the spokesman said that Erdogan's statements are ''false and inaccurate.''

On Erdogan's allegations that Greece's Prime Minister Costas Simitis told him he is unwilling to discuss an issue which will not be solved and that they agreed to meet to talk without intervention by third parties, Chrysostomides said that he is not aware of such issue, nor about any meeting.

[26] Poos condemns signing of illegal 'deal' in occupied areas

BRUSSELS, 05/09/2003 (CNA/ANA)

His statement was made during Wednesday's meeting of the EU-Cyprus Joint Parliamentary Committee, in view of the 24th meeting of the committee that will be held in Luxembourg from September 29-30.

Poos condemned in the strongest manner the signing of the "framework agreement" and called on the European Commission and the Council to urgently condemn the "illegal and unacceptable" action.

He said the EU Council should react in the same way that the UN Security Council had reacted to the proclamation of the illegal regime in the north because the so-called ''framework agreement'' ''flagrantly violates community legislation."

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

[27] Cyprus spokesman criticizes Turkey's position on Loizidou case

NICOSIA, 05/09/2003 (CNA/ANA)

''In May President Papadopoulos expressed reservations and raised doubts whether Ankara's stated intention to pay damages was indeed a real commitment on the part of the Turkish government to comply with the European Court of Human Rights ruling in the Loizidou case,'' he said.

The spokesman was commenting on the position adopted Wednesday by Turkey's permanent representative at a Committee of Ministers meeting, who rejected the wording in a reply to a question addressed to the Committee. The reply committed Turkey to payment.

In June Turkey's permanent representative to the Council told a Committee meeting that his government had begun taking the necessary measures with a view to allow the Committee to ascertain at its meeting in early October the payment of just satisfaction to Loizidou.

The Cypriot and the Greek representatives at the June meeting sought certain clarifications from their Turkish colleague who assured them that his declaration did not contain any preconditions and explained that the damages will be paid by October this year.

''The President of the Republic had pointed out at the time that Turkey's intentions were not clear in the wording of a statement by the Turkish Representative before a Committee meeting in June. Three days later, Turkey's Foreign Minister set out preconditions and now it looks as if Turkey's intention is to seek a postponement of the issue so that it does not pay the damages,'' the spokesman added.

''What the other Permanent Representatives at the Council of Europe should do is to decide whether they condone Turkey's approach which is tantamount to ridiculing the Council,'' he added.

Concluding, he said that the Turkish delegation on Wednesday tried to gain time without committing itself to any previous statement it had made.

The European Court of Human Rights ordered Turkey to pay Titina Loizidou 600,000 dollars for loss of use of her property, 40,000 dollars for moral damages and about 260,000 dollars for costs, in addition to eight per cent interest as of 28 July 1998.

Loizidou's house is situated in the northern town of Kyrenia, occupied by Turkish troops since 1974.

[28] Italian EU presidency to investigate Rizokarpaso schools prohibition

BRUSSELS, 05/09/2003 (CNA/ANA)

The issue was raised during a plenary session of the European Parliament, which examined human rights.

Italy's Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs Roberto Antonione, replying to a question by Greek Coalition Euro MP Alecos Alavanos, informed the European Parliament that the Presidency will carry out an investigation and will take the necessary action.

Alavanos told the plenary that the occupation regime is prohibiting the opening of the Gymnasium at the occupied village of Rizokarpaso and only a few days ago they asked teachers who were to teach at the only elementary school in the occupied areas, to leave.

The Greek Euro MP called for the urgent intervention of the Council of Ministers so that the school and gymnasium can operate and the children and their families will not be forced to abandon Rizokarpaso.

The Italian Undersecretary took the stand to reply to the issue which Alavanos had raised, stressing that he would immediately look into it and if necessary inform the European Parliament.

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