Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 03-09-17

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM and Cyprus president discuss possible resumption of Cyprus negotiations

[02] ND leader and Cyprus president discuss developments in Cyprus negotiations

[03] Visiting Cyprus president meets with parliament president negotiations

[04] Weston says US wants restart of Cyprus talks as soon as possible

[05] FM Papandreou to meet Rice, Powell on Wednesday negotiations

[06] Main opposition leader asks ND to prepare for elections negotiations

[07] Gov't challenges ND to match its 'transparency offensive' negotiations

[08] 14th round of Greek-Turkish exploratory talks on Wednesday negotiations

[09] Alternate FM does not rule out possibility of military force being sent to Iraq negotiations

[10] PM and PASOK secretary finalize party's program until end of year negotiations

[11] President Stephanopoulos receives foreign ambassadors' credentials negotiations

[12] Greek investment funds' assets up 5.34 pct in 2003, report negotiations

[13] Greek industrial production up 1.9 pct in July, yr/yr negotiations

[14] Gov't: offer to teachers the 'best possible' given economic constraints negotiations

[15] Primary school teachers to join striking colleagues on Oct. 6 negotiations

[16] Greece, Turkey due to sign natgas deal negotiations

[17] Intralot launches e-gaming company in Turkey negotiations

[18] Delegation of entrepreneurs and state officials from Brazil visit Greece negotiations

[19] Street market unions pledge price freezing negotiations

[20] Central bank to up growth forecast, governor says negotiations

[21] Taxis begin 48-hour strike on Wednesday negotiations

[22] Greek stocks continue moving lower on Tuesday negotiations

[23] One N. Greece village remembers new acting Swedish FM 'as one of its own' negotiations

[24] Attorney claims Tselentis was shooter in Matis murder by N17 negotiations

[25] Map exhibition focusing on Cyprus at Benaki Museum negotiations

[26] Major hashish seizure reported negotiations

[27] UN Chief expresses regret over failure to reach Cyprus settlement

[28] Bicommunal groups organize events to bring communities closer

[01] PM and Cyprus president discuss possible resumption of Cyprus negotiations

Athens, 17/09/2003 (ANA)

In a statement, Simitis referred to the upcoming UN General Assembly and talks Papadopoulos will have in New York with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and reiterated the adherence of Greece and Cyprus to the UN process.

''We are negative towards any effort to achieve a solution outside the framework of the UN,'' the prime minister said, adding that ''achieving a just, viable and workable solution based on UN resolutions and the acquis communautaire remains our target.''

Simitis stressed the need for maintaining the readiness of both the Greek and Greek Cypriot sides for an immediate resumption of talks when this will be possible on the basis of the UN secretary general's existing plan.

PM and Cyprus president discuss possible resumption of Cyprus negotiations

The prime minister said the intransigence of Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash is continuing whom, as he stressed, Ankara is continuing to fully support.

'''Elections' to take place in occupied territory (in Cyprus) on December 10 will clarify the scene,'' Simitis further said, adding that ''these 'elections' are constitutionally illegal.''

Replying to a questioner, the prime minister said the Greek and Greek Cypriot sides ''do not invest'' in the outcome of these 'elections' but continue to work on the basis of present-day factors, meaning the negative and intransigent position of the Turkish Cypriot and Turkish sides.

On the question of Cyprus' European course, Simitis said everything is developing smoothly and that ''Cyprus will be able to function unimpeded as a member-state of the European Union on May 1, 2004, when the accession process will be formally completed.''

The prime minister expressed satisfaction over the invitation extended by President Kostis Stephanopoulos to Papadopoulos to visit Greece officially during the autumn.

On his part, Papadopoulos said his meeting with Simitis was part of regular contacts between the two governments for better coordinating actions and the appropriate assessment of developments.

The Cyprus president further spoke of a ''positive response by other factors related as well to a solution to the Cyprus issue abroad'' to the effort of Nicosia and Athens for a solution.

Replying to a question on the presence of international observers at the 'elections' in Turkish-occupied northern Cyprus, Papadopoulos said particular importance must not be attached to the fact since ''authority should not be given to the result of the elections with the presence of observers.''

[02] ND leader and Cyprus president discuss developments in Cyprus negotiations

Athens, 17/09/2003 (ANA)

Karamanlis said the Annan plan must be adjusted to the new realities existing as a result of Cyprus' accession to the European Union, adding that he supports all of Papadopoulos' efforts for a workable and viable solution to the Cyprus issue based on the acquis communautaire and European principles.

The ND leader further said Cyprus is in its natural environment, the EU, and this requires a change in mentality in the new era.

