Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 04-06-10

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

CONTENTS

[01] Prime Minister reiterates pledge for "aggressive" agricultural policy

[02] Gov't reiterates commitment to EU-level anti-terror measures

[03] King Harald of Norway meets Greek prime minister

[04] Bakoyannis speech at the Greek embassy in Washington

[05] US Attorney General John Ashcroft says Greece and not the US is responsible for security at the Athens Olympic Games

[06] Gov't accuses main opposition leader of altering the facts during party-leader debate

[07] Greek defense minister meets Dutch counterpart in Athens

[08] Public order minister meets Albanian counterpart

[09] Papandreou visits Schistos Industrial Park

[10] Communist Party leader addresses rally in Athens ahead of Euroelections

[11] Domestic fuel prices steadily falling, gov't says

[12] Finance minister calls for Economic Affairs Committee meeting

[13] Tourism minister and Chinese counterpart sign proclamation for promoting Olympic tourism

[14] Transport and Communications Minister Mihalis Liapis holds talks with Turkish counterpart

[15] Stocks drop for third consecutive session

[16] Olympic Torch Relay continues in Beijing

[17] Close cooperation between Palli-Petralia and Athens 2004 President

[18] Public order minister reiterates conviction that Athens Olympics will be safe

[19] Athens 2004 President meets with Foreign Minister

[20] 'Greece in the gardens of Vienna' tourism event held

[21] Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos to make official visit to Austria

[22] President Papadopoulos responds to Annan's report

[23] Reconciliation rests in Cypriot hands, says US Ambassador to

[24] US supports renewal of UNFICYP's mandate of no more than four months

[01] Prime Minister reiterates pledge for "aggressive" agricultural policy

Athens, 10/6/2004 (ANA)

Speaking to reporters, after a visit to Agriculture Bank's main offices, the Greek premier said: "We are determined to give this fight with perseverance, with arguments and optimism to support farmers who have supported the Greek economy and were excluded from the previous government's priorities".

Mr Karamanlis stressed that Greek farmers have realized that they would not lose their fields, or houses in auctions, because Agriculture Bank's new board has suspended all auctions on unpaid debt, and noted that a new government legislation -soon to be submitted to parliament- would ease the debt burden from penalty interest rates on farmers.

"Agriculture Bank is becoming a bank for farmers again, leaving behind past practices," Karamanlis said and added that the new board has already announced the reduction of interest rates on 180,000 loans and other credit facilities that helped in the timely payment of subsidies and financial support for cotton, olive oil and raisin growers.

The Prime Minister reiterated his commitment to secure payment of compensations to farmers within three months, while he announced the launch of a procedure to revalue damages inflicted on Greek farms by recent floods.

[02] Gov't reiterates commitment to EU-level anti-terror measures

Athens, 10/6/2004 (ANA)

He also noted that the decision had been made a long time ago and the processing of the draft bill had been carried out under the previous government. Asked whether the bill would allow Greek citizens to be extradited, Roussopoulos said this was "a legal question" on which Greek laws were clear.

[03] King Harald of Norway meets Greek prime minister

Athens, 10/6/2004 (ANA)

Later on Wednesday, the Norwegian Monarch is due to receive main opposition PASOK leader George Papandreou, the head of the Coalition of the Radical Left party Nikos Constantopoulos and the head of the Athens Olympics organizing committee Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki, who will be visiting him at his hotel.

King Harald of Norway meets opposition leaders: King Harald of Norway received courtesy visits by main opposition PASOK party leader George Papandreou and Coalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology leader Nikos Constantopoulos on Wednesday.

Speaking after the meeting, Papandreou referred to Tuesday's televised debate between party leaders, saying "we are doing strict opposition because we don't want the government to stay with words but to go ahead with deeds. We call on our voters to be present on Sunday (the day the Euroelections will be held)."

Constantopoulos said after his meeting there are many common interests between Greece and Norway and a great friendship, adding that the king's visit contributes to good cooperation between the two countries.

Athens 2004 President meets with Norway's royal couple: King Harald of Norway, currently on an official visit to Greece, received Athens 2004 Olympic Games Organizing Committee President Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki on Wednesday afternoon.

After their meeting, Angelopoulos-Daskalaki said, "the King of Norway is, first of all, a sports lover, he is very interested in sports and he and the Queen were interested in finding out how preparations are progressing. His son and successor to the throne will represent him during the Games, but despite this they wished us their best and said they will be thinking of us and expressed their belief that these will be excellent Games."

