Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 04-07-08

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

CONTENTS

[01] Karamanlis' article appears in The Daily Telegraph

[02] Stylianidis gives interview to Bulgarian TV

[03] PM receives Mitsotakis

[04] EU Commission proposes measures to help Turkish Cypriots

[05] European Commission warns Greece and Italy on emission of gases

[06] Agriculture minister meets Israeli ambassador

[07] Lowest bidders to win public works contracts

[08] Athens Bourse Close: Stocks seek consolidation

[09] Oswald told only Greek armed police will guard officials

[10] Athens 2004: The Olympic Torch will not travel to Cyprus occupied areas

[11] Mt. Parnitha forest fire placed under full control

[01] Karamanlis' article appears in The Daily Telegraph

LONDON, 8/7/2004 (ANA/L.Tsirigotakis)

Karamanlis begins his article with a reference to the Greek soccer team's victory in the Euro 2004 championship. "The Greek players proved that if we work systematically, with persistence and determination, we can achieve astonishing feats. Our national team have made all of us proud; they gained the respect of our adversaries and proved that 'heart talk' is occasionally stronger than 'hard talk.' We are deeply grateful to our players, our coach Otto Rehhagel and everyone who made the dream come true. Our Euro 2004 success, is in fact, another sign of our sound decision to change pace and move ahead. This is a one-of-a-kind passport to global recognition of our resolution to be successful in our tasks."

On the Olympic Games, Karamanlis wrote: "Organizing a successful and safe Olympic Games in Athens has been a goal that united all Greeks. In order to fully stand up to the demanding organizational standards and our own aspiring vision for the Games, we have been working hard, taking good care that all necessary provisions are well met. By putting myself at the top of the Olympic preparations, I intended to send a clear message, on behalf of the Greek government, that in spite of overblown and unjust criticisms everything will be prepared on time."

The prime minister also expressed his confidence that Greece stands much to gain from the Olympic Games. "We are certain that Greece, after having hosted the Olympics, will be a more experienced, self-confident, optimistic country. Greece will have proved that medium-sized countries are capable of successfully organizing world-scale international events," he wrote.

Karamanlis also emphasized that the country has been taking measures that will enable Greece to capitalize on the Olympics experience, in terms of economic growth, in sectors such as telecommunications, business, tourism, services, construction and others.

[02] Stylianidis gives interview to Bulgarian TV

SOFIA, 8/7/2004 (ANA/B.Borisov)

"Every success achieved by a Balkan country represents a success for the entire Balkan region and we will celebrate it together," Stylianidis said in response to the journalist's congratulatory statement on Greece's victory in the Euro 2004 soccer championship.

Speaking of the Olympic Games, the deputy foreign minister said that the country is completely ready after a lot of hard work. "In terms of infrastructure, everything will be complete in a few days. This is a bet Greece is trying to win for the first time," he said, adding that it is the first time that a small country is trying to organize such a large-scale international event, with the after-effects of Sept. 11 complicating matters even more. "However, we feel that with the help of our friends, allies and neighbors we are ready to take the test and pass with flying colors, winning similar events for the region in the future," Stylianidis said.

During the interview, Stylianidis also referred to the relations between Greece and Bulgaria, emphasizing that Greece had warmly supported Bulgaria's EU and NATO candidacies. "Karamanlis' new government strongly believes that relations between Greece and Bulgaria can be to the Balkans what French-German relations are to the EU - a leading force," he underlined.

"Bulgaria is our fourth most important commercial partner, while Greece is the number 1 investor in Bulgaria, having created 85,000 job opportunities to date. This dimension of our relations along with the excellent political and cultural bonds we share justify what I just said about being a 'leading force in the Balkans,'" Stylianidis stated.

[03] PM receives Mitsotakis

ATHENS, 8/7/2004 (ANA)

He reiterated his proposal for electing a presidential from a popular vote, rather than the current regime, whereby a majority of Parliament elects the head of state.

[04] EU Commission proposes measures to help Turkish Cypriots

BRUSSELS, 8/7/2004 (ANA/M.Spinthourakis/CNA)

''These measures will facilitate trade from the northern part of the island and strengthen its economic integration through financial assistance of A259 million. They also set specific rules for goods crossing the green line separating the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot communities,'' it said.

Enlargement Commissioner Gunter Verheugen said it would have been unfair to leave the Turkish Cypriots out in the cold, since they had expressed overwhelming support for the UN Plan to reunify Cyprus.

''The Commission is therefore happy to propose an aid and trade scheme, which, if adopted by the Council, will foster the economic development of the northern part of the island. It will also build new bridges between the two communities and thus keep alive hopes of the reunification of Cyprus'', he said.

In a referendum in April a UN proposal on a comprehensive settlement in Cyprus was rejected by the Greek Cypriots and approved by the Turkish Cypriots. Following the outcome of the referenda, the Council ''invited the Commission to bring forward comprehensive proposals to this end, with particular emphasis on the economic integration of the island and on improving contact between the two communities and with the EU,'' he noted.

The press release said the Commission today (Wednesday) decided to propose a regulation establishing financial support for the economic development of the Turkish Cypriot community and for improving contacts between the two communities.

The envelope amounts to 259 million Euros for the period 2004-2006. It will put a particular emphasis on alignment with EU legislation and policies, reconciliation and confidence building measures, social and economic development, development of infrastructure and people to people contacts.

This regulation has to be adopted by unanimity by the Council after consultation of the European Parliament. It also proposed a regulation to facilitate direct trade from the northern part of Cyprus.

The proposal offers a preferential regime for products originating in the north, entering the Customs Territory of the EU. It sets rules on the documents certifying the origin of goods, to be issued by the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce or another duly authorized body; phytosanitary inspections; food and product safety; taxation; communication obligations; safeguard measures in the event of ineffective cooperation, irregularities or fraud.

It is proposed that the preferential regime should take the form of a tariff quota system which would be established to encourage economic development while avoiding the creation of artificial trade patterns or facilitating fraud.

This regulation has to be adopted by the Council by qualified majority.

The Commission adopted a regulation defining special rules with regards to the intra-island trade. It decided to authorize the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce to issue the necessary documents accompanying the goods which will cross the Green Line, dividing Cyprus into the northern Turkish occupied areas and the southern government controlled part of the island.

Verheugen: measures not to promote direct or indirect recognition: European Union Enlargement Commissioner Gunter Verheugen said the package of comprehensive measures adopted by the Commission did not run any risk of leading to the recognition, direct or indirect, of the entity in the Turkish occupied north of Cyprus.

He told a press conference in Brussels that the measures, which had broad support, aimed to bring an end to the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots and that the Commission "has not the slightest interest in seeing a mini-Turkish state" in the north of Cyprus.

Verheugen said the acquis communautaire was not in force in the northern part of the island, hence this part of Cyprus had to be treated as a third country, something he described as normal trade policy of the EU.

He explained that when the specific quotas have to be decided, the Republic of Cyprus will be involved and said that the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce was in a position to issue the necessary certificates in this regard.

Verheugen expressed the hope the package would contribute to the solution of the Cyprus problem and finally the reunification of the island, noting "it continues to be the policy of the Commission to see a united Cyprus member of the EU".

The Commissioner stressed the package had a "very strong political importance", adding that the Commission believed that "a precondition for a solution which will be useful is to eliminate the very strong economic disparities between" Cyprus' two communities.

Verheugen said the economic package would help reduce the concerns of the Greek Cypriots with regard to the cost of a solution.

Asked if the measures implied the opening of all ports in the north, the Commissioner replied "free trade, yes, everything".

Verheugen described as ''interesting'' a proposal by Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos for joint operation of the occupied port of Famagusta and said he backed this initiative.

[05] European Commission warns Greece and Italy on emission of gases

BRUSSELS, 8/7/2004 (ANA/A. Simatos)

Particularly, the Commission moved against member states which delay in taking the necessary measures which will allow the operation of the system of trade of the emission of gases in the sectors of energy and industry.

[06] Agriculture minister meets Israeli ambassador

ATHENS, 8/7/2004 (ANA)

Tsitouridis stated that the meeting was beneficial given that Israel "has made fantastic progress" in the agricultural sector.

The Israeli ambassador noted that the agricultural sector can constitute "a bridge" between the two peoples.

[07] Lowest bidders to win public works contracts

ATHENS, 8/7/2004 (ANA)

The bill has been sent to the Technical Chamber of Greece and other trade groups for feedback within ten days before being sent to parliament at the end of July for a vote in August, Souflias told a news conference.

[08] Athens Bourse Close: Stocks seek consolidation

ATHENS, 8/7/2004 (ANA)

The Athens general share index closed at 2,335.74 points, showing a decline of 0.11 per cent. Turnover was 91.2 million euros.

The FTSE/ASE-20 index for high capitalization shares ended 0.21 per cent down; the FTSE/ASE-40 for medium cap stocks closed 0.04 per cent lower; and the FTSE/ASE-80 for small cap shares finished 0.64 per cent up.

Of stocks traded, advances led declines at 163 to 106 with 79 remaining unchanged.

[09] Oswald told only Greek armed police will guard officials

ATHENS, 8/7/2004 (ANA)

Following the meeting, Oswald said that Greece's victory in the Euro 2004 Soccer Championship in Portugal was a good omen for the Olympic Games.

On preparations for the Olympic Games, Oswald said that "We had the chance to praise the work done since March when the new government took over." He also noted that "the transition of one government to the other did not create any problem."

[10] Athens 2004: The Olympic Torch will not travel to Cyprus occupied areas

NICOSIA, 8/7/2004 (ANA/CNA)

ATHENS 2004 Marketing General Manager Georgios Bolos said on Wednesday that the torch would not be passing through the occupied areas because the Turkish Cypriots have rejected a proposal made to them by the Committee.

Speaking to a joint press conference with Cyprus Olympic Committee (COC) President Kikis Lazarides, Bolos said that the Athens 2004 Committee accepted a proposal made by the COC for the Torch to pass through the occupied areas and presented to the Turkish Cypriots a proposal for a Torch relay of 3,5 kilometers in occupied Nicosia with 10 Turkish Cypriot Torchbearers.

''The Turkish Cypriots denied the passage of the Torch on the conditions we set out to them'' Bolos added, noting that the Organizing Committee did not set out any different conditions from those set out for the other cities the Torch has traveled to.

Lazarides said that it is a great honor for Cyprus the fact that the island will be the last stop of the Torch Relay before going back to Greece, the cradle of the Olympic Games and called on the people to attend the ceremonies welcoming the Torch.

He noted that the Torch, arriving in Cyprus from Sofia, Bulgaria will receive a head of state welcome.

Replying to questions, Lazarides said that his only concern in the case the Torch traveled to the occupied areas was for the occupying regime not to request from the people escorting the Torch to present their passports.

During its two-day stay in Cyprus, the torch will travel throughout the government-controlled areas. A Turkish Cypriot University of Cyprus lecturer Niazi Kisilgurek will be among the 145 torchbearers.

Each city will organize brief events to welcome the Torch. The ceremonies will culminate Wednesday night in Nicosia, in the D' Avilla moat in the old town of the divided capital, which will include the lighting of a cauldron by the final torchbearer Anninos Markoullides.

The ceremony will be followed by a concert of Cypriot composer Marios Tokas, who will be accompanied by well-known Greek singers and choirs from all over Cyprus.

[11] Mt. Parnitha forest fire placed under full control

ATHENS, 8/7/2004 (ANA)

According to the fire brigade and police, the dead man, aged 74, tried to escape towards the area of Thrakomakedones.

Minister of State and government spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos expressed the government's grief over the death of the man in the region of Thrakomakedones.

Roussopoulos said the fire brigade, the civil protection authority, the prefectural and local government authority and the citizens of the region made every effort, under unfavorable weather conditions, to place the fire under control.

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