Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 02-04-09

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

CONTENTS

[01] Prime Minister Simitis rules out early general elections in TV press conference

[02] President Stephanopoulos calls for end to Mideast bloodshed

[03] FM welcomes Washington's activity over Mideast

[04] Silence over Mideast crisis not an option, Athens says

[05] Ecumenical Patriarch calls on U.S., EU, UN to put an end to Mideast bloodshed

[06] DM defends Greek stand on Euroarmy in talks with U.S. counterpart

[07] U.S. ambassador to Athens addresses Greek-American conference in Washington

[08] Main opposition to vote against bill on party funding

[09] Greeks honored at event at Israeli ambassador's residence

[10] Farmers in northern Greece continue roadblocks

[11] SEB rejects any new taxes to fund social security system

[12] Joblessness down in third quarter of 2001

[13] Budget revenues up 2.2 percent in first quarter

[14] Merger planned for Technical Olympic's US subsidiaries

[15] Greek stocks plunge 1.86 percent on Monday

[16] Athens Olympics organizers seek warehousing space

[17] Noted Greek-American DNA researcher Aris Patrinos lectures at HAU

[18] Early Cycladic bronze era exhibition in New York

[19] U.S. fine arts prof. returns marble piece of Parthenon

[20] International Criminal Court to be a reality in 2003, after 54 years of efforts

[21] UN Adviser notes ground for optimism for Cyprus settlement

[01] Prime Minister Simitis rules out early general elections in TV press conference

Athens, 09/04/2002 (ANA)

Speaking on the occasion of the second anniversary of PASOK's general elections victory in 2000, Simitis said he will head the same team in the next elections, noting that any difficulties that may arise will be overcome.

Asked by reporters how he would react in the event that his position as party leader would be disputed following the local government elections in October of this year, Simitis said it was the right of all the cadres. However, he noted that he was elected twice as PASOK president and two other times had won the premiership, adding that he would lead PASOK in the 2004 elections.

The ruling PASOK ''is a party which, due to its many years in power, has special ways of reacting, but this does not mean that we will not use this party in a renovative manner, with new persons in an effort for reform and change,'' Simitis underlined.

The prime minister said the government will take a series of measures to improve the citizens' standard of living and to achieve real convergence with the other European Union countries.

Simitis said that the government's objectives for the next two years was for there to be a real convergence in the standard of living and quality of life with that of the other EU countries and the granting of the same services by the state.

The prime minister said there were delays in some sectors, or not so much progress made, such as in the sector of health.

He said that the last twenty years for Greece were creative and that Greece, ''from the black sheep of Europe'' greatly improved its position with the other EU countries, something that was proven by its accession to the Economic Monetary Union (EMU). Replying to a question on opinion polls, Simitis said that he disagreed with the interpretation given, adding that opinion polls were a procedure from which one could take a message on what one should do but not a message that all had been lost or a message of triumph.

In reply to a question concerning his succession as party leader, the prime minister said that he would announce his decisions after the 2004 elections.

With regard the policy which he will follow against the main opposition New Democracy (ND) party, Simitis stressed there was an ideological difference between the left and the right, between PASOK and the ND. He said that PASOK had a different social awareness and policy from that of the ND concerning the needs of the working people. The prime minister noted that he would continue to emphasize the differences separating the ruling party from the main opposition party.

In another response, the premier said he was ''not stuck'' to his chair and that if the party organs believed that PASOK should go to the next general elections with another leader he should of course step down.

The question, he added, had no real value because the ruling party was bound in implementing the government's planned work with him as head and leader for the 2004 elections.

He conceded, however, certain mistakes, adding that these were ''wrong assessments''. ''He who dares makes mistakes,'' he said. He cited as an example last year's proposals for the reform of the social security system, noting that a social dialogue should have taken place first.

Referring to EU funds, Simitis said that these were guaranteed for Greece until 2006, underlining however that growth in the country was not only due to community funds but also to the strength of the Greek economy which yielded results.

[02] President Stephanopoulos calls for end to Mideast bloodshed

BRATISLAVA, 09/04/2002 (ANA - N. Megadoukas)

Developments in the Middle East were examined during official Greek-Slovakian talks and both President Stephanopoulos and President Schuster expressed the two sides' concern over the trend of events and hope for ''an end to all the terrible things taking place'', a cease-fire and the start to negotiations for a viable solution to be found to the problem.

