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[13] Ship with gastroenteritis outbreak en route to Gibraltar after UK doctors board

Athens, 11/01/2003 (ANA)

Greek health services, including the Centre for Special Diseases and the health ministry, were placed on alert Thursday to deal with an outbreak of gastroenteritis affecting an estimated 430 passengers aboard the British-flagged cruise ship 'Aurora' after the ship's captain alerted authorities of the outbreak.

Greek authorities immediately extended permission for the cruise ship, which was carrying some 2,000 passengers and a 700-man crew, to anchor off Flisvos, near Piraeus port.

Authorities were alerted about the outbreak by the captain of the 'Aurora' shortly after it left Dubrovnik.

The norovirus, which apparently is the culprit of the outbreak, causes gastroenteritis, which is an inflammation of the stomach and the small and large intestines. The symptoms of gastroenteritis are nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea accompanied by abdominal cramps, but is not life threatening.

A team of British doctors and medicines to treat the outbreak, flown in from London to Athens, boarded the cruise ship, which resumed its cruise at 7:20 a.m. on Friday, headed for Gibraltar.

[14] Armenian officers trained in Greece to participate in Kosovo Peacekeeping Force

Athens, 11/01/2003 (ANA)

This was agreed in talks Deputy Defense Minister Lazaros Lotidis had with Armenia's leadership during his three-day visit to the Caucasus.

Lotidis also announced that the European Union's official responsible for the Southern Caucasus will be delivering his report in November regarding the EU's economic activities in the region.

The inclusion of the Southern Caucasus in regions of interest to the EU was an initiative by the EU's Greek presidency.

Lotidis also met with the presidents of the seven Greek communities in Armenia.

[15] Ministry decrees all immigrants with pending application legally resident

Athens, 11/01/2003 (ANA)

This will apply if their application was submitted before their previous residence permit had expired and until a final decision is reached regarding their application, it said.

[16] Papanastasiou's defense calls for his acquittal in N17 trial

Athens, 11/01/2003 (ANA)

Appeals Court to acquit his client of all charges, saying that the role attributed to him by the anti-terrorist squad had not been proved.

In the case that his client were convicted, however, attorney Panagiotis Roumeliotis asked the court to take into account Papanastasiou's good behavior after the fact, noting that he had told the truth from the start, had never asserted that he was tortured while in the hands of the authorities and had never attempted to contact the media or influence public opinion.

Papanastasiou is charged as one of the founder-members of N17 that remained within the organization right up to the point when it was dismantled by the authorities.

Presenting final arguments in court, Roumeliotis said his client's description in the indictment as a co-founder of the group was mistaken since it was taken from the self-contradictory confessions made by Pavlos Serifis.

According to Serifis, he first met Papanastasiou in October 1979, even though he should have known him since 1975 when the group was first founded according to the indictment, Roumeliotis said.

The attorney also noted that none of the other defendants appeared to know his client and that he was not mentioned in statements taken from Savvas Xiros, a core N17 hit man, while there was no evidence to prove that the code-name ''Nikitas'' actually referred to him, as the anti-terrorist squad believed.

The court will reconvene next Wednesday with the presentation of final arguments by the defense for Sotiris Kondylis, due to a 48-hour abstention declared by the Athens Bar Association on Monday and Tuesday.

[17] Seminar on immigrant issues for Attica local government staff

Athens, 11/01/2003 (ANA)

The seminar is being organized by the Centre and the Athens Municipality Developmental Company via the "Forum for Social Cohesion" within the European Union's Equal program.

Its goals are to help staff in local authorities with high immigrant and refugee populations to deal with issues like racism, xenophobia and creating the conditions for a multi-cultural society.

[18] Earthquake jolts Patras

Patras, 11/01/2003 (ANA)

According to the University of Patras' Seismology Laboratory, the earthquake was recorded at 4:33 a.m with its epicenter in Antirrio, on the Gulf of Patras, and an epicentral depth of 14 kilometers.

The trembler was felt in Patras and the wider region, as well as in Aetoloakarnania prefecture.

Earthquake on Crete: An earthquake measuring 4.3 on the Richter scale jolted the island of Crete on Friday, but no damage was reported.

The earthquake was recorded at 1:16 a.m., with its epicenter in the Aghios Nikolaos region of Lasithi prefecture, and an epicentral depth of 15 kilometers.

The trembler was felt in the wider region of Aghios Nikolaos, throughout eastern Crete, and in Iraklion.

