Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 02-10-29

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greek and British premiers discuss Cyprus issue, return of the Parthenon Marbles

[02] NY Times on EMU countries exceeding deficit limit

[03] President Stephanopoulos at Thessaloniki military parade

[04] Alleged 'N17' suspect Yiannis Serifis in temporary custody at Korydallos prison

[05] Culture minister comments on Pangalos interview

[06] Minister supports cooperation between PASOK and Coalition

[07] Tsohatzopoulos refers to prospect of government cooperating with Synaspismos

[08] World Congress of Pontian Greeks opens in Thessaloniki

[09] Xanthi land redistribution program

[10] English newspaper lauds ATHOC president

[11] 6th Black Sea Hellenism conference to be held in Athens

[12] President has brief meeting with Turkish counterpart

[13] Spokesman reacts to Turkish Foreign Minister

[14] Hannay to work for a settlement before EU December summit

[01] Greek and British premiers discuss Cyprus issue, return of the Parthenon Marbles

LONDON 29/10/2002 (ANA/L. Tsirigotakis)

Simitis' visit to London was within the framework of the contacts he will have with European leaders in light of the assumption by Greece of the European Union presidency in the first half of 2003.

Other issues on the agenda of the talks at Downing Street included EU enlargement and illegal immigration.

Simitis brought to Blair's attention the issue of the return of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece on the occasion of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. He handed to the British prime minister an official document by Greek Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos containing proposals for a settlement of the issue for the return of the Parthenon Marbles.

The Greek prime minister clarified that he made this move because he believes that the issue of the Parthenon Marbles has matured, time is passing and furthermore the section of the new modern Acropolis Museum, built for the purpose of housing the Parthenon Marbles, will be ready next year.

Following his meeting with Blair, Simitis told reporters that ''we discussed with sincerity with the British prime minister all the issues concerning Greece, Great Britain and the European Union. Of course we focused our discussion on Cyprus' ac-cession to the EU and the efforts being made for a settlement of the political problem of Cyprus, the lack of proposals on the part of the Turkish Cypriots for this issue to proceed and we examined what the following will be.''

Simitis added that they also discussed the subjects of the Greek EU presidency. ''A central issue is the enlargement and how we will complete this procedure but also other issues which concern social policy, employment, competitiveness, all this total which is included under the Lisbon chapter which will be discussed at the Council Summit in March.''

The Greek prime minister said that the third big issue for Greece and Great Britain ''is that of immigrants, the combatting of illegal immigration, the issue of asylum which is in process and on this issue our views coincide with Britain and we are optimistic that solutions will be found in the course of the Greek presidency.''

Simitis went on to say that the two men also discussed the international scene, the issue of Iraq and also ''reminded Mr. Blair that Greece wants to have the Parthenon Marbles at the Acropolis Museum when the Olympic Games will take place in 2004 and that the time has come for us to think seriously about this matter.''

Asked to comment on Blair's reaction when he handed to him the culture ministry's document, Simitis clarified that ''he did not reply but committed himself to seriously examine the issue.''

[02] NY Times on EMU countries exceeding deficit limit

NEW YORK 29/10/2002 (ANA - M. Georgiadou)

The article is accompanied by a statistical list showing Greece in seventh place among member-states in 2000 regarding the share of expenditures for pensions, health care and other long-term expenditures with 17.4 percent of GDP.

However, it adds that by 2040 Greece is expected to be in first place with 30.1 percent, while Portugal will have 23.1, Italy 23, France 24.3, Germany 23.7 and Austria 26.5, meaning deficits between 4.1 percent and 0.1.

[03] President Stephanopoulos at Thessaloniki military parade

Athens, 29/10/2002 (ANA)

The parade held under excellent weather conditions and attended by crowds of people, included German-built Leopard-1 tanks, Patriot missiles and MLRS multiple-barreled missile launchers, while F-16 warplanes and two heavy duty Chinook helicopters flew overhead.

It was watched, among others, by the leadership of the armed forces, headed by National Defense General Staff Chief Lieutenant-General Antonakopoulos and Greek Police Chief Fotis Nasiakos.

Speaking after the parade, President Stephanopoulos said ''October 28, 1940 was a unique day. Those who experienced it are well aware of it. Younger people should realize this. On that day the noble feelings of the Greek people were expressed in the most genuine way. Patriotic enthusiasm, love for the country and for freedom, determination for its defense and acceptance of sacrifice.''

Defense Minister Yiannos Papantoniou, representing Prime Minister Costas Simitis, said ''the power and determination displayed during today's parade by Greece's armed forces are the elements distinguishing modern-day Greece.''

He added that ''Greece is powerful and confident and capable of coping with international crises and is responding with success to all future challenges. Greece is struggling to improve the Greek citizen's standard of living, while Greece is systematically and steadfastly upgrading its position in Europe and the world.''

Minister of Macedonia and Thrace George Paschalidis said ''today's parade makes us feel proud. It allows us to see things with greater optimism and with greater national self-confidence.''

President Stephanopoulos speaks at guard officers' club: President Kostis Stephanopoulos, speaking at the Guard Officers' Club in Thessaloniki, northern Greece, on Sunday night, focused his address on the value of the sense of duty.

He said that to enable the country to develop with the desired speed, every citizen should do his work conscientiously and perform his duty from his post.

''I would like to stress the feeling and meaning of duty to honor the country's defenders and to remind how absolutely necessary it is for all members of the military, citizens, employees, professionals and teachers at every occasion and moment,'' he said.

President Stephanopoulos addressed a reception given in his honor by the Third Army Corps and attended, among others, by Defense Minister Yiannos Papantoniou, main opposition New Democracy party leader Costas Karamanlis and the armed forces' leadership.

At noon, President Stephanopoulos was proclaimed an honorary citizen of the city of Katerini, northern Greece, and visited the folkloric museum of the local Black Sea Greeks' Union.

Education minister takes salute at Athens students' parade: Education Minister Petros Efthymiou took the salute during a students' parade in Athens on Monday on the occasion of the October 28 national holiday marking the war with Italy in 1940.

The parade was attended by politicians, representatives of the Church, the armed forces and the academic and judicial corps and was composed of pupils and students from the capital's elementary and junior and senior high schools, as well as boy scouts.

In a brief statement after the parade, Efthymiou referred to the younger generation's pride and to what had been achieved by past generations.

"The new generation gives a promise of honor that it will follow the same path of sacrifice, orderliness and determination on national issues and all our attention is to confirm the toils and sacrifices of past generations now that we have the issue of Cyprus before us, Cyprus' accession to the EU," he said.

Oct. 28 OCHI Day messages: Greece's political parties on Saturday released messages ahead of Monday's 62nd anniversary of the October 28, 1940 OCHI Day national holiday, commemorating the historic day on which the country rejected Italy's ultimatum and joined the fight against Fascism in World War II.

Prime Minister Costas Simitis, leader of the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK), said that Greece, honoring its national holiday and its glorious and heroic past, was "continuing to utilize the victory and democratic liberation grandeur of Oct. 28".

Greece, as an equal member of the European Union and the euro-zone, was "waging battles for the completion of the targets of growth, progress, and prosperity in all the social groups of the population," he said.

As a member of international and regional organizations, he continued, Greece, with a "distinct presence", was "contributing to the consolidation and cementing of such values as the dedication to man, respect of his personality, the inviolability of his dignity, and serving man's fundamental needs".

"We actively manifest our determination to obstruct phenomena of irrational violence, of taking the law into one's hands, and terrorism, and to reinforce Democracy and Justness," the premier said, adding that, today, more than ever, democracy required maturity and responsibility.

Further, as a power in the wider region, Greece was the only reference point for the other countries of the region: a force of peace with relations of friendship, cooperation and good neighborhood with all the peoples of SE Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean, as well as a factor of stability and security.

Main opposition New Democracy leader (ND) Costas Karamanlis said that with its national resistance and the 1940 epos, Greece, devoted to and consistent with its two-thousand year course, and while defending its territorial integrity and history, had proved that when even small peoples were determined to defend their national independence, there was no power capable of abolishing its freedom.

He added that Greece needed to fight for Cyprus' participation in the next EU enlargement and for Europe's unity in both living standards and "respect of the cultures, identity and difference of the other, just as the Greek people needed to keep an unbroken front vis-a-vis its eastern neighbors, saying OCHI (No) to concessions and retreats.

The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) said that the OCHI of October 28 remained exceptionally timely, since it proved that "the people can themselves select the future that corresponds to their own interests".

"The war unleashed by the imperialists against the peoples, on the pretext of terrorism, underscores the hours of responsibility for each and every working person, and the need for broad rallying and action against the imperialistic war and to stop Greece's involvement in it," a KKE message said.

It said that the timeliness of OCHI should be expressed with a daily struggle against new forms of labor slavery, so that measures against the people's rights and liberties will not come to pass, and for a human standard of living, for health, welfare, education, and spare time.

