Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 05-05-17

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM Karamanlis tells summit in Warsaw that 'the CoE expresses the reunification of Europe'

[02] Premier Karamanlis meets with Turkish counterpart Erdogan

[03] Gov't unveils long-awaited draft bill outlining university evaluation regime

[04] Gov't on criticism, 'primary shareholder' law amendment

[05] Papoulias tours defense ministry, briefed by military leadership

[06] Greece to participate in NATO exercise 'Allied Action' with 37 officers

[07] More violations of Greek airspace reported in Aegean

[08] Irineos' representative attends meeting at Ecumenical Patriarchate

[09] Athens Mayor Bakoyannis addresses ND event in Thessaloniki

[10] PASOK's political council convenes

[11] Cypriot DM Mavronikolas addresses event in Athens on Cyprus issue

[12] Gov't presents annual report on competitiveness

[13] Alogoskoufis heads Greek mission at Expo 2005 in Japan

[14] Tourism ministry orders continuous inspections of related businesses over the summer

[15] Farm minister meets Russian counterpart for talks on boosting trade

[16] Greece, Kosovo in business talks

[17] Coalition (Synaspismos) leader meets civil servants' union, supports wage demands

[18] Athens airport says passenger traffic up 13 pct during Easter period

[19] Investment centre opens new unit for ties with embassies, financiers

[20] Athens Water head submits resignation

[21] National Bank of Greece appoints group consultant

[22] Greek students win prize in Microsoft software contest

[23] 'Attica department store' inaugurated; largest in Greece

[24] Kontos on decision of Russian authorities to prohibit import of live poultry

[25] Civil servants to stage 24-hour nationwide strike on May 18

[26] Stocks nose up in flaccid trade

[27] Tatoulis on reports concerning the maintenance of the Parthenon Marbles by the British Museum

[28] Greek Police issues pamphlet on issues concerning domestic violence

[29] Greek singer Antonis Remos found fit for army service, called to present himself

[30] Cypriot President said property core issue of settlement talks

[31] Cyprus envoy begins consultations at UN headquarters

[32] Israel wishes to enhance relations with closest EU neighbor, Cyprus

[01] PM Karamanlis tells summit in Warsaw that 'the CoE expresses the reunification of Europe'

WARSAW 17/5/2005 (ANA/O. Tsipira)

The Greek prime minister was among 20 European leaders who spoke during the afternoon session.

He stressed that the European Court of Human Rights "is a great achievement of our peoples and should constitute the lighthouse of policies and actions in the sector of human rights."

Karamanlis said that its decisions must be carried out directly, without prerequisites and fully by the member-states of the Council of Europe.

Making an indirect reference to the large number of recourses (78,000 are pending at present), Karamanlis stressed that the Court "should be strengthened so as not to be sank under the weight of its success. A step in this direction is the Agreement for Protocol 14, for which Greece has already started the procedure for ratifying it."

The Greek prime minister called on the partners who have delayed in ratifying the Protocol, for them to also proceed in the relevant procedure.

Referring to the great contribution by the Council of Europe to European societies, he stressed: "The Council of Europe has been reborn from the ashes of World War II with the basic objective of protecting human rights.

"However, it is apparent that reforms must be made on an institutional level, if we wish to answer successfully to the new challenges and within the logic of a reunited continent.

"The basic pylons of the Council which are based on Democracy, Human Rights and the Rule of Law are good and strong, however, they must be improved and I am deeply convinced that one of the most effective ways is the strengthening of the Council of Europe through the ratification of Protocol 14."

Making particular reference to the Greek government's priorities, Karamanlis said one of its basic ones is the war against corruption. "In this context, we welcome the efforts of the Council of Europe to seek common answers to the challenges raised from corruption, organized crime and the trafficking of drugs."

Terrorism constitutes for the Greek prime minister the major issue of the 21st Century. He said that the Council's efforts in this direction should be further strengthened, having always in mind respect of human rights, fundamental freedoms, as well as of inter-cultural and inter-religious dialogue.

Concluding, Karamanlis said: "The Council of Europe expresses the reunification of Europe, the abolition of divisive lines in our continent, the strengthening of democracies and the rule of law and of human rights. The new architecture which is coming about, has as a prerequisite the closer cooperation between the Council of Europe and the other institutions, mainly the European Union, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the United Nations."

PM meets European leaders on sidelines of CoE summit: Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis met the prime minister of Slovenia Janez Jansa and Portuguese premier Jose Socrates, as well as Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko, on the sidelines of the 3rd Council of Europe (CoE) summit that is taking place in Warsaw on Monday and Tuesday.

His talks with Jansa and Socrates primarily concerned upcoming issues at the next European Council, while his meeting with Yushchenko covered bilateral and international affairs.

Afterwards, the Greek premier released a written statement for the press concerning the issues to be addressed at the CoE summit meeting in Warsaw, stressing that new challenges lay ahead.

"This third summit is taking place in order to determine the future goals and priorities of the CoE. The goal is for the CoE to take into account the new demands of our societies and reinforce its important role in dealing with the new problems," Karamanlis said.

Among these new challenges, the Greek premier listed terrorism, protection of minorities, organized crime, corruption, immigration and others.

Karamanlis particularly underlined the CoE's role in promoting and protecting human rights and democracy and said that its role as the primary body for these issues in Europe should be preserved and further strengthened.

"One of the greatest achievements of European peoples in the framework of the Council of Europe was the European Court of Human Rights.

"Part of our talks here concerned efforts to restructure this court in order to make it more effective. Particular importance must be placed on founding principles and values and on the unbiased and speedy execution of the court's rulings.

"Failure or refusal by certain states to carry out some of the court's rulings immediately and without terms - as for example in the two-year postponement of the ruling concerning the case of Mrs. Loizidou - jeopardize the credibility of the court's verdicts and of human rights in Europe, generally," Karamanlis said.

The Greek premier was referring to the case of Greek-Cypriot woman Titina Loizidou, who successfully sued Turkey at the European Court of Human Rights for depriving her of access to her property in occupied northern Cyprus. Loizidou finally received roughly one million euros in compensation awarded to her by the court in 2003, five years after the original ruling in her favor was issued by the ECHR in July, 1998 and a succession of CoE resolutions ordering Turkey to pay.

[02] Premier Karamanlis meets with Turkish counterpart Erdogan

Athens, 17/5/2005 (ANA)

According to sources at the meeting, which was held on the sidelines of the 3rd Council of Europe Summit, the two premiers discussed the inauguration of the natural gas pipeline in the border region of Evros in late June.

Erdogan told the press afterwards that he had "a good conversation in a friendly climate," adding that Karamanlis "remains steadfast on his intentions for the improvement of Greek-Turkish relations."

"We also stand by our good intentions. Mr. Karamanlis is making an effort, in his own way, within his country, towards this direction, and it is the same with us," Erdogan said.

[03] Gov't unveils long-awaited draft bill outlining university evaluation regime

Athens, 17/5/2005 (ANA)

In response, Education Minister Marietta Yiannakou, a neurologist by training, sharply criticized the industrial action, calling it irrational.

The minister added that "everyone is evaluated", while noting that the bill's provisions are not designed to reprimand slackers but instead to serve as tools for improving university-level studies in the country.

Yiannakou departs for Bergen, Norway this week to attend a European ministerial conference on higher education in the Union, where she is expected to present the draft bill to EU counterparts, given that Greece is the only EU member that apparently has not incorporated such an evaluation regime for its public universities.

Conversely, professors' unions say any evaluation would "downgrade" their members' degrees and studies, as the intent is to "adapt" university studies to market needs.

In an unrelated development, the education ministry announced that another 210 elementary schools next year will begin offering foreign language classes for French and German, with pupils selecting one or the other. English remains the primary foreign language taught in practically every public school in the country.

Communist party slams gov't plan for university evaluation: The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) on Monday dismissed the government's scheme for evaluating universities, saying that only someone "naive" could be convinced by the government propaganda that 'evaluation' is being introduce to ensure the quality of tertiary education.

