Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-07-02

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM Karamanlis meets with Norwegian FM

[02] SI Congress winds up on Wednesday

[01] PM Karamanlis meets with Norwegian FM

The prime minister later met with Archbishop Demetrios of America.

No statements were made after either meeting.

Karamanlis is also scheduled to meet later with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani.

The Norwegian foreign minister is also due to meet with his Greek counterpart Dora Bakoyannis.

[02] SI Congress winds up on Wednesday

Greece's main opposition PASOK party leader George Papandreou, who was unanimously re-elected to the SI presidency by the Congress, told the gathering that the socialists' struggle today exceeds the struggle for social change, and was a fight for the salvation of humanity.

Charging that the socialists' opponents were systematically using fear and disinformation to "control the world", Papandreou stressed that the historic role of social-democracy "not only has not ended, but is more necessary than ever, today".

"The answer to the problems is a deepening of the democratic practices," he added.

Papandreou further said that SI would continue to work for peace and for enhancing the "diplomacy of the citizens", while it will also back understanding between Israelis and Palestinians with the aim of a secure Israel and a viable Palestinian state.

On the Cyprus issue, Papandreou said a new understanding was needed to provide an opportunity for reunification of the island republic into a federal state, in accorance with the relevant UN resolutions, and sent a "message of support and hope" to Cyprus president Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat in their upcoming meeting.

"We hope that the wall dividing Cyprus for so many years will be torn down soon," he added.

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