Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 04-01-28

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

CONTENTS

[01] Simitis, ATHOC chief focus on delayed projects

[02] MP expelled from PASOK over controversial amendment; president signs bill

[03] Special committee completes interviews with MPs over Porto Carras affair

[04] ND leader refers to new policy for country during visit to Komotini

[05] Center-Left Initiative Committee expresses support for FM George Papandreou

[06] Government spokesman says UN framework decisive for Cyprus negotiating

[07] Erdogan says Annan plan a 'reference point'; meeting with Archbishop Demetrios

[08] Parliament votes in principle draft law on election of deputies

[09] Turkish warplanes infringe Athens FIR

[10] Event held in Athens on establishment of January 27 as Greek Jews memory day

[11] Developer vows to take court action in political, legal land rift

[12] Greek stocks end moderately higher on Tuesday

[13] PM addresses National Council for Education

[14] Juncker proclaimed Orestiada honorary citizen, honorary university professor

[15] Environment minister says new recycling centers to open in 2004

[16] Deputy FM Loverdos attends Stockholm forum on 'Preventing Genocide'

[17] National Broadcasting Council fines TV channels for pluralism violation

[18] Major human-trafficking ring dismantled by Attica police

[19] Greek skipper arrested on migrant smuggling charges in Italy

[20] Cyprus President Papadopoulos to address PACE and hold meetings in Strasbourg

[21] Papadopoulos: We would welcome Turkey's real and honest political will

[01] Simitis, ATHOC chief focus on delayed projects

Athens, 28/01/2004 (ANA)

Construction works at OAKA, especially on a delayed project to build a “signature” glass and metal dome over the stadium, reportedly remains a top concern of ATHOC and the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Inclement weather of late in the greater Athens area has merely increased delays, reports state.

Another ‘thorn’ in terms of OAKA is the fact that the final and most crucial phase of the project’s installation is set for June 31, during a period when another three worksites will be operating at the OAKA site (the venue for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies as well as the hugely popular athletics events).

Other delays have reportedly plagued the OAKA complex’s natatorium, mainly legal challenges by contractors. Minor delays have been reported at the adjacent velodrome project.

On its part, ATHOC has repeatedly stressed that the dome project – designed by noted Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava – is of supreme importance, as the first images of the 2004 Games will be broadcast from the OAKA stadium.

Other talks focused on the power supply network in the greater Athens area during the Games and in light of delays at two under-construction substations.

The next full IOC inspection comes on Feb. 26.

[02] MP expelled from PASOK over controversial amendment; president signs bill

Athens, 28/01/2004 (ANA)

The amendment allows the owners of the well-known northern Greece resort (Porto Carras) to build several hundred new housing units on property that at one time was described as forest land.

A major political furor erupted in recent days over the amendment, which was passed in Parliament last Wednesday, leading to the resignation two days later by deputy economy minister Christos Pachtas, who had tabled the bill.

The government spokesman subsequently quoted Economy and Finance minister Nikos Christodoulakis as saying the government intended to revoke the amendment with newly tabled legislation.

Moreover, the ruling party's Central Committee on Saturday decided to exclude Pachtas, who is also an MP for Halkidiki prefecture, Anthopoulos (a MP for Serres as well as a former deputy education minister) and the eight other PASOK deputies who co-signed the bill from the PASOK's candidate slates for the March 7 elections.

Government spokesman Christos Protopapas said Monday that one of the key concerns raised by the affair was the procedure by which the amendment had been tabled, which gave rise to serious doubts. He said that ''serious mistakes'' had been made, including the fact that Pachtas had failed to inform his superior, Christodoulakis, that he intended to table the bill.

The premier's decision to expel Anthopoulos, which was forwarded in writing by Simitis to Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis, was announced by press and media deputy minister Telemachos Hytiris on Tuesday.

