Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 04-02-02

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM Simitis holds telephone conversation on Cyprus issue with UN secretary general

[02] FM and PASOK leadership candidate refers to unemployment in newspaper article

[03] ND leader visits Florina, announces increase in farmers' pensions

[04] Communist party leader ends tour of Crete, criticizes both mainstream parties

[05] MRB poll shows ND leading PASOK, but Papandreou preferred as prime minister

[06] Patriarchate's top school celebrates 550th anniversary

[07] Turkish minister refers to 'substantive work' on theology academy's reopening

[08] Int'l journalists chief arrives amid bitter strike at daily

[09] Anti-racist rally held in Athens, demonstrators call for immigrant legalization

[10] Consultations on Cyprus shift to New York

[11] US effort on Cyprus will intensify, Boucher says

[01] PM Simitis holds telephone conversation on Cyprus issue with UN secretary general

Athens, 2/2/2004 (ANA)

According to sources close to the prime minister, Simitis reassured the UN secretary general that Greece is ready to assist efforts to solve the Cyprus issue in every way, reiterating in essence all that had been agreed during the latest meeting between Simitis and Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos.

The sources added that the telephone conversation between Simitis and Annan took place after Simitis had contacted President Papadopoulos on Friday afternoon.

President Papadopoulos had held talks with Annan in Brussels on Thursday, informing him of the readiness of the Greek Cypriot side to attend talks for an agreement on the Cyprus issue at any time, based on his plan.

The conclusion drawn by the Greek side from talks between Simitis and Annan and Simitis and President Papadopoulos is that the secretary general continues to be reserved, feeling that all necessary preconditions do not exist yet to enable him to summon the interested parties to negotiations.

Annan will be taking his final decisions after completing contacts with all sides (he has not yet contacted the Turkish Cypriot leadership) and examining all the facts, while clarifying that he will only take an initiative to have negotiations resumed when he feels confident that prospects of success exist.

[02] FM and PASOK leadership candidate refers to unemployment in newspaper article

Athens, 2/2/2004 (ANA)

Referring to his measures on small and medium-size enterprises, Papandreou said ''we are ending their being taken by surprise by tax authorities with the final abolition of their tax controls for more than two years, while at the same time we are minimizing accounting obligations and decreasing taxation considerably'', adding that in this way ''an end is given to tax uncertainty for the small business.''

Papandreou also said the package of measures for farmers aims at keeping young farmers in the countryside and that he will support the restructuring of cooperatives and the creation of new ones.

The foreign minister further noted that strengthening small businesses is necessary to face the appearance of big chain enterprises.

"Our intention is to contribute and provide incentives for the unification of small units in the small industry and trade sectors, as well as of services," he said.

Papandreou stressed that these measures are not of a static and defensive nature and that "on the contrary, I believe they will create a self-providing momentum with their full development and maturity."

Visit to Karditsa and Mataranga: Foreign Minister and PASOK party leadership candidate George Papandreou, addressing an outdoor rally in the new market of the city of Karditsa in central Greece on Saturday, called for political confrontation to be based on programs and for talk of scandals to be avoided.

''I want the campaign to highlight problems and priorities to enable the citizen to evaluate the programs of parties and for this reason we say no to scandal talk,'' he said.

Papandreou said PASOK is the party of the farmer and the party of change and refutation, adding that this is the great difference with the main opposition New Democracy party.

The foreign minister accused ND of wretchedness and misery, saying ''we are not like those who see everything black'', adding that ''we are optimistic, we look ahead, we confront problems and we can solve them.''

Papandreou further said the state must serve the citizen and stressed that ''the citizen does not owe the state, but the state owes the citizen.''

Referring to ND leader Costas Karamanlis, who spoke of white pages, the foreign minister said ''Karamanlis can't see the new page we are writing. He can see neither the old page nor the new one. But he will receive his reply from the people on March 7.''

After visiting Karditsa, Papandreou arrived in the municipality of Mataranga where he was welcomed by local residents in the town hall.

Speaking to the inhabitants of Mataranga, Papandreou called for their assistance to enable a new page to be written for the world of agriculture.

