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Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 01-12-10Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>December 10, 2001CONTENTS
[01] FM calls on Ankara, Turkish Cypriots, to advance just Cyprus solutionAthens, 10/12/2001 (ANA)Greece's foreign minister George Papandreou on Sunday called on Ankara and the Turkish Cypriot side to advance a just solution to the Cyprus issue, addressing the 4th world congress of the Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE) in Thessaloniki.Referring to recent developments in the Cyprus issue, Papandreou spoke of a "new beginning", but warned that it was still too early for judgments and conclusions. "History and the next developments will pass the final judgment. Cyprus as a member of the European Union will reality in a very short time, we hope. The prospect is opening up for co-habitation of the two communities in a just solution within the framework of the UN Resolutions, and we call on Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side to advance such a solution, which will be able to open up a new era in relations between us," Papandreou said, reiterating that Greece backed a "European Turkey". In a message to the SAE congress read out by the island republic's oversees Cypriots minister, Cyprus president Glafcos Clerides assured that the Greek Cypriot side would carry on with its positive stance in the inter-communal talks. "We fervently desire that a solution is found before Cyprus' accession to the European Union so that our Turkish Cypriot compatriots may benefit equally from our membership in the large European family," Clerides said in his message. To that effect, I am determined to responsibly examine and take advantage of every opportunity for a correct solution that I hope will arise during the talks," he added. [02] Russian President Putin heads for Hanover after three-day state visit in GreeceAthens, 10/12/2001 (ANA)Russian President Vladimir Putin departed Sunday for Moscow, via Hanover for informal talks with the German Chancellor, after winding up a three-day state visit to Greece during which he signed several bilateral cooperation agreements, but was prohibited by inclement weather from fulfilling a long-time desire to visit the all-male monastic community of Mt. Athos.Putin, who arrived in Athens on Thursday at the invitation of Greek counterpart Kostis Stephanopoulos, signed six bilateral accords during his visit focusing on cooperation in the fuel, energy, shipping and air transport sectors, as well as police cooperation and cooperation between the two countries' justice ministries, as well as for the establishment of mutual cultural centers in the two countries. The Russian President, accompanied by Stephanopoulos, was originally scheduled to visit Mt. Athos on Saturday, but gale-force winds and heavy fog on Athos forced a cancellation of the visit as the pilots of the two military helicopters who were to transport them felt the risk of making the trip while carrying the two Presidents was too great. Diplomatic sources said Putin so deeply desired to visit Athos that he was prepared to extend his stay here by a few hours in the event the weather had cleared up sufficiently to enable him to make the pilgrimage on Sunday morning, but was obliged to give up on the idea of a visit to the Karyes monastery, where Russian and Ukrainian monks live, after weather forecasts indicated no improvement was to be expected. Equally disappointed as Putin were the monks at Karyes, who were preparing a royal welcome for him and even planned to ring the monastery's huge bell, the perimeter of which is said can fit 40 people and which can be heard all the way to the island of Skopelos. Putin was, however, able to visit the Athens Acropolis, where he spoke in favor of the return of the Parthenon Marbles from the British Museum, as well as the archaeological site of Vergina and the St. Demetrios monastery in Thessaloniki, where he toured the catacombs. Apart from Athos, Putin had specifically requested to visit the St. Demetrios monastery as well, since St. Demetrios of Thessaloniki is greatly revered in the city of Vladimir, some 180 kilometers north of Moscow, a city of great symbolic sentiment for the Russians and whose Cathedral bears the name of the Saint. Putin, a deeply religious man, maintains close ties with the Russian Orthodox Church and its Archbishop, Alexios. From Thessaloniki, Putin flew to Hanover for a working lunch and informal talks with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder on the situation in Afghanistan and the Middle East. [03] SAE should maintain bonds of Greek expatriates to nation, Stephanopoulos saysAthens, 10/12/2001 (ANA)The Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE) should work in the direction of maintaining and establishing the cohesion of all expatriate Greeks, President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos urged on Sunday in his address to the 4th General Assembly of the body, which is taking place in Thessaloniki.SAE should be active in that direction, the president said, adding that it has already done allot with its presence to this day "to maintain Hellenism, to defend Hellenism and to not let not even one Greek to be lost". He spoke of the dangers the nation is facing, underlining "that in this direction of confronting the dangers SAE is operating, that is its mission, this is the mandate it was given, this is the fulfilling of the Constitutional mandate". "Let it not be thought that we are asking of our expatriates to cover our national interests. They (expatriates) of course act for our national interest, but we all know that Greece's interests are based on law, as for the other great states near which you have to operate make their interests legal, even when they are not," Stephanopoulos said. "We are not asking from our expatriates the impossible, we are not asking them to be able to reverse the opinions of the earth's powerful. We are asking them to voice Greece's rights and only Greece's rights, as this is the interest which Greece understands," Stephanopoulos said. On his part, Foreign Minister George Papandreou called on the Greek expatriates to play their role by utilizing the new era, the new climate that was created in the region with Greece's intervention. Main opposition New Democracy (ND) leader Costas Karamanlis, in his address, stated that "we look to SAE with the belief that all of us can together create a new better Greece, in a new, better world". Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) leader Nikos Constantopoulos and a Communist Party of Greece (KKE) representative also addressed the assembly, while messages of Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides and Athens Mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos were read to the assembly. SAE President Andrew Athens closed the day noting that many of the SAE projects will be completed in 2002. Ice thaws in Ecumenical Patriarchate, SAE relations: Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos' attendance at and address to the 4th world congress of the Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE) in Thessaloniki on Sunday thawed the ice that had developed in relations between the Patriarchate and SAE when the Council was formed six years ago. The chill in the relations arose with the formation of SAE, as the Patriarchate grew concerned that the role of the Orthodox Church in binding the Hellenes of the Diaspora together was being disputed. SAE circles said that with his address, in which he stressed that unity and systematic cooperation between the Patriarchate and the oversees Greeks would bear rich fruit, Vartholomeos permanently melted the ice. Vartholomeos, who blessed the Congress procedures, noted that the Patriarchate, "under whose spiritual jurisdiction belong the Greeks of the Diaspora and which for centuries, frequently in adverse conditions, maintained that bond through the Greek Christian traditions" and "blesses every good effort, such as that of the Council of Hellenes Abroad, and holds hope that its long experience, network of organizations and organizational structure will be put to good use because that is required for the good" of Hellenism. Systematic cooperation, he added, would "bear rich fruits", and that was why the dialogue must be continuous. "The vision must be rendered a common one, to the degree possible, and cemented on the cultural ideals, the open universality of Hellenism and Orthodoxy," the Ecumenical Patriarch said. The Orthodox Church is being represented at the SAE congress by the highest levels of its hierarchy, given the presence of the Ecumenical Patriarch himself, Patriarch Petros of Alexandria, Archbishops Christodoulos and Anastasios of Athens and Tirana, respectively, as well as representatives of the Patriarch of Jerusalem and the Archbishop of America, who were unable to attend. Addressing the congress, Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and All Greece noted that the only way to "keep Hellenism alive in today's conditions of globalization and mixed marriages is to make it walk and run", and called for the use of tradition as "material strength". Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana and All Albania spoke of the universal dimension of the Orthodox faith, noting that the SAE should be called the Council of Hellenes Everywhere. The question to be pondered, he added, was how the expatriate Greeks could contribute to the development of the countries in which they live while at the same time preserving their identities. Patriarch Petros of Alexandria and Africa expressed conviction that in the tragic moments humanity was currently living, "in which personal interest and high technology 'capitalism' reign", the Hellenes abroad comprise a priceless and inexhaustible dynamic for Greece. The Orthodox hierarchs officiated together, under the Ecumenical Patriarch, at a liturgy at the St. Demetrios church in central Thessaloniki earlier Sunday. Church leaders address "Orthodoxy & Expatriate Hellenism" conference: Prelates of the Orthodox Church addressed on Sunday a one-day conference entitled "Orthodoxy and Expatriate Hellenism", which took place in the framework of the World Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE) General Assembly in Thessaloniki. Ecumenical Orthodox Patriarch Vartholomeos spoke of the fundamental role of Orthodoxy and especially that of the Ecumenical Patriarchate as a cultural element of Greek culture. He also stressed that the major problem of the expatriate Greek community is the maintenance of unity regarding its cultural roots to itself and the nation. On his part, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Christodoulos stressed that Orthodoxy is an integral part of Greek culture and noted that the bonds of expatriate Greeks with their homeland are maintained by Orthodoxy, history and language. The Pope-Patriarch of Alexandria Petros stressed that the present and future of expatriate Greeks should be evaluated on the basis of the spiritual heritage of the Hellenic-Christian education. Archbishop of Tirana and All Albania Anastasios spoke of the social work that was accomplished by