From: tzarros@ccs.carleton.ca (Theodore Zarros) Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Sat, 15 Oct 1994 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa). Athens News Agency Bulletin, October 15, 1994 --------------------------------------------- * Greece goes to polls tomorrow to choose new local gov'ts * Central bank governor Boutos resigns, deputy Papademos takes over * Lucas Papademos * Papoulias willing to meet Serreqi if ethnic Greek six receive justice * Albanian gov't press continues attack on Anastasios * Premier to meet Vartholomeos October 21 * Santer welcomes appointment of Papoutsis to Commission * Wives of US senators to visit Greece * Gligorov: 'problems with Greece will take a long time' * US official asks Germany to consider peacekeeping * "Kaklamanis to visit Cyprus next month * Greece, Turkey sign transport co-operation protocol * Greek lawyers to assist defence of Istanbul lawyer * Three US firms get go-ahead to set up casinos around the country Greece goes to polls tomorrow to choose new local gov'ts --------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 15/10/94 (ANA): Pre-electoral campaigns officially ended yesterday and over eight and a half million Greek voters go to the polls tomorrow to elect municipal and regional authorities in the second political showdown in just over a year. Interior Ministry sources said a total of 203,000 new voters have registered for balloting in 21,000 polling stations which will open at 6.34 a.m. and close at 5.47 p.m. They will elect 434 mayors and, for the first time, 54 government prefects to monitor state funds and policies in their regions. First results are expected around 11.00 p.m. Vying for election are a record total of 300,000 candidates or one candidate for every seven voters, interior ministry sources said. Campaigning has centred on Greece's three main cities of Athens, Thessaloniki and Piraeus, where almost half of the registered voters live. The battle between the ruling Panhellenic Socialist Party (PASOK), which made a strong comeback to power in general elections last October, and the main opposition New Democracy (ND) party it ousted, will be closest fought in the capital. Pollsters say New Democracy (ND) candidate Dimitris Avramopoulos and Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) Theodore Pangalos are neck-and-neck in the race for mayor of Athens and predict a run-off in a second round of voting on October 2. Voting is mandatory with stiff penalties for those who refuse to go to the polls. "We are prepared for the concurrent elections. We did everything we could to inform the citizens (on procedures)," Interior Minister Constantine Skandalides said. Other candidates for Athens are Andreas Lentakis, supported by Political Spring, Leo Avdis, supported by the Communist Party of Greece, and Maria Damanaki supported by the Coalition of the Left and Progress. For Piraeus, candidates are Stelios Logothetis, supported by PASOK, Haralambos Kefalas, supported by New Democracy and Political Spring, Yiannis Papaspyrou, PASOK dissident supported by the party's local organisations, and Christos Agrapides ND dissident supported by the party's local organisations. Mr. Pangalos said he was fighting "against the trend that isolates and makes citizens passive." "This is a critical moment. It will be a great victory and we will win it together," Mr. Pangalos said in a last pre-election address. Addressing a press conference yesterday, Mr. Avramopoulos sent a message to "everyone who loves Athens, to make it proud, creative, and productive." Central bank governor Boutos resigns, deputy Papademos takes over ----------------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 15/10/94 (ANA): Bank of Greece deputy governor Lucas Papademos was appointed head of the country's central bank yesterday after the resignation of governor Ioannis Boutos. Sources said Mr. Boutos tendered his resignation yesterday after he replaced the temporary commissioner of the Bank of Crete Kostas Kalivianakis with George Sortikos Thursday "without informing the government". "Mr. Boutos' move was sudden and (made) without notifying anyone," the sources said. Mr. Boutos, 69, insisted on his action and submitted his resignation, which was accepted by the government. Government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said the reasons for Mr. Boutos' resignation was not related to the government's economic, financial and monetary policy, adding that the resignation did not cause any problems on the stock market. The spokesman said he was not aware of the reasons which led Mr. Boutos to resign, stressing that the governor had not been forced to resign. In a statement, Mr. Boutos said his resignation was "a matter of principle". "The central bank is obliged to operate autonomously within the boundaries of existing legislation. In any case and until the independence of the Bank of Greece is fully institutionalised, a governor, who also happens to be an experienced politician, has the obligation to brief the government on certain serious issues. This is what I did as all relevant officials are aware," Mr. Boutos said. Mr. Boutos, a veteran politician who has served in several cabinets since 1961, was appointed to his post by the government last November. Commenting on the resignation, main opposition New Democracy party leader Miltiades Evert called on Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou and Mr. Boutos to explain the reasons behind the governor's resignation. "The resignation of the Bank of Greece's governor is a major political and economic issue and a problem in view of the tragic state of the Greek economy," Mr. Evert said in an announcement. The Political Spring party called on the government to give "immediate, specific and clear answers". The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Central Committee said Mr. Boutos' resignation resulted from the government's decision in May to lift all restrictions on capital movement "causing interest rates to soar in a bid to keep the drachma stable, and to other economic adjustments in compliance with the Maastricht directives". The resignation of Mr. Boutos "is rather the tip of the iceberg in current activities in the banking sector," the KKE said. Lucas Papademos --------------- Athens, 15/10/94 (ANA): The new governor of the Bank of Greece Lucas Papademos, 47, is a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and taught economics at Columbia University in New York, between 1975 and 1984, and has also worked as an economics expert for the US Federal Reserve. After teaching for a year at Athens University, he was appointed in 1985 as a consultant to the Bank of Greece, a job he held until 1993 when he was named the bank's deputy governor. During that period he also directed the bank's economic research department. Since 1985, Mr. Papademos has been a member of the European Union's central bank deputy governors committee, chairing the committee in 1989. He also served as a member of the EU monetary committee between 1985 and 1988. In 1993 he was elected president of the sub-committee of EU central bank governors. Papoulias willing to meet Serreqi if ethnic Greek six receive justice ----------------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 15/10/94 (ANA): Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias yesterday reiterated his willingness to meet Albanian counterpart Alfred Serreqi without conditions, provided the six members of the ethnic Greek Omonia political organisation, recently convicted by Tirana courts of espionage and illegal arms possession, are released. Mr. Papoulias said the release of the six would be "a restoration of justice". Regarding the latest statements by Albanian President Sali Berisha casting doubt on the future of Orthodox Archbishop of Albania Anastasios, Mr Papoulias said the issue was not a narrow ecclesiastical matter but one which would provoke wide-ranging reactions among all church leaders. He described President Clinton's assurances of continued US interest in the human rights of the Greek minority in Albania as "a positive development", but added that "words are not enough and action is needed for a positive result in a just cause". Mr. Papoulias was referring to a statement made by President Clinton during a programme in tribute to Archbishop Iakovos of North and South America on a private Greek television station. Albanian gov't press continues attack on Anastasios --------------------------------------------------- Tirana, 15/10/94 (ANA/MPA): Meanwhile, pro-government newspapers in Albania continued their attacks on Archbishop Anastasios yesterday, while the opposition press accused President Berisha of trying to assume almost dictatorial powers through the planned constitutional revision. 'Rilidia' called for the Archbishop to be declared persona non grata, while the nationalist 'Republica' said he should be relieved of his duties. The independent 'Koha Yona', on the other hand, said there was a danger that the draft constitution, if approved, would fuel tension in relations between Church and State, and would be "the most spectacular of all failed attempts to control the autocephalous Church of Albania". President Berisha said last week that the planned constitutional revision, to be put to a referendum on November 6, would include provisions requiring the head of the Albanian Orthodox Church be a native Albanian and to have resided in the country for the previous 20 years. Meanwhile, Metropolitan Amphilochios of Montenegro said in a press conference in Belgrade yesterday that the position of the Orthodox population in Albania is more difficult today than during the reign of Albania's Communist ruler Enver Hoxha. "They are asking that their priests be Albanian citizens, having resided in the country for 20 years. They can only find them if they resurrect the dead," the metropolitan said. Premier to meet Vartholomeos October 21 --------------------------------------- Athens, 15/10/94 (ANA): Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou will meet Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos on the island of Kos on October 21. The Patriarch will tour the metropolis of the Ecumenical Throne in the Dodecannese and the Patriarchal Exarchate of the Holy Isle of Patmos as of October 18. Santer welcomes appointment of Papoutsis to Commission ------------------------------------------------------ Athens, 15/10/94 (ANA): European Commission president-designate Jacques Santer said here yesterday he looked forward to co-operating with Greece's newly-appointed commissioner Christos Papoutsis, but did not say what portfolio he would be allocated. "Mr. Papoutsis fulfils all the requirements provided for the appointment of new European commissioners. I look forward to co-operating with him," Mr. Santer said. He made no statement on which commission portfolio the 41-year-old socialist Eurodeputy would be given. Mr. Papoutsis' appointment was announced by Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou after his talks with the new European Commission president. The talks also focused on Greece's national issues. Mr. Papandreou termed the discussion "positive" adding that Mr. Santer "has a good knowledge of our problems." "Mr. Santer has shown great sensitivity of Greece's national issues," Mr. Papandreou said, stressing Mr. Santer's record in solving disputes. Mr. Santer is touring European capitals to discuss the allocation of portfolios in the new EU commission, due to take office on January 1. He said he planned to call a meeting of the new European Union's executive in Luxembourg on October 29, including commissioners selected by the Union's four new member states -- Austria, Finland Norway and Sweden. "During that meeting I will proceed with distribution of the Commission portfolios," Mr. Santer said. Wives of US senators to visit Greece ------------------------------------ Athens, 15/10/94 (ANA): The Washington Greek-American Institute, in co-operation with President Clinton's Greek-American Friends Organisation, have organised wives of noted American senators to visit Greece October 16-22. The group will visit the Argosaronikos isles, Thessaloniki, Florina and the Lake Prespes. Head of the mission will be Colleen Nunn, wife of Democrat Senator Sam Nunn. The mission will meet with Dimitra Papandreou, ministers Gerasimos Arsenis and Constantine Triaridis, Under-secretaries George Lianis and Gregoris Niotis, and Parliamentary Vice-President Panayiotis Kritikos, New Democracy Vice-President Ioannis Varvitsiotis, US Ambassador Thomas Niles and Greek businessmen. Gligorov: 'problems with Greece will take a long time' ----------------------------------------------------- Skopje, (ANA/M. Vichou): Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) President Kiro Gligorov says he does not think that problems existing between his country and Greece will be solved quickly after the national elections in FYROM on Sunday. In an interview with a weekly newspaper, he said that there will be a long process before it is understood by Greece that "we are not a hostile people". "We have many reasons to solve our differences ... We must find a modus vivendi for communication between people, the movement of goods, even for state communication. I have noticed certain signs in this direction... which is inevitable, anyway," he said. "Certain things will perhaps be left for long-term discussions, but the basic thing is for inter-state relations to be clarified, to find a means of communication, to open the border, to let economy and trade speak, and all this will lead the situation to the better," he said. US official asks Germany to consider peacekeeping ------------------------------------------------- Bonn, (ANA/P. Stangos): According to press reports, US Defence Secretary William Perry has requested Germany seriously consider possible participation in UN peacekeeping contingents in the Balkans and more specifically in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) where at least 200 US peacekeepers are stationed. Mr. Perry's request was made informally in talks with senior officials of both the foreign and defence ministries and at meetings with German politicians. A senior Social Democrat Party (SPD) official explained that the request was meant to urge the German government to take a more active role in UN peacekeeping operations, following a decision by the Federal Court in Karlsruhe on 12 July legitimising activities of the German armed forces in "out of area" military operations sponsored by the UN and on condition of parliamentary approval. Meanwhile, a report in the Dortmund-based "Neue Ruhr Zeitung" newspaper on Wednesday said "discreet handling" of the issue by the US is due to the fact that a public and official request to the German government "would probably embarrass it in the midst of the pre-election period." A German Foreign Ministry spokesman said "the issue of a more active participation (of German armed forces in UN peacekeeping operations) is raised after the decision (of the Federal Court) in Karlsruhe", adding that "there is no such question officially." "However, we adhere to the positions of both the Chancellor and the Foreign Minister that German troops (land forces) have no place in the territory of former Yugoslavia. "Kaklamanis to visit Cyprus next month -------------------------------------- Nicosia, 15/10/94 (ANA): Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis is expected to visit Cyprus next month at the invitation of his Cypriot counterpart Alexis Galanos. During his visit, Mr. Kaklamanis will discuss the proposition of the Pan-Cypriot Relatives of the Missing Committee to establish a non-partisan committee of deputies from both countries to promote the issue on an international level. The proposition has already been agreed to by all the Greek political parties. Greece, Turkey sign transport co-operation protocol --------------------------------------------------- Athens, 15/10/94 (ANA): The seventh session of the Joint Greek-Turkish Transport Committee in Athens has ended with the signing of a co-operation protocol. The Turkish delegation was headed by assistant Turkish Transport Under-Secretary Tekin Cinap. Transport and Communications Ministry Secretary General Ioannis Constantinidis, who headed the Greek side, said relations between the two countries in the sector of road transport for passengers and goods were promoted, giving a boost to bilateral commercial transactions and Greek exports. In parallel, very favourable conditions are being created for more substantive participation of Greek transporters in transport activity between the two countries, he said. Mr. Constantinidis expressed his satisfaction at the constructive climate of co-operation existing between the two sides. Greek lawyers to assist defence of Istanbul lawyer -------------------------------------------------- Athens, 15/10/94 (ANA): The Athens Bar Association said yesterday it would send three of its lawyers to Turkey to assist the defence of an ethnic Greek lawyer charged with "insulting the Turkish nation". Elpida Frangopoulou will be tried next Tuesday and, if convicted, faces imprisonment of at least six months and loss of her licence to practice. Ms. Frangopoulou is well-known for her continuous struggle to save the vast wealth of thousands of ethnic Greeks expelled from Istanbul following a 1964 secret Turkish decree which virtually confiscated their properties. Three US firms get go-ahead to set up casinos around the country ------------------------------------------------------ Athens, 15/10/94 (ANA): Greece's Tourism Minister Dionysis Livanos said yesterday three US companies had been given the green light to set up and operate casinos in four major cities in the country. "The procedure has been completed for the selection and provision of casino licences in Thessaloniki, Halkidiki, Patras and Loutraki," Mr. Livanos told a news conference. He said the Hyatt hotel chain would build a casino in Thessaloniki which would provide 1,680 new jobs and 70 billion drachmas in revenue for the Greek state in the next five years. The Lady Luck gaming corporation was awarded two licences to build casinos in the southern port city of Patras and Loutraki, near Corinth. Mr. Livanos said the state would take in 87 billion drachmas from the 12.5 billion drachma investment project and over a thousand jobs would be created. In Loutraki, the US company will co-operate with the municipality of Perahora in a project to bring 103 billion drachmas to the Greek state. In Halkidiki, Mr. Livanos said the Magic Company gaming corporation had been licensed to build a casino at the Porto Carras hotel resort. The 4.5 billion drachmas project will add 29 billion drachmas to state coffers. Mr. Livanos said a special committee was reviewing offers for seven other casinos around the country, while over 20 enterprises have presented bids for two casinos in Athens. An announcement from the main opposition New Democracy party parliamentary committee on tourism said that the casino case was a scandal which exposed Greece internationally. "Serious investors have refused to take part in the competition and others have withdrawn during procedures," it said. The announcement ended by calling on the prime minister to "put the brakes on the 'strange' activities of the Tourism Ministry".