Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 00-08-17

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

CONTENTS

[01] Morphou refugees urge stronger pressure to end 26-year long occupation of Cyprus

[02] Greek politicians address ethnic Greeks at religious festival in Albania

[03] Equities drop on profit taking Áthens, 17/08/2000 (ANA)

[04] Suggested retail fuel prices remain the same, diesel up

[05] Rhodes to host 1st International Forum focusing on role of women in 'culture of peace'

[06] Moscow says will play active role in Cyprus peace effort

[07] Resolution on UNFICYP financing

[01] Morphou refugees urge stronger pressure to end 26-year long occupation of Cyprus

NICOSIA, 17/08/2000 (ANA/CNA)

Morphou refugees also expressed their disappointment and bitterness at the absence of any move to oust the Turkish occupation troops from Cyprus and allow the return of the legal owners to their homes, pointing the finger at the lukewarm stance the international community takes towards Ankara.\

"All the provocative actions of Turkey and the "pseudo-state" (of north Cyprus) and their intransigent attitude during the recent proximity talks in New York and Geneva ... aim to turn the de facto situation into de jure and show a lack of disposition to promote a just and viable solution of the Cyprus problem. We demand that any agreed solution should safeguard the return of all towns and villages, not only Morphou but all occupied areas," Morphou mayor Antigoni Papadopoulou said, upon delivering the petition.

The people of Morphou, she added, expect that the solution in Cyprus should secure human rights and reunite Cyprus, divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded the country.

"It is a disgrace to civilized humanity to accept that at the dawn of the 21st century, the thousands of Greek Cypriot refugees are still deprived of the right to return to their homes and properties," the resolution said.

The Turkish army also denies Turkish Cypriots who were moved by the Turkish troops to the occupied north their right to return to their homes and property in the southern government controlled part of the island.

"We believe that Europe and also the governments of the US, Russia, China, France and the UK can exert more pressure on Turkey to change attitude and work towards a just solution to the Cyprus problem," the petition adds.

The town of Morphou fell to the advancing Turkish troops on 16 August 1974 as the invading forces launched their second offensive against Cyprus on 14 August, which also resulted in the capture of the Karpass peninsula, Famagusta on the east and the fertile valley of Messaoria, in the center of the island.

"Cyprus is too small to be divided forever. We ask for action not promises," the resolution notes.

Morphou municipality on Wednesday evening organized a protest rally in Nicosia. A book entitled "Morphou - 3,600 years of history" was handed to foreign embassies.

[02] Greek politicians address ethnic Greeks at religious festival in Albania

HIMARRA, 17/08/2000 (ANA)

He also urged Albanian Greeks to be the best possible ambassadors of Hellenism in order to help develop Greek-Albanian relations. "We must work together to drive away the clouds, if there are any," he said.

Mallias was speaking at the festival in honor of the Virgin Mary at Himarra, which since last year has become something of an event in Albania, culminating in the traditional feast at Elies complete with local polyphonic choral group.

Adding to the festive atmosphere was a satellite transmission from Foreign Minister George Papandreou, who told the gathering:

"My thoughts are always with you, not only on days of joy and holidays but always. Your rights are sacred and we will insist that they remain as international agreements for ethnic minorities prescribe.

"Keep your traditions alive, as now with your polyphonic group, for the development of which [Greece] will provide 1,500,000 drachmas and an honorary distinction from the Greek State."

[03] Equities drop on profit taking Áthens, 17/08/2000 (ANA)

Trade remained thin, and turnover needed to rise in order for a trend to emerge, analysts said.

The general index ended 1.47 percent lower at 3,750.84 points with turnover at 59.43 billion drachmas.

Analysts were still reluctant to forecast the bourse's short-term future in its current moribund phase.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks ended 0.96 percent down, and the FTSE/ASE 40 index for medium-sized shares finished 3.85 percent lower.

Sector indices ended as follows: Banks: -1.06% Leasing: -5.14% Insurance: -0.25% Investment: -2.62% Construction: -6.05% Industrials: -1.13% Miscellaneous: -3.01% Holding: -2.76%

The parallel market index for smaller capitalization stocks closed 8.10 percent down.

Of 345 shares traded, declines led advances at 316 to 23 with 6 issues unchanged.

Drachma closing prices of leading shares were as follows: National Bank: 13,700 Titan Cement Co. (c): 13,250 Alpha Bank: 12,600 Hellenic Telecommunications: 7,900 Commercial Bank: 15,940 Panafon: 4,020 Hellenic Petroleum: 3,400 Eurobank: 8,750 Intracom: 12,195 Lambrakis Press: 8,920 Heracles Cement: 7,400

Equity futures drop, tracking Athens bourse: Equity futures traded on the Athens Derivatives Exchange finished lower on Wednesday, in line with the indices on which they are based.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index closed 0.96 percent down, and the FTSE/ASE 40 ended 3.85 percent lower.

Turnover was 14.4 billion drachmas from 9.2 billion drachmas a day earlier.

A total of 1,477 contracts were traded on the FTSE/ASE 20 with turnover at 6.3 billion drachmas.

On the FTSE/ASE 40 index, 4,005 contracts changed hands on turnover of 8.1 billion drachmas.

Bond prices rise in brisk trade: Bond prices in the domestic secondary market on Wednesday finished higher in moderate to heavy trade, fuelled by strong buying interest mainly in long-term paper.

The Greek benchmark 10-year bond showed a yield of 6.061 percent.

