From: tzarros@ccs.carleton.ca (Theodore Zarros) Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Tue, 26 Jul 1994 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa). * Greece and Russia sign military co-operation agreement * Court rules parliamentary c'tee probe former PM's bank account * Kranidiotis flies to ASEAN meeting in Thailand * Greece firm EU Turkey funding only after end N. Cyprus occupation * Abortive Turk bid block French military supplies to Greece * Court acquits Balafas of terrorist charges * Greece closely follows Omonia defendants' case * Senior Pol.An official leaves party * House Speaker, SYN leader meet on local poll, do not rule out collaboration * Evert Athens News Agency Bulletin, Greece and Russia sign military co-operation agreement -------------------------------------------------------- Moscow, (ANA-D.Konstantakopoulos): Defence Ministers Pavel Grachev of Russia and Gerasimos Arsenis of Greece yesterday signed a military co-operation agreement in Moscow, the first such agreement ever to be concluded between the two countries. Mr. Arsenis discussed the crisis in Bosnia and European security affairs with Mr. Grachev and Alternate Foreign Minister Mr. Ivanov - Foreign Minister Andrei Kozyrev being away from Moscow. Among other things, the agreement calls for co-operation on issues relating to exercises, defence industry and exchanging visits and information. It is expected to pave the way for negotiations on specialised agreements on separate co-operation issues. Underlining the importance of the agreement, diplomatic observers in Moscow said it signalled a narrowing of the gap between Greece and Turkey in the sector of military co-operation with Russia. The gap grew in recent years due to intense military activity in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). It happens to be a natural development, since Greece and Russia stood always on the same side in major conflicts, except for the Cold War era. Referring to the Bosnia issue, which causes growing concern both in Moscow and Athens, Mr. Arsenis said "convergence of views appears emerging between Russia and Greece on what should be done". Mr. Ivanov briefed Mr. Arsenis on the work of the Contact Group on Bosnia currently meeting in Moscow at Foreign Ministry political directors level. He told reporters the question now does not consist in drawing up new plans but of implementing the Geneva one instead. Mr. Ivanov cautioned repercussions would be disastrous in the event the plan were not accepted. He told a questioner "the question of Turkish or Greek troops participating in peacekeeping missions in a CIS framework was not examined, and does not exist in theory either ." Political observers said, the statement seemed of great significance since, until recently, Russian diplomacy appeared prepared to accept the presence of Turkish peacekeepers in the conflict zone between Armenians and Azeris. Mr. Arsenis will confer with Vice-Premier Oleg Saskavech today, and examine military and technical co-operation problems with War Industry Minister Viktor Gluchich. Court rules parliamentary c'tee probe former PM's bank account ------------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 26 July 1994 (ANA): A special parliamentary committee was authorised yesterday to probe the bank accounts of former conservative Prime Minister Constantine Mitsotakis and three other persons in connection with allegations of corruption. The Athens Appeals Court Council took the decision following a parliamentary request earlier this month. It said the decision to lift the banking secrecy code was necessary for the ongoing parliamentary probe concerning the 1992 sale of the ailing state-owned AGET-Heracles cement company to Italy's Calcestruzzi cement producers. Mr. Mitsotakis is accused of breach of faith and accepting over 22 million dollars in kick-backs to expedite the multi-million dollar sale. Parliament voted in May to investigate the allegations. Mr. Mitsotakis has denied any wrongdoing in the 225 million dollar sale of the company. Mr. Mitsotakis later criticised the decision, saying it was part of an ongoing mudslinging campaign against him. "The sole aim of this case is to maintain the mudslinging campaign against me as long as possible," he told reporters. "They cannot come up with anything against me in the AGET case, and they won't either," he added, saying his long-time political foe and socialist prime minister Andreas Papandreou was "behind the slanderous campaign." Mr. Mitsotakis said his two bank accounts in Greece were "open for anyone to look at." Justice Minister George Kouvelakis countered charging that "one cannot expect anything better from Mitsotakis, or anything less than his attacks against the judiciary." Kranidiotis flies to ASEAN meeting in Thailand ------------------------------------------------- Athens, 26 July 1994 (ANA): Foreign Under-secretary Yiannos Kranidiotis yesterday left for Thailand to attend a conference of the six ASEAN countries (Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei) with their seven senior partners (European Union, USA, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand and Korea). At the conference, lasting until July 28, Mr Kranidiotis will speak as member of the EU Troika on issues related to the environment, the recent EU enlargement and the South China Sea. Troika members (Germany, France and Greece) will have a special meeting with ASEAN country ministers on economic co-operation issues, and preparing the EU- ASEAN ministerial two-day conference opening in Karlsruhe September 22 . Greece firm EU Turkey funding only after end N. Cyprus occupation ---------------------------------------------------------------- Brussels, (ANA/F.Stangos): At yesterday's discussion of the draft European Union budget for 1995 at the Finance Ministers' Council (ECOFIN), Greece again voiced opposition to any form of financial aid to Turkey, and, in particular, activating the EU-Turkey Fourth Financial Protocol, envisaging credits to the tune of 600 million ECUs. The Greek delegation, headed by Finance Under-secretary Dimitris Georgakopoulos, submitted a statement reiterating its permanent stand "that the granting of any financial assistance to Turkey depends on the withdrawal of all military occupation forces from Cyprus and the respect of the rights of Man and democratic liberties in Turkey". The statement also draws attention to all previous decisions by Community institutional organs (Council of Ministers and European Parliament) stipulating those conditions: - General Affairs Council, April 26, 1988; - European summit statement, Dublin, June 26, 1990, according to which "the Cyprus issue affects EU-Turkey relations"; - Joint positions of EEC-Turkey Association Councils (September 30, 1991, November 9, 1992, and November 10, 1993). "For all the above reasons", concludes the Greek statement, "but also due to lack of a legal basis, the Greek delegation is categorically opposed to any entry of credit being recorded in favour of Turkey in the 1995 Budget". Abortive Turk bid block French military supplies to Greece ---------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 26 July 1994 (ANA): Government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos yesterday confirmed reports of Turkish efforts to block the supply of French military equipment to Greece. Press reports on Sunday claimed Turkey had tried to persuade France postpone implementation of the agreement on the grounds the equipment would be used for the defence of Aegean islands (demilitarised under international treaties). Implementation of the programme will proceed normally, following Greek intervention, despite a slight procedural delay, the spokesman said. Mr Venizelos added the French government knows that Greek national rights and defence do not rest on negotiation, especially of a commercial character. Referring to Turkey's continued occupation of 37% of Cyprus, despite numerous Security Council resolutions, Mr. Venizelos noted danger of violating international law and treaties exists from eventual offensive action, not through implementing defence planning. Court acquits Balafas of terrorist charges ------------------------------------------ Athens, 26 July 1994 (ANA): Giorgos Balafas, main defendant against a charge of committing a multitude of crimes and other offences as a member of a terrorist organisation in the 1980s, was yesterday acquitted on all counts by the Athens First Instance Criminal Court. Charges included complicity in the assassination of public prosecutor Theophanopoulos, murder of psychiatrist Marios Maratos and a supermarket robbery. Greece closely follows Omonia defendants' case ---------------------------------------------- Athens, 26 July 1994 (ANA): The Foreign Affairs Ministry has received the case file Albanian authorities have compiled against six members of the ethnic Greek minority Omonia party facing trial, according to unofficial sources. Government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos told reporters the government does not have special information on the case, but monitors it "very carefully and closely, to ensure human rights for the (ethnic Greek) minority." He added Albanian authorities should prove they act according to the principles of international law and respect of human rights. The six ethnic Greeks, arrested April 10, are awaiting trial on charges of "espionage, fomenting separatism and possessing weapons without a licence." They are reportedly kept in solitary confinement at the basement of Albania's secret police headquarters, according to two Greek lawyers sent to the neighbouring Balkan country to survey detention conditions. Senior Pol.An official leaves party ------------------------------------ Athens, 26 July 1994 (ANA): Alternate Director General of the Political Spring (Pol.An) and former Deputy of the Aetoloakarnania constituency Dimitris Stamatis yesterday wrote leader Antonis Samaras announcing his resignation from the party. Meanwhile, Mr. Samaras announced widespread structural changes in Pol.An yesterday. Mr. Manolis Kalamidas was appointed Director General, to succeed Mr. Stamatis. Sotiris Kostakos and Stelios Sfakianakis were appointed Alternate Directors. Mr. V. Arambatzis, head of the political support department, and Mr. A. Gerontopoulos were assigned the political communication sector. A party statement said the changes were considered necessary to enable political cadres, former ministers and deputies to disengage from administrative commitments and focus their natural political role unimpeded, namely "projecting historical political reforms Political Spring proposes for institutions, growth, national issues and pressing social problems." House Speaker, SYN leader meet on local poll, do not rule out collaboration ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 26 July 1994 (ANA): A meeting yesterday between PASOK Central Committee secretary Akis Tsohatzopoulos and Coalition of the Left (SYN) president Nikos Constantopoulos on possible talks for collaboration in local government elections next autumn was fruitless, the two leaders stated afterwards. They clearly hinted, however, that the two parties were open to collaboration, if proposals were made by local communities. Mr Tsohatzopoulos said proposals by local communities had priority, and parties were responsible for ensuring there was dialogue and communication at all levels. Mr Constantopoulos submitted proposals for improvements to the law on local government at prefectural level before its application. Evert --------- Athens, 26 July 1994 (ANA): The SYN leader also met with main opposition New Democracy party leader Miltiades Evert on the subject of improvements in the law for second-tier local government. Mr Constantopoulos said afterwards prefectural elections should take place under the proportional representation system, and an inter-party committee ought to be set up at the Interior Ministry to deal with problems that may arise from implementing the law. A New Democracy statement said Mr Evert had outlined ND proposals for indirect election of prefects by mayors, local bodies and professional associations, noting lack of funds caused problems in implementing the new law.