Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 01-07-25

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

CONTENTS

[01] Simitis honors junta resistance during visit to Yiaros

[02] Gov't denies sending lists of Greek activists to Italy

[03] Italy denies existence of list naming extremists bound for Genoa

[04] Reppas rejects ND criticism as 'party political'

[05] Public order minister lauds efforts of police and firefighting officials

[06] Deputy FM comments on expatriate youth hospitality program

[07] New York Times report focuses on Athens Olympiad security

[08] Athens mayor receives outgoing U.S. ambassador on farewell visit

[09] Greek economic aid to Balkans will not be delayed

[10] Ankara displeased at G8 references to Cyprus issue

[11] FYROM's nationalist elements attempt to raid Greek liaison office in Skopje

[12] EU agriculture ministers examine meat, nut market policies

[13] Greece warned for flouting EU laws on drinking water, sewage

[14] Proposal for creation of global shipping bourse in Piraeus

[15] Greek growth to double the EU average

[16] Kos, Lefkas marinas open

[17] Inflation rise, bourse decline hurt Greek households in 2000

[18] Gov't orders Attica tourism campaign ahead of Olympics

[19] Stocks nose up in edgy trade

[20] Archaeological sites to reopen on Wednesday as ministry, employees strike deal

[21] Group firebombs PASOK HQ in protest of killing of demonstrator at G8 summit

[22] Human Rights Watch charges Greece of failing to confront trafficking of women

[23] Onassis Foundation approves academic grants for next year

[24] American officials call for an end to Cyprus' occupation on Turkish invasion anniversary

[25] Turkish Cypriot leader may return to UN-led peace talks, Cyprus' FM says

[26] Famagusta Mayor decries illegal excavations, by Turks in ancient Salamis

[01] Simitis honors junta resistance during visit to Yiaros

Athens, 25/07/2001 (ANA)

During the years of the seven-year military junta that ruled Greece between 1967-1974 the island of Yiaros had been used by authorities to detain political prisoners, mainly originating from the Left, who opposed the dictatorial regime. The island had also been used to detain communist sympathizers during the civil war years of 1947-1955.

Speaking during the visit, Simitis said that Yiaros was a symbol for Greece:

"A symbol of the tyranny that we do not want and will never live under again and a symbol of the Resistance, that we will never forget."

He announced that the Aegean Ministry would proclaim a tender for raising a monument on the island, to be handled by a committee headed by composer Mikis Theodorakis, himself among those who had resisted and been persecuted by the colonels' junta.

After placing a marble plaque at the entrance of the Yiaros prisons, which were built by the prisoners themselves during the civil war years, the prime minister wandered through the now empty corridors and cells, accompanied by government ministers and former resistance members that had once been held there.

Greece proceeds with security and prosperity, Stephanopoulos says: The 27th anniversary of the restoration of democracy in Greece was celebrated at the Presidential mansion on Tuesday night in the presence of Prime Minister Costas Simitis, political party leaders, ministers, deputies and government officials.

President Kostis Stephanopoulos, in his message for the occasion, said that democracy deserves this celebration, a celebration of respect, devotion and honor.

He said it reminds of the country's troubled history and the struggles of the people, adding that with the revision of the constitution improvements have been made and individual rights are protected more adequately.

President Stephanopoulos said the political confrontation between parties should develop on the basis of democracy's interest and mandates, as well as political pursuits.

He further said that the form of government should be strengthened by the parties' activities and advantage should not be taken of its weaknesses and that all of the country's political forces are contributing to the smooth functioning of the form of government.

Concluding his message, President Stephanopoulos expressed the conviction that the country is proceeding with security and prosperity for citizens with the aim of safeguarding national just causes.

President Stephanopoulos exchanged greetings with Simitis and political party leaders and walked in the gardens of the Presidential Mansion, accompanied by the prime minister.

Afterwards, they reached the Presidential Mansion's kiosk, together with the party leaders and former Prime Ministers Constantine Mitsotakis and Ioannis Grivas, where they primarily discussed their holidays.

KKE, Tsovolas messages marking 27th anniversary of restoration of democracy: The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) on Tuesday called for the formation of a democratic front against imperialism and monopolies and in support of the rallying and struggle of "all the forces that wish to defend the popular rights and liberties from within the corresponding movements".