King Harald of Norway attends ELIAMEP symposium on global security: King Harald V of Norway, currently in Athens on an official visit with his wife Queen Sonja, on Wednesday attended a symposium on the theme "Challenges to global security - What Europe can do" organized by the Greek think-tank ELIAMEP (Hellenic Institute for European and Foreign Policy).

The symposium was organized in collaboration with the Norwegian foreign ministry, while speakers included Greek Foreign Minister Petros Molyviatis, his Norwegian counterpart Jan Petersen ambassadors and academics.

In his address, Molyviatis noted the need for international cooperation to deal with terrorism, while stressing the great difficulties involved in this attempt, even when cooperation existed.

Petersen said that dealing with the new challenges to security should be done with respect for human rights and international law, while he referred to the role that could be played in this regard by the United Nations. Regarding NATO's role in the new world order, the Norwegian minister said the Alliance's presence in Afghanistan would be a "test" of its credibility.

Regarding Iraq, Petersen said that an international military presence in the country was seen as necessary, at least until

Iraqis were in a position to handle the issue of security themselves.

Asked whether Norway would again apply to join the European Union, the minister said his party was in favor of Norway's EU accession but had to respect the fact that it was participating in a coalition government.

Other speakers at the event included Athens University professor and ELIAMEP president Loukas Tsoukalis and the director of the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI) Sverre Lodgaard.

[04] Bakoyannis speech at the Greek embassy in Washington

WASHINGTON 10/6/2004 (ANA - T. Ellis)

"In an uncertain world, Athens will be the safest city [during the Games]," Bakoyannis reiterated, assuring attendees that Greece has made great efforts to ensure that the Athens Games are the safest possible.

The Greek ambassador praised Bakoyannis efforts and emphasized that following the changes Athens has undergone, the Greek capital is now a much more livable city.

[05] US Attorney General John Ashcroft says Greece and not the US is responsible for security at the Athens Olympic Games

WASHINGTON 10/6/2004 (ANA - T. Ellis)

The question put by Senator Kohl and the reply he received from Ashcroft read as follows:

SEN. KOHL: "Mr. Attorney General, last month FBI Director Mueller testified here. I questioned him about security at the upcoming Summer Olympic Games. His answer was not entirely satisfying. He acknowledged that there were gaps in Greek security but that it was too early to assess how well the Greek authorities were doing to fill these gaps. Can you give us some further information, some further sense of assurance?"

ATTY GEN. ASHCROFT: "Well, the United States of America is not responsible for security at the Greek Games. We are interested in assisting and providing assistance, but the responsibility for the security is the responsibility of the Greek nation, and it's on their territory, it's in their sovereign jurisdiction. And the FBI and our department, we're involved in preparations. Shortly after 9/11, you'll remember, we had the Winter Olympics under the jurisdiction of the chairman of this committee, and we spent a lot of time and energy considering security.

We've sent a team of individuals that were involved in that endeavor to make sure that those involved with the Games in Greece have a capacity to understand what our -- what the challenges are. We've provided input for a Europe whole threat assessment for the Greek Games. Our ambassador has coordinated with a working group regarding security. We will do what we can to be of assistance. I know that there are other parts of this administration other than the Justice Department that are aggressively involved, and during the operational period of the Games, the FBI will be deploying a team of personnel to Athens but, very frankly, much of security is determined before the Games begin, and the structure and the way things are set up, and the way things are done.

The support that we have been involved in developing has been a matter of our volunteering to assist. The FBI has not been given any specific operational tasking in support of the Olympic Games, nor has the FBI been given any specific operational mandate in the event of an incident during the Games. But we are providing the help that is being requested and trying to provide input that will elevate the level of security and reduce the risk to both athletes and spectators in that."

[06] Gov't accuses main opposition leader of altering the facts during party-leader debate

Athens, 10/6/2004 (ANA)

Specifically, Roussopoulos said Papandreou had wrongfully presented New Democracy as supporting the import of genetically-modified (GMO) products when in fact, Greece's agriculture minister Savvas Tsitouridis had voted against the proposal at the EU Council of ministers.

He also refuted Papandreou's claim that the Greek economy was "in custody" at the EU, saying this would have been a more fitting description for the years 2002 and 2003 when EU agencies had disputed the figures given them by the PASOK government and sent their own auditors to check and increase the size of the Greek budget deficit.

Thirdly, the denied Papandreou's claim that the government had fired 5,000 members of staff at the culture ministry, pointing out that the entire staff at the ministry numbered just 6,500 and that such a move was practically impossible.

On the issues raised during Tuesday's debate, Roussopoulos said the government believed that there should first be extensive testing over a long period of time before GMOs went into widespread use in order to prove that they are not harmful to health.

With regard to the election of a new president of the republic, the spokesman said this was a major issue that the government would tackle at the appropriate time, while noting that the government always sought dialogue and consensus on such major decision concerning the country.

[07] Greek defense minister meets Dutch counterpart in Athens

Athens, 10/6/2004 (ANA)

Kemp's visit was within the framework of his contacts in view of the Dutch presidency of the EU.

They also discussed issues concerning bilateral cooperation in the defense-industry sector.

According to sources, during the meeting there was recognition on the part of The Netherlands of the directive lines concerning the armaments sector, in accordance with the policy commitments of the government on transparency.

There was also an identity of views regarding issues for the confrontation of crises and participation in multi-national operations.

In statements, the two ministers expressed certainty that Athens will host the safest Olympic Games, which will constitute a great success as a sports event worldwide.

[08] Public order minister meets Albanian counterpart

Athens, 10/6/2004 (ANA)

Voulgarakis thanked his Albanian counterpart on the readiness, understanding and contribution of Tirana regarding the precautionary measures which the Albanian side is taking for the security of the Olympic Games in Greece.

He termed this help as very important, which, as he said, contributes in general to the climate of security and the combatting of crime in the broader region.

On his part, Toschka said that the measures being taken by the Albanian government are similar with the measures that Albania would have taken in the event that the Olympic Games were held in Albania.

[09] Papandreou visits Schistos Industrial Park

Athens, 10/6/2004 (ANA)

Biotechnical Chamber of Piraeus President Evangelos Tsitouras, receiving Papandreou, expressed the need for a more flexible legislative framework which will contribute to the lay out organization and autonomy of the enterprises at the industrial and biotechnical parks.

Tsitouras said the Schistos Industrial Park will contribute significantly for Piraeus to undertake a protagonist role of the international shipping, commerce and ship-repair centre.

[10] Communist Party leader addresses rally in Athens ahead of Euroelections

Athens, 10/6/2004 (ANA)

Papariga focused her address on the party's position towards the European Union and the significance of votes in the Euroelections, calling on citizens to show their strength on June 13.

"Those of you who gave, with a cold heart, your vote to New Democracy and PASOK in the national elections, do what you should do now. Turn your backs on them. You constitute a considerable force," she said.

Referring to the ruling New Democracy party, Papariga said "there is no good in ND emerging with gains from the Euroelections" because "its is very ready to use your vote to pass a new storm of anti-popular measures."

As regards the main opposition PASOK party, she said "voting for PASOK is to no avail. Its leadership in its entirety has abandoned positive and useful slogans for the people years ago. Its anti-popular work is not being written off. ND is stepping on it and continuing."

Papariga said "renewal is the emancipation of peoples from the one-way European path and submission. Accord, the unity of action of the working class, with the poor self-employed, low and medium-bracket farmers, women's and youth movements and of all radical movements and groupings against monopolies and the options of the European Union constitute renewal. There is no half-way solution."

The KKE leader also warned against the so-call "slack vote", saying abstention supports the present correlation of power.

[11] Domestic fuel prices steadily falling, gov't says

Athens, 10/6/2004 (ANA)

Speaking to reporters, after the meeting, Sioufas stressed that "an increase in inspections, the activation of a Competition Commission and other government interventions have begun bearing fruit," while he predicted that fuel prices would continue falling in the coming days. The Greek minister said that a government-drafted action plan aimed to protect consumers was offering results. "We will win this battle against price increases together...We want active citizens, savvy consumers and dynamic consumer organizations," Sioufas said.

The Greek minister said that healthy competition and free markets did not relate with profiteering.

Speaking to reporters, Development Deputy Minister George Salagoudis said that the meeting with representatives from the fuel market helped in breaking a long-standing rule prevailing in domestic markets of "what goes up never comes down". Salagoudis said that government agencies would begin recording fuel prices from Friday and predicted a further decline of prices in the next two or three days.