The Coalition of the Left and Progress (SYN) called on the Greek people to a "wider realization and vigilance for the development of the peace movement as well as for the fight for the social conquests and defense of the guarantees of the democratic freedoms, since the "non-negotiable values of liberty, independence, democracy, social justice, respect of the principles of international law, and protection of human rights are, unfortunately, not self-evidently respected even today".

SYN said that violations of those principles against peoples and citizens of the modern-day world were increasing in number, while the UN and other international security organizations had been downgraded by the sovereignty of the sole superpower in the era of globalization.

Humanity, it continued, was witnessing the results of the new international status quo created after the terrorist action in the US, the war on Afghanistan and the imminent US war operation on Iraq.

Democracy Social Movement (DHKKI) leader Dimitris Tsovolas said the best honor that could be bestowed on the 1940 fighters and the ensuing national resistance, the democratic struggles and the Polytechnic uprising, was for the Greek people today to resist submissiveness, defeatism, lack of national dignity, and the stripping of the people's rights and liberties, by the neo-liberal two-party system.

He said it was time for the government to stop its constant, conscious concessions on the national issues and to stop using the Greek people as guinea pigs of the New World Order.

Greece expresses grief on death of hostages in Moscow theatre siege: Greece on Saturday expressed grief over the death of hostages during a raid on a Moscow theatre where Chechen guerrillas were holding more than 800 people, but at the same time welcomed the end to the state of siege and reiterated its condemnation of international terrorism.

Russian Special Forces raided the Moscow theatre at dawn, using teargas and rescuing more than 750 hostages held captive since Wednesday, according to Russian deputy interior minister Vladimir Vasilyev. Health ministry officials were quoted by Russian media as putting the hostage death toll at more than 90, while nearly all the rebels -- estimated at 50, including 18 women -- were also reportedly killed.

''We express satisfaction over the success of the operation to free hundreds of Russian citizens, who were being held hostage in a theatre in Moscow by Chechen terrorists. We at the same time express grief and our condolences to the families of the hostages who died during the operation to free them,'' Greece's foreign ministry spokesman Panos Beglitis said.

''Once again we condemn international terrorism, which is a threat to the stability and security of the international community. Further reinforcement of cooperation among all countries for the effective eradication of terrorism and organized crime should comprise a basic priority for everyone,'' Beglitis said.

The spokesman said that foreign minister George Papandreou had already expressed his solidarity and support to his Russian counterpart, Igor Ivanov.

[04] Alleged 'N17' suspect Yiannis Serifis in temporary custody at Korydallos prison

Athens, 29/10/2002 (ANA)

Yiannis Serifis, a well-known personality of the Greek non-parliamentary left, who was called by appellate court prosecutor Leonidas Zervobeakos to give a statement in connection with the ''November 17'' terrorist group, was led to Korydallos prison after giving a two-hour statement.

According to a statement by Serifis' lawyers, the decision for his temporary custody was based on the charge of involvement in the terrorist group while there was no evidence on the charge that he was in possession of a firearm.

Speaking to journalists prior to his appearance in court, Serifis categorically denied any involvement with the ''N17'' terrorist group or in terrorism in general.

Hundreds of supporters of Serifis gathered outside the court-house to express their solidarity with the 18th alleged member of the urban guerrilla group. The demonstrators, who threw stones at the entrance of the court's car park, were finally dispersed by riot police.

Serifis' name appeared in testimony given by jailed alleged members of ''N17'' Christodoulos Xiros, Savvas Xiros and Pavlos Serifis, one of his relatives.

''N17'' suspect Pavlos Serifis, in his mid-July testimony before a public investigator involved his cousin Yiannis Serifis, known to the authorities from the 1970s when he was charged with participation in the Revolutionary Popular Struggle but was acquitted.

Pavlos Serifis said that his cousin Yiannis Serifis had been present at the ''N17'' first terrorist hit against the CIA station chief Richard Welch in 1975. He also said that his cousin had assisted him in blocking the victim's car in the killing of riot police deputy commander Pantelis Petrou in January 1980.

Alleged N17 terrorist testifies before magistrate

Alleged November 17 terrorist organization member Christodoulos Xiros, faced with supplementary charges for participating in the organization, testified before investigating magistrate Leonidas Zervombeakos on Sunday.

Xiros reportedly handed the magistrate a memorandum denying his participation in the organization and claiming that his preliminary statements had been the result of pressure and intimidation.

He also claimed that Yiannis Serifis, remanded in custody on Sunday, has nothing to do with the organization.

Zervombeakos also saw alleged November 17 terrorist Alexandros Giotopoulos in prison, who has been summoned to make a supplementary statement on Wednesday regarding new charges filed against him.

