Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 04-03-06

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

CONTENTS

[01] PASOK leader addresses last party rally ahead of Sunday's general elections

[02] ND party leader Karamanlis interview with the ANA

[03] ND leader visits Cephalonia

[04] PASOK confident of election victory, Diamantopoulou says

[05] KKE leader accuses main parties of keeping mum on major issues

[06] Coalition leader promises to fight neoliberalism, regroup Left

[07] Turkish PM holds telephone conversation with PASOK leader, wishes him well

[08] Turkish PM contacts ND leader, wishes him good luck in elections

[09] ND leader pledges support for pensioners, jobless and women in TV interview

[10] FM says Greek government supports FYROM's European orientation

[11] Magriotis on Israel’s decision on Jerusalem's Patriarchate

[12] President Stephanopoulos and PM attend National Bank governor's funeral service

[13] National Bank to issue smart cards for EKO-ELDA

[14] Hellenic Railways to spend 17.7 mln euros on new railcars

[15] Closed-end investment funds' assets rose in February

[16] EU program to support SMEs' activities in Japan

[17] Eurostat data justify govt's economic policy, Diamantopoulou says

[18] Stocks rise again

[19] A total of 175 NOCs adopt world anti-doping code

[20] Public prosecutor begins investigation into origin of defamatory leaflets

[21] Athens Bar takes action against prominent lawyer for barging onto TV show

[22] Kudos for Greece from Int'l Narcotics Control Bureau, in 2003 report

[23] Cypriot president says Turkish Cypriot side made 'odd suggestions'

[24] UN envoy and his team leave for Turkey

[25] Cyprus FM makes representations to British government

[26] US State Department spokesman: Annan plan is good for Cyprus

[01] PASOK leader addresses last party rally ahead of Sunday's general elections

Athens, 6/3/2004 (ANA)

Papandreou focused his address on three points. His vision of the future, the attack on the main opposition New Democracy party and the appeal to voters of other parties.

It also contained Papandreou's positions on the new governance, dilemmas which voters will have to address on Sunday, and his commitments and guarantees regarding the implementation of all that he has announced during his election campaign.

Referring to his vision of the future, Papandreou said it was of a Greece of culture and education, which shall have values, knowledge and creativeness as its strength.

''The measure of our policy and commitments is man, with his needs, his desires, his anxieties and his hopes,'' the PASOK leader said.

Papandreou said the vision also concerns a new Greece for all the Greeks with all the Greeks, as well as a different quality of life, a new culture in day-to-day life focusing on the front-line citizen, a just society and a dignified life.

He said that if elected prime minister, he will guarantee a safe path for the country's future, the country's prestige and international position, nationally acceptable and just solutions to the issues of Cyprus and the continental shelf and real convergence with the European Union over the next 10 years.

Papandreou promised that no young man or young woman under the age of 30 will be left without support. Tens of thousands of part-time jobs will be created, as well as thousands of social work jobs with municipalities.

In addition, civil servants will have a new salary scale resulting from collective negotiations, while large families will enjoy the benefit of one of their children being hired by the public sector or by local administration bodies.

Papandreou lashed out at ND, saying "it was lying in claiming the country was coming last everywhere in Europe," while as Eurostat announced on Friday Greece comes first in growth rate with five percent at a time when ND is promising to achieve the same rate over the next four years.

He said “the conservative party is incapable of guaranteeing anything because its only ideology is the freedom of the market without funds and limits and the deification of profit.”

Papandreou also criticized ND for opposing the policy of Economic and Monetary Union, decisions taken at the EU's Helsinki summit, Olympic Games projects, the Kapodistrias program and even all-day schools.

''It is a party which the only thing it knows how to do well is to talk of disaster, to annul and to disdain,'' he said.

Papandreou stressed that "against the danger of the restoration of the Right stands the only real popular majority, which is the majority of the democratic and progressive party, as well as the citizens voting for all the other progressive parties," who he called on to close ranks since they are linked together in many ways.

Prime Minister Costas Simitis also mounted the rostrum at the end of Papandreou's speech and addressed the rally as well.

[02] ND party leader Karamanlis interview with the ANA

Athens, 6/3/2004 (ANA)

He also made a committal ''for the creation of a state friendly to the citizen'' and that he would also ''give priority to education and culture.''

He said that ''the citizens will become aware of the political change in their daily life.''

