Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 01-09-08

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

CONTENTS

[01] Premier outlines "vision" for the future & direction of efforts, in TIF speech

[02] Clerides receives PASOK secretary

[03] Gov't comments on legal battle over German war reparations

[04] Greek inflation eases to 3.8 percent in August

[05] Greece to auction 1.3 bln euro state bond issue

[06] Draft bill envisages corporate tax cuts

[07] Greece's EU Commissioner to attend TIF events

[08] US officials unveil American presence at 66th TIF

[09] Greek exports drop 9.0 percent in Jan-May

[10] Commercial Bank of Greece to expand in southeastern Europe

[11] Nat'l Bank of Greece seen in mergers, buyouts in 6-9 months

[12] Greece, France seek closer cooperation in Balkan reconstruction

[13] Commissioner Byrne at agriculture ministry on Monday

[14] Greece wants to see environment on agenda of WTO meeting

[15] Transactions on Athens bourse drop in August month/month

[16] Weekly economic review

[17] Greek stocks end week off-lows

[18] ITAR-TASS president arrives in Greece on Saturday, at ANA's invitation

[19] Total of 268 migrants detained in NE Evia; 3 Turks charged

[20] Archbishop pays official visit to Serbia

[21] El Greco exhibition in Vienna an unprecedented success

[22] Denktash informs UN he will not attend resumption of Cyprus peace talks in New York

[23] Cyprus president reiterates he will attend peace talks

[24] US says all parties in Cyprus should support the UN's good offices mission

[01] Premier outlines "vision" for the future & direction of efforts, in TIF speech

Athens, 08/09/2001 (ANA)

"We have a vision for tomorrow's society. (We have planned) actions and policies that make it possible. Our aim is a society of freedom, creativity and participation. A society that creates more and more capabilities for its citizens, equipping them (to succeed) in their choices," the premier said.

"Our aim is to create a society of solidarity. A society of cohesion, which deals with the problems of those really in need, which is supported by a modern, viable, just and effective social state. A society that lives in a climate of security for today, for tomorrow, for the prospects of the coming generation" he added.

"The grand political aim in the new era is the course of the country toward a strong Greece, for the creation of a strong society. This is our bet, PASOK's and the government's bet, but mostly a bet of the whole society," Simitis stressed.

The Greek premier also spoke of Greece's accomplishments, stressing that "Greece has made great steps forward. All we have to do is compare our country with our neighboring countries".

"Greece is a model country for the countries of the region, as all of them aim to participate in the European Union � It is their support and point of access for Europe. This shows the great distance we traveled," Simitis said.

"Despite all that, despite the speeding up of the development rates and the increased social cohesion of the last few years, we are - compared to developed societies - still behind," he added.

"This comparatively low positions will not disappear as if by magic. The convergence - we all want - the first level we all are seeking, our separate position and role we all hail needs vigilance, hard work, even greater effort," Simitis stressed.

"Some people, during such historic times choose to quit for participating in developments. They forget that we reached here because we overturned fatalism, we struggled correctly, we worked effectively, we had a plan and targets," he said.

"Those that are uncertain and fear attempt either consciously or fatalistically to combine the reservations and uncertainties of citizens with a new ideology of imprisonment. They are attempting to force citizens to fortify behind the walls of the past and to maintain that which is burning out and not to gain that which is coming," Simitis underlined.

"In the face of this ideology of imprisonment and concern, we build the 'national self-confidence'. We believe that Greek society can progress, can achieve its aims, because there is a plan and political will, which is based on the preconditions of solidarity and justice, on the values of our civilization," Simitis noted.

He also spoke of Greece's national issues, the Cyprus problem and the Athens 2004 Olympic Games among them.

He called Cyprus' accession to the Union a national aim, in addition to the resolution of the political problem on the island created by the 1974 Turkish invasion and continued occupation.

He concluded calling on all Greeks to "make the vision of a better Greece a reality".

PM warns against economic complacency: Prime Minister Costas Simitis on Friday welcomed rapid economic progress that had led to the country's eurozone entry this year, in turn allowing adoption of the single currency in January 2002, but he cautioned against complacent or willful policy making.

"In less than four months, the Greek economy is to see one of the greatest changes in its history. Along with Europe's powerful economies, it will enter the era of the new currency, the euro, that will circulate for the first time in banknotes and coins," Simitis told the opening of the Thessaloniki International Trade Fair.

