A.N.A. Bulletin, 16/04/96

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

Athens News Agency Directory

ATHENS NEWS AGENCY BULLETIN (No. 862), April 16, 1996

Greek Press & Information Office

Ottawa, Canada

E-Mail Address: [email protected]

CONTENTS

[1] Premier says Greek positions strengthened after his US trip

Prime Minister Costas Simitis, who returned yesterday from an eight-day official visit to the United States, expressed confidence that Greece's positions had been further strengthened.

"Greece was on the defensive, but we managed to change that climate," he said, adding:

"Although Turkish expansionism remains strong, we created the conditions for peace and stability in the region, and showed that we have the will and the ability to find solutions to problems."

Mr. Simitis also announced that he accepted a proposal by main opposition New Democracy leader Miltiades Evert to brief Parliament on the results of his visit, while at the same time criticizing the ND leader for refusing to be briefed in the past.

[2] Government spokesman

Speaking to reporters at Athens' airport immediately after returning from the United States on Friday, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said the premier's official visit, which included stops in Washington, New York and a speech at Yale University, had been a "great success." Mr. Reppas said targets set by Athens were attained.

"For the first time, in such an official, clear and categorical manner, President (Bill) Clinton and US government officials accepted, and to be more precise, reiterated Greece's positions," Mr. Reppas said.

"You are well aware that respect for international law, international agreements and treaties, the condemnation of force and the threat of the use of force, as well as recourse to the International Court of Justice at the Hague for settlement of legal disputes is a triptych of positions which the Greek government has put forward for quite some time," he said.

"And this time this triptych of Greek positions has officially and authoritatively been accepted by the US government."

Mr. Reppas added that until very recently various governments had urged Athens to enter into direct dialogue with Ankara on all issues. "This time the position of those governments, including the US government, is different. It is closer to the Greek point of view. The US government and the governments of Europe are asking Turkey to state, not only with words, but indeed to demonstrate that it respects international law and international agreements, that it condemns the use of force. And this is a significant shift...," he said.

The spokesman said the government was not under an illusion that it had solved all the problems, "but we are certain that something has changed significantly in favor of Greece's positions with respect to national issues.

"Of course, as time passes there must be those confirmatory actions which prove that this is indeed the case, and we believe these actions will be forthcoming," he added.

[3] Boutros-Ghali meeting

In addition to meetings with high-ranking US officials, the prime minister had a 45-minute discussion on Friday with UN Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali, focusing on the Cyprus problem, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) issue and Greek-Turkish relations.

Speaking to reporters after the Friday meeting, the premier said he had impressed upon Mr. Boutros-Ghali Greece's interest and the need for a settlement of the Cyprus problem.

"For so many years the problem has been bogged down. It is time to find procedures which will resolve this outstanding problem at the earliest," he said.

Turning to the FYROM issue, the premier told the UN chief that the Athens-Skopje interim agreement had resulted in a positive development in relations with the landlocked former Yugoslav republic. He underlined, however, that the problem of the neighboring country's name still remained, stressing that a satisfactory solution must be found.

Mr. Simitis said that although the third problem discussed, that of Greek-Turkish relations, did not directly concern the UN, it was nevertheless an issue related to international law and the international community.

Consequently, he said the international body must be concerned with the issue because if the organization was not interested in the implementation of international law, "if it is not interested in threats of force and threats of war not existing, then i t may become a problem which will occupy the UN in the future."

"We do not want this," Mr. Simitis continued, "and the UN should not want it. Which is why the organization should take steps in good time."

In addition, he said Mr. Boutros-Ghali thanked Athens for its financial contribution to the New York-based UN, noting that Greece was one of the countries which made its contribution promptly.

"We make it promptly because we believe in the role of the UN. And we believe that the UN can make a positive contribution to the resolution of problems in the region," the premier added.

Replying to questions on developments concerning the FYROM issue, Mr. Simitis said talks which had begun some time ago were continuing.

"There will be a new meeting on April 17 and we shall see how it will develop. But I should like to reiterate that we are in no rush in this matter. Negotiations must be conducted properly in order for there to be a satisfactory result," he said.

Asked what he meant by a "satisfactory" result, Mr. Simitis replied: "I mean a solution which responds to the views of the parties concerned as expressed in the (interim) agreement, which provides for negotiations on this issue."

