From: tzarros@ccs.carleton.ca (Theodore Zarros) Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Mon, 12 Dec 1994 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa). Athens News Agency Bulletin, December 12, 1994 ---------------------------------------------- (Apo to Ellnviko Grafeio Tupou kai Plnroforiwv, Ottaba) * Greece ready to help UN peacekeepers withdraw from Bosnia, but against any such pullout * Greek veto * Final conclusions on Turkey, Cyprus * Delors says 'no' to Turkey in EU after trial of Kurdish deputies * Papoulias: efforts to pressure Gligorov on FYROM issue coming together * ND a 'Gov't in waiting' Evert tells party cadres * Gov't response * Premier voices concerns about future of EU * EU decisions on Inter-European networks 'vindicate Greek efforts', Papantoniou says * ND says premier a 'failure' at Essen * Venizelos points to human rights violations in Balkans * Russian deputy FM in Athens for talks ahead of Nimetz visit Thursday * UN peacekeepers to leave through Thessaloniki * KKE, Coalition 'categorically opposed' to Greek troop * involvement in Bosnia * Coalition criticises Gov't policies as 'not meeting the challenge of the times' * Church of Greece decides to set up office in Brussels Greece ready to help UN peacekeepers withdraw from Bosnia, but against any such pullout ----------------------------------------------------------------- Essen, 12/12/1994 (ANA - S. Liarellis, F. Stangos): Greece said Saturday that it was ready to assist UN peacekeepers in Bosnia in the event of a withdrawal from the war-torn country. Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou said Greece was prepared to send troops in the event UN peacekeepers were pulled out of Bosnia, adding that the country did not wish to see such a development. Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias said later Mr. Papandreou was referring to a NATO plan anticipating the sending of military forces to safely evacuate peacekeepers, in the event the situation took a turn for the worse. Addressing a press conference at the end of the European Union Essen summit, Mr. Papandreou reiterated that Greece could not get militarily involved in the Balkans. However, he said, Greece was prepared to offer its services in other ways. He was replying to questioners on Greece's absence from UN peacekeeping forces in Bosnia. Mr. Papandreou said that Greece's position that "only a political solution can provide a reply" had been vindicated, while Mr. Papoulias said "once-heretical positions are now being adopted." "I am pleased with the impressive turn, but it came too late," Mr. Papandreou said. The summit, Mr. Papandreou continued, was "the first time a spade was called a spade with absolute sincerity". He said previous policies on how to handle the situation had failed and that problems were now multiplying. In Thessaloniki yesterday, government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said Greece could send troops to war-torn Bosnia to facilitate the withdrawal of UN peacekeeping forces, although it did not favour such a pullout. "The Greek position is that the UN forces must not withdraw, but if the question of withdrawal arises and the participation of forces from other countries is required, then Greece could contribute to this," Mr. Venizelos said. He said such a move, however, should have the consent of Greece's other parties "within the framework of what has been agreed with (Greek) political party leaders." Greek veto ---------- Essen, 12/12/1994 (ANA ): Mr. Papandreou said Greece would withdraw its veto on Turkey's customs union with the EU "only if its terms are met." "We can only proceed on the criterion of what benefits the country," Mr. Papandreou said, adding that the continuing occupation of a third of Cyprus, threats against Greece's sovereign rights and the infringement of human rights in Turkey should not be ignored. "We favour customs union on conditions. We want good relations. However, we cannot support Turkey's accession to an organisation focusing on man and human rights," he added. Mr. Papandreou said most EU partners had approached the issue from a "security aspect" and would have insisted even more had there not been an explicit retort. He said "a feeling of internal contradiction" prevailed since "Turkey is being expressly condemned for jail terms imposed on the Kurdish deputies, but this is not enough to overturn the strategy (of the EU partners)". Mr. Papoulias said the European Council's conclusions included a paragraph containing a clear condemnation of Turkey for infringing human rights. Foreign Under-Secretary Yiannos Kranidiotis said Greece could invoke this paragraph in future negotiating phases on customs union, adding that "prospects of the EU-Turkey Association Council convening on December 19 are very limited." Commenting on Greece's veto, Mr. Venizelos said that Athens "will not lift its reservations even at the (EU-Turkey) Association Council". He said Turkey "did not fulfil the political prerequisites" set out by Greece, which include constructive moves on the Cyprus issue and the