From: miltos@nfl2.irc.nrc.ca Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Mon, 11 Oct 1993 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa). Athens News Agency bulletin, October 11, 1993 Athens, 11/10/93 (ANA) W The Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) regained power in yesterday's general elections, gathering 46.72 per cent of the vote counted at 2 am this morning. In a statement acknowledging victory, PASOK leader Andreas Papandreou appealed to "the entire Greek people" to pull together to overcome" the complex problems we have inherited". "The people have spoken ... They said the great 'yes' to PASOK's proposal for an exit from the crisis and restructure of our country", Mr Papandreou added. With the vote counted at 13,934 of 16,608 polling stations, PASOK led with 46.72 per cent of the vote and a total of 169 seats in the 300-seat parliament. New Democracy garnered 39.78 per cent and 112 seats, Political Spring 4.81 per cent and 10 seats, the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) 4.40 per cent and 9 seats and the Coalition of the Left and Progress 2.83 per cent and no seats. Forecasts by DELTA Informatics projected that the Coalition would reach three per cent nation-wide and be represented in parliament. If the Coalition does gain three per cent of the vote, then it will take six seats at the cost of the second party New Democracy according to the electoral law. Outgoing Prime Minister Constantine Mitsotakis conceded defeat and announced that he would set in motion procedures for the election of a new leader. "I wish the new government success. During its three-and-a- half years in power, New Democracy has followed the right path and taken difficult, but necessary decisions concerning the future of Greece; decisions for which it has paid the relative political cost", he said. According to DELTA Informatics, at 2:30 am today the final distribution of seats was estimated as follows: PASOK 167; New Democracy 109; Political Spring nine; KKE nine; and Coalition six. Andreas Papandreou, yesterday appealed to "the entire Greek people" to pull together to overcome the "the complex problems we have inherited". Mr Papandreou thanked the Greek people for "the trust they had shown him". In a brief statement, Mr Papandreou thanked the members of his party and his wife, Dimitra Liani, for their "loyalty and support" and called on "the entire Greek people to work together towards a new, regenerated Greece". Mr Papandreou also pledged "to work with all his strength to restore Greece's credibility" and implement a growth-oriented economic policy. "The people have spoken", Mr Papandreou added. "They have condemned New Democracy's caricature of neoliberalism. They said the great 'yes' to PASOK's proposal for an exit from the crisis and restructure of our country, for a policy of national pride which will restore the status of our country, for a financial policy which will ensure economic stability, financial development and social protection. "As you are aware, we have inherited difficult and complex problems . Thus, we call on the entire Greek people to join forces, and together we will face the challenges of the times", Mr Papandreou said. --- Outgoing Prime Minister Constantine Mitsotakis late last night conceded defeat in the elections, adding he would set in motion procedures for election of a new leader for the New Democracy party. "The election has been decided. The Greek people have opted for PASOK which will now be able to form a government with a comfortable majority in parliament. I respect the judgement of the Greek people and wish the new government success", he said. "I shall set in motion procedures for the election of a leader of new Democracy", he added. Speaking before a large group of Greek and foreign journalists at the Zappeion hall press centre, Mr Mitsotakis said: "I wish the new government success. During its three-and-a- half years in power, New Democracy has followed the right path and taken difficult, but necessary decisions concerning the future of Greece; decisions for which it has paid the relative political cost. "I respect the will of the people and wish the government success. On the other hand, I am compelled to say that I am profoundly concerned because the nation is about to face fresh trials, as a result of the advent to power on major national issues U whether domestic or foreign U besetting it today. "In the difficult days lying ahead of us, New Democracy will stand as both a hope and a guarantee for our country to continue along the road to progress, which we have followed". --- Former conservative foreign minister Antonis Samaras , whose recently-formed Political Spring party was winning close to five per cent of the national vote, said its strong showing had broken the "monocracy" of the 180 seats that PASOK had been certain to win in the 300-member parliament. "The votes of conscience made Political Spring the third largest political force in the country and succeeded in creating the great rift in bipolarism in favour of the renewal of Greek political life", he said in a brief statement. "I thank all, especially the young, in age and soul, who stood their ground, despite the intolerable suffocating political climate which prevailed in the elections", Mr Samaras said. "As of now, Political Spring will take a leading role in the country's political developments and will defend all the age groups and social classes of our country", he added. --- Speaking to reporters last night, Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Secretary General Aleka Paparriga expressed certainty that the KKE's influence was far greater than its election showing. "The KKE will play a significant role in parliament in popular and social struggles", she said, adding that the PASOK government would follow an austerity policy and that the people would not tolerate new one-side austerity. --- Prime Minister Constantine Mitsotakis voted at the 710th polling station in Kallithea, Athens, at 9.40 am. "I am confident that the people will vote maturely. Greece will not return back (to the socialists). Greece will forge ahead", Mr Mitsotakis said casting his ballot. "I feel fine. The election is very important. Our message has been received by the people and their message has been made clear to us. In our second term we will be better prepared and New Democracy will proceed faster, with more determination and effectiveness", he added. "I am satisfied with the way the pre-election campaign was conducted. Generally speaking, it went very well apart for certain weakness noted but which were probably unavoidable", he said. Election winner Andreas Papandreou voted at the 98th polling station in Ambelokipi, Athens, at 1.15 PM and said the elections would be a new beginning for progress, democracy and security in the country. "The people today put an end to a nightmare of three-and-a-half years. A new chapter of progress, democracy and security opens", he said. "Today is the day of the people. The sovereign people express their wish", Mr Papandreou said, adding that "the people vote for the people, the citizen and the fatherland and this means they vote for PASOK". President Constantine Karamanlis voted at the 354th polling station at the Maraslion Academy in Athens at noon. He refrained from making any forecasts on who would win the elections but said: "I speak as a simple civilian. Regardless of what the election result will be, I hope that it proves promising for the country". Political Spring party leader Antonis Samaras voted at the 53th Lyceum in Kalamata. "Greeks will forge ahead and I am certain that at this paramount moment for democracy the entire Greek people will vote with two criteria: the good of our Greece and the good of youngsters, our children, our future". Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Secretary General Aleka Paparriga voted at a polling station in Anthoupolis, Athens, at 11 am and said: "The election period further shored up the Communists and made us even more sensitive to people's problems which will continue to exist tomorrow and will worsen". "Despite all this, there is hope and perspective provided we do not stand with our arms crossed and do not look for who may be saying the fewer lies", she said. Coalition of the Left and Progress leader Maria Damanaki voted at the 3rd Gymnasium and Lyceum in Peristeri, Athens. "The Coalition gave a very difficult struggles, an extremely crucial struggle and I think all of us did all we could to excel ourselves. Now we are awaiting the results and hope for the best. I think the country will go ahead and to the left", she said. Athens, 11/10/93 (ANA) U Greece on Saturday said it would ask for the European Community to provide development assistance for Russia aimed at consolidating democracy in that country. "We want Europe to help Russia progress, to consolidate democracy and grow economically" National Economy and Finance Minister Stephanos Manos told reporters before leaving for an informal meeting of EC economy and finance ministers in Brussels. "Greece is prepared to become the necessary link between Europe and Russia", he added. The ECOFIN meeting is scheduled to discuss issues relating to Greece's assumption of the Community's rotating presidency on January 1. Mr Manos said the Greek presidency would also raise the issue of job creation. "The young people of Europe must live in a society that produces, invests and creates new job opportunities", he added. Brussels, 11/10/93 (ANA - K. Verros) U Greece should pursue the drachma's entry into the European Monetary System in 1994 if it wishes the rates of growth of other European Community member-states, National Economy Minister Stephanos Manos said Saturday. Mr Manos, who represented Greece at the informal ECOFIN meeting in Brussels, said the proposal depended on whether the convergence programme was adhered to strictly and consistently. "If we wish to follow the rates of other partners we must pursue the drachma's entry into the European Monetary System's exchange mechanism next year", he said. Mr Manos said the decision taken on August 2 to widen the margin of parity fluctuation from 2.25 per cent to 15 per cent might facilitate the drachma's entry. He said the implementation of the convergence programme should continue "strictly and consistently", adding that "if we deviate from the course we set there will be no possibility of Greece's entry into economic and monetary union". "Implementation of the convergence programme is the 'foundation' for the country's accession to European unification", Mr Manos said, adding that "fiscal discipline does not mean austerity", He said the Greek convergence programme will allow for wage increases in 1994 which will exceed inflation. Mr Manos said the ECOFIN Council's informal meeting discussed the state of the European economy and its development prospects. Athens, 11/10/93 (ANA) U An earthquake measuring 4.5 on the open-ended Richter scale was recorded 310 kilometres Northwest of Athens shortly after 8 PM yesterday, the Athens Geodynamic Institute said. It said the quake's epicentre was near the village of Alexandria in the Imathei prefecture.