Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 03-02-24

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

CONTENTS

[01] 14 people killed after bus falls into N. Greece river

[02] Simitis: Europe will overcome latest divisions; comments on Turkey, Cyprus

[03] Cyprus' President-elect Papadopoulos arrives in Athens for talks

[04] Gov't dismisses report of role in alleged US-Iraqi contacts this week

[05] ND's Pavlopoulos calls for early elections this autumn

[06] Greece, Turkey sign ambitious gas pipeline deal

[07] EU energy ministers meet in Thessaloniki; OPEC's Silva on int'l reserves

[08] Christodoulakis represents EU at G7/Russia meeting

[09] Greece, Syria focus on jumpstarting trade relations

[10] Crucial gov't-ATHOC meeting on Mon. in wake of Rogge criticism

[11] President-elect receives UN memorandum

[12] Weston and Hannay meet President-elect

[13] De Soto: Cyprus solution cannot be provided without agreement on security

[01] 14 people killed after bus falls into N. Greece river

Athens, 24/02/2003 (ANA)

Authorities were still searching for the body of a three-year-old at dusk, reports said. Up to 150 firefighters and police officers were continuing a search effort in the early afternoon along the banks of the river amid sub-zero temperatures.

Meanwhile, an investigation was continuing at press time over exactly how the bus crashed through protective railing atop a bridge over the Aliakmonas River, west of Thessaloniki.

According to reports, 23 passengers were traveling to Athens aboard the coach, while eyewitnesses said the bus veered into the opposition traffic lane and traveled some 40 meters before crashing into the rails and then 15 meters down into the river's freezing waters.

Condolences: Both the government and the main opposition issued their condolences to the families of the victims later in the day, while visiting Turkish Energy Minister Mehmet Guler -- who is in Thessaloniki to sign a bilateral natural gas pipeline deal -- also expressed his condolences over the "tragic incident".

[02] Simitis: Europe will overcome latest divisions; comments on Turkey, Cyprus

Athens, 24/02/2003 (ANA)

In an interview published on Saturday by an Athens financial newspaper, Simitis nevertheless stressed that he was not worried about the difference of opinions between the so-called “Franco-German” axis, on one hand, and Britain on the other. Moreover, he also said support by a handful of east European leaders of EU Acceding Countries for the more hard-line US-Britain approach to Iraq does not impede the future of European convergence.

“The European Union has always found ways of communicating and converging. Differing views and crises from time to time have never been absent, but they have always been overcome, producing a Europe that passed from one phase of evolution to the next.”

Simitis stressed that last Monday’s joint statement by the “15” at the informal Brussels summit proved that in “impasses don’t exist in politics”.

“... There is always a path and a way to reverse what appears as irreversible. As long as we have the will ... The success of the summit reflects the prestige of Europe, as well as of our country, which as the presiding country undertook this initiative,” he said in statements published by the “Imerissia” newspaper.

Asked about international speculation that EU hopeful and neighboring Turkey has been upgraded in US plans for any possible invasion of Iraq, and the likelihood that this development will toughen Ankara’s stance vis-a-vis the European Union, Simitis said it is natural for Turkey’s leadership to defend the country’s interests, as they consider them, and especially in view of a possible war.

However, he added that Turkey’s European course will be judged on the basis of criteria that apply for all candidate countries.

Finally, he dismissed concerns aired in some quarters over the election of Tassos Papadopoulos as the new president of Cyprus, saying that both the former and outgoing President Glafcos Clerides’ statements warrant absolutely no concern, as the “Cypriot people’s interest lies in completing the effort that has matured” –an indirect reference to the island republic’s pending EU accession and a just solution to its long-standing division.

[03] Cyprus' President-elect Papadopoulos arrives in Athens for talks

Athens, 24/02/2003 (ANA)

Papadopoulos will be received on Monday by President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos before having what is expected to be lengthy talks with Prime Minister Costas Simitis and Foreign Minister George Papandreou on the protracted Cyprus problem and the intense international efforts currently underway to reach a settlement.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan arrived in Ankara on Sunday and is scheduled to have talks in Athens on Tuesday before visiting Cyprus on Wednesday.

Papadopoulos will also meet main opposition New Democracy party leader Costas Karamanlis and other opposition party leaders.

[04] Gov't dismisses report of role in alleged US-Iraqi contacts this week

Athens, 24/02/2003 (ANA)

Government spokesman Christos Protopapas made the statement on the same day as a press report here by a mass circulation daily claiming that high-ranking American and Iraqi military officials are to meet in Athens on Wednesday for talks organized by the Greek Minister of Defense.

The spokesman added, however, that the Greek defense minister was tentatively set to address the conference, focusing on ''crisis management''. Defense sources also said there was no official involvement by the Greek side.

According to a report by the Sunday edition of “To Vima” newspaper, close US presidential adviser Anthony Zini, was scheduled to take part in the meeting, in the same venue as two top Iraqi army generals, the paper claimed.

The spokesman added that the conference is held every year in a different country.

[05] ND's Pavlopoulos calls for early elections this autumn

Athens, 24/02/2003 (ANA)

Pavlopoulos, who is also ND’s Parliamentary spokesman, said September or October would be the best time for holding early elections.

Speaking from the western port city of Patra, he also referred to a “government of ribbon-cuttings” and called on the prime minister to proclaim early elections after the end of the ongoing six-month Greek EU presidency.

[06] Greece, Turkey sign ambitious gas pipeline deal

Athens, 24/02/2003 (ANA)

The project, dubbed Interconnector Turkey+Greece, envisages a 280-km pipeline running between the two countries, 80 kilometers on the Greek side and rest in Turkey, with the two countries’ state-run natural gas providers, DEPA and Botas, taking the lead role in construction.

According to Greek government officials and DEPA executives, Athens will be able to begin work at the Evros border site in the second half of 2003, whereas late 2005 is listed as the completion date, although the official commencement of construction will reportedly depend on the Turkish side’s readiness.

In terms of Greece’s share of the cost – 118 million euros – some 29 percent of that figure will be covered by Community funds, another 29 percent by the Greek state and 42 by the natural gas utility itself.

On the Turkish side, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Hilmi Guler said Botas retains the necessary financial resources to meet its obligations, before citing what he called the “deal of the century”.

Guler signed the agreement in the northern port city of Thessaloniki with his Greek counterpart Akis Tsohatzopoulos.

Two possible routes for transporting gas supplies to western Europe are either via Italy, with an underground pipeline crossing the Adriatic, and another via the western Balkans and Austria.

Tsohatzopoulos also praised the agreement’s significance, citing its “strategic importance” and “another step in the continuing Greek-Turkish rapprochement”.

[07] EU energy ministers meet in Thessaloniki; OPEC's Silva on int'l reserves

Athens, 24/02/2003 (ANA)

The meeting was also the target of various labor and local anti-globalization groups, which voiced their opposition to any military operations against Iraq and their standing opposition to more deregulation in Greece’s mostly state-controlled power and energy sector – especially the privatization of the bourse-listed Hellenic Petroleum (EL.PE) refinery group.

A relevant resolution was handed to the Greek development ministry’s general secretary by a delegation from the state-run Public Power Corp. (PPC) to be tabled at the council meeting.

OPEC executive: Meanwhile, OPEC Secretary-General Alvaro Silva, who is attending the council meeting, told a Greek public TV station on Saturday that the oil-exporting cartel step up efforts to avert an international crude oil shortage by building up stocks before any possible war in against Iraq.

''We don't want any scarcity of oil in the world,'' he said, adding: “At OPEC we are doing our best to put enough oil in the market. This is our position.”

[08] Christodoulakis represents EU at G7/Russia meeting

PARIS 24/02/2003 (ANA)

Speaking to reporters afterwards, Minister Nikos Christodoulakis said the current international situation is dominated by uncertainty on world markets, before adding, “stability and development are the message from this meeting”.

The goal of the meeting by the world’s economic powerhouses -- US, Canada, Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Japan – along with Russia, mainly centered on agreeing to measures to prevent a slowdown in the international economy.

“Particularly at this crucial period of geo-political uncertainty and a possible war, we must remind all that we want stable cooperation on the international level in order to avoid instability in certain countries...” he said.

[09] Greece, Syria focus on jumpstarting trade relations

DAMASCUS 24/02/2003 (ANA - E. Bukauri)

During a joint press conference following his talks with Loverdos, Syrian Economy & Foreign Trade Minister Ghassan al-Rifai praised the fact that a joint Greek-Syrian inter-ministerial committee has re-established, while he said Damascus was committed to inaugurating a ferryboat link between Greece and the Middle East country.

The Greek official was also received separately by Prime Minister Muhammad Mustafa Miru and Deputy PM for Economic Affairs Muhammad al-Husayn.

On his part, Loverdos referred to the protection of investments pact – which includes a provision for re-exporting profits -- and a renewable two-year agreement touching on tourism sector cooperation and protection of tourism-related transactions.

Greece has earmarked three million euros for a three-year series of developmental programs in Syria, mostly targeted at the energy, telecoms, transports and cultural heritage sectors.

Iraq and Syria’s Association Agreement with the European Union was discussed in talks with Miru, as the Greek official reportedly stressed the need for Iraq’s compliance with UN Security Council 1441.

According to reports, Greece’s foreign affairs ministry, in consultation with the economy ministry, has set aside 12 million euros to be used for humanitarian aid for the region in the event of military operations.

Patriarch of Antioch Ignatius was due to receive the Greek minister on Saturday evening.

[10] Crucial gov't-ATHOC meeting on Mon. in wake of Rogge criticism

Athens, 24/02/2003 (ANA)

''It is a serious situation ... It is getting really urgent,” the IOC chief said chairing a closed-door meeting with the Athens 2004 Organizing Committee’s (ATHOC) leadership in Lausanne.

One of the “thorns” plaguing the government and ATHOC, namely, a delayed multi-million-euro security contract, is expected to be discussed at the Monday meeting, one chaired by Prime Minister Costas Simitis.

According to government sources over the weekend, current bids by the two consortia in the running, TRS and SAIC, totalled 318.3 million euros and 317.2 million euros respectively, slightly up from their first bids in the previously annulled tender. One solution is to ensure post-Olympics use for many of the expensive security systems.

''Six months ago, I delivered an optimistic message … I regret to say that in the last six weeks, there's been slippage in the deadlines,” Rogge said.

One IOC criticism the government and ATHOC expect to counter involves the renovation of the dilapidated Karaiskaki stadium, the venue that will host soccer games, pointing out that a contract was signed last week.

[11] President-elect receives UN memorandum

LARNACA 24/02/2003 (CNA/ANA)

Speaking on his departure for Athens where he will meet with Greek Premier Costas Simitis and other Greek political officials, Papadopoulos pointed out that this memorandum ''is not a third plan,'' adding that ''it is a summary of all the discussions we had these past days''.

''I have received a memorandum which summarizes the talks we had the past four - five days with De Soto'', Papadopoulos said replying to questions.

''I travel to Athens at the invitation of the Greek Prime Minister for a working visit'' Papadopoulos said, adding that on Monday he will have a long meeting with Costas Simitis ''to examine both the present phase as well as the possible future developments'' on the Cyprus question.

Papadopoulos said that during his meetings in Athens he will convey the gratitude of the Cyprus people towards the Greek government and parties as well as the Greek people.

Invited to justify the submission of the memorandum at this particular moment, Papadopoulos said that this memorandum was handed because UN Secretary General Kofi Annan who will visit the island on Wednesday ''would want to be briefed on our views''.

Replying to question whether there is a possibility a new plan to be submitted in Athens, Papadopoulos noted that such a possibility ''I think would be unwise'' adding that he does not know if such a possibility exists. ''Only the Secretary General knows'', he said.

Asked if he shares a statement made by House President Demetris Christofias who called on the UN not to submit a new plan at this period, Papadopoulos said he shares this position, which was expressed by outgoing President Glafcos Clerides.

''A hasty submission of a plan with the essence of take it or leave it may damage the possibilities this new plan to constitute the basis for further negotiations'', he added.

Replying to a question if there is a change in the Turkish stance on the Cyprus question, Papadopoulos said that he hopes when he arrives in Athens that he would be briefed on the talks regarding the security issue between the Turkish and the Greek delegation.

