From: tzarros@ccs.carleton.ca (Theodore Zarros) Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Mon, 4 Apr 1994 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa). Athens News Agency Bulletin, Patriarchate: Greece follows developments closely ------------------------------------------------- Athens, 4/4/1994 (ANA): "Greece follows closely developments relating to the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul, while remaining in a state of constant readiness. It has made a demarche with the Turkish government through diplomatic channels", government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos yesterday. "Greece follows developments with calm, and respect for international law, and so does the Patriarchate", Mr. Venizelos said, pledging government support to the Orthodox See of Constantinople. The spokesman was referring to last week's statement by Istanbul's newly-elected Islamist mayor that he would make a "triumphant entry into the Ecumenical Patriarchate through the sealed gate" -- the gate where Patriarch Grigorios V was hanged on April 10 1821, Easter Sunday. The gate has remained closed ever since. The statement by the Fanar district mayor has caused resentment to the Greek government and leaders of the Greek Orthodox Church. Noting that respect and protection of the Patriarchate was not simply a matter of Greek-Turkish relations, but also of concern to Europe and the entire world, Mr. Venizelos said: "Ankara, which pursues a European orientation for Turkey, should be aware of this", he said. Mr. Venizelos reiterated that there are circles in Turkey who create artificial tension between Greece and Turkey purely for domestic consumption purposes. "Many circles in Turkey try to create a climate of artificial tension between the two countries", he said, adding that "under no circumstances should domestic political expediency lead to tension in a fragile region". He noted that Greece defends and supports Orthodoxy in the framework of the Laussane Treaty, in accordance with International Law. Commenting on the issue, Public Order Minister Stelios Papathemelis said Turkey was being transformed into a "fanatically Islamic country". "I have the impression that Turkey is becoming a fanatically Islamic country, a thousand mosques are built each year, and the recent election of two Islamist mayors in two of Turkey's bigger cities, should awaken the West to this reality", Mr. Papathemelis said. Opposition leader warns ----------------------- Athens, 4/4/1994 (ANA): Main Opposition New Democracy leader Miltiades Evert on Saturday expressed concern over islamists' threats against the Patriarchate, prompting the government to lodge a demarche with the Turkish Foreign Ministry, and call to action the Council of Churches. "It is not possible that such phenomena should exist on the eve of the 21st Century", he said. The ND leader had earlier visited a mosque in Komotini, as a special gesture to show that each man should respect the religion of his fellowmen. "Our neighbours should understand my gesture today", he said. Addressing a party conference in Thessaloniki focusing on Pontians' rehabilitation problems, Mr. Evert asked Turkey to realise that "Greece's yielding attitude will stop". Mr. Evert said that any attempt to attack the Ecumenical Patriarchate would automatically be viewed as an assault on all Orthodox churches and against the Greek nation. Tobacco protesters still blocking Athens-Thessaloniki highway ------------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 4/4/1994 (ANA): Hundreds of tobacco growers yesterday continued blocking the Athens to Thessaloniki highway, near Katerini, and the railway line between the two cities, in protest against low prices and withholding subsidies by traders. Interior Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos told a press conference in Thessaloniki yesterday that the government cannot subsidise tobacco growers, as this is forbidden by Community regulations. Breaking such a rule would loss of all EU agricultural subsidies to Greece, Mr. Tsohatzopoulos added. The Agriculture Ministry, he said, will continue efforts to secure extra subsidies for tobacco growers. Agriculture Under-secretary Floros Constantinou said Saturday the issue was being examined in the context of a new government policy on tobacco, promoting eastern varieties, re-introducing the regime of subsidising exports to prevent surpluses, and changing the method of subsidy payments to ensure it is not withheld from producers. Government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos stated yesterday "such problems can be handled in the context of social dialogue free of tension ... inconveniencing the public, or interrupting public transport are not methods of social action". Government: Royal family bill restores constitutional, historical propriety ----------------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 4/4/1994 (ANA): The draft bill, depriving ex-king Constantine and his family of Greek citizenship and their property, restores matters to their proper constitutional and historical basis, government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said in Thessaloniki yesterday. He stressed that the government had not rushed into anything. The arrangement was a PASOK pre-election commitment, and the draft bill was almost identical to that introduced while the ex-king was on a private tour of the country last summer, that had caused considerable agitation to public opinion. Replying to criticism levelled by New Democracy main opposition party that the bill was an attempt to mislead public opinion, Mr. Venizelos called on New Democracy to reply point by point to the relevant provisions. Mr. Venizelos said royal property had been expropriated in 1973. For this reason, the national unity government of Constantine Karamanlis of 1974 had not returned it to the ex-king, but placed it under a special status, until abolition of the monarchy in the referendum of 1974. Under the 1975 constitution, the status of compulsory expropriation had been retained but, in 1979, without adequate legal justification, the property had been turned over to the ex-king's empowered attorney. Former New Democracy Prime Minister Constantine Mitsotakis, in a statement Saturday, described the bill as an act designed to divert attention from "the tragic course of the economy and our national issues" and as directly unconstitutional. "Article 17 expressly stipulates that no one may be deprived of his property without previous judicial decision. The Constitution of Greece applies to all. Whether the government likes it or not", he stated. Main Opposition leader Miltiades Evert, in an indirect reference to the draft bill Saturday, called on the Greek people to "disregard all efforts to mislead them and focus on their real problems". Coalition of the Left and progress Nikos Costantopoulos stated Saturday that "it is appropriate that the government, albeit belatedly and for obvious reasons of party expediency, should proceed to the final settlement of the problem". Greece not lift retortion measures unless ... --------------------------------------------- Athens, 4/4/1994 (ANA) Greece will not lift the retortion measures which it imposed against the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) on February 16 to fight FYROM intransigence. Government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos Saturday said the government would not lift retortion measures unless "we have specific action from Skopje". Turning to recent initiatives during US Skopje mediator Matthew Nimetz recent visit, Mr. Venizelos said it was "welcome" and "helpful". He said Mr. Nimetz' initiative fell in line with the initiative of UN Skopje Mediator Cyrus Vance. "Mr. Nimetz' efforts are continued, after the conclusion of the first round of contacts", Mr. Venizelos said, adding that "we cannot at this moment make a precise estimate or forecast (of results)". Turning to Skopje President Kiro Gligorov's intransigence and recent statements to the German magazine "Spiegel" that Greeks are nationalists, Mr. Venizelos said. "We have had indeed, in the past few days, samples of intensified and continued intransigence by Mr. Gligorov". "I want to believe that Mr. Vance as well as (European Commissioner) Mr. van den Broeck and Mr. Nimetz have had the opportunity to see for themselves Mr. Gligorov's intransigence for themselves, with their own eyes and their own ears", Mr. Venizelos added.