From: tzarros@ccs.carleton.ca (Theodore Zarros) Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Wed, 29 Jun 1994 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa). ANA Bulletin, 29/06/1994 ( ) Major sends word still opposed to Dehaene for Commission presidency ------------------------------------------------------------------- Athens 29/6/1994 (ANA) British Prime Minister John Major said yesterday he would repeat his unexpected use of Britain's veto at the Corfu Summit against Belgian Prime Minister Jean-Luc Dehaene's selection as president of the European Commission, when EU leaders hold an emergenc y meeting in July to try and settle the issue. After the weekend collapse of negotiations in Corfu, the governments of the European Union began their search for a new candidate to succeed 10-year veteran Jacques Delors, whose achievements turned the job into one of the world's most-desired posts. Mr. Major made the statement to the Greek government which holds the six-month revolving presidency of the 12-nation bloc until the end of June, when it hands it over to Germany. In his message, sent through diplomatic channels, Mr. Major said London "will stick by its decision to reject (Mr.) Dehaene at the EU extraordinary summit on July 15" under the German EU presidency. Greek Undersecretary to the Prime Minister Telemachos Hytiris, who disclosed the information, quoted Mr. Major as saying that the British stand at the Corfu summit "had nothing to do with the Greek (EU) presidency" and "stressing the need that a third solution should be found" for the Delors succession. Mr. Hytiris said that although the Greek presidency did its utmost to help break the deadlock, "it appears that the British side had already taken its decision before coming to Corfu, and still abides by it". "It would appear that (Mr.) Major had already made up his mind before arriving in Corfu (for last weekend's EU Summit) and he has not changed it," he said. He added that the German presidency should call consultation meetings among European leaders to settle the issue before the July Summit. After marathon negotiations brokered by the Greek presidency, 11 of the 12 EU leaders reached consensus on Mr. Dehaene, but unanimity was rendered impossible by the British veto. Faced with Britain's veto, Germany decided to call a special summit on July 15 in Brussels in a bid to fill the post. Signals from Europe in the past two days were that disgruntled allies might react by proposing not just a Belgian federalist but a Socialist, while Mr. Dehaene's Finance Minister Philippe Maystadt was also named among possible candidates. Government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos, who was at the receiving end of Mr. Major's message, during a telephone conversation, Monday, in Corfu with British Ambassador in Greece, told reporters yesterday the Greek Presidency would not reveal its option s before the emergency July Summit. The spokesman reiterated Greek Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou's statement at the closure of the Summit, that Greece would participate in the July Summit under the German Presidency at a lower level, only to add later that Mr. Papandreou's statement w as intended at exerting pressure on Britain and that the Prime Minister might after all fly to Brussels for the Summit. Papoulias in Georgia Black Sea summit ------------------------------------- Athens 29/6/1994 (ANA) Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias leaves today for Tbilisi to participate in the Black Sea Cooperation Foreign Ministers' Summit. The Summit will discuss a spate of issues ranging from expanding the economic cooperation between the countries in the region to others related to the Commercial and Development Black Sea Cooperation Bank in Thessaloniki, as also cooperation in the sect ors of science and technology between member-states. The Black Sea Cooperation comprises 11 member-states, namely Greece, Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Turkey and the Ukraine. Opposition leader briefed on national defence --------------------------------------------- Athens 29/6/1994 (ANA) Main opposition New Democracy party leader Miltiades Evert was briefed yesterday on defence matters by the National Defence Ministry political and military leadership. Mr. Evert had private talks with National Defence Minister Gerasimos Arsenis who briefed him on Greek-Turkish relations and his recent trip to the United States. Both participated in a meeting afterwards with National Defence Undersecretaries Nikos Kouris and Manolis Benteniotis, ND Deputy Alexandros Papadongonas and armed forces military leaders and senior officials. In a statement after two-hour talks, Mr. Evert reiterated that society was facing a big crisis in all sectors, adding that the armed forces were trying in every way not to be drawn into the crisis. "The dangers are known and we know where they come from. However, we must be very careful in the sectors of defence," Mr. Evert said. Stressing the need for additional funds for defence, Mr. Evert said "it is a sacrifice, probably the only one, to which the Greek people will respond provided this is requested by the government," he added. Mr. Evert said national unanimity was necessary for proper defence, adding that was his party's pursuit. Asked whether or not consensus existed in the armed forces, Mr. Evert said this was demonstrated by the fact that all political parties appropriated defence funds in the state budget. Greece,US reach agreement over Voice of America ----------------------------------------------- Athens 29/6/1994 (ANA) Government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos announced yesterday that Greece and the United States have reached agreement on the operation of the Voice of America radio services transmitted from Greece. He described the agreement as satisfactory, settling a long-pending issue that remained in suspense. The previous agreement expired in 1977 and although negotiations had begun several times, they were never concluded. VOA has been operating without a l icense since, and the new agreement provides for a lump sum compensation for the intervening period, as well as a high monthly rent. Mr Venizelos added it also carries a provision for extensive technical facilities by the Americans to Greek Radio Television (ERT), while Greece retains the right to suspend VOA transmissions if its "vital interests are adversely affected". British MP front runner for Europarliament socialist leadership --------------------------------------------------------------- BRUSSELS 29/6/1994 (ANA-G.Daratos) The Socialist group of the European Parliament will hold elections for a new leadership on July 6 in Brussels. Frontrunner to the elections is British Labour Deputy Pauline Green, unanimously nominated during the Group's meeting last week in Corfu. The Socialists hold 199 seats in the 567-seat European Parliament. British Euro-Deputies (Labour) will also come together in Brussels on July 5. With 62 seats in the Europarliament, the Group is one of the largest ever elected by a European Parliament member-state. Pangalos addresses UN Economic and Social Council ------------------------------------------------- UNITED NATIONS 29/6/1994 (ANA - M. Georgiadou) Alternate Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos yesterday addressed the UN Economic and Social Council conference on behalf of the European Union on urgent international measures necessary to promote and accelerate wo rld growth in a constantly changing world. "I am here on behalf of the UN social and economic council known as ECOSOC. It is the Greek Presidency's last act in the European Union. I presented the EU's position at today's conference. It is an original process taking place for the first time. It i s based in principle on a new text proposed by UN Secretary-General Mr. Ghali, the agenda, the diagram for growth," Mr. Pangalos told Greek reporters afterwards. Mr. Pangalos said that, apart from clearly set out economic criteria, the text rests growth on five basic principles: peace, economic growth and employment, social justice, democracy, political liberties and individual rights. The text, he said, is in agreement with Greek government views, adding Greece had supported it among EU members. "On behalf of the EU, we put certain questions to major economic institutions, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, represented here by the International Trade Organisation, on the relation these organisations should have in the future (if this new concept on growth is accepted) with the UN and with the Economic and Social Council in particular," he added. Mr. Pangalos attended a luncheon hosted by Mr. Ghali for representatives of countries participating in the conference. Mr. Pangalos will give a luncheon to Community members today in his capacity as EU President. Council of Europe summer conference opens ----------------------------------------- STRASBOURG 29/6/1994 (ANA) Work opened yesterday in a summer conference of the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly, with the participation of 32 member-states and the presentation of parliamentary missions from nine candidate countries. The Council's new secretary-general, Daniel Tarsis, proposed directions and orientations for Greater Europe to successfully face new challenges. The Greek delegation includes: PASOK members Dinos Vrettos, Kimonas Koulouris and Christos Rokofyllos; New Democracy's Vassilis Magginas, Aristotle Pavlides and Vassilis Karachalios; and Efstratios Korakas from the Communist Party of Greece (KKE). The Cypriot parliament is represented by its president Alexis Galanos and his alternate T. Hatzidimitriou. Deputies Doros Christodoulides and Rina Katseli will also participate in political group work. Topics for discussion include a Greek deputy's report on conditions for prisoners before standing trial, consequences of dissolving the Kurdish party in Turkey, and Greece's embargo against the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. ANA in Alliance of News Agencies C`ttee Greek news over all Mediteranean ----------------------------------------------------------- ROME 29/6/1994 (ANA-L.Hatzikyriakos) Greek news and information will soon reach countries of the Mediterranean basin and Europe through advanced technological systems endorsed by the "Alliance of News Agencies". The Alliance of News Agencies of Mediterranean Countries met in Rome Monday to discuss news exchange among Alliance members . The assembly also discussed technical cooperation. The Athens News Agency , after four years of absence, was represented by Director-General Andreas Christodoulides. A three-member committee comprising the Athens News Agency (ANA), the Italian News Agency (ANSA), and the Spanish News Agency (EFE) has been created to coordinate and supervise a daily "Bulletin" which will be wired to a total of 16 Mediterranean countries. ANA participation in the committee and in the Alliance of News Agencies is viewed both as enhancing ANA and as a means of projecting Greek positions. Participants included the French Press Agency (AFP), the Athens News Agency (ANA), the Italian News Agency (ANSA) the Algerian Agency APS, the Cyprus News Agency (CNA), the Spanish Agency (EFE), the Libyan Agency (JAVA), the Portuguese News Agency (LUSA ), the Moroccan Agency (MAP), the Egyptian Agency (MENA), the Lebanese Agency (NANA), the Syrian Agency (SANA), the Tunisian Agency (TAP), and the Palestinian Agency WAFA. The next assembly of the Alliance was set for 1995 in Morocco. Cyprus,Malta accession to balance EU north,south ------------------------------------------------ ROME 29/6/1994 (ANA-L.Hatzikyriakos) Italian Foreign Undersecretary Livio Kaputo yesterday emphasized the importance of accession of Malta and Cyprus to the European Union to achieve what he called "a balance of forces between North and South within the EU." Addressing the General Assembly of the Alliance of News Agencies of Mediterranean Countries, Senator Kaputo added that the accession of the two countries during the next enlargement phase of the Union was a "priority and a benefit to Italian interests." The European Union Summit meeting in Corfu last week decided to include Malta and Cyprus in the next phase of enlargement of the Union. Mr. Kaputo also noted that the Italian government would pursue closer ties with the Mediterranean countries. Delors to Turkey Grave concern for deputies` arrest,detention ------------------------------------------------------------- BRUSSELS 29/6/1994 (ANA) European Commission President Jacques Delors yesterday expressed "grave concern over the arrests of deputies of the (pro-Kurdish ) Democratic Party (DEP) and conditions in which they are being held" to visiting Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Murat Karayalcin, a Commission spokesman said. Mr Karayalcin also had talks with Commissioners for External Relations Hans van den Broek, and Trade Relations Sir Leon Brittan. According to the spokesman, Mr Karayalcin expressed "his government's disappointment over the treatment reserved for Turkey at the Corfu European Summit", especially in the Conclusions. In particular, "he expressed the Turkish side's displeasure over the prospect of Cyprus admission to the European Union...and EU Mediterranean policy which effectively leaves Turkey out". Head of the EU office in Ankara Michael Lake, who was present at the meeting, told ANA "the Cyprus problem has not been put under new terms" following the Corfu Summit, and the two sides (Turkish Government and Commission) agreed that the Cyprus issue is an obstacle to developing closer relations between Turkey and the European Union". Concerning the Kurdish problem, Mr Karayalcin referred to the democratisation programme envisaging "the transfer of authority to the regions ( provincial councils)". Mr Lake stated "in regard to the Kurdish problem itself, discussion focused on the ethnic composition of Turkey and the need to supress terrorism." Mr Delors also raised the issue of mounting Islamic fanaticism in Turkey in relation to threats against the Orthodox Patriarchate of Constantinople. Diplomatic sources said that during talks with Sir Leon Brittan on Turkey's customs union with the EU , the Turkish side did not raise the issue of improving the terms of financial and economic cooperation, including a 600-million ECU financial protocol which remains frozen owing to Greek objections, as a prior condition for a successful application of the Customs Union Agreement. Meanwhile, the Kurdish Institute of Brussels has called on the European Council, the European Commission and all member-states of the Union "to increase pressure on Turkey in order to compel it to democratise". Gov`t writes European Commission on Olympic Airways rights ---------------------------------------------------------- Athens 29/6/1994 (ANA) The Greek government yesterday wrote the Director of the European Commission Transportation Committee, Mr. C. Coleman, on Olympic Airlines' operation under EU rules. The letter makes it clear that the government refuses to give up the following rights of Olympic Airways guaranteed under Community Law: a) The privilege of the airline to solely handle all domestic flights, b) Exclusive transportation of passengers, arriving on foreign airlines, to the Greek islands, c) Providing ground maintenance and service to aircraft, d) Unrestricted exercise of Olympic Airways commercial policy. Transport Minister Ioannis Charalambous, who wrote the letter, said if the Greek government forfeited even one of these four rights, it would be tantamount to closing the company. He added Commission agreement to those requests would be a matter of social justice, since over 50 percent of airlines of EU member- countries had had similar requests approved. OTE purchases 1.5 million digital phones ---------------------------------------- Athens 29/6/1994 (ANA) The President of the Greek Telecommunications Corporation Board Mr. Bapanasis and Director General Petros Lambrou yesterday signed a 40.5 billion drachma agreement with Siemens and Intracom companies for the supply of 1.500.000 digital telephones. The signing marked the end of two years of negotiations.