Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 08-05-02

Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] Labor day celebrated nationwide

[02] U.S. denies displeasure over South Stream deal

[03] US's Bryza on FYROM issue

[04] KKE delegation held talks with officials in Cuba

[05] Engaged couples entitled to compensation for road accidents

[06] Rhodes voted top European holiday destination

[07] Foreign Exchange Rates - Friday

[08] Fair on Friday

[09] President Christofias: Our policy is to promote initiatives to influence Turkey

[10] German FM hopes substantial talks on Cyprus to commence mid 2008

[01] Labor day celebrated nationwide

The President of GSEE Yannis Panagopoulos warned during his address that if the neoliberal policy continues it will lead to unprecedented social uprises, while stating that the unions are focusing on the high cost of living, unemployment and social security issues.

PAME marched towards the American Embassy expressing anti-American and anti-imperialist slogans and their solidarity with the migrants and the abused nations.

Speaking on behalf of PAME, central committee member George Perros commemorated the working class' dead and expressed PAME's support for migrants and the Turkish people, condemning the Turkish government for restricting demonstrations on Labour Day.

Three separate rallies and demonstrations were held in the northern greek city of Thessaloniki. The central rally was organised by the Trade Union Centre (EKTH) of Thessaloniki and the Union of Civil Servants Organisations of Thessaloniki (EDOTH) in Aristotelous square in the centre of the city.

EKTH president Nikos Yannopoulos in his speech honoured the dead of Chicago in 1886 and the ones in Thessaloniki in May 1936 and the victims of Kessariani (an Athens suburb) who were shot by the Nazis on May 1st 1944, stressing that they are the symbol of our struggles and assertions for a more just society

PAME held its rally in another part of Thessaloniki with members of the non-parliamentary leftist parties, who marched through the city's streets and ended their demonstration in front of the Ministry of Macedonia and Thrace

[02] U.S. denies displeasure over South Stream deal

The U.S. government was in no way displeased by the agreement for Greece's participation in the South Stream natural gas pipeline with Russia, of which Washington had been promptly informed, but was concerned over an efficient European energy market. This was stated by US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Matthew Bryza on Thursday, during a detailed briefing at the U.S. State Department.

Bryza added that Washington was happy for as many pipelines to pass through Greek territory as Greece desired but stressed Washington's view that priority must go to the construction of the TGI pipeline that will carry natural gas from Azerbaijan to Turkey and Greece and from there, ultimately to Italy.

The U.S. official also noted that the supply of 80 percent of natural gas consumed by Greece by one company, Russia's Gazprom, laid the country open to the dangers of depending on a monopoly.

Bryza added that Washington's primary concern was an efficient European energy market and that Greece was just one part of the equation - an important section but simply a point on the map.

Noting that national security was best served from an economic standpoint when markets operated "efficiently" - and that the most important strategic markets for the U.S. were those of Europe - Bryza stressed that the European market was currently "completely dysfunctional".

He also pointed out that Gazprom "is currently buying natural gas in central Asia for one third of the price for which it was sold to Europe" and that European consumers were forced to pay the price for this "power of monopoly".

Underlining that the U.S. had backed the TGI and interceded directly to persuade Azerbaijan's leadership to go through with the project, Bryza said in response to other questions that South Stream was designed to undermine competition and "derail" the TGI and Nabucco pipelines.

In the event that this happened, the U.S. would be not be harmed at all and Azerbaijan was not obliged to deploy its gas, he added, while there were plenty of alternative options to help allies that wished to diversify their sources of natural gas.

Among these he listed the Nabucco and LNG pipelines, noting that these could pass through Romania and Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Croatia, Poland and other countries.

Washington had many options but would prefer to stick with its original choices, and had thought that it was supporting the policy of the Greek government, which it supported as a good ally, Bryza said.

Replying to questions, the U.S. official denied that Greece was seen as "playing some sort of game" but stressed Washington's disagreement with Athens' view on the specific issue. The U.S. view was that more pipelines would not increase energy security, as the Greek government supported, but energy security would arise when the various pipelines led to different sources of supply.

Washington's goal was to have natural gas from the Caspian Sea transported to international markets, in addition to Russian oil. In this case, Greece would be in a much stronger position to negotiate with its main supplier, Gazprom, Bryza added.

He especially emphasised the importance of giving priority to the construction of the TGI. While conceding that Greece was clearly in favour of constructing the TGI, he expressed doubts about whether "all sides" in Greece appreciated the importance of which pipeline arrived in the market first and warned against delays.

Bryza also stressed Greece could achieve its goal of becoming an important energy hub by completing the TGI and could easily have both the South Stream and the TGI, provided that the TGI was completed first. Otherwise, he added, it might well end up with only the South Stream.

[03] US's Bryza on FYROM issue

Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs Matthew Bryza on Thursday called on Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) to "do more than just simply wait for Prometheus (UN special mediator Matthew) Nimetz to appear with the fire," regarding the outstanding dispute on the FYROM "name issue," and invited the two neighbouring countries to "make proposals now."

"We need to hear from Greece how it would improve on Mr Nimetz's proposal and we need to hear the same thing from your northern neighbour," Bryza told a Greek reporter.

The U.S. official asked Greece "not to be upset" by the statements of FYROM Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, made in the framework of an ongoing election campaign, noting at the same time that the FYROM politician "is defending his political and national position."

[04] KKE delegation held talks with officials in Cuba

The delegation was received by Cuba's Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque, the President of the Cuban National Assembly

Ricardo Alarcon and the head of the International Relations department Fernando Ramirez and other officials.

The KKE officials participated in the Labour Day rally and the demonstration that followed in Havana and later visited the University of Pinar del Rio and held talks with professors and students on educational issues.

Papariga on Saturday morning will give a interview to the Cuban Communist Party newspaper 'Granma'.

[05] Engaged couples entitled to compensation for road accidents

The court's ruling was issued this week in a case involving the death of a person in a road accident and a subsequent claim for compensation for moral injury. It was based on a law saying that such damages might be awarded to the family of a victim that had suffered emotional distress.

In reasoning explaining its decision, the court said that the law did not strictly define the meaning of a victim's family because the law-maker did not want to place binding limits on an institution that was, by its nature, subject to the influence of change in society over the course of time.

The court said that under the true meaning of the law, arising from the purpose for which it was established, the family of the victim includes the closest and nearest relatives of the deceased and that the law sought to alleviate the pain of their loss, regardless of whether they lived together or separately. In this sense, the family of the deceased would include a fiancé or fiancée, the court concluded.

Financial News

[06] Rhodes voted top European holiday destination

Experts in the tourism sector said that the current economic crisis, in spite of rising fuel prices, concerns about the repercussions on the environment, has not dampened demand for travel, which remains popular and especially within Europe.

The next most popular destination after Rhodes is the city of Salzburg in Austria, while the top two destinations worldwide were Milford Sound and Queenstown in New Zealand.

TripAdvisors has six million registered users and receives about 25 million visits to its website every month.

[07] Foreign Exchange Rates - Friday

U.S. dollar 1.566

Pound sterling 0.796

Danish kroner 7.521

Swedish kroner 9.432

Japanese yen 163.92

Swiss franc 1.627

Norwegian kroner 8.037

Canadian dollar 1.581

Australian dollar 1.674

Weather forecast

[08] Fair on Friday

Cyprus Affairs

[09] President Christofias: Our policy is to promote initiatives to influence Turkey

The Republic of Cyprus' policy on the Cyprus problem, consists of initiatives towards the international community to influence Turkey to alter its unbending attitude on the issue, President Demetris Christofias said on Thursday.

In his speech at a gathering to mark May 1st, International Workers' Day, organized by the Pancyprian Workers' Federation (PEO), President

Christofias said that "our policy aims to encourage the two communities in Cyprus to undertake the initiative and work together, in order to achieve a solution that would benefit the people of Cyprus".

"A solution that would be agreed by Cypriots, for Cypriots", he added.

Referring to the current situation in the Cyprus Problem, President Christofias pointed out that the main target of the working groups and technical committees set up is to prepare the ground for substantive negotiations on the Cyprus question between the leaders of the two communities. "Unfortunately, the massages which are conveyed by the other side are not encouraging", he added.

Christofias has also stressed that "the Turkish National Security Council and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, are still supporting that the solution should be based on two states and on the political equality of those states".

President Christofias made it clear that our side remains consistent to a bizonal, bicommunal federal solution and reiterated that the negotiations should be based on the High-

Level Agreements of 1977 and 1979, on the UN-brokered agreement in July 2006, and on the March 21 agreement. "We will continue, in a good will, the discussions at the working groups and technical committees", he said.

Regarding internal administration issues, President Christofias pointed out that "the Government's main target is to create a fairer society".

To that end, he noted that "the workers' and their reasonable needs are at the core of the Government's attention".

Christofias referred to the Easter allowance granted to pensioners and recipients of public assistance benefits, as the first step towards the implementation of that policy.

Regarding the Cyprus industrial relations model, President Christofias said that it is based on the free collective bargaining, and on the tripartite cooperation between the workers' federations, the industrialists' federations and the government.

It is a model, he stressed, that ensures labour peace, and helps the social partners to overcome their problems.

President Christofias expressed his optimism on the issue of the sustainability of the Social Insurance Fund. "I am optimistic that the discussions will soon be concluded, and will provide a final solution on the issue", he said. At the same time, he pointed out that the issue is one of the Government's top priorities.

On the issue of the Automatic Cost-of-living Adjustment, President Christofias reiterated that the Government will support the institution.

On the occasion of May 1st, International Workers' Day, Christofias said "the fact that Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots and foreign workers attend the celebrations of PEO, symbolizes the unity and the solidarity of the working class".

The leaders of the two communities in Cyprus, Cypriot President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat agreed March 21st to instruct their aides to set up technical committees and working groups to deal with various aspects concerning the Cyprus problem.

To this end, seven technical committees and six working groups have been set up.

On March 21st, the two leaders agreed also to meet again in three months to review the work of the working groups and technical committees, the results of which will be used to start negotiations under UN auspices for a solution.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied its northern third.

[10] German FM hopes substantial talks on Cyprus to commence mid 2008

Germany's Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, expressed hope that in the middle of 2008, substantial negotiations for a solution to the Cyprus issue will begin.

Steinmeier was speaking after a meeting in Berlin on Wednesday with his Cypriot counterpart Markos Kyprianou, who was on an official visit to the German capital.

In his remarks, Kyprianou said that Cypriots are at the early stages of the new effort and any steps should be taken meticulously and wisely as the procedure will take time.

According to an official statement, the two ministers examined the Cyprus problem, the procedure which began for its solution on the 21st March following the meeting between Cyprus President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat as well as bilateral affairs.

They also examined European and international issues as well as the EU-Turkish relations, the EU-Russian relations and cooperation within the UNIFIL framework and the Stabilization and Association Agreement with Serbia.

Speaking at a press conference, Steinmeier welcomed Kyprianou, noting his country is closely monitoring developments in Cyprus with "special interest" since Germany had suffered for long during from division. He said it is important that the initiative has started from Cypriots but naturally, there should be assistance from the international community "and I am sure the UN will be at the disposal of both sides in the future".

Steinmeier said that the first sign of the new atmosphere, which Germany welcomed, was the opening of the crossing point at Ledra Street, noting it is a "symbolic act, a measure which allows room for hope for further progress in the negotiations".

He also said it was the right starting point for the talks that are currently on the way and hoped that in the middle of the year, substantial negotiations will start.

In his remarks, Kyprianou said they had a very good and constructive meeting, noting there are no problems on a bilateral level.

Kyprianou remarked that a procedure began in Cyprus to prepare the talks that will take place between the two leaders, stressing that we are at the first stages of this effort and "wise and meticulous steps should be taken because this procedure will take time".

"We must be prepared, he added, because the Cyprus problem is a complex issue, politically and technically and for this reason it is important to have the necessary will and patience."

He repeated the political will of the Greek Cypriot side for a solution, noting it is clear, adding "we believe the Turkish Cypriot side has the same will."

What is important, Kyprianou added, is that the other factors which are involved in the problem, to maintain a positive stance.

Referring to Turkey, Kyprianou said that it has a very significant role to play towards the solution since it maintains 40 thousand troops on the island.

He also said that Cyprus' positions on international and European matters, generally, do not differ from those of Germany. On the Kosovo issue, Kyprianou said Cyprus has a different approach. Despite this, a solution must be found to allow the EU-LEX mission into Kosovo.

Kyprianou also commented on the EU agreement with Serbia, noting that the EU must keep Serbia close to its ranks since the latter has a role and position in the Union.

On Cyprus cooperation with Germany as part of UNIFIL, Kyprianou said the EU, through Cyprus, is present in Eastern Mediterranean and we consider it our duty to offer as many as possible facilities so that the international community and the EU will play a more active role in the region which is very significant for Cyprus and the EU in general.

Asked if the Annan Plan can be a basis for the talks on Cyprus, Steinmeier said that Germany cannot tell its partners which documents and prerequisites should be set in the onset of the negotiations. "I am sure that to both sides, it is clear which issues need to be resolved and are difficult", Steinmeier said, adding that what is important is that both sides are on the road to negotiations.

Referring to Turkey's role, Steinmeier said that he is aware of the influence it has in the occupied areas. He said that during Germany's EU presidency, he had difficult negotiations and hoped that in the course of a settlement in Cyprus, "talks with Turkey will become easier. We have not reached this phase yet, but we are working on it", he added.

To a question on Turkey's EU relations and if the new atmosphere on the island will affect positively the Greek Cypriots' stance towards Turkey, the Cypriot FM said that the fundamental differences between the two countries are due to the Cyprus issue. "Therefore, a solution to the Cyprus problem would ease the differences between the two countires", he added.

Kyprianou further said the Republic of Cyprus has maintained a positive stance towards Turkey's EU aspirations, provided it fulfills the criteria as set out for all candidate states. For this reason, he added, Cyprus gives its consent to the opening of more negotiating chapters, noting that with a solution, a big obstacle in Turkey's EU course will be eliminated."We are ready to make gestures of good will towards Turkey at Brussels and other international fora but we would like to see a relevant approach from the Turkish government," he underlined.

Kyprianou also had meetings with Dr. Uwe Corsepious, Director of European Affairs at the Federal Chancellery and Renate Knast, President of the Parliamentary Group of the Green Party at the German Parliament.

36, TSOCHA ST. ATHENS 115 21 GREECE * TEL: 64.00.560-63 * FAX: 64.00.581-2 INTERNET ADDRESS: http://www.ana.gr * e-mail: anabul@ana gr * GENERAL DIRECTOR: GEORGE TAMBAKOPOULOS

Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article