Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 02-01-17

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM denies that Olympics are 'expensive' in Parliament address

[02] 'Washington Post' report on Simitis' US visit

[03] Verheugen says Turkey obliged to contribute to effort for Cyprus settlement

[04] Reports cite interception of Turkish warplanes over Aegean

[05] Turkish FM Cem optimistic on Cyprus direct talks

[06] Greek, Cypriot defense ministers meet in Athens

[07] Defense minister meets with Ukrainian deputy Prime Minister

[08] FM Papandreou to receive new Turkish Ambassador to Athens

[09] Athens unveils priority for its 2003 EU presidency

[10] Protopapas comments on workplace accident figures

[11] Athens' meat market products safe for public health, ministry says

[12] Archbishop of America meets deputy FM

[13] Greek Euro-MP elected European Parliament vice president

[14] PASOK to finalize municipal, prefectural candidates by mid-March

[15] KEP presents proposal to keep OA afloat

[16] National, Alpha banks still battling to save merger

[17] Greek current accounts' deficit up in October

[18] Deputy development minister notes that projects worth 325 billion are underway

[19] Finance ministry to step up tax checks in 2002

[20] National Bank of Greece opens branch in Yugoslavia

[21] Contract signed for extension to Athens metro line

[22] More efforts needed to achieve real convergence, SBBE

[23] Evaluation of Mont Parnes privatization bids pending

[24] Greek stocks continue drifting lower

[25] 2004 Athens Olympiad to begin in essence in Irakleio

[26] British museum director insists on keeping Parthenon Marbles in London

[27] New telephone codes mandatory from Sunday

[28] Direct talks between Clerides, Denktash start

[29] Russian envoy in Cyprus for talks

[01] PM denies that Olympics are 'expensive' in Parliament address

Athens, 17/01/2002 (ANA)

"Every discussion about the Olympic Games in Athens is a discussion about Greece in 2004, about the country's future," Simitis added.

The prime minister stressed that the success of the Games required the creative contribution of all political forces in the country, of public sector services, the private sector, society and the public, while he accused the main opposition of attempting to 'distort the facts' in order to present the Olympics as a loss-making enterprise.

Turning to the budget for the Games, he said the government would carefully monitor how it was implemented in practice, so that there were no unjustifiable budget overruns that did not serve the needs of the Games and would lend fuel to opposition arguments that the Olympics were 'expensive'.

"The Games are not a loss-maker but a unique and decisive investment in a modern and strong Greece," Simitis stressed.

More specifically, he said the budget for the 2004 Olympics would be 2.66 billion euros (906 billion drachmas), which would go toward sports facilities, activities linked to the Paralympics and the Cultural Olympiad and for new facilities for hospitality etc.

An additional 1.27 billion euros (432 billion drachmas) were earmarked for infrastructure projects throughout Greece in the framework of the 'Greece 2004' program, he said.

The prime minister noted that the sums originally set for specific projects might change upward or downward as the Games drew nearer but the aim was not to surpass the original total budget.

The Olympics would trigger the development and modernization of Greece and bring it closer to true convergence with European Union countries, the prime minister stressed, estimating that the Games would be responsible for an additional 0.5 per cent of GDP growth for every year leading up to 2004, of 1.3 per cent during 2004 and by 0.3-0.5 per cent for several years afterwards.

In addition, the Games would create between 30,000-40,000 new jobs a year and through them Greece would acquire 38 major new sports facilities and roads, as well as additional infrastructure in transport and hospitality, the renovation of 14 hospitals in Athens and other cities hosting Olympics venues and a wide-reaching technological upgrade of security service equipment and infrastructure.

Simitis said that environmental legislation, transparency and protection of the public interest were all being strictly observed in preparations for the Olympics.

Main opposition: Responding to the prime minister, main opposition New Democracy leader Costas Karamanlis accused him of being "divisive" in his statements and also of failing to meet obligations to keep Parliament informed about the progress of Olympics preparations every three month, according to laws passed by Simitis' own government.

He also said the government appeared to have no strategy or method for carrying out Olympics projects, all of which faced delays of between three and 36 months, while some had been scrapped altogether.