In a message marking the 27th anniversary of the restoration of democracy in Greece, KKE said that the people were faced today with new "torturous and thorny problems".

"Today, oppression, terrorism and the blows against popular movements are no longer carried out by tanks, but by a variety of formal and informal mechanisms of the hypocritical urban parliamentary democracy that characterizes not only Greece but all the countries of the EU and in general the capitalist world, as proved in Goteborg, Genoa and elsewhere," the KKE said.

It said that the Greek government, apart from having agreed to legislate "all the anti-popular terrorist laws of the EU" also "participated in Genoa with the dispatch of undercover police against the Greek demonstrators".

KKE added that the quality of democracy the Greek people were living in was characterized by the "presence and exercise of the terrorist policy of NATO, the US and the EU in the Balkans and the wider region, by the deprivation of the conquests of the working people, and the abolition of even the most elementary democratic freedoms and rights at the work sights, the terror-law and other mechanisms of suppression".

"This is the democracy championed by the government and parties, which have dedicated themselves to defending, and require the people to conform with, the demands of the plutocracy," it said.

In a similar message, Democratic Social Movement (DHKKI) leader Dimitris Tsovolas said that the political life in Greece was being "poisoned daily by lack of credibility, hypocrisy and lack of dignity".

He said that the executive authority, provocatively ignoring the other top democratic institutions such as parliament and the political parties, "imposes policies which, in many instances, are dictated by non-institutional centers of economic power, policies that push a large section of our youth to the margins and the broad popular classes to poverty".

He called on the people to wage new democratic popular struggles and for the formation of a resistance front against the "whirlwind of neoliberalism" for the effective restoration of political and economic democracy in Greece and for a better future.

[02] Gov't denies sending lists of Greek activists to Italy

Athens, 25/07/2001 (ANA)

Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas stressed that the report run by the Greek newspaper 'Ta NEA' was untrue and that no Greek government agency had supplied either lists or information about people to Italy.

He also said that Greece had fought so that Greek citizens would be allowed to go to Italy to take part in peaceful protest.

The reports were categorically denied by the Greek intelligence service EYP, which said it had not sent any list of Greek activists to its Italian equivalent either in writing or over the phone, while it also denied that an EYP team had been sent to Italy to work with Italian authorities.

In its press release, the Greek agency pointed out that information on people, organizations and bodies intending to participate in the Genoa protests had been freely available on the Internet and in press reports for some time prior to the G8 summit, where it was accessible to both Greek and foreign readers.

[03] Italy denies existence of list naming extremists bound for Genoa

ROME, 28/07/2001 (ANA - L. Hatzikyriakos)

Italian Interior Minister Claudio Scajola, replying to questions by opposition deputies late on Monday night, admitted that cooperation with other police and secret services did not function.

He said legal and technical problems prevented other police forces from sending lists of names to Italy and referred to the example of Greek demonstrators.

"In certain cases, international cooperation did not give the desired results due to difficulties of a legal character faced by police forces of other countries to give lists with the names of extremist elements.

"Such a case is that of the 2,000 Greek demonstrators for which the police, not having preventive reports in its possession, proceeded with verifying identities at the port of Ancona. Consequently, 150 people were repatriated - not without difficulty and despite protests by the Greek authorities - for whom there was suspicion that they belonged to organizations. And in this case there were strong protests by those who are protesting today about the lack of controls," Scajola said.

Communist Reformation Party Deputy Giordano said they were Greek deputies.

Scajola in turn asked whether all 150 were deputies.

ND demands answers over 'troublemaker' list allegedly given to Italy: The government should respond to charges that Greek authorities had given information on Greek activists to Italy, main opposition New Democracy spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos said on Tuesday, adding that this was a "major moral and political issue".

Following statements made by Italy's interior minister on Monday, who said Italian authorities had a list of troublemakers, Roussopoulos called on the government to reveal whether information had been given and what information this was.

"Such questions should not remain unanswered," Roussopoulos concluded, "especially on a day like today when we celebrate the restoration of democracy [in 1974, after the fall of the military junta ruling Greece for seven years].

Gov't spokesman calls ND's accusations over Genoa inaccurate and outdated: Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas on Tuesday said that main opposition New Democracy spokesman Theodore Roussopoulos misinterpreted the statements made by Italy's Minister of Interior Claudio Scajola on Monday and used them to criticize the Greek government of giving a list of activists' names to Italian authorities.

Reppas said that in accordance to the results of Monday's parliamentary deliberations in Italy, Scajola said the exact opposite of that which is being assessed by Roussopoulos.

"Granting, the question arises: The spokesman of the New Democracy party has made a mistake; He should recognize this, or is the ND party using this as a "weapon" in political slander, even if it is not in the interests of Greece," said Reppas.

Parliament: The Genoa incidents also figured in statements made by Parliament Speaker Apostolos Kaklamanis on Tuesday, during a ceremony in Parliament to mark the 27th anniversary since democracy was restored in Greece after a seven-year military junta that fell in 1974.

"Democracy's answer cannot be brute force and the downward slide chosen by authorities in Genoa," Kaklamanis said, commenting on the way Italy had handled the protests.

The issue was commented on by all parties in Parliament, most of who expressed varying degrees of sympathy with the protestors.

Following the ceremony, Kaklamanis met with Coalition of Left leader Nikos Constantopoulos to discuss events in Genoa, and particularly the reports in 'Ta NEA'.

Kaklamanis said that he did not question the government spokesman but that Parliament would look into the allegations.

He denied a request by Constantopoulos for a debate in Parliament, at least during the summer sessions, but said he might convene the appropriate Parliamentary committee.

38 ND deputies put questions on whether the government collected information on the personal lives of Greek citizens during the session.

One of two Greeks arrested at G8 protests released by Italian police: One of two Greek demonstrators arrested during anti-globalization protests at the recent G8 summit in Genoa has been released, the press office of the Greek Embassy in Rome told ANA on Tuesday.

According to press office sources, Peroulias Sakellaridis, who was arrested Friday during the G8 protests and was being held in prison in Pavia on charges of "inciting physical violence", was released on Monday night.

The sources said the Greek Consulate in Milan had informed Sakellaridis� family of the release.

The second Greek demonstrator, Panayotis Sideriadis, who was also arrested during Friday's protests, remained under guard in a hospital in Genoa after undergoing an appendectomy Sunday for acute peritonitis, the press office sources said.

The same sources added that Sideriadis was expected to remain in hospital for another 2-3 days.

Protest march over Genoa incidents in Thessaloniki: The Genoa 2001 Initiative and the Thessaloniki Labor Center have organized a march on Tuesday to protest against the treatment of Greek activists taking part in the G8 summit protests in Genoa at the hands of Italian authorities.

The march is to begin outside the city's Polytechnic School at 7:30 p.m. local time and will end at the Italian Chamber of Commerce.

During a Tuesday press conference, representatives of the two groups condemned the stance of the Italian government for the Genoa incidents.

March against Italian embassy turns violent in the streets of the central Athens: A rally organized on Tuesday evening by a self-styled group called the Greek Committee for International Protest in Genoa and others turned violent on its way to the Italian embassy where organizers wanted to protest for the incidents that marked the G8 conference.

The rally became a march at dusk and moved toward the Italian embassy from downtown Athens, but half-way through a group of some 30 activists broke away from the rest of the crowd and began to attack shops with crowbars and rocks.

Law enforcement officers attempted to control the rowdy crowd and threw tear, who on their part set fire to rubbish dumps.

In a related development, other smaller incidents took place on Stadiou Street with less severe results.

[04] Reppas rejects ND criticism as 'party political'

Athens, 25/07/2001 (ANA)

Karamanlis had accused the government of following economic policies that harmed the country and called for "a different policy and a different government" after meeting with Bank of Greece governor Loukas Papademos.

Reppas responded by saying that Greece now ranked 30th for competitiveness worldwide, according to the reports of international agencies, and that its economy had improved dramatically.

"ND's leadership knows this fact but is attempting to distort the truth for petty party political reasons," he said.

[05] Public order minister lauds efforts of police and firefighting officials

Athens, 25/07/2001 (ANA)

Chrysohoidis referred to the momentous effort of the fire department and noted that with the new technology available, spectacular results can be achieved.

The minister said that the goal of all concerned is to adhere to a method of preventing fires, and he applauded local firemen for establishing regional prevention and firefighting centers there.