[19] Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in Jerusalem celebrates October 28 national holiday

Jerusalem, 11/01/2003 (ANA)

Jerusalem Patriarch Irineos officiated in the presence of senior clergymen, Greece's general consul in Jerusalem Eleni Sourani and the country's ambassador to Jerusalem Panayiotis Zografos.

Arabic-speaking students from the Patriarchal Academy of Saint Dimitrios also sang patriotic Greek songs during the event and recited relevant poems.

[20] Police dismantle forgery ring, make three arrests

Athens, 11/01/2003 (ANA)

In another case, an Iraqi was arrested for forgery and fraud who took advantage of the fact he was in the process of being recognized as a political refugee.

The Iraqi used to submit applications for political asylum and produce documents bearing his photo but the particulars of other people. He would then change the photos and give the documents to fellow countrymen of his in return for a fee who secured permanent residence in the country in this way.

In yet another case, a ring of Greeks and Pakistanis responsible for thefts and cases of fraud against banks, revenue offices, businesses and private persons over the past five years was also dismantled by police. Their activities had yielded over three million euros for them.

Two Greeks and two Pakistanis have already been arrested, while legal proceedings have also been initiated against 20 other people for thefts, forgeries and fraud.

The suspects used to break into apartment buildings and cars and steal tax statements, telephone and electricity bills, passports, postal orders and other documents and produce false documents using the names found on the stolen items. They would then obtain credit cards from banks with which they made withdrawals of money or purchases of various goods.

[21] ND MPs accuse gov't of poor waste management planning

Athens, 11/01/2003 (ANA)

The MPs brought up the problems in Epirus, claiming that the entire northwestern Greek region did not possess a single legal landfill site over four prefectures.

They also slammed the Unified Association of Municipalities and Communities of Attica (ESDKNA), saying that it had squandered more than 600 billion drachmas in EU funds since 1991 while only achieving a temporary and superficial solution to the problems.

[22] SAE welcomes expatriate Greek Media to its 5th World Convention

Athens, 11/01/2003 (ANA)

''I am here to dispel press announcements that the Omogeneia Media will not be invited,'' Athens said. ''A number of journalists representing the Omogeneiaka Media will be invited to cover the SAE 5th World Convention. Members of the Omogeneiaka Media attending however will not be delegates to the Convention.

''One of the major tasks of any convention is to convey its message to its constituency and the general public. The presence of media facilitates that task. SAE welcomes the Omogeneiaka Media to its 5th World Convention.''

[23] EU report notes Cyprus' high level of alignment with acquis

Brussels, 11/01/2003 (CNA/ANA)

The report, consisting of 64 pages, makes an analysis of the progress made since last year's report on the economic aspect as well as on the implementation of the acquis communautaire.

It also refers to the Cyprus problem and expresses conviction that it can be solved before the island's accession to the EU, noting that if this is not made possible, then the Protocol 10 of the Accession Treaty will be brought into force.

''It should be noted that Cyprus has reached a high level of alignment with the acquis in most policy areas,'' the report says.

It is also notes that Cyprus must take ''immediate and decisive action to address three issues of serious concern in two chapters of the acquis, if it is to be ready by the date of accession.''

Those chapters concern the field of agriculture, in particular Cyprus' preparations to put in place its Paying Agency, and to prepare for the application of external trade mechanisms. It also concerns the field of transport policy, as regards maritime safety.

Regarding the Cyprus issue, the Commission expresses its firm conviction that there is a possibility in reaching a solution of the Cyprus issue, before the island's accession to the EU, so that a reunified Cyprus can join the Union.

It notes that in the case of no solution, the Protocol on Cyprus, attached to the Treaty of Accession will be implemented, providing for the suspension of the application of the acquis communautaire in those areas of the Republic where the government of the Republic does not exercise effective control.

According to the report, Cyprus should continue its progress in the areas of liberalization of telecommunications, energy, air transport and post services.

[24] EU's report on Turkey includes paragraph on Cyprus

The EU's regular progress report on Turkey, due for publication on November 5th, refers to the Cyprus issue, to the Loizidou vs. Turkey case at the European Court of Human Rights, as well as to the ''framework agreement'' aiming in establishing a ''customs union'' between Turkey and the illegal regime in the occupied north of Cyprus.

''On August 8th Turkey signed a framework agreement aiming to establish a customs union with the northern part of Cyprus. Such agreement which has no validity under the international law would be in breach of Turkey's commitments in its customs union with the EC,'' the report says.

It adds that the Turkish government subsequently indicated that the agreement would not be ratified or come into effect.