his church and to the efforts for peaceful coexistence with other religions. The conference was inaugurated by Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannis Magriotis. Photographic exhibition on Patriarch Vartholomeos: A photographic exhibition by photographer and journalist Nikos Manginas on the 10-year course of Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos was inaugurated on Sunday by the Patriarch him-self and Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou in Thessaloniki. The exhibition is taking place on the sidelines of the 4th general assembly of the World Council of Hellenes Abroad. The exhibition portrays an impressive decade which started on October 22, 1991, when the Ecumenical Patriarchate's Synod elected the Metropolitan of Halkidon as the 270th Ecumenical Patriarch. [04] ANA and MPA news agencies considering merger, Protopappas saysAthens, 10/12/2001 (ANA)The Athens News Agency (ANA) and the Macedonian Press Agency (MPA) were moving toward a merger, government spokesman and Press Minister Christos Protopappas said in Thessaloniki on Saturday."We have two state-run news agencies, the ANA and the Macedonian agency. But we need a large and strong national agency," he added. According to the minister, the boards and managements of the two news agencies had already initiated closer cooperation. "I am pleased about this and we are considering proposals that they themselves have made to us," he said. Protopappas said the two agencies had already decided to work closely together in matters such as prices, new products and services and in new sectors created by new technologies. He said the two might develop a joint business plan that would lead to a merger between them, perhaps from January 1, 2003. This would, however, ensure a strong presence by Greece's national news agency in the north of the country, he qualified. The press minister said the two agencies would be left to work out the details of how they could work together by themselves, and that he hoped for positive results through this process. [05] Greek and French health ministers discuss bilateral cooperationPARIS, 10/12/2001 (ANA - O. Tsipira)Closer cooperation between Greece and France in health, especially in regional healthcare systems, was discussed by visiting Greek Health Minister Alekos Papadopoulos and his French counterpart Bernard Kouchner in Paris on Saturday.Papadopoulos later told reporters that Kouchner is to visit Greece in February to finalize the details of cooperation between their two countries. This had begun four months ago, he added, when the heads of 17 Greek regional health boards came to France to study French regional health systems and exchange experiences. The two ministers also discussed cross-border cooperation on health issues, which Papadopoulos said would be one of the priorities of the Greek EU presidency in the first half of 2003. The issue was one of increasing importance, he pointed out, since the increased mobility of populations had led to a re-emergence of infectious diseases that Europe had not seen for many years. While in Paris, Papadopoulos will also attend a symposium to mark the 20th anniversary of ELGA, a Greek-French non-governmental, non-profit organization set up in 1981 that puts the knowledge and expertise of Greek and French academics at the service of local government. [06] Gov't backs minister in health sector reform effortsAthens, 10/12/2001 (ANA)Health minister Alecos Papadopoulos said Sunday that there was no reason for his remaining in the health ministry if the reforms for the National Health System (ESY) he has commenced do not proceed.In an interview appearing in Sunday's edition of ELEFTHEROTYPIA daily, Papadopoulos said that during his most recent meeting with prime minister Costas Simitis, "and despite the rumors", the premier gave him the go-ahead to accelerate the reforms. "Perhaps the premier is the only one who supports this effort," Papadopoulos said, noting that "there are very many who want things to remain as is". Replying to a question whether government sources had "leaked" information that the reforms would be suspended, Papadopoulos said that although on occasion "various sides, in order to under-mine an attempt, invoke such sources", he found in "incomprehensible" and impossible to believe that associates of the premier would undermine ministers. The health minister further said that the policy he was applying was that of the government and was founded on "decisions of the Cabinet, PASOK central committee and PASOK congresses and, chiefly, the decision of the people", and warned that if this government did not complete the health system it would lose the elections. Papadopoulos sharply criticized the "organized interests", ma-king reference to mafiosi and rats active in the health system who want to continue profiting from the sector. Later, government spokesman Christos Protopappas expressed the government's backing of Papadopoulos, replying to questions prompted by the newspaper article. "The reform in the health sector is a priority of ours. We fully support this effort," Protopappas said, adding that "the prime minister and all of us support the efforts of Alecos Papadopoulos for a correct reform in the health sector, so as to provide service to the citizen". [07] Chrysohoidis addresses seminar on terrorism and the mediaAthens, 10/12/2001 (ANA)The government was determined to crack down on terrorism but also to protect established human rights and freedoms," Public Order Minister Mihalis Chrysohoidis told a seminar on "Mass media and terrorism" organized by Thessaloniki University's journalism department on Saturday.Arguments that the government lacked the political will to combat terrorism or that authorities lacked the ability were dismissed as fictions by the minister. He blamed Greece's poor track record in catching terrorists on a lack of strategy and a systematic approach to the issue. Commenting on the terror attacks of Sept. 11 in New York and Washington, Chrysohoidis said that dealing with this form of "mass terrorism" required cooperation by all. Former public order ministers George Petsos and Stelios Papathemelis also addressed the seminar. Press and Media Minister Christos Protopappas on Saturday addressed, also, the one-day conference. He called for more democracy, which he said is a weapon against terrorism and he defended the freedom of the press, saying that even terrorists have the right to have their opinions made public. Main opposition New Democracy (ND) spokesman Theodoris Roussopoulos, who also addressed the conference, spoke against the publishing of opinions held by terrorists, saying that they have nothing to offer. [08] Protopappas responds to Mitsotakis' comments about FMAthens, 10/12/2001 (ANA)Government spokesman Christos Protopappas on Saturday rejected as "unfair" the criticism leveled against Foreign Minister George Papandreou by former premier and ND honorary president Constantine Mitsotakis.Mitsotakis had objected to Papandreou's absence from Parliament on Friday to answer questions about the text of an agreement with Turkey negotiated by Britain to free up NATO re-sources for a planned European crisis management force. When told that the foreign minister was busy accompanying visiting Russian President Vladimir Putin, Mitsotakis asked whether Papandreou was "posing as Putin's tour guide". "Papandreou was at a top-level meeting that concerned Greece's interests. He was where he should have been and Mitsotakis' comments do him an injustice," Protopappas said. [09] Interior minister refers to PASOK policy on 2002 local electionsAthens, 10/12/2001 (ANA)Interior Minister Costas Skandalidis on Sunday announced that PASOK was not ruling out cooperation with persons outside its party in the next elections for local governments due in late 2002.Speaking to the state NET television, Skandalidis also announced that PASOK would decide on its policy for local elections on Jan.12 and 13. He also announced that he will submit a bill in Parliament before the Christmas holidays for the legalization of 367,000 undocumented immigrants living in Greece, bringing the number of legal immigrants to 800,000. [10] ND leader criticizes gov't policy in newspaper interviewAthens, 10/12/2001 (ANA)Main opposition New Democracy leader Costas Karamanlis launched another scathing attack on government policy in all areas, in an interview appearing in the Sunday edition of TO VIMA daily.Karamanlis accused prime minister Costas Simitis of choosing the "tactic of polarization, dividing lines and division", and said his own party would not fall into that trap. Karamanlis added that the so-called "hard-rock tactic" in effect aided ND's own policy. He reiterated his conviction that ND would win the next general elections "whenever they take place", adding that the recent government reshuffle did not succeed in overturning the gap between PASOK and ND, as the main opposition party continued to lead in popularity in opinion polls. As for municipal elections, Karamanlis said the battle in the major municipalities would undisputedly be a political one, and therefore ruled out his party's backing of a supra-party personality for the Athens mayorship. As for current mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos and his newly founded Movement of Free Citizens (KEP) party, Karamanlis said he did not consider KEP a threat to ND. He further said he opposed any changes to the existing electoral law, but added that he did not trust the premier and the government on such matters. Karamanlis also criticized the government on the social security system reforms issue, the farmers' mobilizations, the preparations for the 2004 Olympics in Athens, the Cyprus issue, the planned sale of national carrier Olympic Airways, and other issues. [11] Vartholomeos at St. Catherine's monastery on Mt. SinaiSINAI, 10/12/2001 (ANA - A. Kourkoulas)Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos I on Saturday led a mass at the historic monastery of St. Catherine on Mt. Sinai to celebrate the memory of the saint.After the mass, St. Catherine's relics were carried in procession around the grounds of the monastery and the Patriarch blessed a renovated sacristy where the monastery's treasures will be held from now on. Founded and well endowed by the emperor Justinian at around 250 AD, in its unbroken span of 17 centuries the monastery has amassed an important collection of valuable religious items. Hundreds of faithful from Cairo, Alexandria, Istanbul, Athens and other places in the world flocked to the monastery on the slopes of Mt. Sinai - the mountain on which Moses is said to have received the Ten Commandments - to celebrate the first feast of St. Catherine in the third millennium. They were offered impressive hospitality by the monastery and Abbot Damianos, who were assisted in their efforts by the Mt. Sinai Bedouins, who have lived harmoniously alongside the Christian monastery since the time of Mohammed and consider it a part of their own history. Commenting on the monastery's excellent relations with the Bedouins, Alexandria Patriarch Petros noted that the coexistence of Moslems and Christians was a part of day-to-day reality. The Alexandria Patriarch also