Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 00-11-06

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

CONTENTS

[01] Bus hijacker dead in fall; Tokyo expresses thanks over peaceful resolution

[02] Simitis says greatest part of CSF will go to rural areas

[03] Tsohatzopoulos warns his attitude in government must not be taken for granted

[04] Beglitis says Moslem minority enjoys same rights as all citizens

[05] PASOK conference on labor relations ends

[06] Karamanlis accuses government of 'lack of transparency"

[07] Hillary Clinton says Greece can play a decisive role in the Balkans

[08] Albania begins imports of electricity from neighboring Greece

[09] Event held in honor of Greek Jews who survived the Holocaust

[10] Greek athletes win annual peace marathon; German runner collapses meters from finish

[11] Clerides expects UN chief to put forward general principles

[12] Ankara and puppet regime persist in efforts to change Cyprus' demographic character

[13] Cyprus signs Human Rights protocol

[01] Bus hijacker dead in fall; Tokyo expresses thanks over peaceful resolution

Athens, 06/11/2000 (ANA)

According to police, Christos Kentiras, 48, broke through a window in a room where he was being fingerprinted just prior to his formal arraignment before a prosecutor in the nearby port city of Piraeus on two counts charges of murder multiple counts of abduction, among others.

The distraught Kentiras killed his mother-in-law and a neighbor he suspected of having an affair with his estranged wife early Saturday morning in a village in southern Greece. He led a tourist coach carrying 35 people, 32 of which were Japanese tourists, on a 10-hour odyssey back and forth across a major southern Greece highway on Saturday before surrendering to a television talk show journalist in front of a local TV station in the early evening.

No one aboard the bus was hurt during the standoff. Besides the 32 tourists, a Japanese guide, a Greek guide as well as a Greek driver were on board.

Kentiras, armed with a shotgun, hijacked the tourist coach near the Epidauros region in the northeast Peloponnese after its driver stopped to offer assistance. Before leaving the scene, the distraught suspect set his own vehicle on fire by the side of the roadway, the bus driver told reporters on Sunday.

The coach was carrying the Japanese tourists on a three-day excursion to Greeces Argolida prefecture, which features, among others, the Mycenae and Epidauros archaeological sites as well as the fortress harbor town of Nafplion.

A prosecutor and the commander of the police force have ordered two separate investigations into the circumstances surrounding the Kentiras death.

Japanese ambassador: During a morning press conference at the Japanese consulate, Tokyos ambassador to Athens thanked the Greek government and police for their efforts at securing a peaceful resolution of the hostage situation. Additionally, he stressed that no travel advisory will be issued by the government in Tokyo over yesterdays incident (the hijacking).

Ambassador Motoi Ohkubo also said he was in telephone contact with Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis and Public Order Minister Mihalis Chrysohoidis from the very first moment when the embassy learned of the hostage situation.

The envoy added that Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori as well as Foreign Minister Yohei Kono spoke with Greek officials before later personally thanking Simitis and Chrysohoidis when the situation was resolved.

Asked about the level of security for tourists in Greece, Ohkubo said it was at a "very good level", while expressing his wish that such an incident never occurs again.

Meanwhile, the 32 Japanese tourists, many in their 60s and 70s, will decide on Sunday whether to take up an offer to continue their vacation as guests of the Greek government.

"Most of them will continue their holidays here and some of them will visit Meteora (in central Greece)," the Japanese ambassador said.

[02] Simitis says greatest part of CSF will go to rural areas

Athens, 06/11/2000 (ANA)

Addressing local officials, Simitis said that the government's decision determined its priorities for the decade ahead.

He said that from the 3rd CSF, about one trillion drachmas would be allocated for projects in the Epirus region.

The prime minister also referred to the special development programs for the earthquake-affected inhabitants of Konitsa and to the villagers affected by the summer fires, noting that eight billion drachmas has been budgeted for each of these programs.

[03] Tsohatzopoulos warns his attitude in government must not be taken for granted

Athens, 06/11/2000 (ANA)

In the interview, which had an exclusively political character, Tsohatzopoulos distanced himself from the policy being exercised, but did not hesitate in assuming responsibility on the policy which has been implemented until the recent parliamentary elections, which he viewed as a turning point.

Tsohatzopoulos believes that matters for the PASOK government are more difficult now than before the April 9 general elections, this being due to the fact that demands must be met concerning the cost of Greece's accession to the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) and because the government must convince that it has vision as well after accession.

The defense minister appears dissatisfied both by the policy, which led to EMU accession, and more, so by the policy exercised at present mainly in the economic sector.

He said he did not feel like a member of a socialist government because "many of the things that we are doing are within the context of a liberal economic policy."

He supported that the PASOK government "must compensate in some way" the classes worst hit and that he himself will support this issue at any cost. "I have no intention of forgetting what I had promised before the elections and neither will I accept that we continue a middle-term policy," the minister noted.

Tsohatzopoulos went on to say that the policy adopted during the previous four-year term for the achievement of macro-economic goals had as a result the shrinking of the production basis, the reduction in exports, the increase in imports and the swelling of the trade balance.

The minister said that all these facts must be re-examined and announced that during the coming period "a very intense" dialogue will take place within the ruling PASOK party on all these issues.

He assured he had no ambition of "overturning anything". However, he underlined that unlike the 1996-2000 term, in this current second term of Prime Minister Costas Simitis' government, his stance "is not so simple as the previous one or so self-evident or automated".

Tsohatzopoulos said there existed problems and developments "which might pose obstacles to our common planning."

To a question in the event that an issue of leadership may arise in the future whether he himself would undertake responsibility for the party's leadership, Tsohatzopoulos gave an indirect but very clear answer by saying: "We may be called upon to confront these obstacles in a manner which will impose on us to think on the way the political forces are situated and on the way to better utilize our personal capabilities as well."

[04] Beglitis says Moslem minority enjoys same rights as all citizens

Athens, 06/11/2000 (ANA)

He was commenting on an announcement by the Turkish Foreign Ministry concerning the ratification of the sentence of self-styled mufti Emin Aga.

All Greek citizens, he said, independent of their religious convictions, enjoy the same rights and have the same obligations.

Beglitis added that the country's policy is based on respect of international treaties and that it has contributed "to the blooming" of the Moslem minority.

"The evidence is undisputedly and overwhelmingly against Turkey and the policy it is following towards the Greeks of Istanbul, Imvros and Tenedos. Nobody has the right to selectively enforce the international treaties," the spokesman said, concluding that "the Moslem minority in Thrace will continue to develop and fully enjoy its rights without having the need of self-proclaimed defenders."

[05] PASOK conference on labor relations ends

Athens, 06/11/2000 (ANA)

He said that following the open dispute between the government and trade unionists, both sides should reach a common position.

Giannitsis committed himself that all the proposals put forward by the social partners will be "utilized" before the government "finalizes" its views.

He also said that he would accept every proposal for the reduction of working hours, providing that there is full agreement on the issue by all the social partners.

He said that the social dialogue on labor relations and employment would continue. Concluding, he dismissed charges of neo-liberal policy.

[06] Karamanlis accuses government of 'lack of transparency"

Athens, 06/11/2000 (ANA)

Defending his party's proposals for the constitutional amendment, the adoption of rules that will safeguard transparency and the prestige of politicians, he launched a stinging attack against the government, accusing it of being possessed of a "regime mentality".

He said the government was anti-social, made discriminations, represented inequality, was "a prisoner of a lack of transparency" and was the "expresser, partner and protector" of vested interests.

[07] Hillary Clinton says Greece can play a decisive role in the Balkans

Athens, 06/11/2000 (ANA)

The wife of outgoing US President Bill Clinton said that Greece's role was crucial for the Balkans and added: "Due to its geopolitical position, it can play a decisive role for stability in the region. Greece is a NATO ally and a European Union member and can become a greater player and regulator of developments in the region."

Referring to her election campaign, Ms Clinton said she hoped in the Greek vote. "The Greek-American community of New York has supported me financially and morally throughout my campaign," she said.

The First Lady of the US also spoke about the Athens 2004 Olympic Games and said that it will be "a rare experience" for one to live the Olympic spirit from where the Olympic Games originated.

"Personally, I want to be present at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games," she said.

[08] Albania begins imports of electricity from neighboring Greece

TIRANA, 06/11/2000 (ANA - I. Patso)

Albania's dilapidated power grid has been experiencing power outages recently as a lack of rainfall slashed electrical production at the country's hydroelectric plants, the only locally produced source of power generation.

According to a government official in Tirana, Albania's state-run power utility will import roughly six million kilowatts per hour on a daily basis from Greece.

Besides Greece, Albania purchases electricity from Montenegro and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM).

[09] Event held in honor of Greek Jews who survived the Holocaust

Athens, 06/11/2000 (ANA)

The event, which was also in memory of those who died in the concentration camps, was held at the War Museum in the presence of Education Minister Petros Efthimiou and Council President Moses Konstantinis.

About 86 per cent of Greek Jews lost their lives during the Nazi occupation. Of the 77,377, only 10,226 survived the holocaust.

The Greek Jewish survivors of the holocaust today number just 160.

[10] Greek athletes win annual peace marathon; German runner collapses meters from finish

Athens, 06/11/2000 (ANA)

Nikos Pollias came in first with a time of 2.20:50. He was followed by Japan's Kazutaka Higuhi (2.22:38) and Masaiko Masuda (2.22:45), also from Japan.

