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Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 01-06-30Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>June 30, 2001CONTENTS
[01] Gov't again stresses that Milosevic issue an 'internal Yugoslav' issueAthens, 30/06/2001 (ANA)The Greek government reiterated on Friday that the Slobodan Milosevic issue "an internal Yugoslav matter".Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas echoed statements by a foreign ministry spokesman on Thursday, who commented before Belgrade decided to hastily ship the one-time Yugoslav strongman to a UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague. Reppas called on sides to "let Yugoslavia take the decisions it must in order to ensure its political stability and normal democratic course." Mitsotakis says conditions of Milosevic 'not an act of justice': Former Prime Minister Constantine Mitsotakis on Friday said that the conditions of Serbia's handover of ousted Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic to the UN war crimes tribunal at The Hague "obviously does not constitute an act of justice. Mitsotakis, honorary president of the main opposition New Democracy party (ND), said in a statement that the transfer was affected in a manner that was "in violation of lawful order". He said the US and Europe continued to make "serious mistakes" in the Yugoslav crisis "with negative effects for the future". The former premier said that no international policy in the Balkans could be successful "if it is not founded on principles that are applied equally towards all sides and if it does not include Serbia, without which there can be no stability and peace in the Balkans". [02] Reppas welcomes Verheugen's statements on Cyprus problemAthens, 30/06/2001 (ANA)Greece on Friday welcomed statements by EU Commissioner Guenter Verheugen, who said that a solution on Cyprus might be achieved within 2002, with government spokesman Dimitris Reppas describing them as positive for the Cyprus problem. Verheugen made the statement in Brussels, during a press conference on the EU enlargement process on Thursday.Reppas said that the EU had made clear its position on Cyprus' EU accession course, while the international community had de-fined the framework in which a solution to the Cyprus problem would be sought. "The EU has made the course of the Cyprus problem a criterion in Turkey's progress toward the EU," the spokesman added, "We have every reason to express our satisfaction and continue to work in the right direction." Nicosia, however, did not appear to share the EU Commissioner's optimism, with Cyprus government spokesman Michalis Papapetrou saying on Friday that his government knew nothing to justify such a sanguine prediction. Nicosia was in agreement with such a prospect, he added, and was always ready for meaningful dialogue on a solution to the Cyprus problem on the basis of United Nations resolutions. [03] Gov't again dismissive of attempts to invent 'Tsamouria' issueAthens, 30/06/2001 (ANA)The Greek government again appeared dismissive on Friday vis-�-vis the latest attempts to invent a "Tsamouria" issue between Greece and a small southern Albanian clan, days after members of the latter staged a protest outside Athens' embassy in Tirana.In answering press questions during a regular briefing, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said there's no issue of a diplomatic problem over this week's protest. He also emphasized that there has been no reinforcement of Greek military personnel on the border with Albania in the wake of the "Tsamouria" mini-furor. A rally by some 500 protesters in Tirana on Wednesday, complete with slogans in favor of Albanian rebels in Kosovo and FYROM, again brought the issue of "Tsamouria" and claims in a northwest Greek territory into the local spotlight. One speaker demanded that Athens return properties of Tsami claimants -- the southern Albanian clan -- and allow them free access into the European Union member-state. Wednesday's Tirana rally comes on the heels of a widely publicized threat late last month by someone claiming to be the political representative for the extremist "National Liberation Army" (UCK) in strife-torn FYROM. That individual was quoted by an Australian radio network as saying a "Tsamouria Liberation Army" was created with the purpose of taking up arms "for mil-lions of Albanians" in the sparsely populated prefecture of Thesprotia -- in NW Greece, across from the holiday island of Corfu. Meanwhile, regarding elections in neighboring Albania, Rep-pas said that conditions were better than the previous polls. "If violations occurred then (international) observers will include those in their reports," he said. A few thousand Tsami Albanians did, in fact, live in Thesprotia prefecture before World War II, only to be driven out of the country by wartime partisans for collaborating with Axis forces then occupying allied Greece (1941-44). Various Greek governments over the years have also made it clear to Tirana's leadership on several occasions that the issue - compensation for expelled collaborators' seized property, re-admission etc. - is unacceptable and off any agenda of talks. [04] Albanian self-styled group leader comments on so-called "Tsamouria" issueTIRANA, 30/06/2001 (ANA - I. Patso)The "Tsamouria" issue and private land claims against Greece were brought again in the spotlight in a response of a self-styled president of an Albanian citizens' group called "Tsamouria", on Friday."The Tsami issue exists, the Tsami land is there (north-western Greece)," Bendri Mistari, the self-styled president of the group said, in response to a statement by Greek foreign ministry spokesman Panagiotis Beglitis. "As far as destabilization of the region goes, Mr. Beglitis should know well that without the resolution of the Tsami issue the Balkans will not be calm. We ask for simple things. To return as Greek citizens to the land of our forefathers," Mistari said, adding that following their request the European Union should secure ways to their "return" to Greece. A few thousand Tsami Albanians did, in fact, live in Thesprotia prefecture before World War II, only to be driven out of the country by wartime partisans for collaborating with Axis forces then occupying allied Greece (1941-44). [05] PM meets Interior minister to discuss decentralizationAthens, 30/06/2001 (ANA)Prime Minister Costas Simitis met with Interior Minister Vasso Papandreou on Friday to discuss issues concerning public administration and decentralization.In response to questions regarding the climate in ruling PASOK as she emerged from the meeting, Papandreou said that the "current positive climate will be maintained. We have a lot of work before the congress to make it a forward-looking congress for renewal. There we will improve our relations with society." She announced that a special cabinet meeting would be held in autumn to discuss decentralization. Interior minister calls women elected in local governments to action: Interior Minister Vasso Papandreou on Friday addressed an audience of women elected to local government posts throughout the country, during an event aimed at informing women on European Union gender equality issues. During the "Activation-Participation of Women in local government" event that was organized in Zappeion Hall in Athens, Papandreou called on women to action in the framework of the third community support framework fund, in efforts "to promote the women's dimension in all programs and actions". [06] Privatization program is ending, Papantoniou saysAthens, 30/06/2001 (ANA)Greece's National Economy and Finance Minister Yiannos Papantoniou on Friday said that an ambitious privatization program that started in March 1998 is nearing its end with privatization revenues totaling 3.5 trillion drachmas."From now on there are no more public enterprises to be privatized and only five or six privatizations or flotations are left to be completed from a total of 30 companies included in the program," Papantoniou told reporters after a meeting with Prime Minister Costas Simitis. He noted that annual privatization revenues exceeded 3.0 percent of the country's gross domestic product in the last few years. "With the exception of Public Power Corporation, there are no more profitable enterprises to be privatized," Papantoniou said. He predicted that inflation would be contained below 3.0 percent by the end of 2001, although he declined to comment on Bank of Greece's governor's estimates that Greece's GDP would increase "slightly lower than 4.5 percent" this year. [07] Gov't comments on Church reaction to CoS ruling on ID cardsAthens, 30/06/2001 (ANA)Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said on Friday that Council of State (CoS) rulings were not the result of government maneuvers, in response to questions regarding a CoS decision on the identity-card issue.The CoS, Greece's highest administrative court, on Wednesday ruled that record of religion had no place on police-issued identity cards, even on an optional basis. The decision to abolish the religion entry on ID cards in May last year caused a major rift in relations between the Orthodox Church of Greece, to which the vast majority of Greeks nominally belong, and the government. The Church has since declared a 'relentless struggle' against the decision and collected signatures in favor of holding a nationwide referendum on the issue, whose results have not yet been announced. Asked to comment on the Church's tougher stance following the CoS decision, Reppas said that the government respected the Church's spiritual role and wanted to reinforce this. "In the framework of the distinct roles of Church and State we can cooperate with the Church for the good of Greek society and the Greek nation," he said. European Orthodox Inter-Parliamentary Conference begins: Parliament Speaker Apostolos Kaklamanis on Friday opened the 8th European Orthodox Inter-Parliamentary Conference on Patmos, saying that the conference aimed to underline that respect for different traditions were the defining trait of Orthodox views and lay at the core of Christian thinking. In statements on Thursday, ruling PASOK MP Stelios Papathemelis said the conference would focus on Orthodoxy's contribution to the concept of European Union expansion. Delegations from the Americas, Africa and Australia are participating in this year's conference, which continues to July 2. [08] Alternate FM opens ELIAMEP conference on Greece within EUAthens, 30/06/2001 (ANA)Education and culture would be the priorities of Greece's EU presidency in the first half of 2003, Alternate Foreign Minister Elisavet Papazoi said on Friday, as she opened a conference organized by the Hellenic Institute of Defense and Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP) on Greece within the new European architecture.She added, however, that it would be best to incorporate these issues in the wider dialogue on Europe's future. Papazoi said that Athens looked on the prospect of EU enlargement as a very important and positive development, since it would extend on the area of stability, security and peace on the continent. She criticized what she called 'alarmist' reactions in the media regarding the euro. The minister also referred to Cyprus' EU accession course, saying that the Helsinki summit had clearly separated this from the process for a solution to the Cyprus problem. [09] Stephanopoulos begins tour of Kavala regionAthens, 30/06/2001 (ANA)President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos was declared an honorary citizen of Kavala municipality on Friday, shortly before being awarded the northern Greek city's gold medal.Stephanopoulos arrived at Kavala's "Alexander the Great" airport on Friday morning to begin a tour of the region. [10] Country in a period of uncertainty, ND leader saysAthens, 30/06/2001 (ANA)Main opposition New Democracy (ND) leader Costas Karamanlis on Friday criticized government policies and actions, which according to him led to a "politically charged period", during an event organized by ND party affiliated trade unionists (DAKE).He said that anything could happen over the next time period, noting that "we are in a politically charged period at the sole responsibility of the government. Nothing can be ruled out for the up coming future." "The (party) congresses can not replace governments. Whichever the developments may be, we remain steadfastly focused to the strategy we forged. We will not return to the past," he said. "The country is in a period of uncertainty and lack of governance at the responsibility of the prime minister. The prime minister himself admits that the country has no government strong and effective," Karamanlis said. He also criticized government policies and actions surrounding the reform of Greece's social security system, saying that "the proposals of the government are summarized by the recipe of increasing the pension age limits and reducing the pension benefits, this is not a solution". "It is an attempt to enforce new financial burdens on the backs of workers. It is the result of a failed economic management and of the insufferable inability of the state," he said to the audience of unionists. He closed his address saying that DAKE should be the voice of the workers in the party and not the party's voice to the workers. ND gears up for electing its own 'shadow cabinet': Main opposition New Democracy leader Costas Karamanlis continued a stepped up itinerary of contacts with his party's top cadres on Friday, in light of a crucial ND central committee session on Wednesday that's expected to focus on the establishment of a 25-member "shadow cabinet". Besides the "shadow ministers", Karamanlis is expected to table a proposal that the central committee chose five "sector heads" as well - one each for foreign policy and defense; economic affairs; production and commerce; education; social affairs and public administration. In an unprecedented move, Karamanlis has proposed that ND deputies elect the "shadow ministers" and sector heads following approval of a new internal party regulation - expected to be completed in less than 15 days. According to reports, high-ranking ND deputy and former minister Dora Bakoyianni will vie for the foreign policy and defense slot. Meanwhile, in a meeting with the main opposition party's Eurodeputies, Karamanlis discussed the latest developments in the Balkans, the issue foreign citizens' naturalization, EU affairs and social security reform, among others. [11] Avramopoulos announces KEP regional committee membersAthens, 30/06/2001 (ANA)KEP party leader Dimitris Avramopoulos on Friday announced the names of 665 party cadres that would man the party's prefectural and local committees in the provinces.This brings the 'Movement of Free Citizens' (KEP) to the final stage of its structural organization, which will be completed with the party's founding congress in Thessaloniki on November 24. This will be preceded by an announcement of its program positions in Athens in September. Avramopoulos said that the members of the party's central committee and of its Athens-area committees would be announced over the next few days, bringing the total to 2,200. According to the KEP leader - also currently Athens mayor - about 22 per cent of the members on regional committees were women while their average age was 42 years and covered a broad span of social groups and professions. While making his announcement, he once again criticized ruling PASOK and main opposition New Democracy as 'failed' and talked of a deep crisis, inadequate system and disintegration of the political scene. Despite being founded only recently, Avramopoulos party appears to have attracted a significant level of support. In the most recent opinion poll conducted by MRB and published on June 19, KEP garnered 8.9 per cent of voter preference, well ahead of veteran small parties such as the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), the socialist-progressive Coalition of the Left and left-wing DHKKI. The main parties shared about 60 per cent of the vote in the poll. Avramopoulos himself, meanwhile, outstripped the leaders of both the main parties in terms of popularity, with 45.6 choosing him as most popular political leader. Main opposition ND leader Costas Karamanlis came second with 41.7 per cent and Simitis fourth with 32.8 per cent. [12] Premier meets with Bank of Greece governorAthens, 30/06/2001 (ANA)Bank of Greece governor Lucas Papademos on Friday said that GDP growth for the Greek economy would be below 4.5 percent, presenting a more conservative prediction than national economy and finance minister Yiannos Papantoniou, who a few days earlier put GDP growth this year at above 4.5 percent.Papademos said after a meeting with Prime Minister Costas Simitis that inflation would remain at the present levels and drop to about 3 percent in the first quarter of next year. The central bank chief attributed difficulties appearing in the economy to the slowdown in the world economy. Referring to the decline on the Athens Stock Exchange, he said the Athens bourse was influenced by both external and internal factors, adding that stock prices should be formulated at a level that reflected the true value of the companies [13] Gov't receives recommendation for OA buyer-sourcesAthens, 30/06/2001 (ANA)The government on Friday received a recommendation from its consultant on the winner of a tender to privatize national carrier Olympic Airways, sources said.The national economy ministry may release a statement later in the day following the recommendation made by consultant Credit Suisse First Boston, the sources said. The latest, extended deadline for bids was June 18, and four groups submitted offers - Axon Airlines SA, Golden Aviation Services (the Restis shipping group), Integrated Airline Solutions of Australia, and Cyprus Airways. Integrated Airline Solutions, which had pulled out of the tender as it could not meet the original deadline, returned to the bidding due to the extension. Credit Suisse said that the bids should meet the following criteria set by the government: When bids are submitted, the government will begin talks with the interim winner of the tender, Credit Suisse First Boston said. [14] Greece to take part in EU-backed trade fair in ChinaAthens, 30/06/2001 (ANA)Greece is one of eight European countries to take part in Asia-Enterprise Macau 2001, a major trade fair to be held in China on September 18-20, the Association of Northern Greek Exporters said on Friday.Representatives of the firms from the European countries will have the chance to meet officials from 200 Chinese firms from a range of sectors, the association said. The European Union�s executive Commission backs the event. [15] Bakouris appointed as president of Greek Investments CenterAthens, 30/06/2001 (ANA)The former managing director of the Athens 2004 organizing committee (ATHOC), Costas Bakouris, was appointed on Friday by the national economy ministry as the chairman of the board for the Greek Investments Center (ELKE).Bakouris will lead a nine-member board of directors, which will serve for a five-year tenure. He was ATHOC managing director for two and half years until June 2000. [16] Intracom rebukes criticism on state procurement policyAthens, 30/06/2001 (ANA)Intracom's chairman, Socrates Kokkalis, on Friday rebuked criticism over the company's activity in state procurements and stressed that Intracom's sales to the Greek state in the last 12 years totaled 626 billion drachmas, while the company paid 740 billion drachmas in taxes and contributions over the same period "leaving the state with a gain of 120 billion drachmas."Addressing a general shareholders' meeting, Kokkalis also criticized the way that the Greek political leadership (government and opposition) was promoting business activity in the country and noted that when a foreign state leader was visiting Greece he was accompanied by a list demands by companies with interests in the country and that ambassadors were promoting these demands in the process. "Unfortunately, in Greece the prime minister, ministers and the opposition do not bother with these issues," he emphasized. Intracom would invest a total of 300 billion drachmas by the year 2005. Kokkalis said his ambition was to list the company on the New York Stock Exchange by 2002 at the latest. He stressed that an Athens Institute of Technology was expected to begin operating from September 2002, in an investment worth 4.0 billion drachmas. Intracom, Intrasoft and Eurocom have formed a company, with an initial capital of 1.024 billion drachmas, to coordinate the Institute's activities. Kokkalis said Intracom expected its turnover and pre-tax profits to rise by 27 and 21 percent, respectively, this year, with turnover totaling 265 billion drachmas and pre-tax profits rising to 44 billion. Exports are expected to rise by 16 percent to 130 billion drachmas, while spending on research and development were projected to increase by 51 percent to 28 billion drachmas this year. Intracom's consolidated turnover is expected to total 370 billion drachmas, up 31 percent, while its pre-tax profits to reach 60 billion drachmas, up 20 percent. Kokkalis said that a stock swap deal between Intracom and Intrasoft envisaged the exchange of 2.19 Intrasoft's shares for one Intracom's share. Commenting on negative developments on the Athens Stock Exchange, Kokkalis said there were two economies: "The real, that of numbers, shows that Intracom is steadily growing, while the other, virtual economy, is determined by outside factors". The shareholders' meeting approved a board plan to pay 130 drachmas per share dividend to shareholders. [17] Selective buying pushes ASE above 2,700 levelAthens, 30/06/2001 (ANA)Equity prices rebounded spectacularly on Friday as selective buying for blue chip stocks, included in the Morgan Stanley index (Coca Cola HBC, Hellenic Telecoms, Alpha Bank and National Bank), pushed the Athens Stock Exchange above the 2,700 level.The general index ended at 2,741.18 points, up 1.61 percent, for a net loss of 1.62 percent in the week. Turnover was an improved 265.132 million euros, or 90.343 billion drachmas. The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks ended at 1,580.24 points, up 1.70 percent, the FTSE/ASE 40 index rose 1.06 percent to 305.36 points, and the Small cap index ended at 852.66 points, up 0.59 percent. The parallel market index for smaller capitalization stocks ended at 257.86 points, up 0.73 percent. Broadly, advancers led decliners by 212 to 104 with another 43 issues unchanged. Bond prices slump in heavy trade: Bond prices in the domestic secondary market on Friday finished lower in heavy trade with players focusing on 10-year paper. The Greek benchmark 10-year bond showed a yield of 5.58 percent, and the yield spread over German bunds was 48 basis points. Turnover through the central bank's electronic system totalled 1.7 billion euros (584.0 billion drachmas). Sell orders accounted for the bulk of turnover. Equity futures rise in edgy trade: Equity futures traded on the Athens Derivatives Exchange posted gains on Friday in volatile trade. The underlying FTSE/ASE 20 index closed 1.70 percent up, and the FTSE/ASE 40 ended 1.60 percent higher. Traded were 6,895 contracts on turnover of 49.7 million euros. [18] Prime minister receives expatriate elementary school studentsAthens, 30/06/2001 (ANA)Prime Minister Costas Simitis on Friday received elementary schools students from four schools two from Greece and two from abroad that worked to "twin" their educational efforts.Deputy Foreign Minister Grigoris Niotis and the Foreign Ministry's secretary for expatriate Greeks Grigoris Dolis accompanied the students of a Palaio Faliro school and their "twins" from the Agia Efthimia College of Sidney, Australia and the students of an elementary school from Larissa with their "twins" from the Agios Kyprianos School based in London. Simitis expressed his satisfaction over the youth hosting programs, adding "Greece is much bigger than the one we know ... you living abroad should know how we live here in