President Stephanopoulos spoke of difficulties existing on the part of international organizations to intervene effectively and reminded that Greece, ''as much as it could'', made every possible effort with the foreign minister's visit to Egypt and in the framework of the European Union to enable a decision to be taken which will be as effective as possible.

On his part, President Schuster called for the EU's active intervention and added that bloodshed should stop before it takes uncontrollable dimensions.

The two presidents discussed the entire spectrum of relations between the two countries, while both sides expressed the political will for these relations to be widened even further in the economic and trade sectors.

President Stephanopoulos reiterated Greek support for Slovakia's accession to Euro-Atlantic structures, while the Slovakian president underlined his country's interest for cooperation with Greece in the defense sector and for its participation in the construction of Olympic village installations concerning the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.

Referring to the issue of terrorism, both presidents agreed that an overall effort should be made to tackle it, not with repression means alone, but primarily by addressing its causes.

The issue of Cyprus was also discussed, given that Slovakia is participating in the UN peacekeeping force in Cyprus and President Stephanopoulos reiterated that the island will join the EU regardless of whether its political problem is solved, as anticipated by the decision taken at the EU's Helsinki summit.

Stephanopoulos calls for an end to Mideast violence: The UN's decisions must be respected, particularly the one mandating the withdrawal of the Israeli forces from Palestinian territories, Greek President Kostis Stephanopoulos said here on Monday.

Stephanopoulos, who is currently on a three-day visit to Slovakia at the invitation of his counterpart Rudolf Schuster, also underlined the ''political and humanitarian importance of the safety of the legal leader of the Palestinian people''.

Speaking at a dinner hosted by Schuster, Stephanopoulos noted Greece's concern over the latest dramatic developments in the Middle East ''both because of close traditional bonds with the Arab peoples, and especially those with Palestine, and our friendship toward Israel,'' as well as because of the fact that ''our interests are connected with peace and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean region''.

Stephanopoulos reiterated that Greece has repeatedly supported the right of the state of Israel to live in secure borders, as well as the right of the Palestinians to live in an independent and viable state, recognized by everybody.

He stressed that Athens has condemned violence and terrorism regardless of its source.

''We should look with honesty and an open mind for the roots and causes of terrorism and we should work for their eradication, solving international problems which lead to acts of desperation and violence and mainly by improving the standard of living in areas of great need and misery,'' Stephanopoulos said.

The Greek president also spoke about Greek-Turkish relations and Athens' ''real politic'' toward Ankara, which aims at improving bilateral relations, adding that ''this improvement cannot be made to the detriment of Greece's sovereign rights, which are based on existing international treaties and are recognized by international law.

Speaking on talks on the Cyprus problem he said they are a positive development, but also said the Turkish-Cypriot side should prove its honest intentions.

[03] FM welcomes Washington's activity over Mideast

BEIJING, 09/04/2002 (ANA - Ch. Poulidou)

"This is something that will allow a common approach to be formulated on an international level. Everyone is now demanding the immediate withdrawal of Israeli troops from Palestinian regions, a ceasefire and negotiations for a solution to the problem," he said.

Later on Monday, Papandreou met Chinese Vice-President Jintao Hu for the signing of a statement declaring China's support for the Olympic Truce.

During earlier talks with Chinese officials, meanwhile, Papandreou and Deputy Development Minister for tourism Dimitris Georgakopoulos also discussed the possibility of a bilateral agreement with China that would make Greece the second destination country for the Chinese tourism industry.

According to OECD figures, China ranks fourth in the world for the volume of tourists making trips.

Papandreou began a three-day official visit to the People's Republic of China on Sunday. His talks with Chinese officials will focus on bilateral cooperation for the Olympics, since Athens will host the Games in 2004 and Beijing will be host-city in 2008, and preparations for a visit by Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis in June.

The talks will also touch on Greece's EU presidency in the first half of 2003, during which the EU Troika-China contact group is to convene.

FM says Greeks in occupied Palestinian territory all well: Foreign Minister George Papandreou said on Monday 483 Greeks are currently in occupied Palestinian territory, including eastern Jerusalem, adding that ''they are all well although they are living, of course, under the state of general prohibitions which are also in force for the rest of the population.''

Papandreou, who made his statement in a written reply to a relevant question by three PASOK party deputies, said the Greeks are permanent residents, monks, journalists and members of the organization ''Doctors Without Borders.'' He further said Greece's general consulate in Jerusalem is in constant contact with all, either individually or through societies.

''Regarding the security of Greeks staying in the region and because the situation is troubled, as is known, our Diplomatic Authorities are making every effort to be in constant contact with them and support them if need be,'' he said in his reply.

It was further pointed out that an evacuation plan already exists with meeting locations in the event this is considered necessary, while the general consulate is in contact with a travel agency for coaches to be provided, if necessary, as well as with relevant Israeli authorities.

Foreign ministry senior officials to visit Mideast capitals on Tuesday: Deputy foreign ministers and senior foreign ministry officials will begin visits to Middle East capitals on Tuesday within the framework of Greek initiatives concerning the political, diplomatic and humanistic aspect of the Middle East problem.

Deputy Foreign Minister Ioannis Magriotis begins a two-day visit on Tuesday to Morocco and Algeria, while Deputy Foreign Minister Andreas Loverdos - who is accompanying President Kostis Stephanopoulos on his visit to Slovakia - will depart for Tehran, Iran, from Bratislava.

The head of the foreign ministry's International Development Cooperation Department, Alex Rondos, and the head of the ministry's Middle East Department, ambassador Panayiotis Vlassopoulos, were due to leave for Jerusalem on Monday night.

According to competent sources, Rondos will have a series of contacts with Palestinians and Israelis and meet with the Patriarch of Jerusalem with the objective of sending Greek humanitarian aid to the region amounting to 560,000 euros.

Ambassador Vlassopoulos will have discussions with Palestinian and Israeli officials on developments in the crisis in order for Athens to get a clearer picture on the situation in the region.

[04] Silence over Mideast crisis not an option, Athens says

Athens, 09/04/2002 (ANA)

The spokesman also referred reporters to the statements of Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou regarding the responsibility of the American side and asked for the implementation of United Nations resolutions on this issue.

Meanwhile, the Greek government was continuing protests over the damage to religious monuments and the continued siege of the Temple of Christ's Birth by Israeli occupation troops, Protopapas said, while he called for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Palestinian territories.

Parliament speaker protests at Israeli treatment of Cypriot MPs: Parliament Speaker Apostolos Kaklamanis on Monday strongly condemned the Israeli government for its ''insulting treatment'' of five Cypriot MPs and other European officials visiting Tel Aviv, in an announcement issued after talks with his Cypriot counter-part Dimitris Christofias.

''This was essentially a deportation of the MPs in question and an insult against ... European parliaments and the people they represent in particular - one that violates all the rules respected by democratic governments.

''Sharon's government, banking on support from the United States, with these actions and with its similar treatment of European Union High Representative Javier Solana, shows blatant contempt for these rules, for the European Union and its institutions and gives its own cynical answer to the outcry in Europe over the crimes being committed against the Palestinians,'' he said.

Kaklamanis and Christofias said they had both sent letters of protest to the Israel's Knesset.

Solana and Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Pique were barred from visiting Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, while in Israel last week to press for a Middle East ceasefire.

The snub was made all the more obvious shortly afterward, when Israel announced it would let United States Middle East envoy Anthony Zinni visit the Palestinian leader, who remains under Israeli siege in his headquarters in the West Bank city of Ramallah.

Kaklamanis meets Arab countries' ambassadors in Athens: Parliament Speaker Apostolos Kaklamanis on Monday met the ambassadors of 12 Arab countries in Athens and expressed his own and the Greek Parliament's opposition to the violence, attacks, invasion, occupation and the crimes against the Palestinian people. "We condemn every act of violence against unarmed, innocent civilians that is also used as an excuse for the military operations now being carried out in Palestine," he stressed.

He once again called for the decisions of the United Nations Security Council for the Middle East to be respected, for Israel to withdraw from the occupied territories and its army to return to its bases and for the two sides to return to the negotiating table.

[05] Ecumenical Patriarch calls on U.S., EU, UN to put an end to Mideast bloodshed

ISTANBUL, 09/04/2002 (ANA - A. Kourkoulas)

Vartholomeos called on U.S. President George Bush, U.S. Secretary of State Collin Powell, U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan and European Commission President Romano Prodi to ''exhaust all means at their disposal'' in achieving ''mutual understanding between individuals, nations and religions in the region''.

He called the Middle East a ''holy land for millions of people, who believe in God''.

Archbishop contacts Israeli ambassador over Mideast violence: Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and All Greece, head of the Greek Orthodox Church, on Monday contacted Israel's Ambassador to Athens David Sasson and expressed his deep concern over the latest developments in the Palestinian territories.

At the same time, Christodoulos also sent Sasson an urgent letter in which he stressed the loss of innocent lives on both sides and the threat that Israeli forces might violate the sanctity of Christian Churches in the area.

The Archbishop warned that such an outcome would have grave consequences for the entire Christian community and he stressed that the Orthodox Church attached great importance to giving asylum to all who sought it.

The Greek prelate also contacted Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannis Magriotis to ask for the intervention of the foreign ministry.

[06] DM defends Greek stand on Euroarmy in talks with U.S. counterpart

WASHINGTON, 09/04/2002 (ANA - T. Ellis)

Papantoniou said Greece is not prepared to back down and accept a text about which it had not even been informed.

He said he briefed his U.S. counterpart at length on latest developments on the Cyprus issue and talks between Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, pointing out to his interlocutor that Cyprus will join the European Union even if no political solution is found.

He further said this position expresses all the EU, underling that Ankara should be aware of this.

Papantoniou termed the meeting ''very substantive'' and added that Rumsfeld thanked him for Greek participation in mobilization against international terrorism, expressed by the sending of a frigate to the Persian Gulf and of forces to Afghanistan.

Greek-Turkish relations were also discussed and Papantoniou said Turkish ''unilateral claims against Greek sovereign rights'' have forced Greece to spend an extremely high percentage (5 percent) of GDP on its defense budget.

NATO's impending enlargement was another issue discussed by them, while Papantoniou underlined Greece's positive position and, primarily, the country's active support for the accession of Bulgaria and Romania.

In this context, relations with Russia were examined and the Greek defense minister had the opportunity of briefing Rumsfeld on his recent talks in Athens with his Russian counterpart Sergey Ivanov.

Papantoniou further said that no reference to armaments issues was made during the meeting.

After his talks with Rumsfeld, Papantoniou had a brief meeting with U.S. Joint Staff Chief Myers for a discussion on changes being brought about in the structure of the Greek armed forces and cooperation between the two countries' forces in the framework of multinational peacekeeping missions in the Balkans, where European forces will be replacing U.S. ones in the medium-term future.

[07] U.S. ambassador to Athens addresses Greek-American conference in Washington

WASHINGTON, 09/04/2002 (ANA - T. Ellis)

Speaking at the inauguration of the first annual Hellenic-American Heritage Council Business Conference, which aims at creating closer bilateral relations and the promotion of bilateral economic cooperation, Miller said that many of the problems that troubled bilateral relations have been resolved.

He noted that Greek-Turkish relations have improved significantly and as a result U.S. mediation was not necessary, adding that ''if and when the two countries need our help we are ready to offer it''.

Speaking on the Cyprus issue, he said that the direct talks between Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot community leader Rauf Denktash ''are substantial and we hope productive''.

Miller stressed that combatting terrorism was now a priority of every U.S. ambassador, while he expressed Washington's thanks to Greece for its response during and after the Sept. 11th terrorist attack against the United States, as well as its cooperation, since Greece allocated a frigate to patrol the Persian Gulf waters, it allocated forces for Afghanistan and offered to provide forces for peacekeeping operations in the Balkans in replacing U.S. forces in that region when necessary.

''The Greek government has shown great cooperation from the first moment,'' Miller said, asking of those present to not pay disproportionate attention to demonstrations, which are made everywhere and is part of the democratic system.

