From: tzarros@ccs.carleton.ca (Theodore Zarros) Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Sat, 12 Nov 1994 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa). Athens News Agency Bulletin, November 12, 1994 ---------------------------------------------- * Human rights, religious freedoms in Albania safeguarded by rejection of constitution * CSCE report on ethnic Greeks submitted Friday * Papoulias meets with Pope, expects closer co-operation on Albania * Rome visit a success, Papoulias says * Russian intelligence head to give Greece documents on November 17 * Venizelos * Premier, Arsenis discuss national issues * UN chief says talks will continue in hope for solution to Greece-FYROM dispute * CSCE commissioner meets with Gligorov * Kranidiotis visits Denmark in final stop of EU tour * Tsohatzopoulos meets with Tunisian leader * Evert: Greece should take Turkey to UN if threats continue * Vartholomeos arrives in Brussels on first stop in Benelux tour * Coalition delegation holds talks in Sofia * Pakistani minister visits Athens 'to break the ice' * Nistikakis smuggling trial postponed * Turkey UN rep pays visit to Greek counterpart * 35th Thessaloniki Film Festival gets underway * AIDS data * Katsifaras to visit Korea next week Human rights, religious freedoms in Albania safeguarded by rejection of constitution --------------------------------------------- Athens, 12/11/94 (ANA): Greece said yesterday it was satisfied that Albanians had rejected a constitution which would have severely curtailed the human rights of minorities and religious freedoms in the neighbouring state. "Greece does not meddle in the domestic political or state affairs of Albania," government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos told a press briefing when asked to comment on the results of the Albanian referendum. He added, however, that Greece was "satisfied with the rejection of the draft constitution since it contained provisions... that would have restricted human rights, especially those of the ethnic Greek minority, and religious freedoms." The draft constitution put to the vote by Albanian President Sali Berisha drew criticism from opposition parties for being too authoritarian. Minority groups, in particular ethnic Greeks, said the draft failed to enshrine ethnic and religious rights. According to Thursday's official results, 53.9 per cent of voters had rejected the draft constitution. A final official result of the referendum has still not been released, but opposition parties campaigning against the constitution have claimed a clear victory. CSCE report on ethnic Greeks submitted Friday --------------------------------------------- Athens, 12/11/94 (ANA): Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE) Minorities Commissioner Max van der Stoel yesterday said he would submit a report on the ethnic Greek minority in Albania to the CSCE High Commission next Friday. Mr. van der Stoel made the announcement to reporters at the Macedonia airport in Thessaloniki, en route to Vienna. He refused to elaborate on the report which he compiled together with two experts, saying the Commission would decide on whether to publicise its content. Meanwhile, in Tirana, a foreign ministry spokesman yesterday told the press that Albania was willing to enter talks with Greece. The spokesman was commenting on a recent statement by Greek Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias that Greece wished to overcome problems in its relations with Albania and sit at the negotiating table. "We hope that Mr. Papoulias' statement signals a change in attitude by the Greek authorities which until recently were putting terms for the beginning of a dialogue," he said. In statements Tuesday, Mr. Papoulias said "Greece wants to overcome the problem in relations with Albania and the two countries to sit at the negotiating table," adding that it was up to Mr. Berisha "to take the steps (necessary) to overcome the obstacles to the commencement of negotiations and dialogue with Albania". Mr. Papoulias said that the release of the five members of the ethnic Greek political organisation Omonia was not a condition "but the putting right of an injustice." Greek-Albanian relations plunged to an all-time low when Tirana convicted five ethnic Greeks of espionage and illegal arms possession. An appeals court later marginally reduced the sentences. Greece said the trial was aimed at intimidating the 300,000 ethnic Greeks in Albania and reacted by blocking the first part of European Union financial assistance to Albania on grounds of the country's failure to improve its human and minority rights record. Papoulias meets with Pope, expects