Karamanlis said in this environment the Annan plan, adjusted to the new reality, can lead to this new era which ''we hope will concern all'' and noted that every initiative by the international community must be in this direction.

He stressed that this primarily concerns the EU which plays the decisive role because Europe in the 21st century cannot tolerate territory of Europe to be under foreign occupation, while the citizens of Cyprus must feel the same security as the rest of the European citizens do.

[03] Visiting Cyprus president meets with parliament president negotiations

Athens, 17/09/2003 (ANA)

Papadopoulos, in turn, expressed appreciation at the reaffirmation that the Greek parliament would support, to the end, the Cyprus people for the reunification of the island republic and the Cyprus Republic's smooth accession to and operation within the European Union.

Kaklamanis underlined that the Cypriot president had the primary responsibility and top role in the efforts for the restoration of Cyprus' unity, withdrawal of the Turkish occupation troops, and the symbiosis of the entire Cypriot people -- Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots -- in conditions of cooperation, mutual understanding and progress.

"This is Cyprus' prospect in the EU, which will also more generally to stability, security and tranquility in the eastern Mediterranean, of which Cyprus is a particularly important strategic and economic factor," Kaklamanis said.

[04] Weston says US wants restart of Cyprus talks as soon as possible

WASHINGTON, 17/09/2003 (ANA – T. Ellis)

Weston later cited what he called an identity of views by the two sides over the Cyprus problem, as well as a productive exchange of views.

He also reiterated Washington’s position for an immediate restart of talks by the two sides on the island, one leading to a Cyprus solution as soon as possible. He added that efforts in the current phase are centered on the period until the island republic formally joins the European Union on May 1, 2004.

Moreover, he noted that the point is not whether negotiations begin immediately before or after December elections in the Turkish-occupied north of the island, but rather whether enough

time will be available to allow their completion and the holding of a referendum in both communities by May 1.

The veteran American diplomat was also briefed by Papandreou over his recent contacts on Cyprus last week, while discussing what meetings may take place next week on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, where both Papandreou and Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos will participate.

Finally, in reference to UN Chief Kofi Annan, Weston said he stands by his positions on the matter and over his mission, adding that he (Annan) is ready when all sides express their political will – a reference to Annan’s role as a key broker in talks aimed at a Cyprus solution.

Weston also referred to the UN Chief’s and the US side’s disappointment at the “lack” of response until today, a statement indirectly pointed at the Denktash regime in the occupied areas.

On his part, Papandreou said a solution to the Cyprus issue remains the priority of Greek foreign policy. In this context, he underlined Tuesday's meeting between Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis and Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos in Athens and his own visit to Nicosia a week ago.

The foreign minister said Weston expressed to him the readiness of the US to contribute to the lifting of the deadlock and the seeking of a solution based on the Annan plan.

During the 45-minute talks at Papandreou's hotel, an ''assessment of developments and of the situation created'' was made also in light of the ''election'' to take place in the Turkish Cypriot community in December.

Also discussed was Annan's intention to activate himself once again, provided the Turkish side previously shows the political will to participate in substantive negotiations on the secretary general's existing plan.

Papandreou met later with the leadership of the ''Jewish American Committee'', discussing latest developments in the Middle East, explaining the position of Greece, as well as of the EU, on the issue of Israel's expressed intention to ''remove'' Yasser Arafat and stressing the need of ''salvaging'' the road map.

[05] FM Papandreou to meet Rice, Powell on Wednesday negotiations

Athens, 17/09/2003 (ANA)

Talks with Rice will focus primarily on Iraq and efforts to ''bridge'' positions between the US and Europe to enable a common approach for the transfer of power to the Iraqis as soon as possible, while emphasis will also be placed on latest developments in the Middle East.

Also to be discussed will be the Cyprus issue and the volatile situation in the Balkans and Rice is expected to request a briefing on preparations for the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, particularly with regard to the security sector.

After the White House, the foreign minister will be visiting the Congress Library where he will be given the ''Defender of Democracy'' award by the Parliamentarians for Global Action organization which includes 1,350 deputies from 105 legislatures from all over the world who are active in ''promoting peace, democracy, justice and development.''

Papandreou, who visited Greek American Democratic senator and Foreign Relations Committee member Paul Sarbanes in Congress earlier, will be meeting his US counterpart Colin Powell at the State Department on Wednesday and will also be having contacts with senators, analysts and scientific foundation associates.

[06] Main opposition leader asks ND to prepare for elections negotiations

Athens, 17/09/2003 (ANA)

He instructed party officials to monitor the completion of electoral lists, appoint elective representatives, put together election campaign committees in each prefecture and start choosing candidates in areas where the party was not represented in Parliament.

These are five one-seat electoral districts and in the prefectures of Lesvos and Lasithi.

ND Central Committee Secretary Vaggelis Meimarakis will be sending out a circular to prefectural committees over the next few days, in which he will outline the criteria set by the party for those interested in standing for election.

After the meeting, however, Karamanlis asked the heads of the secretariats not to make estimates about when the elections might take place.

[07] Gov't challenges ND to match its 'transparency offensive' negotiations

Athens, 17/09/2003 (ANA)

Noting that PASOK MPs had responded to the call to submit to inspection by Monday, the deadline given by Prime Minister Costas Simitis, Protopapas stressed that ND now had the political responsibility to appear consistent, given its previous insistence that details of stock market transactions be released, whereas now it was avoiding to demand transparency of its MPs financial behavior.

''We await the actions of ND leader Costas Karamanlis,'' he added.

[08] 14th round of Greek-Turkish exploratory talks on Wednesday negotiations

Athens, 17/09/2003 (ANA)

[09] Alternate FM does not rule out possibility of military force being sent to Iraq negotiations

Athens, 17/09/2003 (ANA)

Yiannitsis said a discussion on Iraq is currently taking place at the UN and in accordance with the decision to be taken the Greek government will determine its position.

However, he stressed that the UN must play a decisive role in the future of Iraq and with respect for the country's territorial integrity, the assumption of governance by the Iraqis themselves shortly and the decisive control of the country's natural resources by the Iraqis themselves.

In any case, the minister said absence from humanitarian missions in the region is not a position of the Greek government.

[10] PM and PASOK secretary finalize party's program until end of year negotiations

Athens, 17/09/2003 (ANA)

According to reports, they discussed details of the program, decided during the party's latest Executive Bureau meeting, while it was confirmed that until December the course of the government and the party will be common and will move in accordance with what has been decided.

This includes convening the party's National Council, organizing an international conference on the future of democratic socialism, promoting the convergence charter in the provinces and preparing regional charters, as announced by the prime minister. The same reports said PASOK's president and secretary ascertained an improvement in the climate for the ruling party, which was termed encouraging and considerably different from the difficult climate of the period preceding Simitis' announcements.

Opinion polls expected to be publicized in the coming days are also being awaited in the ruling party with greater optimism, the reports said. It is assessed that from one opinion poll to another the ''gap'' between PASOK and the New Democracy party will narrow.

[11] President Stephanopoulos receives foreign ambassadors' credentials negotiations

Athens, 17/09/2003 (ANA)

The relevant ceremony was attended by Deputy Foreign Minister Andreas Loverdos and Presidency of the Republic Secretary General ambassador Costas Ailianos.

[12] Greek investment funds' assets up 5.34 pct in 2003, report negotiations

Athens, 17/09/2003 (ANA)

A monthly report by the Union of Institutional Investors said that the sector's assets were up by 91 million euros, or 5.34 percent, since the start of the year.

The report attributed the increase in the sector's assets to a recovery of prices in the Athens Stock Exchange in August (the general index rose 2.41 percent in the month) and noted that the sector's average return of their internal value rose to 11.69 percent at the end of August from 10.35 percent in July.

A total of 14 companies exceeded the average return of the sector, presenting returns ranging from 11.83 percent to 27.61 percent in August, with only four companies presenting negative returns in the month.

The sector's average discount fell to 13.63 percent in August from 15.16 percent in July, reflecting a 4.74 percent rise in the investment sector index in ASE over the same period.

The majority closed-end funds traded at a discount in August, ranging from 4.43 percent to 23.73 percent, with only three companies trading at a premium.

The investment index is up 37.39 percent so far this year, exceeding a 26.43 percent rise in the general index of the market.

[13] Greek industrial production up 1.9 pct in July, yr/yr negotiations

Athens, 17/09/2003 (ANA)

The EU executive's statistics agency, in its monthly report, said that industrial production in the eurozone rose 0.6 percent in July from the previous month and by 0.3 percent in the EU-15.

Belgium (3.0 percent), Finland (3.0 percent) and Germany with Portugal (2.2 percent each) recorded the highest percentage increases in industrial production in July, while Ireland (-3.9 percent) and France (-0.3 percent) recorded the only declines. Eurostat said there were no figures for Italy, Luxembourg and Sweden.

Industrial production fell 0.3 percent in the eurozone and 0.4 percent in the EU-15 in July compared with the same month in 2002.

[14] Gov't: offer to teachers the 'best possible' given economic constraints negotiations

Athens, 17/09/2003 (ANA)

He said the deal offered to teachers on Monday night was the best the government could give and a positive way out for their financial demands, stressing that the government had made its decision on this basis.

He also pointed out that the social package announced by the government specifically targeted vulnerable social groups and that the government examined other demands "carefully and responsibly".

With regard to striking university teachers, meanwhile, Proto-papas said the government would do its best to arrive at a settlement but stressed that this would have to be within the limits of what the economy could bear.

[15] Primary school teachers to join striking colleagues on Oct. 6 negotiations

Athens, 17/09/2003 (ANA)

The teachers' federation warned, meanwhile, that strike action would escalate if primary education teachers' demands were not satisfied.

The union rejected a pay rise of 120-170 euros offered on Monday by the government, saying that this amounted to 103 euros less than the pay rise received by other state employees.

Commenting on the wave of strikes in the education sector, Education Minister Petros Efthymiou stressed that the government had adhered to the deal it had struck in talks with the civil servants' union ADEDY and after pressure from the education ministry the government had given special treatment to teachers compared to other civil servants with respect to their pay rises.

He called on teachers to show the ''necessary sensitivity'' and not go ahead with the strikes.

He also announced a meeting on Wednesday with university teachers, who called a five-day strike this week, to discuss how their demands might be met.

[16] Greece, Turkey due to sign natgas deal negotiations

Athens, 17/09/2003 (ANA)

''An agreement has been signed between DEPA SA of Greece and Botas of Turkey for construction of the pipeline. What remains is signature of a contact between the two governments,'' Tsohatzopoulos said in reply to a reporter's question in Thessaloniki. He gave no timescale.

The minister was in the northern port city to attend a ceremony for signature of a contract between suppliers and the city's university, which is to receive natural gas.

[17] Intralot launches e-gaming company in Turkey negotiations

Athens, 17/09/2003 (ANA)

The new company, Libero SA, will offer gaming services through alternative networks (mobile phones, call centers, digital TV and Internet.

Libero, in cooperation with Intralot and other local companies, will establish a system based on the LOTOS system by Intralot, already supplied with Turkey's Soccer Lottery Organization Sportoto.

The new company will use Turkcell's network in Turkey and is expected to begin operating by the end of 2003 in two phases: the first, offering its services with mobile phones (WAP over GPRS) and Internet (Web portal in the Internet), and the second offering Interactive Voice Recognition system and iDTV, and Digital TV services.

The system will be the first to be offered in Europe operating through alternative networks.

[18] Delegation of entrepreneurs and state officials from Brazil visit Greece negotiations

Athens, 17/09/2003 (ANA)

The Brazilian delegation visited Greece from September 8-14, participated at the Thessaloniki Trade Fair (TIF) and apart from the GNTO, also met with the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry (EBEA) and the Thessaloniki Chamber of Commerce and Industry (EBETH).

At the same time, the GNTO, within the framework of its projection of Athens, arranged a tour of sites in the city.

[19] Street market unions pledge price freezing negotiations

Athens, 17/09/2003 (ANA)

The Federation announced an agreement by its members to keep their prices unchanged at September 13th levels and to seek price cuts up to 15 percent in the next few weeks.

The move comes a few days after several big super market chains announced they were freezing their prices for the next four months in an effort to help contain inflationary pressures in the economy.

[20] Central bank to up growth forecast, governor says negotiations

Athens, 17/09/2003 (ANA)

At the same time, the Bank of Greece's inflation forecast of an average 3.6 percent remains in place, Garganas said concerning the bank's interim monetary policy report, which is destined for parliament in early October.

He also said that consumer loans had shown a slight slowdown in the rate of increase since controls were lifted; but bad loans in the sector displayed a higher rate than the eurozone average.

[21] Taxis begin 48-hour strike on Wednesday negotiations

Athens, 17/09/2003 (ANA)

The drivers are protesting against a government plan to make the use of electronic cash registers in their vehicles mandatory from January 1, 2004; and against the government's refusal to allow taxis to use bus lanes.

The government has said it will not backtrack on receipts. Taxi drivers are also seeking a rise in tariffs.

[22] Greek stocks continue moving lower on Tuesday negotiations

Athens, 17/09/2003 (ANA)

The general index ended 1.05 percent lower at 2,026.07 points, slightly off its session lows of 2,020 points. Turnover was a low 135.2 million euros.

All sector indices ended lower, with the Textile (4.31 percent), IT Solution (3.79 percent) and Wholesale (2.68 percent) suffering the heaviest percentage losses of the day.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks fell 0.80 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index ended 1.88 percent down and the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index dropped 2.36 percent.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 291 to 39 with another 28 issues unchanged.

The most heavily traded stocks in value were Hellenic Telecommunications Organization, Alpha Bank, National Bank of Greece, Football Pools Organization, and Vodafone.

Derivatives Market Close: Turnover at 158.3 mln euros Tuesday

Equity Index Futures: