Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 01-05-29

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

CONTENTS

[01] Athens praises 'exemplary' Cyprus parliamentary elections

[02] Swedish premier in Athens on Thursday ahead of EU summit

[03] PM says minimum pension levels will not be harmed

[04] Papandreou to represent Greece at NATO ministerial conference in Budapest

[05] PM, FM discuss Greece's agenda for its EU presidency in 2003

[06] Turkish PM reiterates threats against Cyprus's EU accession

[07] Foreign ministry comments on Frowick deal in FYROM

[08] Gov't downplays significance of ND's lead in opinion polls

[09] Kaklamanis sends letter to EU counterparts over Turkish prisons

[10] Parliament president receives Venezuelan ambassador

[11] EU to promote convergence of member-states' educational systems

[12] Greece under par in secondary education completion percentages

[13] Gov't sets 50,000-drachma fee in latest legalization process

[14] Land development regulations for Athens airport region to be announced soon

[15] Greece ranks bottom in adapting to EU single market rules

[16] Greece launches EQUAL employment program

[17] Balkan economic conference in Athens on June 13-14

[18] Euro-Med farm ministers in Greece for CIHEAM meetings

[19] Greece to approve two Monsanto GMO cottons for cultivation

[20] German group okays safety on Greek passenger ferries

[21] Greece, Syria sign maritime transports pact

[22] Skaramangas to build two gunboats for Hellenic Navy-sources

[23] Mytilineos to build a new electricity station

[24] Lack of foreign buying pushes stock prices lower

[25] President inaugurates exhibition at Byzantine and Christian Museum

[26] Athens organizers, gov't cover hospitality and 2004 budget issues

[27] Opposition left-wing AKEL party wins parliamentary elections

[01] Athens praises 'exemplary' Cyprus parliamentary elections

Athens, 29/05/2001 (ANA)

On his part, foreign ministry Spokesman Panos Beglitis said, "we are sure the new Cypriot parliament will continue and accelerate efforts to incorporate the island into Europe and help collective efforts for its unobstructed EU accession course."

The island republic's opposition left-wing AKEL party won the election. The result was very close, with AKEL gaining 34.7 and the Democratic Rally (DISY) (party supporting Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides) gaining 34.0 per cent. AKEL, which previously had 19 seats in the 56-seat parliament, is expected to have 20, and DISY, which previously had 20 seats, 19.

Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas also commented on recent reports claiming that Turkey has addressed a confidential memorandum to 14 EU capitals � sans Greek leadership � regarding the long-standing Cyprus problem, including a warning against the island republic�s accession before a political solution is achieved for the divided state.

Reppas countered that Turkey�s EU prospects are linked to various EU decisions, �and the only thing it (Turkey) achieves (with such actions) is to make its position more difficult.�

Roughly one-third of Cyprus� territory, the island�s northern part, remains occupied by the Turkish military following a 1974 invasion. Only the government-controlled areas in the rest of the island�s two-thirds are recognized by the international community as an independent state.

Cyprus, which began accession talks in 1998, ranks first among 13 states vying for inclusion in the next round of EU expansion.

Foreign ministry spokesman Beglitis commenting on the same reports said that the EU had a clear-cut policy based on the Helsinki EU summit decisions, which were confirmed by the EU-Cyprus association council.

"Cyprus can proceed unobstructed on its European course and no one can prevent this," Beglitis added, "while any messages or threats from the Turkish side simply fall into the framework of Ankara's dead-end policy."

"Turkey cannot make Cyprus a hostage to its policy and threats against Cyprus are in any case turned not only on the island republic but also against the European Union," he said.

The spokesman also pointed out that this was not the first time that such views had been expressed by Turkey, which had taken a similar line before the EU foreign ministers' council in Evian in September 2000.

Coalition party leader congratulates AKEL for success in Cyprus elections: Coalition of the Left and Progress leader Nikos Constantopoulos on Monday addressed messages of congratulations to the leftist AKEL party for winning first place with 34.7 percent in Sunday's polls in Cyprus, as well as to the Ecologists and Environmentalists Movement for entering Parliament for the first time since its establishment.

In his message to AKEL Secretary General Demetris Christofias, Constantopoulos said "your success constitutes a reward for your struggles for the rights of Cypriot working people, as well as for your efforts for a just solution to the Cyprus issue, based on UN resolutions. It vindicates your option to support the accession course of Cyprus to the European Union and to co-ordinate your struggles with the forces of the European Left for a united Europe of its peoples and citizens."

[02] Swedish premier in Athens on Thursday ahead of EU summit

Athens, 29/05/2001 (ANA)

Persson will be visiting Athens on a tour of European capitals ahead of the EU summit in Gothenburg on June 15-16.

[03] PM says minimum pension levels will not be harmed

Athens, 29/05/2001 (ANA)

Simitis later said minimum pension levels would not be harmed in any way, adding that the government guarantees minimum levels for all working people.

He said the decision taken at the meeting was unanimous and that it concerns the social policy framework and measures aiming at improving the quality of life of all Greeks.

A report approved during the meeting will be presented at the Central Committee as a proposal and after rapporteur and Central Committee secretary Costas Skandalidis includes observations in it made by committee members.

Simitis said the social state was and remains PASOK's ideological foundation and added, referring to the framework being shaped on social security, that the social state will be safeguarded even more. He said that dialogue would take place without preconditions and on a zero basis.

Reports said the text of the proposal to the Central Committee would mention tripartite funding and the public character of the social security system, as well as other funds to be used to support it. Skandalidis will publicize the proposal on Tuesday.

[04] Papandreou to represent Greece at NATO ministerial conference in Budapest

Athens, 29/05/2001 (ANA)

During the meeting, Alliance foreign ministers are slated to discuss developments in the Balkans, with the focus on FYROM, Kosovo and Bosnia, as well as EU-NATO relations in light of the previous summit in Nice last December.

NATO foreign ministers will further examine a request by Turkey that it participates in the taking of decisions in the framework of boosting the European defense and security identity.

While in Budapest, Papandreou will hold separate sideline meetings with several NATO counterparts, including Yugoslav foreign minister Goran Svilanovic.

A sidelines meeting with Turkish foreign minister Ismail Cem was not ruled out, diplomatic sources told ANA.

[05] PM, FM discuss Greece's agenda for its EU presidency in 2003

Athens, 29/05/2001 (ANA)

As Greece is preparing to assume the six-month rotating presidency, Simitis and Papandreou stressed that the Union's enlargement, its foreign and defense policies, its social policies and immigration issues will dominate the country's efforts during that time.

These issues on the government's European agenda will also be discussed during the cabinet meeting on Thursday, where the future course of the European Union will be on the agenda, Papandreou told reporters.

Papandreou noted that Greece will table its proposals on the future of the Union during the second half of 2001, focusing on the relation of European institutions with the Union's citizens and ways to develop a stronger Europe both in social, defense and foreign affairs.

Responding to a question on Turkey's rapprochement with the Union, in light of Greece's presidency, Papandreou said that there are 13 candidate countries to the Union among which Cyprus ranks first in integrating its legal and economic system to that of the Union, while Turkey has not even began to negotiate with the EU at present.

As a result, Papandreou said, Cyprus' accession to the Union will be on the agenda when Greece undertakes the presidency of the Union.

[06] Turkish PM reiterates threats against Cyprus's EU accession

ISTANBUL, 29/05/2001 (ANA - A. Kourkoulas)

"By ignoring the reality of the 'Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus', which is an independent state, we cannot reach a permanent solution," he added.

Turkey occupies since 1974 the northern part of the island republic. The self-styled Turkish Cypriot 'state' in the occupied territories is recognized only by Ankara.

