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Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 03-07-22

Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

July,22 2003

CONTENTS

  • [01] PM, finmin discuss economic policy for announcement in Sept
  • [02] Gov't rules out early parliamentary elections
  • [03] PASOK urges main opposition to follow its lead in 'transparency initiative'
  • [04] PM's program through the end of July
  • [05] PM discusses educational issues, plans for new school year with minister
  • [06] Yiannitsis represents Greece in Italian EU presidency meeting
  • [07] Deputy FM discusses Balkan reconstruction during visit to Bosnia-Herzegovina
  • [08] ND reveals its program on agriculture, criticizes gov't farming policy
  • [09] DHKKI accepts gov't invitation for dialogue on electoral law reforms
  • [10] International socialist youth festival to begin in Kammena Vourla this week
  • [11] GNP up 4.4 pct in the second quarter of 2003 yr/yr
  • [12] Real estate prices up 63 pct from 1995 to 2002
  • [13] Gov't owns 18 pct of National Bank of Greece
  • [14] Amendment to up national cell phone capacity tabled in view of 2004
  • [15] Gov't takes potato wholesaler to court for profiteering
  • [16] Deputy farm minister to inspect storm damage in Thessaloniki
  • [17] Coca-Cola HBC plans to buy Austrian bottled water firm
  • [18] Stocks end down, depressed by markets abroad
  • [19] Cycling test events in Athens in August, traffic arrangements
  • [20] Fire brigade believes barrage of wildfires in Attica prefecture suspicious
  • [21] Hydrofoil strikes reef, four passengers slightly injured
  • [22] Supreme Naval Accidents Council rules on ''Express Samina'' case
  • [23] Last defense witnesses testify in N17 trial
  • [24] OWHC symposium to take place in Rhodes in September
  • [25] Government criticizes Erdogan and Denktash over statements
  • [26] Iacovou: Adoption of Denktash's proposal will lead to postponement of talks
  • [27] National Guard to maintain combat readiness, says defense minister
  • [28] EU wants Cyprus to play increased role in Middle East

  • [01] PM, finmin discuss economic policy for announcement in Sept

    Athens 22/7/03(ANA)

    Prime Minister Costas Simitis on Monday met Finance Minister Nikos Christodoulakis for talks on economic policy in 2004, which is due to be announced at the Thessaloniki International Trade Fair in early September.

    Simitis is to outline the means of achieving closer economic alignment with the European Union in policy that will carry a strong social and development angle, the finance minister told reporters.

    In addition, policy will aim to align the country's regions more closely with each other, he said.

    ''This (economic) roadmap will include specific commitments on employment, participation and social policy,'' he added.

    Replying to a reporter's question, Christodoulakis acknowledged that high prices for consumer goods were a problem in certain sectors.

    ''That is why we are systematically working to boost competition among products, which will be sold on the basis of production cost and a reasonable profit, without profiteering,'' the minister noted.

    ''We are also employing policies to increase both market controls and information for consumers, so that we can uproot these phenomena wherever they appear,'' he added.

    [02] Gov't rules out early parliamentary elections

    Athens 22/7/03(ANA)

    Government spokesman Christos Protopapas during his regular press briefing on Monday once more ruled out all possibility of early parliamentary elections.

    ''There will be no early elections because such a prospect would not serve the interests of the country and because the government must complete its work. The elections will take place at the time prescribed in the constitution,'' Protopapas said.

    [03] PASOK urges main opposition to follow its lead in 'transparency initiative'

    Athens 22/7/03(ANA)

    Government spokesman Christos Protopapas on Monday said that Prime Minister Costas Simitis was in the process of for-warding letters to PASOK deputies requesting them to voluntarily waive their right to secrecy and submit a detailed statement of their stock market transactions in the period 1997-2002 to the Capital Markets Commission by September 15 for verification.

    The spokesman also urged New Democracy's leadership to follow PASOK's lead with its own deputies, noting that "any other methodology concealed expediencies''.

    He said the PM's initiative aimed to ascertain the transparency and legality of all transactions carried out by PASOK deputies ''through a complete audit," and stressed that there had been no objections on the part of any PASOK MPs.

    [04] PM's program through the end of July

    Athens 22/7/03(ANA)

    Prime Minister Costas Simitis on Monday morning met with top officials of the finance ministry and PASOK Central Committee Secretary Mihalis Chrysohoidis, government spokesman Christos Protopapas announced.

    Later in the evening the prime minister is to meet with Education Minister Petros Efthymiou.

    On Tuesday the premier will visit the city of Grevena, capital of the prefecture with the same name in northern Greece, where he will inaugurate the regional hospital; he will visit a ''boot camp'' and speak at the town hall.

    Later in the day, he will meet with Development Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos.

    On Wednesday morning, the prime minister will have a meeting with the leadership of the labor ministry, to be followed at noon with a meeting with Finance Minister Nikos Christodoulakis on the 3rd Community Support Framework.

    Later in the same day, Simitis will have successive meetings with Environment, Town Planning and Public Works Minister Vasso Papandreou, Tsohatzopoulos, Transport and Communications Minister Christos Verelis, Health Minister Costas Stephanis and Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos, also attended by top finance ministry officials.

    On Thursday morning, Simitis will chair a cabinet meeting to discuss the selection of high-ranking judicial officials, and immediately after that he will chair successive inter-ministerial meetings to discuss the Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF) and on-going infrastructure projects in Piraeus.

    On Thursday night, the premier will attend a reception hosted by President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos on the anniversary of the post-junta (1974) restitution of democracy in Greece.

    On Friday, the prime minister will have a meeting with Christodoulakis and Defense Minister Yiannos Papantoniou, which will be also attended by Bank of Greece Governor Nikos Garganas, to discuss national economy issues.

    Later, Simitis will meet with Stephanis and Chrysohoidis.

    On Monday, 28 July, the premier will visit the socialist youth camping site at Kammena Vourla, central Greece, and on the following day he will chair a meeting on government communication issues with the participation of the leadership of the press ministry, Chrysohoidis and PASOK Communications Secretary Nikos Athanassakis.

    On Thursday, 31 July, the premier will chair a ministerial cabinet meeting on issues pertaining to local administration.

    [05] PM discusses educational issues, plans for new school year with minister

    Athens 22/7/03(ANA)

    Prime Minister Costas Simitis and Education Minister Petros Efthymiou discussed educational issues and plans for the new school year for over two hours on Monday night.

    Efthymiou told reporters later the education ministry's immediate legislative initiatives were discussed which will be examined at the first cabinet meeting in August, adding that the new school year will be productive.

    The minister also said a bill on assessing higher education establishments will be tabled in Parliament soon. Moreover, the initiative on materializing a unified European formation in higher education, in which Greece has a serious contribution, will be continued in Berlin on September 17-19.

    [06] Yiannitsis represents Greece in Italian EU presidency meeting

    BRUSSELS 22/7/03 (ANA - M. Spinthourakis)

    The priorities of the Italian EU presidency dominated the agenda of the European Union's General Affairs Council, where Greece was represented by Alternate Foreign Minister Tassos Yiannitsis.

    Yiannitsis said that Greece agreed in general with the targets of the Italian EU presidency, as were laid out by Italian Foreign Minister Franco Fratini, stressing the special interest of Greece in the relations of the Union with the Western Balkans and the immigration policy.

    During the meeting the ministers also decided that the first intergovernmental conference to examine the European draft Constitution presented by Giscard d' Estaing will take place on October 4 in Rome at a government and head of state level, while after that there will be a series of meetings of the foreign ministers aiming to conclude by May 2004.

    All 15 ministers agreed on the timetable, while some member-states noted that the time allotted may be short.

    Yiannitsis, speaking of the EU's international policy, said that there has been considerable movement on the part of the Union in problems in the Western Balkans, the Middle Eastern issue, Africa, and the Cyprus issue, stressing the necessity for the maintenance of the community's cohesion concerning all issues.

    [07] Deputy FM discusses Balkan reconstruction during visit to Bosnia-Herzegovina

    Athens 22/7/03(ANA)

    Deputy Foreign Minister Andreas Loverdos, in the framework of his official visit to Bosnia-Herzegovina, met on Monday with Z. Tesanovic, national coordinator for the Balkan Reconstruction Program for Bosnia-Herzegovina and deputy civil affairs minister, and Deputy Finance Minister J. Kamalic for bilateral economic relations and development cooperation affairs, a foreign ministry announcement said.

    Speaking during a press conference after the meeting, Tesanovic thanked Loverdos for aid Greece is giving Bosnia-Herzegovina and stressed the important role Greece is playing for stabilization and peace in the region.

    Referring to the Balkan Program, Tesanovic thanked the Greek government for the funding of the reconstruction program-me for the Common Institutions Building in Sarajevo.

    On his part, Loverdos reminded that when the bilateral Balkan Reconstruction Program was signed between Greece and Bosnia-Herzegovina a year ago, it was mutually agreed that the Common Institutions Building will be the first program.

    He added that the Bosnian authorities tabled their proposal which the Greek authorities approved on condition that certain data will be provided in addition.

    Loverdos expressed optimism that the supplementary data will be made available by September and Greece will be in a position to release the first 250,000 euros for the funding of this program.

    [08] ND reveals its program on agriculture, criticizes gov't farming policy

    Athens 22/7/03(ANA)

    Main opposition New Democracy (ND) officials on Monday revealed their party's program on agriculture at a press conference held in the port-city of Thessaloniki, northern Greece, with the participation of ND deputies, local administration representatives and farmers' unions.

    The ND deputies criticized the government's farm policy and said it was to blame for Greek products being gradually pushed out of their share of international and the local markets.

    [09] DHKKI accepts gov't invitation for dialogue on electoral law reforms

    Athens 22/7/03(ANA)

    Democratic Social Movement (DHKKI) leader Dimitris Tsovolas on Monday said he would have a meeting with Interior Minister Costas Skandalidis on Friday in response to an in-vitation extended by the government to all political parties for a dialogue on government proposals for reforms to the electoral law.

    Tsovolas, himself a former PASOK deputy and cabinet minister in the '80s, said he would participate in the dialogue for reasons of ''democratic sensitivity and institutional obligation'', but also in order to convince the government on the need to establish ''pure'' proportional representation as the country's permanent electoral system.

    Main opposition New Democracy, as well as the Communist Party and the Coalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology, all of whom have elected representatives in the Parliament, have ruled out dialogue on the government's proposals for changes to the existing electoral law.

    DHKKI is not represented in Parliament.

    [10] International socialist youth festival to begin in Kammena Vourla this week

    Athens 22/7/03(ANA)

    Feverish preparations are underway at the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) campsite at Kammena Vourla to make ready for the start of the 2003 International Union of Socialist Youth (IUSY) Festival, due to begin on Wednesday.

    The IUSY is a global federation of youth sections of socialist parties affiliated with the Socialist International.

    Organizers expect to host about 8,000 young socialists at the campsite for the duration of the seven-day festival, which is held every three years.

    In addition, over 100 official dignitaries have been invited to attend, while the agenda features daily speeches, roundtable talks and meetings with several leaders of socialist and social democratic parties, including prime ministers, ministers, leftist intellectuals, writers, reporters and the leaders of various movements.

    Among these will be the secretary-general of Socialist International Luis Ayala, former Spanish premier Felipe Gonzalez, veteran Israeli statesman Shimon Peres and the head of Porto Allegre, Susan George. Representing the Greek government will be Foreign Minister George Papandreou, Development Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos, Environment Minister Vasso Papandreou and other officials, while the start of the festival will be declared by PASOK Central Committee Secretary Mihalis Chrysohoidis and the closing address delivered by Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis.

    The festival is hosted in rotation by each of the 160 countries listed in its membership.

    [11] GNP up 4.4 pct in the second quarter of 2003 yr/yr

    Athens 22/7/03(ANA)

    Greece's gross national product (GNP) rose by 4.4 percent in the second quarter of 2003 against the same period a year earlier, the Greek National Statistics Service (GNSS)said on Monday.

