Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 02-12-10

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

CONTENTS

[01] Spain supports Cyprus' accession without conditions, Greek PM says

[02] Gov't, foreign ministry reaffirms desire for continued talks on Cyprus issue

[03] FM says Greece will insist on Helsinki summit decision

[04] PM and European Parliament president discuss EU enlargement

[05] Karamanlis says Cyprus' EU entry a given fact and should be made clear at summit

[06] Coalition party leader meets Cyprus President Clerides

[07] DM and Italian parliamentarian discuss Greek presidency

[08] Deputy FM Loverdos concludes 'fruitful' visit to Lebanon

[09] Loverdos attends symbolic mine explosion in Lebanon

[10] Gov't spokesman denies rumored 'succession' moves within PASOK

[11] ND leader and Parliament president discuss immunity abuse

[12] ND deputies question transparency in armaments programs

[13] Parliament president and Danish official discuss Cyprus

[14] Parliament president publicizes account of second session

[15] PPC's public offer price set at 12.4 euros through book building

[16] National Bank announces interest rate cuts

[17] Greece to meet tighter EU criterion on public debt

[18] Main opposition fears Greece may not retain high growth rate

[19] Athens Bourse Close: Stocks fall in glum trade

[20] Athens 2004 Store inaugurated in Florida

[21] Survey: Solid majority of Greeks in favor of enlargement

[22] 3 alleged 'N17' members reprimanded for jailhouse interviews

[23] French training for police special forces

[24] Photo exhibition in Geneva on 'Aegean: Images of Greece'

[25] Marangopoulou Human Rights Foundation holds event in Athens

[26] German Embassy establishes 'Eleni Vlachou' journalism award

[27] UN trying to bridge gaps between two sides in revised text

[28] UN envoy does not know when revised text to be submitted

[29] Cyprus officially first to conclude EU accession negotiations

[30] EU to financially assist Cyprus' northern areas after solution

[01] Spain supports Cyprus' accession without conditions, Greek PM says

MADRID 10/12/2002 (ANA)

The city was the last stop in Simitis' tour of European capitals to discuss the Cyprus issue and Greece's EU presidency in the next six months.

''The conclusion is positive. There is a common will that Cyprus should join,'' Simitis said.

Responding to questions, the Greek premier said he expected that a decision for Cyprus' EU accession along with the nine candidate-countries to be taken at Copenhagen on December 12.

Spain supports Cyprus' accession without conditions, Greek PM says ''I want to stress that in all my visits, none of the heads of state or prime ministers has said that a solution of the political problem is a condition for Cyprus' accession. They have confirmed that the Helsinki summit decisions must be implemented,'' he said.

Care and effort were needed until the very last moment, however, because of complications such as the ongoing efforts for a solution, the outstanding issues with respect to Turkey and overall tensions, he added.

After a meeting lasting 90 minutes at Madrid's Palacio de Moncloa, Simitis said the talks with Aznar had been friendly and had covered issues related to the Copenhagen summit and Greece's EU presidency in the next six months.

Aznar had also agreed that efforts to solve the Cyprus problem should continue after the Copenhagen summit if no progress was made until that time, Simitis added.

Simitis and Aznar similarly agreed that Turkey should receive a positive message from the EU concerning its European prospects, though Simitis qualified that this message should re-quire some reciprocal gestures from Ankara with respect to the Cyprus issue, the Euroforce, the Copenhagen criteria, economic stability and the implementation of decisions included in the EU-Turkey association agreement.

The Greek premier said that he had agreed with Aznar that the Greek EU presidency should focus on measures against illegal immigration and Euro-Med cooperation, an issue that ranked higher on the agendas of Greece and Spain as EU states on the shores of the Mediterranean.

Simitis, who had also visited Italy over the weekend, noted that all three of the EU's Mediterranean member-states appeared to have a common line with regard to their particular problems.