At the same time, Greece had to work to retain the economic gains it had made and then align more closely with leading economies of the eurozone, cooperating to ensuring stability and growth at a time when the world economy was undergoing bouts of recession.

"The view that we have joined the euro zone and thus completed our endeavor in the economic sector is a major delusion. As is the view that we can set policy alone, shifting it in whatever direction we want," the prime minister said in a copy of his speech released early to media.

"Greece, as a member of the euro zone, is now facing problems linked to a high level of growth, in common with the group of developed countries in which it is taking part," Simitis said.

And although farmers, people on incomes, the unemployed and other vulnerable groups in society were for the first time in Greece receiving financial or other assistance, there was still room for an overall improvement in the quality of life.

Policies needed to be implemented that would generate greater stability and growth, raising wage levels and the standard of living to match those in the European Union, but the government was not in a position to make irresponsible financial concessions, Simitis noted.

"We must not again create a vicious circle of pressure, hand-outs and an inability to pay up," he warned.

In the latest attempt to ensure long-term growth and stability, the government had, for the first time, drawn up a three-year plan that aimed for a continuous reduction in the public debt to GDP ratio.

And in the next three years, Greece would show a rate of growth at least two percentage points above the European Union average with the government deepening its wide-ranging privatization program, the prime minister said.

In addition, the economy was being liberalized, with 33 percent of the electricity production and transmission market already deregulated, he added.

Opposition criticizes the focus of the premier's speech in the TIF: Main opposition New Democracy (ND) party spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos on Friday night described Prime Minister Costas Simitis' inaugural address at the Thessaloniki International Trade Fair (TIF) as "a film which has been repeated a thousand times."

The ND spokesman said that the prime minister's speech "constituted yet another attempt to beautify the state of the Greek economy and to downgrade the enormous social problems."

He added that the government's "promises were stereotype and were repeated every September."

Roussopoulos concluded by saying that through his speech, Simitis "showed that he was very much detached from the reality of the daily life of the Greek people."

Communist Party: The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) on Friday issued a press release saying that Simitis' with his state of the state address during the inauguration of the TIF attempted to confuse people.

"The attempt of the premier to beautify conditions was expressed in the sectors of health and welfare. The huge inefficiencies of the so called National Health System (ESY) throughout the country and especially in border and island regions," the press release noted.

Coalition: On its part, the Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) claimed in its press release that once again the premier in his speech proved that he is distant from the everyday life of the majority of the Greek people.

[02] Clerides receives PASOK secretary

NICOSIA, 08/09/2001 (ANA)

On his part, Skandalidis reiterated that Cyprus� European Union accession comprises a �cornerstone� of Greek foreign policy, while he also stressed that Athens remains committed to Helsinki summit decisions.

The Greek deputy will hold a series of talks with Cypriot political and religious leaders while on the island republic.

[03] Gov't comments on legal battle over German war reparations

Athens, 08/09/2001 (ANA)

Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said he in no way wanted to influence ongoing court proceedings with his statements, while reiterating, however, that �we must remain cautious regarding any seizures against a foreign state. At the same time, court rulings must be respected.�

Reppas made the remarks when asked during a regular press briefing in Athens if the government�s position -- namely, that the justice minister�s approval was first necessary for the confiscation of assets belonging to a foreign state -- still stood.

The spokesman spoke a few days after an appellate court in Athens considered an appeal tabled by the German state against two lower court decisions allowing for the confiscation of German assets in the country as part of war reparations to Greek citizens.

In one summary ruling, the appellate court rejected a motion filed by Berlin�s lawyers for a temporary suspension of the decision allowing for the seizures, a decision handed down by a one-judge first instance court in the central Greek city of Livadia.

At stake are the buildings housing the Goethe Institut and the German Archaeological Society in Athens.

One of the points raised in the German side�s appeal cites a pending ruling by a special high court over the issue of exterritorialy, i.e. whether Greek lower courts retain jurisdiction to hear cases involving foreign states.

The Livadia ruling had initially found in favor of the relatives of 214 Distomo villagers shot by German occupation forces, ordering Germany to pay 9.4 billion drachmas in compensation.

In an earlier petition, attorneys for the German Federal Republic stated that the decision to execute the lower court ruling was invalid because consent of the Greek justice minister was required for the seizure of foreign assets, something that had not been obtained.

Berlin has consistently refused to entertain the possibility of more compensation payments, saying that no private citizen can sue a state and that Germany has already paid blanket compensation under post-war reparations to Greece.