''With this letter, I announce to you my decision to expel Mr. Ioannis Anthopoulos from the PASOK parliamentary group due to his actions and his deportment vis-a-vis his MP colleagues on the controversial amendment,'' Simitis said in his letter to Kaklamanis, which was also read out to the Parliament plenary.

One of the signatories of the amendment, Achaia prefecture MP Alekos Chrysanthakopoulos, said on Saturday that Anthopoulos had asked him to sign the amendment, while another signatory, MP for Thessaloniki George Kirkos, filed a lawsuit on Monday with a Thessaloniki public prosecutor claiming that his signature on the offending amendment had been forged. He also requested a hand-writing analysis of the signature appearing on the amendment.

Other deputies entangled in the furor, such as Kavala MP Nikos Stratilatis and Pachtas himself, have defended their decision to back the amendment, describing it as an example of development-based legislation that promotes investments.

The controversial amendment would have allowed the consortium that owns the Porto Carras complex, which is headed by the construction firm Techniki Olympiaki, and owned by Kostas Steggos, to proceed with the development of tracts within the Porto Carras estate, especially a series of new bungalows for rent or sale.

According to Pachtas, the amendment seeks to cut through confutation and bureaucratic delays caused by conflicting legislation that prevented the investment from proceeding, while its opponents say it opens the way for major development on land classified as forestland.

PASOK Ethics Committee expels Deputy Yiannis Anthopoulos from party: The ruling PASOK party's Ethics Committee convened on Tuesday afternoon and decided to expel Deputy Yiannis Anthopoulos from the party.

Bill signed: President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos, meanwhile, on Tuesday signed into law the bill containing the controversial Porto Carras amendment.

According to a press release issued by the office of the presidency, Stephanopoulos could not legally decline to sign the bill if all legal and legislative procedures had been followed.

“Sending it (the bill) back to Parliament, as recommended by various mass media, was not possible, because after the constitutional revision of 1986 and removal of the word ‘ratification’ from Article 42 of the Constitution, control by the president of the republic of the content and expediency of legislative amendments has been abolished. Sending back (bills) is only allowed for reasons related to the voting procedure concerning (draft) legislation,” the statement read.

The presidency announcement adds that the information listed in the bill as well as Parliament’s records were checked to ensure that constitutional requirements and the anticipated legislative procedure were met. “Therefore, there is no reason for a recall,” the press release reads.

[03] Special committee completes interviews with MPs over Porto Carras affair

Athens, 28/01/2004 (ANA)

All nine deputies, as well as resigned deputy finance minister Christos Pachtas who tabled the amendment in Parliament, have been dropped as candidates for ruling PASOK in the March 7 elections at the request of George Papandreou, who stands to formally take over the party's leadership from Prime Minister Costas Simitis in a vote on February 8.

Last to appear before the committee on Tuesday was state deputy Spyros Vougias, who asked to be ''morally vindicated'' and said he fully backed the efforts of PASOK and George Papandreou to win elections.

The committee was also due to interview MP for the 2nd Athens constituency Theodoros Katsanevas, who failed to turn up.

According to sources, the revelations made by MP for Serres Ioannis Anthopoulos regarding the way he had collected some of the signatures backing the amendment had helped ''clear the air'' during the committee's interviews on Tuesday with Vougias and MPs Konstantinos Diamantis and Nikos Stratilatis.

Anthopoulos was earlier expelled from PASOK parliamentary group by the prime minister ''due to his actions and his deportment vis-a-vis his colleagues in Parliament and the controversial amendment.''

The amendment was passed by Parliament on Wednesday after it was tabled by Pachtas, apparently without the knowledge of Finance Minister Nikos Christodoulakis who later announced that it will be annulled in the finance ministry's next bill.

Some of the MPs implicated in the affair claim that they were asked to sign the amendment by Anthopoulos, others said they considered it developmental, while MP for Thessaloniki George Kirkos has alleged that his signature was forged.