    In comparison with the first quarter of 2003, GNP showed a 4.3 percent rate of growth, the GNSS said in a statement.

    Second-quarter investments rose by 8.6 percent against the corresponding period of 2002, when they had shown a 6.6 percent increase against same-period 2001, the statement said.

    Exports increased by 1.0 percent against the second quarter a year earlier, contributing to a rise in demand in the economy of 0.16 percent.

    Overall consumption in the economy remained at 3.8 percent in the second quarter of 2003 against the corresponding period of 2002, the GNSS added.

    [12] Real estate prices up 63 pct from 1995 to 2002

    Athens 22/7/03(ANA)

    Real estate prices in Greece rose by 63 percent in real terms from 1995 to 2002, the National Bank of Greece said in a market report released on Monday.

    Over the last two years, the upward trend was stronger with a real rate of increase of more than 10 percent on an annualized basis, the survey said.

    The domestic economy is characterized by one of the highest rates of home ownership in the world at around 80 percent, the report noted.

    [13] Gov't owns 18 pct of National Bank of Greece

    Athens 22/7/03(ANA)

    The government owns 18.46 percent of National Bank of Greece SA, a blue chip on the Athens bourse, market authorities said in a routine share ownership report on Monday.

    National is the country's largest commercial banking group.

    The state also owns 51.15 percent of Football Pools Organization SA, down from 75.61 percent, the report said.

    The bourse report tracks changes in share ownership of quoted firms affecting holdings of more than 5.0 percent.

    [14] Amendment to up national cell phone capacity tabled in view of 2004

    Athens 22/7/03(ANA)

    Transport and Communications Minister Christos Verelis on Monday tabled an amendment in Parliament that aims to increase the country's mobile telephony capacity in order to avoid net-work overload during the Olympic Games in 2004.

    Added to a bill for the Greek Post Offices, the amendment al-lows the town planning department to approve the installation of new mobile phone antennae, the temporary operation of vehicle-mounted mobile phone antennae and temporary assignment of wavelength to various kinds of wireless connections.

    [15] Gov't takes potato wholesaler to court for profiteering

    Athens 22/7/03(ANA)

    The government has taken court action against a potato wholesaler in the capital's central fruit and vegetable market for overpricing his wares, development ministry sources said on Monday.

    The wholesaler, who was reportedly selling imported potatoes at 30 percent above market prices, was to hear charges before a public prosecutor in the case brought by the development ministry, the sources said.

    In addition, a number of street-market sellers and producers are to be fined for overpricing, they added.

    Also on Monday, Deputy Development Minister Kimon Koulouris met representatives of a fruit and vegetable whole-salers' trade group in the market, who pledged that their members would contain prices, although only 9.0 percent of trade passed through the central market.

    The government has launched a campaign to crack down on profiteering following a barrage of complaints from consumer groups and members of the public since introduction of the euro in Greece.

    [16] Deputy farm minister to inspect storm damage in Thessaloniki

    Athens 22/7/03(ANA)

    Deputy Agriculture Minister Vaggelis Argyris departed for the prefecture of Thessaloniki on Monday to inspect damage to crops and other problems caused by a severe storm that hit the area on Saturday.

    The ministry has ordered the farmers' insurance fund ELGA to record damages and pay compensation to farmers.

    On Tuesday, Argyris will travel to Grevena, accompanying Prime Minister Costas Simitis on his tour of the region.

    [17] Coca-Cola HBC plans to buy Austrian bottled water firm

    Athens 22/7/03(ANA)

    Athens-quoted Coca-Cola HBC SA said on Monday that it planned to acquire Romerquelle GmbH, an Austrian bottled water company, subject to approval by European Union regulatory authorities.

    The acquisition would include a production plant in Edelstal and Pottsching; and brand-name water and wellness drinks Romer-quelle and Markusquelle, HBC said in a statement.

    ''The acquisition of Romerquelle GmbH is part of Coca-Cola HBC's strategy of selectively widening the range of its products in order to continue meeting consumers' needs,'' the Greek firm's managing director, Irial Finan, said in the statement.

