Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 00-11-10

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

CONTENTS

[01] Simitis and Amato discuss bilateral relations, EU Nice summit, Balkans and Cyprus

[02] Athens: EU-Turkey partnership text contains 'satisfactory elements'

[03] Defense and foreign ministers hold talks on CBMs with Turkey

[04] Greece's Balkan reconstruction plan to parl't soon

[05] Greek alternate FM addresses Council of Europe committee

[06] Tsohatzopoulos meets Scharping; comments on prospects of united Europe, Balkan peace, Cyprus

[07] FYROM to slash guard posts on Greek, Bulgarian borders

[08] Efthymiou says content of educational policies should be discussed first

[09] ISB joint venture president negotiates radio and

[10] Interior minister announces more than 33,000 new jobs in the public sector

[11] Kaiserlis says regional general secretaries will be responsible for ordering demolition of illegal buildings in forests

[12] Pangalos addresses ministry union members in Thessaloniki

[13] Second PASOK panhellenic conference on health to begin on Friday

[14] Gov't spokesman expresses condolences over Eugenidis' death

[15] Report unveils Greek banks' market shares

[16] Greek minister to inaugurate trade exhibition in Istanbul

[17] Oil to be extracted near Prinos oilfield

[18] GSEE calls for strike to protest labor bill

[19] Think tank calls for faster economic change

[20] Greek stocks end up in technical rebound

[21] Greenpeace Hellas underlines Greece's miserable record in reducing greenhouse gases

[22] UN non-paper refers to "single international legal personality" of Cyprus

[23] Government says road to Cyprus solution "long and difficult"

[24] UN envoy holds talks with Clerides, Denktash

[01] Simitis and Amato discuss bilateral relations, EU Nice summit, Balkans and Cyprus

ROME, 10/11/2000 (ANA - L. Hatzikyriakos)

Speaking later, Amato said "we primarily discussed the prospects of the Intergovernmental Conference, bilateral relations, which are absolutely friendly, and we also discussed the Balkans issue."

Amato said there are positions, which should converge even further expressing his conviction that this should take place at the European Council in Nice.

"Bilateral relations are absolutely friendly and without problems. We have the common problem, which primarily concerns the struggle against illegal immigration, organized crime and smuggling. Joint and close cooperation has started some time ago and we discussed ways of strengthening it further in the future," he said.

Amato further said "we started discussing the Balkans following the new situation created in Serbia and the elections in Kosovo. Our views coincide absolutely and we shall continue the discussion."

On his part, Simitis said, "we discussed Nice and we agree that at the Nice summit we should complete the discussion in relation to changes in the EU Treaty which is currently under discussion. However, the question is what will happen afterwards. Does everything being discussed provide answers? We also agree that there should be a continuation and whether it will provide the EU with new dynamism. Namely, to clarify certain issues which have been raised to date."

Simitis said Nice is a first necessary step but there should also be a second one, adding that it is appropriate that a general direction should be set in Nice for the second step.

"Our relations with Italy are very good. There is close cooperation in all sectors, which facilitates the handling of the region's problems. As regards the Balkans, I would like to stress the great importance of joint action in combatting illegal immigration. I would also like to remind that the two Prime Ministers of Greece and Italy meet every six months and discuss common problems. This meeting proves the usefulness of this contact. In this way we promote positively peace and cooperation with positive results for the entire region," Simitis said.

He said small countries should play an important role and settlements discussed for the future in no way exclude small countries from participating in the shaping of decisions.

Simitis also said nobody wants to exclude Turkey, adding that it was decided at the EU Helsinki summit that it will be a candidate country and it is believed that it is in the interests of both the EU and Turkey.

"Rules applying for relations between European countries should be implemented in the EU's relationship with Turkey. Turkey's candidacy is a means to enable Turkey to also join the existing framework of international law and international treaties," he said.

Commenting on the EU Commission's statement on the partnership relationship between Europe and Turkey, and the reference to the issue of Cyprus in particular, Simitis said, "the Cyprus issue is an international problem. There are UN resolutions, which determine that there should be a solution and which also determine the principles for such a solution. In its relation-ship with Cyprus, the EU has urged Cyprus to help towards a solution to the problem. It is also necessary in the relationship with Turkey that it should be clear that Turkey has responsibility in proceeding with a solution to the problem in accordance with UN resolutions and international law."

Simitis meets with Rome Mayor Rutelli: Prime Minister Costas Simitis also met with Rome Mayor Francesco Rutelli, the leader of the center-left "Olive Branch" coalition in Italy.

Bilateral relations dominated discussions by the two men, with the Roman mayor offering his support for the successful holding of the 2004 Athens Olympics.

"I believe this meeting, as well as the previous one, confirmed that mutual cooperation with the Italian people promotes our joint interests in the area," the Greek premier said.

[02] Athens: EU-Turkey partnership text contains 'satisfactory elements'

Athens, 10/11/2000 (ANA)

Spokesman Panos Beglitis said the text, approved by the Commission on Wednesday in Brussels, contained the political criteria that Turkey must fulfill in order to join the 15-nation bloc at point in the future, while terming it important for Euro-Turkish relations.

He further pointed out that the Cyprus issue was "politically and strategically" listed as a problem that influenced Turkey's relations with the EU.

Conversely, he declined to outline Greece's moves prior to the commencement of negotiations between the Union's foreign ministers' council and Ankara.

On his part, the government spokesman simply noted that he couldn't use the precise term 'satisfaction', but rather, 'responsibility'. Dimitris Reppas added that the text, however, generally moves towards the right direction.

Finally, he said Athens expects the EU to present a text based on the "spirit and letter" of agreements ironed out at last December's Helsinki summit.

First meeting between Greek and Turkish NATO ambassadors held in Brussels: The foreign ministry announced on Thursday that the first meeting between the Greek and Turkish ambassadors to NATO, provided for under an agreement between Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou and his Turkish counterpart Ismail Cem for deciding on confidence-building measures (CBMs), had taken place the previous day.

Foreign ministry spokesman Panos Beglitis said Greek Ambassador Vassilis Kaskarelis and Turkish counterpart Onur Oymen had spoken for 30 minutes during a meeting also attended by NATO Secretary-General George Robertson on Wednesday.

The two men discussed the procedure that will be followed in discussions to decide on CBMs between Greece and Turkey.

They agreed that their next meeting would be held on December 14, before a meeting of NATO member-state ministers, at which time they would decide on the frequency of their subsequent meetings. They also agreed that their talks under the auspices of the NATO Secretary-General would be confidential and that they would avoid making statements.

These talks will be based on the same model as that used by ambassadors George Savvaidis and Oymen, without the presence of other experts.

Another agreement was that the issues discussed would not be treated as a "package" but would be examined ad hoc and separately, with each measure being adopted when there was agreement between the two sides.

[03] Defense and foreign ministers hold talks on CBMs with Turkey

Athens, 10/11/2000 (ANA)

The ministers said they would be making a joint proposal to Prime Minister Costas Simitis and the Government Council of Defense and Foreign Affairs on the first issue in the next few days.

On the question of CBMs, Papandreou reiterated that CBMs of a military nature, in the framework of the agreement reached in the past by former Greek and Turkish foreign ministers Karolos Papoulias and Mesut Yilmaz, will be discussed at NATO level, while those of a political nature and on easing tension on a bilateral footing at the level of foreign ministry civil directors.

He further said that on the issue of the partnership relationship between the European Union and Turkey, the latter should meet certain criteria on various issues such as human rights, Cyprus and Greek-Turkish relations.

"We should all know that Europe is clear on these issues," he said.

Other issues discussed were security issues related to Cyprus, Greece's initiatives in the Balkans and the country's policy towards third countries, such as in the Middle East and Israel, as well as issues regarding the Western European Union (WEU) in light of the joint session between defense and foreign ministers to be held on Monday.

