Athens News Agency: News in English, 03-11-02

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

CONTENTS

[01] Arafat tells Greek delegation Palestinian cabinet to be formed 'within

[02] Conference of Japanese Insitutional Investors begins in Athens on

[03] UNESCO Mediterranean cultural event marked with great sucesss

[04] Athens proposes 'low-impact' dialogue amongst Armenia, Azerbaijan,

[01] Arafat tells Greek delegation Palestinian cabinet to be formed 'within few days'

RAMALLAH (ANA/P. Dimitropoulos) - The new ministerial council of the Palestinian Authority will be formed ''within a few days,'' according to a statemenet made by President Yasser Arafat on Sunday following a meeting he had in Ramallah with a Greek parliamentary delegation headed by 2nd Parliament Vice-President Panayiotis Sgouridis.

In statements to the press, Arafat hailed the support of Greece to the Palestinian people, at the same time asking for the support of Athens and ther European Union for the continuation of the peace process.

During his meeting with the Greek parliamentary delegation, he was reported to have said that he had set November 5 as the date for the formation of the government. According to reports, it is considered most probable that the present prime minister, Ahmed Qurie, will head the government.On his part, Sgouridis stated that Greece condemns the wall that separates the region, while as member of the European Union and a friend of the Palestinian people, Greece is working for peace and the creation of two viable states, of Palestine and Israel. He further reiterated the support of Athens to the ''Road Map'' for the settlement of the problem.

[02] Conference of Japanese Insitutional Investors begins in Athens on Monday

At the initiative of the Athens Stock Exchange (ASE), a conference of Japanese institutional investors will be held in Athens from Monday to Wednesday.

Presented at the three-day event will be the Greek economy and capital market and the new entries to the ASE.

So far, 23 representatives of Japanese investors have confirmed that they will arrive in Athens.

The representatives are among the largest investment and financement firms in Japan.

The representatives of the Japanese institutional investors are from the firms: Mitsubishi Trust International, Bank of Japan, Chuo Mitsui Trust International, Daiwa Asset Management, Sumitomo Trust International PLC, Citigroup London, Nomura International, Resona Bank (Capital Management), Mitsui Sumitomo Asset Management, Tokio Marine & Fire Asset Management, Nikko Citigroup, Resona Trust Bank, Sumitomo Trust Bank, Fuji Investment Management, Deutsche Trust Bank, Daiichi Life, DLIBJ Asset Manager, UFJ Partners, Nomura Services.

[03] UNESCO Mediterranean cultural event marked with great sucesss

PARIS (ANA) - Within the framework of the initiative ''The roads of the olive'', which is backed by UNESCO, the cultural evening entitled ''In the light of the olive'', was held at UNESCO amphitheatre in Paris on Friday with dances and music from Mediterannean countries.

The ''Roads of the olive'' inititaive aims at being a bridge for development, dialogue and peace between the peoples of the Mediterranean.

The ''In the light of the olive'' event was organised with the initiative of the Permanent Greek Representation in UNESCO, with the participation of the Greek Development Ministry, the Spanish Education, Culture and Sports Ministry and the Permanent Representatives of Algeria and Morocco in UNESCO, and held under the auspices of UNEESCO Director General Koichiro Matsuura.

[04] Athens proposes 'low-impact' dialogue amongst Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia

BAKU (ANA S. Aravopoulou) Greece on Sunday proposed the commencement of a three-nation dialogue between feuding neighbours Armenia and Azerbaijan, as well as with Georgia, on so-called ?low-impact? issues, with Athens willing to coordinate the initiative.

The proposal came during a visit here by Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannis Magriotis, who was received by new Azerbaijan President Ilhan Aliyev, the son and successor of long-time Azeri leader Heydar Aliyev. The Greek minister was also received by Azeri Premier Artur Rasizade.

?We will not touch on the issue of Nagorno-Karabakh unless they themselves want to, as the agenda of talks will be set by the countries themselves,? Magriotis, who is on a tour of several Black Sea region countries, said.

According to diplomatic sources, Armenia and Georgia have already given their ?green light? for the initiative.

Sources said talks also focused on bilateral interest over energy networks connecting the oil and gas-rich Caucasus country with Greece and Europe as well as matters dealing with the Black Sea Cooperation Pact.

Magriotis also conveyed Greek leaderships congratulations to the younger Aliyev over his recent election victory.

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