Speaking to police authorities, he said that significant steps have been taken to confront crime in Greece, and while addressing the issue of road accidents he noted that his ministry's goal is to lower the number of incidences by at least 20 percent by 2005.

The Minister said that the establishment of Municipal Police Force would greatly aid towards reaching this goal, as well as help in the battle against crime.

[06] Deputy FM comments on expatriate youth hospitality program

Athens, 25/07/2001 (ANA)

Visiting the World Camp 2001 in Pieria on Monday night, Niotis said that up to 5,000 young people of Greek descent were currently staying as guests in about 30 areas of Greece under a program organized by the ministry and the General Secretariat for Expatriate Greeks.

[07] New York Times report focuses on Athens Olympiad security

NEW YORK, 25/07/2001 (ANA - M. Georgiadou)

The report, bearing the subtitle "Seven Countries Advise Greek Authorities On Olympic Security Issues and Terrorism", includes statements by Public Order Minister Mihalis Chrysohoidis, Foreign Minister George Papandreou and outgoing U.S. Ambassador to Athens Nicholas Burns.

As the security issue is a dominant one for 2004 Olympiad, seven countries, namely the U.S., Australia, Britain, France, Germany, Israel and Spain, are offering their support to Greek authorities on training and intelligence issues.

Cooperation is aimed at assisting the Greek police in handling the threat of the "17 November" organization, as well as the potential danger from international organizations like Islamic terrorists financed by Osama bin Laden.

"The big thing here is that November 17 is not the only threat to these Games. The real threat is international terrorism broadly defined," Burns said.

Burns, who has been nominated to be ambassador to NATO, has never been without five to seven bodyguards in his four years as ambassador to Greece.

On his part, Chrysohoidis said "we are serious about organizing and implementing the Games without problems", adding that "and day by day we make progress."

The report refers to the training of 125 Greek police officers by U.S. officials, while two other Greek police officers are being trained by the FBI and other experts in Salt Lake City, which is preparing to host the 2002 Winter Olympics.

Scotland Yard is providing advice on crowd control, while Australia, the U.S. and Spain, which hosted the last three summer Olympics, are sharing their experiences with Greece.

The Athens 2004 Organizing Committee has budgeted 600 million dollars for security, which includes the use of military patrols and commandos, while the international Olympic Committee (IOC) said it is satisfied with the plans.

The report also quotes Papandreou as saying "what was irritating was the questioning of our political will" (to crack down on terrorism).

It ends by saying "Burns and American law enforcement authorities said that Greece had demonstrated a tougher stance toward terrorism, particularly as the Games approach, and that its officials had cooperated fully with the seven-country advisory group."

[08] Athens mayor receives outgoing U.S. ambassador on farewell visit

Athens, 25/07/2001 (ANA)

Avramopoulos called Burns a friend of his and said he is a very good diplomat, who will always be welcome in Athens.

Burns praised the way with which Avramopoulos runs the municipality of Athens and thanked him for his warm and particularly friendly feelings towards the U.S.

[09] Greek economic aid to Balkans will not be delayed

Athens, 25/07/2001 (ANA)

Speaking to reporters, he said that Greece was fulfilling its obligations and was in the process of implementing a policy that calls for the re-organization and restructuring of the Balkans, which also involves economic support.

[10] Ankara displeased at G8 references to Cyprus issue

ISTANBUL, 25/07/2001 (ANA - A. Kourkoulas)

According to an ANA dispatch from Istanbul, an announcement by the Turkish foreign ministry notes that the "views expressed in the joint communique are not based on the acceptance of both sides on Cyprus."

The same announcement also discreetly notes the Turkish government's displeasure at the references to UN Security Council resolutions.

The careful wording of the announcement, according to the ANA correspondent, reflects Turkey's isolation with respect to the Cyprus issue and also its desires to correct this.

In statements last week, Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said that Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash would have talks with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and predicted a "constructive stance" on the part of Denktash.

Up until now, Denktash made recognition of the Turkish-occupied territories in northern Cyprus that is recognized only by Ankara a condition for participating in talks for a solution to the Cyprus problem.

The island has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded Cyprus and occupied the northern territories, setting up a Turkish-Cypriot regime supported by Ankara.

