Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 01-08-30

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

CONTENTS

[01] Stephanopoulos: Conditions not met for ID referendum

[02] Turkey should pay compensation to Loizidou, Turkey's defense lawyer says

[03] Ruling PASOK's Executive Bureau decides on party position for congress

[04] PM lauds fire department in the protection against forest fire

[05] Simitis receives EKTh members, discusses Thessaloniki issues

[06] Greek defense minister on FYROM situation, Greek force

[07] Foreign minister receives three US congressmen

[08] Alternate FM meets Greek expatriates in South Africa

[09] Greek ambassador to Ankara calls on Turkish party leader

[10] Papariga on tour of new airport, speaks on workers issues

[11] Greece presents draft bill for euro introduction

[12] PPC-Wind present joint telecoms venture

[13] Greek stocks succumb to profit taking, end lower

[14] Four Afghani illegals detained on Samos

[15] President Clerides meets with UN envoy de Soto

[16] Clerides makes clear he will not accept Denktash's terms

[01] Stephanopoulos: Conditions not met for ID referendum

Athens, 30/08/2001 (ANA)

The president of the Republic (Stephanopoulos) touched on the ways with which popular rule is expressed, including the holding of a referendum and the procedures envisioned for such by the Constitution and the state�s laws.

�Based on those (laws), the prerequisites for holding such a referendum on the issue of identification cards do not exist ... and all have the obligation to adhere to the rules of law, while the collection of signatures outside the margins of the stated legal procedure cannot possibly reverse the Constitution�s provisions.�

In exiting the presidential mansion, Christodoulos, the Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, termed his meeting with Stephanopoulos as �good�, while in response to press questions over the president�s stance, he said: �He had his own views�.

Christodoulos, who was accompanied by a small delegation of other high-ranking clerics, said he briefed Stephanopoulos over the Church�s initiative to collect signatures for a referendum because �we believe in the great prestige of the president to solve this matter�.

The outspoken Greek Church prelate also said he asked Stephanopoulos to intervene in order for dialogue to commence on the holding of a referendum. The Church steadfastly wants a referendum to decide whether citizens may optionally list their religious preference on police-issued ID cards.

The Church of Greece prelate dramatically raised the stakes on Tuesday in the more than yearlong �ID issue� souring of Church-state relations by demanding a referendum or new legislation.

In a press conference at the Holy Synod�s headquarters in down-town Athens, Christodoulos announced that a nation-wide petition drive calling for just such a referendum garnered 3,008,901 signatures.

In a swift reply, however, the government cautioned that the number of signatures would not affect the government�s policy on the divisive matter.

Regarding Christodoulos� statements on Tuesday, a government spokesman reiterated that the state has made its final decision on the matter.

In June, the Council of State (CoS), Greece's highest administrative court, upheld the exclusion of religious affiliation from new IDs -- effectively ruling out an optional listing as well. The court ruled that citizens� religious preferences fall under the heading of personal and confidential information.

Gov't spokesman: In response to Christodoulos� comments on Wednesday as well as to later remarks by main opposition New Democracy leader Costas Karamanlis, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas countered that any initiative regarding police-issued IDs would, in fact, be a �Constitutional anomaly�.

He again referred to the CoS decision over the issue, which also points to the unconstitutionality of allowing the optional listing of one�s religious preference on the document.

Asked during his regular press briefing about the Archbishop�s reference to �a Christian Greek state�, Reppas said Greece is internationally recognized as the Republic of Greece, whereas if the former label was accepted the country would cease being a democracy, but instead, turn into a �theocratic regime, which has no relation to the state mandated by the Constitution or law�.

The government spokesman also sharply criticized ND�s stance over the issue, saying that the main opposition is simply following the matter in a �care-free� manner, and claiming that �when ND isn�t silent it changes its stance ... and doesn�t have a standing policy�.

Additionally, he called on ND to state whether it supports the holding of a referendum.

Finally, Reppas said the Church has not requested a meeting between Prime Minister Costas Simitis and Christodoulos, whereas if such a request was made the premier would surely arrange for an audience.

Karamanlis: Afterwards, the Church delegation � sans Christodoulos � met with ND leader Karamanlis at the party's headquarters.

