From: tzarros@ccs.carleton.ca (Theodore Zarros) Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Tue, 18 Apr 1994 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa). Athens News Agency Bulletin, PASOK congress re-elects Andreas Papandreou as president -------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 18/4/1994 (ANA): Greece's ruling Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) ended a four-day congress yesterday with the re-election of party founder Andreas Papandreou as its president, and approval of a manifesto streamlined to address the challenges of Balkan instability. "PASOK emerges from the congress armed with ideological unity, strength and a concerted and modern programme," Mr. Papandreou told his party's third national congress. The 75 year-old socialist leader whose re-election went uncontested by the party's 4,448 delegates, called on PASOK to march into the next century in a spirit of Hellenic renaissance. "PASOK goals entail regeneration of Greece and Hellenism, revival of democracy, need to restructure our economy and society, rallying all progressive and socialist forces and to (follow) Europe's unification," he said in a speech. "PASOK will achieve the targets it had set out when it was founded, and complete the great change. Those who thought PASOK would emerge scathed and divided from the 3rd congress were mistaken. This congress did not exhaust its contribution with a mere re-allotment of connections and offices. PASOK has shown it has both spirit and courage, greatness and targets," Mr. Papandreou said. "We should not speak of abstract unity based on general and vague criticism in the face of a non-existent fear of a rift but of a collective political unity being constructed along with democracy, renewal, collectiveness and modern functioning," Mr. Papandreou said, referring to his party's unity. Replying indirectly to reports on conflicting mechanisms and rumoured efforts by leading party members to strengthen their position, Mr. Papandreou said: "PASOK was not born to become a shooting star, it will not be given away, it will not be inherited and it will not be broken up into clans." "We once again look upon politics as being a force of creation and change to dissolve clouds of decadence. We see our country overcoming obstacles with optimism and historical faith in the mission of Hellenism. We envisage a world which will be more just, safe and prosperous, as also giving a reply to the world of barbarity. We envisage a world which will once again render man a subject of history and his own fortune," he said. "PASOK has made another step forward through its 3rd congress," Mr. Papandreou concluded, expressing optimism that PASOK will live up to the dreams of its members and cadres and the expectations of the people. Replying to press questions on how he felt after being re-elected, Mr. Papandreou said his first feeling was great happiness and honour and the net, a sense of great duty toward PASOK, Greece and the Greek people. "Those two feelings grip me at this moment and I must confess that I am moved," he said. Asked to comment on procedures followed at the congress, Mr. Papandreou said it had been probably PASOK's best congress, but acknowledged the existence of certain problems which, he said, were overcome democratically. Manifesto --------- Athens, 18/4/1994 (ANA): Similar references to the "defence of Hellenism" are made in a party manifesto of over 100-pages. "Greece is not contesting anything from anyone and will not surrender anything to anyone. The national defence capability of our country together with patriotic unity are fundamental for the survival of Hellenism and peace in the region," the manifesto said. But it warned, in reference to Turkey, that "Hellenism and Greece are threatened by an ally country." "The aggressiveness of chauvinist circles in Turkey stems from an indigenous and guided potential which has processed and escalating targets that should not be either ignored or downgraded," the manifesto added. Stressing that subduing Greece's foreign policy to an arbitrary and one-sided orientation will be a great mistake and defining strategic targets, the manifesto said Cyprus, Epirus, Macedonia, Thrace and the Aegean do not merely constitute geographical locations, but define a location of defence, survival and development for Hellenism. The manifesto said the permanent commitments of foreign policy are registering, safeguarding and recruiting Hellenism everywhere, the first measure being the establishment of a Parliament for Hellenism. A political planning agency will be created, which will utilise all the national, political, diplomatic, scientific, journalistic and business potential of Hellenism. The manifesto said Greece's European orientation is a given fact, adding that the convergence of growth levels alone and cohesion of a single social region constitute a compass-bearing and fundamental precondition for the European Union. The party charter noted that resolution of the 20-year-old Cyprus problem was the cornerstone of PASOK foreign policy. It also denied negotiations for joint exploitation rights of the Aegean with Turkey, and reiterated that Moslems in Thrace, northern Greece, were Greek citizens with equal rights guaranteed by the country's laws and constitution. On Greece's two-year-old dispute with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), the socialist manifesto said Athens would "never recognise a state neighbouring its northern frontiers that has the name Macedonia or any of its derivatives". Regarding Albania, it stressed the party's goal was to continue to efforts aimed at safeguarding the Greek community in the neighbouring Balkan state. On the Yugoslav crisis, the charter said that continued negotiations between the warring factions, together with cease-fires create hopes for an end to the civil-war in Bosnia and avert the need for NATO bombings. In his speech, Mr. Papandreou warned of the situation in the war-ravaged republic saying recent developments were "very serious". Mr. Papandreou will meet with President Bill Clinton in Washington on Friday to discuss Greek national issues as well as latest developments in the Yugoslav crisis. Press reports said the Greek Prime Minister, who currently heads the European Union, will press for the lifting of stiff international sanctions against New Yugoslavia. PASOK 3rd Congress voting results --------------------------------- Athens, 18/4/1994 (ANA): With 60% of the votes counted last night, PASOK delegates to the 3rd Congress seemed to be coming out against the concurrent holding of a ministerial post and that of the Secretary General of the party. In the voting for the election of Central Committee members, and with 800 out of 4,500 ballot papers counted, National Economy Minister George Yennimatas was ahead with 517, followed by Dimitris Tsovolas with 399, Theodoros Pangalos 387, P. Avgerinos 374, A. Kaklamanis 345, C. Laliotis 334, M. Charalambidis 328, Vasso Papandreou 310, E. Venizelos 285, A. Tsohatzopoulos 281, G. Papandreou 255, C. Skandalides 239, C. Simitis 238, Ch. Papoutsis 237, Y. Arsenis 234, A. Peponis 233. Strong tremor rocks Zakynthos island ------------------------------------ Athens, 18/4/1994 (ANA): A powerful earthquake measuring 5.7 on the Richter scale shook the Ionian island of Zakynthos, but caused no victims or damage, a Police spokesman said yesterday. The Athens observatory reported the epicentre was located 280 kilometres Southwest of Athens, in a sea region south of Zakynthos. Proposal for Greek, Albanian FMs meeting 'still stands' ------------------------------------------------------ Athens, 18/4/1994 (ANA): Government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos Saturday confirmed that Albanian acceptance of a Greek proposal for a meeting of Greek and Albanian Foreign Ministers still stood. The date for the meeting would be set after Mr Papoulias' return from Washington next week, he said, adding that it might take place at the Greek-Albanian border, if it could not be organised in another country's capital or on the sidelines of an i international conference. The setting up of a bilateral committee at Public Order Ministers' level had also been agreed upon, and there was already open co-operation in that sector, Mr Venizelos added. "The Greek Government", he said, "aims at continuous improvement in Greek-Albanian relations. Such improvement is of necessity linked to respect of the rights of the Greek minority in Albania." Other factors influencing relations, he said, were the influx of Albanian nationals to Greece and Greek business presence in Albania and establishment of joint ventures. "We hope that the Albanian government will remain on the current level of de-escalation of recent tension," concluded Mr. Venizelos. Meanwhile, the Albanian government has agreed to a meeting of delegations of the two countries' Interior ministries in Ioannina on April 20, but only on condition that the Greek side would not participate in the evaluation of circumstances of the incident of April 10, when two Albanian recruits were killed in a military camp near the Greek-Albanian border. Evaluation had to be carried out by an impartial committee of the European Union and the CSCE, an Albanian government statement said Saturday. Albanian opposition newspapers are criticising their government for the manner of handling of the April 10 incident. Pro-socialist "Zeri I Populit" said Saturday that contradictory moves such as referring Greece to the Security Council for "instigating state terrorism, followed by stating that Greece may not be directly responsible for the incident, betrayed a lack of seriousness. "The independent "Koha Yione" queried: "Are Greeks the only ones to blame for the present state in our bilateral relations? Do Albanians make no mistakes?" Yugoslav FM briefs Premier -------------------------- Athens, 18/4/1994 (ANA): Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou met Saturday with visiting Foreign Minister of New Yugoslavia Vladislav Jovanovic. In a statements to the press after the meeting, Mr. Papandreou expressed hope for peace efforts 'to revert to their original course' in Bosnia. The Premier said times were difficult now, and there seemed to be no hope at present. He added Mr. Jovanovic had briefed him on current peace efforts and difficulties arising from continuing bombings by NATO planes of Serb targets. Asked whether or not the Greek government planned to undertake a peace initiative, Mr. Papandreou said "Initiatives are being undertaken, in a sense, and this is indicated by the meetings we have had." Later, Mr. Jovanovic conferred with Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias. Mr. Papoulias said Mr. Jovanovic briefed Mr. Papandreou on the current situation in former Yugoslavia, and transmitted Serb President Slobodan Milosevic's greetings. Mr. Jovanovic said the two sides are in constant touch. We are almost one country, one people and, in this sense, our hearts and thoughts are open to each other," Mr. Jovanovic said. Replying to a press question, Mr. Papoulias left open the possibility of a visit by him to Belgrade. Premier flies to US, begins talks Thursday ----------------------------------------- Athens, 18/4/1994 (ANA): Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou leaves Athens today on an official visit to the United States, where he is due via Ireland tomorrow. The PM's official programme begins with a round of meetings with leaders of Congress, Thursday. On Friday, he will meet with President Clinton for talks at the White House and, after a working lunch, the two leaders will give a joint press conference. The Greek embassy in Washington will host a reception on Saturday. On Sunday, the Greek delegation will depart for New York, where the PM will meet with representatives of expatriate Greeks, the Jewish lobby, top ranking business executives, and Orthodox Archbishop Iacovos of North and South America. The Greek delegation will fly back to Athens from New York on Thursday. Mr. Papandreou is accompanied by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs Karolos Papoulias, Tourism Dionysis Livanos, Merchant Marine George Katsifaras, Alternate National Economy Yiannos Papantoniou, Under-secretary to the Prime Minister's office Telemahos Hytiris, and a group of 25 representatives of economic organisations. Commenting on his forthcoming visit to the United States and what Greece can expect from it, Mr. Papandreou said yesterday "I will put up a big fight on our major national issues." Speaking to reporters after attending his ruling PASOK party's third congress, Mr. Papandreou said the fight will be friendly because the atmosphere will also be friendly. The Premier added an effort will be made to improve Greek-US relations which, he said, are good but can be further improved. PM: Bosnia situation 'extremely serious, but still hopeful ----------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 18/4/1994 (ANA): Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou said yesterday latest developments in Bosnia are "extremely serious", but expressed satisfaction over the existing truce which, he said, means some people are thinking. Speaking to reporters, Mr. Papandreou said balances are "very slim", adding that no one knows what may happen from one moment to the next. Asked whether or not he will discuss the issue with US President Bill Clinton during his visit to the United States, Mr. Papandreou said "Yugoslavia is included on the agenda." CORRECTION ---------- Athens, 18/4/1994 (ANA): In our edition of Saturday April 16 (p:5) paragraph 1 line 4 of news item "Turks to change old Byzantine cathedral into mosque", we erroneously reported: "...commenting on a Turkish Parliament decision to convert the former Byzantine cathedral of Aghia Sophia ..." The report should read instead:"... commenting on a Turkish Parliament decision agreeing to debate a proposal calling for the conversion of the former Byzantine cathedral of Aghia Sophia..." Also, in our edition of Friday April 15, page 2, Col.3, paragraph one, we reported: "The sources said Mr. Berisha made the proposal in a letter to the European Commission." Instead, the text should read: "The sources said Mr. Berisha made the proposal in a letter to the European Union."