From: zarros@turing.scs.carleton.ca (Theodoros Sp. Zarros)
Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Wed, 5 Jan 1994 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa).

Bulletin, 05/01/1994 ( )
       
        
    A.N.A.
        Athens, 5/1/1994 (ANA):   Greece, first member-state to
assume the European Union six-month rotating presidency after
ratification of the Maastricht Treaty November 1, today will submit
to the European Commission its programme, giving priority to the
fight against unemployment and recession in the Union, while also
laying special emphasis on finding a peaceful solution to the
Yugoslav crisis.
        The European Commission, headed by its President, jacques
Delors, arrived in Athens yesterday.
        The Commission visit marks the official beginning of the
Greek presidency.
        Premier Andreas Papandreou will present his programme at a
plenary meeting of the Commission, headed by Mr. Delors, with the
Greek government.
        Mr. Papandreou and Mr. Delors will review results of
bilateral sessions at a joint press conference this afternnon.
        Mr. Papandreou said last week the Greek presidency's main
objective would be the fight against unemployment in the EU, now
standing at 10.7 percent.
        ``Market liberalisation and privatisation are not
necessarily in conflict with supporting the working class, or
carrying out a welfare policy in Europe``, he said.
        Greece also plans to conclude negotiations for the
accession of Austria, Sweden, Norway and Finland in the Union
before March 1, and promote Cyprus and Malta applications for EU
admission.
        Concerning institutional reforms resulting from
enlargement, Greece is opposed to any changes in the role played by
smaller countries in Community bodies.
        Mr. Papandreou and Mr. Delors are also expected to discuss
their scheduled January 11 meeting with US President Bill Clinton
at a NATO conference in Brussels.


        Athens, 5/1/1994 (ANA):   Public Order Ministry sources
said more than 1000 policemen have been placed on alert along the
route Athens' Hellinikon international airport to a downtown hotel
hosting the 17 members of the European Commission during their
stay.
        Special security measures were clamped around Zappeion
Hall, where meeting are scheduled to take place.


        Athens, 5/1/1994 (ANA):    EU Commission president Jacques
Delors last night pledged support for the Greek presidency to
achieve its targets.
        Speaking at an official dinner in his and the Commission's
honour Mr. Delors said "as in the past, the European Commission
will again cooperate with the Greek presidency to achieve the
targets it has set".
        In his toast, Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou outlined
the basic targets of the Greek presidency which, he said, concern
the increase in employment, the decrease in unemployment and an
increase in the competitiveness of the European economy and of the
economies of EU member states.
        Mr. Papandreou referred to past experience derived from
cooperation with the European Commission during Greece's past two
EC presidencies, terming such cooperation "very productive", and
expressing certainty present cooperation would develop in the same
way.
        Elaborating on the Greek presidency's targets, Mr.
Papandreou said they were raised at a time when Europe was
experiencing deep recession and recovery was not visible on the
horizon. He made it clear that during the Greek presidency, if
there were a price to be paid for an increase in competitiveness,
it would not be paid by the working classes alone.
        Mr. Papandreou referred to Mr. Delor's great contribution
towards European unification and to the preparation and sanctioning
of the White Book, adding that his contribution was and continues
to be important.
        In his toast, Mr. Delors shared Mr. Papandreou's views on
economic recession and exmployment.
        He also indirectly but clearly disapproved of European
press reports criticising the Greek presidency. Mr. Delors
commented on Greece's geopolitical position, adding that it will be
specially useful for the EU. "Thanks to you, we will get to know
Europe better", he said.
        Mr. Delors termed the effort of European unification a
"unique undertaking in world history", adding the effort was for
sovereign peoples to unite without anyone of them dominating the
other.


        Paris, 5/1/1994 (Reuter / A N A):   Alternate Foreign
Minister Theodoros Pangalos was quoted yesterday as saying that
solving the conflict in Bosnia was Greece's top priority as
president of the European Union.
        Mr. Pangalos told the French daily Quest-France: "We have
to solve this problem before the spring. Otherwise the belligerents
will tray new military operations.
        "The military commanders are hampered by the weather
confitions now. We have to take advantage of this to put an end to
the conflict", he said.
        "We are very attached to the idea of Balkan cooperation to
resolve the conflicts. But the presidency will not do what Greece
wants to do. It is not an antichamber of Greek external policy. We
will not make that mistake", he said.
        He also made clear that Athens would not use its presidency
to seek to reverse the recognition of Former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia last month by most EU states, which Greece opposed.
        "... This is not a Community problem", Mr. Pangalos said.
        He said over-hasty recognition of the independence of
former Yugoslav states had precipitated bloodshed in the Balkans.
        "If we had not recognised Bosnia, the massacre would have
been avoided, or at least part of the massacre", he said. "We must
avoid confrontations which risk turning into armed conflicts".


        Athens, 5/1/1994 (ANA):   The government yesterday blamed
a portion of the European press of "being inclined" to
misunderstand the main positions of Greek foreign policy and the
Greece's aims as presiding country of the European Union.
        Commenting on a number of articles in the European press
criticising Greece, government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said
this tendency was due to many factors.
        He cited Greece's geographical position, political dismay
felt in certain European countries at Greece's having a socialist
government, the manner in which previous (conservative) government
had approached and handled the press, and repetition of "a number
of past cliches" concerning Greece.
        "The result", Mr. Venizelos said, "is misunderstanding on
the positions and aims of the Greek presidency".
        The spokesman said Greece would exercise its presidency
duties "with experience drawn from two previous terms, full
knowledge of the situation in Europe and dedication to the goal of
European unification".
        "Greek foreign policy on the whole, is characterised by
clear and unchanging objectives, both at European Union and
international level", he said.
        Asked whether or not the European Commission might be
inclined to impose its positions on the Greek presidency, Mr.
Venizelos described the Commission's visit was purely
"conventional".


        Athens, 5/1/1994 (ANA):   Rescuers continued searching
yesterday in a last attempt to locate the 36 Greek and Filipino
crewmen of the freighter, `MARIKA 7`, that sank over the weekend in
a wild North Atlantic storm.
        Three aircraft, seven merchant ships in the area as well as
a Canadian Coast Guard ship are engaged in the search.
        Two life rafts from the 20-year old Liberian-registered
freighter have been found empty and overturned indicating,
according to rescuers, that at least some of the 6 Greek officers
and 30 Filipino crew may have failed to reach the life rafts.
        With seas picking up again and conditions deteriorating,
rescuers will decide whether to scale down or end the four day
search.


        Melbourne, 5/1/1994 (ANA):   Australian Foreign Minister
Garreth Evans is due in Athens January 16 for an official visit on
the occasion of Greece's assumption of the rotating European Union
presidency as of January 1, it was announced yesteray.
        Mr. Evans will meet with his counterpart Karolos Papoulias
and Alternate Foreign Minister Theodore Pangalos for talks on
bilateral, regional and international issues.


        Athens, 5/1/1993 (ANA):   Thirty-three military personnel
with chest complaints after inhaling fumes from a blaze at an army
camp in the Athens suburb of Aghia Paraskevi, were admitted to the
Athens Naval Hospital yesterday. No casualties were reported.
        The camp serves as NATO military headquarters for the
Eastern Mediterranean.
        The explosion, following a shortcircuit in a high voltage
cable in the base engine-room, caused a fire, quickly brought under
control by firemen who rushed to the scene, reports said.
        "No one suffered physical injuries, but 33 persons were
admitted as a result of inhaling fumes from the fire", Dr. Timoleon
Terzis, a medical officer at the Greek Navy Hospital said.
        He said all 33 cases would be discharged after 24 hours of
medical observation for purely precautionary reasons.
        National Defence General Staff Chief Admiral Christos
Lyberis, who inspected the site of the accident, later said damages
were minor.
        An inquiry was ordered into the causes of the blast.