Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 01-07-21

Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] Simitis inaugurates Evinos Dam

[02] Greece rejects Italy's allegations on Ancona incidents, gov't spokesman says

[03] President to visit Spain, nat'l econ ministry organizing business mission

[04] ND leader speaks of lack of governance and PM's lack of will

[05] Prime Minister to meet with former culture minister on Monday

[06] Greek parliament president congratulates newly elected Bulgarian counterpart

[07] Greek public order minister meets Cyprus President Clerides

[08] Human chain by Greek-Australians commemorating Cyprus invasion

[09] Parliament president receives ambassadors from Lebanon, Luxembourg

[10] Athens expresses sorrow over deaths of 3 EU observers in FYROM

[11] Credits totalling 800 million euro earmarked for reconstruction of W. Balkans

[12] Labor, healthcare ministers meet with Social Security foundation doctors' union reps

[13] Bounced cheques, bankruptcies decline in June

[14] Portfolio investment firms show drop in asset value

[15] Justice Minister drafts bill on establishment of EU trademark protection courts

[16] Stocks slump in wake of sharp rises

[17] Tourist agents call for end of strike at archaeological, museum sites

[18] Justice bill to restrict prison leave, parole for drug dealers

[19] Important ancient artifact recovered during Attica arrest

[20] Gym chain owner arrested in Peru cocaine trafficking case

[21] Clerides underlines importance of G8 FMs statement on Cyprus

[22] Turkish military planes violate Cyprus' airspace

[23] Twenty-seven years of occupation and division

[24] US Report highlights occupation negative effects on Turkey

[01] Simitis inaugurates Evinos Dam

Athens, 21/07/2001 (ANA)

Simitis said the dam was a historic project that would solve the water-supply problems of the 3.5 millions living in Attica while simultaneously allowing the development of the Aetoloakarnania highlands.

Also present at the inauguration ceremony were Environment Minister Costas Laliotis, Transport Minister Christos Verelis and Deputy Public Works Minister Nasos Alevras.

Laliotis and the premier noted that the project had been carried out with respect for the environment and ecosystems and predicted that it would boost tourism in the area as the artificial Plastira Lake had done for Karditsa.

The entire project consists of the dam across the Evinos River and a tunnel that directs water toward the Mornos River and cost 110 billion drachmas together with accompanying infrastructure, such as roads.

[02] Greece rejects Italy's allegations on Ancona incidents, gov't spokesman says

Athens, 21/07/2001 (ANA)

The demonstrators were going to Italy to participate in protests aimed at the G-8 meeting taking place in Genoa as of Friday. They were refused entry and were mistreated aboard their ship in Ancona.

Reppas said the handling of demonstrators by the Italian services would have been different if there had been a different government in Italy, such as under D'Alema and not Berlusconi. However, he added that this is an issue concerning the Italian people and Italy's domestic affairs and we will not get involved.

He said the Greek government complained to the Italian government with a telephone call by Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou to his Italian counterpart. Reppas added that a verbal demarche was also made to the Italian authorities.

He also categorically denied as absolutely untrue a report that had claimed that the Greek demonstrators were monitored by a group of Greek policemen.

Reppas said that citizens who voted for ruling PASOK party were also participating in the demonstrations and, commenting on why the ruling party is not participating officially, added that each party defines its own policy by itself.

He went on to say that in explanations made by the Italian authorities, an allegation was made that entry to Italy was also forbidden for citizens from other countries as well.

Reppas further said Greece expresses its strong indignation in every direction over the way with which the Italian police authorities had acted.

Greek parties slam Italy for denying entry to G8 protestors: Political parties in Greece on Friday condemned Italy's decision to refuse entry to Greek activists headed for the G8 summit in Genoa, as well as violence against them by Italian police.

A group of activists arriving by boat in the Italian port of Ancona were denied entry into the country by Italian authorities, in incidents that turned violent when Italian police boarded the vessel on which they were traveling in order to force them to return to Greece.

According to witnesses, authorities prevented three of 18 buses taking Greek activists to the Genoa protests from disembarking, barricading the entrance to the boat to stop them getting off. The buses were carrying 150 protestors, including the group's organizing committee and leaders.

In an announcement released on Friday, ruling PASOK condemned what it called the "autocratic and violent stance" of the Italian police force to Greek citizens, including members of the Greek Parliament, saying that it was "undemocratic" to prevent citizens from peaceful protest in support of their beliefs.

It also urged the powerful nations to take the concerns and proposals of protesting citizens into account when they made their decisions.

The incidents in Ancona and Genoa were also commented on by Democratic Social Movement (DHKKI) leader Dimitris Tsovolas, who called them a "shameful page" for European democracy, while they were strong condemned by the PASOK youth movement, the Dialogue and Common Action Forum of the Left, the General Confederation of Workers of Greece (GSEE) and other trade union organizations.

KKE MPs demand action to protect Greek activists in Genoa: Communist Party of Greece (KKE) deputies Orestis Kolozoff and Antonis Skyllakos demanded that the government take steps to protect Greek activists at the G8 summit in Genoa on Friday, in a question put to Foreign Minister George Papandreou and Public Order Minister Michalis Chrysohoidis in Parliament.

The two MPs said that decisions taken by EU interior and public order ministers last Friday and EU foreign ministers last Monday "for common measures of repression against citizens fighting for a better life against the new world order" had led to the incidents at the Italian port of Ancona, where Greek citizens were denied entry into Italy and battered by Italian police.

Italian Embassy in Athens defends actions against Greek activists in Ancona: The Italian embassy in Athens on Friday issued a statement regarding an incident at the Ancona, Italy port a day earlier, when Italian authorities denied entry to some 150 Greek activists who were planning to join the protests in Genoa during the G8 conference.

The embassy's press release called the forceful re-embarkation of Greek activists an act of repatriation.

In justifying the "repatriation" of Greek activists, the Italian embassy noted that authorities detected "objects capable of causing damage and thus dangerous for the safety of the G8".

The Italian embassy announcement also mentioned - although it has not been proven - that some Greek activists were "armed with weapons and dangerous objects", claiming that "there was no notification or precautionary checks on the part of Greek authorities."

The statement said that Italian authorities in full awareness of the need to secure an appropriate safety framework for the participating delegations as well as for citizens, and those desiring to protest in a peaceful manner, "had for some time examined and then adopted the most suitable measures in this direction."

"In such a framework," the statement said, Italian authorities had among other things, "announced the temporary lifting of the Schengen treaty and had asked for the cooperation of all nations in accordance with the Chicago Convention of 1944.

"The Italian Embassy in Athens acted immediately and repeatedly to fully clarify the measures that were adopted and the need for cooperation to Greek authorities, especially with the Greek ministries of foreign affairs and public order," the statement noted.

It added that the Italian ministry of foreign affairs took similar steps to the Greek embassy there.

The announcement said that despite assurances that were given, "some ships, with Greek activists and other nationals - some of which were armed and carried dangerous materials- left Greece for the Ancona port without any detection or precautionary search on the part of Greek officials."

"The situation that was created obligated Italian authorities to have recourse to the necessary measures for the safety of all," added the statement.

Activists stage anti-globalization march in Athens: An anti-globalization march was staged in Athens on Friday evening by members of leftist organizations at the initiative of the "Greek Committee for Genoa."

Some 1.000 activists taking part in the march gathered in central Athens and began shouting slogans against globalization and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, while a further 500 protestors assembled outside the Italian Embassy.

Shortly afterwards, activists outside the Italian Embassy clashed with police deployed in front of the European Union's offices in Vassilisis Sofias avenue.

One officer was slightly injured when the protestors began hurling stones and other objects.

In central Athens, activists attempted to join the other protestors at the Italian Embassy but were prevented by police.

Thessaloniki light industry workers back G-8 protest: The Federation of Thessaloniki Light Industry Unions said on Friday that it backed protests against a summit in Genoa of the G-8 industrialized nations.

In a statement, the federation also decried a comment made to the Le Figaro newspaper in France by British Prime Minister Tony Blair in which he reportedly called the protesters "street anarchists."

[03] President to visit Spain, nat'l econ ministry organizing business mission

Athens, 21/07/2001 (ANA)

Stephanopoulos will be visiting Spain September 25-27, accompanied by national economy deputy minister Yannis Zaphiropoulos, who is responsible for international economic relations.

The Greek businessmen delegation will meet with the representatives of Spanish business concerns and agencies, according to an announced by the Thessaloniki Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

It said bilateral trade relations were considered "satisfactory", and the volume had doubled in the last six years, "a strong indication that there is more room for growth, in a wider category of products".

The Greek products in demand among Spanish businesses today include steel and glass products, pumice stone, furs and textiles, designer clothing, cement, fish, shrimp and prawns, while good prospects also existed for exports of Greek olives, biscuits, tomato paste and tinned fruits and vegetables, the Chamber said.

[04] ND leader speaks of lack of governance and PM's lack of will

Athens, 21/07/2001 (ANA)

Speaking in the village of Riza, during his tour of villages and municipalities in the prefecture of Corinth in the Peloponnese, Karamanlis said "unfortunately, the picture existing all over Greece is confirmed in the wider region. The government is absent. This government is in the shade."

Karamanlis also claimed that "Mr. Simitis has reached the ultimate point of arrogance, as well as full isolation from reality and the citizen's pulse when he says that everything is going well."

He also accused government members of having a status quo due to the long duration of PASOK staying in power and insisted on the need to resolve daily problems faced by citizens both in their transactions with the state and issues concerning their quality of life.

Referring to events taking place in Genoa, on the occasion of the G-8 summit, Karamanlis said "decisions taken by certain elites are not easily accepted by citizens. Citizens are not opponents but natural allies and the first thing we should gain is their trust, as well as of those who did not vote for us or who will not vote for us."

Karamanlis added that the concerns of those demonstrating should be taken into consideration, without this meaning that all their claims should be met.

During his tour of the region, Karamanlis visited the town hall at Loutraki and Kiato, the prefecture of Corinth and the municipality of Xylokastro.

[05] Prime Minister to meet with former culture minister on Monday

Athens, 21/07/2001 (ANA)

This will be the first meeting of the two men, since Pangalos was sacked from his post a culture minister last November.

[06] Greek parliament president congratulates newly elected Bulgarian counterpart

Athens, 21/07/2001 (ANA)

Kaklamanis reassured his counterpart that Greece would continue to offer its support to Bulgaria's efforts in entering the Euro-Atlantic structures.

[07] Greek public order minister meets Cyprus President Clerides

NICOSIA, 21/07/2001 (ANA)

Chrysohoidis added, however, that it is also an opportunity to regroup efforts and coordinate the struggle to vindicate Hellenism of Cyprus for a viable solution to the Cyprus issue.

Chrysohoidis held a meeting with Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides in the morning.

He said Cypriot Hellenism could find its path to peace, stability and cohabitation with all citizens on the island with a steadfast and united national front.

[08] Human chain by Greek-Australians commemorating Cyprus invasion

MELBOURNE, 21/07/2001 (ANA - S. Hatzimanolis)

[09] Parliament president receives ambassadors from Lebanon, Luxembourg

Athens, 21/07/2001 (ANA)

Kaklamanis also received the Ambassador of Luxembourg to Greece Fernand Kartheiser, who expressed his country's full support for Cyprus' accession to the European Union, calling it a priority accession case as the island republic has fulfilled all preconditions.

[10] Athens expresses sorrow over deaths of 3 EU observers in FYROM

Athens, 21/07/2001 (ANA)

"We express our profound sorrow and our condolences over the tragic death of three EU observers in the region of Tetovo," foreign ministry spokesman Panagiotis Beglitis said.

"This tragic event proves the difficult and dangerous conditions under which EU missions are working, as well as the important work they are carrying out with the purpose of achieving a peaceful solution to problems and the prevention of a generalized confrontation," he added.

[11] Credits totalling 800 million euro earmarked for reconstruction of W. Balkans

BRUSSELS, 21/07/2001 (ANA - M. Spinthourakis)

Deputy Finance Minister George Drys, who represented Greece, said the 2002 draft budget ratified, constitutes the product of a mutual compromise among EU countries. He added that it anticipates considerable credits for the sectors of agriculture, structural activities, social policy and infrastructures.

"We had to face the tactic of EU countries which are pressing for decreases in agriculture and in structural activities and which are trying to pass a spirit of a more general restrictive policy. For this reason, our country expressed reservations during the discussion on the compromise budget proposal," he said.

Drys said the tactic of compressing disbursements resulted in credits for disbursements in the 2002 draft budget to reach only 1.04 percent of the EU's GDP, meaning 95.5 billion euro, while the ceiling available amounts to 1.27 percent of the EU's GDP. On the question of funds for financing structural funds anticipated by the Berlin agreement and by which Greece will receive 17 trillion drachmas over the 2000-2006 period, Drys said the money is secure and there is no question of doubt.

Bill for Balkan reconstruction ready soon, minister says: Macedonia-Thrace Minister George Paschalidis said on Friday that a bill containing Greece's 180-billion-drachma reconstruction plan for the Balkans would be ready soon.

The bill had been sent to the foreign and national economy ministries for signature, Paschalidis told reporters.

He was speaking in the northern port city of Thessaloniki after a meeting with the Serbian public works minister.

Serbia will be one of the beneficiaries of the reconstruction plan, which aims to aid areas hit in the Balkan crisis.

[12] Labor, healthcare ministers meet with Social Security foundation doctors' union reps

Athens, 21/07/2001 (ANA)

They decided to establish a committee, which will include representatives of the two ministries, the doctors' union and the IKA management, which will have to draft a report on labor relations by Sept. 20 that will follow the guidelines of the new medical care system and ways to secure the jobs of all doctors who work for the foundation.

Following the meeting Yiannitsis said that an open and constructive dialogue would begin immediately to resolve all pending issues.

The federation of IKA doctors' union did not participate in the meeting as it called for a 48-hour strike for Thursday and Friday, which it did not recall when the meeting with the ministers was planned, thus the ministers barred its participation, calling the strike a blackmail.

[13] Bounced cheques, bankruptcies decline in June

Athens, 21/07/2001 (ANA)

Declared bankruptcies fell to 39, down 2.5 percent from June 2000, said Teiresias, which belongs to the Union of Greek Banks.

In June 2001, petitions for bankruptcy totalled 40, down 75.0 percent on a year earlier, the report added.

[14] Portfolio investment firms show drop in asset value

Athens, 21/07/2001 (ANA)

The Union of Institutional Investors said on Friday that the index for portfolio investment firms showed a drop of 8.8 percent in the same period, against a 4.1 percent decline in the Athens Stock Exchange's general share index, the union said in a statement.

[15] Justice Minister drafts bill on establishment of EU trademark protection courts

Athens, 21/07/2001 (ANA)

The law, which was drafted by Minister of Justice Michalis Stathopoulos, and released to the press on Friday, calls for the establishment of courts that are set to operate as departments of the state court of appeal and court of first instance of Athens and Thessaloniki.

The new courts will hold the right to judge lawsuits based on forgery or imitation of trademark symbols, as well as be responsible for tangible lawsuits based on fabrication or counterfeit.

Compensation lawsuits would also be filed here, according to the same statement, as will issues concerning cross billing for the validity or invalidity of brands.

The first such courts will be headquartered in Athens and concerns the Athens, Aegean, Dodecannese Islands, Corfu, Crete, Lamia, Nafplio, Patras and Piraeus court of appeals, while the second court will be based in Thessaloniki and affects the Western Macedonian, Thrace, Ioannina and Larissa.

[16] Stocks slump in wake of sharp rises

Athens, 21/07/2001 (ANA)

Buyers became sellers in the second half of the session, reversing gains of up to 2.0 percent.

Jolting the market was conflicting talk about the rumored acquisition by BNP Paribas of a stake in Alpha Bank, a domestic blue chip private sector bank. The French bank's president told the bourse the rumor was untrue.

On Wednesday and Thursday, players had scooped up high capitalization paper, including blue chip banks, after fighting shy of quality stocks on Monday and Tuesday.

The Athens general index closed at 2,507.28 points to lose 3.12 percent. Turnover was higher at 206.53 million euros (70.37 billion drachmas).

The FTSE/ASE-20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks ended 3.91 percent lower; the FTSE/ASE-40 for medium capitalization paper 1.99 percent down; and the FTSE/ASE-80 for small cap equities lost 4.30 percent.

Decliners led advancers at 278 to 64 with 19 issues remaining unchanged.

On Monday the bourse had shed nearly five percent as part of a lasting slump after buyers resolutely stayed out of the market with small capitalization shares the worst hit.

The most heavily traded stocks were Hellenic Telecommunications Organization, National Bank of Greece, Alpha Bank, EFG Eurobank Ergasias and Intracom.

Equity futures end lower in heavy trade: Equity futures traded on the Athens Derivatives Exchange ended lower in heavy, volatile trade on Friday in the wake of a slump on the Athens Stock Exchange.

Traded were 16,038 contracts on turnover of 104.1 million euros, traders said.

Bond prices nose up in heavy trade: Bond prices in the domestic secondary market on Friday finished higher in heavy trade.

The Greek benchmark 10-year bond showed a yield of 5.45 percent, and the yield spread over German bunds was 50 basis points.

Turnover through the central bank's electronic system totalled 1.1 billion euros (398.6 billion drachmas).

Buy orders accounted for the bulk of turnover.

[17] Tourist agents call for end of strike at archaeological, museum sites

Athens, 21/07/2001 (ANA)

The Greek Association of Tourism and Travel Agencies (HATTA) said in a statement that the "Ministry of National Economy does not seem to take the repercussions into account at the peak of the summer tourist season," which, it added, arrived at the direct "loss of state revenue."

HATTA said that the Ministry of Economy is obligated to support the interests of the Greek tourism industry and through a productive dialogue with the workers, and settle all issues (especially those that concern the addition of personnel in archaeological sites).

[18] Justice bill to restrict prison leave, parole for drug dealers

Athens, 21/07/2001 (ANA)

Under the terms of the new bill, prisoners serving life terms for drug dealing would only be eligible for parole after serving 20 years of their 25-year term, while drug dealers serving shorter sentences would have to complete four fifths of their sentence before being eligible for parole instead of three fifths as previously.

The bill will also increase the amount of time prisoners for these offences must serve before they are eligible for short leaves of one to five days - raising them from eight to 10 years for lifers and from one fifth to two fifths of the total sentence for others.

In response to questions, meanwhile, Stathopoulos said that the Justice Ministry had neither sent nor been asked to send personal data pertaining to Greek citizens to Italian authorities.

Stathopoulos due at prison inauguration in Fokida next week: Justice Minister Michalis Stathopoulos is to take part in the inauguration a new prison facility at Malandrino, Fokida next Wednesday at noon.

The new facility, begun in 1998 and budgeted at five billion drachmas, aims to relieve overcrowding in the prison system and improve living standards for prisoners.

[19] Important ancient artifact recovered during Attica arrest

Athens, 21/07/2001 (ANA)

The statue was found in a shed belonging to a member of the ring, sound technician Anastasios Panagiotou, 26, along with fragments from the same statue and a segment of a marble lecythus.

Police had been tipped off that Panagiotou had discovered an important artifact while carrying out illegal excavations in the Markopoulo district and was looking for a buyer.

Panagiotou had given photographs of the artifact to Dimitris Ioannou, 35, who had passed them on to businessman Dimitris Chrysaidis, 41, to look for a buyer in Corinth. The group used blacksmith Anastasios Vlassis, 48, to transport the artifacts.

Police arrested the entire group in a Markopoulo-area cafe, where they had gathered to negotiate a sale with a prospective buyer who was not identified.

According to experts, the Classical-era marble statue is an extremely rare find of great historical and archaeological importance and would also have a very high commercial value.

[20] Gym chain owner arrested in Peru cocaine trafficking case

Athens, 21/07/2001 (ANA)

They said businessman Dimitris Papadogeorgakis, 39, owner of the "Joe Weider Fitness Gyms" chain in Greece, was arrested in coastal Zoumberi on Wednesday under an outstanding arrest warrant against him.

Papadogeorgakis is accused of organizing, together with recently-imprisoned drug trafficker Tryfonas Karahalios, the transport of a container containing 300 kilos of cocaine to Albania from Peru via Greece.

The container was confiscated by Peruvian authorities in the port of Kalao, near Lima, on January 27, 2000 and the issue was also investigated by Greece's SDOE financial crimes squad.

Karahalios, 36, was arrested in early March for smuggling 25 kilos of cocaine from Venezuela and was detained at the Korydallos prison near Piraeus. He was accused of organizing the smuggling of cocaine to Greece via the Netherlands and Cyprus, in two containers of tar paper.

Karahalios had also been sought by police for participation in the 1990 theft of priceless antiquities from the Museum of Ancient Corinth, one of Greece's most significant archaeological museums, which surfaced in the US nearly a decade later and have since been returned to the Museum.

The breakthrough in the case came in September 1999 when the FBI revealed it had found most of the 271 artifacts stolen from the museum in 12 sealed plastic containers in a warehouse in Miami, Florida.

The FBI and local Miami police speculated that the items had been stored in the Miami warehouse because the perpetrators had been unable to sell them to private collectors or a museum.

[21] Clerides underlines importance of G8 FMs statement on Cyprus

NICOSIA, 21/07/2001 (CNA/ANA)

In their conclusions G8 foreign ministers, who convened Thursday and the day before in Rome, recall the Okinawa G8 Summit statement on Cyprus and renew their commitment "to support the efforts of the UN Secretary General to find a just and lasting settlement that protects the fundamental interests of all parties in an undivided Cyprus giving full consideration to relevant UN Security Council resolutions".

"We look forward to renewed efforts by all parties and a prompt resumption of talks under the good offers of the UN Secretary General," the paragraph on Cyprus also reads.

