From: tzarros@ccs.carleton.ca (Theodore Zarros) Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Wed, 3 Aug 1994 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa). Athens News Agency Bulletin --------------------------- * Greece charges Albania with "provocative" policy * Evert, other opposition parties * Samaras: No Pol.An support for Papandreou presidency candidacy * Rwanda aid-related US warplanes to temporarily use Crete base * PM to open Thessaloniki Fair, deliver traditional policy speech * Papantoniou, Pangalos examine OTE privatisation * Greek, Cypriot officials discuss Cyprus bid for EU * Xanthi cattle-breeding village on partial quarantine Greece charges Albania with "provocative" policy --------------------------------------------------- Athens, 03/08/94 (ANA): Greece yesterday accused Albania of "provocative" policy towards Athens following the publication of charges against six leading members of the ethnic Greek political organisation "Omonia". Government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said that the charges constituted an attempt to entangle Greece in "supposed hostile actions against Albania". Describing the attempt as a "provocation", Mr. Venizelos contrasted it with the "cool-headed" way in which Athens had responded to similar Albanian provocations. He said that the charges were "a gross violation of human rights and fundamental democratic freedoms", and demanded that they be immediately withdrawn. According to an official announcement in Tirana, the defendants, accused of treason and spying, will go on trial in the Albanian capital on August 15 and could face sentences ranging from 10 years in jail to the death penalty, if convicted. The six were arrested in April along with scores of other ethnic Greeks who have since been released. They have also been charged with illegal possession of weapons, violation of the Albanian Constitution and propaganda against the Albanian government. "The defendants are accused of treason... for aiming to annex territory of the Republic of Albania and of serving foreign espionage agencies," a statement from Tirana district court said. "Greece is fully aware of the need for stability in the region, but respect for human rights is not negotiable. The Albanian action is aimed at intimidating the Greek minority and will not go unanswered," Mr. Venizelos said. The spokesman called on Tirana to withdraw the charges, respect human rights and "prove that it is not using methods reminiscent of other times." He added that Greece intended to reconsider its position concerning the provision of European Union aid to Albania, underlining that Tirana had not "properly appreciated Athens' stance on the issue." On July 18 the EU General Affairs Council approved 35 million ECU's of free macro-economic aid to Albania, after adopting criteria set by Greece linking the aid to progress in the neighbouring country in the areas of human rights and democratisation. Mr. Venizelos said that the Greek ambassador in Tirana had been instructed to lodge a demarche with Albanian Foreign Minister Alfred Sereqi, while representations would also be made to the Albanian ambassador in Athens who would be summoned to the Foreign Ministry. At the same time, the spokesman added, Foreign Ministry general secretary Christos Zaharakis would brief the ambassadors of the EU member states in Athens. Evert, other opposition parties ------------------------------- Athens, 03/08/94 (ANA): Main opposition New Democracy party leader Miltiades Evert said yesterday that the immediate dispatch of a Greek all-party parliamentary and Europarliamentary delegation to monitor the trial of the six Ethnic Greeks in Tirana was necessary. "I have pointed out in time all necessary initiatives that the Greek government should have taken concerning the six imprisoned Albanian Greeks," Mr. Evert said, adding that he had expressed disagreement over the way the government handled the issue of the EU aid to Albania. A Political Spring (Pol.An) party spokesman also demanded the sending of a Greek parliamentary delegation to Tirana. He also asked the government to lodge demarches with the United Nations and the CSCE. Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Secretary-General Aleka Papariga charged that President Berisha "draws his power" for his "chauvinism and intolerance" from powers "like the USA." The Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) said in a statement that the charges brought against the six "Omonia" members "served a premeditated policy of provocations by the (President Sali) Berisha regime aiming at the escalation of tension in Greek-Albanian relations." Samaras: No Pol.An support for Papandreou presidency candidacy -------------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 03/08/94 (ANA): The issue of the election of a new President of the Republic next spring took a new turn yesterday, following a statement by Political Spring (Pol.An) leader Antonis Samaras, according to which his party would not support the possible candidacy of Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou. Mr Samaras said Pol.An would in time propose a figure of "unchallenged non-partisan stature". In reference to the required 180 majority in Parliament for the election of a President, the Pol.An leader added, "it is of little consequence who possesses 170 votes and who possesses 10, because (for the election) these two numbers are politically equal." Press Minister Evangelos Venizelos described Mr Samaras' statement as untimely and marked by "an unjustifiable, aggressive tone". Rwanda aid-related US warplanes to temporarily use Crete base --------------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 03/08/94 (ANA): The National Defence General Staff has agreed to a request by the Commander of the US Air Force at Suda, Crete, that American military aircraft engaged in the UN humanitarian aid to Rwanda, be temporarily stationed there. PM to open Thessaloniki Fair, deliver traditional policy speech --------------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 03/08/94 (ANA): Premier Andreas Papandreou will inaugurate the 59th Thessaloniki International Trade Fair at 7 p.m. on Friday September 9. The inauguration will take place at the new HELEXPO conference centre, while at the official dinner on