Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 01-07-10
July 10, 2001
CONTENTS
[01] PASOK Congress must be springboard of counterattack, PM tells Central
Committee
[02] President to make three-day official visit to Luxembourg
[03] Premier's itinerary for this week announced
[04] Ceasefire in FYROM 'fragile', government says
[05] Greek delegation at OSCE tables amendments on torture, ethnic minorities
[06] KKE protest against NATO warships
[07] Greece's GDP to rise by 6 per cent by 2006 due to EU funded projects,
Commission says
[08] Greece to privatize tourist assets
[09] Greek inflation rises to 3.9 percent in June, yr/yr
[10] Greek wholesale prices' index rises 5.3 percent in May, yr/yr
[11] Cosmote reports 66 percent increase in customer base
[12] Piraeus ranked among 50 largest container ports in world-Journal of
Commerce
[13] Medical association calls 2-day strike in support of IKA colleagues
[14] Consumer groups to be allowed to bring class action lawsuits in Greek
courts
[15] Greek stocks plunge to 31-month lows
[16] Authorities checking for second 'mad cow' incident
[17] Increased pollution recorded in Thessaloniki
[18] Expatriate professor to release study on Cyprus invasion
[19] Over 3,500 doping checks expected during 2004 Olympiad
[20] Environmental study says environment affected by installations in British
Bases
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[01] PASOK Congress must be springboard of counterattack, PM tells Central
Committee
Athens, 10/07/2001 (ANA)
The PASOK Congress in October must serve as a springboard for the ruling
party's "counterattack" against the "conservative and regression", Prime
Minister Costas Simitis said Monday.
Addressing a meeting of the PASOK Central Committee that is slated to
formally move the party Congress forward to October, Simitis said the
Congress must launch a "political counterattack against the forces of
conservatism, of regression, those forces that want to turn their own
backwardness into backwardness of the country, their phobia into inertia,
and their weaknesses into a general stagnation".
He said "every pioneering section" of the Greek society must be expressed
at the Congress, and this would occur only if PASOK "does not close itself
this time within the party walls".
"We do not seek practicable balances among cadres, nor courses sheltered
from political cost," the premier said.
PASOK had dynamic, but it was up against a right-wing which "with various
lectic disguises wishes to cover up its role, its history, its present-day
aspirations, and its lack of positions, principles and proposals," and a
left-wing that "is mired in the past, in absolute negation of the
present-day reality".
Opposite the Left and Right was PASOK at the center of the political stage,
with its major social and democratic struggles, he said.
Simitis outlined three "big, clear-cut targets for Greece and PASOK".
The first target, he said, was completing the huge reforms in education,
health and social insurance, adding that, for the latter, a "commonly
accepted and efficient solution" would be given that "guarantees the
prospects for, will not undermine the future of, and will be a contribution
to the citizen".
The second target was the multi-faceted strengthening of the country's
international position, he said, noting that it was very likely that, over
the next decade, hotspots would arise frequently in the Balkans, causing
fluidity and friction.
As for relations with Turkey, he said that provided the Balkan neighbor
decided to stabilize its European choice, auspicious prospects would be
created for the long-term relations between the two countries, but warned
that Greece needed to maintain a firm deterrent force in order to
effectively defend its national sovereign rights, "which are
non-negotiable".
The third target, he continued, was to "forge a new national
self-confidence of a society that knows how to succeed".
He said that PASOK must clearly see the entire picture and the substance of
the contents of its strategic choices.
Apart from the strategic choice to strengthen the national economy, "there
is also the economy that concerns the every-day reality of the hard working
family, and this must not escape our attention".
The premier said that today he was "more optimistic than every", and
invited all categories of the population to work with the government to
attain the targets.
Skandalidis: Outlining procedural issues, Central Committee secretary
Costas Skandalidis said the party's political platform would be approved at
the Central Committee meeting planned for August 31-September 1, adding
that all the Committee members would be invited to take part in drafting
the platform positions, while the party's Political Bureau would also
examine the participation of the PASOK parliamentary group in the
position-drafting process as well.
He said all pre-Congress activities would be completed by September 30, at
which time the Congress delegates would be elected through voting by all
the members.
Other Executive Bureau members on PASOK congress: Speaking at the ruling
PASOK party's Central Committee meeting on Monday, Defense Minister Akis
Tsohatzopoulos said the people's criticism of the government and the PASOK
party was worsening and action was necessary.
He added that the party's congress, due to take place on October 11-14,
should made clear to the people which commitments PASOK will be
undertaking.
Tsohatzopoulos said current moments are difficult for PASOK and justified
the unanimous decision taken by the party's Executive Bureau to bring the
date of the party's congress forward.
Referring to targets Prime Minister Costas Simitis set in his address, he
agreed with them, but added that targets exist and what is important at the
congress is not to reaffirm targets but to find the content of policies so
that they may be achieved.
Tsohatzopoulos said there are no dilemmas in a democracy, adding that the
prime minister has the responsibility of ruling with his government, while
members and cadres have the responsibility of contributing to it.
Interior Minister Vasso Papandreou said that PASOK and the government, 15
months after the elections, give the impression that they have distanced
themselves from the popular mandate. She added that citizens also believe
there is a distancing from election commitments.
Papandreou spoke of personal and collective designs leading to a small
PASOK, PASOK of defeat but of "government practices leading to conservative
solutions as well".
Referring to what had been said at the Central Committee, she said there
was some criticism exceeding limits and some give the impression they would
prefer PASOK's defeat as long as they got rid of Simitis.
Papandreou said a new party model is necessary, but expressed optimism that
the situation in PASOK is reversible, provided it takes suitable
initiatives.
Former minister Theodoros Pangalos said bringing the party's congress
forward was a necessary decision because "things are not going well",
although the charter is being violated in this way.
He expressed the hope that this will be the last violation and proposed
that the party congress should be held on a regular basis every two years.
Pangalos said the congress should elect Costas Simitis as party leader,
adding that a change in leadership would be a defeat. He further said the
president should not be belittled because such a thing will lead nowhere.
He also proposed that the party's secretary general should be elected by
the congress which will signal PASOK's independence from the state
apparatus and this independence should start from the top.
Former minister Gerasimos Arsenis said he was not convinced by Simitis'
address on the reasons for which PASOK is heading for an early congress and
noted that the crisis being experienced is not a party crisis but a crisis
in government policy.
Arsenis said these issues are not issues for a congress but issues for the
political leadership and the only existing solution is a cabinet reshuffle
and a change in policy. He also expressed pessimism over the outcome of the
congress.
General Confederation of Workers of Greece (GSEE) President Christos
Polyzogopoulos said the forces of PASOK should listen to the voice of
society and added that the majority of citizens ascertain a difference
between PASOK's policies and the needs of society.
PM calls on PASOK cadres to unite and work for common course: The ruling
PASOK party's congress in October will be one of unity and not of
confrontation, party President and Prime Minister Costas Simitis said on
Monday, during his closing remarks at the party's Central Committee
meeting.
He stressed, however, that the position of party members would be
determined by their work, their contribution and common course and not by
self-styled labels and statements, which are used as alibis for
indifference or mediocrity.
"We are not afraid of differences of opinion. Personal confrontations,
however, downgrade the work, undermine our history and undervalue the
action of everyone of us," Simitis said.
He stressed that discussions during the Central Committee meeting brought
to light many sides on ways to give new dynamism and prospects to the
party.
A great challenge for Greece and a historic mission, which PASOK undertook
to achieve is the basic goal ahead, Simitis said, adding that this mission
is to create a different position for Greece and to provide for it a
different role in European society. He stressed that the popular mandate is
clear and categorically stated, that the government is working to achieve
the goals of this popular mandate, adding the pre-election commitments have
been fulfilled to a great extent.
Simitis said that there should be changes in the policies of the
government, since PASOK is not a party bound by doctrines, noting that
these changes do not mean the demolition, back-tracking or refusal "of all
that we achieved. We forge forward based on our conquests".
Concluding he rebutted statements that there is a governmental inaction in
light of the congress, saying that PASOK held two congresses over the past
five years without causing problems to the normal process of governing the
country and through those congresses it won two elections.
PASOK Central Committee unanimously approves early congress: The ruling
PASOK party's Central Committee on Monday unanimously ratified the proposal
made by the Executive Bureau to bring forward the date for the party's 6th
regular congress.
Central Committee secretary Costas Skandalidis said in a statement there
were no negative or blank votes and added that the discussion primarily
showed that PASOK has the self-awareness and the conscience to take
decisions united and to forge ahead in difficult moments.
Skandalidis said Monday's discussion gave a reply to the "Cassandras who
predicted the party's upcoming dissolution". He further said the congress
will be one of unity and rallying and will lead the party to "a victorious
strategy and the country to the implementation of its major targets".
ND says PM confirmed he is 'distant from reality': Prime Minister Costas
Simitis "confirmed again today that he is distant from reality, he tried to
convince the Greek people, but he didn't even succeed to convince his own
party's audience," main opposition New Democracy (ND) party spokesman
Theodoros Roussopoulos said on Monday, commenting on Simitis' address at
ruling PASOK party's Central Committee meeting.
Roussopoulos said Simitis "speaks of a social state at a time when he is
trying to abolish it and speaks of a society for the many when it is known
that he is defending the interests of the few".
The spokesman further said the country has a real need for a new beginning,
but which cannot be achieved with old materials and that it cannot be
achieved by a "tired government and by a prime minister who is in a state
of guardianship".
Other Political Parties: On its part, the Coalition (Synaspismos) of the
Left and Progress said Simitis' speech "is a mixture of flattering and
complacent elements for the neo-liberal policies and social options
characterizing his five-year premiership".
The Coalition of the Left added that the prime minister's option and his
insistence on continuing the same policies constitutes a provocation for
society.
Democratic Social Movement (DHKKI) leader Dimitris Tsovolas said in a
statement that with leftist phraseology the prime minister "is trying in
vain to conceal the socially heartless and deadlocked government policy of
the so-called modernizing PASOK, since social indicators have taken a
downward course on a permanent basis, heightening with unemployment and an
increase in drug use".
[02] President to make three-day official visit to Luxembourg
Athens, 10/07/2001 (ANA)
President Kostis Stephanopoulos will start a three-day official visit to
Luxembourg on Tuesday, at the invitation of the Grand Duke Henri.
The president will be holding talks on bilateral, international and
European issues with the Grand Duke, Prime Minister Jean Claude Juncker and
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Lydie Polfer.
[03] Premier's itinerary for this week announced
Athens, 10/07/2001 (ANA)
A government spokesman on Monday announced Prime Minister Costas Simitis'
itinerary for this coming week.
Specifically, the premier will receive the justice and health ministers
separately on Tuesday afternoon.
On Wednesday morning he will deliver an address at a one-day seminar
organized by the Hellenic Center for European Studies in Athens, before
receiving the ruling PASOK party's secretary and the culture minister later
in the day.
A cabinet meeting will convene on Thursday to deal with environmental
protection issues and a national plan for dealing with climatic changes.
Simitis will chair a PASOK executive meeting in the evening.
Finally, on Friday, the premier will meet with PASOK's Eurodeputies at his
office.
[04] Ceasefire in FYROM 'fragile', government says
Athens, 10/07/2001 (ANA)
The ceasefire in FYROM was "fragile", the Greek government said Monday,
adding that it was keeping abreast of the developments in its northern
neighbor.
"The government was constantly keeping informed on the developments in
FYROM," government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said, adding that the
ceasefire in the Balkan neighbor was "fragile".
"Agreement among the political forces must be achieved as soon as
possible," he told a regular press briefing.
Asked to comment on the vandalism of the press office of the Greek Embassy
in Skopje, the FYROM capital, two weeks ago, Reppas reminded that Greece
had lodged a verbal demarche with the FYROM government that it take all the
necessary measures to protect the Greek diplomatic mission there.
"The actions of a few extremists do not worry the government," he added.
[05] Greek delegation at OSCE tables amendments on torture, ethnic
minorities
PARIS, 10/07/2001 (ANA)
Greek Parliament deputies on Monday tabled two amendments to draft
decisions at the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's
(OSCE) parliamentary assembly that began here on Friday and will end on
Tuesday.
The Greek delegation headed by PASOK's Sifis Valirakis tabled an amendment,
to the draft proposal for the abolition of torture, noting the condemnation
of the assembly for the deaths of prisoners in Turkey due to a hunger
strike against changes in the country's prison system.
They also tabled an amendment to the draft decision of the assembly on
ethnic minorities, stressing that "the states that seek ethnic, religious,
cultural or language ties with an ethnic minority of a neighboring country
are obliged, according to international law, not to use this minority as a
means to undermine the territorial integrity and sovereignty of that
neighboring state".
[06] KKE protest against NATO warships
Athens, 10/07/2001 (ANA)
Communist Party of Greece (KKE) members demonstrated at the Thessaloniki
port on Tuesday in protest to eight NATO warships from the alliance's
Permanent Naval Force in the Mediterranean that released anchor there on
Monday.
The protestors, who attempted to disturb a reception held on the Greek
destroyer ship 'Kimon', (one of the eight ships in the armada) shouted
against NATO and US policies as well as handed out anti-war pamphlets to
participants at the port's central gate.
The event on 'Kimon', which was scheduled for Sunday by Italian
Rear-Admiral Bizari, was moved to Monday so that local authorities and
other prominent could attend. The ships are to remain at the Thessaloniki
port until July 14, 2001.
[07] Greece's GDP to rise by 6 per cent by 2006 due to EU funded projects,
Commission says
BRUSSELS, 10/07/2001 (ANA - B. Demiris)
Greece's GDP will increase by 6 per cent in real term and investment will
increase by 20 per cent, following the conclusion of projects funded by the
European Union third community support framework fund, the European
Commission announced on Monday.
A report published on Monday by the Commission, entitled "the results of
planning of the structural funds for the 2000-2006 period", details the
results of the negotiations between the Commission and the national
authorities of every country that will receive funds from the specific
programs.
The first phase (target 1) includes countries that have a per capita income
of less than 75 per cent of the Union's median. These countries are Greece,
Spain, Portugal and Ireland.
The Commission expects that with the successful conclusion of these
projects a significant progress will be made toward the real convergence of
the Union's economies, with the positive developments in the sectors of job
creation and productivity, with Greece and Portugal being those that stand
to benefit the most.
The total budget for target 1 projects in Greece for the 2000-2006 period
is 44 billion euros, of which 21.3 billion will be funded by the European
Union.
[08] Greece to privatize tourist assets
Athens, 10/07/2001 (ANA)
The Greek government plans to privatize its tourist assets as part of a
program aiming to boost the country's tourism sector ahead of the Athens
2004 Olympic Games, Development Minister Nikos Christodoulakis said on
Monday.
Presenting the ministry's single tourism development policy,
Christodoulakis said that it was aimed to upgrade the country's tourist
infrastructure, to boost economic activity, to increase employment, to
create modern tourist professions and to attract high-quality tourist
demand ahead of the 2004 Olympics.
The program envisages the privatization of Mont Parness Casino-Resort, the
flotation of Hellenic Tourist Real Estate and attracting private investors
to manage four marinas in Attica.
The privatization of Casino-Resort Mont Parness will be made through an
international tender by Hellenic Tourist Real Estate and will envisage
selling an equity stake ranging from 19.9 to 51 percent to a strategic
investor to take over the casino's management as well. The government plans
to list the casino to the Athens Stock Exchange in the next few years.
Casino-Report Mont Parness plans to upgrade its two hotel units, with a
capacity of 433 beds, to a luxury hotel complex.
The tender is expected to be announced by the end of July and results are
expected by December 31, 2001.
Bids will be accepted by casino and resort operators with a valid license
in the country.
Christodoulakis also announced plans to offer the management of Attica's
four largest marinas (Zea, Flisvos, Alimos, Vouliagmeni) to private
investors.
Under the plan, Hellenic Tourist Real Estate (ETA) is expected to seek
listing of its share on the Athens Stock Exchange in the next few years,
following the launch of a series of tourist prometoha - securities to be
exchanged for ETA's shares - worth 700 million euros or 240 billion
drachmas. The pr'metoha will be offered through private placement to
institutional and private investors.
[09] Greek inflation rises to 3.9 percent in June, yr/yr
Athens, 10/07/2001 (ANA)
Greece's annual inflation rate, measured by the consumer price index, rose
to 3.9 percent in June from 3.6 percent the previous month, the National
Statistics Service said on Monday.
The consumer price index, however, fell by 0.1 percent in May from April.