In 1960, then West Germany paid a total of 115 million German marks to Greek victims of Nazi oppression. The relevant treaty signed between Germany and Greece did not, however, exclude other Greek citizens with claims from coming forward and seeking compensation.

[04] Greek inflation eases to 3.8 percent in August

Athens, 08/09/2001 (ANA)

The consumer price index was unchanged in August, on a monthly basis.

The NSS said the annual inflation figure reflected a 11.5 percent increase in alcohol and tobacco prices, a 5.9 percent rise in food and beverages, a 4.5 percent increase in hotel-cafe-restaurant prices, a 3.8 percent increase in entertainment and a 3.7 percent increase in goods and services.

Clothing and footwear rose 2.6 percent in August, housing prices were 3.4 percent higher and education prices rose 3.6 percent.

NSS said Greece's harmonized inflation rate fell to 4.0 percent in August from 4.2 percent the previous month. The average 12-month inflation rate was 3.7 percent in August.

[05] Greece to auction 1.3 bln euro state bond issue

Athens, 08/09/2001 (ANA)

The bond issue is a re-opening of an 18 May 2011 issue, paying a fixed coupon of 5.35 percent annually, worth 1.3 billion drachmas. Settlement date was set Friday, 14 September.

[06] Draft bill envisages corporate tax cuts

Athens, 08/09/2001 (ANA)

The draft bill will seek to boost business activity through: -Incentives to promote corporate mergers, offering an additional discount on net profits in companies created through merger agreements and a two-year discount on employers' contributions in hiring new staff. -A 10 percent cut in the tax factor for merged companies' profits for the first year and a 5.0 percent cut for the second year. Companies eligible should have completed their merger agreements by December 31, 2004. -Merged companies will be able to create a special tax-free reserve investment fund using their net profits in the period 2002-2005. -Implementing a closed-end venture capital mutual fund market. -Amending legislation on the operation of investment firms on the real estate sector. -Exempting from a real estate tax the transfer of real estate to investment companies to facilitate an anticipated wave of foreign inflows in the Greek market over the next few years. -Reducing an amortization factor on building facilities used as hotels from 8.0% to 4.0%. -Reducing by 50 percent the taxation of ships under the Greek flag and by the same percentage the income tax on officers and sailors in the Greek merchant fleet. -Exempting from tax all grants to scientific research center and to non-profit research organizations. -Abolishing all tax and custom cuts and facilities to foreign-owned companies based in Greece.

[07] Greece's EU Commissioner to attend TIF events

Athens, 08/09/2001 (ANA)

On Monday morning, Diamantopoulou will address a one-day meeting organized by the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank at the "Macedonia Palace" hotel. She will present a special European Commission report on the prospects of development of the countries participating in the bank.

In the evening, she will deliver a speech on "The future of Greece in Europe", at a dinner organized at the hotel by the European Commission delegation in Greece and the Thessaloniki Commercial Association.

[08] US officials unveil American presence at 66th

TIF Athens, 08/09/2001 (ANA)

US officials, including Washington�s consul general in Thessaloniki, John Koenig, referred to an upward trend in the bilateral trade balance � which recently exceeded the two-billion-dollar mark for the first time, according to the latest figures.

Conversely, US officials said Greece still falls short in the category of attracting foreign investment, with layers of bureaucracy and �red tape� mostly to blame.

Regarding the business climate in Greece, the US embassy�s commercial attache in Athens, Walter Hage, called it �appealing�. However, he added, �there is room for further growth.�

Hage urged a simplification of bureaucracy in order to attract more US firms in Greece, while he noted that, in general terms, �we�re satisfied with our cooperation�.

The US presence at TIF this year is the largest among all other national pavilions with 20 major US companies participating.

[09] Greek exports drop 9.0 percent in Jan-May

Athens, 08/09/2001 (ANA)

The EU executive's statistics agency said that Greece's trade deficit totalled 7.5 billion euros (2.55 trillion drachmas) in the January-May period, from 7.4 billion euros (2.52 trillion drs) in 2000, recording the third highest deficit among the EU-15 states.

UK recorded the highest deficit (26.7 billion euros), followed by Spain (14.9 billion euros).

Germany recorded the highest trade surplus at 32.4 billion euros, followed by Ireland with 13 billion euros.