Responding to talk of dismissals in the public sector and the transfer of civil servants in the event that the ND wins the March 7 general elections, Karamanlis attributed it to ''propaganda by (the ruling) PASOK which confirms its panic.'' The main opposition leader underlined that ''whoever is capable and honorable, wherever he belongs, whatever he votes, will find us allies.''

''The division of the Greeks is a crime and I'm grieved because PASOK with its new leader (George Papandreou) is harassed by the syndrome of 'hard rock'.''

Karamanlis pledged that ''his doors will be open to the leaders of the opposition parties and to the representatives of the producer classes for dialogue on crucial issues.''

The ND leader stressed that ''the Greek farmers will not remain again without a strong voice in the European decision-taking centers.''

He referred to the policy which he will implement for strengthening the prefectures and to the priority he will give to development, noting that ''the problem is not the non-existence of funds but of their squander, corruption and bureaucracy.''

[03] ND leader visits Cephalonia

Athens, 6/3/2004 (ANA)

''In less than two days we Greeks will carry out the great political change the country needs. I commit myself that as of March 8 I will reciprocate the confidence you are showing in me and all of us together will change our Greece,'' he said.

Karamanlis also said ''we will create a government which will express and serve all Greeks and we will not ask for party identity cards and we will finally put an end to the discriminations and divisions of the past. There will be no ours and theirs in Greece we are envisaging.''

The ND leader reiterated the main points of his policy on the economy, the public sector, education, supporting farmers, the handling of unemployment and regional development.

Karamanlis also made special reference to the tourism development of the islands, stressing that tourism policy will have a special place in the new governance.

Karamanlis was also due to visit the islands of Lefkada and Corfu later in the day, while his visit to the island of Zakynthos was cancelled when strong winds prevailing in the area prevented his helicopter from landing.

Karamanlis visits Corfu and Lefkada: Main opposition New Democracy party leader Costas Karamanlis wrapped up his election campaign, ahead of Sunday's general election, with a rally on the island of Corfu on Friday, criticizing PASOK leader George Papandreou over the standard of the election confrontation.

''When the election period got underway I had the hope that, reaching the end, we could all feel proud of the standard of the election confrontation. I had the hope that PASOK's new leadership would contribute to this. This did not ultimately happen,'' he said.

Karamanlis said he was proud because throughout this period ''ND offered and is offering to the essence and quality of democracy,'' adding that the presence of the parties of the Left (Communist Party of Greece, Coalition of the Radical Left and Democratic Social Movement) had ''the same dignity and seriousness''.

Karamanlis also said the ballot boxes will be opening in a few hours and ''now is the time of the citizen, the time of the will of the wide social alliance to express itself which is turning its back on the past''.

Speaking on the island of Lefkada earlier in the day, Karamanlis said the time of the great political change needed by the country has come and added that he was optimistic and confident over the outcome of Sunday's general elections in the country.

''We have absolute self-confidence. There is no place I visited without seeing new faces with us. The citizens are turning their backs on the establishment and are uniting their voices with the same demand. They are showing that the time is now,'' he said.

''On March 7 you and we will turn a page together, while 2004 is the year of responsibility, it is a wager and a landmark, a milestone and a starting point, a challenge and an opportunity. We are asking for a mandate for a new governance, a mandate for a new government of all the Greeks and for a new policy,'' he added.

[04] PASOK confident of election victory, Diamantopoulou says

Athens, 6/3/2004 (ANA)

She predicted that this optimism would dominate the party's main rally on Friday evening and invited all Greeks to join this ''celebration of democracy'', during which PASOK leader George Papandreou would deliver his message and priorities for the future.

Regarding emigrants, Diamantopoulou reported that mobilization was 50 per cent higher relative to the elections in 2000. She said that 40,000 emigrants had arrived to vote in 2000, meaning that this number would now come 60,000.

Several voters had also sought assistance to travel to the constituencies to vote, she added.

[05] KKE leader accuses main parties of keeping mum on major issues

Athens, 6/3/2004 (ANA)

She noted that little had been said by the parties regarding their positions for the upcoming EU summit on March 25 in Brussels, where she said EU leaders would discuss further privatization for social insurance, health and education, or about the European Constitution, both issues that the government that emerged from the elections would have to handle.

Papariga also stressed that KKE was concerned about the proposed solution for the Cyprus problem and possible secret deals regarding a settlement of differences over the Aegean continental shelf with Turkey.

She said that Greek people should have some criteria for these issues, as well as strictly domestic policy.

[06] Coalition leader promises to fight neoliberalism, regroup Left

Athens, 6/3/2004 (ANA)

He stressed that ruling PASOK and main opposition New Democracy would both implement harsh neoliberal policies once they came into power and that the period following the Olympic Games in Athens would be very difficult for workers and a time when wages, the social insurance system, labor relations and social spending would become the targets of the next government.

Constantopoulos said his party would use the electorate's support to initiate mass, unifying movements to protect the interests of workers and fend off such neoliberal policies. Secondly, it would seek to promote unity and regroup the forces of the Left, including disaffected PASOK voters that disagreed with the party's swing toward neoliberalism, the communist party and citizens' movements.

[07] Turkish PM holds telephone conversation with PASOK leader, wishes him well

Athens, 6/3/2004 (ANA)

According to reports, Erdogan told Papandreou that their cooperation will continue as of Monday (the day after the general elections in Greece) regardless of which position Papandreou will hold.

Papandreou also reiterated the proposal for a mutual reduction of armaments by Greece and Turkey.

[08] Turkish PM contacts ND leader, wishes him good luck in elections

Athens, 6/3/2004 (ANA)

At the end of the conversation, Erdogan said he would be contacting Karamanlis again on Monday, while Karamanlis thanked him for his good wishes.

[09] ND leader pledges support for pensioners, jobless and women in TV interview

Athens, 6/3/2004 (ANA)

He also revealed for the first time that ND was considering a measure to relieve delays in the issue of pensions, by which pensioners would receive up to 80 per cent of their pension from the first day of their retirement.

ND's leader stressed that people working in the public sector had nothing to fear if ND was elected to government.

In response to questions regarding public-sector contract workers, meanwhile, he reiterated his earlier promises for a final resolution, noting that people were currently suffering. ''It is an issue of exploitation and it will be solved,'' he underlined.

During the interview, he ruled out any increase in the age of retirement or social insurance contributions and said that earlier announcements for an increase in farming pensions and the pension supplement benefit EKAS would be implemented within four years.

Karamanlis also announced plans to create an ombudsman especially for women if he is elected.

[10] FM says Greek government supports FYROM's European orientation

SKOPJE 6/3/2004 (ANA/N. Frangopoulos)

Giannitsis said the rapprochement with European structures by whatever candidate country necessitates the fulfillment of a series of criteria which FYROM is in a position to meet and reach the same level of negotiating and final outcome as other countries in the region, Bulgaria and Romania, which have a visible horizon for EU accession.

The foreign minister said FYROM's deceased President Boris Trajkovski had worked systematically and with self-denial for peace and stability in his country, adding that it is characteristic of these efforts by him that these achievements are in no danger despite his loss.

Giannitsis further said Greece desires the strengthening of friendly relations and of political and economic cooperation with FYROM and pointed out that the Greek government is interested in particular in economic growth and stability in the wider region.

Giannitsis visited FYROM's Parliament in the morning, where Trajkovski's body lay in state, and paid his respects and extended his condolences to the family of the deceased president, while attending his funeral at the Butel cemetery in Skopje later on.

[11] Magriotis on Israel’s decision on Jerusalem's Patriarchate

Athens, 6/3/2004 (ANA)

''This outcome is especially positive since it eliminates the final obstacle in recognizing the Patriarch of Jerusalem,'' Magriotis said.

He also emphasized the concerted efforts of the Greek government and the World Council of Hellenes Abroad made in securing this success.

The Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Holy Sepulchre Fraternity have contributed to Hellenism and Orthodoxy for thousands of years.

Simitis, Karamanlis express condolences for Ph. Iliou

Greek historian and researcher Philippos Iliou died on Friday at the age of 73 from cancer.

Prime Minister Costas Simitis expressed his deepest sympathy for the death of Iliou, describing him as a ''distinguished historian and researcher of the neohellenic enlightenment and recent Greek history,'' as well as expressing his condolences to the deceased's family.

New Democracy party leader Costas Karamanlis also expressed his condolences to Iliou's family, but also to the Coalition of the Radical Left to which the historian belonged. ''Philippos Iliou had been a fighter throughout his life. He distinguished himself as an excellent historian and a tireless spiritual and intellectual figure. He served the Left's principles and values ethically, responsibly, and courageously, thus paying tribute to his father's - Elias Iliou - legacy,'' Karamanlis said.