closer co-operation on Albania ----------------------------------------------------------------- Rome, (ANA/L. Hatzikyriakos): After talks yesterday with Pope John Paul II and Vatican Foreign Minister Cardinal Jean-Louis Turan, Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias said he expected closer co-operation between Greece and the Vatican in the future on the issue of human rights and religious freedom in Albania. "I discussed problems in the region with the Pontiff who expressed concern and anxiety over flash-points existing very close to the Vatican, Italy and Greece. I think he has the will to contribute as far as possible," Mr. Papoulias said. "(The Pope) spoke to me about the Ecumenical Patriarch with the best of words and he wants to have benevolent and good relations with the Church of Greece." Mr. Papoulias said he expressed his and the Greek government's appreciation for the Pontiff's "prompt intervention" for Archbishop of the Albanian Orthodox Church Anastasios. Anastasios has been in the forefront of tension lately with an article in a draft constitution put forward by Albanian President Sali Berisha directly threatening his future as the leader of the Albanian Orthodox. "If the need arises I believe the Vatican is extremely sensitive to the rights of both the faithful and the Orthodox Church in Albania. (Cardinal) Turan was right in saying that what Mr. Berisha was thinking of doing was a flagrant violation of human rights," Mr. Papoulias said. Mr. Papoulias said he was not aware whether the Pope would visit Greece, but added that the Pontiff would meet the Ecumenical Patriarch soon. Rome visit a success, Papoulias says ------------------------------------- Athens, 12/11/94 (ANA): Greece and Italy can help give the Mediterranean nations a stronger, unified voice in the European Union, Mr. Papoulias said on his return to Athens yesterday. "It is necessary to create a Mediterranean which will not be characterised by geographical divisions and which will include all the peoples of the region," he said. Mr. Papoulias met with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and Foreign Minister Antonio Martino during his two-day visit. "Greece and Italy can play a significant role in strengthening the Mediterranean presence with direct co-operation with the rest of the European Union," he said. Mr. Papoulias said he was "fully satisfied" with his talks, adding that Greek-Italian relations had been strengthened. "There was full identity of views on all the fundamental issues, which included the Balkan crisis and the forthcoming admittance of Cyprus and Malta to the European Union," he said. Turning to relations with Tirana, Mr. Papoulias reiterated that dialogue could resume if the five ethnic Greeks convicted of espionage and illegal possession of arms were released. "We cannot enter a dialogue with Tirana unless the Albanian side takes a step forward, that is, puts an end to the suffering of these people," he said. Russian intelligence head to give Greece documents on November 17 ---------------------------------------------------------------- Moscow, (ANA/D. Constantakopoulos): The head of Russia's counter-intelligence service told Public Order Minister Stelios Papathemelis yesterday that he would give Greece further information on the November 17 terrorist organisation. Counter-Intelligence Service Director Sergei Stepashin said after the meeting between the two that an exchange of views and documents on the issue of terrorism, in the framework of a co-operation agreement initiated in 1992, will begin in two weeks time. In reply to a question whether the Russian side possessed documents relating to November 17, he said that some of the documents available have already been sent, and more will be forthcoming. "We have something in our hands, and we'll send it to the Greek side," he said. He made it clear that the Russian counter-intelligence service today had no access to the former East German and Hungarian archives, and would exchange all relevant material it possessed with the Greek side. He added that the exchange of information was also discussed in connection with the fight against drug trafficking and organised crime. Mr. Papathemelis stated that he was fully satisfied with the meeting and expected positive results soon. Venizelos ---------- Athens, 12/11/94 (ANA): In Athens, meanwhile, government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said that the Public Order Ministry and other relevant bodies were in continuous contact with foreign agencies in the fight against terrorism and organised crime. Mr. Venizelos was responding to press reports on a possible link between the