    [18] Stocks end down, depressed by markets abroad

    Athens 22/7/03(ANA)

    The Athens bourse finished lower on Monday with a downturn on markets in Europe reversing an early rise and attracting profit takers, traders said.

    The general share index shed 0.60 percent to end at 2,073.01 points. Turnover was 192.7 million euros.

    The FTSE/ASE-20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks ended 0.83 percent down; the FTSE/ASE-40 for medium capitalization paper 0.07 percent lower; and the FTSE/ASE-80 for small cap equities finished with gains of 1.26 percent.

    Of stocks traded, advances led declines at 174 to 164 with 33 issues remaining unchanged.

    Bond Market Close: Sellers match buyers on Monday

    Greek Benchmark 10-Year Bond

  • Yield: 4.21 pct

  • Spread over German bund: 14 bps

  • Most heavily traded paper: 10-yr, expiring May 2013 (310 mln euros)

  • Day's Total Market Turnover: 1.6 bln euros

    Derivatives Market Close: Turnover at 90.4 mln euros Monday

    Equity Index Futures:

  • FTSE/ASE-20 (high cap): At discount

  • Underlying Index: -0.83 percent

  • FTSE/ASE-40 (medium cap): Mixed

  • Underlying Index: -0.07 percent

    Stock Futures:

  • Most Active Contract (volume): Hellenic Telecommunications Organization (1,079)

  • Total turnover in derivatives market: 90.4 mln euros

    FOREIGN EXCHANGE

    Closing rates of July 21 2003

    Parities in euro

    Banknotes

    For. Exchange Buying Selling

    US Dollar 1,137 1,111

    [19] Cycling test events in Athens in August, traffic arrangements

    Athens 22/7/03(ANA)

    Traffic measures of a limited scale, and for specific streets and times, will be implemented in downtown Athens and along the coastal motorway from Vouliagmeni to Agia Marina, between August 14-17, to facilitate cycling test events taking place in preparation for the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.

    The traffic measures concern both a ban on the circulation of vehicles for a limited period of time and the prohibition of parking in specific streets and on specific days.

    One test event will take place on the Vouliagmeni-Varkiza-Agia Marina route on Friday August 15 and another in down-town Athens on Sunday August 17.

    The Athens 2004 Olympic Games Organizing Committee, the European Cycling Union, the Greek Cycling Federation, relevant ministries, the traffic police and local administration services call on citizens to show understanding and cooperation to enable these events to be carried out in an excellent way both this year and during the Olympic Games next year.

    [20] Fire brigade believes barrage of wildfires in Attica prefecture suspicious

    Athens 22/7/03(ANA)

    Fire brigade officers believe a barrage of wildfires in the Attica prefecture on Monday are suspicious and are probing the possibility of them being the work of arsonists.

    Suspicions are fuelled by the fact most fires broke out at a short distance from each other over a short period of time and on a day strong winds are blowing.

    After the fire, which broke out in the Syngrou forest at 11:20 a.m. and was quickly placed under control, another three serious fires and a number of smaller ones broke out in the afternoon in the wider region of Koropi and Anavyssos.

    The worst fire was in Agia Marina in the area of Koropi, which passed through the yards of houses and, according to reports from the fire brigade, caused damage to some of them.

    The fire broke out at 3:45 p.m. near a populated area and spread speedily due to strong winds sweeping the area. It was finally placed under control three hours later.

    Another fire was reported at 2:30 p.m. in Kechries in the prefecture of Corinth in the Peloponnese. It broke out at a short distance from hotels and country houses and some hotels in the area were evacuated as a pre-emptive measure, but firemen managed to place the fire under control before it reached populated areas.

    The fire brigade's arson crime department is conducting inquiries on the barrage of wildfires. The extent of damage caused has not yet been assessed.

    [21] Hydrofoil strikes reef, four passengers slightly injured

    Athens 22/7/03(ANA)

    A ''flying dolphin'' hydrofoil struck a reef near the island of Trikeri on Monday, slightly injuring four of the 75 passengers it was taking from the islands of Skopelos and Skiathos to the port city of Volos in the Pagasitikos Gulf.

    The passengers, alarmed over the accident, which caused a gash and an inflow of seawater in the vessel, have already arrived at the port of Volos.

    According to initial reports, the collision was probably due to bad governing of the flying dolphin, which had set out from Skopelos.

    Port authorities are interrogating the vessel's captain to ascertain the causes of the accident.

    [22] Supreme Naval Accidents Council rules on ''Express Samina'' case

    Athens 22/7/03(ANA)

    Greece's Supreme Naval Accidents Council ruled that four officers of the ''Express Samina'' passenger ship had serious responsibilities for the tragic maritime disaster that cost the lives of 81 passengers and crewmembers in September 2000.

    Following some 100 sessions, the council reached this conclusion and sent its report to the prosecutor and other relevant agencies, placing the blame for the shipwreck on the captain and three other high ranking officers of the ship.

    The decision was reached with a majority vote as the president of the council A. Antonakoudis also placed blame on the legal representative of the owner company Minoan Flying Dolphins.

    [23] Last defense witnesses testify in N17 trial

    Athens 22/7/03(ANA)

    The last of the defense witnesses in the ongoing trial of 19 alleged members of the terrorist group "November 17" testified be-fore the Three-Member Criminal Appeals Court on Monday.

    Last on the stand was Athens Polytechnic Professor Venios Angelopoulos, who testified on behalf of Alexandros Giotopoulos, accused of being the leader of the terror band. With the completion of his testimony on Tuesday, the trial will move on to statements by the prisoners, beginning with Dimitris Koufodinas.

    Angelopoulos said that he had met Giotopoulos in 1964 in Paris and that Giotopoulos had been a member of the Popular Revolutionary Resistance (LEA) group that opposed the military junta that ruled Greece in 1967-1974.

    The witness said that Giotopoulos was one of the LEA members that had traveled illegally to Greece and carried out numerous bomb attacks, mainly against American targets.

    According to Angelopoulos, Giotopoulos had definitely been involved in the bomb attack on the United States Embassy in Athens, while he also pointed out that this act was not statute-barred in the US.

    He described the accused as 'modest and politically acute' and said that their meetings had become more infrequent after 1970, with their last contact being a chance meeting in 1975.

    He said Giotopoulos had then appeared to believe a new dictatorship was imminent and had declared himself "disappointed" with the government led by Constantine Karamanlis.

    The witness noted that Giotopoulos had become involved in the N17 case after British secret services began investigating the murder of Brigadier Stephen Saunders in June 2000. He said they had been led to him through an overview of all organizations that had not belonged to any of the traditional parties.

    He expressed the view that Giotopoulos might easily become the victim of a miscarriage of justice, since none of the evidence against him dated from before his arrest, while DNA tests had come back negative and shown, if nothing else, that the alleged leader of the group had not been in its safehouses.

    [24] OWHC symposium to take place in Rhodes in September

    Athens 22/7/03(ANA)

    The Organization of World Heritage Cities (OWHC) 7th international symposium will take place in the medieval city on the island of Rhodes between Sept. 23 and 26, under the auspices of UNESCO and the International Center for the Study, the Preservation and the Restoration of Cultural Property.

    Technocrats and scientists will participate in the symposium along with mayors and other political representatives of cities participating in the OWHC. Some 110 lectures were submitted to date.

    [25] Government criticizes Erdogan and Denktash over statements

    NICOSIA 22/7/03 (CNA/ANA)

    The government said here Monday that statements by Ankara and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash show that Turkey's attitude is becoming more unyielding and Denktash is receiving further support from Turkey.

    Government Spokesman Kypros Chrysostomides said that statements by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan that the 1974 invasion of Cyprus was a ''peace operation'', show that Turkey's stance is hardening even further while Denktash is being strengthened by Turkey's attitude.

    He said ''the international community should seriously take into consideration statements by the occupation force, Turkey, and to exert pressure to change its stance, if we really want a resumption of the talks based on the Annan Plan, and to promote a solution to the Cyprus problem''.