withdrawal of Turkish occupation troops from the island republic, or moves by the EU in setting a date for the start of negotiations of Cyprus' accession to the EU. "Therefore there is nothing new to change the Greek stance," Mr. Venizelos added. Final conclusions on Turkey, Cyprus ----------------------------------- Essen, 12/12/1994 (ANA): The final text on the Conclusions of the Essen Summit contains the following references to Turkey's customs union and Cyprus' application for full membership of the European Union. Turkey: "The European Council reasserts the great significance it attributes to the conclusion of negotiations with Turkey for the completion and full application of the customs union, and the strengthening of relations with this partner." Cyprus: "The European Council confirms that the next enlargement phase of the Union concerns Cyprus and Malta, and calls on the Council (of Ministers) to examine, early in 1995, the new reports which the Commission must submit." The chapter on 'Human Rights' says that the Council expressed its concern in a press release at the sentencing of eight ethnic Kurdish deputies in Turkey and exercised pressure for respect for human rights. Delors says 'no' to Turkey in EU after trial of Kurdish deputies ---------------------------------------------------------------- Paris, 12/12/1994 (AFP): Outgoing European Commission president Jacques Delors said yesterday that he was against Turkey's entry to the European Union, following Ankara's sentencing of five Kurdish deputies to 15 years jail last week. Mr. Delors made the statement in an interview with a French television station. He added that the implementation of Turkey's customs union with the EU meant Turkey had to provide guarantees on its respect for human rights. "The arrest of deputies that should have enjoyed parliamentary immunity for the simple differences of opinion is absolutely scandalous," he said. Papoulias: efforts to pressure Gligorov on FYROM issue coming together ------------------------------------------------------------- Essen, 12/12/1994 (ANA): Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias said Saturday that the European Union, United Nations and United States were co-operating in pressuring Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) President Kiro Gligorov to get talks between Athens and Skopje going again. "Co-ordinated and converging pressure is being exerted on President Gligorov by all sides," Mr. Papoulias said after the EU troika meeting he had with his German and French counterparts Saturday. He was referring to efforts made by the European Union, UN mediator on the FYROM issue Cyrus Vance and US President Clinton's special mediator Matthew Nimetz. Mr. Papoulias said German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel and their French counterpart Alain Juppe "all agree that Gligorov's intransigence is an obstacle to the process". The Greek side raised the issue of Greco-Albanian relations at the meeting, stressing that Athens was awaiting a response from Albanian President Sali Berisha. Mr. Papoulias said the EU appreciated Greece's goodwill gesture of lifting its veto on EU aid to Albania and reiterated that the five ethnic Greek minority members should be released from jail. "The messages are positive but I am reserved. The days approaching are festive ones and we shall see if we will have the desired result," he said. ND a 'Gov't in waiting' Evert tells party cadres ------------------------------------------------ Athens, 12/12/1994 (ANA): The main opposition party, New Democracy, is a "government in waiting", ND leader Miltiades Evert told the party's fourth national conference yesterday. Mr. Evert outlined his party's proposals for the country's institutional, political, economic and social modernisation at the conference, which began at the Peace and Friendship stadium yesterday morning. "The right opposition tactics have created growing popular support (for ND) which our party is obliged to transform into a government ... so that deadlocks can be overcome and the country led out of a multifaceted crisis," Mr. Evert said. Mr. Evert said the country had "no government and no prime minister". It only has ministers, he said, of which few produce work which is independent and a result of their individual effort. "A government is a collective effort which someone directs and inspires," Mr. Evert said, "and there is none of this at present." Commenting on the possibility of the government dropping charges on the phone-tapping and AGET cement company scandals, Mr. Evert reiterated ND's position that "we refuse to participate in a conspiracy to perpetuate defamation following complete failure to produce evidence." "ND is steadfast and uncompromising on ethical issues and insists on a judicial probe for these pending issues," he said. New Democracy honorary president and former prime minister Constantine Mitsotakis has been referred to a special tribunal to answer charges that he tapped the phones of political rivals. He has also, along with former senior ministers in his government, been