A.N.A. Bulletin, 12/04/96

From: "Greek Press & Information Office, Ottawa Canada" <grnewsca@sympatico.ca>

Athens News Agency Directory

ATHENS NEWS AGENCY BULLETIN (No 861), April 12, 1996

Greek Press & Information Office

Ottawa, Canada

E-Mail Address: grnewsca@sympatico.ca

CONTENTS

[1] Simitis: Athens on a 'winning course' with its policy vis-a-vis Ankara

Prime Minister Costas Simitis said yesterday the government's handling of differences with Turkey was on a winning course, and that Greece's bargaining position was now much stronger.

"To a very significant degree we have won the bet that we placed. And we have won it, because President Clinton and the European Union, in the decisions it adopted regarding the association council meetings with Turkey, have accepted all the principles we have defended, all those principles we set as conditions for a correct international co-operation," he told a packed gathering of more than 1,000 Greek-Americans in the Astoria district of New York City Wednesday night.

Defending his government's handling of the Imia crisis in the eastern Aegean earlier in the year, he said Athens wanted to show the international community that it respected international law and was trying to solve differences peacefully.

"And we did show this. And because we showed it, we are now in a much better position, we have improved our bargaining strength, and it is Turkey that is now in a defensive position," he said.

"Our aim after Imia continues to be to deprive Turkey of any alibi for, and tolerance of its aggressive behavior in the international environment... We wished to show that Turkey's policy does not only abstractly sabotage international law, but also places the sensitive area of the Balkans and the eastern Mediterranean in an insecure orbit. The whole European edifice is thus in danger at a time when European countries and the United States wished to close the open sore that existed in the former Yugoslavia," he continued.

He reiterated a call that Turkey should refer its claims to the International Court of Justice at The Hague.

"The use of violence, or the threat of violence must not be accepted. International treaties and law must apply, and if anyone, in this particular case Turkey, have any claims, they must go to the International Court at The Hague. They can rely on neither threats, nor the force of arms," he said.

"Our answer to Turkey is one and single. It is simple. We neither claim nor cede anything. And this must be well understood by those politicians guiding the Turkish government. It will be to the benefit of the neighboring country, because it is trying in vain, believing that we shall back down. Let it be sure that we shall not back down," he added.

He reiterated that Cyprus was the top national issue, the first priority of Greek policy.

"Greece shows solidarity with the struggle of the Cypriot people for survival, for application of the rules of international law, and the overthrow of the yoke of Turkish occupation... It is self-evident that we have to exploit to the fullest all our international supports, so that in this case too, Turkey is forced to comply with the logic of international law, which it thoughtlessly disregards."

Referring to his meetings in Washington with President Clinton and the defense and State Department secretaries, William Perry and Warren Christopher, the prime minister said: "It was a very important day for us, because we promoted our positions."

He added that his visit to Washington was a step in the direction of promoting Greece's foreign policy, which sought a dynamic presence on the international scene, to expand its alliances and to play a significant role in the region.

He noted that "patriotism today is not, as some people imagine it, an activity, a perception which looks only at some border problems or some relations with neighboring countries which must exist or evolve. In today's globalized economy and internationalized market, anything that happens on the earth has consequences on our country...

"Patriotism today means whatever makes Greece stronger, its voice more potent in economic and social affairs, and in all the activities which concern the Greek state...

"For this reason, we must have another view of international developments. A view according to which all our activities will make us strong, have a noted presence, be watched and respected by others. To wield authority. This is the aim of our policy," h e said.

[2] Simitis speaks at Yale

Prime Minister Costas Simitis spoke yesterday in an address at Yale University on the topic of "Greece in the e merging system of international relations."

Mr. Simitis said "humanity is becoming all the more universal. The development of communications, the international fusing of productive structures, the interdependence of policies of states have led to the spread of common values and principles. Many o f the elements of the global culture, in the political, economic and cultural fields were unfamiliar to many peoples not so long ago.

"Greece is on the interjection of many lines of fissure whose instability can prove problematic for world affairs: it is the only Balkan country in the European Union, it is the only Christian Orthodox country in the Union, it is washed by the eastern Mediterranean, it has traditional cultural and economic links with the Black Sea and the Caucasus, with the Arab world and with Israel.

"Countries in our neighborhood are currently in an agonizing search for their identity and to chart their course for the coming decades. Will they choose their smooth transition and integration to the global economy? Will they reform their productive structures to be efficient market economies? Will their development path be in the direction of democratic institutions or will they slide to an arid theocracy? Will they strive to legitimize themselves by internal social development or external aggression ?

"Stability and prosperity on a global scale depend on the answers to these questions. Greece is one country of the area that has resolved her internal dilemmas with a very wide consensus and has no claims on its neighbors other than that they show good neighborliness. From a similar starting point she has succeeded in the road that many of her neighbors are only now embarking on. She is sure of what she is and where she wants to go.

"Such a country should be uniquely placed to play a stabilizing and integrating role on many levels. Yet, rather than playing this constructive role fully, Greece often has to expend her energies in repelling the kind of demands on her sovereignty and territorial integrity that the rule of the international legal order should rule out as unthinkable between established states. Thus, disputing the established international legal order is not only damaging for the immediate victim of the dispute, but also deprives the international scene of energies that can be put to use in constructive directions.

"Maintaining international stability in our complex world is a burden that must be shared by all states and by all people. The prize of stability is peace, prosperity and the kind of respect to human rights that makes prosperity worthwhile."

[3] Simitis meets with Iakovos

After meeting with the Orthodox Archbishop of North and South America Iakovos yesterday, Prime Minister Costas Simitis said that after talks he had in Washington, the basis had been laid and procedures had been delineated, while steps had also been decided which would strengthen Greece's position and help effectively face Turkish expansionism.

These were the first steps, he added, as more efforts were still needed.

Addressing the Archbishop, he asked him to continue his efforts and help for peace and progress in the region.

Iakovos said everyone kept in mind the prime minister's prudent and resolute stand vis-a-vis Turkey's latest provocations, and expressed his confidence in the boldness shown by Mr. Simitis when representing Greece.

[4] BSCC conference ends in Bucharest

PASOK deputy and former minister Constantine Triaridis represented Greece at the opening sessions of the Black Sea Co-operation Council's (BSCC) parliamentary assembly, which ended here yesterday.

Mr. Triaridis conveyed the support of the Greek Parliament and suggested that BSCC member-states use the experience of the Europarliament and the Council of Europe on issues related to organized crime.

He further noted the importance of the economic development and co-operation in the Black Sea region in order to control and restrict organized crime.

Conveying the positions of Greece's justice and public order ministers, Mr. Triaridis also spoke in favor of the development of bilateral co-operation between countries in the region to deal with the issue.

He said Greece did not face a great problem with organized crime, but being at the crossroads and gateway to Europe forced it to deal with crime from other countries in the region.

[5] Galanos: Turkish military makes decisions on national issues

The president of Cyprus' House of Representatives, Alexis Galanos, said yesterday that "we cannot be optimistic as long as Turkey does not have the political will to resolve the Cyprus problem and its allies for many and different reasons do not wish to exert substantial pressure on Turkey."

In exclusive statements to the ANA, Mr. Galanos said he did not believe Turkey's new government under Mesut Yilmaz or indeed any other Turkish government would change its intransigent stance on the Cyprus problem, "because those who make the decisions o n issues which Turkey regards as national are the military.

"At the same time, we cannot reject any initiative in advance, without this meaning that we must not make it quite clear that we cannot make concessions on matters of principle which relate to the physical and national survival of our country," Mr. Galanos said.

He added that the parliaments of Greece and Cyprus were cooperating closely and the level of coordination of their activities had been increased.

[6] Parliamentary delegation to attend Istanbul conference

A four-member Parliamentary delegation headed by ruling PASOK party deputy Ioannis Anthopoulos will attend the 95th Conference of the Interparliamentary Union in Istanbul on April 15-20.

The other members of the delegation are Dora Bakoyianni (New Democracy), Constantine Hatzidimitriou (Political Spring) and Stratis Korakas (Communist Party of Greece).

The conference will focus on international politics, economic and social issues, the protection of minorities as a prerequisite for stability, security and peace as well as the protection of fish stocks.

[7] GSEE delegation visits Patriarch

A General Confederation of Workers of Greece (GSEE) delegation visited Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos yesterday at the close of a five-day visit to Turkey.

During the meeting Vartholomeos told the delegation that dialogue and communication between Turkey and Greece could form a basis for co-operation between the two peoples.

The Patriarch said the two peoples already co-operate in the economic, cultural and social sectors.

[8] FYROM sounding more intransigent over name issue

The foreign minister of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Ljubomir Frckovski, told a press conference yesterday that the only concession his landlocked country was willing to make regarding the name issue was to grant Athens the right to call FYROM as it wishes.

"The (signing of the) interim accord solved the basic problem with Greece," he said, adding: "the metaphysical situation over the name should be separated from other issues."

He added that discussion over the name issue should take place on a bilateral basis, not on an international level involving external mediation.

He maintained that FYROM's claims on the name issue could be supported by international law, adding that "every country has the right to choose its name."

Mr. Frckovski said that two thirds of the countries which recognized FYROM refer to it by its constitutional name, that is the "Republic of Macedonia".

The one-time Yugoslav republic is seated as FYROM at the United Nations.

[9] Pol.An reaction

Political Spring (Pol.An) leader Antonis Samaras said yesterday that the FYROM foreign minister's statement was "unacceptable and provocative", while he also criticized the government for what he called its "ignoring of the people's will, a decision by the council of party leaders and a Parliament resolution, by congratulating nations that officially recognized the multi-ethnic FYROM as 'Macedonia'."

Mr. Samaras added that "at a time when the Greek foreign ministry termed the recognition of Skopje as 'Macedonia' by Serbia an 'unfriendly act' for our country, Greece jointly signed Europe's congratulations to Belgrade."

"What other proof do the Greek people need to realize what dirty games are being played behind their backs," he added.

[10] Skopje unwilling to challenge historical name

Meanwhile, Skopje's embassy in Rome yesterday withdrew a lawsuit against the Roberto Memo Foundation.

FYROM's embassy sued the foundation because it used the term "Macedonians: the Greeks of the North" for an exhibition on Alexander the Great, which was inaugurated last December in the Italian capital.

The suit was due to be tried Wednesday.

Skopje's legal representatives said use of the phrase, mentioned in a report compiled in co-operation with the Greek culture ministry "offends the history and descent of the Macedonians."

The same foundation will hold an art exhibition of FYROM painters this Autumn.

[11] Italian military chief of staff to visit Greece

The chief of Italy's Army General Staff, Gen. Bonifazio Incisa di Camerana, will pay a four-day official visit to Greece beginning April 16 at the invitation of his Greek counterpart, Lt-Gen. Manoussos Paragioudakis.

During his stay here, the Italian general will meet with the political and military leadership of the national defense ministry and have talks with his Greek counterpart on issues of common interest.

He will also visit a number of military facilities and archaeological sites.

[12] CoE official raises Greek language schools issue in Albania

The issue of Greek language schools operating in the Albanian cities of Gyrokastr, Delvin and Agioi Sarande was raised in talks associated with the visit of Lenny Fisher, president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

Representatives of the Greek minority raised the issue during a meeting yesterday with Ms. Fisher, who's in Albania for a three-day visit.

"The opening of the schools is your problem," Ms. Fisher said, hinting that the matter was an Albanian domestic problem.

Albanian officials, however, escorting the CoE official said the schools would open when the number of students required by law was met.

The Greek minority apparently feels the law is a concealed withdrawal of Tirana's pledge on the issue during a recent visit by President of Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos to Albania.

[13] Health ministry urges regular testing for AIDS

Health Minister Anastasios Peponis stated yesterday that individuals in high risk groups for infection with the HIV virus must take tests at regular intervals for the deadly virus, regardless of the controversy caused by a US pharmaceutical manufacturer's AIDS test, which produced a few instances of false negative results.

The announcement also said that the re-examination of blood donors tested with the Abbot Corp.'s test is not recommended, adding that the health ministry has sent an urgent circular to AIDS testing centers asking for the particular test to be withdrawn and others used.

The health ministry has also asked laboratories to report results of sample testing of blood donors on whom the Abbot test was used and whose blood samples are still in the blood banks.

[14] Panathinaikos takes European cup

The Panathinaikos basketball team is this year's European champion after narrowly defeating Barcelona in last night's final here by a score of 67 to 66.

The half-time score was 35-25 in favor of the Athens club.

Third place in the four-team championships was taken by CSKA Moscow after it beat last year's champion Real Madrid 74-73 in the earlier match.

[15] More gold medals for Greek weight-lifters

Greek athletes at the European Weightlifting Championships in the Norwegian city of Stavanger won two more gold medals, one silver and one bronze during yesterday's competition.

Gold medals were won by Valerios Leonidis in the 64-kilo category, with 172.5 kilos in the clean and jerk and a total of 312.5 kilos, while he won a silver medal in the snatch, with 140 kilos.

George Tzelilis won the bronze medal in the same category, lifting 137.5 in the snatch. He was eleventh in the clean and jerk, lifting 157.5 kilos, while his total 295 kilos was in seventh position.

Notice:

The Bulletin will not be published on Saturday, April 13 and

Monday, April 15 due to Orthodox Easter. It will reappear on

Tuesday, April 16.

End of English language section.