In paragraph 1.4 of the report on Turkey, the EU Commission notes that the Turkish government has on several occasions confirmed its support for efforts to find a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem, through the continuation of the UN Secretary General's mission of good offices and the negotiations on the basis of his proposals.

''In the course of the enhanced political dialogue with Turkey, and at the EC-Turkey Association Council in April 2003, shortly after the breakdown of talks under UN auspices in the Hague, the Turkish government expressed the hope to see a settlement before May 2004,'' the report adds.

It also recalls the EU Council in Thessaloniki of 19-20 June 2003, which urged all parties concerned and in particular Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot leadership, to strongly support the UN Secretary General's efforts and called for an early resumption of the talks on the basis of his proposals.

Regarding the Loizidou vs. Turkey case, concerning the violation of the applicant's right to property and the non-payment of just satisfaction awarded by the ECHR, in June 2003, ''Turkey declared its intention to comply by October 2003 with the 1998 judgment of the Court'', the EU Commissions report says.

In another point, the report says that by the time it was drafted (the report) Turkey had not made any payment.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied one third of the island's territory.

[25] Britain committed for early resumption of negotiations on Cyprus

The British government remains committed to working for an early resumption of negotiations on the Cyprus issue, based on the UN Secretary-General's peace plan, Head of the Mediterranean Desk at the British Foreign Office, Dominick Chilcott, stressed here on Friday.

Speaking here Friday after British High Commissioner in Nicosia, Lyn Parker and the Ambassadors of Britain to Greece and Turkey, David Madden and Peter Westmaccot, respectively, were received by Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos, Chilcott expressed hope that Cyprus will accede the EU as a reunited country.

The three Heads of Mission meet every year to discuss East Mediterranean issues, and this year they chose Cyprus for their meeting, ''given the critical period ahead, with the forthcoming elections in the north and the fast-approaching accession of Cyprus to the EU on 1 May 2004,'' Chilcott said.

He added that the British government is taking ''a close interest in developments in the north, especially the forthcoming 'elections','' and stressed, ''it is important that those 'elections' should be free and fair.'

Illegal ''parliamentary elections'' will be held in the Turkish-occupied areas of Cyprus in December.

Referring to the meeting with President Papadopoulos, Chilcott said that it was ''constructive and useful'' since they had a ''wide-ranging discussion.'

''The British government remains committed to working for an early resumption of negotiations on the basis of the UN Secretary General's proposals,'' Chilcott stressed.

[26] Consultations on mine clearance continue

Government officials and a UN expert on the removal of anti-personnel mines continue their consultations with a view at beginning as soon as possible the mine clearance process in the UN-controlled buffer zone.

''We have had very long and very constructive discussions with the two sides, the Greek Cypriot side and the Turkish Cypriot side,'' a UN spokesperson told CNA on Friday.

She said that consultations on technical matters with the government of Cyprus have been completed and the UN expects to do the same with the Turkish side.

''We hope that once the discussions are completed, we can see big movement forward,'' the spokesperson added.

The government has said it would go ahead unilaterally with the

destruction of mines, stored by the National Guard, and it hopes to carry out mine clearance in the buffer zone.

It is expected that the destruction of stored mines will begin in mid December this year.

[27] Riigikogu President: Cyprus is too small to be divided

Cyprus and Estonia could become the bridge between the European Union and its new neighbor states, House President Demetris Christofias said, speaking after a meeting with Estonian counterpart, President of the Riigikogu Ene Ergma.

The president of the Parliament of the Republic of Estonia, head of a delegation paying an official visit to Cyprus at the invitation of Christofias, has expressed the hope for a political settlement soon because a small place like Cyprus cannot be divided.

She noted that a visit by the Cyprus parliamentary committee of Foreign Affairs to Estonia would contribute to improved ties. Ergma has extended an invitation to House President Christofias, which he has accepted.

The Riigikogu delegation had the opportunity to follow Thursday's plenary session.

''We have come to the conclusion that as two small countries, soon to become full members of the European Union, in the south and in the north of the EU, and which are in close proximity with the EU's new neighbors, such as the Arab world, Russia or Ukraine we will join forces to become the bridge between these countries and the EU,'' Christofias said.

In her statement Ergma said the purpose of her visit is to get to know the new EU members and she added that it is important that Cyprus and Estonia, two of the smallest states, exchange views on common values, such as the role of national parliaments in an enlarged Europe and the possibility of cooperation.

Referring to the Cyprus problem, she expressed hope for viable solution for the Cyprus people as she believes that ''Cyprus is too small to be divided."

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