From: tzarros@ccs.carleton.ca (Theodore Zarros) Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Wed, 6 Jul 1994 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa). ANA, Bulletin, 06/07/1994 ( ) ============================= European Court rules Denktash pseudo-state export certificates unacceptable -------------------------------------------------------------- BRUSSELS 6/7/1994 (ANA/F. Stangos) The Court of Justice of the European Communities in Luxembourg ruled yesterday that European Union (EU) member states must not accept produce or certificates originating from sources other than the competent authorities of the Republic of Cyprus. The European Court decision to clamp an irrevocable ban on the export of goods from the pseudo-state of Rauf Denktash in Turkish occupied northern Cyprus to all European Union countries is of enormous political importance, Alternate Foreign Minister The odoros Pangalos said yesterday. The decision, announced yesterday, is expected to be followed by regulations to be issued by the European Commission concerning the implementation of the ban. In Nicosia, the Cyprus government welcomed the decision, expressing satisfaction at the "vindication of a long-standing position." "The decision is of enormous political importance and, in effect, means that for Turkey, the Cyprus issue is a lost case and Ankara should come to realise that the Cyprus problem will not be forgotten by the international community," Mr. Pangalos said. "When you pursue a steadfast policy," Mr. Pangalos added, "it pays off sooner or later. The decision will serve to enhance messages to Turkey and the pseudo-state, including the people in (Turkish) occupied (northern) Cyprus that their future lies in Eu rope. "But this presupposes the restoration of Cyprus unity and (territorial) integrity and the island's accession to the EU. The decision is catastrophic for the economy of the pseudo-state. Greece, however, does not want its destruction. On the contrary, it desires the prosperity of the Turkish Cypriots," Mr. Pangalos said. In 1987, Cypriot organizations and companies appealed to British courts seeking a ban on the export of goods from the self-styled 'Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus' to Britain, which absorbed 75-80 per cent of the pseudo-state's exports. In 1 992, a British court sought the opinion of the European Court which yesterday issued a final and irrevocable decision. Government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said that the decision came "as a sequel" to talks Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides had with European leaders at the recent Corfu summit, and conclusions of the summit at which it was decided that Cyprus should join the EU during the next phase of enlargement. "Only certificates (of origin) issued by competent authorities of the Republic of Cyprus may be accepted by national authorities of the EU member-states, while acceptance of others issued by the northern part of the island for exports of citrus fruits and potatoes grown in that region is prohibited," a Foreign Ministry statement said later. Greece's intervention during proceedings, the statement said, focused on the fact that the import of citrus fruits from the self-declared state by Great Britain was illegal and in violation of EU law. The Greek side backed its arguments by invoking EU Directive 77/93 and article 5 of the EU-Cyprus Association Agreement. According to the statement, Greece emphasised that it was not possible for an EU member state to act of its own accord and adopt a practice which contravened both international and Community law. "A view which was eventually endorsed by the European Court," the announcement said. The Foreign Ministry said that emphasis had been placed on the international facet of the issue and "an objective interpretation of article 5 of the Association Agreement". Satisfaction in Cyprus ---------------------- NICOSIA (ANA/CNA) The Cyprus government expressed yesterday particular satisfaction at the court decision, adding it vindicated its long-standing position. The government said in a statement that "it expects the decision will put a definite end to the illegal exports from the northern Turkish-occupied areas of the republic to EU member-states". Contact group "carrot-or-stick" Bosnia peace plan,Papoulias cautions acceptance ------------------------------------------------------------------- GENEVA (ANA) - Foreign Ministers from European Union troika countries, Britain, Russia and the United States endorsed a carrot-or-stick peace plan for Bosnia yesterday that threatens punishment for the Serbs and the Croat-Moslem federation if they reject it. Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias, who represented Greece at the meeting of the contact group, stressed the need for a result at the present decisive moment and an end to the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Mr. Papoulias said that as Foreign Minister of a Balkan country he felt concern that if the opportunity were lost, the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina might escalate into widespread war in the Balkans. The contact group will submit the peace package to the warring parties today. CSCE conference opens,keynote enhancing role -------------------------------------------- VIENNA 6/7/1994 (ANA - D. Dimitrakoudis) The annual four-day CSCE Parliamentary Assembly opened in Vienna yesterday, focusing on enhancing CSCE role in light of a host of conflicts following the collapse of socialist governments in eastern Europe. The Assembly is attended by about 500 deputies from its 52 member-states. The Greek parliamentary delegation is composed of PASOK Deputies Theodoros Stathis (heading the delegation) and Panagis Benetatos, New Democracy Deputies Spilios Spiliotopoulos and Vassilis Korahais and Political Spring Deputy Anastasios Nikopoulos (Com munist Party of Greece (KKE) Deputy Orestis Kolozov is not participating owing to ill health). Separate issues to be discussed at the Assembly are new security structures in Europe, the economic situation in central and eastern Europe, human rights, the possibility of improving CSCE decision-making machineries and the situation in former Yugoslavia. Austrian Chancellor Franz Vranitzky and Parliament President Hainz Fischer requested simplification of the decision-making process, while Italian Foreign Minister and CSCE Council of Ministers President Antonio Martino said the majority of member-state s wanted the principle of unanimity to remain in decision-making. Germany and the Nertherlands had recently proposed the exclusion of directly involved parties during the taking of decisions concerning them (in essence abolishing the principle of unanimity). Greece and Cyprus have repeatedly insisted on maintaining the principle of unanimity at the CSCE. Owing to the need for unanimity, the accession of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) as a full CSCE member has been prevented to date. The issue was raised by a representative of the parliament of FYROM who spoke as an observer. The Greek parliamentary delegation has already tabled amendments to the Assembly's final text on the issue of former Yugoslavia and, specifically, FYROM. The final text will be adopted by the Assembly on Friday as the "Vienna Proclamation." Government reshuffle this week - Venizelos ------------------------------------------ Athens 6/7/1994 (ANA) Government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos reiterated yesterday the government reshuffle will take place this week, indicating it will be followed by a Cabinet meeting. Mr. Venizelos said Premier Andreas Papandreou is in touch with government members both in relation to government policy and the reshuffle. Asked whether or not Mr. Papandreou was irked by former Finance Minister Dimitris Tsovolas' statement that he would like to be again appointed to that post, Mr. Venizelos said "the Prime Minister's views on the composition of the Cabinet and Mr. Tsovolas' participation are known to the public." During a reshuffling process, the Premier takes into account both constitutional criteria and the need for the government to function effectively, he added. Turkish diplomat`s shooting no excuse for stirring up Greece-Turkey tension ------------------------------------------------------------------- Athens 6/7/1994 (ANA) The government yesterday said that the assassination of a senior Turkish diplomat in Athens Monday should not "be used as a vehicle to create artificial tension" between Turkey and Greece. Government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said there was an "on-going effort" to use the shooting of Omer Halil Sipahioglu by the November 17 terrorist group to create artificial tension between the two countries. He was commenting on remarks and statements which he did not specify, dismissing them as "slanderous and naive allegations." "We appreciate and share the grief which the atrocious assassination of the Turkish Embassy Councellor has caused in Turkey," Mr. Venizelos said. In an earlier statement to the press, Mr. Venizelos declared coordinated efforts to track down the assassins of Sipahioglu continued in Athens. He said efforts were being made to discover the culprits of the murderous attack as soon as possible. Sipahioglu was shot Monday by a three-man hit-squad belonging to the notorious November 17 urban guerrilla group as he was leaving his suburban home for work in downtown Athens. He survived the attack, but died in hospital a few hours later as surgeons attempted to remove six bullets lodged into his chest and abdomen. A caller identifying himself as a member of the November 17 terrorist group later told a Greek television and radio network that Sipahioglu had been killed because he was "responsible for ethnic extermination of the Cypriot and Kurdish peoples." He said he belonged to a commando named after Theofilos Georgiades, president of the Cyprus Committee of Solidarity with Kurdistan, killed in Cyprus in March this year by unknown gunmen. Mr. Venizelos said the issue of terrorism might be raised at meetings between Greek and Turkish expert working groups expected to begin this fall. He referred the press to an earlier statement by Greek Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias that Greece took part in international efforts to combat terrorism. The spokesman dismissed press reports alleging a connection between the November17 terrorist group and the Greek secret service as "long-dragging rumours." He added, however, that all bits of information were being examined. Meanwhile Turkish President Suleyman Demirel called for all possible efforts to discover Sipahioglu's assassins, and adoption of strict security measures to ensure the safety of Turkish diplomats and delegations in Greece. An ANA dispatch from Istanbul said that in a note replying to President Karamanlis, Mr. Demirel decalred he was certain "the Greek government will exert all possible efforts to (discover and) bring to justice" those responsible for Sipahioglu's shooting. Meanwhile, a Turkish aircraft yesterday flew Sipahioglu's body to Ankara, where he will be buried today. In a brief obituary, during a ceremony earlier at the Turkish embassy in Athens, Turkish Ambassador Hussein Celin spoke of the "spirit" and "activities" of Sipahioglu "slain by terrorists claiming to have acted in order to safeguard the interests of t he Greek people." "But that is not so," Mr. Celin said, adding that "history is not written through such acts." Greek Foreign Ministry official Anastasios Midjialis, in charge of protocol, and US Ambassador to Athens Thoman Niles were present at the ceremony. Turkish press attacks --------------------- According to an ANA dispatch from Istanbul, news of Sipahioglu's assassination reached the public through a spate of bold headlines in Turkey's top selling newspapers. In a front-page article, "Hurriyet" wrote that "Greece is a terrorist state which planned the assassination," while "Milliyet" said Sipahioglu was a "target and got hit." "Athens again" wrote "Turkiye" about the shooting of the Turkish diplomat, while "Terjuman" said Athens was "responsible for the crime." The string of angry reactions and accusations hurled against Athens, was bucked by "Cumhurriyet" which wrote that " November 17 assassinated the diplomat." The impression, however, created by the Turkish press was that the killing of the Turkish diplomat was linked to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and Athens' alleged tolerance to "PKK terrorist activities in Greece." Last month Ankara accused Athens of arming and training Kurdish guerrillas. The charges were flatly denied by Greece which strongly denounced all acts of violence. Meanwhile, the Athens branch of the "Ipekci Award" issued a statement yesterday expressing "profound grief" over the killing of Sipahioglu. "This is not the first time that Turkish diplomats are assassinated or injured (as a result of a murderous attack) in Greece," the statement said, stressing that it was intended to undermine efforts to improve relations between the two countries. Cyprus government condemns assassination ---------------------------------------- NICOSIA (ANA) The Cyprus government yesterday condemned the assassination of the Turkish diplomat. Government spokesman Yiannakis Cassoulides said in a statement the Cyprus government "condemns the assassination and any terrorrist act regardless of origin." The Cyprus Committee of Solidarity with Kurdistan, whose President Theofilos Georgiades was assassinated in March this year by unknown gunmen, also expressed "abhorrence" at the killing and the use of the name of Theofilos Georgiades by the November 17 guerrilla group. According to an announcement, the answer to the killing of Georgiades "will be given by the Kurdish guerrillas of the group bearing his name and not the assassins of the terrorist November 17 organisation." Former Air Force chief buried in Vrilissia ------------------------------------------ Athens 6/7/1994 (ANA) Former Air Force General Staff Chief Athanassios Stathias was buried with full military honours yesterday at the Church of The Transfiguration in Vrilissia. General Stathias and two others were killed Monday in a road accident in central Greece while returning from Larissa, where they had gone for the funeral of the general's father-in-law. Attending the funeral were: former Prime Minister Constantine Mitsotakis, main opposition New Democracy party vice president Ioannis Varvitsiotis, ND deputies and former ministers, and military officials. Eulogies were given by top military officials and politicians.