From: tzarros@ccs.carleton.ca (Theodore Zarros) Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Wed, 14 Dec 1994 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa). Athens News Agency Bulletin, December 14, 1994 ---------------------------------------------- (Apo to Ellnviko Grafeio Tupou kai Plnroforiwv, Ottaba, Kavadas E-Mail Address: grnewsca@sympatico.ca) * Arsenis, US counterpart confer on issues "of mutual interest" * Chechnya: No Greek recognition, Russia indivisible, hope for peaceful settlement * Eliades: Cyprus EU membership will lead to settlement * Peponis resignation unleashes wave of comments * PM confers with Tsohatzopoulos * GSEE 24-hour strike on * Ouzo wins GATT appellation battle at EU meeting * Conference calls for joint policy on Mediterranean fisheries * Three-country Kurd solidarity c'tee set up * Armenian FM in Athens for talks with Papoulias Arsenis, US counterpart confer on issues "of mutual interest" ---------------------------------------------------------------- Brussels, 14/12/1994 (ANA-P.Pantelis): National Defence Minister Gerasimos Arsenis yesterday held talks with US Defence Secretary William Perry, terming them a "mutual briefing on issues of interest to Greece and the US". The meeting was held in Brussels on the initiative of the US It lasted 40 minutes. Mr. Arsenis said afterwards "issues of common interest" had been discussed, including others to be examined at today's autumn session of NATO Defence Ministers. He said NATO headquarters in Larissa and the headquarters of the multinational division in Thessaloniki had not been included on the agenda, adding he would raise the issue in private talks with his counterparts. Mr. Arsenis said he would meet with Canadian and German Defence Ministers, the latter on the occasion of his visit to Germany in January. He was also due to chair yesterday's "Eurodinner" for European Defence Ministers, and complete his round of meetings with other counterparts, on the sidelines of the Defence Ministers' summit due to convene today, sitting as the Defence Planning Committee and as the Nuclear Planning Committee tomorrow. Referring to the issue of headquarters, Nato's general secretariat said there had been some mobility, while the Greek side expected progress might be achieved on their operation which had been blocked by a Turkish veto. The Greek side, however, denied a Greek press report of a classified NATO document on discreet Greco-Turkish talks. It clarified Greece's permanent NATO representative Ambassador V. Zafeiropoulos had had contacts with Nato's general secretariat only, not with Turkish representatives. The main issues to be discussed at Nato's Defence Ministers' summit are NATO enlargement eastwards, a series of issues concerning nuclear weapons, and the possible pullout of UN forces from Bosnia which will be discussed at the ministers' luncheon. NATO Defence Ministers are expected to support the need for UN forces in Bosnia to be reinforced and maintained. However, in the event of a pullout, the Greek side, in the framework of Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou's statement in Essen, will confirm Greek participation. But it is not expected to define Greek participation in the pullout operation. Chechnya: No Greek recognition, Russia indivisible, hope for peaceful settlement --------------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 14/12/1994 (ANA): Greece said yesterday it did not recognise the independence of Chechnya, adding hope for a peaceful settlement of the three-year-old problem. "Greece does not recognise - as it has not done so up to now - Chechnya's declaration of independence as a separate and sovereign entity," a Foreign Ministry announcement said. "On the contrary, it (Greece) firmly supports the unity and indivisibility of the Russian State," the announcement noted. It came as Russia launched its largest military operation since 1979, with Russian tanks and troops closing in on the Chechen capital, Grozny. The Foreign Ministry said that developments in the breakaway republic in the Caucasus were "a domestic Russian issue. The Greek government hopes there will be a peaceful solution to the three-year-long problem". Eliades: Cyprus EU membership will lead to settlement ----------------------------------------------------- Athens, 14/12/1994 (ANA): Cyprus Defence Minister Costas Eliades said yesterday that the accession of the island republic to the European Union would lead to a political solution of the 20-year-old Cyprus problem. Speaking in Thessaloniki, Mr. Eliades said that Cyprus' accession would act as a "lever exerting pressure for a change in Turkey's intransigent stance". Ankara's intransigence, Mr. Eliades said, had been confirmed at recent confidence-building talks, including contacts between Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot leaders. Mr. Eliades said Greece had been right in insisting on vetoing the Turkish-EU customs union at the Essen summit last weekend. Greece has made it clear at Essen that only some positive sign, such as the setting of a date for Cyprus' entry to the EU, might produce a change in its position. "There is no other way," Mr. Eliades said, adding "I also believe that this ploy will pay off. At the same time, it serves as a message that the Cyprus issue is an international problem for which a lasting and permanent solution should at long last be found." Mr. Eliades was speaking to reporters after visiting the Thessaloniki installations of the Hellenic Vehicle Industry (ELBO), which supplies the Cyprus National Guard with Leonidas-type armoured personnel carriers and military jeeps. He told questioners the joint defence programme with Greece agreed on by the two countries last year, "strengthens the security of Hellenism" and contributes to Cypriot efforts for a peaceful solution to the island-republic's problem. "Such a solution," he added, "must secure the sovereign rights of the Cyprus Republic while safeguarding human rights." Mr. Eliades had talks on the programme yesterday with his Greek counterpart, Gerasimos Arsenis, after which both sides expressed satisfaction with the pace of its implementation. Mr. Arsenis is expected to return Mr. Eliades' visit in January. Peponis resignation unleashes wave of comments ---------------------------------------------- Athens, 14/12/1994 (ANA): Minister to the Prime Minister's Office Anastasios Peponis' resignation Monday drew a spate of comments from political figures yesterday, especially from PASOK ruling party quarters. Briefing reporters, government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said Mr. Peponis' resignation was aimed at those who use power to engineer a distorted image of government efforts to introduce reform in the method of appointments in the public sector, hinting at a "causal connection" between the resignation and a press report Sunday alleging 60,000 new appointments had been made by side-tracking current legislation. The spokesman praised Mr. Peponis' courage, noting his action added support to the government's programme in the public sector. He presented analytical data on new appointments, stressing that most were repeated annually, while figures quoted in the press report were fictitious. PASOK Central Committee Secretary General Akis Tsohatzopoulos said Monday Mr Peponis' resignation was an act of protest against efforts to distort the great institutional change pledged by PASOK, while also underscoring its consistency with the policy of recruiting citizens and party cadres to support the course towards reform of Greek society which was more necessary now than ever before. Industry Minister Costas Simitis stated Mr. Peponis was leaving important work behind in a sector dominated by practices of political favouritism. His work should be continued, and an effort made to limit, even abolish, such practices, despite any reaction. It was one of the great aims which the PASOK government should have, he noted. Deputy Industry Minister Christos Rokofyllos stated that by resigning, Mr. Peponis had left his imprint on the work he had achieved. No one would be able to reverse it, he said. Former EU Commissioner Vasso Papandreou described Mr. Peponis' resignation as both an act of protest and an admission of defeat for himself and PASOK's modernising profile. She added, "we must continue the fight for the abolition of political clientele relations and establish meritocracy in our country". Former Prime Minister Constantine Mitsotakis said Mr. Peponis' resignation was not a problem to himself, but to the Prime Minister, who was non-existent and should resign. General Confederation of Greek Workers Christos Protopappas said the minister's resignation should not signal the end of procedures establishing meritocracy in appointments, adding the new minister sought to commit himself to applying Law 2190 without deviation or compromises. PM confers with Tsohatzopoulos ------------------------------ Athens, 14/12/1994 (ANA): PASOK Secretary General Akis Tsohatzopoulos met with the Prime Minister yesterday on the party's role in tackling major issues. "We discussed all major issues concerning the party's course at present and its contribution to the problems facing us", he said, adding that "what matters is to promote substantial and direct political answers to the Greek citizen's contemporary concerns, whether they relate to the development facet of the Greek economy or major institutional changes which we need to go ahead with, in the sectors of health, education, and others". Asked whether or not Mr. Peponis' resignation created problems to the government's work, he said it was a matter for the Prime Minister to deal with". GSEE 24-hour strike on ---------------------- Athens, 14/12/1994 (ANA): The 24-hour national strike called by General Confederation of Workers of Greece (GSEE) to protest the strict 1995 state budget and tight incomes policy began at midnight. The Civil Servants' Supreme Administrative Council (ADEDY) has joined forces with the GSEE. It called on its members to stop work and leave from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., to join in a rally at Kaningos Square, downtown Athens. The strike, announced by the General Committee of the General Confederation of Workers of Greece (GSEE), is