Greece so we can jointly then see each other's problems and be bonded, as we have a common ancestry". [19] Greek Press & Media Ministry presents two publications on Greece and Greek expatriatesBRUSSELS, 30/06/2001 (ANA - Y. Zitouniati)The Press and Media ministry this week presented two new publications it sponsored, one to promote Greek positions abroad and the other on the presence of expatriate Greeks throughout the world.Press and Media Ministry Secretary General Yiannis Nicolaou presented the "Greece in the international press" book, a collection of articles published in the foreign press abroad. The second publication presented is a collection of papers writ-ten by four authors on "Greek Expatriates". The presentation was made during an event that attracted Greek Eurodeputies and diplomats. [20] Greece's "Musical July 2001" festival to begin next FridayAthens, 30/06/2001 (ANA)Greece's festival "Musical July 2001" begins next Friday in Epidauros with a concert by "I Solisti Veneti" orchestra led by Claudio Simone and to the sound of soprano Paoleta Maroku's vocals.Romanian pan flute master Simion Stantsu and Greek mandolin expert Dimitris Marinos will participate in the event. [21] New collection unveiled at Thessaloniki's Byzantine MuseumAthens, 30/06/2001 (ANA)Thessaloniki's Byzantium Museum will host another unique collection of Byzantine and post-Byzantine era exhibits as of Friday, with the arrival of 242 icons and artifacts dating from the 4th century AD to the 19th century.The collection belongs to the Georgios Tsolozidis family, while Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos -a Thessaloniki area deputy - will inaugurate the exhibition on Friday evening. The collection will remain on show at the museum until Dec. 31. [22] Seminar on Olympic Rowing Center siteAthens, 30/06/2001 (ANA)A day-seminar on the venue for the rowing and canoeing events during the Athens 2004 Olympic Games was held Friday in Athens, under the auspices of the Association of Greek Archaeologists, but boycotted by representatives of the Archaeology Society, who object to the choice of site.Objections to use of the Schinias site as the venue for Olympic rowing and canoeing events have been put forward by the Academy of Athens, the Archaeological Society -- on the grounds that the site is historically significant because of its link with the ancient battlefield of Marathon, where the Athenians drove back a Persian invasion in the 5th century B.C. -- and by environmental groups, including WWF-Hellas, which claim it will cause irreversible damage to the ecosystem of the Schinias wetland, on the outer rim of the Marathon district, and one of the last remaining such habitats in Attica. The seminar will also discuss dealing with antiquities found during the execution of major public works. The seminar's organizing committee said that discussions such as these were helpful in the problem of protecting historic sites. [23] Gov't rather cautious over Verheugen's optimistic remarksNICOSIA, 30/06/2001 (CNA/ANA)The government appeared rather cautious in its assessment of optimistic remarks by a senior European Union official that the Cyprus problem could be settled by the end of 2002.Government spokesman Michalis Papapetrou said the government would very much like to see a settlement by the anticipated conclusion of its accession negotiations with the EU but added it has nothing to substantiate such optimistic outlook. "We do not have any information that warrants such an optimistic prediction," spokesman Papapetrou said here Friday, adding that "we are ready for a substantive dialogue to settle the Cyprus question on the basis of UN decisions." EU Commissioner responsible for enlargement Gunter Verheugen told a press conference Thursday he was optimistic that a political settlement could be found in Cyprus by the end of 2002, when Cyprus accession talks are expected to be concluded. Asked if there is a time limit within which substantive negotiations can take place, Papapetrou said "the government does not put terms for the resumption of the UN proximity talks nor does it place deadlines for this." UN-led proximity talks, conducted by UN Secretary General's Special Adviser for Cyprus Alvaro de Soto, were interrupted last November when Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash withdrew from them declaring them dead and a waste of time. He now demands recognition of his illegal regime in Turkish occupied Cyprus before he returns to the negotiating table. Replying to questions, Papapetrou said "what the government fears most is to see the problem of Cyprus continue unresolved." "This would be the worst thing that can happen to Cyprus and its people," he added. Asked about the content of discussions de Soto had earlier this week with Verheugen, Papapetrou said there was no official information about it but "it looks as if there are intensive consultations and preparations focusing on the Cyprus question on different levels with a view to resume the talks." [24] Kasoulides warns against undue delay in EU enlargement processNICOSIA, 30/06/2001 (CNA/ANA)Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides on Friday gave his full backing to a debate on the future of Europe and the deeper integration of the European Union, saying that civil society, political parties and institutions and the academia should get involved in the debate.The minister warned against any undue delay in the enlargement process, pointing out this would have negative effects on public opinion and endanger European integration. "The whole European project depends on the timely completion of the enlargement process, the candidate countries have invested enormously, politically and financially in their accession to the Union and consequently any undue delay in this process would send the wrong messages, have negative effects on public opinion and create a feeling of a new division within Europe," Kasoulides said in his address to a conference on "Federalizing Europe - Federations within the EU and the path of Cyprus." He said small states could play an extremely important role in the process of European integration because their contribution is devoid of hidden agendas or ambitions of hegemony. "I foresee that Cyprus will not only have concluded its accession negotiations but will also be a full member of the Union by 2004 and participate as a member in the Intergovernmental Conference," he said. Cyprus, engaged in membership negotiations with the EU since 1998, has so far closed provisionally 22 out of 29 chapters and hope to conclude accession talks by the end of next year. Outlining his vision of Europe, he said it should be "strong, democratic, secure, stable and prosperous, able to play a leading role in this era of economic and political globalization and a Union that will safeguard peace, democracy, human rights and security to its own members and citizens." He said that enlargement and the deepening of the Union are two mutually reinforcing and necessary processes and backed a Union that will become "a valid economic interlocutor along with the economic powers of our time, such as the US, Japan and Southern Asia." "The shaping and the reconstruction of the EU cannot remain an elitist project, starting from up and going to the bottom without taking into consideration the real preoccupations, fears and anxieties of our citizens," the minister said, adding that European citizens should be involved in the debate to provide democratic legitimacy to the process and the decisions taken. Kasoulides said there should be more direct involvement of European citizens in the process of deepening the Union and called for a more integrated approach to issues of justice and home affairs. He said power should be shared between the Union and its member states and suggested that the Charter of Fundamental Rights should become a legally binding instrument. He also proposed that national parliaments participate in the public debate and play an increased role in the new European architecture. "The outcome of the debate should preserve the character of the Union as a living organism, composed of diverse members, that evolves and develops in stages through compromise and adaptation," he concluded. [25] US 'working hard' towards solution in Cyprus, official saysWASHINGTON, 30/06/2001 (CNA/ANA)The United States are working hard to assist the parties in achieving a comprehensive settlement of the long-standing division of Cyprus and are urging the Turkish side to return to the UN-led process of negotiations, US Assistant Secretary of State on Legislative Affairs Paul Kelly said in a letter to US Congressmen.Kelly also expressed US support to the accession of Cyprus to the EU and said the accession process "can be an incentive to a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus issue." US Congressmen sent last May a letter to US Secretary of State Colin Powell, in which they encouraged him to make clear that the US supports Cyprus' admission to the EU with or without a prior solution to the problem of the division of the island. In his reply on behalf of Powell, Kelly noted that since December 1999 the US had provided diplomatic support to five sessions of UN-led proximity talks. "on November 24, 2000, Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash withdrew from the talks," he added. "We strongly support the Secretary General's efforts and we are urging the Turkish side to return to the UN process. We believe the interests of all concerned are best served by a resumption of the process", Kelly said. Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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