    He said Erdogan's statement that ''the invasion was a 'peace operation' is contrary to every principle of international law, especially article 2 of the UN Charter and is no different from statements made during the (Bulent) Ecevit era''.

    ''Statements like these constitute a provocation against international legality. The government should make every effort to explain to the international community and the UN which is Turkey's real stance'', the spokesman added.

    He noted that declarations by Denktash regarding ''a confederation of two independent states with separate sovereignty and the rest he said regarding Cyprus' accession to the EU, show that there is no progress or change regarding Turkey's stance''.

    ''Furthermore, Erdogan's statements point out that the official Turkey, and not only the military regime, backs Denktash's position against the 'opposition' Turkish Cypriot forces, which in their majority have made statements in favor of the proper pro-motion of negotiations and a solution based on the Annan Plan'', the spokesman added.

    Chrysostomides said that what the government is anticipating is to see whether UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, within the framework of his mission of good offices, has any proposals to put forward for the resumption of the talks.

    Asked if President Tassos Papadopoulos' letter to Annan, rep-lying to Denktash's proposals for the reopening of Nicosia Inter-national Airport, will be made public, the spokesman said it is for President Papadopoulos to decide, depending on the developments and ''when the Secretary General will have received the letter''.

    Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.

    [26] Iacovou: Adoption of Denktash's proposal will lead to postponement of talks

    LARNACA 22/7/03 (CNA/ANA)

    Cyprus Foreign Minister Georgios Iacovou, who is currently in Brussels to attend the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council, has said acceptance of Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash's ''proposal'' for the reopening of Nicosia Airport will unavoidably lead to the postponement of the talks for a Cyprus settlement.

    Speaking to the press on Sunday prior to his departure for Brussels, the foreign minister said the reason that Denktash gives such an emphasis to this issue is that with the opening of two entrances at both sides of the divide and the export of goods will give Denktash the status he has been seeking for so long, since he is pursuing a solution at the basis of ''two states and two nations.''

    Iacovou noted Turkish Premier Recep Tayiip Erdogan shares Denktash's views.

    He said the reopening of Nicosia Airport has not been on the talks agenda for ten years and warned acceptance of Denktash's ''proposal'' would ''unavoidably lead to the postponement of the talks for a Cyprus settlement and this is the main comeback of this proposal.''

    Iacovou said Denktash was pursuing a settlement at which he will have an upgraded presence and which will lead to what Denktash declares, a relationship between ''two neighboring entities.''

    Answering to a question the Cypriot minister said the Greek government had been briefed on Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos' written answer to Denktash's ''proposal'' that has been sent to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.

    [27] National Guard to maintain combat readiness, says defense minister

    NICOSIA 22/7/03 (CNA/ANA)

    The National Guard shall maintain its fighting condition and readiness since no decrease in the Turkish occupation army is observed, Cyprus Defense Minister Kyriakos Mavronicolas declared here on Monday.

    He noted that during Sunday's military parade in the occupied northern part of Cyprus marking the 29th anniversary of the Turkish invasion ''a very strong presence of the occupation army was observed'', noting that this military presence was ''fully organized with the participation of fighter planes from Turkey''.

    ''Our message for this anniversary is that we must maintain our combat readiness because, unfortunately, there is no sign that the occupation army is in any way reduced'', Mavronicolas said.

    [28] EU wants Cyprus to play increased role in Middle East

    BRUSSELS 22/7/03 (CNA/ANA)

    European Union members have said Cyprus could play a more active role in the Middle East crisis because of its geographical location and its close ties with all interested sides.

    This view was expressed at the Intergovernmental Conference here on Monday, during which the question of the Middle East was discussed extensively.

    Cyprus was represented at the meeting by Foreign Minister Georgios Iacovou, who is planning to visit the Middle East in September (Israel, Jordan, Syria, Egypt and the Palestinian Territories).

    EU foreign ministers here also discussed relations with Iran and said Tehran's nuclear program should be stopped.

    Iacovou will discuss the EU position with Teheran during his visit there on Saturday. count: Command not found.


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