[04] Greece's Balkan reconstruction plan to parl't soon

Athens, 10/11/2000 (ANA)

Zafeiropoulos was speaking on the sidelines of a forum called Balkan Partnership 2000 being held in the northern port city of Thessaloniki.

After the plan is voted through parliament, the government will call a tender for private investors to help finance the rebuilding projects, he said.

The national economy ministry has begun evaluating projects submitted by recipient countries, and the process is due to end in two or three months.

Delays in implementing the plan were due mainly to qualms aired by the countries that the funds were to be used as a form of economic control, rather than helping to strengthen markets and infrastructure, Zafeiropoulos said.

Senior government officials were about to begin visits to the countries to explain the plan and discuss their project proposals in greater detail, he added.

National Economy Minister Yiannos Papantoniou, Macedonia-Thrace Minister George Paschalidis and Zafeiropoulos are to visit Yugoslavia, Bulgaria and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), beginning on Sunday.

Greece has pledged Serbia initial aid of 15 million US dollars.

Finally, the economics minister of FYROM, who is attending the Balkan forum, said he welcomed the Greek plan, which he hoped would spur growth in his country, enabling domestic companies to expand into Greece.

[05] Greek alternate FM addresses Council of Europe committee

STRASBOURG, 10/11/2000 (ANA)

Speaking after Kostunica, she made note of the initiatives the new president of Yugoslavia undertook, as soon as he assumed his office, showing his willingness to initiate a new era of close cooperation with all European institutions.

In addressing conditions in the Balkans and more specifically Albania, the Greek alternate minister said "I would like to stress the importance of free and fair elections as a cornerstone of our democratic system. The election process has been repeatedly and will be tested in the future in our region".

"Although there is an overall progress, unfortunately in certain cases as in local elections in Albania serious irregularities were confirmed by reports of observers of the Council of Europe and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)," she added.

"Psychological and physical violence, fraud and even ballot staffing were some of the incidents of this nationalistic and inflammatory practice of the Albanian authorities against the Greek minority especially in the region of Himara," she stressed.

"We hope that Albania will fulfill its obligations as a member of the CoE and will take all necessary remedial steps for the minority rights to be respected. We also expect that the CoE will look into this situation using all necessary monitoring mechanisms," Papazoi said.

She also called attention the economic problems of the region, noting the need for long-term sustainable development, aided by the international community.

"Greece has taken a leading role in initiating action for the economic development of the Balkan countries," she said.

She also stressed that Yugoslav territorial integrity should be supported by the international community, adding that "we must respect his (Kostunica's) demand for non-interference in the interior affairs of Yugoslavia".

[06] Tsohatzopoulos meets Scharping; comments on prospects of united Europe, Balkan peace, Cyprus

BERLIN, 10/11/2000 (ANA - P. Stangos)

Tsohatzopoulos is in Germany at the invitation of the "Initiative - Berlin - Capital" association, which invited him to speak at an event on Wednesday night to commemorate the 11th anniversary since the fall of the Berlin Wall.

During his address to the mainly German audience, Tsohatzopoulos referred to building up public support for a united Europe among European citizens and countering euro-skepticism, Europe's last remaining "wall" in Cyprus and Greece's role in the Balkans. He particularly stressed his concern over the prospects of European unification, saying that the extreme focus on economic criteria and unification after the Maastricht Treaty may have been a mistake. He said it was imperative that the social problems of European countries were now addressed and that political unification should be speeded up so that European citizens could be persuaded to rally around the vision of a united Europe.

He also took the opportunity to gauge the reactions to his recent statements in the Greek newspaper "To Vima" by PASOK sup-porters in Germany, and how they had responded to his criticism of the government's policies in the economic and social sectors. Local members appeared to welcome his remarks as reflecting "grassroots concerns."

The Greek defense minister expressed opposition to a US withdrawal from Balkans peacekeeping efforts - a position expressed by presidential candidate George Bush, who said that the Americans had contributed to the war and the Europeans could now contribute to the peace. Tsohatzopoulos said that "there should be no illusions" that Europe was ready to take full responsibility for peace and security in the region.

[07] FYROM to slash guard posts on Greek, Bulgarian borders

SKOPJE, 10/11/2000 (ANA - M. Vihou)

FYROM Defense Minister Ljube Paounovski noted, in announcing the decision that no threat to the land-locked country's security exists from the specific frontiers, sans incidents of occasional migrant smuggling and other small-scale smuggling. Mobile units are expected to continue patrolling the borders.

The defense ministry in Skopje is also expected to propose to Athens and Sofia that police detachments replace military troops in patrolling borders.

Skopje denies report citing 'laundry list' of Greek investments: A government spokesman in Skopje on Wednesday evening dismissed reports that a work group has been created to support Greek investments in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM).

Government spokesman Antonio Milososki was responding to an earlier report on a private TV station, which claimed that the FYROM government created such a work group after it received a classified memo detailing the investments that the Greek side desired to make in the neighboring country.

The spokesman denied the report, calling it only "rumors", while he said that Athens has not sent any memo regarding future Greek investments in the country.

[08] Efthymiou says content of educational policies should be discussed first

BRUSSELS, 10/11/2000 (ANA - Y. Zitouniati)

Addressing the Council of Education Ministers on Thursday, Education Minister Petros Efthymiou stressed the importance of the issue since a convergence of educational policies is being attempted for the first time at EU level, but expressed reservations over the way in which the issue is being raised.

Efthymiou said the content of educational policies and their qualitative elements should be discussed first and the other processes should follow.

He said the e-Europe and e-learning program agreed in Lisbon on the introduction of new technologies in education in European countries is a means and not a purpose.

"What is important is the use of new technologies in promoting educational methods and not a quantitative assessment, which is important but is not the decisive aspect in the undertaking," Efthymiou said.

[09] ISB joint venture president negotiates radio and

Athens, 10/11/2000 (ANA)

Romero's joint venture has been proclaimed "Preferred Participant" according to the terms of the Request for Proposals.

According to reports, negotiating was termed "tough" and concerns issues such as economic settlement, the procurement of sponsorships and the way of broadcasting.

Negotiating is on a good path, the reports added, and is expected to be concluded next week and probably on Tuesday.

Athens mayor criticizes government over Athens 2004 Olympic Games: Athens Mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos on Thursday criticized the government over the course of preparations for the Athens 2004 Olympic Games and what he called "the government's absence" from the Sydney Olympic Games last summer.

He said that the "exacerbated problems of the capital can not be confronted by conservative interventions and with conventional logic, rather they demand radical policies, brave decisions and a general mobilization of society, which understands the dead-ends and decides to test the solutions that will totally change current conditions."

He also criticized the government over the international public tenders regarding the construction of installations for the Games and the traffic decongestion of the city.

Avramopoulos, speaking of Greece's presence in the Sydney Olympic Games, said that "we have not learnt to cooperate, nor to assess and to utilize the efforts of others. The Greek government owed to have a more respectable presence in Sydney ... the absence of the Greek government was noted and raised questions".

[10] Interior minister announces more than 33,000 new jobs in the public sector

Athens, 10/11/2000 (ANA)

She noted that about 17,500 of those hired will have a university degree in efforts to raise the standards of service to citizens by public sector services.

"There are serious problems in serving citizens ... beyond bureaucracy, one of the problems is the composition of the personnel, as the existing personnel included few specialists," Papandreou said.

[11] Kaiserlis says regional general secretaries will be responsible for ordering demolition of illegal buildings in forests

Athens, 10/11/2000 (ANA)

Kaiserlis was responding to a question by parliamentary deputy Andreas Loverdos.

The announcement follows a ruling by the State's Legal Council on the matter.

