Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 04-09-17

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM Karamanlis, ministers discuss Thessaloniki bid to host Expo 2008

[02] Albanian, Greek foreign ministers stress respect for minorities after talks

[03] DM Spiliotopoulos assures parliament that causes and those accountable for Chinook crash will be revealed

[04] Official ceremony for deactivation of Allied Inter-Service Headquarters of South-central Europe based at Tyrnavos

[05] CoE's Davis expresses satisfaction over re-opening of school in Turkish-occupied part of Cyprus

[06] Former ND leader Evert sues weekly for libel

[07] Finance minister says opening social security issue not a government priority

[08] Greek inflation third highest in Eurozone in August

[09] 3 pc ceiling expected to be applied for increases in ministries' expenditures

[10] Gov't submits draft legislation on local authorities to parliament

[11] Gov't reaffirms dialogue on pension system, "no plans to change it"

[12] First airport exclusively for sea planes will operate in Corfu

[13] Athens mayor says city ready to host Paralympic Games

[14] German president, premier to visit Germany's Paralympic athletes in Athens on Friday

[15] Dep. culture minister confident of Paralympics success

[16] Twin design exhibitions at War Museum to mark the Paralympics

[17] Document supporting Olympic Truce delivered to President Stephanopoulos

[18] Felony charges filed against former AEK owner Psomiadis

[19] Strong earthquake rocks western Greece, no damage reported

[20] Coastguard petty officer may face naval court after fatally shooting alleged intruder

[21] 21 Foreign Press Association members honoured by Parliament president

[22] Belgian found dead with gunshot wound in head, but no evidence of criminal activity

[23] Heroin seized by customs officers in Kakavia

[24] Straw wishes to restore Britain-Cyprus relations, Labor MPs say

[25] Greek Cypriot politicians meet with Turkish Cypriots

[01] PM Karamanlis, ministers discuss Thessaloniki bid to host Expo 2008

Athens, 17/9/2004 (ANA)

The meeting was attended by foreign minister Petros Molyviatis, Macedonia-Thrace minister Nikos Tsiartsionis -- who is also the chairman of the candidacy committee -- and deputy foreign ministers Yannis Valinakis and Evripides Stylianidis.

No statements were made after the meeting.

Thessaloniki -- the capital of the prefecture of Thessaloniki -- , has presented a comprehensive candidacy file for the Expo 2008 to the Paris-based Bureau International des Expositions' (BIE), which is expected to decide on the host city in December.

The theme for Expo 2008 proposed in the Thessaloniki candidacy is "Terra Mater: Knowledge of the Earth, Agriculture and Nutrition".

Thessaloniki's heaviest competitors for the Expo 2008 are the Italian city of Trieste and the Spanish city of Zaragoza (Saragossa).

The staging of this international event is considered of great importance for the city of Thessaloniki and the greater region, but also the Balkan Peninsula and SE Europe, as it would be the first BIE-sanctioned international exhibition to be held in SE Europe.

[02] Albanian, Greek foreign ministers stress respect for minorities after talks

Athens, 17/9/2004 (ANA)

Speaking after a meeting in Athens with his Albanian counterpart Kastriot Islami, Molyviatis also underlined that the hundreds of thousands of Albanian immigrants living and working in Greece contributed both to Albania's economic development but also to economic life in Greece.

"It is our unwavering decision not to allow some isolated fanatical or extremist behaviors both in Albania and in Greece to affect the positive course of the many-tiered relations of neighborliness and friendliness between the two countries," he said.

He described Greek-Albanian relations as having "strategic importance and a steady basis".

Islami said the Greek minority in Albania and the Albanian economic migrants in Greece were a bridge of cooperation between the two countries and thanked the Greek minister for Greece's official policy toward Albanian citizens. He assured Molyviatis that Albania will adopt all European standards for rights and also stressed that "isolated, sporadic phenomena" will not be allowed to strain relations between Greece and Albania.

Large numbers of Albanians economic migrants fleeing poverty in their own country crossed the border into Greece throughout the 1990s, a sizeable chunk of them as illegal immigrants, finding jobs mainly as laborers and domestic workers. In recent years, the Greek government has taken steps to legalize many of these immigrants, providing them with work and residence permits.

