Athens News Agency: News in English (AM), 97-11-03
NEWS IN ENGLISH
Athens, Greece, 03/11/1997 (ANA)
MAIN HEADLINES
- Multilateral cooperation to be discussed at first Balkan summit
- Balkan leaders to air region's problems amid tight security
- Simitis, Yilmaz meet today on sidelines of Crete summit
- 'Anachronistic dispute' with Turkey must be overcome, says Simitis
- Reppas: Crete summit indicates start of new era in the Balkans
- Milosevic, Nano meet today on sidelines of Balkan summit
- Turkish warplanes violate Athens FIR prior to Balkan summit
- Holbrooke: 'no real crisis between Greece and Turkey'
- Demonstrators stone Greek Consulate in Izmir
- Karamanlis accuses gov't of 'experimenting' on national issues
- Bomb explodes at entrance of employment office
- European TV 'Prix Niki' awards
- Greek First Division soccer results
- Weather
- Foreign exchange
NEWS IN DETAIL
Multilateral cooperation to be discussed at first Balkan summit
Prime Minister Costas Simitis yesterday stressed that a meeting of
southeast European heads of state and government on the Greek island of
Crete starting today, should place emphasis on multilateral cooperation.
"Bilateral contacts are fine but take second place to joint (contacts),"
Mr. Simitis told reporters at the summit's press centre, near Iraklion.
He said he was not expecting any "surprises" from the summit and that it
had been organised purely to promote Balkan cooperation, rather than
bilateral issues.
"The central issue of the summit is joint cooperation between the countries
of the region," Mr. Simitis said. "We are now on our way to a Balkan
community which requires a wider level of cooperation."
The fact that the leaders of Balkan states came means the summit is already
a success, Mr. Simitis said. "It is our common aim to discuss the
principles of cooperation and achieve a common perception on closer
contacts and cooperation."
The two-day summit, officially starting today, will bring together leaders
and officials from Greece, Turkey, Bosnia, Albania, Romania, Yugoslavia,
Bulgaria and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM).
Balkan leaders to air region's problems amid tight security
All leaders of countries in southeastern Europe will sit at the same table
this morning to discuss the region's problems and proposals which will be
made.
According to reports, issues of an economic interest will be discussed in
the morning, while political issues will be discussed in the afternoon.
During the afternoon discussion, Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis will
analyse Greece's plan which anticipates inter-Balkan cooperation being
built on European Union models.
Mr. Simitis will raise the issue of the creation of a Secretariat
headquartered in Athens. The political message Greece wishes to send is
that being the sole EU member-state in the region it can help in upgrading
relations between the other countries and the EU.
Security measures are tight with access to the main foyer of the "Kapsis"
hotel, where the summit will be held, restricted to accredited diplomatic
and security personnel.
Simitis, Yilmaz meet today on sidelines of Crete summit
A Greek-Turkish summit is expected to take place today on the sidelines of
the southeastern Europe summit currently taking place in Crete.
Prime Minister Costas Simitis and his Turkish counterpart Mesut Yilmaz will
be meeting at around 7 in the evening.
According to reports and the atmosphere prevailing on the Greek side, the
Greek government continues to be reserved and to observe a low key
policy.
Mr. Simitis, according to the reports, will turn up for his meeting with
Mr. Yilmaz well-prepared so as to be able to tackle all eventualities.
The Turkish delegation comprises, apart from Mr. Yilmaz, Foreign Minister
Ismail Cem, Ministers without Portfolio Cavit Kavak and Rofat Serdaroglu,
as well as many officials.
'Anachronistic dispute' with Turkey must be overcome, says Simitis
In an interview to German weekly magazine "Der Spiegel" Prime Minister
Costas Simitis commented on Greek-Turkish relations, the accession of
Cyprus to the European Union and other foreign policy issues.
In the interview titled "Our neighbour is aggressive" published in today's
issue, the premier speaks of the need to overcome the "anachronistic
dispute" with Turkey, stating that the fundamental position of the Greek
goverment is "a desire for cooperation", but attributing to Turkey an
aggressive foreign policy, non-compatible with European standards.
"Our position is clear: We desire cooperation. We are aware that close
cooperation between the European Union and Turkey is attainable and we do
not wish to bar Ankara from the EU. The fact is that our neighbour Turkey
has an aggressive foreign policy. Any country that wishes to cooperate with
the EU must accept the European order and the relevant principals", said
the Greek leader.
The premier stressed that any attempt to change the borders could undermine
peace in the region.
Mr. Simitis appeared pessimistic about a possible solution to the Cyprus
problem, saying that Ankara is not prepared to accept a change of the
existing situation that has emerged from the invasion and occupation of the
northern part of the island. He sa id that the only way to achieve progress
is for the inernational community to put pressure on Turkey.
"If the United States desire peace in the Eastern Mediterranean, they must
be prepared to put pressure on Turkey", he said, stressing the importance
of the region as a sea passage for oil exports from central Asia.
The Greek leader rejected Turkey's proposal for the whole of the Greek-
Turkish differences to be addressed as a package and be referred to
international arbitration saying that there is no such package but rather
new claims that Turkey keeps bringing forward.
Mr. Simitis also spoke of Greece's role as "a bridge" between the EU, NATO
and Balkan countries.
Reppas: Crete summit indicates start of new era in the Balkans
The summit of southeast European countries' leaders on the Greek island of
Crete beginning today indicates the start of a new era in the Balkans,
Greek government spokesman and Press Minister Dimitris Reppas told Serbian
state television.
Mr. Reppas said that the summit was "the first major step" towards wider
political and economic cooperation in the region and would provide the
foundation stone for "building a better future".
Greece lends great weight to relations with the Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia, he added, saying that issues of transport, communications and
the return of Yugoslavia to international economic organisations was on the
agenda of Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis and Yugoslav President
Slobodan Milosevic's meeting in Crete yesterday. "We, like Yugoslavia, want
it to return to European institutions and we believe that Greece's
relations with Yugoslavia can be a model for relations between Balkan
states," he said.
Mr. Reppas said there were plans for Mr. Simitis to visit Belgrade soon
although a final date had not yet been set.
Milosevic, Nano meet today on sidelines of Balkan summit
President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Slobodan Milosevic and
Albanian Prime Minister Fatos Nano will meet today in Crete on the
sidelines of the southeast European heads of state and government summit,
Greek government sources said last night, after successive meetings Greek
Prime Minister Costas Simitis held with Mr. Nano and Mr. Milosevic.
But Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas denied that Mr. Simitis
raised any issue regarding a Milosevic-Nano meeting.
Mr. Reppas also said that the dispute between Albania and Yugoslavia
concerning the Serbian province of Kosovo, could be discussed, "providing
Nano and Milosevic meet tomorrow (today)".
"Greece's position is that within the framework of a dialogue between
Yugoslavia and Albania solutions should be sought in order for excellent
relations to be established between the two countries," Mr. Reppas
added.
Mr. Milosevic told reporters after his talks with Mr. Simitis that the
summit was an important step and that his country was doing its best for a
successful outcome to the summit.
The Crete summit of southeast European heads of state and government could
be a chance for the institutionalisation of the dialogue between Balkan
nations, Mr. Nano told reporters after a 30-minute meeting with his Greek
counterpart and host of the summit, Costas Simitis.
Turkish warplanes violate Athens FIR prior to Balkan summit
Turkish air force went ahead yesterday with new infringements of air
traffic rules in the Athens Flight Information Region (FIR), which also
developed into five violations of national airspace.
The infringements of air traffic rules in the Athens FIR and national
airspace violations were carried out by five pairs of Turkish F-16s and a
pair of Turkish F-4s in the region of Chios, Limnos and Lesvos.
In all cases, the Greek air force responded quickly and the Turkish
aircraft were recognised and intercepted by Greek F-16 and Mirage 2000
warplanes.
Speaking in Zakinthos, where he attended the te deum service of Dimitris
Maroudas, National Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos reiterated that the
known aggressiveness of Turkey and its disposition to question both the
status quo in the Aegean and Gre ece's sovereign rights is part of the
neighbour's strategy to threaten Greece, restrict its role and facilitate
its own demand for the upgrading of its relations with Europe.
Holbrooke: 'No real crisis between Greece and Turkey'
The tension between Greece and Turkey is not serious enough to provoke an
armed conflict between the two, US presidential emissary on the Cyprus
problem Richard Holbrooke, was cited as saying in Turkish press reports
yesterday.
"I do not believe that there will be clashes between Turkey and Greece. It
is not a real crisis," Mr. Holbrooke was reported as saying in interviews
with Turkish dailies "Yeni Yuzil" and "Sabah".
"The US does not believe that Greece has any inclination whatsoever to
provoke a conflict. I repeat this is not a real crisis," Mr. Holbrooke
said.
Demonstrators stone Greek consulate in Izmir
About 200 Turkish demonstrators threw stones at the building housing the
Greek consulate in the Turkish city of Izmir yesterday, causing slight
damage.
Witnesses said only a few windows were broken.
Greek Foreign Ministry spokesman Constantine Bikas condemned the incident.
"Incidents of such a kind are regrettable and deplorable," Mr. Bikas
said.
A demonstration also took place outside the Greek consulate in Istanbul
where five motorcyclists laid flowers in protest over incidents that took
place in Thessaloniki last week.
Mr. Bikas announced that the Greek Ambassador to Ankara Dimitris Nezeritis
has already been instructed to lodge a demarche with the Turkish Foreign
Ministry.
It is reminded that the Turkish government made a similar demarche a few
days ago over the incidents in Thessaloniki.
Karamanlis accuses gov't of 'experimenting' on national issues
In an interview with the "Adesmeftos tis Kyriakis" newspaper, main
opposition New Democracy party leader Costas Karamanlis accused the
government and Prime Minister Costas Simitis of experimenting on the
country's national issues.
Mr. Karamanlis said a strategy is necessary which will not change with the
change of party in government and that the country's foreign policy must
acquire explicit, clear and specific targets.
Former Prime Minister and ND honourary president Constantine Mitsotakis
said in an interview with the newspaper "Apogevmatini tis Kyriakis" that he
does not expect substantive results from the meeting between Mr. Simitis
and his Turkish counterpart Mes ut Yilmaz in Crete, but added that "this
meeting must achieve an improvement in the atmosphere of relations between
us."
Mr. Mitsotakis reiterated that 1998 will be a crucial year for the Cyprus
issue and stressed that the path towards normalisation in Greek-Turkish
relations passes from Nicosia.
Bomb explodes at entrance of employment office
A bomb exploded at the entrance to the offices of the Manpower Employment
Organisation (OAED) in Drapetsona near Piraeus at 9.15 last night, causing
damage but no casualties.
Shortly before 9 an unidentified caller informed the newspaper "Eleftherotypia"
that a bomb would explode at OAED's offices in Drapetsona at 9. The anti-
terrorist police squad searched the area to find remains of the explosive
device. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.
European TV 'Prix Niki' awards
Speaking at the ceremony of the European TV "Prix Niki" awards in
Thessaloniki yesterday, the President of the critics committee for the best
children's TV programme Paola de Benedit from Italy criticised the poor
representation of women in European TV networks.
"If the competition concerned the representation of men in European TV we
would not know what to choose first. Women's representation in European TV
networks is poor, offhand and quite frequently anachronistic," she
said.
The awards were won by a French, a Dutch and a British TV production.
The "Prix Niki" documentary award was won by the film titled "Au nom de
l'honneur" by the TV channel France II.
The award for the best fiction film was won by the film "Some kind of life"
by the British ITV station.
Lastly, the award for the best children's series was won by the Dutch film
"Madelief."
Greek First Division soccer results:
Panahaiki-Veria 2-1 Apollon-Ethnikos 1-0
Xanthi-Ionikos 4-2 Paniliakos-AEK 2-4
Olympiakos-Kalamata 3-0 OFH-Panathinaikos 0-3
PAOK-Heracles 2-2 Standings-points:
Ionikos, Panathinaikos 21 AEK 19
Olympiakos 18 Heracles, Xanthi 14
WEATHER
Some cloudiness with local rain is forecast around the southeastern parts
of Greece today. Winds north to northeasterly. Local clouds with spells of
sunshine and light northerly winds in Athens with temperatures ranging from
8-17C. Thessaloniki will also be partly cloudy with temperatures from 6-
15C.
FOREIGN EXCHANGE
Friday's closing rates - buying US dlr. 269.149
Pound sterling 450.170 Cyprus pd 528.042
French franc 46.529 Swiss franc 191.992
German mark 155.843 Italian lira (100) 15.885
Yen (100) 224.529 Canadian dlr. 191.178
Australian dlr. 188.986 Irish Punt 403.942
Belgian franc 7.558 Finnish mark 51.892
Dutch guilder 138.260 Danish kr. 40.999
Swedish kr. 35.807 Norwegian kr. 38.321
Austrian sch. 22.157 Spanish peseta 1.846
Port. Escudo 1.528
(C.E.)
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