Karamanlis particularly stressed the question of budget overruns, saying that the cost of most projects was between double and quadruple initial estimates.

In 1997, the initial budget was 850 billion drachmas, the ND leader noted, while the latest figures presented by deputy press minister Telemachos Chytiris in a press conference came to a total of 2.4 trillion drachmas.

"He himself explained that the initial budget was largely fictitious and that budget overruns were inevitable," Karamanlis said. "If you call your own initial budget fictitious, why should anyone believe any of the ones that follow?" he added, commenting on Tuesday's announcement by the government that the cost of the Olympics would not exceed previous estimates of 1.5 trillion drachmas.

"Either this budget is fictitious also, or the government must point out what projects have been scrapped to keep the budget at a low level," he said.

Venizelos questions Olympic projects chart presented in Parliament by ND: The accuracy of a chart presented in Parliament by main opposition New Democracy, in which 15 of 41 Olympics projects are marked as being in 'serious danger', was questioned by Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos on Wednesday, who said that no such chart had been adopted by the government committee for Olympics preparations nor by the Athens 2004 Olympics Organizing Committee (ATHOC).

If someone at a lower level had prepared this chart, Venizelos added, then they were very badly informed, while he did not rule out the possibility that it had been prepared specifically to assist ND leader Costas Karamanlis in his address to Parliament.

Karamanlis presented the chart, ostensibly drawn up by ATHOC's Olympics Projects General Directorate and dated Jan. 2002, when responding to the second speech by Prime Minister Costas Simitis in Parliament during a debate on the progress of Olympics preparations. On the chart, 15 Olympic projects are marked as being in 'serious danger', 10 are marked in 'medium danger' and 16 in 'low danger'.

In his statements, Simitis had accused the main opposition of indulging in negative rhetoric that was damaging the country's image abroad, while he said that all projects would be ready on time.

He also compared preparations for the Athens Games with those for Sydney, noting that the Australian capital began only one month before Greece.

Regarding the discrepancy between the initial budget and the final budget, he noted that the same had occurred in Sydney, where the difference had been 72 per cent.

The prime minister had also denied the government was showing a party political stance, pointing out that both the first and current presidents of ATHOC had once been ND MPs.

Responses to the prime minister's statements also came from the smaller opposition parties.

Communist Party of Greece (KKE) General Secretary Aleka Papariga predicted the Games would cause huge economic and social damage for the working classes, the environment, democracy and the country's social infrastructure.

Coalition of the Left and Progress leader Nikos Constantopoulos similarly questioned the effect of the Games on the environment, society and culture, calling for an organization of priorities.

Parliament was also addressed on the issue by Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos, whose ministry has been assigned the task of coordinating action regarding the Games.

Venizelos declared that the 2004 Games would be successful and that everyone would be flocking to Greece in the autumn of 2004 to take part in them.

He also said that Parliament had been kept constantly up to date on the progress of projects through the committee for cultural issues.

Regarding the delays, he said that similar delays had occurred in other cities hosting the Games, including Sydney, while Greece had had to face legal obstacles involving important environ-mental and cultural heritage issues.

Finally, on the increase in the budget relative to that in the dossier for Athens' bid, Venizelos said that additional projects had been included that had not been requested by the IOC, such as the Athens tram, which would also be useful after the Games.

[02] 'Washington Post' report on Simitis' US visit

WASHINGTON, 17/01/2002 (ANA)

The reliable US daily notes that Simitis asked Bush to "throw out" the first ball at the Games' baseball competition.

Additionally, the paper cites a figure of US$ 600 million that Greece will spend for security during the Olympics, while noting that Bush administration officials praised Athens' commitment to improve Greek-Turkish relations and expand the country's role in SE Europe.

[03] Verheugen says Turkey obliged to contribute to effort for Cyprus settlement

BERLIN, 17/01/2002 (ANA - P. Stangos)

In interviews published in the dailies SDZ and FR on Wednesday, Verheugen at the same time dismissed the logic of bartering with Turkey in reference to its own EU prospects in return for a constructive stance by Ankara on the Cyprus issue.

The German commissioner's interviews can be assessed as a political message to Ankara, not only because they coincide with the start of the face-to-face direct peace talks between Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash in Nicosia on Wednesday and Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit's visit to the United States.