Speaking to the press after a special commemoration service held in Nicosia for those killed during the 1974 Turkish invasion on the island Clerides noted that despite its efforts Turkey did not succeed in taking out of the paragraph the words 'undivided Cyprus' and 'resolutions'."

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded the island and occupied 37% of its territory.

[22] Turkish military planes violate Cyprus' airspace

NICOSIA, 21/07/2001 (CNA/ANA)

Defense ministry spokesman, Andreas Yorkas told CNA that four F16's and an equal number of F4's illegally flew over Cyprus from 1100 to 1130 local time (0800 to 0830 GMT). Six of them flew over the Turkish army military parade in occupied Nicosia while the other two flew over the Turkish occupied area of Apostle Andreas, to the most eastern tip of the island.

At the same time, three Turkish helicopters and two "Cessna" airplanes flew over the military parade.

Cyprus ministry of foreign affairs has strongly protested these mass violations to the United Nations.

[23] Twenty-seven years of occupation and division

NICOSIA, 21/07/2001 (CNA/ANA)

At the same time, in the Turkish-occupied northern part of the island Ankara's puppet regime organized military parades.

Air raid sirens wailed early Friday morning at 0530 local time, (0230 GMT) the very time that 27 years ago Turkish troops landed on the shores of the northern coastal town of Kyrenia.

Commemoration services were held in churches in the free areas of the Republic for those who were killed during the 1974 invasion and prayers were said for those still missing, while at the same time leadership and people stress their determination not to accept the de facto division of the island.

President Glafcos Clerides attended a memorial service at St John Cathedral in Nicosia officiated by the primate of the Greek Orthodox Church of Cyprus, Archbishop Chrysostomos.

Earlier in the morning the political leadership attended a prayer at Macedonitissa Tomb where soldiers killed during the Turkish invasion were buried.

Political parties, organizations and other groups organized various anti-occupation protests demanding justice for Cyprus, the re-unification of the island, respect of human rights for all the people of Cyprus, determination of the fate of missing persons and implementation of Vienna 3 Agreement on the protection and safeguard of human rights of those enclaved in the Turkish-occupied areas since 1974.

A delegation of the Greek Parliament arrived here Thursday night to attend the commemoration services. This morning Greece's Minister of Public Order Michalis Chrysohoidis arrived in Cyprus to represent the Greek government to the anti-occupation events. The Greek minister and deputies had also meetings with President Glafcos Clerides and House of Representatives President Demetris Christofias.

The local media, printed and electronic, have altered their programs Friday to suit the bleak occasion with numerous analysis, viewpoints and special TV programs with eye witness reports from July-August 1974 and views from a wide spectrum of the Cypriot society.

[24] US Report highlights occupation negative effects on Turkey

NICOSIA, 21/07/2001 (CNA/ANA)

The report, detailed a list of the laws passed by the US Congress over the last 27 years that have criticized Turkey for its occupation of Cyprus, while Congressman Engel has said "the end of Turkey's occupation of Cyprus would greatly improve Turkey's relations with the United States as well as with the European Union and the United Nations."

Engel added the report "highlights the fact that Turkey has experienced numerous, damaging Congressional actions over the years due to its continued illegal occupation of Cyprus. It is my hope that this year Turkey will bring an end to the need for these types of legislative actions by ending its division and occupation of Cyprus."

Pointing out that "the end of Turkey's occupation of Cyprus would greatly improve Turkey's relations with the US, the EU and the UN" Engel said "those of us in the US Congress who have been working so many years for a just and viable Cyprus settlement sincerely hope that Turkey soon sees that ending its occupation of Cyprus is in its best interest."

Among the dozens of Congressional expressions of dissatisfaction towards Turkey's occupation of Cyprus, the CRS report enumerated 12 US laws, among them being the December 1974 law that suspended "all military assistance, all sales of defense articles and services" to Turkey and the 1983 resolution calling on Turkey to "take without delay all necessary steps to reverse the illegal action declaring [the occupied area of Cyprus] an independent state."

Congressman Engel, a member of the Europe Subcommittee of the House International Relations Committee, has authored several bills with regard to Cyprus, the most notable of which was the 1994 Missing in Cyprus Act.

This legislation directed the US government to conduct an investigation into the whereabouts of the five Americans and others missing in Cyprus as a result of the 1974 Turkish invasion.

The investigation resulted in the discovery of the remains of Andrew Kassapis, the then-17-year-old boy from the suburbs of Detroit, Michigan captured by Turkish troops in 1974. He also authored the resolution, adopted by the House in 1995, calling for the demilitarization of Cyprus.

Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article