A.N.A. Bulletin, 21/05/96

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

Athens News Agency Directory

ATHENS NEWS AGENCY BULLETIN (No 891), May 21, 1996

Greek Press & Information Office

Ottawa, Canada

E-Mail Address: [email protected]

CONTENTS

[1] Arafat gets warm welcome in Athens

Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos gave Palestinian President Yasser Arafat a warm reception and a chekque for $ US 500,000, before the two held talks on economic ties in Athens yesterday.

The Palestinian leader was given full state honors on his arrival at Athens airport for a two-day official visit.

He was greeted by Prime Minister Costas Simitis and Mr. Pangalos.

Accompanied by Mr. Pangalos, Mr. Arafat later met with President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos, who hosted a working lunch in honor of the Palestinian leader.

Speaking to reporters before the lunch, Mr. Stephanopoulos praised Mr. Arafat's role and contribution to efforts for peace in the Middle East, while underlining the difficulties involved in the peace process.

Mr. Arafat said it was an honor for him personally, and for Palestine in general, to be received by the Greek president, adding that "in Greece we always feel that we are among friends."

Mr. Arafat later held talks at the foreign ministry with Mr. Pangalos who stressed to reporters after the meeting "the well-known feelings of love and solidarity which the Greek people have for Arafat and the people of Palestine."

The foreign minister noted that Greece, both as a member of the European Union and in its own right, would take all possible steps to support democratic co-existence in Palestine, based on equal rights and the full protection of human rights and persona l dignity.

Thanking Mr. Pangalos, Mr. Arafat said "it is not the first time we have received such help from Greece."

"We had recourse (to this help) at our most difficult time, always finding the doors wide open," Mr. Arafat added.

The Palestinian president said they had discussed how to support the peace process and the role Greece can play both as a member of the EU and as a link between Europe and the Middle East.

Replying to a reporter's question as to whether he expects a withdrawal of Israeli forces from Hebron before the Israeli elections, Mr. Arafat said discussions and negotia-tions were currently underway, adding that he did not expect these discussions to bear fruit before the elections.

Replying to a question, Mr. Arafat characterized the recent Turkish-Israeli military co-operation agreement as a "very delicate" matter, and said contacts are being made in order to ascertain its extent.

Referring specifically to the Holy Land, Mr. Pangalos said the Christian, Moslem and Jewish religions should co-exist peacefully in a way providing believers with the ability to exercise their religious rights without facing problems.

He said his talks with the Palestinian leader concerned co-operation in the political, economic, cultural and educational sectors and gave Mr. Arafat an envelope containing financial aid amounting to $US 500,000 on behalf of the Greek government for efforts to restructure autonomous Palestinian territories.

Mr. Arafat termed Greece a "sister and friend", noting that friendship between the two peoples had roots in history.

Mr. Arafat said his talks with Mr. Pangalos concerned all issues regarding bilateral relations and the participation of Greek companies in efforts to rebuild Palestinian territories which, he said, had been completely destroyed, particularly in connection with infrastructure, by Israeli occupation.

Roughly 70 Greek companies have expressed an interest in investing in the self-ruled areas.

He said the problem had been aggravated even further by collective punishment imposed with the blockading of Palestinian territory (due to the upcoming Israeli elections) which cost the Palestinians six million dollars.

Mr. Arafat also announced the establishment of air and sea connections between Greece and Palestine.

The Palestinian president concluded by sending wishes of good health and happiness to former prime minister Andreas Papandreou.

[2] Premier praises Arafat

Prime Minister Costas Simitis last night praised Yasser Arafat's contribution to the Mideast peace process, at a dinner held in the Palestinian leader's honor, following talks between the two men at the Maximos Mansion.

"You have carried out your duty not only to the Palestinian people but to the entire Middle East as well, overturning prejudices and brushing aside the passions of many decades," Mr. Simitis said.

He said the main pursuit of all should be peace, sincere co-operation and mutual understanding combined with full respect for principles of international law. He added that territorial integrity, independence, the sovereignty of states and the possibility of all peoples to exercise their inalienable rights in safe and recognized borders constituted basic parameters for peaceful co-existence.

