From: tzarros@ccs.carleton.ca (Theodore Zarros) Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Tue, 19 Jul 1994 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa). Athens News Agency Bulletin, Greek stance on aid to Albania becomes EU policy ------------------------------------------------ Brussels, 19/7/1994 (ANA-F.Stangos,V.Demiris): The European Union General Affairs Council yesterday adopted the Greek positions on granting free macroeconomic Community aid to Albania totalling 35 million ECU. According to the decision, Albania will receive "as soon as possible" an initial instalment of 15 million ECU while, at the same time, the German presidency will lodge a demarche with the Albanian government reflecting EU concern over respect of human rights and the democratisation process in the neighbouring country. The second instalment of 20 million ECU will be paid subject to conditions relating to an improvement of the situation in Albania, and after a new decision by the council of ministers. Foreign Under-secretary in charge of European Affairs Yiannos Kranidiotis, who represented Greece, told the press that "the Greek side has succeeded in achieving its aim i.e. that the Greek position should become EU policy, resulting in securing solidarity and support from our European partners." Earlier in Athens, government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos yesterday said the criterion on which Greece rested its attitude was respect for international law and human rights, especially rights of ethnic Greeks living in Albania. Mr. Venizelos added if Greece's criteria, which were also the criteria of the international community, became the criteria of the EU and its agencies in an explicit and specific manner then "we could initiate a disbursement process conditionally and under control." Meanwhile, an announcement by the main opposition New Democracy party denounced government policy on the issue of EU aid to Albania. ND maintains that granting economic aid to Albania will not only fail to bring the government of that country to its senses but, on the contrary, encourage it in its policy of systematically violating human rights, the statement said. US Defence Secretary in Athens today -------------------------------------- Athens, 19/7/1994 (ANA): US Defence Secretary William J. Perry is due in Greece today on an official visit, for talks with Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou this evening. Before calling on the Premier, he will lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown soldier. Tomorrow morning, Mr. Perry will visit the Defence Ministry for talks with his Greek counterpart Gerasimos Arsenis. The two men had held similar talks a month ago during Mr. Arsenis' visit to the US. Talks between Mr. Perry and Mr. Arsenis are expected to focus on issues concerning the Greece-US defence agreement, settling Greek debts to the US and the possibility of joint initiatives by the two countries towards restoring peace and stability in the Balkans. Impending terrorism reports need cautious treatment - Venizelos -------------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 19/7/1994 (ANA): Responding to a question on whether or not the government felt concern about reports of an impending terrorist attack in Cyprus, government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos yesterday said information was assessed on the merits of the case. Mr. Venizelos declined comment on a statement by Cyprus socialist EDEK party leader Vassos Lyssarides that Turkey was exporting state terrorism. However, he reiterated an earlier statement that all countries should refrain from exporting their domestic political problems. Asked whether or not the government was sceptical about the "identical" nature of various fires on the islands of Rhodes and Samos, Mr. Venizelos said police authorities were examining all reasonable aspects, considering "any overall interpretation of such events as precipitate." ND deputies to update Papoulias on ethnic Greeks in Albania ------------------------------------------------------------ Athens, 19/7/1994 (ANA): Four deputies of the main opposition New Democracy party will meet with Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias today to update him on their recent trip to Albania. They will discuss the case of six ethnic Greeks in Albania charged with "espionage, fomenting separatism and possessing weapons without a licence" and the poor conditions under which ethnic Greeks in the neighbouring Balkan country live, a ND statement said. The group met earlier yesterday with ND president Miltiades Evert, briefing him on the "general" and "vague" charges brought against the six defendants, who are members of the Greek minority Omonoia party. The ND politicians said they did not visit the jailed ethnic Greeks, despite initial consent by Albanian authorities. Mr. Evert and the ND deputies decided to recommend to Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis that the two ethnic Greek members of the Albanian parliament appear before a House committee as well as forming an all-party commission to brief international organisations on the plight of the six accused ethnic Greeks and monitor their trial. In an announcement yesterday, the Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) party called on the government to advise international bodies such as the Conference on Co-operation and Security in Europe (CSCE) to denounce the blatant and systematic violation of human rights by Albanian authorities. Antonis Samaras' Political Spring party has also requested despatch of an all-party delegation to Tirana to monitor the trial. Gov't dismisses Gligorov direct dialogue proposal ------------------------------------------------- Athens, 19/7/1994 (ANA): The government yesterday dismissed a proposal by Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) President Kiro Gligorov for direct dialogue between Athens and Skopje as "recurring from time to time, but lacking anything new". Commenting also on Mr. Gligorov's threat to have recourse to the UN Security Council over the issue of Greek trade sanctions against the neighbouring state, government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said: "There is a process of consultations under Cyrus Vance at the UN, in which Greece is participating with concrete proposals in a constructive manner." Mr. Venizelos added Greece would not remain firm on its "fundamental positions" throughout t his process. The spokesman said Mr. Vance was acting as a plenipotentiary for the Security Council, and UN talks had been postponed until autumn at Skopje's request because of domestic problems in FYROM. Athens argues use of 'Macedonia' as a name for the former Yugoslav republic conceals irredentist designs against Greece's northern province of that name. Greece also insists on removal of an ancient Greek symbol from the FYROM flag, and an amendment to the preamble of the neighbouring republic's constitution. UN-sponsored separate talks in New York were postponed last Wednesday. The talks, at foreign minister level, will resume in the autumn. EU council ---------- Brussels, (ANA/F.Stangos,V.Demiris): Diplomatic sources reported yesterday German Foreign Minister and current president of the European Union General Affairs Council Klaus Kinkel raised the issue of Greece's continuing economic blockade of FYROM in the course of a Council dinner. Mr Kinkel referred to serious economic problems facing FYROM and the "dangers to peace that result in the region," the sources said. Greek Foreign Under-secretary Yiannos Kranidiotis spoke next, briefing the meeting on the course of the issue. He stressed FYROM bore full responsibility for the postponement of the talks in New York. The British and French delegations appealed for finding a solution as soon as possible. Evert, other party delegates in Nicosia for invasion anniversary --------------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 19/7/1994 (ANA): Main opposition New Democracy party leader Miltiades Evert will leave for Nicosia today, at the invitation of conservative Democratic Rally party leader Yiannakis Matsis to attend events marking the 20th anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in July 1974. Mr. Evert will call successively on President Glafcos Clerides and Archbishop Chrysostomos this afternoon, and pay a courtesy call to the National Guard General Staff. He will also host a working lunch for Cypriot political party leaders. Meanwhile, in an announcement yesterday, ND reiterated a proposal by Mr. Evert to Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis on July 4, calling for a special parliamentary debate on the 20th anniversary of the tragedy of Cyprus and the restoration of democracy in Greece. The announcement criticises the government for failing to respond to the proposal, adding that today all Hellenism "expects from Parliament and the political world of Greece a message worthy of the times, a message to Cypriot brothers and to expatriates all over the world, especially to Greeks living in a state of oppression in neighbouring countries." PASOK delegation ---------------- Athens, 19/7/1994 (ANA): George Katsimbardis, a Deputy and member of the ruling socialist PASOK party's Executive Bureau, will leave for Nicosia this morning to represent the party at the events. Today, Mr. Katsimbardis will meet Cypriot socialist EDEK party leader Vassos Lyssarides, attend a rally of the Socialist Women's Movement at Eleftheria Square and address an EDEK rally on the anniversary of the coup and the Turkish invasion. Tomorrow, Mr. Katsimbardis will represent PASOK at Cypriot government and Church of Cyprus official events. Athens mayor ------------ Athens, 19/7/1994 (ANA): A delegation led by Athens Mayor Leonidas Kouris leaves for Cyprus tomorrow, to take part in the 20-year "black anniversary" memorial of Turkey's invasion of the eastern Mediterranean island on July 20, 1974. During his stay, Mr. Kouris will meet with Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides, Archbishop Chrysostomos, and with Nicosia mayor Lellos Dimitriades. PM confers with National Economy Minister ----------------------------------------- Athens, 19/7/1994 (ANA): Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou conferred with National Economy Minister Yiannos Papantoniou on the economy and, in particular, progress of macroeconomic indicators and the development bill, government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said yesterday. Mr. Venizelos termed the meeting routine, adding Mr. Papandreou would maintain such co-operation very often and the Economic Committee would convene more frequently. Economic Policy Committee meets on various issues, IMF report ------------------------------------------------------------ Athens, 19/7/1994 (ANA): The Economic Policy Committee, the new government body set up by the Prime Minister after the recent reshuffle, met for the first time yesterday under the chairmanship of National Economy Minister Yiannos Papantoniou. The meeting was also attended by the ministers of Finance, Merchant Marine, Tourism, Transport and Communications, alternate ministers of National Economy and Industry, and Mrs Louka Katseli, economic adviser to the Prime Minister. Following the two-hour meeting, Mr Papantoniou said it had been a very useful initial contact and he would convene the body whenever there was need for co-ordination in economic policy. Discussion centred on various legislative and other initiatives to be undertaken by the economic ministries until the end of the year, he said. There are several important issues to be considered, he added, including the preparation of the 1995 Budget, which will be decided on in October. Reactions to the recent IMF report ---------------------------------- Athens, 19/7/1994 (ANA): Commenting on the recent IMF report on the Greek economy, government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos told questioners the government had, of course, taken into account the report, attaching to it the significance it deserved. The report, he noted, contained many positive elements, but nobody knew the problems of the Greek economy better than the government did, its policy hinging on stabilisation, development, and social care. The New Democracy party responded by issuing the following statement: "The New Democracy party urges the government to immediately make public the full text of the International Monetary Fund report, so that all parties might express their positions in a responsible manner, instead of expressing comments and views through its spokesman". Political Spring party spokesman Manolis Kalamidas said the problem of the Greek economy cannot be solved through the application of recipes for austerity as suggested by the IMF, which the old parties had adopted for over ten years. Such proposals, he added, lead to new stalemates and require more sacrifices on the part of the Greek people. "Our country is under full control and guardianship of imperialist organisations", a Greek Communist party Central Committee statement said in comment to the IMF report. Labour should condemn it, it was added. A statement by the Coalition of the Left (SYN) Political Secretariat said Greece's economic problem needed fresh diagnosis and an overall plan. The specific (IMF) report, it added, confirmed the acute fiscal crisis and recommended measures pointing to one-sided austerity. The General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE) also expressed its opposition to the IMF report, stressing that the crisis could only be dealt with through an overall strategy of vision and prospects based on a rally and common action by all healthy forces in production and society. The statement said GSEE had submitted a comprehensive set of proposals at its recent plenum, and IMF recipes should in no case serve as a basis for economic development.