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Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 03-07-09Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>July 9, 2003CONTENTS
[01] PM chairs meeting on cost of Olympic Games overlaysAthens 09/07/2003 (ANA)Prime Minister Costas Simitis chaired a meeting at the Maximos Mansion on Tuesday, attended by the leader-ships of the finance and culture ministries, during which the compression of the cost of Olympic Games overlays to up to 70 percent lower than the 733 million euros initially arranged was confirmed.According to reports, Finance Minister Nikos Christodoulakis and Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos expressed their satisfaction over this development, which is the result of work done by the three-member committee created by the prime minister. Venizelos avoided clarifying the exact cost of these expenditures, referring to the interministerial committee's session on Friday. ''The discussion on the finances of the Olympic Games and on the cost of Olympic Games overlays has gone ahead very satisfactorily in the ranks of the tripartite committee. We are moving in a reference framework which is mutually acceptable, very rational and manageable,'' he said. Indicative of the compression of cost is that the first tenders (concerning tents, chemical toilets and connection projects) were proclaimed by the Athens 2004 Organizing Committee with a budget of 72 million euros, while the tender will be completed in the summer. All aspects of preparations for the Olympic Games, in light of the interministerial committee's meeting, were also examined. [02] PM planning further political initiatives; cabinet to discuss transparency Athens09/07/2003 (ANA)Government spokesman Christos Protopapas on Tuesday revealed that Prime Minister Costas Simitis intended to announce further political initiatives to complement the changes he had already made within the ruling PASOK party and the government the following day.Responding to questions, meanwhile, Protopapas said the prime minister's proposals could only be understood as a whole, since they made up a 'single package'. ''The prime minister chose to make some bold moves within the party, smaller changes within the government (since the government's work cannot wait), while tomorrow he will begin unfolding certain political initiatives,'' the spokesman said. He did not specify whether the prime minister would make the announcement before or after a meeting of the new cabinet on Wednesday that will focus on transparency, but noted that the debate on this issue would not be over in a single day since it was pertinent to Greece's entire political system. Protopapas further noted that main opposition New Democracy will also be judged by its response to dialogue on this issue and whether it chose to participate or ''continued its leader's pointless and purposeless tour of Greece.'' Responding to questions regarding ND's draft bill on transparency, that ruling PASOK MPs rejected a few months ago, Protopapas said that the government was opposed to the overall package of proposals presented by ND - such as the 'main shareholder' for mass media - but had not ruled out dialogue on specific issues, such as the statement of means declaration. In response to other questions, meanwhile, the spokesman said that former party secretary Costas Laliotis, who was asked by Simitis to resign from the position, constituted ''capital for PASOK that will be utilized in further struggles''. [03] PM Simitis- new PASOK central committee secretary Chrysohoidis first meetingAthens 09/07/2003 (ANA)Prime Minister Costas Simitis and the newly-elected PASOK central committee secretary Michalis Chrysohoidis held their first consultation on Tuesday.After the two-hour meeting, Chrysohoidis told reporters that the government and the ruling party were "at a new beginning", adding that the talks had focused on working out a series of initiatives for the near future. The next meeting between the two men has been scheduled for the coming week, and will also be attended by several ministers, who were not named. [04] Visiting Cypriot FM affirms close cooperation between Athens and NicosiaAthens 09/07/2003 (ANA)Visiting Cypriot Foreign Minister George Iacovou on Tuesday affirmed there was close cooperation between Athens and Nicosia within the framework of European Council conclusions and said that measures taken for improving the living standards of the Turkish-Cypriots would be implemented at an appropriate time.Iacovou was coming out of a meeting with Greek Alternate Foreign Minister Tassos Yiannitsis, where the two men discussed all the aspects of the Cyprus problem with special focus on individual and international claims regarding the property rights of displaced Greek Cypriot owners, who lost their properties as a result of intercommunal strife or military action between 1963 and 1974 and the continuing division of the island since that time. On his part, Yiannitsis confirmed the close cooperation between the two sides and said that with regard to the properties issue, special consideration was given to the rulings passed by the European