From: zarros@turing.scs.carleton.ca (Theodoros Sp. Zarros)
Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Wed, 17 Nov 1993 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa).

	Athens,17/11/93(ANA)--Greece and Cyprus yesterday decided to
incorporate the island republic in Greek defence planning during
a one-hour meeting between Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou and
Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides. Mr Papandreou told reporters
that all aspects of the Cyprus problem had been discussed in
detail. The discussion, he said, focused on Cyprus'
incorporation in Greece's defence planning, its accession to the
EC and the convening of a conference with the participation of
all Greek and Cypriot political parties. Mr Papandreou said that
there had been "an identity of views" on all issues. Both Mr
Clerides and Mr Papandreou said that the dogma according to
which "Cyprus decides and Greece supports" had been abandoned
and replaced by joint decision-taking by Athens and Nicosia.
They said that the Cyprus problem would once again be approached
as one of invasion and occupation. Mr Papandreou reiterated that
any Turkish advance on the island would be considered a casus
belli. He said that the two leaders had concluded from their
talks that Greece's line of defence should encompass Cyprus and
that there should be joint co-ordination and planning between
Athens and Nicosia. 

	Asked if it had been decided to send a Greek army division to
Cyprus, Mr Clerides replied that they had discussed ways of
strengthening the island republic's defence and upgrading its
own forces. He clarified that he himself had never requested the
dispatch of a Greek division but only "the presence of a Greek
force". Mr Papandreou said that " the details are not a matter
for statements". Asked if he intended to meet with Turkish
Premier Tansu Ciller, Mr Papandreou said that he was "not at all
ready" for such a meeting, adding that the Cyprus problem was in
any case not a Greek-Turkish problem but one of invasion and
occupation. "This is the substance of the problem", he said. Mr
Papandreou said his meeting with Mr Clerides sent a "message of
optimism because we are making a new start", a sentiment echoed
by President Clerides who believed "the people of Cyprus should
feel optimistic that we will return to Cyprus strengthened".
Referring to the Turkish position on UN efforts to resolve the
problem, Mr Clerides stressed that in his capacity as president
of the Republic of Cyprus "we cannot refuse to continue the
peace talks". The UN-sponsored Cyprus peace talks are at a
standstill at present while efforts are continuing to convince
the Turkish Cypriot side to accept a UN package of
confidence-building measures in an effort to promote trust
between the divided island. 	Earlier yesterday, the Greek and
Cypriot foreign ministers, Karolos Papoulias and Alecos
Michaelides, agreed to maintain continuous contact for the
taking of joint decisions on the Cyprus problem. Pangalos,
Michaelides discuss Cyprus-EC relations.-- Alternate Foreign
Minister Theodoros Pangalos and Cyprus Foreign Minister Alecos
Michaelides held talks yesterday which, according to reports,
focused on Cyprus' overall relations with the European
Community, negotiations for its accession, the Cyprus issue and
the question of a Community observer to Cyprus peace talks.
Delegations from the two countries also held a joint meeting at
the foreign ministry. Apart from Mr Michaelides and Mr Pangalos,
the meeting was attended by the Greek ambassador to Nicosia
Alecos Sandis, the Cypriot ambassador to Athens Charalambos
Christoforou, Foreign Ministry Community Affairs Secretary
General Yiannos Kranidiotis, Foreign Ministry Greek-Turkish
Affairs Department Director G. Savvaidis, Foreign Ministry
Community Foreign Relations Director Mr Kontoumas and other
officials. A coincidence of views was ascertained during the
talks, the reports said. 


