Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 02-09-25

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM comments on Iraq, results of EU-Asia summit

[02] Iraq, the Balkans & terrorism at the focus of NATO's DM meeting in Warsaw

[03] Gov't: reports of UN document for Cyprus not confirmed by de Soto

[04] UK ambassador hands FM report on Iraq

[05] Gov't reiterates call for upgrade of Greece's FAA ranking

[06] Gov't offers clarifications on law aimed at 'cyber, video' gambling

[07] Turk remanded in custody on espionage charges

[08] Main opposition urges voters to 'send a message' in local polls

[09] Sixth round of Greek-Turkish talks starts on Wednesday

[10] Europarliament mandates compensation to victims of crime, terrorism

[11] Witnesses give evidence in N17 case

[12] Sotiropoulou's request for temporary restraining order on TV stations refused

[13] Greece to send humanitarian aid to Albania's flood victims

[14] Amnesty International alleges human rights violations in Greece

[15] Gov�t announces measures aimed to contain prices

[16] Greece differs on proposals for EU farm policy revision

[17] Greece seeks EU help for farm losses due to heavy rain

[18] EU approves 12 pct rise in subsidies to Greek olive oil producers

[19] Street-market vendors and producers strike next Tuesday

[20] Global airlines body sees slight upturn in passenger movement

[21] Truck owners to launch indefinite strike on September 29

[22] Alternate FM meets with GSEE presidium

[23] Thessaloniki presents Expo 2008 bid

[24] Greek stocks end 1.91 pct lower on Tuesday

[25] Top IAAF delegation pleased with Athens 2004 progress

[26] Greece seeks lower tax for tickets in 2004 Olympics

[27] Greek Cultural Foundation literary translation prize

[28] Bank of Greece to organize Greek painters exhibition in Washington

[29] Technical Chamber organizes conference on new technologies for Athens

[30] Free entry into museums, sites for European 'culture weekend'

[31] PACE recommends measures against Turkey

[32] UN peace talks continue

[33] Kasoulides calls for implementation of UN resolutions on Iraq

[34] AKEL and RTK call for Cyprus settlement

[01] PM comments on Iraq, results of EU-Asia summit

COPENHAGEN 25/09/2002 (ANA - M. Spinthourakis)

He also stressed that the United Nations should have a primary role in efforts to defuse the tension.

The Greek premier said that the situation in Iraq had been among the subjects discussed at the EU-Asia meeting and admitted that there were differences of opinion on this issue within Europe, with some sides supporting that unilateral engagement in Iraq could be justified and others opposed.

Greece was among those countries, such as France and China, that believed unilateral action boded serious dangers for the future, he added.

Simitis said it was positive that all countries at the Copenhagen meeting had agreed on the need to support the efforts of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan to find a peaceful solution in the present phase.

Regarding a report presented by the British government on Saddam's military capability, Simitis said the Greek government was still in the process of examining this.

Other major issues that had occupied the meeting had been the development of European-Asian relations, which Simitis described as particularly important for Greece and other Mediterranean countries.

''The Asian countries are moving toward the creation of a single market made up of 1.5 billion people and this shows how urgent it is to rapidly complete European enlargement so that it can respond to the new conditions and develop its investments,'' the Greek premier stressed.

He added that an opportunity to cement European-Asian cultural ties was the Cultural Olympiad in the run-up to the 2004 Games in Athens.

Another topic touched on at the meeting was the imposition of a tax on international stock market transactions, which would raise revenue for developing countries.

[02] Iraq, the Balkans & terrorism at the focus of NATO's DM meeting in Warsaw

WARSAW 25/09/2002 (ANA)

Responding to questions, Papantoniou said that the U.S. and British defense ministers presented reports according to which Iraq maintains and develops weapons of mass destruction, adding, however, that as the reports were classified the sources of information could not be assessed.

''In any event we, as Greece and as the European Union, would evaluate the conclusions of the two reports before expressing substantial judgment on them,'' Papantoniou said, noting that ''the discussion on the possibility of an American military strike in Iraq, did not take place yet, it may take place during the evening or tomorrow (Wednesday) morning and then I will be able to provide for you the exact climate which will dominate."