The amendment allows the consortium that owns the Porto Carras complex, which is headed by the construction firm Techniki Olympiaki owned by Kostas Steggos, to proceed with the development of areas within the Porto Carras estate to build a series of bungalows for rent or sale on land protected by forest conservation laws.

Government spokesman on Papandreou's response: Commenting on Papandreou's response to the affair, government spokesman Christos Protopapas on Tuesday said it symbolized the "principled politics that we wish to adopt and George Papandreou's vision for politics that knows how to stand up against financial interests".

He stressed that the MPs dropped as candidates for the March 7 elections remained as MPs and members of the party, while differentiating between what he called a "general policy of non-participation on party tickets and individually assigning responsibility".

Regarding the MPs who claimed that their signatures had been forged, Protopapas said the political aspect of the decision was general and that the investigation underway would assign individual blame.

He also stressed that the decision had not been a form disciplinary action but a political answer to society's needs.

[04] ND leader refers to new policy for country during visit to Komotini

Athens, 28/01/2004 (ANA)

Karamanlis also announced his party's new proposal on a modern European minority policy.

''Our decision is to give a say to citizens and to the agencies representing him: Self-administration, local chambers of commerce. We want to listen to the citizen, to listen to society. Because we believe that in this way we build better corridors of communication both ways,'' Karamanlis said, adding that ND desires a ''wide social alliance'' which shall bring about ''development and prosperity all over Greece and in every one of its regions.''

Referring in particular to the problem of unemployment among young people, Karamanlis said ND has created an integrated government program for a social state with the creation of a Unified Welfare Fund to support those in real need and the Greek family with a family having three children being considered a large family.

On the issue of minority policy, Karamanlis said ''today, before a new historic conjuncture, we are submitting a new proposal for a modern European Minority Policy. Three axes determine our minority policy.''

Karamanlis said these three axes are a European logic governing the party's policy at all levels and all its issues, the views of the Moslem minority itself which are expressed through a continuous and systematic dialogue with its agencies and members and respect for international treaties and the Lausanne Treaty in particular.

The ND leader also focused on absolute respect for the unimpeded exercising of the fundamental right of religious freedom, as well as of all other individual and minority rights.

Karamanlis said ND's aim is the creation of an open democratic society which shall constitute an international model of respect for human and minority rights and a model of modern European minority policy.

In another development, Karamanlis met on Tuesday with the Prime Minister of Luxembourg Jean-Claude Juncker in the framework of his visit to Komotini.

Speaking after the meeting, Karamanlis said among other things ''we are cooperating closely in the framework of the European People's Party. We have many common views and we are joined by a common vision for the Europe of tomorrow. In fact, now that enlargement is being completed formally, the target is to have an agreement on the European constitution as soon as possible. For this reason, we support the efforts of the Irish Presidency for the lifting of deadlocks which have appeared.''

[05] Center-Left Initiative Committee expresses support for FM George Papandreou

Athens, 28/01/2004 (ANA)

The Committee also requested a meeting with him to set out its views ''on deep incisions and reforms necessary for unimpeded cooperation in light of the crucial election.''

Renewal Modernizing Movement of the Left (AEKA) leader Nikos Bistis stressed in his address the possibilities of victory created for Papandreou, adding that the times require incisions and breaking with all levels and voicing his agreement on the dismissal of PASOK deputies in connection with the Pachtas amendment case.

The Initiative Committee convened last Sunday and elected a 15-member coordinating secretariat, a statement of which was read out during the press conference by former Coalition of the Left Deputy and secretariat member Petros Kounalakis.

[06] Government spokesman says UN framework decisive for Cyprus negotiating

Athens, 28/01/2004 (ANA)

He was replying to a question on the Turkish proposal for the appointment of an American negotiator for the negotiations.

Protopapas said what is important is that whatever negotiator should represent and be committed by the UN and its framework.

On the question of whether negotiations can continue on the Cyprus issue, including Greek-Turkish negotiations on the issue, the spokesman said it ''will not appear that it is us who are creating the problem and added that if the issue is raised of discussions beginning on the Cyprus issue, absolute under-standing exists on this case with the Republic of Cyprus in which framework we shall move''.

Protopapas further said moves have been agreed in detail in the framework of understanding between Greece and Cyprus.

In another development, Alternate Foreign Minister Tassos Yiannitsis, replying on a question concerning the Cyprus issue being named as an issue necessitating early elections, said ''mobility exists which is a given fact. How the issue will develop is unknown. However, we believe that developments must be handled by a government having a fresh mandate, because it will be called on to make tough negotiations and, therefore, it must have determination, ability to handle and a memory.''

Yiannitsis also participated in a conference organized by the Dimocritio University of Thrace on the occasion of Jean-Claude Juncker being given an honorary doctorate by the university.

[07] Erdogan says Annan plan a 'reference point'; meeting with Archbishop Demetrios

NEW YORK 28/01/2004 (ANA – P. Panayiotou)

The Turkish premier made the statement during an address on Monday at the NY-based council of foreign affairs, although the greatest portion of his speech revolved around his country’s efforts at democratization, its relations with Washington, the West and especially the European Union.

Along these lines, he claimed that Turkey is a “positive example for the Muslim nations of the region as far as efforts to promote international security and the fight against terrorism are concerned.”

Regarding the Annan plan, Erdogan said comprehensive negotiations are not possible because of the very tight time constraints, an indirect reference to the island republic European Union accession on May 1. He said this is the reason the Turkish side proposes talks only over very “specific issues”, such as the basic principles of the plan as well as constitutional provisions and the territorial issue.

“An independent and impartial country … one with political clout for the solution of the problem must become involved, while the UN chief’s representative must also be appointed,” he said.

Asked if he believed a federation solution is possible on Cyprus when he rejects such a concept for strife-plagued Iraq as impeding the promotion of democracy, Erdogan said “on Cyprus there is no appeal for a federation on the basis of ethnic and religious structures … (However) in the Annan plan there is solicitude for the safeguarding of ethnic, religious and linguistic structures.”

Erdogan’s official US visit is expected to cover the situation in Iraq, Afghanistan, Turkey’s role in the region, the fight against terrorism, the Middle East, the Cyprus problem as well as Turkey’s European course. He is also due to meet with US President George W. Bush in Washington.

Meeting with Archbishop Demetrios: During the first day of his visit in New York City, Erdogan also met with Orthodox Archbishop of America Demetrios, following an initiative by the Turkish side.

According to ecclesiastical sources, Erdogan’s arrival here offered a prime opportunity for the two men to meet.

Topics up for discussion included the closely watched issue of the Halki School of Theology’s reopening (it was ordered closed by Ankara in 1971); the Cyprus issue as well as Ankara’s permission to include a rare Byzantine-era icon in an upcoming exhibition on Byzantium at the renowned Metropolitan Museum of Art.

[08] Parliament votes in principle draft law on election of deputies

Athens, 28/01/2004 (ANA)

The ruling PASOK deputies and independent deputy Stefanos Manos supported the draft law. The opposition parties were against the draft law, while PASOK deputy Eleftherios Veryvakis had stated that he would not support it.

[09] Turkish warplanes infringe Athens FIR

Athens, 28/01/2004 (ANA)

The eight Turkish aircraft were recognized and intercepted by Greek warplanes, while in two cases the interception process developed into an engagement.

The reports said three of the Turkish aircraft were armed.

[10] Event held in Athens on establishment of January 27 as Greek Jews memory day

Athens, 28/01/2004 (ANA)

Greece's Parliament had unanimously adopted recently a relevant proposal.

Tuesday's event was attended by Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis, Foreign Minister George Papandreou, Defense Minister Yiannos Papantoniou, Deputy Interior Minister Nikos Bistis, the New Democracy party's Parliamentary representative Prokopis Pavlopoulos, the Communist Party of Greece's Parliamentary representative Achilleas Kantartzis, Coalition of the Left party Deputy Fotis Kouvelis, a representative of Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Christodoulos and many ambassadors.

Papandreou said in a speech that the unanimous ratification by Parliament of the bill setting a Holocaust anniversary date is ''confirmation of the collective sensitivity of the Greeks and of the fact that Greece is an open society.''

He added that ''the identity of Hellenism is very firm. However, democracy must defend the citizen. Exclusion of any kind constitutes our moral failure. The decision we took honors us all. It helps us to keep historical memory alive and it will serve as valuable help for the generations to come.''

Emerging from the Concert Hall, the foreign minister said ''we must remember the past and be taught by it'' and reiterated the need for ''respect for the right to be different.''

In another development, Israeli Ambassador to Greece Ram Aviram and Central Israelite Council of Greece President Moisis Konstanti on Tuesday gave the Israeli awards of the ''Just of Nations'' to nine Greek Christians who saved Jewish fellow countrymen of theirs who were persecuted during the period of the Nazi occupation.

[11] Developer vows to take court action in political, legal land rift

Athens, 28/01/2004 (ANA)

In a statement, the developer said that it would seek ''the punishment of offenders, and compensation for loss of property and defamation of the people affected by these acts.''

The company claimed that its intention to develop a stretch of picturesque land called Porto Carras in the country's northeast had falsely been presented as illegal and the result of an illegitimate transaction.

False accusations against Technical Olympic in the media included the planned destruction of protected woodland in order to build a sizeable tourist complex and a housing development; bribery; and stock market fraud, the statement said.

Also untrue was talk that Deputy Finance Minister Christos Pachtas, who was asked to resign in the outcry, owned stock in the company, it added.

The furore erupted last week when Pachtas sent a legal amendment to parliament allowing construction at Porto Carras to start, employing a procedure that critics claim was aimed at slipping building permission into the lawbook before national elections on March 7.

A small parliamentary session passed the law.

''The (Technical Olympic) Group played no part in the procedure of advancing and voting through the amendment,'' the statement said.

Technical Olympic claimed that parliamentary laws passed in 1968, 1977, 1987 and 1996 did not class the land as wooded; and a 1976 presidential decree defined the stretch as eligible for construction.

''If carrying out development on the basis of the above legislation....was illegal then surely the ministries of agriculture, development and public works, town planning and environment would have intervened,'' Technical Olympic said.

The company noted that it had taken part in a tender for purchase on the land, basing its bid of 33 billion drachmas on laws in place.

''After many months of fruitless effort, and after waiting in vain for two years for building permission with no answer, the Group informed party political leaders, ministers, and deputies of all parties of the need for a correct interpretation and implementation of the (legal) provisions that have been doubted,'' the statement said.

[12] Greek stocks end moderately higher on Tuesday

Athens, 28/01/2004 (ANA)

The general index ended 0.49 percent higher at 2,445.38 points, with turnover a heavy 223.9 million euros.

The IT Solutions, Publications and Insurance sectors suffered the heaviest percentage losses of the day (0.87 percent, 0.62 percent and 0.33 percent, respectively), while the Telecommunications (0.70 percent, IT (0.56 percent) and Cement (0.48 percent) sector scored the biggest percentage gains.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks rose 0.48 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index ended 0.21 percent higher and the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index edged 0.04 percent up.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 148 to 137 with another 65 issues unchanged.

FOREIGN EXCHANGE

Closing rates of January 27 2004

Parities in euro

For. Exchange Buying Selling

US Dollar 1,261 1,232

[13] PM addresses National Council for Education

Athens, 28/01/2004 (ANA)

One aspect stressed by the premier in his speech were the efforts being made within Europe to create a unified European higher education area with the convergence of university standards in Europe, a debate due to end in 2010.

In particular, he noted that this required establishing a national system for ensuring the quality of higher education, convergence of the framework for postgraduate studies and research and promoting life-long education as an independent and comprehensive activity for every educational institution.

Simitis added, meanwhile, that he had worked together with the academic community on a series of bills that will be brought to Parliament immediately after the elections if PASOK were in power.

Commenting on the role of the National Council for Education, the premier said it would answer a need to deal with issues of education and training as the subjects of an ongoing, constant and open political dialogue between all political forces and parties.

He was succeeded by Education Minister Petros Efthymiou, who stressed that this was the last meeting at which members of the government would be present and underlined that the Council would henceforth be independent and formulate its own policy for education.

[14] Juncker proclaimed Orestiada honorary citizen, honorary university professor

Athens, 28/01/2004 (ANA)

Orestiada Mayor Grigoris Tzotzolas welcomed Juncker with the phrase ''welcome to your home'', proclaiming him honorary citizen at a special ceremony held at the Alexandros cinema-theatre.

Juncker said in his speech:''I am aware of the region's problems. Europe will contribute in its development. Tomorrow the borders will disappear. Bulgaria will become a member, Turkey follows its course towards Europe. Borders do not protect, they obstruct those who wish to meet one other. I want this region to become a visible visiting place of Europe. For us to work all together, Greece, Luxembourg, Bulgaria, all together. We will do this for our children who see the future with wide-open eyes.''

On his part, Mayor Tzotzolas, who referred to the role of Orestiada in the broader region, wished Juncker every success in the Presidency of the European Union in 2005.

The decision to proclaim Juncker honorary citizen of Orestiada was taken due to his important European presence, for the efforts he took for Cyprus to join the European Union and because of the similarities which Luxembourg has with the region of Orestiada.

Present at the ceremony were, among others, Didimotiho Metropolitan Nikiforos, prefects, mayors, military officials and representatives of political parties.

Earlier in the day in Komotini, Juncker was proclaimed honorary professor of the Law School of Thrace's Dimokritio University.

Present at the event were Alternate Foreign Minister Tassos Yiannitsis, main opposition New Democracy (ND) party leader Costas Karamanlis, President of the European Court Vassilis Skouris and academics.

In statements to the Athens News Agency (ANA), Juncker said ''Greece deserves national pride as its incorporation to the euro was a development which no one expected when we were signing the Maastricht Agreement.'' The prime minister of Luxembourg further underlined that in recent years ''Greece developed in an excellent way,'' noting:''Who would have believed a decade ago that Greece would be a member of the Eurozone. Therefore, your country but also Europe deserve congratulations for Greece's performances.''

[15] Environment minister says new recycling centers to open in 2004

Athens, 28/01/2004 (ANA)

She said the seven existing centers will be augmented by new centers set up by the ministry and local authorities in Attica, Thessaloniki, Kalamata, Trikala, Karditsa and Iraklion.

The minister was visiting the Maroussi municipality Recyclable Materials Management Center, where she called for increased awareness among the public and organizations on this issue and stressed that recycling was a sector that promised to create thousands of jobs.

The centers process discarded packaging materials, lubricants, electrical waste material, vehicle tires, rubble and batteries.

[16] Deputy FM Loverdos attends Stockholm forum on 'Preventing Genocide'

STOCKHOLM 28/01/2004 (ANA)

He said that Greece furthermore hails a European Union initiative for the creation of a peaceforce unit to detect conflicts which could develop into genocides.

Greece has paved Confidence-Building Measures with neighboring Turkey and has worked in the direction of peaceful cooperation, utilizing a policy of rapprochement, Loverdos said, adding that the society of citizens is of vital importance for the promotion of dialogue between different cultures and convictions and can close rifts which lasted for centuries.

The three-day forum ends on Wednesday.

