Subject: News I (Greek Press Office BBS in Ottawa). To: macedonia@husc.harvard.edu (macedonia list.) Date: Tue, 20 Jul 93 13:21:05 EDT Bulletin, 20/07/1993 ( ) ----------------------- Bulletin Brussels, 20/7/93(ANA-G.Daratos)--Negotiations between the Comission and EC member-state representatives on the final allocation of EC structural funds for the 1994-1999 period were continuing late into the night last night. ''Negoatiations in the Community are underway at the present moment.We are fighting at the moment to secure what belongs to us'', National Economy Minister Stephanos Manos told the ET1 TV net work on the course of negotiations on the Delors II package. Mr Manos said after the Edinburgh summit in December, both the prime minister and the foreign ministry had stated that Greece expected to receive 18 to 20 billion ECUs from the Delors II package over a period of seven years. ''As I have said at this meeting, Greece has unshakeable arguments. For this reason I believe that we will do well...I believe that the target of receiving 18 to 20 billion ECU will be achieved'', Mr Manos said. ''Prospects are ominous'', Council of Ministers President Willy Claes said, adding that ''difficulties and problems exist''and for this reason ''we prefer to handle the issue of the allocation of resources from the Structural Funds after the EC-Tunisia Cooperation Council''. According to press reports, the structural funds meeting was expected to start about 21:00 GMT and continue until late into the night. The Belgian presidency decided that the Council of Ministers would convene with a ''limited composition'', meaning that the relevant minister an done other representative from each country would participate , in an effort to contain laks to the press before a final decision is made. Foreign Minister Michalis Papaconstantinou, Foreigh Undersecretary George Papastamkos and National Economy Undersecretary Aristides Tsiplakos will take turns in occupying these two positions for Greece. According to unconfirmed reports, between 16.8 and 18 billion ECUs is being proposed for Greece for the 199401999 period. The final amount will be decided by the Commision before the end of the month and will depend on what Spain and Ireland will finally receive. ana Brussels, 20/7/93(ANA-P.Pantelis)-- European Community agriculture ministers yesteday endorsed a 55 billion dr programme for th eislands in the Aegean Sea. Agriculture Minister Christos Koskinas said the programme provided for measures to offset the geographic, social and economic disadvantages faced by the islands. The funding will cover also transportation problems involved in moving agricultural products from the mainland to the islands. Moreover, the Council adopted a proposal which foresees the expansion of listed underprivileged agricultural zones in Greece, a decision Mr Koskinas said satisfied a longstanding demand. The proposal, he said, foresees an increase along the lines of 1.5 per cent, which brings to 80.2 per cent the total utilised agrictultural land in listed underprivileged agricultural zones. ana Athens, 20/7/93(ANA)--US President Bill Clinton yesterday sent Prime Minister Constantine Mitsotakis a message stressing his desire to further strenghthen links between the US and Greece. ''I share your desire to further strengthen our bilateral relations'', read Mr Clinton's response to Mr Mitsotakis' congratulations for the July 4th US Independence Day. ''We celebrate on this occasion the ideals upon which the United States was founded--ideals that have many roots in the philosophy,culture and political traditions of your nation. We renew our commitment to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for our citizens and for all peoples of the world'', Mr Clinton's message said. ana Athens, 20/7/93(ANA)--The Greek Navy's new frigate ''Aegeon'' arrived at the Salamis Naval base yesterday. Chief of Fleet Vice Admiral Grigoris Demestihas and top-ranking naval officers and other officials were on hand to welcome the Dutch -built frigate into the fleet. First commanding officer of the new frigate will be Commander Kostas Anastasatos. His crew will consist of 188 seamen, non commissioned and commissioned officers.The Greek Navy will take delivery of two more frigates of the same type by the end of 1994. ana Athens, 20/7/93(ANA)--The government yesterday said Albanian Prime Minister Aleksandr Meksi's statements Sunday claiming the existence of ethnic minorities in Greece was ''at the very least, lacking in seriousness''. ''It is well known that there never war, nor is there an Albanian minority in Greece. The Tsamides were common war criminals who left the country en masse after the end of the (Second World) war in order to avoid being brought to justice'', said government spokesman Vassilis Manginas. ''In contrast,''the spokesman added,''the Greek minority in Albania is a reality. It exists and has been recognised and we are asking for nothing more than what Albania is demanding for its own minorities''. Mr Manginas called on the Albanian government to deal with the situation which has been created ''with greater seriousness, if (Albania) wants relations to be restored and constructive cooperation between the two countries''. ana Athens, 20/7/93(ANA)--Special United Nations envoys on the Cyprus problem Gustave Feissel and Joe Clark began talks here yesterday with foreign ministry officials. The two officials are conducting a new round of talks on the United Nations' proposed confidence-building measures, following the recent collapse of the UN-sponsored negotiations in New York. The two envoys arrived in Athens Sunday after completing talks with Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders in an effort to overcome the present impasse created by the Turkish Cypriot side. According to foreign ministry sources, a communique will be released upon completion of talks here and the two envoys will then fly to Ankara to conclude the present round of consultations. ana Athens, 20/7/93(ANA)--A mild earth tremor, registering 3.4 on the Richter scale, rocked the Halkidiki region yesterday at 12.51 p.m. No damage or injuries reported. ana Athens, 20/7/93(ANA)--Athenians today will observe a minute's silence at noon in memory of the 19th ''black anniversary'' of the invasion of Cyprus by Turkish forces. ''Greece will continue to provide unanimous, steady and unguarded support to Cyprus in its struggle for freedom and justice'', the foreign ministry said yesterday, in a statement marking the anniversary. ''The unhappy anniversary of July 20,1974 today finds Cyprus,19 years after the Turkish invasion, still suffering from the tragic consequences of foreign occupation, artificial division, of Turkish settlers and the missing and of the blatant violation of human rights. ''And the Cyprus issue remains unresolved, in the face of continuing Turkish intransigency and its contempt for international law and the resolutions of the United Nations. ''Cyprus, a member-state of the United Nations and the European family, today turns to all those who can and should help eradicate this unacceptable anachronism called the Cyprus problem and asks them to shoulder their responsibilities and give honest and decisive support to the UN's efforts, which aim toward respect for international law and a jsut and permanent solution to the Cyprus issue'', the announcement said. The Cyprus issue is, and until its resolution will continue to be, a problem of invasion and occupation , main opposition Panahelennic Socialist Movement leader Andreas Papandreou said yesterday. ''Its essence is inseparably connected to the need to end the occupation, to the withdrawal of foreign troops and settlers and to securing basic freedoms.Any insistence on approaching it as a problem between two communities, with emphasis on 'confidence-building measures', would really be a deviation which cannot be accepted. ''The future of Cyprus signals the future of Hellenism.Turkish expansionism remains for Greece the first and primary threat.And the justification of Turkey in Cyprus, the acceptance of faits accomplis and the rewarding of the aggressor, gives a ''green light' for new ''Attilas'' in Thrace and the Aegean'', Mr Papandreou said. The Communist Party of Greece (KKE), on the occasion of the anniversary of Cyprus' occupation, pointed out that international guarantees are necessary in a solution of the Cyprus problem. The Cyprus issue, the announcement said, is an international problem since it involves the violation of the territorial integrity of a member-state of the UN followed by military occupation of apart of the territory. The statement said the KKE was against all attempts to transform the problem into a Greek-Turkish conflict because that would lead to the abolition of Cyprus as an independent state.The Coalition of the Left and Progress issued a similar statement, condemning the invasion. The General Confederation of Workers of Greece (GSEE) has called on all workers to hold a 10-minute work stoppage today to mark the anniversary of the invasion. ''On the occasion of this tragic anniversary,Greek workers will stage a sympolic 10-minute work stoppage to honour the memory of the victims of the invasion and express their solidarity with the Cypriot people ,'' a GSEE announcement said yesterday. ''Once again, the GSEE calls for the withdrawal of Turkish occupation forces from the island, the return of refugees to their homes and the safeguarding of the island's independence''. Meanwhile, the Cyprus Embassy and Cypriot organisations in Athens will also organise a number of events to mark the anniversary today. Cyprus'ambassador to Athens Charalambos Christoforou will hold a press conference at noon today at the House of Cyprus, which will be hosting an exhibition of engravings and silk prints by Cypriot artists until the end of August.