From: tzarros@ccs.carleton.ca (Theodore Zarros) Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Thu, 15 Sep 1994 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa). Athens News Agency Bulletin, September 15, 1994 ----------------------------------------------- * Special envoy hands PM Clinton letter, underscores US interest in region * Serb Democratic Party mission in Athens * Papoulias confers with Ghali Cyprus envoy * Military exercise at Serres September 19 * EU Council takes up Greek-Albanian relations * Ghali follows developments * Yugoslavia condemns Tirana sentences, calls for release of convicted ethnics * ND doctors to visit Albania * No official advice on FYROM flag change * Opposition leader raps PM supporters * Pol.An leader tells President, PM to quit, launches "all-out political battle" * Pangalos resigns, runs for Athens mayor, A. Tsouras successor Special envoy hands PM Clinton letter, underscores US interest in region -------------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 15/9/1994 (ANA): A high-ranking US State Department official arrived in Athens yesterday at the start of two days of shuttle diplomacy aimed at discussing relations between Greece and Turkey. "I am here to reiterate the fact the United States is very much engaged in this region... and that we want to be available to both Greece and Turkey," US Under-Secretary of State Peter Tarnoff said. "Our help can be useful in dealing with all issues currently on the agenda (of Greek-Turkish relations)," he told reporters after talks with Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias. Mr. Tarnoff later met with Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou to deliver a letter by President Clinton expressing Washington's desire to work with Greece and Turkey to enhance stability in the eastern Mediterranean. Mr. Papandreou and Mr. Tarnoff discussed Greek-Turkish relations and problems in the broader Balkan region in talks which lasted for an hour. The meeting took place in the presence of Mr. Papoulias. Speaking to the press earlier, Mr. Tarnoff conceded that no US proposals to settle differences between Greece and Turkey were included in the letter. "In essence the President expresses (in the letter) his desire to remain in very close touch with the Prime Minister. He says it is important for officials of both of our governments to engage on a whole range of issues on the region," Mr. Tarnoff said. The State Department official's visit comes amid political tension between the two neighbouring states and NATO allies over territorial boundaries in the Aegean Sea. Ankara insists that extension of Greece's territorial waters beyond the present six miles could be the cause of war. Serb Democratic Party mission in Athens --------------------------------------- Athens, 15/9/1994 (ANA): Serbian Democratic Party president Zoran Djindjic will pay a three-day visit to Athens to sign a co-operation agreement with Greece's conservative party. An ANA report from Belgrade said Djindjic will fly to Athens on September 26, at the head of a delegation of his Democratic party. The report added Djindjic's visit to Athens follows an invitation by N.D. leader Miltiades Evert. The Democratic Party holds third place in the Serbian parliament. It has condemned any move by Serbia to slap sanctions against Serbs in war-torn Bosnia-Herzegovina. Papoulias confers with Ghali Cyprus envoy ----------------------------------------- Athens, 15/9/1994 (ANA): The UN Secretary General's special envoy for Cyprus, Joe Clark, yesterday expressed pessimism over developments in efforts for a settlement to the Cyprus problem. "I have to state frankly that I think we are much closer to an impasse now than we have been so far," Mr. Clark told reporters after one hour of talks with Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias attended also by UN envoy Gustav Feissel. Mr. Clark stressed, however, the need "to continue seeking ways that will allow progress to be made". "We had a very constructive conversation and I was pleased naturally to be told again of the full support of the Greek government for the good-offices mission of the United Nations," Mr. Clark said. "For my part," the envoy said, "I think that there are a number of issues that would be useful for me to pursue in Cyprus in the next three days I shall spend there, including discussions to see if there is some way in which we can shift attention back to confidence-building measures as part of a broader settlement. We are, of course, dealing here with a set of UN resolutions based on the establishment of a federation. We are looking forward to ways in which we can move within the context of UN resolutions." Mr. Clark told questioners there were no plans at present for a meeting between Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash. He said he would be satisfied if there had been a productive reason for them to meet prior to going ahead with such plans. According to Foreign Ministry spokesman Constantine Bikas, Mr. Papoulias told Mr. Clark the Greek government had faith in the efforts of the Secretary General for a solution to the Cyprus problem. Mr. Papoulias also expressed concern over the safety of Greek Cypriots living in the occupied parts of Cyprus. The spokesman also drew Mr. Clark's attention to the fact that successive waves of Turkish settlers threatened Cyprus' demographic composition. Messrs Clark and Feissel were due to arrive in Cyprus yesterday for separate talks with Cypriot President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash. On Sunday, the two UN envoys are due to go to Ankara before they return to New York. Military exercise at Serres September 19 ---------------------------------------- Athens, 15/9/1994 (ANA): A military exercise code-named "Philippos '94" will be held from September 19 through 23. It will be centred at Serres region. Meanwhile, National Defence Ministry sources denied a press report alleging a military exercise would be held along the Albanian border. The sources added reservists and recruits would undergo supplementary