A.N.A. Bulletin, 13/10/95

From: "Greek Press & Information Office, Ottawa Canada" <[email protected]>

Athens News Agency Directory

ATHENS NEWS AGENCY BULLETIN (No 714), October 13, 1995

Greek Press & Information Office

Ottawa, Canada

E-Mail Address: [email protected]

CONTENTS

[1] Greece welcomes 'beginning of the end of Bosnian war'

Greece yesterday welcomed the cease-fire in Bosnia-Herzegovina as the beginning of the end of the war there.

Government spokesman Telemahos Hytiris said that Greece had from the outset opposed a military solution to the problem and expressed the hope that the cease-fire would "enable the finding of a specific solution to the problem."

"Greece welcomes the signing of a cease-fire in Bosnia-Herzegovina," Foreign Ministry spokesman Costas Bikas said, expressing the conviction that "it is the beginning of the end of this war which has cost so many lives." "We are certain that all the sides involved will do everything possible so that this cease-fire will result in a lasting and permanent peace for the good of the Balkans and Europe," Mr. Bikas added.

In a similar statement, main opposition New Democracy party leader Miltiades Evert also welcomed the cease-fire, saying that Greece should play a leading role in the region. Mr. Evert expressed the hope that the cease-fire agreement would be observed by all sides "and would be the beginning of a new era not only for the Balkans but for all of Europe as well."

[2] Souda

Replying to questioners on the use of the Souda base in Crete for operations in Bosnia, Mr. Hytiris termed the issue "fireworks by Mr. Samaras" who, as foreign minister, had signed the inter-state agreement with the US in 1990.

Mr. Hytiris said a Greek observer was stationed at Souda who was always fully aware of every function at the base. He said, that in the specific case, the activities had taken place in the framework of the NATO alliance following an order by the UN Security Council.

In this case, he added, the Greek representative and Greece had no jurisdiction. Mr. Hytiris said the US aircraft used in the Bosnian crisis neither took photographs, as Mr. Samaras had claimed, nor was used in air strikes, adding that Greece was not involved in the Bosnian crisis.

[3] Athens celebrates its liberation from Nazi occupation

The 51st anniversary of the liberation of Athens from the occupying German forces was celebrated on the Acropolis yesterday, with the hoisting of the flag.

Mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos, who addressed a large gathering of government officials, deputies, and schools, said the anniversary was a day of memory, unity, debt to those fallen, as well as national responsibility before the challenges of our era.

[4] Bilateral talks in Skopje being held 'in good climate'

Talks between Greece and FYROM in Skopje on details of the interim accord are "continuing in a good climate" the Foreign Ministry said yesterday while government spokesman Telemahos Hytiris reiterated that Athens would lift its retorsion measures on Skopje on Sunday, the effective start of the accord.

Mr. Hytiris said the lifting of the embargo would have positive effects for both countries with respect to neighborly relations and cooperation.

Discussions on the implementation of the recently-signed interim agreement between the two countries resumed between the Greek and FYROM delegations in Skopje on Tuesday after a two-day first round in Athens last week.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Costas Bikas said the talks were expected to be completed "soon" and were dealing with the "settlement of the necessary practical steps for the materialization of the interim agreement" signed by the two sides in New York on September 13.

The talks covered matters related to the movement of goods and people between the two countries and the establishment of liaison offices in the two capitals, Mr. Bikas added.

[5] OSCE welcomes FYROM as 53rd member

The Permanent Council of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) on Thursday decided to grant full accession to the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) , making the small republic the organization's 53rd member. The country has joined the organization under its temporary name, which will be used in all proceedings pending a resolution of the name issue between Athens and Skopje

Greece's permanent representative to the OSCE, Ambassador Christos Botzios, said Greece sought cooperation with the neighboring country "to the benefit of both peoples." Mr. Botzios also expressed the hope that this development would have a favorable effect on FYROM's domestic state of affairs.

A number of representations to the OSCE praised Greece's "spirit of good will", adding it "will contribute to the stabilization of the situation and the reinforcement of security in the region."

