Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 00-09-11

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

CONTENTS

[01] US Attorney General Janet Reno says Greece and the US entering new era of cooperation

[02] Karamanlis launches stinging attack on government's work in all sectors

[03] German Foreign Ministry says Greece has been fully compensated by Germany for sufferings during Nazi occupation era

[04] President Stephanopoulos says Greeks should reproduce their culture, habits and customs

[05] Washington Post publishes article on Olympic Truce by Greek FM George Papandreou

[06] IOC satisfied over speedup in preparations for Athens 2004 Olympiad

[07] Turkish Armed Forces Chief Kivrikoglu in Greece for NATO Military Committee session

[08] PM Costas Simitis pays tribute to Yiannos Kranidiotis on anniversary of his death NEW

[09] Former PM Constantine Mitsotakis says report on secret deal with business tycoon Socratis Kokkalis is "wretchedness"

[10] EU Finance Ministers examine oil price hikes in informal meeting in Versailles

[11] Merchant Marine Minister Christos Papoutsis says many questions arise by false documentation concerning "Eurobalker" shipwreck

[12] Turkish migrant traffickers arrested after chase off Tinos island

[01] US Attorney General Janet Reno says Greece and the US entering new era of cooperation

WASHINGTON, 11/09/2000 (ANA - T. Ellis)

"The change of scene in security architecture in the post-cold war era, combined with Internet technology has brought new major challenges in the handling of international organized crime and countries such as Greece and the US are making great efforts to handle these problems," she said.

Reno expressed satisfaction over Greece's undertaking of a leading role in the Balkans on public order issues and pleasure over efforts made by Chrysohoidis during his recent visit to Albania to promote regional security and the combatting of organized crime.

She stressed that the problem of terrorism has been plaguing the world for decades and continues to be a major threat as has been indicated by recent attacks on US embassies in African countries and by the murder of British military attache Stephen Saunders in Athens.

Reno reminded that five US embassy officials in Athens have lost their lives, while American companies have been the target of bomb attacks and underlined that the US will not rest until the killers are brought to justice.

[02] Karamanlis launches stinging attack on government's work in all sectors

Athens, 11/09/2000 (ANA)

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 privatization and liberalization 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."

He termed the government's foreign policy a "failure," saying that "instead of removing tensions, it is bringing them closer."

The ND leader said that Ankara was totally responsible for the fact that "the Cyprus issue is heading for an impasse."

He went on to say that "Greek-Turkish relations were deteriorating because of "Turkey's arbitrary and unilateral claims in the Aegean," its disregard of the texts of the European Union's Helsinki Summit in December last year, and to the lack of response by the Greek government concerning Turkey's stance.

Karamanlis also referred to the "demeaning withdrawal of the Greek military force from Albania" and to the "disappointing messages from the negotiations with the Former Yugoslav Re-public of Macedonia".

Karamanlis says he will be the opponent of Simitis in next general elections: 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 vendetta, 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 organized 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.

He also called for the safeguarding of the Athens Stock Exchange and for strict controls to be enforced regarding companies' capital increase.

On the organization of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, Karamanlis accused the government that projects were lagging behind.

He further noted that Greece's accession to the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) took place "with sacrifices by the Greek people."

Karamanlis also firmly backed the choice of Theodoris Roussopoulos as the party's new spokesman. He said ND's former spokesman Aris Spiliotopoulos "did his job well" and remains an associate.

Government says ND leader had no specific position on whatever issue in press conference: Deputy Press Minister Telemahos Hytiris said on Sunday, refer-ring to a press conference in Thessaloniki by main opposition New Democracy party leader Costas Karamanlis earlier in the day, "he avoided taking up any specific position on whatever crucial issue he was asked about".

"He ultimately repeated himself and remained swimming in the waters of interrelated interests, again hoisting the 'convenience flag' with which he thinks he will overcome the repercussions of ND's recent election defeat and his party's internal problems," Hytiris added.

Hytiris said Karamanlis had absolutely nothing to add in his press conference, continued his flight from reality and repeated his defamatory attacks on the Prime Minister and the government.

ND spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos said later, in reply to the statement by Hytiris, "the display of arrogance by the tired government of Mr. Simitis is continuing. The advocates and fellow-travelers of interrelated interests are willfully blind before the big threat threatening democracy and are turning their backs on problems preoccupying Greek women and men."

[03] German Foreign Ministry says Greece has been fully compensated by Germany for sufferings during Nazi occupation era

Athens, 11/09/2000 (ANA)

According to the German Foreign Ministry, Greece received 68 billion marks over the 1992-1998 period and an additional 28 billion marks in the framework of Common Agricultural Policy between 1981-1991. The European Union, it added, currently pays Greece 11.2 billion annually, while from this amount 2.8 billion comes from Germany.

The German Foreign Ministry's account includes economic aid amounting to 991.1 million given to Greece by Germany, defense aid in the region of 2.6 billion and 115 million concerning the bilateral agreement reached in 1961 for compensating occupation victims.

[04] President Stephanopoulos says Greeks should reproduce their culture, habits and customs

Athens, 11/09/2000 (ANA)

Community President and journalist Nikos Mertzos inaugurated the session of the community council in the central square in the presence of hundreds of people, and underlined the President's political presence in the country to date, his character, warmth and love for Greece.

"We should not distance ourselves from our roots. We should reproduce our culture, habits and customs and support our present and future, the ideals of our race and the substantive contribution of our ancestors," President Stephanopoulos said, visibly moved.

Called on to comment on upcoming elections in Serbia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) and Albania, President Stephanopoulos said on Saturday "Greece does not interfere in the domestic issues of other countries, but expects the strengthening of democracy and the development of the entire Balkan region."

[05] Washington Post publishes article on Olympic Truce by Greek FM George Papandreou

WASHINGTON, 11/09/2000 (ANA - T. Ellis)

"IOC President Mr. Samaranch and I inaugurated a new non-governmental organization in Athens on July 24, the International Center for the Olympic Truce. The Center 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 center. 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."

[06] IOC satisfied over speedup in preparations for Athens 2004 Olympiad

MELBOURNE, 11/09/2000 (ANA - S. Hatzimanolis)

Rogge was speaking on Saturday at a press conference in Sydney with the head of the Athens 2004 Organizing Committee Yianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki, who had previously briefed the IOC's Executive Committee on preparations for the 2004 Olympiad.

Rogge said the report by Daskalaki was excellent, a very good discussion was held and the issues preoccupying the meeting were the same as those examined during the Executive Committee's visit to Athens last month.

[07] Turkish Armed Forces Chief Kivrikoglu in Greece for NATO Military Committee session

Athens, 11/09/2000 (ANA)

The meeting, attended by general staff chiefs from NATO member-states, will focus on the situation in the Balkans. Greek Armed Forces Chief General Manoussos Paragioudakis is expected to arrive in Turkey on September 13 to attend the second part of the session in Istanbul on September 13-15.

[08] PM Costas Simitis pays tribute to Yiannos Kranidiotis on anniversary of his death NEW

YORK, 11/09/2000 (ANA)

Kranidiotis, his son and five other people were killed in a freak air accident last September when a Falcon jet taking them to Bucharest suddenly lost height at great speed before its pilot managed to regain control of the aircraft.

"With his life divided between Greece and Cyprus, Yiannos Kranidiotis struggled indefatigably to strengthen European unification, reoriented Greek foreign policy, find a solution to the problem of Cyprus and promote the European orientation of Cyprus," Simitis said. Simitis further said Kranidiotis believed in the vision of a united Europe and a strong Greece open to new horizons, adding that he believed in a unified, free, democratic and European Cyprus.

[09] Former PM Constantine Mitsotakis says report on secret deal with business tycoon Socratis Kokkalis is "wretchedness"

Athens, 11/09/2000 (ANA)

The newspaper report claims that "the Mitsotakis family has reached an agreement to confront the common enemy (ND leader) Costas Karamanlis. The secret deal, at least as it is described by officials at Rigillis (ND headquarters) close to ND, is said to be that Dora (Mitsotakis' daughter) and her father will 'harass' Costas Karamanlis so that the main opposition party will be unable to deal a decisive blow at the business options of Sokratis Kokkalis, while the owner of Flash will support Dora's ambitious plans 'the next day' and not those of (Athens mayor) Dimitris Avramopoulos, in the event he establishes a political party."

"It is obviously part of the war raging lately between interrelated interests," Mitsotakis said in an announcement issued by his press office.

ND Deputy of State Ioannis Varvitsiotis also reacted angrily to the report, since it claimed he had "changed camp", underlining in a written statement that the report contains "wretched scenarios with a totally inaccurate content."

[10] EU Finance Ministers examine oil price hikes in informal meeting in Versailles

BRUSSELS, 11/09/2000 (ANA - M. Spinthourakis)

The price of oil exceeded 34 dollars a barrel this week.

Papantoniou said that there is no question of reducing taxes on petroleum products in EU countries, adding that in the case of Greece there is no such question since taxation of oil is the lowest in Europe. Referring to repercussions on the Greek economy from oil price increases and the euro's decline, Papantoniou appeared relatively optimistic, saying that inflationary pressures in Greece will not be greater than those in other EU countries.

He said Greece cannot be excluded from the international environment, but noted that structural inflation is continuing to show a downward trend and that price checks will be intensified to confront any eventuality of profiteering.

Referring to development rates, Papantoniou said they will not be affected by developments and the Greek economy's growth rate will be 4.1 percent in 2000 and 5 percent in 2001.

Papantoniou briefed his colleagues on measures taken by the Greek government to promote innovation and technology development in the Greek business world. He said capital amounting to 400 billion drachmas to be obtained from the floating of state-run enterprises would be used to back high-risk private investment plans, primarily in the sectors of advanced technology.

[11] Merchant Marine Minister Christos Papoutsis says many questions arise by false documentation concerning "Eurobalker" shipwreck

Athens, 11/09/2000 (ANA)

"The Harbor Authority is obliged to continue investigations and attribute responsibilities wherever they are ascertained. As I have repeatedly stressed, sanctions will be serious where responsibilities will be ascertained and wherever they may be," he said.

Papoutsis also said the process of pumping oil trapped in the sunken vessel had been completed on Saturday and so had the containment of petroleum leaked into the sea, while a cleanup of the coastline was continuing with spectacular results.

[12] Turkish migrant traffickers arrested after chase off Tinos island

Athens, 11/09/2000 (ANA)

The major operation to bring to a halt the Turkish 22-metre-long sailing boat "Karadeniz III", lasted between 7 p.m. to midnight.

The vessel was towed to the port of Tinos island and the illegal immigrants (68 men, 19 women and 42 children) were safely disembarked.

The three-member Turkish crew of migrant traffickers was arrested and will appear before the Syros island public prosecutor.

Since the beginning of this year, 108 migrant traffickers have been arrested and 33 vessels, which had carried a total of 2,648 illegal immigrants, were seized.

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