"For me it is clear that the first round of (EU) enlargement is not politically feasible without the participation of Cyprus," Verheugen told SDZ, making it clear to mean that otherwise, the Greek government is prepared to totally block EU enlargement in general.

The commissioner termed the Clerides-Denktash direct talks as "a success for Europe" and "fruit of the strategy" of the EU Helsinki summit. He said the "countdown" for Cyprus' accession to the EU has started and that the relevant decision will be taken by the end of the year. Verheugen added that Denktash's change in stance constituted confirmation of the EU's correct policy to help solve the political problem through the advancement of Cyprus' EU accession course.

"A year ago Denktash had withdrawn from all the talks, thus placing himself in an adverse position and now he is correcting this mistake," Verheugen said, expressing "reserved optimism".

"The people in northern Cyprus understood that the political solution of the problem is the only road which leads towards Europe. At the same time the Turkish government in Ankara became aware that Turkey would jeopardize the great progress which it has made in the direction of its European prospects, in the event that it took the risk to oppose the EU on the Cyprus issue," Verheugen said.

The commissioner reiterated that Turkey does not possess any form of "veto" with regards to Cyprus' EU accession, even in the event that the new effort for a settlement of the political problem fails.

In both interviews, Verheugen said that in any case Turkey was obliged to constructively contribute towards a settlement of the Cyprus problem without this constituting an object of "bargaining" for the fulfillment of the necessary criteria on its part and the speeding up of its own accession course.

[04] Reports cite interception of Turkish warplanes over Aegean

Athens, 17/01/2002 (ANA)

Turkish fighter planes also violated Greek national airspace in Northern and Southeastern Aegean.

Defense ministry sources said that this activity was not extraordinary.

[05] Turkish FM Cem optimistic on Cyprus direct talks

WASHINGTON, 17/01/2002 (ANA - T. Ellis)

Cem, who is accompanying Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit on an official visit to Washington just one week after a similar visit by Greek premier Costas Simitis, expressed optimism on the course of the talks opening Wednesday in the Cypriot capital Nicosia, as well as the hope that agreement would be reached.

Cem opined that agreement was feasible if the two leaders shared "a common vision for the future, adding that both Athens and Ankara were exercising their influence in that direction.

In an exclusive interview with the ANA, replying to a question on the prospects of the direct negotiations on the Cyprus problem, Cem said that the two leaders needed to have a "common vision for the future", which would be the "first step".

"They both must try to define the end result, precisely what it is that they want at the end (of the process), realizing, naturally, that the end result will also depend on the resolution of all the related matters," Cem said.

"If they manage to do that, if they are able to determine the general outline of the end result, then all the other -- albeit very difficult -- matters may be tackled with a much greater possibility of being resolved," he added.

To another question, Cem replied that the opportunity this time was "better" in relation to other attempts in the past.

"We have a better chance because it is a new platform. It does not replace the UN platform, but reinforces the work of the UN. We are Mediterranean peoples. We are peoples of the Aegean. When we find ourselves face to face, to drink coffee or tea and discuss, sometimes things move forward. And this is what I hope will happen," Cem explained.

Asked if Turkey would exercise its influence on Denktash to cooperate towards achieving a solution, Cem replied:

"I believe that Greece and Turkey are the two main countries, the two motherlands, and up to now it appears that we have both had a positive influence, but it is up to the Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots to decide."

[06] Greek, Cypriot defense ministers meet in Athens

Athens, 17/01/2002 (ANA)

Cypriot Defense Minister Socrates Hasikos stressed that if the Turkish side arrives at the talks with a "sincere volition and attitude - just as the Cypriot side does - then we're ready, as long as a solution is found, to discuss Cyprus' demilitarization."

Both Hasikos and Greek Defense Minister Yiannos Papantoniou said that it is still too early to refer to any change in the island republic's regime.

On his part, Papantoniou said he favors Cyprus' participation in the proposed "Euro-army" force comprised by EU member-states, while reiterating Athens' position that a British-Turkish agreement on the issue is unacceptable and should be reconsidered.