Greek exports fell 9.0 percent, from 4.7 billion euros (1.6 trillion drachmas) last year to 4.3 billion euros (1.46 trillion drs) in 2001, while import fell 2.0 percent to 11.8 billion euros (4 trillion drachmas).

The EU-15 trade transactions with the rest of the world in the first five months of 2001 recorded a deficit of 4.4 billion euros, down from 6.1 billion euros last year.

[10] Commercial Bank of Greece to expand in southeastern Europe

Athens, 08/09/2001 (ANA)

Commercial plans to carry out the expansion through its bank subsidiaries in Armenia, Georgia, Albania, Bulgaria, Romania and Cyprus; and by setting up an autonomous presence in Serbia, possibly through the acquisition of a bank under privatization, Stournaras said.

In addition, the bank's main target in southeastern Europe in 2002 was to attain or increase profitability in existing operations.

The pullout from Moldova was dictated by a lack of prospects for earnings, Stournaras added.

Finally, Commercial plans to expand in Cyprus through its subsidiary in the island republic by creating a network of 45-50 branches in five years that will win a 5.0 percent stake of the retail market, he said.

Commercial Bank's news conference was held on the sidelines of the Thessaloniki International Trade Fair, which opened on Friday.

[11] Nat'l Bank of Greece seen in mergers, buyouts in 6-9 months

Athens, 08/09/2001 (ANA)

In a market report for customers, SSSB analyst Miranda Xafa said that market speculation had affected several players' share prices over past months after National's management stated that it was interested in mergers and buyouts.

"The success of the transaction will most likely depend on the ability of the bank to create synergies," the report said.

"This might be a challenging task, given NBG's already dominant market share, which constrains its cost-cutting ability if acquiring another bank; and a tough labor market in Greece that forces banks to rely heavily on natural attrition of staff as opposed to early retirement and layoffs," it added.

Entitled "National Bank Of Greece - On Diet But With a Huge Appetite", the report also said that SSSB had identified a peer group for the blue chip bank in the European banking arena, but did not name the company.

SSSB has rated National 3M (neutral, medium risk) with a target price of 32.3 euros and current price of 30.38 euros. Its market capitalization is 7,125.3 million euros.

Since 1996, National has demonstrated the successful restructuring of a public sector influenced institution in order to make it more domestically competitive and efficient, the report said.

However, after Greece's entry into the eurozone in January 2001, the benchmark became pan-European for the bank with tougher rules of the game.

"We believe NBG's next step is to prove to the markets that there is potential room for further streamlining of the cost base, and that the expected M&A wave in Greek banking will effectively deliver enough synergies for NBG," Xafa said.

NBG's income still included a number of non-recurrent items, such as trading gains from the bond portfolio and realized gains from the sale of its real estate portfolio.

"In our view, NBG's performance in the coming quarters will have to be driven by costs rather than revenues. Although Greece's economy is one of the least leveraged in Europe, and its GDP growth is still above the EU average, we feel revenues will still take time to pick up and offset the loss of non-recurrent gains," the report added.

[12] Greece, France seek closer cooperation in Balkan reconstruction

Athens, 08/09/2001 (ANA)

The initiative for holding the meeting, held behind closed doors in the northern port city of Thessaloniki, was taken by Deputy National Economy Minister Yiannis Zaphiropoulos and France's Deputy Foreign Trade Minister, Francois Yvan.

Other items on the meeting's agenda were recent developments in the two countries' economies, bilateral economic relations, Euro-Mediterranean policy, cooperation in sub-Saharan Africa, and export credits between the two countries, which it was decided to increase.

Many French firms are represented in Greece. About a hundred companies have set up subsidiaries in the country, employing 20,000 people and generating turnover that represents 2.62 percent of Greece's gross domestic product.

[13] Commissioner Byrne at agriculture ministry on Monday

Athens, 08/09/2001 (ANA)

As expected, the latest developments in the sectors of food quality, implementation of various Union-wide measures in Greece as well as consumer safety issues will be discussed.

A brief press briefing will follow at the agriculture ministry.

[14] Greece wants to see environment on agenda of WTO meeting

BRUSSELS, 08/09/2001 (ANA - B. Demiris)

The secretary general of the national economy ministry, Minas Stavrakakis, was speaking on behalf of Greece at an informal meeting of European Union trade ministers in Bruges, Belgium, that discussed setting the 15-nation bloc's negotiating position at the WTO meeting.