	Athens,17/11/93(ANA)--All aspects of the Cyprus issue were
discussed and "an identity of views on all matters" were noted,
main opposition New Democracy party leader Miltiades Evert said
yesterday, after his half-hour meeting with visiting Cyprus
President Glafcos Clerides. "The problem of Cyprus is a problem
of all Hellenism and is being dealt with as such ", Mr Evert
said, adding that "Cyprus is an independent state, it has
absolute freedom and the initiative of actions and Greece offers
its support". Asked whether he disagreed with the "dogma of
jointly deciding", Mr Evert said : "Indeed we jointly decide but
we accept that Cyprus is sovereign and independent state.
Otherwise, there is a danger of Turkey taking advantage of
this". Mr Evert said he agreed with the convening of a
Panhellenic conference on Cyprus, adding that "it should be
examined very carefully because such an effort should not fail
." He said the delay in the solution to the Cyprus issue is not
only due to Turkish intransigence but also to the fact it became
an object of internal partisan conflict both in Athens and
Nicosia. "The matter is a national one and we should face it
separate from our partisan conflicts", Mr Evert said. Any
improvement in Greek-Turkish relations, Mr Evert said, passes
through a solution to the Cyprus issue. He refrained from
commenting on the issue of a single defence region and the
sending of a Greek division to Cyprus. 

	After meeting Mr Clerides for hour-long talks yesterday
afternoon, Communist Party of Greece (KKE) leader Aleka
Paparriga expressed concern over the Greek government's position
on a single defence region between Greece and Cyprus and opposed
both the convening of a Panhellenic conference and the new dogma
governing Greek and Cypriot relations. 'There should be a more
militant promotion of the Cyprus problem both in Greece and in
general", Ms Paparriga said. Ms Paparriga expressed concern over
the "single defence region" issue because "moves capable of
opening the appetite of certain people to promote the
partitioning of Cyprus should be avoided." "The Cyprus problem
does not start and end with Turkey but also concerns the US,
Britain, France and international organisations such as the UN
which, although capable of exercising their influence, do not do
so and in this way do not assume their responsibilities", Ms
Paparriga said. Ms Paparriga said the Cyprus issue is an
international problem of invasion and occupation and that any
move which would detract from its international aspect, even the
convening of a Panhellenic conference, would be harmful. Ms
Paparriga indirectly rejected the "dogma of joint
decision-taking" which will henceforth govern relations between
Greece and Cyprus, saying: "We should be careful with our
slogans and words because it is obvious that Cyprus is not a
dependent country but has its own entity". Mr Clerides is due to
meet President Constantine Karamanlis and leader of the
Political Spring part Antonis Samaras today. 

	In an announcement yesterday, on the occasion of Mr Clerides'
visit to Athens, the Coalition of the Left and Progress said:
"Unfortunately both the Cypriot and Greek government are
slipping into directions which weaken the international aspect
of (the) Cyprus (issue)." In Nicosia, an announcement by the
Communist Party of Cyprus (AKEL) said the party disagreed with
the new joint decision-taking dogma, adding that the
responsibility for decisions on the Cyprus issue lay with the
people of Cyprus, its political leadership and the government of
the Republic of Cyprus. 


	Athens, 17/11/93(ANA)--Culture Minister Melina Mercouri has
accepted an invitation to visit Cyprus in December to further
bolster joint cultural initiatives and programmes between Greece
and Cyprus. Ms Mercouri accepted the invitation during a meeting
with her visiting Cypriot counterpart Claire Angelidou. Ms
Mercouri told reporters the meeting focused on a Greek
initiative to have Nicosia host the 1995 European Cultural
month, as well as efforts to strengthen cultural relations
between Greece and Cyprus. 


	Athens, 17/11/93(ANA)--Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias will
meet Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Vitaly Churkin at 11 am
today for a mutual briefing on developments in the Bosnian
crisis and on bilateral issues. 


	Athens, 17/11/93(ANA)--The government said yesterday that
Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) Chairman Yasser Arafat
may visit Greece next week. Asked about the Arafat visit,
government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said that it was
"possible". Mr Arafat was scheduled to arrive in Greece on
September 20 but the visit was postponed due to commitments of
the PLO leader following the signing of the PLO-Israeli
agreement. 


	Athens, 17/11/93(ANA)--The government said yesterday that it
had received the reply from UN Secretary General Boutros Boutros
Ghali to the letter sent by Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias
setting out Greece's positions on the issue of the Former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Government spokesman Evangelos
Venizelos said that the foreign ministry was examining the reply
and that there would be a Greek response. Meanwhile, in New
York, the UN secretary general's spokesman Joe Sills confirmed
Mr Boutros Ghali had sent a letter of reply to the Greek foreign
minister. To a question on when talks would resume, Mr Sills
said he could not refer to the contents of the letter. He said
that mediator Cyrus Vance would continue efforts to facilitate
contact between the two sides so that they might settle their
differences. According to unconfirmed reports, Mr Boutros
Ghali's reply to the Mr Papoulias was sent about three days
after receipt of the Greek letter. 


	Athens, 17/11/93(ANA)--Two men, claiming to be US. citizensone
of them allegedly an employee at the American Embassy-whose
names were withheld, were arrested by Police at Methimnis St.,
Amerikis Square, last night. The men were found in possession of
guns, wigs and transmitters which were kept in a small van they
were riding. One of them tried to escape, but was caught a short
distance away. Ministry and Police officials examined the case,
at a meeting held at the Public Order Ministry late last night.
Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias summoned American Ambassador
Thomas Niles. The meeting lasted 15 minutes. The US. envoy made
no statement. Mr Papoulias told the Press Mr Niles "has
expressed regret in case events are as presented by the Police.
He promised he will examine the issue in depth". The two men
were released at 2300h last night. 


	Athens, 17/11/93(ANA)--The government yesterday announced a
series of measures to confront the acute water shortage facing
Athens, including a new tender for the conveyance of water to
the capital and the allocation of 33 billion drachmas for
maintenance and repairs to the existing supply network. The
measures were announced by Environment, Town Planning and Public
Works Minister Costas Laliotis, who described the water shortage
problem of Attice as "explosive". He said that the Athens and
Piraeus Water Company (EYDAP) would invite tenders for the
transportation of water to Attica by tanker-truck and would have
appointed the supplier by the end of 1993. Confusion and chaos
had been caused by previous tenders and contracts signed under
the conservative New Democracy government, he said. The tenders
will have to conform to a specific time framework of up to eight
months for commencement of water delivery, Mr Laliotis said,
adding that no time extension would be granted. He clarified
that the volume of water to be transported in this way would be
between 200,000 and 300,000 cubit metres daily at a supply price
in drachmas which would be fixed for three years. Measures would
also be taken to protect the environment of the areas from which
the water would be drawn, Mr Laliotis said. In addition, he
said, a total of 33 billion drachmas would be allocated for the
maintenance, improvement and repair of EYDAP's existing water
supply network. Some 60 per cent of this amount would be made
available from national and Community sources and 40 per cent
from the Social Development Fund of the Council of Europe. Mr
Laliotis did not announce any measures restricting consumption
but said that there was a large number of consumers using a much
higher volume of water than average who could reduce their
consumption. He also appealed to the 28 municipalities and 17
communities of Attica which are supplied by EYDAP to reduce
consumption and said incentives would be given to 2,000
Attica-based industrial companies with high water consumption to
begin recycling water. Mr Laliotis said that current water
reserves would ensure that the capital was supplied until the
summer of 1994, provided that consumption remained at 1993
levels. 


	Athens, 17/11/93(ANA)--The three-day celebrations marking of
20th anniversary of the November 17,1973 uprising of Polytechnic
students against the military junta reach a climax today, with
the traditional march to the US Embassy. Members of Parliament
yesterday observed one minute of silence in memory of the
victims of the Polytechnic. Earlier, in a short address to the
House, Justice Minister George Kouvelakis said the spirit of the
generation which had opted for self-sacrifice instead of
self-preservation and traded fear for hope and selfishness for
solidarity was "the breeze that kept our national flag aloft".
It was a mandate which called on all Greeks to offer specific
answers on education, work, justice and the environment, he
said. Former deputy premier and New Democracy government justice
minister Athanasios Kanellopoulos said everyone's attention
should focus on the lesson to be drawn from the Polytechnic
which, he stressed, reflected the creative role of Greek youth.
Political Spring parliamentary spokesman Nikitas Kaklamanis said
the Polytechnic uprising reflected the climax of a spirit of
resistance, cautioning democracy was not only threatened by
conspirators but petty political conduct was well. Communist
Party of Greece parliamentary spokesman Antonis Skyllakis said
the Polytechnic uprising was an event equal in magnitude to the
National Revolt of 1821. Premier Andreas Papandreou will lay a
wreath at the Polytechnic cenotaph today. Education Minister
Dimitris Fatouros laid a wreath on behalf of the government
yesterday, saying current Greek reality sprang from the night of
November 17, 1973. Wreaths were also laid for New Democracy by
former labour minister Aristidis Kalantzakos, and Andreas
Lendakis for the Political Spring party. A wreath will be laid
on behalf of the Coalition of the Left and Progress today. A
force of 3,000 policemen, including riot squad police, have been
placed on alert today for the traditional march to the US
embassy. As president of the Panhellenic Socialist Movement,
Andreas Papandreou, and the Executive Committee said that "20
years after that heroic November, the hour has come for a new
great leap forward, in the constant struggle to vindicate the
Polytechnic". In his message, New Democracy leader Miltiades
Evert recalled freedom, democracy and human happiness were
conquered by constant struggles". Twenty years ago, at the
Polytechnic, young people set a brilliant example of struggling
and self-sacrifice," he said. A group of 30 youths yesterday
morning hurled two petrol bombs and rioted in the area around
the Polytechnic. One bomb was thrown at an empty bus stationed
on Kaningos Street, and the other at a coach belonging to the
State Comptroller's Office. The youths also threw stones at a
group on its way to the campus to lay a wreath. In the
afternoon, a Sky radio and TV network mobile transmission
vehicle was burnt after it was attacked by youths. 


	Athens,17/11/93(ANA)--The government announced yesterday it
would impose sanctions on importers whose provisional tax
declarations, with respect to data concerning purchases they
have made from other EC countries, present discrepancies with
the corresponding data of Community suppliers. The provision is
contained in a Finance Ministry circular sent to the country's
tax offices, which have been requested to check these companies.
Companies engaged in inter-Community trade submit quarterly
declarations outlining the purchases they make. These
declarations will now be checked against the corresponding
declarations made by Community suppliers of the Greek importers. 


	Athens,17/11/93(ANA)--Old 20-drachma coins will no longer be
legal tender as of December 31,1993 ,according to a Finance
Ministry announcement. It said that old 20-drachma coins will
only be exchanged for news ones at the Bank of Greece, adding
that the arrangement will last for two years until December
31,1995. The process of withdrawing old 20-drachma coins from
circulation started in August 1991. 


	Brussels, 17/11/93(ANA-P.Pantelis)--Agriculture Minister George
Moraitis held a private meeting with Agriculture Commissioner
Rene Steichen on the sidelines of the Council of Agriculture
Ministers yesterday to discuss problems in raising and tobacco
and support for cereal producers. Mr Moraitis said he briefed Mr
Steichen on problems which could possibly be created for Greece
by the European Commission's proposal concerning support for
cereal producers and called for a European Commission report on
the raisin sector as soon as possible after the transitional
period expiring at the end of the present commercial period. Mr
Steichen stressed the need for a final solution to the way Greek
milk quotas will be allocated and securing the operation of a
Milk Organisation. He also underlined the significance of
further improving the Greek administration's control over such
products as cotton, tobacco and olive oil. The two men agreed on
a sincere and continuous co-operation to solve the problems of
Greek agriculture. The Council of Agriculture Ministers will be
briefed by the European Commission on developments related to
the agricultural aspects of the Uruguay round (GATT). 


	Athens, 17/11/93(ANA)--Council of European Immigration
Ministers will begin a two-day meeting in Athens tomorrow to
discuss the problem of controlling the influx of immigrants, it
was announced yesterday. The announcement was made by Foreign
Under-secretary for Greeks abroad George Papandreou, who will
chair the meeting. With the participation of 27 ministers and
Council of Europe Secretary General Catherine Lalumiere, the
meeting will examine the overall problem of immigration, with
emphasis on checking the flow of illegal immigrants and efforts
to assimilate legal immigrants into society. Other issues on the
agenda include racism, nationalism and xenophobia in Europe. The
meeting will also look at ways to confront these problems
through co-ordinated action by governments, political parties
and local government agencies. Meanwhile, Mr Papandreou
announced that he would visit the United States in early
December.