Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 02-04-08

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

CONTENTS

[01] Papandreou says US holds ability to influence Mideast developments

[02] Olympics-related issues on Greek FM's agenda in Beijing

[03] PASOK's, gov't's efforts for convergence supported by the people , premier says

[04] ND leader reiterates proposal for foreign policy council, criticizes gov't

[05] Human Law Committee calls on Israelis to respect international law

[06] Deputy FM addresses Thessaloniki Rotary Club event

[07] Public works minister tours delayed Aktion tunnel project

[08] Development minister visits Argolida prefecture

[09] Interior minister addresses 3rd Convention of the PASOK Youth Central Council

[10] Athens Journalists' Union agrees with newspaper owners on new contract

[11] Demonstrators hold peaceful rally outside Israeli embassy

[12] President attends memorial services at WWII-era border fortresses

[13] Farmers continue to block roads, asking for cotton subsidies over quota

[14] Possible UN intervention should be based on UN resolutions

[01] Papandreou says US holds ability to influence Mideast developments

BEIJING, 08/04/2002 (ANA - Ch. Poulidou)

Papandreou noted that Washington’s policy was moving in the wrong direction, as the United States retains the ability to influence developments in the region.

“Of course, this ability is not exhausted on a unilateral level, because influence in the region is effective only when it is the product of international cooperation. The notion, however, that Washington is viewing events from a distance is wrong, just as this was recognized by President Bush, who, the other day, called for the rapid implementation of a (relevant) Security Council resolution,” he said.

“In his statement the US President noted that regional security is combined with the achievement of a political solution. And this is correct, because even if the Palestinians’ struggle is just, the murder of innocent citizens both undermines the Palestinian authority’s prestige and turns away the supporters that the Palestinians had outside of Israel,” he added.

Finally, the Greek FM said he spoke with US Secretary of State Colin Powell on Friday evening regarding the Mideast situation and expressed uncertainty over a possible Powell-Yasser Arafat meeting.

[02] Olympics-related issues on Greek FM's agenda in Beijing

BEIJING, 08/04/2002 (ANA - Ch. Poulidou)

The prospect of Olympic cooperation comes as the countries' capitals will host the Games in 2004 and 2008, respectively.

The Greek minister's three-day trip precludes a scheduled visit in the Asian country by Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis in June.

Papandreou is scheduled to meet with his Chinese counterpart, Tang Jiaxuan, as well as Vice-Premier Hu Jintao, the country's sports minister and the mayor of Beijing.

One of the items Papandreou is expected to touch on includes vying for China's support of Greece's bid to retain a seat on the UN Security Council between the 2005-2007 period.

In terms of bilateral relations, the Greek FM said Athens would examine issues related to Chinese nationals' visas within the framework of the Schengen Pact, with a view to accelerating procedures for approval of relevant travel documents.

Additionally, Papandreou said talks will also center on Greece-China cooperation in light of the Greek EU presidency in the first half of 2003, as well as on examining the possibility of Beijing adopting Athens' proposal for the "Olympic Truce" along with a mutual promotion of the two capitals in each country.

"The Union is discovering at this point the dynamic of relations with Asia," Papandreou told reporters, reminding that the EU Troika-China contact group will convene during next year's Greek presidency.

Deputy Development Minister Dimitris Georgakopoulos, meanwhile, met with representatives of 35 state tourism offices interested in the Greek market.

[03] PASOK's, gov't's efforts for convergence supported by the people , premier says

Athens, 08/04/2002 (ANA)

The premier is on the island as part of a tour of the Ionian Sea isles, on Friday he visited Zakynthos.

''PASOK ... is the power of its program, its principles, of its work and vision,'' the premier said, adding that this convergence with the rest of Greece's European partners will take place in all sectors.

Main opposition New Democracy (ND) is a party that carries the heavy burden of a past and all its high ranking cadres were members of a right wing government, which the people have condemned, Simitis said, adding that the political confrontation for the future was not conducted with the terms ''right-left'' but on the basis of who has clear cut positions and who does not.

He also noted, focusing on the voters of the center-left and left that they are ''with us, we want them with us and they will be with us in this course to convergence, they will be with us in the 2004 elections''.

He added that the course toward convergence passes through the next municipal and prefecture elections - in coming October - and for this reason the confrontation should be made on new political terms.

PASOK aims at rallying the progressive majority of the country toward a ballot ticket of victory of the wider left spectrum, in every municipality, in every prefecture, Simitis said.

The premier also spoke of the development projects underway in the Ionian Sea islands and expressed the belief that PASOK will win a fourth consecutive term, saying ''we will become a historic generation. A generation that will change in radical and irreversible ways Greece's position''.

''We are moving toward convergence. Until 2008 we will make Greece one of the 20 most developed countries of the world. We will move on together. With Unity, with trust, with a sense of our historic responsibility. Greece is not turning back,'' he concluded.

Simitis outlines four major goals in post-EMU period: Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis pointed to four major goals for the country in the post-EMU period, speaking during a ruling PASOK rally on the island of Cephallonia Saturday evening.

Simitis cited Greece's economic and social convergence with the rest of the European Union; supporting efforts to further build Europe's democratic and social structures; promoting efforts at a just solution to the Cyprus problems along with a "step-by-step" approach to improving Greek-Turkish relations, and finally, successfully hosting the 2004 Olympics in Athens at the four goals.

Moreover, he criticized the main opposition New Democracy party for what he called its "nihilistic" tactics.

Specifically, in terms of convergence with the other EU member-states, Simitis said:

"Convergence is a political gamble, not a one-way street, for which positions and proposals, as well as specific commitments, towards a successful outcome are necessary. New Democracy, however, lacks all three," Simitis charged.

The Greek prime minister continued his tour of the Ionian islands with the address in Cephallonia's capital, Argostoli, and after arriving from another island, Zakynthos, earlier in the day.

[04] ND leader reiterates proposal for foreign policy council, criticizes gov't

MUNICH, 08/04/2002 (ANA)

In an interview to the Deutsche Welle Greek language news program, during his visit in Munich, Germany over the weekend, he also spoke of the Greek-Turkish rapprochement, saying that Turkey was not changing its stance and that ''the diplomacy of the earthquakes was not enough,'' adding that Greece's unilateral good will moves were not enough, as Turkey should at some point respond.

Commenting on the government's work over the past two years since the last national elections, he said that ''the issue is not whether some good things are happening, but that we have lost time and money''.

Asked whether he would call for early elections, he responded ''I would do it if I could impose them''.

On the issue of the October municipal and prefecture elections, Karamanlis expressed his ''strong reservations'' in giving such large image of party-line politics, while regarding his party's moves toward the center and left he said that the ''critical question is whether our country could go forth have been freed from the weights of the past''.

''To still have trenches in the Greek political life, predispositions, obsessions in regards to what transpired during the dramatic decade of the 1940s and 1950s, I believe it to be outmoded and tragic, while at the same time silly,'' Karamanlis said.

Speaking on the leadership of PASOK, he said that ''some people feel that the maintenance of these trenches or even their reviving would offer them election benefits. Maybe this somebody is (Prime Minister Costas) Mr. Simitis. Maybe it is (PASOK party Secretary) Costas Laliotis or the leadership of the governing party. I believe, however, that this both damages the country and it does not yield political benefit''.

On the issue of the Social Security system reform, Karamanlis said that his party tabled specific proposals noting that ''the government, in the time-span of a year, changed dramatically its position, aiming lately to show a supposed social sensitivity ... (the government) is simply attempting with tricks to push the issue aside, until the elections and to load it on the shoulders of the next government''.

Commenting on the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, Karamanlis said that ''possibly they will take place during the governance of the country by our party,'' adding that allot of time was lost, that many projects which should have been completed will not be done or will only partly be completed, compared with the initial planning and that the cost has exceeded budgets.

Regarding the Greek European Union presidency, Karamanlis said that Greece should at any cost be in the hard core of EU member-states, concerning ideas for the European transformation and the direction toward political unification.

The ND leader also addressed an event organized by the Greek expatriate community in Germany on Saturday, with a dose of self-criticism and also with strong criticism for the government, saying ''I believe it to be my obligation to ask your forgiveness, because, many a time, we did not do all we should have done to support you and your bonds with Greece,'' stressing that the basic priority of ND's government program is education and culture.

[05] Human Law Committee calls on Israelis to respect international law

Athens, 08/04/2002 (ANA)

The committee said in a press release that the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention guarantees access of the Red Cross in combat zones to conduct its humanitarian work in protection of the non-combatants.

It added that since Friday the organization was obliged to limit its movement in the West Bank due to the behavior of the Israeli armed forces, which threaten the life of the officials of the Red Cross.

The committee also asked for the intervention of Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou toward the resolution of this humanitarian problem.

[06] Deputy FM addresses Thessaloniki Rotary Club event

Athens, 08/04/2002 (ANA)

Magriotis stressed that the ''accession of Cyprus to the European Union will probably be the grandest national success of modern Greece,'' underlining that the side of Ankara and the leadership of the Turkish-Cypriots has the responsibility for a quick solution to the political problem of Cyprus.

[07] Public works minister tours delayed Aktion tunnel project

Athens, 08/04/2002 (ANA)

The long-delayed project to bypass a narrow strait now awaits the completion of 100-meter stretch of roadway to become operational. Besides the bankruptcy of a consortium initially awarded the tunnel's construction, a series of court challenges -- including local government entities -- have also impeded progress.

"The undersea tunnel of Preveza-Aktion is a pioneering project, it is the first of its kind in Greece and it is technologically perfect. We are confronting, however, problems with access ways to the tunnel, which will be resolved as soon as possible," she said.

[08] Development minister visits Argolida prefecture

Athens, 08/04/2002 (ANA)

''We will confront and resolve the problem of overbuilding in the region of Argolida and especially in specific areas, such as Argos and Hermionida, but in other regions as well, aiming to overcome the limitations of the past,'' Tsohatzopoulos said speaking to the media after the meeting.

[09] Interior minister addresses 3rd Convention of the PASOK Youth Central Council

Athens, 08/04/2002 (ANA)

''We all have the ability for a victory in the municipal and prefecture elections and mainly the prefecture elections ... there is no germ of defeatism,'' Skandalidis said to the convention, adding ''the road is one of politics, of positions, of proposals, of reconnecting with society, the road is the one that leads to victory and on this road the misery ridden solutions have no place''.

[10] Athens Journalists' Union agrees with newspaper owners on new contract

Athens, 08/04/2002 (ANA)

This new contract includes a 6 per cent salary increase for those that earn less than 2,000 euros per month, a five day work week, with paid Saturdays, safe work places and an end to mass firing of journalists.

[11] Demonstrators hold peaceful rally outside Israeli embassy

Athens, 08/04/2002 (ANA)

Protesters disbanded at around 9 p.m. later in the evening without any incidents reported by police, although traffic significantly backed up in the area.

[12] President attends memorial services at WWII-era border fortresses

Athens, 08/04/2002 (ANA)

Stephanopoulos laid a wreath at a memorial for the fallen during the invasion, code-named operation "Marita" by the Wehrmacht.

Speaking in the northern Greek town of Serres, the Greek president referred to the "historic struggles of that time, where men with a soul, strength, determination as well as a love for their country and Greek ideals, were able to put up a resilient defense to Nazi forces..."

Wreaths were also laid and a roll call of the fallen was read out during memorial services at the Lisse, Rupel and Nymphaia bunkers, the sites of bloody warfare in April 1941 between defending Greek forces and the Germans on the Greek-Bulgarian border.

[13] Farmers continue to block roads, asking for cotton subsidies over quota

Athens, 08/04/2002 (ANA)

In requesting the meeting, the farmers aim at asking for an across the board price for cotton and subsidies for all cotton production, over and above the initially announced quota of production.

Police was present near the points of roadblocks but did not intervene, rather it worked to facilitate drivers on their way via alternated roads.

''The solution of the cotton producers problem is not in the roads and blockades. The solution is in the implementation of the regulation and the common ministerial decision, that is in legality. The solution also is in the dialogue, in a dialogue that is not based on what is exactly happening today, but in what is coming and what we can confront,'' Agriculture Deputy Minister Evangelos Argyris said on Sunday, during his visit to Ioannina, northwestern Greece.

''It is about some demands of cotton producers, which overstep what was agreed on and overstep the implementation of regulations and the common ministerial decision,'' he said.

''The checks that were conducted and the results to date show that the agricultural land of 380,500 hectares under cotton production can not produce more than 1,146,000 tons of cotton. And in some cases where production was better, it was determined to be an isolated case,'' he added.

On his part, government spokesman Christos Protopapas called the farmers' actions punishment of all Greek society.

The measures the government undertook ''have already satisfied the large majority of the 80,000 cotton producers,'' he said, adding that ''there is the issue of plantations not recognized by the European Union community regulations''.

Main opposition New Democracy spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos said that ''the Simitis government, consistent to the policy declared by the agriculture minister, has abandoned Greek farmers''.

[14] Possible UN intervention should be based on UN resolutions

NICOSIA, 08/04/2002 (CNA/ANA)

Speaking at a memorial service for the martyrs for Greco-Turkish friendship Costas Misiaoulis (Greek Cypriot) and Dervis Ali Kavazoglou (Turkish Cypriot), assassinated in 1965 by Turkish Cypriot terrorist organization TMT, Christofias said ''we expect that a possible intervention by the UN'' in the Cyprus issue, ''will be based on the implementation of the relevant UN resolutions on Cyprus and the High Level Agreements calling for a bicommunal, bizonal federation.''

Christofias said ''the Security Council should insist on a solution based on UN resolutions and the High Level Agreements'', pointing out that ''it should be understood that any other approach would not save the process nor bend the Turkish intransigence''.

He noted that the Cyprus National Council (top advisory body to the president on the Cyprus question) should evaluate the current situation on the Cyprus problem and chart future strategy in co-ordination with the Greek government.

Christofias said the National Council should discuss ''the possibility of a UN intervention that would attempt'' to treat both sides equally.

''It is imperative the Security Council to send the message clearly to Ankara and the occupied part of Cyprus that it will not tolerate any delaying tactics and that it insists on a solution to the Cyprus problem based on UN resolutions and the High Level Agreements.''

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