Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 01-10-08

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

CONTENTS

[01] Premier Simitis says U.S. attacks unavoidable

[02] FM says U.S. reaction expected and covered

[03] DM says five countries involved in attack on Afghanistan

[04] ND expresses solidarity with struggle against terrorism

[05] Coalition party says U.S. recycling terror and bloodshed

[06] FM says hasty reaction to terrorist attack in U.S. avoided

[07] Greek UN envoy says Greek people condemn terrorist attacks

[08] Diplomatic staff suspend strike

[09] Increased Security measures in Athens in wake of Afghanistan attack

[10] Thessaloniki conference on borders and minorities in Balkans

[11] PASOK party ratifies report on Central Committee's work

[12] Public Works minister says no fine for land register

[13] Relatives of Nazi victims appeal to Supreme Court

[14] Coalition party leader says big delays in use of 3rd CSF

[15] IOC official pleased with progress of 2004 Olympics media facilities

[16] Archbishop Christodoulos commemorates liberation of Xanthi

[17] Spokesman comments on U.S. offensive

[18] Cyprus to grant humanitarian aid to the Afghanistan refugees

[01] Premier Simitis says U.S. attacks unavoidable

Athens, 08/10/2001 (ANA)

"Greece is struggling against terrorism and is participating in the framework of decisions taken by NATO and the EU," he said.

Simitis added that "we have requested that the response should be concentrated on specific targets" and said that U.S. vice President Dick Cheney reassured him of this and that humanitarian aid for refugees will be continued.

"I hope there will be no or few victims among the civilian population," he further said.

Simitis announced that the Government Council of Defense and Foreign Affairs (KYSEA) will convene on Monday to examine the situation but added that "the situation is under control, there is no need for any particular concern and there is no need for fear."

Replying to a question by the press on whether there will be a more active participation by Greece, he reiterated that the country is providing facilities at its airports in the framework of decisions taken by NATO and the EU.

"So far," he added, "there has been no request for further assistance. I hope it will not be necessary."

Simitis further said "the situation has changed the world's situation. One cannot say for sure that it will change for the worst."

PM briefed by U.S. Vice President on attack on Afghanistan: Prime Minister Costas Simitis was informed by U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney on Sunday on the attack on Afghanistan before it was launched.

According to reports, Cheney told Simitis that the response of the U.S. constitutes a move to eradicate terrorism and that an effort is being made not to harm civilians and innocent people. Cheney said the effort will continue at many levels.

It was also revealed that Simitis will convene a special meeting of the Government Council of Foreign Affairs and Defense (KYSEA) at 1 p.m. on Monday.

[02] FM says U.S. reaction expected and covered

COPENHAGEN, 08/10/2001 (ANA - A. Makridis)

Papandreou said the attacks are not aimed at the Afghan people, to whom humanitarian aid by the West has increased, but at "the authoritarian and totalitarian regime of the Taliban who are oppressing the Afghans".

He also expressed the hope that his visit to Syria on the 14th of this month will be fruitful, adding that the present phase constitutes a historic moment for humanity for a new world order to be created which will respect democratic institutions, international law and the resolving of problems without force.

Following his joint statement on the latest developments with his counterparts from Scandinavian countries, Papandreou said that first of all "the reaction of the U.S. was expected and, of course, Prime Minister Costas Simitis had been informed in time by U.S. Vice President Mr. Cheney."

"As you are aware, we justified this action at the European Union, namely the exemplary punishment of the perpetrators, by whose fault over seven thousand people were killed in the United States. This action is part of the framework of the UN, the Security Council and the steadfast principle of the UN for self-defense," he added.

"In parallel, there is a specific and explicit statement, not only by America but the EU as well, that the attack is not against the people of Afghanistan, to whom, on the contrary, humanitarian aid is being increased systematically, but against an authoritarian, anachronistic and oppressive regime which has brought many sufferings for the ordinary citizen of Afghanistan. It is not a war against Islam or the Arab world but, on the contrary, in our effort to combat authoritarian logic of such a kind which cannot endure diversity in a global system, we want the Arab world, the Islamic world next to us to enable us to handle common problems and common causes because the causes very often create extreme situations from poverty to nationalist confrontations and wars," he further said.

Referring to his visit to Syria, Papandreou termed the country "a friendly country with a friendly people" and underlined the traditionally good relations between Greece and Syria.

Papandreou will be in Luxembourg on Monday morning to attend the European Union's Foreign Ministers General Affairs Council.

[03] DM says five countries involved in attack on Afghanistan

Athens, 08/10/2001 (ANA)

Tsohatzopoulos said five countries are participating in the attack: the U.S., Britain, Germany, Australia and Italy. He added that their aim is, on the one hand, to protect the people of Afghanistan with food and all the means they were derived of lately and, at the same time, to confront those who support terrorism and the terrorists themselves in the most effective way.

He went on to say that this has to do with the implementation of international law and collective defense decided both by the UN Security Council and the UN general assembly as a legal means and a response to terrorism which created the multitude of innocent victims experienced in the U.S. several days ago.

Tsohatzopoulos further said that what is important at present is for us to realize how spectacularly things have changed at a global level.

He said that as a response to globalized terrorism a global alliance was formed in the international community on a steadfast conception against this form of terrorism.

"But the Islamic world in its entirety is participating in this alliance against terrorism as well. Apart from the U.S., the EU, are Russia, China, India, Iran and Pakistan, which are also participating. I would say they are mobilized in confronting terrorism. What should be clarified now is that terrorism has nothing to do with a confrontation, as some claim, between civilizations or peoples," he said.

Speaking to a television station, Tsohatzopoulos announced that he is canceling his agenda for Monday and will be returning to Athens on a night flight.

[04] ND expresses solidarity with struggle against terrorism

Athens, 08/10/2001 (ANA)

"We are in solidarity with the joint effort for the final eradication of terrorism. The struggle to eradicate terrorism will be effective if, together with determination, wisdom and rationality coexist. And if, among others, the integrity of civilians is safeguarded as far as possible," Roussopoulos said.

[05] Coalition party says U.S. recycling terror and bloodshed

Athens, 08/10/2001 (ANA)

"The blood of the innocent victims of New York cannot be washed out with the blood of innocent people in Afghanistan," the announcement added.

It further said that "the Coalition, together with all peace loving forces in the world, raises a voice of protest and condemns the war. War is not a solution to problems."

[06] FM says hasty reaction to terrorist attack in U.S. avoided

Athens, 08/10/2001 (ANA)

"The creation of a wider alliance targeting terrorism was chosen, as well as the parallel prospect of shaping a framework of cohabitation and of a global governance based on international principles and rules, international law, democratic institutions and solidarity rules for confronting poverty and underdevelopment," he said.

In his interview, following his contacts in the United States earlier this week, he said the activation of the NATO alliance's article 5 was self-evident since a member-state was attacked.

Papandreou further said Greece has been criticized very often unfairly over the way it handles terrorism, adding that Washing-ton has become convinced now of the political will existing to combat terrorism.

Commenting on developments in Turkey, Papandreou also said "we want Turkey to remain a secular state, regardless of whether we would like to see deep incisions in democratization as well. I feel convinced that a new level of cooperation is opening now and based always on respect for human rights, democratic institutions and international law."

U.S. envoy says close consultations with Greece on terrorism: Newly-appointed U.S. Ambassador to Greece Thomas Miller said in Thessaloniki, northern Greece, on Saturday that the U.S. and Greece are having close consultations to crack down on terrorism, including the November 17 terrorist organization.

"Now is the challenge for us to tackle all the problems," Miller said on arriving at the Vellidis Convention Center to attend a conference on "Borders and minorities in the Balkans in the present conjuncture", organized by the newspaper "Macedonia."

"Of course we are concentrating our efforts now on the number one threat who is bin Laden, but it does not mean that we are forgetting the other terrorist threats, including November 17," Miller added.

Later in the day, Miller will attend a conference on "The trafficking of women" and in the evening a dinner at the residence of the U.S. general consul in Thessaloniki.

[07] Greek UN envoy says Greek people condemn terrorist attacks

UNITED NATIONS, 08/10/2001 (ANA - M. Georgiadou)

Gounaris also reiterated a statement by Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou that "the hideous terrorist attack against the American people was in reality an attack against the free society of democracy and humanity in its entirety."

He went on to say that "there is no doubt that the international character and the wide scale of the attacks constitute a crime against humanity. The loss of human lives, regardless of nationality and race, necessitates immediate and effective action to have those responsible and their supporters brought before justice and to prevent the possibility of similar crimes being repeated in the future."

Referring to Greece, Gounaris said the country has signed and ratified all international treaties and agreements on stamping out terrorism and, apart from existing Greek legislation, it is promoting a bill for ratification concerning the handling of organized crime and terrorist acts.