intended to underscore the union's basic positions, including a demand for increasing public investments for economic development and combating unemployment, effective safeguard of workers' incomes and increasing low pensions, bold and just taxation reform, no further public expenditure cuts, and abolition of anti-insurance laws. Labour Minister Ioannis Skoularikis agreed pay raises were not satisfactory, but stressed the need for a strict monetary policy which should also take into account provisions of the Convergence Plan. Mr. Skoularikis did not elaborate on the government's financial policy. He referred journalists to the Ministry of National Economy. Ouzo wins GATT appellation battle at EU meeting ----------------------------------------------- Brussels, 14/12/1994 (ANA-P.Pantelis): European Farm Ministers yesterday decided that the protection of the appellation of origin for Community wines and spirits world-wide would be a matter of joint action by the Community and member-states concerned. Agriculture Minister Giorgos Moraitis said the arrangement provides Greece the possibility of claiming exclusive rights for the appellation of Ouzo in the framework of GATT. The European Union has recognised Greece as the exclusive producer of Ouzo. This right has also been recognised in an EU agreement with Australia, but is challenged by other countries, and has not been recognised by GATT. The Council reached no decision on reform of the wine sector, referring the issue to the French presidency, which begins its term on January 1. The sugar regime, which expires on June 30, 1995, was referred to the Special Farm Council for further discussion. Conference calls for joint policy on Mediterranean fisheries ------------------------------------------------------------ Athens, 14/12/1994 (ANA): Delegates from 26 countries attending a three-day ministerial conference on fisheries management in the Mediterranean yesterday agreed on the need for joint and immediate action to save the sea's eco-system. On the second day of the conference, organised by the European Commission, chaired by Greek Commissioner Ioannis Paleokrassas, rapporteurs called for a joint policy on the Mediterranean. "Such a policy should be aimed at controlling fishing activity in order to protect the Mediterranean's fishing resources, they stressed". "We must hurry up," Mr. Paleokrassas said, "as fishing shoals are being threatened". Commenting on the conference, Mr. Paleokrassas said that there was "an impressive disposition for co-operation. There has been absolutely no conflict of views". In a joint statement yesterday, participants at the conference agreed that "the European Union and all the countries which in any way exploit the Mediterranean sea environment, (should) contribute to the preservation and development of its fishing resources." According to the statement, co-operation among participants should be enhanced, function at the highest level and be open to all coastal countries or other countries using the Mediterranean for fishing. The statement said co-operation aimed at implementing a harmonious Mediterranean preservation and administration system. Three-country Kurd solidarity c'tee set up ------------------------------------------ Athens, 14/12/1994 (ANA): Delegations from New Yugoslavia, Bulgaria and Greece met in Thessaloniki yesterday to found a Balkan Solidarity Committee for Kurdistan. They met at a hotel to express solidarity with the Kurdish people and co-ordinate action. Speaking to reporters afterwards, PASOK Deputy Costas Bantouvas, head of the Greek delegation, said the purpose of the Committee was to co-ordinate efforts on briefing public opinion in Balkan countries on Turkish expansionism and efforts made through Islamic fundamentalism to ignite flashpoints in the Balkans. The Committee's plans include sending humanitarian aid to the Kurdish people and organising an international conference to examine the Kurdish issue, including its relation to and influence on the Balkan region. Mr. Bantouvas said delegations from Balkan states included leading figures from the science sector, university professors and historians. Armenian FM in Athens for talks with Papoulias ---------------------------------------------- Athens, 14/12/1994 (ANA): Armenian Foreign Minister Vahan Papazian opens a three-day official visit to Greece today. He will have talks with his Greek counterpart, Karolos Papoulias, on ways of further developing bilateral relations. A Foreign Ministry announcement said that Mr. Papazian would also exchange views with Mr. Papoulias on international problems, particularly those relating to the Balkans, the Black Sea and the Caucasus. Mr. Papazian will also have talks with Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou tomorrow, and National Defence Minister Gerasimos Arsenis Wednesday. At noon Friday, the two Ministers will sign political and cultural agreements and initial a peace and friendship accord. Mr. Papazian will remain in Greece a further two days after his official visit, for talks with representatives of the Armenian community in Athens, before flying to Tel Aviv on Sunday evening.