From: tzarros@ccs.carleton.ca (Theodore Zarros) Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Wed, 2 Nov 1994 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa). Athens News Agency Bulletin, November 2, 1994 --------------------------------------------- * Gov't unsurprised by continuing Denktash, Turkish intransigence * Gov't awaits movement on FYROM issue now elections over * Anastasios slams Albanian gov't mouthpiece for slander * Constantopoulos: 'redefine foreign policy' * Orthodox faith MPs to work for peace, dialogue in Europe * EU official in Athens * Press reports denied * Political Spring on Turkey's relations with EU * Arsenis in Egypt for talks on regional collective security * President in hospital * Ports on alert after cholera outbreak in Bari * Greece, Turkey discuss cultural co-operation * KKE historical records damaged in flooding * Greek' Russian businessmen meet on consolidating further links * Industrial output 24 p.c. August rise * Petroleum Corporation capital 19.5 bil. dr. increase Gov't unsurprised by continuing Denktash, Turkish intransigence -------------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 2/11/1994 (ANA): The government said yesterday that the failure of informal talks between Cypriot President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash had been led to their "natural conclusion", given long-standing Turkish intransigence over attempts to resolve the issue. Replying to press questions, government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos attributed the failure to the continuing intransigence of Mr. Denktash and Turkey. "This development vindicates the position of the Cyprus Republic, which is also Greece's position, according to which the basis for dialogue must be paragraph 2 of the most recent UN Security Council resolution," the spokesman said. The informal consultations between Mr. Clerides and Mr. Denktash ended Monday without any progress, mainly because of differing views on such issues as sovereignty and an agreed basis for a federal settlement. The two leaders have been engaged in a new series of talks at the invitation of UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali, in a bid to explore ways to achieve progress on a UN package of confidence-building measures and an overall settlement of the Cyprus problem. Meanwhile, asked if pressure was being brought to bear on Greece to enter into dialogue with Turkey, Mr. Venizelos replied that Athens and Ankara are already engaged in a dialogue at the level of the general directorship of the two countries' foreign ministries "on issues which are suitable for dialogue". Mr. Venizelos added that Turkey's unilateral demands were not issues open to dialogue. Gov't awaits movement on FYROM issue now elections over ------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 2/11/1994 (ANA): The government said yesterday that it hoped that the results of recent elections in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), which returned President Kiro Gligorov to power, would eliminate "pretexts to intransigence". "Political stability eliminates the pretexts for maintaining unjustified intransigence," government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said yesterday when asked if the situation concerning FYROM had changed following elections there. Citing the views of observers, Mr. Venizelos also said that following the elections, "groupings are being formed in the Skopjan parliament which enable changes to be made to the neighbouring state's constitution". The spokesman said that Greece's trade embargo against FYROM had paid off "in the sense that the issue has been placed on a new basis, Greece was vindicated by the decision of the Court of Luxembourg, and the retortion measures constitute a subject of dialogue...". Mr. Venizelos said that there had been no change in the government's policy on the Skopje issue. Asked if pressure was being exerted on Greece for a settlement of the problem, Mr. Venizelos underlined that Skopje's stance was harming "vital national interests of our country". "There are some friendly countries, which do not belong to this region, which view the issue from a different angle, but this does not automatically mean that pressure is being exerted," the spokesman said. In February, Greece imposed trade sanctions as retortion measures against the neighbouring country to force it to change its name, its flag and amend the preamble of its constitution, which expresses territorial designs against Greece's northern province of Macedonia. Anastasios slams Albanian gov't mouthpiece for slander ------------------------------------------------------ Tirana, 2/11/1994 (ANA/G. Zarkadis): Orthodox Archbishop of Albania Anastasios yesterday accused the pro-government newspaper 'Republica' of waging a methodical campaign of slander and misinformation against him and the Orthodox Church of Albania, with little regard for the truth. In an interview with the ANA, the Archbishop referred to the paper's publication of a letter he had sent to former Albanian President Ramiz Alia in June 1991, when, before his nomination as archbishop, he had been appointed by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople to visit Albania as Patriarchal Exarch. The newspaper claims in an accompanying article that his continued presence in the country violates the terms of his appointment as Exarch. The Archbishop points out that the newspaper deliberately ignores the fact that his term as Exarch expired in June 1992 and he was elected to the post of Archbishop through a new church instrument. Incumbent President Sali Berisha, says the Archbishop, had accepted his election "with pleasure", both on his first visit, and before the official delegation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate which had come to explain the meaning of its ecclesiastical resolutions, on July 4, 1992. "It is thus proved once again," continued Archbishop Anastasios, "that 'Republica' fully ignores the procedures of the Orthodox Church, or, simply, that it deliberately continues its slanderous campaign, in order to create the required alibi and smoke-screen to conceal the official scheming against the religious liberties of the Orthodox". The archbishop concluded by saying that "contrary to the practice in all democratic societies, the replies of offended parties are not published by most press instruments. This is much more the case with 'Republica', which feels secure behind the government support which it enjoys". Constantopoulos: 'redefine foreign policy' ------------------------------------------ Athens, 2/11/1994 (ANA): Coalition of the Left and Progress leader Nikos Constantopoulos yesterday called for a redefinition of Greek foreign policy and the formation of a national strategy to deal with problems. In statements before departing for Thessaloniki, he said Greece today is isolated and continually provoked, and stressed the need for a solution of differences with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia by the end of the year, normalisation of relations with Albania, and a strategy on Greek - Turkish relations. Upon arriving in Thessaloniki, he stated the government's handling of the issue of the extension of the country's territorial waters was correct, and reiterated the need to redefine foreign policy on the basis of initiatives for dialogue. Commenting on newspaper polls on the possibility of future co-operation in government between the Coalition and PASOK, he said polls simply signified the Coalition's possibilities and policy dynamics. "We disagree with the government's policy," he said. "There is a need for different policies, which require different social and political alignments. The Coalition will fight for these policies, and for other alignments which will change the political face of the country." Mr. Constantopoulos was in Thessaloniki yesterday to chair a meeting of party prefectural committees from central Macedonia. He was to arrive in Vassilika Thessalonikis to meet the Community Council, the Agricultural Co-operative Administrative Council and the members of agricultural society administrative councils in Vassilika. He was due back in Athens late last night. The Coalition leader is visiting Bulgaria for talks with all political parties next week, and has planned visits to Yugoslavia, Turkey, and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Orthodox faith MPs to work for peace, dialogue in Europe ------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 2/11/1994 (ANA): European MPs of the Orthodox faith are meeting in Athens today to discuss the creation of an intraparliamentary committee in Europe to promote peace and dialogue based on a cultural tradition enjoyed by more than 300 million Europeans. Once established, the committee will also co-ordinate the activities of its members in the framework of the European Union and internationally. Greek Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis will open the conference today. The opening ceremony will also be attended by political leaders and government officials. At a press conference yesterday, the Executive Board of the Orthodox Faith and Religious Denominations Parliamentary Committee said the proposed committee would not constitute "a front for the Orthodox Faith" but a platform to promote peace and dialogue based on a common cultural heritage to form a united Europe. The conference, taking place at the initiative of the Greek Parliament, has drawn MPs from the following states: Russia, Ukraine, Finland, Belarus, Latvia, Estonia, Georgia, Armenia, the Czech Republic, Poland, Serbia, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldavia, Cyprus and representatives of the European Parliament and European Commission. Albania refused to sent a delegation because, it said, religious tolerance exists in the country. EU official in Athens --------------------- Athens, 2/11/1994 (ANA): European Union Council of Ministers Secretary-General Mr. J. Trumpf arrived in Athens yesterday for an official visit at the invitation of Foreign Under-Secretary Yiannos Kranidiotis. Mr. Trumpf will hold talks with Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias and Mr. Kranidiotis today. He will also meet National Economy Under-Secretary George Romaios. Press reports denied -------------------- Athens, 2/11/1994 (ANA): Government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos yesterday denied reports claiming President Constantine Karamanlis and Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou have disagreed on foreign policy issues. Replying to questioners, Mr. Venizelos said there was no disagreement and termed such reports "unjustified." Political Spring on Turkey's relations with EU ---------------------------------------------- Athens, 2/11/1994 (ANA): Political Spring party spokesman Akis Gerontopoulos said yesterday Turkey must realise that no progress whatsoever can be achieved in its relations with the European Union, neither on a political nor on an economic level, for as long as it continues to occupy territory in Cyprus, violates human rights and questions Greece's sovereign rights. Mr. Gerontopoulos said it must be understood by all that respect for rules and principles of international law constitutes an inseparable and non-negotiable ingredient of the EU. Arsenis in Egypt for talks on regional collective security ---------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 2/11/1994 (ANA): National Defence Minister Gerasimos Arsenis left yesterday for Egypt for talks with the country's political leadership. Mr. Arsenis will be in Egypt for four days and will be joined by his counterparts in NATO member-states as well as Balkan and Eastern European countries. At a meeting with his Egyptian counterpart, Mr. Arsenis is expected to discuss a new system of collective security in the region. According to sources, Mr. Arsenis is due to visit Israel at the beginning of December. He will also make visits to Germany and the Balkan countries. Meanwhile the Belgian defence minister is expected to arrive in Athens for talks with Mr. Arsenis on Monday, while the French defence minister is expected to visit Greece by the end of the year. On November 14 Mr. Arsenis will arrive in the Hague to take part in the Western European Union (WEU) conference, on the sidelines of which he will hold a meeting with NATO's new Secretary-General Willy Claes. President in hospital --------------------- Athens, 2/11/1994 (ANA): President of the Republic Constantine Karamanlis will be admitted to the Ygeia hospital tomorrow for his annual check-up. Ports on alert after cholera outbreak in Bari --------------------------------------------- Athens, 2/11/1994 (ANA): The Merchant Marine Ministry has put port authorities of Patras, Corfu and Igoumenitsa on alert, instructing them to take immediate measures after the number of cases of cholera reported in the Italian port of Bari rose to ten yesterday. The outbreak of the disease has been traced back to Albania, where bad drinking water and poor hygiene has claimed the lives of 14 people in five weeks and hospitalised a further 24. The European Commission imposed a blanket ban on all seafood imported from Albania on September 20. The ministry memo warned the captains of Greek vessels sailing to Italian ports to avoid taking on water, but that if this was necessary, to immediately chlorinate the ship's water tank and record the occurrence in the ship's log. It also instructs the captains of vessels taking on passengers at Italian ports to sterilise rest-rooms at the end of the voyage. The port authorities are also instructed to collaborate with the local health authorities in taking samples of drinking water from vessels returning from Italian ports. Greece, Turkey discuss cultural co-operation ------------------------------------------- Athens, 2/11/1994 (ANA): Greece and Turkey yesterday opened talks here aimed at furthering cultural co-operation through exchanges and the joint organisation of events to be held next year. The talks, to be concluded today, are being held by the directors of the Cultural Affairs Departments of the Greek and Turkish foreign ministries. KKE historical records damaged in flooding ------------------------------------------ Athens, 2/11/1994 (ANA): The Communist Party of Greece's (KKE) archives have been severely damaged in the floods which hit Athens a fortnight ago when the party's headquarters in the suburb of Perissos was flooded. Culture Ministry General Secretary George Thomas said a group of experts would be called in to try to salvage as much as possible of "the documents which constitute part of the history of modern Greece." The documents and manuscripts date back to the foundation of the KKE in 1918, which remained underground until the ousting of the military dictatorship in 1974. The KKE announced Monday that it would begin a fund-raising campaign to restore damaged equipment at the party's newspaper and radio station, also based at party headquarters. Greek' Russian businessmen meet on consolidating further links -------------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 2/11/1994 (ANA): Greek and Russian businessmen and bankers met at the Russian Embassy yesterday evening to discuss a Russian initiative for the establishment of an Athens-based "Business with Russia" club. The club, which will co-operate closely with the Moscow-based Union of Greek Businessmen, will systematically inform its members on economic issues and business opportunities in Russia, help develop relations between Russian and Greek businessmen, and organise conferences in Greece with the participation of Russian government officials. There are opportunities for business co-operation between Russian and Greek entrepreneurs in the sectors of fuel, metallurgy, forestry, and processing of agricultural products. Russia's Ambassador to Greece Valery D. Nikolayenko told reporters his country's financial situation was improving, adding that a powerful Russian economy would also result in better Greek-Russian business relations. The meeting was attended by Russian Economic Under-Secretary Mr. Molchanov, who is currently on a private visit to Greece. Addressing the meeting, Mr. Molchanov said the Russian economy was experiencing successive stages of transformation which has resulted in the stabilisation of the economy. According to Mr. Molchanov, 56 per cent of state companies have been privatised while domestic production recorded a 15 per cent increase in October. Mr. Molchanov admitted that Russia was faced with extensive tax evasion. He said the formation of an economic police force and a new tax service were under consideration. Industrial output 24 p.c. August rise ------------------------------------- Athens, 2/11/1994 (ANA): Industrial production rose by 24 per cent in August over the corresponding month in 1993, a National Statistics Office statement said yesterday. January-August output average rose by 1.9 over the same period in 1993, reversing a persistent downward trend in recent years. Petroleum Corporation capital 19.5 bil. dr. increase ---------------------------------------------------- Athens, 2/11/1994 (ANA): Public Petroleum Corporation (DEP) share capital will be increased by 19.6 billion dr., under three draft presidential decrees by Industry Minister Costas Simitis, National Economy Minister Yiannos Papantoniou and Finance Under-Secretary Nikos Kyriazidis tabled at the Council of State for processing. DEP share capital will total 71,355,000,000 dr. divided into 14,271 personal shares each having a nominal value of five million dr. The first decree will raise DEP capital by 10 billion dr. through an issue of 2,000 personal shares of a nominal value of five million dr. each. The second will raise capital by 145 million dr. through an issue of personal shares of a nominal value of five million dr. each. The third will raise capital by nine billion dr. through an issue of 1,900 personal shares of a nominal value of five million dr. each.