refuted press reports that he was unhappy with a meeting of religions being organized in Brussels by the Ecumenical Patriarchate, saying that all religious leaders at the meeting would have an opportunity to express their positions and opinions. Relations between the Alexandria Pa-triarchate and the other Orthodox Churches were and continued to be excellent, he added. [12] Athens Mayor addresses meeting of Socialist International mayorsAthens, 10/12/2001 (ANA)Globalization was opening up new roads for local societies, which should be taken advantage of to the benefit of peace, coexistence and cooperation among peoples, Athens mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos said Sunday, addressing the 3rd World Conference of Socialist International Mayors taking place in Athens."New roads for the local societies are being opened up by globalization, which roads should be utilized by the representatives of the local societies to the benefit of peace, coexistence and cooperation among peoples," Avramo-poulos said. He stressed at the same time that problems that were simultaneously global and local, such as unemployment, social isolation, drugs, illegal migration, insecurity, crime, xenophobia, environmental destruction and others "can be solved only through international cooperation". Avramopoulos praised PASOK for its initiative to organize the conference, and stressed the need for reinforcing the existing organizations that participate in the local societies, such as the EU's Committee of the Peripheries, and also for the creation of new international bodies for the protection of citizens, with the participation of cities. [13] Final price of PPC shares at 12.70 euros, ministers sayAthens, 10/12/2001 (ANA)National Economy and Finance Minister Nikos Christodoulakis and Development Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos announced on Sunday the final results of an initial public offer (IPO) by the Public Power Corporation (PPC) in its bid to gain listing on the London Stock Exchange and main market of the Athens bourse.The final prices per stock was set at 12.70 euros (4,328 drachmas), close to the low end of an indicative range of 12.30 euros to 14.70 euros. For privatization is about 15 percent of the company's stock after a share capital rise that is to be sold through the domestic IPO, a private placement to staff, and in the form of Global Depository Receipts (GDRs) on the London bourse. About 10 percent of the PPC's total stock for sale is in the form of existing shares belonging to the state, with roughly five percent to emerge from a share capital increase, and one percent to act as a 'green shoe' price stabilizer. On offer are 12,000,000 new common shares from the share capital rise and 23,000,000 existing stocks, of which 3,700,000 are destined for private placement. The state has an option of offering up to 2,320,000 existing shares for underwriters to help stabilize the stock price; and up to 4,680,000 existing shares to cover surplus demand. [14] Agriculture minister discusses with farmers new gov't policy on cottonAthens, 10/12/2001 (ANA)Agriculture Minister George Drys arrived in Larissa, central Greece on Sunday to discuss the new government policies on cotton farming with local ruling PASOK farmer-unionists a day before the announced mobilization of farmers against the subsidy cuts.During the meetings, Drys stressed that the government was resolved to limit cotton farming for environmental reasons through the use of the farmers' registry and the support provided for those who choose to alternate products farmed on their land in efforts to preserve the quality of the soil. He added that the government would initiate a volunteer basis subsidized system for the alternation of cultivation for those who derive their income solely from farming, while for part-time farmers, the policy would be mandatory for a percentage of their land. He announced the establishment of a Cotton Institute in the village of Palamas, in central Greece, to support the cultivation of cotton. Drys, however, was unyielding on the issue of fraud saying that farmers that used fraudulent means to gain from subsidies would be prosecuted and provided an example of a farmer that packed marble dust in his cotton to make it heavier. Ruling PASOK party Secretary Costas Laliotis accompanied the minister and held meetings with local farmers and PASOK affiliated farmer trade unionists. [15] Protopappas sees signs of renewed market confidence in Greek economyAthens, 10/12/2001 (ANA)News that an initial public offer (IPO) by the Public Power Corporation (PPC) was heavily oversubscribed was hailed by government spokesman Christos Protopappas on Saturday as a sign of increased confidence by Greek and foreign investors in the Greek economy.Speaking from Thessaloniki, Protopappas said the sum needed to cover the PPC's bourse entry had been 160 billion drachmas and was now 300 billion drachmas. "This hasn't happened for a long time and comes to underline the increased confidence in the Greek economy by Greek and foreign investors," he said. All necessary preparations for the introduction of the euro were being carried out, he added, so that the public and businesses would not face serious problems in their transactions. Inflation at the end of the year for Greece would be at an unprecedented low level of 2.4 per cent, the spokesman said, and rates of growth were among the highest in Europe at 4.1 per cent. According to the spokesman, there were also clear signs of a reduction in unemployment and the government would be able to provide specific figures to demonstrate this