"From my talks with my U.S. and British counterparts I gather that it is not improbable that such an U.S. strike could take place," he added.

''In any event Greece's position is that such initiatives should be cloaked by collective decisions and the United Nations processes should be adhered to,'' he said.

''There will not be a clear European reaction before the official American initiative is expressed... Greece has not made a decision and has not tabled the issue, since the issue was not tabled officially by the United States. Additionally, as the presiding member-state of the European Union on security issues surely (Greece) will coordinate its decisions and its stance with the stance of the rest of the EU member-states,'' the Greek minister said.

Papantoniou stressed that the defense ministers' meeting also dealt with the peacekeeping force of NATO in FYROM, extending its stay in that Balkan country until December allowing time to decide whether that force will be replaced by a contingent of the European Union, in accordance with the EU Barcelona Summit decisions.

''Greece agreed with that extension, since we have every interest to maintain conditions of stability and security in a neighboring country, from which, in the past, we had several problems concerning our own security and our own borders in regards to illegal immigration,'' Papantoniou said.

The third and final subject of the meeting, Papantoniou said, was that of the upgrading of NATO capabilities in dealing with terrorism, while ''developing a rapid reaction force to intervene - through a system of collective decisions - in cases where societies or citizens are in danger due to terrorist actions''.

Protopapas on Iraq crisis: Athens on Tuesday again touched on the ongoing Iraq crisis, with the government spokesman noting that �Greece does not want war; it believes a solution can be found through UN resolutions�.

Spokesman Christos Protopapas made the statement in reply to questions during his regular press briefing.

In answer to a query about a scheduled rally by peace activists on Thursday in downtown Athens to protest military action against Iraq, Protopapas said such events are independent initiatives.

[03] Gov't: reports of UN document for Cyprus not confirmed by de Soto

Athens, 25/09/2002 (ANA)

Protopapas said de Soto had made a general review of the situation regarding the Cyprus problem during his talks in Athens, while noting that Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash had not shifted from his known positions.

Greece was also standing fast on its position that a solution to the Cyprus problem should move within the framework of UN resolutions, he added.

Regarding Cyprus' accession to the European Union, the spokesman said that Prime Minister Costas Simitis and Foreign Minister George Papandreou would be having successive meetings with their EU counterparts in order to prepare for the island republic's entry into the EU in the best possible way.

Asked to comment on provocative statements by Turkey regarding the prospect of Cyprus joining the EU, Protopapas said the Greek government was responding to these calmly, steadily and by doing a lot of work to make sure that commitments to the EU were met.

[04] UK ambassador hands FM report on Iraq

Athens, 25/09/2002 (ANA)

In statements to the press Madden said that the problem of Iraq having weapons of mass destruction concerns everyone and should be discussed by all so as to be resolved.

Foreign ministry spokesman Panos Beglitis, in a press release, confirmed that Madden handed over to Papandreou a report of the British authorities, which was submitted on Tuesday to the House of Commons, concerning the possession of arms of mass destruction by Iraq, as well as a letter by British Secretary for Foreign Affairs Jack Straw.

On his part, Papandreou reaffirmed the position of the Greek government for the necessity to respect the decisions of the United Nations by Iraq and also efforts to exhaust all capabilities in the search for a diplomatic solution, through the processes of the UN Security Council.

According to ministry sources, the British report will be the subject of a study of all relevant ministries.

[05] Gov't reiterates call for upgrade of Greece's FAA ranking

Athens, 25/09/2002 (ANA)

The issue dominated a meeting in the Greek capital between Transport Minister Christos Verelis and US ambassador to Athens Thomas Miller, as the former presented the US envoy with the latest International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) report outlining recent measures taken by Greece�s civil aviation authority (YPA) regarding flight safety.

According to reports, Verelis conveyed to Miller Athens� request for an official FAA visit Greece in order to verify it�s upgraded flight safety standards. Currently, the FAA considers Greece in level II.

In response to press questions, Miller again said he feels completely safe in Greece, noting that he regularly recommends travel here to friends and acquaintances in America. He also expressed a hope that a FAA inspection team will arrive in Greece as soon as possible to focus on the southeast Mediterranean country�s civil aviation ranking.

