Athens News Agency: News in English, 02-01-30

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

CONTENTS

[01] Simitis outlines Athens' views on EU expansion, future

[02] Prodi cites 'complete agreement' between EU, Athens over crucial issues

[03] Protopapas on talks with Turkey: We can say no if there are problems

[04] Commission approves Greek economic stability programme

[05] Greeks, Russians, Bulgarians hold talks on Burgas-Alexandroupoli

[06] Lampsa hotels gets loan for overhaul of Grande Bretagne

[07] Sanyo Hellas gets stake in Ukrainian natural gas

[08] Weather Forecast: Sunshine on Thursday

[09] Greek stocks end 1.12 percent down

[10] 'Ready, Aim ... Cease Fire' the Olympic Truce slogan

[01] Simitis outlines Athens' views on EU expansion, future

BRUSSELS (ANA) Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis on Wednesday emphasised that the successful euro changeover in 12 out of the 15 European Union member-states constitutes proof to Europes citizens that the idea of a unified Europe isnt an abstract idea, but an attainable reality.

Simitis made the statement during his address to the European Commissions plenum here, while outlining what he called five major challenges for the bloc in the upcoming future, namely, expansion; implementation of the Lisbon strategies amid a negative economic climate; Europes sensitive farm sector; citizens security and, the continents future.

In terms of EU expansion, Simitis said the goal is to form an expanded and well-structured region that will rank as a model for the rest of the world, which citing what he called ?the vision of a democratic, prosperous and peaceful Europe, one which, among others, will include the countries of south and southeast Europe?.

The growing problem of illegal immigration was also prominently featured in the Greek PMs address, as Simitis cited the Laeken commitment by EU leaders for a common policy on asylum and migration.

Specifically, he called for the need to finalise various bilateral and multilateral agreement on the repatriation of migrants something Greece and Turkey agreed to late last year development of a common policy on asylum; creation of a special fund to finance repatriation as well as the establishment of a special body to monitor EU-wide immigration and related issues.

Greek-Turkish relations

Simitis cited the recent rapprochement in Greek-Turkish relations in his address as well, agreeing that progress has been recorded, ?although were waiting for clear indications that attitudes, behaviors and other aggressive positions of the past will be forever abandoned before we move even further ahead.

?The Helsinki decision was significant for all sides; it created an intense mobility towards efforts to find a political solution for Cyprus. Cyprus European course, regardless of its political problem, as well as Turkeys efforts towards a European vocation, are correct strategic choices. Their fulfillment will create a new positive reality for the region, as well as for the European Union.?

[02] Prodi cites 'complete agreement' between EU, Athens over crucial issues

BRUSSELS (ANA) European Commission President Romano Prodi on Wednesday emphasised what he called complete agreement between the Union and Greece over several crucial issues facing Europe, before terming upcoming expansion a ?challenge? for the east Mediterranean country.

Prodi spoke here at a joint press conference with Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis -- who addressed the European Commission earlier where he referred to Greeces ?essential? role in the Balkans, while at the same time expressing the EUs satisfaction over Athens contribution to stability in the often-troubled region.

On his part, Simitis called his talks with the Commission ?fruitful?, before terming his across-the-board talks with Prodi as ?very friendly and interesting?.

Touching on EU expansion, Simitis cited the need for timetables with ?first wave? candidate-states to be met by the end of 2002.

Referring to Turkeys involvement in EU-NATO relations as well as Greeces refusal to accept a previous British-US formula aimed at a compromise deal with Ankara over the ?Euro-Army? issue, Simitis said that the self-evident fact precluding the alliance from intervening in possible conflicts between member-states was just as self-evident as the fact that a member-state cannot attack another member-state a clear reference to Ankaras threats over the years.

He also noted that Turkeys stance over the years has led to the situation where a portion of the Aegean is excluded from NATO exercises.

[03] Protopapas on talks with Turkey: We can say no if there are problems

Should problems arise during talks with Turkey, or if Turkey raised unreasonable demands, Greece still had the option of saying no, government spokesman Christos Protopapas pointed out on Wednesday.

The impending dialogue with Turkey will take place within the framework of international law and at a time when Turkey is keenly interested in its European course, government spokesman Christos Protopapas stressed.

Greece had to begin talks with faith in the country's positive image in the international community, on the basis of which initiatives were being taken to bring Greece into the heart of developments, he added.

Regarding a television broadcast on Tuesday, during which it was claimed that Greek and Turkish secret services had collaborated in the Ocalan case, Protopapas said that it was a general principle that all relevant services collaborated to deal with international terrorism.

The spokesman also noted, however, that former minister Theodoros Pangalos had given full answers regarding the specific issue on Tuesday.

[04] Commission approves Greek economic stability programme

BRUSSELS (ANA-V.Demiris) - The European Commission on Wednesday approved Greece's economic stability programme for the period 2001-2004, and issued positive estimates for the economy's performance over the next few years.