The two ministers said they had reached full agreement during their talks, during which they had reviewed developments in the area and Albania's European and Euro-Atlantic prospects, as well as the full range of issues in bilateral relations.

The meeting comes shortly after incidents with racist overtones, some of them violent, which took place in Athens and Tirana earlier this month in the wake of the Greek national team's defeat by Albania in a soccer match for the world cup tournament.

Public Order Minister Voulgarakis, visiting Albanian FM Islami focus on border security, cooperation: Greek Public Order Minister George Voulgarakis on Thursday received visiting Albanian Foreign Minister Kastriot Islami, as talks focused on bilateral issues dealing with border security and joint efforts to stem various forms of smuggling along the two countries' common border.

Both men praised the current level of bilateral partnership, with Voulgarakis singling out the outstanding cooperation recorded during the hosting of the Athens 2004 Olympics Games last month.

On his part, Islami thanked the Greek minister for the flawless security of the Athens Games.

"Greece displayed a very good image in terms of effectively combating crime and all forms of smuggling," the Albanian minister said during the meeting at the public order ministry, adding that both governments are working well in managing and monitoring the border between them.

Greece, an EU and NATO member-state, shares land borders with Albania on its northwest frontier. An ethnic Greek minority has lived in what is present-day southwest Albania for centuries, while over the past decade or so, Greece has been a destination for tens of thousands of Albanian workers and migrants seeking better living conditions. In recent years, Athens has commenced a process of legalizing a number of previously illegal migrants in the country.

In touching on a recent and quite "out-of-the-blue" blemish in relations -- namely, a football match between the countries' national teams played in a virulent anti-Greek atmosphere at a Tirana stadium and followed by hooliganism in a handful of Greek cities against groups of mostly Albanian youths attempting to noisily celebrate in town squares - Voulgarakis said:

"There was a period when the very good climate in was in danger of being disrupted because of a match that took place. We want to protect this good cooperation between Greece and Albania."

Islami noted that he wanted to "re-affirm the very good relations that Greece has with Albania, and the notion of cooperation between our two governments on all levels, as well as the very good level of friendship between two other bridges: the Greeks of Albania and the Albanian migrants in Greece".

Finally, he added that isolated incidents cannot undermine the very good relations among the two countries' peoples.

Athens mayor receives visiting Albanian foreign minister: Athens Mayor Dora Bakoyianni on Thursday received visiting Albanian Foreign Minister Kastriot Islami at the mayor's office, where they discussed cooperation on a variety of issues.

The very good level of relations between the Greek and Albanian states was stressed during the meeting, while Islami also noted the great improvements that had been made to the city of Athens since his last visit five years earlier.

[03] DM Spiliotopoulos assures parliament that causes and those accountable for Chinook crash will be revealed

Athens, 17/9/2004 (ANA)

No one would be exempted or concealed, Spiliotopoulos said, responding to a question tabled by main opposition PASOK state deputy Anna Diamantopoulou. He added that the issue required seriousness, and charged that there were many unacceptable incidents of "political grave-robbing" although "the political world, in its majority, is acting seriously".

Diamantopoulou charged the New Democracy government with inability to manage the first crisis faced in its term in office, and of criticizing the previous (PASOK) government and PASOK officials on their criticism.

"You cannot blame PASOK for the fact that 5 (ND) ministers were unable to coordinate yourselves," Diamantopoulou said, and wondered why the ministers of labor and health were coming forward to give explanations on the situation instead of the transport minister "who is responsible for the YPA (Civil Aviation Authority)", or the merchant marine minister.

Responding, Spiliotopoulos said that the government had acted immediately and effectively from the outset of the mobilization, adding that "this is not the time" to make comparisons with similar tragedies in the past.

Spiliotopoulos said that everything would be brought to light regarding the Chinook crash, explaining that when accidents occurred there were "primary causes" but also "contributing causes".

The only thing the previous governments did was to purchase armaments, and did not channel funds for infrastructure, security, and increasing the necessary staff, the minister added.

No evidence of sabotage in helicopter crash that killed Patriarch, gov't says: The evidence on last Saturday's fatal helicopter crash, in which Pope and Patriarch Petros VII of Alexandria and 16 others were killed, pointed to some sort of technical fault and not to sabotage, government spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos clarified on Thursday in response to questions.

