Subject: A.N.A. Bulletin 21/3/95 Topic: ana From: "Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa" ATHENS NEWS AGENCY BULLETIN, March 21, 1995 Ellnviko Grafeio Tupou kai Plnroforiwv Ottawa, Canada E-Mail Address: grnewsca@sympatico.ca) CONTENTS ======== [1] Seven border gunmen charged, premier orders thorough inquiry [2] Papathemelis [3] Mangakis welcomes Stability Pact [4] Serreqi speaks to ANA: European orientation is a priority for Albania [5] ND presents Kaklamanis with proposals for constitutional revision [6] Political Spring [7] Black Sea pollution poses threat to Aegean, Papazoi says [8] Farmers block major roads in continued protests at new tax system ================================================================ [1] Seven border gunmen charged, premier orders thorough inquiry ---------------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 21/03/1995 (ANA): Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou yesterday expressed concern over possible efforts to destabilise a freshly inaugurated period of rapprochement between Greece and Albania. "There is a very dark side to the issue. It is a clear act of provocation," Mr. Papandreou said, commenting on Sunday's arrest of seven extremists suspected of mounting an attack against Albania. "Who are these gentlemen? And who stand behind them? What do they seek? Destabilisation? We are implementing a policy that guarantees peace, our national pride and safeguarding of the (Greek) minority (in Albania)," Mr. Papandreou said. He said he had ordered a thorough inquiry. Public Order Minister Stelios Papathemelis said the three Greek nationals and four ethnic Greeks from Albania arrested on Sunday were charged yesterday with possession of illegal weapons -- nine assault rifles with 897 rounds of ammunition, two pistols and two knives. The group were arrested on Sunday near the village of Delvinaki in Northwest Greece near the border with Albania with Greek authorities believing the arrest of the seven averted a border incident. Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias said that "the government and Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou are determined to go all the way and neutralise the circles" behind the Delvinaki incident. He expressed his "outrage, indignation and deep bitterness" at the fact that there were Greeks "who think and act against the interests of the nation". Mr. Papoulias rushed back to Greece from France without taking part in the Paris Stability Pact conference. Alternate Foreign Minister George Alexandros Mangakis replaced Mr. Papoulias at the Conference. Mr. Papoulias said that he had returned ahead of schedule in order to be further informed about the arrest of the seven and "to confront a situation which I suspected would arise". "(The incident) came later than I had anticipated," Mr. Papoulias told reporters, charging that "known circles of abnormality and professional jingoists who seriously damage national interests" were responsible. "There are circles both in Greece and abroad," he continued, "who do not want this Greek-Albanian rapprochement. They are enemies of this rapprochement for very many reasons". Mr. Papoulias said he had expected such an incident to occur before visiting Tirana last week. "It took place now," he said. He clarified that he had not been in contact with the Albanian government over the incident "We are facing a real situation," he stressed, "which may... shed ample light on these dark circles. If these circles are not neutralised there can be no genuine Greek national foreign policy. That which was going to happen is an act against the (Greek) nation which I unreservedly condemn". Asked if the incident was in any way connected with the Skopje issue, Mr. Papoulias replied: "I don't think so, but there too there are circles which do not want rapprochement". Mr. Papoulias said that he would be meeting later yesterday with Mr. Papandreou and National Defence Minister Gerasimos Arsenis. In Paris, Albanian Foreign Minister Alfred Serreqi told the Conference on Stability that the incident would not have any negative consequences on relations between Greece and Albania, which, following the Papoulias visit to Tirana, are now closer to a friendship and co-operation pact. Earlier in the day, Albania praised Greece for the Delvinaki arrests, calling it a new sign of good will between the states. Government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said that the incident would not affect the course of Greek-Albanian relations "which are currently going through a phase of considerable and impressive improvement". Mr. Venizelos said it would be wrong to make any kind of political assessment before investigations had been completed. He stressed, however, that such an incident was "bad and irksome", adding that the country's foreign policy was formulated by the government. "Everyone condemns jingoism and irresponsible and dangerous acts," Mr. Venizelos said. Main opposition New Democracy party spokesman Vassilis Manginas said his party opposed all acts that could produce problems in relations between Greece and Albania. Political Spring leader Antonis Samaras has not commented on the issue. The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) called on the government to deal "effectively and decisively with the activity of such organisations and the circles which encourage them." The Coalition of the Left and Progress said the Delvinaki arrests were "a provocation on the road to normalisation of Greek-Albanian relations, which was cancelled at the last minute with the arrest of the seven gunmen." [2] Papathemelis ---------------- Athens, 21/03/1995 (ANA): Public Order Minister Stelios Papathemelis said yesterday the arrest of the seven people on Sunday was a "great success for Greek authorities." He said after the arrests, 11 homes were raided by police in Athens and that copies of the "Liberation Front of Northern Epirus" (MAVI) statement claiming responsibility for a border camp raid last year were found. MAVI had assumed responsibility for the incident in Episkopi in which two Albanian soldiers were killed in April last year, in a proclamation to the Athens daily Eleftherotypia. The incident led to tension between Greece and Albania when Albanian authorities arrested and imprisoned five members of the ethnic Greek minority on charges of involvement in the incident. The five were released earlier this year, leaving the way open for Mr. Papoulias' visit to Tirana last week. Mr. Papathemelis clearly implied that the extremist group and those collaborating with them, were guided by centres lying outside Greece. He said the Greek authorities had averted an incident at the border with Albania, adding that at present Turkey and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) were greatly disturbed by the rapprochement between Greece and Albania. The names of the persons arrested by a Greek police patrol near Delvinaki are Marios Koutoulas, 26, who is from northern Epirus and has a residence permit, Fotios Beleris, 23, from northern Epirus, George Anastasoulis, 34, a reserves officer and reportedly the leader of the group, Apostolos Karvelas, 36, a former policeman, George Pappas, 30, George Christou, 26, and Haralambos Pappas, 21. Mr. Papathemelis said one of the homes raided belonged to Anastasoulis, where a personal computer was seized. A MAVI statement was also found there as were notes on how to make explosive devices, he said. The seven will be referred to a regular enquiry but police feel certain the organisation has more members. According to all indications, the six weapons they had with them when they were arrested came from Episkopi in Albania. Police investigations are continuing to find more members of the group. Mr. Papathemelis said that should judicial authorities require assistance from Albanian authorities to check evidence from the Episkopi incident the issue would be examined. [3] Mangakis welcomes Stability Pact ------------------------------------ Paris, 21/033/1995 (ANA - G. Zitouniati): Alternate Foreign Minister George Alexandros Mangakis expressed satisfaction yesterday over the approval of a Stability Pact in Europe on respect for borders and ethnic minorities. Addressing the conference in Paris, Mr. Mangakis referred to the Greek Presidency's contribution towards promoting the idea and the lifting of reservations existing initially as well as the Preparatory Conference Greece organised last May. "Greece desired the development of relations of good neighbourliness with all neighbours on the basis of a mutually precise implementation of the principles we will countersign, nurses great expectations over the result of the conference and the favourable climate expected to be produced and is ready to co-operate with the other OSCE (Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe) members to secure the successful continuation of the Pact's aims," he said. Mr. Mangakis urged the conference to steer its attention to the Balkans which are in a tragic state since respect for the inviolability of borders, territorial integrity, human rights and fundamental freedoms, including those of minorities, constitute the cornerstone of the Stability Pact through the development of relations of good neighbourliness. "The Stability Pact constitutes a pioneering effort to settle existing differences before they pose a real threat to peace. It constitutes a model which could also be implemented in the vulnerable Balkan region provided, of course, the countries in the region would have the political will and the disposition to launch a similar endeavour," he added. Mr. Mangakis also mentioned economic and financial sources supporting the initiative with the development of the "Accompanying Measures" programme and programmes proposed by countries concerned and to be supported by the PHARE programme. [4] Serreqi speaks to ANA: European orientation is a priority for Albania -------------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 21/03/1995 (ANA): In an exclusive interview with the Athens News Agency, Albanian Foreign Minister Alfred Serreqi has said he hopes that Greece will support Tirana's bid to integrate its policy with that of Europe and that Athens would play a significant role in assisting former eastern bloc countries in moving towards Europe. Speaking to ANA special correspondent Gerasimos Zarkadis during Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias' visit to Albania last week, Mr. Serreqi said that "European integration, the European orientation of Albanian policy, is an absolute priority". Greece, he said, "has an advantage" of being the only Balkan country that is a member of the European Union. "So the Greek government has the chance, the possibility, to play a very positive role integrating and easing the difficulties of the transition in all neighbouring countries," Mr. Serreqi said. "And we are doing all the best to speed up our process of integration and hope... that we will enjoy the support of the Greek government in this process, which means that Albanian-Greek relations not only have a bilateral dimension but also a regional and European, a multilateral, dimension, which is probably as important as the bilateral dimension." Mr. Serreqi described Mr. Papoulias' visit as "a positive one and more successful than foreseen". The main result, he said, "is the climate of confidence among both our delegations and convincing signs of political good will". The visit was "a sign not only of good will but also of the conviction that Albanian-Greek relations are very important, are based on mutual respect, mutual interests, and are very important for all the region", he said. "The Albanian government always considered and will consider Albanian-Greek relations as very important not only because we are neighbours, not only because historically we have always had good relations and friendship, but because it is in the interest s of Albania and Greece in this period of transition (for Albania) to sow mutuality with the Greek people and government." Mr. Serreqi said that Albania "never identified Albanian-Greek relations with small, futile things, as was the trial of the five Greek minority (members)". "We always have left open the way of dialogue," Mr. Serreqi said, stressing that the government in Tirana insisted that "Albanian-Greek relations have a constant development based on good neighbourhood, mutual interests, respect and non-interference in each other's internal affairs". He rejected as "untrue" Albanian opposition claims that the Tirana government "in essence does not desire steady and long-term relations with Greece, an EU member, but with other forces". Referring to a recent statement he made that there were, however, "forces" in Albania undermining the Albanian-Greek rapprochement, Mr. Serreqi said that "probably there are no political forces, organised party or association, which are against good Albanian-Greek relations, but individual persons are". The problem, he added, "is that the Greek government should take measures and be cautious, and try to draw a clear line between the official policy and some chauvinistic circles which are still suffering from the 'megalo (great) idea' of Northern Epirus". He said the fact that Albanian-Greek relations were "on the better" as were Tirana's relations with the European Community, "doesn't mean that there are no outstanding problems between Albania and Greece", including visas and the problem of illegal Albanian workers in Greece. Questioned on the visa requirement imposed on Greeks wishing to visit Albania, a requirement that does not apply to citizens of other EU member states, Mr. Serreqi said Tirana was "doing all the best to facilitate, to ease, the procedures of visa entrance for Greek citizens, to provide a visa as soon as possible". Mr. Serreqi said the visa requirement could possibly be lifted in accordance with the "principles of reciprocity". When reminded that the requirement did not hold true for other EU citizens although other EU countries, such as France, required visas from Albanians, Mr. Serreqi replied: "It (the visa requirement) was a decision we took during the period of difficulties. Probably, in the framework of an agreement for friendship and co-operation the visa procedures will also be discussed." Questioned on the contents of such a pact, which he proposed to Mr. Papoulias, Mr. Serreqi replied: "We agreed to set up a joint Albanian-Greek commission which will start contacts step-by-step... so as to resolve all the outstanding problems." Questioned on the problems still faced by the Greek ethnic minority in Albania, Mr. Serreqi said: "We are seriously and fully committed to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms and the minority rights, not only on a legal basis." "Frankly speaking," he added, "among the Greek minority people, the educational system, the schools, are better than, say, in comparison with the north-eastern part of the country. As far as the mother language is concerned, the new legislation on education provides the possibility to offer private bi-lingual schools." He said the legislation was being translated and it was a matter of months before it would pass into law. Asked about the problems faced by the autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania, Mr. Serreqi said Albania is a "laic (secular) state by constitution, by fundamental law... that means all the religions, all the different monotheistic religions, are fully and equally respected by the state and the government". "Can you imagine what happens in a society, after such a long period of repression, to enjoy the possibility to go to church, to pray to God, to practice religion?" Mr. Serreqi added. He said there was no basis to Orthodox Archbishop of Tirana and All Albania Anastasios' fears that he would not be permitted to return if he left Albania for treatment of a serious eye ailment. He said there were "no problems" concerning the issue of a visa to the archbishop, adding that the Foreign Ministry was "ready to provide one". Mr. Serreqi said that the archbishop "has all the freedom to move from Albania every time for health reasons and to return for as long as he remains head of the Orthodox Church of Albania. Prospectively a multiple entry visa could be issued to him". To another question, Mr. Serreqi replied that Archbishop Anastasios' tenure at the head of the Church "is a matter of the autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania". [5] ND presents Kaklamanis with proposals for constitutional revision ----------------------------------------- Athens, 21/03/1995 (ANA): New Democracy party Vice-President Ioannis Varvitsiotis yesterday handed Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis his party's draft proposal for constitutional revision. Mr. Kaklamanis said all parties agreed the procedure for the revision should go ahead, and it was a matter of days before he asked parties to nominate their representatives to a special committee which will prepare it. Mr. Varvitsiotis later presented an outline of the proposal at a press conference in Zappeion Hall. In his opening speech, leader Miltiades Evert said his party held the view that very extensive changes were necessary in society, and that the proposal being presented did not make a claim of infallibility, but was open to public debate. Mr. Varvitsiotis said the basic axes of the New Democracy proposal concerned the sectors of individual and social rights, the organisation and function of the state, the President of the Republic, Parliament, the government, justice, the civil service, and economic policy. He referred in greater detail to the proposals for the enhancement of the protection of individual and social rights, the extension of the provisions regarding the press to cover radio and television, and the possibility for the establishment of private non-profit universities. Mr. Varvitsiotis also referred to provisions for the democratic organisation and functioning of political parties, the publication of their finances and the origins of funds, and the setting of a ceiling on expenses. The New Democracy party proposal also envisages provisions for upgrading the role of the head of state, the possibility of his addressing declarations to the people and convening the Party Leaders' Council. It provides for guarantees for the independence of the Supreme Civil Service Council, and the setting up of an Economic and Social Council as a consultative body in the drafting of bills on economic policy. [6] Political Spring -------------------- Athens, 21/03/1995 (ANA): A Political Spring party spokesman yesterday said his party was in favour in a favour of a fruitful dialogue both regarding the procedure and the substance of other parties' proposals for dealing with the "dysfunctions" of the democratic system of government. [7] Black Sea pollution poses threat to Aegean, Papazoi says ------------------------------------------------------------ Athens, 21/03/1995 (ANA): Environment Under-Secretary Elizabeth Papazoi yesterday said there was a serious threat to the Aegean from the continuously increasing pollution in the Black Sea area and urged all surrounding nations to take measures to confront the problem. Ms Papazoi told a press conference that 80 per cent of all pollution in Europe was carried by the rivers which flow into the Black Sea, resulting in an 80 per cent reduction in fish stocks in the region. During the last 20 years, Ms Papazoi said, levels of phosphorous in the Black Sea have increased twenty-fold and nitrogen levels five-fold. Below 150 metres, the Black Sea is considered a dead zone which is continuously expanding, she added. Ms Papazoi urged co-operation between all Black Sea countries to combat the problem, stressing that Greece was ready to play a leading role in such efforts. She said the Greek presidency of the Black Sea Economic Co-operation organisation had organised a two-day meeting on the environment which opens today in Athens with the participation of representatives from all the Black Sea countries. Ms Papazoi said the Environment Ministry would commission the National Marine Research Centre to conduct a research programme to establish to what extent the northern Aegean could be affected by pollution in the Black Sea. [8] Farmers block major roads in continued protests at new tax system ------------------------------------------- Athens, 21/03/1995 (ANA): Greece was virtually cut in two yesterday when farmers blocked all the main road junctions in the central Greek town of Larissa and the prefecture of Thessaly with tractors and farm machinery to protest a new law which calculates income tax on the basis o f "objective criteria." The farmers are also protesting low crop prices resulting from the revision of the European Union's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the GATT agreement. Traffic on the main highway linking Athens and the northern port city of Thessaloniki was seriously disrupted. The protesters' co-ordinating committee was to meet later to decide whether to continue the roadblock. In statements to the local press in Larissa, Finance Minister Alexandros Papadopoulos was adamant that the new tax law, passed in April last year and effective from this year, would be implemented. The law provides for a minimum income tax for non-salaried workers, regardless of the income they declare, as part of efforts to curb tax evasion. In a related development, tobacco farmers from the prefecture of Thessaloniki blocked the Thessaloniki-Kavala highway at the village of Stivos to protest the new tax system and press demands concerning the absorption of their produce. At the same time, farmers, trades-people and owners of small businesses from the prefecture of Evros blocked the road leading to the Kipi border post on the Greek-Turkish frontier, preventing the entry and exit of vehicles between the two countries at that point. In Corfu, the federation of the islands' Agricultural Association also protested the government's law of objective criteria, calling on the finance minister "not to enforce the law" which they described as "unjust, inapplicable and ineffective." In Patras, tradesmen and owners of small businesses took to the streets to protest the objective criteria system, while in Lamia, farmers parked 300 tractors in the middle of the national road in Thermopiles. Panhellenic Confederation of Agricultural Co-operatives (PASEGES) President Nikos Liolios said the protests were "a spontaneous expression of the farmers' opposition to the tax system." Mr. Liolios said that if the farmers' mobilisations would escalate unless the government calls off the tax system. An announcement later issued by the Greek Confederation of Agriculture Associations (SYDASE) strongly criticised the government's tax policy. "Greek farmers are today standing against the government's taxation system based on objective criteria. We call on the finance minister to withdraw this unjust, unreal and unbalanced taxation system," the announcement said. Main opposition New Democracy party spokesman Vassilis Manginas said the government did not support the farmers but was leading them to an impasse. Mr. Manginas asked the government to review the unfair "objective criteria" and pledged that the ND would consider the tax criteria on the basis of a just and simple tax system. Political Spring party spokesman Notis Martakis called on the government to call off the enforcement of the objective criteria and to write off the agricultural debts and proposed a "two-tier tax system." The Central Committee of the Communist Party of Greece issued an announcement yesterday calling on other professional bodies to join the farmers, tradesmen, and craftsmen in their struggle to claim radical political change.