Summing up the work of his government, which completed two years in power on Monday, Ecevit said the EU Helsinki summit in 1999 was an important milestone for Turkey and stressed that his country's EU accession is the main target of foreign policy.

Referring to his country's relations with Greece, Ecevit said "a new period started and there were specific developments" and that Greek-Turkish dialogue should develop more productively to secure "a solution to important problems."

In a related development, an announcement by the Turkish foreign ministry says "the Turkish Cypriots never had minority status and will not obtain it from now on."

The announcement, which circulated over the weekend claims that statements by politicians in Greece and Cyprus show that "the conception of Greek Cypriots and Greeks has not yet changed."

A solution to the Cyprus issue "depends on the abandonment of these obsessions" and on acceptance "of equal sovereignty between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots," the announcement said.

"We are not being led anywhere with the contrary allegations," the announcement concluded.

[07] Foreign ministry comments on Frowick deal in FYROM

Athens, 29/05/2001 (ANA)

According to the spokesman, the US government had also disassociated itself from Frowick's initiative, which he said threatened to heighten tension in the region.

Frowick, who for the past two months had been special Balkans envoy for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), left Skopje under a cloud last Thursday after he brokered a highly controversial deal between Albanian political parties in FYROM and the rebel Albanian guerrillas UCK.

The deal has shaken the foundations of FYROM's fragile coalition government, especially since the ethnic Albanian parties have refused to denounce the pact despite heavy Western pressure. It was unequivocally denounced by the European Union and NATO, who said there was no place for the Albanian rebel gunmen in the negotiations, and by a highly incensed Skopje government, which launched an offensive against UCK-held villages and warned guerrillas to expect "no mercy".

Frowick has been backed by the OSCE's leadership, however, which said on Saturday that he had had not come into direct contact with the guerrillas and had not contravened a blanket ban by foreign powers and the local government on negotiating with them.

[08] Gov't downplays significance of ND's lead in opinion polls

Athens, 29/05/2001 (ANA)

Reppas said the government was continuing to carry out its program and would be judged by its results at the end of its term. He went on to say that the government was in touch with society and the citizens and was aware of their problems.

The only true opinion poll, the spokesman concluded, is that carried out at the end of a four-year term, when the government is judged on the sum of its work.

The opinion poll, carried out by Kappa Research and published by the Sunday edition of 'Vima', showed voters giving ND 29.7 percent and the ruling PASOK party 22.9 percent, lagging by 6.8 percentage points.

Coming next in voter preference were Athens Mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos' party at 9.1 percent; the Communist Party of Greece, 5.8 percent; the Coalition of the Left and Progress, 2.7 percent; and the Democratic Social Movement trailing with 0.9 percent. Simitis took 31.7 percent of the vote as best candidate for Prime Minister followed by ND leader Costas Karamanlis, who gained 30.8 percent.

[09] Kaklamanis sends letter to EU counterparts over Turkish prisons

Athens, 29/05/2001 (ANA)

The move follows an initiative by 182 Greek parliamentary deputies from all parties over the situation in Turkish jails, where large numbers of political prisoners have died through a hunger strike.

In the letter, which follows an earlier letter sent just before Christmas last year, Kaklamanis notes that the hunger strikes among prisoners but also their relatives outside prison are continuing and that 22 people have died so far as a result of the "inhuman, raw and brutal way in which fundamental human rights and civil liberties are being violated in Turkey."

The Greek Parliament speaker also notes that Turkey is thus sabotaging the reform program it has been called on to implement in order to conform with the spirit and letter of the Helsinki Summit decisions and European practice in general.

[10] Parliament president receives Venezuelan ambassador

Athens, 29/05/2001 (ANA)

Balliache noted the feelings of friendship the people of her country have for Greece, despite the great distance that separates the two countries and proposed that parliamentary friendship groups be formed in both countries, as well as exchange programs for officials.

She also underlined the importance her country places on the widening of intra-parliamentary relations in light of Greece's status as a European Union member-state.