Replying to other questions, Mr. Simitis said he had not asked the UN chief to intervene with respect to Greek-Turkish relations.

"I want the UN secretary general to be aware of the problem, to be familiar with the details of the problem and to assess them. Mr. Boutros-Ghali has contacts with all governments. In the near future he will visit Turkey and when he does, he should make it clear to Ankara that it must also attach particular importance to peace and stability in the region," Mr. Simitis said.

In a related matter, Mr. Boutros-Ghali's spokesman Ahmed Fawzi told a press briefing that the UN chief had described his talks with Mr. Simitis as "constructive" and Greece's participation in the UN as "very positive."

"During the meeting a number of issues were discussed including the Cyprus problem and the issue of the former Yugoslavia, as well as Greece's participation in the UN, which the secretary general views as very positive," Mr. Fawzi said.

[4] Opposition statements

Main opposition New Democracy president Miltiades Evert yesterday called on the prime minister to brief Parliament on his high-level meetings and contacts during his official trip last week to the United States.

Mr. Evert said Premier Simitis should "give answers to many questions and gaps created."

The ND leader, however, did not comment directly on issues raised by Mr. Simitis during his US visit, saying discussions dealing with national issues "should occur at a serious level within Parliament."

In response to a question if he will meet with Mr. Simitis, the ND leader said a meeting will take place in Parliament, adding that he's available whenever the premier requests such a meeting.

The main opposition leader declined comment when asked about increased diplomatic activity concerning the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) name issue. "Whatever we have to say, we'll say it in Parliament," he said.

[5] Pol.An

In addition, Political Spring (Pol.An) leader Antonis Samaras harshly criticized Mr. Simitis yesterday over the statements he made upon his return to Athens from his US visit.

Mr. Samaras, the one-time foreign minister in a New Democracy government, questioned the prime minister's expression of satisfaction with the results from his visit.

"Is it because he (Mr. Simitis) was dragged into a dialogue with Turkey concerning all issues? Or because he is carrying an order to abandon the name Macedonia to FYROM?" he asked.

He added that he expects Mr. Simitis to provide explanations to Parliament and the Greek people.

[6] Impasse foreseen on name issue

Diplomatic circles said yesterday that they did not expect progress in talks on the name issue between Greece and FYROM due to resume in New York tomorrow, due to Skopje's intransigence.

In statements made in Stockholm yesterday, FYROM Foreign Minister Ljubomir Frckovski was categorical in his opposition to adoption of a composite name for the one-time Yugoslav republic.

"We are not even thinking of anything of the kind. We want discussions with Greece for a solution of this problem, but only in bilateral talks. In any other case we have no margin for compromises," he told ANA.

[7] 32 killed in traffic accidents during holiday exodus

Thirty-two people died and 337 were injured in 232 traffic accidents throughout the country between Thursday and late last night during the massive exodus of urban residents to the countryside for Easter weekend. Traffic police officials told ANA Friday t hat fatal accidents were mainly attributed to excessive speed.

In addition, not using helmets and safety belts were a contributing factor in at least 25 per cent of fatalities, while drunken driving caused 8.2 per cent of accidents.

Seventy per cent of accidents take place in populated areas, according to reports.

[8] Report claims several Greek orphanages sold thousands of children to US families

An article in the Saturday edition of the "New York Times" revealed several cases of Greek-Americans who believe they are the victims of illegal transatlantic baby sales by Greek orphanages that resulted in their subsequent adoption by US families between 1930 and 1970.

The article, entitled "Stories of Stolen Children and Lost Identities" revolves around a similar tale of many poor Greek parents who found it difficult to bring up their young children and newborn in the acute conditions following World War II and the G reek civil war. At the time, many children were placed in orphanages in the hope of being retrieved by their parents when conditions improved.

According to evidence produced last year when the scandal first surfaced, the institutions involved in the baby sales produced fake death certificates to show parents of the children placed in their care. In other cases, orphanages produced fake death certificates of a child's mother to US families interested in adopting.

The article, bylined by reporter Raymond Boner, claims that perhaps thousands of such illegally adopted children live today in the United States.

The highly respected daily cites the case of Athenian photographer Christos Pantelidis, who after many years of investigation, found his brother Yiannis, whom an orphanage in Thessaloniki had declared dead. He believes that as many as 2,000 Greek children were adopted by American families in 1950, without the consent of their natural parents.

[9] Tsohatzopoulos confident Gov't will meet its inflation target

A "periodic phenomenon" was Interior, Public Administration and Decentralization Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos' characterization of the annualized inflation rate's unexpected rise in March.

Mr. Tsohatzopoulos made the statement in Thessaloniki on Saturday where he also toured the city's main meat market. He added that the government's economic policy targets will be achieved within the announced time-frame.

In response to a question on the same issue, he also said inflation will once again commence a downward spiral in the coming weeks and months.

He also called certain press reports claiming Finance Minister Alekos Papadopoulos is planning to resign unsubstantiated "rumors."

[10] Security intensified after another blast occurs in rail-car arriving from Bulgaria

Transport and Communications Minister Haris Kastanidis said checks on incoming trains from Bulgaria will be intensified, while security in train stations will be stepped up, following a powerful explosion Saturday afternoon some 300 meters from Thessaloniki's central railway terminal, which ripped through an empty passenger coach that had arrived from the neighboring country earlier in the day.

Mr. Kastanidis made the statement in Thessaloniki yesterday.

Saturday's explosion, which occurred as a cleaning crew walked away from the train, was identical to a blast last February 21, which also occurred in a passenger coach that had arrived from Bulgaria and was parked in an isolated part of the station.

Authorities are at a loss to determine the motives behind the explosions, and have not ascertained whether the explosive device was placed on the train before or after its entry into Greece.

"We are examining all possibilities, and investigating in every direction," police officials have stated.

[11] Threatened cut off of Athens-Lamia highway averted

Municipal leaders from six communities in northeastern Attica decided yesterday not to proceed with a threatened blockade of the Athens-Lamia highway today, at a location some 33 kilometers from the capital.

Residents in the region had planned to protest against government plans to create a waste landfill for Athens in the area.

However, residents did distribute leaflets setting out their case to travelers yesterday afternoon, but left open the possibility that they might in the future block the highway as long as the environment ministry did not exclude the area from hosting a landfill.

Meanwhile, Environment Minister Costas Laliotis said on Friday that the ministry had not yet submitted its proposal for the precise location of such a landfill.

Once the proposal was submitted, he added, local communities would be given one month to air their views.

[12] Illegal immigrant arrests near border

A 28-year-old Greek man was arrested in Alexandroupolis on Saturday for attempting to transport eight Pakistani illegal immigrants to Athens.

According to reports, the suspect, identified as Konstantinos Kamvysis from Aharnes, Attica, picked up the Pakistanis in the area of Praggiou, Didymoticho near the Greek-Turkish border.

He was paid a total of $9,600 to take the illegal immigrants to Athens in his vehicle.

Police said the group had entered Greece illegally by crossing the Evros River - which separates Greece from Turkey in Thrace - in a small boat with the help of a Turkish national, whom they paid $1,200.

In an unrelated incident, 14 Albanian illegal immigrants were detained Easter Sunday while being transported through northern Greece in a truck driven by a Volos street merchant.

Police near Kastoria arrested 29-year-old Vassilis Goginoudis and the illegals after the stopping the vehicle. In addition, 2.3 grams of hashish was also confiscated in the truck, according to police.

All 15 individuals are scheduled to appear before a prosecutor today.

[13] Palaeolithic era artifacts confiscated

Authorities in eastern Macedonia yesterday confiscated 46 rare artifacts dated from the Palaeolithic era and arrested three suspects on antiquities smuggling charges.

According to reports, the three men were apprehended while conducting an illegal dig in the Touba, Serres area.

Among the artifacts discovered are nine female figurines and 10 stone axes. Archeology service officials called the findings invaluable and immediately turned over all the artifacts to the Serres Museum.

Stavros Pilatos, 56, Sarantis Pentzikis, 55, and Savvas Argyropoulos, 60, all Thessaloniki residents, were charged in connection to the incident.

[14] Greek singer wins French honor

Greek singer Haris Alexiou on Saturday was awarded the Adami Prize by the Charles Cross Academy for her work "Odos Nefelis 88," judged the best foreign album of the year.

Ms. Alexiou also produced the work and wrote the lyrics for the album.

The Charles Cross Academy was founded in 1947 and comes under the aegis of the president of the French Republic.

End of English language section.