On the women's side, Georgia Abatzidou posted a time of 2.53:00, followed by Angela Opefise of the United States and Vassiliki Sikopeti of Greece.

The annual marathon is held in memory of Grigoris Lambrakis, a noted athlete, Greek leftist MP and peace activist assassinated in the early 1960s.

Meanwhile, on a sadder note, a 61-year-old German competitor suffered a heart attack during the same marathon some 30 meters before reaching the finishing line at the all-marble Panathenian Stadium in downtown Athens.

[11] Clerides expects UN chief to put forward general principles

GENEVA, 06/11/2000 (CNA/ANA)

The President also said the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot sides may be invited to discuss these principles, adding that he would not accept an interim agreement on the Cyprus question but aims at a comprehensive settlement.

Speaking in Geneva, the president said he will have on Monday a working breakfast with Annan's Special Adviser on Cyprus Alvaro de Soto, who is conducting the talks, and on Wednesday he is scheduled to have two meetings with the Secretary General, one in the morning and the other in the afternoon.

"It appears that Annan intends to refer to some general principles of the solution," President Clerides said, adding that the comprehensive settlement will be based on these general principles.

Replying to questions, the president said that he would not accept an interim solution, noting that it has not yet been confirmed whether Annan will put forward some general principles next week.

Asked if the two sides will be called to adopt these principles, the president said the sides would be invited to discuss them.

Invited by CNA to clarify whether these principles would relate to the four core issues the UN has defined for discussion in the proximity talks, Clerides said he did not know.

The two sides are engaged in talks on four core issues, namely constitution, territory, security and refugees and property.

The president said de Soto might call the two sides to negotiate on the general principles the UN chief intends to present to the two sides.

The UN have announced that Anan is expected to arrive in Geneva on November 8 to be involved in the fifth round of Cyprus peace talks and is expected to leave on the 11th, the day after they wrap up.

The talks aim at reaching a settlement in Cyprus, divided since Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 percent of its territory in 1974.

[12] Ankara and puppet regime persist in efforts to change Cyprus' demographic character

NICOSIA, 06/11/2000 (CNA/ANA)

"Kibris", which has the highest circulation in the occupied areas, says that according to figures given by a special investigative committee to the illegal "parliament" in Turkish occupied Cyprus, 48 thousand 816 people were given the so-called "citizenship" since 1974, while the report warns that the Turkish Cypriot community may face a number of social, cultural and economic problems if this trend is not stopped. The report, the paper says, is not complete as the investigative committee set up by the illegal "parliament" could not obtain full information on the number of persons given "citizenship".

It was estimated that the illegal "council of ministers" in the Turkish occupied areas had given the so-called "citizenship" to about 84 percent of these persons.

The seven-page report was approved only by the majority, as two parties disputed the facts given.

The puppet regime in Turkish occupied Cyprus, illegally set up in 1983, is recognized by no other country than Turkey and numerous UN resolutions call on all states not to recognize or facilitate it in any way.

The Cyprus government has often expressed its concern over the illegal influx of settlers as it is estimated that over 80 thousand people were brought to occupied Cyprus in order to change the demographic character of the island.

At the same time, the increasing number of people illegally brought to the occupied areas, some of which come to work, is an issue of concern to Turkish Cypriots and one of the reasons they are leaving the island for a better future abroad.

Sonay Adem, of the Turkish Cypriot Republican Party said so-called "citizenship" was given to people who did not even know where Cyprus was.

His position was echoed by Ahmet Kashif, of the Turkish Cypriot Democratic Party, who said it was given to "whoever got off the boat", during the illegal "elections" held in the Turkish occupied areas of Cyprus in 1990.

Adem described the figures given to the committee as wrong and fake, noting that at first they were told that until 1983 nearly 49 thousand persons were given the illegal citizenship but were later told this figure applied until 1999.

[13] Cyprus signs Human Rights protocol

NICOSIA, 06/11/2000 (CNA/ANA)

Justice and Public Order Minister Nikos Koshis signed the protocol on Saturday, during the ministerial meeting for Human Rights that took place in Rome. The minister reaffirmed Cyprus' dedication to the Convention and its protocols.

Koshis reminded delegates of the continuing mass violation of human rights in Cyprus by Turkey, noting that Ankara is also refusing to comply with a European Court decision in the case of Greek Cypriot Titina Loizidou. The European Court has found Turkey guilty of refusing Loizidou the right to enjoy her property in the Turkish occupied areas and ordered Ankara to pay thousands of dollars to the Greek Cypriot tourist guide.

So far Ankara has been refusing to comply with the Court decision.

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