Court of Human Rights. Earlier, Iacovou had a meeting with Deputy Foreign Minister Andreas Loverdos focusing on bilateral economic ties and development cooperation. Loverdos also briefed the Cypriot official on Greece's humanitarian initiatives in Iraq, especially on a project advanced by the Greek foreign ministry in cooperation with the ''Medecins du Monde'' for airlifting 12 Iraqi children and providing hospital care to them in Greece. [05] Activities of Turkish oceanographic vessel closely monitored, demarche lodgedAthens 09/07/2003 (ANA)The Greek government has lodged a ''strong verbal demarche'' with Turkey and was closely monitoring the activities of the Turkish oceanographic research vessel ''Piri Reis'' in the Aegean, government spokesman Christos Protopapas said Tuesday, adding that ''I want to believe that no problem will arise''.Foreign ministry spokesman Panos Beglitis affirmed that the activities of the Piri Reis were being monitored and that Greece had lodged strong demarches with Turkey, replying to press questions during a briefing. ''First of all, we must say that we are very closely monitoring the development and course of the research activities of the oceanographic vessel Piri Reis, and that we have lodged strong demarches at senior diplomatic level,'' Beglitis said, explaining that the ministry's political director ambassador Gennimatas and secretary general Skopelitis had lodged demarches with their Turkish counterparts ''expressing our strong protest and also our concern over the exploration activities of the Turkish vessel''. He said that the corresponding Turkish officials, foreign ministry general secretary Ziyal and political director Ilkin, ''have reassured us that no seismic exploration will be conducted, just scientific research on the seabed, and in tandem that they desire a close cooperation with the Greek side, so that no problem would arise and in order for Turkey's international obligations to be adhered to''. ''What we wish to point out on our part is that, in close cooperation with the ministry of national defense and the Navy General Staff, we are closely monitoring the development of the exploration. And we must also point out that, in our relations with Turkey, we have developed mechanisms and processes of communication that enable us to resolve problems at the onset and avert negative developments that could prospectively lead us to a crisis,'' Beglitis explained. As to whether the Piri Reis had entered Greek national waters, ''we are investigating this, but according to early information this does not appear to have occurred'', Beglitis said, adding that ''the demarche we made also had a strong deterrent character, so that no problem will arise in the coming days''. Asked whether the Turkish side had given any assurances that the Piri Reis would not enter Greek national waters, Beglitis said that ''naturally it is a self-evident obligation of Turkey, just as it is a self-evident right of Greece to defend its rights that emanate from international law and the international treaties''. ''We would never accept, and would deter, any such development,'' Beglitis said, adding, however, that ''assurances have been given that there will be the necessary cooperation and agreement, and that the vessel will operate on the basis of Turkey's international obligations and within the international waters of the Aegean''. Meanwhile, national defense minister Yannos Papantoniou, asked to comment on statements attributed to the Piri Reis captain that the vessel would conduct research activities inside Greek national waters, replied that, ''for the time being, we and the foreign ministry are very closely monitoring the vessel''. [06] Pan Macedonian Union of U.S. reacts to U.S.-FYROM agreement with name MacedoniaNEW YORK 09/07/2003 (ANA - P. Panagiotou)The Pan Macedonian Union of the United States and Canada is making strong protests with the purpose of achieving the cancellation of the recent agreement on the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court between the United States and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), which is presented with the name ''Macedonia''.American congressmen and senators have already expressed their support for the efforts of expatriate Greeks, while a letter of protest has also been addressed to President George W. Bush. On completion of the Pan Macedonian Union's 57th congress, held in Boston, the representatives of all expatriate Macedonian agencies once again expressed their determination on the issue of FYROM's name. A relevant resolution said ''we shall not accept any name for the country of FYROM containing the term Macedonia or its derivatives.'' They also took the decision to coordinate their activities to counter FYROM's propaganda in the United States and Canada, which is trying in the delegates' view ''to usurp the Greek character and cultural identity of Macedonia.'' Sotiris Proios from New York, its vice president until now, was elected as the Pan Macedonian Union's new president, succeeding Nina Peropoulou. Professor Dimitris Pantermalis, also presented the New Acropolis Museum during the congress and referred to