On his part, Karamanlis said it was �unfathomable� for a democratically minded citizen, especially a politician, to not respect dialogue, a mostly overt reference to the prime minister. He also said that his party has proposed a specific solution, namely, a change in legislation.

Karamanlis also accused the prime minister of �following a slippery road of fanaticism and division�, while saying ND took a clear position over the ID issue.

According to sources, the Metropolitan of Dimitriada (Volos region) agreed with Karamanlis that political parties should not be identified with the Church.

�We did the most democratic thing we could do, we collected signatures and submitted a request. We didn�t do this in a divisive way, and that�s why we didn�t go to (people�s) residences, nor did we force anyone to sign,� the Metropolitan said.

No statements were made following the half-hour meeting.

[02] Turkey should pay compensation to Loizidou, Turkey's defense lawyer says

ISTANBUL 30/08/2001 (ANA - A. Kourkoulas)

Titika Loizidou, a Greek Cypriot from the presently occupied Kyrenia, northern Cyprus, sought recourse at the court and won than 400,000 Cyprus pounds (about 800,000 US dollars set by the Court) for having been deprived from enjoying her property in the Turkish-occupied part of Cyprus.

"Turkey is obliged to pay the compensation levied by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in the Loizidou case because it has signed the European Convention on Human Rights," Caglar said.

If, Ankara does not pay the compensation it will be expelled from the ECHR, Caglar warned, stressing that should that happen, it would also mean the interruption of Turkey's relations with the European Union, as well as with the International Monetary Fund.

The steadfast position of Turkey that the pseudo-state set up by the occupation forces in northern Cyprus is responsible to answer to the legal cases brought up by Greek Cypriot to the ECHR and not Turkey itself, is baseless, Caglar said, adding that the pseudo-state is "a puppet-state".

The presence of Turkish forces on Cyprus clearly shows that Turkey controls the pseudo-state, Caglar said, adding that it is "a paradox" that Turkey does not recognize the Republic of Cyprus, but recognizes the ECHR to which Cyprus participates with a judge.

He, finally, said that the non-appearance of Turkey to the ECHR trials for the Loizidou case was a "legal mistake", since in this manner it sent out the message that it can not defend its positions.

[03] Ruling PASOK's Executive Bureau decides on party position for congress

Athens, 30/08/2001 (ANA)

Following the meeting Simitis said that the members of the Executive Bureau reached decisions on the positions, which will be presented for discussion and approval to the meeting of the PASOK party Central Committee scheduled for Friday.

The political positions show an image of our aims, Simitis said, adding that these positions do not constitute a government program.

He said that the three basic fields covered by those political positions are: development with social justice; a new social state with an acceptable living standard for all citizens; and a new model of democratic governance.

The premier announced that during the party congress in October there will not be discussion on changes to the party's constitution, adding that within 2002 there will be an organizational conference, which will decide on the changes for the constitution.

He said that some changes that must take place now will be discussed within the framework of the party's positions.

According to sources, the members of the Executive Bureau disagreed with Foreign Minister George Papandreou, who proposed that changes to the party constitution be discussed and a date for an extraordinary congress be assigned, a congress, which will decide on those changes to the constitution.

[04] PM lauds fire department in the protection against forest fire

Athens, 30/08/2001 (ANA)

Simitis, who was accompanied by Minister of Public Order Michalis Chrysohoidis and the ministry�s general secretary Dimitris Eustathiadis, was briefed by Fire Department Chief Panagiotis Fourlas.

Welcoming the PM, as well as the government delegation, the head of the fire department noted that 2001 has so far been a better year in terms of forest fires, for there were less blazes recorded that there have been in well over 30 years. He did, however, confess that the year 2000 could be termed as one of the worst years for forest fires in Greece, and underlined that the catastrophes accounted for last year were the most harmful in almost half a century.

According to Fourlas, some 7,222 forest fires have been recorded since the beginning of the year flaming well over 10171 acres of forestland, while in 2000 roughly 9.972 forest fires burned more than 191,147 acres of woodland.

Speaking to firemen, Simitis said that the government is aiming to establish an effective group to skillfully protect Greece against such natural catastrophes, that is why, he added, the Fire Department�s level of infrastructure has been greatly improved and financed with bolstering material and machinery equipment.

