From: zarros@turing.scs.carleton.ca (Theodoros Sp. Zarros) Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Fri, 19 Nov 1993 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa). Athens,19/11/93(ANA)--The two US diplomats arrested in Athens late Tuesday night are no longer in Greece, Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias said yesterday after a meeting with US Ambassador Thomas Niles. "The two men are no longer in Greece apparently at the initiative of the US government", Mr Papoulias told the press after the meeting. He said the US envoy had expressed his regret over the incident in which the two diplomats were arrested after being found in possession of guns, wigs and transmitters in a small van parked near the city centre. Police said the arrest took place after an anonymous caller informed them that a Volkswagen van with Greek licence plates had been parked in the same spot for the past three days. Asked if the US envoy had provided any explanation of the incident, Mr Papoulias said that Mr Niles would meet with Public Order Minister Stelios Papathemelis, most probably on Monday, to whom he would make certain clarifications. Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou yesterday described the incident as "a most disagreeable matter". Meanwhile, government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos told the press yesterday there were many unanswered questions concerning the arrest of two US embassy officials. "There are many questions concerning the arrest of the two US diplomats in Athens, which to a large extent remain unanswered", government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said. "Even the competent Greek services do not know the true facts to an adequate degree", Mr Venizelos said, adding that "the common aim of both sides is for complete and satisfactory answers to be provided to these questions". The spokesman said that the government was handling the issue "with great care and cool-headedness" and had dissociated politics from the police aspect of the affair. Replying to questions, Mr Venizelos said that there were no communication problems between the competent Greek and US services. He said that explanations had been requested "at the highest possible level" and that the US side had offered to provide them. Asked to comment on press reports claiming that the two embassy officials had been acting on instructions from former premier Constantine Mitsotakis, the spokesman said that the government had no official information to that effect. Mr Venizelos , however, hinted that Mr Mitsotakis should "facilitate" the investigation into the incident. He added that if the former foreign affairs and public order ministers had had contacts with their US counterparts concerning the issue in question, they should have briefed their successors in the new PASOK government. The spokesman replied in the affirmative when asked if the government was investigating the possibility that the two US diplomats had acted in co-operation with the previous conservative government. Washington 19/11/93(ANA-D.Dimas)--A spokesman for the State Department yesterday said the US Ambassador in Athens was co-operating with Greek officials in a joint investigation of the incident, but refused to make further comment. "We have been informed by the Greek government on the arrest and subsequent release of the two embassy employees in Athens on Tuesday night. The US ambassador is fully co-operating with Greek officials in a joint investigation of the incident ", State Department spokesman David Johnson said in response to a press question. "We have no further comment to make at the moment", he added. A White House spokesman also declined to comment. Athens, 19/11/93(ANA)--Premier Andreas Papandreou yesterday received former finance minister Dimitris Tsovolas at the Maximos Mansion. After the meeting, Mr Tsovolas said the proposed settlement of his case "discharges an obligation of both the state and parliament. It is an obligation towards the people, not a person, " Mr Tsovolas said. The former finance minister was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison and deprived of his civil rights for three years by a special tribunal, on charges of breach of faith, accepting bribes and embezzled funds in Greece's biggest corruption scandal in 1990. Responding to a question on whether or not he would join the government, as reported earlier, Mr Tsovolas said the matter had not been discussed at the meeting. Government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said the legal settlement reinstating Mr Tsovolas will rescind the sentence imposed on him. Responding to whether or not Mr Tsovolas would be refunded the money he had paid in lieu of the sentence, Mr Venizelos said this would debase the entire issue, adding the former minister had requested political, moral and legal reinstatement only, which was something he was actually entitled to. Asked whether or not the motion to reinstate Mr Tsovolas raised an issue involving Supreme Court President Basil Kokkinos, Mr Venizelos replied he had no competence to answer such a question. Main opposition leader Miltiades Evert said the only lawful procedure Mr Tsovolas should follow was to apply for a presidential pardon. "An attempt is being made to blatantly violate the Constitution. New Democracy will not permit such a violation to be committed", Mr Evert said. Athens,19/11/93(ANA)--The fifth Conference of Council of Europe Migration Ministers convened in Athens yesterday to discuss ways of reducing migration without endangering the rights and freedoms of movement. In the opening address, Foreign Under-secretary George Papandreou underlined the need for closer co-operation between member-states to protect the right to legal migration in Europe, take measures to prevent illegal migration at the countries of origin, and battle the causes of migration through the promotion of financial and social development in both receiving states and countries of origin. Mr Papandreou said Greece had gone from being a country sending migrants to one receiving them, including ethnic Greeks fleeing nationalistic tendencies and armed conflict in their country of adoption. "The Greek government today is planning and forming its policy on the issue with sensitivity and effectiveness, following at the same time relevant developments in international organisations, " Mr Papandreou said. Mr Papandreou also called for the consideration of strategies to battle racism and xenophobia. In other events, French and English migration ministers snubbed a proposal put forth by four Council of Europe states to accept refugees from war-torn Bosnia-Herzegovina. The joint proposal by Germany, Austria, Denmark and Norway called on all states to support the war-victims of Bosnia-Herzegovina by extending them asylum, hospitality and humanitarian assistance. Greek Foreign Ministry sources said French and English representatives were infuriated with the proposal, saying their countries were unable to accept more refugees from war-torn Yugoslavia. Delegates at the two-day conference represent the 32 members states of the Council of Europe and Albania, Belarus, Latvia, Russia, Ukraine, Canada and the United States. A press statement issued at the end of the first session said the ministers would examine strategies aimed at combating illegal migration and that an action plan against racism and xenophobia would also discussed. Council of Europe Secretary General Catherine Lalumiere is due to announce the conference's conclusions at a news conference today. Athens, 19/11/93(ANA)--Justice Minister George Kouvelakis said yesterday he would table two amendments aimed at abolishing the death penalty and releasing prisoners infected with AIDS. "The amendment constitutes the signing of the death penalty's death certificate", Mr Kouvelakis said. "This decision significantly contributes to Greece's compliance with international laws", he added. The death penalty has not been implemented for the past 20 years and this is the first time a government has moved to pass legislation abolishing it. George Limberis was the last person to have been executed under the death penalty for the murder of his wife and two children.