From: tzarros@ccs.carleton.ca (Theodore Zarros) Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Mon, 8 Aug 1994 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa). Athens News Agency Bulletin --------------------------- * 1994 a turning point year, Papantoniou tells To VIMA * Opposition charges Gov't with indolence * Papariga asks Gov't to condemn Bosnia intervention * Egypt court defers seamen's trial * Greek-Americans to hold 10th annual conference 1994 a turning point year, Papantoniou tells To VIMA ---------------------------------------------------- Athens, 08/08/94 (ANA): National Economy Minister Yiannos Papantoniou asserted yesterday in an interview with the Athens Sunday newspaper "TO VIMA", that 1994 would mark a turning point in the course of the Greek economy, adding optimism on the outcome of economic indicators. Mr Papantoniou stressed the budget would be implemented to the letter and without any disparities for the first time. He said also partial privatisation of the Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation (OTE) and of the Public Petroleum Company (DEP) would be carried out by the end of the year, and the inflation rate level will remain at 10.5%. The Minister gave an assurance that there would be no emergency measures, and forecast drachma parity stabilisation together with a gradual fall in interest rates. Opposition charges Gov't with indolence -------------------------------------- Athens, 08/08/94 (ANA): A main Opposition New Democracy party statement yesterday accused the government of "being on holiday and of following developments at a distance from Athens, while the crisis in Bosnia is intensifying and threatens to spread, and we are also on the eve of the trial of the six ethnic Greeks in Albania, in an attempt by the Berisha regime in Tirana to discredit Greece through fabricated charges". "The government gives an impression of being resigned to its fate and indolently following events," concluded the statement. Papariga asks Gov't to condemn Bosnia intervention ------------------------------------------------- Athens, 08/08/94 (ANA): Communist Party Secretary -General Aleka Papariga yesterday called on the government to "condemn intervention in Bosnia", pointing out that "the President of PASOK has signed a joint text with all other party leaders condemning any military intervention in Bosnia, at a meeting under the President of the Republic." Ms. Papariga said that "peace is not imposed through arms and air strikes", and concluded that " it is proved once more that PASOK behaves in exactly the same way as New Democracy does and, by its endorsement, has become an accomplice to the strangling of Balkan peoples". Egypt court defers seamen's trial -------------------------------- Athens, 08/08/94 (ANA): The appeal trial of three Greek sailors sentenced to death by an Egyptian court on drug smuggling charges, was postponed until October following a request by defence counsel, the Merchant Marine Ministry said yesterday. The ministry was informed of the postponement by the Consular Port Captain at Port Said who, together with a delegation of the Greek Consulate General, travelled to Suez where the trial was due to open last Thursday. Kostas Kastanias, Tassos Kontoyiannis and Nikos Zekelidis, crew members of the Greek motorship "Thanassis", were arrested in the port of Suez in November 1989 and charged with trying to smuggle 7.5 tonnes of hashish. The motorship was headed for India. Two other crew members, both Cypriots, were also sentenced to death in absentia, while the captain, Thanassis Badounas, is serving a life sentence in Greece. Execution of the sentence, originally scheduled for May 1992, was put off after repeated appeals by the Greek government and the Athens Bar Association to its European Union counterparts. Greek-Americans to hold 10th annual conference ---------------------------------------------- Washington, 08/08/94 (ANA/CNA): Greek-American community leaders will hold their 10th annual conference here between September 20 and 22, the United Hellenic American Congress (UHAC) announced yesterday. The conference will be attended by ministers of Defence Yerassimos Arsenis, Education Giorgos Papandreou, and Transport Theodoros Pangalos. Discussion will focus on the Cyprus problem, the issue of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the situation of the ethnic Greek minority in Albania, and the recent attacks against the Orthodox Patriarchate in Istanbul. UHAC president Andrew Athens stated that during a reception on September 21, the three Greek ministers will be honoured for their contribution to the Greek American community, along with Republican representative Ben Gilman. During the conference, there will be contacts with American government officials and more than 30 prominent figures of Congress. Among those expected to attend are senator Ted Kennedy, chairman of the House of Representatives External Affairs Committee Lee Hamilton, chairman of the Senate External Affairs Committee Claybourn Pell, and senator Paul Sarbanes, all of the Democratic party.