From: tzarros@ccs.carleton.ca (Theodore Zarros) Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Tue, 4 Oct 1994 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa). Athens News Agency Bulletin, October 04, 1994 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ * PM to party: Road to convergence satisfactory but "tough" * Gligorov reported rejecting French-German name proposal * Kranidiotis briefs Delors, Commission wants to join in Troika talks * Greece braces for three vetoes at Luxembourg meeting * Tirana court delays ruling on ethnics appeal * Probe into torture allegations demanded * SYN leader to try lead Greece 'out of isolation' * "Guards of the Aegean" begins * Karatzaferis to remain with New Democracy despite suspension * Truckloads of Greek aids to Bosnia, Serb cities * Greece to follow EU stance on Sea law ratifying * Presidential message for Germany national day * Defence U'Secretary in Budapest PM to party: Road to convergence satisfactory but "tough" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Athens, 4/10/1994 (ANA): "The course of the Greek economy towards convergence with the European Union is satisfactory, but the initial stages (1994-95) will be difficult for Greek citizens," Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou said yesterday. Addressing the ruling PASOK party parliamentary group two weeks before nation-wide municipal elections, Mr. Papandreou added the government would complete its full four-year term. Although he ruled out early elections next year to coincide with the Presidential race, Mr. Papandreou said "however, I don't want to play prophet". "The country cannot withstand successive elections," he said, in obvious reference to the three elections held in 1989-90. He said the path of the economy in regard to the course towards convergence was satisfactory, "but the initial stages will be difficult". "We will do everything possible for convergence to incorporate the social facet, since stabilisation and growth are not sufficient in themselves, and social policy remains a fundamental target of PASOK," Mr. Papandreou said. The Prime Minister said "after a year of PASOK administration, the work of the government is deemed creative and its (annual) record positive," considering the "stalemates" inherited from now main Opposition New Democracy party. Commenting on Mr. Papandreou's address, a New Democracy party statement said the Prime Minister's speech "confirms once more his unreliability." A Political Spring party (Pol.An) a statement remarked "Mr. Papandreou promises another three years of non-administration." Communist Party of Greece (KKE) said the Premier's address "confirms once more that the anti-popular, conservative policy is a one-way track for the PASOK administration." Gligorov reported rejecting French-German name proposal ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Skopje, |4/10/1994 (ANA-M.Vehou): Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) President Kiro Gligorov was quoted by the "Macedonian Times" magazine yesterday as rejecting a terminological definition of the name of the country as envisaged in the Kinkel-Juppe initiative. Meanwhile in Athens, government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos avoided comment saying he would revert with a statement after Mr. Gligorov's statement had been examined in detail by the government. Mr. Gligorov was quoted as accepting "in principle" a French-German proposal for consultations with the European Union troika on the issues of FYROM, Greek-Albanian relations and EU relations with Turkey, but rejecting "the part of the plan envisaging terminological definition on the name of the country." "To us, it is a matter of principle and identity, and now that life (events have) solved the problem I don't see the reason why we should go back," he said. Mr. Gligorov's statement which was also broadcast on national radio came two weeks before parliamentary elections. The Skopje President, who said he had not been informed by the German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel on the French-German initiative, said the plan "is not new, it was presented a long time ago." Greece, who insists that FYROM change its name, remove the ancient Greek symbols of its flag, and amend its constitution containing expansionist designs against its province of Macedonia, imposed in February trade sanctions against the neighbouring country to curb Mr. Gligorov's intransigence. Meanwhile, in Strasbourg, President of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly, Miguel Angel Martinez told reporters yesterday that conducting upcoming elections properly was one of the basic conditions for FYROM accession to the Council of Europe. Kranidiotis briefs Delors, Commission wants to join in Troika talks ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Brussels, 4/10/1994 (ANA-M.Savva/V.Demiris): European Commission President Jacques Delors held talks with Greek Foreign Under-Secretary Yiannos Kranidiotis yesterday, expressing European Commission wish and advisability to participate in political dialogue which the Community troika (Greece, Germany and France) will conduct on the crucial issues of Albania and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). At a meeting which lasted over an hour, Mr. Kranidiotis briefed Mr. Delors on Greek positions on current European issues. Relations between the European Union and Turkey were also discussed, an issue which Mr. Kranidiotis linked directly to the negotiation process for Cyprus' accession to the EU, starting from January. The view was also expressed that a message should be sent to Turkey drawing attention to flagrant human rights violations on its territory. The outgoing Commission President expressed optimism that the FYROM issue would be resolved very soon, adding that the situation in Albania should be defused. Mr. Delors also stressed the need for Albanian President "Sali Berisha to show sensitivity over Greek views." Mr. Kranidiotis welcomed the Commission President's initiative, saying the time was right for the EU to take a stand on the Albanian issue. Greece braces for three vetoes at Luxembourg meeting ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Brussels, 4/10/1994 (ANA-P.Pantelis): Greece is prepared to veto three issues at the European Union Council of Foreign Ministers in Luxembourg today concerning Albania, Turkey and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). The first issue concerns macroeconomic aid to Albania from the EU, the second the inclusion of FYROM in the "FARE" program on aid for central and eastern European countries, which requires a unanimous decision, and the third, the 4th financial protocol between the EU and Turkey which Greece has linked to progress in the Cyprus issue. Foreign Under-Secretary Yiannos Kranidiotis, who will support Greek positions, said in Brussels he was ready to handle any issue which may be raised on Greek national problems. Economic aid to Albania is an issue whose discussion is certain. The German rotating presidency will raise it at the noon luncheon for the foreign ministers. But a German presidency spokesman forecast that discussion will not lead to decisions because t here have been no developments in relations between Greece and Albania, an essential condition for Greece's veto to be lifted. However, the European Commission spokesman indicated yesterday that pressure will be exerted on Greece. Speaking to Greek reporters in Brussels, Mr. Kranidiotis mentioned mediatory movements towards Tirana by the US and Germany which, he said, had not produced positive results. The European Parliament last week endorsed a resolution by the socialist group charging that the conviction in Tirana of the ethnic Greeks constitutes a flagrant violation of human rights. Mr. Kranidiotis will tour EU capitals next week for a briefing on Greek national issues and the three vetoes. Mr. Kranidiotis said the new Commission President Jacques Santer will visit Athens on October 14 for talks with Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou on issues concerning the new Commission due to assume its duties as of January 7, 1995. Tirana court delays ruling on ethnics appeal ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Athens, 4/10/1994 (ANA): A Tirana Court yesterday delayed until Thursday a ruling on the appeal by five ethnic Greeks convicted and jailed on charges of espionage and arms possession. A state prosecutor proposed that the sentences passed on the five, ranging between six to eight years, be ratified by the Court. The prosecutor said the five "were proven guilty and their link with Greek intelligence services established." Referring to the opening of the appeal trial, government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said it was "a good opportunity for the Albanian authorities to make amends and restore the climate of dialogue (between Athens and Tirana)." The trial opened a day before the European Union Foreign Ministers Council convenes to discuss granting EU funds to Albania. Foreign Under-Secretary in charge of European Affairs Yiannos Kranidiotis will represent Greece at the Council meeting. Greece has blocked the first part of the Union's macroeconomic assistance to Albania, in the form of a total loan worth 35 million ECU, to retaliate the conviction and imprisonment of the five ethnic Greeks. Athens said it would lift the veto only if Albania liberated the five ethnic Greeks and improved its human rights record. Relations between Greece and Albania have been in crisis since the trial in mid-August, which ended with the five men being jailed for between six and eight years last month. Athens denounced the trial as a "parody" of justice saying it was meant to intimidate the 300,000 ethnic Greeks living in southern Albania. It called upon the international community to pressure Tirana into releasing the five, adding this was an opportunity for the European Union to show solidarity with Greece and test its common foreign policy. The European Parliament last week called on Albania to free the convicted group, calling the trial "political" and a flagrant violation of human rights conventions. Probe into torture allegations demanded ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Athens, 4/10/1994 (ANA): Meanwhile, in Tirana, the families of the five urged the court yesterday to appoint independent experts to probe allegations they had been tortured. A Reuters's dispatch quoted Demetrios Kafkas, a defence lawyer from the United States, as telling reporters after yesterday's session, the defendants rights were not being fulfilled under Albanian or international law. "The convention against torture and other degrading treatment requires that when an allegation of torture occurs the court should conduct an investigation," Mr. Kafkas said. Mr. Kafkas was not allowed to represent one of the defendants, Theodoros Benzanis, 61, who is a US citizen. Four of those convicted repeated yesterday that they had been subjected to mental and physical violence during interrogation, which followed their arrest in April. The five were arrested in connection with an armed raid in which two Albanian conscripts were killed. Albania accused Greece of carrying out the attack, but Athens flatly denied the charge. The five are leading members of the ethnic Greek political organisation, Omonia. In another development, the Athens Bar Association (DSA) criticised the Berisha regime for refusing to grant visas to two DSA members appointed by the Association to observe the appeal trial. Last month, Albania imposed visas for Greeks wishing to enter the country, adding another obstacle to the normalisation of relations with its Balkan neighbour. The move was decreed by President Sali Berisha and approved by Albania's parliament as a counter-measure after Greece closed its border with Albania. Meanwhile, in Strasbourg, asked to comment on current tension in Greek-Albanian relations, President of Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly Miguel Angel Mantinez, described it as "a model collection of non-prudent action." "When such a big fire such as that of Former Yugoslavia is so near to us, we should throw water, not gasoline on our threshold or our borders," he said. "We are preoccupied with this tension, and are willing to contribute to the re-establishment of tranquillity, as our role demands," he added. SYN leader to try lead Greece 'out of isolation' ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Athens, 4/10/1994 (ANA): Coalition of the Left (Synaspismos) leader Nikos Constantopoulos yesterday said he intended to undertake an initiative to "break the country's diplomatic isolation, to effect a reorientation in foreign policy, and to annul the trends towards Greece's becoming a third-speed country in Europe. Speaking after briefing President Constantinos Karamanlis on the results of his recent visit to Albania, Mr Constantopoulos stressed the need for cohesion between foreign and home policy, in addressing the nation's real problems and the needs of the times. He said he would seek meetings with the Prime Minister, the Foreign Minister, and other party leaders to detail his views to them. The aim of Mr. Constantopoulos' initiative was to give priority to dialogue for reducing tension in the Balkans and a solution to the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia issue. It was time for serious re-appraisal in foreign policy, he said, and renewed his proposal for setting up a foreign policy council. He drew attention to the lack of a national strategy in foreign policy, which could be effected though an understanding among all parties. The SYN leader also noted there was a gap between government words and deeds. "Guards of the Aegean" begins ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Athens, 4/10/1994 (ANA): A military exercise code-named "Guards of the Aegean" began yesterday, with the participation of the three services. The exercise is taking place in parallel with the NATO "Dynamic Guard" exercise in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean, in which Greece is not participating, given that certain basic preconditions concerning sovereign rights were not satisfied. These preconditions were the inclusion of Lemnos in the planning of the exercise, the activation of the Larissa NATO regional HQ, the bringing of the whole of the Aegean under a single Command, and the submission of NATO aircraft flight plans to the Civil Aviation Authority. Non-satisfaction of the last precondition renders flights within the Athens FIR, for which Greece is responsible, dangerous. The NATO exercise is being conducted in predetermined areas and times, following acceptance of a relevant Greek request. NATO aircraft which will contravene flight regulations within the Athens FIR, or violate Greek airspace, will be intercepted by Greek fighter aircraft. The final phase of "Guards of the Aegean" includes landings on Strymonikos Gulf and on Lemnos. Meanwhile, an exercise code-named "Nikiforos", lasting 5 days, is due to start in Cyprus tomorrow, concurrently with one in the Turkish- occupied part of northern Cyprus. Karatzaferis to remain with New Democracy despite suspension ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Athens, 4/10/1994 (ANA): Main Opposition New Democracy deputy George Karatzaferis told reporters yesterday he would not seek an independent status after the party's disciplinary council penalised him with a three-month-long suspension from all party-bodies including the parliamentary group, and would remain a ND deputy. Mr. Karatzaferis made the statement as he was leaving the President of the Parliament's office after a half-hour meeting with President Apostolos Kaklamanis. He said he had requested Mr. Kaklamanis to exert pressure on the mass media to avoid violations of the press code of ethics. According to sources, Mr. Kaklamanis turned down the request saying it was the responsibility of party leaders to do that. Mr. Kaklamanis said that everyone is responsible for public statements. Mr. Karatzaferis, was penalised after a newspaper recently revealed a letter he had written Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou stating his intention to vote for him in the presidential elections next spring. The disclosure by the press of Mr. Karatzaferis' letter came as an additional blow to already strife-torn New Democracy which penalised the deputy on the grounds of violating party conduct and harming the interests of ND. Mr. Karatzaferis accused what he termed "publishers' interests" pledging that he would continue to "fight against them." The deputy's penalisation followed the expulsion from the party of former minister and ND deputy Michalis Papaconstantinou who retaliated by seeking independent status, and the removal of former minister and deputy Andreas Andrianopoulos from the party' s political council. Turmoil inside New Democracy was reflected in growing tension with the government. ND leader Miltiades Evert attacked the government for developments in his party saying they were due to "a prearranged drive stemming from an impotent and unsuccessful government with the intention of serving Mr. Papandreou's personal designs and misleading public opinion." Government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said the government was watching developments in New Democracy closely but "at a great distance." Truckloads of Greek aids to Bosnia, Serb cities ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Belgrade, 4/10/1994 (ANA-M.Mouratidis): Humanitarian aid from Greece worth 22 million German marks has reached Belgrade for refugees in New Yugoslavia and Bosnian Serbs. The aid was collected by Greek trade unions under the sponsorship of the General Confederation of Workers of Greece (GSEE) and constitutes one of the most important humanitarian aid missions ever to arrive in former Yugoslavia from Greece. Thirteen truckloads of medicines and foodstuffs left yesterday for many Serbian and Bosnian cities including Pale, Banjaluka and Doboi. The mission is accompanied by the Thomas Bakalakos group which participated in a concert for about 20,000 people on Sunday, organised by the Belgrade municipality and Serbian trade unions. Thomas Bakalakos is also expected to sing at a concert in Banjaluka. The Yugoslav press highlighted the Greek humanitarian aid mission and commentaries lauded Greece. Referring to the Thomas Bakalakos concert, yesterday's press said "Expressing feelings of solidarity, Greece sang for Serbia." Greece to follow EU stance on Sea law ratifying ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Athens, 4/10/1994 (ANA): Greece will follow European Union member-states on the issue of ratifying the new Law of the Sea Convention, government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said yesterday. "Is is a security and common foreign policy issue governed by the Treaty of Maastricht," he noted. Commenting on Turkish Foreign Minister M0mtaz Soysal's latest statement on the possibility of war, if Greece extended its territorial waters limit in the Aegean, Mr Venizelos said Mr. Soysal' words did not tally with the spirit of his recent meeting wit h his Greek counterpart Karolos Papoulias on reducing tension in the Aegean. "It seems tension is unilaterally stoked by Turkish officials, in quest of a way out of Turkey's domestic problems," Mr. Venizelos said. Presidential message for Germany national day ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Athens, 4/10/1994 (ANA): President of the Republic Constantine Karamanlis yesterday sent a congratulatory message to the German Federal Republic President Roman Herzog for Germany's national day. "On the occasion of Germany's national day, I extend to you both personally and on behalf of the Greek people, warm congratulations and sincere wishes for the progress and prosperity of the German people." "I am convinced that the relations of friendship and co-operation which exist between our countries, will continue to develop into the future, not only on a bilateral level, but also within the framework of the European Union," Mr. Karamanlis underlined in his message. Defence U'Secretary in Budapest ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Athens, 4/10/1994 (ANA): National Defence Under-Secretary Nikolaos Kouris today opens an official two-day visit to Hungary, at the invitation of his counterpart Jozsef Feher, beginning today. Mr. Kouris will meet with Hungarian Defence Ministry officials, call at the Foreign Ministry and tour military installations.