Subject: A.N.A. Bulletin 1/10/93 From: miltos@nfl2.irc.nrc.ca bulletin -------- 01/10/1993 ANA Athens,1/10/93(ANA)--Greece, in a protest to the Turkish government over an attempted arson attack on property of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Phanar, called on Turkey yesterday to protect the institutions of the ethnic Greek minority in Istanbul. ''The Greek government unequivocally condemns the extremist action of the attempted arson of the Great School of the Nation'', foreign ministry spokesman Andreas Papaconstantinou said in a statement released last night. The 300-year-old building is one of the most respected educational institutions in the Phanar district, seat of the Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarchate and the once-flourishing Greek Orthodox community in Istanbul . According to Turkish press reports, a gorup of seven or eight unidentified individuals poured kerosene on the gorunds and ignited a fire, which was extinguished by area residents. ''The incident could have had dramatic outcome if local residents and the schools'' guard had not intervened to extinguish the blaze'', Mr Papaconstantinou said. Recalling last month's vandalishm at a Greek Orthodox cemetery in Istanbul and recent death threats against the Ecumenical Patriarch spray-painted on the patriarchate walls, the spokesman called on the Turkish government to protect the Greek Orthodox community. ''Greece demans that the Turkish government exhaust every effort in order to arrest and punish the perpetrators.It also calls on the Turkish government to effectively protect the institutions of the Greek minority, including its school and sacred places, as the only way to ensure that the Greek minority no longer feels threatened by similar actions of hateful violence,'' Mr Papaconstantinou said. He added that Foreign Minister Michalis Papaconstantinou had instructed Greece's diplomatic officials in Turkish to register protests with the Turkish foreign ministry and the Istanbul prefecture. -- In New York, Archbishop Iakovos of North and South America, said the arson attempt and the insulting slogans writen on the wall of the patriarchate did Turkey a disservice. ''Such acts do not promote dometic unity in Turkey nor do they project Turkey abroad as a civilised and democratic state'', an announcement said. ana Athens,1/10/93(ANA)--President Constantine Karamanlis yesterday sent Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides a telegram congratulating him on the anniversary of Cyprus Day. ''On the occasion of the anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Cyprus, I convey to you on behalf of the people of Greece and myself personally, my warmest congratulations and best wishes for the progress and welfare of the brotherly people of Cyprus. ''This year's 33rd independence anniversary coincides with a period of decisive importance for a good conclusion of your struggles for a just and viable solution to our national issue. ''I would like to reassure the Cypriot people, Mr President, that Greece and the entire nation will continue to decisively support in every possible way these struggles'', the message ended. ana Athens, 1/10/93(ANA)--Prime Minister Constantine Mitsotakis also sent a congratulatory message to Mr Clerides. In his message, Mr Mitsotakis said '' the national issue (of Cyprus) is at a turning point and requires our vigilance.'' ''I want to believe, that in spite of all adversities, our efforts towards finding a just and viable solution to the Cyprus problem will bear fruit'', the premier said. US President Bill Clinton also sent Mr Clerides congratulations saying that ''the United States will remain devoted to the UN efforts for finding a just and lasting settlement to the Cyprus problem.'' ''The US government is committed to working with the United Nations in achieving this significant goal'', he said. ana Athens,1/10/93(ANA)--In the last inner cabinet meeting before the October 10 elections, Prime Minister Constantine Mitsotakis said yesterday the government and the state had a duety to protect every party and candidate to the elections. In statements to reporters after the meeting, chaired by the premier, Mr Mitsotakis said the government was unanimously agreed that the pre-election campaign had been carried out in a calm and civilised atmosphere and reiterated its decision to do everythin possible to maintain this climate until election day. Asked to comment on statements by main opposition Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) leader Andreas Papandreou on th epossibility of post-election collaboration with left-wing parties, Mr Mitsotakis said:''Whoever chooses to believe that is free to do so. I don't''. ana Athens, 1/10/93(ANA)--Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Secretary General Aleka Papariga yesterday rejected proposals by main opposition socialist PASOK leader Andreas Papandreou that PASOK collaborate with left-wing groups after the elections. Speaking at a press conference at the Zappeion Hall yesterday, Ms Papariga dismissed th eproposal as a means of ''vote- gathering'', adding, however, that KKE votes ''were not available for looting''. ''If he (Mr Papandreou) does not mean to 'loot'' then he is aiming at something else and that is the promotion of his ''social contract'' to offset resistance to that particular strategy'', she said. She dit not rule out, however, the possibility of PASOK's postelection collaboration with the fledgling Political Spring Party, headed by former New Democracy foreign minister Antonis Samaras. ''These does not seem to be differences between them in principle so it is natural for conditions for cooperation to be crated'', she said. On the issue of the election of a president of the republic, Ms Papariga said KKE would base its policy on the nature of th einstitution in conjunction with proposals to be made and did not rule out the possibility of the KKE fielding its own candidate. ana United Nations, 1/10/93(ANA-M.Georgiadou)--After a meeting with the UN secretary general's special representative to Cyprus Joe Clark yesterday, Foreign Minister Michalis Papaconstantinou expressed hope that the international community would at last accord the Cyprus issue the attention it merits. ''There is now hope that the international community, after the progress made in the resolution of Arab-Israeli differences, has at last realised there is another issue which concerns the international community, and which has been torturing the people of Cyprus for 18 long years, for which a solution must be found'', he said, adding that no one could predict the final outcome. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Mr Clark said his meeting with the Greek foreign minister had been ''constructive and productive'', and said he appreciated the support given him by the Greek government in fulfilling his duties. ''I think we must now focus on (the package of ) confidence- building measures.It is a very logical proposal, we have had talks on this in Cyprus and I think there is a general feeling that it can give results'', he added. He said the success of the confidence-building measures would make it possible for progress on resolving the problem as a whole. ''I think the immediate challenge is to guarantee that the confidence-building measures are fully understood in Cyprus'', he said, adding that the UN was sending a team of experts to Cyprus for this purpose. Also important ,Mr Clark said, was to press home the message that the measures enjoyed widespread support from all sides. ''They have the full support of the Security Council, the express support of the Greek goverment--reiterated today'', he said. He claimed that firm support had also been expressed by Turkish premier Tansu Ciller and Turkish Foreign Minister Hikmet Cetin during talks in Ankara in July. Following his meeting with Mr Clark, Mr Papaconstantinou was scheduled to attend a series of meetings related to the work of the EC troika. He also met with the General Assembly's president and said he would be meeting with UN Secreteray General Boutros Boutros Ghali today, immediately after his speech at the General Assembly . ana Athens,1/10/93(ANA)-- President Constantine Karamanlis has sent a message of condolences to his Indian counterpart on the death of thousands of people killed in a massive earthquake yesterday. ''On behalf of the Greek people I would like to express my deepst grief and sympathy for the victimcs of the catastrophe'', Mr Karamanlis said in a message. At least 6,000 people were killed and thousands more injured in the earthquake that primarily hit the towns of Umbarga and Khilari, two remote areas some 450 kms east of Bombay. The series of tremors, the strongest of which measures 6.4 on the Richter scale, were the deadliest recorded in south Asia since 1947. Russian, Swiss and British rescue teams have been on standy after offering to help dig out survivors buried in rubble. ana