November 17 terrorist organisation and Carlos, the international terrorist now in custody in France. All the competent agencies were closely watching developments, he said. Premier, Arsenis discuss national issues -------------------------------------- Athens, 12/11/94 (ANA): Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou yesterday held a routine meeting with National Defence Minister Gerasimos Arsenis for talks on all current issues. Mr. Arsenis said their 90-minute talk focused on issues concerning national defence and the upcoming Western European Union (WEU) meeting in the Hague on November 14. Mr. Arsenis and Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias will represent Greece at the meeting. According to reports, Mr. Papandreou and Mr. Arsenis also examined the Greek economy and discussed the issue of the international sea treaty implementation on November 16 and recent Turkish press reports. Officers' remuneration was another issue discussed, the reports added. Mr. Papandreou also received Transport and Communications Under-Secretary Mr. Kokkinovassilis, Hellenic Railway Organisation (OSE) Director George Petsos and Sports Under-Secretary George Lianis. UN chief says talks will continue in hope for solution to Greece-FYROM dispute ----------------------------------------------------------- United Nations, (ANA/M. Georgiadou): Despite the absence of visible progress in the dispute between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), UN-led negotiations will continue in the hope for a solution, UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali told reporters yesterday. Mr. Boutros-Ghali was speaking after briefing the Security Council on the results of his tour of former Soviet Union states and a host of meetings he held last week in Geneva. Those meetings included a marathon six-hour talk with FYROM president Kiro Gligorov, in the presence of UN mediator on the Skopje issue Cyrus Vance. "No progress was noted (at the meeting)," Mr. Boutros-Ghali told the press. "We have not been able to achieve progress but it was decided that both myself and the special representative Cyrus Vance continue the negotiations with both President Gligorov, after the formation of his government, and with the Minister of the Foreign Affairs of Greece, Mr. Papoulias," he said. "We hope we will find a solution," he added. Asked to confirm whether Mr. Gligorov had categorically refused to even discuss a different name for his country, Mr. Boutros-Ghali said: "On the contrary, Mr. Gligorov agreed with us on the importance of the continuation of negotiations." He said the negotiations focused "on the name, the flag and many other aspects (of the dispute)." Diplomatic circles, meanwhile, described the Boutros-Ghali-Vance message to FYROM president Gligorov in Geneva as "very strong and clear", making it clear that Skopje would be held responsible for the continuation of the deadlock. The same sources explained that while Mr. Gligorov continues to reject all ideas on the issue of the name, he is amenable to discussing the 'mini-packet' (on the symbols, flag, constitution), but on condition of the acceptance of the name 'Macedonia'. They also report that President Clinton's envoy on the FYROM issue, Matthew Nimetz, is not currently thinking of holding another round of talks with Mr. Gligorov. The sources say that the US want to see a speedy solution to the issue, so that they can proceed to the establishment of a diplomatic mission in FYROM. Mr. Vance is thought certain to invite both sides to meet him at the beginning of December, even in the event that Mr. Gligorov has not substantially changed his position. Meanwhile, Skopjan Foreign Minister Stevo Crvenkovski was quoted by a weekly newspaper as saying that there was no change in FYROM's positions in the dispute with Greece, adding that his country was willing "to continue negotiations at any time on the condition that the dialogue will take place in a positive climate and without pressure from such unlawful acts as the embargo." Greece imposed trade sanctions on Skopje in February to force it to change its name, remove the ancient Greek symbols from its flag and change parts of the constitution which express territorial designs against Greece's province of Macedonia. In an interview with the "Pools" newspaper, Mr. Crvenkovski said the talks should include all aspects of bilateral relations "and aim at achieving good, long-lasting relations between the two countries and normalise communications between them". CSCE commissioner meets with Gligorov ------------------------------------- Athens, 12/11/94 (ANA): The relations of the ethnic Albanian minority