Iliou was a candidate in the Coalition of Radical Left ticket for Sunday’s general election.

[12] President Stephanopoulos and PM attend National Bank governor's funeral service

Athens, 6/3/2004 (ANA)

Archbishop of Athens and all Greece Christodoulos officiated at the funeral service for Karatzas who died earlier this week.

Simitis said the Greek banking system owes its modernization and restructuring to Theodoros Karatzas to a great degree.

[13] National Bank to issue smart cards for EKO-ELDA

Athens, 6/3/2004 (ANA)

The first card will be offered to all customers of EKO-ELDA's petrol retail network around the country and the second card will be designed as a fleet card for all cooperating companies.

[14] Hellenic Railways to spend 17.7 mln euros on new railcars

Athens, 6/3/2004 (ANA)

Hellenic Railways is expected to sign the supply contract, worth 17.67 million euros, by the end of next week, with the first railcar expected to be delivered in 28 months after signing the contract and the fourth eight months later, in total within a period of 36 months.

[15] Closed-end investment funds' assets rose in February

Athens, 6/3/2004 (ANA)

A monthly report by the Union of Institutional Investors said that a 0.8 percent increase in the general index of the Athens Stock Exchange in February had positively affected investment funds' assets.

The report also said that average returns of the sector rose in February, with the average weighed return rising to 6.04 percent from -15.52 percent in the same month last year, while average numerical return rose to 3.87 percent from -7.98 percent over the same period, respectively.

Average weighed discount price, however, was set at -9.41 percent in February 2004 from -4.93 percent last year. A total of 20 investment funds were traded at a discount ranging from 3.23 percent to 26 percent in February, with only two funds trading at a premium in the month.

[16] EU program to support SMEs' activities in Japan

Athens, 6/3/2004 (ANA)

The Chamber announced that the program has organized three business delegations and one exhibition to be held in Japan by the end of 2004 and urged Greek SMEs to participate in these events.

All eligible enterprises will be prepared and briefed over the Japanese market through a series of seminars.

[17] Eurostat data justify govt's economic policy, Diamantopoulou says

Athens, 6/3/2004 (ANA)

Speaking to reporters, Mrs Diamantopoulou stressed that Greece recorded the highest growth rate in the European Union, with an average growth rate of 4.7 percent in 2003, exceeding a 3.8 percent forecast. Growth rates in the European Union was 0.9 percent. Spain and the UK followed Greece with growth rates of 2.4 percent each.

Mr Diamantopoulou said that the government has already achieved the growth target set by main opposition ND party in its program for the next four years and justified the government's economic policy.

[18] Stocks rise again

Athens, 6/3/2004 (ANA)

The general share index gained 0.77 per cent to end at 2,489.38 points. Turnover was 243.1 million euros.

The FTSE/ASE-20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks ended 0.99 per cent up; the FTSE/ASE-40 for medium capitalization paper 0.01 per cent lower; and the FTSE/ASE-80 for small cap equities gained 0.69 per cent.

Of stocks traded, advances led declines at 219 to 82 with 59 issues remaining unchanged.

FOREIGN EXCHANGE

Closing rates of March 5 2004

Parities in euro

For. Exchange Buying Selling

US Dollar 1,229 1,200

[19] A total of 175 NOCs adopt world anti-doping code

Athens, 6/3/2004 (ANA)

The code's objective is to safeguard the athletes' right to doping-free Games, thus promoting healthy and capable athletes. NOCs that have adopted the code currently number 175 out of a total of 202 that actively participate in the Olympic Movement, including the Greek Olympic Committee, while 99 governments have countersigned the code, among them the Greek government.

Major international sports federations, such as track, water sports, basketball, and weightlifting, have also accepted the World Anti-Doping Code.

[20] Public prosecutor begins investigation into origin of defamatory leaflets

Athens, 6/3/2004 (ANA)

Angelopoulos testified that he had received an open envelope containing the offending material.

The public prosecutor may also interview post office employee Vassilis Kotsiantis later in the day, who is also said to have information regarding the leaflets.

In the meantime, the public prosecutor's office has ordered the Greek Post Offices (ELTA) to keep another 1,200 envelopes belonging to the same batch at the Lenorman sorting center until Sunday and distribute them after that day.

The discovery of the mass mailing containing defamatory claims about Papandreou on Wednesday further escalated rising tensions between the two main parties, ruling PASOK and main opposition ND, on the eve of the election on Sunday.

The unsigned material heaps criticism on Papandreou on issues ranging from religion to euthanasia to Greece’s relations with neighboring Turkey. According to reports, the intended recipients were priests and Orthodox Church parishes. The leaflets bear the name of an unregistered organization called “Citizens’ Action for the Protection of Our Heritage”, which is not listed in court records.

Ruling PASOK’s spokeswoman, EU Commissioner Anna Diamantopoulou, on Wednesday presented photographs of what she said were ND employees stamping and unloading the controversial folders at a central Athens post office, something that the main opposition’s spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos vehemently denied a few hours later, saying the party had absolutely no connection to the specific leaflets.

In a related incident, ND candidate Sotiris Kouvelas on Friday filed a suit against the secretary of the PASOK prefectural committee in Thessaloniki, Nikolaos Kritharidis, for making slanderous claims that accuse Kouvelas of disseminating campaign leaflets along with quasi-religious material attacking Papandreou outside churches.

Kouvelas vehemently denied having ever used churches to hand out campaign material or any connection to the defamatory material and accused Kritharidis of continuing to make allegations against him even though he had been informed they were untrue in order to harm his election prospects.

[21] Athens Bar takes action against prominent lawyer for barging onto TV show

Athens, 6/3/2004 (ANA)

The lawyer has been charged with engaging in undignified behavior that violates the barristers' code and the legal profession's code of conduct.

In a decision on Thursday, the Athens Bar had ordered Kougias not to appear on the television program ''Zougla'' broadcast by Alter TV to present the positions of his client, MP and PASOK candidate Stavros Vrentzos.

In spite of this, he forced his way into the station and onto the set early on Friday morning, where he verbally attacked the presenter Makis Triantafyllopoulos and participants in the show, as well as coming to blows with station employees that were trying to prevent him climb over the closed outer gate.

According to Paxinos, the lawyer's behavior was exceedingly undignified and compromised the entire legal profession, engendering extremely unfavourable comments against him and against the prestige of the legal profession.

Vrentzos has sued Triantafyllopoulos and two participants on his show for libel, after they accused the MP of torturing four conscripts during the 1967-1973 junta.

[22] Kudos for Greece from Int'l Narcotics Control Bureau, in 2003 report

NEW YORK 6/3/2004 (ANA/P. Panagiotou)

The authors of the newly-released report congratulate Greece on the efforts made by the Greek EU presidency (during the first half of 2003) to promote a uniform policy of combatting narcotics at global level.

The report notes that Greece organized a conference in Athens in March 2003 on the them ''For an effective policy on narcotics'', and that a month later, during a ministerial conference in the framework of the commission on combatting drugs, the Greek representative stressed, on behalf of the EU, the need for full implementation of the existing international treaties.

The report, which lists several countries facing major problems with narcotic substances, notes a ''limited use of Indian cannabis'' in Greece, as well as cases of seizure of quantities of methadone or methadone by-products.

The contents of the report are the result of cooperation among 13 experts at the International Narcotics Control Bureau, which was set up in 1961 for the purpose of monitoring countries' adherence to the international legal status on controlling the trafficking of narcotic substances.

The report further stressed the need for further study and combatting the trafficking of prohibited pharmaceutical substances via the Internet.

It stressed the continuing trafficking of narcotic substances via the ''Balkan route'' comprising Iran, Turkey and Balkan countries, and also via Eastern Europe.

[23] Cypriot president says Turkish Cypriot side made 'odd suggestions'

NICOSIA 6/3/2004 (CNA/ANA)

He told reporters after the end of Friday's second week of negotiations that the National Council (top advisory body to the President on the handling of the Cyprus problem) would convene on Saturday to be briefed by him on the developments.

President Papadopoulos said on Friday they discussed the proposal submitted by the Greek Cypriot side that territories which will be returned should come under UN administration, ''a suggestion which the Turkish side has rejected from the start, without even discussing the proposal.''

He said the Turkish side ''explained its positions'' on the resettlement of those who will be relocated, mainly the Turkish Cypriots, adding ''we heard some odd suggestions, for instance, no one should move until another place is found for their resettlement as well as satisfactory employment and that those displaced since 1963 will remain in the areas where they are currently residing.''

