Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 03-06-14

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

CONTENTS

[01] FM Papandreou briefs President Stephanopoulos on foreign policy, EU issues

[02] Draft EU constitution dominates Simitis-Schroeder meeting in Berlin

[03] Simitis due in Austria for talks on the EU summit agenda on Friday

[04] Greek EU presidency - Thessaloniki Council schedule

[05] Draconian security measures to be taken for EU summit in Halkidiki

[06] US aims at resumption of Cyprus talks on basis of Annan plan in autumn

[07] Greek FM to take part in Quartet meeting in Jordan

[08] Greek deputy FM to visit Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia

[09] Greek and Turkish FMs hold telephone talks

[10] Turkish FM wants Aegean a 'real sea of peace'

[11] Declaration of EU presidency on deportation of Tibetan asylum seekers

[12] Greek Euro-MP’s report throws strong support to EU cohesion policy

[13] Greek eurodeputy says US State Dept human trafficking report is unfair to Greece

[14] Drys optimistic over decisions on EU farming policy reforms

[15] Gov't pledges to reduce payment delays for pensioners

[16] Halkidki miners not reassured by minister; vow to remain in mines

[17] Greek weekly economic review

[18] Profit taking halts rally of prices in ASE

[19] Foreign ministry's Dollis receives Livanos award

[20] European conference opens on 'Media and Disability'

[21] Quake measuring 4.6 points on Richter scale jolts Evia

[22] N17 court continues hearing testimony of defence witnesses

[23] Weston says many provisions in Annan plan should change

[24] FM Iacovou meets Hastert and Senate members

[01] FM Papandreou briefs President Stephanopoulos on foreign policy, EU issues

Athens, 14/06/2003 (ANA)

During the one-hour meeting, Papandreou briefed the President on the agenda for the EU summit in Thessaloniki on June 19-21, which essentially marks the end of Greece's presidency of the EU in the first half of 2003. Stephanopoulos, who will also be at the summit, will be hosting a dinner in honour of the EU heads of state and government on Friday night, June 20.

After the meeting, Papandreou told reporters he had outlined to Stephanopoulos the Greek EU presidency's targets for the summit.

Replying to press questions on the Cyprus issue referring to his talks on Thursday with visiting US state department coordinator for Cyprus Thomas Weston, Papandreou said that the gist of Weston's comments was that far from having been forgotten, it was necessary to bring the Cyprus issue back to the international scene, adding that the prospects were auspitious given the momentum of Cyprus' EU accession.

Papandreou reminded that Turkey's course to the EU required that it tackle the Cyprus problem, adding that Weston's message was the that the US consistently backed UN secretary general Kofi Annan's effort and proposal, and would act in coordination with the EU so that ''we may see a resolution of the Cyprus issue, soon''.

Commenting on statements made by Turkish prime minister Tayyip Recep Erdogan on Turkish television Thursday night claiming that it was the Greek aircraft that were provoking the Turkish planes, Papandreou stressed that Greece has asked the Turkish side to submit flight plans for its aircraft. "If that occurs, then if matters of misunderstanding arise, they will be clarified. If, on the contrary, harassments indeed occur, this too will become apparent," he said.

Papandreou said that it had been agreed with the Turkish side that the political directors would discuss, within the framework of the international rules in effect on national waters, airspace, etc., to see how this problem could be overcome, noting that it is a dangerous matter, because an accident could cause a tragedy, and also greater tension in Greek-Turkish relations at a time when efforts were being made to resolve major problems, such as the Cyprus issue and Greek efforts to contribute to Turkey's European course.

[02] Draft EU constitution dominates Simitis-Schroeder meeting in Berlin

BERLIN 14/06/2003 (ANA/P. Stangos)

The specific issue would dominate debate during the EU Thes-saloniki Council, next weekend, in order to set a binding time-table for a prompt conclusion of the subsequent Intergovern-mental Conference aiming at the endorsement of the EU Consti-tution also by the ten new member-states to fully enter the Union in May 2004. The current rationale envisages that the EU Constitution should be adopted before the Euroelections of June 2004.

The key to achieving the specific target is to avert the like-lihood of the Intergovernmental Conference re-opening delibera-tions on the draft Constitution. This means that the EUs 15 heads would have to accept the plan, to be presented to the EU Council by Convention on the Future of Europe President Valery Giscard d'Estaing.

During a joint press conference after their meeting, Schroeder played down EU-US and specifically US-Germany problems which arose as a result of the Iraq war, while said that a joint defence initiative by four European nations (Belgium, France, Germany and Luxembourg) was an effort within NATO, envisa-ged to strengthen also the North Atlantic Alliance.

Simitis clarified that the EU Thessaloniki Council is not to deal with the reform of the Unions Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

In reply to reporters question on the possible repercussions of certain bilateral extradition and judicial cooperation agreements signed between some Western Balkan states (e.g. Albania) and the US which bars referral of US nationals of military officials to the International Court at The Hague Simitis said that the issue was not to be examined during the EU Council in Thessaloniki, and further stressed that the EU does not impose sanctions, each country has its own policy on that issue.

According to reports, the German side has expressed support to Greek Presidency efforts to enhance EU policy on and relations with Western Balkans, recommending however that the Unions steps should move forward in a reserved pace.

[03] Simitis due in Austria for talks on the EU summit agenda on Friday

VIENNA 14/06/2003 (ANA - D. Dimitrakoudis)

Simitis is currently in the midst a tour of the 24 EU capitals in his capacity as head of the European Council to prepare for the final summit at the end of the Greek EU presidency.

Simitis' visit is to conclude his visit to Vienna on Saturday.

[04] Greek EU presidency - Thessaloniki Council schedule

Athens, 14/06/2003 (ANA)

Greek foreign ministry spokesman Panos Beglitis on Friday said that migration issues have been for some time now the focus of discussions among the Union's 15 public order and interior ministers, adding that the Greek side had achieved a significant perspective on the issue of safeguarding the outer marine borders of the EU.

The heads of state from the bloc's members will continue their talks following a press conference on the works of the first day of the Council, at working dinners hosted separately for the government heads, the foreign ministers and their delegations. The talks will focus on current international issues, including developments in the Middle East, Iraq, Afghanistan and facing the threat of international terrorism.

Constitutional Convention President Valery Giscard d' Estaing on Friday morning, 20 June, will present the Council with the proposals that will be used as the basis to launch discussions on the European Constitution at the Inter-governmental Conference. It is expected that the discussions on the draft Constitution will be long. After the 25 EU partners present their views, Greek Prime Minister, whose country currently holds the EU presiden-cy, will undertake to present the conclusions of their discussions.

The Greek presidency is seeking a framework mandate handed by the Thessaloniki Council to the succeeding Italian presidency, with the inclusion of a specific time schedule and provisions over the participation of Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey, which have been proposed the observer status without a voting right.

At any rate, a minimum consensus is noted in major issues in the Constitution, while each country reserves its positioning on the institutional reform for the Inter-governmental conference.

At the press conference and the working luncheon that will follow the EU partners will exchange views on the progress of transatlantic relations, which will be discussed in depth at the US-EU Summit in Washington on 25 June where the Union will be represented by Simitis, EU chief diplomat Javier Solana and Commissioner for External Relations Chris Patten.

The text of the European Security Strategy, better known as the European strategic dogma, will be presented by Solana to the EU partners, and according to Beglitis, this will offer the necessary guidelines to launch a broad and evolving discussion that will be progressively supplemented with the contribution of all member-states. He said that discussions at the Thessaloniki Council would be recorded as the institutional ''take off'' of common efforts for forging a consolidated European response to global challenges.

Following the press conferences in the evening, President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos will host a dinner for the heads of states and their cabinet members.

On Saturday morning the ''25'' will meet with the leadership of the Western Balkan states to confirm the European prospect of the countries by adopting the ''Thessaloniki Declaration''.

[05] Draconian security measures to be taken for EU summit in Halkidiki

Athens, 14/06/2003 (ANA)

Greek Police Chief Fotis Nasiakos and the deputy-chief of police as well as senior officers will be moving between Thessa-loniki and Halkidiki coordinating the police officers.

A total of 16,000 police officers have been assigned to protect, both from land and sea, the site of the summit. Warships and helicopters will also be involved in the security measures.

The security forces will also take special security measures at places where attacks could possibly occur. Such places are the U.S. consulate and buildings related to the interests of U.S. and western European countries.

[06] US aims at resumption of Cyprus talks on basis of Annan plan in autumn

Athens, 14/06/2003 (ANA)

The sources also cited Weston as saying that the US would aim for resumption of the Cyprus talks in the autumn, and submit an informal timetable for finalisation of the plan by December, to allow the holding of referenda in the Republic of Cyprus and the Turkish-occupied sector of Cyprus before the island republic's formal accession to the European Union in May 2004.

Weston spoke of technical adjustments to the Annan plan, essentially ruling out negotiations on the substance of the provisions contained in the plan, the same sources said.

New Democracy's firm position is that a Cyprus solution must be viable and functional, based on the EU acquis communautaire while, according to information, it disagrees with the view that techncial adjustments to the plan were needed, as it believes that there are issues that could cause problems in the viability and, chiefly, the functionality, of the solution.

[07] Greek FM to take part in Quartet meeting in Jordan

Athens, 14/06/2003 (ANA)

Papandreou chairs the European Council of Ministers until Greece hands over the EU presidency to Italy in July.

Alongside his counterparts from the United States, US Secretary of State Colin Powell, Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana and EU external affairs Commissioner Chris Patten, who will also attend the Quartet meeting, Papandreou will discuss developments in the Middle East and the application of the 'road map' for peace.

[08] Greek deputy FM to visit Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia

Athens, 14/06/2003 (ANA)

The trip seeks to strengthen European Union ties with these countries and collect information regarding the appointment of a special emissary for the region.

Regarding a request by Rom gypsies in Kosovo seeking political asylum in Greece, Beglitis said Greece was bound by the Schengen Treaty and that this issue would have to be solved through collaboration between authorities in Kosovo and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM).

[09] Greek and Turkish FMs hold telephone talks

Athens, 14/06/2003 (ANA)

According to a foreign ministry announcement, the Greek and Turkish foreign ministers discussed the infringements and viola-tions in the Aegean, the course of reforms in Turkey, develop-ments in the Middle East as well as the issues which will be debated at the European Union simmit in Thessaloniki next week.

[10] Turkish FM wants Aegean a 'real sea of peace'

ISTANBUL 14/06/2003 (ANA - A. Kourkoulas)

Gul added that ''what must be done is for us all to move carefully. there is no sense in tension escalating for superfluous things.''

The Turkish foreign minister said Greek-Turkish cooperation must be shown to the whole world, as well as cooperation in all sectors, because living in the region with mutual respect and peacefully is in the interests of all.

On the question of whether Turkey has delayed reacting on the issue of aircraft harassment, Gul said ''we have not delayed in anything'' and that he will be discussing the issue with his Greek counterpart George Papandreou soon.

[11] Declaration of EU presidency on deportation of Tibetan asylum seekers

Athens, 14/06/2003 (ANA)

''The EU is seriously concerned over the recent decision by His Majesty's Government of Nepal to forcefully return 18 Tibetan asylum seekers from Kathmandu to China. Such a deportation order against a group of asylum seekers that also included eight minors, while access to them by UNHCR was denied, clearly violates humanitarian principles and contravenes international law.

''The EU expresses its regrets over the fact that repeated appeals by EU Missions in Kathmandu to release the asylum seekers from prison and to process them in accordance with established practice and in cooperation with UNHCR were ignored by HMG without offering any explanation or justification for the harsh measures now taken against this group.

''Respect for international norms and human rights is one of the fundamental pillars of cooperation between the EU and Nepal as it is for all of the EU's development partners.

''The Acceding Countries Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, the Slovak Republic and Slovenia, the Associated Countries Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey and the EFTA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Nor-way, members of the European Economic Area align themselves with this declaration.''

[12] Greek Euro-MPs report throws strong support to EU cohesion policy

BRUSSELS 14/06/2003 (ANA)

In a report tabled for discussion in the Europarliaments plenum in September, described as a high-quality one by Regional Policy Commissioner Michel Barnier and MPEs from all political groups, Mastorakis rejects all ideas for re-nationalization of the regional policy.

In addition, Mastorakis' report places emphasis on additional funding and supplementary action of various sector policies and regional policy, regarded imperative for the effective implementation of the EU's Cohesion policy.

[13] Greek eurodeputy says US State Dept human trafficking report is unfair to Greece

Athens, 14/06/2003 (ANA)

Karamanou, who also heads the European Parliament's Com-mittee on Women's Rights and Equal Opportunities, said that the US State Department report was based on information compiled at local US embassies, and it pointed to a clear intention to be used as a ''diplomatic tool'' for exerting pressure on third coun-tries.

''In no case could Greece rate worse than some Asian or African countries that systematically violate basic rights of women'', the eurodeputy noted.

She said the Greek government as well as local governments and non-governmental organisations in Greece had taken signi-ficant measures to tackle the problem. She admitted, however, that a problem existed in Greece, comparable to that existing also in other European countries.

[14] Drys optimistic over decisions on EU farming policy reforms

BRUSSELS 14/06/2003 (ANA - G. Zitouniati)

Drys said that discussions on the compromise proposal of the Greek EU presidency progressed substantially, but it became apparent that more time was necessary for the agreement to mature.

He added that the council of ministers will meet again on Tuesday in Luxembourg, following briefings of the ministers in their respective countries, meanwhile the presidency will prepare a new improved proposal.

"I would like to note that the presidency has realized the willingness of the member-states to made decisions now. Our aim is to be lead to an sincere and honest compromise next week and to conclude the reform immediately," Drys said.

[15] Gov't pledges to reduce payment delays for pensioners

Athens, 14/06/2003 (ANA)

He said the time required to receive a pension from the Social Insurances Foundation (IKA) had already been halved and was expected to be reduced by a third after July. The situation was similar in OGA, while similar improvements had taken place in all other social insurance funds.

He noted that delays were inevitable, however, when a person had been insured by a succession of insurance funds, especially in a foreign country, or where insurance stamps had been lost or mislaid.

Spyropoulos was responding to questions put by main oppo-sition New Democracy MP Theofilos Leontaridis, who insisted that the situation for most pensioners was tragic, with average waiting times from retirement to receiving the first pension payments ranging from over six months in OGA, over eight months for IKA and over 18 months for those seeking disability pensions from OGA.

[16] Halkidki miners not reassured by minister; vow to remain in mines

Athens, 14/06/2003 (ANA)

They have, however, decided to end a hunger strike that was in its second week.

The miners barricaded themselves within the mines at the start of June after mine-owner TVX Hellas filed for bankruptcy, raising the spectre of unemployment.

Deputy Economy Minister Christos Pachtas vowed that a successor scheme would be found to take over the mines, which would stay open and continue operating.

[17] Greek weekly economic review

Athens, 14/06/2003 (ANA)

In its latest report on the outlook of the Greek economy, the IMF urged the government to take measures for a more flexible labour market, deregulating markets, restraining pay rises in the public sector and reducing the public sector in the economy.

The IMF also forecast that the Greek economy would grow by 3.6 percent this year, down from a budget target of 3.8 percent, while inflation will average an annual rate of 3.8 percent in 2003.

In other headline news this week, the Bank of Greece said it was abolishing all restrictions in the domestic consumer credit market from June 20.

"Our common goal is the development of the Greek economy, improving competitiveness and boosting employment," Odysseas Kyriakopoulos, Greek Industries' Union chairman said this week. Speaking to reporters, after a meeting with Prime Minister Costas Simitis and Economy and Finance Minister Nikos Christodoulakis, the Greek industrialist rejected talk of "cloudy" relations between the employers' union and the government.

Greek enterprises have to become more competitive, through restructuring programme, and to take more risk, if they want to have a future and prospects in an expanded European Union and in a globalised market, Bank of Greece governor Nikos Garganas said this week.

Greek car sales fell by 4.38 percent in May from the previous month to a total of 22,736 units, official figures showed. Toyota led the list of bigger sales in the month, followed by Hyundai, Opel, Ford and Fiat.

Greek inflation rose to 3.8 percent in May from 3.4 percent in April, the National Statistics Service said. The service attributed the rise in the consumer price index to big increases in fresh fruit and vegetable prices in the month.

Building activity rose 19.9 percent in the January-February period this year compared with the same period in 2002 (based on the volume of new buildings).

Investments in the manufacturing sector fell 37.7 percent last year, or 42.6 percent excluding the oil processing sector, official figures by the Greek Industries' Union said this week.

[18] Profit taking halts rally of prices in ASE

Athens, 14/06/2003 (ANA)

The general index ended 0.91 percent lower at 1,910.6 points for a net gain of 1.81 percent in the week, or 11.89 percent higher in the first 10 sessions of June.

The Telecommunications and Cement sectors suffered the heaviest percentage losses of the day (2.76 percent and 1.98 percent, respectively), while the Publication and Insurance sectors scored the biggest gains (9.07 percent and 1.29 percent, respectively).

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks fell by 0.89 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index eased 0.46 percent and the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index fell 0.27 percent.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 189 to 135 with another 38 issues unchanged and turnover was a heavy 242.2 million euros.

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