He also stressed that he ascertained during his visits to various countries of the world, to promote Greek interests, that the issue of agriculture is a major problem everywhere.

Visit to Karpenissi: George Papandreou, speaking in Karpenissi, central Greece, on Saturday evening, called on friends and supporters of other parties to make their own revolution and to overthrow the establishments of their own parties.

He called on the friends and supporters of other parties to think if they are pleased with their parties and if their party listens to them or only uses them to hold flags and to hang up posters.

Papandreou referred to his ambition to lead the party to the third change which shall reform the state and society.

"The first change occurred in 1981 with Andreas Papandreou, who united the Greeks, who gave them bread and work and who gave Greece to the Greeks. The second took place with Costas Simitis who placed Greece among the powerful of the earth and made it one of the 25 most powerful countries in the world today," Papandreou said.

Visit to Halkida: Foreign Minister and PASOK party leadership candidate George Papandreou, addressing a rally of PASOK supporters and friends in the coastal city of Halkida, eastern Greece, on Sun-day, announced a number of considerable reforms he intends to implement as prime minister.

Papandreou said the first reform concerns the state which needs radical changes, decentralization, transparency and the eradication of bureaucracy.

The second reform is related to the protection network for the weak citizen and the third to the education system.

The foreign minister said education must change and cannot be a financial burden for a family, adding that education is not free today and pledging to make education free again during the period he will be in power.

Papandreou further said there are two other targets which are not subject to negotiation, those of regional development and employment for all.

Focusing on the issue of unemployment, Papandreou referred to three more measures for the unemployed. Every young person unemployed for over six months will receive specialized training and employment support.

Specialized support will also be provided for people being unemployed over a period of more than 12 months, while education loans for young and unemployed people will be subsidized.

Papandreou said unemployment is an enemy of the great democratic party, but ''we shall beat it.''

He also stressed that PASOK is in a position to forge ahead ''because it is based on sound foundations created by the governments of Andreas Papandreou and Costas Simitis which have done considerable work.''

FM and PASOK leadership candidate calls for mandate to bring about changes: Foreign Minister and PASOK party leadership candidate George Papandreou, in an interview with the Sunday newspaper ''Kyriakatiki Eleftherotypia'', called for the citizens' mandate to enable him to bring about ''changes in the party, the political system and society'', in light of the election for party leader on February 8 and the general election in the country on March 7.

''The election of PASOK's president directly from the grassroots, from the members and friends of PASOK, signals the decision for a party open to society, to every Greek man and Greek woman and for citizens being active and participating,'' he said.

Announcing in advance which changes will be made in PASOK, Papandreou underlined that party powers will pass ''to the grassroots and to the citizen'', adding that ''the leadership will equip the citizen with the necessary knowledge and critical and comprehensive thought to enable his decisions to be democratic and effective and to overcome narrow conceptions and form widespread consent.''

In an interview with the same newspaper, former PASOK Secretary General Costas Laliotis declared his unreserved support for Papandreou.

"George and I are brothers and we say the same things," he said.

[03] ND leader visits Florina, announces increase in farmers' pensions

Athens, 2/2/2004 (ANA)

Karamanlis said the measure is included in his party's program, adding that ''we shall create a new development surplus with our new economic policy which shall enable us to exercise a substantive social policy.''

The ND leader further said farmers are the pillars of the countryside and are entitled to participation in the distribution of the development surplus.

Referring to unemployment among young people, Karamanlis said those registered with the Manpower Employment Organization (OAED) will be considered protected members for an additional two-year period, also promising modern professional training and employment programs for unemployed women and young women in the Greek countryside.

Karamanlis visited the Niki checkpoint on the borders with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) in the morning, while later in the day he is scheduled to make an address in the town of Kastoria.

Visit to Kastoria: Main opposition New Democracy party leader Costas Karamanlis, addressing a party gathering in the town of Kastoria, northern Greece, on Saturday night, said that on the day after the election ND plans to implement a national regional development strategy.

Karamanlis, who ended a two-day tour of Western Macedonia, accused the ruling PASOK party of ''making an effort to settle accounts in light of its departure from government.''

The ND also accused the government of creating ''an industry of bills and amendments'', adding that ''the amendments are not related to the development of the country but to election expediencies.''

Karamanlis said "we are creating regional development organizations with the participation of representatives of local administration, chambers of commerce and local production agencies."

Referring to the issue of border control, Karamanlis said "we are strengthening the role of border guards and we are taking care for both their excellent training and their suitable equipment. We are taking measures to support the police who (particularly in rural areas) are faced with the upsurge in crime and drug trafficking in particular."

ND leader visits rehabilitation center and national art gallery: Costas Karamanlis visited the national art gallery and the re-habilitation center Paremvassi in the coastal town of Rafina on Sunday, accompanied by his wife Natassa.

Karamanlis said his party places emphasis on prevention, therapy and rehabilitation in tackling the scourge of drugs, reiterating that drug users must be handled as patients to enable them to become active citizens of society.

Referring to the issue of rehabilitation, Karamanlis promised the implementation of an extensively subsidized professional training program for former drug users, while businesses will be subsidized and provided with incentives to hire them.

Karamanlis visited the national art gallery afterwards, where he and his wife were given a guided tour of the exhibition "Light of Apollo:Italian renaissance and Greece."

[04] Communist party leader ends tour of Crete, criticizes both mainstream parties

Athens, 2/2/2004 (ANA)

Referring to a statement by ND leader Costas Karamanlis that he will increase farmers' pensions to 330 euros by 2008, Papariga said ''in 2008 330 euros will in no way be able to meet the needs of pensioned-off farmers. KKE proposes and seeks as of now, as of today, an increase in farmers' pensions from 200 euros to 400 euros.''

Focusing on issues concerning young people, Papariga said in no other election period had there been such a ''mockery of young people.''

She said ''it is a mockery because they speak of young people as if they are not the children of working class families. As if young people are not harmed as well by this antipopular policy. They speak of young people at a time when we see children leaving school prematurely as a result of this policy.''

Communist party leader visits 'Agrotica' exhibition in Thessaloniki: Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Secretary General Aleka Papariga visited the exhibition ''Agrotica'' in Thessaloniki, northern Greece, on Sunday and said the results of the general election will disappoint the expectations of bipartisan politics.

Papariga said more than 300,000 households involved in agriculture cannot pay off their obligations to the Agricultural Bank of Greece (ATE) in time, while small and medium-size households are decreasing to the tune of 2 percent a year and land and production are in the hands of a few.

Criticizing the proposals of the two mainstream parties, PASOK and New Democracy, Papariga said ''they cannot even function like aspirins for the problems facing farmers'', since both parties are aware that difficult days are to come for farmers belonging to low and medium income brackets.

[05] MRB poll shows ND leading PASOK, but Papandreou preferred as prime minister

Athens, 2/2/2004 (ANA)

The opinion poll was prepared between January 16-26, with 2,000 respondents using a questionnaire and a ballot box.

The lead, although considered strong, does not make researchers feel certain of the outcome of the March 7 election. They believe the electorate is in a state of intense mobility which is greatly affected by day-to-day changes.

The MRB's opinion poll gives the following percentages to the parties:PASOK 35.4 percent, New Democracy 39.1, Communist Party of Greece (KKE) 5.1, Coalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology 2.9, Popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS) 2.2 and Democratic Social Movement (DHKKI) 1.2.

On the question of which politician is considered the most suitable to become prime minister, the response was George Papandreou 37.6 percent, ND leader Costas Karamanlis 37.5, Prime Minister Costas Simitis 2.7 and Athens Mayor Dora Bakoyianni 2.6.

As regards the question ''between Karamanlis and Papandreou, who is the most suitable to become prime minister'', Papandreou received 45.3 percent and Karamanlis 43.3.

Lastly, on the question of "which party do you think would win if the election was held next Sunday", respondents gave 51.2 percent to ND and 35 to PASOK.

[06] Patriarchate's top school celebrates 550th anniversary

ISTANBUL 2/2/2004 (ANA – A. Kourkoulas)

The school is located next to the actual seat of the Patriarchate and was almost a university in modern terms. In fact, the vast majority of the Patriarchate’s educated clergy and most teachers were graduates of the well-known school.

A ceremony in honor of the university was officiated by Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos, and was also attending by visiting Greek Education Minister Petros Efthymiou and his Turkish counterpart Huseyin Celik.

[07] Turkish minister refers to 'substantive work' on theology academy's reopening

ISTANBUL 2/2/2004 (ANA - A. Kourkoulas)

The Turkish minister was speaking to the press here, following his visit to the Phanar where he attended a luncheon given by Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos.

He explained that the work being done at the education ministry concerns ''moves which must be made, legal infrastructure and its examination, because this issue has remained unresolved for so many years.''

Celik also said "there is no obstacle for the reopening of the academy under state control", adding that "I think we shall be able to achieve a result soon."

[08] Int'l journalists chief arrives amid bitter strike at daily

Athens, 2/2/2004 (ANA)

In an announcement by ESHEA, the Union charged that "widespread interest has been created in the European Union by the strike of journalists and of cooperating press unions (staff, technicians, newspaper vendors, printers etc.) at the tabloid daily "Avriani" and the sports sheet "Filathlos", both belonging to the George Kouris media group.

The strike continued on Sunday, as ESHEA said employees' demands were not met while no guarantees were given for the complete implementation of collective labor agreements.

"The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) have addressed letters of protest to all relevant authorities in the European Union and Greece, focusing their interest mainly on the attempted arrest by prosecuting authorities of Greek unionists, a fact reminiscent of an unacceptable era in the past.''

It also stresses that the IFJ, in view of the 25th World Journalism Conference, will jointly organize with ESHEA in Athens a conference in May this year dedicated to journalism and free speech vis-a-vis the Olympic Games.

In his statements, White stressed that the Kouris group must pay employees and adhere to collective bargaining agreements. He also called on the Greek government not to aggravate the dispute with inflammatory statements.

White joined strikers at picket lines outside Kouris' building.

Journalists Union appeals to Supreme Court on ministers' stance on press strike: The Athens Journalists Union (ESHEA) addressed a letter of complaint to the Supreme Court prosecutor on Saturday in relation to the attitude shown by relevant ministers on the issue of support for strikebreakers at the Kouris Media Group.

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) also made similar complaints in a letter addressed to Prime Minister Costas Simitis.

The letter to the prosecutor stressed that ''the 24-hour strike will be repeated tomorrow Sunday, February 1, from 2 p.m. until 2 p.m. on Monday, February 2, since none of our demands has been satisfied.''

It further said that ''the employers' side, supported once again by the attitude shown by the police, will attempt, as it appears from its letters to the pres minister and the public order minister, to abolish the distinction of powers, assigning the executive authority with supporting the strikebreakers' apparatus.''

The letter underlines that ''union freedom and the right to strike, as the ultimate means of satisfying demands and the people employed in the press, must be safeguarded in practice.''

A relevant announcement by ESHEA stressed that ''an uproar has also been created on the international scene as a result of the unprecedented invasion by the police of the Union's offices to arrest the president and secretary general of ESHEA, as well as the directorates of cooperating Unions, following a lawsuit filed by publisher George Kouris.''

The IFJ, in its letter to Simitis, expresses its ''grave concern over support provided by the government for the arrest of the leadership of Greek journalists unions'', adding that ''when unions resort to strike action, the message is clear that the production process has failed completely.''

The IFJ further stressed that ''it always defends the principles of freedom of the press and the rights of employees, particularly their right to defend themselves with strike action.''

A media release also issued by the IFJ said ''the International Federation of Journalists today (Friday) described efforts to carry out a mass arrest of Greek journalists' union leaders as an 'outrageous flashback to an age of dictatorship and tyranny'.''

''The sight of security officers scuttling around trying to put union leaders behind bars because they organized a strike is a shameful sight in a modern democracy,'' said IFJ Secretary General Aidan White.