Asked to comment on a press report, according to which neighboring Turkey had informed NATO rather than Greece when the helicopter's signal was lost from its radar, Roussopoulos said that there was no information from NATO to this effect. At the same time, he noted that an aircraft's signal might appear on several radars at once and no one was in a position to know whether a lost signal was due to the aircraft landing or falling.

He also noted that recovering the helicopter would be "very difficult or even impossible" since it was at a very great depth.

The spokesman said the findings of an investigation into the tardy response time to the accident and the delay in briefing the government would be ready for release at the end of next week, while he denied knowledge of any investigation other than the two already underway and a third begun by a Thessaloniki military prosecutor.

KKE calls for fact-finding commission on Chinook helicopter crash: The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) on Thursday called for the establishment of a parliamentary fact-finding commission to investigate the causes of the recent crash of a Chinook military helicopter carrying Patriarch Petros of Alexandria and All Africa and 16 others from Athens to the Mt. Athos monastic community, killing all on board.

In a letter addressed to the political parties represented in parliament, KKE parliamentary spokesman Orestes Kolozov said the fact-finding commission should investigate such issues as the criteria regarding the purchase of the Chinook helicopters, the safety guarantees on the helicopters, the training and adequate staffing of the Armed Forces, and the obscurity of the responsibilities between the Civil Aviation Authority (YPA) and the military services, and other related matters.

Kolozov said that the commission should further investigate possible responsibilities of the state machinery as well as responsibilities at political level.

The KKE MP said that cooperation among the political parties was necessary given that, under the Rules of Parliament, a proposal to set up a fact-finding commission required the signatures of one-fifth of the total number of MPs in the unicameral house -- 60 signatures from among the 300 MPs.

The KKE holds 12 seats in parliament.

Navy second-in-command to head inquiry into delays after Chinook accident: The second-in-command of the Navy General Staff, Vice-Admiral Antonis Sourvinos, will head a Sworn Administrative Inquiry ordered by Defense Minister Spilios Spiliotopoulos to determine why there was a delay in informing the country's political and military leadership of the tragic accident in which Pope and Patriarch Petros VII of Alexandria and 16 others were killed on Saturday.

The Patriarch, his entourage and a five-member crew were on board a VIP flight in an armed forces helicopter bound for the monastic community of Mount Athos, which crashed into the sea as it was coming in to land at the Athos peninsula.

Athens mayor stresses need for thorough investigation into Chinook accident: Athens Mayor Dora Bakoyianni, a high-ranking member of the ruling New Democracy party, on Thursday stressed that last Saturday's helicopter crash involving an armed forces Chinook, in which Alexandria Patriarch Petros VII and another 16 people lost their lives, had to be investigated in depth.

Bakoyianni said there were two aspects to the incident, the actual cause of the crash itself, on the one hand, and the response of state mechanisms on the other, and she underlined that both would have to be thoroughly investigated.

The VIP Chinook helicopter flight crashed on Saturday morning while approaching the Mount Athos peninsula to land. There were 17 people on board at the time of the accident, including Patriarch Petros and his entourage, who were due to pay a visit to the monastic community on Mount Athos, and a five-member crew.

[04] Official ceremony for deactivation of Allied Inter-Service Headquarters of South-central Europe based at Tyrnavos

Athens, 17/9/2004 (ANA)

During the ceremony a brief historical review of the headquarters was made and the official order was given for its deactivation, in the presence of Chief of the Armed Forces General Staff G. Antonakopoulos, the Commander of the Naples Inter-Service Allied Force, Admiral Gregory Johnson and other official guests.

In his speech JCSC Commander Nikos Katagas made a final evaluation of the headquarters' work, referring in particular to the role it played in the Balkans and to its contribution to the maintenance of security, peace and stability in the broader region of Southern Europe.

The headquarters will officially close on September 30 but a team will remain until December 31.

[05] CoE's Davis expresses satisfaction over re-opening of school in Turkish-occupied part of Cyprus

Strasbourg, 17/9/2004 (ANA)

"This is a very positive step on behalf of the leaders of the Turkish Cypriot community. It will inspire more confidence between the Greek and Turkish community on the island," Davis was quoted as saying in a press release issued by the CoE here.

