Subject: A.N.A. Bulletin 28/9/93 From: miltos@nfl2.irc.nrc.ca Athens News Agency Bulletin, September 28, 1993 =============================================== Athens, 28/9/1993 (ANA): Prime Minister Constantine Mitsotakis said the main thrust of his ruling New Democracy party's economic policies would not change if his party was elected to a second term in the October 10 elections. "We will not change the general direction of our policy: modernisation of the Greek economy, privatisation, and streamlining", Mr. Mitsotakis said in an interview with a private television channel, taped Sunday and broadcast last night. "We are in a position to achieve a substantial improvement in the living standards of Greek workers as of January 1. This is part of our economic convergence programme and was announced at the beginning of this year ... Thus, when I say that we will not change our policy I mean that we will continue the same responsible recovery programme; we will not return to what occurred in the 80s, that is borrowing (to support) consumption", he said. The Greek people, the premier added, were being called upon to chose between state-owned enterprises and a free market economy in next month's elections. Turning to foreign policy issues, Mr. Mitsotakis warned against policies that would lead to Greece's isolation in the international community and said current tensions in Balkans must be handled calmly and responsibly. "No one knows what we will awaken to tomorrow in Yugoslavia or even Albania or Bulgaria or Turkey. (Greece) needs a government with composure, stability and responsibility. This is not the time for experiments, daring or theatrical gestures", he said. Athens, 28/9/1993 (ANA): Main opposition PASOK leader Andreas Papandreou met yesterday with the executive committees of the General Confederation of Agricultural Associations (GESASE) and the Panhellenic Confederation of Agricultural Co-operatives (PASEGES). He told them that the last four years "had been a nightmare for Greek farmers", since, he said, farmers' revenues had decreased by 50 per cent. Mr. Papandreou agreed with the proposals put by PASEGES and GESASE and accused the government of leaving the farmers to the mercy of the European Community. He added that the French proposal on GATT deserved support. Athens, 28/9/1993 (ANA): Coalition of the Left and Progress leader Maria Damanaki told a party rally in Yiannitsa yesterday that the party should be strengthened to enable it to be a militant and organised left opposition after the elections. "Programme similarities between PASOK and New Democracy are now visible", Ms. Damanaki said, adding that in essence, PASOK accepted complete market deregulation and ignored the necessity for market intervention for price control and to crack down on profiteering and speculation. Athens, 28/9/1993 (ANA): President Constantine Karamanlis yesterday received Interim Justice Minister George Playianakos who, according to an official announcement, briefed the president on matters of his competence. Athens, 28/9/1993 (ANA): Press and Information Secretary General and government spokesman Nikos Argyropoulos yesterday reiterated the government's commitment to "free political dialogue" in the run-up to the elections. He said that Prime Minister Constantine Mitsotakis' invitation for a debate with PASOK leader Andreas Papandreou still stood, despite Mr. Papandreou's rejection. United Nations, 28/9/1993 (ANA - M. Georgiadou): Foreign Minister Michalis Papaconstantinou was due to attend a dinner held by UN Secretary General Boutros Boutros Ghali in honour of US President Bill Clinton here last night. Mr. Papaconstantinou was also due to attend a dinner President Clinton was to give at a New York hotel last night. In the Afternoon, Mr. Papaconstantinou was scheduled to meet his Chinese and Israeli counterparts together with European Community troika members, while at noon, Mr. Papaconstantinou met his Yugoslav counterpart Vladislav Jovanovic. Today Mr. Papaconstantinou is to meet with his Turkish counterpart Hikmet Cetin. He will then attend the luncheon given by Community foreign ministers in honour of US Secretary of State Warren Christopher. George Papoulias, special representative to the Skopje negotiations, will meet the secretary general's representative on the Skopje issue, former US Secretary of State Cyrus Vance in the morning. Belgrade, 28/9/1993 (ANA - N. Georgiadis): Serbs want to co-operate with diplomats from Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to protect the Greek and Slav minorities in Albania, the Tanjug news agency reported yesterday. At a meeting held by the World Serb Congress in Sremski Karlovic, Vojvodina Sunday, it was decided to "undertake a diplomatic initiative in co-operation with Greece and FYROM to protect the Greek and Slav minorities in Albania". The meeting reported that the Serb and Montenegrin minorities lack rights of any kind. What was needed, it was pointed out, is the reopening of churches, schools and other institutions. Travel permits from Albania to Serbia, it was disclosed, had been granted on a selective basis since 1973. Athens, 28/9/1993 (ANA): The construction of the new Acropolis museum is a matter of the highest priority, the Culture Ministry said yesterday. As soon as the Council of State officially informs the ministry, the announcement said, legislative procedures to realise this work will be begun. Culture Minister Dora Bakoyianni later announced that the government had committed itself to the execution of the project and that the Delors II funds would ensure construction and realisation of the project. Brussels, 28/9/1993 (ANA - P. Pantelis): Greece has won the feta cheese battle. A directive issued by the EC Council of Ministers stipulates that "feta" should denote white cheese made by pasteurisation of goats and lambs milk without the addition of white food colouring, the method used in Greece. The Community directive also abolishes "feta" produced in Denmark and other EC countries that use cows milk with patent blue 5 and titanium dioxide as pigments. Apart from Denmark, countries that attempted to block the Council directive included Britain and Holland. Athens, 28/9/1993 (ANA): National Economy and Finance Minister Stephanos Manos will release the ministry's report on the Greek economy to the public today. Athens, 28/9/1993 (ANA): Twenty-one wounded Bosnians are expected in Greece soon for treatment, in the framework of Greek humanitarian aid to the war-torn republic. National Defence Minister Ioannis Varvitsiotis will meet the wounded on arrival at the Athens airport.