Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 01-05-30

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

CONTENTS

[01] NATO, EU to decide on future action in FYROM on Wednesday, Greek FM says

[02] Turkey continues to block NATO-EU military cooperation, Greek FM says

[03] European Parliament to call on Turkey to respect ECHR ruling

[04] Albania's Nano accuses main opposition for its policies on Greek minority

[05] EU-Mediterranean conference held in Brussels

[06] Greece proposes the establishment of a European Immigration Watch

[07] Spokesman comments on Ankara's reported letter to EU member-states

[08] Outcome of elections not disapproval for gov't policies, spokesman says

[09] KISOS leader Lyssarides announces intention to resign

[01] NATO, EU to decide on future action in FYROM on Wednesday, Greek FM says

BUDAPEST, 30/05/2001 (ANA I. Afentouli)

In statements to the press after the conclusion of the NATO foreign ministers' meeting, Papandreou noted that there was a danger of conflict in FYROM with unforeseen consequences.

He noted that his colleagues were concerned over the escalating tension in FYROM, adding that the balance between stability and instability was hanging by a thread.

He stressed that the foreign ministers of NATO and the EU will decide on their future actions in FYROM during their joint meeting on Wednesday.

"We have requested the intense presence of the EU and NATO already has been offering for months now technical aid and support in the intelligence sector," Papandreou said.

NATO's foreign ministers, in their joint communique, reiterate their full support for the security, stability and territorial integrity of FYROM.

[02] Turkey continues to block NATO-EU military cooperation, Greek FM says

BUDAPEST, 30/05/2001 (ANA I. Afentouli)

Following the meetings of NATO foreign ministers here, Papandreou stressed that despite the submittal of several plans in the recent past by the permanent representatives in NATO, the wording of the plans did not satisfy Ankara.

He added that Turkey remained steadfast on its initial position that if the EU is allowed to use NATO infrastructures, it should have the right to fully participate in the decision making process regarding actions of the European Union's armed forces.

Papandreou clarified that since the 15 member-states of the Union decided last year in Nice on the specifics of the cooperation between NATO-EU, no agreement can be forecast for the immediate future.

He predicted that this issue will not be discussed any further and thus it will not be resolved during the NATO summit in Brussels on June 13.

He said, however, that if a compromise is not found Greece will support the position that the Union's defense should proceed based on the schedule decided by the "15" and based solely on its own forces to establish the first European army by 2003.

The Greek foreign minister also said that Turkey's reaction to a NATO -EU cooperation and the memorandum the Turkish government sent to the European Union on the accession course of Cyprus shows that Turkey is unable to follow developments in the region, which include the Union's enlargement, European defense and the accession course of Cyprus.

"Turkey faces a serious dilemma: whether it is going to utilize in a positive way the benefits that arise for it from these developments or if it will react negatively delaying, blocking or postponing its alignment with all that is requested by it from the European Union," Papandreou said.

He noted that his recent statements on the state of Turkish prisons, after the EU foreign ministers meeting, were misconstrued, adding that "what I wanted to underline were the contradictions of the Turkish policy because of the dilemma I just mentioned".

These contradictions emerge on the Cyprus issue as well, he said. Greece is promoting the island republic's accession process and as this process progresses the Turkish reactions will increase.

"The Greek position, however, remains unwaveringly persistent on the accession course, as well as the peaceful relations with Turkey," Papandreou said.

"These relations should develop within the framework of respect for national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Otherwise we have the capability, with our diplomacy and defense, to confront every effort to undermine our national sovereignty," Papandreou said.

The minister noted that he met with his Turkish counterpart Ismail Cem on the sidelines of the meetings, adding that they may meet again on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Greece rejects Ecevit's 'Czechoslovakia analogy' for divided Cyprus Athens, 30/05/2001

Greece flatly dismissed the latest comments by Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit regarding the long-standing Cyprus issue, following the latter's comparison between the divided island republic and the peaceful separation of Czechoslovakia into two states in the early 1990s.

"Turkey has the primary responsibility for the situation on Cyprus, and the Cyprus problem has been created by that country, which plays a decisive role in the Cyprus question," government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said in response to published statements by Ecevit.

"Czechoslovakians shook hands and separated. Now, they continue on their own paths without any problems," the Turkish PM was quoted as saying in the Tuesday edition of the mass circulation "Hurriyet".

"Why is so much effort made to bring together Cyprus' two peoples whose language, religion and nationality are different?" he asked, before claiming that there were religious and linguistic differences between the Czechs and Slovaks similar to the one between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots.

Back in Athens, Reppas replied that "Cyprus is a UN member-state, has suffered an invasion and that the United Nations has devised a framework, that's still in effect, for a solution to the problem ... This framework foresees a federal state with one citizenship ... This must be respected by all sides, especially Turkey, which has done nothing to contribute to a peaceful resolution of the Cyprus problem".

Meanwhile, according to an ANA dispatch from Istanbul, an announcement issued in Ankara by the country's powerful national security council (MGK) said Turkey will not accept any "fait accompli that returning Cyprus to the period prior to 1974".

The council, made up of Turkey's political leadership and the top armed forces generals, held the session to discuss the looming possibility that the two-thirds of the island controlled by the legal government and recognized by the international community will join the next wave of European Union expansion, a prospect that has caused tensions to flare in Ankara in Turkish-occupied Nicosia.

Czechoslovakia peacefully split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1993 following the "Velvet Revolution" that overthrew a communist regime in 1989, whereas Turkish troops continue to occupy roughly one-third of Cyprus' territory in the wake of a 1974 invasion.

In a veiled threat, the council's announcement adds: "Moreover, peace and security in the eastern Mediterranean will face uncertainties" in case of Cyprus' EU accession.

Finally, the council reiterated Ankara's standing demand that two separate and equal state be recognized on the divided island, while blaming Greece for a lack of a solution on Cyprus because of the former's "obsession to transform Cyprus into a Greek island".

[03] European Parliament to call on Turkey to respect ECHR ruling

BRUSSELS, 30/05/2001 (ANA - B. Demiris)

The decision to follow this course of action was taken on Tuesday by the parliamentary committee on foreign affairs and will be put before the plenary session of the European Parliament in June.

Turkey dismissed as irrelevant a Court judgment, issued earlier this month, which found Ankara guilty of continuous violation of the human rights of Greek Cypriot displaced persons, the rights of Greek Cypriot missing persons and their relatives, the rights of enclaved Greek Cypriots living in Turkish occupied Cyprus and said it holds Turkey responsible for what happens in the area of the Republic its troops occupy since 1974.

Greek Euro MP Yiannis Souladakis put forward a proposal to the committee to press on Turkey the need to respect the Court ruling, after public statements by Turkish government officials to the effect that the decision has nothing to do with Ankara.

The Court said the Turkish Cypriot regime in occupied Cyprus is a local subordinate administration to Turkey and that Ankara exercises effective control in occupied Cyprus by the presence of its troops.

The proposal also related to the need for Ankara to lift any obstacles currently in place that the Greek minority faces in Turkey itself.

PASOK provides guarantees requested by trade unions on social security Athens, 30/05/2001

Minimum pension levels were guaranteed for all working people and were being strengthened gradually, while fairer balances are restored in the social security system, according to a decision taken by the ruling PASOK party's Executive Bureau on Monday and presented in a report by Central Committee Secretary Costas Skandalidis on Tuesday.

The report constitutes the framework for dialogue to take place at a Central Committee meeting on Friday and Saturday.

Skandalidis called on the representatives of workers and social agencies to attend a dialogue on a zero basis without preconditions and subterfuge.

Skandalidis further said PASOK is open to all proposals, adding that the time provided for dialogue will be adequate and the party has the will to agree step-by-step on social security issues.

According to the report, the system's public and social character and its tripartite funding were safeguarded and the state should secure necessary additional funds to fund the system.

Moreover, funds to be used to finance the social security system will be derived from a crackdown on the black economy and black labor, social security for migrants and a decrease in unemployment.

The report also indicates that dialogue will not concern the social security issue alone, but it will be a dialogue on social policy and, in this context, on the position of women in development and the labor market combined with the demographic problem.

It further clarifies that whatever changes are brought about in the social security system will not concern present pensioners, beneficiaries of minimum pensions and people insured with the OGA farmers' fund.

Asked whether the finance minister agrees with these positions, Skandalidis said Prime Minister Costas Simitis attended Monday's Executive Bureau meeting as both PASOK leader and prime minister. It is evident, he added, that positions resulting from discussions held in party and government bodies are government positions.

Union leader: all elements assisting social security issue to be considered: General Confederation of Workers of Greece (GSEE) President Christos Polyzogopoulos, referring to statements made by Prime Minister Costas Simitis on Monday on the social security reform and the decision by PASOK's Executive Bureau on changes on the issue, said on Tuesday "every element capable of assisting in finding solutions to the social security issue is taken into serious consideration."

Polyzogopoulos said that during their meeting with the labor minister on Wednesday, trade unions will set out their claims and will listen to the government's analytical and responsible positions.

He said the path to socially fair solutions to the social security issue is long and GSEE's strategy throughout this period will be "clear, including both dialogue and militant readiness for strike action".

Polyzogopoulos called on political parties to clarify their positions on the social security issue and on working people to rally round the unions.

ND leader criticizes gov't over latest social security comments: Main opposition New Democracy leader Costas Karamanlis called the government's commitments vis-a-vis possible social security reforms -- announced one day earlier -- as "precariously vague", while charging that the government has "officially surrendered" to the ruling PASOK party and "internal political balances".

Karamanlis spoke only hours after PASOK's Executive Bureau convened on Monday evening to prepare the groundwork for a central committee's meeting focusing on all-important social policy, scheduled for the coming weekend.

In statements late Monday night, Prime Minister Costas Simitis promised that minimum pension levels will not be "touched" in any way, while stressing that the government will guarantee minimum pension levels for wage-earners.

Simitis added that the decisions taken by PASOK's Executive Bureau were unanimous.

Conversely, Karamanlis said the prime minister was shifting what he called a "deficit of policy" onto the backs of wage earners, before attempting a "step-by-step" duplication of ND's proposals for social security reform.

Additionally, he reiterated that ND favors the "redistribution" model of social security, "trilateral funding" (state-employers-employees), retaining the current retirement age limits and a guarantee that the lowest pension rates won't be cut further.

On his part, Simitis reiterated that dialogue would take place without preconditions and on a "zero basis".

Finally, the government spokesman on Tuesday called on trade unions to enter into a dialogue over the controversial topic by offering their proposals.

Wide-spread and heated opposition by trade unions, the opposition parties and even many PASOK deputies last month led to the quick "freezing" of a set of controversial labor ministry's measures to reform the country's bloated social security and pensions sector.

Athens mayor says politicians' image in past days goes decades back Athens, 30/05/2001

Athens Mayor and Free Citizens Movement (KEP) party leader Dimitris Avramopoulos said on Tuesday the images of politicians seen on television in past days "take us decades back", adding that he will not follow this policy.

Addressing his party's Central Committee, Avramopoulos said the political system is outdated, a deficit in democracy exists and the electoral system is adjusted to the needs of electoral expediency.

Avramopoulos publicized a new list containing the names of 96 party cadres and said things are not going well in the country and spoke of unbridled populism in the political system, while noting that "we do not belong to the school of opportunism and cynicism."

He further said that television does not touch the reality experienced by Greek citizens and the image it presents is distant from citizens' daily life.

Archbishop claims loss of orientation in societies caused by globalization Athens, 30/05/2001

Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Christodoulos on Tuesday addressed a one-day conference on "Globalization beyond utopia", which was organized by a private vocational school in Athens.

The Archbishop said that globalization was creating a loss of orientation, adding that the freedom of man within society was being transformed "to freedom of trade and to social freedoms and love is transformed to self-interest and the provision for the week is transformed to exploitation of the weak".

In discussing nationalism, Christodoulos said "lets make it clear, then, that the Church of Greece does not promote nationalism. We love our country and Hellenism, without racism, without underestimating other peoples, without xenophobia".

PASOK secretary announces formation of local gov't elections committee Athens, 30/05/2001

The PASOK Executive Bureau has put together a committee to handle the municipal and prefectural elections, PASOK Central Committee Secretary Costas Skandalidis announced on Tuesday, presenting a list of the committee members.

Skandalidis also announced that a special meeting of the party's central committee on local government would take place on July 13-14, possibly on the Aegean island of Rhodes.

He refused to comment on the party's possible choices as candidates for mayors.

He then announced that a PASOK delegation headed by himself would be visiting Romania on June 5-6 for talks with government officials, parties and state institutions.

Meanwhile, on June 9-10, Skandalidis is due to leave for Frankfurt for the PASOK European conference.

[04] Albania's Nano accuses main opposition for its policies on Greek minority

GJIROKASTER, 30/05/2001 (ANA - P. Barka)

"When Berisha was imprisoning the Greeks of Albania, I shared cigarettes with them in the prison cells," Nano said, adding that Albanian immigrants in Greece contributed one billion dollars to the country's economy, funds that were endangered by the Berisha policies that led to the expulsion of illegal Albanian immigrants from Greece.

Nano spoke of what he called Berisha's interest of late in the Greek minority, when the later pushed for the Greek minority's ethnicity to be accounted for during the last census.

"Berisha asked for the Greek minority to be accounted by the census, when us and (ruling Greek) PASOK party are elaborating strategic plans for the development of relations between the two countries," Nano said, during his pre-election speech.

The Albanian elections will be held on June 24.

Bank of Greece optimistic over inflation course Athens, 30/05/2001

A recent jump in the inflation rate in Greece was a predicted development due to a rise in international oil prices and to a weakness in the euro/US dollar rate, Bank of Greece's vice-governor Nikolaos Garganas said on Tuesday.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Prime Minister Costas Simitis, Garganas said the inflation rise was temporary and predicted a fall by the end of the year.

The central banker briefed the prime minister over preparations to introduce the euro currency in Greece. He said that the bank has secured all necessary quantities of the euro currency through domestic and foreign production.

The Bank of Greece will distribute both banknotes and coins on December 17, Garganas said.

Premier briefed on process of euro currency introduction Athens, 30/05/2001

Bank of Greece deputy governor Nikolaos Garganas on Tuesday briefed premier Costas Simitis on preparations for the introduction of the euro currency in Greece.

The first euros will begin circulating in Greece as of December 17, to allow the public to familiarize itself with the new currency before it is officially introduced on January 1, 2002.

The euro will circulate parallel with the drachma in early 2002, before fully replacing the Greek drachma as of March 1 that year.

Garganas told reporters after the meeting that all the required quantities of euro had been ensured through domestic production by the Greek mint in tandem with orders from abroad.

He said the country's central bank had also placed an advance order of euros in paper bills and coins, which would be distributed on December 17 to enable the public to familiarize themselves with the new currency, while the infrastructure for supplying banks with euros throughout the country had also been set up.

Asked to comment on the recent rise in inflation, Garganas said the increase had been expected, attributing it to the rise in oil prices internationally and the depreciation of the euro against the US dollar.

Garganas opined that the rise in inflation was temporary, anticipating that it would decline again by the end of the year.

Eureko BV acquires 54.38 pct stake in Interamerican Life Athens, 30/05/2001

The deal aims to create a pan-European organization with activities in insurance and fund management, Eureko officials said on Tuesday.

Eureko's stake in Interamerican Life will gradually reach 79.38 percent following approval by competition authorities and Eureko's shareholders. Eureko will buy a 25 percent stake in Interamerican at 7,067 drachmas per share.

The strategic agreement also envisages that Dimitris Kontominas will participate in Eureko share capital increase plan, by paying 209.9 billion drachmas in cash and Eureko to buy certain Interamerican's assets - not linked with its insurance activities - worth 46.4 billion drachmas.

These assets include a 20 percent equity stake in Novabank, worth 25 billion drachmas, a 25 percent equity stake in Alpha TV, a 20 percent equity stake in Alpha Digital, worth 18.4 billion drachmas and real estate assets worth 3.0 billion drachmas.

Interamerican holds the right to sell, following shareholders' approval, two private clinics in Athens, worth 3.6 billion drachmas.

The two companies estimate that the cost of the agreement would total 465.3 billion drachmas.

Dimitris Kontominas will remain chairman of the board in Interamerican and will take a place in Eureko's board.

Titan Cement announces hefty 1st quarter results Athens, 30/05/2001

Titan Cement Group on Tuesday announced a 78 percent increase in consolidated sales to 74.7 billion drachmas in the first quarter 2001 and a 25 percent rise in net profits, after minorities and tax provision, to 5.3 billion drachmas.

The company said operating profits totalled 15.6 billion drachmas, up 63 percent from the same period last year.

A company statement said that the January-March improved results were boosted by Tarmac America's strong performance. Titan Cement acquired Tarmac last October.

Parent sales rose 22 percent to 28.6 billion drachmas, while net profits jumped 135 percent to 4.7 billion.

The company said domestic demand for cement and building materials increased steadily reflecting the speedy implementation of public projects.

In the US market, however, a slowdown in the economy hit cement demand and kept a lid on prices.

Usje's performance, Titan Cement's subsidiary in FYROM, was strong in the first two months of the year, but guerilla warfare in March froze demand for cement.

In Bulgaria, its subsidiary Plevenski reported improved results due to higher prices in the market.

Greece and China sign cooperation protocol in geothermal energy sector Athens, 30/05/2001

Greece and the People's Republic of China signed a cooperation protocol on Tuesday in the sector of geothermal energy, mineral wealth and water resources.

Sectors of cooperation between the two countries were noted in a meeting between Deputy Development Minister Alexandros Kalafatis and Chinese Deputy Land and Natural Resources Minister Shou Jiahua in the sector of new technology and its applications in the production process, as well as in relation to laboratory infrastructures in the minerals and energy raw materials sector.

The protocol anticipates, among others, cooperation in the sectors of solid fuel, geothermal exploitation, water resources, the environment and informatics applications in geological sciences.

Funding of common activities between the two countries will be derived from the interstate agreement between Greece and China, while subsidization of research will be pursued from funds from international organizations and the European Union.

[05] EU-Mediterranean conference held in Brussels

BRUSSELS, 30/05/2001 (ANA - G. Zitouniati)

The European Union proposed that joint work groups be established to aid the harmonization of the laws of Mediterranean countries with those of Europe and the provision of more development aid, while ministers from Mediterranean countries requested easier access to the Union's markets.

Greek bourse operates like any other large stock market, Papantoniou says Athens, 30/05/2001

The Greek stock market operates exactly as any other large foreign bourse, on institutional, internal organization and technology aspects, National Economy and Finance Minister Yiannos Papantoniou said on Tuesday, two days ahead of a move to list the Greek market among the world's developed markets completing a restructuring process that started in 1995.

This move is expected to create the right preconditions to attract stable, permanent and long-term investors in the market and to impose stricter rules on valuating Greek listed companies.

Papantoniou said the government planned the creation of a single regulatory system to replace an existing one covering the operations of the Athens Stock Exchange, banks and insurance companies.

"The Greek market's upgrading will help in a restructuring of the country's businesses and will favor healthy companies with stricter and healthier criteria," he said.

Papantoniou announced the formation of a committee, headed by N. Travlos, general secretary of the National Economy Ministry, with representatives from the financial system, to draft new proposals by the end of 2001.

"The single financial services' mediator will supervise banks, financial firms and insurance companies over infringements of law covering customers, investors or depositors," Papantoniou said.