in January. Protopappas attacked main opposition New Democracy for its stance over a planned merger by state-run National Bank of Greece and Alpha Bank, the country's largest private-sector banking enterprise. He accused the main opposition of consistently trying to present events that were positive for Greece and the Greek economy in a bad light. [16] Philip Craven new International Paralympics Committee chiefAthens, 10/12/2001 (ANA)The International Paralympics Committee (IPC) General Assembly on Sunday elected British Philip Craven as its new president here in Athens.Craven served as president of the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation for the past 12 years, as he was a Paralympics basketball player and swimmer, having thus a good understanding of issues that are related to the problems of the Paralympics athletes. Craven succeeded Dr. Robert Steadward who served the committee for the past three consecutive four-year terms, which is the maximum allowed by the IPC charter. [17] President Clerides hopes EU accession will help Cyprus settlementNICOSIA, 10/12/2001 (CNA/ANA)Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides hopes the island's European Union accession course will contribute towards a solution to the political problem, noting that the settlement should comply with international law, UN resolutions on Cyprus, human rights conventions, European Court of Human Rights decisions, and the acquis communautaire.In an address read out on Sunday by Communications and Works Minister Averof Neophytou to the fourth Conference of the World Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE), which is taking place in Thessaloniki, President Clerides said the Greek Cypriot side always shows good will and acts in earnest to reach a settlement that will be beneficial for both sides on the island. President Clerides expressed his government's gratitude to the overseas Greeks for their efforts to maintain their traditions and culture in the countries they reside in, as well as for their contribution towards a solution to the Cyprus question. "We appreciate and utilize your contribution to the full", he said, adding that "we are grateful for your active solidarity with our efforts to reach a just and viable solution of our national problem and for Cyprus to accede to the EU". The president noted that "we want the solution we are seeking to comply with international law, the relevant UN resolutions, the human rights conventions, the European Court of Human Rights decisions, and the acquis communautaire". He also noted that "with the valuable help of the Greek government, all the political forces in Greece and the Greek people, with the solidarity of foreign states and personalities, and with your full-hearted support, we continue our efforts to find a solution". Referring to direct talks between himself and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, scheduled to commence mid-January, President Clerides said: "Responding positively to invitations to talks, within the UN framework, we always show good will and act in earnest to find, as soon as possible, a solution that will benefit Greek and Turkish Cypriots equally". "We are preparing ourselves and will continue our positive stance at the talks", he said. President Clerides and Denktash had their first face-to-face meeting in four years on December 4 in Nicosia, after which the UN Secretary-General's Special Adviser on Cyprus, Alvaro de Soto, announced direct talks for mid-January in Cyprus, with no preconditions, all issues on the table, negotiations until a comprehensive settlement is achieved and no agreement until everything is agreed. The president noted that the Greek Cypriot side wants "a solution before Cyprus' accession to the EU", so that the Turkish Cypriots may benefit from the membership, adding that "to this end, I am determined to investigate with responsibility and utilize every opportunity for a right solution, which I hope will emerge during the talks". Cyprus opened accession negotiations with the EU in 1998 and has provisionally closed 23 out of 29 chapters of the acquis communautaire. It is set to close one more, that of home affairs and justice, this month. [18] Britain says its Cyprus bases remain outsideEU LONDON, 10/12/2001 (CNA/ANA)British Foreign Office Minister for Trade Baroness Symons has said, the (British) government has concluded that the case for leaving that the British Bases in Cyprus "are outside the European Union, as agreed at the time of the UK's own accession" and that "following careful consideration of the political and technical aspects of this issue the SBAs outside the European Union remains valid".Answering a question from Lord Kilclooney in the House of Lords on December 5 regarding the British Bases in Cyprus, Baroness Symons said "we will be taking forward discussions with the government of the Republic of Cyprus and the Commission on that basis", adding that "our policy will require some technical adjustments to ensure the continued smooth functioning of the relationship between the SBAs and Cyprus". "We will need in particular to work on the best way to make sure that Cypriots who live and work in the SBAs do not benefit less from Cyprus' membership of the European Union than their compatriots in the Republic of Cyprus", she said. The Baroness added that "we need to ensure that the arrangements are compatible with the 1960 Treaty of Establishment". Britain, a former colonial power, retains two military bases on the island since Cyprus became an independent Republic in 1960. Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |