Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 02-12-02

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From: The Macedonian Press Agency at http://www.mpa.gr and http://www.hri.org/MPA.

CONTENTS

[01] BARRAGE OF MEETINGS ON CYPRUS

[02] MORE N17 MEMBERS LOOKED FOR

[03] 5.8 RICHTER EARTHQUAKE IN SW GREECE

[04] SIMITIS-SAMPAIO DISCUSSED CYPRUS AND EU ISSUES

[05] PROTOPAPAS ON CYPRUS' EU ACCESSION

[06] IMPRESSIVE GAINS IN THE ASE

[07] SPEEDY GROWTH RATES IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR

[08] GREEK-PORTUGAL PRESIDENTÉÁL MEETING

[09] DRYS COMPLETING SCANDINAVIAN VISIT

[10] EU CENTER DEMOCRATS SUPPORT CYPRUS

[11] DE SOTO: IN TWO DAYS THE RESPONSES ON THE ANNAN PLAN

[01] BARRAGE OF MEETINGS ON CYPRUS

Meetings and discussions for a solution of the Cyprus issue, based on the Annan proposal, are intensifying, as the date of the Copenhagen Summit Meeting, December 12, is drawing dangerously near.

With its steadfast position that the Annan proposal is a basis for negotiations, the Greek government is concentrating its diplomatic initiatives on achieving a decision for an unimpeded accession of Cyprus at Copenhagen, without conditions and prerequisites, just like other countries in the first group of enlargement candidates. With this in mind, the position expressed by the Spanish and Portugese Prime Ministers favoring Cyprus's accession, at the International Meeting of Center Democrats in Kerkyra, held after the initiative of New Democracy President Kostas Karamanlis, bears special importance. This clear position was expressed in the unanimous resolution approved by the Meeting with the participation of 35 countries.

Today, Cyprus' National Council is convening in order to extensively discuss the Annan proposal, to locate the weak points that require clarifications or improvement, and within the next few days, the President of the Cypriot Republic Glafkos Cleridis, will notify the UN Secretary General of his answer.

Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou will visit Ankara on Wednesday, and will hold crucial discussions with the Turkish Prime Minister, the winner of the elections, his Turkish counterpart and the Head of the Opposition.

On the same day, US Undersecretary of State Mark Grossman will visit Cyprus, and then travel to Athens and Ankara.

Meanwhile, a poll carried out in Cyprus for the Politis and Ordam newspapers, showed that 52% of Turkish Cypriots and 28% of Greek Cypriots would vote in favor of the Annan plan. To the question of solution or division, 46% of Greek Cypriots was in favor of a solution, while 27% was in favor of a division.

[02] MORE N17 MEMBERS LOOKED FOR

District Attorney of Appeals Kyriakos Karoutsos appreciated that the group that founded the November 17 terrorist organization did not only consist of Alexandros Giotopoulos, Giannis Serifis, Nikos Papanastasiou and Theologos Psaradelis, but included other individuals who have not yet been apprehended. This appreciation is included in the proposal submitted to the Council of Appeals' Judges on the N17 case.

As Mr. Karoutsos stressed, the founding members of N17 also include women, such as Anna, and another woman who participated in the murder of police guard of the National Bank Branch in Petralona, Christos Matis.

In his proposal, the DA of Appeals has completely disregarded the newer testimonies of the suspects, while on the contrary, he considered the initial testimonies honest and responding to reality. Also, referring to each of the suspects individually, he noted who have been cooperative with the authorities and who have not.

Meanwhile, today or, at the latest, tomorrow, Savvas Xeros will return to the Corydallos Penitentiary once again, after yet another operation was performed on his eye at the General State Athens hospital.

After he has returned the prison board will convene to discuss if disciplinary action will be taken against him for his latest interview to journalist Makis Triantafyllopoulos. The prison board will also discuss disciplinary action against Pavlos Serifis who gave an interview to the Eleftherotypia newspaper today.

[03] 5.8 RICHTER EARTHQUAKE IN SW GREECE

An earthquake of 5.8 points on the Richter scale was recorded at 06:59 this morning in western Greece, between Zakynthos and Kyllini.

Seismologists pointed out that that was the main body of the quake, while a series of aftershocks is expected. Information only mentions damages to buildings, as well as to a historic tower of the post-Byzantine era.

[04] SIMITIS-SAMPAIO DISCUSSED CYPRUS AND EU ISSUES

The position of Portugal that Cyprus must become an EU member even if no solution is found on the Cyprus issue, was reiterated by Portuguese President Jorge Sampaio in a meeting he had in Athens with Prime Minister Kostas Simitis. Mr. Sampaio and Mr. Simitis agreed that the Cyprus problem must be solved and an effort must be made even though there is little time until the Copenhagen Summit meeting. In the meeting they discussed the Cyprus issue, Cyprus' EU accession, the Greek-Portuguese cooperation within the framework of the EU, the assembly on the future of Europe and the Stability Pact.

Referring to the EU enlargement process and the future of Europe, Mr. Simitis underlined the need for the EU to acquire a federal character without abandoning the EU cooperation method. He backed the coordination of the EU states' economic policies aimed at a broader social policy, as well as the measures against unemployment and the creation of social solidarity. He stressed that it should be considered whether the Stability Pact agreed in Maastricht should adjust to the new conditions.

On the issues of foreign policy and policy of defense, Mr. Simitis underlined that there is a need for the EU to give greater importance to this direction. On the occasion of the imminent Greek EU Presidency, Mr. Simitis stressed that Greece is interested in the promotion of the decisions reached in Lisbon on the competitiveness of the European economy and the implementation of the EU structural policy. On the Greek-Portuguese relations, he said that they are very good but they could develop even more in the economic sector.

