Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 02-05-07

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greek political leadership celebrates Easter with troops – Simitis excludes early elections

[02] PM Simitis says talks on Cyprus issue 'have not led to any result'

[03] Annan's forthcoming visit to Cyprus gives rise to expectations, ambassador says

[04] PM says Greek people will renew their trust in PASOK in 2004 general elections

[05] Premier says gov't wants balanced peripheral growth

[06] PM Simitis congratulates Chirac

[07] PM Simitis wishes Cyprus Archbishop speedy recovery

[08] UNICE supports EU enlargement with Cyprus and Turkey

[09] Commissioner Diamantopoulou calls for measures against child labor

[10] Panathinaikos crowned Euroleague basketball champion

[11] Cyprus government pleased with Security Council statement

[01] Greek political leadership celebrates Easter with troops – Simitis excludes early elections

Athens, 07/05/2002 (ANA)

Simitis, who visited the Kalamona army camp on the Dodecannese island, praised the role of the armed forces in the consolidation of peace, security and cooperation in the region.

The prime minister made it clear that Cyprus will join the European Union despite any problems created by Turkey.

Simitis called on Turkey to abide by the EU's indications, which constitute a prerequisite for its accession to the EU. At the same time he reiterated the country's firm position for reference of the issue of the Aegean continental shelf to the International Court at The Hague.

He also categorically denied that there would be early general elections.

Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis, main opposition New Democracy party leader Costas Karamanlis, Communist Party of Greece Secretary-General Aleka Papariga and Coalition of the Left and Progress leader Nikos Constantopoulos visited the Naval Base in Salamina.

Defense Minister Yiannos Papantoniou announced that as of January 1, 2003, military service at border regions will be reduced from 9 months to 7 months, within the context of the government's decision to reduce the duration of military service.

[02] PM Simitis says talks on Cyprus issue 'have not led to any result'

Athens, 07/05/2002 (ANA)

Simitis was addressing officers and troops at a military camp on the Dodecannese island on the occasion of Orthodox Easter Sunday.

''As we all know, the talks for a settlement of the Cyprus issue are in progress. The talks have not led to any result. The Turkish Cypriot community, with the support of Turkey, insists on presenting positions which are not compatible with international law and United Nations resolutions,'' the prime minister said.

He noted that the procedure for Cyprus' accession to the European Union was going on well and that it was not necessary for there to be a settlement of the Cyprus problem in order for the island republic to join the EU.

He said Turkey, if it wants to continue its European vocation, must settle any differences it has with its neighbors by 2004, in accordance with the Helsinki Agreement, ''and if not, to have recourse to the International Court at The Hague.''

The prime minister added that during Greece's presidency of the EU in the first half of 2003, decisions will be taken which also concern the country.

''These next two years will be a period of particular importance for us. For this reason, I believe it is our duty not to occupy ourselves with secondary issues but with primary ones,'' he said.

[03] Annan's forthcoming visit to Cyprus gives rise to expectations, ambassador says

NICOSIA, 07/05/2002 (ANA)

Panagopoulos expressed his satisfaction over the statement by the U.N. Security Council, which called on the Turkish Cypriot side to fully cooperate in the efforts being made for the achievement of an agreement. ''It is a statement which says it all,'' Panagopoulos said.

Annan announced plans to travel to Cyprus and meet with President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash in an effort to enhance the face-to-face negotiations and make ''decisive progress'', meeting the June target date for an agreement.

Although no dates were given, Annan is expected to arrive May 15 and stay for 2-3 days.

The announcement of Annan's trip to Cyprus was made on Thursday by his special advisor on Cyprus, Alvaro de Soto, during a briefing of the members of the Security Council.

Following the briefing by De Soto, President of the Security Council for the month of May, Kishore Mahbubani, in a statement said ''they urged both sides, and in particular the Turkish side, to cooperate fully with the Secretary-General's Special Adviser in such an effort.''

[04] PM says Greek people will renew their trust in PASOK in 2004 general elections

Athens, 07/05/2002 (ANA)

Speaking at a meeting organized by PASOK's Prefectural Committee at a hotel in Rhodes, Simitis also launched a stinging attack against the main opposition New Democracy (ND) party, saying it was void of any programs, positions and proposals. He said the ND was attempting to conceal its lack of a program through insults and that was why it identified itself ''with divergence and not with convergence.''

The prime minister termed as hypocrisy and impudence the ND's political positions that there existed a regime and an establishment in PASOK. ''We tell them with pride that PASOK is the party which defeated the regime which ruled for years in Greece. It brought down the conservative establishment of which prominent members participate in ND and express it today,'' he said.

Simitis also said that unemployment decreased by 1.5 per cent these past two years, while through the new taxation system, for which proposals will soon be submitted, things will change for the better. ''The taxation matters are changing in the country with a system which consolidates the feeling of justice in society, benefits the lower and middle incomes and encourages the development of small and medium-size enterprises,'' he said.

The prime minister added that the improvement of education was proceeding at a fast rate while reform in the sector of health, which began in 2000, will be completed in 2006 with the new decentralized administrative model of the National Health Service.

[05] Premier says gov't wants balanced peripheral growth

Athens, 07/05/2002 (ANA)

Speaking on Symi, where he was declared an honorary resident of the island, Simitis said that the Greeks should look to the future with prospects and certainty, adding that no adverse surprise would arise because Greece and the Greek people had the means and stature to proceed with policies that would reinforce the nation's rights.

The premier later returned to the nearby island of Rhodes, where he is spending the Orthodox Easter holiday.

Prime minister visits sights on Rhodes: Prime Minister Costas Simitis went sight-seeing in the medieval town of Rhodes and the unique Hall of the Knights on Friday morning, which is Good Friday according to the Orthodox calendar, accompanied by his wife Daphne and Mr. and Mrs. Christos Rozakis.

Hundreds of local residents and tourists turned out to greet the premier as he walked around the island's capital on foot.

Other sights visited by the prime minister's party were the Rhodes Aquarium and Hydrobiology Station.

Later on Friday, Simitis will attend the Good Friday service and procession on the island, while on Saturday he will visit nearby Symi on board a Coast Guard patrol boat and return to Rhodes in the evening for the Easter midnight mass.

[06] PM Simitis congratulates Chirac

Athens, 07/05/2002 (ANA)

[07] PM Simitis wishes Cyprus Archbishop speedy recovery

NICOSIA, 07/05/2002 (ANA - G. Leonidas)

Greece’s Ambassador to Nicosia Christos Panagopoulos who visited the Archbishop at the Nicosia General Hospital conveyed the message.

A hospital statement said that the Archbishop's health was steadily improving.

[08] UNICE supports EU enlargement with Cyprus and Turkey

BRUSSELS, 07/05/2002 (ANA - G. Daratos)

The European entrepreneurs and industrialists foresee that EU enlargement with the accession of countries of central and Eastern Europe as well as of Malta, Cyprus and Turkey will fully benefit the present and future candidate countries of the EU.

The UNICE report states that EU enlargement will give them access to a broad internal unified market which will grow by 22 per cent (compared to the present 15 members) with 482 million new consumers from the 12 new member countries and by 31 per cent with 547 million consumers if Turkey is included.

UNICE is convinced that EU enlargement will succeed only if the candidate countries previously fully adopt the legislation relevant with the acquis communautaire.

[09] Commissioner Diamantopoulou calls for measures against child labor

BRUSSELS, 07/05/2002 (ANA - Y. Zitouniati)

She said at least two hundred and forty six million children throughout the world (5 to 17 years of age) are working and 73 per cent of them under unacceptable conditions.

The Greek Commissioner, speaking at a round-table discussion here on child labor, said that the number of children who are working or are victims of exploitation exceed the International Labor Organization’s (ILO) official figure of 246 million, a fact which she termed as tragic.

Diamantopoulou said that children under the age of 15 were not allowed to work in the EU while particular health and security measures were taken for those working between the ages of 15-18.

[10] Panathinaikos crowned Euroleague basketball champion

Athens, 07/05/2002 (ANA)

It is the third time that Panathinaikos has won the European trophy.

The 10-minute scores were: 23-23, 40-48, 66-61, and 89-83.

[11] Cyprus government pleased with Security Council statement

NICOSIA 03/05/2002 (CNA/ANA)

Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides also welcomed the Council call to both sides, but in particular to the Turkish Cypriot side, to cooperate fully with the UN Secretary General's special adviser on Cyprus Alvaro de Soto, who is conducting the talks.

The minister said the government welcomes the decision by Annan to visit Cyprus, a trip expected to take place in mid May.

The statement was issued after Alvaro de Soto had briefed the Security Council on the content of the talks, which resume on Tuesday May 7.

"We express our satisfaction with the statement in that the Security Council insists on a comprehensive solution, which should take full consideration of Council resolutions and treaties and we welcome the call on both sides, but specifically on the Turkish Cypriot side, to cooperate fully with Kofi Annan," Kasoulides said.

Replying to questions about the purpose of the visit, Kasoulides said the Secretary General will have in mind three elements, the need to step up the pace of the negotiations, compromise and peace, as they were outlined before the Security Council by de Soto.

"There is no doubt that Annan's visit aims at promoting the peace process," he said. He said he does not see anything in the Council statement that indicates the need for an interim agreement, instead of a comprehensive settlement and stressed that the agreed procedure by the two sides with regard to these talks says that "nothing is agreed until everything is agreed."

"We adhere to the search for a comprehensive settlement," Kasoulides said, adding that there will be no high level agreement between the two sides and nothing will be signed until every-thing is agreed upon.

He said the Greek Cypriot side is ready to examine and discuss methods, which could in practice assist the peace process, in accordance with the role de Soto has been entrusted with, on the basis of the terms of reference afforded to him by the Security Council.

The minister said he could not identify the methods that would be applied to assist the peace process and said "we have never said no to a more active role of Annan's representative to these talks."

Asked if the submission of papers at the talks could help the peace effort, Kasoulides said that the government believes that Alvaro de Soto should play his role to the full, as this is defined by his terms of reference emanating from Council resolution 1250.

"If any papers are submitted, these would be non papers, working papers," he added, recalling that neither side is committed to anything even if it makes some openings at the negotiating table, unless everything is agreed.

The minister said in its statement "the Council expressed regret over the lack of progress in the past few months and recommends that the two sides should agree on a more concrete and specific method of work, which will aim obviously at a comprehensive settlement, taking full consideration of UN resolutions and treaties."

The minister pointed out that the statement does not place the two sides on an equal par with regard to their response to the UN Secretary General's efforts.

He said the specific call on the Turkish side to cooperate "reflects the behavior of each side so far at the negotiating table."

The minister described as a positive element of the statement the insistence of the Council on the June target date, a timeframe within which the two leaders and the UN have said an agreed settlement could be found.

President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash are engaged in direct talks, under UN auspices, with a view at finding a comprehensive settlement.

Denktash was the first to talk about June as a date by which a solution could be reached. This was adopted by Clerides and the UN.

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