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Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 04-04-21Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>April 21, 2004CONTENTS
[01] Greek economy has many and serious problems, FinMinAthens, 21/04/2004 (ANA)Greek economic growth would slow to 3.7 percent in 2004 from a 4.2 percent growth rate in 2003, Economy and Finance Minister George Alogoskoufis said on Tuesday. Addressing a cabinet meeting to discuss the country's economic situation, among others, Mr Alogoskoufis stressed that last year's growth rate was not 5.0 percent as previously stated.The Greek minister noted that the country's fiscal problem was acute, while commenting on progress of a Third Community Support Framework hinted that any delays could lead to loss of EU funds. He said that the general government's shortfall in 2003 was almost double compared with budget estimates made last December, totalling 2.95 percent instead of a 1.7 percent estimate made before the March 7 elections. ''This development is causing big problems for the current year's budget,'' Alogoskoufis said. He added that significant efforts should be made to contain the deficit below 3.0 percent of GDP in 2004 and to lay the foundations for healthy and credible budgets from 2005. The government's first policy priority was to boost economic growth rates, the enhance dynamic sectors such as the construction and to inject new dynamism into other sectors such as the manufacturing, trade, energy production, telecommunications, transport, tourism and agriculture. ''These sector could give a significant growth boost in the country,'' he said. Alogoskoufis said that a new policy would attract domestic and foreign investments and create new opportunities for small- and medium-sized enterprises. He said that a new economic policy would be funded through spending cuts, of up to 0.8-1.0 percent of GDP, or more through an effective tax-evasion and contribution-evasion policies. The government hopes to save around 6.5-7.5 billion euros in the next four years to fund new growth policies. A social state policy is ineffective since the percentage of Greeks living with incomes below poverty levels total 20 percent from a 15 percent average rate in the European Union. Alogoskoufis noted that the poorest regions in the European Union were Greek, while unemployment totalled 9.5 percent of the workforce (up from an 8.0 percentage average rate in the EU). The Greek minister stressed the need for urgent measures to avoid a worsening of the economic situation and added that the current high growth rate was exclusively linked with increased activities in the construction sector, because of the Olympic projects. Alogoskoufis said that exports in growth and services rose by 1.6 percent in 2003, while imports jumped 10.2 percent in the same year. [02] PM arrives in Sarajevo, will meet Turkish counterpart on WednesdaySARAJEVO 21/04/2004 (ANA/A. Panagopoulos)Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis arrived in Sarajevo on Tuesday afternoon to attend the Conference of Countries of Southeastern Europe and will be meeting his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday morning. The Turkish prime minister is expected to arrive late on Tuesday night.The Greek government has made it clear that it does not desire developments on the issue of Cyprus to constitute a stumbling block in bilateral relations and that regardless of the outcome of the referendum on the Greek Cypriot side it will support Turkey's European prospects. Diplomatic sources said that indicative of the government's decision to improve bilateral relations is that ambassador Skopelitis is already in Ankara for the 25th round of consultations on the continental shelf issue. Karamanlis will have bilateral meetings with all leaders of Balkan countries in Sarajevo on Wednesday morning and, according to diplomatic sources, he wants to show that Balkan policy remains a priority for the government and this is apparent by the participation of the prime minister and of Foreign Minister Petros Molyviatis at a high level. An informal meeting of foreign ministers is being prepared since Tuesday afternoon in which Greece is represented by Deputy Foreign Minister Evripidis Stylianidis. The conference is being attended by the presidents of Bulgaria, Romania and Serbia-Montenegro, FYROM's caretaker president and the prime ministers of Turkey, Albania and Croatia. It will be inaugurated on Wednesday morning. The summit ''on the process for cooperation in Southeastern Europe'' was prepared through an initiative by Bulgaria in 1996 with the purpose of achieving regional cooperation and a climate of trust, good neighborliness and stability between the countries participating. Issues to be examined during the conference include strengthening regional cooperation to combat organized crime, and harmonize the status governing visas and communications, telecommunications and energy issues. [03] 24th round of Greek-Turkish contacts in Ankara on WednesdayAthens, 21/04/2004 (ANA)A foreign ministry spokesman on Tuesday reminded that the 24th round of Greek-Turkish exploratory talks will convene on Wednesday in Ankara.Spokesman George Koumoutsakos said Amb. Anastasios Skopelitis will again represent Greece, while the general secretary of Turkey�s foreign ministry, Amb. Ugur Ziyal, will represent the neighboring country. [04] New guarantees not enough to swing Greek-Cypriot vote, Athens believesAthens, 21/04/2004 (ANA)The new guarantees demanded by Cyprus' AKEL party had improved the climate but the Greek government believes that this will not be enough to swing the Greek-Cypriot vote in favor of the Annan peace plan to reunite the island, sources said on Tuesday.The Cyprus problem and the twin April 24 referendums on the island, where polls show a majority of Greek-Cypriots reject the Annan plan, were discussed during Tuesday's cabinet meeting, which was briefed on the issue by Greek Foreign Minister Petros Molyviatis. The cabinet also discussed the economy and a draft bill to combat state bureaucracy. [05] Main opposition leader contacts UN chief, foreign officials over Cyprus problemAthens, 21/04/2004 (ANA)Main opposition PASOK leader George Papandreou on Tuesday said that he had contacted a succession of foreign officials over the past 24 hours, including United Nations chief Kofi Annan, US Secretary of State Colin Powell and European Parliament President Pat Cox, striving for what he called a "constructive contribution toward a positive result in the Cyprus problem".He said this chiefly involved providing real guarantees and assurances for Cyprus' security. Papandreou said that he had asked for guarantees from international organizations and the European Union, telling foreign officials that Cyprus, with the solution of the political problem, would then "operate flawlessly within EU institutions" and promising to do everything in his power in this direction. [06] Turkey to benefit economically if UN plan for Cyprus acceptedAthens, 21/04/2004 (ANA)Turkey is to reap economic gains if Cyprus is reunified under a United Nations plan to be voted in a dual referendum in the island republic and its northern Turkish-occupied sector, a bank analyst said in an investor report released on Tuesday.''In strict economic terms, Turkey would certainly benefit from the reunification of Cyprus as it would save significant budgetary transfers to Cyprus,'' Platon Monokroussos of EFG Eurobank Ergasias said. ''Reunification could also greatly benefit Turkish financial markets by stimulating foreign portfolio inflows and further boosting domestic investor confidence towards the lira and lira-denominated assets,'' Monokroussos said. At the same time, Greek Cypriots could benefit through a major increase in the share of their land, lower defense costs, reduced geopolitical threats, and reinstatement or compensation for property lost as a result of past intercommunal strife and the island's unresolved division, the report said. On the other hand, they would forego control over an independent European Union country and could also lose some funding from the bloc were the island to remain divided, it added. [07] KYSEA council appoints new chief for fire departmentAthens, 21/04/2004 (ANA)Major General Christos Smetis was appointed as the new chief of the Greek fire department by the Government Council for Foreign Affairs and Defense (KYSEA) on Tuesday, government spokesman Theodoros Rousopoulos announced.He said that outgoing chief Panagiotis Fourlas will be taking over as head of the Civil Protection agency and had also been made honorary chief of the fire department in recognition of his distinguished service in that position. [08] Defense minister says NATO enlargement strengthens peace and stability in EuropeAthens, 21/04/2004 (ANA)National Defense Minister Spilios Spiliotopoulos, addressing an event at a central Athens hotel on Tuesday on the accession of seven new member-states to NATO, said that the enlargement of NATO and the European Union strengthens both peace and stability in the European continent as well as international solidarity for the confrontation of new challenges in the sector of security, such as the combatting of terrorism and of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.''The policy of 'open gates' remains valid for the democracies of Europe which desire and may undertake obligations and responsibilities which emanate from their participation in NATO,'' he added. The event was organized by the ambassadors of the seven new NATO members (Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia) and attended by the ambassadors of the other NATO countries. [09] KKE message on anniversary of April 21, 1967 military coup, Cyprus issueAthens, 21/04/2004 (ANA)The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) in a message on Tuesday on the anniversary of the April 21, 1967 military coup in Greece, noted that 37 years later, ''the biggest victim of the junta of the American-NATO imperialists, Cyprus, finds itself again at a very critical turning point as, as then, and now, it is caught in the trap of American and European Union imperialism.''According to the KKE, ''a just solution to the Cyprus issue, to the benefit of the Greek Cypriot and Greek Cypriot working people cannot be found without a clash with the imperialist policy, moreover it cannot be in alliance with the U.S. and the European Union.'' Concluding, the KKE reminded that it categorically opposed UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan's fifth and final plan for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem in separate and simultaneous referenda in Cyprus on April 24. Calling for a ''no'' vote, the KKE said ''opposition to the Annan plan means implementation of the UN resolutions (1977-79) for a Cyprus united, federal, bizonal, bicommunal, independent, without foreign troops and bases, a common homeland for Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots 'without guarantors and protectors'.'' [10] Athens ready for tough negotiations in EU farm reform talksAthens, 21/04/2004 (ANA)"We are heading towards tough negotiations as we have to overturn the negative recommendations by the European Commission," Agricultural Development and Foodstuffs Minister Savvas Tsitouridis said on Tuesday.His comments painted a bleak outlook for EU talks to reform the subsidy status of so-called Mediterranean products (tobacco, olive oil, cotton), expected during an EU Farm Council meeting on Wednesday in Luxembourg. Mr Tsitouridis reiterated the government's will to find a consensus agreement during the council session, although he declined to offer details of Athens' negotiating positions. The Greek