The NSS said the year-on-year CPI rise reflected a 10.2 percent price
increases in alcohol and tobacco and a 6.8 percent increase in food and
beverages.
The inflation rate was 2.5 percent in June 2000 and 2.1 percent in June
1999, year-on-year.
NSS also said that Greece's harmonized average 12-month inflation rate rose
to 3.5 percent in June from 3.3 percent in May.
Core inflation, excluding volatile items, also rose to 3.7 percent in June
from 3.5 percent in May.
The NSS also reported an increase in the wholesale prices index.
[10] Greek wholesale prices' index rises 5.3 percent in May, yr/yr
Athens, 10/07/2001 (ANA)
Greece's wholesale prices' index rose 5.3 percent in May compared with the
same month last year, slowing from a 7.7 percent increase in May 2000,
National Statistics Service said on Monday.
NSS said the index rose 1.0 percent in May from April, compared with a 0.8
percent increase in May 2000.
The wholesale index rose an average 4.9 percent in the January-May period,
down from a rise of 7.2 percent in the same period last year.
[11] Cosmote reports 66 percent increase in customer base
Athens, 10/07/2001 (ANA)
Cosmote, a Greek mobile telephone operator, on Monday reported a
spectacular 66 percent rise in its customer base in the second quarter of
2001, reaffirming the company's rapid growth rates.
The company said its active customer base totalled 2,518,553 at the end of
June.
Cosmote reported 233,665 net new subscriptions in the first quarter of the
year, of which 80,488 were contract subscribers and the remaining 153,177
non-contracts. The company expects that this trend would continue in the
April-June period.
Active contract subscribers totalled 1,385,777 at the end of June, up 50.8
percent from the same month last year, while non-contract active customers
totalled 1,132,776, up 90 percent over the same period.
Cosmote said its contract and non-contract rate was 55 percent and 45
percent, respectively. The company also said the customer disconnection
rate rose 15.7 percent.
Cosmote said its subsidiary in Albania AMC's customer base jumped 70
percent in the second quarter to 133,980, of which 111,689 were
non-contract subscribers.
[12] Piraeus ranked among 50 largest container ports in world-Journal of
Commerce
NEW YORK, 10/07/2001 (ANA - M. Georgiadou)
Greece's port of Piraeus ranked among the 50 largest container ports in the
world in the period 1999-2000, according to a survey published in the July
9-15 edition of the weekly sector periodical Journal of Commerce.
In its latest annual survey on the top 50 ports of the world with respect
to movement and management of containers, the Journal of Commerce ranked
Piraeus in the 43rd spot, ahead of important ports such as Houston,
Bangkok, Jeddah and Sydney. The group was led by Hong Kong and Singapore,
while New York ranked 15th.
In the Mediterranean, Piraeus ranked in 5th place behind the ports of
Algesira, Genoa, Barcelona and Valencia.
Further, the port of Piraeus marked the second largest increase in
container traffic among the Mediterranean ports during the year in
question, with a 19 percent rise.
[13] Medical association calls 2-day strike in support of IKA colleagues
Athens, 10/07/2001 (ANA)
Greece's national medical association, along with the country's dentists,
have called a 48-hour strike for Thursday and Friday in a show of
solidarity to IKA doctors, whose month-long strike was ruled illegal by an
Athens court on Saturday.
The medical association called on the government to resume across-the-board
negotiations with the state-run Social Security Foundation (IKA), the
largest health and pension fund in Greece, over pay demands and permanent
staffing issues.
[14] Consumer groups to be allowed to bring class action lawsuits in Greek
courts
Athens, 10/07/2001 (ANA)
Greek and other European Union consumer groups will be allowed to file
class action lawsuits in protection of the rights of consumers and request
that the court decisions by made public, along with other penalties or
measures levied.
According to a presidential decree drafted by the ministry of development,
agencies and organizations from Greece or other European Union
member-states will have the right to bring class action lawsuits in Greek
courts to protect consumers from violations of television programming,
organized travel and tours, advertisement of medicines and time-sharing
real estate contracts.
[15] Greek stocks plunge to 31-month lows
Athens, 10/07/2001 (ANA)
Greek stocks plunged to their lowest levels in the last 31 months on the
Athens Stock Exchange on Monday, hit by lack of buying interest with prices
unable to find support at the 2,600 level.