FYROM has participated as observer to the OSCE (then known as Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe) since 1993.

The state's efforts to gain full accession had been opposed by Greece as part of efforts to force FYROM to change its name and flag and delete expansionist language from its constitution.

FYROM's accession to the OSCE will come into effect on Saturday.

[6] 'Organized' disruption of church service disturbs Albanian Orthodox Church

An incident in an Orthodox Church in Elbasan, Albania, earlier this month, in which two men claiming to be Orthodox clergymen disrupted and demanded they conduct services, has caused unrest in the Orthodox community of the neighboring country. Self-proclaimed archimandrite Arian Kogia, 27, who claims to have been ordained in Romania, and self-proclaimed priest Nikolas Markou, who claims to have been ordained in Skopje, disrupted services, accompanied by "known troublemakers", according to reports. The pair demanded the removal of the parish priest, an appointee of the Orthodox Church of Albania.

According to well-informed sources, Albanian Moslem and US resident Seif Protopapa is behind the incident. News of the incident was broadcast by the BBC's Albanian service as an attempt to form a "national Orthodox Church of Albania," which would be opposed to the presence of Archbishop Anastasios, the head of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania.

The incident's architects had called a BBC correspondent to witness the provocation, while the Albanian news agency ATA also filed a wire story.

In referring to the incident, Anastasios said: "The instigators of the irresponsible staged act in Elbasan have obviously no relation with the Orthodox Church and ignore the (church's) basic tenants and rules."

[7] Papoulias to lead business delegation to visit China this month

Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias will visit China October 15-19 for talks aiming at strengthening bilateral political and economic relations.

Mr. Papoulias will head a delegation comprising Merchant Marine Minister George Katsifaras, National Economy Undersecretary Ioannis Anthopoulos, Commercial Bank Governor Panayiotis Poulis, representatives of major Greek banks and businessmen.

Mr. Papoulias will hold talks in Beijing and Shanghai with Chinese officials, including Vice-Premier and Foreign Minister Qian Qichen.

Greek exports to China were valued at 17 million dollars in 1994, while imports totaled 280 million dollars.

The trade balance between Greece and China is tilted heavily in China's favor, with Greek imports of Chinese products comprising 280 million dollars of the 297 million dollar trade volume between the two countries in 1994.

More specifically, according to figures released by the Foreign Ministry, Greece imported Chinese goods valued at 280 million dollars or 1.34 per cent of total imports, while exports amounted to 17 million dollars or 0.18 per cent of total exports.

Exports to China fell from 32 million dollars in 1990 to 18 million in 1992, jumped 42 million in 1993 and fell again to 17 million dollars last year.

The trade volume rose from 150 million dollars in 1990 to 333 million in 1993, falling to 297 million dollars last year.

Greece's trade deficit with China jumped from 84 million dollars in 1990 to 263 million in 1994.

Greece exports mainly iron and steel rods, fertilizer, chemical products, passenger ships and cruise-ships and clothing to China, and imports gift items, sporting goods, sheets, tablecloths, towels, silver-plated tableware and calculators.

[8] Evert sends PM a message on 'a national issue'

Main opposition New Democracy party leader Miltiades Evert yesterday met with Minister of State at the Prime Minister's Office Antonis Livanis whom he briefed "on the course of a national issue".

Speaking to reporters after the 15-minute meeting, which was held at Mr. Evert's request, Mr. Livanis said the main opposition leader asked him to "deliver a message concerning a national issue to my leader."

Informed ND sources said the meeting did not concern the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

Mr. Evert refused to disclose the content of the meeting when asked by reporters last night. He said, however, that he "was deeply concerned" about the course of Greece's national issues.

[9] Syrian foreign minister to visit Athens at the end of October

Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara will visit Athens October 30-31, it was announced yesterday. Mr. Al-Shara will hold talks with his Greek counterpart Karolos Papoulias.

[10] Mayor of Moscow arrives in Athens today

The mayor of Moscow Yuri Luzkov arrives in Greece today for an official visit, following a visit Athens Mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos paid to Moscow earlier this year.

During his five-day stay, the Moscow mayor will be received by the President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos and Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis. Besides Mr. Avramopoulos, he will also meet with the president of the Athens Academy and other officials.

Mr. Luzkov will inaugurate a "Moscow Days" series of events in Athens, featuring several well-known Russian performers.

In statements prior to his arrival, Mr. Luzkov said the Russian and Greek people have a common cultural heritage and highlighted the common religion and philosophy of life both peoples share.

He did not hide his love of Greek cuisine, which he said was the world's finest.

The mayor said the issue of the monastery of St. Nicholas, near the Kremlin, reverting to the Iviron monastery on Mount Athos would be solved soon, a prerequisite being the compensation of the monastery's current occupants.

St. Nicholas Monastery belonged to the Mount Athos order from 1648 until 1934.

[11] Gov't 'regrets' violent clashes in Piraeus

Government spokesman Telemahos Hytiris yesterday expressed the government's regret over incidents outside the Merchant Marine Ministry in Piraeus Tuesday and Wednesday in which riot police clashed with shipyard workers protesting threatened lay-offs and increasing unemployment.

He denied workers' charges that the Merchant Marine and the Public Order ministers were mainly responsible for the intervention of the riot police, and said that the matter was under investigation.

However, he said that when there is intent to invade a ministry, or when the entrance to it is blockaded by a container, as on Tuesday, no special permission is required for police to intervene.

"Demonstrations are free, but this freedom does not include the closure of the entrance to a ministry," he said.

Mr. Hytiris added that the government was making every possible effort to safeguard employment in the ship-repair sector, but warned that it was not prepared to give in to blackmail by certain businessmen, apparently referring to the announced closure of the NAFSI company, whose bosses have charged the government with indifference, and the subsequent loss of 250 jobs.

Meanwhile, 200 NAFSI workers again staged a march to the Merchant Marine Ministry yesterday morning.

The gathering was addressed by seamen's representatives, who expressed solidarity with workers' demands.

Another gathering, supported by the Piraeus Labor Centre, and attended by about 1,000 workers, was held in the city in the evening, in which speakers stressed that the ship-repair sector had to be saved, otherwise 10,000 people would be laid off.

A resolution calling for productive investment, more jobs, and the setting up of a single authority in the sector was passed.

[12] Premier to chair meeting of new PASOK executive next week

The ruling socialist PASOK party's Central Committee will convene again on November 20 to discuss all current political issues, while the new Executive Bureau will convene on Wednesday under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou, it was announced yesterday.

The decision was taken at a meeting between Mr. Papandreou and the party's new secretary Costas Skandalidis.

The party's direction, Mr. Skandalidis said, was one of unity, synthesis and securing the working of all party bodies. "A great deal of work starts now for a new page in PASOK," he said.

He said he would meet with all PASOK cadres and that unity was guaranteed in all party bodies and that there was room for all.

The prime minister, he said, had instructed him to meet all ministers to discuss work done over the past two years and plan work for the next two years.

The composition of PASOK's Political Secretariat was announced last night following a decision by Mr. Papandreou.

The Political Secretariat will be composed of, apart from Costas Skandalidis in the capacity of PASOK secretary, Gerassimos Arsenis, Apostolos Kaklamanis, Costas Laliotis, Antonis Livanis, Karolos Papoulias, Yiannis Souladakis and Akis Tsohatzopoulos.

[13] Tsohatzopoulos

Outgoing secretary Akis Tsohatzopoulos and his successor Costas Skandalidis congratulated each other at a change-of- guard ceremony at PASOK's head office in Harilaou Trikoupi street yesterday.

Referring to intra-party problems, Mr. Skandalidis said what was necessary at present was a great deal of work and a unifying disposition. He said he would adhere to the party's planning and action prepared by Mr. Tsohatzopoulos with the outgoing Executive Bureau so that "Harilaou Trikoupi will become the centre where the entire movement will breathe again."