Saturday, September 10, at 9 p.m., the Premier will deliver the traditional speech on the course of the economy and government policy. Mr Papandreou is also scheduled to give a press conference a 1.30 p.m. on Sunday. The Fair will officially open its gates to the public on Saturday at 10 am. Papantoniou, Pangalos examine OTE privatisation ----------------------------------------------- Athens, 03/08/94 (ANA): Ministers of National Economy Yiannos Papantoniou and Transport and Telecommunications Theodoros Pangalos met yesterday to discuss the sale of 25% of Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation (OTE) stock through the Athens Stock Exchange (ASE). Mr Papantoniou stated afterwards that procedures are moving along satisfactorily, and it is expected that OTE will be listed on the ASE in November. Referring to the price, he said this would be decided on after evaluation of OTE assets currently underway but, as in many cases, the value of stock of an enterprise was ultimately determined by the market. Mr Pangalos said the sale constituted an element of growth for OTE, which now faced new prospects and horizons for modernisation. Meanwhile, the Transport Ministry is elaborating two pieces of draft legislation for adapting OTE to the new institutional framework, and abolishing laws passed by the previous government on privatisation and the establishment of a National Telecommunications Commission. A Coalition of the Left (SYN) statement yesterday accused the government of going back on its pre-election pledges "by adopting, in essence, the (privatisation) concept of the previous New Democracy government." It called for safeguarding OTE's public and social character with simultaneous reforms, that should set the corporation free of the asphyxiating embrace of the state and convert it into a modern and competitive body. Greek, Cypriot officials discuss Cyprus bid for EU --------------------------------------------------- Nicosia, 03/08/94 (ANA/CNA): A group of legal experts will make an assessment of the issues raised after a recent European Court ruling to ban Turkish Cypriot exports to Europe, while another political group will examine the next steps to be taken in a bid to promote Cyprus' accession to the European Union. This was announced here yesterday by Foreign Minister Alecos Michaelides following a working session between Cypriot and Greek officials headed by Greece's Foreign Under-secretary in charge of European Affairs, Yiannos Kranidiotis. Mr. Kranidiotis, who is of Cypriot origin, is currently on an official three-day visit to the island at the invitation of Mr. Michaelides. The Cypriot minister said that Mr Kranidiotis' visit marked the beginning of the re-examination of the handling of the Cyprus problem on the basis of the latest relevant Security Council resolution. "We are talking about hard work, with the aim of charting a new strategy and defining certain common moves", he said. He mentioned that Mr Kranidiotis was accompanied by a group of 15 aids, including legal experts. The two groups will prepare their reports with conclusions by tomorrow. "This is a new effort, a new beginning", he remarked. Mr Michaelides added that this preparatory work by the governments of Cyprus and Greece would be concluded with Greek Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias' visit to Cyprus towards the end of this month. The Foreign Minister declared that there was only one road open to Cyprus - the road towards Europe. "It is not an easy road but it is a necessary one... I believe that Cyprus will achieve its target and will become a full member of the European Union". Mr Kranidiotis expressed satisfaction with the results of the work until now, and repeated that the aim of his contacts was the exchange of views, the taking of decisions and the co-ordination of action between Greece and Cyprus. The talks between the two sides will continue and end tomorrow morning. Earlier yesterday, Mr Kranidiotis was received by Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides. There was an exchange of views on the latest developments in the Cyprus problem and Cyprus' bid for full EU membership. Speaking afterwards, the Greek minister said that the two men discussed some new ideas dictated by the latest Security Council resolution on Cyprus which allowed for some new openings on the handling of the problem. He further said that efforts will be made to persuade other EU member countries that a decision in favour of starting accession negotiations will work catalytically in the efforts for a Cyprus settlement. "We shall also try to pass the message on that Europe has every interest to get more actively involved in the problem which constitutes a European issue". Referring to the recent UN Security Council resolution, Mr Kranidiotis said that it had "many positive elements. In addition to the (Confidence Building) measures, it provides a number of other procedures." Replying to questions, Mr Kranidiotis said there was no possibility of overturning the recent European Court ruling concerning the export of agricultural products from the Turkish occupied area of Cyprus. Xanthi cattle-breeding village on partial quarantine -------------------------------------------------- Athens, 03/08/94 (ANA): The cattle-breeding village of Pigadia in Xanthi has been placed under partial quarantine following suspected incidents of foot and mouth disease (aphthous fever) in animals in two breeding units. The Xanthi Veterinary Authority said in a statement that consumers were at no risk, as all the production units supplied with dairy products from the Pigadia area had suspended supplies immediately. It added that no quantity of dairy products had been sent to any dairy industry since the first suspicious incident had been reported. The Veterinary Authority ordered that all the cattle, goats and sheep suspected of having contracted the disease be put to death and buried, adding that the cattle breeders would be compensated for their losses. Samples, it said, had been sent to the Democritos Research Centre in Athens as well as to a specialised research centre in Britain. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Agriculture said in a statement there was no danger for public health, as all necessary measures had been taken by the competent authorities.