[17] National Broadcasting Council fines TV channels for pluralism violation

Athens, 28/01/2004 (ANA)

The fines concerned television promotion for political parties during the period between December 15 and December 19, 2003.

[18] Major human-trafficking ring dismantled by Attica police

Athens, 28/01/2004 (ANA)

It said the ring was comprised of 22 people, both Greeks and foreigners, and that 11 Greeks and 3 foreign nationals were now in custody.

Charges have been drawn up against those still at large, who are now being sought by Interpol.

Investigating officers said the ring appeared to have a list of 15,000 clients to which it supplied women, with estimated gross profits at around 100,000 euros a month.

The list was discovered in a computer installed in a Nea Smyrni office, which was responsible for contacting the clients and had all their personal details, including their sexual preferences.

Police also found several fire-arms and large quantities of ammunition among the effects of those arrested, as well as a police truncheon, a police badge and a removable police siren.

They said the ring operated by recruiting girls in eastern European countries with the promise of legal work. Once they arrived in Greece, the women were held captive and systematically raped, after which they were forced into prostitution.

Investigating officers believe that certain of its members occasionally masqueraded as police in order to make their victims believe it was hopeless to turn to the authorities.

[19] Greek skipper arrested on migrant smuggling charges in Italy

Athens, 28/01/2004 (ANA)

The skipper of the freighter “Talaver” was arrested on Saturday at the port of Porto Levante, near Venice. The vessel had disembarked from the Caribbean with a load of salt.

The name of the skipper was not given in a press release sent by the merchant marine ministry.

[20] Cyprus President Papadopoulos to address PACE and hold meetings in Strasbourg

STRASBOURG 28/01/2004 (CNA/ANA)

The president will address the Parliamentary Assembly and answer questions prior to the discussion on the report on the Situation in Cyprus by Hungarian Deputy Matyas Eorsi.

[21] Papadopoulos: We would welcome Turkey's real and honest political will

LARNACA 28/01/2004 (CNA/ANA)

He stressed that neither dilemmas nor demands were put in front of the Greek Cypriot or the Greek side.

Asked to comment on US State Department's statement saying that ''following this encouraging meeting between the UN Secretary-General and the Turkish Prime Minister, the other parties should demonstrate to the Secretary-General the necessary political will," Papadopoulos noted it is well known that the US policies aim to assist Turkey's accession to the EU and improve the image of the country in the international political scene.

Noting that Cyprus will welcome ''a real and honest political will on Turkey's behalf," he reiterated the Greek Cypriot side's readiness to participate in negotiations for a Cyprus settlement whenever the UN Secretary-General calls upon the two sides, on the basis of his plan."

''We still don't know what is the political will Mr. Erdogan has expressed," said the president, adding that the Greek Cypriot side must be informed before moving on to any statements.

Asked whether Turkey tends to respond positively to the UN framework or try to change it, Papadopoulos said there are ''contradicting statements, causing nothing but confusion, as regards to what the Turks really aim to."

He underlined that so far Erdogan's statements tend to change so it is better for the Greek Cypriot side to be briefed by the UN before evaluating the real Turkish position.''

Asked on his reaction in the case this time there is real Turkish political will, Papadopoulos said ''let's hope that there is a political will and our side would welcome such a development."

Asked whether he sees any form of pressure towards the Greek Cypriot side, he expressed certainty that ''all sides wish for the resumption of talks the soonest, in order to reach a solution before 1st May'' and therefore ''it is natural to make every effort to encourage all sides towards this direction."

''Now, if by 'pressure' you mean that we are facing dilemmas or demands then the answer is 'no', not to me, nor to Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou'', the Cypriot president said.

Asked to comment on negative reports from the Turkish side for the UN Secretary-General's Special Adviser for Cyprus Alvaro de Soto, President Papadopoulos said ''some teams that wish to gain the favor of the referee, they start accusing the referee before the game."

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