training, recalling this takes place at regular intervals during the year throughout Greece. EU Council takes up Greek-Albanian relations -------------------------------------------- Brussels, 15/9/1994 (ANA-M.Savva): German European Affairs Minister Ursula Seler-Albring (phonetic spelling) yesterday said the European Council was considering the Greek positions on Greek-Albanian relations as expressed by Greek Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias during the EU Foreign Ministers informal talks last weekend in Usedom. "Unfortunately," Ms. Seler said, "Greece was not in a position to agree to the release of economic aid to Albania, due to violations of rights of the Greek minority members (in southern Albania)." "Unfortunately," she added, "we have not been able to persuade Albania to alter its position either. We (therefore) have yet to find a way to satisfy both countries." French Eurodeputy Catherine Lalumiere said the reply of the German EU presidency was "lukewarm" for such "a hot issue," while Greek Eurodeputy Alecos Alavanos called on Germany to take "specific action" for the release of the five ethnic Greeks, to "un-block" European Union funds to Albania. Ms. Seler did not rule out the possibility of German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel meeting with his Albanian counterpart, nor a troika delegation going to Tirana to look further into the issue. Greek-Albanian relations plunged to an all-time low after a Tirana court handed down sentences of between six to eight years to five ethnic Greeks accused of spying for Greece and illegal weapons possession. They were arrested after a fatal attack against a border conscript centre inside Albania led to a growing crisis between Athens and Tirana. Albania accused Greece of launching the attack which resulted in the death of two Albanian conscripts. Athens flatly denied the charge. Athens has condemned the trial as a political fabrication aimed at terrorising its ethnic minority in Albania, and retaliated by blocking European Union aid to Albania and tightening land and sea border control. Athens said it blocked a 15 million ECU ($18 million) European Union aid package, the first part of a 30 million ECU ($42 million) European Union loan, because the neighbouring state had failed to improve its human and minority rights record, or meet European Union Foreign Ministers' terms. Greece also ruled out dialogue with Albania on the grounds of absence of good will in the neighbouring country, and failure to release the five ethnic Greeks. Athens called for international pressure on Tirana to release the five ethnic Greeks, and requested the European Union to show solidarity with Greece. On Sunday, Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou warned Tirana that Greece's stance against Albania would "become even tougher." Ghali follows developments -------------------------- New York, 15/9/1994 (ANA): Meanwhile, in New York, UN Secretary General's spokesman Joe Sills told a press briefing yesterday that Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali followed developments in Greek-Albanian relations closely and would soon be able to reply to letters by the G reek and Albanian governments. Yugoslavia condemns Tirana sentences, calls for release of convicted ethnics ---------------------------------------------------------- United Nations, 15/9/1994 (ANA-M. Georgiadou): The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia yesterday condemned "the draconian sentences" passed on five ethnic Greeks by a Tirana court, calling for their immediate release. A statement issued by the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, released yesterday to the press by the Permanent Mission of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to the United Nations, said the act of the Albanian authorities was "another example of flagrant violation of human rights and freedoms of ethnic minorities, including principles for a fair trial." "The trial and draconian sentences based on a criminal code dating back to the era of Enver Hoxha, denial of the right to freely choose defence counsel, and the method of extorting confession during interrogation, reveal the nature of the system and judiciary in Albania, where security and fundamental rights of members of ethnic minorities are not guaranteed," the statement noted. It added that "by this and other similar court trials, Albania shows it continues to pursue a policy of pressure and intimidation of ethnic minorities and its own citizens who politically disagree with the present regime." ND doctors to visit Albania --------------------------- Athens, 15/9/1994 (ANA): A delegation of doctors who are Deputies of the main opposition New Democracy party, will visit Albania, which is experiencing a cholera epidemic, to ascertain needs and the possibility of providing all necessary aid, it was announced yesterday. No official advice on FYROM flag change --------------------------------------- Athens, 15/9/1994 (ANA): Government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos yesterday told reporters that the government had received no positive information or official briefing regarding the removal of ancient Greek symbols from the flag of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). He was commenting on press reports, adding they were probably prompted by an old Skopje post card sold in a souvenir store at the United Nations. Mr. Venizelos reiterated that change of symbols and the preamble to the constitution by FYROM, remained the Greek government's terms for lifting the trade sanctions against the neighbouring state and beginning dialogue. Last February, Greece imposed trade sanctions as retortion measures against its neighbour in an effort to fight Skopje intransigence. Greece insists that Skopje change its name, remove the ancient Greek symbols from its flag and alter the preamble of its constitution containing expansionist designs against Greece. Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) party leader Nikos Constantopoulos said in Thessaloniki yesterday that the problem of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) should have been already resolved, noting Greece should take an initiative to break the deadlock. "The more a solution is delayed, the more we become entangled and the more time works against us," Mr. Constantopoulos said. Mr. Constantopoulos, who arrived in Thessaloniki yesterday, visited the Thessaloniki Labour Centre and offices and pavilions of the 59th Thessaloniki International Fair. Replying to questions by the press at the Labour Centre, he expressed his views on all national issues and economic matters, but declined comment on developments in the main opposition New Democracy party, saying that he did not interfere with internal affairs of other parties. Commenting on the Albanian issue, Mr. Constantopoulos recalled the Coalition's steadfast position which consists in: defusing tension, not becoming hostage to Albanian President Sali Berisha's provocations, protecting the ethnic Greek minority, supporting the claim for democratisation in Albania and changing the existing climate in Greco-Albanian relations. Opposition leader raps PM supporters ------------------------------------ Athens, 15/9/1994 (ANA): Main Opposition New Democracy party leader Miltiades Evert late Tuesday night removed former Minister Andreas Andrianopoulos from the party's Political Council and referred former Foreign Minister Michalis Papaconstantinou to the Disciplinary Council on grounds of conduct violating party statutes. According to a statement by Mr. Evert, Tuesday, Mr. Papaconstantinou publicly suggested that a secret agreement between ND and the government possibly existed, while Mr. Andrianopoulos stated publicly that he was not aware of what had been decided at the Political Council of ND on party policy in the AGET case. Yesterday, the two former ministers expressed disagreement with Mr. Evert's decision noting that, for the present time, they did not intend leaving the party. Mr. Evert yesterday denied comment on his decision telling the press that party problems should not become street talk. Mr. Andrianopoulos told questioners the issue was not important, adding it was the President's right "to decide on party composition." But he expressed disappointment at "obscurity and uncertainty prevailing in the ND." Asked to state his next move, Mr. Andrianopoulos asked the press to wait for his speech on the AGET case in Parliament today. A special parliamentary investigating committee has been set up to probe allegations of corruption arising from the sale of the state-owned AGET-Iraklis cement company to the Italian Calcestruzzi conglomerate, by the previous New Democracy government. Earlier this month, PASOK members of the Committee decided to propose to the plenum of the House that former prime minister Constantine Mitsotakis and former ministers Ioannis Palaiokrassas and Andreas Andrianopoulos stand trial before a special court. The ruling party members decided that Mr. Mitsotakis should be tried on charges of instigating breach of faith, accepting bribes, dereliction of duty, and violation of the law on the accountability of ministers. They also decided that Mr. Palaiokrassas and Mr. Andrianopoulos should be charged with criminal breach of faith, dereliction of duty, and violation of the law on the accountability of ministers. Pol.An leader tells President, PM to quit, launches "all-out political battle" ------------------------------------------------------------ Athens, 15/9/1994 (ANA): Political Spring (Pol.An) party leader Antonis Samaras yesterday announced an "all-out political battle" in Thessaloniki, calling on President Constantine Karamanlis to withdraw from the political scene because "he has nothing more to offer". "Mr. Karamanlis and (Prime Minister) Mr. Papandreou can no longer offer anything, they are obstructive. We are experiencing tough times which call for a new approach," Mr. Samaras said in Thessaloniki where he visited the 59th session of the Thessaloniki International Fair. Speaking at a press conference, Mr. Samaras clarified that "politically I belong to the centre, but a flexible centre which has nothing to do with the old conservative centre." Directly linking the national issue of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) to the issue of recent provocations by Albanian President Sali Berisha, Mr. Samaras said that "had Athens confronted FYROM united, Berisha would never have dared to do what he is doing." "Greece should request dispatch of UN and CSCE observers to Northern Epirus (southern Albania) to permanently monitor developments in human rights," Mr. Samaras said, adding that he does not favour the closure of the border with Albania, noting it should be strictly guarded instead. Referring to Mr. Papandreou's speech on the national economy, Mr. Samaras said "he didn't even say a word about growth and, once again, imposed austerity coupled with modernisation, as was the case in 1982 and 1985." "Brussels orders and Athens complies," Mr. Samaras said, adding that a public prosecutor's office official selected from an authority elected by magistrates should participate in the committee awarding major projects to dispel possible suspicions. Press Under-Secretary Telemachos Hytiris, in response to Mr. Samaras' statement said: "If Mr. Samaras' declaration on the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister were true, it means that he continues to be politically immature and, today, anyone who is politically immature, is dangerous as well." Pangalos resigns, runs for Athens mayor, A. Tsouras successor ------------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 15/9/1994 (ANA): Transport and Communications Under-Secretary Athanasios Tsouras will be sworn in as Transport Minister today, Evangelos Venizelos announced yesterday. Mr. Tsouras succeeds Theodoros Pangalos who resigned to run for Athens mayor in the October municipal elections. Mr. Tsouras' post will be filled by ruling Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) deputy for Aetoloakarnania Christos Kokkinovassilis, Mr. Venizelos said.