Referring to Greece's position on the Palestinian issue, Mr. Simitis said Greece had always supported what was now being carried out in the Middle East with courage and insistence, noting that Greek policy on the Middle East issue in the past had met with criticism and abuse by many but it was ultimately proven right.

Mr. Simitis said that negotiations for a finalized status for Palestinian territory should not overlook the Palestinians' just claim to self-determination, as well as the special religious character of Jerusalem and called for the complete lifting of the blockade on Palestinian territory.

Today, Mr. Arafat will travel to Patra where he will receive an honorary doctorate at the Patra University's ceremonies hall.

[3] Decision on new NATO members by end of the year, Solana says

Addressing the final day of deliberations at the spring session of NATO's North Atlantic Assembly (NAA) plenary meeting yesterday, NATO Secretary-General Javier Solana said it would be decided by the end of the year which countries would be admitted to NA TO.

"The enlargement process will continue after the end of the year," Mr. Solana said, adding "those countries which are invited to join (the alliance) must be ready to fully assume their obligations, such as solidarity between members."

In his first address to the NAA, Mr. Solana referred in particular to Moscow's reactions to the NATO enlargement issue, stressing that enlargement did not mean new divisions in Europe, nor the isolation of Russia.

Mr. Solana also stressed that Russia should not isolate itself.

Commenting on the presence of the NATO-led peace implementation force in Bosnia, Mr. Solana said its significance lay in the fact that 32 countries belonging to different organizations, 16 of which were not NATO members, were cooperating in the force.

He added that IFOR maintained a framework of security in the international community's efforts for reconstruction and reconciliation in Bosnia.

On the issue of NATO's adjustment to the new conditions and its new role, Mr. Solana said results of the discussion on the alliance's new orientation would be discussed at the meeting of NATO ministers in Berlin next month.

Meanwhile, Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis endorsed the establishment of a European Union joint defense policy, which he said would supplement NATO, as well as an enlargement of NATO to include countries in southern Europe and also promotion of cooperation with Russia and Ukraine.

The premier further stressed Greece's active participation in the Bosnia peace force (IFOR) and called allies' attention to reconstruction of infrastructure in Bosnia and to raising the morale of its various ethnic groups.

Earlier, Mr. Simitis had a half-hour meeting with NATO chief Solana.

In his speech to the session, European Union mediator on Bosnia Carl Bildt said yesterday that one year of efforts were not enough to consolidate peace in Bosnia, and that the international community should commit itself to providing continuous assistance to help heal the wounds of the civil war in the former Yugoslav republic.

Mr. Bildt underlined that an economy must be revived, which he said even before the war was not particularly strong.

In addition, he added, the troops of the three factions in the civil war must be integrated into society, infrastructure must be restored and the country must become self-sufficient.

At present, 80 per cent of the country's budget is covered from abroad.

Mr. Bildt, who is also the international community's high representative for Bosnia, said the process of reconciliation was proceeding, noting that the opposing armies had been separated and that conditions were being created for the return of refugees.

On forthcoming elections in Bosnia, Mr. Bildt said the electorate, 50 per cent of which was currently living outside Bosnia, had still to be registered.

[4] NAA chief announces new Mediterranean monitoring group

North Atlantic Assembly (NAA) head Karsten Voigt yesterday announced the creation of a new group to monitor and report on developments in the Mediterranean.

Addressing the NAA plenary session, Mr. Voigt said the three days of talks held in Greece for the first time had shown that "NATO has entered a period of change and adjustment."

At the meeting of NATO ministers in Berlin in two weeks, Mr. Voigt said, "we expect confirmation of a more flexible use of the alliance's capabilities, participation of all the 16 member countries in decisions for the new roles and missions of the alliance and the appearance of a genuine European defense column, deeply rooted in NATO."

Mr. Voigt added that it had emerged from the NAA session that the situation in Bosnia would be critical when the mandate of the NATO-led peace implementation force (IFOR) expires at the end of the year.

"The military presence of a new IFOR is necessary after December," Mr. Voigt said, adding this was "something which must be discussed now," disagreeing with the views of certain NATO governments, which believe it is too early to discuss the issue.

On NATO enlargement, Mr. Voigt said countries interested in becoming members of the alliance could take advantage of NATO's "Partnership for Peace" programme in order to make the necessary adjustments.

He added that decisions should be taken at a NATO summit, possibly in early 1997, to decide when negotiations should begin and with which countries concerning the first round of enlargement.

Mr. Voigt underlined that the cost of enlargement would be greater for those countries which did not join the alliance "because they will have to find their own expenditures for their security."

A cost was also involved for NATO, Mr. Voigt continued, because the alliance would have to face the irritation and tensions created by non-members.

Addressing the Russian delegation, which was observing the Athens session, Mr. Voigt said NATO enlargement constituted a friendly, rather than hostile, stance toward Moscow, and acknowledged the need for a simultaneous improvement in the alliance's relations with Russia and Ukraine.

The head of the Greek delegation at the NAA, PASOK deputy Lefteris Veryvakis, expressed his hope that the meeting of the alliance's parliamentary spring session would help in the compilation of necessary conclusions for a future world of "security and cooperation," not just in "stable" regions of Europe but in areas of eastern and southern Europe, as well as the southeastern Mediterranean and North Africa.

He also commented at length on the necessity for Russia to be included in the new security framework for Europe, adding that certain Russian sensitivities shouldn't be "completely and violently ignored."

[5] Simitis addresses NAA plenary session

Any country that raises demands or claims on a neighboring country should take their claims to the International Court of Justice at The Hague, Prime Minister Costas Simitis said yesterday, eliciting a resounding round of applause from delegates to the spring session of NATO's North Atlantic Assembly (NAA) plenary meeting.

Addressing the final day of the session in Vouliagmeni, a seaside suburb near Athens, the prime minister also stressed that Greece, as any other country, could not tolerate the threat or use of violence in international relations.

Greece and Turkey came close to war in late January when Turkey claimed sovereignty of the uninhabited islet of Imia in the Aegean. Turkey has also said that any move by Greece to implement the Law of the Sea convention extending territorial waters from six to 12 miles would be a cause for war.

NATO Secretary-General Javier Solana called on Greece and Turkey to work together to settle their problems.

Speaking to reporters after the close of the spring NATO session, Mr. Solana added that NATO and he, personally, could help in that direction "if this was necessary."

Mr. Solana originally made the statement after his address to the assembly and in reply to a question by main opposition New Democracy deputy Alexandros Papadongonas.

In both instances, Mr. Solana declined to take a position on the issue concerning respect for international law by the NATO member-states.

[6] Turkish deputies walk out

Meanwhile, Turkish delegates at the NAA walked out of the plenary session during Greek Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis' address to the assembly, when the latter referred to the "perpetuation of the Turkish occupation of Cyprus and the escalating threat in the Aegean."

The Turkish parliamentarians returned to the proceedings after Mr. Kaklamanis' address.

Kamran Pinan, an MP of the Turkish Motherland Party, told the plenary after Mr. Solana's speech that he agreed with the statements made by Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis in his address, adding that his country was prepared to assist in Athens' defense in the event Greece came under attack.

But Mr. Pinan said he rejected the views expressed by Mr. Kaklamanis.

Turkish Republican People's Party (CHP) deputy Tachir Kiose also congratulated Mr. Simitis on his address as the Greek premier was departing the assembly.

Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas later described the walkout as "in poor taste, to say the least," adding that it illustrated the intentions of the Turkish delegation.

[7] Kaklamanis' remarks

In addition to Greek-Turkish relations, Mr. Kaklamanis also referred to the general situation in Europe and NATO's enlargement eastwards.

The Parliament president linked the "fluidity" in the Balkans with "the perpetuation of the Turkish occupation in the Republic of Cyprus, and the escalating threat posed by Turkey in the Aegean."

Not only was Ankara violating Greece's sovereignty, Mr. Kaklamanis said, it was also bringing into question the effectiveness of the alliance as well as its credibility in the minds of the Greek people.

In statements to the press later, Mr. Kaklamanis criticized the action of the Turkish delegates saying:

"It is very natural for those who do not have a clear conscience not to have the patience to listen to the other side of the argument. If they wanted to, they could have covered their ears."

Mr. Kaklamanis said he was expressing the views of the Greek people when he spoke of Turkish aggressiveness in the Aegean, noting that with the exception of the Turkish delegates, no one attending the session had reacted negatively to his speech.

