Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 04-07-03

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greek political leaders lavish praise on national team for Euro 2004 final qualification

[02] European Ombudsman Diamantouros meets with PM Karamanlis, visits Commission office in Athens

[03] Psarouda-Benaki at EU conference of parliament presidents

[04] Deputy FM issues instructions to Greek embassy in Ankara on humanitarian aid to Turkey

[05] Government seeks to develop 'diplomacy of the waters'

[06] Deputy DM says Balkans will cease to be powder keg and will become oasis of peace and progress

[07] Turkish PM invites Greek counterpart to his daughter's wedding

[08] FPA ex-president Antonaros named alternate government spokesman, to oversee projection of Olympic Games, Greece

[09] Archbishop Christodoulos receives Cypriot defense minister

[10] Ecumenical Patriarch 'particularly pleased' with talks he had with Pope

[11] Report shows Greece has highest undeclared labor in

[12] Amendments for extra staff and other measures attached to Olympics bill in Parliament

[13] Athens Bourse Close: Stocks drift downward

[14] Olympic Games secretary general to assume management monitoring of city during Games

[15] Greek Archbishop sends telegrams of support for earthquake victims in Turkey

[16] Schussel: Austria backs a Cyprus solution based on European principles

[17] Cyprus President stresses EU role in renegotiating Annan plan

[18] Bilirakis urges Bush, Powell and Annan to remain engaged in Cyprus

[01] Greek political leaders lavish praise on national team for Euro 2004 final qualification

Athens, 3/7/2004 (ANA)

President of the Republic Costis Stephanopoulos sent the team a congratulatory telegram, thanking the players and their coach "for the joy you gave all of us".

"Our wishes are with you for Sunday's final, and I await to congratulate you in person upon your return," the President said.

Prime minister Costas Karamanlis, who also holds the culture ministry portfolio, said that the Greek national soccer team "is already the Cup-holder in our hearts", adding that he would be at their side in Sunday's final.

"Our team, the team of all the Greeks, today made the dream a reality. It proved that when there is faith, method and collective effort, everything is possible," the premier said after the semi-final against the Czech team, and congratulated the players and their coach, Otto Rehhagel, and all the contributors to "this historic success".

Alternate culture minister Fani Palli-Petralia, who has been in Portugal since the opening match of the championship -- again between Greece and Portugal -- to cheer the Greek team on its first-ever qualification for a major soccer tournament, said that the national team players had once again put all their soul into the match, and "there are no words to describe the sentiments we feel" nor "our gratitude to the players, coach and other contributors to this new, magnificent achievement".

Deputy culture minister for sports George Orfanos, who was also in Portugal for the semi-final with the Czech Republic, said that the national team's "triumph reflects the immense effort of the players and their coach, but also the inner strength they proved they have".

Main opposition PASOK leader George Papandreou spoke of an "unbelievable success", adding "we will be at the side of our national team in the big final of the European championship".

Communist Party of Greece (KKE) secretary general Aleka Papariga also sent her congratulations to the team, praising them for their method and fighting spirit.

Coalition of the Left (SYN) leader Nikos Constantopoulos, in a similar telegram, said the team had "honored the confidence of our society with your hard work...we take pride in you because you gave our people such deep joy, which it needed".

Congratulations were also forthcoming from Orthodox Church leaders, including Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos, Arch-bishop Christodoulos of Athens and All Greece, Patriarch Eirinaios of Jerusalem, and Patriarch Petros of Alexandria, among others, who expressed pride in the team's achievement and blessings for Sunday's final.

Congratulations continue to pour in for Greece's new EURO 2004 victory: Congratulations and praise for Greece's golden '11' continued to pour in from all quarters on Friday after their sensational 1-0 win over the Czechs in the EURO 2004 semi-finals earned them a ticket to the final and a chance at the championship.

Well wishers included Jerusalem Patriarch Irineos, who on learning of Greece's victory immediately sent telegrams to Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis and the Greek Football Federation EPO in which he congratulated the Greek team's great success, giving the players, coach and management his blessing and his sincerest wishes that they also take the European championship.

The head of the Athens Olympics Organizing Committee, Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki, said the team and their victory had been the best possible ambassadors for the Athens Olympics.

"They broadcast an image throughout the world of Greece united, with discipline and team spirit, which did not falter in the face of difficulty. A Greece that wins," she said.

She called on all Greeks, who turned out in their millions on Thursday night to celebrate the national team's victory, to also muster the same enthusiasm in their support for the Greek athletes of the Olympic Games in Athens.

Praise for the achievements of the Greek team and their German coach Otto Rehhagel, which flew in the face of predictions that had them pegged as 'rank outsiders' by first coming in the top eight and then prevailing over previous champions France in the quarter-finals, also came thick and fast from clubs and soccer organizations within Greece, who urged the Greece players to come home with the trophy in Sunday's final.

Greeks worldwide celebrate underdog Greece's qualification for Euro 2004 final in stunning upset defeat of favored contender Czech Republic: All of Greece, and Greeks all over the world, took to the streets in all-night celebrations after outsider Greece, in a serious of stunning upset performances that culminated with the defeat of the heavily-favored Czech national soccer team Thursday night, moved up the ranks of the Euro 2004 championship all the way into the finals, where it will again be pitted against Portugal on Sunday in a repeat of the championship's opening match.

Barely minutes after Traianos Dellas scored the "silver goal" in the 15th minute of extra time, clinching the precious 1-0 victory that sends Greece to the final at Lisbon's Stadium of Light -- where Greek prime minister Costas Karamanlis will join the thousands of Greek supporters in rooting the national team on to what they hopeful be a dream victory -- the night sky in Athens was lit up by fireworks. Athenians and Greeks throughout the rest of the country cruised the streets throughout the night, horns blaring and Greek flags flying, singing at the top of their lungs and gathering by the thousands in central squares, turning Greece into a vast street party.

"The fairy tale goes on," the Greek team's German coach Otto Rehhagel -- or "King Otto" as he is affectionately called in Greece, who in less than three years groomed the talented national squad to international standards with a team attitude -- said after Greece's stunning victory over the up-to-then undefeated Czechs, and the dream is shared by millions of Greeks all over the world, who also took to the streets in celebrations that lasted well into the early morning hours.

Athens mayor Dora Bakoyannis said that, win or lose in the Sunday final, the Greek team will be greeted with a hero's welcome upon their return, while the Greek dailies devoted their front pages to the delirious celebrations.

The fairy tale began on Saturday, June 13, when Greece pulled a hat-trick and defeated hosts Portugal 2-1 in the opening match of the Euro 2004 in the national team's biggest ever victory in its soccer history. The dream continued with a 1-1 draw with another favored contender, Spain, and an almost last-minute goal in the ensuing Group A match with Russia that qualified Greece, despite its 2-1 defeat from Russia, for the quarterfinals (eight).

But the upsets continued in the knockout round with a stunning 1-0 victory over defending Euro champions France for a spot in the semi-finals (final four) and the semi-final clincher defeat over the Czechs, that sent Greece to the final with Portugal.

Greeks all over the world are hoping that Sunday's final with Portugal will see history repeating itself, with the Greek national team bringing the prized Cup home in a "happily ever after" ending to its "Cinderella" story.

[02] European Ombudsman Diamantouros meets with PM Karamanlis, visits Commission office in Athens

Athens, 3/7/2004 (ANA)

Diamantouros briefed the premier on the institution of the Ombudsman and stressed the need for the citizens of the country to know their rights within the European Union.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Diamantouros noted the prime minister's very positive stance and response to issues put to him in the direction of implementation of a just state.

Greek Ombudsman George Kaminis, who accompanied Diamantouros, briefed the prime minister on matters pertaining to his office's activities.

Diamantouros further paid a visit to the offices of the European Commission in Athens, for an exchange of views with the general director of the Commission representation in Greece.

The two men briefed each other on matters concerning citizens' rights in Greece and the entire EU.

[03] Psarouda-Benaki at EU conference of parliament presidents

HAGUE 3/7/2004 (ANA)

Intervening in the discussion, Greek Parliament President Anna Psarouda-Benaki proposed the setting up of a small parliamentary interparty group which will have as objective the probing of proposals which will be submitted by other countries regarding the principle of assistance.

"Within this framework and for the effective cooperation of the national parliaments, we could encourage these parliaments so as to set up a small and flexible interparty group of deputies of own parliamentary committees, with the support of legal experts, for the study of EU proposals and the timely understanding with the other interested parliaments," she said.

Psarouda-Benaki also referred to the issue of languages which will be used in the conferences, stating categorically that no technical difficulty can be used as a cause to write off a European language from the EU's communication bodies.

[04] Deputy FM issues instructions to Greek embassy in Ankara on humanitarian aid to Turkey

Athens, 3/7/2004 (ANA)

The gesture comes in the wake of an earthquake which struck a region in northeastern Turkey, near the borders with Iran, on Friday.

[05] Government seeks to develop 'diplomacy of the waters'

Athens, 3/7/2004 (ANA)

The deputy minister called a meeting at the foreign ministry on Thursday with representatives of all the ministries involved in issues concerning cross-border of waters and representatives of specialist non-governmental organizations active in this area.

The initiative seeks to create a comprehensive national policy for water, formulate a plan for cross-border action and coordinate activities by all agencies involved so that their actions are complementary and compatible with the 'Millenium Targets' of the OECD's DAC, the priorities of the EU and national interests.

Greek political leaders lavish praise on national team for Euro 2004 final qualification.

