From: tzarros@ccs.carleton.ca (Theodore Zarros) Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Thu, 16 Jun 1994 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa). Athens News Agency Bulletin, European Commission slates Support Framework, ECU 14 bil to Greece ----------------------------------------------------------------- Brussels, 16/6/1994 (ANA/G.Daratos-F.Stangos): The European Commission yesterday ratified the Community Support Framework (CSF) under which Greece will receive 13,98 billion ECU from structural funds over the 1994-1999 period (about four trillion drachmas in current rates). The Greek Regional Development Plan (GRDP), drawn up by the Greek government in co-operation with the European Commission, was approved by the Commission and adopted as Greece's CSF. Out of this amount, 9.5 billion ECU will be provided under the Regional Development Fund and the remainder by the Social Fund, the Agricultural Fund (orientation department) and the new financial orientation agency for fisheries. 50.3 per cent of Community funding will come from credits included in "Target 1" and covering all of Greece. "Target 1" concerns the development of European Union regions having a per capita income of less than 75 per cent of the Community average. The first disbursement of Community funds is scheduled for the end of July. The total amount of investments (both private and public) concerning the GRDP is estimated at 30 billion ECU's (8.6 trillion dr.). The Greek state will cover 33.6 per cent of public investments (about two trillion dr.) and the Community the remaining 66.4 per cent. The Community has contributed 70 per cent of public investments included in the previous CSF (1989-1994). About 2.73 billion ECU under the Cohesion Fund should be added to the 13.98 billion ECU which Greece is to receive under the CSF. Consequently, the total amount Greece will receive from 1994 to 1999 as part of the Delors II package, negotiated by the New Democracy party government in the summer of 1993, amounts to 16.71 billion ECU. Initial negotiations had been for about 18 billion ECU which Greece was to receive under the Delors II package. According to initial assessments, about one billion ECU is lacking for doubling amounts Greece will receive under the Delors II package, as compared to the Delors I package. EU Regional Policy Commissioner Bruce Millan said: "According to intended interventions, we will contribute substantively to Greece's efforts to go ahead with social and economic cohesion in the EU, creating suitable conditions enabling it to follow an economic convergence policy. We want to exploit all the development capabilities available to Greece. Among other things, we consider it essential that the role Greece can play as a gateway to Europe in the Balkan region should be taken into consideration." Targets set in Greece's CSF concern the following five major development axes: - A reduction in the degree of regional isolation and the promotion of internal economic integration through the development of major infrastructure projects. In this way, a suitable climate will be created for productive investments which will increase incomes and jobs. These projects include two major north-south and east-west motorways, the improvement of the railway network, the natural gas pipeline and the Athens metro. - An improvement in living conditions through integrated action on the environment, health system and urban development sectors. - Support for the growth of the "economic tissue" to be based on an ambitious industrial policy whose primary axis will be modernising the agricultural, tourism and fishery sectors and improving the international competitiveness of Greek enterprises. A policy of attracting foreign investments and of helping enterprises will be followed in the industrial sector, with special provisions for small and medium-size enterprises, which dispose of necessary capabilities to meet the challenge presented by technological development and market internationalisation. Moreover, agricultural production should adapt to new realities, after Common Agricultural Policy was reformed, such as improving competitiveness at production level, commercialisation and processing, modernising production structures and developing rural regions. - Investments benefiting human potential and strengthening labour market structures aimed at improving specialisation levels. The axis directly linked to increasing human potential productivity will take on the form of action on demand and supply concerning professional education and training. - Reducing the imbalance between regions and linking isolated insular regions to continental Greece. Lastly, great importance is attached to the Greek CSF regional aspect which will be included in limited local interventions through the 13 regional programmes it comprises. Compared to the previous CSF, the new one approved by the Commission focuses primarily on major infrastructure projects in the transport sector, an ambitious industrial policy and the strong presence of an environmental dimension including the preservation of energy. Meanwhile, the European Commission yesterday endorsed the Community Initiatives budget (concerning the same 1994-1999 period) amounting to 13.45 billion ECUs. The amount will be used to finance programmes of Community concern which the Commission will decide and part of which also concern Greece. In connection with all EU member-states, 2.9 billion ECUs will be provided under the Interreg programme, 1.4 billion ECU's for the Leader rural development programme and one billion ECU's for small and medium-size enterprises. "Never on Sunday" composer Manos Hadjidakis dies ------------------------------------------------ Athens, 16/6/1994 (ANA): World renowned composer Manos Hadjidakis died yesterday after being rushed to an Athens hospital, suffering from breathing problems. Doctors at the Evangelismos Hospital said he died of acute pulmonary oedema. The 69-year-old composer, who won an Oscar for scoring Jules Dassin's 1960 film "Never on Sunday" starring Melina Mercouri, had undergone triple by-pass surgery in London in May 1993. Three months later, he was hospitalised with problems and discomfort due to an infection of the respiratory system. The composer suffered another acute attack in February. Colleagues said he showed signs of strain while conducting an Orchestra of Colours benefit performance against racism the previous night. Born in Xanthi in 1925, Hadjidakis won critical acclaim at the age of 23 for setting the late poet Nikos Gatsos' translation of Lorca's "Blood Wedding" into music. He later wrote the score for several other Gatsos collections. Hadjidakis' film credits include scores for Elia Kazan's "America-America" and Jules Dassin's "Topkapi". He also won critical acclaim for his theatrical score of "Street of Dreams," starring Dimitris Horn. President Karamanlis expressed profound grief at the loss of Manos Hadjidakis, a close friend of his. Mr. Karamanlis said Hadjidakis was a great musician who had projected Greece internationally through his music. Expressing grief at the death of the "great composer," Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou said Manos Hadjidakis had played a "catalytic role in contemporary Greek culture." Culture Minister Thanos Mikroutsikos said he was shattered on hearing of the death of Hadjidakis, adding that "we will mourn him in silence, according to his will." Political Spring leader Antonis Samaras described Hadjidakis as a "composer of universal sensitivity." Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) Nikos Costantopoulos expressed deep grief at the loss of Hadjidakis. Left wing veteran politician Leonidas Kyrkos said "Manos will live through generations to come as he had done in the heart of our own generation." Convergence plan to EU by month's end ------------------------------------- Athens, 16/6/1994 (ANA): Minister of National Economy Yiannos Papantoniou declared yesterday that the Greek Economy Convergence Programme will be submitted to the European Parliament by the end of the month. He did not give a specific date. President replies to Demirel letter, rejects Kurd training claims ---------------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 16/6/1994 (ANA): President of the Republic Constantine Karamanlis yesterday rejected claims that Kurdish rebels had been trained in Greece, stressing Greece opposed all forms of terrorism. Informed sources said Mr. Karamanlis made the statement in a letter of response to his Turkish counterpart Suleyman Demirel. According to the sources, in his letter Mr. Karamanlis expressed surprise at Mr. Demirel's persistence on such allegations which Greece had categorically denied. Mr. Karamanlis, the sources said, stressed the need to avoid the "creation of new problems." The sources added that in his letter Mr. Karamanlis underlined the "huge domestic problems faced by countries in our region" adding that "insecurity prevailing in the international scene makes such problems more threatening." The sources said also the president urged his Turkish counterpart to encourage instead efforts aimed at narrowing differences and creating a climate of "mutual trust and understanding." "Such an effort would serve the people of Greece and Turkey who should live in peace, even if they cannot solve their problems," the letter added, according to the sources. President Demirel wrote President Karamanlis earlier this month, referring to arrested Kurdish rebels in Turkey who claimed they had been trained in Greece. Athens strongly denied the allegations saying the so-called confessions of the Kurdish separatist rebels were made under duress. Meanwhile, Mr. Demirel "warned" Greece against presenting Turkey "with a fait accompli the consequences of which it cannot face," an ANA dispatch from Istanbul said yesterday. He was referring to Greece's right to extend its territorial waters to 12 miles in the Aegean Sea. According to the dispatch, Mr. Demirel said he did not "mean it as a threat." "That is not the case," he said. "The case is that Turkey is determined to solve its problems with Greece through peaceful means." Acknowledging that there are long-running disputes between the two countries, President Demirel said there were certain issues calling for agreement, namely the territorial waters, the continental shelf and the Flight Information Region (FIR). "If Greece expands its territorial waters to 12 miles in the Aegean, Turkey will be cut off by way of sea and will not even be able to use the Dardanelles sea route," Mr. Demirel said, explaining Turkey's "extreme" sensitivity on the issue. "But whatever the problem it should be solved through peaceful means," he added. Turkish Prime Minister Tansu Ciller was quoted by the Turkish daily "Milliyet" last week as saying that "extending Greek territorial waters to 12 miles in the Aegean would be treated as casus belli by Turkey." "Should Greece be crazy enough to extend its territorial waters to 12 miles in the Aegean, I will have troops landed on the (Greek) islands within 24 hours." Arsenis leaves for Washington Eurogroup meeting ----------------------------------------------- Athens, 16/6/1994 (ANA): National Defence Minister Gerasimos Arsenis leaves for Washington Sunday, to attend a Eurogroup meeting at which NATO defence ministers and Pentagon officials will discuss Alliance issues. Mr. Arsenis is scheduled to have separate talks on Monday with US counterpart William Perry and State Department officials. Issues to be raised by the Greek side include Greek-US defence co-operation, US military aid and Greece's military debt to the US. Mr. Arsenis is not scheduled to meet with his Turkish counterpart on the sidelines of the Eurogroup meeting. Asked to comment on a recent suggestion by US Secretary of State Warren Christopher to Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias that Greek warplanes charged with intercepting Turkish fighter aircraft violating national airspace be disarmed, Mr. Arsenis said that "a non-existent issue has been stirred, probably by persons with no knowledge of the matter." "The root of the problem," he continued, "lies in continuous violations of Greek airspace by Turkish warplanes, whether armed or not". "Those who want to ease the situation between Greece and Turkey should turn to those who