The government announced a number of measures yesterday aimed at combating unemployment which focus mainly on normalising the labour market.
Announcing the measures after a meeting of the ministerial economic policy committee, National Economy Minister Yiannos Papantoniou said a favourable economic climate resulting from falling inflation and lower interest rates is expected to lead to new investments and creation of new jobs. Consequently, he said the government's policy will concentrate on structural unemployment, with efforts occurring in three main stages.
The first would be a recording of the labour market with the introduction of a "work card" - white for Greeks, green for foreigners. The aim of this measure is to record the number of employed and unemployed and to curb illegal labour. The second stage will integrate the government's unemployment benefits policy with a promotion of job creation.
To achieve this the government will introduce a "work coupon" with which the unemployed will have a choice of either cashing it in as an unemployment benefit or giving it to an employer. The employer will be able to cash the coupon with the Manpower Employment Organisation (OAED), provided the employer hires the unemployed person and undertakes a commitment to keep him employed for a period longer than that covered by the benefit.
Another option is to deposit the coupon with OAED or with another organisation in order to take part in training programmes.
The third stage provides for special incentives, including early pensions for unemployed elderly and measures to encourage hiring of young people.
Labour Minister Ioannis Skoularikis said the cost of the measures, estimated at about 200 billion drachmas, would not be funded by the introduction of new taxes but rather by a better use of OAED and Community funds, as well as greater assistance from the state budget. Mr. Skoularikis said the official rate of unemployment in May 1995 was 5.9 per cent, but admitted the real figure was actually 2-3 percentage points higher.
Main opposition New Democracy party spokesman Vassilis Manginas said the government's measures to combat unemployment "redistributed poverty and showed a total lack of respect for the unemployed." Mr. Manginas said the only way to combat unemployment is development. Unemployment, he said, "cannot be dealt with cards nor coupons."
Political Spring party spokesman Notis Martakis criticised aspects of recently announced government measures to combat unemployment as "inadequate." "They constitute a framework of measures at a clearly theoretical level, without a specific schedule for application and without necessary safeguards for preventing the exploitation of the unemployed," he added.
Mr. Martakis also said the package does not provide for greater access of young people to the labour market given that, according to statistical data, one in three unemployed is aged between 20 and 24.
Greece for the second consecutive day yesterday strongly rejected accusations by Turkish Premier Tansu Ciller that Athens was supporting Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) separatists.
"There is a cycle of provocations from Turkey, beginning with the resolution of the Turkish National Assembly and proceeding to unacceptable claims made (Monday) by Ms. Ciller concerning the Kurds," government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said.
The Turkish National Assembly last month empowered the government to take military measures against Greece if Athens implemented the international Law of the Sea Convention, which gives Greece the right to extend its territorial waters from six to 12 nautical miles.
"Greece wants a Turkey which safeguards social cohesion and without domestic problems, but we cannot tolerate the provocative statements and threats of war. Greece wants a truly European Turkey and the development of Ankara's relations with the European Union, but Turkey will not develop this relationship unless it accepts certain fundamental principles such as respect for democratic and human rights, and unless it withdraws its threats against Greece," Mr. Venizelos said.
"It is indeed strange and provocative that Ms. Ciller should claim that Greece is a threat. Greece has a security problem of which the international community is aware," the government spokesman added.
Replying to questions, Mr. Venizelos said if t he cause of Turkish threats stems from a private visit by Greek MPs to the hideout of PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan "then we cannot communicate." "The government does not know what deputies do independently and privately. This is how pluralistic democracies function, but perhaps some countries are not familiar with this, that is, not familiar with democratic functioning. Greek foreign policy is formulated by the government and not individuals," Mr. Venizelos said.
Turkish officials have complained about a visit by six Greek parliament members to Mr. Ocalan last month. Ms. Ciller accused Greece Monday of "making shrouds for Turkey" by supposedly aiding the PKK. Mr. Venizelos said he could not understand why Turkey had not threatened the Netherlands, which hosts the Kurdish parliament-in-exile.
"Why is Greece being singled out as a target? Where is Greece's policy on the issue any different to that of other countries?" he said. Mr. Venizelos added that "it is obvious Turkey is not threatened by Greece, but that Turkey unilaterally harbours designs against Greece's sovereign rights and has committed an international crime by invading Cyprus, a large part of which it still occupies today. "It is therefore a provocation and a paradox on the part of Ms. Ciller to refer to Greece's threats against Turkey," he continued.
Asked to comment on the fact that despite Turkish provocations, Greece agreed during the European Summit in Cannes to ratify the EU-Turkish customs union by the European Parliament, Mr. Venizelos said the Greek delegation simply ratified the already adopted decisions by the Council of Ministers.
Mr. Venizelos said the issue was related to the EU prospect for Cyprus, and respect of values in which Greece believes in and which constitute the European ideal. "Our country has accepted nothing else at the European Council," Mr. Venizelos said, adding that the government's policy on the specific issue was drafted in co-operation and approval of the opposition parties.
Meanwhile, an ANA dispatch from Istanbul quoted Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Omer Akbel as saying "this case (Greece's alleged support of the PKK) will not be abandoned." According to the dispatch, Mr. Akbel told a press conference yesterday that "the fact a NATO member-state supports terrorism is very serious". "Turkey will not abandon this case," he said, adding that Turkey has informed interested organisations and countries on the issue.
Asked to comment on the results of this action, Mr. Akbel said this was an issue of constant communication and not of a final answer. "What's important is to inform and warn," he said, adding that the alleged information contained documents, data and photographs. He did not comment on the content, however. He added that "necessary action to the Greek Embassy in Ankara" has occurred and that Greek diplomats were asked "to provide explanations."
In an interview with the daily "Milliyet", the Greek Ambassador to Turkey Dimitris Nezeritis said evidence the paper published claiming links between the Greek government and the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) proved nothing.
Commenting on a meeting between Greek deputies and PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, he said, "I realise the sensitivity of Turkish public opinion, but the government has nothing to do with this affair. They were not sent there on behalf of parliament. Greece has an official position regarding these issues."
Questioned on reports that "there are PKK camps in Greece," and that Greek passports are granted to PKK members," Mr. Nezeritis replied: "I want to see the evidence concerning Greece's supposed support to PKK, let them show me that passport. We have repeatedly asked for information and nothing has been made available to us. They say there is a PKK camp. Where? They say it is 200km south of Athens, but it emerges that point is in the sea. Reference is made to confessions by terrorists who are arrested. If I were arrested in a country where there's so much propaganda against Greece, I too would say what the official authorities want to hear."
Stressing that Greece is held responsible for every negative event in Turkey, Mr. Nezeritis expressed his annoyance regarding reports on Greece in the Turkish press, adding: "If there are problems, these can be discussed with us. The easiest thing in the world is to start a campaign in the press."
Government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos yesterday said Greek-Serbian relations should be restored, adding that the prime minister's statement was a major step in this direction. "The entire Greek people and mass media wish for a normalisation of the climate in relations between the two countries to its previous state," Mr. Venizelos said.
Mr. Papandreou expressed regret Monday over incidents during Sunday's European basketball championship final where several hundred Greek fans jeered the Yugoslav national team. Mr. Papandreou said the incidents, caused by a number of Greek supporters, tarnished Greece's image as a host country. He added the incidents did not represent the Greek people's true sentiments.
The booing and jeering of the Yugoslav national basket team by Greek fans caused large crowds to gather outside the Greek embassy in Belgrade. The crowds shouted anti-Greek slogans and threw stones and bottles at the building. Meanwhile, Sports Under-Secretary George Lianis postponed his trip to Belgrade yesterday until "passions cool down." Mr. Lianis on Tuesday said he would fly to Belgrade in an effort to restore traditionally good relations between the two nations.
Activities of the fifth joint Greek-Albanian ministerial committee concluded yesterday with the signing of a bilateral economic co-operation protocol. The committee examined the entire range of Greek-Albanian economic relations and agreed to set up a joint committee of experts to settle the issue of an outstanding Albanian debt of $16 million - extended by Greece in 1992 in the form of export credits.
The two sides also discussed the possibility of co-operating on construction of the Durazzo-Krystallopigi roadway. In terms of volume, Greece is the second biggest investor in Albania after Italy.
Palestine Liberation Organisation Chairman Yasser Arafat will arrive in Athens today from Geneva to hold talks with the Greek government. Mr. Arafat will brief the government on the latest developments of the Palestinian issue and would probably meet with President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos and Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou, the announcement stated. No further details were given as to the PLO leader's schedule and other contacts during his visit to Athens. Mr. Arafat is scheduled to leave Greece tomorrow.
Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias received yesterday the US Ambassador to Athens, Thomas Niles, for what the government described as "a usual meeting between the two men." Replying to press questions, government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos later said he had no information about a US travel advisory for Greece following reports that a terrorist attack against the American Embassy in Athens was imminent. Mr. Niles also held talks yesterday with the President of the Parliament Apostolos Kaklamanis on bilateral relations and issues concerning the greater region.
The ruling Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) party will hold a three-day national conference beginning today, according to an announcement.
Central party committee secretary Akis Tsohatzopoulos characterised the meeting as a "critical political process" and told reporters that during discussions "an opportunity will be given" for a "synthesis of views, positions and proposals of party organisations and individual members." Mr. Tsohatzopoulos also referred to the fact that during this process, proposals on a series of important issues will be discussed.
According to Mr. Tsohatzopoulos, during the conference but especially afterwards, PASOK will give a "pioneer solution to the phenomena of crisis in the Greek society," adding, that "if parties are not strong enough, they cannot promote solutions to problems facing the country."
Violations of human rights world-wide are now perpetrated on the streets rather than in prison cells, the president of the Greek section of Amnesty International Lydia Tryfona told a press conference yesterday during a presentation of the organisation's 1994 report.
The report is "dedicated" to violations of human rights against women on the occasion of the UN World Conference for Women in Beijing. It calls on governments to commit themselves to instituting protective measures for women, who are the most vulnerable victims in areas of armed conflicts, where they often suffer systematic maltreatment and rape by members of security forces.
The report mentions cites human rights violations in 152 countries, including the existence of prisoners of conscience in 78, in addition to tens of thousands of political prisoners held without charges or trial in 70 countries.
According to the London-based organisation, thousands of political prisoners have been jailed, while 2,500 have been executed without proper trials in 33 countries. Amnesty International said more than 1,000 people were tortured to death in 34 countries.
Inflation at the end of June was pegged at an annual rate of 9.7 per cent, compared to 10.9 per cent during the same month in 1994, according to figures released yesterday by the National Statistics Service.
The statistical service said the Genera l Consumer Price Index increased by 0.9 per cent in June, against 1 per cent in the same month last year. The June upswing was a result of price increases of 3.3 per cent in summer wear and a 1.2 per cent hike in durable consumer goods. Smaller increases were recorded for foodstuffs (olive oil, confectionery, fish and fruit) rentals, movie tickets and hotel rates.
Greece's merchant fleet grew by 49,337 gross registered tonnes in June, according to figures released yesterday by the Merchant Marine Ministry. During the same month eight vessels totalling 200,059 GRT registered with the Hellenic Shipping Registry, while seven ships totalling 150,722 GRT left the registry.