Specifically the premier said some 150 billion drachmas has been allocated to the fire department to modernize and purchase new equipment, while he said further grants totaling 35 billion drachmas from the Second Community Framework (CSF) program have been also earmarked for the same sector.

[05] Simitis receives EKTh members, discusses Thessaloniki issues

Athens, 30/08/2001 (ANA)

Present at the meeting were Ministers of Labor Tassos Giannitsis and Macedonia-Thrace George Paschalidis.

Heading the Thessaloniki delegation, Nikos Yiannopoulos said the issues that affect the northern city center on two axis: general day-to-day issues and the planned infrastructure works set to enhance the quality of life in the Macedonian capital; as well as labor issues that are presently concerning EKTh.

Yiannopoulos also briefed the heads of state on issues concerning the Inter-Balkan University and employment opportunities in the Labor Center.

He also addressed the planned construction of the Thessaloniki metro, the proposed underwater canal, the modification of the western entrance to the city, the Egnatia Motorway, the sixth pier at the city's port, as well as issues troubling the International Trade Fair (ITF).

The Executive Committee is scheduled to convene on Thursday in order to decide whether or not EKTh will call for a rally.

[06] Greek defense minister on FYROM situation, Greek force

Athens, 30/08/2001 (ANA)

Speaking before Parliament�s national defense and foreign affairs committee, Tsohatzopoulos briefed its members over

Greece�s participation in a NATO force dispatched to the strife-torn Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) � �Operation Essential Harvest� -- to collect and destroy weapons and ammunition surrendered by ethnic Albanian rebels in that country.

Asked about the number of weapons NATO expects to collect, the Greek defense minister replied that the important point has to do with the rebels� commitment to surrender them.

�The NATO force will collect those (weapons) handed over voluntarily, and won�t enter into a procedure of searching out weapons,� he said.

In response to a question by former foreign minister Theodoros Pangalos, Tsohatzopoulos agreed that certain quarters in the Slavic-speaking majority of FYROM have over the past promoted an �autocratic and behavior and nationalistic� agenda vis-a-vis Greece as well as minorities in that country.

He also noted that a segment of FYROM�s leadership � such as the Skopje-based Academy of Sciences � is ready for a change in regional borders, while at the same time expressing concern over developments in Yugoslavia.

Moreover, Tsohatzopoulos said he could not rule out the possibility of developments leading to a new international conference in four to five years to redraw Balkan boundaries. Along those lines and in response to another question, he said that if �a future procedure for changing borders takes place, then this cannot occur without Greece.� However, he immediately clarified that Athens, along with the rest of the international community, will assume initiatives to avert such a prospect.

On his part, former minister Theodoros Pangalos stated that, in his view, the country of FYROM is �collapsing before our eyes.� He also forecast increasing clashes and a subsequent wave of refugees.

Over the last point, Pangalos urged for the planning of a special �zone� between 10-20 kilometers into FYROM�s border from the Greek frontier -- including the FYROM municipalities of Bitola, Ohrid and Gevgelija � in order to house a possible wave of refugees on that country�s territory instead of Greece.

[07] Foreign minister receives three US congressmen

Athens, 30/08/2001 (ANA)

During his half-hour meeting with the two Republican Party congressmen and the Democratic Party congressman, Papandreou briefed them on the Greek positions concerning Greek-Turkish and EU-Turkish relations, the Cyprus issue and Cyprus' European Union accession course and developments in the Balkans.

[08] Alternate FM meets Greek expatriates in South Africa

JOHANNESBURG 30/08/2001 (ANA - A. Makridis)

The minister began her contacts on Tuesday, visiting a Greek school in Johannesburg and then attending a reception at the house of Johannesburg's Greek General Consul.

Many expatriates expressed concern about rising crime, poverty, economic depression and the increasingly unstable political climate in South Africa, and said they were seriously considering a permanent relocation to Greece.

The minister urged caution and careful consideration in her statements to the gathering, saying that South Africa was going through a difficult transitional period but appeared to be handling its problems wisely.

She also informed the gathering about Cyprus' EU accession prospects, saying that "this chapter will be over by 2002".