minister reiterated his criticism of the Commission's recommendations. [11] GSEE wants new pay hike agreement by May 10Athens, 21/04/2004 (ANA)GSEE, Greece's largest trade union umbrella group, on Tuesday urged for the completion of current talks over a new collective labor agreement with employers by May 10, warning of renewed strikes by unions if a satisfactory agreement was not reached by then.GSEE president Christos Polyzogopoulos, speaking to reporters during a news conference held ahead of the May 1 labor commemoration, said that his group rejected employers' recent pay rise proposals and called for the government's reaction on the issue. Polyzogopoulos urged the government to clarify its position over achieving economic convergence in the next eight years, a commitment made during the pre-election period. "There are no neutral policies...a neutral stance always serves the rights of the powerful," Polyzogopoulos stressed. He urged workers to participate in large numbers in a rally organized on May 1 to demonstrate against the Iraq war and recent developments in Cyprus. ADEDY, civil servants' union, said its members were ready to begin a dialogue with the government, although it warned there could be no consensus if the government adopted past policies. [12] BIE delegation arrives in EXPO 2008 candidate-city ThessalonikiAthens, 21/04/2004 (ANA)A visiting delegation from the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), the international organization that sanctions world exhibitions, arrived in Thessaloniki on Tuesday to discuss the northern Greek city's bid to host the EXPO 2008 world trade fair with local officials and bodies.The eight-member delegation sent to assess Thessaloniki's bid had earlier had a round of meetings with Greece's state and political leadership in Athens and will conclude its round of meetings and visits in Thessaloniki on Saturday. The delegation were greeted on their arrival by Thessaloniki Mayor Vassilis Papageorgopoulos, and were accompanied by Macedonia-Thrace Minister Nikos Tsiartsionis. Also present were regional authority chief George Tsiotras, Prefect Panagiotis Psomiadis and other officials. Parliament president receives BIE Expo delegation: Parliament President Anna Psarouda-Benaki on Tuesday received a delegation from the Bureau International des Expositions (International Exhibitions Bureau) or BIE, shortly before expressing the Greek legislature�s support for Thessaloniki�s bid to host the 2008 Expo. The BIE delegation was led by Carmen Sylvain, a BIE vice-president and chairperson of the organization�s executive committee. Psarouda-Benaki, the first female Parliament president in Greece, cited Thessaloniki�s decades of experience in hosting trade shows and conferences, as well as the momentum and know-how gained through preparations for the upcoming 2004 Olympic Games. Sylvain and the entire BIE delegation have met with Greek political leaders and local government representatives over the past few days as part of an evolution process for 2008 Expo candidate cities. The city, the largest metropolis in Macedonia, hosts the annual Thessaloniki International Fair, Greece�s largest trade exhibition. It also serves as the springboard for the nearby verdant holiday destination of Halkidiki. Coalition leader voices support for Thessaloniki's EXPO 2008 bid: The president of the left-wing Coalition party Nikos Constantopoulos on Tuesday voiced his support for Thessaloniki's bid to host the EXPO 2008 international trade fair, after a meeting with a delegation from the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), the organization responsible for sanctioning world trade fairs. Constantopoulos said the EXPO would take place at a time of strategic importance for the Balkan area and could promote the northern Greek city and its history. Constantopoulos also had a meeting with the Archbishop of Tirana and Albania Anastasios, with whom he discussed the situation in the Balkans, the role of the Albanian Orthodox Church and cooperation and coexistence of peoples, religions and cultures. [13] Current account shows small surplusAthens, 21/04/2004 (ANA)The current account balance improved considerably to show a small surplus in February in comparison with a deficit in February 2003, the central bank said on Tuesday.The transfers surplus and services surplus approximately doubled and the income account deficit narrowed, while the trade deficit rose over the same period, the Bank of Greece said in a monthly report. The growth of the trade deficit was mainly due to an increase in the non-oil import bill, which more than offset the rise in non-oil export receipts. The net oil import bill grew slightly. The increase in the services surplus stemmed from higher net transport receipts, while net travel receipts remained virtually unchanged, the report said. The rise in the transfers surplus reflected an increase in net European Union transfers to general government to 1,436 million euros from 614 million euros in February 2003. In January-February 2004, the current account deficit narrowed by 1,082 million euros over the same period in 2003 to total 1,196 million euros. The trade deficit fell slightly in relation to the same period of 2003, reflecting an 189 million euro decrease in the net oil import bill, which was partly offset by an increase of 136 million euros in the non-oil trade deficit. In addition, the services surplus grew by 415 million euros due to a marked rise in net transport receipts, while net travel receipts dropped. The income account deficit fell by 159 million euros as a result of a decrease in net interest, dividend and profit payments. Finally, the transfers surplus grew by 455 million euros due to an increase in net EU transfers to general government. Moreover, in February 2004 there were no significant direct investment flows. Under portfolio investment, a net inflow of 3,112 million euros mainly reflected purchases of Greek government bonds by non-residents. Under ''other investment'', a net outflow of 3,443 million euros was mainly associated with a rise in resident credit institutions' and institutional investors' deposits and repos holdings abroad, as well as a drop in non-residents' deposits and repos holdings in Greece. In January-February 2004, a net inflow of 356 million euros was observed under direct investment. Over the same period, a substantial net inflow of 2,552 million euros was recorded under portfolio investment, mainly reflecting the fact that the inflow of funds as a result of increased non-residents' holdings of Greek government paper far outweighed the outflow of funds accounted for by the rise in residents' investments in securities issued by non-residents. At end-February 2004, Greece's reserve assets came to 3.7 billion euros, the central bank said. [14] Tax reform commission to be formed next monthAthens, 21/04/2004 (ANA)The government would complete the formation of a working commission to examine changes in the country's tax system in May, Finance Deputy Minister Adam Regouzas said on Tuesday.Speaking to reporters, Mr Regouzas also announced a package of tax-relief measures to be included in a new tax legislation, due to be implemented from January 1, 2005. The Greek minister left the door open for these measures to be valid for 2004 incomes and stressed that tax reforms measures would seek to cut indirect taxes. [15] Greek state to remain PPC's majority shareholder, gov�t saysAthens, 21/04/2004 (ANA)Development Deputy Minister George Salagoudis on Tuesday reiterated that the Greek state would remain Public Power Corporation's majority shareholder.Addressing a PPC general shareholders' meeting, Mr Salagoudis stressed that the company would continue operating on private financial criteria and with the aim to offer satisfactory dividend to its shareholders and to ensure adequacy of electricity supply in the country. The Greek minister noted that the government would proceed with a deregulation of the electricity market in the country, he stressed that PPC would be the most significant player in the market and added that he hoped for the creation of a favorable environment for private investments in the sector. PPC's new chairman, Yiannis Palaeokrassas, addressing the shareholders' meeting noted that the company's financial results were satisfactory and stressed that Public Power Corporation could benefit significantly from a deregulation of energy markets. He noted that the priorities of the new management was more respect to consumers and the environment. PPC announces new board members: A Public Power Corporation's general shareholders' meeting on Tuesday approved the company's new board, to be headed by Yiannis Palaeokrassas, the chairman of PPC. The new board also includes Evangelos Kroustalakis, a former prosecutor at the Supreme Court, Charalambos David, a Greek businessman, George Kontaxis, a professor at Metsovio Polytechnic School, and Evangelos Magirou, a professor at the Athens Economics University. [16] Stocks rise on bank buyingAthens, 21/04/2004 (ANA)The Athens bourse finished higher with players buying into banking stocks, traders said.The general share index gained 0.71 per cent to end at 2,466.35 points. Turnover was 104.4 million euros. The FTSE/ASE-20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks ended 0.76 per cent up; the FTSE/ASE-40 for medium capitalization paper 0.57 per cent higher; and the FTSE/ASE-80 for small cap equities gained 0.70 per cent. Of stocks traded, advances led declines at 172 to 111 with 79 issues remaining unchanged. FOREIGN EXCHANGE Closing rates of April 20 2004 Parities in euro For. Exchange Buying Selling US Dollar 1,202 1,174 [17] Oswald briefed by ministers on Olympic progress; OAKA tour todayAthens, 21/04/2004 (ANA)The chairman of the IOC's influential coordination committee for the 2004 Games, Denis Oswald, expressed his satisfaction on Tuesday with the progress for the upcoming Athens Olympics, as preparations are now ''under the microscope'' of international scrutiny.Oswald's latest upbeat comments followed a meeting at the culture ministry attended by a handful of top ministers charged with various sectors of Olympic preparations, including Alternate Culture Minister Fani Palli-Petralia, Transport Minister Mihalis Liapis and Health Minister Nikitas Kaklamanis, among others. Also on hand were high-profile Athens 2004 Organizing Committee (ATHOC) President Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki and the ATHOC executive director Marton Simitsek. ''There is nothing that is not being done. We are progressing well. We are within the allotted timeframe. Everyone is working around the clock at all Olympic locations. We are trying very hard and we will be ready,'' Palli-Petralia told reporters afterwards. On his part, Liapis said the new suburban rail line (northern Athens/airport) and the new Y-shaped tram network (central Athens/coastal districts) will soon be ready and operating. He also promised that a pending reshuffle of the state-run and listed telephony utility (OTE) will ensure that deadlines for various 2004-related telecommunications projects will be met as well. Oswald will tour the main Olympic Stadium Complex (OAKA) later in the day, a site that tops concerns of both the IOC and ATHOC in terms of meeting deadlines. [18] Alternate Culture Minister meets with Denis OswaldAthens, 21/04/2004 (ANA)Alternate Culture Minister Fani Palli-Petralia met with IOC Coordinating Commission President Denis Oswald and a team of other IOC executives at the Ministry on Tuesday.The following ministers also attended the meeting: Health and Social Solidarity Minister Nikitas Kaklamanis, Transport and Communications Minister Michalis Liapis, Deputy Culture Minister responsible for Sports George Orfanos, Deputy Public Order Minister Christos Markoyiannakis, Secretary General for the Olympic Games Spyros Kapralos, Athens 2004 Olympic Games Organizing Committee President Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki and Athens 2004 Executive Director Marton Simitsek. After the meeting, Oswald stated ''we met with the ministers who are involved in Olympic Games preparations to be briefed on the works' progress. I think the meeting went very well and we were fully informed.'' ''We had a very constructive cooperation with members of the IOC and with Athens 2004 President Mrs. Angelopoulos. We are within the timeframes we'd set last time and as you know, the projects are progressing. People are working triple shifts on the venues. We are monitoring everything, we are moving quickly, we are trying our hardest,'' Petralia said at the end of the meeting. Liapis commented on the suburban railroad and the tram, saying ''we are within the set timeframe - despite initial delays - and the two projects will be completed on time.'' [19] ATHOC president and Denis Oswald comment on Olympic Games progressAthens, 21/04/2004 (ANA)Athens 2004 Olympic Games Organizing Committee President Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki, IOC Coordinating Commission President Denis Oswald and Secretary General for the Olympic Games Spyros Kapralos visited the worksites at the Athens Olympic Sports Complex (OAKA) on Tuesday, along with other IOC executives.''We had a very productive meeting today with government and IOC representatives and, as it turns out, the progress made is substantial and evident, which means we will be ready on time,'' Angelopoulos-Daskalaki said at the end of the visit. ATHOC's president emphasized that, ''We have made up for lost time and we will be ready.'' ''As you know, the OAKA complex is of vital importance for the Olympic Games, since many venues are located here where very important sports events will be held. After last week's synchronized swimming and water polo events - which went very well - it became evident that the facilities satisfy Olympic standards and that the events were successful in every way,'' Oswald stated. He went on to add that, ''It's been three weeks since I visited the complex and I must admit that I am impressed with the work that's been done. You can see it for yourselves, the result is very impressive and I am certain that if this pace is maintained everything will be ready on time.'' Asked whether the delay in Olympic works will affect Games security, Oswald replied: ''We have met with the director of security and there is no problem; they are accelerating their pace as much as possible, and they assure us that whatever is necessary for the Games' security will be in place and tested ahead of the Games.'' [20] Petralia to preside over Olympic Games security meeting on WednesdayAthens, 21/04/2004 (ANA)Alternate Culture Minister Fani-Palli Petralia will preside over an Olympic Games security meeting that will be held on Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. at the Culture Ministry.Secretary General for the Olympic Games Spyros Kapralos will also attend the meeting along with representatives of the Fire Brigade, the Greek police, the Olympic Games Security Division, the Ministry of the Environment, Town Planning and Public Works, the legal department of the Ministry of Culture and others. [21] Greek minister says Olympic projects running within scheduleAthens, 21/04/2004 (ANA)Transport and Communications Minister Mihalis Liapis on Tuesday expressed his satisfaction over progress in two major Olympic projects, the Suburban Rail line and the Athens Tram.Speaking to reporters, after a meeting with Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis to discuss Olympic Games' preparations, Mr Liapis said that both projects were currently within scheduled timetables and that they would be delivered to commercial use in time. Referring to recent developments in Hellenic Telecommunications Organization, the Greek minister stressed that the ministry was cooperating with the organization�s new management to ensure an impeccable television broadcast of the Athens Olympic Games. Mr Liapis briefed the Greek premier over progress in Olympic projects ahead of a visit by the chairman of the Coordinating Commission for the 2004 Games, Denis Oswald. [22] Art exhibition on Olympics organized in The Hague by Greek embassyTHE HAGUE 21/04/2004 (ANA)An art exhibition entitled "SonArt Olympics" has officially opened its doors to the public at The Hague, following an initiative by the Greek Embassy in Holland.The exhibition highlights Olympic sports and their ideals and values through sculpture enhanced by "multimedia" audio and visual effects, and has attracted a lot of attention from the local media. Originally developed with the support of the Greek press and media ministry, it features sculptures by Angeliki Korovessi arranged and showcased by Vorre Museum curator Natasha Florou. [23] Orfanos to meet with Bulgarian sports ministerAthens, 21/04/2004 (ANA)Deputy Culture Minister responsible for Sports George Orfanos will meet with Bulgaria's Minister of Sports Vassil Ivanov on Wednesday at 12 noon at his office in Athens. Orfanos and Ivanov will discuss issues related to the Athens Olympic Games as well as other sports issues relevant to both countries.At 6:30 p.m. Orfanos will attend the opening ceremony of the Shooting ISSF World Cup to be held at Markopoulo Olympic Shooting Centre. [24] New wildlife conservation park created on CreteAthens, 21/04/2004 (ANA)A new park for the conservation of Crete's unique wildlife, both plant and animal, was officially inaugurated on the island on Tuesday in Hania.The park was created by Crete Polytechnic with the financial assistance of the Pancretan Union of America. During the ceremony, dean Yiannis Filis awarded the polytechnic's gold medal to Emmanuel Velivasakis and Constantinos Stamatakis for their contribution to creating the park and stressed that it would help relieve pressure on the large numbers of endemic species known to exist on Crete, estimated at roughly 10 per cent of the island's total plant life. The park will also be used for educational and recreational purposes and still contains a traditional threshing floor, furnace, well, watering hole and walking routes, as well as providing space for rare species of plants native to Crete and other Greek habitats. [25] Weather Forecast: Cloud, rain on WednesdayAthens, 21/04/2004 (ANA)Cloud, rain and isolated storms are forecast in most parts of the country on Tuesday. Snow will fall on high ground in the centre and north. Winds variable, light gradually turning strong. Temperatures in Athens from 4C to 17C and in Thessaloniki between 10C and 13C.[26] Security Council due to discuss Annan's Cyprus reportUNITED NATIONS 21/04/2004 (CNA/ANA)Security Council members were due to hold consultations on Cyprus in closed session at 2200 Cyprus time (1900 GMT) on Tuesday, following the report submitted to the Council on Monday by UN chief Kofi Annan, in which he requested the Council to endorse the Foundation Agreement creating a new state of affairs in Cyprus, ban arms sales to the island and approve the mandate of a new UN operation in the country.The consultations on Cyprus in closed session have been included in the published agenda for Tuesday's work at the Security Council. The members were expected to be presented with a draft resolution prepared by Britain and the US, on which they were to vote either on Tuesday night or on Wednesday. The draft resolution consists of a preamble and a three-part main body including decisions relating to the mandate of the new UN force for Cyprus and the arms embargo. The preamble of the draft resolution notes that implementation of the comprehensive settlement proposed by Annan on March 31, to be submitted to separate referenda among Greek and Turkish Cypriots on Saturday, will be in the interest of international peace and security in the region, ''and thus falls within the primary responsibility of the Security Council.'' It further notes that the scrupulous observance by all parties of the provisions and timetables contained in the comprehensive settlement, in particular those relating to security, ''will be of vital importance.'' The draft takes note also of Annan's recommendation for a strengthened UN operation to provide, inter alia, monitoring, verification and supervision of the implementation of the foundation agreement. Part A of the main text includes decisions by the Security Council to terminate the mandate of the current UN force in Cyprus and the setting up of a United Nations Settlement Implementation Mission in Cyprus (UNSIMIC) authorized to monitor and promote compliance with the foundation agreement, including the dissolution of all Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot forces, and the adjustment of Greek and Turkish forces and armaments to agreed equal levels. Part B is placed under Chapter VII of the UN Charter and adopts compulsory measures preventing the sale, supply or transfer of arms to Cyprus. Part C includes a call by the Security Council upon all parties concerned to ''implement faithfully and fully'' all aspects of the comprehensive settlement within the prescribed timetables. It also includes a request to Annan to report regularly on progress in the implementation of the comprehensive settlement. [27] Top UN envoy tries to allay security fearsNICOSIA 21/04/2004 (CNA/ANA)Alvaro de Soto, the UN Secretary General's Special Adviser on Cyprus, has said the Security Council intends to take such action as to allay fears about non-compliance by the parties involved in a Cyprus solution and about security concerns.Speaking at a press conference as the Council meets to consider a resolution on Cyprus, four days ahead of a referendum on a UN solution plan (the Annan plan), he pointed to the significance of the interpretation on the ground by the UN of the resolution expected to be adopted on Tuesday. Replying to questions, he said the Security Council could not have acted before there was a final text to allay security fears and explained that security concerns were addressed in the plan. ''It is essential that there should be security action in order to do what the parties, through the Secretary General, are asking the Security Council to do,'' he added. The UN, he said, believed the parties would comply with the commitments undertaken if the plan were approved but said that action by the Security Council should go a long way to allay those fears. Asked if he expected something stronger in the final text of the resolution than a call, de Soto said ''the wording is cautious, what counts is the interpretation on the ground by the UN personnel and I can assure you that the UN would be active, even proactive, some may say intrusive and that makes a difference.'' He said the work now underway aimed at making sure that everything was in place from day one and said ''Mr. Papadopoulos gets a lot of credit precisely for having insisted with such tenacity that everything be in place at the time when the agreement enters into force.'' The UN diplomat said that if the Annan plan were rejected, this would be tantamount to the maintenance of the status quo and the UN responsibilities would remain unchanged unless the Security Council decided otherwise. In his opening remarks, he referred to the steps incorporated in the Secretary-General's report (the endorsement of the Foundation Agreement, the adoption of a binding arms embargo and the establishment of a new peace-keeping operation). He said Annan had asked Security Council members to put off consideration of endorsing the plan after the referenda. De Soto said it was important for the Council to send a signal to the people of Cyprus that they would be taking the necessary action and send a message to the parties to the settlement that it expects full compliance with the settlement provisions. ''I should underscore that this does not mean the Council is jumping ahead of the Cypriot people,'' he said, adding that if the plan is rejected the actions taken conditionally by the Security Council would be null and void. Replying to questions on the information campaign to explain to the people the Annan plan, de Soto said ''it is not for the UN to engage in proselytism or advocacy, we hope the leaders would do that or present the plan impartially'' but failure of this to be done as the UN would have liked had given rise to some fears. He said that it was up to the Cypriots to decide on referendum day, the UN provided clarifications and explanations but suggested there was ''quite a bit of distortion of the plan'' and indicated that some benefits were downplayed. ''I have no reason to believe that the parties, if they have more time, will come up with anything better'' than the present plan, he said. On the stance of Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis, de Soto said ''he was circumspect in his presentation, he was clear in saying whereas the plan has good points it also has difficulties and expressed the opinion that the good points outweigh the difficulties.'' [28] US wants UN resolution on Cyprus prior to referendaNICOSIA 21/04/2004 (CNA/ANA)US Secretary of State Colin Powell said on Tuesday that the US is working with the UN Security Council on a resolution that it would like to see acted upon this week, which should give encouragement to Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots that the UN will be putting its weight behind a Cyprus settlement, in view of referenda on both sides on April 24 to approve a solution plan proposed by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.Powell, who was speaking after a meeting with EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana, noted that the US is concentrating on doing everything possible to get a positive vote in the referenda, adding that as both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots examine the terms of the Annan plan, they will come to the realization that it is in the interest of both parties to vote ''yes''. Solana said everyone had the obligation to do the utmost to get a ''yes'' in the referenda, adding that if the Turkish Cypriots say ''yes'' and the Greek Cypriots say ''no'', life will not be the same. Powell said he and Solana had a ''good discussion about the situation in Cyprus and the upcoming referenda that will be held at the end of the week.'' ''This is an historic moment for Cyprus and I hope that Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, as they review the details of the plan that has been put before them in the form of referenda, will understand that this is a moment not to be lost. This is the time for them to vote 'yes', 'yes' to reconciliation, 'yes' to the prospect of a brighter future for both Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots, 'yes' for the island to come into the EU as one entity, 'yes' to the end of 30, 40 years of division and isolation between families,'' Powell said. He added that in all of his conversations with his foreign minister colleagues for the last several days, he has been ''pressing all of them to speak out for a 'yes' vote in the referenda this upcoming weekend.'' Powell also said that the US is ''working with the UN Security Council on a resolution that we would like to see acted upon this week, and that resolution should give encouragement to the Cypriots, both the north and south, that the UN will be putting its weight behind this agreement, will be putting its weight behind the Secretary-General's plan, and in the resolution we will make sure that we call upon all parties to meet their obligations, rather meet their commitments in the plan.'' ''I hope this gives some encouragement to the Greek and Turkish Cypriots to show that the international community is behind this effort fully in the form of a Security Council resolution,'' he added. Solana said ''all of us in the European Union think there is a splendid opportunity to solve the problem that has been with us for too many years.'' He noted that ''the plan that has been presented by the Secretary General of the UN is a good plan, and if at this moment we all don't make the effort and we let this opportunity go by, probably the train may not return.'' ''Therefore, we have the obligation - everybody - to do the utmost to get a 'yes' in the referendum. And that would allow Cyprus, the island, the whole island, to incorporate it into the EU and become a prosperous and a stable place in the Mediterranean and obtaining all the benefits of being part of the EU,'' Solana added. He also pointed out that ''this is the aim of all the members of the EU'' and thanked ''the effort that the Secretary of State has put on helping all of us and cooperating together in getting this referendum in the right direction.'' ''So, please, the last appeal, or one more appeal, to the people in the north and the south part of the island to understand what is at stake and to behave with a responsible manner to the leaders and to the people,'' Solana said. Replying to questions, Powell said ''our concentration right now is doing everything we can to get a 'yes','' adding that he thought it was ''possible to get a 'yes'.'' ''I think that as both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots examine the terms of the plan that the Secretary-General has put forth, they will come to the realization that it is in the interest of both parties to vote 'yes'. And that's what we're focusing on, not any consequences of a 'no' vote or a split vote of any kind,'' he added. At this point Solana noted, on behalf of the EU, that ''if at the end of the day there is a 'yes' in the northern part and it's 'no' in the southern part, life will not be the same, and that everybody has to know.'' [29] Russia says external pressure on Cyprus not welcomeNICOSIA 21/04/2004 (CNA/ANA)Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday that any UN Security Council decisions predetermining the outcome of April 24 referenda on a Cyprus settlement plan would ''not be realistic,'' adding that Russia did not want external pressure on the people of Cyprus, who should decide freely on their future.Lavrov, who met in Moscow on Tuesday with his Cypriot counterpart George Iacovou, said that irrespectively of the Security Council deliberations, ''we are certain that the concerns of the government of the Republic of Cyprus in the sector of security should be taken into consideration, because they are not respectively reflected in the current settlement plan.'' According to an official press release, Iacovou said that April 24 was ''the moment of the free will of our compatriots and of course their decision will be absolutely respected.'' During the meeting, Lavrov and Iacovou examined the latest developments in the Cyprus problem, as well as bilateral relations. Lavrov reaffirmed Russia's position on the ''necessity of a just settlement of the Cyprus problem on the basis of UN resolutions'' and noted that the April 24 referenda should be held ''without any external intervention or pressure.'' The Russian minister noted that the UN Security Council, ''based on the results of the referenda, should take decisions that would take into consideration the situation that will emerge on the island after the referenda,'' adding that ''in this respect our position is identical to that of the government of the Republic of Cyprus.'' Lavrov also referred to Cyprus' accession to the EU on May 1, noting that ''we are not indifferent to which Cyprus will join the EU and in this respect we discussed various possibilities so that the interests of Russia, its citizens and businesspeople are affected the least possible.'' [30] Papadopoulos: 'I want assurances that commitments will be implemented'NICOSIA 21/04/2004 (CNA/ANA)Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos has stressed the need for assurances that Turkey will implement the commitments it has undertaken and are envisaged in the UN plan for a Cyprus settlement, on which Cypriots are to vote in a referendum on April 24.In an interview with Time magazine's Europe issue, Papadopoulos said implementation of ''some benefits'' gained by Greek Cypriots under the plan presented by UN chief Kofi Annan on March 31 would take a long time, while gains by Turkish Cypriots would have effect only 48 hours after a positive outcome in the referendum. ''So we are buying hope,'' Papadopoulos said, reiterating a phrase he used in his recent address to Cypriots in which he urged the Greek Cypriot community to reject the UN proposals. ''I want assurances that those commitments will be implemented,'' the Cypriot leader said in response to a comment by interviewer Andrew Purvis that the Turkish side was undertaking binding commitments. Asked what kind of assurances he sought, Papadopoulos said these could be from the UN Security Council or other organizations. ''It could be other countries,'' he added. He declined to say whether assurances from US Secretary of State Colin Powell about implementation of the UN plan would be enough. ''I am not going to tell you now. I will wait to see what is possible and what they can do,'' he responded. Papadopoulos said accusations that he was against a federal solution for Cyprus were ''adding insult to injury.'' ''The whole idea of a bizonal, bicommunal federation was mine,'' he said. ''It was my understanding of the solution of the Cyprus problem. I was the chairman of the committee which drafted those proposals in 1977.'' Remarking that the UN plan had ''only four'' positive points which he mentioned in his address last week, he said all elements which pushed people towards working and mixing together ''are missing.'' ''The idea of having two entities is there, but the trimmings are missing,'' he elaborated. Papadopoulos agreed that turning down the plan would intensify separation in Cyprus. ''But one has to weigh that against the other risks - giving up everything to the other side and being left with a deadlocked, non-functioning, non-unified country,'' he said. Rejecting the notion that the Annan plan was the last chance for Cyprus, he acknowledged that, in light of accession to the European Union on May 1, he had ''a very heavy task'' to explain to the EU why the Annan plan ''does not really provide for a unified Cyprus joining'' the Union. [31] Britain hopes Cypriots will say 'yes' to Annan planLONDON 21/04/2004 (CNA/ANA)British Prime Minister Tony Blair expressed hope that the people of Cyprus would see the benefits of a Cyprus settlement plan proposed by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and would vote in favor of it at separate referenda on April 24.Blair told the House of Commons on Monday that Cyprus was among other issues he discussed in both New York and Washington with Annan and US President George Bush. ''I am sure that the House will join me in paying tribute to Kofi Annan, both for the skill and distinction with which he has led the UN during difficult times and specifically for the work that he has done on Cyprus,'' Blair said. He also expressed hope that ''the people of Cyprus will see the benefits of the UN plan and vote for it in the referendums on Saturday.'' Replying, leader of the Conservative Party at the House of Commons, Michael Howard, said he ''entirely agreed'' with Blair's statement on Cyprus. 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