In talks about the future of Europe after enlargement, the two men said that a strong European Commission would ensure that the EU had a strong core that could continue to make decisions and draft a central policy on basic issues that concerned everyone, while they also noted signs of recovery in the global economy, forecasting an upturn in the second half of 2003.

[02] Gov't, foreign ministry reaffirms desire for continued talks on Cyprus issue

Athens, 10/12/2002 (ANA)

The spokesman also said that a solution was 'achievable' before Copenhagen and blamed the other side for the delay, noting that Greece had shown good will and agreed to the plan presented by United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan as an acceptable basis for negotiations.

He said the Greek government was not aware of any 'revised' Annan plan, though this was considered a likely eventuality according to information received from Nicosia.

Protopapas slammed the arguments presented by Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, saying they showed intransigency, but noted that the Turkish government's stance had been different and gave grounds for optimism.

He did not rule out an extension of the Copenhagen Summit if there were no solution on Cyprus and Turkey's demand for a date for the start of EU-Turkey accession negotiations before it ended.

Greece's desire to continue efforts for a Cyprus solution even after Copenhagen was also confirmed by foreign ministry spokesman Panos Beglitis on Monday. Beglitis likewise stressed that Athens did not want the EU to close its doors to Turkey.

On the other hand, he noted that time for a achieving a solution was now extremely limited and that no one could ''constrain'' Cyprus' EU accession.

Clarifying Athens' planned initiative to extract an EU com-moment to continued Cyprus talks, Beglitis said that Athens' aim was ''a necessary commitment by Europe toward Turkey''.

He reiterated that the EU had to give Turkey a strong message, because it was in everyone's interest to strengthen EU relations with Ankara and to set a date for the start of EU-Turkey accession talks.

[03] FM says Greece will insist on Helsinki summit decision

NICOSIA 10/12/2002 (ANA - G. Leonidas)

The Greek foreign minister said Greece will be in contact with the new Turkish foreign minister to consolidate potential achieved in efforts to resolve the Cyprus issue after the EU's Copenhagen summit as well.

Former Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos also gave an interview to CyBC, saying that the UN secretary general's blueprint on Cyprus is disastrous as it is at present, but added that it could not be rejected and negotiations should be held for its substantive improvement.

[04] PM and European Parliament president discuss EU enlargement

Athens, 10/12/2002 (ANA)

Cox, who is visiting Greece for the first time in his capacity as European Parliament president, had previously visited Cyprus where he held separate talks with Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, as well as with Cyprus' chief EU negotiator George Vassiliou.

The European Parliament's president is accompanied by the presidents of the European Parliament's groups who will convene for the first time in Greece in the framework of ''the Conference of Presidents'' (the conference of presidents of the European Parliament's political groups is a European Parliament organ).

Speaking to reporters on the Copenhagen summit, Cox said the European Parliament believes ''history will be written'' in Copenhagen because with EU enlargement Europe will be given the opportunity to forge ahead on a continental scale now and he shared Simitis' view that Cyprus will join the EU.

Following his meeting with Cox, Simitis reiterated Greece's steadfast position that in accordance with the Helsinki decisions, the settlement of the political problem of Cyprus does not constitute a precondition for the island republic's accession to the European Union.

Speaking to reporters, Simitis noted that the Greek side seeks and wants the settlement of the political problem, because it believes that without this solution, Cyprus will have problems in the future and the division in the island or the partition may be consolidated, and maybe practices by the Turkish Cypriot side may also follow, which will burden the relations of the two communities. ''It is therefore to the interest of all for there to be a solution to this problem as soon as possible,'' he said.

Simitis described the EU summit in Copenhagen, which starts on Thursday, as an important turning point and underlined that Greece will try to give solutions which will create a situation of cooperation and peace.

[05] Karamanlis says Cyprus' EU entry a given fact and should be made clear at summit

Athens, 10/12/2002 (ANA)

He noted that there was no room for any ''footnotes or asterisks'', stressing that the only protocol that can be attached to the accession act of the Republic of Cyprus to the EU is that which will provide the entry of also the Turkish occupied part based on the German model immediately after the reunification of the island is achieved.

Karamanlis said that Greece seeks a settlement of the political problem of Cyprus which, however, should be functional and viable and based on the United Nations decisions and the European acquis communautaire.

''It is necessary for pressure to be concentrated on the aggressor and not on the victim. The wall of disgrace which partitions the island can only burden the course of those who created and maintain it with occupation forces,'' the ND leader concluded.

On the assumption of Greece's presidency of the EU in the first half of 2003, Karamanlis said that this would give the country the opportunity to promote major issues, such as common security, balanced development, the strengthening of employment and the social dimension of Europe.

Finally, the main opposition leader accused the government of following and maintaining a "bureaucratic, counterproductive, non-liberal economic policy".

[06] Coalition party leader meets Cyprus President Clerides

NICOSIA 10/12/2002 (ANA - G. Leonidas)

Constantopoulos also said efforts to resolve the Cyprus issue should not be linked to Cyprus' EU accession during the EU's upcoming summit in Copenhagen.

He also held similar talks with EU chief negotiator George Vassiliou. ''The accession of the Republic of Cyprus to the EU is shaping a framework with a special dynamism which can have a positive effect on a solution to the Cyprus problem,'' the Coalition leader told reporters afterwards.

Referring to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's blueprint for Cyprus, Constantopoulos said ''what matters is for us to support the decision taken by the National Council of Cyprus for systematic, tough and decisive negotiating to enable the negative and unworkable points existing in the Annan blueprint to be faced and improved.''

Vassiliou said Cyprus will join the EU on Thursday and its accession will be clear-cut, just as the accession of the other candidate countries will be.

Also speaking after meeting Socialdemocrat Movement (KISOS) party leader and presidential candidate Yiannakis Omirou, Constantopoulos said the Coalition party supports the decision of the parties of Cyprus and the leadership of the Republic of Cyprus not to reject the Annan blueprint but to negotiate it and make a systematic effort on its negative and unworkable points.

[07] DM and Italian parliamentarian discuss Greek presidency

ROME 10/12/2002 (ANA)

''It was an across-the-board discussion on the targets of the Greek presidency, the European army and on very substantive issues such as the accession of Cyprus to the European Union in light of Copenhagen,'' Papantoniou told reporters.

He said Ramponi stated clearly that the Cyprus issue is not an issue of Greece and Turkey but an issue of the EU and the international community.

''He supported the UN's process very much and we made the joint wish that Cyprus will join the European Union normally in Copenhagen and that the Cyprus issue, based on the Annan blueprint and as negotiating has begun, will either be resolved in Copenhagen or, if time proves to be inadequate, the effort will be continued after Copenhagen,'' he added.

Papantoniou further said they agreed that Turkey's European prospect is a very important prospect for both Europe and Turkey and the setting of a date for the beginning of negotiations between Turkey and the EU should be supported in Copenhagen as part of a framework giving Turkey a political signal that it will be accepted by Europe at some moment.

The defense minister also said issues of mutual concern in the armaments sector were discussed briefly because the deputies have no jurisdiction on defense industry issues, but he stressed the importance of strengthening the European defense industry in which both the Greek and Italian industries can hold a very substantive position.

[08] Deputy FM Loverdos concludes 'fruitful' visit to Lebanon

BEIRUT 10/12/2002 (ANA - A. Makridis)

During his meetings on Monday with Prime Minister Rafic Hariri and Foreign Minister Mahmoud Hamoud, agreement was reached for the creation of a joint ministerial committee on economic relations and trade issues, while the Greek request for Lebanon's participation in the informal ministerial meetings of the Euro-Mediterranean Cooperation in 2003 was accepted in principle by his interlocutors, despite the expected participation of Israel as well - a participation which constituted for Lebanon and Syria a deterrent factor for their presence at the meetings.

Loverdos further expressed the Greek government's willingness to finance the establishment of an Environmental Studies Institute in Lebanon.

The deputy foreign minister and the Greek diplomatic mission accompanying him will return to Greece on Tuesday.

[09] Loverdos attends symbolic mine explosion in Lebanon

Athens, 10/12/2002 (ANA)

Visiting Deputy Foreign Minister Andreas Loverdos, defying torrential rain, attended the symbolic explosion on Monday of one of six personnel mines found in the region, while Bosnian veterans informed him officially that 21,000 square meters of ground in Nabatija are now safe for its inhabitants.

Loverdos, after being briefed on details of the Centers activities, congratulated the head of the mission and expressed pleasure over the fact that ''the group is comprised of all the ethnic groups which had participated in the Bosnian civil war and who are now helping other peoples with this action.''

The deputy foreign minister and the diplomatic mission accompanying him on his visit to Lebanon were also welcomed by students of the Saint John Damaskinos Theology Academy of the Alexandria Patriarchate.

Addressing Loverdos at a dinner later, the Academy's rector Bishop Ioannis said ''the strengthening of relations between Greece, Syria and Lebanon is very important. All of us here, Moslems and Christians, feel great pleasure that Greece is playing this role. The Christians, and the Orthodox faithful in particular, feel Greece as our motherland.''

Loverdos said in reply ''Greece tries to help countries in need and Lebanon is a country which has gone through a great deal due to the civil war'', adding that with financial aid for the Academy ''the toils of the Greek taxpayers are producing results.''

[10] Gov't spokesman denies rumored 'succession' moves within PASOK

Athens, 10/12/2002 (ANA)

"Costas Simitis will lead PASOK into the elections of 2004," the spokesman stressed in response to questions.

He did not rule out the possibility that national elections might be held simultaneously with Europarliament elections, so as to avoid two electoral run-offs in a short space of time, but pointed out that this required the agreement of the European Com-mission. He was adamant in statements to reporters after the briefing, however, that the date for the national elections would on no account fall outside the framework allowed by the Constitution.

[11] ND leader and Parliament president discuss immunity abuse

Athens, 10/12/2002 (ANA)

Kaklamanis and Karamanlis agreed that a distinction should be made in cases concerning a deputy's political activity and actions not related to it and to which he should be held accountable by justice, just as is the case with any other citizen, and necessary arrangements should be made in Parliamentary regulations.

''We have every intention of contributing effectively to the handling of this serious issue which, ultimately, also concerns the credibility of the political world,'' Karamanlis said.

The issue of corruption ascertained in public administration in general was also discussed, as well as its social repercussions.

[12] ND deputies question transparency in armaments programs

Athens, 10/12/2002 (ANA)

The deputies question the minister on ''the harmful policy he is applying in the armaments programs sector which is detrimental for our national economy and deals a blow at the country's defense and security interests and on the systematic violation-deviation from the legal framework on procurements and the squandering of precious national resources to serve the selfish interests of financial and political vested interests.''

Giving an example, they referred to the modernization of Phantom F-4E warplanes at Peace Icarus-2000 level in which the company responsible had to begin deliveries in August 2000.

Instead of this, they added, the first modernized aircraft have not yet begun being delivered, while the program's cost has exceeded 40 percent of the agreed price.

[13] Parliament president and Danish official discuss Cyprus

Athens, 10/12/2002 (ANA)

Kaklamanis said Cyprus' accession to the EU ''is an issue of top priority for us. This position of ours is not only linked to our history but also to our conviction that Cyprus' participation in European structures gives Europe a different and upgraded prospect for its role in the wider region of the southeastern Mediterranean.''

Larsen-Jeusen confirmed his country's support for Cyprus' accession to the EU and underlined, as a common point between Denmark and Greece, the two countries' special interest in the incorporation of Baltic and Balkan countries in European structures since peace and stability in these regions will be consolidated in this way.

[14] Parliament president publicizes account of second session

Athens, 10/12/2002 (ANA)

According to the account, 86 debates were held on legislative work and 70 on parliamentary control, while 10 special agenda debates were also held.

During the second session and during plenum debates 28 legislative bills and 60 international agreements were ratified. The Recess Department, covering a period from June 25, 2002, until September 27, 2002, debated 15 legislative bills and three draft laws.

Relevant committees also ratified eight legislative bills and processed 21 draft laws.

[15] PPC's public offer price set at 12.4 euros through book building

Athens, 10/12/2002 (ANA)

The binding share price range in the offer that began on Tuesday and ended on Friday was 11.80 euros to 13.0 euros for institutional investors.

Demand recorded in the offer was for 177 million shares against a base 23.2 million common bearer stocks available at a nominal price of 2.93 euros. The stock total was to rise to 30,624,000 in the case of a greenshoe option, or over-allotment.

Chief underwriters in the public offer in Greece and London, along with a private placement to company employees, were Alpha Finance, Deutsche Bank, National Bank of Greece and UBS Warburg.

Institutional investors abroad sought 125.67 million shares. Demand from Greece was 52.2 million stocks, with 40.9 million sought by institutionals and the remaining 18,000 from retail buyers.

Sold were 30.624 million shares, with 2.78 million were awarded under a greenshoe option and 4.64 million for over-allotment.

About 57 percent of stock is destined for investors abroad and 43 percent for home buyers.

The stock is expected to begin trading in Athens and London on December 12. The Greek state is to reap about 357 million euros from the PPC's share offer.

On sale was 10.0 percent of the PPC's share capital, along with a further 1.2 percent if a stabilizing mechanism, or greenshoe option, was required; and another 2.0 percent for over-allotment.

[16] National Bank announces interest rate cuts

Athens, 10/12/2002 (ANA)

The reduction for deposits is scaled to the size of the account, with the largest reduction for savings account deposits ranging from 3,000 to 10,000 euros. Interest rates for these drop from 1.5 per cent to 0.85 per cent.

For other accounts offered to customers, such as current accounts for paying in salaries, the rate reduction was as high as 0.85 per cent.

Alpha Bank announced interest rate cuts of 0.5 per cent for deposits the previous week, following a rate cut by the European Central Bank.

[17] Greece to meet tighter EU criterion on public debt

Athens, 10/12/2002 (ANA)

"The government acknowledges its commitment to the Greek public for discipline in public finance, which is a condition for economic growth of the country," Christodoulakis told a conference held by the Hellenic-American Chamber of Commerce.

In 2003, the public debt was estimated to drop by about five percentage points as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP), he said.

The cut would be made by stepping up the government's privatization plan, which is to bring revenue representing nearly 2.0 percent of GDP in the coming year; reducing guarantee payments for loans to state enterprises; containment of defense spending, and, as a result, of loans in that area, the minister added.

[18] Main opposition fears Greece may not retain high growth rate

Athens, 10/12/2002 (ANA)

''Special factors that are contributing to high growth rates - the European Union's Third Community Support Framework package, the Athens 2004 Olympics, and a drop in interest rates - are temporary, and do not guarantee a continuation of growth in the future,'' said George Alogoskoufis, ND's economy spokesman.

''At the same time, signs are multiplying that neither the fiscal problem, nor structural weaknesses of the economy have been tackled,'' Alogoskoufis told a conference held by the Hellenic-American Chamber of Commerce.

He added that the EU funding package had been delayed, the Olympics projects had an expiry date, and a rapid increase in private debt could not continue indefinitely.

[19] Athens Bourse Close: Stocks fall in glum trade

Athens, 10/12/2002 (ANA)

Smaller capitalization stocks again were the hardest hit.

The general share index shed 0.56 percent to end at 1,803.18 points. Turnover was 75.1 million euros.

The FTSE/ASE-20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks ended 0.72 percent down; the FTSE/ASE-40 for medium capitalization paper 1.45 percent lower; and the FTSE/ASE-80 for small cap equities finished 1.92 percent down.

Of stocks traded, declines led advances at 264 to 49 with 42 issues remaining unchanged.

Derivatives Market Close: Turnover at 72.1 mln euros Monday

Equity Index Futures: