Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 02-04-23

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM Simitis ‘surprised’ with first round presidential results in France

[02] FM says Europe has interest in Mideast stability and calm

[03] Defense minister meets US State dept's European bureau chief

[04] Gov't on 'Euro-Army' issue; Israel's recognition of Jerusalem Patriarch

[05] Premier accuses three mayors of opposition to Olympic projects

[06] Deputy FM discusses Greek EU presidency with U.S. official

[07] ND leader meets with U.S. assistant secretary of state Jones

[08] Protopapas on new media bill

[09] Gligorov interview touches on Greek-FYROM relations, PM Simitis

[10] Papademos attends endorsement hearing for ECB vice president

[11] PM to chair cabinet meeting on employment policy this week

[12] Mailis Group acquires Wulftec International of Canada

[13] Greek IT companies welcome gov’t plans for the sector

[14] Greek stocks end lower in ASE

[15] Gov't announces traffic regulation measures in light of Olympic Games

[16] Gov't eyes leasing 25,000 private lodgings for 2004 Games

[17] Athens to obtain special buses for Paralympics

[18] Australian Governor General visits Orthodox ecumenical patriarch

[19] Cultural festival dedicated to Greece begins in Virginia

[20] About 5.5 percent of Greeks suffering from bronchial asthma

[21] May 1st Labor Day moved to May 7th, due to Easter Week

[22] President Clerides says Solana not the one to decide on Cyprus' EU accession

[23] Solana says his comments on Cyprus' EU accession misinterpreted

[24] UN envoy and Spanish official discuss Cyprus

[01] PM Simitis ‘surprised’ with first round presidential results in France

Athens, 23/04/2002 (ANA)

“The French election was a major surprise. Its message is significant and has many recipients. I did not expect this result,” Simitis said.

Furthermore, the Greek premier referred to an attempt by “certain quarters” to “equalize” different policies, while cultivating a climate of “confusion and indifference” that favored a turn to conservatism, “something that resulted in the significant showing by the far right”.

Simitis also pointed to the Left’s responsibility, “because many a times it has become ensnared in policies that heightened phenomena of confusion ... The leftist forces must resist such phenomena of conservative regression, instead they should comprise an obstacle to whatever efforts by extreme conservative powers to steer Europe towards dangerous directions,” he said.

Finally, he also praised socialist Prime Minister Lionel Jospin's stance in the aftermath of his disappointing third-place showing, stating:

"In politics you cannot uphold a position without repercussions. He did the right thing to resign. He assumed his responsibilities, and with his stance he demonstrated that everybody is not the same, and that everyone does not have the same views," Simitis said.

Government comments on Le Pen poll shock in France: All of Europe was stunned by the rise of far-right politician Jean-Marie Le Pen, who knocked France's socialist prime minister out of second place in French presidential elections held over the weekend on a racist and anti-Brussels ticket, government spokesman Christos Protopapas said on Monday.

The spokesman also described Le Pen's nationalist party as ''particularly fascist in its thinking'' and said that the extreme right appeared to be gaining ground in Europe, noting the examples of Austria and Denmark and an opinion poll carried out in Greece, according to which a large number of conservative voters apparently believed that the 1967-1974 military junta ''had been good for the country''.

Protopapas called on all political forces in Greece to take the right position and warned that the far right ''was a danger for democracy, a danger for cohesion in society and a danger for the future of Europe.''

He said the government would respond to the ''messages'' of the French presidential elections by concentrating on the parts of its program that concerned ordinary citizens and established a sense of safety and by pointing out the dangers and repercussions of a highly fragmented Left, as well as the need to avoid under-mining the image of politics and creating an ideological sub-stratum that helped cultivate extreme right-wing beliefs.

Regarding law and order measures, the spokesman said that the crime rate in Greece had dropped by 25 per cent due to measures such as legalizing immigrants and incorporating them into Greek society.

Earlier on Monday, Interior Minister Costas Skandalidis described Le Pen's rise in the French polls as a ''major negative development'' and said that ''the trend towards an blanket disdain of politics and the fragmentation of the progressive (political) area may revive nightmares of the past.''

Speaking after a meeting with Prime Minister Costas Simitis, Skandalidis also saw signs of a revival for the extreme right, and called on progressive political forces in Greece to rally together to ensure a left-wing victory in the general elections of 2004.

The electoral outcome in France also caused great concern in the center-right main opposition party, with several New Democracy MPs warning that the widespread disdain for politics and politicians among the public had to be combated.

Speaking after a meeting of the party's 'shadow cabinet' where the French polls were discussed at length, ND leader Costas Karamanlis said the result reflected a protest vote against 'ineffectual' socialist governments but he stressed that his party was "completely against Le Pen-type phenomena".

ND spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos said the reasons that led the electorate to make such choices had to be thoroughly investigated.

New Democracy mayoral candidate for Athens Dora Bakoyianni warned that the image of the political system as a whole was at stake, and that ''politics must return to the forefront and solve the problems faced by the citizens''.

Karamanlis voices opposition to 'Le Pen-type' phenomena: Main opposition New Democracy (ND) leader Costas Karamanlis on Monday reiterated his party's total opposition over what he termed as "Le Pen-like" political phenomena, a direct reference to Sunday's first-round presidential elections in France and the surprising showing by ultra-rightist candidate Jean-Marie Le Pen.

The veteran right-wing French politician came in second to President Jacques Chirac in Sunday's first round -- prior to a May 5 runoff -- a result that ended the career of third-placed Socialist Prime Minister Lionel Jospin.

Commenting on the highly watched French election, Karamanlis stressed that a "political conclusion" can be drawn, before citing what he termed a protest vote by French citizens vis-a-vis the Jospin government and an apparent "bankruptcy of socialist governments; their inability to face problems and to offer a (political) vision".

On his part, ND party spokesman Theodoris Roussopoulos added that solutions are "not found on the (political) extremes but in the middle ground, which is expressed by New Democracy."

A government bill on campaign financing was also discussed at Monday's ND sector heads meeting, during a session chaired by ND leader Karamanlis.

[02] FM says Europe has interest in Mideast stability and calm

VALENCIA, 23/04/2002 (ANA - M. Savva)

He was speaking on the sidelines of the 5th Euro Mediterranean Conference taking place here.

The Conference, convened by the European Union's Spanish Presidency in the framework of the effort to revive the Barcelona Process to strengthen relations between Mediterranean countries and the EU in all sectors, is focusing on developments in the Middle East.

Papandreou added that through the development of relations, Europe is shaping the framework of peace and cooperation between the peoples of the region and this is a message which must be sent today as well.

''We are exchanging views in the framework of our decisions, in the framework of UN resolutions and we hope we will also have specific proposals from this first exchange of views on the tragic events in the Middle East which we will be able to promote,'' he said.

On the question of his joint initiative with his Turkish counter-part Ismail Cem to visit Israel and Ramallah, Papandreou said it is scheduled to take place in the near future, but added that the situation in the Middle East is quite unpredictable and developments will determine the next moves.

Commenting on the results of Sunday's French presidential elections, Papandreou said ''I believe the result should give us the message that it is necessary for us to further strengthen our democratic institutions. Democracy, the society of awareness and social cohesion are not concepts, which are taken for granted. We should always renew and deepen them in practice.''

Papandreou will have the opportunity for many bilateral meetings with colleagues of his on the sidelines of the Euro Mediterranean Conference.

He already met the Foreign Minister of Cyprus Ioannis Kasoulides on Monday evening and exchanged views with him on developments in the Middle East, the Cyprus issue and the accession course of Cyprus ''which is going very well,'' as he said.

Both Papandreou and Kasoulides held separate meetings, on the sidelines of the conference, with the EU's Foreign, Defense and Security Policy High Representative Javier Solana on the issue of Cyprus's accession course.

According to diplomatic circles, Solana expressed his adherence to the EU's decisions on the accession course of Cyprus and noted that Brussels is committed by the conclusions of the Helsinki summit.

FM conveys letter from religious leaders to EU counterparts: Foreign Minister George Papandreou conveyed a letter from the heads of the three religious denominations in Jerusalem to his 14 European counterparts during a Spanish European Union Presidency dinner on Monday night.

During the dinner, given by Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Pique, Papandreou conveyed the letter addressed to Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon from the three hierarchs, Greek Orthodox Patriarch Irineos, the Franciscan Giovanni Batistelli and Armenian Patriarch Torkom Manugiam.

The hierarchs are appealing for an end to the savagery, which started in the region of the Church of the Nativity on April 2.

The document describes scenes of horror with unburied bodies and wounded monks, as well as ''the destruction of Christianity's holy places.''

The leaders declared themselves ready to contribute in any way to an end to the crisis and call on Sharon and Arafat to make every possible effort for a peaceful solution.

After the dinner Papandreou was expected to meet with his Turkish counterpart Ismail Cem with whom he was expected to discuss developments in the Middle East and details concerning their pending visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories.

[03] Defense minister meets US State dept's European bureau chief

Athens, 23/04/2002 (ANA)

Assistant Secretary Jones also referred to the outstanding issue of the European Army and its relations with NATO, saying that Washington attached great importance to achieving an agreement on the specific issue.

In statements after the meeting, Papantoniou said he had once again outlined why Greece could not accept the 'Ankara text' drafted by the US, the United Kingdom and Turkey in order to waive Turkish objections to the use of NATO planning by the EU rapid reaction force.

He said that Jones had outlined the stance of the US and that they had agreed to continue talks to resolve the issue.

Other issues covered during the meeting included the Middle East crisis, where both sides noted the need for an immediate ceasefire and the start of negotiations for the creation of a Palestinian state that would peaceably coexist with Israel.

Papantoniou warned, meanwhile, that failure to find a solution would have a destabilizing effect on the Mideast and eastern Mediterranean.

Regarding international terrorism, the defense minister reiterated Greece's willingness to make an active contribution in terms of both equipment and personnel, noting that Greece was sensitive to issues of terrorism due to its own experiences with the elusive ''November 17'' group and in view of security concerns relating to the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.

Jones also referred to the situation in the Balkans, where she said Greece played a stabilizing role, while she and Papantoniou agreed on the need for continued EU and US influence in the region.

Finally, she said the meeting had not covered the issues concerning Iraq.

[04] Gov't on 'Euro-Army' issue; Israel's recognition of Jerusalem Patriarch

Athens, 23/04/2002 (ANA)

"The desire for progress regarding the 'Euro-Army' does not affect only Mr. Solana. We also want progress, without this meaning, however, that we must accept what Mr. Solana wants," government spokesman Christos Protopapas said during a regular press briefing here.

In an unrelated development, the government spokesman reiterated Athens' satisfaction with a recent decision by Israel's full cabinet to officially recognize last year's election and installation of new Jerusalem Patriarch Irineos.

Protopapas noted that the Greek government had also com-mended a similar decision last week by the Israeli inner cabinet.

[05] Premier accuses three mayors of opposition to Olympic projects

Athens, 23/04/2002 (ANA)

Those projects include the construction of a tram that will connect the southern coast of Attica with the city's metro system and will serve the south-central regions of Athens metro with the center of the city. The mayors of Alimos, Kallithea and Faliro municipalities have expressed their opposition to the plan citing environmental concerns related to noise and landscape changes.

''The mayors, the local agencies and citizens should understand that the Olympic Games are a national issue and that the projects will give a better quality of life,'' Simitis said, he called ''unthinkable'' the case where the projects cause confrontation, because the mayors ''can not deal with the reactions of few affected interests.''

''We ask of the municipalities to not foster reactions under the fear of political cost and to help out the completion of projects,'' Simitis concluded.

[06] Deputy FM discusses Greek EU presidency with U.S. official

Athens, 23/04/2002 (ANA)

According to a relevant announcement, Magriotis also referred to cooperation being developed in the business, inter-scientific and inter-parliamentary sectors with Black Sea countries.

In another development, Magriotis met his Lithuanian counter-part E. Igdatavicious with whom he discussed the visit the Lithuanian president will be making to Greece in May and exchanged views on issues concerning the Baltic and Caucasus region, as well as the issue of EU enlargement.

A lengthy reference was also made to the dramatic developments in the Middle East, while Magriotis provided a briefing on the EU's positions and initiatives the Greek side has undertaken, a foreign ministry announcement said.

[07] ND leader meets with U.S. assistant secretary of state Jones

Athens, 23/04/2002 (ANA)

They discussed bilateral relations, the Middle East crisis, the Cyprus problem, developments in the Balkans and the Eastern Mediterranean, as well as issues concerning cooperation between the European Union and NATO.

According to a press release issued by ND, Karamanlis outlined to Jones his party's positions on the ''Euroforce''.

[08] Protopapas on new media bill

Athens, 23/04/2002 (ANA)

He said the bill would begin to be processed in Parliament immediately after Easter, while the media ministry would next tackle the drafting of a new code of conduct for the media sector, followed by a code of practice for opinion polls and surveys.

[09] Gligorov interview touches on Greek-FYROM relations, PM Simitis

SKOPJE, 23/04/2002 (ANA - N. Frangopoulou)

"Simitis is following a different policy towards us than his predecessors, and he is a supporter of the theory of 'don't try to impose with force, but with capital. Don't come into conflict with every government, simply attempt to purchase the most significant enterprises'," Gligorov said, referring to a buyout by Greek interests of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia's largest bank, Stopanska Banka, before citing major Greek investments in the land-locked country's telecommunications sector.

The former FYROM leader, who led the one-time Yugoslav republic to independence in the early 1990s, reiterated that Greek investments rank first in his country, while Athens is among Skopje's largest trading partners.

Finally, in the interview published by the "Glas Yavnosti" news-paper, Gligorov praised Simitis as a "modern politician" that doesn't follow a strictly "pro-US" policy but is "pro-European", one that aims at enhancing EU- and NATO-member Greece's "leading role" in the Balkans.

Athens has been at odds with FYROM for the past decade over the issue of the land-locked Balkan state's name, insisting that the word "Macedonia" should not be included in the name of the former Yugoslav republic as it implies expansionist designs against Greece's own large northern province, Macedonia, as well as being a historical misrepresentation.

However, relations between Greece and the more than 10-year-old country to its north have dramatically improved since the two countries signed an interim agreement in New York under the UN's auspices in 1995. Currently, on the 'name issue' ranks as the only difference between Athens and Skopje.

Under the terms of that agreement, both sides are to proceed with negotiations to find a mutually acceptable solution for the "name issue".

[10] Papademos attends endorsement hearing for ECB vice president

BRUSSELS, 23/04/2002 (ANA - M. Spinthourakis)

The routine hearing was called by the European Parliament's economic and monetary affairs committee, which is due to vote on his appointment on Tuesday.

Papademos outlined his view of the ECB as a vehicle for price stability in the euro zone, and as a body independent of member-state governments although accountable to them in terms of communicating policy and practice.

The attainment of monetary stability, high growth rates and lower unemployment were complementary objectives, he added.

New central bank governor seen chosen in mid-May: A central bank governor for Greece is likely to be chosen in the middle of May to replace Lucas Papademos, who was elected earlier this month as the European Central Bank's new vice president.

A replacement should be found before Papademos, who is expected to recommend a successor to the prime minister, takes up his new post on June 1.

The European Parliament in Strasbourg is scheduled to vote on Papademos' appointment on May 14, which will then go for ratification to the prime ministers of other European Union member states.

Completion of the endorsement procedure is expected by May 17.

Papademos was due to be interviewed by the European Parliament's economic and monetary affairs committee in Brussels on Monday in connection with his appointment.

[11] PM to chair cabinet meeting on employment policy this week

Athens, 23/04/2002 (ANA)

At 12:30 on Monday, the prime minister chaired a meeting of the government committee for the Olympic Games.

On Tuesday evening, Simitis will chair a meeting of ruling PASOK's new informal committee for communications strategy.

On Wednesday at 10:00, the prime minister is to meet Finance Minister Nikos Christodoulakis, followed by a meeting with Labor Minister Dimitris Reppas at 11:00 and another with Bank of Greece governor Loukas Papademos at 13:30.

At 14:00 on Wednesday, Simitis is to meet PASOK Central Committee Secretary Costas Laliotis, after which he will chair a meeting of the party's Executive Bureau at 19:00.

On Thursday the premier will chair a cabinet meeting focusing on employment policies that begins at 10:00, while on Friday he is due to meet with the leadership of the health ministry in the morning, National Defense Minister Yiannos Papantoniou at 11:00 and National Bank of Greece deputy governor Panagiotis Thomo-poulos at 12:15, at the latter's request.

[12] Mailis Group acquires Wulftec International of Canada

Athens, 23/04/2002 (ANA)

Wulftec International is the biggest stretch wrapping machine industry in Canada.

A Mailis Group statement said the acquisition is the first strategic step paving the way for the group to expand its strong position outside Europe.

Wufltec is based in Ayers Cliff Quebec, close to the borders between Canada and the US. It employs 150 staff. Wulftec's turnover exceeds 27 million Canadian dollars (19 million euros), with the majority of its sales (86 percent) directed to the US market.

[13] Greek IT companies welcome gov’t plans for the sector

Athens, 23/04/2002 (ANA)

SEPE said that a government decision to immediately promote procedures for the implementation of the IT projects would boost the Greek IT market and offer enterprises in the sector to develop added value projects using investments both in infrastructure projects and human resources.

[14] Greek stocks end lower in ASE

Athens, 23/04/2002 (ANA)

The general index fell 0.77 percent to 2,204.43 points, with turnover a low 67.5 million euros.

The Bank, Textile, Wholesale and Investment sectors suffered the heaviest percentage losses of the day (1.63 percent, 1.30 percent, 0.97 percent and 0.96 percent, respectively), while the IT and Retail sectors scored gains (0.50 percent and 0.02 percent, respectively).

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks fell 1.0 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index eased 0.64 percent and the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index ended 1.07 percent lower.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 258 to 58 with another 39 issues unchanged.

The most heavily traded shares in value were EFG Eurobank Ergasias, Vodafone, Intracom, Alpha Bank, and National Bank of Greece.

Equity index futures drop: Equity index futures on the Athens Derivatives Exchange finished lower in light trade on Monday, tracking the main market. The discount on contracts was about 1.5 percent.

Turnover was 53.5 million euros, a record for the year so far.

The underlying FTSE/ASE-20 index for heavily traded stocks and blue chips shed 1.0 percent; and the underlying FTSE/ASE-40 for medium capitalization stocks lost 0.64 percent.

Bond prices rise in scant trade: Bond prices in the domestic secondary market on Monday finished higher in slim trade focusing on 10-year paper.

The Greek benchmark 10-year bond showed a yield of 5.55 percent, and the spread over the corresponding German bund was 30 basis points.

Turnover through the central bank's electronic system was 1.6 billion euros.

Buy orders accounted for the bulk of turnover.

[15] Gov't announces traffic regulation measures in light of Olympic Games

Athens, 23/04/2002 (ANA)

Environment, Town Planning and Public Works Minister Vasso Papandreou announced a series of measures following ministerial meeting she headed that also included Athens 2004 organizing committee officials.

Papandreou said that initially there will be a revamping of traffic signaling to minimize the problems created by road and interchange construction, stressing, however, that in light of the Olympic Games and after the completion of the projects a system for traffic control will be implemented, based on a study that has already been completed.

The immediate measures include, improved policing of bus lanes with the use of cameras, increased presence of traffic control police officers, close cooperation with municipalities that will host the construction sites in incorporating municipal systems of mass transport to the central state system and finally measures changing the hours of garbage pick-up times.

Other measures include changes in the bureaucratic system that will allow citizens to procure documents and complete transactions with the state via the telephone and the internet. Also the measures include changes in the work hours of state services and banks, as well as shops, scaling the opening times in a way as to avoid mass travel from the suburbs to the center of the city.

[16] Gov't eyes leasing 25,000 private lodgings for 2004 Games

Athens, 23/04/2002 (ANA)

Tax-free rentals and free insurance coverage for such lodgings are among the measures that members of a high-ranking inter-ministerial committee for the Games discussed on Monday.

While a 'rooms deficit' for hosting the extended 'Olympic Family' has been narrowed in recent months by Athens 2004 organizers (ATHOC), worries over a shortage of lodgings for tourists and Olympic spectators have been aired, among others, by the International Olympic Committee.

Following the meeting, Deputy Mass Media Minister Telemachos Chytiris said the inter-ministerial committee -- chaired by Prime Minister Costas Simitis and comprised of top Cabinet ministers as well as ATHOC executives -- said that a minimum of two consortia would manage the private home rental project.

The state-run Greek Tourist Organization (GNTO) is expected to provide necessary quality certification for affiliated lodgings.

Finally, Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos, who submitted the proposal, said a bill will be tabled after May governing the procedures for listing and renting such private lodgings, as well as providing necessary motives to owners.

[17] Athens to obtain special buses for Paralympics

Athens, 23/04/2002 (ANA)

At the same time, the suburban railway, the tram and the Metro will be absolutely accessible to handicapped people and people using wheelchairs.

This was disclosed on the first day of the three-day meeting between the International Paralympic Committee's Coordinating Committee and representatives of the Athens 2004 Organizing Committee (ATHOC) on Monday.

Members of the International Paralympic Committee said the accessibility of Athens's means of transport, as well as accessibility to the city and installations, will constitute the most important legacy the Paralympic Games will be leaving for the country.

[18] Australian Governor General visits Orthodox ecumenical patriarch

ISTANBUL, 23/04/2002 (ANA - A. Kourkoulas)

Hollingworth was the Anglican Archbishop of Brisbane from 1989 to 2001, leaving the post to become the 23rd Governor General of Australia, the equivalent of president of his country.

[19] Cultural festival dedicated to Greece begins in Virginia

WASHINGTON, 23/04/2002 (ANA - T. Ellis)

The festival each year honors one of the 19 NATO member countries and aims at strengthening cultural exchanges.

The weeklong festival will project the cultural heritage of Greece at this important U.S. naval base. It will include photographic exhibitions, film projections, music, parades, traditional dances and Greek cuisine and wine.

The cultural festival was inaugurated with a photographic exhibition entitled ''Aegean: Pictures of Greece'', which is presented by the Greek Press Ministry.

Present at the events will be the Supreme Commander of SACLANT. General William Kernan, Greek Ambassador to Washington Alexander Philon, the mayor of Norfolk and other local officials.

[20] About 5.5 percent of Greeks suffering from bronchial asthma

Athens, 23/04/2002 (ANA)

The increase in such cases among children of up to the age of 12 is also alarming since the average appearance of asthma in children reaches 11 percent.

However, developments in the use of new therapies for combat-ting asthma are encouraging since new medication permits sufferers to exercise, work and live a normal life.

In addition, a new combination of medicines has appeared in the Greek market over the past 10 days in the sector of combatting the infection causing asthma and it is used with a turbuhaler device.

The developments were disclosed during a press conference on Monday on the occasion of a scientific event on asthma therapy, which took place in Thessaloniki, northern Greece.

[21] May 1st Labor Day moved to May 7th, due to Easter Week

Athens, 23/04/2002 (ANA)

''We honor the struggles of workers, for which May 1st is a pinnacle symbol of the celebration in commemorating the victims of 1886 (sic. in the United States). Every year workers all over the world and in our country promote their current and useful messages concerning present-day issues,'' the minister said in a press release.

[22] President Clerides says Solana not the one to decide on Cyprus' EU accession

NICOSIA, 23/04/2002 (CNA/ANA)

President Clerides was commenting on Monday on a statement by Solana that if a solution to the Cyprus problem is not found, then only the ''Greek Cypriot part'' of Cyprus would become a member of the Union. ''Those who decide, assure us that the whole of Cyprus will accede'', the president noted.

Government spokesman Michalis Papapetrou said the government believed

Solana's approach was wrong and would ask for explanations from Solana himself and the EU.

Solana's approach, he said, ''is contrary to the positions and decisions of the EU itself'' and noted that such statements encourage

Turkish intransigence, as they ''give rise to Turkish hopes that it can overcome the Helsinki decision'', which said the Cyprus problem would not be a precondition for the Republic's accession to the EU.

Cyprus, which opened accession negotiations with the EU in 1998, has already closed 27 chapters of the acquis communautaire and has three more to go.

On Sunday, the Greek Foreign Ministry spokesman, Panayiotis Beglitis, issued a statement saying that Greece is able to safeguard Cyprus' accession to the EU, noting the Union's decision to make the whole of Cyprus a member and that if a solution is not found, then the acquis communautaire would apply only to the free areas of the Republic.

Beglitis said ''the UN and the EU recognize the Republic of Cyprus as the only legal representative of the whole of the Cypriot state''.

He added that the EU and its member states have decided that ''with the completion of the accession negotiations, the Republic of Cyprus will accede as a whole de jure to the EU, while the implementation of the acquis communautaire will cover de facto the free part of the island, if the political problem has not been solved''.

Cypriot political parties have voiced concerns about Solana's statements in his interview with a Greek newspaper and have echoed official positions.

[23] Solana says his comments on Cyprus' EU accession misinterpreted

VALENCIA, 23/04/2002 (CNA/ANA)

They said that Solana appeared surprised at the reaction to the remarks attributed to him by a Greek paper, in which he is said to have referred to the accession to the EU of one part of Cyprus if the island's political problem is not solved by then.

According to the same sources, when asked to clarify his statements Solana expressed his adherence to EU Helsinki decisions about Cyprus' accession and said Brussels is committed to these decisions.

The EU said in its Helsinki Summit conclusions that a political settlement of the island's division would facilitate accession but it is not a precondition for it.

In an interview with ''Vima'' newspaper, Solana said ''the northern part of Cyprus has not negotiated at all with the EU, and therefore it does not fulfill the criteria.''

He also said, according to the paper, ''one part of Cyprus will join the EU and another will have to wait.''

The government of Cyprus, representing the internationally recognized Republic of Cyprus, has been engaged in membership talks since 1998.

Talks are set to conclude by the end of this year.

Solana in a different interview only a day before the ''Vima'' remarks had said that nobody can stop the EU decisions that Brussels is ready to take.

''Naturally we want to see a solution in Cyprus, but if there is no solution, this does not mean that there will be repercussions on Cyprus' accession to the EU,'' Solana told ''Imerisia'' newspaper.

[24] UN envoy and Spanish official discuss Cyprus

VALENCIA, 23/04/2002 (CNA/ANA)

''Mr. de Soto visited Madrid to meet with the European Union presidency to exchange points of view over the course of the conversation on Cyprus between the President of Cyprus (Glaf-cos Clerides) and the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community (Rauf Denktash), held under the UN,'' Spanish diplomatic sources told CNA on Monday.

They said de Soto and Miguel had a two-hour working lunch in the Spanish capital.

Asked if they discussed the EU contribution and role in the peace process, they said ''they covered all issues on Cyprus'' but refrained from any further comment, noting that there is a news blackout on the content of the talks.

Replying to questions, the same sources said at present there is no other planned meeting between the Spanish presidency and de Soto.

De Soto, representing the UN, attends direct talks between Clerides and Denktash, which started in Cyprus in mid-January this year with a view at finding a comprehensive settlement.

The talks are suspended for a very brief break this week and de Soto is touring the EU (Spain, Brussels and London) during the break, for consultations on Cyprus. Talks resume on Friday 26 on the island.

The EU summit in Seville is expected to deal with developments in Cyprus and is likely to refer to the direct talks in its conclusions with a view to encouraging the two sides to find a settlement prior to an EU decision in December this year about the next wave of enlargement, of which Cyprus will be a part.

The reference to Cyprus in the Seville conclusions will depend on developments in the peace talks but if there is no progress towards a settlement and talks are continuing, it is not expected that the EU summit will at this stage apportion blame for any lack of progress.

Cyprus, which opened accession negotiations with the EU in 1998, has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.

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