[06] Deputy DM says Balkans will cease to be powder keg and will become oasis of peace and progress

SOFIA 3/7/2004 (ANA - B. Borisov)

The conference was attended by politicians and senior officials from Bulgaria, Greece, Romania, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) and Turkey, as well as by executives specialized in the manufacturing and trade of defense equipment and well-known American and European companies.

"The international forum 'NATO enlargement: Opportunities for trade and investments in southeastern Europe' gave fresh confirmation that the vision of Greece for the region - peace, democracy, freedom, security and economic development - is now the vision of all the peoples of the Balkans. This constitutes a guarantee that the Balkans will cease to be a powder keg and will become an oasis of peace and progress in united Europe," he said.

[07] Turkish PM invites Greek counterpart to his daughter's wedding

Athens, 3/7/2004 (ANA)

The report appeared in a Turkish newspaper.

[08] FPA ex-president Antonaros named alternate government spokesman, to oversee projection of Olympic Games, Greece

Athens, 3/7/2004 (ANA)

Making the announcement, government spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos told a regular press briefing that Antonaros would oversee the projection of the Olympic Games and of Greece.

Addressing the briefing, Antonaros said he would make every effort to meet the "challenge" of his new post.

[09] Archbishop Christodoulos receives Cypriot defense minister

Athens, 3/7/2004 (ANA)

Mavronikolas, having conveyed warm greetings by Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos, briefed the Archbishop on the latest developments in the Cyprus issue and thanked him for his and that of the Church of Greece's active support in the national issue.

On his part, Christodoulos stressed that the Greek people and Church are at the side of the struggling Cypriot people for a united island and for a peaceful future of development and prosperity for both the communities. He further expressed the wish for international principles of justice to prevail so that within this framework a solution is found for a functional and viable solution to the Cyprus issue.

[10] Ecumenical Patriarch 'particularly pleased' with talks he had with Pope

ROME 3/7/2004 (ANA/L. Hatzikyriakos)

Speaking prior to his departure for Istanbul, Vartholomeos said:"This third meeting with the Pope after those of 1995 and 2002, was more fruitful, more human, more genuine, in a very cordial climate. Maybe because I also have matured more these years."

A joint statement signed by the Ecumenical Patriarch and the Pope states that the sessions of a joint committee has started for the resumption of the dialogue.

To a question on Turkey's European prospects, Vartholomeos said that he supported the country's EU accession and that it would be a positive step for Europe and Ankara.

[11] Report shows Greece has highest undeclared labor in

EU BRUSSELS 3/7/2004 (ANA/A. Simatos)

Specifically, Greece appears to have undeclared labor corresponding to more than 20 percent of the Gross National Product (GNP), followed by Latvia (18%) and Hungary (17%).

[12] Amendments for extra staff and other measures attached to Olympics bill in Parliament

Athens, 3/7/2004 (ANA)

The same amendment also specifies that members of the Greek and foreign media that have accreditation for the Zappeion Press Centre will be exempt from paying for entrance into archaeological sites and for public transport throughout the period of the Olympics and Paralympics.

Another amendment gives the merchant marine minister powers to regulate the smooth and safe movement and residence of passengers and guests at the port of Piraeus during August and September, when the Olympics and Paralympics take place, while yet another extends the period for which financial assistance will be given for the withdrawal and replacement of taxis.

The bill also specifies that taxi drivers found guilty of offences linked to their function will be punished on the spot through the removal of their license and not by removing the number plates from the taxi.

Finally, there is also an amendment that abolishes restrictions specifying that the amount of overtime pay that can be paid out in any given month cannot exceed one twelfth of the total sums earmarked for overtime for the year.

[13] Athens Bourse Close: Stocks drift downward

Athens, 3/7/2004 (ANA)

The Athens general share index closed at 2,333.33 points, showing a 0.16 per cent drop. Turnover was 95.0 million euros.

The FTSE/ASE-20 index for high capitalization shares ended 0.35 per cent down; the FTSE/ASE-40 for medium cap stocks closed 0.09 per cent lower; and the FTSE/ASE-80 for small cap shares finished 0.14 per cent down.

Of stocks traded, declines led advances at 156 to 125 with 78 remaining unchanged.

On a weekly basis, the general share index rose by 0.85 per cent.

[14] Olympic Games secretary general to assume management monitoring of city during Games

Athens, 3/7/2004 (ANA)

Roussopoulos said Kapralos will be assisted by Thanassis Katartzis, an alternate official at the Games Administration Centre and Organizing Committee representative, and Thodoris Skylakakis, an alternate administration official of the municipality of Athens and representative of the municipality.

[15] Greek Archbishop sends telegrams of support for earthquake victims in Turkey

Athens, 3/7/2004 (ANA)

He also noted that the Greek Church was willing to offer humanitarian relief through its non-government organization 'Solidarity' if asked through official channels.

[16] Schussel: Austria backs a Cyprus solution based on European principles

VIENNA 3/7/2004 (CNA/ANA)

Schussel said ''we regret that the Annan plan was rejected and President Papadopoulos has explained to me the concerns and the perceptions of the Cypriot people. We do hope that there is the will to find a pragmatic solution, a workable modus vivendi for both parts of Cyprus.''

Asked if he shared the view of the government of Cyprus for a solution based on European principles, Schussel said ''Sure. There cannot be an exemption. I think we are always looking for European solutions and I think Europe is a good example for good solutions, sometimes difficult to find, in problems where you have different languages, different ethnic groups''.

''Europe is a history full of difficult solutions but the European values are important,'' he added.

Asked if he had explained clearly to the EU the changes he wanted to the Annan plan, Papadopoulos said it was discussed but noted that he could not disclose these changes.

He added that the changes were such that would make the Annan plan functional and therefore more viable for the benefit of both communities in Cyprus.

[17] Cyprus President stresses EU role in renegotiating Annan plan

VIENNA 3/7/2004 (CNA/ANA)

Speaking here Friday to Austrian journalists, Papadopoulos said Europe has to be interested in the Cyprus problem since the three protagonists, namely Greece, the United Kingdom and Cyprus, are now members of the EU and the fourth one, Turkey, keenly pursuits its own accession to the EU.

"So inevitably this matter concerns the EU. I am not saying the EU wants or is likely to substitute the UN in their search for peace. But I think there is a very important role to be played by the EU and this is what I am trying to convince people," Papadopoulos said.

Asked about the intention of the EU to embark direct trade with Cyprus' Turkish-occupied areas, Papadopoulos noted that "we disagree with the attitude of the Commission both in substance, mainly in substance but also on the legal basis they chose to base this proposal."

He said that this legal basis is article 133 of the Treaty, which regulates trade with third countries.

"The occupied part of Cyprus is not a third country. We have resolutions 541 and 550 of the Security Council which calls upon all states to refuse to recognize the legality of a Turkish Cypriot state or to facilitate any moves towards that."

He referred to the decision of the European Court of Human Rights that the illegal regime in the north is a subordinate regime to Turkey.

Papadopoulos stressed that direct trade of the EU with the Turkish occupied areas is not promoting the reunification of the country but tends to solidify the division and giving the Turkish Cypriots the message that they can function as a separate legal entity.

The Cypriot president pointed out that "our effort is to help Turkish Cypriots' financial position."

Asked on Cyprus' attitude towards Turkey's bid to join the EU, the Cypriot president said "if our other 24 partners in the EU would like Turkey to join judging that Turkey complies with all the EU requirements and criteria Cyprus is not to be the one to prevent Turkey from joining."

Asked what is the way forward for a Cyprus settlement, Papadopoulos said that it seems to him that nobody is very keen to engage in negotiations in the near future.

He expressed the view that "as time goes by more and more people will realize the Cyprus problem needs to be solved on the basis of the European criteria."

President Papadopoulos said he would never put the Annan plan as it is to a second referendum.

"The Annan plan was put before the people, it was extensively discussed and the Greek Cypriots have rejected it by 76 per cent," adding that it will be an insult to the sovereign right of the people to put the same plan back to a referendum.

In a remark that in football matches small countries can win, Papadopoulos said "there is a lot of luck and no contingencies outside the football field can be effective."

"In our case there are political contingencies outside the field of negotiations," he added.

[18] Bilirakis urges Bush, Powell and Annan to remain engaged in Cyprus

NICOSIA 3/7/2004 (CNA/ANA)

Bilirakis urged them to remain engaged in efforts to reunify Cyprus.

The US Congressman was joined by 94 other members of Congress who also signed the letters.

He said "everyone involved in the negotiations of the Annan plan was very well aware of the concerns of the Greek Cypriots and the likelihood of their vote to reject the Annan plan. One would think that more efforts should have been made to address their legitimate concerns which could have secured a positive vote''.

''We must not forget that it is the Greek Cypriots who must live with whatever plan is adopted,'' said Bilirakis.

The US Congressman said the "suggested settlement plan failed because it did not provide for guarantees to ensure the complete implementation of commitments under the plan, the removal of foreign troops on Cyprus and the elimination of the right of the guarantor powers to intervene in Cyprus and a viable, functional government free of built-in deadlocks and voting restrictions based on ethnicity."

He also said it failed to provide for a property recovery system that recognizes the rights and interests of displaced Greek Cypriots, and a property compensation system that does not force Greek Cypriots to pay for their own restitution and the right of all Cypriots to buy property and to live wherever they choose without being limited by ethnic quotas.

The Greek Cypriot community overwhelmingly rejected the Annan Plan in a referendum last April while the Turkish Cypriot side approved it.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 percent of the island's territory.

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