The Greek paper's yield spread over German bunds was 84-87 basis points from 88 basis points a session earlier.

Turnover through the central bank's electronic system was 96 billion drachmas.

Buy orders accounted for 58 billion drachmas of trade.

Drachma down vs. euro, up vs. dollar: The drachma on Wednesday ended lower against the euro and higher versus the US dollar in the domestic foreign exchange market.

At the central bank's daily fixing, the euro was set at 337.100 drachmas from 337.090 drachmas in the previous session.

Also at the fix, the dollar was set at 371.390 drachmas from 372.700 drachmas a day earlier.

[04] Suggested retail fuel prices remain the same, diesel up

Athens, 17/08/2000 (ANA)

The government and the state-run petrochemical industry (ELPE) release the suggested retail fuel prices every Wednesday.

[05] Rhodes to host 1st International Forum focusing on role of women in 'culture of peace'

Athens, 17/08/2000 (ANA)

The honorary president of the forum will be Nicole Fontaine, the European Parliament speaker, while the acting president will be Ingeborg Breines, director of the UNESCO programmed "Woman and a Culture of Peace."

During the forum there will be an exhibition of work of women from 25 Mediterranean countries (ranging from the visual and plastic arts to film and literature) as well as numerous round-table discussions and workshops where speakers from the world of the arts, politics, science and journalism will examine the ways in which women can contribute to a "culture of peace".

The 25 countries in which FAM is active, encouraging and channeling the creative energies of women, are: Egypt, Albania, Algeria, Bosnia, France, Greece, Jordan, Israel, Italy, Croatia, Cyprus, Lebanon, Libya, Malta, Morocco, Monaco, Fed. Republic of Yugoslavia, Palestine, Portugal, San Marino, Slovenia, Syria, Turkey and Tunisia.

Among those who have offered to contribute to this effort are Interior Minister Vasso Papandreou, Equality General Secretary Efi Bekou, Professor Eleni Glykatzi-Ahrweiler, dean of the European University, the president of the Arab Women's Center Soukaina Bouraoui and the president of the Royal Society of Fine Arts in Jordan, Dr Wijdan Ali.

The forum will also consider works of art dedicated to peace, such as Clara Halter's huge sculpture "Wall of Peace" that currently stands in Paris' Champs de Mars, and through the exhibition, comparative analysis, discussion and an "opening" toward the "Other" in the creative act will underline the similarities and individual characteristics of each country and lead to a better definition of the identity of the Mediterranean woman.

Through a collective realization of this identity and of a common cultural heritage, these meetings hope to contribute, in their own way, to a rapprochement, to understanding and possibly to reconciling the differences that arise from ignorance of cultures and traditions foreign to the "Self".

[06] Moscow says will play active role in Cyprus peace effort

NICOSIA, 17/08/2000 (CNA/ANA)

Commenting on UN-led efforts to bring about a negotiated settlement in Cyprus, British High Commission spokesman Jonathan Allen pledged support for the negotiating process as the way forward to get a solution, reiterating London's continuing interest in the peace effort and calling on all concerned to do all they can for peace.

Ambassador Pavlinov has also said Russian diplomats will play an active role in New York and did not rule out the possibility of a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Cypriot President Glafcos Clerides.

Both diplomats were speaking as they received a protest petition from the elected representatives of the Turkish-occupied area of Morphou, led by mayor Antigoni Papadopoulou to mark the 26tanniversary since the town was captured by the advancing Turkish troops in the wake of the second offensive in the summer of August 1974.

Receiving the petition, Pavlinov said Putin is well informed about Cyprus and referred to the position he adopted at last month's G8 summit in Japan to ensure the final statement included a phrase explicitly expressing support for the just cause of the people of Cyprus.

He said the statement, though brief, mentions twice the need to end the division of the island according to Security Council resolutions.

"That will be our position at the millennium summit in New York next month where we hope that most presidents will have on the agenda procedure to talk about the Cyprus problem," he said.

Replying to questions, he said Russian diplomats will "definitely play an active role in New York", noting there will be meetings of high officials as well as leaders.

Pavlinov referred to the resumption of the fourth round of Cyprus peace talks, in New York, on 12 September, and wished President Clerides success.

The Russian Ambassador said there are good chances of arranging a summit between Presidents Putin and Clerides. Russian envoys for Cyprus have followed the first three rounds of talks and have meetings with Cypriot officials and other foreign envoys.

The British spokesman, having taken delivery of the Morphou petition, told journalists Britain focuses its attention on Geneva and New York where the UN process takes place.

The UK, he said, backs this process "very strongly and we look to both sides within the conflict and also to countries outside such as Turkey, Greece and other UN members, to do whatever they can to bring peace to Cyprus."

Repeating his government's continuing interest, he said "the negotiating process is the way forward and it is through that process that we are going to get resolutions to all these things."

[07] Resolution on UNFICYP financing

NICOSIA, 17/08/2000 (CNA/ANA)

The UN General Assembly, which circulated Monday the resolution on the financing of UNFICYP as an official document, expressed regret at the absence of an adequate response to appeals for voluntary contributions and calls for full payment of assessed contributions.

"It notes that some 22 per cent of the member states have paid their assessed contributions in full, and urges all other member states concerned, in particular those in arrears, "to ensure payment of their outstanding assessed contributions," the resolution adds.

The Assembly requests the Secretary General to continue efforts to recruit local staff for the Force against General Service posts, to reduce costs. It decided also to include in the provisional agenda of its 55th session the item entitled "Financing of UNFICYP."

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