Dimitris Makrivelios, president of the union of petrol station owners, said that domestic fuel prices were following price trends in international markets and pledged that union members would react quickly to these trends.

Competition Commission imposes heavy penalties on petrol station owners: Greece's Competition Commission on Wednesday announced a decision to impose heavy penalties on eight petrol station owners as part of its efforts to combat unjustified price increases in the domestic fuel market.

The eight petrol stations were located in the Arta prefecture and the penalty totals 3.0 percent of their gross revenues for the previous year, approximately around 14,860-43,701 euros.

The Competition Commission said it would continue inspections in the market, focusing on signs of harmonized practices by several companies.

[12] Finance minister calls for Economic Affairs Committee meeting

Athens, 10/6/2004 (ANA)

The minister addressed a relevant letter to Parliament's Economic affairs Committee President Theodoros Kassimis on Wednesday.

[13] Tourism minister and Chinese counterpart sign proclamation for promoting Olympic tourism

Athens, 10/6/2004 (ANA)

For this purpose, the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) will immediately open two offices in Beijing and Shanghai and the two sides decided to proceed with negotiations for a new, updated Greek-Chinese tourism agreement immediately after the Athens Games.

During his stay in the Chinese capital, Avramopoulos will have meetings with members of China's tourism industry to discuss opening the Greek tourism market to Far East destinations.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Greek minister was the official guest of the Beijing Olympics organizing committee president Liu Qi, a high-ranking official in the Communist Party of China and a former mayor of Beijing, at events for the lighting of the Olympic flame in the city and the Olympic Torch Relay.

[14] Transport and Communications Minister Mihalis Liapis holds talks with Turkish counterpart

Athens, 10/6/2004 (ANA)

The two ministers agreed to have procedures speeded up and the link to take place earlier than in October, as had initially been agreed.

Liapis and Yildirim confirmed the good level of relations existing between the two countries, while Liapis thanked his Turkish counterpart for his offer that Turkey help with whatever Greece might need in light of the Athens Olympic Games.

[15] Stocks drop for third consecutive session

Athens, 10/6/2004 (ANA)

The Athens general share index closed at 2,406.52 points, showing a 0.21 per cent decrease. Turnover was 121.2 million euros.

The FTSE/ASE-20 index for high capitalization shares ended 0.10 per cent lower; the FTSE/ASE-40 for medium cap stocks closed 0.09 per cent down; and the FTSE/ASE-80 for small cap shares finished 0.43 per cent lower.

Of stocks traded, declines led advances at 176 to 113 with 67 remaining unchanged.

[16] Olympic Torch Relay continues in Beijing

Athens, 10/6/2004 (ANA)

The ceremony was held at Tiananmen Square. BOCOG Vice President Li Zhijian was the first torchbearer; the last torchbearer was China's NBA star Yao Ming. The closing ceremony for the torch relay was held at the Summer Palace.

The Olympic Flame's next stop will be New Delhi on Thursday.

[17] Close cooperation between Palli-Petralia and Athens 2004 President

Athens, 10/6/2004 (ANA)

"As we get closer to the Opening Ceremony - and even much earlier than that - the meetings with Mrs. Angelopoulos will be more frequent in order to solve anything that is pending for the Olympic Games, from the most minor to the most significant of issues. We had very good cooperation which aims at a single goal: the successful and safe staging of the Athens Games," Petralia said after the meeting.

Asked to comment on IOC President Jacques Rogge's comments, Petralia said, "right now it is time to get to work. It's not a time for talking. There is only one goal, above everything and everyone else: The national goal for these Games to be successful and for us to promote an image of Greece that is worthy of us. Nothing else."

"We have begun working intensely, frequently and effectively with Mrs. Petralia, because we both have a common goal which is to finish organizing the Games," Angelopoulos-Daskalaki said. She emphasized that, "being that we are down to the last 60 days, all problems must be solved, there is no more room to postpone things."

Also asked about Rogge's comments and whether she was expecting them, Angelopoulos-Daskalaki said, "the important thing is to finish organizing the Games; to complete preparations and to be ready in August. Furthermore, all Games are judged from the opening ceremony until the closing ceremony. It is during these 17 days that our work will be judged."