He noted that the new single mediator would also take over the issue of penalty interest rates, imposed by banks on outstanding debt.

Papantoniou declined to comment over the stock market's course ahead of its upgrading. "It would prefer market participants to talk about the market. I prefer to talk about stability and security. There are other people, closer to the market, to speak about the rest," he said.

He stressed, however, that the Greek market could benefit from the fact that the Greek economy was growing at 4.5 percent annually - the highest rate in the last 25 years - highlighting the economy's dynamism and leading to forecasts of higher profitability for both companies and investors.

Greek stocks end lower, market disappointed over lack of foreign buying Athens, 30/05/2001

Disappointment over lack of buying interest by foreign institutional investors, two days before the official listing of the Greek bourse in the MSCI index of the world's developed markets, kept equity prices under pressures on the Athens Stock Exchange on Tuesday, pushing the general index below the 3,200 level.

Analysts expect the downward pressure to end soon forecasting the beginning of foreign capital inflows at lower price levels.

Blue chip stocks (Commercial Bank -5.28%, National Bank -3.10%, Alpha Bank -2.03%, Hellenic Telecoms -2.69% and Aluminium of Greece -8.10%) led the day's decline.

The general index ended 2.17 percent lower at 3,132.41 points, near the day's lows, with turnover 183.48 million euros, or 62.52 billion drachmas.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks ended 2.52 percent lower at 1,842.38 points, and the FTSE/ASE 40 index eased 1.39 percent to 346.31 points.

The parallel market index for smaller capitalization stocks ended at 296.57 points, off 1.43 percent.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 278 to 55 with another 23 issues unchanged.

Lanacam, Ippotour, Intertek, Dromeas, ETMA, Balafas, Shelman, Eskimo, Hellas Can and Korfil scored the biggest percentage gains, while Fitco, ATEMKE, ForthNet, Aluminium of Greece, Sarandis, Unibrain, Barba Stathis, Levenderis and Hadzikraniotis suffered the heaviest losses.

Hellenic Telecoms, National Bank, Alpha Bank, Commercial Bank and EFG Eurobank Ergasias were the most heavily traded stocks.

Equity futures end lower: Equity futures traded on the Athens Derivatives Exchange finished lower on Tuesday.

The underlying FTSE/ASE 20 index closed 2.52 percent down, and the FTSE/ASE 40 ended 1.39 percent lower.

Traded were 6,238 contracts on turnover of 54.2 million euros.

Bond prices rise in light trade: Bond prices in the domestic secondary market on Tuesday finished higher in light trade with players focusing on 10-year paper.

The Greek benchmark 10-year bond showed a yield of 5.60 percent from 5.63 percent a day earlier.

The yield spread over German bunds was 44 basis points from 45 basis points in the session before.

Turnover through the central bank's electronic system totalled 580 million euros (197.6 billion drachmas) from 225 million euros (76.5 billion euros) a trading day earlier.

Buy orders accounted for about half of turnover.

New rail route to link Volos and Kalambaka Athens, 30/05/2001

Hellenic Railways (OSE) is to launch a new route linking the eastern mainland coastal city of Volos to Kalambaka in central mainland Greece, the company said in a statement on Tuesday.

The new link will begin running services on June 3, state-owned OSE said in a statement.

Sifounakis presents measures to curb runaway development on the islands Athens, 30/05/2001

Aegean Minister Nikos Sifounakis condemned uncontrolled building development on the islands of the Aegean during a press conference on Tuesday, during which he presented a series of measures aimed at protecting their natural beauty and architectural heritage.

"The government is determined to finish once and for all with the arbitrariness that has become synonymous with and is identified with a catastrophic frenzy. We intervene decisively despite the reactions of those who for years have dominated the way (building) licenses are issued," Sifounakis said.

According to the minister, the situation on the islands is tragic and threatens to wipe out their prospects and degrade their environment and quality of life, with serious consequences for local inhabitants and tourism.

