From: tzarros@ccs.carleton.ca (Theodore Zarros) Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Thu, 11 Aug 1994 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa). Athens News Agency Bulletin --------------------------- * KKE, Synaspismos join in expanding "solid national front" on Albania crisis * Eurodeputies * Political Spring, SYN at trial * Ankara spokesman details research vessel mission KKE, Synaspismos join in expanding "solid national front" on Albania crisis ----------------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 11/08/94 (ANA): The "solid national front" proclaimed Wednesday by the government and the main opposition New Democracy party was broadened yesterday to include Greece's opposition left wing parties after they said they would join forces with the government to deal with the Greek-Albanian crisis. In the framework of on-going contacts with the country's political leaders on the issue of the trial of six leading members of the ethnic Greek political organisation 'Omonia,' scheduled for August 15 in Tirana, Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias held separate meetings yesterday with the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Secretary General Aleka Papariga and Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) leader Nikos Constantopoulos. On Wednesday, Mr. Papoulias met with main opposition New Democracy Party leader Miltiades Evert, who had also stated his resolve to join efforts with the government for the creation of a "solid national front. " "What I wished for, (the creation of) a solid national front to defend the human rights of Ethnic Greeks in Albania, is now a reality," Mr. Papoulias told reporters after the meetings. He said the Greek people stood united in the face of any provocation no matter where it came from. "Our country," Mr. Papoulias said, "awaits with cool-headedness and determination the results of the trial of the six (members of the ethnic Greek political organisation 'Omonia') in Tirana." He added that the Foreign Ministry monitored closely developments (in Tirana), and expressed the wish that Tirana would "understand" the message sent by the Greek side. On Wednesday, Greek Ambassador Christos Tsalikis met with Albanian Foreign Minister Alfred Serreqi to request that Albania drop charges against the five minority members. Mr. Tsalikis said the Greek government considered the indictment brought against the five ethnic Greeks as "unacceptable." The five face sentences ranging from 10 years in jail to death, if convicted. The sixth is faced with charges of illegally carrying arms. Mr. Serreqi rejected the Greek protest as "interference in Albania's internal affairs and an insult to Albanian justice." Mr. Papoulias said the Greek government would take "swift and decisive measures in the event that the six ethnic Greeks are convicted," but refused to reveal them. "We are ready to face both good and bad (results)," he said, adding that the Greek government kept a close watch on developments and would continue to do so until the completion of the trial. Mr. Papoulias did not comment on Tirana's rejection of the Greek protest, Wednesday, terming "ludicrous" Mr. Serreqi's allegation that Greece was using the ethnic Greek minority in Albania for domestic opposition. Ms. Papariga said she stood in favour of a solid national front to defend the rights of the Greek minority. She said Albanian President Sali Berisa and his government were a protectorate of the United States and stressed the necessity for a national policy to deal with Mr. Berisha and those who supported him. Mr. Constantopoulos called on the Albanian government to end its provocations against the ethnic Greek minority, and stressed the need for a common national strategic and political stance to defend the rights of the ethnic Greek minority in Albania. He said he agreed with the Greek government's intended legal, political and diplomatic measures if the ethnic Greeks were convicted by the Tirana court. Eurodeputies ------------ Brussels, 11/08/94 (ANA): Greek Euro-deputies Paraskevas Avgerinos and Yannis Roubatis tabled a question in the European Parliament yesterday regarding the violation of the basic political freedoms and human rights of the six leading members of 'Omonia'. In a letter to the President of the Inter-parliamentary Commission in charge of relations with Albania, Mr. Avgerinos called on Mr. Langers to "personally intervene" to stop "the blatant violation of international law, human rights, and substantive political freedoms and guarantees enforced in every state ruled by law." Mr. Avgerinos accused Albania of "systematic intimidation of the Greek minority" thus putting "objective conditions leading to a crisis in inter-state relations between the two countries." Mr. Avgerinos and Mr. Roubatis also submitted a draft resolution to the Presidium of the European Parliament calling on the Commission and the Council to closely watch developments (in Albania) and take all necessary measures to ensure respect of the human rights and application of international law in relation to the ethnic Greek minority in Albania. The resolution also calls on the Albanian government to "avoid any negative act and contribute to the building up of normal and friendly inter-state relations between the two countries." Political Spring, SYN at trial ------------------------------- A statement by the Political Spring party (Pol. An) said the party will be represented in the all-party parliamentary committee that will follow the trial by Ms Maria Machera and Euro-deputies by Ms Katerina Daskalaki. Former deputy and University Professor Ioannina Costas Rigas will represent the Coalition of the Left and Progress (Syn). Ankara spokesman details research vessel mission ----------------------------------------------- Istanbul, 11/08/94 (ANA): Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Ferhat Ataman yesterday declared that scientific research currently carried out by the 'Piri Reis' vessel in the Aegean, is not related to the issue of the continental shelf. "Turkey, which has multifaceted rights and interests in the Aegean, and is using its right which is recognised by international law in this sea, too," he said. "Conducting scientific research in international waters is a basic element of the principle of freedom of open seas," he added. Mr Ataman explained that "Greece and Turkey have undertaken a commitment to avoid action concerning the issue of the continental shelf. On the strength of this undertaking, both countries refrain from conducting research concerning the continental shelf and oil deposits beyond their territorial waters in the Aegean since 1976. He concluded by saying that Piri Reis has "completed its work in the open sea sectors in the Aegean beyond territorial waters".