Athens News Agency: News in English (AM), 97-12-01

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr>

NEWS IN ENGLISH

Athens, Greece, 01/12/1997 (ANA)

MAIN HEADLINES

• Burns: Reunification of Cyprus important for the US
• Simitis to present Greece's WEU programme
• Simitis talks with French leadership begin today
• Defence Ministry: No change in Aegean status
• Cyprus hails announcement of specific date for EU accession talks
• Blair on Greek-Turkish relations
• Permanent Vergina exhibition inaugurated
• Upgraded Vatican participation in Patriarchate celebration
• Thessaloniki Film Festival awards today
• Terrorist group claims responsibility for car bombings
• Greek First Division soccer results
• Weather
• Foreign exchange

NEWS IN DETAIL

Nicholas Burns, the new US ambassador to Greece, arrived in Athens yesterday to take up his post. On his arrival at Athens' Hellenikon Airport, Mr. Burns declined to answer a reporter's question on reactions by the US and European Union to tension between Greece and Turkey, saying he had yet to meet with Greek government leaders.

"I don't think it is appropriate for me to respond in detail to questions like that, but suffice it to say that the United States has a very deep interest in making sure that our NATO allies in this region have a basis to resolve their problems together , and that's what the United States has tried to do for a very long time and will continue to do," he said.

Mr. Burns, who was officially appointed to the ambassador's post in Washington on Nov. 10, was until then the US State Department's spokesman.

In an interview with the Athens daily "AVGI" published on Sunday, Mr. Burns said the reunification of Cyprus was important for the United States, but needed patience.

"Some day Cyprus can be reunited, become a united island. This is important for the US, and we shall work hard in cooperation with the Greek government, towards this end. we must be realists. These are difficult problems which cannot be resolved overnight. They may not be solved in the next three years. But we shall try very hard to resolve them," the newspaper quoted him as saying.

Simitis to present Greece's WEU programme

Prime Minister Costas Simitis will tomorrow outline the main elements of Greece's WEU programme when he addresses the Union's parliamentary assembly which starts here today.

Greece officially assumes the rotating WEU presidency on January 1, 1998.

Mr. Simitis is expected to focus on the Greek presidency's programme, as well as a summing-up account by German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel this morning - Germany currently holds the WEU's rotating six-month presidency.

The parliamentary sssembly is composed of 115 deputies, all representatives of national Parliaments.

The session will also be addressed by WEU Secretary General Jose Cutilheiro this morning and NATO's Secretary General Javier Solana on Thursday afternoon.

Among reports expected to be discussed of particular interest are a report by the Dutch deputy Blau on the issue of the WEU after the European Union's Amsterdam summit and NATO's summit in Madrid.

Simitis talks with French leadership begin today

Prime Minister Costas Simitis will hold consecutive meetings with French President Jacques Chirac and Prime Minister Lionel Jospin at noon today.

Mr. Simitis' first meeting with Mr. Chirac at noon, is expected to focus on the European Union's prospects. However, according to reports and information deduced from a statement by the French foreign ministry's spokesman on Friday, Mr. Chirac is expected to request from the Greek prime minister to lift his objections on Turkey's participation in the proposed European Conference.

The French president is one of the champions of the idea of the Conference being convened. However, senior government sources recalled a statement by the prime minister, made also in London, that Greece will block Turkey's participation in the European Conference unless Ankara accepts the principles governing relations between European countries - acceptance of the jurisdiction of the International Court at The Hague, and respect for international law.

The EU's prospects and the course towards Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), employment and bilateral Greek-French relations are expected to dominate talks Mr. Simitis will have with his French counterpart Jospin, who will also give a luncheon in his ho nour.

In addition, Mr. Simitis will address the West European Union's (WEU) parliamentary assembly tomorrow. At the beginning of the new year, Greece will assume the WEU's presidency.

In the afternoon of the same day Mr. Simitis will meet former European Commission President Jacques Delors.

Meanwhile, reports of a possible meeting between Mr.Simitis with Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz on the sidelines of the WEU session have not been confirmed since diplomatic sources said, Mr. Yilmaz will not come to Paris to attend the session.

Defence ministry: No change in Aegean status

Turkey will not acquire operational control in the Aegean with the new NATO command structure, there is no joint sovereignty and no allocation, while Athens will not give up its national positions on the Aegean, national defence ministry sources categorically stated, in light of a NATO defence ministers' session in Brussels tomorrow on the specific issue.

The same sources clarified that both NATO's founding proclamation and its new strategic conception explicitly mention that in no case does the alliance deprive member-states of sovereign rights and consequently, every member-state has the exclusive resp onsibility for its defence and the safeguarding of its sovereign rights.

Given that the veto principle applies in all of NATO's institutional bodies, Greece is not committed and can veto activities it believes harm its national interests, the sources stressed.

Among others, NATO's new structure anticipates establishment of four sub- headquarters in the southern flank. One each in Spain, Italy, Greece and Turkey, which will basically concern land forces and will have small staffs for the navy and air force branches.

The new headquarters to be created will be responsible and will only control NATO's activities and not national ones, in addition they will be multinational NATO entities and not a national NATO entity.

The sources expressed concern regarding the issue of covering the administrative posts of NATO's new administrative structure and the issue of conducting airforce operations.

On the first issue, the sources stated categorically that Greece will not accept the placement of a non-Greek commander of the sub-headquarters proposed for basing in Larisa. On the second issue, they clarified that security valves exist which secure na tional interests, namely, 127 MC/CS, by which the regions to be defined for conducting operations must be approved by the military committee and where the principle of unanimity prevails.

Additionally, the sources stressed that the Greek government will not agree to whatever phraseology indicated to create problems at a national level in connection with the document on the issue of the functioning and operation of the Combine Air Operati on Center, something Turkey does not want linked to the FIR.

Cyprus hails announcement of specific date for EU accession talks

Cyprus hailed the announcement of a specific date for the start of the island republic's accession negotiations with the European Union which will start on April 10.

Cyprus Finance Minister Christodoulos Christodoulou told the state-run RIK Network that that Nicosia now awaits official notification.

The finance minister said that unless other obstacles appear, Cyprus could be a full member in two years' time, while its economy could be in the same, if not in a better state than certain countries that are already full EU members.

Mr. Christodoulou said that due to the implementation of measures for harmonisation with the European establishment, unfavourable repercussions were experienced, particularly in public finances.

However, he said the situation will change when Cyprus becomes a full EU member and acquires access to support funds and participates in decision- making. Mr. Christodoulou offered assurances that the economy is in a position to handle all the unfavoura ble repercussions until succession.

Blair on Greek-Turkish relations

British Prime Minister Tony Blair has said an understanding on longterm goals could help Greece and Turkey improve their relations.

"I would like to see Greece and Turkey approach issues with greater self- confidencee, a more direct communication between the two governments, and greater effort to discuss differences with sincerity and calm. An understanding on some longterm goals cou ld help," he said in an interview with the Athens Sunday newspaper "To Vima", in an article published yesterday. "Proceeding on the basis of the principles of the Madrid communique, and planning on where they would like their reliationship to be in 10 ye ar's time, the two countries could find a more comfortable framework within which to make smaller steps in specific difficult issues," he added.

Regarding Cyprus, Mr. Blair said Britain saw its EU accession in a positive light, and expressed the hope that "a serious opportunity will be given to the Turkish Cypriots to participate in the negotiations".

Permanent Vergina exhibition inaugurated

A golden urn unearthed 20 years ago containing the remains of Macedon ruler Philip II, the father of Alexander the Great, a gold oakleaf crown worn by the king who united ancient Greece as well as several other findings from the royal Macedonian tombs of Vergina were permanently put on display yesterday at the spot where they were discovered.

The artifacts are part of a permanent display that was inaugurated yesterday at the ancient Vergina site, excavated by the late archaeology professor Manolis Andronikos.

Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos inaugurated the permanent exhibition of the royal treasures in Vergina, called Aiges, the ancient capital of the Kingdom of Macedonia.

Mr. Venizelos also read a message by President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos, underlining the importance of the double event as he noted, namely, the 20th anniversary of the successful excavations and their final shaping into an archaeological a nd museum site.

His message said the findings contributed towards "equipping us with testimonies and evidence which prove the Greek origin of Macedonia beyond any doubt."

Upgraded Vatican participation in Patriarchate celebration

Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos yesterday described as a "fraternal act" the Vatican's upgraded participation in events marking the Feast Day of St. Andrew (Agios Andreas), protector of the Church of Constantinople.

"(Your presence) certainly contributes to the maintenance of the benevolent climate which is necessary for further promoting dialogue," Vartholomeos said in addressing the Vatican delegation.

This Roman Catholic delegation is headed this year by Cardinal Idris Cassidy, while it also includes Archbishop of Vienna Christoph Schoborn, who invited the Patriarch to visit Austria.

"The Eastern Orthodox Church insists that dialogue is the only way of communication, understanding and exchange," the Patriarch told the delegation.

Also present in the events were representatives of the Armenian, Syrian and Anglican Churches in Instanbul.

Thessaloniki Film Festival awards today

The 38th Thessaloniki Film Festival will come to a close with the granting of awards today during a ceremony here.

Veteran Greek actress Irene Papas is the non-competition star who will receive the "Golden Alexander" award.

Forecasts so far have many actors in the running as candidates for awards. However, very few Greek films are worthy of awards, according to most film reviewers at the festival.

In the foreign competition field the film is much clearer if one is to judge by the long queues outside projection halls and the fact very few people trickle out during the screenings.

Noteworthy Greek films are "Vassiliki" by Vangelis Sentzaris and its protagonists Paschalis Tsarouhas and Tamila Koulieva-Karantinaki, and the "Gentleman in Grey" by Pericles Hoursoglou with Georgios Mihalakopoulos.

In addition, the "No Budget Story" by Renos Haralambidis was acclaimed and received some good reviews.

Popular foreign films are "Winter Hibernation" by Tom Tickver and "Tangible 24" by Shane Meadows.

Terrorist group claims responsibility for car bombings

The shadowy "Anti-Authority Struggle" terrorist group has assumed responsibility for the bombing of four state-owned vehicles parked outside a building housing the Institute of Geological and Metallurgical Research (IGME) at the corner of Mihalakopoulou and Mesogion avenues on Sunday. The group claimed responsibility for the attacks in a proclamation sent to an Athens daily and an Athens TV/radio station.

Two of the vehicles sustained serious damage, while the other two were slightly damaged.

Terrorist squad police ascertained that a total of nine gas cannisters had been placed under the vehicles and were connected to five gasoline containers. Poor wiring is suspected for the fact that only two of the nine gas cannisters exploded.

The proclamation was sent to the daily "Athinaiki" and to the SKAI Radio and TV network.

Greek First Division soccer results

Veria - AEK 1-2 Heraklis - Kalamata 2-1 Apollon - Xanthi 1-2 Panahaiki - OFI 0-2 Proodeftiki - Pyros 0-1 Ethnikos - Athinaikos 1-0 Kavala - Ionikos 2-3 Panionios - PAOK 0-3 Olympiakos-Panathinaikos play today Standings-points: AEK 31, Panathinaikos, Olympiakos, Ionikos 27 Heraklis 23, PAOK 22, Xanthi 20 OFI, Apollon 17, Pyrgos 15, Panionios, Panahaiki, Ethnikos 13

WEATHER

FOREIGN EXCHANGE

(C.E.)

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