On relations with Turkey, she said that Greece was making "systematic, conscious efforts - sometimes by playing deaf - to have good relations with neighboring Turkey."

She said the government's goal was to develop relations for a series of day-to-day problems with groups in Turkish society and not just the Turkish government.

[09] Greek ambassador to Ankara calls on Turkish party leader

ISTANBUL 30/08/2001 (ANA-A. Kourkoulas)

Erdogan noted that the good relations between Turkey and Greece will continue and briefed Korantis on his party's positions on foreign policy issues.

The AMP leader expressed the hope that the economic, commercial and cultural relations, which have developed between the two countries, will intensify even more. He thanked Korantis for being the first ambassador to Ankara to visit the Justice and Development party, which was recently founded.

The Greek ambassador reassured Erdogan of Greece's support of Turkey's European course and briefed him on the cooperation between the two countries on European Union issues, the Anatolian news agency reported.

[10] Papariga on tour of new airport, speaks on workers issues

Athens, 30/08/2001 (ANA)

Following a tour of the new site, by airport officials, Papariga noted that the existence of many privately owned airline companies and the privatization of the state carrier Olympic Air-ways will definitely work against servicing the public, �especially in areas characterized with unprofitable routes,�

She added that the issue concerning the cost of airline fares has yet to be settled, while she forecasted that passenger fees will rise sharply.

Turning to workers issues, Papariga said that privatizations (as in the case of OA) are linked to the decrease of employment while terms for hiring are too strict and overwhelming.

[11] Greece presents draft bill for euro introduction

Athens, 30/08/2001 (ANA)

The draft bill has three sections: the first, includes all articles referring to the adaptation of Greek legislation to issues related to the circulation of euro coins and bills, the second, covers tax issues and the third, issues related to mutual funds and securities regulation.

Papantoniou said that the government is adamant to impose heavy sanctions in cases of speculative moves against citizens during the first months of the euro circulation. He noted that inspections would be made by a financial crimes squad, formed to combat financial crime in the country.

Development and finance ministries' agencies will inspect the market in the first months of the euro introduction in Greece despite the fact that agreements between the development ministry and producers and traders seeking a price freezing in the changeover period were adhere to by all parties.

"We can't be too careful," Papantoniou said. He noted that most other countries have entered the eurozone in January 1, 1999, two years before Greece, leaving the country with much lesser time to adapt. However, he sounded optimistic saying that "only small problems will occur."

The National Economy Minister said that from now on no-one should issue time drafts in drachmas for dates after January 1, 2002 and announced a probable solution to a debate over whether commercial banks should offer cheque books to customers with savings deposit.

Papantoniou said that a large number of Greeks accepted the euro currency "but our feelings are mixed because the drachma is connected with the good and the bad times of the economy."

He said that the government would hold a special "farewell" event for the drachma on February 28, 2002.

[12] PPC-Wind present joint telecoms venture

Athens, 30/08/2001 (ANA)

The two companies aim their joint venture to develop into Greece's second largest fixed telephony operator after Hellenic Telecoms. PPC has a 50 percent minus one share and Wind has a 50 percent plus one share stakes in the new company, expected to begin operations in the next six months.

The company will install the latest generation telecoms network offering fixed telephony services, multimedia services and Internet applications.

The network will use Public Power Corporation's electricity network in 23 cities, using a fiber optic network stretching at 2,000 km. The company will also develop a fixed wireless access network for its customers.

The Attica and Thessaloniki regions will be the first to develop since they account for 80 percent of the country's businesses and more than 50 percent of the population.

The investment programmed for the period 2001-2011 totals 839 million euros, of which 355 million euros will be spend in the first five years.

The company expects its revenues will total 356 million euros in 2005, to jump to 856 million euros by 2011 according to its business plan.

It will employ 700 workers, covering a 1.5 million in potential customers area and around 500,000 internet users, while it also aims to obtain significant market shares both in corporate and household users (18% and 15% by 2006, respectively).

The joint venture marks a significant step in PPC's efforts to diversify its activities following a full deregulation of Greece's energy market.