Cypriot President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash on Wednesday agreed to meet three times a week to work towards solving the two communities' differences ahead of EU entry.

United Nations special envoy Alvaro de Soto told reporters that Clerides and Denktash had agreed to meet on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays for the foreseeable future, beginning next week.

Roughly one-third of the island republic remains under Turkish occupation following a 1974 invasion, whereas a pseudo-state illegally declared in the Turkish-occupied north, and headed by Denktash, is recognized only by Ankara.

In response to press questions regarding his upcoming trip to the People's Republic of China, Hasikos said the world's most populous country is a solid ally of the island republic on the UN Security Council as well as a trading partner.

Papantoniou, meanwhile, clarified that the Greek contingent dispatched to Afghanistan will number 150 troops.

Gov't: In a related development, the Greek government on Wednesday expressed its satisfaction with the re-commencement of talks on Cyprus.

Government spokesman Christos Protopapas also expressed Athens' hope that the Turkish side will abandon what he called its "intransigent" stance vis-a-vis the Cyprus issue and work to-wards a fair and viable solution on the island republic based on United Nations resolutions.

Finally, he noted that the Greek side's standing positions on the Cyprus issue were again detailed to the Bush administration's top officials during Prime Minister Costas Simitis' visit to Washington last week.

[07] Defense minister meets with Ukrainian deputy Prime Minister

Athens, 17/01/2002 (ANA)

The two men discussed the possibility of cooperation between the two countries in the sectors of co-production of armaments, technology, shipbuilding and energy.

Papantoniou stressed that Ukraine was on the road to economic recovery and Greece was utilizing it by furthering the economic cooperation between the two countries.

They also discussed Greece's procurement of an Ukrainian hovercraft for the Greek Navy, which was problematic, saying that the issue was being handled by the Greek Naval General Staff.

[08] FM Papandreou to receive new Turkish Ambassador to Athens

Athens, 17/01/2002 (ANA)

[09] Athens unveils priority for its 2003 EU presidency

Athens, 17/01/2002 (ANA)

Afterwards, Foreign Minister George Papandreou emphasized that Athens will promote the inclusion of the Balkans in the European Union's energy networks during Greece's six-month EU presidency in the first half of 2003. He said the initiative follows talks held in Athens last month between Greek leader-ship and visiting Russian President Vladimir Putin.

On his part, National Economy Minister Nikos Christodoulakis cited what he called the government's commitment to back Greek entrepreneurs active in the Balkans, adding that Athens will support energy-related groups investing in the region.

Development Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos also participated in the high-ranking meeting.

In a related development, Tsohatzopoulos later received visiting Ukrainian deputy Prime Minister Oleg Dubnya at his office for talks focusing on joint cooperation in the energy sector.

Dubnya holds the energy and industry portfolio in his country.

[10] Protopapas comments on workplace accident figures

Athens, 17/01/2002 (ANA)

The spokesman said that Labor Minister Dimitris Reppas had already issued orders that there be regular inspections at the Olympic Village and that all measures required by law are taken.

Protopapas said that Greek laws were among the most stringent regarding hygiene issues in the workplace, with penalties that included a suspension of operation for businesses.

[11] Athens' meat market products safe for public health, ministry says

Athens, 17/01/2002 (ANA)

The ministry's statement came as a response to reports in newspapers that health experts from the European Union arrived at the market to conduct on site inspections and found several problems with the existing installations, as well as the operational processes of the meat market in Athens.

The ministry stressed that all the preventative inspections were conducted normally, noting that of the 50 inspections conducted since last summer there were 14 violations for irregular or illegal activities in the meat market.

[12] Archbishop of America meets deputy FM

Athens, 17/01/2002 (ANA)

At noon, Dimitrios and Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Christodoulos attended a luncheon given at his home by U.S. Charge d'Affaires Michael Cleverly. Afterwards, Dimitrios and the members of his entourage visited the hostel of the society Friends of Children with Cancer "Elpida" (Hope).

The society's President Marianna Vardinoyianni welcomed him and stressed the fact that despite his burdened program the Archbishop found the opportunity to visit the society.

During the day, Dimitrios visited the education ministry for talks with Education Minister Petros Efthymiou. Later, he expressed satisfaction over the ministry's response to the crucial issue of education for expatriates' children.

He also visited Athens Mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos who gave him the Medal of Value of the city of Athens, a distinction provided for heads of state.

Demetrios honored by municipality of Athens: The mayor of Athens honored visiting Orthodox Archbishop of America Demetrios on Wednesday with the municipality's golden key of merit.

During a brief ceremony, Athens Mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos praised Demetrios' role as an ecclesiastical and Greek-American leader in North America.

[13] Greek Euro-MP elected European Parliament vice president

STRASBOURG, 17/01/2002 (ANA - O. Tsipira)

The sequence of election was determined in a secret ballot held on Tuesday night under the chairmanship of the new President Patrick Cox and the results were announced on Wednesday.

Dimitrakopoulos, 50, polled 240 votes, while David Martin from Britain came first with 300 votes. He is serving his second period as an ND Eurodeputy, while at the beginning of the period he was the rapporteur of the European Parliament's positions on the Nice treaty.

[14] PASOK to finalize municipal, prefectural candidates by mid-March

Athens, 17/01/2002 (ANA)

During a four-hour meeting, the Executive Bureau decided that the process of selecting candidate mayors and prefects should be completed by March 15, while sources later told ANA that this date was unrelated to moves by main opposition New Democracy and the date the latter had chosen to announce the candidacies it would back.

The same sources said that prevailing idea in PASOK was that formal nominations for the mayoral and prefectural posts should not be forthcoming from the party, at least at a central level, but that proposals should be submitted by the party's local and regional organizations.

Concerning a proposal put forward by several prefects that prefects should be allowed to run for a third term in office (current legislation allows two consecutive terms for a prefect), the sources said that PASOK will insist on maintenance of the existing legislation and did not intend to give prefects having served two terms the ability to run for a third term.

The sources further said that the Executive Bureau agreed that the wider democratic cooperation should be sought in the October municipal and prefectural elections, through PASOK's cooperation with all the political forces and expressions of the local citizens, under equal and autonomous terms.

The Executive Bureau also agreed that the local government elections did not comprise a 'referendum' on government policy nor a trial run of the outcome of the political developments and the next parliamentary elections.

The slogan adopted for the local government elections was "one victorious ballot list in each prefecture, one victorious ballot list in each municipality".

PASOK secretary says local government elections not referendum: PASOK's Central Committee secretary Costas Laliotis said on Wednesday local government elections, due to take place in October, are a crucial political battle which, however, will be decisive for the present and future of local and prefectural self-administration, but in no way do they constitute a referendum on government policy.

Laliotis conceded that municipal and prefectural elections play a catalytic role in shaping the correlation of forces in local societies, but underlined that they do not constitute a test on the outcome of a crucial confrontation such as the parliamentary elections of 2004.

He further said that in local government elections the major political directions, options and commitments on the country's course are not at stake, adding that for this reason voters vote differently than in national elections.

Giving an example, Laliotis referred to the previous local government elections which did not produce a favorable result for PASOK which, however, won the national elections later on.

On the question of candidacies being announced, Laliotis said this will start taking place gradually after the Central Committee's meeting, on January 18-19, and will concern support for candidacies to be selected by the party's local and prefectural organizations.

[15] KEP presents proposal to keep OA afloat

Athens, 17/01/2002 (ANA)

KEP transport section-head Yiannis Golias, a professor at Athens Polytechnic, proposed that the tender for OA's sale should be declared null and void and a new business plan drawn up that would redefine the company's role and allow its reform.

"Olympic Airways is not a company for the rubbish heap," he said, claiming that OA's financial health could be restored.

[16] National, Alpha banks still battling to save merger

Athens, 17/01/2002 (ANA)

National's governor, Theodoros Karatzas, and Alpha's chairman, Yiannis Kostopoulos, are both eager to resolve the acrimony and agree on a managerial structure that would permit the creation of a bank able to compete on a European level, sources of both banks said.

"The good relations that link the two leading bankers, their experience in overcoming obstacles, their power, and their will to create a major bank with a European structure (lend hope)," a senior National Bank executive told the Athens News Agency.

Sources at Alpha confirmed the spirit of good will, at least at the top level of the echelon.

Both banks, which are blue chips on the Athens bourse, have been secretive about meetings on the merger talks in order to avoid market speculation.

[17] Greek current accounts' deficit up in October

Athens, 17/01/2002 (ANA)

The central bank said that this development was linked with a rise in the country's trade deficit and an increased shortfall in the balance of incomes that counterbalanced an improvement in the transfer balance surplus over the same period.

The rise in the trade deficit reflected an increase in shortfall in the trade of goods and net fuel imports, compared with October 2000, while a wider deficit in incomes' balance reflected a rise in net interest payment.

The country's current accounts' deficit fell by 256 million euros in the first 10 months of 2001, compared with the same period in 2000, to 5.79 billion euros, reflecting a decrease in the trade deficit and a rise in the services' trade surplus.

The trade deficit, excluding fuel trade, fell by 409 million euros, while next fuel imports rose by 82 million euros in the January-October period.

In October 2001, the central bank recorded a net inflow of portfolio investments totalling 1.742 billion euros, reflecting strong interest for Greek bonds by foreign investors, while the other investment category showed a significant outflow due to an increase in foreign deposits.

Direct investments showed a net inflow of 1.009 billion euros in the January-October period, compared with a significant outflow the same period in 2000, reflecting the inflow of capital for the takeover of Interamerican by Eureko in July 2001.

Net inflow for portfolio investments totalled 9.994 billion euros in the first 10 months of the year.

The central bank said Greece's foreign exchange reserves (based on European Central Bank's definition) totalled 7.4 billion euros (6.7 billion US dollars) at the end of October.

[18] Deputy development minister notes that projects worth 325 billion are underway

Athens, 17/01/2002 (ANA)

The projects are executed by the private and public sector, the minister said.

[19] Finance ministry to step up tax checks in 2002

Athens, 17/01/2002 (ANA)

In 2001, tax officials conducted 20,134 checks on businesses and the self-employed, up from 17,134 a year earlier, the statement said.

[20] National Bank of Greece opens branch in Yugoslavia

Athens, 17/01/2002 (ANA)

State-run National, the country's largest commercial bank, will serve both retail and corporate clients at its new Belgrade branch, it said in a statement.

The bank is major player in the Balkans with a leading position in Bulgaria and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

[21] Contract signed for extension to Athens metro line

Athens, 17/01/2002 (ANA)

Under the terms of the agreement, the two firms will extend the metro's No.2 line from the inner city suburb of Dafni eastwards to Ilioupoli.

The project for 57.2 million euros has a deadline of 680 calendar days, including construction of a 1,216 meter tunnel and a station for Ilioupoli.

[22] More efforts needed to achieve real convergence, SBBE

Athens, 17/01/2002 (ANA)

Speaking to reporters, SBBE's chairman Dimitris Symeonidis and executive vice-chairman Anastasios Alexandridis, said that Greece has, now more than ever, to prove in practice that it could equally participate in the course towards European integration, although it lags behind at the start.

Symeonidis said that there were delays, lack of adequate coordination and a climate of complacency in efforts to achieve this goal. "Necessary preconditions of success is to maximize benefits from a Third Community Support Framework, implementing structural changes, reforming a development law and exploiting the country's Balkan prospects," SBBE chairman said.

Symeonidis noted that he has offered to Economy and Finance Minister Nikos Christodoulakis for SBBE to participate in work groups to help in the speedier implementation of works, but has received no answer so far.

"Many things in Greece start and finish late," Symeonidis said.

SBBE chairman urged for a change in the country's tax system, with a lowering of tax factors and more transparency and a reform of the country's social security system.

Commenting on a Greek plan for the reconstruction of the Balkans, Symeonidis said that its delay was undermining the country's Balkan prospects. "This significant Greek initiative in the Balkans must at last stop being a field of controversy and become a field of cooperation and coordination between the public and the private sector," he said.

[23] Evaluation of Mont Parnes privatization bids pending

Athens, 17/01/2002 (ANA)

The decision comes after last month's announcement finalizing details related to the government's privatization timetable for the casino and the deadline for bids.

The national economy announced last month that the Mont Parnes casino showed a 60 per cent increase in turnover during the first year of their management by the state-affiliated Hellenic Tourist Real Estate S.A. Its turnover was 21.7 billion drachmas (?63.68 million).

[24] Greek stocks continue drifting lower

Athens, 17/01/2002 (ANA)

Traders said a negative climate in international markets also depressed sentiment.

The general index ended 0.77 percent lower at 2,502.18 points, with turnover a low Dr 36.7 billion, or 107.8 million euros.

The Telecoms, Metals and IT sectors suffered the heaviest percentage losses (1.40 percent, 1.03 percent and 0.76 percent, respectively), while the Wholesale, Publishing and Construction sectors scored gains.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks ended 0.65 percent lower, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index fell 0.28 percent and the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index eased 0.24 percent.

Alpha Bank's share eased 0.11 percent, while National Bank ended 0.33 percent lower.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 189 to 109 with another 58 issues unchanged.

The most heavily traded shares were Panafon, National Bank of Greece, Hellenic Telecommunications Organization, Sexform and Koumbas.

Bond Market Close: Prices rise in moderate trade: Bond prices in the domestic secondary market on Wednesday finished higher in moderate trade focusing on five-year paper.

The Greek benchmark 10-year bond showed a yield of 5.13 percent, and the spread over German bunds was 36 basis points.

Turnover through the central bank's electronic system totalled 1.8 billion euros.

Buy orders accounted for over half of turnover.

Derivatives Market Close: Equity futures under perform main market: Equity index futures on the Athens Derivatives Exchange slumped on Wednesday, widening their discount and under performing the main market, traders said.

Changing hands were 8,834 contracts on turnover of 53.8 million euros.

[25] 2004 Athens Olympiad to begin in essence in Irakleio

Athens, 17/01/2002 (ANA)

Matches for the Olympic soccer tournament will begin on August 11, 2004, two days before the official opening of the Olympic Games. This means initial footage of the Olympiad will come from Irakleio.

According to the program, 12 matches will be played in Irakleio (six for men and six for women) for the first phase of the tournament, as well as one semifinal.

[26] British museum director insists on keeping Parthenon Marbles in London

LONDON, 17/01/2002 (ANA - L. Tsirigotakis)

The marbles, which were removed from the Parthenon by Lord Elgin a few years before Greece's liberation from Ottoman rule, remain in the British Museum, which in an effort to "clean" them commissioned workers to scrub them, destroying the patina applied on the Marbles by their ancient Greek creators to protect them from weathering.

Recently, British MP Richard Allan began a campaign for the return of the marbles to Athens in time for the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.

The director also said that the British press reported on requests made by Greece for the return and the possible loan of the sculptures to Greece, adding, however, that no requests have been made to the museum and called for what he said would be a more open process.

Greek Embassy Press Attache Nikos Papadakis stressed, during the BBC program, that Greece was open to all types of negotiations and that Greece's request for their return stands and only the form of their return is open to discussion and negotiations.

Papadakis further said that conditions concerning Greece's request were very clear and nothing was done behind closed doors, adding that submitting the request to the British government was the logical thing to do, as it was the British government that entrusted the museum with safeguarding the Parthenon treasures.

Speaking during the same program, British MP Richard Allan said the aim of the campaign is to ensure that Britain would make the grand goodwill gesture by returning the marbles to Greece in time for the Athens 2004 Olympic Games.

He also said that the initiative he undertook would like to secure that the marbles would be exhibited in the building that was designed for them.

In the same program, academic William St. Claire said that the Parthenon Marbles symbolize the struggle of many countries to reclaim their archaeological treasures that were taken from them in the 18th and 19th centuries by the few great powers.

Athens mayor lauds British MP's efforts for Parthenon Marbles' return: Athens Mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos lauded the efforts of British MP Richard Allan, who has begun a campaign for the return of the marbles to Athens in time for the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.

"The British have always been in the front line of the adoption and support of novel concepts and new ideas. In the course of history they have always displayed unique spirit and exceptional vision. Today may they act in accordance with their cultural conscience," he said in a letter to the Allan, released in Athens on Wednesday.

[27] New telephone codes mandatory from Sunday

Athens, 17/01/2002 (ANA)

State-run Hellenic Telecommunications Organization (OTE), a heavily traded stock on the Athens bourse, said in a statement on Wednesday that all fixed-line phones will have 10-digit numbers, with the area code and a "0" preceding the local number.

For example, numbers in Athens will be preceded by 010, regardless of whether the call is local or long-distance, taking the figure to 10 digits, the statement said.

Special OTE three- or four-digit information and help numbers will remain unchanged, it added.

[28] Direct talks between Clerides, Denktash start

NICOSIA, 17/01/2002 (CNA/ANA)

President Clerides arrived in his official car, with the flag of the Republic of Cyprus fluttering in the morning breeze, accompanied by his personal security men.

Media representatives wished him luck and he thanked them. He was welcomed by UN Secretary General's Acting Special Representative in Cyprus, Zbigniew Wlosowicz and afterwards by de Soto.

The room in the UN premises in the area of Nicosia International Airport, situated in the UN-controlled area, which will host a series of meetings between the two leaders has been specially arranged for this purpose.

Clerides is accompanied by his close aides, Attorney General Alecos Markides, Government Spokesman Michalis Papapetrou and Undersecretary to the president Pantelis Kouros.

The Turkish Cypriot leader arrived at the venue accompanied by his aide Elgun Olgun. He was also welcomed first by Wlosowicz and afterwards by de Soto.

Asked to say why he was not escorted by his other aides, Denktash said "they will come".

Invited to say why there were not with him at the moment, Denktash said "because this is direct talks with Mr. Clerides. I want to talk to him directly. I have called him. I want face-to-face talks and then we shall start."

Clerides and Denktash exited the building together for a photo opportunity escorted only by their security men. They shook hands.

After comments by the press that de Soto, who was at the moment standing at the building's threshold was not with them Denktash waved at him asking him to proceed, something that he did.

Some 150 media representatives from Cyprus, Greece, Turkey and other countries are covering the start of this fresh attempt to find a negotiated settlement.

Very encouraging start to the direct talks, says de Soto: De Soto said Wednesday's first meeting between the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot community was "a very encouraging start," noting they engaged immediately on the substance.

He also said the two have agreed to meet three times a week, starting Monday, and described the climate at Wednesday's meeting "good and cordial" and announced that journalists will no longer be allowed to cover future meetings, which take place in a renovated building in the Nicosia airport area, now under UN control.

"The two leaders met today in private first in my presence and they had a good discussion on the substance, they subsequently met with their advisers," de Soto told over 100 media representatives, adding that "they have agreed to establish a pattern of meetings, which will be Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays starting at 5 p.m., beginning on Monday next."

He said Clerides and Denktash want to "reflect in the remainder of this week on what they discussed today."

Asked how important an achievement was Wednesday's meeting for him, the UN top envoy on Cyprus replied "I thought it was a very encouraging start, they engaged immediately on the substance."

Replying to questions, he said his role at the talks is to "assist in any way I can."

He also clarified that when the two leaders met alone, he was alone too without his advisers but when they met with their advisers, his advisers were present as well.

In his brief remarks to the press, de Soto said that his statement on Wednesday was "probably the last you will hear from me for sometime" but explained that journalists will be called if there is any announcement to be made in the future.

"The usual pattern will be that no press will be present at future meeting, they will be proceeding at a businesslike pace," he said. Replying to other questions, he said he is settled on the island for the duration of these talks.

President Clerides did not make any statement as he was leaving the premises where the talks took place.

Denktash said he had a "very good" meeting during which he discussed the substance of the Cyprus question, adding that the next meeting is scheduled for Monday afternoon.

[29] Russian envoy in Cyprus for talks

NICOSIA, 17/01/2002 (CNA/ANA)

Russian Embassy spokesman Vladimir Zatsepin told CNA that the purpose of Prygin's visit to the island is connected with the latest developments in the Cyprus problem, in the light of Wednesday's start of direct talks between the leaders of the two communities in Cyprus, President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.

The Russian envoy, who will leave on January 21, will be received on Thursday by House of Representatives President Demetris Christofias.

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