Greece and Albania gave a further boost to their not-so-long ago hostile relations yesterday through an agreement to promote military ties.
Defence Minister Gerasimos Arsenis following on the steps of Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias earlier in the year, said after talks with his Albanian counterpart Safet Zhulali, that Greece would help improve Albania's military health service, promote military contacts and help Albania attain its goals in regards to further integration in European organisations.
"During his visit to Albania Mr. Papoulias created the framework for close co-operation. Today I discussed with my Albanian counterpart the details for this framework. It was a very useful and fruitful discussion for the strengthening of our co-operation in the military field. We stressed that this co-operation ought to acquire a faster pace. We are ready to give Albania every kind of aid," Mr. Arsenis said.
The two sides emphasised the good relations between the two countries and their role in creating stability in the Balkans. "Our common desire is to co-operate in the framework of the 'Partnership for Peace' programme. We agreed to continue contacts at higher levels and have direct communication for problems that may arise. The Greek side and the minister will support Albania 's accession into NATO and the Western European Union. There was a general identity of views," Mr. Zhulali said.
Mr. Arsenis also met with Albanian President Sali Berisha and Prime Minister Aleksander Meksi. "I am very pleased with the two important steps taken in the relations between the two countries and for joint determination to build up a secure and friendly future between our two peoples," the Albanian president told the Greek minister.
Premier Meksi thanked the Greek government for its support to Albania at its difficult moments of transition and in the context of international organisations, such as in the latest instance of supporting Albania's membership to the Council of Europe. Mr. Arsenis invited Mr. Zhulali to visit Athens.
Upon arrival to Rinasi airport, Mr. Arsenis said this was the first visit of a Greek National Defence Minister to the country and that his visit aimed at cementing friendly relations. "I am here to improve subtle relations between Albania and Greece," he said, adding, "I believe that we will have good results."
In an Athens statement before his departure Mr. Arsenis told reporters that this co-operation aimed at continuing the programme of joint exercises, the training of Albanian military officers in Greek military academies and strengthening the Tirana government's efforts to modernise the neighbouring country's armed forces.
Tensions between the two countries increased last year after a border raid at an Albanian conscript centre left two Albanian soldiers dead. Albania accused Greece for the attack, but Athens categorically denied involvement. The subsequent arrest and sentencing of ethnic Greek leaders by an Albanian court further soured ties between the two nations.
Tirana later released the Greeks and Athens arrested nine men in connection with the border incursion. Relations between the Balkan neighbours only recently started to warm up after a visit to Albania by Greek Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias in March.
Legislation setting up a multi-party committee to deal with national issues was tabled in parliament yesterday. Earlier, Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou announced the bill's tabling after a meeting with President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos.
Mr. Papandreou said he instructed the Minister to the Prime Minister's Office Ioannis Pottakis to place the bill in the 300-member Parliament. He described the decision as "a major step forward for democracy in our country," adding that "the political world should have a common line on national issues because the situation in the region is so sensitive."
Mr. Papandreou also said he was ready to brief opposition party leaders in separate private meetings on the recent European Union summit in Cannes, which was also the subject of his meeting with Mr. Stephanopoulos.
Commenting on the French EU presidency's stance at the summit that marked the end of the six-month French term, Mr. Papandreou said there was a prevalence of interests, rather than principles. "Europe was and is a vision. And when you subjugate this vision in order to serve interests, then it risks being destroyed," Mr. Papandreou said. He added that if former French President Francois Mitterrand had been at the summit "we would not have had the same climate."
Mr. Stephanopoulos also commented on the Cannes summit, saying it is sad to see Europe abandoning its principles, its visions and ideals. "If the policy of the same visions and the same ideals does not continue, and if it consumes itself only in trade co-operation, then it (Europe) will not have much to offer," Mr. Stephanopoulos said. He added: "this was not the (original) concept of the founders of Europe."
Meanwhile, main opposition New Democracy leader Miltiades Evert told a press conference yesterday that the handling of foreign policy issues should be transparent, while criticising the premier for signing the Cannes Summit Communiqui. "This policy is causing unrepairable damage to our country," Mr. Evert said, adding that Mr. Papandreou should have toured European capitals to inform European leaders on Greece's foreign policy issues.
In addition, Mr. Evert set three conditions for voting in favour of the bill tabled in Parliament. He said ND would demand there be a permanent foreign Under-Secretary to monitor the implementation of the committee's decisions, that the committee be instituted by legislation and that it would not deal with current affairs but with the charting of a 15 -year foreign and defence policy strategy for the country.
The composition of the committee, Mr. Evert said, should include scientists, university lecturers and representatives of the Foreign Policy Study centres. "We shall not participate in efforts aimed at finding procedures to misinform the Greek people," he warned.
Political Spring (Pol.An) leader and founder Antonis Samaras presented his party's ideological manifesto yesterday in a ceremony marking the second anniversary of his party's founding. Mr. Samaras said Pol.An was a "modern centrist party" separated by what he called "equal distances" from the other two main Greek political parties, ruling PASOK and main opposition New Democracy.
Mr. Samaras, a former ND foreign minister, launched his political party exactly two years ago after he left ND during a disagreement on the handling of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) issue with Constantine Mitsotakis' government. The creation of his new party was also the reason behind the fall of the Mitsotakis government in September 1993, which led to general elections and socialist PASOK's accession to power.
Mr. Samaras said Pol.An. rejected "extreme neo-liberalism without justice and sensitivity" as well as the "unproductive socialist conception which dogmatically separates the redistribution from an increase of the national product." "Only the revolution in principles renders the rupture with the entire political past real and efficient," Mr. Samaras said.
He proposed the creation of a new administrative capital for the country, "far from Athens," and for a redefinition of the public administration's role and mission, demanding the abolition of the permanent employment status for public servants.
The Pol.An. leader said the economic policy applied by today's PASOK government was identical to the one followed by ND when it was in power, and that this policy was not capable of leading the country out of its present economic crisis. "Only the application of a correct mixture of monetary and income policy can secure a decrease in inflation," he added.
Greece said yesterday that a climate of nervousness which prevails in the Turkish press concerning a recent meeting of six Greek deputies with Kurdish PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan and a visit to Greece last week by the president of the Kurdish parliament-in-exile, Yassar Kaya, was unwarranted.
"There is an unjustified climate of nervousness in the Turkish press which emanates from equally nervous and unfounded statements by Turkish officials," Government Spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said.
"Greece is accessible to both Greeks and foreigners and anyone may search Greek territory inch by inch, something that doesn't occur in other countries that have serious restrictions to the admission of foreigners in areas under a 'state of siege', " Mr. Venizelos added.
Ankara accuses Athens of supporting the Kurdish separatist rebellion in Turkey. It claims that Kurdish PKK fighters are being trained in Greece. Athens dismisses the accusations as groundless lies. "I read many times statements by Turkish officials and many Turkish press publications concerning a visit by members of the so-called Kurdish parliament-in-exile. But this (parliament) has its seat in The Hague. Why should Greece be the recipient of such comments and statements of activities having their origin in the Netherlands?" Mr. Venizelos said.
The front pages of most Turkish dailies are monopolised these days by reports claiming "co-operation between Greece and the Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK) is proven." The publications were prompted by Mr. Kaya's visit to Athens last week as well as the meeting by Greek deputies with Mr. Ocalan.
"Kaya was received by the (Greek) parliament's president and this occurs for the first time, meaning that the Kurdish parliament-in-exile has been recognised for the first time by the parliament of a country," the Turkish daily "Milliyet" wrote before concluding that "Kaya's visit - from beginning to end - was an official one."
Many dailies also referred to "a file of documents" concerning the supposed co-operation between Greece and the PKK. The "file" was transferred to all the "friendly" countries and to the Greek Foreign Ministry, Turkish press reports stated.
Meanwhile, Turkish Interior Minister Nahit Mentese said "we will begin a large campaign in Europe against Greece and present all its dirty relations," adding that "many facts have been secured through official channels."
A letter by Mr. Zacharakis, the Greek permanent representative to the United Nations, addressed to Secretary- General Boutros Boutros-Ghali, in response to a letter by his Turkish counterpart Inal Batu, concerning Turkish reactions to Greece's reiteration of its right to extend territorial waters to 12 nautical miles was circulated yesterday as an official document of the organisation.
The Greek ambassador stresses that Mr. Batu's letter itself fully confirms Greek charges concerning the recent resolution of the Turkish National Assembly authorising the Turkish government to use force if Greece avails itself of the right.
"Turkey has, once again, violated the fundamental principle of the Charter of the United Nations, which calls for avoiding the threat or use of force in international relations.
"This practice is openly and provocatively admitted by Turkey's permanent representative, who claims in his letter that there are bilateral differences between Greece and Turkey on the problem of the Aegean, making it clear at the same time, in undoubted and threatening terms, that his country is resolved to protect its rights and interests by all available means," says Mr. Zacharakis.
"Concerning reassurances provided by Mr. Batu that Turkey does not harbour any aspirations or territorial claims against Greece or any other of its neighbours, without making any recourse to the historical past, suffice to recall the contemporary issue of the military invasion and continuing occupation of Cyprus," he said.
Billionaire American financier George Soros verified Sunday his relations with Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) President Kiro Gligorov are strained.
Asked by the Athens News Agency on the sidelines of an International Economic Forum, which ended in the Swiss retreat Sunday, whether it was true his relations with Mr. Gligorov were worsening, Mr. Soros said: "Yes it is true. I believe in an ideal society where minorities are respected. Mr. Gligorov does not respect the educational rights of Albanians in 'Macedonia.' I criticised him and he did not like it."
Asked whether the millions of dollars he donated for educational purposes have been used appropriately, Mr. Soros said "the money aimed to provide a start. I trust the people which I use, but I have a tight grip on the reins and am very demanding. I demand results and if they do not materialise, I eliminate everything. I do not put up with human corruption nor the adulteration of ideas."
Mr. Soros said he was willing to contribute to an easing of the dispute between Greece and FYROM but did not believe he would be asked to. Mr. Soros in the past has been a fervent supporter of the former Yugoslav republic and its president Kiro Gligorov.
Greece has the lowest percentage of single-parent families in the European Union (5 per cent), although the figure has risen significantly in the past 15 years. According to statistics presented at the Fourth Congress of the European Federation of Professional Psychologists' Association, which began Sunday in Athens, the traditional family institution in Europe is undergoing a crisis.
Studies presented at the conference show a significant rise in divorces in recent years, particularly among couples with children. According to delegates, two out of 10 marriages in the Mediterranean region end in divorce, while in northern Europe the rate jumps to five out of 10 in the Scandinavian countries and three out of 10 in the central and eastern European nations.
German scientists noted that psychological problems faced by children of divorced parents are fewer when the couple maintains effective communication and when the divorced mother is positively disposed to the father-child relationship.
About 4,000 delegates from 70 countries are attending the six-day conference held at the Athens University's School of Philosophy and organised by the Association of Greek Psychologists. Events encompass all aspects of psychology, including theory, practice and teaching.
The booing and jeering of the Yugoslav national basketball team during the Eurobasket Championship game Sunday caused angry incidents outside the Greek Embassy here in the early morning hours yesterday.
A large crowd shouting anti-Greek slogans destroyed two cars belonging to the Greek diplomatic staff and threw stones and bottles at the building, causing extensive material damage. They dispersed after a strong police force appeared on the scene. An embassy protest to the Yugoslav Foreign Ministry drew an initial apology, while an official response was expected later.
During the game against Lithuania, held in the Athens Olympic Centre, Greek fans protested what they considered favourable treatment for the Yugoslavs by the referees during the tournament, including two matches against the Greek team. The Yugoslav team won the game 96-90. Despite the incidents, long lines of people seeking visas formed outside the embassy later in the morning, however, the building remained closed.
Shipping revenues totalled $514 million in the first quarter of 1995, compared to $405.8 million in the corresponding period last year, marking an increase of 26.7 per cent. In March, shipping revenues amounted to $187 million, compared to $164.1 million in the same month last year, marking an increase of 14 per cent.
The president of the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly, Miguel Angel Martinez, held talks in Athens yesterday with Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis on issues of mainly European interest.
Mr. Martinez and Mr. Kaklamanis also discussed issues of interest to Greece. Mr. Kaklamanis referred to human rights violations in Turkey, the Skopje issue and the situation in the former Yugoslavia. Mr. Martinez arrived in Athens Sunday on a two-day visit and discussions with the Greek leaders. Mr. Martinez also held a meeting with main opposition New Democracy leader Miltiades Evert.
While in Athens, Mr. Martinez will also be received by President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos. He will also attend a dinner in his honour hosted by the head of the Greek delegation to the CoE Parliamentary Assembly, Vasso Papandreou.
Speaking at a two-day European conference on the revision of the Maastricht Treaty yesterday in Athens, General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE) President Christos Protopapas set out several points adopted by GSEE in its recent conference. GSEE points include a full employment clause, the incorporation in the Treaty of the Charter of Fundamental Social Rights (1989) and of the Social Protocol, rules for minimum income, pensions, social protection and housing as well as a reduction in working hours without a decrease in wages.
The conference is attended by Secretary General of the European Confederation of Trade Unions, Emilio Cabalio, EU Commissioner Christos Papoutsis and Federation of Greek Industries (SEB) president Iason Stratos.
Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou said yesterday that the presence of 10 New Democracy deputies at the wedding of the son of the deposed ex-king of Greece to an American bride Saturday raised a moral issue.
"Our constitution expresses certain unreversible provisions, such as the fact that our form of government is a presidential republic. From the moment you dispute these provisions, you violate your oath to defend the constitution, the specific constitution and not the one in your mind. Therefore, there is a problem, at least a problem of moral order," Mr. Papandreou told reporters.
Meanwhile, Government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said yesterday the regime was not in danger, criticising ND of not being able to take "a clear, official, and unequivocal position" on the issue. "Political forces ought to take clear, quick, consistent and serious positions on issues concerning the existence, protection and respect of the regime," Mr. Venizelos adding also hinting at opposition Political Spring party' stance on the issue.
The wedding of ex-king's son, Pavlos, to American Marie-Chantal Miller in London caused a stir in the Greek political scene after a handful of main opposition ND parliamentary deputies accepted invitations to the wedding, reportedly issued by the "King and Queen of the Hellenes."
The secretary of the Central Committee of the ruling PASOK party, Akis Tsohatzopoulos, criticised ND leader Miltiades Evert on Sunday of not being able to control "a significant percentage of his officials and deputies who are influenced by pro-monarchy views." He further called on Mr. Evert to apologise to the Greek people for allowing party members to attend the wedding.
The former king and his family have lived in exile since the monarchy was abolished in a 1974 referendum. The family is barred from returning to Greece until they recognise the validity of the referendum.
Meanwhile, ND Vice President Ioannis Varvitsiotis said in an interview yesterday to the Athens daily "Ethnos" that the presence of ND party deputies at the wedding did not cause a political issue. He suggested, however, that royalist ND deputies "read the Constitution." Mr. Varvitsiotis said the form of government had been cemented in the 1974 referendum, adding that "it cannot be disputed and no one needs to fear a change in our regime."
Mr. Varvitsiotis further called on Mr. Evert to take disciplinary measures and apply party regulations to silence what he described as "voices out of tune." "A party without discipline cannot exist," Mr. Varvitsiotis said, adding that "party regulations must be applied in every direction." ND's vice president also told Ethnos that the government was on the brink of collapse.
Meanwhile in London, three Labour party MPs submitted a draft resolution in the House of Commons condemning the role of the former Greek royal family and expressing concern at possible negative effects in Greek-British relations from the wedding. They also demanded the removal of the family from London. According to the draft, which has been tabled on the eve of Pavlos' wedding: "The House of Commons expresses concern at the possible damage in Greek-British relations from the wedding of Ms. Miller and the self-styled crown prince Pavlos."