Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 03-11-24

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

CONTENTS

[01] Cyprus president notes Turkey's intransigence as problem barring solution

[02] Premier to address event in Thessaloniki on Monday

[03] Deputy FM addresses event in Nicosia

[04] Koulouris addresses EU ministers' summit

[05] PASOK will win next election, V. Papandreou says

[06] Tsohatzopoulos, Venizelos comment on opinion polls

[07] FM declines comments on PASOK candidate lists, wraps up visit in Kastoria

[08] Patriarchate does not wish for more than what is prescribed, Vartholomeos says

[09] Diamantopoulou meets with Dimitrios of America, UN general secretary

[10] Coalition of the Left leader slams PM for "neo-liberalism"

[11] Olympic Airlines resumes flights to Australia,

[12] Striking taxi owners say "no" to electronic cash registers

[13] IAAF agrees on holding the Shot Put event in Ancient Olympia

[14] Public order minister says not changes to Olympic Games' security plans

[15] Venizelos: Greece is an oasis of security

[16] Education Minister attends foreign language certificate testing session

[17] Stephanopoulos inaugurates Larissa municipal art gallery

[18] Explosion at Eurobank ATM in Athens causes minor damage

[01] Cyprus president notes Turkey's intransigence as problem barring solution

Athens, 24/11/2003 (ANA)

In an interview to the Sunday edition of the ''Kathimerini'' Athens daily newspaper, Papadopoulos, who begins an official visit to Athens on Tuesday, underlined that the terms of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's plan for the resolution of the Cyprus issue in essence enforce that an agreement should be found by March 1st.

He also said that in addition to the limited time left, Turkish Premier Recep Erdogan's positions on the Cyprus problem became identical to those of the military establishment of his country, ''maybe so that he can gain their cooperation on other issues''.

Papadopoulos also spoke of the special significance of the problem created by the Turkish settlers that were brought to northern Cyprus by Turkey, not only in light of the ''elections'' to be held in December in the occupied part of the island republic, but also in conjunction with the referendum that will follow once an agreement between the two sides is announced.

Speaking of the issue of security of a re-unified Cyprus, he said that his proposal - on which he will insist - is that an eventual agreement should be guaranteed by a decision of the Turkish National Assembly and not by the leader of the Turkish Cypriot Community Rauf Denktash.

Papadopoulos also said that he did not believe that Turkey was ready to make any compromises in Cyprus, in light of Ankara's bid for accession in the European Union, adding that the critical point for Turkey is not the accession date, but the moment that Turkey will be discussing with the EU the setting of a date for the initiation of accession negotiations.

[02] Premier to address event in Thessaloniki on Monday

Athens, 24/11/2003 (ANA)

The premier's address is entitled "The course of realizing the Greek plan for the Economic Reconstruction of the Balkans".

[03] Deputy FM addresses event in Nicosia

NICOSIA, 34/11/2003 (ANA - G. Leonidas)

Speaking during a conference of Pontians here to secure good conditions of employment and social incorporation.

[04] Koulouris addresses EU ministers' summit

ROME, 24/11/2003 (ANA/L. Xatzikyriakos)

In his address to the body, Koulouris stressed that the effectiveness of the policies for the protection of consumers depended to a great degree on the participation of consumers themselves and their organizations in the drafting of the policies and their implementation.

Koulouris also stressed that the EU directives concerning market self regulation should be encouraged.

[05] PASOK will win next election, V. Papandreou says

Athens, 24/11/2003 (ANA)

Speaking during a press conference, she held in Agrinio, central Greece, Papandreou said that main opposition New Democracy (ND) has no government program in contrast with PASOK, which has tabled and published its "Convergence Charter" for the next four years.

She also spoke of the new infrastructure projects underway in western Greece, including the Rio-Antirio bridge and the related highways.

[06] Tsohatzopoulos, Venizelos comment on opinion polls

Athens, 24/11/2003 (ANA)

He added, however, that the opinion polls contain important messages.

Tsohatzopoulos also said that the climate can be overturned.

On his part, Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos said that despite the fact that ND is ahead in the polls, citizens in fact are supporting all the great ideological, social and political positions of PASOK.

Ministers say PASOK candidate lists serve party's best interest

Development minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos and culture minister Evangelos Venizelos from Thessaloniki on Saturday supported the party's candidate lists as approved by ruling PASOK's Central Committee for the upcoming general elections in spring and said that the exclusion of certain cadres was not a form of censure but the outcome of practical considerations and of intentions to best serve the party's goal of electoral victory.

“It is about choices designed to enable PASOK to get the best possible results at the elections”, Tsohatzopoulos said, at the same time stressing that all PASOK cadres were recruited in the “battle for victory, regardless of their position in the party”. On his part, Venizelos said that the party’s candidate lists evidenced that PASOK had the ability to renew itself and maintain a solid contact with society, and also that it represented pure social forces and could therefore include many new and talented people in its lists for the 2004 elections.

“This indicates that politics continue to charm and this is a good thing for democracy, for society itself”, the culture minister added.

With regard to the candidates who expressed grievance for being excluded from the lists, he said grievances were a natural thing in political parties which, as broad mechanisms, hosted a variety of views under their umbrella.

“There are many and different individuals, each with his or her own style and aspirations, but each party has the obligation to put forward its own goals and criteria, even when this upsets or does injustice to some.”

An overwhelming majority of ruling PASOK's Central Committee on Friday approved the lists of candidates proposed by the party's Executive Bureau for the upcoming general elections in spring.

Only two members of the committee voted against the Executive Bureau's unanimous proposal.

[07] FM declines comments on PASOK candidate lists, wraps up visit in Kastoria

Athens, 24/11/2003 (ANA)

''We will all go to the elections united for PASOK's renewed victorious four-year tenure in the government'', Papandreou said.

Before wrapping up a two-day visit in Kastoria, the foreign minister toured the local commercial district and visited a number of nearby villages.

In speaking at a local constituency meeting on Friday, Papandreou referred to Greece's elevated prestige following its tenure at the EU presidency, as well as to the country's prominent position in the Balkan region.

[08] Patriarchate does not wish for more than what is prescribed, Vartholomeos says

ISTANBUL, 24/11/2003 (ANA - A. Kourkoulas)

Speaking to the presidium of the Thessaloniki's Journalists' Union, which was visiting the Holy See, he further commented on the problem that was created with the Church of Greece, saying that ''we do not want to change the existing status, that is for the metropolises of northern Greece to be administered by the Church of Greece, as we did provide for that in 1928''.

''We, however, do not cease to consider them, Metropolises of the Holy See, belonging to the fold of the regions of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Let the administration be in the hands of the synod of Athens and of the rest let it be that the current Ecumenical Patriarch will be mentioned in the liturgy, they will be spiritually and canonically under the auspices of the Ecumenical Throne and nothing more,'' Vartholomeos added.

''The (Church) Act of 1928 is always in force for us, it was not amended by anyone in later times, a lower body can not nullify a text that was drafted by a higher body,'' he stressed, adding that the reaction of the Patriarchate had to be stronger than usual since ''we did not want to lose these rights on these regions''.

[09] Diamantopoulou meets with Dimitrios of America, UN general secretary

NEW YORK, 24/11/2003 (ANA/P. Panagiotou)

During her meeting with Dimitrios she focused on the issue of intolerance and that of inter-religious dialogue in Europe and the United States, as well as the social action of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.

''Our discussion (also) concerned national issues, since our motherland always unites us, but there are issues that concern my portfolio as a Commissioner and are issues of intolerance and the inter-religious dialogue,'' she said.

Earlier in the day, Diamantopoulou met with Annan and discussed issues concerning her portfolio, ahead of Annan's visit to Brussels, which is scheduled for the end of January.

[10] Coalition of the Left leader slams PM for "neo-liberalism"

Athens, 24/11/2003 (ANA)

"Mr. Simitis today disavows liberalism, but for eight years he was adopting a policy of adjustment to liberalism", said Constantopoulos, addressing a meeting of the Prefectural Committee cadres and secretaries of his party.

[11] Olympic Airlines resumes flights to Australia,

Athens, 24/11/2003 (ANA)

[12] Striking taxi owners say "no" to electronic cash registers

Athens, 24/11/2003 (ANA)

A 24-hour taxi strike ends at 5.00 a.m. on Sunday.

[13] IAAF agrees on holding the Shot Put event in Ancient Olympia

Athens, 24/11/2003 (ANA)

According to an ATHOC press release, the agreement is now subject to the approval of the IOC Executive Board, in its scheduled meeting in Lausanne on the 4th of December. This issue will also be a matter of discussions between the Greek Ministry of Culture and the responsible Archaeological Authorities.

This decision is considered to be a historical one, as it will accentuate the uniqueness of the Athens Games, linking the Games of Antiquity (Ancient Olympia) with the modern Olympic Games.

In addition to the Shot Put Men’s event, the decision also concerns the Women’s event, which will be held in the same Stadium and on the same date.

In order to give further prominence to this unique circumstance, ATHENS 2004 and IAAF will propose that the event takes place on the 18th and 19th August.

In its proposal, the Organizing Committee made it clear that no works whatsoever will be taking place in the Ancient Stadium, so that this historical monument may be preserved. Thus, no provisions are made for construction of temporary facilities, spectator stands or for the installation of video boards, while spectator access will be controlled.

AOB will broadcast the event using 7 television cameras, in their majority portable ones, so as not to cause any problems. Competitions will be held on a single day, with the preliminaries scheduled to take place in the morning and the finals in the afternoon, so that no requirement arises for installing any lighting whatsoever in the Stadium.

Athletes, coaches and accompanying team officials will be accommodated in the beautiful premises of the International Olympic Academy (IOA), which in this way will receive worldwide recognition. The Press Center will be located in the same premises, where the required infrastructure is already in place.

“The staging of the Shot Put event in the Ancient Olympia Stadium is a historical moment for the Olympic Movement. So far, we have been stressing the importance of the return of the Games to the place of their birth and the city of their revival. As of today, we are in a position to say that the Games are making a symbolic and an actual return to their origins. Since the bid for the 1997 Games we have been making efforts to promote Ancient Olympia and link the Games of Antiquity with the Modern Olympic Games,'' ATHENS 2004 President, Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki said.

On his part, IAAF President and member of the IOC, Lamine Diack issued a statement noting that “IAAF Council agreed unanimously that this proposal was a unique opportunity to link the ancient origins of our sport with athletics in the 21st century as well as to promote the central role of athletics in the Olympic Games. This will be a tremendous opportunity to show a world-wide audience the purity and excitement of athletics competition in a sacred setting. The Shot Put may now become one of the highlights of the Games.”

[14] Public order minister says not changes to Olympic Games' security plans

Athens, 24/11/2003 (ANA)

Speaking to a television live news program, Floridis said that there were no indications that persons connected with terrorist organizations of the type of Al Queda entered Greece as legal or illegal immigrants.

''The exclusive responsibility for the security of the Games is assumed by the Greek authorities and not by foreign secret agents,'' Floridis added.

[15] Venizelos: Greece is an oasis of security

Athens, 24/11/2003 (ANA)

''Olympic Games security is a global issue to a large degree depending on the fluctuations of world circumstances. Therefore, we design security for the Olympics not as a local, Greek problem, but as a problem of international cooperation'', said Venizelos whose ministry is responsible for overseeing completion of several 2004-related projects and initiatives.

He stressed ''the world community as well as the International Olympic Committee should be glad that the 2004 Olympics, the first in this century, are hosted in Greece, because Greece is an oasis of security among the developed countries in the West''.

''Everybody, whether a Greek or a foreign guest, should feel secure of in our country'', he added.

[16] Education Minister attends foreign language certificate testing session

Athens, 24/11/2003 (ANA)

This new institution has been operating since last Spring and the minister noted that some 43,000 people participated in this new institutional test, which has a cost of 30 euros.

[17] Stephanopoulos inaugurates Larissa municipal art gallery

Athens, 24/11/2003 (ANA)

The building was complete in 2003 after a 13-year effort of the city and local citizens and in its 4,200 sq. meters it will house the 781 paintings collected during the 1950s and 1960s by the noted medical doctor of the Larissa, central Greece.

[18] Explosion at Eurobank ATM in Athens causes minor damage

Athens, 24/11/2003 (ANA)

Athens police said the explosion was caused by a home-made bomb comprising small butane canisters.

At press time, it was still unclear who planted the device.

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