President Papadopoulos said that ''what remains unclear is whether they suggest that Turkish Cypriots who are currently living in the territories which will be returned, should not be relocated,'' adding that discussion on these issues will resume on Monday.

Invited to comment on rumors that Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash and the so-called foreign minister of the puppet-regime Serdar Denktash will withdraw from the talks, President Papadopoulos said he was not aware of it and would not comment.

The Cypriot president said the talks currently underway are held in ''three stages, one succeeds the other. The effort is to minimize differences, decrease the pending issues and it is up to the UN Secretary General to evaluate whether the differences have been diminished.''

Responding to other questions Papadopoulos said he hoped the view that the solution which the Secretary General provides should be on a equal footing between the two sides is not accepted, noting this ''would be unproductive and would encourage each side to increase its demands in an effort to bring the solution closer to its positions.''

Papadopoulos also said that irrespective of the result of Sunday's elections in Greece, its policy on Cyprus remains unchanged.

[24] UN envoy and his team leave for Turkey

NICOSIA 6/3/2004 (CNA/ANA)

UNFICYP spokesman Brian Kelly told CNA that de Soto, escorted by members of his team, set out at about 1310 (1110 GMT) and flew by helicopter from Nicosia down to Akrotiri British Base, near the southern coastal town of Limassol, ''to pick up the UN plane and take off from there''.

Kelly said ''the UN plane was provided by a number of UN member states for which we are very grateful.''

He also noted that de Soto and the members of his team are expected to return to Cyprus on Saturday.

UN-led negotiations are currently underway in Nicosia in an effort to reach a comprehensive settlement to the Cyprus problem.

[25] Cyprus FM makes representations to British government

NICOSIA 6/3/2004 (CNA/ANA)

The Cypriot minister summoned Britain's High Commissioner to Cyprus Lyn Parker, who undertook to convey the Cypriot government’s positions to Straw.

Iacovou told the press on Friday that ''everybody should be cautious in the use of terms and in their predictions for the future.''

Straw had told CNN Turk that if Greek Cypriots say ''no'' in a referendum for a solution to the Cyprus problem they would represent only the southern part of the island when the Cyprus Republic joins the European Union on May 1 this year.

Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos recalled on Thursday there is an EU decision concerning Cyprus' status after its accession to the EU.

According to the Treaty of Accession signed in Athens last April and ratified by all member states of the European Union Cyprus will become a full member of the Union on May 1, 2004, together with other nine countries.

A British Foreign Office spokesman said on Thursday night the legal position as regards to Cyprus' accession to the European Union remains clear, noting that ''in the absence of a settlement, a divided Cyprus will join the EU and the application of the acquis would be suspended in the north.''

[26] US State Department spokesman: Annan plan is good for Cyprus

WASHINGTON 6/3/2004 (CNA/ANA)

Boucher told his daily briefing on Thursday that the reason why US officials, State Department Special Coordinator for Cyprus Thomas Weston included, work hard, all in support of the Annan plan, is ''because it is the best way for Cypriots to reach agreement and move forward together into the European Union.''

The spokesman disagreed with a remark that the US insists on a plan which no one wants.'''No one wants it' is wrong. There are a lot of people that want it. It's good for Cyprus, it's good for the Cypriots, it gives them an opportunity, it gives them hope, it gives Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots hope for the future.''

''I think you'll see there's a lot of support. There's obviously a lot of political debate about its provisions. But the United States support for trying to reach a settlement is there, and we think the Annan plan is the way to do it'', Boucher said.

Noting that there are many people who believe that this is the best opportunity for Cyprus in a long time, he added ''the Turkish government has supported working with the Annan plan. The Greek government has. Both Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots have accepted to discuss it. They're sitting there now discussing it.''

He expressed the view that ''it's good for us not to overreact to day-to-day statements that the various sides make, but rather to really focus on what can be done to reach agreement.''

''And that's where our focus is, that's why we send Mr. Weston, Ambassador Weston out there, and that's why we have our ambassadors in Cyprus working hard, all in support of the Annan plan, because it is the best way for Cypriots to reach agreement and move forward together into the European Union,'' Boucher said.

Answering a remark on what would be the next step if there is a deadlock he said: ''we break the deadlock and go on.''

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