KKE claimed that the "evaluation" will actually serve as a vehicle for the privatization and total control of universities and technical institutes by monopolies, "whose representatives have a primary position and the first say in the pyramid of expert assessors put together by the EU".

The party further claimed that the scheme will reduce higher studies to a collection of rapid vocational training courses, while degrees will be little more than certificates of skills acquired, while new class barriers to education will be raised.

[04] Gov't on criticism, 'primary shareholder' law amendment

Athens, 17/5/2005 (ANA)

"Woe betide if the government tried to prevent deputies from expressing their views," alternate spokesman Evangelos Antonaros said.

Meanwhile, in response to an issue repeatedly touched on in the press room over the past few months, namely, the "primary shareholder" law, Antonaros reiterated that the government will submit a relevant amendment for law 3310/05 to the European Union in the next few days.

The EU Commission has questioned the compatibility of 3310/05 as well as a previous law passed by a PASOK government, 3021/02, with Community law. Both laws aim at preventing broadcast media owners from assuming state contracts.

"The government is primarily interested in ensuring transparency, curbing vested interests and safeguarding national interests," he said.

In an unrelated development concerning the recent uproar against a Parliament decision to allocate unemployment benefits (3,000 euros per month) to eligible deputies who lost their seats in the last election, Antonaros stressed that the Parliament president handled the matter in an exemplary manner after the first reactions - including criticism by Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis - were expressed.

He also reminded that the government's position on the matter was clear.

The decision was rescinded last week.

Finally, the spokesman said there was no issue of a change to the current election law, although the government is studying a recent ruling by an elections appeals court to include blank ballots in the total election tally for each precinct.

That ruling stripped three Parliament MPs of their seats last week and awarded them to another three candidates from the March 2004 election.

[05] Papoulias tours defense ministry, briefed by military leadership

Athens, 17/5/2005 (ANA)

Specifically, Papoulias was briefed on developments in the region, SE Europe, the Caucasus, the Middle East and Iraq, as well as on Greece's overseas peacekeeping contingents.

According to reports, the president also witnessed a real-time infringement of Athens FIR regulations by a Turkish warplane in the Aegean region (near the island of Hios) along with subsequent procedure for recognizing and intercepting such violating aircraft.

In statements afterwards, Papoulias praised the readiness of the armed forces to maintain peace and the country's security.

Finally, he was presented with a WWII-era Mannlicher (6.5mm) rifle, similar to the one he used as a wartime resistance fighter, by the national defense minister.

[06] Greece to participate in NATO exercise 'Allied Action' with 37 officers

Athens, 17/5/2005 (ANA)

It said the exercise will assess the operative capability of the Lisbon Allied Command to mobilize and deploy NATO's Rapid Reaction Force, based on an imaginary scenario of a NATO-led operation in response to a crisis, following a decision of the United Nations.

Taking part in the exercise will be 2,500 army officers from 23 NATO member-states and seven associate states.

[07] More violations of Greek airspace reported in Aegean

Athens, 17/5/2005 (ANA)

The same sources said that violations of Greek national airspace were reported in 10 instances in the northern and central Aegean.

All 30 Turkish warplanes were recognized and intercepted by Greek fighter planes, whereas mid-air engagements were cited in four instances.

Of the Turkish formations, nine were reportedly armed while four violators were described as F-4 "Phantom" reconnaissance fighters.

[08] Irineos' representative attends meeting at Ecumenical Patriarchate

ISTANBUL 17/5/2005 (ANA- A. Kourkoulas)

Also present at the meeting, held in the offices of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, were the Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa Theodorus and the metropolitans of Pergamus, Belgium, Karpathos, Toronto, Iconium, Philadelphia, Sevastia and the chief secretary of the Patriarchate's Synod.

Irineos' representative is expected to outline the ousted Patriarch's views regarding events in Jerusalem to the other clerics present, in view of a meeting of the Patriarchate's Synod that will take place on Tuesday, and then depart immediately after the meeting.

