From: tzarros@ccs.carleton.ca (Theodore Zarros) Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Tue, 20 Sep 1994 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa). Athens News Agency Bulletin, September 20, 1994 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ * Terrorist blast kills policeman, injures ten, raises outcry * Reactions * ECOFIN endorses Convergence Plan, stresses insistence on implementation * Christophersen * Opposition statement * Turkish trawlers violate Greek sea waters, warning shots fired * Papoulias to hold "important" meetings in New York * Ghali offers mediation * Greek envoy to Belgrade visits Montenegro * Slight rise, 3.2 per cent, in June retail sales * Exports 8.3 per cent Jan. to Nov. increase Terrorist blast kills policeman, injures ten, raises outcry ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Athens, 20/9/1994 (ANA): A senior police officer was killed and 10 officers and civilians injured, when a remote-controlled bomb blew up a police bus carrying police officers and civilian personnel to work early yesterday morning, a police spokesman said. The attack took place at 6:50 a.m. in the north-western suburb of Perissos, where the bus had made a second stop to pick up police and civilian personnel. Apostolos Velios, 42, died soon after being taken to hospital. Casualties included the driver of the bus and three other police officers (two of them women), five women civilian personnel, and another civilian who was injured by glass splinters when a window of his home blew apart as a result of the blast. The bomb, planted on the sidewalk where the bus makes its usual stop every day to take police officers to work, wrecked the vehicle and shattered windows in nearby houses and shops. An unidentified caller claimed responsibility for the attack on behalf of the "November 17" terrorist group, in a telephone call to Sky private radio station. But authorities were sceptical over the authenticity of the call. "The caller said November 17 carried out a 'rocket attack', but police investigations have ruled this out," Public Order Minister Stelios Papathemelis said. November 17, which has killed 20 Greeks and foreign nationals since 1975, has used both rockets and remote-controlled bombs in attacks on police, foreign diplomats and businesses. One police officer was killed in 1985, when the group blasted a police bus in central Athens. The last attack on a police bus occurred in February 1992, when a remote-controlled bomb explosion injured 18 riot policemen. Responsibility had been claimed by another leftist group, the Revolutionary Popular Struggle (ELA). "It is still too early to determine who was behind the attack," Mr. Papathemelis told reporters. Two policemen, who suffered grave injuries to the head and chest, are in stable condition but may lose an eye each, said a spokesman for 401 Military Hospital where the injured men were taken. "Two other injured persons are still in hospital, while the remaining six, including civilians, were discharged after being attended to. Reactions ~~~~~~~~ Athens, 20/9/1994: Premier Andreas Papandreou said the "cowardly murderous attack against police officers and civilian employees of the Public Order Ministry causes anger and indignation among the Greek people, political and social groups and the government, the firm intention of which is to track down the perpetrators of such criminal activities." "Such an act by cold-blooded, terrorist murderers is aimed not only at innocent victims. Its main target is Greece itself," the Premier said. Press and Media Minister and government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said in Nicosia - where he is on an official visit - all such acts cause abhorrence and are unreservedly condemned by the whole of Greek society, public opinion and political parties. Justice Minister George Kouvelakis also expressed "abhorrence and rage" over the terrorist act yesterday. In a statement , Ruling Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) denounced the terrorist act saying "the Greek people ... condemn such abhorrent tactics by terrorists." Main Opposition New Democracy party leader Miltiades Evert expressed profound grief over the "latest horrendous crime." He added terrorism would be foiled if all political parties took a determined common stand against it. A Political Spring party announcement expressed "revulsion and rage" over the terrorist act, renewing an earlier proposal for setting up an all-party committee to combat terrorism. The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) also condemned the attack. Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) leader Nikos Constantopoulos attacked terrorism for "destabilising and undermining" democracy. Prompted by the terrorist attack, yesterday, former Conservative Prime Minister Constantine Mitsotakis blamed the government claiming it was secretly protecting terrorists. "If the government wants to combat terrorism .... it should put an end to its ambivalent policy and covert support of terrorists," Mr. Mitsotakis told reporters in Thessaloniki. Mr. Mitsotakis, whose son-in-law was murdered by November 17 in 1989, said "government encouragement of terrorism was apparent in its decision to repeal anti-terrorism legislation." Conservative lawmakers passed a bill in 1990 banning the publication of statements issued by urban guerrilla groups. Its implementation disgruntled international media groups when seven newspaper editors were imprisoned for defying the ban. In an early legislative move, the ruling socialist government scrapped the law, a month after winning last October's general elections. Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou had then termed the law "undemocratic". Press and Media Under-Secretary Telemachos Hytiris later said Mr. Mitsotakis' anti-terrorism legislation resulted in putting publishers and pressmen behind bars, instead of and battling terrorism. ECOFIN endorses Convergence Plan, stresses insistence on implementation ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Brussels, 20/9/1994 (ANA/G. Daratos-V. Demiris): The Council of European Union Finance and National Economy Ministers (ECOFIN) yesterday ratified the Greek economy revised Convergence Plan for the 1994-1999 period, on condition the Greek government will implement it with absolute precision and regardless of results of this year's national budget or of those to follow. In a statement afterwards, National Economy Minister Yiannos Papantoniou expressed satisfaction at the development which "shows an improved image of Greece on the international economic scene, while underscoring the great determination with which the Greek government has been handling the matter throughout past months." A statement issued at the end of the meeting said the Council "welcomed the realistic growth projections on which the plan is constructed." "The Council urged the Greek government to pursue vigorously all the policies necessary to achieve the targets of the plan. It welcomed the Greek authorities' commitment to establish, year by year, budgets which fully comply with Convergence Plan, and welcomed a commitment by the Greek government to take whatever action might be necessary to ensure budgetary targets were met," the statement added. "The Council stressed the importance of establishing a budget for 1995, which fully complies with objectives and targets of the Convergence Plan, and to do so whatever the outcome of the 1994 budget. It encouraged the Greek government to strengthen the proposed reductions in primary expenditure foreseen in the plan with a view to enhancing the sustainability of the plan and to increasing the certainty of its achievement," it added. "The Council agreed to review, in the context of the Union's multilateral surveillance procedures, including the excessive deficit procedure, the implementation of the Convergence Plan year for year over the period covered by the plan," the statement concluded. Christophersen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Brussels, 20/9/1994 (ANA-F. Stangos): Speaking at a joint press conference in Brussels, European Commission Vice President Henning Christophersen and ECOFIN chairman (German Finance Minister) Teo Waigel underlined the need for precise and careful implementation of the Greek Convergence Plan, including added measures in the event of divergence from targets. Mr. Christophersen said the revised Greek Convergence Plan "is based on realistic assumptions on Greek economy development prospects", adding "there are other factors which must be taken into serious account such as the reduction of interest rates and inflation, which constitute essential preconditions for development policy success, as well as negotiations for salaries." "We clearly stated, and the Greek minister agreed, that it might be necessary to take additional measures," Mr. Christophersen said. "I have no doubt that the Greek government wants the economy to improve. However, this requires very serious and systematic work year by year," Mr. Christophersen said. Mr. Waigel, in turn, said "Greece had made a commitment to implement the Convergence Plan whose progress will be reconsidered through comprehensive examination at the end of the year." Opposition statement ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Athens, 20/9/1994: A statement by the main opposition New Democracy party on the revised Convergence Plan said: "In no way should the announcement by the Council of Ministers (ECOFIN) allow the government to jubilate over the ratification of the Convergence Plan." "Using once again its usual ploy of disorientation, the government is trying to depict conclusions of the European Union Council of Finance Ministers on the Greek economy Convergence Plan as being positive," it said. "It stems from the text (of conclusions), that the European Union Council will supervise the implementation of the plan, year by year, and the government has agreed to such supervision," the statement concluded. Turkish trawlers violate Greek sea waters, warning shots fired ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Athens, 20/9/1994 (ANA): A harbour authority patrol boat fired warning shots Sunday, after five Turkish trawlers, sighted within Greek territorial waters, ignored signals to leave the area, harbour authorities and Navy General Staff sources said yesterday. Sources close to harbour authorities said five Turkish trawlers were spotted by patrol boats Sunday morning fishing one-half mile within Greek territorial waters east of Mytilene (Lesbos) island. The captain of a nearby harbour authority vessel, using a loudspeaker, called out a warning to the trawlers to leave the area. But the calls were ignored and, in accordance with regulations, warning shots were fired at regular intervals. Details of the incident were corroborated by Navy General Staff sources. They said the trawlers sailed out of Greek territorial waters a few hours later. The Foreign Ministry later said it would lodge a demarche with Ankara over the incident. "The Greek embassy in Ankara has been sent instructions regarding a demarche," a Ministry announcement said. It also criticised a related statement by Turkish Foreign Minister Mumtaz Soysal, saying such incidents did not contribute to improving relations between Greece and Turkey. Mr. Soysal said the incident confirmed Turkey's fears that Greece intended to extend its territorial waters to 12 nautical miles from its coast. "We would never tolerate this. It would be a cause of war," Mr. Soysal said. Government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos also criticised Mr. Soysal's statement terming it "inexcu-sable" and an effort to "export domestic problems." Speaking to reporters in Nicosia, where he is on a four-day visit, Mr. Venizelos said Mr. Soysal's statements aimed at cultivating "a climate of artificial tension which Greece always seeks to avoid by treating the matter with a cool head and a sense of profound gravity." Meanwhile, the Turkish Foreign Ministry lodged a demarche with the Greek embassy in Ankara over the incident which, it said, "could have serious consequences." The Greek embassy told Ankara authorities the incident had taken place within Greece's sea waters. Papoulias to hold "important" meetings in New York ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ New York, 20/9/1994 (ANA-M. Georgiadou): Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias in New York to participate at the 49th session of the UN General Assembly, yesterday said he planned to have a round of 'important' meetings on the sidelines of the assembly with his American and Turkish counterparts and UN Skopje mediator Cyrus Vance. Mr. Papoulias will hold two separate meetings with his US counterpart William Christopher on bilateral issues, and in the framework of European troika contacts. The Foreign Minister also announced he would hold meetings with Balkan counterparts, excluding Albanian Foreign Minister Alfred Serreki. "I will not have a meeting with Mr. Serreki unless there is progress in Greek-Albanian relations," Mr. Papoulias said, referring to a Greek demand for release of six ethnic Greek Omonia members. Greek-Albanian relations plunged to an all-time low when a Tirana court sentenced six ethnic Greeks to prison on charges of espionage and illegal possession of weapons. Greece said trials were meant to intimidate its ethnic minority in Southern Albania. It retaliated by blocking European Union funds to Albania and beefing up border controls. Mr. Papoulias will begin his round of contacts with Mr. Vance. He told a questioners he based his forecast that the Skopje issue would be resolved by 1995, "on progress made through contacts with Mr. Vance and Mr. (US Skopje mediator Matthew) Nimetz. Asked on the prospects of his meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Mumtaz Soysal, Mr. Papoulias said it would focus on a review of Greek-Turkish relations, especially after the meeting which took place recently in Ankara at under-secretary level. "We will examine prospects of progress in Greek-Turkish relations," Mr. Papoulias said. Asked whether or not Athens had asked UN Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali to mediate a solution in the crisis between Greece and Albania, Mr. Papoulias said: "The Secretary -General is well informed on the state of Greek-Albanian relations. I will seek to see him again and I am certain I will. When I meet with the Secretary General, an old time friend since he was Egypt's Foreign Under-Secretary, we will discuss all issues of direct interest to Greece." Asked whether or not Athens would be interested in mediation by Mr. Ghali, the Foreign Minister added: "The Secretary General enjoys a high stature internationally and, I believe, any offer from him would be welcome." Mr. Papoulias told another questioner he would not be visiting Washington. Ghali offers mediation ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ New York, 20/9/1994: Meanwhile, Mr. Boutros-Ghali' spokesman Joe Sill told the press the Secretary-General had sent reply letters to Athens and Tirana, offering his good offices in the quest for a settlement of the dispute between the two neighbours. Greek envoy to Belgrade visits Montenegro ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Belgrade, 20/9/1994 (ANA-M. Mouratidis): Michael Spinellis, Greek Charge d'affaires in Belgrade, yesterday paid a service visit to Montenegro for talks with Foreign Minister Miodrag Lekic, who expressed appreciation for Greece's constructive and active role in the effort to resolve the Yugoslav crisis. Discussion included Greek-Albanian relations. It was agreed the crisis should be settled through both bilateral and multilateral contacts, to prevent reaching flashpoint in the southern Balkans. Specific measures to implement a Greek government decision to establish a consulate in Montenegro were also discussed. Slight rise, 3.2 per cent, in June retail sales ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Athens, 20/9/1994 (ANA): The volume of retail sales increased 3.2 per cent in June after deducting inflation from turnover value. According to National Statistics Service data, the value of retail sales increased 14.5 per cent in June, compared to the corresponding month in 1993. January to June 1994, six-month value of retail sales rose by 12.9 per cent, but the volume of goods sold increased by only 1.8 per cent compared to the corresponding period in 1993. Exports 8.3 per cent Jan. to Nov. increase ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Athens, 20/9/1994 (ANA): Exports amounted to 1,732,450.7 million dr. from January and November 1993 compared to 1,600,127.4 million dr. during the corresponding period in 1992, an increase of 132,323.3 million dr. or 8.3 per cent. Most exports were again directed to European Union member states, falling to 979,638.9 million dr. from 1,014,443.5 million dr. Exports to the rest of Europe (outside the EU) increased during the period under review by 41.9 per cent, from 240,443.6 million dr. to 341,269.3 million dr.