The EU's executive, however, urged for speedier moves in reducing the country's public debt and for measures to deal with the social security problem.

A Commission announcement said that Greece's updated stability programme, submitted in December 2001 and covering the 2001-2004 period, was in line with the requirements of a Stability and Development Pact in the eurozone. "Greece's GDP growth was 4.1 percent in 2001, slower from a target envisaged in the 2000 stability programme due to an international economic slowdown."

The Commission noted that the updated programme was based on a realistic macro-economic scenario envisaging relatively rapid growth rates. "Economic growth is based on significant public and private investments ahead of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, and to lower interest rates in the wake of the country's entry in EMU."

The European Commission noted that increased economic activity in the country last year resulted to a general government's budget surplus, estimated at 0.1 percent of the country's gross domestic product, down from a target of 0.5 percent. The slowdown is attributed to lower tax revenues and to higher primary spending (mainly wages and transfer payments), the Commission said.

The two negative factors were partly counterbalanced by increased revenues from the sale of UMTS third generation mobile telephony licences, accounting for 0.4 percent of GDP.

[05] Greeks, Russians, Bulgarians hold talks on Burgas-Alexandroupoli pipeline

Greek, Russian and Bulgarian government representatives met in Moscow on Wednesday to discuss the issue of the Burgas-Alexandroupoli oil pipeline, a press release of the ministry of development noted on Wednesday.

Greece was represented by Ministry of Development Secretary General G. Agrafiotis and the other two countries by their deputy energy ministers.

The agenda of the meeting included the signing of a memorandum between the three countries that they accept the venture of the construction of the pipe line that will connect the Black Sea Bulgarian port of Burgas to the Aegean Sea Greek port of Alexandroupoli.

The issues on the table also included the announcement and acceptance of the technical and economic study produced by ELF petroleum on the issue; the establishment of a tripartite company, which will undertake to promote the issue; and the time table for the presentation of the venture to the big international markets.

Hellenic Petroleum, the Latsis Group of companies and the Kopelouzos Group intend to participate in the venture from the Greek side.

[06] Lampsa hotels gets loan for overhaul of Grande Bretagne

Lampsa SA, a hotel owner, said on Wednesday that it had secured a long-term loan of 54 million euros from Alpha Bank to help refurbish the Grande Bretagne Hotel in central Athens.

The overhaul, budgeted at 67.5 million euros, is due for completion in early 2003 when the hotel will reopen, Lampsa said in a statement.

[07] Sanyo Hellas gets stake in Ukrainian natural gas

Exploinvest Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sanyo Hellas, announced on Wednesday that it had signed an agreement with C & A Group LLC of the United States to form a joint venture that will tap natural gas in Ukraine.

Exploration has already been carried out for the undersea deposits in the Crimea, Exploinvest said in a statement.

The joint venture with the American firm will have equity capital this year of 11 million US dollars, the statement said.

The Greek company is to have a 50 percent stake in the venture, funding the purchase through the sale of a holding in CJC Plast, it added.

[08] Weather Forecast: Sunshine on Thursday

Sunshine is forecast throughout the country, with early morning mist. The west will see scattered cloud. Winds westerly, light to moderate. In the north, temperatures will range from 2C to 20C; on the rest of the mainland from 7C to 23C; and in the islands from 9C to 19C. Sunny in Athens, with temperatures between 8C and 22C. Same in Thessaloniki with temperatures from 5C to 20C.

[09] Greek stocks end 1.12 percent down

Equity prices ended Wednesday's session lower on the Athens Stock Exchange, following losses in international markets.

The general index fell 1.12 percent to 2,595.87 points, off the day's lows, with turnover a low Dr 38.2 billion, or 112.2 million euros.

The Publication, Banks and Telecoms sectors suffered the heaviest percentage losses (1.57 percent, 1.33 percent and 1.30 percent, respectively)

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks ended 1.31 percent lower, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index eased 0.62 percent and the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index ended 1.02 percent lower.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 272 to 53 with another 33 issues unchanged.

[10] 'Ready, Aim ... Cease Fire' the Olympic Truce slogan

Greeces high-profile international initiative for an ?Olympic Truce? during the holding of next months Winter Games in Salt Lake City was showcased here on Tuesday, with the slogan of ?Ready, Aim ... Cease Fire? unveiled during a press conference.

?Just as Greece was able to revive the modern Olympic Games in the 19th century, it now has the obligation to revive this segment of the Games, which deals with the truce. The message of peace through culture and sports is significant,? Foreign Minister George Papandreou and the vice-president of the International Olympic Truce Centre told a press conference at the Zappeion Hall in Athens.

According to the Greek minister, both India and Pakistan will be called on to observe the ?Olympic Truce? during the holding of the Salt Lake City Games Feb. 2-15 whereas a similar message will be conveyed to Israel and the Palestinians.

Papandreou noted that western nations avoided military action against Iraq in 1998 during the Nagano Winter Olympics, while North and South Korea both marched under the same banner during the last Olympics Games in Sydney.

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