[8] Boston mayor to sign co-operation protocols with Athens, Thessaloniki

Boston Mayor Thomas Benino left for a ten-day visit to Greece yesterday, after invitations extended by Thessaloniki Mayor Constantine Kosmopoulos and Athens Mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos.

Mr. Benino is expected to sign friendship and co-operation protocols between his city and Athens and Thessaloniki, and is scheduled to meet with Education and Religious Affairs Minister George Papandreou during his stay in the Greek capital. The mayor of

Boston will visit archaeological sites and tourist attractions around the country and will meet with local mayors before returning to Boston on May 31.

[9] US urges Greece, Turkey to resolve Aegean problems

After a US State Department meeting between Secretary Warren Christopher and Turkish Foreign Minister Emre Gonensay yesterday, spokesman Nicholas Burns said the United States urged Greece and Turkey to resolve "the many problems they have in the Aegean".

Mr. Burns stressed that if the two sides desire the mediation of the United States, Washington is willing to respond.

"If the two wish to refer their problems to a third party, to arbitration, or international mediation," he continued, again the United States would support such a procedure.

He said that Mr. Gonensay had presented the Turkish proposal for a start to comprehensive dialogue between the two countries to Mr. Christopher, and added that now the Greek government position was needed.

"We support a process which will lead to solution mutually acceptable to Greece and Turkey. Please do not ask the United States to select between the two NATO allies. We shall not do it," he said.

[10] Albanian defense minister calls on Greece to encourage Kosovo-Belgrade contacts

Albanian Defense Minister Safet Zhulali yesterday called on Greece to encourage dialogue between Kosovo and Belgrade and expressed Tirana's concern about the threat to the Balkans posed by the situation in the mainly Albanian-speaking Yugoslav province.

Mr. Zhulali, speaking after talks with National Defense Minister Gerassimos Arsenis at the start of an official three-day visit, said Albania was opposed to any settlement of the Kosovo problem by the use of force.

Mr. Arsenis had talks with Mr. Zhulali on bilateral defense co-operation, the NATO programme "Partnership for Peace" and developments in the broader region.

The two ministers noted an identity of views on the issues discussed. Mr. Arsenis said a further co-operation protocol between Athens and Tirana would soon be ready for signing aimed at making more specific agreements already signed concerning the training of Albanian military personnel in Greece and co-operation in the defense industry sector.

Noting that relations between Athens and Tirana had for some time been back on track "to normalization," Mr. Arsenis reiterated that Greece supported the bids b y Albania and other Balkan countries to join NATO, the European Union and the Western European Union (WEU).

"NATO's enlargement must include the southern part of Europe," Mr. Arsenis said, leaving open the possibility of a visit to Tirana in mid-July when an exercise has been scheduled within the framework of the Partnership for Peace programme.

Mr. Zhulali said Albania had undertaken to promote joint exercises as part of the programme and to support the latest bilateral defense co-operation protocol with Greece. Earlier, the Albanian defense chief met with President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos, to whom he conveyed greetings from Albanian President Sali Berisha as well as the satisfaction of the Albanian government over the signing last week of two agreements by the foreign ministers of the two countries.

Mr. Zhulali said the two agreements, one legalizing hundreds of thousands of Albanian illegal immigrants in Greece as seasonal workers and the other providing for the establishment of a Greek consulate in Korce, constituted "a concrete expression" of the bilateral friendship an d co-operation accord signed recently in Tirana during a visit by Mr. Stephanopoulos.

[11] National defense staff chief talks of resigning over Pangalos criticism

The chief of the National Defense General Staff, Air Force General Athanasios Tzoganis, yesterday left open the possibility of resigning, following statements by Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos Sunday which were critical of the country's military leadership.

Replying to questions at a joint press conference given by the defense ministers of Greece and Albania, Gen. Tzoganis said he did not know the precise content of Mr. Pangalos' statements and had asked for a copy of them in order "to act accordingly."

Gen. Tzoganis said he had not been in contact with the service chiefs concerning the statements, while National Defense Minister Gerassimos Arsenis declined to comment "on a colleague's remarks," adding that if there was an issue, it was one for the prim e minister.

Mr. Arsenis reiterated, however, that the issue of the armed forces was a national one which must remain "outside political quarrels." The defense minister said the Greek people could feel secure, since the country's armed forces constituted "an effective deterrent force, capable of confronting any threat."

According to press reports, Mr. Pangalos said that Turkish commandos had managed to set foot on one of the Imia islets during the Greek-Turkish stand-off in the Aegean earlier in the y ear due to 'bureaucratic' tendencies within the leadership of the armed forces.

Asked to comment later on Mr. Pangalos' criticism of the armed forces, particularly concerning the Imia incident in late January, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said that the military's handling of the Greek-Turkish crisis was successful "because Greece eventually avoided being dragged into negotiations."

Sources said later yesterday that the chiefs of staff expressed satisfaction at Mr. Arsenis' comments on Mr. Pangalos' remarks on Sunday.

The same sources said that the chiefs of staff expressed their displeasure to Mr. Arsenis because they had not been given cover by the prime minister himself.

[12] Political Spring

Political Spring leader Antonis Samaras criticized Mr. Pangalos' statements, saying "the foreign minister's effort to transform the nation's armed forces into a battlefield for PASOK's congress" was "unacceptable".

Mr. Samaras also called on Prime Minister Costas Simitis to take a "clear position over the provocative statements by the minister, which dynamite the prestige and morale of the armed forces."

[13] European mayors, local Gov't representatives begin Thessaloniki meeting today

The 20th General Assembly of Municipalities and Regions of Europe is set to begin in Thessaloniki tomorrow with roughly 2,000 mayors and representatives participating.

One of the main issues to be discussed during the three-day conference will be the involvement of European self-administration bodies in the inter-governmental conference currently being held in Turin, in order for local and regional authorities to play an important role in the European integration process.

During a press conference held yesterday, Athens Mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos said the conference is "a field in which our national issues can be promoted, developed, cultivated, for matters beyond the limits set by the self-administration agenda."

The Athens mayor said the government is expected to be represented at a high level in the conference.

The Council of Municipalities and Regions of Europe, founded in 1951, is the largest representative self-administration organization in Europe. It is convened every three years in order to discuss matters of European policy.

The Thessaloniki municipality and the Central Union of Municipalities and Communities of Greece are aiding in the organization of the conference.

[14] Stephanopoulos in Corfu for 132nd anniversary union celebrations

President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos is due to attend celebrations on the island of Corfu today marking the 132nd anniversary of the union of the Ionian islands with Greece.

Mr. Stephanopoulos will be declared an honorary citizen of Corfu during a ceremony to be held at the town hall this evening.

An engraving exhibition from the Ionian Bank collection will be officially opened after the award ceremony and will be followed by a performance by the town's orchestra in the Corfu central square.

[15] Reppas: Simitis-Papandreou meeting still not set

Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said Prime Minister Costas Simitis would meet with PASOK's leader Andreas Papandreou and Interior, Public Administration and Decentralization Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos, but that the meetings had not yet been scheduled.

Asked to comment yesterday on terms used by Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos in an interview on Sunday against cadres hoping to stand for the vice-presidency at the party's congress, Mr. Reppas said every citizen could express his views in light of t he congress as well as party cadres.

Replying to a questioner on Mr. Pangalos' statement that if Mr. Simitis was not elected at the congress the government should resign, Mr. Reppas said the prime minister would exercise his duties until the end of the Parliamentary period and, in any cas e, if Mr. Simitis had something to say he would say it himself.

Mr. Reppas referred a questioner to PASOK's press bureau on Mr. Pangalos' criticism that PASOK's Central Committee members lived off the state.

The spokesman said the prime minister had the support of a very wide parliamentary majority and would be judged by his work at the end of the four-year period of office.

[16] Tsohatzopoulos appeals for PASOK cadres to accept collective leadership

Forty-eight hours after the PASOK Central Committee decision to elect a Vice-President at the party congress in June, considered a victory of sorts for Interior Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos, the former Committee secretary, in an interview with the newspaper 'Ta Nea' yesterday, appealed to party members "to listen" to the message of the decisions adopted, which was in favor of a collective leadership and balance between the roles of individual personalities in the party.

He claimed that the post of Vice-President will secure collectivity, representativeness and effectiveness in the party leadership, as in the present "transitional period", there is not one person who will fill "the vacuum created by the absence of Andreas Papandreou in the functions of government and party".

He explained that the Vice-President, together with the president, the secretary, the prime minister and the Executive Bureau will form the party's new collective leadership.

He also made it clear that the Vice-President will have no relation to the prime minister's responsibilities, and there was no question of undermining the latter, as government and party would be in the same boat. He described as a "false dilemma" the view that since the two posts would not be occupied by the same person, the Vice-President would undermine the prime minister, and as a "blackmailing dilemma" the view that the prime minister should resign if not elected Vice-President.

Mr. Tsohatzopoulos left open the question of who would head the party at the next election, saying this would be tackled by the congress, but not ruling out that it will be the prime minister who will undertake the task.

[17] Evert light on ND dissenters, tough on Gov't at Central Committee meeting

In his address to his party's Central Committee meeting yesterday, New Democracy party leader Miltiades Evert adopted a low key approach regarding the internal party situation, and a tough stand against the government.

After expressing the view that elections would come soon, he claimed that New Democracy was steadily gaining ground, stressing that "it was clear that Political Spring party and PASOK voters were steadily flocking to New Democracy because its impact was being enhanced, and had begun to win the crucial battle of the middle political arena".

Making an appeal for party unity, he said, "our aim is to unite our voice, to improve our picture, and to end any arrhythmia that cause so much damage".

Referring to national issues, Mr. Evert accused the government of "thoughtlessly opening up a dialogue with Turkey without a planned agenda, giving up Greece's right to increase its territorial waters from six to 12 miles".

"Mr. Simitis' giving-in attitude has resulted in an increase of Turkish provocativeness, and in Ankara now directly raising an issue of demilitarization of the islands to begin with," he added.

Referring to Sunday's implication by Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos that during the Greek-Turkish stand-off in the Aegean earlier in the year Turkish commandos had managed to set foot on one of the Imia islets due to 'bureaucratic' tendencies within the leadership of the armed forces, Mr. Evert said the foreign minister was seeing impasses and seeking a "heroic exodus", and "if Imia was lost, you lost it Mr. Pangalos, nobody has given the right to any Mr. Pangalos to denigrate the prestige of the armed forces".

He accused the government of lacking courage "moving from aimless wandering to misleading the people, with a theoretical prime minister and a practical lack of government".

He claimed that "with this malignant and dangerous lack of government, the Simitis government will seek a way out to elections, looking for an alibi for its irresponsibility".

"The pressure of big economic and national interests and the internal conflict within PASOK will lead the country to early elections," he added.

In statements afterwards, Mr. Evert described the climate at the meeting as "excellent".

However, sources said that in his initial address, the main opposition leader sought to confine his internal party opponents, saying that "it is unacceptable when we see PASOK collapsing for New Democracy to be appearing as a fast horse that we don't let run".

Mr. Evert clashed with former culture minister Dora Bakoyianni, who raised an issue of removing party press spokesman Prokopis Pavlopoulos from his position for conflict of interests, for having called, in a professional report three years ago, for approval of a digital telephones deal with Intracom, the company recently implicated in irregularities in the deal.

Replying, Mr. Evert provided full support for the spokesman, saying that "whether you like it or not, Mr. Pavlopoulos will remain in his post because he is worthy," adding that the report in question had been prepared by him in his previous professional capacity.

Ms Bakoyianni also said that New Democracy should have spoken out on the digital telephones issue two years ago, claiming that the last ND government "fell because it did not compromise with (Intracom boss Socrates) Kokkalis".

Certain Central Committee members referred to lack of cohesion and solidarity in the party, and that they were being elbowed-out for being considered sympathetic to former premier Constantine Mitsotakis.

[18] Gov't reaction

Commenting on Mr. Evert's speech, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas accused the opposition leader of irresponsibility.

"We unfortunately find that the limits of demagogy for Mr. Evert are inexhaustible. This allows him to draw attention to problems and promise solutions, even when New Democracy's responsibility and his own in giving birth to these problems is well-known ," he said.

Mr. Reppas concluded by stressing that elections will take place at the end of 1997, and the government will complete its task.

[19] N.D. asks for creation of Special Parliamentary Committee on media

Main opposition New Democracy party president Miltiades Evert sent a memorandum to Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis yesterday requesting the creation of a special committee for the implementation of legislation regarding the transparency of activities by the mass media. Mr. Evert is requesting the implementation of Articles 44 and 45 of Parliament regulations which foresees the creation of committees for subjects of national or general interest.