Irineos effectively lost control over the Jerusalem Patriarchate on May 6, after it was taken over by senior clergymen and primates of the Holy Sepulchre Brotherhood. A two-thirds majority of the Patriarchate's Synod had earlier signed a document that renounced Irineos and asked him to give up his seat.

The document also held Irineos responsible for controversial land deals that have incensed Arabs and Palestinians, in which prime pieces of Orthodox Church property - including the landmark Palestinian-run Imperial Hotel at the entrance to Jerusalem's Old City - have been leased or sold to foreign Jewish interests.

His deposal has been approved by the Jordanian cabinet, which has legal jurisdiction over the Patriarchate, while sources say that King Abdullah of Jordan has also given his seal of approval.

Education minister on issue of Jerusalem Patriarchate: Education and Religious Affairs Minister Marietta Yiannakou on Monday reiterated the government's position on the issue of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, stressing:"the government completely supports the institution. We are not simply an interested party, we have legal and inalienable rights."

The minister further said that Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos, "with the wisdom which distinguishes him, has the possibility to make the suggestions which must be done, without us reaching other situations." She added: "The government said, but also all the political world, that it is not possible for such matters to be created and for the country to be compromised. These touch matters of relations with the Palestinian Authority, Israel and Jordan. It is a foreign policy issue in a hot region and in this dispute, there is no reason for Greece, which has well intended interests, to get involved in this matter."

[09] Athens Mayor Bakoyannis addresses ND event in Thessaloniki

Athens, 17/5/2005 (ANA)

Bakoyannis described as the greatest problem in Greece at present, "the hesitancy of the politicians to say the truth" and stressed that "many matters would have been solved if the politicians spoke with honesty to the citizens."

She also strongly criticized the main opposition Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK), accusing it that "it deceived many, so as only to prolong its stay in power."

[10] PASOK's political council convenes

Athens, 17/5/2005 (ANA)

As stated after the meeting, the secretary of the national council, Mariliza Xenogiannakopoulou, said that "PASOK is proceeding with decisive steps towards the completion of its reform through electoral procedures which will have a clear political content." She added that "through these procedures, PASOK will have a strong political presence on all levels."

[11] Cypriot DM Mavronikolas addresses event in Athens on Cyprus issue

Athens, 17/5/2005 (ANA)

Mavronikolas noted that there is still international interest for a solution to the Cyprus problem and stressed: "We are logical and realists, for an honorable and dignified compromise as soon as possible because we are the victims of occupation and suffering its consequences. But we say no to a settlement which will not secure a functional and viable solution for all the citizens of Cyprus."

Referring to the Turkish side, he said that "it has the opportunity to prove that it can actively contribute in the peaceful co-existence of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots."

[12] Gov't presents annual report on competitiveness

Athens, 17/5/2005 (ANA)

The report, presented by Development Minister Dimitris Sioufas, recommended structural reforms in the economy, labor relations and domestic markets.

Presenting the report, Sioufas said the report would be the basis for talks and exchange of views since it was drafted by an independent agency. "We should analyze facts and to begin a dialogue and a composition of views since we have no room for disagreement," the Greek minister stressed.

The report recommended expanding shopping hours around the country, abolishing a single profit margin and opening hours for pharmacies and statutory fees for notaries, engineers, architects and lawyers.

It also criticized the lack of competitiveness in the services market and public organizations' operations. The electricity energy market lacked competitiveness with Public Power Corporation operating as a monopoly, while fuel pre-tax prices were higher compared with other European states due to the dominant position of Hellenic Petroleum in the domestic market.

In his speech, the Greek minister, also referred to government measures to improve competitiveness, such as new development and tax legislations, more money to support business activities, simpler procedures to set up enterprises and a draft law enhancing a Competition Commission.

Sioufas noted that Greece has fallen by 19 positions in the world list of competitiveness in the period 2001-2005.

Criticism of competitiveness report: The Coalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology said on Monday that a report on boosting competitiveness heralded measures to hurt working people, including extended austerity.

