From: tzarros@ccs.carleton.ca (Theodore Zarros) Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Fri, 9 Dec 1994 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa). Athens News Agency Bulletin, December 9, 1994 (FROM THE GREEK PRESS & INFORMATION OFFICE, OTTAWA, CANADA) ----------------------------------------------------------- * European socialists say 'no' to 'inner core Europe', stress * development, employment issues * Thessaloniki to host 1997 CoE ministers' meeting on mass media * Premier: Greek veto on Turkey-EU customs union holds * Kranidiotis outlines Greek positions * Greece wants EU to pressure Gligorov on normalising relations * Italy offers Gligorov 'good offices' * Evert echoes Gov't positions on national issues at EPP conference * Tsohatzopoulos meets with Romanian leaders * Peponis promises Gov't efforts for investment in Romania * Papariga: major parties play the same game * ND expels Dimitrokallis * Volonte leaves Athens tomorrow for final resting place * Drachma slides marginally in November * Greek rail projects to receive 1,077 million ECU * OTE inaugurates new satellite centre in Corinth European socialists say 'no' to 'inner core Europe', stress development, employment issues ---------------------------------------------------------- Essen, 09/12/1994 (ANA-L.Vassiliadi): European socialists yesterday rejected the idea of an "inner core Europe" saying it would split rather than unite the Union. "We say 'No' to the idea of an "inner core Europe", that excluded any individual state, which would split rather than unite the Union," the final declaration issued by European socialist leaders meeting in Essen yesterday said. They were meeting ahead of the EU summit, to begin today. The statement also asked for the establishment of an enlargement action plan and timetable for the two applicant countries of Cyprus and Malta. The socialists supported the "acknowledged principles of European integration" but rejected "all attempts to return the EU to a mere free trade zone." The text made special reference to economic development and the need to combat unemployment. "Europe is now in a process of economic recovery, stronger than expected at the beginning of the year. But unemployment continues to be Europe's most serious problem, socially and economically," the declaration said. "This recovery is from the very beginning based not on investment in Europe, but on a strong growth in some developing regions (especially in Asia but also in Latin America and parts of Central and Eastern Europe), creating demand for European goods and services," it added. "To date, internal demand in Europe has not been allowed to play its proper role in recovery. But still Europe lacks an effective employment policy and there is a risk that the gap will widen between those who have a strong position in the labour market and those who are -- or risk being -- long term unemployed," it said. "We reiterate our support for Jacques Delors' White Paper on 'Growth, Competitiveness and Employment' and recall the PES action plan 'Put Europe to work', from Corfu last summer, aiming at halving unemployment by the year 2000," the declaration stressed. It further stressed the need to "strengthen the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the establishment of new such enterprises" and that a "common market for telecommunications should be created to stimulate competition and the emergence of new services." The declaration stressed its support for the Euro-Mediterranean conference being called in 1995, saying the EU and the Mediterranean states were "interdependent". Referring to Norway's recent rejection of EU membership, the declaration said "...We respect but regret the No-vote of the Norwegian people on accession to the EU. Norway remains part of our European family." Replying to questioners at a press conference, European Commission President Jacques Delors said it would be fatal if the EU were to assume new responsibilities before institutional reform was carried out. Referring to prospects of EU accession for central and eastern European countries, Mr. Delors said unless harmonisation of the economic aspect proceeded satisfactorily, as well as the extent of competition, it would be demagoguery to say that these countries could join the EU without facing any dangers. "How can this marriage take place between these countries (six central and eastern European countries) and the 15 as of January 1, which means we are headed for 21 countries? Therefore, the timetable leads us towards the end of the century," Mr. Delors said. Thessaloniki to host 1997 CoE ministers' meeting on mass media -------------------------------------------------------------- Prague, 09/12/1994 (ANA/CNA/AFP): Thessaloniki will host the Council of Europe's 4th Ministerial Conference on Mass Media in 1997, the same year that Greece's northern capital has been proclaimed European Cultural Capital. Mass Media Minister and government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos represented Greece at the two-day conference, which brought together the 33 member-countries of the Council of Europe and five eastern and central European states. The conference ended in Prague yesterday with a statement stressing that "freedom of expression and the unimpeded flow of information was an essential ingredient of democracies". The statement pledged to fully support public service broadcasting, calling on states to guarantee financing, and the rights of journalists to work freely and independently. The ministers also noted their concern at the fact that, in the past 36 months, Europe had registered the greatest number of journalists either killed or reported missing than anywhere else in the world. Mr. Venizelos focused his remarks on the problem of media concentration, noting it was not only a matter of concentrating capital, but also pooling of mentalities which resulted in uniform television programming. To offset this, he said, democratic society had introduced parliamentary supervision and, of course, state television, which should operate in an exemplary manner. The ministers set out a seven-point action plan covering media concentration, human rights and new technology, piracy problems, copyright, anti-racist action and the portrayal of violence. The plan will now go to the CoE committee of ministers for follow up. In his closing remarks, CoE Secretary-General Daniel Taschys said the conference had been "exceedingly productive and useful". Premier: Greek veto on Turkey-EU customs union holds ---------------------------------------------------- Essen, 09/12/1994 (ANA-P.Stangos,S.Liarellis): Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou said yesterday Greece's veto against a customs union between the European Union and Turkey still held, because funding by the 4th Financial Protocol was part of the customs link. Mr. Papandreou was speaking at the end of the European Socialist Group meeting. He said the veto still held unless Turkey took specific steps on the Cyprus issue or the EU took steps related to Cyprus, the main one being setting a specific date for a start to negotiations to achieve EU accession for Cyprus and Malta. Mr. Papandreou said the issue of Cyprus and Malta being included in the next enlargement had closed at the Corfu summit, but said the Greek demand for the setting of a timetable remained. Replying to whether the issue could possibly be discussed at the EU-Turkey Association Council in Brussels on December 19, Mr. Papandreou said "as soon as possible, we will see if there is a will." Referring to this morning's troika meeting, Mr. Papandreou said he had not been notified of a possible troika meeting at leader level. Mr. Papandreou said socialists had been convinced that "the issue of military intervention has closed" in the Yugoslav crisis since, he added, everybody was now speaking about and trying to find a political solution. He said that at Wednesday's dinner for socialist leaders it was officially recognised for the first time that no common foreign policy existed, particularly on the Bosnian issue. Mr. Papandreou termed the Balkan crisis a "difficult and disappointing affair", adding that despite the fact he was optimistic he recognised the cruciality of the situation. "The crisis in Yugoslavia is the mirror of the world's crisis," he said. Referring to the socialists' positions on employment, Mr. Papandreou said that without a policy of social justice, development would be blind. Mr. Papandreou said that there were slight deviations among the socialists on the issue of social policy since, he added, differences were observed only on issues of secondary importance. Kranidiotis outlines Greek positions ------------------------------------ Essen, 09/12/1994 (ANA): Foreign Under-Secretary Yiannos Kranidiotis said yesterday that setting a specific date for the start to accession negotiations between Cyprus and the European Union, and indeed before the intergovernmental conference in 1996, was not a negotiable condition for Greece to lift the general reservation it had raised on a customs union between the EU and Turkey. "For as long as the terms we put forward are not met, Turkey's customs union with the EU will remain frozen," Mr. Kranidiotis said. Mr. Kranidiotis predicted that there would be no positive response on the part of the other European partners, either at today's meeting of EU troika foreign ministers, which he will attend, or in the framework of the summit. "Our conditions are not going to be met, therefore progress will not be achieved in any direction," he said. Referring to the EU-Turkey Association Council on December 19, Mr. Kranidiotis said it was a foregone conclusion that, given Greece's veto, it would prove fruitless, namely that it could not reach a decision on Turkey's customs unions with the EU as of January 1, 1995. Mr. Kranidiotis outlined conditions set by the Greek government as follows: either moves by Turkey for progress over the Cyprus issue, such as proposals set out by the Greek side on a withdrawal of Turkish troops from Famagusta and freedom of movement for citizens, or moves by the EU containing a clear political message to Turkey, such as setting a clear and immediate date for the start to Cyprus accession negotiations. The Greek side also links Turkey's customs union with the EU with progress on the issues of democratisation and human rights in Turkey, the Kurdish question and the issue of Greeks -- "the 83 Community citizens" -- missing since the Turkish invasion of Cyprus and Turkey's overall attitude towards Greece. Apart from this, Greek consent also depends on a settlement of certain "technical" issues, such as measures for the protection of the Greek textiles industry and Greece's exemption from the possibility of Turkish enterprises being established on Greek territory. Mr. Kranidiotis declined to directly comment on outgoing European Commission President Jacques Delors' statements on the connection made by Greece between Turkey's customs union with the EU and the issue of Cyprus' accession to the EU. "Cyprus is nobody's hostage," Mr. Delors said earlier yesterday, adding that "issues that are not related to one another" such as Turkey's EU customs union and Cyprus' accession should not be connected. " This is Mr. Delors' view, but political reality and practice in the EU is that all issues are linked to each other... What Greece is doing does not lie outside the EU's logic and at least Cyprus is not Greece's hostage," Mr. Kranidiotis said. Greece wants EU to pressure Gligorov on normalising relations ------------------------------------------------------------- Essen, 09/12/1994 (ANA-P.Stangos, S.Liarellis): Greece will ask the EU troika foreign ministers meeting today in Essen to bring pressure to bear on Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) President Kiro Gligorov to make normalisation of relations between Athens and Skopje possible. The Greek, German and French foreign ministers are to meet this morning, on the sidelines of the EU summit. Foreign Under-Secretary Yiannos Kranidiotis said yesterday the Greek government would reiterate its proposal that it is possible to normalise relations between FYROM and the European Union and Greece, if Mr. Gligorov agrees to a change of flag, amendments of FYROM's constitution, and to abandon irrendentism. A solution to the issue of the name, Mr. Kranidiotis said, could subsequently be found through dialogue. Mr. Kranidiotis said the troika was both able to and should play a significant role in settling the issue, especially in light of Mr. Gligorov's uncompromising attitude "of failing to agree to continuing talks under [UN mediator] Cyrus Vance within the framework of UN mediation." He said margins for such movement existed, since there were reports that Mr. Gligorov now accepted discussion of a "mini package", despite his "hard line". The mini package provides for "in principle" acceptance of negotiations on all issues except the name, as initially proposed by the present government, in contrast to Mr. Gligorov's proposal, which called for discussing all issues. However, when Greece accepted the latter's proposal, Mr. Gligorov withdrew. Mr. Kranidiotis said that, although today's troika meeting was not expected to discuss the Albanian issue, Greece would raise the issue, since it expected Albanian President Sali Berisha to release the five jailed members of the Omonia ethnic Greek minority organisation in the wake of Greece's lifting of its veto on granting the first instalment of EU financial aid to Albania. In Tirana, meanwhile, a Reuter dispatch quoted Albanian government officials saying that Mr. Berisha had not given an interview to a Greek newspaper saying the five ethnic Greeks were about to be released. Asked whether Mr. Berisha did intend to release the men soon, a presidential spokesman said he was unable to make any further comment. Italy offers Gligorov 'good offices' ------------------------------------ Athens, , 09/12/1994 (ANA): Meanwhile, Italian Foreign Under-Secretary Livio Caputo met with President Gligorov and Foreign Minister Stevo Cervenkovski in Skopje yesterday, an ANA dispatch reported. "Italy is interested in including 'Macedonia' in all European bodies in which the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia also displays interest," Mr. Caputo told the press. He added his country had offered its "good offices" in order to settle the conflict with Greece which "remains the main obstacle" to Skopje aims. Mr. Caputo noted he had brought over some "sound ideas" on settling the dispute. They would be "processed immediately in coming days," he said. He gave no further details. Evert echoes Gov't positions on national issues at EPP conference ----------------------------------------------------------------- Brussels, 09/12/1994 (ANA-P.Pantelis): New Democracy party leader Miltiades Evert yesterday voiced positions similar to those of the Greek government on national issues at the European People's Party (EPP) conference in Brussels. The conference was convened to discuss, as is customary, the positions which the leaders of the constituent EPP parties will adopt at the European Union summit in Essen. Mr. Evert held private meetings with EPP president Wilfried Martens, Luxembourg Prime Minister and European Commission president-designate Jacques Santer, and the leaders of the Christian Democratic parties of Germany, the Netherlands and Italy. Concerning relations with Albania, Mr. Evert said Greece wished to help its neighbour, on condition that it respects human rights. With regard to Turkey, he said that the Greek veto on Turkey's customs union with the EU must not be lifted if Turkey does not make meaningful concessions on Cyprus and if a date for a start of negotiations for Cypriot EU entry is not set. He added that the entry of Cyprus and Malta in the EU must precede the EU's enlargement to the east, adding that he believed "the peoples of the European Union and central and eastern Europe can and must coexist in the single future form of a European federation". He said that the enlargement must be coupled with an in-depth integration of united Europe, and include Romania and Bulgaria at first, and the other Balkan countries at a later stage. On his meeting with Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic in Belgrade today, Mr. Evert said it was an effort at mediation, the results of which could not be foretold. It was, he added, a follow-up of the mediation initiated by his predecessor Constantine Mitsotakis, and stressed that the Greek position that the Bosnian problem could be solved through negotiations rather than arms and bombs is now vindicated. Discussion will focus on latest developments in Bosnia, all facets of the Yugoslav crisis, and prospects of developing Balkan co-operation. He is not scheduled to have other meetings in Belgrade, or visit Bosnia. In comments on Mr. Evert's visit, the Yugoslav press stressed the need to settle all regional problems by the Balkan peoples themselves without interference by foreign powers. Tsohatzopoulos meets with Romanian leaders ------------------------------------------ Bucharest, 09/12/1994 (ANA): Ruling party PASOK Central Committee Secretary-General Akis Tsohatzopoulos met with officials of the ruling Socialist Party of Romania in Bucharest yesterday. Discussion focused on co-operation among socialists, social democrats, labour and other progressive parties and forces in the Balkans on promoting and boosting a European orientation and building the Europe of the future. Mr. Tsohatzopoulos, who is paying an official visit to the Romanian capital at the head of a large PASOK delegation, had talks with President Ion Iliescu, Premier Nicolae Vacaroiu, Parliament President Adrian Nastaze, Senate Vice-President Ion Solkano and Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu. Peponis promises Gov't efforts for investment in Romania -------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 09/12/1994 (ANA): Minister to the Prime Minister's Office Anastasios Peponis assured Romanian Deputy Prime Minister Mircea Kosea that the Greek government would encourage Greek investments in Romania. At a meeting in his office, Mr. Kosea, who was accompanied by the charge d'affaires and the commercial attachi of the Romanian Embassy to Athens, said Greece was the closest country for Romania's interests. The Romanian official said stability in the Balkans was extremely important for Romania and Greece, adding that on this point the two countries agreed absolutely. Papariga: major parties play the same game ------------------------------------------ Athens, 09/12/1994 (ANA): Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Secretary-General Aleka Papariga yesterday reiterated her party's position that the major parties had no essential differences at a party meeting. "Whether PASOK or New Democracy is in power, capitalistic profits increase rapidly and the people are condemned to enduring austerity to their limits," she said, adding that the main aim of the 1995 budget was to make the rich richer and the poor poorer. Referring to recent statements concerning the suspension of prosecutions in the phone-tapping and the AGET-Heracles cement company scandals, she accused the two major parties of collusion and of squaring-up to one another, ostensibly for the public interest. "Not even their own cadres believe them," she said. She said the KKE was the only political force capable of resisting the prevailing situation, and accused other parties, especially ruling PASOK, of demagoguery in their attitude towards the European Union. ND expels Dimitrokallis ----------------------- Athens, 09/12/1994 (ANA): The New Democracy central disciplinary council yesterday decided unanimously to expel former party general manager and close friend of former premier Constantine Mitsotakis, Ioannis Dimitrokallis, for "a series of actions, statements, articles and other publications constituting anti-party behaviour and activity". Mr. Dimitrokallis had recently been abstaining from party organs, and had founded the political and cultural association 'Politizo', which publishes a bulletin under the same name, voicing strong criticism of party leader Miltiades Evert. Mr. Dimitrokallis contested the decision on procedural grounds and described it as "pre-ordained". Volonte leaves Athens tomorrow for final resting place ------------------------------------------------------ Athens, 09/12/1994 (ANA): Gian Maria Volonte, the Italian actor who died of a heart attack in the Greek town of Florina at the age of 61, will be buried on the islet of La Mantalena, Sardinia on Saturday. The burial site was chosen in accordance with the last wish of Volonte, who was found dead in his hotel room on Tuesday. He had arrived in Florina the previous day to participate in the filming of Greek director Theodoros Angelopoulos' latest film "The Gaze of Ulysses". Volonte's body was driven from Florina to Thessaloniki this morning, accompanied by the Italian Consul in the northern Greek capital, Giovanni Pirello, and is due to be flown to Athens this evening. It will remain in the Greek capital overnight before being flown to Rome for an official reception at the municipality of Velletri. The actor's body will be taken to La Mantalena tomorrow evening for burial on Saturday. Bidding a last farewell on behalf of the Greek government at Thessaloniki airport today, Minister for Macedonia and Thrace Constantine Triarides described Volonte as "a great creator, a complete man and artist, a fighter who still had much to give". "Let his memory be a source of creation for those who follow him," Mr. Triarides said, placing a red carnation on Volonte's coffin. Drachma slides marginally in November ------------------------------------- Athens, 09/12/1994 (ANA): The drachma slid marginally against all foreign and European currencies in November, according to the weighted parity indices compiled by the Centre for Export Research and Studies (KEEM). KEEM said the weighted parity index of all currencies rose by 0.63 per cent in November, while the corresponding index for European currencies rose by 0.29 per cent based on Greece's total foreign trade-weighted basket (imports and exports). The accumulated revaluation of all foreign currencies in the eleven-month period January-November this year totalled 5 per cent compared to average values in December 1993, while the corresponding revaluation of European currencies in the same period was 5.91 per cent. According to KEEM estimates, if the drachma continues to slide at the present rate in December, its accumulated slide will reach 5.2 per cent against all currencies and 6.1 per cent against European currencies. KEEM said that the average annual increase in the weighted parity indices in the first half of 1994 amounted to 7.24 per cent against all currencies and 6.8 per cent against European currencies compared to the corresponding period of 1993. The corresponding increases in the weighted parity indices in the current period November 1993 - November 1994 were 5.42 per cent for all currencies and 6.41 per cent for European currencies, KEEM said. Greek rail projects to receive 1,077 million ECU ------------------------------------------------ Brussels, 09/12/1994 (ANA-G.Daratos): The European Commission has approved financing for two projects in Greece concerning railway networks, at a cost of 1,077 million ECU for the period 1994-99. The Greek Railways Project, costing 490.1 million ECU, is to be financed by the Community's Regional Fund with 294.1 million. The aim of the project is the modernisation and development of the railway network. The urban development project, concerning the Athens underground railway, which is budgeted at 1,566 million ECU, will receive 783 million ECU from the Regional Fund. OTE inaugurates new satellite centre in Corinth ------------------------------------------- Athens, 09/12/1994 (ANA): The Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation (OTE) yesterday inaugurated its new Satellite Communications Centre in Nemea in the prefecture of Corinth. Addressing the inauguration ceremony, OTE chairman of the board Professor Stergios Babanassis said telecommunications infrastructure in the Peloponnese will be expanded and modernised. He said that with the new satellite, Greece will be able to transmit to such countries as Australia, Japan, South Korea and Indonesia. The Nemea centre has the ability to transmit two television programmes simultaneously. According to an announcement by OTE, the new centre resulted from co-operation between the organisation, the US Satellite Transmission Systems firm and the Greek Gener company. International tendering was called for its installation by OTE's board in 1990. The project cost about two billion drachmas. The inauguration was attended by Transport and Communications Under-Secretary Dimitris Alabanos and OTE board members and cadres.