Meanwhile, replying to a questioner on whether the withdrawal of former minister Dimitris Tsovolas was of significance to PASOK, Mr. Tsohatzopoulos expressed the hope "it is neither a withdrawal nor a separate movement" but dynamism and popular initiative in the direction of PASOK's orientations and targets.

He said the expression of popular and social interests was what necessitated a victory strategy for PASOK at present.

The PASOK youth organization yesterday issued a statement condemning party dissidents. The statement calls for the "rallying of all cadres of the movement in a unified course" with PASOK president Andreas Papandreou's role "being indisputable".

"Those who contest the president are trying to adulterate the popular mandate and annul the unanimous decision by the Congress," the statement said.

[14] Papariga calls on people to rise

Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Secretary Aleka Papariga said "if the people do not rise and do not react against the government immediately we will have unpleasant consequences."

Ms Papariga, who was addressing a party gathering in Iraklion last night, said Greece was actively participating in the war in the Balkans since planes bombing Bosnia were assigned their targets from the Souda base in Crete.

She also predicted that the "experiment" carried out in the Balkans would be extended to North Africa and Arab countries and Greece wound find itself in the position of both culprit and victim.

[15] Evert says ready to lead a Gov't of solutions and actions

Main opposition New Democracy party leader Miltiades Evert said his party would "represent the people as tomorrow's government of solutions and actions."

Addressing a conference entitled "Beyond state control", Mr. Evert said ND had the solutions "with a government programme being the product of a wide exchange of views with local communities and producer groups."

Institutional changes, Mr. Evert said, were needed. Many of these institutional changes "should be vested with the prestige provided by constitutional clauses. We must create a constitutional framework to protect society and the political system and commit the ordinary legislator to ensure he cannot succumb to pressure exerted by partisan embrace, clientele mentalities and whatever special interests," he said.

"For this reason ND was the first to submit a comprehensive proposal for the revision of the constitution," he added.

Criticizing the government, he said: "It is not possible for us to speak of the need for a small state and have big governments, to create big governmental bodies solely for personal and partisan expediencies, bodies which do not operate, cabinets which are not coordinated. A government is neither judged by the concepts it airs nor by words producing nothing but by its work".

Mr. Evert outlined eight points which in his view will modernize the country:

- Society should be rid of the state's embrace with a clear definition of the relation between state-economy-society and with the basic criterion of improving services provided for the citizen.

- Public life should be rid of the partisan embrace and independence should be fully safeguarded for justice, local administration, universities, trade unionism and the cooperative movement. Mr. Evert said the clientele system should be tackled decisively and that this could be achieved by establishing the institution of permanent undersecretaries, the introduction of the institution of the Public Administration Commissioner, the appointment of governors at organizations on the basis of merit, the safeguarding of the system of hirings in the public sector with the system of national examinations and transparency in public management.

- The participation of society should be strengthened through the establishment of local referendums, the radical decentralization and transfer of powers and services to rural areas and local administration.

- The cohesion of society should be restored through restructuring the social fiber, a new rapprochement with the family, the community, the village, the Church, tackling major social problems, restructuring the educational system and creating a society of provision and care.

- The potential of society and the citizen to undertake initiatives should be released systematically.

- A timely and systematic transition to a society of knowledge and informatics should be achieved.

- Cultural and ecological restructuring should be brought about.

- An organized course should be set towards European unification.

[16] Tsaldaris, Varvitsiotis fire volleys at former PM Mitsotakis

Former parliament president Athanassios Tsaldaris, now a New Democracy deputy, and the party's current Vice-President Ioannis Varvitsiotis yesterday reacted to former prime minister Constantine Mitsotakis' comments in an interview, published in the latest issue of the economic magazine 'Oikonomikos Tahydromos'.

Mr. Tsaldaris denied that he ever asked the former premier to recommend him as caretaker prime minister during the government crisis in the summer of 1993, as suggested by Mr. Mitsotakis. He added that the real issue was whether he had succeeded in his post as parliament president, on which the former premier had said nothing.

He also said he could not accept the view expressed that the party was not able to offer the country an exit from the crisis.