[18] Public order minister reiterates conviction that Athens Olympics will be safe

Athens, 10/6/2004 (ANA)

"I am certain and convinced that we have done everything humanly possible to offer a safe Olympiad. If with such a climate of preparation we cannot ensure the security of the Olympics, then no country will be able to manage it," the minister stressed.

While conceding that the cost of Olympics security was huge, he noted that it would leave behind a "great legacy" for the Greek police after the Games, with new equipment and technology at their disposal, a renewed fleet of vehicles and expert training that would launch the Greek police force in to a "new orbit" of higher standards and efficiency.

"We will become an export power in crisis management and assessment of threats," he said.

Voulgarakis also noted that he did not see the Olympic bonus demanded by police as excessive, pointing out that the huge security effort for the Olympics will be impossible without them. "On behalf of all Greeks I wish to thank you all," he said.

About 1,100 police officers, a company of army troops, the coast guard and the Crete fire department will be deployed for the security of the Olympics soccer tournament that will take place on Crete.

[19] Athens 2004 President meets with Foreign Minister

Athens, 10/6/2004 (ANA)

Angelopoulos-Daskalaki told reporters that she has a good working relationship with the ministry.

[20] 'Greece in the gardens of Vienna' tourism event held

VIENNA 10/6/2004 (ANA/D. Dimitrakoudis)

The beautiful "Greek garden", which has become permanently incorporated in the enormous installations of the Floriculture Schools of the federal state and the city of Vienna, welcomed, within the framework of a "Greek evening", more than 300 guests, mainly from the field of tourism and journalism.

The guests had the opportunity, not only to experience Greek hospitality, but to be briefed by EOT Austria staff on the countless tourism destinations in Greece and on the hosting of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games.

[21] Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos to make official visit to Austria

VIENNA 10/6/2004 (ANA)

On the occasion of the Patriarch's visit, celebrations will be held on June 19-20 to mark the 200th anniversary of the establishment of the National School of Vienna, the oldest Greek school abroad, and the 200th anniversary of the establishment of the first Greek Orthodox cathedral, that of Saint George, in the Austrian capital. The celebrations will also be attended by Greek President Kostis Stephanopoulos.

During his visit to Austria, the Patriarch will hold talks with outgoing Austrian President Tomas Klestil, as well as with the country's newly-elected future President Hainz Fischer, Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel and members of the Austrian government.

[22] President Papadopoulos responds to Annan's report

UNITED NATIONS 10/6/2004 (CNA/ANA)

The call is contained in a letter outlining his positions with regard to Annan's report on the latest failed attempt to reunite Cyprus, on the basis of the Annan plan for a comprehensive settlement, which the Greek Cypriots rejected by 76 per cent and the Turkish Cypriots approved by 65 per cent.

In his letter, Papadopoulos was critical of Annan's special adviser Alvaro de Soto's role during the negotiating process and in connection with his input in the report, outlined to the Secretary-General serious inaccuracies, fallacious assumptions and erroneous interpretations in his report, said that Turkey gained benefits following Ankara's insistence and questioned Turkey's genuine good will for implementing the plan.

Papadopoulos expressed serious doubts on whether the Annan plan was compatible with the acquis communautaire, dismissed suggestions that he had not submitted his views on security concerns and warned that direct links with the illegal regime would set a dangerous precedent for the future.

''I urge your Excellency to seriously consider the direct implications of the suggestion contained in paragraph 93 of the Report for the reunification of Cyprus,'' President Papadopoulos said in his letter, dated June 7, referring to Annan's call to Council members to ''cooperate both bilaterally and in international bodies to eliminate unnecessary restrictions and barriers that have the effect of isolating the Turkish Cypriots, deeming such a move as consistent with Security Council resolutions 541 and 550'' both of which call all states ''not to facilitate or in any way assist'' the Turkish Cypriot entity.

Papadopoulos likened the authors of the report to judges and jury of the overall outcome of the negotiating process and said Greek Cypriot concerns ''were to a great extent, ignored," noting that de Soto refused to discuss suggestions to adopt a triggering off mechanism relating to the right of intervention under the Treaty of Guarantee (Greece, Turkey and the UK are the guarantor powers according to the 1960 Treaty).

President Papadopoulos talked about ''a flawed negotiating method'' and described the assumption that Greek Cypriots had actually rejected reunification ''unfounded and insulting.''