According to a May 2000 ICAO report, 36 points were brought to the attention of Greece�s civil aviation authority for improvement, whereas a subsequent ICAO inspection in March 2002 verified whether specific improvements and changes were made.

Seven out of the original 36 points cited -- mostly bureaucratic and civil aviation legislation issues -- remain pending, although the local civil aviation authority has committed to pushing through reforms by no later than March 2003.

[06] Gov't offers clarifications on law aimed at 'cyber, video' gambling

Athens, 25/09/2002 (ANA)

In a press release, the finance ministry emphasized that the controversial law � 3037/2002 � aims only to effectively discourage and target illegal revenues from gambling via the Internet or video games-turned-electronic slot machines -- a problem that more-or-less dominated the national spotlight earlier in the year after a high-profile TV expose revealed dozens of instances of arcades being used as �fronts� for gambling parlors.

The finance ministry clarified that electronic or video games, relevant computer software and various table-top games do not, by themselves, constitute �games of chances� when no monetary stake exists, either between competing players, or between players and a third party (i.e. an arcade proprietor).

Tuesday�s announcement comes after a series of reports, including ones by international wire services and radio news programs, speculating whether the relevant law would, on paper at least, outlaw everything from chess to Subbuteo to �Playstation� in public.

The ministry also ridiculed reports that individual hand-held video games (Gameboy, X-Box etc.) were a �target�.

Moreover, the finance ministry stressed that the manufacture, import and sale of such arcade games and computer programs is most definitely still legal, while also emphasizing that absolutely no penalties are foreseen in Greek law for individuals playing such games in public.

Additionally, the ministry said nary a provision in the law affects private non-commercial dwellings (residences). The exception would be if a private residence is turned into a �gambling parlor� with electronic or mechanical slots and video games.

[07] Turk remanded in custody on espionage charges

Athens, 25/09/2002 (ANA)

The suspect, identified as Mehmet Murat Pekinel was arrested Friday afternoon while allegedly photographing military installations on the northeastern Greek island of Limnos, which lies near the Dardanelles Straits.

According to reports, 57 rolls of film were confiscated on the man, along with maps of various Greek Aegean isles.

In his initial statement to police, Pekinel denied the espionage charges and claimed the photographs were for his personal use, while on Tuesday a comparable statement was also made by his attorney who claimed that his client, who on Wednesday will be taken to the judicial jail on the island of Chios, �is innocent�.

Both islands of Lesvos and Limnos lie off the densely populated western Turkish coast.

[08] Main opposition urges voters to 'send a message' in local polls

Athens, 25/09/2002 (ANA)

ND spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos said the 'send a message' slogan would be the backbone of ND's pre-election campaign for the Attica super-prefecture and the rest of Greece, in accordance with the proposals made by political planning secretary George Souflias.

Responding to questions, meanwhile, he denied plans for a meeting between ND leader Costas Karamanlis and Archbishop Christodoulos in the wake of controversial statements about the Church by ND's candidate for the Attica super-prefecture Yiannis Tzanetakos.

According to the spokesman, a meeting by ND party coordinators chaired by Karamanlis on Tuesday morning had strongly criticized the government's economic record, citing delays in structural reforms, the selling off state enterprises in ''cut-price'' privatizations to raise cash and timid measures, calling for an urgent change in economic policy.

ND coordinator George Alogoskoufis stressed that the Greek economy was a straggler in Europe in terms of competitiveness, ranking 16th in an EU report that also included the 25 OECD countries. In terms of attracting foreign investment, meanwhile, he noted that Greece had slipped to 125th place in a United Nations report, down from 45th place 10 years ago.

[09] Sixth round of Greek-Turkish talks starts on Wednesday

Athens, 25/09/2002 (ANA)

After the meeting, Ziyal will be received by Foreign Minister George Papandreou.

Earlier on Wednesday, Papandreou will also receive the U.S. Ambassador to Athens Thomas Miller and later will meet with the President of the Cyprus House of Representatives and Secretary General of the Cypriot AKEL left-wing party Dimitris Christofias, who is here on a visit.

