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Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 03-11-01Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>November 1, 2003CONTENTS
[01] Gov't meeting focuses on setting social package in motionAthens, 11/01/2003 (ANA)Prime Minister Costas Simitis on Friday chaired a government meeting with all the ministers involved in the implementation of the social package, so that the measures will be up and running by January 2004.Reporting on the results of the meeting, government spokesman Christos Protopapas said that certain measures required acts of law while others could be set in motion by ministerial decree and still others by simple circulars. He said Friday's meeting had carefully examined the interlinked legislative, administrative and communications interventions that would be made, so that the public could be properly briefed on what it was entitled to and how to get it. Simitis appeared satisfied with progress made so far, Protopapas added. The ministers also discussed recruitment in the public sector and decided to go ahead with the procedure using the assessment reports submitted by the Three-Member Committee. Protopapas said this would be done with "transparency, based on the criteria set by the laws and in order to boost the public sector and thus improve the service to the citizens". [02] PM Simitis, SYN leader Constantopoulos cross swords over budget, special accountsAthens, 11/01/2003 (ANA)Prime Minister Costas Simitis and SYN leader Nikos Constantopoulos crossed swords in parliament Friday over the government's management of the public finances.Constantopoulos accused the government of manipulating the numbers in the 2004 state budget and of lack of transparency in the special accounts. The premier rebutted that Constantopoulos apparently was not aware of the laws governing the special accounts, and warned that such accusations could not be presented without proof. Simitis said that the special accounts were not an ''invention of PASOK'' but have existed and have been applied in Greece since 1950, while such accounts also existed in the EU, in countries such as Belgium. Refuting claims by Constantopoulos that the existence of special accounts was an act of intransparency, Simitis explained that they existed for the sake of 'management flexibility and better monitoring of the accounting acts', adding that all the information on those accounts was compiled and accessible to all. Simitis said that the revenues from the denationalizations -- which this year amount to 4 billion euro and accounted for 2 percentage points of GDP -- were financing the reduction of the public debt. In fact, he added, the reduction in the public debt would exceed the 2 percentage point figure initially anticipated and, as such, the debt would fall to 101 percentage points of GDP from 104 percentage points. Simitis further said that the fact that sums from the denationalization revenues were used to pay public sector expenditures, and given the fact that most of the expenditures were linked with the denationalization procedure, indicated prudent fiscal management. [03] FM meets with Allende's daughter Isabel during visit to ChileValparaiso, 10/31/2003 (ANA - D. Konstantakopoulos)Foreign Minister George Papandreou on Friday continued his tour of South America with a stop in Chile where he spoke of the Chilean and Greek peoples' struggles for democracy against military dictatorships, during his address to the country's Congress.Papandreou met with Isabel Allende, daughter of the late president of Chile Salvador Allende who lost his life during a military coup in 1973 and remains since then a symbol of the Chilean people's resistance. Papandreou and Allende noted the necessity for multi-sided diplomacy and the strengthening of the role of the United Nations in international affairs. During his stay here Papandreou visited cultural sites in the city that is the home of the country's Congress. [04] Black Sea Cooperation Organization opens meeting in BakuBaku, 11/01/2003 (ANA- S. Aravopoulou)Greece's deputy foreign minister Yannis Magriotis was representing Greece at Friday's meeting of the interministerial conference of the Black Sea Cooperation Organization (BSCO), being held in the Azeri capital just hours before the inauguration of Azerbaijan's new president Ilkham Aliyev, the 42-year-old son of previous president Geidar Aliyev.The representatives of the Organization’s 11 member-countries were discussing energy, tourism, transports, and academic and parliamentary cooperation among their countries. They decided during the morning session of the meeting that Azerbaijan should retain the Organization’s presidency for the next six-month period following a request by Bulgaria, which was next in line to hold the rotating presidency, to be relieved of this duty given that it would have been concurrent with its presidency of the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Greece has a leading role in the BSCO since its founding, participating actively in all the institutional bodies of the Organization and with a number of important initiatives. [05] Gov't denies rumored 'Clemenceau' arrival at Greek shipyardAthens, 11/01/2003 (ANA)Government spokesman Christos Protopapas on Friday denied rumors that the aircraft carrier ''Clemenceau'' would be docking at a Greek shipyard laden with dangerous toxic wastes.The spokesman said the information at the government's disposal showed that the ship in question would be sold after a shipyard had been found to remove the toxic wastes on board. At present, the ''Clemenceau'' was sailing in waters off Syracuse and Greece neither intended nor had it been asked to accept it in its shipyards, Protopapas said. [06] Turkish minister raises issue of 'mutuality' over re-opening of Halki schoolAnkara, 11/01/2003 (ANA- A. Abatzis)Turkey is handling the issue of re-opening the Theological School on Halki on the basis of ''mutuality'' with Greece, Turkish Education Minister Huseyin Celik said here on Friday.The Turkish minister called for ''mutual steps'' on education issues for a Moslem minority in Western Thrace that he referred to as ''Turkish'' and said that equivalent measures for this minority should be introduced. ''I believe this issue can be resolved through talks,'' he concluded. After a meeting with Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos in Ankara on Thursday, Celik had said the issue should be solved and that the re-opening of the Halki School ''was delayed''. He said it had been assigned to a committee within the Turkish education ministry but noted that it was ultimately a matter that chiefly concerned the foreign ministry. Greece does not recognize a ''Turkish'' minority in western Thrace, describing the minority there as Moslem. [07] Europe must become competitive, Greek EU Commissioner saysThessaloniki, 11/01/2003 (ANA)Greek European Commissioner for employment Anna Diamantopoulou on Friday stressed that Europe had to be made competitive so that it was able to implement policies of social solidarity.Speaking at Macedonia University on the ''The Future of Europe, Competitiveness and Solidarity'', she said that Greece had to revise its policies for both competitiveness and solidarity, boosting the former for the sake of the economy and for the benefit of consumers. The meeting was also addressed by Italian Commissioner for Competitiveness Mario Monti, who appeared sanguine about the long-term growth prospects of the EU and said the slow growth seen in recent years was because the Union had given priority to reforming its institutions in order to become a ''global player''. Monti also noted that the decisions made at Lisbon were being implemented slowly because of the obstacles raised by EU member-states. In statements made earlier in Thessaloniki, meanwhile, Diamantopoulou commented on the divergent estimates for Greek economic indices in 2004 given by the Greek government and the European Commission. She said that the Commission made such predictions every year based on the 2004 budgets of each country. She said the figures given by the Commission had been arrived at based on this initial data and the methods used by the Commission, while noting that the Commission had said it intended to re-examine these initial estimates. Diamantopoulou also noted that the Commission's estimates had to be seen in context: ''We must also look at other countries, what it gives for them, and not just Greece, so that we can understand the whole framework of the estimates,'' she said. [08] Greek tourism needs new strategy, Tsohatzopoulos saysAthens, 11/01/2003 (ANA)Only one out of a total 54 prefects in Greece are offering high-quality tourist product, Development Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos said on Friday and urged authorities to adopt a policy of strategy planning and information to create a new tourism policy.Addressing a seminar organized by Greece's National Tourism Organization in Thessaloniki, in the framework of the 19th Philoxenia tourism trade fair, on agro-cultural tourism, Mr Tsohatzopoulos stressed "it is very useful to know from advance the specific characteristics of each region, to know its advantages and it weaknesses and what kind of tourism it could take before we decide on actions and programs on tourism". The seminar presented the surveys for tourism development drafted by five Greek regions: Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, Central and Western Macedonia, Western Greece, Attica and Peloponnese. [09] Russia seeks closer tourist cooperation with GreeceAthens, 11/01/2003 (ANA)«We will send you to Siberia with a return ticket." This is the communication message, with a strong reference to the country's past, accompanying Russia's new tourist campaign aiming to attract more foreign tourists in