From: tzarros@ccs.carleton.ca (Theodore Zarros) Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Wed, 24 Aug 1994 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa). Athens News Agency Bulletin, August 24, 1994 -------------------------------------------- * Premier: Major public works to go ahead as planned * Italians convicted for trying to smuggle out artifacts * George Mangakis writes Van der Stoel over trial * Albania recalls Athens envoy for consultations * Cypriot MPs at trial in Albania * Albanian army colonel arraigned in Patras, under EYP interrogation * Berisha claims he wants dialogue with Athens * Greece-Albania tension worries Russia * PM confers with FM, Defence Minister * Defence Ministry dismisses FYROM air space violation charge * Opposition condemns British Group report Premier: Major public works to go ahead as planned --------------------------------------------------- Athens, 24/8/1994 (ANA): Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou yesterday reiterated major public works would go ahead normally. "There is not just hope but actual certainty large public projects will go ahead normally," the Premier stressed, after an Inner Cabinet meeting which dealt with the matter. Government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said the meeting focused on the need to jump-start construction of 13 major infrastructure works estimated at 3.6 trillion drachmas (2.7 trillion for the 1994-99 period), a daily average of 2.2 billion dr. to be absorbed under the Public Investment Budget and the Second Delors Package. "The pace of public projects is satisfactory, but needs speeding up in order to ensure collection of EU funds," Mr. Venizelos noted. Priority was given by the Inner Cabinet to building the Egnatia highway in northern Greece, and the Patras-Thessaloniki-Greek Bulgarian border road axis. Both projects are included in an 11-point plan of trans-European networks which the European Council approved at the June summit of European Union leaders in Corfu. As regards Spata airport, Mr Venizelos said government decision was irrevocable, adding the Environment and Public Works Ministry was engaged in talks with two candidate consortiums for the project. Main Opposition New Democracy party accused the government of using the issue of major projects to mislead public opinion, rather than as a lever for development, thus resulting in the loss of hundreds of billions in EU funds. Italians convicted for trying to smuggle out artifacts ------------------------------------------------------ Athens, 24/8/1994 (ANA): Two Italians were yesterday sentenced each to two months' imprisonment, for trying to smuggle ancient Greek amphorae and artifacts out of the country. Paolo Baci, 48, and Claudio Capobianchi, 41, were arrested Monday, while boarding Bari-bound "Pollux" ferryboat at Igoumenitsa, northern Greece. Police said the pieces were found in the cars of the two men, licence plates PI 437324 and AC 743 NP. Baci and Capbianchi told the court they were not aware of the value of the pieces which they claimed they had found in the sea near Igoumenitsa. They were released after buying off their sentences. Meanwhile, six more Italians are also due to appear before the public prosecutor after being arrested on the island of Alonissos for removing pieces of ancient amphorae from the seabed. They were identified as Domenco Colozio, Michela Colozio, Angela Zizioli, Marzia Claudia Bonera, Francesca Mainardi and Paolo Cambaner. George Mangakis writes Van der Stoel over trial ----------------------------------------------- Athens, 24/8/1994 (ANA): Ruling PASOK party deputy and former justice minister George Alexandros Mangakis has written the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE) High Commissioner for ethnic minorities Max van der Stoel strongly condemning the procedure at the ongoing trial of five leading members of the ethnic Greek political organisation "Omonia" in Tirana. In his letter, Mr. Mangakis draws attention to "the unbelievable lack of evidence" against the five ethnic Greek defendants and the "internationally unprecedented" commencement of the trial with defendants' testimony rather than the examination of witnesses or producing evidence. Mr. Mangakis, who headed an all-party parliamentary delegation to the trial, yesterday sent the letter to Mr. van der Stoel who is currently in Tirana. "... there are many elements which add a provocative note to this trial, bringing to mind detestable phenomena of sham trials in oppressive regimes of the past," Mr. Mangakis stressed. Referring to the court's response to complaints of torture made at the opening of the trial by the defendants, Mr. Mangakis said that "instead of the court immediately ordering an inquiry into such shocking complaints and circumstances in which the preliminary investigation had been conducted without a trace of democratic guarantees... the court did exactly the opposite instead... it accused defendants of abusing their freedom of speech." Mr. Mangakis stressed that the total lack of evidence against the defendants was the reason for the "internationally unprecedented" procedure whereby the trial began with the defendants' testimony rather than the examination of witnesses and the presentation of evidence. He also underlined the court's "provocative refusal" to examine witnesses cited by the defendants and attempts to intimidate witnesses named by the public prosecutor. Mr. Mangakis urged Mr. van der Stoel to intervene to safeguard the human rights of the ethnic Greek minority in Albania and safeguard the stature and effectiveness of CSCE institutions. Mr. van der Stoel is expected in Athens tomorrow for talks with the Greek government. Albania recalls Athens envoy for consultations ---------------------------------------------- Athens, 24/8/1994 (ANA): Albania has recalled its Athens Ambassador Hysen Cabej for consultations on Greek-Albanian relations further straining tension between the two neighbours. An Albanian Embassy official told ANA yesterday that Mr. Cabej had been recalled to Tirana "possibly" to discuss an incident Sunday in which a Greek plane flew over Albanian territory dropping propaganda leaflets, and the ongoing trial of five leading members of the ethnic Greek political organisation "Omonia" in Tirana. Ignoring Greece's explanations of the incident, Albanian President Sali Berisha termed the flight by the Greek pilot as "hostile provocation" accusing Greece of launching a "Cold War" against Albania. President Constantine Karamanlis said Monday that Albania was acting "thoughtlessly and would regret it." Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou told reporters late Sunday Greece would retaliate every move against the Greek minority. "Every step against the Greek minority will be answered," he said, adding that the warning was meant only for the Tirana government, not other political parties. Mr. Karamanlis and Mr. Papandreou will meet today to discuss recent developments in Greek-Albanian relations. Greek government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said the flight over Albania was an "irresponsible and foolish act" which had no "link with Greece's foreign policy." The Greek pilot was taken into custody Monday and will appear before a military court. Despite Greece's explanations over the incident, Albanian Defence Minister Safet Zhulali yesterday wrote to US Defence Secretary William Perry and other NATO ministers asking them to use their influence with Greece, a member of the Alliance. "In order to halt tension and dangerous destabilisation in southern Balkans, we ask you to exercise your authority to condemn such grave provocative acts by Greece and ensure they do not happen again," Mr. Zhulali was quoted as saying in a Reuters despatch yesterday. Greek Foreign Under-Secretary Gregoris Niotis yesterday said Albania continued its provocations relying on an insignificant incident. Tension between the two countries grew after the trial of the five leaders of ethnic Greek political organisation Omonia opened in Tirana last week. Defendants are fighting charges of espionage and illegal possession of weapons. In another development, the leadership of the main opposition New Democracy party called on Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias to brief Washington and Germany, current holder of the European Union Presidency, on developments in Greek-Albanian relations. ND also suggested the government request EU to halt all financial assistance to Albania, and send observers to the neighbouring country to substantiate violation of ethnic Greek minority rights. The opposition party requested the government to recall its Tirana ambassador to Athens, a ND announcement said yesterday. Cypriot MPs at trial in Albania ------------------------------- Nicosia, 24/8/1994 (ANA/CNA): The Albanian authorities finally allowed four Cypriot MP to attend the trial of five ethnic Greek Albanians, members of the Democratic Union of the Greek minority "OMONIA". An official statement here said the relevant arrangements were made by the Cypriot Ambassador to Albania Petros Michaelides. The Cypriot Ambassador, who is based in Rome, also arranged separate meetings between the four MPs and the Albanian minister of Justice Kudred Cela, the President of the People's Assembly and Albanian MPs. The Cypriot MPs arrived in Gyrokastr on Sunday, as a show of solidarity with the five accused. According to the Cypriot daily "Simerini", in a dispatch from Tirana, the chairman of the Democratic party of Albania (DPA) Eduard Selami, said the ethnic Greek minority in the country would soon acquire their rights, as provided for under international agreements and European standards. Mr. Selami made this statement at a meeting with the four Cypriot MPs, who expressed concern over accusations of violation of the rights of the ethnic Greek minority. The Albanian politician pledged to exert pressure to enable the Cypriot MPs to meet with the five defendants and their relatives. According to "Simerini", the President of Albania's union for Human Rights Vasi Mele, said the Albanian government could not deprive the ethnic Greek minority of its rights. At a meeting with the Cypriot parliamentarians, Mr. Mele expressed the view that extremists in Albania want the country to revert to Islam. The four MP's had also a meeting with the primate of the Greek Orthodox Church of Albania, Archbishop Anastasios. Meanwhile, Cyprus Foreign Minister Alecos Michaelides has given instructions to the Cyprus Ambassador to go to Tirana. Albanian army colonel arraigned in Patras, under EYP interrogation ----------------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 24/8/1994 (ANA): A 52-year-old lieutenant-colonel of the Albanian army has been arrested in the Greek port city of Patras, police sources said yesterday. He has been identified as Andreas Pappas. The sources said he was arrested four days ago for "suspicious movements", and was now being interrogated by the National Information Service (EYP), Greece's intelligence service. In a related development, reliable sources said EYP head Leonidas Vassilikopoulos met with Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias, but no further details were given. Government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said later that the arrested man was a retired colonel of the Albanian army supply corps and, according to the information received by the government from competent authorities, "he is in Greece just like thousands of other illegal Albanian immigrants". Berisha claims he wants dialogue with Athens -------------------------------------------- Tirana, 24/8/1994 (ANA/M.Vehos): Albanian President Sali Berisha met yesterday with Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE) High Commissioner for minorities, Max van der Stoel. According to state-run Albanian television, Mr. Berisha claimed he wished dialogue with Athens and accused the Greek government of turning down Albanian proposals. "Such a dialogue," the Albanian President said "can also take place through third party mediation." The CSCE, the European Union or the United States might act as mediators, he added. Only hours before the meeting, Albanian plain-clothesmen barred entry of leaders of the ethnic Greek political organisation Omonia to the Greek Embassy in Tirana. This was reported by Omonia leaders during the first meeting they had yesterday with Mr. van der Stoel. Greece-Albania tension worries Russia ------------------------------------- Moscow, 24/8/1994 (ANA/D. Constantakopoulos): The Russian Foreign Ministry voiced concern at the escalation of tension between Athens and Tirana, especially recent "border incidents", in a statement yesterday. Such developments contrast with "intensive efforts" by the international community to disentangle the critical situation in former Yugoslavia and the Balkans, the statement added. It also urges seeking solutions to pending problems through dialogue. PM confers with FM, Defence Minister ------------------------------------ Athens, 24/8/1994 (ANA): Premier Andreas Papandreou yesterday had a working meeting with Foreign and National Defence Ministers Karolos Papoulias and Gerasimos Arsenis at the Maximos Mansion. Defence Ministry dismisses FYROM air space violation charge ----------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 24/8/1994 (ANA): The National Defence Ministry yesterday dismissed as "fabrications" accusations by the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) that a Greek plane had violated its airspace. "The allegations are fabrications of the Foreign Ministry of FYROM," said a Defence Ministry announcement. It said all Greek Air Force flights were conducted within the country's national airspace. FYROM accused Greece of violating its air space yesterday, claiming a Greek jet flew seven kilometres into that republic's territory. FYROM defence ministry claimed in a statement that a Greek military aircraft flew at an altitude of 500 metres (1,500 feet) near the village of Krani on the border at about 9:30 a.m. local time. According to a Reuter dispatch, Skopje's foreign ministry sent a protest note to Greek authorities over the incident and alleged Greeks had penetrated FYROM air space several times over the past year. A spokeswoman for the UN Protection Force stationed in Skopje could not confirm the incident. Opposition condemns British Group report ---------------------------------------- Athens, 24/8/1994 (ANA): A New Democracy party statement yesterday condemned a report by the British Helsinki Human Rights Group alleging "oppression of a Slav Macedonian minority in Greece". The statement stresses that the only minority in Greece is the religious Muslim minority in Thrace, accusing the Group of adopting propaganda disseminated by the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia which has no historical basis. Finally, it calls on the government to react with the most appropriate means.