[10] Europarliament mandates compensation to victims of crime, terrorism

STRASBOURG 25/09/2002 (ANA/O.Tsipira)

According to the report, all member-states will have to draft programs for the provision of compensation to victims of crime, placing special emphasis on cases concerning victims of terrorism. The compensation would be paid by the culprits or via other means.

The establishment of these systems, would not prohibit the establishment of additional regulations, than those proposed by the European Commissions Green Bible.

The report also proposed the drafting of lists with criminal actions that would demand payment of compensation to victims. The payment of compensation would be made to the surviving victims themselves or to relatives, as well as to persons that attempted to help the victims and were injured.

[11] Witnesses give evidence in N17 case

Athens, 25/09/2002 (ANA)

The terrorists had fired a rocket against Paleokrassas' car in central Athens on July 14, 1992, when he finance minister for the then New Democracy government, while Vardinoyiannis had also been the victim of a rocket attack by the group on February 3, 1990. The rocket fired against Paleokrassas had caused the death of passer-by Thanos Axarlian.

[12] Sotiropoulou's request for temporary restraining order on TV stations refused

Athens, 25/09/2002 (ANA)

The 40-year-old mother of one has filed for restraining orders against the majority of the country's larger television stations, including state TV, and wanted a temporary ban in place until the hearing, which has been set for November 29.

The TV stations named by Sotiropoulou included Alter, NET, Alpha, Ant1, Mega, Star and ET1. She had also asked for restraining orders against individual journalists Nikos Kakaounakis, Fotini Pipili, Georgios Tragas and Anna Panagiotarea in person.

Among her demands are the departure of TV crews stationed outside her house, a ban on all references to her private life and to her son and a ban on the publication of past photos of herself and her family.

Asked to comment on the suit filed by Sotiropoulou earlier on Tuesday, government spokesman Christos Protopapas said the N17's differences with the media were issues for the courts and not for the government.

[13] Greece to send humanitarian aid to Albania's flood victims

Athens, 25/09/2002 (ANA)

The effort of the Civil Defense General Secretariat will be supported by the foreign ministry, the Armed Forces General Staff, the fire brigade and the health and welfare ministry.

Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou contacted his Albanian counterpart Ilir Meta and expressed the willingness of the Greek government to send help, while Deputy Foreign Minister Andreas Loverdos remains in constant contact with Meta to work out the details, the ministry's announcement added.

[14] Amnesty International alleges human rights violations in Greece

Athens, 25/09/2002 (ANA)

At a press conference, spokespersons of the organizations said that instances of unlawful or disputed shootings by police and border guards were documented in the report, which also examined the factors that have contributed to effective impunity for the perpetrators of the abuses.

The spokespersons said that the ill treatment of detainees during arrest and in police custody in Greece included slapping, punching, kicking and verbal abuse.

In seven occasions law enforcement officials allegedly misused firearms shooting and fatally wounding the victims, while in four other occasions policemen and border-patrol guards shot and wounded Albanian citizens attempting to enter the country illegally, the spokespersons said.

Amnesty International spokeswoman Melani Anderson said that although Greece has a particular sensitivity to human rights issues, in practice it has not secured the consistent implementation of the relative safeguards.

According to an ANA dispatch from Brussels, Amnesty International addressed an urgent telegraph to the European Commission, the Danish Presidency and the International Federation for Human Rights, criticizing Greece for ill-treatment of detainees and excessive use of violence by law enforcement officers.

The Amnesty International report documented 66 cases of alleged human rights violations and concluded that the ill treatment of detainees during arrest in Greece is relatively commonplace and at times so severe that it amounts to torture.

In the same telegraph, Amnesty International asked the Danish presidency to take necessary action regarding the situation with the human rights in Greece and to start a process for the development of a system for actual recording of human-rights violations within the European Union.

[15] Gov�t announces measures aimed to contain prices

Athens, 25/09/2002 (ANA)

A committee meeting, chaired by Economy and Finance Minister Nikos Christodoulakis and attended by Bank of Greece governor Nikos Garganas and representatives of employers and workers unions, approved a package of measures envisaging:

a) greater transparency in pricing policies, b) imposing penalties to businesses found guilty of overcharging, c) launching an information campaign on the euro and focusing on the value of small euro coins and d) demanding that commercial banks supply consumers with 10 and five euros banknotes.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Mr. Christodoulakis said that recent phenomena of overcharging have burdened the consumer price index by 0.1 to 0.3 percentage points.

[16] Greece differs on proposals for EU farm policy revision

BRUSSELS 25/09/2002 (ANA/G.Zitouniati)

Among the proposals were a five percent cut in the intervention price for wheat, the abolition of monthly surcharges and rye intervention.

A number of points in the proposals could have an adverse impact on balanced growth in the EU's regions, Drys told an EU agriculture ministers' meeting in the Belgian capital.

Denmark had sought the opinion of member states on the proposals, and debate will continue.

[17] Greece seeks EU help for farm losses due to heavy rain

BRUSSELS 25/09/2002 (ANA/G.Zitouniati)

Hardest hit were grapes, raisins, market garden produce, and farming infrastructure and raw materials, Drys told an EU agriculture ministers' meeting in the Belgian capital.

Greece and other countries that asked for help were asked to submit data on the extent of damage and losses.

[18] EU approves 12 pct rise in subsidies to Greek olive oil producers

Athens, 25/09/2002 (ANA)

The EU commission said Greek olive oil producers would receive 400 drachmas per kilo, up from 356 drachmas per kilo paid by the EU in the 2000/2001 period, on the precondition that EU authorities verified Greece's total olive oil production (estimated at around 357,328 tones).

The EU commission also approved similar increased advance payments to olive oil producers in France and Portugal, but lower financial support to olive oil producers in Spain and Italy because of overproduction figures in the two countries.

[19] Street-market vendors and producers strike next Tuesday

Athens, 25/09/2002 (ANA)

The unions of street markets produce vendors and producers have jointly decided on separate rallies to be held at the location of the national road toll-booths located at Bogiati, northern Attica and Elefsis, southern Attica, starting on Monday, 30 September.

[20] Global airlines body sees slight upturn in passenger movement

Athens, 25/09/2002 (ANA)

Officials of IATA, the global airlines body, forecast that passenger movement would rise by 6-7 percent in 2003.

The officials were speaking at a world airlines growth conference held in Athens, sponsored by the Eleftherios Venizelos international airport.

[21] Truck owners to launch indefinite strike on September 29

Athens, 25/09/2002 (ANA)

The strike will have an adverse impact on all sectors of the economy, the truck owners' union said in a statement on Tuesday.

[22] Alternate FM meets with GSEE presidium

Athens, 25/09/2002 (ANA)

Those issues included the European Union's enlargement, the Middle East, Iraq, problems in the Balkans and others, as well as the Greek presidency's general aims.

Yiannitsis and the GSEE presidium also discussed the support the foreign ministry can provide to the confederation concerning political issues they may confront on a European level.

[23] Thessaloniki presents Expo 2008 bid

Athens, 25/09/2002 (ANA)

The presentation was made on the sidelines of a conference in Seville, Spain that was held to mark the trade fair's 10th birthday.

Also hoping to host Expo 2008 are Saragosa, Spain and Trieste, Italy.

[24] Greek stocks end 1.91 pct lower on Tuesday

Athens, 25/09/2002 (ANA)

The general index ended 1.91 percent lower at 1,818.58 points, finding short-term support at the 1,800 level. Turnover was a low 96 million euros.

The Holdings, Insurance, Textile and Construction sectors suffered the heaviest percentage losses of the day (5.24 percent, 4.22 percent, 4.13 percent and 3.96 percent, respectively), while

Banks and Cement the lowest percentage losses (0.77 percent and 0.73 percent, respectively).

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks dropped 1.41 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index dropped 3.41 percent and the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index fell 3.09 percent.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 307 to 31 with another 19 issues unchanged.

The most heavily traded stocks in value were Hellenic Telecommunications Organization, Commercial Bank of Greece, Sex Form, and Informatics.

Derivatives Market Close: Turnover at 105.9 mln euros Tuesday

Equity Index Futures: