From: tzarros@ccs.carleton.ca (Theodore Zarros) Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Wed, 5 Oct 1994 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa). Athens News Agency Bulletin 05/10/1994 -------------------------------------- * EU: concern over Albanian human rights violation,wants ethnics released * Greek veto reiterated * Evert details ND line on national, other issues * Reactions * Kinkel:Albania should ``do everything possible`` to reduce tension * Samarakis protests conviction of ethnics * Public Order Minister in Bucharest talks * Venizelos condemns Mitsotakis statement on "secret" FYROM agreements * Defence U`Secretary in broad round of meetings in Budapest * Defendory brings Greece to fore of weapons trade EU: concern over Albanian human rights violation,wants ethnics released ----------------------------------------------------------------------- LUXEMBOURG 5/10/1994 (ANA-P.Pantelis-K.Veros) European Union Foreign Ministers meeting in Luxembourg to discuss EU foreign policy issues yesterday expressed concern over the violation of human rights in Albania, and pledged to lodge demarches with the Albanian go vernment for the release of five ethnic Greeks sentenced to prison on espionage charges. In expressing its concern, the Council said it was prompted by the recent conviction and jail terms ranging between six to eight years, of five ethnic Greeks in Albania on charges of espionage and illegal possession of weapons. The Council, represented by the German EU presidency, pledged to lodge demarches with the Albanian government in order to secure amnesty or pardon for the five. It also pledged to follow developments in Albania closely. A day before the foreign ministers came together in Luxembourg, also to discuss a Greek veto of EU financial assistance to Albania, a Tirana Court delayed until tomorrow a ruling on the appeal by the five. On the first day of the appeal trial, Monday, a state prosecutor proposed ratification of the sentences maintaining that the five "were proven guilty and their link with Greek intelligence services established." The conviction of the five Omonia members, and a later conviction of a sixth Greek minority member on charges of illegal arms possession, caused Greek-Albanian relations to plunge to an all time low. Athens denounced the trial as a "parody" of justice saying it was intented to intimidate the ethnic Greek minority in southern Albania, and retaliated by blocking the first part of European Union macroeconomic assistance to Albania, in the form of a tot al loan worth 35 million ECU. In light of the appeal trial, Athens said it would lift the veto, if Albania liberated the five and improved its human rights record. Earlier in the week, government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said it was "a good opportunity for Albanian authorities to make amends and restore the climate of dialogue (between the two neighbours)." Greek veto reiterated --------------------- In Luxembourg, representing Greece to the meeting, Foreign Undersecretary for European Affairs Yiannos Kranidiotis told reporters he had detailed the Greek positions after the German presidency raised the issue at a working lunch. Addressing the Ministers, Mr. Kranidiotis expressed Greek government concern at the way the ethnic Greek minority was treated by the Albanian authorities. and of the manner in which both the trial and the appeal of the five had been conducted. He presented the Greek reservations over the granting of EU funds to Albania, reiterating the Greek veto on the first part of the Union's macroeconomic assistance to the Balkan state, on the grounds that Albania had continued to violate human and minori ty rights, withhold democratisation procedures, and not releasing the five ethnic Greeks. Mr. Kranidiotis said Greece would lift its veto and enter talks to ease frosty Greek-Albanian relations, only if Albania released the five ethnic Greeks. All EU Ministers expressed concern over human rights violations in Albania and no reference was made to the Greek veto. Mr. Kranidiotis said the EU ministers showed understanding for the Greek positions. "It was a good start and it gives us the right to expect the Unified Europe to show greater understanding and support (to the Greek positions)," Mr. Kranidiotis said. He added that the German presidency had already lodged two demarches with the Albanian government aiming at de-escalating tension in relations between the two neighbours. Athens called on the international community to pressure Tirana into setting free the five, asking the EU to show solidarity with Greece and put its common foreign policy to the test. Addressing the meeting, French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe referred to the so-called French-German initiative for EU troika consultations on the issue of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), the Greek-Albanian relations and EU-Turkish rel ations. Mr. Juppe said the Troika of past, present and future EU presidents would visit Athens in November "to discuss Greece's arguments on FYROM, Albania and Turkey." "The European Union must face and find solutions to these problems," he said, noting that "the present situation is not a healthy one." He said, however, that "these problems go so far back in time, that we would be happy solving just one of them." "This is our goal by the end of the year," he added. Greece in February imposed trade sanctions on FYROM to force it change its name, flag and constitution containing expansionist designs against Greece's northern province of the same name. Mr. Kranidiotis reiterated a Greek veto on FYROM's accession to the PHARE initiative on EU economic cooperation with central and east European countries, stating that it would lift it, if its dispute with its neighbour was settled. Addressing the focal issue of the conference -- preparation procedures for the accession to the EU of the central and eastern European countries -- Mr. Kranidiotis said that "for reasons of a balanced and concurrent evolution with the Mediterranean coun tries, a time schedule for a Cyprus and Malta accession to the EU should also be drafted." Mr. Kranidiotis proposed that Romania and Bulgaria also be included in the preparation procedures for future EU accession along with the countries of central Europe. Evert details ND line on national, other issues ----------------------------------------------- Athens 5/10/1994 (ANA) New Democracy party leader Miltiades Evert yesterday referred to his party's positions on the two prominent national issues of relations with Albania and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), at a press conference marking the 20th anniversar y of the founding of the party. Speaking on the FYROM issue, Mr Evert said that the decision adopted at the meeting of political leaders with the President in April 1992 still stood as the official Greek position. Commenting on a recent statement by FYROM President Kiro Gligorov rejecting the use of an adjectival term for the name "Macedonia", he said Greece's basic negotiating position should be "non-acceptance of the use of an adjectival term, as is the case with Mr Gligorov", of the use of ancient Macedonian symbols, and removal of irrendentist provisions in the FYROM cons titution. Explaining his party's stand on the imposition of retortion measures against FYROM by the present government, he said that if New Democracy had expressed disagreement, it would have been pounced upon by foreigners to claim existence of internal division s. "This is the meaning of the "national front" policy followed by ND, said Mr Evert, adding " we shall continue pursuing that policy, because we give priority to national rather than party interest", despite the fact that ND did not agree with the gover nment's options and handling of either the Albanian or the FYROM issue. Referring to domestic issues, the ND leader stressed the need for the existence and operation of strong parties to shield the functioning of democracy, and offset influences of interests "which want the fragmentation of political forces to further thei r own options, at the expense of popular interest." He ruled out the possibility of a split in his party, despite internal disagreements which were only natural after an electoral defeat, and said New Democracy was now ready to govern. He predicted that developments in national issues and government ima ge would become so bad in the spring of 1995, that holding elections would be a basic requirement for the Greek people. Mr Evert also said New Democracy "committed itself to presenting a thorough proposal for constitutional revision by the end of 1994". It was being drawn up by constitutional experts in collaboration with leading party members. Some of the proposed revis ions concerned the clear separation of the three divisions of authority, safeguarding meritocracy, and an end to a system of government which granted excessive powers to the prime minister. Commenting on proposals for a return of Political Spring party leader Antonis Samaras to the New Democracy, he said the party's doors were open to everyone, but accused Mr Samaras of exacerbating problems in national issues and of bringing PASOK to powe r. Reactions --------- A Political Spring party announcement described Mr Evert's statement as an organised operation for the disorientation of public opinion. "We recommend to the head of the permanent crisis in New Democracy to be more serious when referring to Mr Samaras...(but) we understand his position". Kinkel:Albania should ``do everything possible`` to reduce tension ------------------------------------------------------------------ LUXEMBOURG 5/10/1994 (ANA - P. Pantelis/K.Verros) German Council of Foreign Ministers President Klaus Kinkel told a press conference yesterday the European Union calls on Albania "to do everything possible" to reduce tension in its relations with Greece. He said Greece is a member of united Europe and will have the solidarity and support of its partners. "Albania is a sensitive problem, bearing in mind its strained relations with Greece. An agreement was reached at the Council of Ministers that the tense situation between Greece and Albania must be defused and dialogue should start again between the two countries. And, of course, it could help in reducing tension if some move were made in this regrettable court case," Mr. Kinkel said. Replying to questions, Mr. Kinkel said: "On the question of relations between Greece and Albania and the citizens of the ethnic Greek minority who were convicted, I must say that the conviction was based on Albania's domestic legislation. We feel that in relation to the trial and the penal co de of Albania, we should establish that everything took place during this trial in accordance with