in FYROM with the Skopjan government have been the focal point of talks between Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE) Minorities Commissioner Max van der Stoel and Skopjan President Kiro Gligorov and other senior FYROM government officials. Speaking at a brief stopover at Macedonia airport in Thessaloniki en route to Vienna, Mr. van der Stoel told reporters that Mr. Gligorov raised the issue of a "Macedonian" minority in Greece. Mr. van der Stoel was on an official visit to Skopje to be briefed on the results of elections last month and post-election developments on ethnic minority issues. In the meantime, US military officials, headed by US Defence Assistant Under-Secretary Joseph Kruzel and commander of US armed forces in Europe, General Gerald Allen, were expected to arrive in Skopje yesterday to visit US troops stationed there. The officials will also hold talks with FYROM's political and military leadership on such issues as military co-operation and training of officers in the framework of NATO's "Partnership for Peace" programme. The US delegation is expected to sign a memorandum on military and defence co-operation between the two countries in the context of US efforts to maintain peace in the Balkans. Kranidiotis visits Denmark in final stop of EU tour --------------------------------------------------- Athens, 12/11/94 (ANA): Foreign Under-Secretary Yiannos Kranidiotis arrived in Denmark yesterday, on the last leg of his European tour to exchange views with his European counterparts on issues of EU interest. In Copenhagen, Mr. Kranidiotis met Foreign Minister Niels Helveg Petersen for talks on preparing the forthcoming EU summit in Essen, relations between the European Union and central and eastern European countries, EU Mediterranean policy and the inter-governmental conference in 1996. Mr. Kranidiotis took the opportunity to brief Mr. Petersen on issues of Greek interest, such as Albania, Cyprus, Turkey and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Tsohatzopoulos meets with Tunisian leader ----------------------------------------- Athens, 12/11/94 (ANA): Akis Tsohatzopoulos, Central Committee Secretary-General of the ruling Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK), ended his tour of North African states with a call on Tunisia's President Ben Ali. Mr. Tsohatzopoulos briefed President Ali on PASOK views and assessments on developments in the region, and on prospects of co-operation between North African and Middle East countries, in the wake of the recent Casablanca conference. The two leaders reiterated mutual interest in further promoting bilateral relations. Evert: Greece should take Turkey to UN if threats continue ---------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 12/11/94 (ANA): Conservative main opposition New Democracy party (ND) leader Miltiades Evert yesterday called for a Greek recourse to the UN if Turkey continued its threats against Greece. "Greece should take recourse to the UN if Turkey continues its threats stemming from the ratification of the law of the sea convention" which comes into force November 16, Mr. Evert told reporters after a meeting with President Constantine Karamanlis. "Turkey must realise that diplomacy cannot be exercised under the use of threats," Mr. Evert said. Ankara has threatened that extension of Greece's territorial waters from six to 12 miles, as provided for under the international convention, would be a "cause for war". Athens has described the Turkish threats as an effort to create artificial tension between the two sides, and said it was its sovereign right to decide where, how and when it would exercise the right to extend its waters. Mr. Evert and Mr. Karamanlis also discussed a host of economic and foreign policy issues. Mr. Evert later told reporters that Greece's economic and political problems were increasing and that ND was also feeling responsible for this. "The opposition is undergoing a crisis," Mr. Evert said, adding that the Greek people judged the opposition by its positions on Greece's critical issues. State of emergency on Samos after heavy rains --------------------------------------------- Athens, 12/11/94 (ANA): A state of emergency has been declared on the Aegean island of Samos after heavy rains destroyed hundreds of homes, police said yesterday. They said the hardest-hit region was Karlovasi where hundreds of buildings flooded. Roads were destroyed by the heavy rain, causing power and telecommunications blackouts. Authorities said special crews from the Public Power Organisation (DEH) have been sent to the island to repair extensive damage reported at the Samos electricity plant. Vartholomeos