A.N.A. Bulletin, 22/07/96

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

Athens News Agency Directory

ATHENS NEWS AGENCY BULLETIN (No 943), July 22, 1996

Greek Press & Information Office

Ottawa, Canada

E-Mail Address: grnewsca@sympatico.ca

CONTENTS

[1] Close defense co-operation concrete proof of support for Cyprus, Simitis says

Prime Minister Costas Simitis on Saturday condemned the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus and called on the international community to force Turkey to end its occupation of the northern part of the island.

In a message marking the 22nd anniversary of the Turkish invasion, Mr. Simitis said that "Cyprus' struggle is the struggle of the entire nation and the close defense co-operation between Cyprus and Greece is a concrete manifestation of the support of Hellenism."

"Greece will continue to provide undivided support to the Cyprus Republic and Cypriot Hellenism until final vindication," Mr. Simitis added.

"Turkish Premier Necmettin Erbakan's visit to the occupied part of Cyprus on the day of the anniversary confirms Turkey's undiminished intransigence and provocativeness and makes the need for a settlement of the Cyprus problem the number one national priority," the premier said.

Mr. Simitis stressed that 37 per cent of Cyprus' territory remained under Turkish occupation and one-third of the island republic's population continued to be refugees in their own country.

"This painful reality shows that the efforts to resolve the Cyprus problem, chiefly within the framework of the United Nations, have not succeeded. The international community has not displayed the necessary strength, nor the requisite will, to put an end to the Cyprus drama and give a decisive reply to Turkish illegality and provocativeness," Mr. Simitis said in his message.

Twenty-two years after it invaded, he continued, Turkey continues to occupy a large part of Cyprus' territory, despite the reactions of the international community and the numerous condemnatory resolutions of the UN and other international organizations .

"And so, Ankara continues to impose artificial partition, to systematically adulterate the island's demographic composition, to press ahead with its organized plan for bringing in settlers, to ravage the island's cultural heritage and systematically violate human rights," Mr. Simitis said.

"The problem of the missing persons and the unacceptable living conditions of those trapped in enclaves are offensive to all concepts of a modern civilized society," he stressed.

Mr. Simitis called on the international and European communities to assume their responsibilities and obligations and force Turkey to respect international legality and end its illegitimate occupation of Cyprus.

He expressed the hope that Cyprus' prospects for joining the European Union would strengthen efforts for a just and viable solution of the problem.

On Friday, President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos, the government and all political parties condemned the on-going occupation and division of Cyprus and called for a viable and just solution to the problem.

[2] Athens memorial service

The Municipality of Athens yesterday held a memorial service to commemorate those who fell during the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974.

The service was addressed by Cyprus' ambassador to Greece Charalambos Christoforou and deputy Mayor Nikos Yiatrakos. President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos was represented by Vice-Admiral P. Lambiris and the prime minister by Defense Undersecretary Nikos Kouris.

The service was attended by the finance under-secretary, deputies, representatives of political parties of Greece and Cyprus, former ministers, ambassadors and representatives of the armed forces.

Wreaths were later laid at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in front of the Parliament House by representatives of the president, prime minister and Parliament president among others.

[3] Greek delegation briefed on Cyprus issue

A six-member Greek parliamentary delegation attending the events marking the anniversary of the Turkish invasion met with Cypriot President Glafcos Clerides and Speaker of the House of Representatives Spyros Kyprianou, and was briefed on progress in the Cyprus issue.

Speaking after the meetings, the head of the delegation, Demosthenes Demosthenopoulos, said it was perhaps the first time that the issue was on a good course.

Meanwhile, Greek Merchant Marine Minister Kosmas Sfiriou, who represented the Greek government at the events, stressed the need for strengthening the joint defense doctrine involving the two countries.

"With the solidarity of all Greeks, and the actions undertaken by the governments of Greece and Cyprus, the struggle of the Cypriot people will be vindicated," he said.

[4] Constantopoulos to visit Israel and Gaza Strip

A Coalition of the Left and Progress party (Synaspismos) delegation, headed by its president Nikos Constantopoulos is to visit Israel and the Palestinian self-rule area of the Gaza Strip from July 25 to 28.

The visit aims to support the peace process between Israel and the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) and in the Middle East, a Synaspismos announcement said yesterday.

Mr. Constantopoulos is set to meet representatives of Israel's political parties in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, while he is to meet with Palestinian President Yasser Arafat in the Gaza Strip.

The delegation is also due to visit the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

[5] Greece to sue foreign media for defamation over airport security

Transport and Communications Minister Haris Kastanidis said in Thessaloniki yesterday that Greece would sue certain foreign press and media outlets over a campaign to slander Athens airport following the TWA plane crash off the coast of New York last week .

"For some days, certain foreign media have conducted, despite the cautious stand of the American government, crude slander and 'black propaganda' against Greece," the minister said.

"The Greek government will not stand by while this campaign is conducted and will seek civil claims against these media in the courts of their countries of origin," he said.

"We are awaiting the results of the investigation into the downing of the American aircraft and, in accordance with the content of the investigation, we will put into effect specific rights accorded under bilateral agreements regarding the checking of safety measures in foreign airports by a Civil Aviation Authority team," he said.

[6] Decisions to be taken on organization and structure of PASOK

Important decisions regarding the organization and structure of ruling party PASOK are expected to be taken this week.

Today, the PASOK Executive Bureau will convene under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Costas Simitis, while the Central Committee will meet on Thursday to approve changes proposed by the working group established by Secretary Costas Skandalidis.

Secretaries for sectors are also expected to be appointed this week.

A New Democracy statement issued yesterday castigated the government for its preoccupation with internal party issues.

"When the government realizes that the internal party issues of PASOK and the worries of the prime minister to maintain power do not interest or - much more so - serve the public interest, then maybe it will abandon its tactics of inaction, withdrawals and retreats. Then, it may become aware of what its constitutional and political role is," it said.

[7] Evert attacks government and 'vested interests'

Main opposition New Democracy leader Miltiades Evert lashed out against "vested interests" during his visit to Karystos, southern Evia on Saturday.

Speaking to party members on Saturday evening, Mr. Evert said "an ND government will succeed and no obstacle will hinder it".

"Vested interests which we believe are exploiting the Delors package will understand that with an ND government, this game will stop, the theft of the work of the Greek people will stop," he said.

Referring for the first time to Greece's lifting of its veto on the MEDA programme and Ankara's subsequent stance, Mr. Evert said that it was "a defeat for Greek foreign policy", saying the government was "attempting to deceive the Greek people".

"Friends and enemies should know that we (ND) will remain steadfast at the national ramparts, we will not surrender even one inch. Hellenism cannot tolerate any more lost homelands," he said.

He criticized the government for a lack of production and for "criminal indifference, mistakes and omissions in all sectors".

He added that his party had prepared a full governmental programme which would "take the country out of great impasses".

[8] ND, Gov't comment on leaked confidential report

A confidential foreign ministry document concerning Greek-Turkish relations was published by the 'Typos tis Kyriakis' Sunday newspaper.

Referring to the publication, main opposition New Democracy Vice-President Ioannis Varvitsiotis said the report proves that "Turkish provocativeness has passed the limits of tolerance".

"Now, Turkey is conducting 'war rehearsals' on the Greek islands and promoting unacceptable challenges, trampling on the rules of international law.

"The most impressive factor in all this is the government's silence, which is satisfied with lukewarm demarches, which are rejected with characteristic provocativeness by the Turkish side," he said.

[9] Government reaction

Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas, responding to Mr. Varvitsiotis' comments, said there was "no need for press publications and statements for it to be acknowledged that Turkey, infringing on every sense of justice, is conducting a foreign policy which is massing against national interests and our sovereign rights."

"The Greek people know it, the government knows it, New Democracy, it seems, is finding out about it now," he said.

"The government conducts national foreign policy, is expanding international support to a significant degree and creates favorable conditions for the country's international presence. It calls on ND to participate in this effort, abandoning a policy of trite ascertainments and fault-finding statements.

"To deal with Turkish machinations, there must be more interest in the homeland and less concern over achieving party and other aims of lesser significance. When this is discovered and made a reality in New Democracy, then it will be a great national contribution," Mr. Reppas concluded.

[10] Escaped prisoners still at large

Eight long-term prisoners escaped from the Alicarnassos prison near Iraklion in Crete on Saturday evening. Two of the eight were still at large last night, including 38-year old Vangelis Selianakis, who is thought to be armed and to have masterminded the escape.

The break-out was triggered when roughly 20 inmates attacked prison guards, eight of them managing to break through the prison's two iron gates after taking one guard hostage. Six of the convicts were caught in the immediate area soon after their escape .

Police later found two hand grenades, a pistol, ammunition and a number of documents related to Selianakis' family in an overturned abandoned car in the Therissos area outside the city.

Selianakis has been involved in a long-running vendetta between two families.

[11] Two earthquakes shake Aegean islands

An earthquake measuring 6.0 on the Richter scale was recorded at 3 am local time Saturday, with an epicenter located in the sea region between the islands of Rhodes and Karpathos, 390 kilometers southeast of Athens, at a depth of 40-50 km.

Although the quake was felt throughout the Dodecanese and Cyclades island groups, there were no reports of injuries or material damage.

"We shall have to wait and see developments over the next 24 hours," Thessaloniki University seismologist Manolis Skordilis told the ANA.

Asked whether a tremor measuring 4.8 on the Richter scale recorded later in the day could be considered an after-shock and therefore indicative of decreasing seismic activity, Mr. Skordilis reiterated that it would be better to wait for 24 hours to pass before expressing an opinion.

In 1948, a quake measuring 7.1 on the Richter scale was recorded 50 km to the south of Saturday's epicentre.

[12] Illegal immigrants arrested

Harbor police on Saturday arrested 29 illegal immigrants of Kurdish origin who were hiding in a truck aboard a ferry-boat sailing between Patras and Ancona, central Italy.

The illegal immigrants and the Greek driver and co-driver of the truck were handed over to Corfu harbor police by the crew of the ferry-boat "Aretousa".

According to initial reports, the illegal immigrants had entered Greece from neighboring Turkey and had paid to board the truck somewhere in Attica.

Later reports said the truck in which the illegal immigrants were hiding belonged to the Panhellenic Center for Ecological Research.

Another 14 Iraqi illegal immigrants - seven men, three women and four children - were arrested by a military patrol on the island of Kos, in the eastern Aegean, around noon Saturday.

They claimed they had been put ashore by a speedboat which had sailed from the nearby Turkish coast.

[13] Vougiouklaki slips into a coma

Aliki Vougiouklaki, dubbed Greece's national theater and film star, was reported in a coma at the Athens Medical Center yesterday, two months after being hospitalized.

"Our hopes now rest with God," said her personal doctor and friend, Manolis Bantouvas.

[14] Clashes greet 'Marco Polo' passengers in Nafplio

Clashes broke out on Saturday at the port of Nafplio in the Peloponnese between coast-guard officers assisted by riot police and dockers attempting to prevent about 1,000 tourists disembarking from the foreign-flagged cruise vessel "Marco Polo".

The dockers were eventually repulsed and the passengers disembarked at Nafplio as planned.

The incident was the latest in a series of protests by dockers and seamen protesting what they view as a violation of cabotage regulations which protect national coastal shipping.

Greek seamen's unions say the Marco Polo is violating regulations allowing only Greek-flagged ships to complete round-trip cruises in Greek ports. The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) issued a statement accusing the government of authoritarianism.

"The KKE condemns the government as a government (representing) shipowners which does not hesitate to trample on cabotage laws in order to serve domestic and foreign interests," the statement said.

KKE deputy Spyros Striftaris claimed the protesting dockers and seamen had been attacked as soon as they stepped off the coaches which had brought them to Nafplio.

Mr. Striftaris, who was accompanying the protesters, said several dockers and seamen had been injured in the clashes.

[15] Avramopoulos meets with Clinton

Athens Mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos, who is in Atlanta to promote Athens' bid for the 2004 Olympics, had a brief meeting yesterday with US President Bill Clinton.

The US president thanked Mr. Avramopoulos for the hospitality extended to his wife, Hilary Rodham Clinton, during her recent visit to Greece to attend the lighting of the Olympic flame.

At a press conference later, Mr. Avramopoulos stressed to reporters the significance of the invitation to the mayor of Athens to attend the opening ceremony of the Olympics.

He added that he had met with Archbishop Iakovos of North and South America as well as with the president of the International Olympic Committee Juan Antonio Samaranch, whom he will brief today on the Athens 2004 bid.

He added that the final composition of the committee coordinating the 2004 bid would be decided in some 10 days.

End of English language section.