[08] Diplomatic staff suspend strike

Athens, 08/10/2001 (ANA)

However, the general assembly authorized the administrative council to continue its efforts with the political leadership and the media and decided to resume its work during the month to consider further action.

According to an announcement by the Diplomatic Staff Union, the general assembly also expressed "resentment, indignation and concern over a statement by the government spokesman on possibilities of handling the sector's issues being exhausted" which, as it added, "is tantamount to a refusal to satisfy claims, a perpetuation of the sector's downgrading and, consequently, the foreign ministry itself".

[09] Increased Security measures in Athens in wake of Afghanistan attack

Athens, 08/10/2001 (ANA)

The leadership of the police and the Public Order Ministry reassure that measures decided in the framework of NATO and the European Union have been taken without there being any particular reason for concern.

However, according to reports, security authorities have been alerted since Greece is considered one of the 60 countries in the world in which there are members of the Al Qaida organization.

Security authorities have reportedly placed under close surveillance specific Arab elements, particularly Pakistanis, Egyptians, Lebanese and Afghans, who are considered possible collaborators or sympathizers of Islamic extremist elements.

Special security measures have also been taken at banks since, according to reliable information, a special disc has been forwarded to the Bank of Greece as well containing, with secret codes, the names of businesses and numbers of bank accounts related to Osama Bin Laden's network and the monitoring of these accounts has been requested.

Other security measures have been taken around targets related to NATO, the U.S. and western countries considered direct targets such as those of Britain, Canada and Australia. Special measures have also been taken around targets of the Pakistani state, which is considered a possible target following support it provided for the Americans.

Tight security measures have been taken to monitor every movement around the airport, as well as U.S. and NATO installations in Crete and Larissa.

[10] Thessaloniki conference on borders and minorities in Balkans

Athens, 08/10/2001 (ANA)

Jovanovic claimed that the climate prevailing cannot secure conditions for a fair election for the Serb population and the other non-Albanian groups and for this reason they should be either cancelled or postponed.

Participating in the discussion, the Bishop of Prizren Artemios, who heads the National Serb Council in Kosovo, gave details of his fellow countrymen's sufferings after the war in Kosovo.

He said 250,000 Serbs have been expelled, over 1,000 have been murdered, over 1,300 have been abducted and are missing and 40,000 houses belonging to Serbs have been destroyed, as well as 100 13th and 14th century churches and monasteries.

"Peace came only for the Albanians after the war. For the Serbs it is still the time of pain and confusion," the bishop said, adding that what is most painful is that none of those responsible for murders and destruction has been arrested.

Inaugurating the conference, attended by politicians from many Balkan countries, Minister of Macedonia and Thrace George Paschalidis said that there are still open wounds and flashpoints in the Balkans.

However, he added that what is positive is that at the present moment all governments appear prepared to cooperate for a peaceful solution to differences.

[11] PASOK party ratifies report on Central Committee's work

Athens, 08/10/2001 (ANA)

Executive Committee members Akis Tsohatzopoulos and Christos Papoutsis both voted in favor of the report.

Earlier, Prime Minister Costas Simitis made a brief address to the party's outgoing Central Committee, saying that PASOK's 6th congress, due to begin on Thursday, cannot and should not be a closed and introversive process, but through it the party should emerge stronger, more united, more determined and with new ideas.

"We shall heed the pulse of society, we shall openly seek all that concerns us and concerns the Greek people and we shall seek solutions to all problems because we want a strong society for an even stronger Greece," he said.

Simitis further said "we should turn into practice our congress's slogan that PASOK is a force of responsibility and progressive change which speaks openly of the future, functions effectively at present and plans the country's future with realism."

He said the congress will constitute the starting point for the party's victorious course, adding that PASOK continues to be the party which responds to the wishes and visions of the Greek people.

"We shall forge ahead together with the people to create a new Greece which will be equal to the most developed countries of Europe," Simitis said.

Leading PASOK members comment on elections for new secretary: Leading members of the ruling PASOK party expressed their views on the election of the party's president and the possibility of a new candidate for the post of party secretary in press interviews over the weekend.

In an interview with the Sunday newspaper "Ethnos", Finance Minister Yiannos Papantoniou says "only with a coup d'etat can the president of PASOK change by 2004."

He further says that the percentage party president Costas Simitis will receive and the composition of the Central Committee are also very crucial issues because "they will determine the further course of the party and the government."

Merchant Marine Minister Christos Papoutsis left open the possibility of announcing his candidacy for PASOK's Central Committee presidency.

Speaking to the NET television station, Papoutsis also left open the possibility of the Central Committee's secretary being elected directly by the party's upcoming congress.

Press and Media Minister Dimitris Reppas expressed disapproval of "blank" votes in an interview with the Sunday newspaper "Eleftherotypia."

"The blank vote undermines a basic option of us being 'all together' not only before the congress, not only after the congress but in the congress as well," he said.

Commenting on the candidacy of Environment, Town Planning and Public Works Minister Costas Laliotis for Central Commit-tee secretary, Reppas said the minister constitutes the personification of a historic course and the guarantee for a victorious perspective.

Interviewed by the Sunday newspaper "Typos", Deputy Labor Minister Christos Protopappas stated that "saying that we shall forge ahead with Simitis and on the other hand weakening him with a blank vote is not a responsible position."

Referring to the election of a new secretary, he reiterated his support for Laliotis because "he can contribute very positively to the party's revival."

In an interview with the Sunday newspaper "To Vima", former foreign minister Theodoros Pangalos said the blank vote is meaningless.

Pangalos said Simitis' victory with a large percentage is certain because there is no other candidacy. However, he added that "to belittle the only candidacy means undermining the strength of the party and of its governmental perspective."

Commenting on the candidacy of Laliotis for the post of secretary, Pangalos said "he is worth supporting", but added that he would prefer the secretary to be elected by the party's congress.

[12] Public Works minister says no fine for land register

Athens, 08/10/2001 (ANA)

Laliotis was referring to Friday's visit by European Union Commissioner Michel Barnier, adding that discussions between the government and Barnier resulted in funds amounting to 84 billion being secured for the 2001-2006 period to enable the national land register to go ahead.

Laliotis further said that no fine has been imposed and that, according to the regulation, Barnier has the right to use article 24 to withdraw funds but he has taken no such decision.

He clarified that if he does take a decision on withdrawing funds it is not final and, again according to the regulation, Greece has the possibility and the right to resort to the European Court in search of vindication, as other countries have done.

Laliotis said that in the past years article 24 has been activated 300 times in all the countries of Europe.

Laliotis: ND orchestrated land register prosecution: Environment Minister Costas Laliotis on Sunday announced that he had put together a file which proved that the recently announced prosecution of Ktimatologio SA, the company compiling the Greek land register, had been orchestrated by main opposition New Democracy and deliberately timed to embarrass the government.

According to a press release from the environment, town planning and public works ministry, on Monday Laliotis would be sending copies of the file that outlined the 'history of the pre-announced prosecution' to the Supreme Court's chief justice and public prosecutor.

Copies of the same file would also be sent to the Appeal's court chief public prosecutor, the Athens first-instance court and unions of judges, public prosecutors and the Athens bar association, Parliament Speaker Apostolos Kaklamanis, Justice Minister Michalis Stathopoulos and the leaders of the political parties.

The file will be accompanied by a request for an investigation into what Laliotis claims were deliberate efforts to undermine the National Land Register project.

The minister outlines 14 instances over the past 15 months in which ND MPs and affiliated newspapers appear to have detailed advance knowledge of the actions planned by the public prosecutor in charge of the case.

Laliotis claimed that information about the investigation was systematically and selectively leaked to the press, followed up by questions put by ND MPs in Parliament and special bulletins on the press reports sent to the European Commission.

He also questioned the timing of many of the public prosecutor's announcements, often suspiciously near critical junctures for the course of the land register, and noted a 'odd' similarity in the wording of the questions put by ND MPs and the information leaked to newspapers.

The announcement that charges of malfeasance would be filed against the board of Ktimatologio S.A. and two other companies involved in the land register project came last week and coincided with a visit to Athens to discuss the course of the project by European Commissioner Michel Barnier.

[13] Relatives of Nazi victims appeal to Supreme Court

Athens, 08/10/2001 (ANA)

The rulings, overturning contrary decisions taken by a different court, did not permit the confiscation and auctioning of two estates belonging to the German state in Greece (Goethe Institute and the German Archaeological Academy).

The appeals court rulings stated that for whatever action against a foreign state what is an essential precondition is prior approval of the action by the justice minister.

[14] Coalition party leader says big delays in use of 3rd CSF

Athens, 08/10/2001 (ANA)

"The Greek government never claimed the implementation of article 158 of the Amsterdam Treaty which promotes special policies for the insular regions of Europe," he said.