Savvas Xiros, brother of Christodoulos Xiros, will also be ma-king a supplementary statement on Thursday after the magistrate informed him on Sunday that charges against him are being extended.

Man prosecuted following Sunday's incident outside court: An Athens prosecutor prosecuted Lefteris Sideris on Monday for resisting authority and using abuse and threats during clashes occurring outside the Athens court of appeal on Sunday.

The clashes took place between police and members of the political and social rights network on the occasion of Yiannis Serifis being remanded in custody for alleged connection with the November 17 terrorist organization.

The prosecutor ordered Sideris' release and set his trial for February 9.

[05] Culture minister comments on Pangalos interview

Athens, 29/10/2002 (ANA)

Venizelos, clarifying that he did not find the time to study the interview in depth but always carefully reads what Pangalos says and writes, said that ''what I do know for certain however is that in these (local government) elections the (main opposition) New Democracy's strategic plan failed because it was not able to create a post-election crisis in PASOK and in the government.''

The minister said that the ND ''was not able to place in doubt the prime minister and PASOK's ability in handling the next very crucial 18 months.''

Speaking after attending the student parade ahead of the October 28 national day, Venizelos added that ''I believe that we can study and understand all the meaning'' of the local government election results ''and do our best in the many months ahead until the parliamentary elections of 2004.''

[06] Minister supports cooperation between PASOK and Coalition

Athens, 29/10/2002 (ANA)

Referring to this month's municipal and prefectural elections, Christodoulakis said ''one of the dominant characteristics of the recent municipal and prefectural elections is that the citizens, without party guidance, and in most cases through local initiatives walked together and shaped two different poles and two different directions.''

Christodoulakis said that on the one hand there are the forces of progress, reforms, solidarity and cohesion, expressed by PASOK and the Coalition, and a front of conservative forces on the other.

He added that he believes that, just like in other European Union countries, a pole of progress is being gradually shaped against a pole of conservatism.

[07] Tsohatzopoulos refers to prospect of government cooperating with Synaspismos

Athens, 29/10/2002 (ANA)

The minister said that the first conclusion that can be drawn is that discont to the government's policy was expressed in the rural regions as well as in the urban regions ''which live the consequences of the unequal growth which exists in our country.''

He added that ''despite the high rate of economic growth these past few years in our country, around 3.8-4 percent, a section of the population does not participate in this growth'' given that ''they feel isolated by the government and believe that PASOK has forgotten them and does not offer them the same advantages which it offers to regions of the country, such as the Attica Basin, with a high rate of growth, wealth and prosperity and big investments.''

The minister said however that the results of the local government also gave ''the positive messages of the successful cooperation between PASOK and Synaspismos and other progressive forces.''

[08] World Congress of Pontian Greeks opens in Thessaloniki

Athens, 29/10/2002 (ANA)

In his message, Simitis told delegates that, with their Congress, they were manifesting their determination to continue to have a voice of their own, to broadcast their own messages, to put up their uniqueness against the imposition of a razing, mass, global culture.

"This is your unalienable right because today, in the era of globalization, we are living the reality of multi-cultural societies," said the premier in his message, which was due to be read out at the Congress' sessions on Sunday.

The delegates on Saturday issues a resolution calling on humanitarian organizations, and the governments of Greece and all of Europe and the rest of the world, to react immediately and decisively against the recent arrest in Istanbul of Greek-speaking student Fethi Giultepe.

Giultepe, who was born in Trapezounta and was studying at Athens Panteios University, was arrested in Istanbul on charges of supposedly taking part in an "attempt to set up a Pontian state".

"The ungrounded accusation has for a short time now comprised the argument of specific ultra-right and anti-Europe circles in the Turkish establishment, aimed at increasing domestic terrorism and terrorism the Greek-speaking people. The arrest of Fethi Giultepe is part of a wider effort of suppression which began with the prohibition of the book 'Pontos Kulturu' and its author's, Omera Asan's, referral to trial on charges of 'partitionist propaganda'," the resolution said.

[09] Xanthi land redistribution program

Athens, 29/10/2002 (ANA)

The redistribution projects contained in the program aim at unifying agricultural expanses while at the same time improving infrastructures for the construction of irrigation works and new agricultural roads.

Under the program, farm properties will be listed by the Xanthi prefectural authorities, and after the land improvement projects are delineated, the land will be redistributed to the owners. The total area of land for redistribution is 160,000 stremma, and is expected to be turned over to the owners by 2006.

[10] English newspaper lauds ATHOC president

LONDON 29/10/2002 (ANA - L. Tsirigotakis)

"London met the excellent political capabilities of Mrs. Angelopoulos when she won the 250 British and foreign dignitaries at the reception for Athens 2004," the report said.

"It is a pity that the government's representatives for sports issues were absent. They would learn a great deal from Mrs. Angelopoulos who is a Margaret Thatcher with a higher class and much more charismatic," it added.

Daskalaki was invited to visit the offices of the British newspaper "Daily Telegraph", where she was received by senior staff members desiring to benefit from her successful bid to host the Olympic Games in Athens in their campaign to help London contest the 2012 Olympic Games.

[11] 6th Black Sea Hellenism conference to be held in Athens

Athens, 29/10/2002 (ANA)

Addressing the inauguration ceremony, held in the Aristotelion University's hall of ceremonies, the President of Overseas Hellenism's Bipartisan Committee Grigoris Niotis announced that Parliament will issue a book concerning historical documents on the genocide of Black Sea Hellenism.

The publication will have an honorary character and will be issued in a number of languages.

[12] President has brief meeting with Turkish counterpart

COPENHAGEN 29/10/2002 (CNA/ANA)

According to CNA sources, the two men exchanged a few words about the Cyprus problem and President Clerides told President Ahmet Sezer that the closer Turkey gets to Europe, the easier it would be to solve differences.

President Clerides said Cyprus believes Turkey should be given a date for the start of accession negotiations with the EU.

President Sezer, whose troops occupy Cyprus' northern areas, asked the President of the Republic about the ongoing efforts to find a settlement in Cyprus and expressed the hope that things move towards a resolution of the problem.

President Clerides said the Greek Cypriot side is ready to continue the peace negotiations with a view at concluding them successfully, adding that he awaits for the Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash to recover from open heart surgery.

Clerides said he had been in touch with Denktash, who is in New York at present, talked to him and wished him well.

President Sezer made inquiries about the work of two ad hoc bicommunal committees the UN intends to set up in the context of the peace talks to discuss technical matters with regard to legislation that will be in place once a settlement is reached.

President Clerides said the Greek Cypriot side is ready to begin work as soon as the Turkish Cypriot side is ready. The Greek Cypriot side has already appointed its representatives to the two committees and is waiting for the Turkish Cypriot side to do the same.

The meeting between Clerides and Sezer, whose government does not recognize the government of the Republic of Cyprus, took place as the two leaders were leaving the room where they had been briefed by Danish premier Anders Fogh Rasmussen on the outcome of last week's EU summit.

[13] Spokesman reacts to Turkish Foreign Minister

COPENHAGEN 29/10/2002 (CNA/ANA)

Gurel had said that Turkey is uneasy about the new EU proposals relating to the European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP) and will oppose Cyprus' automatic use of NATO capabilities. Ankara, he said, will seek to prevent the use of NATO installations by new members of the EU countries, which are not members of the Alliance.

''I do not think that in the context of the European deployment force any country would be able to use by itself the capabilities this arrangement offers,'' Papapetrou said, asked to comment on Gurel's remarks.

The spokesman is in the Danish capital accompanying President Glafcos Clerides who, along with the rest of the leaders of applicant countries, was briefed on Monday by the Danish premier on the conclusions of last week's EU summit in Brussels.

EU-NATO cooperation in relation to the European deployment force was a thorny issue of discussion among the members of the two organizations. The Brussels summit adopted a common position on the matter, which will be put to the NATO summit in Prague.

[14] Hannay to work for a settlement before EU December summit

NICOSIA 29/10/2002 (CNA/ANA)

In a written statement on departure on Sunday after two days of talks here, he said he came at a ''very critical time for the settlement process'' and noted that there are still gaps to be bridged on most of the core issues under discussion before agreement can be reached.

He said that the negotiations since January have registered some progress, and enabled the positions of both sides to be more clearly understood, but noted that ''there are still gaps to be bridged on most of the core issues before agreement can be reached.''

President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash have been engaged in direct talks, under UN auspices, focusing their attention on four core issues, governance, security, territory and property.

''I found a general appreciation of the fact that key decisions will have to be taken in the coming weeks; I found also an under-standing of the benefits to all Cypriots if agreement can be reached on a just and viable comprehensive settlement paving the way for a reunited Cyprus to enter the EU,'' Hannay said.

The British government, he added, together with its European Union partners, has just reaffirmed its support at the highest level of the efforts of the UN Secretary General and his special adviser, Alvaro De Soto, who have a crucial role to play in the period ahead of us.

''We will do everything we can to support the negotiations with a view to reaching an agreement before the EU meeting in Copenhagen in December,'' the Brit

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