established norms. And so we decided to use all available legal means." "I hope things will more ahead thanks to the legal means and agencies that will be used. We do not intend to influence from outside the independent process taking pla-ce in Albania . What we can say is that we are calling on Albania to do everything pos sible to defuse tension in its relations with Greece," Mr. Kinkel said, referring to the appeal. Samarakis protests conviction of ethnics ---------------------------------------- Athens 5/10/1994 (ANA) Internationally renowned Greek author Antonis Samarakis yesterday protested the conviction of and called for the release of six leading members of the ethnic Greek minority to the Albanian Union of Authors and Artists. Five of them, sentenced to prison terms ranging from six to eight years on charges of espionage and illegal possession of arms have appealed against the sentence and a verdict is expected on Thursday. In the cable, Mr. Samarakis, whose book "To Lathos" (The Mistake) -- which was also made into a French film-- has been translated to Albanian, under the title "Gabimi" said the conviction of the six ethnic Greeks was "an offence to the ideals of freedo m, friendship and mutual support beween common men and peoples." "I raise my voice in protest and call for their release," Samarakis said, adding that the conviction runs counter to the contents of his novel which speaks of "ideals and realities that reach beyond political systems." Public Order Minister in Bucharest talks ---------------------------------------- Athens 5/10/1994 (ANA) Public Order Minister Stelios Papathemelis began yesterday an official three-day visit to Romania at the invitation of Internal Affairs Minister Ioan Dorou Tarakila (phonetic spelling) returning his last visit to Greece. Mr. Papathemelis met yesterday successively with the Internal Affairs minister, Parliamentary President Adrian Nastaze and the Romanian Patriarch Theoktisto. Discussion focused on the important role which Greece and Romania play in establishing peace and stability in the Balkans. Venizelos condemns Mitsotakis statement on "secret" FYROM agreements -------------------------------------------------------------------- Athens 5/10/1994 (ANA) Government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said yesterday a statement by former Prime Minister Constantine Mitsotakis that there are secret agreements on the issue of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) was a "manifestation of political irresp onsibility." "The positions of Greece are well-known. They are, steadfast, clear and flexible enough to allow (FYROM President Kiro) Mr. Gligorov to accept them," Mr. Venizelos said. Defence U`Secretary in broad round of meetings in Budapest ---------------------------------------------------------- VIENNA 5/10/1994 (ANA - D. Dimitrakoudis) Greek National Defence Undersecretary Nikos Kouris yesterday held talks in Budapest with his Hungarian counterpart Jozsef Feher in a friendly atmosphere and a spirit of mutual understanding. Mr. Kouris had arrived earlier on a two-day official visit. The purpose of Mr. Kouris' visit (the second at this level) is to further widen cooperation between Greece and Hungary, on the basis of bilateral defence cooperation agreement signed last summer. Mr. Kouris told the ANA his talks with Mr. Feher had led to a coincidence of views between the two sides on numerous issues. Indirect reference was made to Greek national issues during a discussion on principles, such as the violation of borders in Euro pe and the protection of ethnic minorities where they exist, he said. Hungarian General Defence Staff representatives briefed Mr. Kouris on the structure of the Hungarian armed forces. He also visited the Keskemet air base to watch a display by Mig-29 warplanes and, in the afternoon, he met with Hungarian Parliament Defen ce Committee President Imre Metz. Today, Mr. Kouris will have talks with Hungarian Defence Minister Giergi Keleti on European security issues, and possible Hungarian participation in NATO and European Union defence formations, a development which Budapest is ardently seeking. He will al so meet with Hungarian Foreign Undersecretary Istvan Pataki. Mr. Kouris will leave Budapest for Athens late at night. Defendory brings Greece to fore of weapons trade ------------------------------------------------ Athens 5/10/1994 (ANA) National Defence Minister Gerasimos Arsenis yesterday opened an international defence exhibition in the port of Piraeus saying it brought Greece in the limelight of the international defence trade. DEFENDORY '94, an International Conventional Land and Sea Weapons Systems Exhibition, held at the Piraeus Port Authority, is held with the participation of 34 companies in the international defence industry. In his opening address, Mr. Arsenis said the DEFENDORY '94 exhibition gives the opportunity to the largest companies in the industry to promote new cooperation venture agreements for co-development, co-production and sale of defence equipment. "The Greek defence industry attributes special significance to DEFENDORY '94," Mr. Arsenis said, adding that the exhibition brings Greece in the limelight of the international defence trade. The opening of the exhibition was attended by Merchant Marine Minister George Katsifaras, National Defence Undersecretary Manolis Beteniotis and other political and military officials.