[12] Pangalos addresses ministry union members in Thessaloniki

Athens, 10/11/2000 (ANA)

Citing official international sources categorizing and evaluating financial returns in world trade, Pangalos said that among the most profitable 'commercial' activities, culture was the only legal activity.

The minister stressed the prospects for developing cultural activities as a source of revenue for the TAP Archaeological Resources Fund, employees of which created and sold replicas, on behalf of the State, of archaeological finds unearthed in the "endless archaeological site" called Greece.

Commenting on ministry employees' demands, Pangalos said that "the truth is that the field of culture does not offer itself to illegal activities, and the instances of corruption are few". However, he described as "local villains" the contractors and builders who, during the military junta, constructed a building above the ruins of the town's ancient theatre.

The building was demolished several years ago, and the State had pledged to pay indemnities, but the payment has delayed, prompting a question to be tabled in parliament by a local MP that apparently annoyed the minister, prompting him to speak of 'local villains whom the local society should have condemned with its stance instead of becoming the subject of questions tabled by MPs".

[13] Second PASOK panhellenic conference on health to begin on Friday

Athens, 10/11/2000 (ANA)

The conference is being held the Macedonian Studies Society lecture theatre and will begin with an opening address by Thessaloniki Prefectural Committee secretary Costas Mamelis at 11:15 a.m.

Next on the stand will be Skandalidis, who will present the guiding principles of PASOK policies for health, immediately followed by Simitis, who will outline the government's intentions and choices.

The prime minister will be followed by Papadopoulos, who will present the government's policies in detail, and the proposals of the organizational committee presented by Central Committee member Stephanos Manikas.

These will be followed by addresses from organization representatives and party cadres.

The second section of the conference will begin at 2:00 p.m. with a speech by Deputy Social Security Minister Nikos Farmakis and other speakers, while the third will begin at 6:30 p.m. with Deputy Health and Welfare Minister Dimitris Thanos as main speaker.

The second day of the conference will begin at 9:30 with Deputy Health and Welfare Minister Christina Spyraki speaking and will continue with the presentation of positions and proposals by hospital directors, organizations and delegates.

At 3:00 p.m. the health minister and members of the Organizational Committee will re-cap, while the conclusions of the conference will be summed up by Skandalidis.

[14] Gov't spokesman expresses condolences over Eugenidis' death

Athens, 10/11/2000 (ANA)

Eugenidis who died at the age of 83 donated over 10 billion drachmas over the past 10 years to worthy causes, such as scholarships, grants and public welfare projects.

[15] Report unveils Greek banks' market shares

Athens, 10/11/2000 (ANA)

National Bank of Greece, Agricultural Bank, Commercial Bank, Alpha Bank, EFG Eurobank Ergasias and Piraeus Bank together accounted for 94 percent of total deposits last year, totalling 30.4 trillion drachmas, the survey said.

The same banks accounted for more than 90 percent of the banking sector's total assets and loans, at 46.1 billion drachmas and 18.3 trillion drachmas, respectively. The survey said that consolidation in the Greek banking system has intensified over the last few years because of the privatization of large state-owned banks and a number of merger and takeover deals. The 20 foreign commercial banks operating in Greece lagged far behind their Greek counterparts, with the exception of Citibank, which ranked seventh, and Bank of Cyprus, which seeks a 5.0 percent market share, based on asset value.

Bank deposits Total: 30.4 trillion drachmas National Bank: 37.4% Alpha Bank: 17.7% Agricultural Bank: 11.3% Commercial Bank: 10.2% EFG Eurobank Ergasias: 9.7% Piraeus Bank: 7.9%

Bank loans Total: 18.3 trillion drachmas National Bank: 25.9% Alpha Bank: 19.2% Agricultural Bank: 15.6% EFG Eurobank Ergasias: 11.3% Commercial Bank: 10.0% Piraeus Bank: 8.9%

Workforce National Bank: 15,696 Alpha Bank: 8,490

Commercial Bank: 7,451 EFG Eurobank Ergasias: 6,838 Agricultural Bank: 5,443 Piraeus Bank: 3,201

Total assets: 46.1 trillion drachmas National Bank:

31.5% Alpha Bank: 18.1% ÅFG Eurobank Ergasias:

11.1% Agricultural Bank: 10.6% Commercial Bank

10.3% Piraeus Bank: 9.3%

[16] Greek minister to inaugurate trade exhibition in Istanbul

Athens, 10/11/2000 (ANA)

Meanwhile the Greek minister on Thursday received Turkey's ambassador to Athens, Ali Tinaz Tuygan, at his office.

[17] Oil to be extracted near Prinos oilfield

Athens, 10/11/2000 (ANA)

The exploration in waters outside the bay of Nea Peramos, Kavala, will cost around 7.0 million US dollars.

The Prinos fields previous owners, the North Aegean Petroleum Corporation, had detected oil at the site.

The new field is expected to produce about 10,000 barrels a day until reserves run out in 10-15 years, Kosmas said.

[18] GSEE calls for strike to protest labor bill

Athens, 10/11/2000 (ANA)

The GSEE General Assembly voted on Thursday to give the right to the union's presidium to call for the strike at the time when the Parliament begins discussions on the bill, which calls for flexible work schedules and increased pension age limits.

According to the decisions of the General Assembly the presidium was also given the right to call for the strike on Nov. 28 as to coincide with the Supreme Civil Servants' Administrative Council's (ADEDY) call for a strike.

POE-OTA union reaches settlement with Deputy Interior Minister and calls off strike: A strike by local authority employees announced for Thursday and Friday by their union POE-OTA has been called off, following an agreement reached by the union and Deputy Interior Minister Constantine Kaiserlis.

The two sides decided that they would seek ways to resolve the problems of municipal enterprises, including ones relating to overlapping responsibilities, while they arranged that demands for special compensation for employees would be dealt with in the framework of the collective agreement for 2001.

It was also agreed that KEDKE and POE-OTA union representatives would meet with Interior and Finance Ministry officials to explore ways in which to regulate problems with the productivity bonuses.

Finally, it was decided that there should be an 8,000-drachma increase in travel allowances as of March 1, 2000 and that these should not be linked to the distance-related refunds given to employees who use their own vehicles to carry out work.

[19] Think tank calls for faster economic change

Athens, 10/11/2000 (ANA)

The structural reforms are needed to take advantage of opportunities for growth afforded by membership of the euro zone, and to avoid problems stemming from membership, the IOBE said.

Greece is to join the 11-member euro zone on January 1, 2001.

[20] Greek stocks end up in technical rebound

Athens, 10/11/2000 (ANA)

Turnover, however, remained at very low levels, hitting a new record low for the year at 33.5 billion drachmas.

The general index ended 0.46 percent higher at 3,636.99 points. The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks ended 0.26 percent higher at 2,089.87 points, and the FTSE/ASE 40 index eased 0.18 percent to 438.57 points.

Sector indices ended as follows: Banks: 7,662.47 +0.75% Leasing: 543.47 -0.69% Insurance: 1,663.95

-4.22% Investment: 1,259.79 -0.58% Construction: 1,606.00 -0.11% Industrials: 2,166.56 +0.23% Miscellaneous: 3,265.89 +0.50% Holding: 4,299.95

+0.82%

The parallel market index for smaller capitalization stocks ended 0.06 percent higher at 397.43 points.

Broadly, advancers led decliners by 174 to 141 with another 38 issues unchanged.

Hellenic Telecoms, AXON Holdings, National Bank and Alpha Bank were the most heavily traded stocks.