Portuguese President Mr. Sampaio stated that the solution of the political problem in Cyprus cannot be a precondition for Cyprus' EU accession but the interested parties should be able to reach an agreement for the solution of the problem.

On the Greek EU Presidency, Mr. Sampaio stressed that Portugal is looking forward to it because the enlargement procedure will be consolidated, the proceedings of the assembly on the future of Europe will be completed, while a joint foreign and defense policy will be developed in Europe. On the Stability Pact, he underlined that it should allow for economic development and give a greater boost to all European economies.

Mr. Sampaio made a special reference to the common points shared by Greece and Portugal regarding the international situation and the situation in the EU. He also referred to the issue of Iraq expressing the hope that the UN decisions will be implemented.

[05] PROTOPAPAS ON CYPRUS' EU ACCESSION

Nobody has the moral or political right to change the Brussels decision on Cyprus' EU accession, reiterated Greek government spokesman Christos Protopapas and underlined that the EU enlargement passes through Cyprus' membership as it was the first candidate state to meet the necessary criteria.

Responding to a question by a reporter, he said that Greece had accepted the Annan Plan as a basis for negotiation from the first moment and added that the delay recorded is the result of the stance adopted by the Turkish Cypriot side.

He concluded by saying that the most important thing is for Cyprus' EU accession to take place in Copenhagen as scheduled and the dialogue and negotiation for the solution of the political problem to continue in case no agreement is reached by then in principle.

[06] IMPRESSIVE GAINS IN THE ASE

Impressive gains were recorded in the Athens Stock Exchange today. The general index rose to +1.07% at 1.892,78 points, while the volume of transactions was satisfactory at 99.8 million Euro.

Of the stocks trading today, 260 recorded gains and 69 had losses, while the value of 46 stocks remained unchanged.

[07] SPEEDY GROWTH RATES IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR

The Greek manufacturing sector had a speedy growth rate in November with the relevant index to be at 53.2 from 51.9 in October.

The index is followed by NTC Research in cooperation with the Hellenic Purchasing Institute. For the record, the reference point for growth is 50.

[08] GREEK-PORTUGAL PRESIDENTÉÁL MEETING

Issues concerning the enlargement of the European Union, the Cyprus issue, Cyprus' accession and the date for the initiation of the negotiations for Turkey's accession procedure, was discussed this morning by President of the Greek Republic Kostis Stefanopoulos and his Portuguese counterpart, Jorje Sampaio, who is on a two-day visit to Greece.

Mr. Sampaio repeated his country's position that there is no need for the political issue to be resolved for Cyprus to be incorporated to the EU. He stressed that if a solution is found however, it would be positive, without it meaning that there would be problems in any other case. As far as the date for the commencing of negotiations for Turkey's accession to the EU is concerned, Mr. Sampaio pointed out that it would be good if Europe sent Ankara a positive message and at some point specified a date.

Concerning the enlargement, the Presidents of Greece and Portugal underlined the need for it to be under run by principles of equality between states, solidarity and cohesion. At the same time, they were in favor of coordinating action among small and medium sized countries of the European Union.

[09] DRYS COMPLETING SCANDINAVIAN VISIT

Minister of Agriculture Georgios Drys is on the second day of his visit to Scandinavia, continuing his meetings with his 14 counterparts, in view of the Greek Presidency of the EU. His meetings began from the capitals of Sweden and Finland.

In Stockholm, the Greek Minister had official meetings with Minister of Foods and Fisheries Ann Christin Nykvist, on the enlargement of the EU and the revision of the Common Agricultural and Fishery Policy. He then had meetings on the same issues with his Finnish counterpart, Jari Koskinen, in Helsinki.

During his two-day visit to the two Scandinavian capitals, Mr. Drys referred to the priorities of the Greek Presidency and was briefed on the special agricultural issues of the two countries.

[10] EU CENTER DEMOCRATS SUPPORT CYPRUS

The view that Europe's enlargement should in no way weaken its effective functioning, but on the contrary, should provide an additional motive for further promoting close cooperation, was expressed in the resolution of the International Meeting of Center Democrats held in Kerkyra.

At the same time, they encouraged all those involved, and especially the Council and the European Commission, to make sure that the Copenhagen opportunity for the accession of 10 new members to the EU, is sealed on December 12 with a clear decision of the EU, with no additional terms for any of the candidate countries.

Participants in the Meeting called the EU to continue developing its cooperation policies with countries outside the EU and other international or regional organizations, even after its enlargement, and they underlined that they are ready to contribute to that prospect.

The resolution of the International Center-Democrats regarding the EU enlargement, mentions, among other things, the upcoming Copenhagen Summit, the completion of negotiation procedures, enlargement and close cooperation between independent states, strengthening prosperity and security in Europe, global economic growth and development, as well as common values which the International Center-Democrats are based on.

[11] DE SOTO: IN TWO DAYS THE RESPONSES ON THE ANNAN PLAN

The United Nations hope that the two sides in Cyprus will submit their views on the Annan Plan for the solution of the Cyprus problem in two days, stated UN Secretary General special adviser on Cyprus Mr. Alvaro de Soto.

Speaking to reporters in Ankara after his meetings with Turkish Foreign Minister Yassar Yakis and Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Ugur Ziyal, Mr. de Soto characterized his contacts as very positive.

Mr. de Soto underlined that he is still optimistic that a solution can be reached on the Cyprus issue by December 12. Responding to the question on whether specific steps will be made on the Cyprus issue before the Copenhagen Summit meeting, he responded that this is certainly the goal.

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