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Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 08-07-22

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

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

Tuesday, 22 July 2008 Issue No: 2950

CONTENTS

  • [01] Gov't on Gruevski's letter to Barroso
  • [02] PASOK on FYROM
  • [03] Gov't on Vourloumis
  • [04] House president receives Chinese envoy
  • [05] Gov't on opinion polls
  • [06] PASOK condemns Erdogan's visit to Cyprus's occupied territories
  • [07] PASOK spokeswoman on outcome of party's National Council session
  • [08] Synaspismos leader Tsipras on situation in the health sector
  • [09] Navy chief to visit Russia from 22-25 July
  • [10] President Papoulias supports initiative on the environment
  • [11] SAE, GSY pilot programme for young Greek expatriates
  • [12] New orders' index in industrial sector up 8.0 pct in May
  • [13] Athens hotels' occupancy rates down 1.31 pct in May
  • [14] Ministry backs proposal for Hymettus National Park
  • [15] Road network improvement works in Hania
  • [16] Interamerican says compensation payments totaled 151.31 mln euros in H1
  • [17] Greek stocks end 1.17 pct higher
  • [18] ADEX closing report
  • [19] Greek bond market closing report
  • [20] Foreign Exchange rates: Tuesday
  • [21] Two immigrants killed in workplace accidents
  • [22] Man found dead, burnt in Thesprotia
  • [23] British woman accused of strangling her new born baby
  • [24] Escaped prisoner recaptured in Keratsini
  • [25] Nafplio fire partially under control
  • [26] Four wildfires reported
  • [27] Cannabis plantation destroyed in Arcadia, southern Greece
  • [28] Hot, sunny on Tuesday
  • [29] The Monday edition of Athens' dailies at a glance
  • [30] President Christofias presides over meeting on missing persons
  • [31] Cyprus protests Turkish violations of airspace
  • [32] Turkey must alter its stance towards Cyprus, British MPs underline

  • [01] Gov't on Gruevski's letter to Barroso

    Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis has given a clear, firm and historically recorded response to the leadership of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), stressed government spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos when asked to comment on a letter sent by FYROM PM Nikola Gruevski to European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso alleging the existence of a "Macedonian" minority in Greece.

    "Our country's position is consistent toward the international community and organizations," said Roussopoulos, expressing the hope that "Nikola Gruevski and the state leadership in the neighbouring country will realize the historical importance of their participation in the dialogue held under UN auspices on the name issue alone."

    "The dialogue is held within a UN framework on a single issue, that of the name," stressed Roussopoulos when asked if there was any likelihood that Greece will accept direct negotiation.

    "All efforts made for the solution of the FYROM name issue are regarded as constructive," the spokesman added when asked if Greece welcomed a comment by US deputy assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Matthew Bryza to the Greek newspaper "Eleftheros Typos" that the Greek-FYROM negotiations at the UN concern only the name issue, noting that any assistance coming from an EU ally or the United States is welcomed.

    [02] PASOK on FYROM

    Main opposition PASOK alternate spokeswoman Maria Karaklioumi claimed on Monday her party's position that the "governement and the prime minister, in particular, by sending a letter of reply to his Skopje counterpart, show, indirectly, that they accept the other side's agenda, is being confirmed."

    The spokeswoman was commenting on a letter sent by Former Yugoslav Reublic of Macedonia's (FYROM) premier Nikola Gruevski to European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso alleging the existence of a "Macedonian" minority in Greece.

    Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis, in an answer Friday to a letter sent to him by Gruevski, denied the existence of a "Macedonian" minority in Greece.

    "PASOK's very concrete position is that the only issue to be solved with the neighbouring country and the only one that must be discussed in the United Nations' framework is the issue of the (landlocked republic's) name," Karaklioumi added.

    The spokeswoman reiterated the main opposition party's position, "which is a single name for all uses" and called on FYROM leaders to "demonstrate responsibility and abandon their extreme options, because they do not help dialogue in the region."

    [03] Gov't on Vourloumis

    The likelihood for Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation (OTE) CEO Panagiotis Vourloumis to be proposed for the presidency of the unified OTE has not been discussed, clarified government spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos on Monday.

    "There are viewpoints coming from different directions, including political parties, which are being characterized by political expediency," added Roussopoulos, responding to criticism targeting Vourloumis.

    [04] House president receives Chinese envoy

    Parliament President Dimitris Sioufas received on Monday Chinese Ambassador to Greece Linquan Luo, who was accompanied by embassy officials.

    Talks focused on bilateral relations and the upcoming Olympic Games in Beijing.

    [05] Gov't on opinion polls

    Government spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos on Monday pointed out that "elections were not presently an issue" when commenting on questions regarding the conclusions derived from recent opinion poll results that pointed to a high chance of a hung Parliament and possible collaboration between political parties if elections were held.

    The ruling party of "New Democracy believes in majority governments and governs independently to fulfill the pledges it has undertaken before the Greek people," he stressed.

    [06] PASOK condemns Erdogan's visit to Cyprus's occupied territories

    Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan's illegal visit to the Turkish occupied territories of the Republic of Cyprus late last week "is yet another unacceptable violation of International Law and we denounce it in the most categorical manner," main opposition PASOK alternate spokeswoman Maria Karaklioumi said on Monday.

    She added that 34 years after the Turkish invasion and occupation of 37 per cent of Cyprus's territory, the Cyprus issue "unfortunately still remains open."

    "PASOK demands that, at long last, this last wall, which constitutes a shame for the European Union, be demolished so that we can see a reunited Cyprus, with a single state, only one sovereignty, one personality and one citizenship," Karaklioumi noted.

    She also said that last Saturday, PASOK leader George Papandreou had a telephone conversation with President of the Cyprus Republic Demetris Christofias.

    Cyprus has been divided since July 20, 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.

    [07] PASOK spokeswoman on outcome of party's National Council session

    The alternate spokeswoman of main opposition Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK), Maria Karaklioumi, on Monday termed as "fruitful from every viewpoint" the session of the party's National Council, which was held in Thessaloniki over the weekend.

    She said that at the National Council "many interesting views were exchanged and there was a rich dialogue on the situation prevailing in the country and in Greek society" and on the situation "which has been caused by the conservative governance of the New Democracy party."

    "The session showed the successful operation of the Movement and the president (PASOK leader George Papandreou) in his speech placed the political framework for the country to be rid of the crisis."

    She stressed that all the decisions taken were unanimous and concerned economic policy and the relief of borrowers, political transparency and the party's finances.

    She added that "PASOK will return in autumn with these issues".

    [08] Synaspismos leader Tsipras on situation in the health sector

    Coalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology (Synaspismos) leader Alexis Tsipras on Monday expressed his "disappointment on the state prevailing in the country's health sector," after his meeting with a delegation of the Workers and Pensioners Fund in the Pharmaceutical Public and Private Sector.

    The Synaspismos leader said that "in a period when pharmaceutical companies are increasing at an alarming rate their profits, profiteering at the expense of the pockets of the consumers and of public health, the medical visitors know better than anyone the exploitation of the medical and pharmaceutical complex."

    He added that "our country has the bitter privilege of being the last country in public expenditures for health in the European Union and in the OECD and at the same time first in private expenditures after the United States."

    He noted the "lack of a clear policy for strengthening the role of the National Medicine Organization."

    [09] Navy chief to visit Russia from 22-25 July

    Navy Chief Rear Admiral George Karamalikis will pay an official visit to Russia from 22-25 July, at the invitation of the country's navy Commander-in-Chief Vladimir Visotskiy.

    According to a Navy General Staff announcement on Monday, within the framework of his visit to Moscow, Karamalikis will have talks on issues of mutual interest with his Russian counterpart.

    [10] President Papoulias supports initiative on the environment

    Hellenic Republic President Karolos Papoulias on Monday expressed support to the coordinated effort of twelve high-profile agencies and organizations participating in an environmental protection initiative undertaken by the Athens-Piraeus Supra Prefecture.

    During a meeting on Monday, representatives of the participating organizations presented Papoulias with the relative "cooperation memorandum" signed by major trade unions and universities.

    Supra Prefect Dina Bei underlined the importance of the initiative aimed at salvaging the last remaining open spaces in the region.

    A "monitoring committee" of experts will intervene in environmental protection issues setting the Goudi Park as a priority. Initiatives will also be undertaken to sponsor legislation on the protection of 45 green spaces, including Drapetsona and Mt Pikilon, while an effort will be made to change the institutional framework as regards the region of Mt Hymettus overlooking Athens.

    [11] SAE, GSY pilot programme for young Greek expatriates

    Fifty young expatriates, who wish to study in Greece or become permanent residents, will have the opportunity to learn the Greek language with the help of special computer software.

    The World Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE) three-month-long pilot programme undertaken by the SAE non-profit company "DESMOS" will take place at the organization's offices in Thessaloniki.

    The 25,000-euro programme funded by the General Secretariat for Youth, GSY, aims at promoting the Greek cultural heritage and linguistic identity with the use of new technologies.

    Financial News

    [12] New orders' index in industrial sector up 8.0 pct in May

    The new orders' composite index in the industrial sector (measuring the domestic and external markets) jumped 8.0 percent in May 2008, compared with the same month last year, the National Statistics Service said on Monday.

    The statistics service said the average index in the 12-month period from June 2007 to May 2008 fell by 0.4 percent compared with the corresponding previous 12-month period.

    The turnover index in the industrial sector jumped 13.4 pct in May, from the same month last year, while the average index in the 12-month period from June 2007 to May 2008 rose by 8.7 percent.

    [13] Athens hotels' occupancy rates down 1.31 pct in May

    The average occupancy rate of hotels in the Athens, Attica region fell by 1.31 percent in May, official figures showed on Monday. A monthly report by the Hoteliers' Union of Athens-Attica said that five- and four-star hotels reported declines of 5.65 pct and 1.8 pct, respectively in the month, compared with the corresponding period last year, while in three- and two-star hotels, occupancy rates rose by 0.8 percent. Three-star hotels reported the highest occupancy rates (66.33 pct) in May.

    Average occupancy rates in Athens fell by 1.0 percent in the first five months of the year, while revenues per available room rose 2.5 pct and average room rates were up 3.6 percent in the five-month period from January to May.

    [14] Ministry backs proposal for Hymettus National Park

    The agriculture ministry intends to back a proposal for creating a National Park or National Forest on Mount Hymettus, made by the SPAY association for the protection and development of the mountain, Deputy Agriculture and Foods Minister Costantine Kiltidis said on Monday.

    The minister made the announcement while visiting the forest zone on Mount Hymettus and meeting with local organisations.

    Kiltidis also promised that organised artificial reforestation of the mountain will begin in specific regions in the autumn and would also provide for irrigation to water the saplings, money to improve the entrance ways to Hymettus and possibly fencing to protect the woods on the mountain.

    [15] Road network improvement works in Hania

    The Prefecture of Hania, Crete, will begin works for the improvement of its road network in the next few days, it was announced on Monday.

    The works are budgeted at 5 million euros and a special commission was set up to follow implementation of works.

    [16] Interamerican says compensation payments totaled 151.31 mln euros in H1

    Interamerican on Monday said compensation payments totaled 151.31 million euros in the first half of the year, raising the total number of compensation payments in the period from 2000 to June 2008 to 1.94 billion euros.

    The insurance company said compensation payments in life insurance contracts totaled 68.05 million euros, in the healthcare sector payments totaled 36.05 million euros and in general insurance 35.62 million euros.

    [17] Greek stocks end 1.17 pct higher

    Greek stocks continued moving higher in the Athens Stock Exchange on Monday, extending last week's rebound amid a positive climate in international markets. The composite index rose 1.17 pct to end at 3,446.75 points, with turnover a low 241.1 million euros, of which 4.8 million were block trades.

    Most sectors moved higher with the Personal/Home Products (4.03 pct), Utilities (3.38 pct), Healthcare (3.23 pct) and Technology (2.91 pct) scoring the biggest percentage gains of the day, while Telecommnications (2.28 pct), Oil (1.02 pct) and Commerce (0.28 pct) suffered losses.

    The FTSE 20 index rose 1.32 pct, the FTSE 40 index ended 1.64 pct higher and the FTSE 80 index ended 1.19 pct up. Broadly, advancers led decliners by 185 to 58 with another 38 issues unchanged.

    Sector indices ended as follows:

    Insurance: +2.34%

    Industrials: +0.67%

    Commercial: -0.28%

    Construction: +0.45%

    Media: +1.78%

    Oil & Gas: -1.02%

    Personal & Household: +4.03%

    Raw Materials: +0.59%

    Travel & Leisure: -0.14%

    Technology: +2.91%

    Telecoms: -2.28%

    Banks: +1.76%

    Food & Beverages: +0.80%

    Health: +3.23%

    Utilities: +3.38%

    Chemicals: +0.26%

    Financial Services: +2.84%

    The stocks with the highest turnover were National Bank, OTE, Marfin Popular Bank and Bank of Cyprus.

    Selected shares from the FTSE/ASE-20 index closed in euros as follows:

    Alpha Bank: 20.00

    ATEbank: 2.25

    Public Power Corp (PPC): 22.60

    HBC Coca Cola: 16.32

    Hellenic Petroleum: 8.16

    National Bank of Greece: 30.10

    EFG Eurobank Ergasias: 15.70

    Intralot: 9.60

    OPAP: 22.40

    OTE: 14.58

    Piraeus Bank: 19.00

    Titan Cement Company: 23.30

    [18] ADEX closing report

    Greek futures contract prices ended mixed in the Athens Derivatives Exchange on Monday, with turnover shrinking to 90.717 million euros. The September contract on the FTSE 20 index was traded at a discount of 0.44 pct and the July contract on the FTSE 40 index at a premium of 0.37 pct.

    Volume in futures contracts on the Big Cap index totaled 8,183 contracts worth 76.752 million euros, with 34,298 open positions in the market, while on the Mid Cap index volume was 11 contracts worth 228,610 euros with 16 open positions.

    Volume in futures contracts on equities totaled 11,006 contracts worth 13.141 million euros, with investment interest focusing on Marfin Popular Bank's contracts (2,539), followed by OTE (764), National Bank (1,634), Intracom (500), Mytilineos (534), Hellenic Postbank (723) and ATEbank (1,391).

    [19] Greek bond market closing report

    Turnover in the Greek electronic secondary bond market totaled 1.152 billion euros on Monday, of which 502 million euros were buy orders and the remaining 650 million euros were sell orders. The 10-year benchmark bond (July 20, 2018) was the most heavily traded security with a turnover of 777 million euros. The yield spread between the 10-year Greek and German bonds was 0.63 percent, with the Greek bond yielding 5.26 pct and the German Bund 4.63 pct.

    In money markets, interest rates were mixed. The 12-month Euribor rate was 5.37 pct, the six-month rate 5.13 pct, the three-month rate 4.95 pct and the one-month rate 4.47 pct.

    [20] Foreign Exchange rates: Tuesday

    Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank:

    U.S. dollar 1.598

    Pound sterling 0.800

    Danish kroner 7.521

    Swedish kroner 9.529

    Japanese yen 171.01

    Swiss franc 1.635

    Norwegian kroner 8.123

    Canadian dollar 1.604

    Australian dollar 1.639

    General News

    [21] Two immigrants killed in workplace accidents

    Two foreign nationals working on a building site in Hania, Crete were killed on Monday in a workplace accident.

    The two men, a 22-year-old Syrian and a 23-year-old Egyptian, were electrocuted while working on a labour housing project at Halepa, Hania.

    According to witness accounts, they were placing steel rods on the roof of a two-storey building when the 22-year-old accidentally touched one of the rods on a high-voltage electricity cable erected by the Public Power Corporation at the edge of the site.

    He was immediately electrocuted, as was the 23-year-old who ran to his aid and grabbed hold of him without realising what had happened.

    An ambulance was called to take the two workmen to hospital but they were declared dead on arrival.

    The site foreman was arrested by police on Monday afternoon.

    [22] Man found dead, burnt in Thesprotia

    A 34-year-old man from the rural region of Asproklissi in Thesprotia was found dead in his olive grove by a passing shepherd on Monday. The man was shot in the head and had been burnt from the waist up.

    Local police investigating the death said they considered suicide the most likely explanation because the victim had suffered from mental health problems for which he had been treated in the past.

    [23] British woman accused of strangling her new born baby

    A 20-year-old British woman who arrived in Crete with friends for holidays while she was nine months pregnant, gave birth to a healthy colored boy which she later strangled.

    She had gone to bars for entertainment in the city of Iraklio. At some point, about 4 a.m. at dawn on Monday, she felt discomfort and returned to her hotel room. There, under unclarified conditions, she gave birth without medical help to a healthy boy weighing 2.5 kilos and with a height of 47 centimeters. Later, according to professor and coroner M. Mihalodimitrakis who examined her, she strangled the baby by using a sheet and towels, without cutting the umbilical cord.

    The 20-year-old woman is said to have told the police and the doctors at the hospital that she did not realize that she was giving birth but thought she had aborted.

    The mother and child were transferred to Iraklio's university hospital. The mother, who is out of danger, is being treated under guard while the results of the medical tests she underwent are awaited.

    [24] Escaped prisoner recaptured in Keratsini

    A prisoner that escaped from the central headquarters of the Greek police on Monday was recaptured soon afterwards in the southwest Athens district of Keratsini at 14:50.

    The man, who was being held for two counts of fraud when he made his getaway, will now also face additional charges related to his escape attempt.

    The prisoner had been taken from the Nikaia police station to police headquarters on Alexandras Avenue to be finger-printed and photographed prior to his appearance before a public prosecutor. He had taken advantage of a lapse in the attention of the officers accompanying him to slip away.

    There were two outstanding warrants for his arrest on charges of fraud and forgery reported by the social insurance funds IKA and TEBE.

    [25] Nafplio fire partially under control

    A fire that broke out in the Iria-Karnazeika region near the coastal city of Nafplio in the Peloponnese was reported to be under partial control by the fire brigade on Monday.

    The fire broke out on Sunday afternoon, burning through an area of grass and farmland.

    On the scene to battle the blaze are 12 fire engines with a crew of 27 and 90 fire-fighters on foot, assisted from the air by two water-bombing aircraft and one helicopter.

    [26] Four wildfires reported

    Four wildfires broke out on Monday around the country, in the town of Kyparissia on the west coast of the Peloponnese, in the prefecture of Rethymno on Crete, near Halkida on Evia and in Fthiotida.

    The fire near Kyparissia broke out at 14:05 in the Sella region and is being fought by seven fire-engines with a 14-member crew, 14 fire-fighters on foot and two aircraft.

    Also underway is a fire that broke out in an area of forest and farm land at Krya Vrysi in Rethymno that is being tackled by nine fire-engines with a crew of 18 and eight fire-fighters on foot.

    Another seven fire-engines with a crew of 16 are attempting to put out a fire that broke out in forest near Gymno, Halkida shortly after 13:00.

    The fire in Makrakomi, Fthiotida began at 14:40 and has been burning low-lying vegetation in an expanse of forest. A force of seven fire-engines with a crew of 20, two aircraft and one helicopter are ranged against the flames.

    None of the above fires threaten any inhabited areas, the fire brigade reported.

    [27] Cannabis plantation destroyed in Arcadia, southern Greece

    A total of 102 cannabis plants were destroyed by Tripolis Police in a remote wooded region in Arcadia Prefecture, southern Greece, police announced on Monday.

    The growers are still unknown and an investigation is underway for their arrest.

    Weather forecast

    [28] Hot, sunny on Tuesday

    Hot, sunny weather with westerly, southwesterly winds are forecast in most parts of the country on Tuesday, with wind velocity reaching 5-6 beaufort. Temperatures will range between 19C and 38C. Hot in Athens, with 3-4 beaufort westerly, southwesterly winds and temperatures ranging from 25C to 38C. Partly cloudy in Thessaloniki, with temperatures ranging from 24C to 35C.

    [29] The Monday edition of Athens' dailies at a glance

    New opinion polls indicating a lead for ruling New Democracy (ND), the Hellenic Telecommunications Organization (OTE) scandal, the FYROM issue, and the government-opposition clash over the Liberal Studies Centers (KES-franchise colleges) were the main front-page items in Monday's dailies.

    ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "Public sector promotions made transparent with new technology - All the data of the civil servants on computer", adding that promotions in the public sector will as of 2009 be made with the aid of new technology, so as to ensure the transparency of the process and rule out 'outside' interventions.

    APOGEVMATINI: "(Main opposition PASOK leader) George Papandreou in new hardship - Top PASOK cadres once again disputed his tactics, during the party's National Council conference in Thessaloniki".

    AVRIANI: "Elections, with candidate lists, on October 19 decided by Karamanlis (prime minister), in order to clear up the landscape and avert plans in process for fragmentation of the political parties and throwing the political life into chaos".

    CHORA: "ND maintains firm 3.5 percentage point lead - New opinion polls consolidate the lead".

    ELEFTHEROS: "Opinion polls indicate 'Waterloo' for ND and PASOK".

    ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "Interview with Matt Bryza, US deputy assistant secretary of state for European (and Eurasian) affairs: 'You should discuss only the name' - 'We are close to a solution on the name, but conflicting issues should not be raised'," adding that the US does not have a specific position on the new claims against Greece put forward, for the first, by FYROM prime minister Nikolas Gruevski on what he called a 'Macedonian' nationality, identity, language, minority and properties, in his recent letter to Greek prime minister Costas Karamanlis.

    ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "Goodbye! The opinion polls sound final bell for Karamanlis and Papandreou".

    ESTIA: "The early general elections scenarios - They might take place as early as autumn".

    ETHNOS: "Chaos with the oil tax rebate for 900,000 farmers".

    TA NEA: "They're ousting Vourloumis (Hellenic Telecommunications Organization-OTE) chief in order to 'close mouths' - Maximos Mansion (government headquarters) fears new revelations".

    VRADYNI: "The changes in the 'heavy and hazardous' work category".

    Cyprus Affairs

    [30] President Christofias presides over meeting on missing persons

    NICOSIA (CNA/ANA-MPA)

    President of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias presided Monday over a broad meeting on the humanitarian issue of the missing persons.

    President of the Committee of Relatives of Missing Persons and Undeclared Prisoners of War Nicos Theodosiou said after the meeting that so far 105 remains of missing persons have been identified through the DNA method after exhumations in the Turkish occupied areas of Cyprus.

    He added that 76 of the remains belong to Greek Cypriot missing persons since the 1974 Turkish invasion and occupation of Cyprus' northern third.

    Theodosiou said that 300 more remains are expected to be identified at the anthropological laboratory that is situated near the Nicosia Airport, in the UN buffer zone.

    However, he expressed concern over the speed of the procedure, saying that it could take many years to be concluded.

    Answering to questions, Theodosiou said that two teams of experts of the Committee for Missing Persons work in the Turkish occupied areas and one team in the government controlled areas.

    He also emphasized that the relatives of the missing persons demand to know about the fate of their beloved ones and need a substantial inquiry.

    "The relatives have the right to know the truth about the fate of their beloved ones", he said.

    The meeting was attended by officials of the Foreign Ministry, the Committee for Missing Persons, the Institute of Neurology and Genetics as well as the Committees of the relatives of the missing persons of Cyprus, Greece and the UK.

    As a result of the 1974 Turkish invasion in Cyprus, 1619 Greek-Cypriots were reported as missing.

    The number of the missing has been recently reduced to 1496 after the discovery of the remains of missing persons, using DNA identification methods.

    [31] Cyprus protests Turkish violations of airspace

    NICOSIA (CNA/ANA-MPA)

    Cyprus has protested to the United Nations new violations of its national airspace by military aircraft of the Turkish Air Force during Sunday's celebrations in the Turkish- occupied areas of the Republic, on the occasion of the 34th anniversary of Turkey's invasion of Cyprus.

    According to a spokesman of the Cyprus Defence Ministry, the violations were recorded on Sunday noon when four military aircraft F5 that took off from the illegal airport of Lefkoniko, initially headed south, then they turned north and finally landed back at Lefkoniko airport.

    "They flew provocatively over the areas controlled by the Republic of Cyprus, at a depth of approximately one kilometer", the spokesman said, adding that the Republic has made representations over the violations.

    Turkish troops occupy Cyprus' northern part since they invaded in 1974. Turkish fighters often violate Cyprus' national air space and Nicosia FIR, jeopardizing air traffic safety.

    [32] Turkey must alter its stance towards Cyprus, British MPs underline

    LONDON (CNA/ANA-MPA)

    Members of the House of Commons from the three political parties of Britain have expressed their decisive support to the efforts being made by the Cypriot President Demetris Christofias and the Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat for a solution to the Cyprus problem.

    Speaking Sunday at a mass demonstration for condemning the Turkish invasion, at Trafalgar Square in London, they stressed the need for Turkey to alter its stance towards the Cyprus question in order the efforts to become fruitful. In addition, they called on the British government to exert its influence towards Ankara for that change.

    Speaking at the same demonstration, Cyprus Government Spokesman Stefanos Stefanou stressed President Christofias' determination to "utilize every possibility for the solution of the problem", and called the international community to exert pressure on Turkey, the "key holder of the solution", as he said.

    Stefanou also explained the basis of the intended solution. "We are talking about a solution that reunifies Cyprus, within the context of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation with a single sovereignty, a single citizenship and a single international personality. A federal Cyprus based on the political equality as provided by the United Nations resolutions", he added.

    The demonstration was one of the most massive of the last few years, and it began with a protest march from the building of the Turkish Embassy to the Trafalgar Square.

    Peter Droussiotis, President of the National Federation of Cypriot Organisations in the United Kingdom, and Alexis Galanos, Mayor of the occupied city of Famagusta, also delivered a speech.

    President of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat agreed during a meeting on July 1, to meet again on July 25 so as to review the work carried out by the working groups and decide on future steps. This will be their fourth meeting after Christofias' election as President of the Republic of Cyprus in February 2008.

    Six working groups and seven technical committees, set up in the context of an agreement achieved on 21st March between President Christofias and the Talat, are meeting to prepare the ground for substantive negotiations between the two leaders.

    Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.

    36, TSOCHA ST. ATHENS 115 21 GREECE * TEL: 64.00.560-63 * FAX: 64.00.581-2 INTERNET ADDRESS: http://www.ana.gr * e-mail: anabul@ana gr * GENERAL DIRECTOR: GEORGE TAMBAKOPOULOS


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