commit violations," Mr. Arsenis underlined, noting that Greece complied with NATO rules. According to such rules, he said, Greek fighter planes taking off to identify and intercept unidentified aircraft are not only entitled to, but under NATO commitment, to confront such aircraft. Asked to comment on Turkish press reports claiming Turkish vessels taking part in air and naval exercises were allegedly being harassed, Mr. Arsenis said that "we should not fall into the trap laid by those wishing to create artificial tension between Greece and Turkey, not to benefit Greece, but for the sake of specific interests in Turkey instead." Turkey is faced with many domestic problems "and it is for that reason that the National Defence Ministry of Greece carefully refrains from issuing any statement that might fuel such artificial tension," Mr. Arsenis remarked. Greece, Cyprus in joint military manoeuvres ------------------------------------------- Athens, 16/6/1994 (ANA): Greece and Cyprus have decided to conduct joint military exercises, at a meeting yesterday between Defence Ministers Yerassimos Arsenis and Costas Eliades. Talks focused on joint defence planning agreed on last year by the two governments. The ministers decided that any infrastructure work that needs to be undertaken as part of the new defence doctrine should be carried out. The doctrine provides for Greek air, naval and land support for Cyprus in the event of a new drive by Turkish occupation forces holding the northern part of the island-republic since 1974. The two ministers, assisted by their military aides, also discussed co-ordination of defence policy, arms purchase programmes, joint action and promotion of military training programmes. Thessaloniki subway construction early 1995 ------------------------------------------- Athens, 16/6/1994 (ANA): Construction of the Thessaloniki Metro will commence early next year, Environment, Town Planning and Public Works Alternate Minister Ioannis Souladakis announced yesterday. Mr. Souladakis said final negotiations prior to signing the agreement and Parliament ratification would take two months. He added the most attractive tender had been submitted by "Michaniki", a joint venture, with Bouyges's offer ranked second by the Evaluation Committee. The project, estimated at 120 billion drachmas, will be implemented on a CO-financing basis, the State contributing 40 billion drachmas and construction companies the balance. Construction companies will enjoy operating rights for a period of 20 years on 9.3 kilometres of line and 14 stations to be constructed. After expiry of that period, the Metro will revert to the State. The project is expected to be completed in five years, but in case it should be ready earlier, time saved will be added on to the contractor's 20-year operational period. The Metro will serve 16,500 passengers per peak hour and line direction. EU socialist leaders' Corfu June meeting ---------------------------------------- Brussels, 16/6/1994 (ANA/M. Savva): European Union Socialist party leaders will hold a summit meeting on the island of Corfu on June 22 and 23, one day before the opening of the EU summit, at the invitation of Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou. The Socialist party summit will be chaired by the president of the Flemish Socialist party of Belgium and Foreign Minister Willy Klaes and, among other things, will assess the results of the recent Euroelections, and deal with the issues to be discussed at the EU summit proper. The Socialist leaders are expected to issue a common statement with regard to the summit. Discussion will also take place on the distribution of competences by members of the Socialist group inside the European Parliament. Representatives of the socialist parties of the four countries that will become full members on January 1, 1995 (Norway, Sweden, Finland and Austria), including Austrian Chancellor Franz Vranitsky and Norwegian Prime Minister Gro Harlem Brutland, will al so attend, along with Danish Prime Minister Paul Rasmussen, German SPD leader Rudolf Scharping, Michel Rocard, EU Commission president Jacques Delors, Commissioners Bruce Milan and Karl Van Mirt and president of the Socialist Group Jean Pierre Cot. The 62 newly elected British Labour deputies to the European Parliament have unanimously decided to propose Pauline Green for the post of president of the Socialist Group of the European parliament. EU summit to open with consultations ------------------------------------ Athens, 16/6/1994 (ANA): Consultations between heads of state and government and foreign ministers of European Union member-states will start on Corfu on June 23, a day before the two-day EU summit is due to start. A working dinner will be offered at 9 p.m. by European Council President and Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou for members of the European Council, heads of state, and government and foreign ministers of the acceding countries and the President and Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Boris Yeltsin and Andrei Kozyrev, respectively. The working dinner will be offered at the Corfu Palace Hotel. The Corfu EU summit will start on Friday, June 24 at 9.30 a.m. with the welcoming of heads of state, and government and foreign ministers of member-states. Initialing of the Partnership Agreement between the EU and the Russian Federation will take place at 10.30 a.m. followed by the Signing Ceremony of the Act of Accession of the new member-states Norway, Austria, Finland and Sweden. The first session of the European Council will be held at the Palace of St. Michael and St. George at 12.30 p.m., and a working lunch offered by the President of the European Council to members of the European Council, heads of state, and government and foreign ministers will take place afterwards in the Throne Room of the Palace. The second session of the European Council will start at 5 p.m. and last until 8 p.m. The third session will take place at 10.30 a.m. on Saturday. The EU summit will end at noon on the same day with a press conference by the European Council President and the President of the European Commission at Corfu's municipal theatre.