Mr. Varvitsiotis, speaking in Kozani, was rather sharper in his comments, accusing Mr. Mitsotakis of rocking the boat at a time when the party was capable of gaining power under its present leadership.

"Anyone undermining the position of the party leader has no place in New Democracy," he said.

At the same time, Mr. Varvitsiotis claimed for himself the role of guarantor of the party's unity, and of the implementation of its government programme when it gained power.

[17] Journalists union says pension fund threatened

The Athens Journalists' Union (ESHEA) warned yesterday that its social insurance fund was threatened with collapse due to some 20 billion drachmas of dues owed by media owners.

A statement denounced the methods applied by "competent state officials" and media owners on the issue, particularly the latest arran-gements included in the recent law 2328/95 on the media.

It called for a return to the previous regime, in order to secure full control on the payment of social insurance contributions.

[18] EYDAP targets illegal construction as cause of flooding disasters

The Athens Water and Sewerage Company (EYDAP) said yesterday that 450km of creeks and gullies in Attica have been built over, according to a newly-released study.

EYDAP General Director George Ioannidis cautioned that 10 out of 11 gullies have been encroached on by construction in eastern Attika. He said an immediate clearing was necessary.

Unlicensed building over creeks and gullies has previously led to flash flooding in the areas, due to a lack of adequate anti-flooding works.

EYDAP's management will forward a list of illegal structures to Environment, Town Planning and Public Works Minister Costas Laliotis for demolition work to begin.

EYDAP has also instituted a new computer system aimed at providing anti-flood protection for Attica that can be applied to other areas of the country.

Data concerning drainage creeks, gullies, sensitive areas, basins, sub-basins and other pertinent information is fed into the system. With the help of Geographical Service maps, the system has also digitally recreated the entire Attica flood plain.

[19] Papoutsis to kick off Balkans energy conference in Thessaloniki next week

An international conference organized by the European Commission's General Directorate for Energy within the framework of the SYNERGY programme is scheduled next week in Thessaloniki.

Participants at the conference, "Gas, Petroleum and Electricity Networks in the Balkans," include energy ministers from Russia, Armenia, Bulgaria, Albania, Turkey, Romania, Moldova, the Ukraine, FYROM and Greece, while EU Commissioner for Energy and SMEs Christos Papoutsis will inaugurate the event.

Speakers include high-ranking government officials and large energy company executives from Balkan countries, Black Sea nations and eastern Europe, as well as representatives from the Commission, the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

[20] Increased investment seen in eastern Macedonia, Thrace

Investment plans in eastern Macedonia and Thrace have shown an increase in the second half of 1995, according to Secretary-General of the region Haris Tsiokas.

A total of 142 plans have been submitted so far, with investment totaling over 103 billion drachmas, and subsidies applied for amounting to 61 billion. These include nine applications from multinationals.

Two of the plans are related to the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline and Russian natural gas projects, with investments totaling 1.034 billion drachmas, and concerning the creation of a natural gas sub-station and the production of regulators and gas meters in the Komotini industrial area.

[21] EOT calls for tenders for international advertising campaign

The Greek National Tourism Organization (EOT) is inviting tenders for an international advertising campaign for Greek tourism, budgeted at five billion drachmas.

The campaign aims to project the country's cultural identity in conjunction with its natural beauty, and to contribute to maintaining and increasing the tourist flow, attracting tourists of the middle and higher income bracket, lengthening the tourist season and further developing special types of tourism (cruises, conference, therapeutic etc.).

Both Greek and foreign advertising companies may participate and tenders must be submitted by November 14. They must include the proposed strategy, the creative part of the campaign, as well as media planning proposals, and media buying facilities avail able.

The countries expected to receive the largest allocations of outlay for the campaign are Germany (740 million drachmas), Britain (600 million), USA (430 million) and Russia (300 million).

The text of the tender and a copy of the draft contract may be obtained from EOT's Directorate for Advertising, 2 Amerikis St., office 117.

The Ministry of Tourism intends to spend an additional sum of 1.5 - 2 billion drachmas for joint advertising with international tour operators, and is already studying relevant proposals.

End of English language section.