Leading shares' closing prices (in Drs): Alpha Bank: 13,660 Eurobank: 10,350 Panafon: 3,145 Lambrakis Press: 6,760 National Bank: 14,025 Hellenic Petroleum: 3,670 Commercial Bank: 17,365 Attica Enterprises: 3,035 Heracles Cement: 4,905 Intracom: 10,240 Minoan Lines: 1,935 Hellenic Telecoms: 6,495 Piraeus Bank: 5,910 Titan Cement (c): 14,300 Hellenic Bottling: 5,200

Equity futures end mixed, tracking Athens bourse: Equity futures traded on the Athens Derivatives Exchange finished mixed on Thursday, roughly in line with the bourse indices on which they are based.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index closed 0.26 percent up, and the FTSE/ASE 40 ended 0.18 percent lower.

Turnover was 8.3 billion drachmas.

A total of 1,396 contracts were traded on the FTSE/ASE 20 with turnover at 5.9 billion drachmas.

On the FTSE/ASE 40 index, 1,356 contracts changed hands on turnover of 2.4 billion drachmas.

Bond prices rise in buy-oriented trade: Bond prices in the domestic secondary market on Thursday finished higher in light to moderate trade.

The Greek benchmark 10-year bond showed a yield of 5.94 percent from 5.955 percent a day earlier.

The Greek paper's yield spread over German bunds was 70 basis points for the second session.

Turnover through the central bank's electronic system totalled 70 billion drachmas from 72 billion drachmas in the trading day before.

Of the total, buy orders accounted for the bulk of trade.

Drachma weakens against the US dollar: The euro's continued fall against the US dollar in international markets pushed the drachma lower against the US currency in the domestic foreign exchange market.

The Greek currency fell to 398.570 drachmas per dollar at Thursday's fixing, from 397.350 drachmas the previous day.

The drachma was stable against the euro currency at 340.070 drachmas per euro.

[21] Greenpeace Hellas underlines Greece's miserable record in reducing greenhouse gases

Athens, 10/11/2000 (ANA)

At a press conference on Thursday afternoon in Athens, Psomas said that most governments had failed to limit these emissions and noted the increasingly severe climate changes.

"It is obvious that the present trend in greenhouse gas emissions will lead to total increases that are far greater by the year 2010 unless further measures are taken," Psomas said.

The most significant sources of such gases are the burning of fossil fuels, such as coal, oil and natural gas, for energy. According to Greenpeace, exceeding the limits set for emissions will trigger irreversible climactic changes and a host of other problems related to these.

It calls on the governments of industrialized countries to take immediate action and make commitments to drastically reduce emissions of carbon dioxide, to adopt national policies for climate, to stop the search for new reserves of oil and natural gas and to draw up a time plan for shutting down coal-burning electricity plants. It also calls for the gradual cessation to coal-mining and clear goals for renewable energy sources (wind, solar power and others) and sensible use of energy.

[22] UN non-paper refers to "single international legal personality" of Cyprus

GENEVA, 10/11/2000 (CNA/ANA)

An 11-page non-paper refers to a "single international legal personality" of Cyprus, guarantees for human rights in "one sovereign indissoluble common state", points out that state law will overrule regional law, stresses that the solution should not raise obstacles to Cyprus" accession to the European Union and that the legal right to property should be respected.

The observations, given by Annan during separate meetings he had on Wednesday with President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, defines political equality as effective "participation" in the government and talks about the return of the largest possible number of Greek Cypriots to their homes and the dislocation of as few Turkish Cypriots as possible.

The observations, prepared by Annan's Special Adviser on Cyprus Alvaro de Soto, has the full backing of western diplomats in the wings of the talks who have encouraged him to "come up with something tangible" in this fifth round of talks.

As one foreign diplomat has told CNA this attempt "tries to set the pace of the talks and Mr. de Soto has done a very good job in drafting these ideas, which we believe to be a very balanced mix of principles."

The diplomat expressed the view that the Greek Cypriot side "should subscribe to most of it and Turkish Cypriot leader has no reason to reject it."

The unofficial paper notes that the component states must be to a great extent self governed, meaning that basic law must not be contradicted by any provisions or rules that apply in the two component states.

Annan expresses the view that there may be some restrictions for a period of time on the number of Greek Cypriots residing in the north and the number of Turkish Cypriots living in the south.

"An appreciable amount of territory" should be returned to Greek Cypriots in a comprehensive settlement, the paper says, noting that an effort must be made to cause as little dislocation of Turkish Cypriots as possible and the return of as many Greek Cypriots as possible.

In this context and in the philosophy of give and take that must permeate the talks, discussions are likely to take into account the Morphou area, on the north western part of the island, and the Karpass peninsula on the eastern tip of Cyprus.

The paper returns to traditional terms the UN had been using and refers to "negotiations" and "guidelines", "communities" and "all issues" as opposed to talks and principles, parties and all issues on the table.

It also incorporates the four preconditions Annan set out for these talks in a kind of package, pointing out that none of them can be used selectively. These preconditions, outlined in UN Security Council resolution 1250, say talks should take place without any preconditions, all issues at the table, continuous negotiation until a solution and full consideration of UN relevant resolutions and treaties.

Annan clarifies that the UN will constantly put forward ideas on paper to the sides, which are not to present their own proposals to the UN, and notes that the agreed solution will be put to separate referenda.

None of the two component states should be able to secede from the united and independent Cyprus, which will emerge from the negotiations, which must operate efficiently and be able to take decisions.

On the European Union factor Annan's paper notes that a comprehensive settlement "would commit Cyprus to the EU", noting that the content of the solution should not raise any obstacles to accession and that some derogations can be made to meet special and legitimate concerns.

On the issue of property, the paper acknowledges the provisions of international law, notes that the legal right to ownership of property should be respected.

The fifth round of UN-led talks aiming at reaching a settlement in Cyprus, divided since Turkish troops occupied 37 percent of its territory in 1974, comes to an end On Friday. Talks are scheduled to continue again towards the end of January.

[23] Government says road to Cyprus solution "long and difficult"

GENEVA, 10/11/2000 (CNA/ANA)

The spokesman stressed however that the situation does not provide an opportunity for celebration under any circumstances.

"Following yesterday's meeting between the president and Mr. Annan, one can say that that the process of the talks is continuing, there emerge some constructive elements which our side is called upon to use," he said in Geneva on Thursday.

Papapetrou said that there are certainly elements which the Greek Cypriot side does not like and which need to be worked at in order to be counteracted. "The entire situation, though constructive, is not under any circumstances an opportunity to speak of triumphs or to celebrate," he stressed, adding that the government will celebrate only the day the Cyprus question is solved.

The spokesman said that in a way Wednesday's moves render the effort to solve the Cyprus question "more correct," but noted that the road to a solution is "long and difficult."

This, fifth round of proximity talks will conclude on Friday and negotiations are set to resume in late January in Geneva to continue the search for a comprehensive settlement in Cyprus, divided since Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 percent of its territory in1974.

The spokesman was speaking after Annan handed the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot sides an outline of his assessment of the situation so far incorporating some general principles on which the solution should be based.

The two sides are expected to come back to the negotiating table in later January with their comments and observations on Annan's assessment.

[24] UN envoy holds talks with Clerides, Denktash

GENEVA, 10/11/2000 (CNA/ANA)

This round of proximity talks ends on Friday and de Soto is scheduled to give a press conference. The next, sixth round, is set to take place here at the end of January.

The UN senior official would not talk about the contents of his meetings and restricted himself in saying he "heard comments."

After seeing the Turkish Cypriot leader, he said the peace process continues and noted it is normal to hold meetings at the hotels where the two leaders are residing.

He also said he was unhappy with the leaks to the press, as the UN has asked for a news blackout during the talks, that got underway last December.

President Clerides was also scheduled to meet later on Thursday with American and British envoys in the wings of the Geneva talks.

The proximity talks aim at reaching a settlement in Cyprus, divided since Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 percent of its territory in 1974.

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