Athens News Agency: News in English, 05-03-03

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM Karamanlis in Belgrade, calls for greater EU involvement in Kosovo issue

[02] Italian journalist calls for release of 2 colleagues in Iraq

[03] KYSEA appoints new armed forces leadership

[04] Tourism development minister visits U.S. film industry in Hollywood

[01] PM Karamanlis in Belgrade, calls for greater EU involvement in Kosovo issue

"For us the issue is clear: We desire greater involvement by the European Union since a solution to the issue of Kosovo is required which will be in agreement with European criteria and European values. At the same time, Serbia's path to Europe will also open at last. Both President Tadic and all the political leaders of Serbia and Montenegro are aware of preconditions set by the European Union, including the ICTY, for this path to become wide open," Karamanlis said.

"It is clear that the full participation of Belgrade, both at this stage of criteria evaluation and in scheduling talks for the future status of Kosovo, constitutes an essential and necessary precondition for the security of the region. The position of Serbia and Montenegro is in united Europe," he added.

Karamanlis also said that both he and President Tadic expressed satisfaction in observing a new momentum in bilateral economic relations, as well as an increased interest for Greek investment and business possibilities in Serbia.

"As it was natural, we discussed the European prospect of Serbia and Montenegro, as well as the issue of Kosovo. The position of Greece is known:Serbia and Montenegro, as well as Kosovo, cannot constitute the 'black hole' of Europe. European unification remains incomplete for as long as it does not include all the countries in our area without exception," he said.

Following his talks with the Montenegrin prime minister, Karamanlis referred to the very interesting presentation made by Djukanovic on the reform programme taking place in Montenegro.

He stated that he supports the European prospects of Montenegro and on the question of a possible separation of Serbia and Montenegro, based on the proposal made, Karamanlis said the agreement reached in Belgrade must be respected by all sides, stressing that "it is the right of peoples to decide on their future" (the Belgrade agreement anticipates a referendum on this possibility in 2006).

The Greek prime minister further said that stability in the region must be the criterion and the shortest and most preferable path leading to the completion of the European course.

According to reports, Greece's position is identical with that of the European Union in that there is no question of a return to the status existing before 1999, when Kosovo was part of Serbia and, at the same time, that the final status of Kosovo must not lead to its partitioning or to its reunification with other neighbouring countries.

The Greek government believes that whatever solution is decided can be more viable if Serbia is involved in the next phase of talks. However, it is clear that the Serb side desires a different status for Kosovo.

Greek government sources stressed that Karamanlis's visit to the area is aimed at the permanent confirmation of good relations and their improvement and the greatest possible support by Greece in resolving problems, since Greece will be assuming the presidency of the Inter-Balkan Conference as of May, while in July it will be assuming the presidency of the UN Security Council, when the phase of evaluating criteria set for Kosovo might have ended and final decisions be taken at that time.

Earlier, he met with Croatian prime minister Ivo Sanader in Zagreb, the first stop on his Balkan tour.

"I had a particularly useful meeting with Prime Minister Sanader, whom I thanked for the warm reception we were given," Karamanlis said after the meeting.

"We conducted a brief overview of our bilateral relations. I must emphasise that on a political level our bilateral relations are excellent, a fact that was also confirmed during today's meeting. We agreed to cooperate even more closely so that our economic relations may be on a par with our political relations," Karamanlis added.

"It is absolutely natural - and I want to emphasise that - for the starting point of our tour to be Zagreb. Greece's strategic aim is to promote the European prospects of Southeast European countries, so that we can transform our region from a 'powder keg', as it was once called, to a European neighbourhood," Karamanlis said. He also emphasised that Greece has and will continue to support Croatia's EU accession efforts. "Our country's stance is that cooperation with international courts is always necessary in order to maintain international legality. We must reward this cooperation," Karamanlis added.

On March 17, it will be decided whether Croatia has fulfilled the criteria necessary for accession talks to begin.

Additionally, the two leaders also discussed developments in the Balkans, with particular emphasis on Kosovo. Karamanlis noted that Greece, as an EU and NATO member, as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council as well as in view of its assumption of the presidency of the Inter-Balkan Cooperation in May, is working closely with countries in the region.

In closing, Karamanlis congratulated Sanader and his government for progress made in terms of reforms. Sanader thanked Greece for its support.

Karamanlis was due to visit Pristina on Thursday, on the last stop of his visit.

On Friday, the premier was scheduled to meet with Albanian prime minister Fatos Nano in Athens.

[02] Italian journalist calls for release of 2 colleagues in Iraq

"We realised that in Greece there was not enough information available regarding Giuliana," journalist Argyris Panagopoulos of the newspaper "Epochi" said, explaining the reason behind the press conference. "We must continue to write about them daily and not forget them," he added.

Bernard Jenkins of ADF referred to Aubenas, saying she did not have much time to report since she was kidnapped shortly after arriving in Iraq, almost two months ago. "It is important for people - especially journalists - to pressure governments. Governments do not always see what journalists consider a priority, but it is a priority," Jenkins said.

"Don't forget them; fight for their liberty, which coincides with the Iraqi people's liberty," Castellina said. Having seen a short, 30-second video of Aubenas, who said she was not well and pleaded for help, reminded Castellina of the same feelings she and colleagues at Il Manifesto experienced when seeing a video of Sgrena also pleading for help.

"I can't tell you who kidnapped them, but I do know that Iraq is a fragmented country. (...) People have no water, food or electricity, while children are being killed by cluster bombs...There is no recognised authority," Castellina said, describing the situation in Iraq. "In this chaos, anyone could have kidnapped Giuliana and Florence," she explained. "Journalists are hostage to all the consequences of the military occupation and the commercialisation of war," she added.

She said that Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the Jordanian radical who has been linked to the terrorist group Al-Qaeda and has been behind most of the kidnappings of foreigners in Iraq, denied any involvement in the kidnappings of Sgrena, Aubenas and El-Saadi. Castellina also said that 48 hours after Sgrena's kidnapping, Al-Qaeda released a statement online, saying it was not responsible. The Qatar-based Arab TV channel Al-Jazeera has broadcast a video about Sgrena, who she was and what she did in Iraq. The channel also showed all of the photographs Sgrena took in Iraq, which show how close she was to the Iraqi people, Castellina explained.

She said that the Italian government has been very responsible about the matter, keeping Sgrena's family up-to-date on developments.

Finally, Castellina explained why initiatives such as Wednesday's press conference, or the protests held at the Italian and French embassies worldwide, were important: they influence Iraqi public opinion, they weaken the kidnappers' position, they provide incentives to Italian and French authorities to take action for the hostages' release, but also they "tell us that the war in Iraq is still going on."

[03] KYSEA appoints new armed forces leadership

The new leadership is the following:

National Defence General Staff Chief:Admiral Panayiotis Hinofotis

Army General Staff Chief:Lieutenant General Nikolaos Douvas

Navy General Staff Chief:Vice Admiral Dimitrios Gousis

Air Force General Staff Chief:Georgios Avlonitis

Fleet Commander:Vice Admiral Margaritis Tzavaras.

[04] Tourism development minister visits U.S. film industry in Hollywood

Avramopoulos presented a specific plan at the historic Beverly Hills Hotel, prepared in cooperation with other relevant ministries, concerning the attraction of major foreign producers to Greece.

It is an initiative aimed at rekindling Greece's relations with the international film industry, which had been a basic factor in promoting Greek tourism in the decades until the '70s.

The minister's contacts included 20th Century Fox President Jimmy Yiannopoulos and Warner's Production President Steve Papazian.

"Greece is developing into one of the most attractive places for producing great films. This also ties with the past when our country was promoted and advertised thanks to such splendid productions which wrote history," Avramopoulos said after his meetings.

Avramopoulos is also due to hold talks with the publishing group and journalists of the New York Times newspaper and will be meeting Greek community representatives and the Archbishop of America Dimitrios.

Meanwhile, Information Secretary General Panos Livadas, who is accompanying Avramopoulos during his visit, indicated that encouraging prospects are appearing for the making of Hollywood films in Greece in coming years.

"We are optimistic and the conclusions from our efforts will be jointly evaluated and examined when we return to Athens," Livadas said in a statement to the Athens News Agency.

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