[01] POLITICAL LEADERS CANVASS THE COUNTRY IN PRE- ELECTION CAMPAIGNS

[02] THERE IS NO LEGISLATION REGARDING POLLS, SAYS PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT

[03] PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT AWARDS PARALYMPICS PARTICIPANTS

[04] TURKISH-CYPRIOT AGRICULTURE MINISTER INVOLVED IN KILLING GREEK-CYPRIOT

[05] CYRPIOT PARLIAMENT EMBARKS ON INTERNATIONAL MISSION

[06] TURKEY TO PROCEEED WITH CONSTRUCTION OF ITS FIRST NUCLEAR POWER PLANT

[07] UN SECRETARY-GENERAL SPECIAL ENVOY TO MEET WITH CLERIDES AND DENKTASH

[08] 70,000 KURDS FROM NORTHERN IRAQ SEEK REFUGE IN IRAN

NEWS IN DETAIL

[01] POLITICAL LEADERS CANVASS THE COUNTRY IN PRE- ELECTION CAMPAIGNS

In light of the September 22 elections, Greek Prime Minister and PASOK President Kostas Simitis continues his pre-election campaign today by touring Agrinio and Patras.

During his talk in Arta yesterday, Mr. Simitis emphasized that the dilemma in the upcoming elections is the maintenance of the status quo on one hand, or modernization on the other.

Referring to the statement made by Miltiades Evert, leader of the main opposition party New Democracy, wherein he had said that every turkish aircraft will be intercepted by two Greek aircraft, Mr. Simitis said that the N.D. leader is a "jingoist."

In a press conference given yesterday, Mr. Evert promised to provide immediate solutions to the problems of unemployment in the agricultural sector and the problems faced by the small-to-middle size businesses.

In minor opposition parties, leader of Political Spring Antonis Samaras will tour Etoloakarnania today, while Secretary-General of the Communist Party of Greece Aleka Paparega -currently in Thessaloniki- will visit the city of Kilkis.

Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) party leader Nikos Konstantopoulos will travel to Crete, while President of the Democratic Social Movement (DHKKI) will tour Thessalia and will speak at an open rally in Trikala this evening.

[02] THERE IS NO LEGISLATION REGARDING POLLS, SAYS PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT

The various polls that spring up during pre-election campaigns in Greece often serve special inerests, yet there is not legislation to control them, according to President of Parliament Apostolos Kaklamanis.

Commenting on the recent polls that present ruling party PASOK as prevailing over the main opposition New Democracy, while others show exactly the opposite, Mr. Kaklamanis stated that PASOK does not take these polls for granted.

The President of Parliament added that the margin of voters who have yet to decide mostly stem from the ruling party.

[03] PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT AWARDS PARALYMPICS PARTICIPANTS

In a ceremony held this morning in Greece's Parliament, Speaker Apostolos Kaklamanis awarded the athletes who participated in the Atlanta-held Paralympics, the Games for people with physical handicaps.

Mr. Kaklamanis stated that the state must grant equal status to the persons with special needs and emphasized that being at the threshold of the 21st century, discrimination against handicapped persons must be eradicated through proper training and awareness- raising at schools and at home.

[04] TURKISH-CYPRIOT AGRICULTURE MINISTER INVOLVED IN KILLING GREEK-CYPRIOT

Turkish-Cypriot Agriculture Minister Kenan Akin appears to be one of the men who killed Greek-Cypriot Solomos Solomou last month in Deryneia.

Cypriot officials recognized the Minister's face in a close-caption analysis of the video footage.

Meanwhile, relatives of the Turkish-Cypriot soldier who was shot dead on Sunday on the occupied territory, stated that the Kurdish-origin victim was shot by Turks either because he expressed his opposition to Ankara's military advance in northern Iraq, or to create a provocation.

Tansu Ciller, Turkey's Foreign Minister and ex- Premier, will attend the soldier's funeral today in Cyprus.

[05] CYRPIOT PARLIAMENT EMBARKS ON INTERNATIONAL MISSION

The Cypriot Parliament will embark on an international mission to condemn the turkish savaregy, starting with efforts to "freeze" the funding proposals to Turkey through the European Parliament.

The Parliament will also forward a delegation to Peking's Congress of the Interparliamentary Union, where over 700 Mps will be represented, to be followed by delegations that will address the Council of Europe, and travel to the United States and Russia.

[06] TURKEY TO PROCEEED WITH CONSTRUCTION OF ITS FIRST NUCLEAR POWER PLANT

In spite of the international protests and reactions, mainly from ecological organizations, Turkey will proceed to the construction of its first nuclear power plant.

According to reports from Ankara, the nuclear plant will be built at Akuyiou, neat the Myrsini port.

It will have a 600-1400 megawatts capacity and its operation is scheduled to begin in the year 2005.

[07] UN SECRETARY-GENERAL SPECIAL ENVOY TO MEET WITH CLERIDES AND DENKTASH

The United Nations Secretary-General's Special Envoy Han Sung Ju arrives in Nicosia today in order to orchestrate direct talks between both sides of the divided island.

According to reports, Mr. Han's ultimate aim is to reduce the tension and to create the pre-conditions for promoting a final solution to the Cyprus problem.

Mr. Han will hold separate meetings with the President of the Republic of Cyprus Glafkos Clerides and the Turk-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash. On Friday, the three men will meet together and thereafter Mr. Han will travel to Athens and Ankara.

[08] 70,000 KURDS FROM NORTHERN IRAQ SEEK REFUGE IN IRAN

Over 70,000 Kurds from northern Iraq have sought refuge in Iran, which reportedly has opened its borders following yesterday's overtake of Suleimanya by men of the Democratic Party of Kurdistan.

The conquest of Suleimanya, which constituted the stronghold of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, re- ignited fears of a repeat of the 1991 tragedy when approximately two million Kurds fled to Turkey and Iran in order to escape from the Iraqi troops.

According to reports, the city of Suleimanya put up no resistance and a spokesperson from a European human rights organization stationed in northern Iraq stated that the current situation is calm.

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