"A year ago the Council of Europe voiced its concern over the closure of this school and appealed to the leaders of political parties in the northern part of Cyprus to work towards a practical solution. I am glad to see that this problem has now been settled in a European spirit of mutual understanding and respect for human rights," he added.

[06] Former ND leader Evert sues weekly for libel

Athens, 17/9/2004 (ANA)

The weekly was identified as "Paraskevi + 13", a new publication that in Greek means "Friday the 13th". The publisher/editor was identified in court papers as Aimilios Liatsos.

[07] Finance minister says opening social security issue not a government priority

Athens, 17/9/2004 (ANA)

Alogoskoufis was speaking on arrival at a meeting with social partners in the northern city of Thessaloniki.

The minister commented on a series of issues raised during his meeting in Thessaloniki with the boards of the Federation of Industries of Northern Greece and the Federation of Exporters of Northern Greece.

Referring to the government's plans regarding the taxation of private persons and of legal entities of public law, Alogoskoufis said the bill to be prepared will anticipate as of now what will apply for the years 2005, 2006 and 2007.

Questioned on unemployment, the closing of businesses and on whether incentives will be provided, the minister said "what we have committed ourselves for is that we shall place emphasis on the development of businesses and of all of the country's production forces."

[08] Greek inflation third highest in Eurozone in August

Athens, 17/9/2004 (ANA)

The EU executive's statistics agency, in its monthly report on the consumer price index, said that Eurozone inflation was unchanged at 2.3 percent in August, up from 2.1 percent a year earlier, while inflation in the EU-25 was also unchanged at 2.3 percent, up from 1.9 percent in August 2003.

Latvia (7.8 percent) recorded the highest inflation rate in the expanded EU in August, followed by Hungary (7.2 percent) and Slovakia (7.0 percent), while Finland (0.3 percent), Denmark (0.9 percent), Holland and Sweden (1.2 percent each) recorded the lowest inflation rates.

In the Eurozone, Luxembourg recorded the highest inflation rate (3.6 percent) followed by Spain (3.3 percent). Compared with July, annual inflation fell in 11 EU member-states, increased in eight and remained unchanged in six.

The lowest average inflation rates for the 12-month period were recorded in Lithuania (-0.2 pct), Finland (0.4 pct), Denmark (1.0 pct), Sweden and the UK (1.3 pct each).

[09] 3 pc ceiling expected to be applied for increases in ministries' expenditures

Athens, 17/9/2004 (ANA)

Greater increases will be approved for the expenditures of two ministries: the education and health ministries. The increase in the education ministry's expenditures will reach six percent due to increased costs resulting from hiring and the building of new schools. The increase for the health ministry's expenditures will be slightly lower than that for the education ministry.

Deputy Finance Minister Petros Doukas is expected to complete his contacts with officials from other ministries, on the preparation of the new budget, on Wednesday.

[10] Gov't submits draft legislation on local authorities to parliament

Athens, 17/9/2004 (ANA)

Under the draft law, the government seeks to reorganize prefectural commissions, to reschedule local authorities' debt to the state, pension funds, state-owned enterprises and the private sector, to establish the seat of secretary-general with prefectures and to strengthen spending inspections to local authorities with the creation of 70 new job positions.

The new legislation will also seek to support local authorities in completing investments through a five-year program budgeted at 3.5 billion euros.

Speaking in parliament, Interior Minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos said that the government's interventions have succeeded in solving problems dating back to 1980 and stressed that the new law would safeguard the transfer of central administration money to local authorities.

[11] Gov't reaffirms dialogue on pension system, "no plans to change it"

Athens, 17/9/2004 (ANA)

Speaking to reporters, during the daily briefing, Roussopoulos reaffirmed Economy and Finance Minister's comments that the government planned to begin a dialogue with its social partners on the pension system, and stressed that "a government should consult and be in a position to predict".

Gov't spokesman added that the country's pension system has survived thanks to policy interventions made by a New Democracy government in 1990-1992.

The pension system issue surfaced recently after an International Monetary Fund report on Greece last week urged for an urgent reform of the system.

[12] First airport exclusively for sea planes will operate in Corfu

Athens, 17/9/2004 (ANA)

The decision was signed on Thursday by Transport and Communications Minister Michalis Liapis and approves the operation of the sea plane airport in Corfu's region of Gouvia.

It is the first airport to be used by sea planes, aimed at improving transportation but also the development of tourist traffic in the region.

Liapis said that similar sea plane airports will be created on islands and in quite a few regions of the country to improve transport service with mainland Greece and tourism movement.

[13] Athens mayor says city ready to host Paralympic Games

Athens, 17/9/2004 (ANA)

"Our slogan is simple: When there is a will, there is a way. We are working to make Athens accessible to all; a city where all are welcome and respected. A city where all can share in the joy," she told a press conference at city hall.

According to Bakoyianni, the municipality of Athens has invested 18.5 million euros to become more accessible and functional for people with a disability. Among others, she said some 780,000 square meters of roadways have been repaved, whereas 250,000 square meters of sidewalks have been redesigned on the sides of 450 major roads in the densely populated Greek capital.

Additionally, she said efforts are underway to continue to improve accessibility at municipal buildings and to increase social services for citizens with a disability.

Finally, the former New Democracy minister and deputy said 600 municipal police officers have been instructed to patrol roads, parks, town squares, areas surrounding schools and play grounds in order to ensure a "barrier-free" environment.

[14] German president, premier to visit Germany's Paralympic athletes in Athens on Friday

Athens, 17/9/2004 (ANA)

[15] Dep. culture minister confident of Paralympics success

Athens, 17/9/2004 (ANA)

Moreover, Palli-Petralia described this past summer as truly "golden" for the country, as it began with the Euro 2004 championship crown won by the national men's football team followed by the excellent hosting of the 2004 Summer Olympics. She estimated that another "gold medal" will be won with the hosting of the Paralympics.

[16] Twin design exhibitions at War Museum to mark the Paralympics

Athens, 17/9/2004 (ANA)

The exhibitions are entitled "Design for all" and "Joy and Fun" and shows ways in which objects can be made so as to suit everyone and have been brought to Greece from Sweden to coincide with the Paralympic Games in Athens.

The exhibitions will be inaugurated on Saturday by H.M. Silvia, Queen of Sweden.

[17] Document supporting Olympic Truce delivered to President Stephanopoulos

Athens, 17/9/2004 (ANA)

The delegation visiting President Stephanopoulos also included Sports Secretary General Costas Koukodimos and the president of the Society of Greek Olympic Games Medallists Petros Galaktopoulos.

[18] Felony charges filed against former AEK owner Psomiadis

Athens, 17/9/2004 (ANA)

Charges include multiple counts of complicity to embezzle, money laundering and complicity to defraud the tax bureau (a misdemeanour).

The charges focus on a period when Psomiadis -- a nightclub entrepreneur, impresario and racehorse owner -- served as president of the popular Athens club, while court records cite the total amount embezzled as eight million euros.

Two of Psomiadis' cousins, both named Harilaos Psomiadis and both one-time members of the pro team's board, were also charged in connection with the case.

A formal investigation has begun with the indictment.

[19] Strong earthquake rocks western Greece, no damage reported

Athens, 17/9/2004 (ANA)

The quake, which was strongly felt in Ioannina, was recorded at 4:24 a.m., with its epicentre 334 kilometres northwest of Athens -- 18 kilometres northwest of Ioannina -- according to the Athens Observatory's Geodynamic Institute and the University of Thessaloniki's Geophysics Laboratory.

The quake caused some panic among residents in the city of Ioannina and in the north-western section of the Ioannina prefecture, and was more strongly felt near the Greek-Albanian border.

Seismologists said that although the quake was of a short duration, it was strongly felt due to its small epicentre depth of only 17 kilometres.

[20] Coastguard petty officer may face naval court after fatally shooting alleged intruder

Athens, 17/9/2004 (ANA)

Logothetis said he was awakened by some noise to find the two men trying to make their exit from the balcony of his 2nd-floor apartment and had jumped up to stop them, grabbing his service revolver.

According to Logothetis, he had shouted at them to stop and had then fired one shot against them because he was under the impression that the victim first opened fire on him. This is not borne out by the police investigation, however, which shows that no shot was fired on the part of the escaping burglars.

The wounded man was shot in the waist and was taken to Asklipio hospital in Voula, where he was declared dead on arrival.

Witnesses said the second man took something from the pockets of his wounded comrade and disappeared.

The identity of the dead man is not yet known, while a search is on for the second man involved.

[21] 21 Foreign Press Association members honoured by Parliament president

Athens, 17/9/2004 (ANA)

The distinguished authors are long-time residents in Greece and professionals affiliated with media outlets in the United States, Cyprus, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Bulgaria, Albania, Israel and Egypt.

The works of the 21 media professionals include themes related to ancient and modern Greece as well as Cyprus, along with translations of Greek authors, novels, essays, poetry and political analyses.

[22] Belgian found dead with gunshot wound in head, but no evidence of criminal activity

Athens, 17/9/2004 (ANA)

They said Gilbert Joseph Roties (spelling phonetically) was found in a rented room with a gunshot wound in his temple from a 22 calibre gun, which was found next to the body.

Police said investigations so far had not uncovered any evidence of criminal activity.

Police sources said the Belgian was suffering from a severe heart ailment.

[23] Heroin seized by customs officers in Kakavia

Athens, 17/9/2004 (ANA)

The heroin was hidden in the side panels of the back seat, packed so as to fool sniffer-dogs. Customs officers searched the vehicle acting on a tip-off.

[24] Straw wishes to restore Britain-Cyprus relations, Labor MPs say

British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has stresses the need to restore cooperation and friendship between Cyprus and Britain, according to British Labor MPs, who also said that Straw is seriously considering the possibility of meeting Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos or Foreign Minister George Iacovou.

Labor MPs Tom Cox, Rudi Vis and Roger Gale met here Wednesday with the British FS at the House of Commons and discussed the Cyprus issue.

Speaking after the meeting they said that Straw reassured them that Britain would by no means recognize the regime in Turkish occupied Cyprus.

As regards the presence of the Turkish occupation army on the island, Straw, according to the MPs, agreed that Turkey should start withdrawing troops earlier than provided by a UN solution plan (the Annan Plan).

On the issue of a European Union regulation on financial support to the Turkish Cypriots, the British Secretary said the Cyprus government should become more involved in this process.

Cox, Vis and Gale, at Straw's request, will submit their proposals on the issues discussed in writing.

[25] Greek Cypriot politicians meet with Turkish Cypriots

Nicosia, 17/9/2004 (CNA ANA)

A delegation of leftwing AKEL party, headed by parliamentary spokesman Nikos Katsourides, met with Turkish Cypriot Communal Liberation Party (TKP), Cyprus Socialist Party (KSP) and the Patriotic Unity Movement (YBH).

The President of the Democratic Rally (DISI) Nicos Anastassiades, head of a party delegation, met with President of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce Ali Erel.

TKP leader Huseyin Angolemli said that during the meeting with the AKEL delegation they discussed ways to set up a joint committee.

The opening of more crossing points along the ceasefire line dividing the island, as well as problems the Turkish Cypriots who work in the government controlled areas face were also discussed.

Noting that the status quo after Cyprus' accession to the EU does not represent the wishes of the Turkish Cypriots, Angolemli said that promises to ease the so-called embargoes on the Turkish Cypriots are not enough.

Katsourides said his party believes that it is possible to make changes on the Annan Plan without affecting its philosophy and that AKEL would support moves to improve life for the Turkish Cypriots.

Secretary General of KSP Kazim Osken said the meeting with AKEL was very constructive and that political parties from both sides wishing for peace must sit down and discuss their problems.

YBH Secretary for Foreign Affairs Alpay Durduran said that they discussed the Cyprus problem, noting that with AKEL they share values as well as a wish to see Cyprus reunited.

According to a press release issued by the Chamber the main issues discussed at the meeting were the Cyprus problem, the results of a referendum on a UN solution plan (the Annan Plan), a common roadmap to help reach a settlement, Turkish Cypriot participation in the EU, a regulation on intra-island trade (the Green Line Regulation) and the European Commission's proposals on direct trade between the EU and the occupied areas and financial aid for the Turkish Cypriots.

Speaking after the meeting, Anastasiades said his party will carry on with its mission to find a settlement and incorporate the Turkish Cypriots into the EU, adding that DISI's visits to political parties and non-governmental organizations in occupied Cyprus aimed at accomplishing this mission.

Erel advocated a speedy resolution of the Cyprus question on the basis of the Annan Plan and warned that ''otherwise the world will not wait for us forever."

He added the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce has been working for reunification and appreciates the efforts made by DISI.

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