Subject: A.N.A. Bulletin 11/9/93 From: miltos@nfl2.irc.nrc.ca Athens News Agency Bulletin, September 11, 1993 =============================================== Athens, 11/9/1993 (ANA) - Greece yesterday hailed the historic agreement reached between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), saying it was "a decisive step" towards resolving the problems in the Middle East. "Greece welcomes with particular satisfaction the historic agreement reached between Israel and the Palestinians which is a decisive step in the direction of an overall and final resolution of the Middle Eastern problem and the securing of lasting peace and stability in the region", said government spokesman Vassilis Manginas. Israel yesterday signed an historic, mutual recognition agreement with the PLO, paving the way for a possible and to their bloody conflict for a homeland in the Holy Land. "This determining development reflects the spirit of constructive rapprochement and conciliation displayed recently by the two sides for a peaceful resolution of their differences and which the Greek government had long promoted and encouraged, adopting a policy of even-handed and friendly relations with all parties and, especially, its de jure recognition of the State of Israel three years ago - a policy which is now fully vindicated", he added. Athens, 11/9/1993 (ANA)-- Prime Minister Constantine Mitsotakis has postponed a scheduled official visit to the United States, government spokesman Vassilis Manginas said yesterday. "In light of the developments and because of the constitutional deadlines, the prime minister's visit to the US has been postponed", he said. Mr. Mitsotakis had been scheduled to meet with US President Bill Clinton at the White House on October 26, following an invitation by the US president. Athens, 11/9/1993 (ANA) - The Presidency of the Republic yesterday issued an announcement formally dissolving parliament and setting Sunday October 10 as the date for general elections. "The President of the Republic, Constantine Karamanlis, today (yesterday) signed the decree dissolving Parliament, setting October 10 as the date on which elections will be held and convening the Parliament which will emerge from those elections in its first regular session on October 25", a presidency announcement said. The elections will be held under the Mitsotakis government with service ministers in the four posts stipulated in the Constitution. -- The four, named yesterday, are: Aristovoulos Manessis, Interior Minister, Dimitrios Manikas, Public Order Minister, George Playianakos, Justice Minister, and George Kontogeorgis, Under-secretary to the Prime Minister's Office responsible for Press issues. They will be sworn in by President Karamanlis next Tuesday. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Constantine Mitsotakis yesterday proposed two televised debates with main opposition socialist PASOK party leader Andreas Papandreou during the run-up to the elections. Speaking to reporters, Mr. Mitsotakis also proposed a further two such debates with the leaders of the Coalition of the Left and Progress, Maria Damanaki and Communist Party of Greece, Aleka Paparriga. Mr. Mitsotakis expressed hope that the elections would be carried out in a mild and civilised atmosphere and emphasised the need for dialogue between the parties during the run-up to the general elections. "We should analyse to the people the major problems of our country so that the votes will be properly informed," Mr. Mitsotakis said. -- Stressing that the country "is now at a turning point", Mr. Mitsotakis went on to say that "the policies of the parties should be judged (by the people)". Mr. Mitsotakis expressed the wish that the parties of the opposition would accept his invitation to dialogue "since", he said, "this is for the good of the nation". But an announcement issued later by the PASOK press office said that the prime minister "is well aware of PASOK's firm position that.... Andreas Papandreou only discusses issues with Mr. Mitsotakis in parliament", thus refusing to accept Mr. Mitsotakis' proposal for two televised debates. A KKE announcement later yesterday also rejected Mr. Mitsotakis' invitation to debate. Meanwhile, government spokesman Vassilis Manginas said yesterday the government will "operate as normal" in the run-up to the general elections on October 10 but refrain from taking "decisions of major importance". Within this framework, the spokesman said, the government, "but for a few hours", did not sign the contract for the construction of Athens' new international airport at Spata and has halted procedures concerning a major project to supply Athens with water from Lake Truichonida. -- Mr. Manginas also announced figures concerning the present state of the Greek economy. Citing Bank of Greece figures, he said that the country's foreign exchange reserves had for the first time surpassed 8 billion dollars. For the first time also, he continued, the balance of current accounts for the period January-July this year showed a surplus in the region of 100 million dollars, compared with a 1.2 billion dollar deficit in the same period of 1992. Mr. Manginas said that the figures "confirm the confidence in the government's economic policy". -- Mr. Mitsotakis yesterday chaired a meeting of the Inner Cabinet. Government spokesman Vassilis Manginas said the Inner Cabinet would continue to meet regularly every Friday morning during the entire pre-election period. On Wednesday, the Cabinet will meet with its new members - the service government - for their swearing-in. Athens, 11/9/1993 (ANA) - Foreign Minister Michael Papaconstantinou leaves for Brussels today, to attend an informal two-day meeting of EC foreign ministers. Items on the agenda include the Yugoslav question, the Middle East, and such Community issues as EC expansion and Commission relations with the Third World. The possibility of calling an early meeting of the Special European Council (originally scheduled for October) the Western European Union related monetary developments will also come up for discussion. Mr. Papaconstantinou will return on Sunday afternoon. Athens, 11/9/1993 (ANA) - President Constantine Karamanlis called for national unity yesterday to confront crucial domestic and foreign problems, in his message marking the official opening of the Thessaloniki International Fair today. "National interests must be placed above personal and political party interests as we must assume the sacrifices required for Greece to become a truly European country with security, economic prosperity and social justice", Mr. Karamanlis said. "We must all realise - the government, the people and the press - that the crucial problems that we are confronting domestically and abroad demand national unity", he said. "In a world of turmoil and restlessness, Greece constitutes a factor of stability, security and progress. A member of the EC and NATO, with a fully democratic regime and economy a homogeneous population, our country has the conditions to enable it to play its European role in the region and on the international stage", Mr. Karamanlis said. Prime Minister Constantine Mitsotakis today will open the TIF, an annual event organised with the participation of thousands of Greek and foreign companies. Prime Minister Constantine Mitsotakis will officially open the 58th Thessaloniki International Fair today and deliver a keynote address on the government's economic policy. Organisers said this year's trade fair, which is scheduled to close September 20, is one of the largest in TIF history. The annual trade fair is considered the pre-eminent Greek economic forum, attended by the country's political leadership and many foreign leaders. More than, 3,300 companies from 51 countries, including 1,600 of Greece's top industries, have register their participation in the event. Foreign exhibitors include 21 national pavilions, the Siberian Fair and 39 company booths . A further 1,300 foreign companies from 35 countries are also being represented at the TIF by the Greek agents. Athens, 11/9/1993 (ANA) - The National Economy Ministry projected inflation would be running at an annual rate of 11 per cent at the end of 1993 ad a current accounts deficit of 1,5 billion drachmas in its six-monthly report on the economy released yesterday. The report projected a one per cent increase in housing investments, an 11 per cent increase in public investment and a one per cent rise in GDP but said the primary surplus would fall short of the ministry's earlier projection of 878 billion drachmas. It also projected a slight rise in unemployment, from 9,2 per cent in 1992 to 9,5 per cent for the year, but expected a 1,3 per cent rise in productivity. The ministry also projected that revenues would fall short 260 billion drachmas of budget goals while expenditures would be 110 million over budget. -- National Economy and Finance Minister Stephanos Manos yesterday assured investors at the Athens Stock Exchange of the government's full support. "As you know, we have entered an electoral period, but my colleagues and I continue to carry out our duties in the Cabinet. Mine is a message of support to all those who have entrusted their funds in the Stock Exchange", Mr. Manos said. Athens, 11/9/1993 (ANA) - Greece said yesterday it supported the enlargement of the EC with the entry of Finland, after two hours of talks yesterday between Foreign Minister Michalis Papaconstantinou and his Finnish counter part Heikki Haavisto. Mr. Papaconstantinou briefed Mr. Haavisto on the requirements set by the Community for membership as well as Greece's policy in the Balkans and its relations with neighbouring countries. The two sides also discussed possibilities for increasing bilateral trade relations. Mr. Haavisto expressed satisfaction at the level and breadth of the talks and bilateral relations as well as the hope that following Finland's accession to the EC, co-operation between the two countries would further improve. The Finnish foreign minister extended an official invitation to Mr. Papaconstantinou to visit Finland and expressed the hope that Greece's differences with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia would be resolved. Both sides expressed their satisfaction at the step made towards peace in the Middle East following the Israeli-Palestinian mutual recognition agreement. Mr. Haavisto was due to wind up his two-day visit to Greece yesterday. Athens, 11/9/1993 (ANA) - Foreign Ministry officials will visit Cyprus in the place of Foreign Minister Michalis Papaconstantinou who was scheduled to pay a two-day official visit to the island republic on September 16-17. Making the announcement , Mr. Papaconstantinou expressed regret at being forced to cancel his visit due to forthcoming elections. A Cyprus News Agency report said Mr. Papaconstantinou informed his Cypriot counter-part Alecos Michaelides by phone about the cancellation of his visit. He said that the officials would discuss bilateral issues and Cyprus' admission to the EC. On the Skopje issue, Mr. Papaconstantinou said that delegations from Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia may meet on September 28. He said talks would continue immediately following general elections on October 10.