Asked whether he considered the security issue important, Papadopoulos said that ''I think that the issue of security is important for the total of the Cypriot people.''

''One of the basic aims of a solution is to secure safety and the feeling of security of all the inhabitants of Cyprus,'' he added.

Asked if the issues included in the memorandum will be discussed, Papadopoulos noted that as far as the Greek Cypriot side is concerned, the negotiations are continuing on Annan's second plan.

Invited to say if a solution of the Cyprus question could be reached from Annan's visit on the island, Papadopoulos said ''if a solution has not been reached yet, this is due to the Turkish stance and to the Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash's intransigence''.

''Therefore, in order for us to hope on a rapid solution, we must anticipate a clarification of the Turkish positions and the change of Denktash's intransigence'', Papadopoulos underlined.

[12] Weston and Hannay meet President-elect

NICOSIA 24/02/2003 (CNA/ANA)

Speaking Sunday on his departure from Larnaca airport, Weston pointed out that ''there is a settlement which is good and just,'' adding ''we should devote all our efforts to attain it this week''.

Referring to his contacts here, Weston said that he was ''further convinced of the tense wish to take advantage of this very important week to get, what I believe all will like it to be - a settlement of this long standing issue''.

Commenting on statements made by Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash who said that he is not satisfied by the UN, Weston said that ''you can't expect from any settlement total satisfaction for either side.''

''I think it is the nature of this thing, compromises are necessary on both sides, which means that no one will be totally satisfied and I think that's the way it has to be approached,'' he added.

Asked if Turkey requested anything in exchange for the help to the US in a possible attack on Iraq, Weston said that there is no linkage between the two issues, adding that the US ''treat the two issues separately in our discussions with Turkey.''

Asked to comment on his meeting with Papadopoulos, Weston said that he and the newly-elected Cypriot President had a productive and substantive meeting on Saturday and he expressed hope Papadopoulos ''was as satisfied with it as I was.'' Weston will be visiting Ankara and Athens and return to Cyprus on Wednesday.

Meanwhile Britain's special representative for Cyprus Lord David Hannay who met with Papadopoulos said that he is visiting Cyprus ''on the instructions of my Prime Minister who has followed the negotiations over the last three years and attaches a lot of importance to them''.

He noted that he would not negotiate with the two sides because the negotiations are carried out ''between the two sides with the help of the good offices of the Secretary General and his representative Alvaro De Soto''.

''So I should be here for this week with the hope that if necessary I would be helpful but I am not intruding to this process in any way, as a principle,'' he noted.

Hannay noted that ''the President-elect seems to me to have a very clear grasp of issues of state.''

[13] De Soto: Cyprus solution cannot be provided without agreement on security

ISTANBUL 24/02/2003 (CNA/ANA)

In a written statement after meeting in Ankara Friday night Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal and Deputy Undersecretary Baki Ilkin in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, following the talks between Greece and Turkey on the issues of security and guarantees in Cyprus, de Soto stressed a solution to the Cyprus problem could not be delayed any further.

He said he went to Ankara for the security negotiations between Turkey and Greece and that they took up preparations for the visit of Secretary-General Kofi Annan who will visit Ankara on February 23.

The UN official said that "in case of a possible consensus, security issues had a critical importance", adding that "all sides regarding the Cyprus question accepted security issues as the essence of negotiations". ''For this reason, a consensus cannot be provided without security issues,'' he added.

He said that reaching a consensus on the Cyprus issue could not be delayed any more and added that he expected that security negotiations would show results as soon as possible.

De Soto said that he did not know when and where the second part of the negotiations would be held but he hoped that they would be held as soon as possible.

He said that "the timing of Annan's regional visit is not coincidental", noting that the new president of the Republic in Cyprus, Tassos Papadopoulos, "is aware of the urgency of the issue".

"I hope that we can rely on Papadopoulos, Denktash (Turkish Cypriot leader), Greece and Turkey for taking necessary steps in the coming few days, he concluded.''

Annan will be in Cyprus from 26-28 February in an effort to secure a comprehensive settlement to the Cyprus problem, based on his revised plan.

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