Kaklamanis concurred, saying that the Greek Parliament has plans to establish just such a committee in the immediate future.

[11] EU to promote convergence of member-states' educational systems

BRUSSELS, 29/05/2001 (ANA - G. Zitouniati)

With this aim in mind the education ministers of the Union met here on Monday and reiterated the prospect of an active effort to promote the ideas on education as they were formulated in the Lisbon and Stockholm EU summits.

"It is an ambitious attempt by the EU and it is a challenge for our country to respond, by mobilizing all those elements of the educational community in a coordinated and responsible effort," Greek Education Minister Petros Efthymiou said.

The first step towards a common agenda on education will be concluded on 2004 when ministers will examine the results of policies to promote new technology applications learning.

[12] Greece under par in secondary education completion percentages

BRUSSELS, 29/05/2001 (ANA - B. Demiris)

According to the report, 49.9 per cent of Greeks between 25 and 64 years of age completed high school, compared to a European Union wide 59.9 per cent.

The percentages get better as they rise to 74.4 per cent for those between the ages of 25-29, while the Union's mean is 71.4 per cent.

The report based on data collected in 1999, stresses that education levels in Greece were higher among younger citizens, as 65.1 per cent of those between 30-39 years old completed high school, 51.1 per cent of those 40-49 years of age and 29 per cent of those 50-64 years old.

In comparison, the percentage of citizens between the ages of 25 and 64 that completed high school in Portugal stood at 21.2 per cent, in Spain 34.9 per cent and in Italy 43.2 per cent.

In the Union 21 percent of those between the ages of 18 and 24 ended their studies in junior high school, compared to 18 per cent in Greece, while Portugal ranks last with 46 per cent and Sweden first with 7 per cent.

Higher education titleholders in Greece account for 17 per cent of the population between the ages of 25-64, while the European Union average stood at 21 per cent.

[13] Gov't sets 50,000-drachma fee in latest legalization process

Athens, 29/05/2001 (ANA)

The fee will be submitted along with the application to relevant municipal authorities around the country, instead of central government agencies that handled the last "legalization" process a few years ago.

In terms of acquiring a permanent residency and employment permit after the six-month "Green Card" expires, another set of fees have been enacted, based on the duration that a "legalized" foreign national would request to remain in the country.

Specifically, according to Article 71 of the "legalization" bill, a one- to two-year residency permit will cost 100,000 drachmas; 150,000 drachmas for between two to six years, and finally, 300,000 drachmas for more than six years.

In recent statements, meanwhile, Interior and Public Administration Minister Vasso Papandreou promised participating municipalities that 40 percent of the amount amassed through the application fees would be returned to local governments to meet their administrative costs.

Her statements came after a call last week by the association representing local governments in Attica prefecture (TEDKNA) for a postponement in the legalization process.

TEDKNA had called for a two-month postponement, pushing back the date when local governments will begin accepting legalization applications from June 2 to Oct. 2, as well as for the central government to cover their administrative costs, including the hiring of part-time employees to handle the workload where necessary.

[14] Land development regulations for Athens airport region to be announced soon

Athens, 29/05/2001 (ANA)

Press reports on the same day claimed that the regulations in the now rural eastern Attica region, where the new airport is located, would change allowing for denser development.

"We will have specifics on the issue over the next few weeks ... since none of the regulations (of development) has been drafted in a final form we can not comment on the issue," Laliotis said.

[15] Greece ranks bottom in adapting to EU single market rules

BRUSSELS, 29/05/2001 (ANA / M. Spinthourakis)

In a report released by the Commission, Greece has failed to incorporate 114 directives into its national legislation, leading to a rate of non-implementation of 4.8 percent of EU directives on the single market.

The EU's average rate of non-implementation of single market directives dropped to 2.5 percent from 3.0 percent in the last six months, the report said.

The Commission's single-market goal is for the average to drop to 1.5 percent by March 2002, a target that experts believe will be hard for the EU's members overall to attain.

More than 11 percent of the directives have yet to be implemented in all of the EU's member states, the Commission said.

The worst offenders in incorporating environmental directives were Germany, Belgium and Spain with double-digit non-implementation, followed by Greece at 9.2 percent of the sector's directives.

Greece made satisfactory progress in adapting to EU directives in the last six months, reducing non-implementation by about a quarter, the Commission said.

The EU's commissioner for the single market, Frits Bolkestein, said that Greece, France, Ireland, the UK, Austria and Germany risked failing to attain a 98.5 percent rate of implementation of directives overall by March 2002.

[16] Greece launches EQUAL employment program

Athens, 29/05/2001 (ANA)

Labor Minister Tassos Giannitsis and Anna Diamantopoulou, EU Commissioner for Social Affairs presented the program in Ioannina.

EQUAL is part of an EU strategy to promote employment and ensure that all citizens have the right to access the labor market. The program will last five years and will have a total budget of 47 billion drachmas.

"It is an expression of the social state, as it been established in Greece and the rest of Europe," Giannitsis said.

"We began from Ioannina, Epirus, because of the serious unemployment, employment, development and other problems facing the region," he said.

"We hope that after the first three years we will have made a solid step in dealing with social phenomena," Giannitsis stressed.

"People with special needs account for 12 percent of European population and in Greece. They number one million and facing several kind of problems," Diamantopoulou said.

The program also includes immigrants, while a 10 percent of EQUAL's budget will be earmarked for actions to support women.

[17] Balkan economic conference in Athens on June 13-14

Athens, 29/05/2001 (ANA)

The conference is organized by Euro forum International London, in conjunction with the Council for Black Sea Economic Cooperation and the Greek-Turkish Chamber of Commerce.

Items on the conference's agenda will be discussed by representatives of business associations from countries of the European Union, Turkey and Greece and by officials of the governments of those countries.

The conference will be opened by Deputy National Economy Minister Ioannis Zaphiropoulos, who will present Greece's plan for restructuring of the Balkans, due to be voted by parliament in coming days.

Among speakers at the conference will be the president of the Athens Stock Exchange, Panayotis Alexakis; the president of the telecoms commission, E. Yakoumakis; the deputy governor of the Bank of Greece, Panayotis Thomopoulos.

In addition, Transport and Communications Minister Christos Verelis will outline the government's plans for major infrastructure projects in the two sectors. Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos will present projects for the 2004 Olympic Games to be hosted by Athens.

[18] Euro-Med farm ministers in Greece for CIHEAM meetings

Athens, 29/05/2001 (ANA)

Greece's agriculture minister will chair the council's sessions, while Prime Minister Costas Simitis will receive the ministers participating in the council during a reception in Athens.

Among the topics up for discussion are Mediterranean cooperation for a viable agricultural sector and the promotion of the so-called "Mediterranean Diet", as well as agricultural policies within the framework of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership and related negotiations.

Representatives from the European Commission and the rotating Swedish EU presidency will also attend the CIHEAM sessions as observers.

According to its website, CIHEAM is an intergovernmental organization with a regional Mediterranean vocation. It was founded in 1962 under the auspices of the OECD and the European Council. The center currently has 13 member-states: Albania, Algeria, Egypt, France, Greece, Italy, Lebanon, Malta, Morocco, Portugal, Spain, Tunisia and Turkey. Additionally, Cyprus, Israel, Libya, Syria and Jordan have expressed an interest in joining the organization.

The objective of the center is to offer complementary economic and technical teaching and to encourage the spirit of international cooperation among the experts in agriculture of the Mediterranean countries.

CIHEAM is directed by a board of governors, comprised of one delegate from each member-state, from the OECD, the European Council and other international organizations such as FAO, EEC and AOAD.