[11] FYROM's nationalist elements attempt to raid Greek liaison office in Skopje

SKOPJE, 25/07/2001 (ANA)

The incident occurred during a rally organized by the nationalist elements of the country at the parliament in Skopje, when a group of protestors broke away from the crowd and made their way to the central square of the city where the Greek press office is located.

In the process, the group began pelting the Greek press office, shattering its windows.

One of the activists attempted to enter the offices, but was prevented by the head of the press office, George Koutsoumis.

Some continued pelting the offices with various objects and others grabbed the Greek flag from its post.

Koutsoumis immediately contacted the police that dispersed the crowed.

Greek Ambassador to Skopje Kaklikis lodged a complaint with the FYROM authorities, immediately after the event.

Apparently the protestors broke the class panes of the parliament building as well and destroyed the cars of international organizations that were parked in the center of Skopje at the time.

[12] EU agriculture ministers examine meat, nut market policies

BRUSSELS, 25/07/2001 (ANA - B. Demiris)

No decision was reached on reforming the regulation on Common Market Organization. However, it was agreed that the Council should reach a decision by December 2001 at the latest, since the new commercial period for goat and sheep meat begins in January 2002.

Addressing the meeting, Greek Agriculture Minister George Anomeritis said fiscal expenditure anticipated to support the sector should be increased.

He added that the European Commission's assessments on expenditures have been based on needs during a period when prices in the goat and sheep meat market were increased due to the crisis concerning beef.

The Council also examined a claim submitted by Greece, Italy and Spain on enacting measures, in the framework of the EU's policy on fruit and vegetables, on shelled fruit.

The Council ultimately entrusted the European Commission with submitting proposals on the issue soon to enable the taking of suitable measures to be decided at a future Council meeting.

The discussion on the "mad cow" disease ascertained that the sanitation situation in member-states is considered satisfactory and that rapid tests decided last December are being applied rigorously.

[13] Greece warned for flouting EU laws on drinking water, sewage

BRUSSELS, 25/07/2001 (ANA - M. Spinthourakis)

The Commission claims that the wastewater treatment plant at Psyttalia, which serves the capital Athens, fails to remove enough nutrient substances, which end up in the Saronic Gulf and make it eutrophic (a state in which algal and bacterial organisms grow uncontrollably and literally 'choke' life by using up all available oxygen).

The announcement notes that the Psyttalia treatment plant when fully complete will have the capacity to deal with the waste produced by a population of five million people. Until 2002, however, there is no way to further process wastes and protect the waters of the Saronic Gulf from this major pollutant.

Reasoned opinions are a country's second warning, after which the Commission may refer the case to the European Court of Justice. They usually contain a detailed explanation of why the Commission considers a country to be in transgression of EU law and give a specific deadline for its compliance or reply, usually of two months.

Greece and another nine EU-member states also received second warnings for their failure to update legislation on drinking water for human consumption, which sets maximum levels for various substances, properties and organisms.

[14] Proposal for creation of global shipping bourse in Piraeus

Athens, 25/07/2001 (ANA)

Making the proposal to Merchant Marine Minister Christos Papoutsis, Steriotis said that shipping concerns of all kinds could be quoted on the new market, which would be run by leading figures in world shipping, banking and finance.

The move would create jobs and encourage shipping banks to finance sector firms, also attracting global institutional investors to the Athens Stock Exchange, he said.

Papoutsis asked Steriotis to submit a written proposal on the new market, also sending copies to the Piraeus-based Union of Greek Ship owners and the Greek ship owners cooperation committee, which is headquartered in London.

[15] Greek growth to double the EU average

Athens, 25/07/2001 (ANA)

He was speaking after a meeting with Prime Minister Costas Simitis to discuss the budget for 2002 and economic policy for that year.

[16] Kos, Lefkas marinas open

Athens, 25/07/2001 (ANA)

Athens-quoted Edrasi Psallidas built the marina at a cost of about 600 million drachmas.

Also on Saturday, a marina complex worth 9.35 billion drachmas began operating on the Ionian island of Lefkas.

The marina, which has a capacity of 500 ships, includes a marine control tower, shipping club, stores, a hotel and a ship repair unit.

A consortium comprising engineering contractors ATE Gnomon, Archimedes, GEKAT and Kyriakoulis built it.

Local authorities are to receive an index-linked lease of 180 million drachmas a year from the operator, Lefkas Marina SA, plus 13 percent of turnover.

[17] Inflation rise, bourse decline hurt Greek households in 2000

Athens, 25/07/2001 (ANA)

Conducted by the ICAP research company, the survey on the quality of life in 2000 was conducted in 1,000 homes in 46 cities, towns and villages between April 2 and May 8.

Respondents said their finances were hit by unexpected price rises in certain basic categories of consumer goods and services, including foodstuffs and transportation, in turn linked to an increase in world oil prices.

As a result, 42.4 percent of households polled felt that their financial situation had worsened, against 31.0 percent in the same survey conducted a year earlier, ICAP said.

At the same time, 18.7 percent of households said that they had managed to improve their finances since last year, mainly from new sources of work stemming from the country's high growth rate.

Also in 2000, one of the main sources of financial improvement in 1999 was lost, as the Athens bourse slumped and remained at low levels, respondents said.

In the latest poll, 1.6 percent of respondents saw their income rise due to the stock market, sharply down from 12.1 percent a year earlier, ICAP said.

[18] Gov't orders Attica tourism campaign ahead of Olympics

Athens, 25/07/2001 (ANA)

The 2002-2004 project, budgeted at 150 million drachmas, will begin with a marketing survey.

In a separate move, Christodoulakis also allowed the construction of new hotels in Thessaloniki and the expansion of existing hotels.

[19] Stocks nose up in edgy trade

Athens, 25/07/2001 (ANA)

The Athens general share index gained 0.92 percent to end at 2,615.93 points, with turnover at 271.45 million euros (92.5 billion drachmas) including a block trade of 44.5 billion drachmas in Motor Oil Hellas to transfer stock to new owners after the firm's IPO.

The FTSE/ASE-20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks ended 0.99 percent higher; the FTSE/ASE-40 for medium capitalization paper 1.34 percent up; and the FTSE/ASE-80 for small cap equities gained 1.67 percent.

Advancers led decliners at 280 to 55 with 24 issues remaining unchanged.

A week ago on Monday the bourse had shed nearly five percent in a session as part of a lasting slump after buyers resolutely stayed out of the market, with small capitalization shares the worst hit.

Since then, the market has posted roller coaster closes day by day with players recently buying back into blue chips.

The most heavily traded stocks were Hellenic Telecommunications Organization, National Bank of Greece, Alpha Bank, Panafon Vodaphone and Intracom.

Equity futures end higher: Equity futures traded on the Athens Derivatives Exchange ended higher in light jittery trade on Tuesday in line with the Athens Stock Exchange.

Traded were 11,559 contracts on turnover of 78.2 million euros, traders said.

Bond prices end mixed in moderate trade: Bond prices in the domestic secondary market on Tuesday finished mixed in moderate trade.

The Greek benchmark 10-year bond showed a yield of 5.43 percent, and the yield spread over German bunds was 49 basis points.

Turnover through the central bank's electronic system totalled 670 million euros (228.3 billion drachmas).

Sell orders accounted for about half of turnover.

[20] Archaeological sites to reopen on Wednesday as ministry, employees strike deal

Athens, 25/07/2001 (ANA)

Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos and the leaders of the union agreed on ways to resolve most of the demands of the employees, which focused on labor and remuneration issues.

[21] Group firebombs PASOK HQ in protest of killing of demonstrator at G8 summit

Athens, 25/07/2001 (ANA)

Police said three persons threw three molotov cocktails at the facade of the PASOK offices on central Harilaou Trikoupi street some 20 minutes before midnight Monday, causing minor material damage.

A half-hour later, an anonymous caller telephoned ELEFTHEROTYPIA daily and claimed responsibility for the attack on behalf of the previously unknown "Group of Anarchists".

The caller said the firebomb attack was an act of "rage" over the death of Carlo Giuliani, the 23-year-old Italian anti-globalization protestor who was fatally shot in Genoa on Friday during a confrontation between police and protestors at the G8 summit

[22] Human Rights Watch charges Greece of failing to confront trafficking of women

WASHINGTON, 25/07/2001 (ANA)

In a press release, Executive Director of Human Rights Watch's Europe and Central Asia Division Elizabeth Andersen said that women that fell victim to trafficking were being treated like criminals.

In the same release she noted that the real criminals were not prosecuted, while she criticized Greece of punishing the wrong parties in such cases.

Specifically, Human Rights Watch said that it was concerned over the absence of comprehensive anti-trafficking legislation in Greece, and noted that there are few persecutions for trafficking under existing criminal laws.

The organization also referred to the lack of witness protection programs for trafficking victims to facilitate their participation in prosecutions, as well as the absence of government-sponsored services for all trafficked women including shelter, medical care, psychological support, and assistance with other basic needs.

Finally it also it noted the on-going detention and prosecution of trafficking victims as well as the continuing complicity of police officers in the trafficking of women.

In May, the Greek government established a working group to develop a national action plan on trafficking. The group is required to complete its work in one year.

The Human Rights Watch welcomed the initiative but stressed that many of the Greek government's recommendations can and should be take immediately.

[23] Onassis Foundation approves academic grants for next year

Athens, 25/07/2001 (ANA)

Beneficiaries include nine members of national academies and professors, 21 researchers and artists, seven primary and secondary school teachers of Greek and 18 postgraduate students.

The beneficiaries are from the following countries: Albania, Australia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, United States, Japan, India, Ireland, Spain, Italy, Canada, Croatia, Latvia, United Kingdom, Mexico, Yugoslavia, Holland, Ukraine, Pakistan, Romania, Russia, Slovenia, Turkey and Czech Republic.

More information can be obtained at the Foundation's website (www.onassis.gr).

[24] American officials call for an end to Cyprus' occupation on Turkish invasion anniversary

NICOSIA, 25/07/2001 (ANA/CNA)

In her statement before US House of Representatives Maloney said "we now have an atmosphere where there is no valid excuse for not resolving this long-standing problem" and expressed hope that Cyprus accession to the EU would act as a catalyst for a lasting solution to the Cyprus question.

Maloney said while the US, the EU, Greece and Cyprus had acted to accommodate Turkish concerns, "it remains to be seen whether Turkey will put pressure on Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash to bargain in good faith."

In a letter to the Consulate General of the Republic of Cyprus in New York, Senator Charles Schumer expressed his confidence that today could serve as the catalyst towards a final peaceful resolution of the Cyprus problem.

In his proclamation commemorating the 27th anniversary of the invasion to Cyprus State Senator Frank Padavan noted that for 27 years Turkey had remained an anachronistic hostage to the past rather than choosing to look to the future with renewed vitality for cooperation and development.

Padavan also said the time has come for a solution to the Cyprus problem based on all relevant UN resolutions, that will reunite the island and its people, who will be able to live in conditions of peace, security and full enjoyment of human rights. Furthermore he noted US citizens recognize the noble cause of the Cypriot and Greek Americans in their collective call for justice and peace in the region.

Proclaiming July 20, 2001 as a "Justice for Cyprus Day" President of the Borough of the Bronx Fernando Ferrer noted that all efforts towards finding a just, peaceful and viable solution of the Cyprus problem where the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus would be safeguarded had been constantly met with intransigence and lack of political will.

[25] Turkish Cypriot leader may return to UN-led peace talks, Cyprus' FM says

NICOSIA, 25/07/2001 (ANA/CNA)

Kasoulides expressed some reservations about a "change of heart" on the part of the Turkish side, noting this remains to be seen.

He also expressed the view that an eventual return to the dialogue by the Turkish side is due to the realization that it has become politically isolated.

The minister's comments come in the wake of a statement by Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash that he will decide whether to resume the talks he abandoned last year after his meeting with the UN Secretary General in New York. Turkish premier Bulent Ecevit referred to the need to continue the dialogue on the basis of what he called "the realities" in Cyprus."

Invited to comment on reservations political party leaders have expressed about the Turkish overtures, Kasoulides said he too has "reservations about a change of heart" and he went on to explain that is talking about "indications that they are willing to return to the table."

[26] Famagusta Mayor decries illegal excavations, by Turks in ancient Salamis

NICOSIA, 25/07/2001 (ANA/CNA)

According to a press release issued by the Famagusta Municipality, in a letter, addressed to the Director General of UNESCO, the Mayor of Famagusta points out that the illegal Turkish invasion of Cyprus in1974 and the occupation of the northern part of the island since then has prevented for 27 years the Cyprus Department of Antiquities from continuing and completing its historical service in Salamis.

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