Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 01-08-22

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greece hopes peace agreement in FYROM holds, foreign minister says

[02] Enforcement of new law for speedy trials postponed for four months

[03] Church, gov't again touch on ID issue

[04] Greek files lawsuit against Italian officers involved in Ancona incident

[05] High-ranking trade delegation expected to accompany PM to Slovakia

[06] New legislation on the investment incentives of Greece's regions to be discussed in October

[07] Industrialists want Thessaloniki as base for Balkan plan

[08] Gov't gives Dr 35 bln to train jobless in 2001-2003

[09] Investment firms' assets ease slightly in August

[10] Greek stocks end flat on ASE

[11] Young artists to compete in "Balkan Youth Festival" in Pieria

[12] Total of 28 migrants intercepted off Hios, Kos

[13] UN Special Adviser De Soto intends to visit Cyprus Aug. 29 to Sept. 5

[01] Greece hopes peace agreement in FYROM holds, foreign minister says

Athens, 22/08/2001 (ANA)

Speaking to journalists upon his departure from Crete, Papandreou stressed that "the deployment of peacekeeping forces, will aim at blocking the rebels, conditions are difficult, but there is a new dynamic, a new hope. We all hope that the agreement will be adhere to, for the disarmament and stabilization process."

He added that before Greek military forces are sent to FYROM, conditions of security should be achieved.

Meanwhile, in Brussels, NATO member-states' representatives gave their initial approval for the deployment of NATO forces - to be activated on Wednesday - to conduct the disarmament of the Albanian rebels in the small Balkan republic, pending, however, the final approval of the member states.

In Athens, sources said that Greek Defense Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos requested of Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis to convene the Parliament's committee on Foreign and Defense Affairs in order to discuss conditions in FYROM.

The same sources noted that the object of the discussion in Parliament will be to inform deputies of conditions in FYROM and of the mission of the Greek peacekeepers in the neighboring republic.

Opposition reaction: Main opposition New Democracy party deputy Ioannis Varvitsiotis on Tuesday accused Tsohatzopoulos of attempting to conceal the Greek government's responsibilities concerning developments in the Balkans.

Commenting on a speech by Tsohatzopoulos at a scientific conference on Monday, Varvitsiotis said that Tsohatzopoulos "discovered", prior to the forthcoming ruling PASOK Congress in October, that the developments in the Balkans, but also on national issues, was not a good omen. "Unfortunately, this admittance of a lack of national foreign policy was also devoid of political courage," Varvitsiotis said.

On his part, following a meeting he had on Tuesday with Tsohatzopoulos on the situation in FYROM, Coalition of the Left and Progress leader Nikos Constantopoulos expressed his party' opposition of the participation of Greek troops in the NATO operation.

Greek Communist Party (KKE) also expressed its opposition to the deployment of a Greek contingent to FYROM, in a press release issued on Tuesday.

The KKE press release said that it was once again becoming clear that “the operation of support to Albanian extremists and the securing of its level of actions out of Kosovo, was done to legitimize the presence of NATO in FYROM.”

[02] Enforcement of new law for speedy trials postponed for four months

Athens, 22/08/2001 (ANA)

The minor modification is part of a bill that serves penalties to drug traffickers and became the focus of a confrontation between Minister of Justice Michalis Stathopoulos and members of opposition parties.

The Ministry proposes that bill 2915/2001 take effect in no more than two months.

[03] Church, gov't again touch on ID issue

Athens, 22/08/2001 (ANA)

In response to fresh criticism by Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Christodoulos, the government replied that the Church of Greece has a spiritual role to play, while its prelate “should not believe he could replace Constitutional functions and popular rule.”

In earlier statements from the central city of Volos, where he was the local bishop before being elected as Archbishop, Christodoulos emphasized that the Church could not back down on the issue. The influential Church of Greece has over the past year collected signatures nationwide in order to force, as it says, a referendum on the issue of allowing the optional listing of religious preference on IDs.

On his part, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said:

“… Citizens elect their government, which in turn expresses popular rule. Whoever wants to assume a political role can and must do so directly … The ID issue has closed. Anyway, decisions by the Council of State (Greece’s highest administrative court) have permanently ruled on this issue. The government retains its standing position. We believe that a mutual respect of the distinct roles between the Church and state comprises the basis for a productive dialogue and fruitful cooperation.”

In a direct reference to Prime Minister Costas Simitis, Christodoulos stressed that “it is not the attribute of a leader to obstinately persist over a decision the Greek people do not want”. Along these lines, he referred to PASOK founder Andreas Papandreou, noting that the late three-time premier reversed his support for mandatory civil weddings in the early ‘80s when he gauged the Church and society’s opposition.

He also cited two reasons for proceeding with the announcement of the number of signatures collected: “The first reason is that we gave our word to the people that trusted us; it’s unthinkable to throw these (signature) forms in the garbage. The second reason is that we believe the government cannot ignore, under any pretext, three million signatures,” Christodoulos said.

A crucial milestone will apparently come on Aug. 28, as a Holy Synod press release last week announced that the Church would unveil the number of signatures it has collected on that date.

In June, the Council of State, Greece's highest administrative court, upheld the exclusion of religious affiliation from new IDs -- effectively rules out an optional listing as well -- ruling that citizens’ religious preferences fall under the heading of personal and confidential information.

[04] Greek files lawsuit against Italian officers involved in Ancona incident

Athens, 22/08/2001 (ANA)

The Greek activists were headed to the port city of Genoa to participate in protests outside the G-8 Summit.

In the lawsuit, filed on July 28, but given for publication on Tuesday, Theodore Dritsas, 53, says that some 18 buses, containing roughly 750 Greek protesters, sailed with the “Blue Star 2” to Ancona in order to take part in the protests against the Summit.

According to the text of the lawsuit, only fifteen buses were al-lowed to disembark the ship while the last three were obstructed from entering the port by Italian authorities, which later brutally assaulted the Greek activists without any forewarning.

Italian authorities are being sued for wrongdoing, repetitive illegal arrest, for uncalled recurrent physical injury, while all other persons not directly related with the incident are being sued for moral principal on bodily harm.

Witnesses expected to testify in favor of the Dritsas include the Greek envoy to Ancona as well as the Captain of the “Blue Star 2”

[05] High-ranking trade delegation expected to accompany PM to Slovakia

Athens, 22/08/2001 (ANA)

The visit marks the first time such a high-level Greek trade delegation heads for Slovakia, which is noted for its heavy industry, satisfactory economic growth and low inflation.

[06] New legislation on the investment incentives of Greece's regions to be discussed in October

Athens, 22/08/2001 (ANA)

The meeting took place at the premiers' office and Macedonia-Thrace Minister George Paschalidis was present along with the Northern Greece's Industries Federation President Dimitris Symeonidis.

The new legislation is expected to reach Parliament by the beginning of 2002, the minister added.

[07] Industrialists want Thessaloniki as base for Balkan plan

Athens, 22/08/2001 (ANA)

The delayed plan should be coordinated by the Macedonia-Thrace ministry to avoid any conflicts of interest between the national economy and foreign ministries, the association's president, Dimitris Symeonidis told a news conference.

He was speaking after a meeting with Prime Minister Costas Simitis and the leader of the main opposition New Democracy party, Kostas Karamanlis, to outline the association's policy.

ND leader meets with northern Greece industrial federation: Main opposition New Democracy leader Costas Karamanlis on Monday met with the presidium of the Federation of Northern Greece Industries (SBBE), as part of his contacts in light of next month’s Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF).

Afterwards, SBBE’s president said the federation and Karamanlis shared “completely identical thoughts and views ... there are certain things that we know must change”.

According to SBBE leader Dimitris Symeonidis, the one-hour meeting focused on reported delays in several major infrastructure works in northern Greece, particularly the Egnatia Motorway as well as necessary structural reforms in the economy, effectively implementing the upcoming Third Community Support Framework and immediately applying a Balkan reconstruction program.

ND leader sends message on occasion of Thessaloniki Trade Fair: On the occasion of the 66 years of operation of the Thessaloniki International Trade Fair, main opposition New Democracy party leader Costas Karamanlis in a message on Tuesday said that the institution projects international and economic performances, but also the modern cultural creation of Greece.

He said that it was certain that the establishment of economic relations and exchanges between peoples was a fundamental factor in the promotion of security and peace.

Karamanlis added that at the start of the 21st century, the new international environment, the free movement of people, goods, capital, technology and ideas, promote new major opportunities and challenges for Greece, Thessaloniki and the International Fair.

[08] Gov't gives Dr 35 bln to train jobless in 2001-2003

Athens, 22/08/2001 (ANA)

Endorsed by Labor and Social Security Minister Tassos Yiannitsis, the training scheme is to receive 75 percent of funds from the European Union's Third Community Support Framework package.

The move is part of an EU and national plan to prevent and com-bat unemployment, especially long-term joblessness.

The plan focuses on better using human resources, fostering business-oriented attitudes, helping company management and staff adapt to new market conditions, and providing equal opportunities in the labor market.

[09] Investment firms' assets ease slightly in August

Athens, 22/08/2001 (ANA)

A report by the Union of Institutional Investors said that from a total of 17 firms in the sector, two were trading at a low premium while the other 15 at a discount (ranging between 10.5 and 33.4 percent).

The investment sector index fell 3.04 percent in the two-week period, exceeding a 1.35 percent fall of the general index over the same period, to a loss of 36.4 percent this year, compared with a 20.6 percent decline in the general index.

[10] Greek stocks end flat on ASE

Athens, 22/08/2001 (ANA)

Traders said prices tried to push ahead early in the session but were hit by profit taking in banks and telecoms shares keeping the general index below the 2,700 level.

The index ended 0.02 percent higher at 2,687.51 points, off the day's highs of 2,707.24 points, with turnover a disappointing 71.11 million euros, or 24.23 billion drachmas.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks ended at 1,496.17 points, off 0.16 percent, the FTSE/ASE 40 index rose 0.25 percent to 310.37 points and the FTSE/ASE SMALLCAP 80 index ended at 899.96 points, up 0.48 percent.

The parallel market index for smaller capitalization stocks ended at 265.10 points, up 0.83 percent.

Broadly, advancers led decliners by 203 to 105 with another 48 issues unchanged.

Prices drop in moderate trade: Bond prices in the domestic secondary market on Tuesday finished lower in moderate trade.

The Greek benchmark 10-year bond showed a yield of 5.30 percent, and the yield spread over German bunds was 50 basis points.

Turnover through the central bank's electronic system totalled 695 million euros. Sell orders accounted for the bulk of turnover.

Futures wilt in shrinking trade: Equity futures traded on the Athens Derivatives Exchange ended at a discount in scant trade on Tuesday, tracking gloom in the main market.

Changing hands were 2,133 contracts on turnover of 14.2 million euros.

[11] Young artists to compete in "Balkan Youth Festival" in Pieria

Athens, 22/08/2001 (ANA)

The event is being held in the framework of promoting the competition of talent among youths and is included in the events marking the Cultural Olympiad. It is also part of a series of events, which have been held all year, and will focus on video, art and music.

Expected to participate are youngsters from Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Yugoslavia, Greece, Croatia, Cyprus, Romania, Turkey and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM).

Youths taking part in this year's event, which is being organized and sponsored by the Ministries of Macedonia-Thrace and Culture, as well as the municipality of Pieria, will also have a chance to camp in the area of Litohoro as guests of a Greek hospitality program.

Following the festival, and specifically between August 24-28, representatives from eight media-broadcasting networks from Romania, Moldavia, Turkey, Bulgaria, Serbia, Albania, FYROM and Greece will screen two productions, which will feature rural life in the Balkan region and the initiatives that are being adopted by every nation to protect the environment.

[12] Total of 28 migrants intercepted off Hios, Kos

Athens, 22/08/2001 (ANA)

All eight had reportedly disembarked from the opposite Turkish coast (Cesme) aboard an engine-less inflatable craft.

Meanwhile, further south, a total of 20 illegals – 14 men, two women and four children – were intercepted over the early morning hours at two different sites off the Dodecannese island of Kos.

As in the first incident, the two separate groups of migrants – Turkish nationals and Afghanis – had set off from Turkish harbors aboard inflatables. The migrants identified Bodrum (ancient Halicarnassus) and Turgut Reis as the points of disembarkation on the Asia Minor coast.

All of the migrants were detained pending an appearance before local prosecutors.

[13] UN Special Adviser De Soto intends to visit Cyprus Aug. 29 to Sept. 5

NICOSIA 22/08/2001 (CNA/ANA)

On his part government spokesman Michalis Papapetrou said here on Tuesday that UN Secretary General's Special Adviser on Cyprus Alvaro de Soto had conveyed in writing to President Clerides his intention to visit Cyprus between August 29 and September 5 and had submitted a schedule of contacts with President Clerides, pending approval.

Replying to questions the spokesman told his briefing that he expected the UN-led talks on Cyprus to resume not during De Soto's visit to Cyprus, but in the presence of the UN Secretary General.

UN-led proximity talks, aiming at reaching an overall settlement of the Cyprus problem, were interrupted last year when Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, backed by Ankara, abandoned the talks, which started in December 1999, declaring them "dead" and demanding recognition of his self-styled regime in the Turkish-occupied part of Cyprus before he returns to the dialogue.

The UN has announced that Annan will meet Denktash in Salzburg, Austria on August 28. Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of its territory.

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