Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 01-08-28

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

CONTENTS

[01] Gov't policy focused on election commitments, Simitis says

[02] Latest round of ID furor heats up, ND comments

[03] French warship unloads military equipment in Thessaloniki

[04] Pseudo-state causes Greek firms to withdraw from Izmir fair

[05] Three suitors for Hellenic Petroleum

[06] Greek stocks rise sharply on ASE

[07] Trio charged with migrant smuggling in N. Greece

[08] IOC official calls for speeding up Athens 2004 Games projects

[09] EU Commissioner and Denktash exchange views "on all relevant subjects"

[10] Cyprus FM holds talks with Greek Deputy FM Niotis

[11] Cyprus talks ended with EU application, Denktash says

[01] Gov't policy focused on election commitments, Simitis says

Athens, 28/08/2001 (ANA)

He added that the government "is in full knowledge of the need for continual adjustment of peripheral policies," underlining, however, that the political positions drafted for the PASOK party congress do not constitute a government program.

Speaking of the October congress, Simitis said that it should be the beginning of a new political period, adding that the ruling party was called to take up challenges and respond to the conservative and backward looking forces.

Simitis stressed that the basic precondition to succeed in the aforementioned challenges, would be to have a congress of synthesis and a trailblazing of unified directions.

"For this reason we need by all to take up an organized course, far away from dogmatic attitudes and immobility of the past. In any case, we should not forget that socialism and modernization are processes of continual change," he said.

"The political positions for the congress do not constitute a government program. They simply record and summarize our ideological and political identity and form. The PASOK government remains focused on its orientation, based on its commitments," he stressed.

"The priorities for the next period will be the economic development, the new social state - which creates the preconditions for an acceptable level of quality of life - and the continual upgrading of the country's international status," Simitis said.

"Our conscious political choice is to further strengthen the political model of government," by securing the widest possible consensus, he concluded.

PASOK Executive Bureau discusses party's positions: The ruling PASOK party's Executive Bureau convened on Mon-day under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Costas Simitis and agreed in principle on the draft of PASOK's positions in view of the party's congress in October.

The Executive Bureau expressed in a positive light the contents of the draft but questioned certain side issues concerning the party's policies.

Decision was reached for the draft to be given back to Central Committee Secretary Costas Skandalidis who had the responsibility of setting up the draft in order for it to be reassessed.

The draft will include all the additional proposals, which were tabled in Monday's session. Skandalidis will table it in a new format to the Executive Bureau, which will convene on August 29.

At the same session the draft proposal will be discussed with changes to the party's charter in order that following approval of the two texts by the Executive Bureau, these will be forwarded for discussion and a vote by the Central Committee, which will convene on August 31 and September 1.

According to sources, during Monday's session, Simitis called on all the cadres to unite creatively in order for the PASOK congress to establish the course, which will bring the ruling party again on a winning strategy.

Skandalidis termed the Executive Bureau's session as most important and substantial, noting that despite the fact there were differences on side issues concerning the party's policies, the discussion was held in a spirit of cooperation and unity.

Any government reshuffle begins from a clean slate, Reppas: The government reshuffle, as any government reshuffle, is the responsibility and choice of the prime minister, who has the sole say on this issue, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said on Monday.

Commenting on a newspaper report that note that the government reshuffle will begin with no preconditions, Reppas said that Prime Minister Costas Simitis is the one that decides on the persons that are the best and most appropriate to undertake the promotion of the government's work.

He added that the premier, as every premier, begins his reshuffle from a clean slate to create his government.

[02] Latest round of ID furor heats up, ND comments

Athens, 28/08/2001 (ANA)

However, the government remained adamant over its decision to exclude the category, reiterating that the specific issue is closed and will not be the subject of negotiations.

“… IDs fall within the domain of the state,” government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said, adding: “anyway, in matters dealing with citizens’ rights there are no margins for the application of the principle of majority rule.”

Reppas also justified a decision by Prime Minister Costas Simitis to decline a meeting with a high-ranking Church delegation, instead referring any possible contacts between such a delegation and the education and religious affairs minister. The spokesman said such a meeting could serve to draw up an agenda for a future meeting between Simitis and Archbishop Christodoulos.

In June, the Council of State (CoS), Greece's highest administrative court, upheld the exclusion of religious affiliation from new IDs -- effectively ruling out an optional listing as well. The court ruled that citizens’ religious preferences fall under the heading of personal and confidential information. A government decision to also exclude citizenship from such IDs, however, was criticized both at the EU-level and by the CoS, before being reinstated.

The latest flare-up comes as the influential Autocephalus Orthodox Church of Greece plans reveal this week the exact amount of signatures it collected nation-wide since last Autumn in order to force a referendum over the optional listing of citizens’ religious preference on IDs.

Karamanlis: On his part, ND leader Costas Karamanlis on Monday sharply criticized the government and Simitis, personally, over the ID issue.

He charged, among others, that the contentious arose with the government’s responsibility, “as it arrogantly refused dialogue, even over an issue that the European Union hasn’t even substantively dealt with”.

Karamanlis also reiterated that ND had from the on-set advised for a talks between the Church and state, with the only other alternative, as he said, being legislation based on the principle of an optional listing of one’s religious preference.

Christodoulos: In statements last week, Christodoulos, the outspoken prelate of the Greek Orthodox Church emphasized that the Church could not back down on the issue.

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.

Synaspismos: Finally, Coalition of the Left (Synaspismos) leader Nikos Constantopoulos charged that the Church’s role does not include the right to declare its “sovereignty over the state’s democratic structure.”

[03] French warship unloads military equipment in Thessaloniki

Athens, 28/08/2001 (ANA)

On Tuesday, an Italian vessel is expected at the same port to unload supplies for Italian troops scheduled to deploy in the neighboring Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM).

[04] Pseudo-state causes Greek firms to withdraw from Izmir fair

ISTANBUL, 28/08/2001 (ANA – A. Kourkoulas)

Representatives of 12 Greek companies dismantled their stands and left the western Turkish port city on Friday, according to wire reports quoting the fair’s general manager, Feyzi Hepsenkal.

He said the withdrawal followed a letter from Costas Mavrakis, the head of the Thessaloniki fair, which read: "We regret to inform you that we hereby withdraw our participants ... due to the participation of the so-called Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus … As you may be aware, this illegal entity is not recognized by the international community," Mavrakis’ letter read.

“A phobia due to TRNC”, read a front-page headline in the mass-circulation “Hurriyet”.

TRNC stands for the so-called “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus”, an entity illegally proclaimed in the Turkish-occupied territories of northern Cyprus in 1983 and recognized only by Ankara. Conversely, the Republic of Cyprus enjoys international recognition and has been named a European Union candidate state.

Additionally, the newspaper “Star” wrote, “Greece changes its mind”, whereas “Yeni Safak’s” headline read: “Greek crisis at Izmir exhibition”.

The Izmir fair opened on Sunday.

[05] Three suitors for Hellenic Petroleum

Athens, 28/08/2001 (ANA)

The firms or consortiums to express interest were the Latsis Group with Lukoil of Russia; OMV Aktiengesellschaft of Austria; and Yukos Oil Company of Russia, the tender's consultants said in a statement.

The Latsis energy, banking and shipping group expressed interest through its subsidiary Pan European Oil & Industrial Holding SA, the main shareholder of Athens-quoted Petrola Hellas.

Latsis holds a one-third stake in the consortium. Lukoil, Russia's largest oil producer, has the remaining two thirds.

The government wants to privatize a majority holding in Hellenic Petroleum, relinquishing control of the energy group to private owners. The floor for its stake in the company will drop to 35 percent from 75 percent, if the tender is successful.

The General Confederation of Labor of Greece, the country's largest trade union umbrella group, has called on the government to scrap its plan to sell the new 15-30 percent stake in the firm.

Development Minister Nikos Christodoulakis has said that the shares will be sold to a strategic investor in the same sector, allowing Hellenic Petroleum to go global and reinforce its presence in the Balkans.

Advising the government in the tender are UBS Warburg, National Bank of Greece and the National Investment Bank for Industrial Development.

[06] Greek stocks rise sharply on ASE

Athens, 28/08/2001 (ANA)

Strong buying for blue chip and smaller capitalization stocks helped the market's recovery while encouraging signs from international markets also boosted sentiment on the Athens bourse.

The general index ended 1.58 percent higher at 2,787.38 points, off the day's highs of 2,796.23 points. Turnover was an improved 154.53 million euros, or 52.66 billion drachmas.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks ended at 1,551.19 points, up 1.86 percent, the FTSE/ASE 40 index ended 1.15 percent higher at 319.58 points, and the FTSE/ASE SMALLCAP 80 index ended at 934.89 points, up 1.83 percent.

The parallel market index for smaller capitalization stocks ended at 276.67 points, up 2.32 percent.

Broadly, advancers led decliners by 289 to 42 with another 29 issues unchanged.

Prices nose up in moderate trade: Bond prices in the domestic secondary market on Monday finished higher in moderate trade.

The Greek benchmark 10-year bond showed a yield of 5.35 percent, and the yield spread over German bunds was 47 basis points.

Turnover through the central bank's electronic system totalled 795 million euros.

Buy orders accounted for the bulk of turnover.

Equity futures wary despite stock rise: Equity futures traded on the Athens Derivatives Exchange on Monday ended at a premium that narrowed during the session despite a rise on the main market.

Changing hands were 4,643 contracts on turnover of 32.2 million euros, traders said.

[07] Trio charged with migrant smuggling in N. Greece

Athens, 28/08/2001 (ANA)

The group was spotted on foot in a rural area near the Vyroneia site, Serres prefecture. According to reports, the illegals had entered Greece through an unguarded pass on the Greek-Bulgarian frontier.

Seven Indian nationals, five Iranians, five Afghanis and an Iraqi national were arrested along with the alleged migrant smugglers.

The suspects were identified as Nikolaos Panou, 23, and Bulgarians Iordan Stoutsev, 19, and Stoyan Mirvakov, 26. The first man was reportedly the “contact” on the Greek side of the border, with a final destination being Thessaloniki.

All of the suspects are due to face a local prosecutor.

In an unrelated incident nearby, another Bulgarian man was arrested on migrant smuggling charges when four Third World illegals were reportedly discovered in his car.

The driver, 46-year-old Simeon Velev, was charged in relation to the incident, while two Afghanis and two men from Bangladesh were also taken into custody.

2 Turks charged with migrant smuggling: Two Turkish nationals, both permanent residents of France, were arrested Monday on migrant smuggling charges in northern Greece after a third Turk was found hidden their vehicle’s trunk.

According to reports, the first two men admitted to trying to smuggle the third – a relative -- into France. Border guards stopped the vehicle for a routine check at 30th kilometer of the Komotini-Xanthi roadway.

The suspects were identified as Omer Sahin, 55, and his brother, Ergan, 32. The third man was listed as Sami Sahin, 24.

[08] IOC official calls for speeding up Athens 2004 Games projects

Athens, 28/08/2001 (ANA)

The Swiss official, who succeeded IOC President Jacques Rogge in this post, spoke on MEGA TV channel.

Oswald will come to Athens on September 26, his first visit as IOC coordinating committee president, and meet with Athens 2004 organizing committee members and government officials.

Commenting on the success of Nikolas Kaklamanakis to be crowned for the third time in his carrier as wind surfing world champion, Oswald said it was a very important victory for Greece, as such high performances by Greek athletes would play a significant role in the success of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games.

[09] EU Commissioner and Denktash exchange views "on all relevant subjects"

NICOSIA 28/08/2001 (CNA/ANA)

"Mr. Verheugen and Mr. Denktash had an exchange of views on all relevant subjects. The meeting took place in a constructive atmosphere," a spokesperson from the EU delegation in Nicosia said after the meeting.

Denktash stopped over in Zurich on his way to Salzburg for Tuesday's meeting with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and his Special Adviser on Cyprus Alvaro de Soto, who is due in Cyprus on Wednesday.

Denktash's meetings with Verheugen and Annan take place amid increasing speculation that the UN-led peace talks on Cyprus, which Denktash backed by Ankara interrupted last year, are to resume soon. Denktash opposes Cyprus' prospective accession to the EU and demands recognition of his self-styled regime in Turkish occupied Cyprus before he returns to the negotiating table.

The EU had decided that a political settlement would facilitate accession but it is not a precondition for it.

[10] Cyprus FM holds talks with Greek Deputy FM Niotis

NICOSIA 28/08/2001 (CNA/ANA)

Speaking after the meeting, the foreign minister said "we re-viewed developments in the Cyprus question in conjunction with our accession course to join the European Union, taking into account the present international political climate."

"We have noted down some very good ideas Niotis has brought along with him, which we hope to put into practice in the best possible way," the minister said.

In his remarks, Niotis said their meeting was "useful and interesting," adding they exchanged views on the Cyprus problem and the methods through which overseas Hellenism at large can effectively contribute towards a successful outcome of efforts to solve the problem.

He said he extended an invitation to Kasoulides to attend the 4th Congress of the World Council of Hellenes Abroad to take place in Thessaloniki, Greece, from 6-12 December, adding he would also invite President Glafcos Clerides to the conference.

Earlier on Monday, Niotis met with the Primate of the Cyprus Church, Archbishop Chrysostomos and assured him of the unwavering support overseas Hellenism has for the effort to find a just and viable solution.

The Cyprus problem, he said, is a top priority matter for Greece and without a solution there can be no real improvement in Greek-Turkish relations.

On Tuesday Niotis will be received by the President and the House President. He leaves in the afternoon.

[11] Cyprus talks ended with EU application, Denktash says

ISTANBUL 28/08/2001 (ANA - A. Kourkoulas)

Speaking to the press at the Istanbul airport, while on his way to Austria - where he will meet with United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, Denktash reiterated his claims that the proximity talks, under the auspices of the United Nations, came to an end as the Greek Cypriot side presented "unacceptable" terms.

"Thus it is impossible to continue our proximity talks," Denktash said.

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