Athens News Agency: News in English, 00-09-10

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

CONTENTS

[01] Washington Post-FM Papandreou-Olympic Truce

[02] Weather Forecast-Monday

[03] Thessaloniki-ND Leader-Press Conference-TIF

[04] Thessaloniki-ND leader-TIF-Speech

[01] Washington Post-FM Papandreou-Olympic Truce

WASHINGTON (ANA - T. Ellis) - The American newspaper "Washington Post" published on Sunday an article by Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou on the Olympic Truce during Olympic Games.

"IOC President Mr. Samaranch and I inaugurated a new non-governmental organisation in Athens on July 24, the International Centre for the Olympic Truce. The Centre is an ambitious venture by the IOC in cooperation with the Greek government on promoting an international truce during the Olympic Games and building bridges between rivals during the four-year period between Olympic Games," the article said.

"Apart from the ideal of unselfish competition which inspired athletes, the ancient Olympic Games had a wider political and even spiritual significance. The 'Holy Olympic Truce' prevailed during the Games, as well as during the period necessary for athletes to travel to and from Olympia. During this period, embattled peoples laid down their arms and tried to find paths leading to peace," it added.

The article said "the vaccination of the modern Olympic movement with a similar incentive is something feasible and is what urged my government to submit a proposal on the creation of this centre. The IOC and its President had already paved the way when they persuaded the UN General Assembly in 1992 and recently in 1999 to call on all the countries of the world to abstain from hostilities during the games."

[02] Weather Forecast-Monday

Scattered showers are forecast in the Ionian and mainland Greece on Monday. It will be partly cloudy in the rest of the country.

Winds will be variable, moderate, turning strong in the Aegean Sea.

Temperatures in the north will range from 13C to 27C; on the rest of the mainland and in the Ionian from 17C to 31C; and in the Aegean from 21C to 29C.

[03] Thessaloniki-ND Leader-Press Conference-TIF

Main opposition New Democracy party (ND) leader Costas Karamanlis, in a press conference he gave in Thessaloniki on Sunday at the end of his three-day visit to the 65th Thessaloniki International Trade Fair, said that he would be the opponent of Prime Minister Costas Simitis in the next general elections.

Karamanlis made it totally clear that he had no intention of raising the leadership issue in the ND's forthcoming Congress, a fact that, according to press sources, provoked the withdrawal of ND senior cadre Dora Bakoyianni from the hall where Karamanlis was speaking.

In the same outright manner, Karamanlis said that Bakoyianni's proposal that the duration of term of party president should be based within a set period of time, would be dealt with like all other proposals by the party's agencies.

Asked by reporters to name the business people who he believes are involved in "interrelated interests", Karamanlis said "it is not an issue for gossip or for a personal vendeta, but a political will for the rules of democracy to be enforced."

He again called on the prime minister to personally undertake his responsibilities and promised that "when ND returns to power transparency will prevail in all sectors."

He reiterated that the ND has been harmed by organised interests "and that the only person who pretends that he does not understand this is the prime minister himself."

Karamanlis viewed the "interrelated interests" as "a gross accumulation of wealth and political influence by certain people."

To a question whether the ND would abolish the new police identity cards if his party returns to power, Karamanlis said that he would discuss with the Church hierarchy on all issues.

[04] Thessaloniki-ND leader-TIF-Speech

The management of the Thessaloniki International Trade Fair (TIF) on Saturday night hosted a dinner in honour of main opposition New Democracy party (ND) leader Costas Karamanlis who launched a stinging attack against the government regarding its work in all sectors, particularly that of the economy.

He called on Prime Minister Costas Simitis to assume his responsibilities on issues of "interrelated interests", that is, those concerning "the Athens Stock Exchange, foreign policy and everything that has to do with the daily lives of the citizens, such as unemployment, health and education."

Karamanlis said the government "is sinking in a crisis of arrogance and pretexts, and after 20 years in power, it seeks visions, at the same time asking for 10 more years of sacrifices." He added that during the election period, the government shared out promises of a fair share of benefits from the country's accession to the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU).

With regard the Athens Stock Exchange, Karamanlis said the government had sought the decline of the bourse's general index last autumn and then went on "to deceive investors by giving official assurances of a rise in the index."

For the confrontation of the bourse issue, Karamanlis called for the completion of institutional measures, such as the setting up of "a real and Independent Capital Market Committee, and the removal of all those involved in the crisis."

The ND leader further charged that the government was delaying in the privatisation and liberalisation of the telecommunications and energy markets.

Karamanlis also accused the government of "criminal responsibilities" in the case of Olympic Airways, saying that "the only solution is for an international tender to be held for the selection of a strategic investor."

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