A.N.A. Bulletin, 20/05/96

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

Athens News Agency Directory

ATHENS NEWS AGENCY BULLETIN (No 890), May 20, 1996

Greek Press & Information Office

Ottawa, Canada

E-Mail Address: grnewsca@sympatico.ca

CONTENTS

[1] PASOK Central Committee agrees to establish Vice-President post

The PASOK Central Committee on Saturday endorsed the proposal for the establishment of a vice-president's post with 78 votes in favor, 32 against, and 40 members being absent.

The proposal will be submitted to the party congress next month for approval.

Those who voted in favor included the two groups of members who are considered supporters of the interior and defense ministers, Akis Tsohatzopoulos and Gerassimos Arsenis respectively. Most of those considered supporters of Prime Minister Costas Simitis voted against the motion.

Mr. Tsohatzopoulos expressed his satisfaction over the result of the vote, saying that the future Vice-President will stand in for the party president and have no connection with the post of prime minister.

The message of the vote, he added, was that PASOK "has a prime minister and a government supported by all members".

In summing up the Central Committee deliberations, secretary Costas Skandalidis stressed that the biggest change included in the endorsed final text of recommendations to the congress was not the proposal to elect a Vice-President, but that the president is now included in the framework of decisions made by the Central Committee, which could assume the political direction of the party.

"In the new reality, the Executive Bureau should undertake a much more important role than (it has) to date, and the collective organs must hold sway over the single-member ones," he said.

Referring to Andreas Papandreou's role, Mr. Skandalidis said he continued to be necessary to the party in this transitional period, and was not opposed to the post of Vice-President, whose exact responsibilities would have to be defined by the Central Committee and the congress.

Mr. Skandalidis also referred to the present political circumstances, saying an attempt was being made to undermine the given political system, as the "economy seemed intent on assuming the direction and manipulation of political affairs."

[2] Reactions

During discussions, Defense Minister Gerassimos Arsenis stressed that the congress will be successful only if it is purely political, and not about the distribution of roles.

"It should neither be a congress about succession, as this issue will be settled in the next congress, nor should it constitute a second round after the election of Costas Simitis as premier, as the issue is closed," he said, adding that the government had the task of completing its four-year term, and creating the conditions for victory at the polls.

"The congress must provide specific answers: firstly on national issues, and particularly on how the Turkish threat to Cyprus and the Aegean is being handled; secondly, on the development effort, which is a political process par excellence; and thirdly, on social policy, which cannot rely on leftovers, but on courageous redistributions," he said.

Regarding the structure in the party leadership, Mr. Arsenis said that in the framework of a transitional period, a center for the creation of policy must be set up, which will comprise the party president, the prime minister, the Vice-President, if he is elected, the secretary and five to seven Central Committee members.

"This organ must effectively constitute the party's collective leadership," he added.

Health Minister Anastasios Peponis said he was opposed to dual leadership in principle, and proposed the election of a Vice-President, or alternate president, which would also serve as a recommendation to the post of prime minister.

He added that the prime minister can contest this role, noting, however, that he could not invoke his capacity as premier for this purpose.

Many members supported the proposal for the election of Prime Minister Costas Simitis to the post of Vice-President, while others asked for distinct roles, and some emphasized the need to overcome problems through sincere dialogue.

"Insincerity, hypocrisy, and tactical moves are threatening the congress," said Labor Under-secretary Lambros Kanellopoulos, describing the election of Vice-President as historically unvindicated. However, he called on the party to be committed to supporting Mr. Simitis in the elections.

National Economy Minister Yiannos Papantoniou expressed the view that a party fighting for power had to have one leader, stressing that "since Andreas Papandreou was unable to exercise his duties, the vacuum had to be filled," and that for the party to win the next election, there had to be an effective government supported by the party.

[3] Political pundits see continuing jockeying for position ahead of congress

Political observers noted yesterday that the result of the vote is indicative of a growing climate of polarization in the ruling party, assessing that internal conflicts among those considered most likely to contest the post of Vice-President will intensify, resulting in the formation of coalitions.

However, the most likely candidates, Mr. Simitis, who is against the separation of the posts of party leadership and the premiership, and Mr. Tsohatzopoulos, are not revealing their options, and it is still unknown whether they will ultimately contest t he election.

Mr. Arsenis, who did not rule out the possibility of his candidacy, pointed out that if the congress exhausts its possibilities in distributing roles, then it will fail.

There is also uncertainty regarding the exact stand of party president Andreas Papandreou, who has indicated he wishes to remain in the post.

In an interview with the 'Sunday Eleftherotypia' newspaper, Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos strongly supported the view that the Vice-President who will be elected must also lead the party as prospective prime minister at the next elections.

"The people will not tolerate the co-existence of two governments, one caretaker, and one future, in the same party. This is a recipe for electoral defeat...

"The issue is whether we approve of the government of Costas Simitis or not. If we do, then we must endorse and consolidate its actions to date, and let the prime minister be the leader at the next elections. If we don't endorse it, then the government must resign and the party must take a different orientation," he said.

[4] Ankara must withdraw territorial claims, Pangalos says

Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos yesterday emphatically reiterated that Greece will not sit at the negotiating table with Turkey unless Ankara stops disputing Greece's territorial integrity, describing recent proposals by Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz as an "unconvincing oriental display of fireworks".

"Only if Greece is defeated will it sit at the negotiating table," he said, pointing to the "still existing possibility of a Turkish attack".

"Greece will neither be defeated, nor is it willing to be defeated," he said.

Speaking at an event in Thessaloniki marking the 55th anniversary of the Battle of Crete, and attended by the leadership of the Third Army Corps, deputies, and the US and Romanian consuls in the city, Mr. Pangalos said, "this negotiation without principles and limits (which Turkey wants) is reminiscent of the behavior of Hitler's Germany - this reference is merely historical and diplomatic. We are not convinced by generalized expressions - the oriental fireworks displays about love and friendship and so on. Every time Hitler extended his Reich's borders, he made a big gesture of affection towards his prospective victim".

"I very much regret when I listen to Mr. Yilmaz saying at the same time that we should talk about the minority in Thrace so that he can withdraw his new territorial claim, which he founds on no legal base whatsoever and which he refuses to define. Because we do not know, in the end, what he is asking for: The (islet of) Imia or the 3,200 islets of Ms Ciller?" the foreign minister said.

Mr. Yilmaz said in Bonn on Friday that Turkey's claim on Greek sovereignty in the islets of Imia in the eastern Aegean was a "problem of rocks", implying that others - problems in the Aegean, the islands, the territorial waters, airspace, the Moslem minority -were the real problems.

Mr. Pangalos also referred to his recent meeting with his Turkish counterpart Emre Gonensay, and the latter's view of "gray" zones in the Aegean.

"With this theory, Turkey is really raising territorial claims against Greece. It disputes the Treaty of Lausanne and the 1932 treaty which it signed with Italy and which defined the status of the Dodecanese. Such a theory can never be accepted by Greece," he said.

Mr. Pangalos revealed that he had told his Turkish counterpart that "both the Treaty of Lausanne, and the treaty which Turkey signed with Italy in 1932, are most clear, and based on the criterion of territorial waters of that time, which extended to three miles. What is within three miles is Turkish, and everything outside it is Greek".

"These things about gray areas are inconceivable as an idea in international practice. And I told him that as long as they insist on this description, any further Greek-Turkish contact is meaningless," he added.

He said the creation of conditions of friendship required the right mental disposition, hinting that this did not exist at present."

"We do not need friendship in order to live together, to have trade exchanges, for the Turks to stop channeling drugs and illegal immigrants through our borders, in order to find a modus vivendi in international organizations and international relations," he said. "All these require, above all, a withdrawal of the territorial claim, and this is what Turkey refuses to do," he concluded.

[5] Turkish aircraft violate Greek air space five times

Turkish fighter aircraft violated Greek national air space and air traffic regulations in the Athens Flight Information Region in the eastern Aegean region on five occasions on Saturday, press reports said.

In all cases, the intruders were intercepted by Greek fighter aircraft.

In a separate development, the Army General Staff (GES) reported on Saturday that the scheduled tour of the eastern Aegean area for foreign journalists went ahead as scheduled without any problems.

In the Imia area, GES reported movements by Turkish boats with journalists on board, and two Turkish coast guard vessels. The Greek coast guard vessels prevented the Turkish boats from entering Greek national waters, while the Greek Navy ships carried o ut their usual patrol without any incidents being noted.

Meanwhile, New Democracy party deputy Aristotelis Pavlidis, who is MP for the Dodecanese islands, yesterday accompanied three Canadian and as many United States counterparts on a visit to the Imia islets, scene of the Greek-Turkish stand-off at the beginning of the year, at their request.

[6] Albanian defense minister due for talks with Arsenis today

Albanian Defense Minister Safet Zhulali was due to arrive yesterday in Athens for an official three-day visit. Mr. Zhulali will have talks today with his Greek counterpart Gerassimos Arsenis, followed by a joint press conference.

The Albanian official will also be received by President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos. Mr. Zhulali is also scheduled to visit the Salamina naval base.

[7] Premier urges greater efforts to realize Battle of Crete ideals

In a message on the 55th anniversary of the Battle of Crete, Prime Minister Costas Simitis pointed out yesterday that the ideals for which the battle was fought have still not prevailed in the broader region.

"The continuing occupation of Cyprus, the war in the former Yugoslavia, and the difficult peace process in the Middle East continue to remind us that we must work still harder in order to turn into reality the vision of a peaceful and prosperous Mediterranean," he said.

He also stressed that in this effort, Crete will make its own contribution as a factor of economic co-operation, a meeting center of Mediterranean civilizations, and a reference point for the values of freedom and peace.

Speaking at events in Hania on Saturday, Labor Minister Evangelos Yiannopoulos described the Battle of Crete as the most crucial of World War II, as it delayed the German attack on Russia long enough for the Wehrmacht to be caught in the Russian winter .

New Democracy party leader Miltiades Evert said in his message that the Battle of Crete confirmed the bravery and the boldness which characterizes Cretans and all Greeks in defending the homeland and freedom.

He added that Greece was at a crucial crossroads today, and that it was up to its people to avoid the national storm threatened by accumulated problems.

[8] Australians mark Battle of Crete with week of events

Events marking the 55th anniversary of the Battle of Crete started in Sydney over the weekend and will culminate here next Saturday.

The Greek armed forces are represented by air force officers Theodoros Kanellos and Nikolaos Stathias.

In a press conference, Mr. Kanellos assured Greek-Australians that Greece is in a position to effectively defend the borders from the Evros river to Cyprus, stressing that logistics are not always the decisive factor.

"If we study the history of Greeks, we shall understand that the numbers were never in our favor," he said.

[9] Prominent journalist dies

Veteran left-wing journalist and writer Potis Paraskevopoulos died on Saturday at the age of 72. His funeral is due to be held today.

Paraskevopoulos participated in the war-time resistance, and later became a member of the Greek Communist Party Central Committee, and the Executive Committee of the United Democratic Left party.

He entered journalism in the early 1960s, becoming editor-in-chief of the 'Avghi' newspaper, and was jailed and exiled during the colonels' dictatorship of 1967-1974. Between 1973-78 he worked at the 'Acropolis' and 'Eleftherotypia' newspapers, and received a Botsis Foundation award for the "thoroughness of his texts in covering Greek political affairs".

Several prominent political figures issued statements praising Paraskevopoulos' professional and personal qualities. Prime Minister Costas Simitis said the deceased was one of the most authoritative, penetrating, and analytical journalists, but also an uncompromising fighter of the left. Other statements were issued by New Democracy party leader Miltiades Evert, former prime minister Constantine Mitsotakis and Coalition of the Left and Progress leader Nikos Constantopoulos.

[10] Arafat's two-day visit to Athens begins today

Palestinian President Yasser Arafat is expected in Athens today on a two-day official visit.

Mr. Arafat will be met at the airport by Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos and is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Costas Simitis soon after his arrival and will later have a private meeting with President Kostis Stephanopoulos. He is due to have talk s with Mr. Pangalos tomorrow.

The prime minister will hold a dinner in the Palestinian leader's honor this evening.

According to sources, Mr. Arafat will brief the Greek political leadership on the latest developments in the Middle East peace process, and will ask Greece, in the context of its role in the European Union, to participate in the economic and political support of Palestinian authorities.

Members of the Palestinian delegation accompanying Mr. Arafat are scheduled to meet with Greek businessmen interested in investing in the autonomous areas.

On Tuesday, Mr. Arafat is due to travel to Patras, where he will be presented with an award by the town's university for his efforts for peace in the Middle East.

[11] NAA session ends today

Deliberations of the spring session of NATO's North Atlantic Assembly (NAA) continued over the weekend in Athens with interest focusing on the sessions of the political, economic and scientific committees.

The NAA will wind up its deliberations today, with speeches by NATO Secretary-General Javier Solana, who arrived in Athens yesterday, former EU mediator in the former Yugoslavia Karl Bildt, Prime Minister Costas Simitis and Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis.

Besides NATO member states, those attending include 15 eastern and central European countries under associate status, 10 countries under observer status, and representatives of the European Parliament, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, and the Western European Union.

[12] Pangalos regrets assassination attempt on Demirel

Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos yesterday expressed his regret at the assassination attempt against Turkish President Suleyman Demirel on Saturday.

Asked whether the incident would have repercussions on Greek-Turkish relations, the foreign minister said he did not believe so, and expressed the view that it would serve to increase political tension within Turkey.

"Greece," he added, "is working against violence and terrorism, and is ready to co-operate with any country holding the same views."

Mr. Demirel escaped unscathed from Saturday's assassination attempt, when a gunman aimed a pistol at him as he opened a shopping center in the western town of Izmit. The gunman was disarmed by body guards.

[13] Missing three fishermen found by Turkish authorities

Two soldiers and a civilian reported missing on Saturday after an underwater fishing trip in the Arda River region were turned over by Turkish to Greek military authorities yesterday.

According to an Army General Staff (GES) announcement issued yesterday, the three men had been swept away by the current and had entered Turkish waters, where they were arrested by a military patrol.

The GES announcement said the two soldiers were on normal and agricultural leave, and had been declared missing by their families.

[14] Simitis congratulates Italy's Prodi

Prime Minister Costas Simitis today sent his new Italian counterpart Romano Prodi a telegram of congratulations.

"The victory of the center-left in Italy was a breath of hope, both for Europe, which needs new political and social inspiration, and for the struggle of the forces of progress and labor which transcends national boundaries," the prime minister's message read.

"I believe that your assumption of the prime ministerial position in your country will contribute decisively to the creation of a Europe which will restrict 'the democratic deficit' and will bolster the social character of our joint efforts," the message ended.

[15] Suicide rates in Greek army low, conference told

Experts said yesterday that the incidence of suicide in the Greek army over the past two years is at a "very low" six in every 100,000, compared to 12-15 for every 100,000 US servicemen.

Speaking at an international conference on suicide, Greek military health experts said this pleasing result was the outcome of systematic psychological evaluations on 90 per cent of new recruits at training centers. These evaluations helped in heading off problems, they said.

Experts presented findings showing that the suicide rate in the air force was zero in some years, but that the average was 7-8 in every 100,000 servicemen.

The US servicemen's rate, the conference was told, comprised two-thirds of suicides for the corresponding non-military age groups. Some 59 per cent of these suicides were carried out with firearms.

In the Cypriot armed forces, the incidence in the 1982-1995 period was 12.5 per 100,000, increasing to 15.5 per 100,000 during 1991-95. The incidence for the Cypriot population was 3.2 per 100,000 residents.

In Belgium, the suicide rate in the armed forces was calculated at an extremely high 30 per 100,000, rising particularly over the past two years. However, suicide attempts in the Belgian military are lower than those recorded in the general population.

End of English language section.