[13] Greek stocks succumb to profit taking, end lower

Athens, 30/08/2001 (ANA)

The Greek market was negatively affected by falls in international markets, which led to short-term selling. Traders said the Greek bourse's dependence on international stock market trends was limited due to low foreign investments in Greek stocks.

The general index ended 1.08 percent lower at 2,775.70 points, off the day's lows of 2,769.64 points, with turnover 134.90 million euros, or 45.97 billion drachmas.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks ended at 1,547.81 points, off 1.10 percent, the FTSE/ASE 40 index dropped 1.45 percent to 314.58 points, and the FTSE/ASE SMALLCAP 80 index ended at 932.37 points, off 1.18 percent.

Prices mixed in heavy trade: Bond prices in the domestic secondary market on Wednesday finished mixed in a session marked by extremely heavy turnover.

The Greek benchmark 10-year bond showed a yield of 5.29 percent, and the yield spread over German bunds was 47 basis points.

Turnover through the central bank's electronic system totalled 2.03 billion euros.

Buy orders accounted for just over half of turnover.

Equity futures at discount: Equity futures traded on the Athens Derivatives Exchange on Wednesday remained at a discount to close near the day's low.

Changing hands were 5,440 contracts on turnover of 37.4 million euros, traders said.

[14] Four Afghani illegals detained on Samos

Athens, 30/08/2001 (ANA)

According to authorities, the four men claimed that many more of their compatriots have gathered across a narrow strait separating the island from the Turkish mainland in order to attempt a crossing onto Greek territory. They also said they destroyed their dinghy upon reaching a Samos beach.

The migrants are due to appear before a local prosecutor.

The arrests are the latest over the last two-week period involving Afghanis attempting to illegally enter Greece from Turkey.

Eight Afghani illegal immigrants were intercepted by a coast guard patrol last week off the eastern Aegean island of Hios.

All eight had reportedly disembarked from the opposite Turkish coast (Cesme) aboard engine-less dinghies as well.

Meanwhile, further south, a total of 20 illegals � 14 men, two women and four children � had been intercepted at two different sites off the Dodecannese island of Kos.

As in the first incident, the two separate groups of migrants � Turkish nationals and Afghanis � had set off from Turkish harbors aboard inflatable craft. The migrants identified Bodrum (ancient Halicarnassus) and Turgut Reis as the points of disembarkation on the Asia Minor coast.

[15] President Clerides meets with UN envoy de Soto

NICOSIA 30/08/2001 (CNA/ANA)

During his eight-day visit here, UN Secretary General's Special Adviser on Cyprus is to meet with President Clerides another five times, and with Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash on four separate occasions, the first time on Friday.

On Thursday, he will have a working breakfast with the president.

UN-led proximity talks, which started in December 1999, were interrupted last November when Denktash, backed by Ankara, withdrew from them, demanding recognition of his self-styled regime in Turkish occupied Cyprus.

[16] Clerides makes clear he will not accept Denktash's terms

NICOSIA 30/08/2001 (CNA/ANA)

"The government and the President are not going to agree on either acknowledgement of the self-styled Turkish Cypriot regime in Turkish occupied Cyprus or upgrading the status of Denktash," government spokesman Michalis Papapetrou said here on Wednesday, pointing out that anything to the contrary will be in conflict with the specific provisions of relevant UN resolutions.

Denktash, who backed by Ankara, abandoned the UN peace talks last year, claims that unless the so-called realities in Cyprus are acknowledged, there can be no settlement of the Cyprus question. He demands the establishment of a confederation of two separate states on the island.

"As far as concessions are concerned on the type of a solution we are seeking, our concessions end at the provisions of UN resolutions for a bizonal, bicommunal federation," Papapetrou told his daily press briefing ahead of Wednesday's arrival to Cyprus of UN Secretary General's Special Adviser on Cyprus Alvaro de Soto.

The spokesman said the president has not been under pressure to agree to any kind of confederation and added "the President will stress at his meetings with de Soto that Denktash's terms are simply unacceptable."

Papapetrou said the government does not consider that these meetings constitute a process of peace talks.

"What we have here in Cyprus is a visit and meetings between de Soto and the two sides, and afterwards it will become clear whether there will be a resumption of talks or not," he added.

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