The ministers agreed that a new round of multi-party talks was needed in which matters of trade and the environment could be debated. They called on the EU's executive Commission to maintain its efforts in this direction.

Stavrakakis also told the meeting that Greece believed that the EU's current common agricultural policy should be retained.

[15] Transactions on Athens bourse drop in August month/month

Athens, 08/09/2001 (ANA)

Total transactions in July were up 27.3 percent from June, due to the acquisition of Interamerican by insurer Eureka of the Netherlands.

Ranking top among brokerages in turnover were Sigma Securities at 5.76 percent of the market, followed by EFG Eurobank Ergasias at 5.55 percent, P&K Securities at 5.15 percent, Egnatia Securities at 4.78 percent, and National Securities at 4.49 percent, the report said.

[16] Weekly economic review

Athens, 08/09/2001 (ANA)

The announcement by the Prime Minister Costas Simitis of a new package of measures aimed to promote social policies and the presentation of a government draft bill envisaging tax cuts and incentives for Greek enterprises, were largely ignored by the market, which remained under pressure from a lack of liquidity and a negative climate in international bourses.

Meanwhile, the Greek market once again was the theatre of a political wrangling between the government and the main opposition party over political interventions in the market during the pre-election campaign, an issue currently under judicial investigation.

According to figures by the Union of Institutional Investors, a slump in the Greek market in the last two years has negatively affected all other forms of investments in the country, with domestic equity mutual funds recording an average 20 percent drop in returns this year. Domestic combined mutual funds' losses were 10 percent over the same period, while money market and bond mutual funds recorded slightly positive returns in 2001.

[17] Greek stocks end week off-lows

Athens, 08/09/2001 (ANA)

Buying focused in the Publishing, Retailing, small-cap, IT and Holdings sectors, while Hellenic Telecoms' shares found support at 17.90 euros.

The general index ended 0.83 percent lower at 2,647.42 points, off the day's lows of 2,614.23 points, for a net loss of 4.15 percent in the week. Turnover was a low 121.95 million euros, or 41.554 billion drachmas.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks ended at 1,488.26 points, off 0.82 percent, the FTSE/ASE 40 index fell 0.61 percent to 288.39 points, and the Small Cap index ended at 849.62 points, off 0.56 percent.

The parallel market index for smaller capitalization stocks ended at 257.78 points, up 0.12 percent.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 255 to 72 with another 34 issues unchanged.

Equity futures nose down: Equity futures on the Athens Derivatives Exchange on Friday ended slightly lower but mostly outperformed the gloomy main market.

Changing hands were 5,881 contracts on turnover of 39.1 million euros, the traders said.

Prices rise in heavy trade: Bond prices in the domestic secondary market on Friday finished higher in extremely heavy trade with players again focusing on 10-year paper.

The Greek benchmark 10-year bond showed a yield of 5.28 percent, and the yield spread over German bunds was 46 basis points.

Turnover through the central bank's electronic system totalled 2.1 billion euros.

Buy orders accounted for the bulk of turnover.

[18] ITAR-TASS president arrives in Greece on Saturday, at ANA's invitation

Athens, 08/09/2001 (ANA)

He is scheduled to meet with Deputy Press Minister Telemachos Chytiris and Athens 2004 Olympic Games Organizing Committee President Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki

Ignatenko is also the president of the Asian association of news agencies and in the past he held the post of spokesman for the Russian government.

[19] Total of 268 migrants detained in NE Evia; 3 Turks charged

Athens, 08/09/2001 (ANA)

Additionally, three Turkish nationals accused of smuggling the migrants onto Greek soil on Thursday requested a customary two-day postponement from a local magistrate in order to prepare their defense.

A local prosecutor subsequently ordered a trial for Saturday, while advising against the arraignment of the migrants. Instead, authorities began procedures for expelling the migrants back to Turkey, from where the migrant-smuggling vessel�s journey began.

[20] Archbishop pays official visit to Serbia

Athens, 08/09/2001 (ANA)

Patriarch Pavlos of Serbia welcomed the Archbishop at the airport and told him that in Serbia the Greek clerics can feel at home.

Archbishop Christodoulos thanked the Patriarch and conveyed the greetings of the Orthodox Greek people. The Archbishop also referred to "the heroic Serbian people", stressing that they had overcome the tragedy "of the unjust war."

Christodoulos, who was accompanied by metropolitans, said that he hoped the country would find the place it deserves among the free and democratic states.

Christodoulos later held a service at the Church of Archangel Michail in Belgrade where he referred to the bitterness of the Serbian people and the stance taken by "the so-called Christian west" during their suffering.

The Archbishop also termed as "harsh and blackmailing" the embargo imposed on the country.

[21] El Greco exhibition in Vienna an unprecedented success

VIENNA, 08/09/2001 (ANA - D. Dimitrakoudis)

The El Greco exhibition began on May 3 and ten days before its end on September 16, the number of visitors has surpassed 340,000.

The record number of visitor, set during another exhibition, was 360,000 visitors.

The exhibition is displaying 40 works of El Greco.

[22] Denktash informs UN he will not attend resumption of Cyprus peace talks in New York

NICOSIA, 08/09/2001 (CNA/ANA)

The spokesman expressed hope this was not the last word from Denktash and noted there is a lot of work to be done.

Replying to questions, the spokesman said Denktash had informed the UN that "he is unable to accept the Secretary General's invitation conveyed to him at the beginning of this week."

"This is a regrettable development. We hope that it is not Mr. Denktash's final position," he said.

Noting "there is much work to be done and that efforts must get back on track without delay and in earnest", the spokesman said "we hope Mr. Denktash will see fit to support the Secretary General's good offices by engaging in a new and reinvigorated phase of the search for a comprehensive settlement, starting next week in New York."

Annan's Special Adviser on Cyprus Alvaro de Soto conveyed the invitations to President Glafcos Clerides and Denktash earlier this week, as he concluded an eight-day visit here.

The president has accepted the invitation and will be in New York for the talks on 12 September.

Last year Denktash abandoned the negotiating table demanding recognition for his self-styled regime in Turkish occupied Cyprus before he returns to the UN-led peace talks.

[23] Cyprus president reiterates he will attend peace talks

NICOSIA, 08/09/2001 (CNA/ANA)

He repeated that himself would be in New York on time, ready for talks, noting that he also plans to meet representatives of the UN Security Council permanent members.

Speaking to the press before a meeting in Nicosia with Cyprus former President Spyros Kyprianou, Clerides said he was not going to meet Kofi Annan, in the same framework as Denktash met Annan, in Salzburg, Austria, on August 28, and stressed that he will go to New York ready for talks.

"If the Secretary-General asks to see me, I will not refuse. I am also planning to see representatives of the UN Security Council permanent members," he added.

Invited to comment on Turkish threats for annexing Cyprus' occupied territories to mainland Turkey, in case of Cyprus' accession to the European Union, Clerides said Turkey was given a response on this issue by the EU itself, through a recent resolution of the European Parliament. He said "if Turkey implements its threats it should forget its accession to the EU."

European Parliament's plenary approved last Wednesday in Strasbourg a resolution on Cyprus membership application to the EU and the state of Cyprus-EU negotiations by which it stresses that if Turkey were to carry out its threat of annexing northern Cyprus to mainland Turkey in response to Cypriot accession to the EU it would put an end to its own ambitions of European Union membership.

Clerides refrained from saying whether UN Secretary-General's Special Adviser on Cyprus had conveyed to him a proposal reportedly to have been put forward by Denktash for secret direct talks in Cyprus and noted that de Soto himself had said it was premature to have such a meeting.

The Cyprus president also noted he was not aware of the context of a letter, reportedly to have been sent by Denktash to the UN Secretary-General.

[24] US says all parties in Cyprus should support the UN's good offices mission

WASHINGTON, 08/09/2001 (CNA/ANA)

Boucher, who was invited to comment on Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash's denial to proceed to fresh peace talks on Cyprus, Boucher assured the United States continued to support fully the UN Secretary General and his Special Adviser on Cyprus Alvaro De Soto.

De Soto announced on Wednesday at a press conference in Nicosia, at the end of an eight-day trip to Cyprus, that he had conveyed invitations to Greek Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash for separate meetings with Kofi Annan on September 12, in New York, "to resume the search for a comprehensive settlement to the Cyprus problem, under the Secretary General's auspices."

President Clerides accepted the invitation and he is scheduled to leave for New York on Monday.

Denktash said after this announcement that he saw no ground for negotiations and no need to go to New York, pointing out that the necessary foundation had not been established for him to attend any form of negotiations.

The State Department spokesman said the United States "believe that all the parties need to do their maximum to support the UN's good offices mission."

"We support the efforts of the United Nations in that regard," he added.

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