From: tzarros@ccs.carleton.ca (Theodore Zarros) Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Sat, 27 Aug 1994 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa). Athens News Agency Bulletin, August 27, 1994 -------------------------------------------- * Greece retaliates: Blocks EU aid fund to Albania * Athens welcomes UN resolution * 'Le Monde' apologises over false claim * Papoulias starts official visit to Cyprus tomorrow * IFJ strongly condemns Albanian violation of press norms * Seminar for Thrace Moslem teachers * Evert meets with Yugoslav envoy * AGET: Appeals Council rejects C'ttee request on bank accounts * Maverick mayor candidates to appear before PASOK Statutes Council Greece retaliates: Blocks EU aid fund to Albania ------------------------------------------------ Athens, 27/8/1994 (ANA): Greece retaliated Tirana provocations yesterday by blocking EU funds to Albania. Government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said European Union funds allocated to Albania would be blocked on the grounds the neighbouring state had failed to fulfil conditions set by the EU Council of Ministers. Mr. Venizelos said Athens would block a 15 million ECU Community aid package, the first part of a 35 million ECU grant, because of the on-going trial of the five leading members of the ethnic Greek political organisation Omonia, and "latest provocations" by Tirana. On 19 July, the General Affairs Council approved an initial instalment of 15 million ECU of Community aid to Albania, accompanied by a demarche with Tirana from the German presidency reflecting EU concern over lack of respect for human rights and the democratisation process in Albania. The second instalment of 20 million ECU was to be paid subject to conditions relating to an improvement of the human rights situation in Albania and a new decision by the Council of Ministers. Blocking of Community aid to Albania follows Greece's strong condemnation of the trial of five Omonia leaders fighting charges of espionage and illegal arms possession. Athens said the trial was aimed at intimidating Greece's over 200.000-strong ethnic minority in southern Albania. Meanwhile, police yesterday continued rounding-up illegal Albanians. The Government spokesman told the press expulsions were part of efforts to guard the border and combat crime. He said police officers had been instructed to behave in a friendly manner and avoid use of force. Police chief Lieutenant-General Manolis Hourdakis told ANA yesterday that between 2,500 and 3,000 illegal immigrants were rounded up daily and deported, regardless of nationality. A police official estimated about 20,000 illegal Albanian immigrants had been deported in the last ten days. Public Order Minister Stelios Papathemelis said the borders were now being guarded more effectively, considerably reducing the number of deported Albanians re-entering the country. Some 350,000 Albanians are believed to work in Greece, sending home money to support their families. Despite regular deportations of illegal Albanians, the number remains relatively constant since others are crossing the mountains into Greece every day to replace those sent home by the authorities. Mr. Venizelos told reporters yesterday that great improvements had been brought to guarding the national border, but agreed there was still room for further improvement. Athens welcomes UN resolution ----------------------------- Athens, 27/8/1994 (ANA): The spokesman told reporters that the government welcomed a resolution, Thursday, by the United Nations Human Rights Sub-Commission expressing grave concern over allegations of human rights abuses by Albania and " infringement of rules for a fair trial " of the five Omonia members. He told the press the resolution was particularly welcomed by Athens, because it expressly called on the Albanian government to protect the rights of the Greek minority. In another development, Mr. Venizelos criticised a statement by Metropolitan Sevastianos, that "perhaps a few tanks should be sent to the borders", stressing that Greece's foreign policy was the government's responsibility and not of marginal organisations and associations. "Foreign policy is implemented by the government of the nation," Mr. Venizelos said. "Individuals or organisations neither formulate nor impose foreign policy. They express only their own views which may lie on the fringe," he added. Referring to the Air Force colonel who flew a crop-spraying plane over southern Albania last Sunday dropping leaflets against the Tirana government, Mr. Venizelos said he had been summoned to answer four charges under the military and civil penal codes. Mr. Venizelos said the results of the investigation would determine whether or not the colonel would be appear before an Air Force court-martial. Following the incident last Sunday, Albania summoned its Athens Ambassador causing tension between the two neighbours to soar to a new high. Mr. Venizelos told questioners acts such as the plane incident were "not heroic, they were irresponsible." "Such acts", he said, "create problems and offer pretexts to countries seeking grounds for hostile propaganda against Greece. Damage caused is considerable." On the possibility of dialogue between Athens and Tirana subject to certain conditions, Mr. Venizelos said that the sole subject of dialogue of any nature could only be the issue of respect for the rights of the ethnic Greek minority in Albania. Earlier in the week, Albanian President Sali Berisha offered to have talks with Athens through international mediation, after meeting with Max van der Stoel, High Commissioner for Minorities at the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE). Athens said Thursday it was willing to enter into dialogue with Albania to try to settle differences, only if Tirana respected the rights of the ethnic Greek minority in Albania and stopped the trial of the ethnic Greek Omonia leaders. Tension between the two neighbours mounted after a trial opened in Tirana this month in which five ethnic Greek members of the Political Organisation, Omonia are accused of espionage and illegal arms possession. 'Le Monde' apologises over false claim -------------------------------------- Athens, 27/8/1994 (ANA): In a letter, yesterday, to the Greek Embassy in Paris, the French daily "Le Monde" apologised over a false claim in an article on Greek-Albanian relations which prompted strong reaction by the Greek government. The article, which appeared on the newspaper's August 25 edition, adopted the view that the five ethnic Greek leaders of Omonia, currently on trial, were responsible for a fatal attack against a border conscript centre inside Albania. Tirana accused Greece of waging the attack which resulted in the death of two Albanian soldiers. Athens strongly denied the charges. In his reply to the Greek Embassy, Le Monde's acting director of international news, wrote: "It is clear that the assault against the Episkopi conscript centre on April 10 and the trial currently held in Tirana are two facts that bear no connection." The letter also noted that its article had referred to the ill-treatment of the five defendants by Tirana authorities, adding the newspaper had also made repeated reference in the past to problems imposed on Greece by waves of illegal Albanian immigrants. An erratum was published by the French daily in its August 27 edition. Papoulias starts official visit to Cyprus tomorrow -------------------------------------------------- Nicosia, 27/8/1994 (ANA/CNA): Greek Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias arrives here tomorrow evening on a four-day official visit from August 28-31, at the invitation of his Cypriot counterpart Alecos Michaelides. Mr. Papoulias will be accompanied by a six-member delegation. He will be received by President Glafcos Clerides Monday. IFJ strongly condemns Albanian violation of press norms ------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 27/8/1994 (ANA): The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) issued a statement Friday strongly condemning Albanian authorities, for "their heavy-handed harassment of journalists covering a politically charged trial in Tirana." The IFJ had been advised by the Athens Journalists Union (ESHEA) and the Union of Cyprus Journalists on the arrest and ill-treatment by the Albanian authorities of two Greek journalists and a Cypriot camera-woman, Thekla Kittou, who was deported from the country after her arrest Tuesday. The journalists and the camera-woman were covering the trial of five ethnic Greek-Albanians, members of the Democratic Union "Omonia", accused of spying and illegal possession of weapons. In its statement, the IFJ called on the Albanian government to release any detained journalists and "to allow Ms. Kittou to return to Tirana and carry out her professional task." "The Albanian government should understand that its arbitrary rough treatment, arrest and expulsion of media workers is a serious breach of international standards of freedom of expression," said IFJ Secretary-General Aidan White. "The IFJ as well as the European Journalist Federation will follow closely events," he added. The European Journalist Federation represents 51 organisations in 38 countries. It will continue to monitor the state of media freedom in Albania, and draw up a report on violations of freedom of expression for its executive committee, in October. Seminar for Thrace Moslem teachers ---------------------------------- Athens, 27/8/1994 (ANA): Over 200 Moslem teachers from Thrace are attending a 15-day seminar on vocational training which began in Thessaloniki yesterday. Minister of Macedonia-Thrace Constantine Triarides opened the working sessions of the seminar which is held at Thessaloniki University. Mr. Triarides called on participants to pool efforts in "overcoming difficulties in an atmosphere of sincerity and co-operation." The Minister said the government "considers respect for human rights of every Greek citizen as self-evident, including fulfilment of related obligations by everybody." "A new era has begun in our relationship, and I shall be stern against anyone who interferes with your right of free expression or performing your task as teachers," he stressed. Mr. Triarides also pledged financial assistance to cultural events organised by Moslem teachers, adding he would organise foreign language seminars if there was appropriate interest for them. In a message to the seminar, Education Minister George Papandreou stressed the significance of "the mission of minority schools in Thrace." The seminar includes dress making working sessions for wives and daughters of Moslem teachers, organised in co-operation with the Organisation for the Employment of Human Resources (OAED). Evert meets with Yugoslav envoy ------------------------------- Athens, 27/8/1994 (ANA): Opposition leader Miltiades Evert met with ambassador of the new Yugoslavia to Athens Milan Milutinovic, in the framework of his initiative to brief foreign governments and international public opinion on the violation of the human rights of the ethnic Greek minority in Albania by the Berisha regime. According to a statement after the meeting, the two men also discussed problems in the Balkans, and Mr Evert stressed that Greece permanently adheres to a policy of restoring peace, security and confidence in the region, which always supports recognition of existing borders, respect for human rights, and peaceful solution of disputes. Referring to recent proposals by Serbian president Slobodan Milocevic for the solution of the crisis in Bosnia, Mr Evert commented they are in the right direction. AGET: Appeals Council rejects C'ttee request on bank accounts ------------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 27/8/1994 (ANA): The Athens Appeals Council yesterday rejected a request by a parliamentary investigating committee, submitted August 10, for inspection of Greek bank accounts of persons involved in the AGET Iraklis Cement Company affair. Those involved include former Prime Minister Constantinos Mitsotakis, who had requested, August 16, annulment of an earlier Appeals Council order for inspection of bank accounts belonging to himself, former AGET Vice-President Nikos Georgiadis, and businessmen Iraklis Mathiopoulos and Michalis Kammenos. Yesterday's ruling rejects the request, on the grounds that evidence submitted by the parliamentary committee does not establish suspicion that the accounts in question contain money originating from the AGET slush-fund. Maverick mayor candidates to appear before PASOK Statutes Council ----------------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 27/8/1994 (ANA): Yiannis Papaspyrou and Yiannis Naos, independent mayor candidates, are expected to appear before the PASOK Propriety and Statutes Committee September 1, for opposing official party nominees for Piraeus and Peristeri. The charge renders them liable to expulsion. The final decision will be made by the party Central Committee, based on the Propriety Committee recommendation. Mr Papaspyrou yesterday rejected charges of undermining party unity made by the party Executive Bureau. He said his candidacy was supported by 500 leading members of PASOK Piraeus prefectural committee, noting only PASOK leader, Premier Andreas Papandreou, had the right to decide on his future in the party. Mr. Papaspyrou said he did not believe Mr. Papandreou would accept a recommendation for expulsion on account of his political record and their personal ties. Mr Naos reacted tersely, saying he was not concerned about expulsion, only Peristeri. Authoritative sources consider it unlikely party leadership will reverse the procedure already initiated.