the country, Vladimir Strzhalkovsky, Russia's Economic Development and Trade Deputy Minister said on Friday.Speaking to reporters, during a news conference held to celebrate Russia as an honored country at this year's 19th Philoxenia tourist trade fair, Mr Strzhalkovsky stressed that Russia's tourism industry has grown strongly in the last three years reflecting a political stability in the country. He acknowledged, however, that the country still faced significant shortages in infrastructure (mainly hotels), a sector with particular interest to foreign investors. The Russian minister stressed that the country's authorities were interested in contacting with Greek investors to discuss takeovers, or building of hotels in Russia. Commenting on bilateral relations, Mr Strzhalkovsky said that Greece was very close to Russia spiritually and stressed that Russia was the only country where ancient Greek history was taught more than the ancient Roman history. Mr Strzhalkovsky is chairman of a joint working group set up for the development of bilateral cooperation. The Russian minister announced that around 133,000 Russian tourists visited Greece in 2002, while only 25,000 Greeks visited Russia over the same period, of which 16,000 were considered tourists and the remaining 9,000 commercial travelers. Figures so far this year showed that around 152,000 Russians visited Greece, a number expected to reach 160,000 by the end of the year. Russian tourists are considered "high-quality" tourists as they spend heavily during the stay in the country, with 45 percent of Russian tourists in Greek islands staying at luxury of first class hotels. [10] Greece signs Government Security Program with MicrosoftAthens, 11/01/2003 (ANA)The Greek government on Friday announced the signing of an agreement for the country's participation in an international Government Security Program by Microsoft.Speaking to reporters, during a news conference held at Zappeion Hall in Athens, Interior, Public Administration and Decentralization Minister Costas Skandalidis said that the program was part of Microsoft's Trustworthy Computing Initiative, offering national government a wide and free access to a source code in Windows programs, along with technical information needed to ensure safety of Windows' platform. Other countries participating in the program are the UK, NATO, Russia, Austria, Finland, Norway, Taiwan, Australia, etc. Mr Skandalidis said the cooperation would enter the Greek state into a new era. "Electronic governance is one of the main strategic goals of the government to deal, more efficiently, with citizens' needs," the Greek minister said. He noted that the cooperation of the country's civil administration with the information technology industry was a fundamental precondition to meet future challenges, such as the security of computer systems. Jean-Philippe Courtois, Microsoft's chief executive for Europe, Middle East and Africa, stressed that the deal was setting the foundations for future cooperation in the security of information. Microsoft was committed to continue its close partnership with national government to fully implement the vision of an e-Europe, Mr Courtois said. The Government Security Program is part of Microsoft's efforts to meet security demands by national governments around the world. By offering access to a single source code and to technical information, the program allows improved participation of government to planning, creation, development and maintenance of a safe computer environment. National governments participating in GSP will have direct access for latest editions, test editions and service packs of Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003 and Windows CE.Net. [11] Strike-hit statistics service to miss October inflation reportAthens, 11/01/2003 (ANA)The Greek government will not publish monthly figures for the consumer price index for October because of a protracted strike action by workers in the general-secretariat of the National Statistics Service, currently in its fourth week.The statistics service did not publish monthly figures for the consumer price index in September, along with a series of other monthly or quarterly reports such as the unemployment index for the third quarter of the year. [12] ASE ends October 5.02 pct higherAthens, 11/01/2003 (ANA)Greek stocks ended the last trading session of the week slightly higher reflecting renewed buying activity for blue chip stocks, particularly banks.The general index rose 0.25 percent to end at 2,121.06 points for a net gain of 0.90 percent in the week and a rise of 5.02 percent in October. Turnover was a heavy 229.4 million euros, of which 126.1 million represented trading in Public Power Corporation's shares after a successful third flotation by the company. The Telecommunications and IT sectors suffered the heaviest percentage losses (0.61 percent and 0.02 percent, respectively) with the first sector suffering from a drop in Hellenic Telecoms' share price. On the other hand, the Insurance, IT Solution and Base Metal sectors scored the biggest percentage gains of the day (2.70 percent, 2.12 percent and 1.43 percent, respectively). The FTSE/ASE 20 index rose 0.06 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index rose 1.01 percent and the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index ended 1.20 percent higher. Broadly, advancers led decliners by 227 to 73 with another 56 issues unchanged. Derivatives Market Close: Turnover at 59.7 mln euros Friday Equity Index Futures: Stock Futures: Bond Market Close: Buyers outstrip sellers on Friday Greek Benchmark 10-Year Bond •Day's Total Market Turnover: 2.7 bln euros FOREIGN EXCHANGE Closing rates of October 31 2003 Parities in euro Banknotes Foreign Exchange Buying Selling US Dollar 1,171 1,144 [13] Ship with gastroenteritis outbreak en route to Gibraltar after UK doctors boardAthens, 11/01/2003 (ANA)A British cruise ship facing an outbreak of gastroenteritis among passengers set sail from Greece's port of Piraeus on Friday after taking on medical supplies and a British team of doctors, Greek authorities said.Greek health services, including the Centre for Special Diseases and the health ministry, were placed on alert Thursday to deal with an outbreak of gastroenteritis affecting an estimated 430 passengers aboard the British-flagged cruise ship 'Aurora' after the ship's captain alerted authorities of the outbreak. Greek authorities immediately extended permission for the cruise ship, which was carrying some 2,000 passengers and a 700-man crew, to anchor off Flisvos, near Piraeus port. Authorities were alerted about the outbreak by the captain of the 'Aurora' shortly after it left Dubrovnik. The norovirus, which apparently is the culprit of the outbreak, causes gastroenteritis, which is an inflammation of the stomach and the small and large intestines. The symptoms of gastroenteritis are nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea accompanied by abdominal cramps, but is not life threatening. A team of British doctors and medicines to treat the outbreak, flown in from London to Athens, boarded the cruise ship, which resumed its cruise at 7:20 a.m. on Friday, headed for Gibraltar. [14] Armenian officers trained in Greece to participate in Kosovo Peacekeeping ForceAthens, 11/01/2003 (ANA)Thirty-four Armenian officers trained at the Special Multinational Centre operating in Kilkis, northern Greece, will participate in the International Peacekeeping Force in Kosovo, with the Greek administration sector, as of early next year.This was agreed in talks Deputy Defense Minister Lazaros Lotidis had with Armenia's leadership during his three-day visit to the Caucasus. Lotidis also announced that the European Union's official responsible for the Southern Caucasus will be delivering his report in November regarding the EU's economic activities in the region. The inclusion of the Southern Caucasus in regions of interest to the EU was an initiative by the EU's Greek presidency. Lotidis also met with the presidents of the seven Greek communities in Armenia. [15] Ministry decrees all immigrants with pending application legally residentAthens, 11/01/2003 (ANA)All foreigners who have promptly submitted an application for the renewal of their work or residence permit for which a reply is still pending will henceforth be considered legally resident in Greece, according to a circular released on Friday by the Interior ministry.This will apply if their application was submitted before their previous residence permit had expired and until a final decision is reached regarding their application, it said. [16] Papanastasiou's defense calls for his acquittal in N17 trialAthens, 11/01/2003 (ANA)The defense lawyer for suspected ''November 17'' terrorist Nikos Papanastasiou on Friday asked the Three-Member CriminalAppeals Court to acquit his client of all charges, saying that the role attributed to him by the anti-terrorist squad had not been proved. In the case that his client were convicted, however, attorney Panagiotis Roumeliotis asked the court to take into account Papanastasiou's good behavior after the fact, noting that he had told the truth from the start, had never asserted that he was tortured while in the hands of the authorities and had never attempted to contact the media or influence public opinion. Papanastasiou is charged as one of the founder-members of N17 that remained within the organization right up to the point when it was dismantled by the authorities. Presenting final arguments in court, Roumeliotis said his client's description in the indictment as a co-founder of the group was mistaken since it was taken from the self-contradictory confessions made by Pavlos Serifis. According to Serifis, he first met Papanastasiou in October 1979, even though he should have known him since 1975 when the group was first founded according to the indictment, Roumeliotis said. The attorney also noted that none of the other defendants appeared to know his client and that he was not mentioned in statements taken from Savvas Xiros, a core N17 hit man, while there was no evidence to prove that the code-name ''Nikitas'' actually referred to him, as the anti-terrorist squad believed. The court will reconvene next Wednesday with the presentation of final arguments by the defense for Sotiris Kondylis, due to a 48-hour abstention declared by the Athens Bar Association on Monday and Tuesday. [17] Seminar on immigrant issues for Attica local government staffAthens, 11/01/2003 (ANA)A seminar on immigrant and refugee issues for staff in Attica-area local authorities will take place on November 3-4 and November 10-11 between the hours of 10:00-14:00 at the Athens municipality's Enterprise and Employment Centre.The seminar is being organized by the Centre and the Athens Municipality Developmental Company via the "Forum for Social Cohesion" within the European Union's Equal program. Its goals are to help staff in local authorities with high immigrant and refugee populations to deal with issues like racism, xenophobia and creating the conditions for a multi-cultural society. [18] Earthquake jolts PatrasPatras, 11/01/2003 (ANA)A strong earthquake measuring 4.6 on the Richter scale jolted the western port city of Patras early Friday, but no damage was immediately reported.According to the University of Patras' Seismology Laboratory, the earthquake was recorded at 4:33 a.m with its epicenter in Antirrio, on the Gulf of Patras, and an epicentral depth of 14 kilometers. The trembler was felt in Patras and the wider region, as well as in Aetoloakarnania prefecture. Earthquake on Crete: An earthquake measuring 4.3 on the Richter scale jolted the island of Crete on Friday, but no damage was reported. The earthquake was recorded at 1:16 a.m., with its epicenter in the Aghios Nikolaos region of Lasithi prefecture, and an epicentral depth of 15 kilometers. The trembler was felt in the wider region of Aghios Nikolaos, throughout eastern Crete, and in Iraklion. [19] Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in Jerusalem celebrates October 28 national holidayJerusalem, 11/01/2003 (ANA)The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate here celebrated Greece's national holiday on Tuesday October 28, the anniversary of the outbreak of war between Greece and Italy in 1940, with a church service held at the Cathedral of the Resurrection.Jerusalem Patriarch Irineos officiated in the presence of senior clergymen, Greece's general consul in Jerusalem Eleni Sourani and the country's ambassador to Jerusalem Panayiotis Zografos. Arabic-speaking students from the Patriarchal Academy of Saint Dimitrios also sang patriotic Greek songs during the event and recited relevant poems. [20] Police dismantle forgery ring, make three arrestsAthens, 11/01/2003 (ANA)Police have dismantled a ring forging documents and selling them to foreigners interested in legalizing their residence in Greece. Two Syrians were arrested, who were members of the ring, as well as a woman from Georgia who had obtained forged documents from them.In another case, an Iraqi was arrested for forgery and fraud who took advantage of the fact he was in the process of being recognized as a political refugee. The Iraqi used to submit applications for political asylum and produce documents bearing his photo but the particulars of other people. He would then change the photos and give the documents to fellow countrymen of his in return for a fee who secured permanent residence in the country in this way. In yet another case, a ring of Greeks and Pakistanis responsible for thefts and cases of fraud against banks, revenue offices, businesses and private persons over the past five years was also dismantled by police. Their activities had yielded over three million euros for them. Two Greeks and two Pakistanis have already been arrested, while legal proceedings have also been initiated against 20 other people for thefts, forgeries and fraud. The suspects used to break into apartment buildings and cars and steal tax statements, telephone and electricity bills, passports, postal orders and other documents and produce false documents using the names found on the stolen items. They would then obtain credit cards from banks with which they made withdrawals of money or purchases of various goods. [21] ND MPs accuse gov't of poor waste management planningAthens, 11/01/2003 (ANA)In a question tabled in Parliament on Friday, 19 main opposition New Democracy MPs accused the government of woefully inadequate planning for the management of solid wastes on a nation-wide level, and said it had failed to properly address the problems in Athens.The MPs brought up the problems in Epirus, claiming that the entire northwestern Greek region did not possess a single legal landfill site over four prefectures. They also slammed the Unified Association of Municipalities and Communities of Attica (ESDKNA), saying that it had squandered more than 600 billion drachmas in EU funds since 1991 while only achieving a temporary and superficial solution to the problems. [22] SAE welcomes expatriate Greek Media to its 5th World ConventionAthens, 11/01/2003 (ANA)World Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE) President Andrew A. Athens confirmed on Friday that expatriate Greek Media will be invited to SAE's World Convention scheduled for December 11-14 in Thessaloniki, northern Greece, according to a press release issued by the Council.''I am here to dispel press announcements that the Omogeneia Media will not be invited,'' Athens said. ''A number of journalists representing the Omogeneiaka Media will be invited to cover the SAE 5th World Convention. Members of the Omogeneiaka Media attending however will not be delegates to the Convention. ''One of the major tasks of any convention is to convey its message to its constituency and the general public. The presence of media facilitates that task. SAE welcomes the Omogeneiaka Media to its 5th World Convention.'' [23] EU report notes Cyprus' high level of alignment with acquisBrussels, 11/01/2003 (CNA/ANA)Cyprus has reached a high level of alignment with the acquis communautaire in most policy areas, the EU Commission notes in its comprehensive report on Cyprus' preparation for Accession to be adopted next Wednesday November 5, by the EU Commissioners.The report, consisting of 64 pages, makes an analysis of the progress made since last year's report on the economic aspect as well as on the implementation of the acquis communautaire. It also refers to the Cyprus problem and expresses conviction that it can be solved before the island's accession to the EU, noting that if this is not made possible, then the Protocol 10 of the Accession Treaty will be brought into force. ''It should be noted that Cyprus has reached a high level of alignment with the acquis in most policy areas,'' the report says. It is also notes that Cyprus must take ''immediate and decisive action to address three issues of serious concern in two chapters of the acquis, if it is to be ready by the date of accession.'' Those chapters concern the field of agriculture, in particular Cyprus' preparations to put in place its Paying Agency, and to prepare for the application of external trade mechanisms. It also concerns the field of transport policy, as regards maritime safety. Regarding the Cyprus issue, the Commission expresses its firm conviction that there is a possibility in reaching a solution of the Cyprus issue, before the island's accession to the EU, so that a reunified Cyprus can join the Union. It notes that in the case of no solution, the Protocol on Cyprus, attached to the Treaty of Accession will be implemented, providing for the suspension of the application of the acquis communautaire in those areas of the Republic where the government of the Republic does not exercise effective control. According to the report, Cyprus should continue its progress in the areas of liberalization of telecommunications, energy, air transport and post services. [24] EU's report on Turkey includes paragraph on CyprusBrussels, 11/01/2003 (CAN/ANA)The EU's regular progress report on Turkey, due for publication on November 5th, refers to the Cyprus issue, to the Loizidou vs. Turkey case at the European Court of Human Rights, as well as to the ''framework agreement'' aiming in establishing a ''customs union'' between Turkey and the illegal regime in the occupied north of Cyprus. ''On August 8th Turkey signed a framework agreement aiming to establish a customs union with the northern part of Cyprus. Such agreement which has no validity under the international law would be in breach of Turkey's commitments in its customs union with the EC,'' the report says. It adds that the Turkish government subsequently indicated that the agreement would not be ratified or come into effect. In paragraph 1.4 of the report on Turkey, the EU Commission notes that the Turkish government has on several occasions confirmed its support for efforts to find a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem, through the continuation of the UN Secretary General's mission of good offices and the negotiations on the basis of his proposals. ''In the course of the enhanced political dialogue with Turkey, and at the EC-Turkey Association Council in April 2003, shortly after the breakdown of talks under UN auspices in the Hague, the Turkish government expressed the hope to see a settlement before May 2004,'' the report adds. It also recalls the EU Council in Thessaloniki of 19-20 June 2003, which urged all parties concerned and in particular Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot leadership, to strongly support the UN Secretary General's efforts and called for an early resumption of the talks on the basis of his proposals. Regarding the Loizidou vs. Turkey case, concerning the violation of the applicant's right to property and the non-payment of just satisfaction awarded by the ECHR, in June 2003, ''Turkey declared its intention to comply by October 2003 with the 1998 judgment of the Court'', the EU Commissions report says. In another point, the report says that by the time it was drafted (the report) Turkey had not made any payment. Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied one third of the island's territory. [25] Britain committed for early resumption of negotiations on CyprusNicosia, 11/01/2003 (CAN/ANA)The British government remains committed to working for an early resumption of negotiations on the Cyprus issue, based on the UN Secretary-General's peace plan, Head of the Mediterranean Desk at the British Foreign Office, Dominick Chilcott, stressed here on Friday. Speaking here Friday after British High Commissioner in Nicosia, Lyn Parker and the Ambassadors of Britain to Greece and Turkey, David Madden and Peter Westmaccot, respectively, were received by Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos, Chilcott expressed hope that Cyprus will accede the EU as a reunited country. The three Heads of Mission meet every year to discuss East Mediterranean issues, and this year they chose Cyprus for their meeting, ''given the critical period ahead, with the forthcoming elections in the north and the fast-approaching accession of Cyprus to the EU on 1 May 2004,'' Chilcott said. He added that the British government is taking ''a close interest in developments in the north, especially the forthcoming 'elections','' and stressed, ''it is important that those 'elections' should be free and fair.' Illegal ''parliamentary elections'' will be held in the Turkish-occupied areas of Cyprus in December. Referring to the meeting with President Papadopoulos, Chilcott said that it was ''constructive and useful'' since they had a ''wide-ranging discussion.' ''The British government remains committed to working for an early resumption of negotiations on the basis of the UN Secretary General's proposals,'' Chilcott stressed. [26] Consultations on mine clearance continueNicosia, 11/01/2003 (CAN/ANA)Government officials and a UN expert on the removal of anti-personnel mines continue their consultations with a view at beginning as soon as possible the mine clearance process in the UN-controlled buffer zone. ''We have had very long and very constructive discussions with the two sides, the Greek Cypriot side and the Turkish Cypriot side,'' a UN spokesperson told CNA on Friday. She said that consultations on technical matters with the government of Cyprus have been completed and the UN expects to do the same with the Turkish side. ''We hope that once the discussions are completed, we can see big movement forward,'' the spokesperson added. The government has said it would go ahead unilaterally with the destruction of mines, stored by the National Guard, and it hopes to carry out mine clearance in the buffer zone. It is expected that the destruction of stored mines will begin in mid December this year. [27] Riigikogu President: Cyprus is too small to be dividedNicosia, 11/01/2003 (CAN/ANA)Cyprus and Estonia could become the bridge between the European Union and its new neighbor states, House President Demetris Christofias said, speaking after a meeting with Estonian counterpart, President of the Riigikogu Ene Ergma. The president of the Parliament of the Republic of Estonia, head of a delegation paying an official visit to Cyprus at the invitation of Christofias, has expressed the hope for a political settlement soon because a small place like Cyprus cannot be divided. She noted that a visit by the Cyprus parliamentary committee of Foreign Affairs to Estonia would contribute to improved ties. Ergma has extended an invitation to House President Christofias, which he has accepted. The Riigikogu delegation had the opportunity to follow Thursday's plenary session. ''We have come to the conclusion that as two small countries, soon to become full members of the European Union, in the south and in the north of the EU, and which are in close proximity with the EU's new neighbors, such as the Arab world, Russia or Ukraine we will join forces to become the bridge between these countries and the EU,'' Christofias said. In her statement Ergma said the purpose of her visit is to get to know the new EU members and she added that it is important that Cyprus and Estonia, two of the smallest states, exchange views on common values, such as the role of national parliaments in an enlarged Europe and the possibility of cooperation. Referring to the Cyprus problem, she expressed hope for viable solution for the Cyprus people as she believes that ''Cyprus is too small to be divided." Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |