From: tzarros@ccs.carleton.ca (Theodore Zarros) Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Mon, 25 Jul 1994 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa). * Greece marks junta collapse anniversary, leadership calls for national unity * Presidential reception * Venizelos discusses Greek political evolution since junta collapse * Papoulias at Mostar EU governor ceremony * Papoulias cautions Albanian president to be "more serious" * Arsenis leaves for Moscow talks * Opposition wants Gov't strongly protest Turkish PM Kurd claim Athens News Agency Bulletin, Greece marks junta collapse anniversary, leadership calls for national unity ----------------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 25 July 1994 (ANA): Greece's political leadership emphasised the need for national unity to meet challenges in a united Europe and the modern world, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the collapse of the seven-year military dictatorship and the restoration of democracy. President Constantine Karamanlis said Greece had entered "a new phase in its political life after the dramatic adventure experienced by martyred Cyprus and the fall of the dictatorship," in a message to the nation Saturday. He stressed the main characteristic of political life was unprecedented political stability, since only five governments had come to power during the past 20 years. The President added that "inability to draw advantage from political stability amidst a climate of national unity, and lack of a uniform national policy on institutions, programmes and the nation's future" were negative elements during those twenty years. "I hope," he said, "the spirit of unanimity and optimism which prevailed on July 24, 1974, will be revived in a new phase of our political life, which will follow sooner or later. As a people, we should remedy our traditional weaknesses and, as a country, take advantage of the great - and probably - last opportunity offered to us by our participation in a united Europe." Premier Andreas Papandreou's message said democratic institutions had been cemented over the past 20 years, and a form of republican rule under a president consolidated after the referendum of December 1974. Mr. Papandreou said the Greek people "are living in conditions of smooth democratic parliamentary life, with individual rights and political freedoms safeguarded for all citizens without exception." He said democratisation of Greek society will "proceed even further through strengthening institutions, ensuring a state of justice and continuous safeguarding of constitutional rights." "And, of course, by further enhancing the role and functioning of parliament," the Premier noted. Mr. Papandreou said defending national issues required constant enhancement of national and social cohesion. "With such institutional, national and social prerequisites, we may approach our targets as a society, a people and as a nation," he concluded. Main opposition New Democracy party leader Miltiades Evert said "now is probably the most crucial time, both nationally and politically, to attempt a critical and responsible review of our course during this long period. Peoples who do not take stock of their history or draw lessons from it, lack the required conditions to look forward to a better future." Mr. Evert said numerous and fundamental achievements over the past 20 years "allow us to be optimistic for the future". "But, there are many problems - external or internal - which emerged during that period, for which we cannot conceal our concern," he noted. Political Spring (Pol.An) party leader Antonis Samaras said: "Our democracy is now entering a new phase and the cycle of the post-dictatorship era is completed. We are leaving behind a 'two-party system' of government which has disappointed so many generations and deprived youth of its visions. We are experiencing a new era of political concept, " he added. The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) said, in a long statement, that "after 20 years, Greece is being converted into a modern European protectorate under the suffocating domination and custody of the European Union and other international organisations which interfere openly in all fields of economic, social and cultural life, with the sole purpose of forcefully incorporating Greece in the 'single market' of multinationals." The Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) statement said that 20 years after the collapse of the junta, "the country needs radical changes and reforms in all sectors to give hope to the Greek people, inspire faith in politics and lend impetus to Greece." Presidential reception ------------------------ Athens, 25 July 1994 (ANA): Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou told reporters yesterday that democracy in Greece has seen "both good and difficult times" since the collapse of the 1974 military dictatorship, calling yesterday's 20-year anniversary of that event "a victory of democracy". Mr Papandreou was speaking to reporters at a reception at the presidential palace hosted by the President Constantine Karamanlis to mark the anniversary. The Premier added Greece today is on a "difficult course, but it has a vision and certitude that, in five of six years from today, we will march forward on an equal footing with Europe." Venizelos discusses Greek political evolution since junta collapse ---------------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 25 July 1994 (ANA): Press and Mass Media Minister Evangelos Venizelos told state-owned ET-1 television Saturday that, since 1975, Greece had not witnessed changes in its constitutional form of government, while its party system had essentially developed into bipartisan rule since 1977. Mr. Venizelos, who is also government spokesman, noted that the political system would not enter a new phase. "Electionwise, Greece has a system which favours a party's absolute parliamentary majority. The ruling Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) and the main opposition New Democracy party represent the two poles of the party spectrum," Mr. Venizelos added. Last year's general elections have confirmed this theory on the Greek electoral system, he said, despite the fact that there were four parties in parliament. Mr. Venizelos also answered questions on his sphere of specialisation, constitutional law. He said the 1986 revision of the Greek constitution had proved successful, based on comparative and historic considerations. "Constitutional revision is not an immediate and urgent political goal," he said. "But it is an issue which should be kept in mind in a cool and collected manner. We should also turn our attention to other fields, such as judicial authority, and what ensures a state of justice, increasing safeguard of constitutional rights and, of course, the functioning of parliament in which political dialogue is held. Papoulias at Mostar EU governor ceremony ---------------------------------------- Belgrade, (ANA/N.Georgiadis): The European Union troika (Greece, Germany and France), Moslem and Croat leaders and US Contact Group representative Charles Redman gathered Saturday in the partly destroyed city of Mostar to see German Social Democrat parliamentarian Hans Koschnik officially assume his duties as governor of the city. The European Union has taken over control of Mostar, and the UN and the peacekeeping force of Sarajevo, respectively. The Mostar ceremony, developed into a festive event between Moslems and Croats, and was attended by Greek Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias, as troika member. Also present were German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel, his French counterpart Alain Juppe, Croatian President Franjo Tudjman, Bosnian Moslem leader Alija Izetbegovic and UN representative in former Yugoslavia Yasushi Akashi. Commenting on the purpose of his visit shortly before leaving Athens, Mr. Papoulias said: "It is an initiative by the European Union which has been implemented. That is very important. The Mostar model could also be implemented in other cities in Bosnia. However, we are rather sceptical about what Geneva 3 might produce, as replies received from Bosnian Serbs are not so explicit. We will meet on the 30th of the month, most probably, in Geneva to decide on how to face the resulting situation. In my opinion, there are hopes that a basis for a peaceful settlement will be found." Replying to a question on Spain's recognition of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Mr. Papoulias said: "Of course it is disappointing that our partners in the European Union cannot understand the problem. Pressure brought to bear on Spain by known powers within the European Union was and remains unacceptable. However, I believe Greece has been vindicated over the retortion measures, and it will also be vindicated politically by the settlement to be given to the Skopje (FYROM) issue." Papoulias cautions Albanian president to be "more serious" ----------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 25 July 1994 (ANA): Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias Saturday called on Albania's President Sali Berisha "to be more serious" when referring to Greek-Albanian relations. The minister's reaction was fuelled by Mr. Berisha's Friday statement that a Greek region extending from the Greek-Albanian border southward to the Thesprotia province should be called "Southern Albania". "I would suggest President Berisha be more serious when referring to Greek-Albanian relations," Mr. Papoulias told reporters at the airport, before departing for Mostar, Bosnia. "Greek-Albanian relations constitute a very serious chapter in Balkan and European politics," Mr. Papoulias cautioned. A Pol.An (Political Spring) party statement blamed the government for failing to appreciate that it was the recent granting of economic aid by the EU to the Albanian regime that served as an encouragement "to continue provocations against the ethnic Greeks in Northern Epirus (in south Albania) and Greece". Arsenis leaves for Moscow talks -------------------------------- Athens, 25 July 1994 (ANA): National Defence Minister Gerasimos Arsenis left yesterday for Moscow on a three-day official visit. Mr. Arsenis will meet with his Russian counterpart Pavel Grachev and other high-ranking government and army officials. Talks include Greek-Russian co-operation in military defence industry, and co-operation between the two countries in the Balkan and East European regions, including the Bosnian crisis. Mr. Arsenis and Mr. Grachev will sign a military co-operation agreement between Greece and Russia. An ANA dispatch from Moscow said diplomatic observers there underscored the importance of Mr. Arsenis' talks with his Russian interlocutors. The observers noted a joint Russian-Greek initiative on the ongoing war in former Yugoslavia should not be excluded. In light of Mr. Arsenis' forthcoming visits to Bulgaria and Romania to discuss plans on Balkan military co-operation, Moscow talks will also examine possible Russian participation in such a programme. Opposition wants Gov't strongly protest Turkish PM Kurd claim -------------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 25 July 1994 (ANA): Main opposition New Democracy party on Saturday called on the government to lodge a strong protest (with Turkey) and denounce Turkey, following claims by Turkish Prime Minister Tansu Ciller that Kurdish separatists "are using Greece as a base for attacks on Turkish diplomats." "The government should immediately lodge a strong protest and denounce Turkey's intentions in order to cut short, at its outset, Turkish propaganda which, combined with that emanating from Albania, attempts to depict Greece as a destabilising element in the broader region (of the Balkans)," a statement by ND said. "We are faced with a premeditated plan for the defamation of our country," the statement added. Government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos on Friday refuted Ms Ciller's claims and charged that "constant repetition of naive, unproven and slanderous claims against Greece by Turkish officials, do not make such claims convincing in any way, but only breed a climate of tension instead." Ms. Ciller made the statements during an interview in Paris last week.