arrives in Brussels on first stop in Benelux tour ------------------------------------------------------------ Brussels, 12/11/94 (ANA): Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos arrived in the Belgian capital yesterday, the first stop of his tour of the Metropolis of Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. In Brussels, the Patriarch will meet with King Albert II of Belgium, European Commission President Jacques Delors and deputy Belgian Prime Minister Melchior Watelet. The Patriarch will also inaugurate a representative office of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in the European Union. The European Commission has institutionalised its relations with the Orthodox Church and has established permanent liaison with the Patriarchate. The visit has come in for considerable criticism in Turkey, where the seat of the Patriarchate is. Intellectuals of the Islamic movement claim that the Patriarchate seeks to acquire the status of the Vatican. In Luxembourg, the Patriarch will meet with Grand Duke Jean and Prime Minister Jacques Santer, and in Holland, Queen Beatrix. Coalition delegation holds talks in Sofia ---------------------------------------- Athens, 12/11/94 (ANA): A Coalition of the Left and Progress party delegation headed by leader Nikos Constantopoulos began talks in Bulgaria yesterday with both sides ascertaining that co-operation between the two countries is at a good level and examining prospects for its further improvement. Deputy Bulgarian Prime Minister Nikola Vadiliev welcomed the delegation on behalf of the Bulgarian government and showed interest in the Coalition's proposal for a Balkan peace and security conference and the need for economic, political and cultural co-operation at both bilateral and Balkan levels. Mr. Vadiliev stated categorically that "Bulgaria has both the interest and will to maintain Greek-Bulgarian relations at the highest level and it will support every positive initiative by Greece in this direction." Coalition of the Left and Progress leader Nikos Constantopoulos yesterday stressed the need for a radical reappraisal of Greek foreign policy. Speaking shortly before leaving for Sofia, Bulgaria, Mr. Constantopoulos noted a new policy line was necessary to ensure Greece could effectively safeguard its national interests and regain the initiative in the Balkans. Mr. Constantopoulos' visit to the Bulgarian capital aims at enhancing peace and stability in the Balkans, while offering support to transition efforts currently in progress in countries of the region. He told a questioner his party still stood for immediate talks to settle the Skopje issue. Pakistani minister visits Athens 'to break the ice' -------------------------------------------------- Athens, 12/11/94 (ANA): After a long period of "lukewarm" ties between Greece and Pakistan, bilateral relations are warming up following the visit of Pakistani Justice Minister Sayed Iqbal Haider to Athens, according to the Iranian news agency IRNA. "The purpose of my visit was to revive and strengthen the friendly relations with Greece which have been lukewarm till now," Mr. Haider told IRNA in an interview. He noted that it was the first official visit of a Pakistani minister to Greece in nearly two decades. Mr. Haider, who was invited by his Greek counterpart George Kouvelakis, said he sought Greek support for "our cause of Kashmir," and other international issues and discussed ways to boost bilateral economic co-operation. The Pakistani minister said he did not discuss Greek-Turkish relations or any 'contentious' issue with Greek officials. "It was a probing visit to break the ice for strengthening ties, it was not to discuss the contentious issues at all," he told IRNA. When pressed to comment on Pakistan's position towards the Cyprus problem, he replied "our stand on all international issues and Greece's stand on international issues relating to Pakistan like Kashmir are well known". Mr. Haider, who is a member of the Socialist International, also met Interior Minister Costas Skandalides, a member of the ruling PASOK's Executive Committee, and reviewed relations between the Pakistan People's Party and PASOK. The Pakistani official, who left Athens yesterday after a four-day visit, said Islamabad would like to benefit through the help and support of socialists in the European Union. Nistikakis smuggling trial postponed ------------------------------------ Athens, 12/11/94 (ANA): The trial of former deputy police chief Michalis Nistikakis and eight other people on antiquities smuggling charges, scheduled to begin yesterday, has been postponed to March 13. They are charged with obtaining antiquities from illegal excavations and trying to sell 68 items dating from the 5th to the 1st century BC. The smuggled antiquities included a marble lion head, silver coins portraying the ancient kings Alexander the Great and his father Philip, stone vessels, seals, amphorae and others. The court, which postponed the trial on procedural grounds, also rejected a plea to lift a ban on Mr. Nistikakis, said to be a friend of former conservative New Democracy prime minister Constantine Mitsotakis, from leaving the country. The case came to light last year when police arrested a smuggling ring that had planned to ship 281 antiquities to Munich. Prosecutors said gang members alleged during interrogation that Mr. Nistikakis was involved. Mr. Nistikakis refused to comment on the charges. Turkey UN rep pays visit to Greek counterpart --------------------------------------------- United Nations, (ANA/M. Georgiadou): Turkey's permanent representative to the United Nations Inal Batou yesterday met with Greek permanent representative to the United Nations Christos Zacharakis at his office "to return a visit made by Mr. Zacharakis". 35th Thessaloniki Film Festival gets underway ---------------------------------------------- Athens, 12/11/94 (ANA): Fourteen Greek films, including three documentaries, will be screened at the 35th Thessaloniki Film Festival, which began yesterday in Greece's northern capital. The festival will also showcase 14 first and second-effort films by international directors through November 20. The programme includes: Donchum of Rizi, by Wang Xiaoshuai (Hong Kong and China), Les Silences du Palais by Moufida Tlatli (France and Tunisia), Woyzeck by Janos Szasz (Hungary), Serp i Moloi by Serei Livnev (Russia), Oublie-moi by Noemie Lvovsky (France), Hey Stragner by Peter Wodditsch (Belgium), Portami Via by de Gianluca Maria Taverelli (Italy) and Clerks by Kevin Smith (USA). An international panel, presided over by Istvan Szabo of Hungary, includes Peter Pozlatev (Bulgaria), Inna Tchourikova (Russia), Lino Micciche of Italy's Pesaro Festival, Pascal Bonitzer (France) and Nicos Panayotopoulos (Greece). The festival offers two awards: the Alexander Gold Prize ($53,000) and the Alexander Silver Prize ($32,000). The fourteen Greek films include Panos Karkanevatos' Demarcation Line, Antonis Kokkinos' End of an Era, Stelios Pavlides' Presumed Suspect, and Stavros Tornes' Poor Hunter of the South, a documentary. The first two films are also included in the international contest. There will be other events on the sidelines of the festival, including the screening of 22 films made through the New Horizons international youth programme, and a retrospective on Nauisa Oshima of Japan. A series of events will also be held to pay tribute to directors Charles Burnett (US), Michael Haneke (Austria), Nikita Michalkov and Gleb Pnafilov (Russia) and George Tzavellas (Greece). AIDS data ----------- Athens, 12/11/94 (ANA): According to data issued by the Special Infectious Diseases Control Centre, the number of recorded AIDS cases, from 1984 to September 1994 is 994, of which 877 are men (88.2 percent) and 117 are women (11.8 percent). The number of reported deaths is 389 (39.1 percent). Most incidents appear in the 30-49 age bracket. Katsifaras to visit Korea next week ------------------------------------ Athens, 12/11/94 (ANA): Merchant Marine Minister George Katsifaras leaves for South Korea next week for talks with his Korean counterpart on shipping issues of bilateral interest, the ministry announced yesterday. It said that Mr. Katsifaras will point out that "the application of the principles of free and licit competition on sea-borne transports will definitely have positive effects and will contribute to further development of the maritime relations between the two countries in all sectors of the shipping industry". In that context, it said, the usefulness of a shipping agreement being signed between the two countries will be noted. Mr. Katsifaras will be in South Korea, November 14-17. During his visit, he will attend the flag-raising ceremony at the delivery of the ship "Anangel Ambition", which will raise the Greek flag, to Anangel Shipping Enterprises S.A. The large number of ships which have been and are being constructed for Greek shipowners at Korean shipyards reflect the excellent co-operation between Greek and Korean enterprises, necessitating the achievement of progress in the other sectors of shipping co-operation as well, the ministry said. It added that this would be emphasised during the consultations. During his stay Mr. Katsifaras will also meet with representatives of the shipping and industrial sectors.