The minister noted that the 13 town planning offices scattered around the archipelago issue 7,000 building licenses a year. At this rate, he added, islands, which attract a lot of tourism, such as Mykonos, Paros and Santorini, might well have become completely built up by the end of the decade, with not a single empty lot left on their surface.

"Whereas on land outside the town planning limits one is only allowed to build 200 sq meters on every 4,000 square meters of land, on Mykonos and other islands one often comes across villas exceeding 1,000 and 2,000 square meters - not to mention buildings by public bodies that perpetrate the worst excesses against the environment.

As an example, the minister mentioned a giant parking lot created at the port of Paroikia on Paros, which is the first thing that now greets visitors to the island.

Among the measures presented by the minister is the creation of a four-member or three-member committee to oversee town planning in each prefecture and independent services for the protection of the architectural heritage and natural environment.

The ministry has also prepared three presidential decrees governing the building code on Aegean islands so that they respect traditional architectural rhythms.

Sifounakis concluded by saying that by stamping out illegal profiteering in land, the Aegean's landscape, which is also its greatest wealth, will be protected.

Greece, Uzbekistan sign law enforcement accord TASHKENT, 30/05/2001 (ANA - D. Konstantakopoulos)

Greece and Uzbekistan on Tuesday signed an accord to combat smuggling and drug trafficking as well as a consular protocol.

The agreement was signed by the country's Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov and visiting Greek Alternate Foreign Minister Elizabeth Papazoi, who arrived in the Central Asian country from Beijing.

After a ceremony, Kamilov called Greek-Uzbeki bilateral relations "excellent", while citing what he said was a "common understanding between Athens and Tashkent on political issues and cooperation within international organizations."

On her part, Papazoi emphasized that both countries play a stabilizing role in the respective region they occupy while also promoting peace.

Papazoi also inaugurated an exhibition at the city's archaeological museum, entitled "Greece- Uzbekistan: Common Cultural Traditions," which includes exhibits dating to the time of Alexander the Great and the subsequent Hellenistic era.

She also called for an improvement in bilateral economic trade, adding that the extension of a credit line by Athens towards Greek investors in Uzbekistan will further improve ties.

Finally, the Greek minister visited a Greek cultural society in Tashkent, where she greeted expatriate Pontian Greeks and Greek political refugees who fled to the Soviet Union after the end of the Greek Civil War (1946-49).

[06] Greece proposes the establishment of a European Immigration Watch

BRUSSELS, 30/05/2001 (ANA - G. Zitouniati)

The Watch, he said, would be responsible for the collection and exchange of data on immigration in Europe, as well as the drafting of scientific reports based of this data, which will be supplied by member-states in close cooperation with other Union agencies, such as Europol and Eurostat.

The council also discussed the draft a new directive on the reunification of families of immigrants who legally reside in the Union.

Cultivation of genetically modified cotton in Greece is illegal, Greenpeace says Athens, 30/05/2001

The cultivation of genetically modified cotton is illegal in Greece and the European Union, an environmental advocacy group Greenpeace press release stressed on Tuesday, in response to statements by Greek Agriculture Minister George Anomeritis on Monday.

Anomeritis stressed that soon the European Commission will approve the circulation of two types of genetically altered cotton, thus Greece will be obliged to allow its cultivation.

Greenpeace, however, stressed that the minister was attempting to overturn a governmental decision to forbid the use of genetically altered cotton seeds, since there is a "de facto moratorium on the commercial cultivation of genetically modified" plants, a moratorium that was enforced after Greece took the initiative to bring it up before Union bodies.

Journalists to participate in 'Cyprus-Aegean-Thrace' meeting Athens, 30/05/2001

Journalists from Cyprus, the Aegean and Thrace will hold their 3rd meeting at Aigeiros, in the Rodopi prefecture, from June 19-22, focusing on the issue of "Cyprus-Aegean-Thrace: Nullifying Distances-Culture-Local Administration-Communication."