Its general secretariat is headquartered in Paris, while four Mediterranean agronomic institutes are located in Bari, Hania, Montpellier and Zaragoza.

[19] Greece to approve two Monsanto GMO cottons for cultivation

Athens, 29/05/2001 (ANA)

The plants have been genetically engineered to resist attacks by lepidoptera (moths, butterflies, skippers and their larvae).

According to Anomeritis, the EU Scientific Committee has given permission for the cultivation of the two GMO (Genetically Modified Organism) cottons in Spain in July 1988, at which time Greece had blocked the EU decision and banned the experimental culture of the Monsanto seeds.

Anomeritis described Greece's position at that time as extreme and perhaps mistaken.

After the veto, the agriculture minister said, Greece could not in three years prove that the seeds developed by the US firm were dangerous to people or the environment.

Earlier on Monday, meanwhile, an announcement by Greenpeace took Development Minister Nikos Christodoulakis to task for his statements on GMOs, accusing him of trying to question the right of consumers to know whether products contained GMOs.

The announcement notes that at a Consumer Network for GMO foods begun by Greenpeace had already brought results, proving in practice the need for a mechanism to inform consumers and apply pressure on the market to secure products free of GMOs.

It said that five food companies had committed themselves to GMO-free products, including the dairy company AGNO, Ferro, Mediterranean Foods, Oscar and FAGE.

At the time when the majority of food companies are responding positively to Greenpeace's invitation and the demands of a vast majority of consumers, the announcement adds, the development minister is questioning the right of Greenpeace and by extension all citizens to be able to ask these companies whether they use GMOs ingredients in their products, something that is in any case imposed by national and EU legislation regarding labeling.

The lack of adequate labeling was reported by the food body EFET, which admitted that 12 per cent of the products tested contained GMO soya and corn and were not legally labeled.

[20] German group okays safety on Greek passenger ferries

BERLIN, 29/05/2001 (ANA / P. Stangos)

At the time, ADAC said in a report that the outcome of unscheduled emergency drills with crews was "disheartening."

The company attributed the poor performance to inadequate training of crews, and the fact that regular emergency drills are carried out on paper.

The outcome of the unscheduled drill is not contained in the overall rating for Greek passenger ships. It is to some extent included in a safety management category.

[21] Greece, Syria sign maritime transports pact

DAMASCUS, 29/05/2001 (ANA)

Visiting Greek Merchant Marine Minister Christos Papoutsis, a former EU Commissioner, signed the agreement with Syrian Transport Minister Makram Obeid, following talks here between a Greek delegation and Syrian officials.

Among others, the agreement ensures the right of safe arrival for each country's vessels in the other's ports, as well as lifting obstacles to bilateral maritime commerce, both in terms of passenger traffic and cargo.

Afterwards, Papoutsis emphasized the agreement's importance for Greece, "because the country's geographical location allows it to act as a conduit for multilateral cooperation amongst the countries in the region."

A delegation of Greek entrepreneurs also met with several Syrian businessmen at the Damascus chamber of commerce.

In comments towards his Syrian counterparts, Papoutsis said:

"We are aware of the strategic plan for Syria's development, and the role that the country wants to assume now and in the future for the region; and the efforts that your government is making for building relations with the European Union in the future, as well as the country's relations with other peoples in the area ..."

Other topics discussed during the contacts included prospects for reactivating a Greece-Syria ferryboat route, which in the 1970s connected the central Greek port of Volos with the Mideast.

Additionally, issues related to the protection of the marine environment were also discussed, along with the prospect of joint funding by EU programs.

Finally, Antioch Patriarch Ignatius received Papoutsis and the Greek delegation over the weekend, before touring several Orthodox monasteries in the Seduaya and Maloula regions.

[22] Skaramangas to build two gunboats for Hellenic Navy-sources

Athens, 29/05/2001 (ANA)

National Defense Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos and Development Minister Nikos Christodoulakis, the same sources said, took the decision.

The two ministers later met officials of the Hellenic Industrial Development Bank, which owns 51 percent of the shipyard; and representatives of the shipyard's workers, with staff holding the remaining 49 percent stake.

At the same time, plans to privatize the shipyard are in progress.

Under a new timescale agreed on Monday, bids will be submitted in the first 10 days of July, instead of on June 15 as originally planned.

In addition an amendment will be submitted to parliament that covers labor and other matters linked to privatization of the shipyard.

Also on the agenda of the two ministers' meeting was a new law on research and technology in the defense industry, which allows the allocation of 1.0 percent of the country's five-year armaments plan to research.

Furthermore, a new research and technological center is to be created in the armed forces, the result of cooperation between the defense and development ministries.

Finally, the two ministries are furthering cooperation in marine research and technology, space and computers.

[23] Mytilineos to build a new electricity station

Athens, 29/05/2001 (ANA)

The 246 megawatt plant is to be built in Volos, eastern mainland Greece, Mytilineos said in a statement.

A shortlist of consultants who expressed interest would be drawn up by the end of June with the winner to be selected in July, the statement said.

Finally, the Mytilineos Group is continuing talks with major energy companies abroad in order to sound out the prospects of forging strategic alliances, it added.

[24] Lack of foreign buying pushes stock prices lower

Athens, 29/05/2001 (ANA)

Traders said domestic institutional investors jumped in the market early in the session, awaiting their foreign counterparts, but began selling blue chip stocks on disappointment over lack of follow-through buying from abroad.

The general index ended 0.64 percent lower at 3,201.83 points, off the day's lows of 3,190.79 points. The index shot up 1.42 percent early in the session. Turnover was an improved 189.20 million euros, or 64.47 billion drachmas.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks ended 0.85 percent lower at 1,890.04 points, and the FTSE/ASE 40 index dropped 1.19 percent to 351.19 points.

The parallel market index for smaller capitalization stocks ended at 300.87 points, off 1.26 percent.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 279 to 50 with another 27 issues unchanged. Xifias, Sidenor, Imperio, PC Systems, Space Hellas, Attica Publications, Moda Bagno, Ippotour, Halyps Cement and Cosmote scored the biggest percentage gains, while Fitco, Stabilton, Aspis Bank, Imaco, Hellatex, Douros, Hellenic Sugar, Vis and Sarandis suffered the heaviest losses.

Alpha Bank, Hellenic Telecoms, National Bank, Cosmote and Commercial Bank were the most heavily traded stocks.

Bond prices mixed in scant trade: Bond prices in the domestic secondary market on Monday finished mixed in slim trade with players focusing on 15-year paper.

The Greek benchmark 10-year bond showed a yield of 5.63 percent from 5.19 percent a day earlier.

The yield spread over German bunds was 45 basis points from 56 basis points in the session before.

Turnover through the central bank's electronic system totalled 225 million euros (76.5 billion euros) from (940 million euros (320.3 billion drachmas) a trading day earlier.

Sell orders accounted for about half of turnover.

[25] President inaugurates exhibition at Byzantine and Christian Museum

Athens, 29/05/2001 (ANA)

Two hundred rare icons depicting Jesus Christ are on display at the exhibition.

[26] Athens organizers, gov't cover hospitality and 2004 budget issues

Athens, 29/05/2001 (ANA)

Other topics dealt with the budget for the 2004 Games and preparations for the Paralympics.

On his part, the president of the hoteliers' union, well-known local businessman Aristotelis Divanis, warned against any new legislation allowing for "unfair or tailored provisions over incentives to build new hotels... because hotel owners will automatically nullify their agreement with Athens 2004 and the hosting program will left in limbo."

In response, Public Works Minister Costas Laliotis promised that provisions in legislation allowing for new hotels would be based on the letter of the law.

In terms of the 2004 budget, National Economy Deputy Minister Christos Pachtas dismissed the notion of slapping a new tax to fund the Games, while Laliotis said any Olympics budget should not exceed the 1.5-trillion-drachma mark. (One euro equals 340.750 drachmas)

In a more critical stance, main opposition New Democracy deputy Fani Palli-Petralia said the budget appears like a "balloon that if it explodes will make even more noise that the one with social security reform".

[27] Opposition left-wing AKEL party wins parliamentary elections

NICOSIA, 29/05/2001 (CNA/ANA)

According to the official final island-wide results to elect the new members of the 56-seat Cyprus House of Representatives, right-right

Democratic Party (DIKO) received 14,84% and 5 seats (in the first distribution) and the Social Democrats 6,51% (26.767 votes) and one seat (in the first distribution).

The New Horizons received 3,00% (12.333 votes), the United Democrats 2,59%, ADIK 2,16%, and the Ecologists Movement 1,98%,. They all enter the House.

Chief Returning Officer Kyriakos Triantafyllides announced �fficially on Monday afternoon the final outcome of the elections and said the long delay or non-delivery of election results to the Central Election Service was due to an overload of the fax machines, stressing that this delay does not alter the outcome.

Speaking at a press conference, Triantafyllides said the main opposition left-wing AKEL party won the election with a narrow margin of 0.71 per cent from the ruling right-wing DISY. AKEL is expected to have 20 seats and DISY 19 in the House.

Triantafyllides said from a total of 467,543 registered voters, 428,981 people cast their vote, a percentage of 91,75%. Abstentions reached 8,25%, which is a lot higher than the 6,63% of the 1996 parliamentary elections. Invalid votes rose to 2,37% from 1,07% back in 1996 and blank votes reached 1,82% compared to 1,04% in 1996.

AKEL clinched 142,648 votes or 34,71%, up by 1.73 per cent on the 1996 figures, the ruling Democratic Rally 139,721 or 34%, down by 0.46% compared with 1996 results, Democratic Party (DIKO) got 60,986 votes or 14,84%, a drop of 1.57% and the Social Democrats Movement obtained 26,767 votes or 6,51%, recording a 1.65% loss over 1996 figures.

The New Horizons party got 12,333 votes or 3,00%, up by 1.29%, United Democrats 10,635 votes or 2,59%, a drop of 2.55%, the Fighting Democratic Movement (ADIK), a newcomer to the election, received 8,860 votes or 2,16% and the Ecologists-Environmentalists, 8,129 or 1,98%, up by 0.97%.

Commenting on an objection filed on Monday by DIKO to the Chief Returning Officer with regard to the long delay or the non-delivery of election results from the central vote counting center in Nicosia to the Central Election Service, Triantafyllides said the ministry is awaiting the Attorney General's opinion on the issue.

Triantafyllides added that a group of experienced accountants at the Ministry of Interior are working on the second and third distribution of parliamentary seats and the crosses of preference to conclude the process and announce the distribution of seats for all 56 members of parliament.

AKEL leader: Left-wing AKEL General Secretary Demetris Christofias has been re-elected member of the House of Representatives for the Turkish-occupied district of Kyrenia.

Christofias, a refugee from Dikomo, occupied by Turkish troops since 1974, was proclaimed a member of parliament by Kyrenia Returning Officer Andreas Assiotis, during a ceremony at the Ministry of Interior.

Speaking after the ceremony Christofias promised to do everything in his power for justice to prevail for Kyrenia and through Kyrenia's vindication Cyprus will be vindicated as a whole. He left the door open to run for the post of the House President.

The AKEL leader added that if Cyprus, which has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third, "is going to be vindicated, it must be through the vindication of Kyrenia, otherwise we will be sitting on a ticking bomb and this would be unfair on the Cyprus people".

Christofias said he was "totally satisfied" with the election results, noting that his party's aims were materializing.

Asked if he may run for the House presidency, Christofias said the issue was "open", adding that "we will weigh everything".

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