From: tzarros@ccs.carleton.ca (Theodore Zarros) Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Sat, 16 Jul 1994 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa). Athens News Agency Bulletin ATHENS, 16/07/1994 (ANA) Luxembourg PM Delors successor,``low key conciliator`` ---------------------------------------------------- BRUSSELS (ANA/Reuter) - European Union leaders named Luxembourg Prime Minister Jacques Santer as the next president of the European Commission yesterday, picking a low key conciliator to replace the passionate visionary Jacques Delors. The decision was made at a special summit brought on by Britain when it vetoed Belgian Prime Minister Jean-Luc Dehaene for the top EU job at the Corfu summit in June. Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou said Greece was satisfied with the choice of Mr. Santer as Commission President, terming him a "capable man and a philhellene in the true sense of the word." "Jacques Santer looks upon Greece and its problems with sympathy. He is not a man of big steps displaying achievements. He was chosen because he has the ability to solve differences, possibly backstage, but practically," Mr. Papandreou said. He added that during his term, Mr. Santer will have to face "important developments, primarily the inter-government conference in 1996 which, to a considerable degree, will determine the final course which the European Union is to follow." He expressed confidence Mr. Santer will live up to the requirements of the job. It is the first time a debate lasts only two hours, Mr. Papandreou said, noting "the choice had been agreed on in advance." Asked to comment on what had taken place since the Corfu summit , Mr. Papandreou said "negotiations had not taken place on such a scale at the time", referring to Britain's stubborn refusal to agree to Belgian Prime Minister Jean-Luc Dehaene's candidacy . Mr. Papandreou said Britain's position was criticised yesterday "vehemently by many, either directly or indirectly", including outgoing European Parliament President Egon Klepsch while, on the other hand, French President Francois Mitterrand praised the Greek presidency. Mr. Santer, 57, has led his country for the past 10 years. He emerged as front runner after stronger and better known candidates such as Spanish Prime Minister Felipe Gonzalez either said they were not interested or were ruled out for political reasons. The Luxembourger has been widely portrayed as an uncontroversial but uninspiring choice, a man who will be a low-profile broker subject to behind the scenes manipulation. Mr. Santer stands in stark contrast to Mr. Delors, who has raised the profile of the Commission president during his 10-year tenure. Santer accepts --------------- Mr. Santer said yesterday he had accepted the job of European President and asked that he be judged on his actions. At a news conference following his appointment to the top EU job, Mr. Santer said he wanted "to contribute to the emergence of a prosperous, mutually supportive and respected Europe." "I ask you to judge me by my action," he said. Mr. Santer said he had accepted the job although others, including some among the EU leaders who chose him, would have been perfectly qualified to fill it. German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, who chaired the summit, also said Mr. Santer should be given a chance to succeed. "I passionately plead for him to be given a fair chance to show what ideas he has and what he can do," Mr. Kohl said. PM: Anxiety over Bosnia developments ------------------------------------- BRUSSELS (ANA) - Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou expressed anxiety over possible developments, in a statement yesterday, after the end of the European summit , at which the crisis in Bosnia was also discussed. "The existing climate," he said, "is one of caution, hope, and great anxiety." He noted only scant mention of lifting the arms embargo had been made, but discussion of possible motives and countermotives had been put off until warring sides replied on the latest peaceplan by July 20. The situation in former Yugoslavia will be dealt with in depth by the General Affairs Council on Monday and Tuesday. The Prime Minister said that during the discussion of relations with Ukraine in yesterday's session, it was decided to finance replacement of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant with three new plants of advanced technology. The 12 heads of state were to discuss European Union relations with countries of Central and Eastern Europe at the official dinner last night. CSF agreement signed, Greece granted ECU 13.9 bln ------------------------------------------------- Athens, July 16 (ANA)-The government signed the Community Support Framework with the European Union in Athens yesterday, providing for investments in Greece worth 40 billion ECU, including grants totalling 13.98 billion ECU, over the next five years. The agreement was signed at the Zappeion Hall by Alternate National Economy Minister George Romaios and European Commissioner for regional policy Bruce Millan. The plan provides for 40 billion ECU worth of infrastructure investments in transport, energy, industry, education, health and welfare and other sectors. The sum of 13.98 billion ECU is granted over and above funds under Cohesion Fund and other EU initiatives. "Today (yesterday) is an important day for Greece," Mr. Romaios said, while Mr. Millan described all chapters of the agreement as "very important for the development of the Greek economy". EU funds to Greece under the Community Support Framework will reach an annual average equal to 4.8 per cent of GDP, while investments are expected to create 100,000 new jobs. Initially, Greece will soon receive 200 billion drachmas, Mr. Romaios said, the total reaching 400 billion drachmas by the end of the year. "Our aim," Mr. Romaios added, "is not to absorb the funds merely for the sake of doing so, but to invest them effectively in productive sectors." "The year 2000 will find Greece having a comprehensive transport network, 1,000 kilometres of new roads, improvement to ports, airports etc. which will contribute to national development," he said. Such infrastructure projects would be complemented by the natural gas pipeline and completion of the telecommunications network, he added. Asked whether or not the Community Support Framework was linked to fiscal deficits, Mr. Millan said they were two different issues. The size of public deficits, he said, in no way determines a reduction in capital flow. He added the convergence programme reflects Greece's overall effort to achieve convergence of its economy with those of remaining European Union member-states. Mr. Millan recalled the programme had been submitted and (Commissioner) Mr. Christopfersen was now responsible together ECOFIN (the Council of Economy and Finance Ministers) for approving it at the end of September. "Consequently, there is no relation between the amount of public deficits and what was signed today," Mr. Millan said. European Commission opens information bureau in Athens ------------------------------------------------------ Athens, July 16 (ANA)- The European Commission Representation in Greece and the Athens Municipality Cultural Centre are to open a European Union Citizen's Information Bureau, at 7 Xenophontos St, in cenral Athens. The Bureau will be inaugurated on Thursday at 7 pm, July 21. It is the second of its kind in Greece, the other having opened in Thessaloniki in May, and reported to be operating successfully. It will supply free printed material and leaflets explaining the aims, policies and work of the European Union. The material covers leading sectors of European Commission activity, including Common Agricultural Policy, commercial policy, Economic and Monetary Union, citizens' rights etc. U.S. Defence Secretary in Athens July 19 ----------------------------------------- Athens, July 16 (ANA)--U.S. Defence Secretary William J. Perry will visit Athens between July 19 and 20. He will meet with his Greek counterpart Gerasimos Arsenis and other Greek officials for talks on bilateral issues, a U.S. Embassy announcement said yesterday. Romanian frigate to visit Piraeus ---------------------------------- Athens, July 16 (ANA)--'Petre Barbuneau', a Romanian Navy frigate, will call at Piraeus July 19, with the deputy chief of the navy, Admiral Virgil Stoika, aboard. Admiral Stoika will lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The crew are scheduled to visit the Acropolis and the Byzantine and War Museums. The frigate will depart July 22. Jerusalem Orthodox Patriarch hopes no problems after settlement --------------------------------------------------------------- JERUSALEM (ANA-G. Zarkadis) - Jerusalem Greek Orthodox Patriarch Diodoros I yesterday expres-sed hope recent changes in Jerusalem following the Palestinian self-rule agreement would not cause problems to the Patriarchate. "The Patriarchate has gone through much in the past. Many conquerors -- kings and tyrants -- have come and gone, but it has survived, because of its dedication to religious duties and non- meddling in politics," he said in an exclusive interview with ANA in Jerusalem. "Consequently, we hope we won't have any problems, since we maintain good relations both with Israelis and Arabs," Patriarch Diodoros said when asked whether or not the self-rule accord might affect the Patriarchate's status. The Jerusalem prelate's comments were prompted by reports that Israel contemplated granting "extra-territoriality" status to Christian and Moslem religious centres in the Holy City. Patriarch Diodoros added his See was against dialogue with other Churches. "We believe that we are the Holy, Universal and Apostolic Church which upholds truth...If we were to seek a way to unite with heretics then we should be contradicting ourselves," he said adding: "We do not participate and do not intend either to participate in any dialogue, although we cooperate with other religious dogmas in facing common problems." Mgr. Diodoros appealed for more Greek priests to serve with the chapter to the Jerusalem See. "A complete chapter to the patriarchate is one of our major problems," he said. "We should not forget that the (Orthodox) Patriarchate of Jerusalem is Greek and its custodians are Greek too. Of course, there are Arab Orthodox priests who are married and serve with the Patriarchate chapter. But in order to preserve the holy sites as caretakers we need monks and priests from Greece. Otherwise what will happen?" he asked. Mgr. Diodoros described the Jerusalem Orthodox Patriarchate as "the third state of the Middle East", noting its social mission included operating 44 schools of all grades, charity institutions and construction and maintenance of church buildings throughout the Middle East. He said the schools which range from kindergarten through elementary to lyceum level and girl schools are being attended by an estimated 15,000 pupils and students, both Christian and Moslem. He said thatGreek language was taught in some of them "whenever we can appoint Greek, or Greek-speaking teachers." Mgr Diodoros said the Patriarchate was two clinics, one in Jerusalem and the other in Amman, Jordan, with out-patient departments offering free medical care "despite our limited finances since the Patriarchate does not receive any donations." Clerides in Athens next week,Papoulias postpones visit to Cyprus ---------------------------------------------------------------- Athens, July 16 ( ANA)--Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias is not scheduled to visit Cyprus tomorrow, as mentioned by inadvertance in a statement issued in Nicosia Thursday, government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said yesterday. Mr. Papoulias will visit Cyprus at a date which has not been set yet. In Nicosia, Cyprus government spokesman Yiannakis Cassoulides said Mr. Papoulias' visit had been postponed in view of Mr. Clerides' visit to Greece, and would take place after the president's return. Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides announced Thursday Mr. Papoulias was due in Cyprus tomorrow. Mr. Venizelos said President Clerides would visit Athens next week, accompanied by Foreign Minister Alecos Michaelides, to take part in events marking the 20th anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, and have talks with the Greek government. According to the Cypriot spokesman, President Clerides will travel to Athens July 20. Referring to the anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, Mr. Venizelos said that for 20 years the international community has been witnessing Turkey's position, an attitude of persistent intransigence, adding a clear picture has now been formed of the situation on the island-republic. Mr. Venizelos expressed the hope that the resolution which the UN Security Council is expected to issue will lay blame on whomever is responsible and record actual events. He added unless international justice were upheld, the unity and integrity of the Republic of Cyprus would not be safeguarded, and no such solution to the national problem could be tolerated. All-party House group at Nicosia invasion anniversary ----------------------------------------------------- An all-party parliamentary committee informally named the "Initiative on issues of Hellenism" will leave for Cyprus to attend events marking the 20th anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in July 1974. The seven-member committee includes MPs C. Pantouvas, P. Sgouridis, D. Vounatsos and D. Hatziandreou on behalf of the socialist PASOK ruling party, G. Kalantzis and P. Kammenos for the main opposition conservative New Democracy party and C. Hatzidimitriou for Pol.An. (Political Spring) party. ND delegationin Tirana for ethnic Greeks' trial ------------------------------------------------ Athens, July 16 ( ANA)--Four deputies from the main opposition New Democracy party left yesterday for Tirana, to observe the trial of six ethnic Greek political leaders in Albania. The trial had been scheduled to begin today but,according to Tirana's state prosecutor Arben Kilesi, the case hasn't yet reached court. Mr. Kilesi said the state is ready for the case. The ND delegation travelled through the Greece-Albania border post of Kakavia, but did not stop at any southern Albanian villages populated by ethnic Greeks, according to reports. Antonis Foussas, a deputy from Ioannina and member of the delegation, said the purpose of the trip is to give moral and legal support to the accused, who are leading members of the ethnic Greek minority Omonia party. The six ethnic Greeks are charged with "illegal possession of weapons, violation of the Albanian constitution, collaboration with foreign secret services and propaganda against the Albanian government". Gov't not involved in N-warhead case - Venizelos ------------------------------------------------ Athens, July 16 ( ANA)--The Greek government, and the National Defence Ministry in particular, have nothing to do with a case involving trading of materials used in manufacturing nuclear warheads, government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said yesterday. He was commenting on a front-page article in yesterday's edition of the Athens daily 'Ta Nea', according to which four companies, including the Greek Extraco Ltd., are implicated by the US Justice Department in an illegal operation to export 3.5 million dollars worth of weapons-grade zirconium to Iraq in 1988. Following a probe yesterday by the Defence Industry Department, Mr. Venizelos said, "it was ascertained that no Greek authority had ever issued an 'end user' certificate for such material". Consequently, he added, the issue does not concern the Ministry of National Defence. "Besides, Greece is not a country with interests in defence industries," Mr. Venizelos said. "We don't know if anything happened or what may have happened," the spokesman continued, "but the Greek authorities are in no way involved and therefore the issue does not concern the government." He did not exclude the possibility, however, that end-user certificates were forged. According to the article in Ta Nea, an Extraco spokesman told the paper that the Greek company was not involved in the affair.