Miller also referred to the ''17 November'' terrorist group, saying that the problem continues for the past 27 years, without any arrests and convictions. He added, however, that cooperation with Greek authorities was very good and called on all Americans that are briefed on Greece by the media to not pay much attention to all they read, saying that the media distorted reality.

''The only truth is that we are cooperating very seriously with Greece for the confrontation of this problem,'' he said.

On another note, Miller said that Greece presents some very significant opportunities for US investments, which are not only aimed at the 10 million people domestic market of the country, but also to the consumers of the whole Balkan peninsula, a 50 million people market.

Speaking on the Athens 2004 Olympic Games he said that they are a serious challenge for Greece, but they also present a great opportunity for the country.

[08] Main opposition to vote against bill on party funding

Athens, 09/04/2002 (ANA)

Emerging from a meeting on this issue at ND headquarters, New Democracy's Prokopis Pavlopoulos said the bill was flawed and would not achieve transparency since its monitoring mechanisms were incomplete, while he accused the government of backtracking on promises made while the bill was still in committee.

Another ND official present at the meeting, Manolis Kefaloyiannis, said the bill was a ''trap for democratic institutions'' and noted that it was illegal to give political parties free advertising time.

[09] Greeks honored at event at Israeli ambassador's residence

Athens, 09/04/2002 (ANA)

Sasson, who was speaking at an event at his residence to honor 13 Greeks who saved the lives of Jews during the Nazi era, said that ''I would describe what is happening today as a bitter war, but it has no relation with the Holocaust. There is no intention against the Palestinians, we want to build our own country, next to theirs. Because no country can tolerate so many terrorist attacks in its social life.''

Present at the event were a representative of the President of the Republic, main opposition New Democracy party deputies Miltiades Varvitsiotis and George Tsournos and other officials.

[10] Farmers in northern Greece continue roadblocks

Athens, 09/04/2002 (ANA)

Shortly afterward, tractors set up a roadblock on the old Thessaloniki-Veria national highway at the bridge over the Loudia River, while farmers picketed another stretch of the road outside the village of Klidi in Imathia.

Traffic was forced off the main highways to smaller roads, resulting in substantial delays for drivers.

Meanwhile, farmers in the Pella region on Monday discussed what they would do next and said they might move their roadblock to the bridge over the Axios River on Tuesday, joining forces with the farmers now picketing the bridge over the Loudia River.

Representatives of farmers in Epanomi and Halastra also met on Monday to discuss an announcement by the agriculture ministry referring to farmers that had broken the law.

In an announcement of their own, they demanded that the ministry make public the lists on which it had based its claim that 42 per cent of the farmers in the Epanomi and Halastra municipalities were law-breakers.

Unless the ministry made the lists public by the next day, they said, they would press charges for libel and defamation of the farmers in their district.

Gov't comments on rally by protesting farmers: The government's measures for the cotton-farming industry had covered 80,000 cotton farmers, government spokesman Christos Protopapas said on Monday in comments about another round of road blocks by protesting farmers that has divided the country in two. Stressing that the protests concerned special sub-categories with special problems, the spokesman also noted that Agriculture Minister George Drys had called the protestors to dialogue, apart from those who had broken the law.

He also denied that Prime Minister Costas Simitis and Deputy Agriculture Minister Evangelos Argyris had referred to farmers as ''thieves'' during statements made on Sunday.

The agriculture ministry had a list of the names of farmers who had been caught breaking the law, he explained, and Argyris had referred to specific names.

Defying European Union regulations to satisfy the farmers' demands would have catastrophic consequences for the farmers themselves, while protests should not be carried out at society's expense and cause hardship to ordinary civilians, the spokesman added.

Protopapas then challenged main opposition New Democracy to come out and openly say whether it wanted EU rules flouted and whether it supported this form of protest.

He also ruled out all possibility of a late change to the rules, saying that there was no discussion going on in the Community at present and that changes could not be made in arrears.

ND responds to gov't criticism on farmers' issue: Main opposition New Democracy (ND) spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos on Monday responded to government criticism, saying that government spokesman Christos ''Protopapas with his statements today reaffirms that responsible attitudes, reliability and honesty are lacking, while audacity and hypocrisy are in overabundance''.

''Prime Minister Costas Simitis, who promised better days before the elections to the Greek farmers, after the elections he cheated them, letting them to 'deal with their problems on their own,'' Roussopoulos said.

[11] SEB rejects any new taxes to fund social security system

Athens, 09/04/2002 (ANA)

Addressing a seminar on "Social security, a new social contract" organized by the Kokkalis Foundation in Athens, Mr. Reppas noted that the axis of a restructuring plan promoted by the government was the unification of the system in all three levels, of terms, services and administration, and stressed that the reform seeked was to the benefit of citizens.

Odysseas Kyriakopoulos, chairman of the Union of Greek Industries SEB, emphasized on the need for the government to present all economic figures envisaged by its intervention and an evaluation of the system in its current form.

Kyriakopoulos also said that employers would reject any new proposal for new taxes to support a social security system in the country.

Christos Polyzogopoulos, the country's largest trade union umbrella GSEE chairman, said measures promoted by the government were moving in the right direction and supported the continuation of a social dialogue to find the biggest possible consensus on the issue.

Northern industrialists criticize development bill: The Thessaloniki-based Association of Northern Greek Industrialists on Monday criticized a government bill on development incentives, saying its terms would act as a deterrent to growth in the regions.

The main disincentive was the retention of a distinction between new and existing companies in terms of funding; and the exclusion of existing firms from capital reinforcement incentives, the association said.

The criticism was contained in a letter to Finance Minister Nikos Christodoulakis.

[12] Joblessness down in third quarter of 2001

Athens, 09/04/2002 (ANA)

He told employers and workers representatives at a meeting that the rate of decline in unemployment was more rapid for women, youth and the long-term jobless, which were the government's three main target groups.

Employment in urban areas had risen by one percentage point; and finding work for the first time in 2001 were 91,000 people, Reppas noted.

In 2001, 91 percent of new jobs were full time, and job creation had not been implemented at the expense of wages or pensions, he added.

In 2002, the government planned to step up job creation and ease entry into the labor market.

The minister reported that labor policy in 2000 had benefited 737,889 individuals, with the number rising by 40,000 in 2001.

The deputy president of the Association of Greek Industry, Nikos Analytis, said after the meeting that the trade group wanted to see the creation of a national employment commission.

A representative of the General Confederation of Workers of Greece, Dimitris Politis, told reporters that despite the decline, unemployment remained high at 10 percent.

[13] Budget revenues up 2.2 percent in first quarter

Athens, 09/04/2002 (ANA)

Deputy Finance Minister Apostolos Fotiadis, presenting the figures on Monday, said revenue growth was normal in the January-March period and predicted that the government would achieve a goal of a 6.1 percent increase in the next few months.

Fotiadis attributed the lower revenues to technical reasons, such as lower dividend revenues from public enterprises (totalling 80 billion drachmas), lower revenues due to the abolition of a stamp fee on bank services (35 billion drachmas) and lower revenues from car circulation taxes (prepaid in 2001 totalling 100 billion drachmas).

Regular revenues, however, increased by 5.0 percent in the first quarter to 7.6 billion euros, from 7.2 billion euros in the same period in 2001.

Higher revenues reflected, an 11.7 percent increase in value added tax revenues to 3.15 billion euros, an 1.7 percent decline in income tax revenues to 1.8 billion euros and a 42.5 percent drop in tax revenues from capital transactions to 19.94 million euros over the same period.

Fotiadis announced a new round of inspections by the country's financial crimes squad in an effort to combat tax evasion and profiteering ahead of the Orthodox Eastern holiday period.

The finance ministry expects to collect around 400 billion drachmas from debts to the public sector, totalling 1.6 trillion drachmas.

Fotiadis also presented a government plan for the restructuring of the country's customs service, envisaging improved services to citizens, simpler procedures, new legislation, combating corruption, and preparing the custom agency for the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.

Under the plan, the Attica and Thessaloniki customs agencies will offer custom consultant services to citizens and businesses.

Fotiadis said that the country's customs service has already begun operating a new computer system, covering around 80 percent of customs works.

The plan also envisages a new uniform for all customs service personnel, based on European Union standards.

[14] Merger planned for Technical Olympic's US subsidiaries

Athens, 09/04/2002 (ANA)

In addition, the parent company will sell another subsidiary, Westbrooke Acquisition Corp.

Technical Olympic Inc. wholly acquired Engle Holdings Corp. in a public offer in November 2000.

On completion of the merger Engle Homes Inc, a wholly owned subsidiary of Engle Holdings, will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Newmark.

The merger is due for completion on May 31.

The new company to emerge will later seek listing on NASDAQ or the New York Stock Exchange.

[15] Greek stocks plunge 1.86 percent on Monday

Athens, 09/04/2002 (ANA)

The general index fell below the 2,200 level to end 1.86 percent lower to 2,187.29 points. Turnover hit a new record-low for the year at 61.1 million euros.

All sector indices ended lower. The Retail, Publication, Wholesale, Insurance and Banks sectors suffered the heaviest percentage losses of the day (3.49 percent, 3.46 percent, 3.01 percent, 2.93 percent and 2.63 percent, respectively).

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks ended 2.01 percent down, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index dropped 2.02 percent and the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index fell 2.58 percent.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 290 to 44 with another 22 issues unchanged.

The most heavily traded shares were Commercial Bank of Greece, Hellenic Telecoms, Piraeus Bank, Alpha Bank, Klonatex (common), and National Bank of Greece.

Equity index futures trade at discount: Equity index futures on the Athens Derivatives Exchange dropped in heavy trade on Monday, tracking a decline in the main market.

Turnover was 86.7 million euros.

The underlying FTSE/ASE-20 index for heavily traded stocks and blue chips shed 2.01 percent; and the underlying FTSE/ASE-40 for medium capitalization stocks lost 2.02 percent.

Bond prices mixed in brisk trade: Bond prices in the domestic secondary market on Monday finished mixed in active trade focusing on 10-year paper.

The Greek benchmark 10-year bond showed a yield of 5.49 percent, and the spread over the corresponding German bund was 32 basis points.

Turnover through the central bank's electronic system was 2.2 billion euros.

Buy orders accounted for just over half of turnover.

[16] Athens Olympics organizers seek warehousing space

Athens, 09/04/2002 (ANA)

The organizers told a seminar for international transport and logistics firms that 40,000 square meters would be taken up for an Olympics supply center, and the same again to store technology goods for sponsors and other parties involved in the event.

During the Olympics, 70,000 cubic meters of goods would be transported in 2,400 trips. The supply center is to recruit 140 employees, officials told the seminar.

[17] Noted Greek-American DNA researcher Aris Patrinos lectures at HAU

Athens, 09/04/2002 (ANA)

He spoke at an event co-organized by the Greek Graduates of US Universities and the Hellenic American Union (HAU) at the latter's amphitheatre in downtown Athens.

Patrinos, the director of biological and environmental studies at the US department of energy's office of science as well as a top presidential science advisor in the Bush administration last year, rejected what he termed a "black and white" scientific interpretation of how to tackle the complicated problem, saying instead that a Kyoto-type agreement should emanate from a "broad social consensus before taking drastic measures".

In terms of biotechnology, the distinguished US "research manager" said the field initially offered the promise of great profit due to its effects on human health, while referring to both "new opportunities and dangers" from this "mingling of capitalism and science."

Referring to the US university system and even American society as a whole, Patrinos, who was born in Alexandria and completed his first undergraduate studies at the Athens Polytechnic, said the one word that best describes it is "diversity".

"The US system mirrors the world's diversity," he stressed.

[18] Early Cycladic bronze era exhibition in New York

Athens, 09/04/2002 (ANA)

The exhibition, presented exclusively in New York, displays about 50 items, statuettes, urns and artifacts of early Cycladic art, while 19 works included in the exhibition have never been displayed outside Greece.

The exhibition contains representative samples of Cycladic collections from the Getty Museum, the archaeological museums of Paros and Naxos, the Cycladic Art Museum in Athens and the Fine Arts Museum of the State of Virginia.

It will last until June 15, 2002, at the Olympic Tower (645, 5th avenue in New York).

[19] U.S. fine arts prof. returns marble piece of Parthenon

Athens, 09/04/2002 (ANA)

The American professor had visited Greece in 1972 as part of a student tour and having seen the violations of human rights in the birth place of democracy, he decided to remove a piece of the Parthenon and give it to Melina Mercury, something he did not apparently catch up to do, before her passing away.

The piece was examined for its authenticity and was found to be genuine.

[20] International Criminal Court to be a reality in 2003, after 54 years of efforts

Athens, 09/04/2002 (ANA)

Greece was among the 56 countries that have ratified the Rome Statute, and now with the addition of four new ratifications the new court can become a reality, following efforts that began in 1948.

Initially, the statute will enter into force on July 1st, 2002, while the first meeting of the parties to the statute will take place in September 2002. The Court is expected to be established in 2003.

The new court will deal with criminal cases involving genocide, war crimes, the crime of aggression and crimes against humanity.

It will be based at The Hague and will consist of 18 internationally respected judges, elected to nine year-terms, while a team of prosecutors and investigators will also be provided to the court.

This court will not be a part of the United Nations' apparatus and will not be accountable to the countries that ratified the statute.

The countries that ratified the statute are obliged to prosecute individuals accused of such crimes under their own laws or to surrender them to the Court for trial.

On April 11th a special event will take place at the United Nations marking the ratification of the statute.

[21] UN Adviser notes ground for optimism for Cyprus settlement

NICOSIA, 09/04/2002 (CNA/ANA)

In statements during a press conference at Ledra Palace, in the UN-controlled buffer zone, the UN official said on Monday the grounds for optimism have to be tempered with the concern that exists because of the difficulty that is arising with the capacity of the leaders coming together and making the kind of progress on the substance that is needed.

Replying to a question on whether the UN are ready to present to the two leaders with any papers or ideas, de Soto said ''we are prepared to assist the parties in whatever way it is required, whether it will be substantive or procedural.''

The Peruvian diplomat, who arrived in Cyprus on Sunday from New York where he briefed the UN Secretary General and the members of the Security Council on the results of the second round of UN-led direct talks, referred to the statement by the Security Council on Cyprus and in particularly the positive and negative points mentioned in it.

He went on to say that he continues to believe ''there are grounds for optimism that they (the parties) indeed can complete their task of a comprehensive settlement''.

Asked what he bases his optimism on, de Soto said firstly ''a careful reading of the interests of all concerned leads me to believe that they should want a solution'', secondly that he was ''convinced that solutions are available to all the problems which are at issue'' and thirdly ''it is my reliance and faith on the wisdom of the leaders who actually conduct the negotiations, who both realize that if this window of opportunity is not seized, they will have a lot to answer for.''

Replying to a question on whether the UN wish to change their position at the negotiating table, de Soto said that direct talks between the two leaders is what they both agreed to do.

''They also agreed that these would be within the framework of an invitation by the Secretary General, and the Secretary General has a mandate of good offices''. He added, ''let us keep it fluid and flexible.''

Asked whether Cyprus would join the EU as a divided country if no solution was achieved by June, a target date set for reaching an agreement, de Soto said ''June is not a deadline in the sense that a guillotine will fall or everything will come to an end if there is no agreement by then.''

He said ''Denktash was the first to speak about completing the task by June and Clerides shared that objective,'' adding that the Security Council members have taken these separate statements as a target.

He added that it was a ''fair target'' and that it would permit the materialization of the goal, shared by both sides, of a reunified Cyprus acceding to the EU and actually happening within the EU's enlargement calendar.

Reiterating that June was not a deadline but a ''highly desirable'' target for an agreement, he said ''if it happens in early July it is tolerable.''

Replying to a question, he said ''there is plenty to do and there is room for movement on all sides in this negotiation that is likely to take still quite some time,'' adding that he had gone over many times ''with each of the two leaders the problems involved and have been able to provide them with some ideas as to which some helpful movement might take place.''

''I have gone over much of the same ground in wide ranging substantive discussions that I have had in Ankara and Athens'', he said and expressed hope that in the third round of talks to begin tomorrow ''there will be movement that will take us to the direction of a comprehensive settlement.''

Replying to a question, he said no variations have been made as regards procedural matters on the direct talks that will be taking place every Tuesday afternoon and every Friday morning.

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