He said that the report omitted any reference to the benefits Turkey and others had accrued from the plan and bore ''an uncanny resemblance to a well-known document of a permanent Security Council member.''

President Papadopoulos explained that Turkey's powers of intervention and supervision were ''in reality enormous," Ankara persuaded the UN to accept to bind the United Cyprus Republic (UCR) that would have emerged from a solution by treaties which Ankara and the illegal regime had clinched, Turkey secured provisions preventing the UCR to exploit and explore her maritime resources and managed to secure a provision that changes to Cyprus' air space were essentially subject to Turkey's consent.

He said the plan provided for the entirety of Turkish settlers to remain on the island and left open the possibility for a permanent flow of settlers, much to the strong disagreement of the Greek Cypriot side. Papadopoulos said the ''allegation'' that he never presented proposals on security to Council members was ''totally inaccurate and offensive," since on March 15 a voluminous paper was submitted.

''Either your Excellency, advised by Mr de Soto, did not give serious consideration to our positions on such a crucial issue or Mr de Soto did not bother to read our paper with due care and attention,'' the letter added.

Papadopoulos pointed out that ''it would be very imprudent to rely on Turkey's good will for the full, prompt and proper implementation'' of the plan and that ''the Turkish government continues its unjustified hostile policy against Cyprus.''

To this end, Ankara deliberately did not extend its customs union agreement to Cyprus, continued to hinder the accession of Cyprus to a number of technical international organizations, including the OECD, and Cyprus' commercial fleet was still denied the right to approach Turkish ports.

''It is more than evident that Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot leadership are not genuinely interested about the economic development of the Turkish Cypriot community, but primarily for the upgrading and ultimate recognition of the secessionist entity,'' President Papadopoulos said.

[23] Reconciliation rests in Cypriot hands, says US Ambassador to

The United States do not recognize nor have before them a request for recognition of the illegal regime in the Turkish-occupied northern part of Cyprus but believe that by easing some of the hardships the Turkish Cypriots face ''we could tilt towards a more positive and hopeful future," US Ambassador at the UN Stuart Holliday has said.

Speaking after the presentation to the UN Security Council of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan's report on his good offices mission to Cyprus, Holliday said that at this time there is not really any basis for a new plan for a Cyprus settlement noting that ''the future of the reconciliation rests in the hands of our Cypriot friends."

As regards to the future of the UN peace-keeping force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), the US Ambassador said ''we would note that the Secretary-General is going to issue his own report in three months that will outline possible recommendations on the mission itself and we very much look forward to looking at them particularly in light of the demand for peace keeping missions around the world that we face the constraints of resources and our desire to reflect the realities on the ground in Cyprus."

State Department Special Coordinator for Cyprus Thomas Weston has said the United States expect gestures from the Greek Cypriot side in the direction of easing the economic situation of the Turkish-occupied northern part of Cyprus.

Asked whether the US is asking as gestures to Turks to open the closed area of Varosha, he said: ''What we actually see are a couple (of gestures) from Greek Cypriots to ease the economic situation of the Turkish Cypriots."

Referring to the April 24 referendum, he said ''we are told by Greek Cypriots that they are two main issues which contributed to the no vote among them."

''One was concern about security which of course we tried to address in the Security Council unsuccessfully. The other was that the Greek Cypriots have to somehow pay for the movement towards economic equality of the Turkish Cypriots," he said.

Weston concluded that the US thinks that ''if the Turkish Cypriots are able to move toward economic equality with Greek Cypriots, that should at least remove one of the expressed concerns of Greek Cypriots about support for the settlement on the island''.

[24] US supports renewal of UNFICYP's mandate of no more than four months

NICOSIA 10/6/2004 (CNA/ANA)

Invited to say if at technical meetings at the UN the US and the UK proposed that the UN force should be withdrawn from Cyprus within the next three months, the spokesman said ''no. The United States did not make any such proposal. Renewal of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus is a matter of consultation within the Security Council. It is not yet clear how long renewal will be for.''

He added that ''the Secretary-General intends to submit recommendations to the Security Council regarding the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus mandate, force levels, and concept of operations, within the next three months. We look forward to hearing his ideas.''

''The United States supports an initial renewal of no more than four months, with a follow-on renewal of six months that would take into consideration the Secretary-General's recommendations,'' he noted.

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