Constantopoulos further said the international environment we have to function in, and in the Aegean in particular, has changed, adding that the way the state functions in the Aegean does not produce positive results but reproduces deviations

[15] IOC official pleased with progress of 2004 Olympics media facilities

Athens, 08/10/2001 (ANA)

Gosper arrived in Athens for a two-day visit and inspected sites at Aghios Andreas and Amygdaleza in Attica, where two of four press centers for the Olympics will be built.

He also toured the Helexpo building near the OAKA stadium in Athens, where the Main Press Center (MPC) and International Broadcasting Center (IBC) will be housed.

Afterwards, Gosper was briefed on press and media issues by the Athens 2004 Olympics Organizing Committee (ATHOC) and later had dinner with ATHOC chairwoman Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki.

In statements to the Athens News Agency (ANA), Gosper said that the progress made "was much greater than what I expected to see," and that he was very satisfied.

"The people at ATHOC who are working on this ... have a clear understanding of what they want and what they must do to offer the best possible services to the thousands of journalists that will arrive in Athens in 2004. This is very important, since the media sector is the most difficult and most complex of the Olympic Games," he said.

He said that negotiations with Helexpo had to be concluded so that construction of the MPC and IBC could begin rapidly, while commenting favorably on the plans and models he had seen and noting that the site was ideal because of its proximity to most of the sports facilities and the Olympic Village.

He dispelled doubts about the Aghios Andreas site, saying that it was in a good location and just 45 minutes away from the MPC and IBC, which was well within IOC specifications.

Commenting on security issues, Gosper said that the Sept. 11 strikes in the United States had changed everything and that greater care and better organization was needed.

The operations plan worked out by ATHOC was very good, he added, and quoted IOC president Jacques Rogge, who said that no one could guarantee 100 per cent safety.

[16] Archbishop Christodoulos commemorates liberation of Xanthi

Athens, 08/10/2001 (ANA)

In his sermon, the archbishop called for a return to the old values of patriotism, religion and family and also referred to the terrorist strikes of Sept. 11 in the United States, which he said had triggered a return to moral values.

"Our life is not in danger from Christ, nor from our homeland, nor from moral and spiritual values. Our life is threatened by injustice, and by people's denial of God and morality," he said.

[17] Spokesman comments on U.S. offensive

NICOSIA, 08/10/2001 (CNA/ANA)

The spokesman said the Republic's airports have been on high alert since the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington on 11 September and continue to be on high alert.

Cyprus has granted permission to US military aircraft to use its air space and has given landing rights to the US, following a request by Washington.

"We would like to hope that as a result of this military operation a place that harbors terrorism will be uprooted. We also hope that the people of Afghanistan will be freed from the inhuman Taliban regime," the spokesman told CNA.

The spokesman welcomed President Bush's remarks, in his address to the American people Sunday, that the offensive is not targeting civilians but specific military targets in order to destroy Taliban's military capabilities.

"We note with great pleasure President Bush' s statement that the offensive is targeting, not civilians, not the Afghan people, but specific military targets with a view to eliminate the military capability of the Taliban," Papapetrou told CNA.

The government of Cyprus condemned the terrorist attacks of 11 September and aligned itself with the coalition of countries fighting terrorism.

[18] Cyprus to grant humanitarian aid to the Afghanistan refugees

NICOSIA, 08/10/2001 (CNA/ANA)

Invited to say whether the aid would be sent to both opposing sides in Afghanistan, Kasoulides noted that there are no sides when we are talking about refugees and innocent victims adding that the aid will be mainly granted through the United Nations campaign to relieve refugees.

He also said that Cyprus clearly stands with the side determined to combat terrorism and that its competent authorities were to be briefed by the American ones on the evidence implicating Bin Landen in the terrorist attacks against the US.

Referring to the recent decision of the government of Cyprus to grant facilities to US military aircraft throughout the Republic's sovereign air space and the right to use its airports for an unlimited period of time, Kasoulides said the Republic's civil aviation and other competent authorities are making all necessary arrangements and there must be no concern on the issue.

He furthermore underlined Cyprus development in various fields would continue as before the terrorist attacks.

On his part, Attorney General Alecos Markides has said that until now no financial assets of Usama Bin Laden and his associates have been traced in Cyprus.

Markides pointed out that competent authorities conduct a comprehensive investigation and that if any such assets were found they would be immediately frozen, on the basis of UN relevant decisions, Cyprus is obliged to comply with.

"We are implementing UN resolutions, which are explicitly naming him (Bin Landen) and his group and are calling on all UN member states to freeze any such assets," Markides added.

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