The media release also said ''the IFJ, and its regional organization the European Federation of Journalists, says that Greek security and legal officers have been drawn into a humiliating escapade by the action of newspaper publisher G. Kouris who filed charges against the Executive Board of the Journalists Union of Athens Daily Newspapers because of an all-out strike involving journalists and press workers at two news-papers - Avriani and Filathlos - owned by the Kouris Media Group.''

[09] Anti-racist rally held in Athens, demonstrators call for immigrant legalization

Athens, 2/2/2004 (ANA)

The specific day, on which similar rallies were held in other European capitals, has been set by the European Social Forum as the Day against Racism.

The main demands voiced during the rally were legalization for immigrants and asylum for refugees, while the leading slogan was ''no to a European fortress'' and to policies being implemented to achieve this target. The demonstrators also denounced the ''unbelievable bureaucracy'' with which immigrants are faced with.

Disturbances broke out on a limited scale between anarchists and far-rightists in Stadiou Street, near the statue of Kolokotronis. Firebombs and stones were exchanged, but police intervention with teargas soon restored order.

[10] Consultations on Cyprus shift to New York

NICOSIA 2/2/2004 (CNA/ANA)

Kofi Annan's former special adviser on Cyprus Alvaro de Soto, who brokered the peace deal in El Salvador, and participated in last year's direct talks on Cyprus is at the UN seat, where he is more than likely to discuss recent developments with the Secretary General.

De Soto and other special envoys of the Secretary General are in New York for their annual consultations on the issues they are dealing with. The Peruvian diplomat is currently involved with the Western Sahara.

In Cyprus, Government Spokesman Kypros Chrysostomides said on Sunday that the desire of the Greek Cypriot side for a settlement ''should not be interpreted as weakness or readiness to relinquish that which will secure a solution on the basis of the rule of law.''

He also said that effective pressure must be directed towards Ankara, if a settlement is to be reached.

Annan's acting special representative on the island and Chief of Mission Zbigniew Wlosowicz also flew to New York on Saturday for consultations.

Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos met Annan on Thurs-day in Brussels and according to the House President Papadopoulos is ''pleased'' with the meeting and what he has heard from the Secretary General.

The president told a press conference that he is ready to return to the negotiating table ''tomorrow'' if the Secretary General invites the two sides to talks and stressed that he is not putting forward any terms or preconditions for the resumption of the talks.

Annan also met in the past ten days with Turkish premier Tayyip Erdogan and has talked to Greek premier Costas Simitis. Annan said he would speak with Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash before deciding whether to resume negotiations or not.

As speculation increases on the resumption of talks, Annan has fended off suggestions that Alvaro de Soto should be sidelined, as the Turkish side seems to have requested.

Annan said talks should conclude by end of March to allow time to put to separate simultaneous referenda the agreement reached.

The Secretary General has said he is not willing to reengage in the peace process unless the two sides on the island commit themselves to concluding the negotiations and agreeing to the referenda. He also stressed that Greece and Turkey must afford the two sides their full support, in the highest level.

[11] US effort on Cyprus will intensify, Boucher says

WASHINGTON 2/2/2004 (CNA/ANA)

Speaking to his regular press briefing on Friday, Boucher reiterated that the US ''has strongly supported at the highest levels the UN Secretary-General's good offices mission for Cyprus and the role of the Secretary-General as facilitator in that process''.

''The Secretary (Powell) said he would be personally involved. I'm sure he'll be active and that this US effort, as we try to build momentum, will in fact intensify'', Boucher said re-plying to questions.

The US spokesman added that Powell talked on Thursday with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan to whom he outlined the US's ''full support for his efforts'' and he discussed the situation, ''promising that we would do what we could to help get the parties to meet his conditions for talks and for moving forward on the issue quickly''.

''The United States has been active with our own diplomats and envoys in trying to encourage support for the Secretary-General's efforts'', Boucher noted, adding that Powell has frequently raised the issue with Turkish and Greek foreign ministers and leaders.

Replying to a question regarding Powell's role in the efforts to reach a settlement in Cyprus, Boucher said that the US role has been and continues to be to support the efforts that the Secretary-General is making.

''The secretary pledged that that sort of role would continue and that he personally would be active in trying to do that'', Boucher noted.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied its northern third.

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