Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 01-06-05

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM says failure to solve social security issue will undermine country's growth

[02] SEDM Defense ministers to examine southeastern Europe brigade

[03] US defense secretary meets with Turkish leadership, expected to arrive in Greece

[04] Slovenian President Kucan begins two-day official visit to Greece

[05] Former King Constantine discusses ante-dictatorship politics, royal property

[06] Main opposition cadre announces her interest in running for Athens mayor

[07] Greece condemns terrorist attack in Israel

[08] Finance minister to attend ECOFIN meeting on Tuesday

[09] Merchant marine minister calls all to action in protection of marine environment

[10] ND leader says in message environment should be upgraded in country

[11] New Buenos Aires Orthodox Metropolitan ordained

[12] Agriculture minister announces recognition of Mediterranean Institute studies

[13] British newspaper praises deputy sports minister in fight against corruption

[14] UN chief indirectly blames Turkish Cypriot leader of refusing proximity talks

[01] PM says failure to solve social security issue will undermine country's growth

Athens, 05/06/2001 (ANA)

Simitis was making a closing statement on the second day of the ruling PASOK party's Central Committee meeting, held primarily to tackle the social security issue.

He reiterated that dialogue is necessary without preconditions, adding that those unwilling to hold a dialogue with the government do not want a solution to the issue.

Simitis further expressed optimism that the government and PASOK will regain the people's confidence, saying that "whenever we have dared we have succeeded."

He criticized those who think that the easy way to solve the social security issue is for the state to pay. He added that problems are not solved with mathematical formulas but with a plan and a program.

"We should do what we should accept to pay, but not without knowing what we are being called on to pay," he said.

Simitis lashed out at the main opposition New Democracy party, accusing it of inadequacy, of having a negative attitude and of lacking positions. He also criticized the Federation of Greek Industries (SEB) and said in past days a coalition is being formed against the government.

He said this coalition does not accept the government's development policy, it wants few tax burdens, no control of environmental repercussions, scant limitation in consumer protection, free settlements in funding and continuous restrictions in the presence of the state.

Simitis went on to say that they want more market on an unlimited scale and less public interest on an unlimited scale, adding that they say the government is delaying and have passed this rumor on to society.

"We are delaying because we want better offers in auctions and we are delaying because we want all the rules to be observed in auctions. The government is delaying because it is not buying weapons with the offset benefits of their choice," he said ironically.

Simitis ranked in the same category those who want broadcasting benefits, digital television and television stations.

"We do not accept this attitude and we do not accept their logic that our social policy can come after development. They themselves do not know when this development will come. We do not share this logic, because in our view development coincides with social policy," he said.

Other speakers addressing the Central Committee meeting criticized the government for mishandling the social security issue.

Sifis Valyrakis said it should not be forgotten that the last elections were won marginally by PASOK and with euphoria due to accession to Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), adding that he discerned a "confidence crisis" between PASOK and society.

Manolis Skoulakis said that with the latest developments "PASOK's ideological identity was at risk. The people know that we made a struggle for EMU and expected the reallocation and four-year term of the social state we promised them."

Meanwhile, PASOK's Central Committee reached an almost unanimous decision on the social security issue.

Following prolonged consultations, the decision drawn up by the party's Executive Bureau and presented by Central Committee secretary Costas Skandalidis on Saturday included almost all the proposals requested by the body's 63 members at whose initiative the Central Committee was convened.

Skandalidis also made certain clarifications on the three main topics contained in the social security issue concerning tripartite funding, age limits and minimum pensions and, consequently, facilitated the decision's acceptance.

Only two Central Committee members, Christos Liakopoulos and Ilias Kontopoulos, trade unionists from Patras, did not vote in favor of the decision, while one blank vote was also cast.

DM says social security system requires development: Defense Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos said on Saturday a reliable social security system requires wealth, namely development, adding that the private sector cannot support pensions.

Tsohatzopoulos, who was speaking at the ruling PASOK party's Central Committee meeting on the social security issue, said it should be tackled now and the impression should not be given that the problem will be swept under the rug.

He conceded that the social security issue had created a problem for PASOK and the government and said that it should close the rift through political initiatives, which will bring the party closer to the people.

Tsohatzopoulos further said another rift should close. That between PASOK and the forces of the left. He added that the neo-right couldn’t be confronted without strengthening ties with the forces of the left.

He also said a new economic and social model should be found both in Greece and Europe and that it is a crucial issue and the obligation of Europe's socialists.

ND spokesman says PM admits giving all he had to give: Main opposition New Democracy party spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos, referring to Prime Minister Costas Simitis' statements at his party's Central Committee meeting, said on Saturday that with his option to turn back and stay in the past Simitis now admits that he has given all he had to give as prime minister.

"Simitis, in view of his insecurity, is resorting to friction and in his confusion he is discovering conspiracies and he is seeking an alibi for his deadlocks," he said.

Roussopoulos further said that in view of their inability to provide work and a perspective, Simitis and his associates are adopting frivolous, irresponsible and dangerous practices.

[02] SEDM Defense ministers to examine southeastern Europe brigade

Athens, 05/06/2001 (ANA)

The defense ministers will visit Mount Athos on Tuesday afternoon and afterwards Greek Defense Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos will hold consecutive meetings with his Romanian counterpart Ioan Mircea Pascu and his Turkish counterpart Sabahattin Cakmakoglu.

He will give a dinner later for participating defense ministers and members of national delegations.

Tsohatzopoulos will meet U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on Wednesday morning and both will be making statements afterwards.

The meeting will get underway at 9.30 a.m. on Wednesday with an opening address by Tsohatzopoulos who will hail the participation, for the first time, of Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksander Kuzmuk.

Representatives of NATO, the OSCE, the European Union and the special representative for the Stability Pact in southeastern Europe Bodo Hombach will also speak.

Tsohatzopoulos will close the meeting and a joint press conference by participants, as well as a working luncheon, will follow.

Tsohatzopoulos will also be meeting separately his Ukrainian counterpart Kuzmuk.

[03] US defense secretary meets with Turkish leadership, expected to arrive in Greece

ISTANBUL, 05/06/2001 (ANA - A. Kourkoulas)

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on Monday met with the Turkish political and military leadership in Ankara and discussed Turkey's concerns on the European Security and Defense Identity (ESDI), which he said were understandable.

Rumsfeld met with Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, while he is expected to depart for Thessaloniki where he will participate in a Southeastern European defense ministers' meeting.

[04] Slovenian President Kucan begins two-day official visit to Greece

Athens, 05/06/2001 (ANA)

The visit is the first official visit by a Slovenian president to Greece since Slovenia gained its independence on June 25, 1991. Kucan will be meeting President Kostis Stephanopoulos, Prime Minister Costas Simitis, Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis, main opposition New Democracy party leader Costas Karamanlis, Athens Mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos and renowned composer Mikis Theodorakis.

An agreement on the avoidance of double taxation will be signed on the occasion.

Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel, who will join the Slovenian delegation on the first day of the official visit, will hold separate talks on Tuesday with his Greek counterpart George Papandreou.

[05] Former King Constantine discusses ante-dictatorship politics, royal property

Athens, 05/06/2001 (ANA)

"The type of state rule is not in danger. A democracy should be strong enough to be able to withstand even me going to my home, in my beloved homeland, without any problems," the ex-King said, in an interview where he dealt with many aspects of Greek political life before the seven-year dictatorship that began in 1967.

Speaking of former premier George Papandreou, he said that he proposed to the Greek leader to legalize the Greek Communist Party (KKE) but "he (Papandreou) said 'I will lose votes from the left wing and then it is the other thing too, how am I to bring back all those that left outside the country (to countries of Eastern Europe) all this while".

The former monarch also discussed several details of the first few days of the military coup-de-etat, claiming that at the young age of 26 he was under extreme force to accept a government imposed by the colonels and had no force to do any different.

Constantine also spoke of his differences with the Greek state regarding the so-called royal property, saying that his family home in Tatoi, northern Athens was purchased by his great-grand father with money he brought from abroad.

Ex-King Constantine is related to the Danish Royal House as his great-grand father George was of the Royal House of Danmark, thus he claimed that the property in Tatoi was purchased with money his family brought to Greece.

He also said that non-real estate property that was given to him in the early 1990's was personal family property and it did not include any archaeological artifacts or Byzantine art pieces as was reported in the press at that time.

Government spokesman says ex-king demanding more than he received: Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas, referring to compensation sought by ex-king Constantine from the Greek state, said on Saturday the ex-king is requesting more than what he had "received" from the Greek people and the country when he was king.

"The ex-king's demands and the way with which he is promoting them reveal how he realizes his relations with our country and the Greek people. These claims, which come from the past, have nothing to do with our country's present and future," he said.

Reppas further said the court's ruling will be respected and its decisions will be implemented, but added that "the Greek people have written off the royal institution from their lives irrevocably and feel provoked when at every opportunity the ex-king reappears with such untenable claims."

"Consequently, I can say that he is the last who can claim from the Greek state. Literally, he is the last who can claim. I would say that he owes this country. For this reason he should not claim and demand," he added.

[06] Main opposition cadre announces her interest in running for Athens mayor

Athens, 05/06/2001 (ANA)

"My ambition is to work so I may solve problems, not create any. I would like to also tell you that even though it has become a tradition to use Athens as a springboard (for other political posts) it is time to change this (tradition)," Bakoyianni said.

"The responsibility the president of a party has, cannot go along with the needs and the responsibilities of the mayor of Athens," she said, commenting on current Athens Mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos' recent establishment of a political party.

On his part, Avramopoulos, in an interview to Athens' Sunday edition "Ethnos" newspaper, stressed he would not run for reelection next year, but according to sources he was in support of the Athens municipality's merger with the rest of the Athens metro area in a new metropolitan municipality, especially in light of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games.

[07] Greece condemns terrorist attack in Israel

Athens, 05/06/2001 (ANA)

Foreign Ministry spokesman Panagiotis Beglitis said "we condemn in the most intense way this terrorist act against innocent civilians and express our sympathy for the families of the victims".

Israeli envoy praises Greece's condemnation of Tel Aviv attack: Israeli Ambassador to Athens Ran Curiel on Monday praised Greece's condemnation of the latest terrorist attack in Tel Aviv in which 20 people were killed.

"The government of Israel's full acceptance of the Mitchell Report, its declaration of a unilateral ceasefire, and the restraint shown even after the last horrendous terrorist attack, clearly demonstrate our determination to stop violence and pursue the peace process," Curiel said in a statement.

"We also appreciate the statement of the Greek foreign ministry which unequivocally condemned the attack," he added.

[08] Finance minister to attend ECOFIN meeting on Tuesday

Athens, 05/06/2001 (ANA)

Papantoniou was also due to participate in a meeting of euro zone finance ministers on Monday afternoon.

Among others, the meeting will focus on the economic situation, the international role of the euro, economic policy, the taxation package, the taxation of energy products, economic aid for Yugoslavia and combatting fraud.

[09] Merchant marine minister calls all to action in protection of marine environment

Athens, 05/06/2001 (ANA)

"The protection of the marine environment is an obligation of us all, while it is the right for our children and a great commitment for the society of the future," Papoutsis said.

The minister stressed that the Greek national action plan for the protection of the marine environment will be coordinated with local action plans for the first time beginning this summer.

[10] ND leader says in message environment should be upgraded in country

Athens, 05/06/2001 (ANA)

"Beaches full of garbage, burnt forests, streams blocked with rubble and the uncontrolled dumping of sewage and refuse harm the image of modern-day Greece and downgrade the environment and the quality of our lives at the responsibility of the government which is incapable, among others, of achieving the ecological sensitization of citizens," he said.

Karamanlis said ND has its own targets and policy measures which are the protection and rational management of natural resources and the application of an integrated national environmental strategy with the incorporation of the environmental dimension in economic policy.

In a similar message, the Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) called on Greeks to participate in demonstrations aimed at saving open spaces in Athens and organized by local citizen movements on Tuesday afternoon and reaching the Environment, Town Planning and Public Works Ministry.

It also called on citizens to participate in the party's event due to take place at the Alimos beach on June 15 to defend free access to the sea and the utilization of the sites of the former Hellenikon airport as a modern metropolitan park.

[11] New Buenos Aires Orthodox Metropolitan ordained

ISTANBUL, 05/06/2001 (ANA - A. Kourkoulas)

This ceremony was the first for nearly 80 years after the last such ordination in Asia Minor, following the exchange of populations between Greece and Turkey

The ceremony took place during a wide tour of the Cappadocia region of Turkey, during which Vartholomeos was accompanied by several high-ranking Orthodox ecclesiastical leaders, pilgrims and Greek expatriates.

Tarassios was the Grand Archdeacon of the Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarchate and was elected to replace Buenos Aires Orthodox Metropolitan Gennadios, who retired.

According to an announcement issued by the Patriarchate, Tarassios was born in San Antonio, Texas, the United States of America.

He graduated from the Holy Cross School of Theology in Boston Massachusetts and continued his studies at the Institute of Eastern Studies of Rome and at the Paleography School of the Vatican.

He served the Ecumenical Holy See for more than 10 years and during that time he accompanied Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos to some of the most important missions of the Patriarchate abroad.

[12] Agriculture minister announces recognition of Mediterranean Institute studies

Athens, 05/06/2001 (ANA)

Anomeritis and delegations from Italy, Spain, France, Portugal, Turkey, Yugoslavia, Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Malta, Lebanon and Albania participated in the 3rd session of agriculture ministers from Mediterranean countries chaired by Greece.

Anomeritis said the session focused primarily on food supply in the Mediterranean, adding that "we discussed all the common elements of all countries in an effort to save the Mediterranean Sea."

[13] British newspaper praises deputy sports minister in fight against corruption

LONDON, 05/06/2001 (ANA - L. Tsirigotakis)

The writer of the report, Peter Corrigan, said when he met Floridis in his office recently "he spoke to me of the disappointment and indignation he felt seeing his favorite sport (soccer) dying before his very eyes. Corruption was so obvious that the attendance of spectators at stadiums was the worst ever last season."

Corrigan also refers to the law promoted by Floridis to have people charged with penal offences removed from posts at sports organizations and said "we should also ratify this law."

"Floridis reassures that the government does not wish to control soccer but to help confidence and integrity be restored in Greek soccer," the report said.

[14] UN chief indirectly blames Turkish Cypriot leader of refusing proximity talks

NICOSIA,05/06/2001 (ANA - G. Leonidas)

The UN began a new effort to reach a settlement in Cyprus in December 1999, but after five rounds of proximity talks Denktash, with Ankara's full backing, demanded a change in the process followed and recognition of the illegal regime, in the areas of Cyprus occupied by Turkish troops since 1974, in order to return to the negotiating table.

In a report on the renewal of UNFICYP's mandate, Annan mentions that Denktash requested from him not to set a date for holding new talks.

The secretary general believes that the situation on the ceasefire line remained stable over the past six months with the exception, as he said, of prohibitions imposed by the Turkish occupation forces and the illegal Turkish Cypriot authorities.

These prohibitions, he added, remained in effect despite repeated demarches for a return to the previous situation and created serious problems and difficulties in UNFICYP's work.

The report makes no mention of a demand by Denktash for separate agreements between UNFICYP and the Turkish Cypriots for the renewal of the force's mandate.

It further says that due to prohibitions imposed by the illegal regime many scheduled joint events between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots were cancelled.

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