The organizers of the meeting are the cultural communication agencies "Poseidonio of Nicosia" and "Poseidonio of Thrace" and the municipality of Aigeiros, while the event will be sponsored by the enlarged Rodopi-Evros prefectural administration.

Foreign Minister George Papandreou, Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos and Macedonia-Thrace Minister George Paschalidis have been invited to attend, while a concert will be given at Aigeiros on June 21 by well-known Cypriot composer Marios Tokas.

Seismologists reassuring about 5.1-Richter quake near Rhodes Athens, 30/05/2001

An earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale shook the Aegean island of Rhodes at 7:44 a.m. on Tuesday morning, though it caused no damage or injuries and went unnoticed in many areas of the island.

Seismologists were reassuring regarding the quake, whose epicenter was located 420 km southeast of Athens, saying that it had occurred on a fault linked big earthquakes. They pointed out that six tremors measuring between four and five Richter had occurred in the same area in the past few months, while adding that this was good "because it vents seismic energy."

[07] Spokesman comments on Ankara's reported letter to EU member-states

NICOSIA, 30/05/2001 (CNA/ANA)

The spokesman also said a letter Ankara is said to have sent to European Union member-states, urging them to suspend EU enlargement, reflects Turkish policy.

"The government believes that nothing can halt our accession course," Papapetrou told his daily press briefing, recalling the EU decision in Helsinki that said a political settlement would facilitate Cyprus' accession but it is not a precondition for membership.

The spokesman's comments come in the wake of press reports that Ankara has sent a letter to the EU capitals with regard to the possibility that Cyprus may join the Union without a prior solution of its political problem. Ankara has threatened to annex the northern Turkish occupied part of the island it controls since its troops invaded in 1974 and said its response to the accession of a divided Cyprus would be without bounds.

"Only mistakes and omissions on our part could halt our accession course," Papapetrou said.

He expressed the conviction that the government will move in a way that would strengthen the country's accession course and would not serve the policy of opponents who want to see this course suspended.

Cyprus is now in the lead among candidate countries and is set to conclude its membership talks in the near future. It is expected that the EU will be ready to accept new members in time for them to vote in the 2004 European Parliament elections.

[08] Outcome of elections not disapproval for gov't policies, spokesman says

NICOSIA, 30/05/2001 (CNA/ANA)

Commenting on the election procedure, which experienced a four-hour delay in the announcement of results, Interior Minister Christodoulos Christodoulou said he has ordered an inquiry into the matter, but stressed that the elections were conducted in an orderly and democratic manner that ensures objectivity.

In his remarks on the outcome of the election, Papapetrou said President Glafcos Clerides has already congratulated all eight parties (three newcomers) for their presence in the new House, saying he would seek the broadest possible consensus within the National Council, the top advisory body to the President on the handling of the Cyprus question.

Papapetrou said President Clerides has communicated to the parliamentary parties "his readiness to cooperate with them because the days, the weeks and the months ahead are very crucial for Cyprus, both in relation to the efforts to find a solution to the Cyprus problem as well as to our accession course to join the European Union."

Invited to comment on the election result, he said "Sunday's election has not conveyed any messages that could be interpreted as disapproval of government policy."

Sunday's election saw the opposition party garner 34,71% of the vote, the ruling party following closely behind with 34% and the third largest party the Democratic Party with 14,84%. The Social Democrats had their share of the vote slashed by 1,65% and only got 6,51% and so did the United Democrats whose percentage dropped by 2,55%.

The three newcomers, the New Horizons, the Environmentalists and the Democratic Movement will all be represented with one deputy each.

[09] KISOS leader Lyssarides announces intention to resign

NICOSIA, 30/05/2001 (CNA/ANA)

Lyssarides told journalists his resignation does not mean he will give up his parliamentary seat, which he intends to retain. He did not rule out the possibility of seeking the presidency of the House, if other parliamentary parties make such a proposition to him.

The Social Democrats Movement received 26.767 votes or 6,51 percent and four seats during Sunday's elections, compared to 30.033 votes or 8,13% and five seats during the 1996 parliamentary elections.

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