the new excavations at Dion. The congress was attended and addressed, among others, by Archbishop of America Dimitrios, the Metropolitan of Boston Methodios, Greek Ambassador to Washington George Savvaidis, the general consul in Boston Constantine Bikas and the prefect of Thessaloniki Panayiotis Psomiadis. [07] Greek unemployment falls to 9.9 pct in 1st quarter, yr/yrAthens 09/07/2003 (ANA)The unemployment rate fell to 9.9 percent of the country's workforce in the first quarter of 2003 from 10.9 percent in the same period last year, Greece's National Statistics Service said on Tuesday.NSS said that the unemployment rate was 9.7 percent in the fourth quarter of 2002. The statistics service also said that total employment rose by 2.5 percent in the January-March period compared with the same period in 2002, while the rate of part-time employment remained at 4.5 percent of the workforce, down from 4.6 percent in the previous year. [08] Greek inflation unchanged at 3.8 pct in June Athens 09/07/2003 (ANA)Greek annual inflation, measured by the consumer price index, was 3.8 percent in June, unchanged from May, the National Statistics Service said on Tuesday.In its monthly report, NSS said that the harmonized inflation rate, however, rose to 3.6 percent in June from 3.5 percent in May. The report said that rising fresh fruit and vegetable prices (up by 26.4 to 64.9 percent), and a 12.4 percent increase in shipping fares kept pushing the consumer price index higher. On the other hand, gas fuel, olive oil and heating oil prices fell over the 12-month period in June, by 1.4 percent, 4.1 percent and 2.5 percent, respectively. [09] Farm minister says new farmers and their training is a key priorityAthens 09/07/2003 (ANA)Agriculture Minister George Drys on Tuesday said that new farmers and their training constituted a new key priority for his ministry.He said currently there were 32,000 new farmers in Greece with a satisfactory educational level, and that 5,000 more would be trained in farm development within 2003. Drys said that his ministry's priorities also included the development of a program, a ''CHARTER'' in the farming sector, intervening with the European Union regarding Mediterranean products (olive oil, tobacco, cotton) and the payment of reimbursement and subsidies to farmers. The minister on Wednesday will present to the relative committee of the European Parliament the Greek EU presidency's account in the farming and fisheries sector. [10] Centric Multimedia signs commercial deal with LogitechAthens 09/07/2003 (ANA)Centric Multimedia (former Despec Multimedia) on Tuesday announced the signing of a deal with Logitech to supply the multinational's product to the Greek market.The deal offers Centric the opportunity to further strengthen its presence in the domestic market by gaining more access to retail networks in the country. Centric Multimedia said it expected its turnover to rise by an additional one million euros in the second half of 2003 and to positively affect its profitability for the year. The company said its turnover rose by 4-5 percent in the first six months of the year, while its gross profits rose by 14 percent over the same period. [11] Tourist enterprises demand equal treatment under new lawAthens 09/07/2003 (ANA)A new development law, recently unveiled by the government, will become more attractive to tourist investments if it included all tourist enterprises regardless of their activity or size, the Union of Greek Tourist Enterprises (SETE) said on Tuesday.In an announcement, SETE also urged for a series of preconditions to be set to achieve this goal, including equal treatment for both the manufacturing and tourist sectors, to end all discrimination between old and new businesses, to withdraw a dependence clause between subsidies and new job positions, and to offer a greater role to the banking sector. [12] EBEA participates in European chambers' meeting in MadridAthens 09/07/2003 (ANA)The Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry (EBEA) on Tuesday announced it participated in the first semi-annual meeting of a group including Europe's largest chambers, held in Madrid.EBEA is one of the six members of the group, along with the chambers of Paris Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Milan and Madrid. The meeting discussed issues of mutual interest, such as ways to promote business activity and innovation between companies. Delegates also signed a memorandum of cooperation between the group and the American-Iberian Chambers Union. [13] EU program to improve Greek transport servicesAthens 09/07/2003 (ANA)Greek transport network and services are expected to improve substantially after the implementation of an operating program called "Railways-Airports-Urban Transport" funded by a Third Community Support Framework.The program is one of the 11 sector and 13 regional programs envisaged for the period 2000-2006 and supported by the Community Support Framework, Cohesion Fund and Community Initiatives, aiming to achieve targets set by common policy on EU transport. The program, totalling 2.938 billion euros, is funded by the European Fund of Regional Development (up to 50 percent) and envisages: 2.0 billion euros on railway projects, 264 million euros on airport projects, 642 million euros on urban transport and 32 million euros on road safety and technical assistance. The railway project aims to restructure Hellenic Railways Organization to become a competitive company, to build a new high-speed railway network linking Patras-Athens-Thessaloniki-Idomeni, to expand the operations of the suburdan railway (initially aimed to link Athens with the new Athens airport at Spata) to include Corinth, the Viotia region and Evia. The urban transport program envisages expanding urban transport services in Athens, with the operation of tram, electric railroad and trolley-buses. The airport program includes works to expand airport facilities and services in Thessaloniki and Heraklion, while the road safety program aims to reduce traffic accidents around the country's road network. [14] Notos Com Holdings expands deal with GANTAthens 09/07/2003 (ANA)Notos Com Holdings on Tuesday announced it was extending its exclusive dealership with GANT clothing company to include Austria, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.The Greek company already has the exclusive dealership for Greece, Cyprus and Poland. GANT already operates a network of eight retail shops and a wholesale network of 30 clients in the afore mentioned countries. Notos Com will take over GANT's network after the deal. Notos Com Holdings expects the new deal to add around 3.0 million euros to its group sales annually. [15] Company confirms no feta cheese suspected of listeria marketed in GreeceAthens 09/07/2003 (ANA)The Kolios company confirmed in an announcement on Tuesday that no part of the quantity of feta cheese considered suspicious of being infected by listeria reached the Greek market.Responding to reports of a quantity of feta checked in the Norwegian market, and out of a total of 12 samples taken two were considered unsuitable, the company underlined that with the agreement of the EFET service it gave instructions for the on-the-spot destruction of the quantity of 2,880 kilos. ''EFET repeatedly checked control procedures and the HACCP system applied in production and it was ascertained that it is being observed in detail. All of the company's microbiological analyses are negative,'' the announcement said. Reference is also made to the company's production installations and it is underlined that they are among the biggest and most modern not only in Greece but in Europe as well. [16] Vodafone, Hellas Flying Dolphins forge allianceAthens 09/07/2003 (ANA)Vodafone and Hellas Flying Dolphins, a hydrofoil and ferry operator, have forged a three-year promotion alliance, the two firms said in a statement on Tuesday.The mobile phone services provider will promote and sell its products aboard eight of Hellas' vessels, which are to carry Vodafone's corporate logo, the statement said. [17] Greek gov’t says tax inspections to focus on large companiesAthens 09/07/2003 (ANA)Greek tax inspection agencies will focus on the activities of large companies, Economy and Finance Deputy Minister Apostolos Fotiadis said on Tuesday.Presenting the results of all tax inspections made in the first half of the year, Mr Fotiadis expressed his satisfaction over the effectiveness of the country's tax inspection mechanism and stressed that inspections would continue throughout the summer period. The ministry report showed that tax inspection agencies reported an 80.4 percent rise in taxes in the first six months of 2003 compared with the same period last year, totalling 1.353 billion euros. [18] Consumer group points to perils of city's missing street signsAthens 09/07/2003 (ANA)The Greek consumer group INKA on Tuesday stressed the serious problems caused by the absence of clear numbering to buildings flanking central highways in Athens, as well as the covering of street signs by shop signs throughout Attica. It is estimated that the percentage of obscured or absentee street signs on some roads exceeds 87%.According to INKA, the general absence of street signs and numbering has serious negative consequences, such as lost man hours, extra and unnecessary vehicle mileage, environmental pollution, more traffic on the roads etc. Finally, the report slammed the predominating anarchy and bad taste seen in the capital's shop signs, with the worst offenders according to INKA being clothes shops and fast-food shops. [19] Electricity workers to stage 48-hour strike starting WedsAthens 09/07/2003 (ANA)Workers of Athens-quoted Public Power Corporation are to begin a 48-hour strike on Wednesday in protest against a government bill to liberalize the energy sector being debated in parliament.Management of the state-owned company has asked the public to reduce electricity consumption at peak hours (1200-1500) on the two days of the walkout. [20] ASE chairman optimistic over market courseAthens 09/07/2003 (ANA)Positive developments in international stock markets in combination with domestic developments and a continuing improvement of listed companies' financial results, will contribute to an even better course of the Greek bourse in the months ahead, Athens Stock Exchange's chairman Panagiotis Alexakis said on Tuesday.Speaking to reporters, during a news conference held to mark the end of reconstruction works at the stock market's old building, Mr Alexakis expressed his optimism over the course of the Greek market. Mr Alexakis said that ASE board was examining implementing additional criteria aimed to improve competitiveness, as part of harmonizing Greek legislation to EU rules. [21] ASE follows European markets lower on TuesdayAthens 09/07/2003 (ANA)Greek stocks ended Tuesday's session lower in the Athens Stock Exchange as a wave of profit taking in the last half hour of trading hit blue chip stocks, particularly banks, reversing an earlier advance of prices.A negative picture in other European markets also affected sentiment in the Greek bourse while gains in the telecommunications sector offered only minor support to the market. The general index fell 0.44 percent to end at 2,006.71 points, with turnover an improved 222.1 million euros. The Insurance, Banks and Investment sectors suffered the heaviest percentage losses of the day (1.92 percent, 1.71 percent and 0.98 percent, respectively), while the Telecommunications (1.88 percent), Publication (1.39 percent) and Holding (1.31 percent) sectors scored the biggest percentage gains. The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks eased 0.47 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index fell 0.50 percent and the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index rose 0.41 percent. Broadly, decliners led advancers by 189 to 138 with another 39 issues unchanged. Derivatives Market Close: Turnover at 92.4 mln euros Tuesday Equity Index Futures: Stock Futures: Bond Market Close: Buyers outstrip sellers on Tuesday Greek Benchmark 10-Year Bond FOREIGN EXCHANGE Closing rates of July 8 2003 Parities in euro Banknotes For. Exchange Buying Selling US Dollar 1,141 1,115 [22] Program launched for Opening and Closing Ceremonies of Olympic GamesAthens 09/07/2003 (ANA)The Recruitment of Volunteers Program for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, one of the largest and most ambitious artistic challenges in the world, has been launched.According to an announcement on Tuesday, the ATHENS 2004 Organizing Committee (ATHOC) is already accepting Application Forms for Volunteer Performers, as well as Artistic and Technical Support Volunteers for the 2004 Olympic Games. Approximately 70,000 spectators are estimated to attend the Opening and Closing Ceremonies at the Olympic Stadium and more than 4 billion people will watch them on TV. All performers participating in the celebrations, from the most famous ones to those that step onto a stage for the first time, will be volunteers. “We are in the exceptionally pleasant position to offer the residents of Greece the opportunity to become part of history by participating in the Ceremonies’ team. Under the artistic guidance of Dimitris Papaioannou the volunteers will be able to work with talented and internationally acclaimed artists, in order to create and present the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, which will enchant and inspire spectators and TV viewers from all over the world”, ATHOC President Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki said. For the Opening and Closing Ceremonies more than 8,000 Volunteer Performers are required with qualifications in dancing, theatre, musical arts and artistic interpretation, as well as athletes specialized in the following areas: athletics, gymnastics, yoga, aerobics, body-building, cycling, martial arts. More than 2,000 volunteers are required in the areas of Artistic and Technical Support to assist in the preparation and rehearsals of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies; they must have knowledge of and experience in theatrical productions or other artistic events. All applicants must be 16 years of age by 31st December 2003. Auditions for the Volunteer Performers selection will begin in October 2003. It should be noted that the deadline for submitting applications is 15 September 2003. [23] ATHOC president sends message to international conference on Olympic GamesAthens 09/07/2003 (ANA)Athens 2004 Olympic Games Organizing Committee (ATHOC) President Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki said in a message to a two day conference on the 2004 Athens Olympic Games that they will be returning to the country of their origin in 402 days' time.''In 402 days' time the Olympic Games will be returning to the country which gave birth to them and revived them and when we undertook them we committed ourselves that they will be unique games with a human dimension,'' she said in her message on Tuesday. The conference was titled ''Olympic Games and International Relations:Traditional foreign policy and multipartite diplomacy'' and was organized by the Institute of International Relations of the Panteios University in cooperation with ATHOC. ''The Games constitute an unprecedented opportunity for the promotion of modern-day Greece and one should consider that if Greece needed to pay for its promotion 25,000 journalists with 24-hour television coverage for four billion viewers it would have to pay an amount almost equal to the EU's GDP,'' she added in her message which was conveyed by ATHOC's managing director Spyros Kapralos on Tuesday. Daskalaki further said in her message that the Athens Olympic Games will be the first to take place in the 25-nation European Union, while the fact that their budget is estimated in euros will give a basis for comparison for the European cities of Madrid, Leipzig, London and Paris which are contesting the Games in 2012. She also stressed the importance of the fact that for the first time the European Commission was called on to check the tickets program, which it approved, as well as the fact of managing transport through the Schengen Treaty. [24] The Hellenic Navy launches its second Super Vita missile boat on TuesdayAthens 09/07/2003 (ANA)The Hellenic Navy at a ceremony held at the shipyards at Elefsis, west of Athens, on Tuesday launched ''Antonios Daniolos'', its second Super Vita type large missile boat (with guided missiles), and announced the acquisition of an oceangoing fleet oiler, complete with an on-board hospital and surgical unit, as well as the completion of ''Olympias'', a reconstruction of a 5th century B.C Athenian Trireme.In addressing the event, Defense Minister Yiannos Papantoniou said that that the ''option'' for building two additional Super Vita missile boats would be activated within July, and that a number of navy modernization projects were underway involving six missile boats, six battle cruisers and the construction of six corvettes. ''These projects guarantee employment at the Elefsina shipyards for the next ten years'', the minister said, adding that his ministry had confidence in the Greek defense industry. Also attending the ceremony, National Economy and Finance Minister Nikos Christodoulakis said that the government's policy characterized by ''clear criteria, goals and positions'', has promoted the Elefsina shipyards into a ''frontispiece for development, employment and competitiveness''. ''Greek companies will get increasingly stronger, playing a key role in investments and the international presence of our country'', he said. Athens 2004 Olympic Organizing Committee (ATHOC) President Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki was the godmother of ''Daniolos'', the second of a series of three missile boats expected to be delivered in May 2004. Delivery for ''Lieutenant N. Roussen'', the first missile boat of the series is expected in November 2003, while the third one of the series will be delivered around the end of 2004. Totalling a cost of approximately 440 million euros, the three Elefsina-built Super Vita missile boats were designed by UK group Vosper Thornycroft. They are each 61.9 meters long, 9.5 meters wide and can achieve a maximum speed of around 34 knots while fully loaded. The oiler cost approximately 114 million euro and was based on a design by Italy's Fincantieri ship-yards. The Athenian Trireme ''Olympias'', commissioned into the Hellenic Navy in 1987, was built by a naval architect attempting to create a historically accurate vessel. [25] Witness says Giotopoulos not on scene at N17 hit, court unconvincedAthens 09/07/2003 (ANA)A defense witness for Alexandros Giotopoulos, who stands accused as the leader of the terrorist group ''November 17'' told the Three-Member Criminal Appeals Court on Tuesday that Giotopoulos had not been at the scene of a twin murder attributed to the group.The witness's testimony directly contradicted that given earlier by prosecution witness Costas Bakatselos, who claimed to have seen Giotopoulos, and was strongly disputed by the bench. Nineteen people are on trial before the court on charges of being N17 members. Despina Danai-Maroulakou, a former acquaintance of the accused in his student years, said she had happened to be on the scene when newspaper publisher Nikos Momferatos and his driver Panagiotis Rousetis were killed and was positive that Giotopoulos had not been there. Prosecutor on the bench Christos Lambrou said the Maroulakou's credibility as a witness was ''non-existent'' and that she had not seen Giotopoulos because he had a million reasons to hide. He described Bakatselos' testimony as ''clear and crystalline'' and said he had been able to see Giotopoulos because the accused had not been able to see him. Questions were also addressed to Patroklos Tselentis, who contradicted Maroulakou's claim that shots were fired after the car crashed into a shop window. Taverna owner Nikolaos Kyrianakis, meanwhile, told the court that Giotopoulos had been at his taverna from 9:30 p.m. until 12:30 a.m. on the night of the explosion in Piraeus in June 2002 that led to the arrest of Savvas Xiros, giving the police their first breakthrough in attempts to catch the terror band. According to the indictment, Giotopoulos was 'overseeing' the site of the explosion on that night. Art historian Vassiliki Karkayianni-Karabelia, a resident of Paris, also caused a stir within the court when she claimed that she had received a visit at her house in Paris from the journalist Rihardos Someritis and two others in June that year, before the Piraeus explosion, and that he had questioned her about her student days during the junta and about Giotopoulos. Finally, the court called into question evidence presented by Iraklis Kostaris to show that he had not been present at the murder attempt against Vardis Vardinoyiannis on November 20, 1990, and the Greek Post Offices robbery in Vyrona on January 27, 1997. The accused had presented bank slips showing that he had been carrying out bank transactions on behalf of his employers on that day. The court estimated, however, after checking the transaction numbers that Kostaris had been in the bank after 11:00 whereas the Vardinoyiannis hit had taken place at 9:30 in the morning, while the robbery had occurred at 8:10 a.m. and the bank transaction must have taken place after 10:30 a.m. [26] One illegal migrant missing, four rescued, after their boat capsized off SamosAthens 09/07/2003 (ANA)One illegal Afghani migrant went missing and four more were rescued by men of the coast guard, after their plastic boat capsized in the waters off the east coast of the Dodecanese island of Samos.Police said a search was launched for the missing man with the assistance of a helicopter. Meanwhile, Samos authorities said they had arrested one of six illegal immigrants who reached the island aboard a boat spotted by coast guard vessels at Cape Prasso, the easternmost point of Samos. Police said they were scouring the area in search of the five migrants who escaped arrest. [27] Cypriot and Greek defense ministers to hold talksLARNACA 09/07/2003 (CNA/ANA)Cyprus Defense Minister Kyriakos Mavronicolas has said that the top priority of his ministry is to preserve the National Guard's strong defense capability, since despite any developments in the Cyprus problem Turkey continues to keep a heavily-armed force in the island's Turkish-occupied areas.Mavronicolas flew to Athens on Tuesday for a two-day official visit during which he will hold talks with Greece's National Defense Minister Yiannos Papantoniou. Speaking at Larnaca airport on his departure, the minister said he will discuss with Papantoniou issues related to Cyprus' defense, the Greco-Cypriot joint defense pact, the Cyprus problem and the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP). Mavronicolas expressed the conviction that his visit to Greece will have positive results for the Cyprus problem and for the need to strengthen further Cyprus' defense capability. ''It is an important priority for us that the National Guard preserves its defense capability, because despite developments in the Cyprus problem, the Turkish occupation army is deploying military systems in the occupied areas,'' Mavronicolas said. Invited to comment on speculation about a forthcoming withdrawal of 10,000 Turkish soldiers from the Turkish-occupied areas, Mavronicolas said he did not have any information about this but noted that it would be fortunate if there was such a withdrawal. Mavronicolas, who is accompanied by National Guard Commander Lieutenant General Athanassios Nicolodemos and other officials, will meet Papantoniou Wednesday at 12.45 local time. The two ministers will give a joint press conference afterwards. On Thursday, Mavronicolas will visit a military academy and Greek powder and cartridge company SA, known as PYRKAL. He returns home Thursday night. [28] CoE SG: Annan plan remains main basis for Cyprus settlementSTRASBOURG 09/07/2003 (CNA/ANA)The Council of Europe (CoE) may not have been very happy about the way in which the organization has been involved in the preparation of the Annan plan, CoE Secretary General Walter Schwimmer said here on Monday in his opening speech at a meeting with Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot political party representatives.Schwimmer noted that the plan may have some flaws but ''nevertheless for us, as for the overwhelming majority of the international community, this plan remains the main basis for any solution of the issue.'' The CoE Secretary General underlined that ''when the Cyprus question will be answered one no too distant day, there should be no winners and no losers - there should simply be Cypriots belonging to Europe.'' Schwimmer expressed the CoE readiness to contribute to the last stages of confidence building measures, noting ''we are already developing ideas in the fields of reform of history teaching and the media, but also in other fields.'' Referring to Cyprus' accession to the EU, Schwimmer said that ''for the moment unfortunately it seems that only one part of the island will accede de facto, but from next year on all of Cyprus will be de jure part of the European Union.'' Schwimmer noted ''the openly and overwhelmingly expressed will of the community in the north to be part of Cyprus,'' and said Turkish Cypriots have put their hope and trust for a better future on Europe. ''I was moved by this faith put into the European idea and I am determined to contribute to my best abilities to help it come true,'' the CoE Secretary General pledged. As to the easing of restrictions in free movement on the island, Schwimmer expressed the view that it ''has irreversibly changed the quality of all discussions about Cyprus.'' ''A new reality is emerging on Cyprus that is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore,'' he noted. Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of its territory. [29] Britain calls on both sides in Cyprus to return to Annan planNICOSIA 09/07/2003 (CNA/ANA)The British government has called on both sides in Cyprus to return to the Annan Plan as soon as possible in order to negotiate a settlement based on it.The position is outlined in a letter from the Cyprus Desk of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in reply to a Barnet Council resolution passed on January 7. The resolution had called on Prime Minister Tony Blair to redouble his efforts towards a solution to the Cyprus problem and apply pressure on the Turkish government to work towards a fair and just solution within UN resolutions, EU laws and human rights principles. Noting ''the British government wholeheartedly believes that the accession of Cyprus to the EU will bring many benefits to all concerned,'' the reply letter says that these benefits should be enjoyed by the Turkish Cypriots through a comprehensive settlement in Cyprus on the basis of the UN plan, and a reunited island being a member of the EU.'' ''We fully supported the UN process aimed at achieving a lasting and comprehensive settlement and we believe that the UN plan is just and fair to both Turkish and Greek Cypriots,'' the Cyprus Desk Office says, noting ''we are extremely disappointed that it was not possible to secure a settlement in The Hague on 10 and 11 March.'' ''However, we are urging both sides to return to the plan as soon as possible in order to negotiate a settlement based on it,'' the Cyprus Desk Office adds. Regarding the issue of the Turkish government's involvement in the Cyprus problem, the Foreign Office says ''the newly-revised Turkey/EU Accession Partnership does set out a number of priorities for Turkey to address before opening accession negotiations,'' noting that one of these is to ''strongly support efforts to find a comprehensive settlement on the Cyprus problem through the continuation of the UN Secretary-General's mission of good offices and of negotiations on the basis of his proposals.'' [30] US Congressman condemns Turkish stance on CyprusWASHINGTON 09/07/2003 (CNA/ANA)The time has come for the United States to advise Turkey's leadership, in very clear terms, that Cyprus' occupation must quickly come to an end, US Congressman Donald Payne said in an article published on Monday in ''The Washington Times''.Noting that ''Turkey continues to delay the economic and political development of Cyprus, regrettably refusing to end its military occupation of the island's northern third,'' Payne said that ''Turkey's refusal to cooperate in the face of repeated worldwide calls to end its occupation of northern Cyprus cannot continue to go ignored.'' Payne said that ''even though Cyprus will join the European Union (EU) in May 2004 and will someday be in a position to weigh in on discussions regarding future Turkish membership, Ankara continues to display an unfortunate and unnecessary intransigence that is not in its own long-term strategic interests.'' He underlined the fact that ''Turkey has repeatedly defied UN Security Council resolutions calling for the immediate withdrawal of its troops from the island.'' ''As a member of the House International Relations Committee, I am troubled by this ongoing and unnecessary partitioning,'' he said, adding that ''it is time we recognize this situation for what it is and insist Turkey cooperate actively in its prompt solution,'' he added. He noted that ''despite a history of unsuccessful efforts by American and UN diplomacy to effect a resolution of issues that were created by the Turkish invasion, the government of Cyprus has persisted in its efforts to peacefully reunite the two communities and bring European prosperity to both,'' while on the other hand ''Turkey treats the northern third of the island it occupies as an impoverished, second-tier province, rather than allowing it to join in an increasingly successful Cyprus.'' [31] Denktash says ready for talks but not on Annan planNICOSIA 09/07/2003 (ANA - G. Leonidas)Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash is attempting to overturn the basis of the talks for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem by stating that he is ready for talks but not on UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's plan.In an interview to Vatican Radio on Tuesday, Denktash stated that he will respond to an invitation for talks but on a new basis. The Turkish Cypriot leader claimed that the Annan plan is not one by the UN Secretary General but one by former British envoy for Cyprus Lord David Hanney which was processed by the UN Secretary General's special adviser for Cyprus Alvaro de Soto and the Greek Cypriot side. Denktash said Annan simply gave his name to the plan. Denktash also attempted to convince that a solution to the political problem of Cyprus in the near future is the consolidation of the situation following the partial lifting of restrictions on movement. 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