The government yesterday dismissed main opposition charges concerning grave incompetence in the absorption of European Union funds. After a marathon session of the Economic Policy Committee, National Economy Minister Yiannos Papantoniou and his alternate Giorgos Romaios said the rate of absorption of funds originating through the Community Support Framework and Cohesion Fund is considered satisfactory.
Earlier in a press conference, New Democracy party deputy Aristeidis Tsiplakos said the government's inability to absorb Community funds acquired dimensions of a national crime. He charged that due to "criminal inertia" only 150 billion out of 850 billion drachmas of Cohesion Fund credits, including deposits, had been absorbed so far, raising the danger of serious losses. Mr. Tsiplakos said that in contrast to Spain and Portugal, which have given absolute priority to Cohesion Fund projects by absorbing to date the largest part of the funds, Greece has been left behind because the PASOK government has refused to approve 22 projects scheduled by the previous ND government.
He said the situation regarding the Second Community Support Framework (CSF) was "tragic," as only 0.4 per cent of the 657 billion drachmas approved has been absorbed as of April 30. He added the most important of Community initiatives, the Interreg II programme approved in January, has gone into hybernation. In order to tackle the problem he asked for the establishment of an inter-party committee to oversee absorption procedures and implementation of each project separately.
Mr. Romaios confirmed that 1994 total inflows of all funds covered 75 per cent of forecasts, reaching a total of 430 billion drachmas. The alternate national economy minister said 1995 inflows appeared very low viewed in accounting terms, but not so in reality, as a time lag existed between approval and disbursement. Mr. Romaios said out of a scheduled total of 420 billion drachmas, credits of 105 billion have been confirmed through the Public Investment Programme.
Regarding CSF funds, Mr. Romaios stressed that absorption rates were faster compared to 1995, with payments reaching 250 billion out of a total of 416 billion in the first half of the year. For 5 trillion drachmas envisaged by the CSF, he said even if there were delays in their disbursement, there was no procedure for trimming them under Community law until the year 2001.
Mr. Papantoniou stated that the target of absorbing 1.05 trillion drachmas in 1995 was realistic.
The president of the European Parliament Klaus Haensch is expected to concentrate on efforts to sway Greek opposition to EU majority voting during a visit to Athens July 17-19.
Speaking to Greek reporters yesterday, the German Social Democrat president of the Europarliament and supporter of majority voting as opposed to consensus voting for EU member-states, insisted that "solidarity" among EU partners be maintained and respected. Denying that scrapping the consensus approach would weaken smaller EU states, Mr. Haensch said: "the transition to majority voting regards 'normal,' daily legislative work in Brussels."
Asked to comment on Turkey's recall of a proposed constitution review by Prime Minister Tansu Ciller, Mr. Haensch said it was "sad" and a "bad omen." He refused, however, to comment as to whether the Europarliament will ratify the EU-Turkey customs union. "That depends on developments in Turkey," Mr. Haensch said, "as well as the evaluation of political groupings in the European Parliament."
He downplayed an appeal by French President Jacques Chirac to Europarliament members to ratify the union, saying Mr. Chirac had not exerted pressure on the body. "Differences of opinion between the European Parliament, which has set the conditions for ratification of the agreement and governments (EU member-states) are taken as fact," he said, adding: "I consider Mr. Chirac's intervention 'normal' in the framework of dialogue. Besides, all 15 governments have signed the customs union with Turkey."
Mr. Haensch said he would convey a message that "Greece belongs fully and clearly in Europe" in his first official trip to Athens. He is visiting the nation at the official invitation of Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis.
The foreign ministry attributed a postponement of a tripartite meeting between the foreign ministers of Greece, Bosnia and Iran to Bosnian Foreign Minister Muhammed Sacirbey's presence in Brussels, where NATO permanent representatives are discussing the Bosnian crisis.
Returning late Wednesday from Romania, Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias expressed concern over developments in Bosnia, saying Greece would do everything possible to attain a peaceful settlement to the crisis. "Greece is opposed to any form of military intervention, even on a limited scale," Mr. Papoulias said.
Asked to outline Greece's position on the Bosnia situation, foreign ministry spokesman Costas Bikas said a common European position had been adopted. He restated a European Union declaration condemning the Bosnian Serb attack and occupation of Srebrenica, which violated UN Security Council resolutions.
Meanwhile, main opposition New Democracy party vice president Ioannis Varvitsiotis called on the government to inform the Greek people if it intends to participate in the withdrawal of peacekeeping forces from Bosnia. He accused National Defence Minister Gerasimos Arsenis of "secret diplomacy."
Political Spring party leader Antonis Samaras said the Balkan countries should avoid military involvement in the Bosnian crisis, adding a peaceful settlement to the Bosnian crisis should be attained through dialogue.
President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos will visit Berlin July 21 for talks with his German counterpart, Roman Herzog, the president's office announced yesterday. The visit is in response to an invitation from the German president and due to its formal nature Mr. Stephanopoulos will be accompanied by a number of government officials, the announcement stated.
The director of the European Commission office in Athens, Maria Savvaidou-Polyzou, presented a check yesterday for one million Ecu to the Greek Red Cross for quake victims of the Achaia and Fokida regions. Ms. Savvaidou-Polyzou said the emergency assistance reflected the Commission's support for victims of a devastating June 15 tremor that claimed the life of 26 people.
An Athens prosecutor charged seven individuals Wednesday with involvement in the nationalist organisation MAVI, considered by authorities responsible for a cross-border raid on an Albanian army outpost last year April, which resulted in the death of two Albanian soldiers.
Prosecutor Apostolos Papatheodorou charged Apostolos Karveloas and Georgios Anastasoulis, along with five other Albanians of Greek origin: Mario Koutoulas, Freddy Beleris, Haralambos Papas, Georgios Papas and Georgios Christos for the raid on the Albanian camp at Peshkepi, and for illegal possession of 13 Kalashnikov assault rifles. The weapons were found in secret caches last March.
The political adviser to Albanian President Sali Berisha, Genz Polo, had talks yesterday with Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias on the course of Greek-Albanian relations. During the meeting, Mr. Polo delivered a letter from Mr. Berisha to President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos, requesting Greek support for closer ties between Albania and the European Union.
Greece is opposed to all forms of nuclear testing, foreign ministry spokesman Costas Bikas said yesterday when asked to comment on France's decision to resume testing in the South Pacific. "All testing is unacceptable, particularly following the extension of the treaty on non-proliferation of nuclear weapons," he added.
Meanwhile, the Political Spring (Pol.An) party said it supported efforts aimed at preventing nuclear testing and described as "unacceptable" French President Jacques Chirac's decision to renewed testing. "Political Spring expresses the hope that the French government will reconsider its decision, despite the fact the stance adopted by Mr. Chirac does not appear to indicate such an intention," a Pol.An statement noted.
Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) President Nikos Constantopoulos said he would not attend events at the French Embassy in Athens today marking the anniversary of the French Revolution in protest over France's decision to resume nuclear testing.
The Kurdish Red Crescent appealed yesterday to the Greek people, government, political parties and the Greek Red Cross for assistance, saying 1,500 people were being admitted daily to hospitals in southern Kurdistan.
Red Crescent spokesman Jan Baktiar told a press conference the result of the conflict, Turkish policy and a blockade of Kurdish areas has created a survival problem for Kurdish civilians. The problem is particularly acute for the wounded, he said. Mr. Baktiar said residents were also in great need of food, medicines and other items.
Three Cypriot teachers who teach in Greek schools in Turkish-occupied territories of northern Cyprus were received yesterday by Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis. "Greece is on your side. I'm moved by your persistence," the Parliament President told Eleni Foka, Yannoula Vasiliou and Despo Kalatzi-Mouzouri. The teachers briefed Mr. Kaklamanis on the severe living conditions for Greek Cypriots in the occupied north.
A Greek businessman was arrested at Athens International Airport yesterday after customs officers discovered two-and-a-half kilos of cocaine hidden in a harmonium musical instrument. Police believe the suspect, identified as 44-year-old George Aretaios, belongs to a drug smuggling ring led by 30-year-old Greek-Italian Vasilio Leobila (phonetic spelling).
According to police, Leobila allegedly bought the cocaine in Colombia and gave it to Aretaios to smuggle into Greece. In addition to Leobila, police are searching for his Colombian-born wife, Ruda Crisales (phonetic spelling), 39, in connection with the incident.
Parliament yesterday completed debate and approval of remaining articles and amendments to a mass media bill.
Political Spring (Pol.An) party leader Antonis Samaras welcomed the government initiative "to put order in the unacceptable and chaotic situation in the mass media," but expressed doubts regarding application of provisions of the bill. "We must not be over-optimistic about the result," he said. During his speech, Mr. Samaras referred to "bad quality" and "subculture competition" among television programmes.
Press Minister Evangelos Venizelos concurred with Mr. Samaras' view, describing the quality of programmes of certain television channels as "miserable." He added that the bill also established certain necessary rules for transparency in the finances of the media. "The bill can be enforced. We can apply certain rules," he said.
During yesterday's session, Parliament approved amendments for the introduction of personalised shares in companies undertaking public projects, and for publication of the names of journalists employed in public sector enterprises.
Communist Party Secretary-General Aleka Papariga criticised the bill for leaving intact what she said was the "close interweaving of ruling parties with large private interests. "They (political parities) both fear media proprietors and want them to support their policies and views. That is the substance," she said.
Greece yesterday condemned construction of fortifications by Turkey in the occupied part of Cyprus, saying the proposed European Union-Turkey customs union and Cyprus's EU accession were two completely different issues.
Replying to reporters' questions, foreign ministry spokesman Costas Bikas said Greece supported decisions and actions taken by the Cyprus Republic on the fortifications issue in the Turkish-occupied part of Nicosia. Mr. Bikas said UNFICYP must be allowed to inspect the area where construction has taken place for the past three weeks. The area is covered by a UN-brokered unmanning agreement signed between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides in 1989.
Meanwhile, Alternate Foreign Minister Georgios Alexandros Mangakis met Thursday with US State Department envoy James Williams. It is believed the issue of Turkish fortifications was raised during the talks.
Mr. Bikas said the island republic should most certainly be invited to attend the EU intergovernmental conference next year as an observer, just as Malta has been invited. He clarified, however, that the competent body for making such a decision was the European Commission. Commenting on statements by French President Jacques Chirac, who linked the proposed EU-Turkey customs union and Cyprus' accession to the EU, Mr. Bikas underlined that the two issues were entirely unconnected.