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Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 03-07-24

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

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

July 24, 2003

CONTENTS

  • [01] Joblessness down one point in first quarter
  • [02] PM and labor minister discuss ministry policy, 'social charter'
  • [03] Greece, Turkey arrive at two confidence building agreements
  • [04] PM Simitis: Message on 29th anniversary of restoration of democracy
  • [05] Defense minister visits historic Stemnitsa in the Peloponnese
  • [06] Deputy FM in Montenegro for talks on Greek cash plan for Balkans
  • [07] Deputy FM discusses Greek Balkan Economic Reconstruction Plan in Belgrade
  • [08] FM briefs PASOK summer recess committee deputies on foreign policy issues
  • [09] Parl't auditors enabled to lift secrecy on MP accounts, legal experts say
  • [10] KKE leader receives interior minister, discuss election law
  • [11] PASOK secretary addresses int'l youth conference
  • [12] ND leader accuses government of confronting high cost of living with witchhunt
  • [13] PM, finm discuss 3rd Community Support Framework projects
  • [14] Culture minister meets with premier on projects progress
  • [15] Minister says industry absorption of EU funds at 19 pct
  • [16] Public Works minister satisfied with rate of absorption of EU funds
  • [17] Gov't hopes to conclude negotiations with OA unions on Wednesday
  • [18] Analysts see incomes policy hampering cuts in state spending
  • [19] Charter arrivals drop, with shift seen to new venues
  • [20] OTE telecom bond oversold
  • [21] Intracom gets armed forces contract
  • [22] Stocks nose down in profit taking
  • [23] Olympic Games Main Press Center to begin functioning on July 13, 2004
  • [24] Athens municipality denies increase in number of brothels
  • [25] Koufodinas urged to 'tell whole truth' by presiding judge in N17 trial
  • [26] EU urges Cyprus to show greater interest in Middle East
  • [27] Kyrenia refugees call for justice

  • [01] Joblessness down one point in first quarter

    Athens 24/07/03 (ANA)

    Unemployment fell by about one percentage point in the first quarter of 2003, Labor and Social Security Minister Dimitris Reppas said on Wednesday.

    The jobless rate has fallen by 2.2 percent since 2000, representing a decline of about 25.0 percent in the average annual number of unemployed, Reppas told reporters.

    The minister was speaking after presenting the government's employment action plan for 2003 to employers and union representatives as a starting point for consultations.

    He said that the action plan's main objective was to tackle factors that hindered entry into the labor market by helping to boost part-time employment, especially in the public sector.

    The state is expected to recruit about 30,000 jobless, mainly in social services.

    In addition, employers will be offered incentives to recruit, which may include a reduction in contributions they pay for people on low wages; and tax breaks, Reppas said.

    Furthermore, the employment of women will be encouraged, especially in social services; improvement of the compatibility of vocational training with the labor market; and review of the function of the state's Manpower Employment Organization.

    Help is also to be provided for immigrant workers to enter the labor market through creation of a policy institute that will specialize in the field, the minister announced.

    ''Our main weapon for implementation of the plan is social dialogue,'' he said.

    The action plan is linked to commitments to the European Union including reduction of the public debt to 88 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2006 and to less than 70 percent by 2010.

    [02] PM and labor minister discuss ministry policy, 'social charter'

    Athens 24/07/03 (ANA)

    Prime Minister Costas Simitis and Labor Minister Dimitris Reppas held talks on Wednesday on labor ministry policies and the "Social Charter" that Simitis intends to announce in September.

    According to Reppas, the government's priority was a ''modern, social state'' where lower unemployment and rising employment levels would be fuelled by high growth rates.

    Commenting on the results of a recent Eurobarometer poll, Rep-pas noted that Greeks felt less insecurity in their jobs (24 per cent) than the average in the EU (29 per cent), despite the high percentage of those who considered unemployment to be a major problem (62 per cent).

    He said this perhaps reflected other factors not taken into ac-count, such as the prevalence of part-time jobs and other forms of 'flexible' employment that were more prevalent in some EU countries, or the high level of home ownership in Greece.

    [03] Greece, Turkey arrive at two confidence building agreements

    BRUSSELS 24/07/03 (ANA - M. Spinthourakis)

    Greece and Turkey on Wednesday arrived at two agreements concerning confidence building measures, as part of talks taking place within NATO's framework.

    NATO Secretary General Lord Robertson announced that the permanent representatives of Greece and Turkey agreed to intensify the cooperation of their defense ministries on a series of issues that concern NATO and to initiate the implementation of military personnel exchange program, which will have mainly a training character.

    These two agreements come at the heals of an earlier agreement for the mutual notification of military exercises program of the two states.

    Regarding the intensification of the cooperation this will concern a wide spectrum of issues, such as the new strategic concept of NATO, crisis management, confrontation of environmental disasters and issues of scientific interests among others.

    Concerning the military personnel exchange program, this will, in the beginning, be limited to the visit of a group of no more than five officers from each country to the other, that is five Turkish officers will visit a training center in Kilkis, northern Greece and five Greek officers will visit a similar center near Ankara.

    Robertson also announced that the talks will continue to further build trust between Greece and Turkey and that these talks will be based on a list of possible measures, which the two countries have agreed to study.

    [04] PM Simitis: Message on 29th anniversary of restoration of democracy

    Athens 24/07/03 (ANA)

    "We are moving ahead, leaving behind us any inherent deficiencies of our political system," Prime Minister Costas Simitis said Wednesday, adding that "the country's modernization is a one-way street, it affects all forms of public life, and this is why we are undertaking such dialogue initiatives that lead to the new era".

    In a message marking Thursday's 29th anniversary of the restoration of democracy in Greece following the fall of the 7-year military dictatorship, Simitis noted that "the challenge is a big one", adding that whoever denied that challenge "remains behind in the past, in conservatism, and cannot respond to the needs of the modern-day world".

    He said that 29 years have passed since July 24, 1974, "a land-mark day for the country's modern history, a day that culminated the struggles of the Greek people for democracy and put an end to the 7-year dictatorship that brought on so many tribulations to Greece and the Greeks".

    The Greek people retained in their memory the "deep wounds caused by the colonels' dictatorship to our democracy", and "remember and honor all those who gave their lives, who were persecuted and exiled by the abhorrent and tyrannical regime".

    "We do not forget the abolition of every democratic right, the climate of fear and suspicion they (the military junta) imposed, the country's international isolation, nor the misadventures in which they implicated our country, culminating with the national tragedy of Cyprus and the invasion by Attila," Simitis said.

    The premier stressed that today, "our consolidated democracy comprises a firm foundation for the growth and prosperity of the citizens".

    Greece, he said, was a key player in the new international environment, comprising a firm factor of stability, peaceful cooperation and development in Europe and the world.

    The Greek EU presidency, in the first half of the year, had proved, to even the biggest disbelievers, the country's ability to play a major role and be respected by all, he said, while Cyprus' accession to the European Union was the vindication of many years of hard efforts by all of Hellenism.

    "We are continuing the struggle for a unified Cyprus in the European Union," the premier added.

    He further said that the Greek people and society had chosen the road of changes, renewal, transparency and adaptation to the new reality.

    "The future hinges on our constant effort. The struggle for expansion of democracy, progress, growth and social solidarity is a constant one," Simitis said.

    Messages of opposition parties in light of Democracy's restoration anniversary :

    New Democracy (ND) leader Costas Karamanlis on Wednesday underlined that everyone is obliged to secure the country with modern and effective institutions that guarantee transparency.

    In his message for the anniversary of the restoration of democracy in 1974, Karamanlis said that ''It is the obligation of us all to secure the country, with modern strong and effective institutions that will guarantee transparency, equality before the law, healthy competition and real modernization on all levels. The move toward a state of increased capabilities toward the citizen. The building of a society of participation and cohesion, solidarity and humanitarianism''.

    ''Greek men and women demand (of politicians) honesty, credibility, consistency, merit and courage,'' he added.

    In its message, the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) stressed that 29 years ''after the collapse of the American-NATO military dictatorship of 1967-1974 the rights of the working class and of the other popular strata of society are having their heads cutoff, while the anti-popular political system is secured even more so, since it serves the plutocracy and its power''.

    ''The democracy we live is a hypocritical one. Its hypocrisy shows mainly the fact that it does not recognize the right of the people to overcome it, if it so wants and to follow the road as a protagonist of developments,'' the press release added.

    On its part, the Coalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology (Synaspismos) issued a message that 29 years after the fall of the dictatorship, ''the country needs radical change and progressive reforms in all sectors that are capable to provide once again hope to citizens, cohesion to society and credibility to the political life''.

    [05] Defense minister visits historic Stemnitsa in the Peloponnese

    Athens 24/07/03 (ANA)

    National Defense Minister Yiannos Papantoniou on Wednesday visited the historic town of Stemnitsa and the city of Tripoli in the Peloponnese, where he outlined the aims of ruling PASOK concerning the "social benefits to the weaker social classes from Greece's economic success".

    The minister attended a ceremony officially handing over an army target range to the University of the Peloponnese and met with members of the PASOK Prefectural committee of Arcadia in the Prefectural capital, Tripoli.

    During the meeting he referred to the need for changes within PASOK to bring it closer to society and also focused on the efforts of the government to promote third community support framework funds to the Peloponnese and Epirus, calling on the private economy sector of the region to develop business initiatives to overturn the negative climate.

    Stemnitsa was the first capital of the newly-formed Greek state in 1821 for three weeks, housing the 'Peloponnesian Senate' in its historic Church on May 29, 1821. It is also Papantoniou's hometown.

    [06] Deputy FM in Montenegro for talks on Greek cash plan for Balkans

    BELGRADE 24/07/03 (ANA - N. Pelpas)

    Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Andreas Loverdos arrived in Podgorica, the capital of Montenegro, on Wednesday as he continued his three-day tour of Balkan nations to discuss the Greek Plan for the Economic Reconstruction of the Balkans (GPERB) with local officials.

    In talks with Loverdos, Montenegrin government ministers and officials said the first priority within the GPERB should go to health sector projects.

    Loverdos assured them that the development of the Balkans was Greece's primary aim and said that a proposal for the construction of a medical centre in Montenegro had received preliminary approval.

    Up to 17.5 million euros to be released over five years have been earmarked for Montenegro under the GPERB. The largest chunk of the reconstruction aid package will go to Serbia, which stands to benefit from 235 million euros out of a total budget of 550 million euros.

    On Tuesday, Loverdos visited Tirana for talks on the Greek Balkan reconstruction plan with Albanian officials. Albania is also one of the beneficiaries of the GPERB.

    While in Tirana he met Albanian Culture Minister Arta Dade, seeking to garner support for Greece's bid to host the 2009 Mediterranean Games, and his Albanian counterpart Luan Haida-raga, with whom he discussed institutional reforms within Albania and Greece's support for Albania's EU accession programs.

    While in the country he announced that Greece had extended the deadline for the renewal of residence permits by Albanian nationals living in Greece until October. He said that Albanians could make one round trip to their country between now and October using their passports and proof that they had applied to have their papers renewed by Greek authorities.

    [07] Deputy FM discusses Greek Balkan Economic Reconstruction Plan in Belgrade

    BELGRADE 24/07/03 (ANA - N. Pelpas)

    Deputy Foreign Minister Andreas Loverdos discussed the Greek Balkan Economic Reconstruction Plan with government officials in Belgrade on Wednesday on his last stop in a three-day tour of Balkan countries to promote the plan.

    Loverdos assessed during a press conference, after holding consecutive meetings with Serb International Economic Relations Minister Goran Pitic, Transport Minister Miodrag Jokic and Deputy Economy Minister responsible for the reconstruction plan Gordana Lazarevic, that the implementation of the plan is now acquiring a new impetus.

    His talks focused in detail on the programs which will begin to be implemented over the next six months. They are the construction of two parts of motorway 10 and the construction of the 400 kW electric power cable extending from the city of Nis to the city of Skopje.

    Loverdos said at the press conference that in the framework of the reconstruction plan eight programs have already been approved for Serbia and Montenegro from the money (2.5 million euros) which the Greek embassy in Belgrade has undertaken to forward.

    [08] FM briefs PASOK summer recess committee deputies on foreign policy issues

    Athens 24/07/03 (ANA)

    Foreign Minister George Papandreou on Wednesday briefed PASOK party deputies participating in Parliament's first summer recess committee on foreign policy issues. In past years, Papandreou has been used to briefing deputies of the ruling party during a dinner.

    Papandreou briefed the deputies on all foreign policy issues (the European Union presidency, Greek-Turkish relations, the Cyprus issue, Iraq, etc). According to most of his interlocutors, it was the first time they had such a systematic briefing on foreign policy issues.

    Reports said a large part of the discussion concerned developments in Greek-Turkish relations and Turkey's European prospects. Papandreou reportedly defended the correctness of government policy in Greek-Turkish relations, stressing that this policy has started to bear fruit.

    On the question of relations between Europe and Turkey, Papandreou reportedly mentioned that there are pro-European forces in Turkey that are gaining ground. He included Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his party in these forces.

    [09] Parl't auditors enabled to lift secrecy on MP accounts, legal experts say

    Athens 24/07/03 (ANA)

    The parliamentary committee responsible for inspecting the veracity of MPs 'statement of means' declarations could legitimately order the lifting of confidentiality on MPs' stock market accounts, bank accounts and tax statements, both now and in the past, legal experts concluded on Wednesday.

    Three justices participating in the committee - members of the Council of State, the Auditing Council and Greece's Supreme Court, respectively - arrived at this conclusion after they were asked to give their legal opinion by MPs concerned that a retroactive investigation was not justified by law.

    According to the head of the 'statement of means' inspection committee, Nikos Vrettos, the committee was empowered to carry out retroactive inspections to verify new facts that might overturn the statements that had been submitted by MPs to date.

    The committee is due to reconvene this week to decide whether it will go ahead with ordering the confidentiality of MP accounts lifted, while there will probably be a debate on how far back the inspection should go and whether there is a problem with statute-barred offences.

    The committee reported that it had completed inspections of MP statements for 2001 and had found nothing suspicious.

    [10] KKE leader receives interior minister, discuss election law

    Athens 24/07/03 (ANA)

    Communist Party of Greece (KKE) leader Aleka Papariga on Wednesday received Interior Minister Costas Skandalidis and discussed the proposed draft of the new election law, but apparently there was no agreement between them.

    KKE remained steadfast in its position of demanding nothing less than a clear cut proportional representation system, while Skandalidis underlined the necessity for changes in the present election system, stressing that there must be common understanding for the effort to succeed.

    [11] PASOK secretary addresses int'l youth conference

    Athens 24/07/03 (ANA)

    Ruling PASOK party secretary Michalis Chrysohoidis on Wednesday addressed the JUSY international youth festival organized by PASOK in the Kammena Vourla town of south central Greece.

    He spoke of the necessity for the ''grand overturning that will bring us again in the center of political life ... it is the duty of all of us over the next seven days to open our ears and our eyes, to come off the carriage of power and to talk with you on equal terms on the burning international and local issues, which the conservative agenda can not hear, much less confront''.

    He added that the role of the socialist movement under the current circumstances is to submit a complete, modern political proposal that respects human rights and social acquis, while it promotes methodically and effectively social progress and cohesion.

    [12] ND leader accuses government of confronting high cost of living with witchhunt

    Athens 24/07/03 (ANA)

    Main opposition New Democracy party leader Costas Karamanlis, speaking in the northern Athens suburb of Pefki on Wednesday night, accused the government of confronting the high cost of living with a witchhunt and communication tricks, adding that this problem cannot be solved with police measures against the market or with market control clauses.

    Karamanlis said the high cost of living is due to the low competitiveness of the national economy, which is reflected with the dwindling of exports, the increase in imports and the decrease in tourist movement.

    He also stressed that Athens moved up 40 positions from the 111th to the 71st position in the world classification of the most expensive cities in the world, while the average salary is 40 percent lower than the European average.

    [13] PM, finm discuss 3rd Community Support Framework projects

    Athens 24/07/03 (ANA)

    Finance Minister Nikos Christodoulakis said on Wednesday that most of the crucial programs of the 3rd Community Support Framework (CSF) are going ahead at a satisfactory pace.

    Christodoulakis was speaking at the end of a series of meetings Prime Minister Costas Simitis had at the Maximos Mansion with ministers on the course of projects contained in the 3rd CSF.

    According to the minister, the aim by the end of the year is for Greece to absorb a quarter of EU funds corresponding to the six-year period. He added that this aim would safeguard funds the country is expecting from the EU.

    Christodoulakis further said greater progress is expected in autumn since many of the projects, particularly those concerning businesses and training, culture, health and environment programs, will have speeded up considerably.

    This year, the minister noted, will end in accordance with targets, ''creating a strong impetus for development.''

    By the end of the year, he said, the target of a growth rate of 3.8 percent will have been achieved.

    In this framework the government will be announcing the Convergence Charter which, according to Christodoulakis, will in essence ''lay the foundations for how we want Greece to forge ahead over the next four years.''

    [14] Culture minister meets with premier on projects progress

    Athens 24/07/03 (ANA)

    Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos on Wednesday met with Prime Minister Costas Simitis, National Economy Minister Nikos Christodoulakis and Deputy Economy Minister Christos Pachtas to discuss the progress of projects connected to the European Union's third Community Support Framework fund.

    Venizelos stated, upon his departure from the meeting, that the projects connected to the fund that are the culture ministry's responsibility are progressing very well, adding ''we are making a great effort for museums and modern cultural infrastructure''.

    [15] Minister says industry absorption of EU funds at 19 pct

    Athens 24/07/03 (ANA)

    Development Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos said on Wednesday that industry had shown an absorption rate of 19 percent for funds under the European Union's Third Community Support Framework package of funds.

    The absorption rate of financing for tourism was 6.0 percent, and 2.0 for energy, Tsohatzopoulos told reporters after a meeting with the prime minister.

    [16] Public Works minister satisfied with rate of absorption of EU funds

    Athens 24/07/03 (ANA)

    Environment, Town Planning and Public Works Minister Vasso Papandreou on Wednesday declared herself satisfied with the rate of absorption of European Union funds for public works by Greece, following a meeting earlier in the day with Prime Minister Costas Simitis.

    Papandreou said that more than 36 per cent of funds allocated for major infrastructure had been absorbed and that programs in these sectors were progressing as planned.

    Community programs for roads and major public works were not only on target but the ministry was ready to absorb funds from other sources if these were available, she added.

    [17] Gov't hopes to conclude negotiations with OA unions on Wednesday

    Athens 24/07/03 (ANA)

    Transport Minister Christos Verelis on Wednesday announced that negotiations with the workforce at Olympic Airways will be concluded on Wednesday, with a deal due to be signed at meeting on Wednesday afternoon between transport ministry staff and the air stewards union.

    This is the last of OA staff unions to sign an agreement regarding its participation in New Olympic Airways and an agreement will open the way for a government amendment establishing the new airline.

    Talks failed at a meeting between the two sides on Tuesday and the union is returning to put its final proposals on the table.

    As he emerged from a meeting with Prime Minister Costas Simitis, Verelis did not wish to give a definite date for tabling the amendment that sets up New Olympic Airways but sources said this might well be tabled on Friday attached to the transport ministry's bill for the Greek post offices.

    [18] Analysts see incomes policy hampering cuts in state spending

    Athens 24/07/03 (ANA)

    The government's incomes policy of average net wage rises in the public sector topping 6.0 percent will hamper a reduction of primary state spending, Alpha Bank said in weekly investor report.

    The increase will mean additional government expenditure on wages of 630 million euros in 2004, the Athens-quoted bank's analysts said.

    The rise in spending will also hinder any major reduction of the public debt as a percentage of gross domestic product in coming years when gains from low interest rates will no longer apply, the report said.

    [19] Charter arrivals drop, with shift seen to new venues

    Athens 24/07/03 (ANA)

    Charter arrivals to Greece from abroad fell by 2.77 percent in June 2003 against the same month a year earlier, the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) said on Wednesday.

    Compiling data from 17 airports, the GNTO said in a routine re-port that charter arrivals totalled 1,285,211 last month against 1,321,835 in June 2002, down 36,624.

    The report noted that movement was down in traditional tourist destinations including Athens (-24.60), Santorini (-12.76 per-cent), and Mykonos (-11.43 percent).

    Arrivals had increased to non-traditional destinations including Thessaloniki (+12.24 percent), Kalamata (+16.28 percent), and Lesvos (+9.43 percent), the report said.

    [20] OTE telecom bond oversold

    Athens 24/07/03 (ANA)

    A bond issued by OTE Plc was oversold by more than 2.8 times, underwriters said on Wednesday.

    The offer for the 5 percent coupon bond was increased to 1.25 billion euros from 1.0 billion euros in order to meet demand, they said.

    Guaranteed by Athens-quoted Hellenic Telecommunications, the paper expires on August 5, 2013.

    [21] Intracom gets armed forces contract

    Athens 24/07/03 (ANA)

    Intracom SA, an Athens-quoted telecoms and information technology manufacturer, said on Wednesday that it had secured a supply contract for the army totalling 724,000 euros.

    The blue chip firm will provide the army with two mobile VSAT ground satellite terminal stations, it said in a statement.

    [22] Stocks nose down in profit taking

    Athens 24/07/03 (ANA)

    The Athens bourse finished lower on Wednesday on heavy profit taking in the last hour of the session, traders said.

    The general share index shed 0.04 percent to end at 2,076.69 points, testing resistance at 2,100 points during the session. Turnover was 189.5 million euros.

    The FTSE/ASE-20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks ended 0.24 percent up; the FTSE/ASE-40 for medium capitalization paper 0.73 percent lower and the FTSE/ASE-80 for small cap equities finished with losses of 0.35 percent.

    Of stocks traded, declines led advances at 191 to 140 with 37 issues remaining unchanged.

    Bond Market Close: Buyers outstrip sellers on Wednesday

    Greek Benchmark 10-Year Bond

  • Yield: 4.15 pct

  • Spread over German bund: 14 bps

  • Most heavily traded paper: 10-yr, expiring May 2013 (392 mln euros)

  • Day's Total Market Turnover: 1.8 bln euros

    Derivatives Market Close: Turnover at 92.1 mln euros Wednesday

    Equity Index Futures:

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

  • Underlying Index: +0.24 percent

  • FTSE/ASE-40 (medium cap): At premium

  • Underlying Index: -0.73 percent

    Stock Futures:

  • Most Active Contract (volume): Intracom (879)

  • Total turnover in derivatives market: 92.1 mln euros

    FOREIGN EXCHANGE

    Closing rates of July 23 2003

    Parities in euro

    Banknotes

    For. Exchange Buying Selling

    US Dollar 1,149 1,123

    [23] Olympic Games Main Press Center to begin functioning on July 13, 2004

    Athens 24/07/03 (ANA)

    The 2004 Athens Olympic Games Main Press Center (MPC) will begin functioning as of July 13, 2004, opening its doors to 5,500 accredited journalists and photographers.

    It will begin to operate on a round-the-clock basis as of July 27, 2004, according to what was said during Wednesday's 3rd briefing for the Olympic Games' press services.

    The MPC will close on September 3, 2004, and by the 9th of the same month its services will have moved to the Athens Olympic stadium's press centre, where it will begin to function on September 10 for the needs of the Paralympic Games.

    The briefing was coordinated by the 2004 Athens Olympic Games Organizing Committee's (ATHOC) press services director Costas Vernikos, while an analytical presentation of services was made by the MPC's sector director Aris Nikolakis and Olympic News Service director Vassilis Skountis.

    The MPC, which Nikolakis termed ''a window of the world open to 2004'', will cover an area of 52,000 square meters, of which 10,000 will be rented to news agencies.

    The renting price amounts to 5,700 euros for every 25 square meters, while Nikolakis said renting orders, which have reached ATHOC so far concern over 3,000 square meters.

    As regards Olympic News services, known as Info 2004, Skountis said they constitute an ''internal news agency'' for the Games, to which media representatives and every journalist will have access at the Games' venues.

    ''Someone who works from his office and far from the Games will have no access,'' Skountis said.

    [24] Athens municipality denies increase in number of brothels

    Athens 24/07/03 (ANA)

    The Athens municipality's press office said in an announcement on Wednesday in no way will the Municipal Council of Athens go ahead with an increase in the number of brothels or prostitutes.

    On the contrary, it added, it is determined to have strict preconditions and restrictions anticipated by a law ratified four years ago, which was never applied, observed.

    According to a report by Reuters news agency from Stockholm and the German News Agency from Oslo the governments of four north European countries addressed a letter to the 2004 Athens Olympic Games Organizing Committee (ATHOC) to protest plans according to which new brothels will open in Athens during next year's Olympic Games.

    The press office noted that it issued its announcement ''on ac-count of a report by a foreign news agency referring to a protest by equality ministers of Scandinavian and Baltic countries which, evidently due to inadequate information, attribute to the Athens Municipality the intention of increasing the number of brothels in Athens.''

    The announcement further said ''the law ratified by the Greek Parliament and which the Municipality of Athens is determined to implement anticipates that brothels cannot operate near schools, churches, nursery schools, squares, children's play-grounds, hospitals, youth centers, sports centers, boarding schools and charitable institutions. It also anticipates checks and inspections and the strict provision of licenses so as to deal a strong blow to interests which are exploiting indifference and the uncontrolled operation of brothels until today.''

    It also underlined that ''by the Municipal Council's decision dozens of brothels will be sealed which have been operating without control, causing the justified protests of the inhabitants of our city.''

    The announcement said the Athens Municipality's political option is an institutional framework and strict rules which will be observed without selective or fragmental application. In this way the number of brothels in the capital will decrease and whatever uncontrolled situations will be averted in the future.

    The social affairs and equality ministers of Norway, Sweden, Finland and Iceland signed a joint letter addressed to the Athens mayor, criticizing the proposal by Greek authorities for, according to reports, licenses to be given for up to 30 new brothels.

    The Baltic countries - Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania - also signed the letter, while Denmark is the only country in the region which did not back this protest.

    [25] Koufodinas urged to 'tell whole truth' by presiding judge in N17 trial

    Athens 24/07/03 (ANA)

    Addressing the accused Dimitris Koufodinas in the ongoing "November 17" trial, presiding judge Mihalis Margaritis on Wednesday urged him to ''tell the whole truth'' when he makes his plea before the Three-Member Criminal Appeals Court on Thursday and provide an explanation of what drove N17 to take lives and break the law.

    Koufodinas is the first of the 19 prisoners on trial that will address the court and make his plea, while he has already admitted his participation in the terrorist group.

    Speaking to the prisoner after his defense asked that he be given an extra day to prepare his address to the court, Margaritis urged him not to fear offending the court and to speak openly.

    ''Fall out with the court, yes, but not with the truth. I feel it is my duty to tell you that the court and Greek society expects you, who have admitted that you were in the organization and surrendered, to answer certain questions about the conditions that led to the group's formation, the ideological background of the people that took part and what psychological processes led them to pass from revolutionary ideology to personal violence and transgressing the penal code. This trial has historic significance for the organization itself. I expect you to explain the reason for all this, why the organization acted and you can say what you like. Do not fear coming into conflict with the court,'' judge Margaritis said.

    Koufodinas has made it clear that he does not intend to refer to specific people or actions when he addresses the court.

    Wednesday's session of the ongoing trial was adjourned early after the presentation of documents by lawyers for the defense and civil suits in the case.

    [26] EU urges Cyprus to show greater interest in Middle East

    PAPHOS 24/07/03 (CNA/ANA)

    Foreign Minister Georgios Iacovou has said the EU has urged Cyprus to show greater interest in issues regarding the Middle East.

    Iacovou told the press on his return to Cyprus from Brussels on Wednesday, where he attended an EU General Affairs and External Relations Council, that there is a vivid EU interest in Cyprus' positions as regards the Middle East and that he had pledged that he will visit Middle East countries and submit a report to the Council at its next meeting.

    Concerning the Cyprus problem, Iacovou expressed the opinion there would be no developments this summer, noting that ''we will wait for Cyprus President's meeting with the UN Secretary General in September'' on the sidelines of the 58th Session of the UN General Assembly.

    Iacovou also noted that the UN Secretariat has not yet responded to a letter sent by President Papadopoulos to the UN chief regarding a ''proposal'' put forward by Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash for the reopening of Nicosia International Airport, now under UN control.

    Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of its territory.

    [27] Kyrenia refugees call for justice

    NICOSIA 24/07/03 (CNA/ANA)

    Greek Cypriot refugees from the Turkish-occupied town of Kyrenia have called on the international community to restore international law and human rights in Cyprus fragrantly violated by Turkey.

    The Kyrenians expressed their desire and determination to return to their homeland during an anti-occupation demonstration here on Tuesday night. The gathering coincided with the 29th anniversary of the occupation of their home town by Turkish invasion troops.

    Thousands of heavily-armed Turkish troops have been occupying 37 per cent of Cyprus territory since 1974, in violation of repeated UN resolutions calling for their withdrawal.

    In a resolution addressed to the UN Secretary General and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, the Kyrenians ask the international community ''to undertake all necessary initiatives for the enforcement of international law, human rights and the acquis communautaire (EU laws) in Cyprus.''

    The refugees from this northern coastal town declare that they will not abandon the struggle to return to their homes and properties, stressing that Kyrenia should be handed over to them the soonest possible.


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