"The government is sliding into an extreme anti-social form of liberalism," a party spokesman, Panayiotis Lafazanis, said in a statement.

The General Confederation of Employees of Greece (GSEE), the country's largest trade union umbrella group, called the report "a neo-liberal manifesto."

The report supported excessive profits instead of growth and employment, the GSEE said.

[13] Alogoskoufis heads Greek mission at Expo 2005 in Japan

Athens, 17/5/2005 (ANA)

The aim of the mission, which includes Agricultural Development and Foods Minister Evangelos Nasiakos, Deputy Economy Minister Petros Doukas, Deputy Tourism Minister Anastasios Liaskos and major officials of Greek businesses, is the projection of Greece and the exploitation of the possibility for an increase in exports and direct investments which the large Japanese market offers. The visit is being held within the framework of "Greece Day" at Expo 2005 on Friday.

For the projection of Greece, a conference will be held in Tokyo on Wednesday attended by Japanese entrepreneurs. At the same time, Alogoskoufis will meet with Bank of Japan Governor Toshihiko Fukui and Japanese Lower House President Yohei Kono, while with Doukas they will present the Greek economy at an event organized by major institutional investors of Japan.

For the "Greece Day", events will be held at the site of Expo 2005 at Aichi, with the presence of representatives of the Japanese government.

Expo 2005 lasts six months, from March 25 to September 25 and the number of visitors is expected to exceed 15 million.

[14] Tourism ministry orders continuous inspections of related businesses over the summer

Athens, 17/5/2005 (ANA)

Joint teams comprised of National Tourism Organization (GNTO) employees, local police officers and health department officials are scheduled to make spot checks throughout the summer, the ministry said.

Amongst the top priorities for the ministry is curbing instances of profiteering in prominent holiday destinations.

[15] Farm minister meets Russian counterpart for talks on boosting trade

Athens, 17/5/2005 (ANA)

Gorgeev invited Basiakos to visit Russia, the farm ministry said in a statement.

[16] Greece, Kosovo in business talks

Athens, 17/5/2005 (ANA)

On the agenda were the participation of Greek companies in Kosovo's privatization drive and the government's backing for Kosovo's shift towards Europe, the foreign ministry said in a statement.

Stylianidis also referred to practical support the government had given to Kosovo and the Western Balkans; and to the provision of technical know-how to countries in the region aimed at alignment with EU standards, the statement added.

[17] Coalition (Synaspismos) leader meets civil servants' union, supports wage demands

Athens, 17/5/2005 (ANA)

Alavanos stressed that his party supported the financial demands of the workforce, given that Greece was now one of the most expensive countries in Europe, as well as having one of the highest rates of taxation.

He also noted that the Greek state was among the harshest employers, since it refused to recognize hazardous or heavy labor and also owed the largest sums to the country's main social insurance fund IKA.

Alavanos attacked the government, saying it had "re-founded the party-political state" and stressing the need for meritocracy in recruitment.

ADEDY President Spyros Papaspyrou said that this was a "critical point" in relations between the government and the civil servants' movement.

"We are at the start of negotiations for a collective agreement and, essentially, of specific answers and solutions to financial and other problems," he said.

[18] Athens airport says passenger traffic up 13 pct during Easter period

Athens, 17/5/2005 (ANA)

The airport said a total of 772,292 passengers used the airport with regular and charter flights.

Domestic passenger traffic was up 6.0 percent (265,715), while international traffic jumped 17 percent to 506,577 passengers.

Charter flights rose 79 percent to 39,222 passengers.

The airport said this year's figures were even more spectacular, as both the Eastern and Western Churches celebrated Easter at the same time in 2004. Passenger traffic continues rising in May, the airport said in a statement.

[19] Investment centre opens new unit for ties with embassies, financiers

Athens, 17/5/2005 (ANA)

The department will supply information on opportunities in Greece for potential investors, Anastasopoulos told a meeting arranged by ELKE and the Imperial College Business School graduate's society.

Also speaking was Deputy Finance Minister Christos Folias, who outlined the government's moves to boost investment.

Action includes liberalization of the energy market, simplification of permit-award procedures, and reduction of tax brackets, Folias said.

[20] Athens Water head submits resignation

Athens, 17/5/2005 (ANA)

According to sources, Glyniadakis submitted his letter of resignation to Public Works Minister George Souflias. He cited personal reasons for his decision.

[21] National Bank of Greece appoints group consultant

Athens, 17/5/2005 (ANA)

Until recently, Minos Moisis was managing director of insurer Interamerican, employed by the company for 17 years in a variety of posts, National said in a statement.

The bank intends to develop retirement plans, including financing private pensions, that will include the group's subsidiaries, the statement added.

[22] Greek students win prize in Microsoft software contest

Athens, 17/5/2005 (ANA)

The three winners of the heats for nine countries in central and eastern Europe will represent the region in the Imagine Cup 2005 final in Japan. Ranking first was Slovenia, with Serbia in third place.

Greece's winning Sign2Talk program is a portable system to translate sign language used by the deaf and hard of hearing.

[23] 'Attica department store' inaugurated; largest in Greece

Athens, 17/5/2005 (ANA)

In the historical site of City Link in central Athens, the Attica Department store has an expanse of 25,000 square meters, has more than 700 personnel and more than 300 "shops in a shop" and 800 different brand names, covering all the needs of the modern consumer.

The ceremonial inauguration ribbon was cut by the president of the Bank of Piraeus group, Michalis Sallas and the shareholders of the Attica department store company.

[24] Kontos on decision of Russian authorities to prohibit import of live poultry

Athens, 17/5/2005 (ANA)

"It is clarified that the disease in question only affects poultry and does not endanger the health of consumers."

[25] Civil servants to stage 24-hour nationwide strike on May 18

Athens, 17/5/2005 (ANA)

[26] Stocks nose up in flaccid trade

Athens, 17/5/2005 (ANA)

The Athens general share index closed at 2,893.62 points, marking a rise of 0.34%. Turnover was 89.3 million euros.

The FTSE/ASE-20 index for high capitalization shares ended 0.44% up; the FTSE/ASE-40 for medium cap stocks closed 0.04% up; and the FTSE/ASE-80 for small cap shares finished 0.27% up.

Of stocks traded, declines led advances at 163 to 99 with 64 remaining unchanged.

[27] Tatoulis on reports concerning the maintenance of the Parthenon Marbles by the British Museum

Athens, 17/5/2005 (ANA)

Tatoulis in his announcement said that it was self-evident that the monuments of world cultural heritage with such importance, should be treated with the greatest possible attention.

"The Parthenon is not a ruin, if the comments regarding a ruin are attributed properly, but is a monument of major human spirit," the announcement stressed.

Finally, Tatoulis reiterated the Greek request for the return of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece because they are an inseparable part of the monument of the Parthenon.

[28] Greek Police issues pamphlet on issues concerning domestic violence

Athens, 17/5/2005 (ANA)

The pamphlet forms part of a drive to create a suitable framework of handling cases of domestic violence by police services, which take their special nature into account.

It includes sections outlining the targets of police intervention in such cases, instructions on how to handle such cases, instructions on how to avoid secondary victimization of the victims and instructions on protecting victims.

Among its aims are:

The protection of the victims of domestic violence through appropriate handling and full investigation into whether criminal acts have been committed; making police officers more aware of the nature of domestic violence and the importance of proper handling of such cases; and more systematic and efficient handling of domestic violence cases by police during the initial interrogation phases, to be achieved by training staff.

The pamphlet will be distributed at all police stations, while domestic violence will also be taught as a subject at police academies.

[29] Greek singer Antonis Remos found fit for army service, called to present himself

Athens, 17/5/2005 (ANA)

The singer had been relieved of army service at an earlier stage, based on his claim of suffering health problems that placed him in the lowest health category for army conscripts.