indicted for receiving kickbacks in the AGET-Heracles sale while prime minister. "The people are experiencing the consequences of a failed and incompetent government," Mr. Evert said. "The only democratic way out is for the people themselves -- not backstage (actors) and vested interests -- to provide the solution." Mr. Evert added that he did not intend to give a vote of confidence and lease of life to an incompetent and bankrupt government next spring, when a new president will be elected. If parliament cannot choose a successor to incumbent president Constantine Karamanlis, general elections will be held. Party Vice-President and former defence minister Ioannis Varvitsiotis presented a proposal to amend the constitution at the conference. "Society and the political system are not yet deadlocked but prompt and courageous changes are necessary," Mr. Varvitsiotis said. The proposal calls for increased authorities for the President of the Republic, the establishment of civil liability for ministers and of the institution of public administration commissioner or ombudsman. The proposal foresees personal assets liability for ministers failing to implement court decisions and says the President of the Republic's duties should include the right to convene and chair cabinet meetings on special occasions and to convene the Council of Leaders. Moreover, the proposal proposes changing party funding structures and establishing ceilings for party expenditures, initiating a Foreign Policy Council, conducting nation-wide exams for entry to the public sector and providing for the establishment of private universities. Former prime minister Constantine Mitsotakis, who received enthusiastic applause at the conference, made a 40-minute political speech covering all issues, instead of his planned 20-minute address. Mr. Mitsotakis focused his speech on what he said was the great vindication of the policy applied by his government during its rule 1990-1993, terming it "the most powerful weapon ND possesses at present." Mr. Mitsotakis made barbs at the present image of the party, implying that it does not produce policy and does not benefit enough from PASOK's decline. The conference ended last night. Gov't response -------------- Athens, 12/12/1994 (ANA): "Mr. Evert's programme ... is adequate for (a party on) standby but not for a government," government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said in response to Mr. Evert's statements yesterday. Premier voices concerns about future of EU ------------------------------------------ Athens, 12/12/1994 (ANA): Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou said Saturday that he was concerned about the future of the European Union. He said that an "unprecedented discussion" on the issue was held during Friday's dinner for EU leaders. Mr. Papandreou said answers were needed to the difficult questions of equal rights between member-states, their representation at EU agencies and the cumbersome processes equal representation might cause. He said a meeting of EU heads of state and government would be convened in September "for thoughts and replies to be given to these incisive questions." Mr. Papandreou said central and eastern European countries were under the mistaken impression that "the day after tomorrow the door will open and they will be incorporated into the EU". "However, that door will open very slowly," he said. EU decisions on Inter-European networks 'vindicate Greek efforts', Papantoniou says ----------------------------------------------------------------- Essen, 12/12/1994 (ANA-V.Demiris): National Economy Minister Yiannos Papantoniou Saturday welcomed the outcome of discussions on the financing of Inter-European transport networks as a "vindication of Greek efforts". The adoption of 14 priority infrastructure projects, including the Patra-Athens-Thessaloniki-Bulgarian border road axis, the Rio-Antirrio bridge, and the Egnatia highway running the length of northern Greece, confirms the resolve of the European Union to implement Inter-European Networks, he said. He added that the decision, adopted with the help of France, could be considered a success for Greek positions. He said the general orientations of the White Paper on Employment, taking into account the particular economic and social conditions of each country, were confirmed. ND says premier a 'failure' at Essen ------------------------------------- Athens, 12/12/1994 (ANA): A New Democracy party statement yesterday accused Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou of "tragically" failing to promote Greek national issues at the Essen European Union Summit and of undermining the country's international standing. The statement said the premier failed to secure a specific timetable for a start to negotiations for Cyprus' accession to the EU and to persuade the summit to express its reservations on the conditions regarding Turkey's customs union with the EU. It also said Mr. Papandreou failed to secure the practical support of Greece's partners in its disputes with Turkey, Albania and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Venizelos points to human rights violations in Balkans ------------------------------------------------------ Athens, 12/12/1994 (ANA): Government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos drew attention to continuing violations of human rights in the Balkans, in a message marking World Human Rights Day on Saturday. "Unhappily, there are still human rights violations in the Balkans, particularly Albania," he said. "Our thoughts must be with the Greeks of Albania, whose human rights concern us not only because of our fraternal relations ... but because the respect for human rights is an international obligation of all nations." Mr. Venizelos said Greece participated in all international and regional organisations which aimed to ensure protection and respect for human rights. Referring to the recent conviction of eight Kurdish deputies in Turkey, Mr. Venizelos said Greece took the position of international organisations and its EU partners in criticising the trial. Russian deputy FM in Athens for talks ahead of Nimetz visit Thursday ----------------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 12/12/1994 (ANA): Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Mr. Mametov arrived in Athens yesterday and will have talks today with Greek Foreign Ministry officials. Mr. Mametov arrived from Istanbul, at the head of a delegation. Meanwhile, US President Bill Clinton's special mediator on the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) issue Matthew Nimetz is expected in Athens on Thursday. Mr. Nimetz will meet Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou and Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias before flying to Skopje for talks with FYROM President Kiro Gligorov. Mr. Nimetz will convey Athens' and Washington's positions on the dispute to Mr. Gligorov, reports said yesterday. UN peacekeepers to leave through Thessaloniki --------------------------------------------- Athens, 12/12/1994 (ANA): Greece yesterday granted permission for the passage of 100 vehicles and about 300 hundred soldiers of UNPROFOR's Scandinavian contingent in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia through the port of Thessaloniki. The convoy will pass through the port from today until Wednesday. KKE, Coalition 'categorically opposed' to Greek troop involvement in Bosnia ----------------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 12/12/1994 (ANA): A Communist Party of Greece (KKE) statement yesterday expressed the party's categorical opposition to Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou's position that Greece was willing to contribute militarily to a NATO scheme to withdraw UN peacekeepers from Bosnia. "The Greek borders must only be crossed by 'caravans of peace' in solidarity with the peoples of the region suffering from imperialist interventions," the statement said. A Coalition of the Left and Progress statement said that the Coalition was also "categorically opposed to the military involvement of the country in the Bosnian crisis, under whatsoever pretext". Coalition criticises Gov't policies as 'not meeting the challenge of the times' ----------------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 12/12/1994 (ANA): Coalition of the Left and Progress party leader Nikos Constantopoulos made strong criticism of the government's policies at his party's national conference on local government Saturday. He said government policies did not measure up to expectations and neither did they satisfy the challenges of the times, keeping itself busy with the impasses created over the last 20 years. He called for a meeting of the joint national and European Parliaments Committee to examine the country's proposals and claims in view of the revision of the Maastricht treaty. He urged other parties to put forward their proposals regarding the successor to the present president, constitutional revision and institutional changes in the political system. Church of Greece decides to set up office in Brussels ----------------------------------------------------- Athens, 12/12/1994 (ANA): The Church of Greece has decided to open an office in Brussels to take advantage of European Union programmes in the pastoral, spiritual and social sectors, the church press office announced yesterday. The decision was taken at a meeting of the Holy Synod, the autocephalous Church of Greece's ruling body, on Friday. The announcement said that the Brussels office will "co-ordinate initiatives being taken by the Ecumenical Orthodox Patriarchate of Constantinople" in taking advantage of these programmes. The office will also "cultivate a spirit of broader co-operation between the Church of Greece and the EU," the announcement continued. It said a delegation comprising of two bishops and an Archimandrite would be in Brussels soon to finalise details on the establishment and operation of the office while another delegation will go to the Fanar, seat of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul, to work out details for co-operation with the Patriarchate.