Trader said institutional investors pushed the market lower in a move
designed to boost their liquidity and return to the market at lower levels.
Blue chip stocks suffered heavily, with Commercial Bank losing 6.33
percent, National Bank falling 5.28 percent and Alpha Bank and Panafon
easing 4.82 and 3.23 percent, respectively.
The general index plunged 4.0 percent to end at 2,545.01 points, with
turnover a low 82.02 million euros, or 27.95 billion drachmas.
The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks ended at
1,454.17 points, off 4.30 percent, the FTSE/ASE 40 index dropped 4.36
percent to 279.99 points, and the FTSE/ASE SMALLCAP 80 index ended at
803.53 points, down 3.98 percent.
The parallel market index for smaller capitalization stocks ended at 244.86
points, losing 3.29 percent.
Broadly, decliners led advancers by 334 to 15 with another five issues
unchanged.
Equity futures end lower on Monday: Equity futures traded on the Athens
Derivatives Exchange showed a discount of up to 1.6 percent on Monday with
sellers calling the shots in aggressive liquidation.
The underlying FTSE/ASE 20 index closed with a discount of 1.5 per cent,
and the FTSE/ASE 40 ended 1.6 percent lower.
Traded were 7,775 contracts on turnover of 51.7 million euros.
Bond prices drop in heavy trade: Bond prices in the domestic secondary
market on Monday finished lower in heavy trade.
The Greek benchmark 10-year bond showed a yield of 5.59 percent, and the
yield spread over German bunds was 47 basis points.
Turnover through the central bank's electronic system totalled 805.5
million euros (274 billion drachmas).
Sell orders accounted for the bulk of turnover.
[16] Authorities checking for second 'mad cow' incident
Athens, 10/07/2001 (ANA)
Athens on Monday said Greek health services were testing another
"suspicious case" for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), better known
as 'mad cow disease', one week after the first such instance was verified
in Greece.
According to a government spokesman in Athens, Dutch authorities informed
Greek services that a cow shipped to a cattle-breeding unit in Evros
prefecture, extreme northeastern Greece, hailed from a unit in the
Netherlands where BSE has been detected.
The animal will be destroyed on Tuesday, spokesman Dimitris Reppas said.
Greek authorities last week confirmed that a milk cow infected with BSE was
detected at a slaughterhouse in the country's north.
The discovery resulted in the destruction of some 150 cattle from the same
herd as the diseased animal, which arrived at an abattoir in the town of
Serres from neighboring Kilkis prefecture.
[17] Increased pollution recorded in Thessaloniki
Athens, 10/07/2001 (ANA)
Increased air pollution levels, particularly ozone and nitrogen oxide
levels, were recorded over the weekend in the northern city of
Thessaloniki.
According to an announcement by local authorities, the elderly, people with
health problems and children are advised to restrict their outdoor
activities amid the forecast 'mini' heat wave. Finally, local residents are
advised to use mass transit instead of their vehicles.
[18] Expatriate professor to release study on Cyprus invasion
NEW YORK, 10/07/2001 (ANA - M. Georgiadou)
The expatriate publishing firm, the "Pella Publishing Company Inc" is
scheduled to release a new monograph by Dr. Chris P. Ioannidis in the
autumn of 2001, entitled "Realpolitik in the Easter Mediterranean".
The study, a 500-page research, follows the subtitle "From Kissinger and
the Cyprus Crisis to Carter and the Lifting of the Turkish Arms Embargo"
and covers the series of events that eventually led to the Turkish invasion
of Cyprus.
Ioannidis, who served at the SB Vryonis Center, in Sacramento, California
between 1989-1996 and 2000-2001, focuses his study on the Turkish invasion
of Cyprus as well as the Watergate Scandal, which, he claims, affected the
actions that the United States government took to prevent a Greek-Turkish
war.
The monograph also makes reference to mistakes by former US Secretary of
State Henry Kissinger committed during the Cyprus crises and his veto
against a British "viable" proposal, which would have prevented Turkish
designs.
The report also covers the period when former US President Jimmy Carter was
in office as well as his stance regarding the Cyprus issue. At the same
time it also notes the massive rallies that were staged by Hellenic
expatriates in the US and the position of the US Congress at the time.
[19] Over 3,500 doping checks expected during 2004 Olympiad
Athens, 10/07/2001 (ANA)
More than 3,500 doping checks will be carried out during the 2004 Athens
Olympic Games, according to a memorandum of cooperation signed on Monday by
Deputy Culture Minister George Floridis and Athens 2004 Organizing
Committee (ATHOC) President Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki.
"It is no coincidence, unfortunately, that the issue of competition is
linked to medicine competition. We are speaking of records and athletes who
are experiencing massive pressure on the part of fellow athletes, families
and coaches and very often from clubs and the mass media to achieve
records," she said.
Angelopoulos-Daskalaki said a contractual obligation exists with the
International Olympic Committee (IOC) to prepare a state-of-the-art
anti-doping laboratory, while adding that it would have been created in any
case, regardless of any contractual obligation.
[20] Environmental study says environment affected by installations in
British Bases
NICOSIA, 10/07/2001 (CNA/ANA)
An environmental study on the eco-system and the possible fallout on the
environment from a proposed extension of British military installations in
Akrotiri area has shown that the vegetation, the flora, migratory and other
indigenous birds are affected by existing installations and could be
seriously affected by future installations.
The study, conducted by two Greek experts and released on Monday, proposed
a monitoring program, which should focus on the daily movement of birds in
wintertime and during the reproductive season, on the migratory patterns of
birds and on the number of birds that might collide with the very tall
masts in the area.
"A monitoring program would help deal with environmental repercussions
emanating from the installation and operation of the antennae and possible
future construction," the study said.
It suggests that construction work be halted during the reproductive period
as "the minimum of precautionary measures" that can be taken.
Furthermore, it says antennae should be marked somehow in a visible manner,
during daytime and at nighttime, to avoid any collision with birds.
The six-page study was made public on Monday, as consultations between
Cyprus and Britain on the proposed construction of a huge antenna resumed,
after last week's violent protests in Akrotiri that left about 30 people
injured and a lot of damage to property.
The study deals with the national and international importance of the salt
lake area near Akrotiri, where the new antennae is set to go up, the
natural environment in the area, a description of the telecommunications
installations, possible fallout on the environment and a proposed plan of
action.
It notes that the salt lake area in Akrotiri has been proposed by the
government of Cyprus to be part of the European network of protected areas
"Natura 2000" and is very important for Europe's bird population.
The area is home to 40 species of birds, and some 238 species of birds have
been observed passing through this area, 26 of which are rare species. More
than 80 per cent of these species are migratory birds.
In the section on effects on the environmental, the study notes that "the
proposed installations in conjunction with the existing ones cover a
substantial part of the western part of the salt lake and existing
installations break up the unified area of the lake, which divides the
ecosystem and the home of the flora and fauna."
Earlier Monday, Cypriot and British experts met to exchange views on the
matter and later on five ministers (foreign affairs, the environment,
health, communications and defense) had a two-hour meeting on the issue at
hand.
Speaking after the meeting, Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides said "the
experts will decide on the environmental, health and technical matters and
the government will take the political decisions in the light of the
experts' conclusions."
The minister refused to disclose anything about the content of the
discussions but said the public will be informed at the appropriate time.
Consultations should not take too long at this stage, he said, adding that
the British "for practical reasons" have halted construction work in the
Akrotiri area.
Labor Minister refutes Turkish Cypriot allegations NICOSIA, 10/07/2001
(CNA)
Turkish Cypriot allegations that the government of the Republic is trying
to stop paying social security benefits to Turkish Cypriots are totally
unfounded and completely uncorroborated, Labor and Social Insurance
Minister Andreas Mousiouttas said here Monday.
"The government is paying pension and other allowances to 4,104 Turkish
Cypriots, most of whom live in the Turkish occupied part of the country and
about 700 abroad, at an annual cost of 7.091.000
Denktash had claimed that the government is pushing through legislation to
stop paying pension and allowances from the Social Security Fund to anybody
who has not contributed to the Fund for the past ten years.
"I want to stress that this allegation is utterly false," the minister
said, adding that Turkish Cypriots enjoy the same benefits as Greek
Cypriots from the Fund and there is no discrimination between the two at
all.
Replying to questions, he explained that cheques payable to the Turkish
Cypriots are handed to the UN to be delivered to the recipients.
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