Following a review, however, Remos was placed in the highest health category for conscripts and will now be obliged to present himself for service at the Airforce Training Centre in Tripoli.

If the singer is found to be over 35 under army rules, he will be obliged to serve 45 days and can then buy off the remainder of his national service for 810 euros a month.

[30] Cypriot President said property core issue of settlement talks

WARSAW 17/5/2005 (CNA/ANA)

In statements in Warsaw, on the sidelines of the Third Summit of the Council of Europe, President Papadopoulos said his speech on Tuesday to the Summit would focus on the need for the immediate implementation of European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) decisions.

He added that on the sidelines of the Summit he had a few courtesy encounters, adding that ''there were however two or three conversations with heads of state or other officials who are relative to the Cyprus problem, which I think were useful,'' including one with the Prime Minister of Luxembourg and the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Russia and France.

Replying to questions, President Papadopoulos said his speech at Tuesday's session of the Summit would focus on the necessity for the immediate implementation of ECHR decisions, noting that discussions Monday revolved around ways to strengthen the Court.

''I hope this will not mean the mass dismissal of a large number of the 60,000 pending cases before the Court,'' the president said, clarifying that these cases are not from Cyprus.

Replying to questions on the Cyprus problem and the issue of property, President Papadopoulos said ''it is a fundamental demand of ours that those claiming that they avidly seek the resumption of talks should not take unilateral actions to create faits accomplis that aim at eradicating a very important aspect of the Annan plan, which is the issue of property, an issue that we have intensely raised and, if we begin talks, will be at the core of discussions.''

[31] Cyprus envoy begins consultations at UN headquarters

UNITED NATIONS 17/5/2005 (CNA/ANA)

In statements after the meeting, Tzionis said that the discussion ''focused on procedural matters'' with regard to the likely resumption of negotiations. He said discussions will continue this week. A second meeting is due to take place on Tuesday.

Today's meeting is probably the first in a series of investigative contacts between Tzionis and Prendergast and possibly other officials, including Secretary General Kofi Annan, in view of Prendergast's visit to the island early June.

Present at the meeting was Cyprus' Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Andreas Mavroyiannis.

Replying to questions at the regular briefing, UN alternate spokesperson Marie Okabe said that "this is the first of maybe several meetings and any readout is likely to have to wait until the end of these consultations".

Diplomatic sources have said that during the meeting, the Cypriot envoy was expected to explain orally the Greek Cypriot side's objections to the Annan Plan (a UN solution plan), on the basis of the common positions of the island's political leadership, as these were noted down by President Tassos Papadopoulos.

President Papadopoulos said Sunday that there should be no conditions, no restrictions and no predetermined issues during a new round of Cyprus talks, stressing that ''no talks will start if the prerequisites for success are not there''.

[32] Israel wishes to enhance relations with closest EU neighbor, Cyprus

JERUSALEM 17/5/2005 (CNA/ANA)

"After you joined the Union you became the closest neighbor of Israel to the EU. We have a lot in common. We have to work together to enhance our relations and have a better cooperation. I hope that we will have this opportunity today to start a dialogue," Shalom said.

The Cypriot minister said that by entering the EU, Cyprus brought Israel closer to Europe and added that the partners of Cyprus in the Union expect that it plays a role in matters concerning the Middle East.

"Our partners in Europe know that we are a European country but at the same time a country of the Middle East. They expect from us to be particularly interested in the problems of the area. And this is what we intend to do", he stressed.

The two ministers did not answer any questions. They proceeded to their working lunch, during which they would discuss bilateral relations, Cyprus' role in the Middle East, the Cyprus issue and other regional issues of mutual concern.

Earlier Iacovou and his entourage visited the Yad Vashem, the new Martyrs' and Heroes' Memorial of the Holocaust.

The Cypriot minister laid a wreath at the memorial and lit the eternal flame to commemorate the victims of fascism. He later on signed the book of visitors.

He also visited the memorial for children who lost their lives in the second world war. It is estimated that from the six million Jews who died, around 1,5 million were children.

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