[20] Coalition of the left criticizes government

Referring indirectly to statements by Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos on Sunday, an announcement by the Coalition of the Left and Progress yesterday said that what was taking place in the foreign policy sector with "intolerable frivolity these days, heightening with dangerous assessments and frontal confrontations between ministers and PASOK cadres, strengthened the image of a government and a party lacking not only cohesion but an elementary sense of proportion as well. "The announcement said that all this dealt a blow at the country's seriousness and negotiating prestige and created negative side-effects in relations between the government and the armed forces' leadership.

[21] Next year's Europartenariat set for Piraeus

Europartenariat '97, a Community institution supporting co-operation among European enterprises, will be held at Peace and Friendship stadium in Piraeus on June 23-24, following a relevant decision taken by the European Commission.

The institution places special support on small and medium-size enterprises to help them develop closer ties and co-operation with similar enterprises.

Greek businessmen who will participate will have the opportunity of meeting and negotiating with businessmen from 55 countries and will examine possibilities of co-operation with foreign businessmen in sectors such as assuming subcontractorships, creating joint ventures, merging enterprises, exchanging technology and know-how, promoting exports, achieving joint funding from European Community programs and engaging in joint research.

[22] Favorable climate for Greek-Slovenian relations

The Greek-Slovenian Trade and Industry Union announced yesterday that a favorable climate is being created for developing bilateral economic and political relations between Greece and Slovenia.

The body was set up in 1995 with the support of the Greek Overseas Trade Organization and the Slovenian Chamber of Finance and hopes to achieve regular chamber status soon.

The Union's president is businessman Evangelos Tziavos (of Marad Hellas) who has also been appointed Slovenia's first consul in Greece since 1992.

In another development, the Commercial Bank has decided to participate in a five million mark loan to the Central Bank of Slovenia, while a representation of the Union of Slovenian Banks will pay an official visit in the summer, in co-operation with the Union of Greek Banks, to strengthen banking ties between the two countries.

[23] Tourist coach owners protest ties up traffic in central Athens

Huge traffic jams occurred yesterday afternoon in central Athens when owners of roughly 600 tourist coaches blocked Syntagma Square and the surrounding roads with their vehicles.

The owners were on an 24-hour strike protesting amendments to a bill regarding the delineation of duties between tourist coaches and buses belonging to KTEL, the intra-city bus service.

The National Federation of Tourist Coach Owners is against KTEL buses being granted routes which overlap with routes concerning tourism, conferences and the transportation of pupils to school. During their protests yesterday, they demanded the amendment to the relevant bill be submitted to Parliament.

During a telephone conversation yesterday morning between Transport and Communications Minister Haris Kastanidis and President of the Federation Alexandros Gasparatos, the minister promised that a permanent solution would be given to the problem on his return from Thessaloniki yesterday afternoon.

The same promise was made by Development Minister Vasso Papandreou and Greek National Tourism Organization (EOT) Secretary-General Vassilis Kourtesis.

In a gesture of good will, the coach owners withdrew their vehicles from the center of Athens and suspended any further strikes. "Essentially, it is a conflict between the transport ministry and EOT," Mr. Gasparatos told the ANA.

[24] No slackening of reins on state expenditures, finance minister warns

Finance Minister Alekos Papadopoulos indicated yesterday that government policy on state expenditures would continue to be restrictive in 1997 and an effort would be made once again "to reduce needs."

Mr. Papadopoulos sent a circular to ministries earlier this year containing instructions on the preparation and limits of the state budget for 1997, terming it "particularly demanding."

The finance ministry believes that preparing and carrying out the 1997 budget in accordance with the convergence programme constitutes a crucial element in the effort for fiscal adjustment, since its preparation and implementation will lay the foundations for the country's final exit from the fiscal crisis of past years and will allow Greece to participate actively in Economic and Monetary Union (EMU).

The circular indicates that the spirit of austerity will again dominate the public sector whose expenditures will be contained (except for those concerning remuneration) at the levels of this year's budget, while an effort will be made to increase revenues at a quicker rate not by imposing new taxes but by restricting tax evasion and managing the tax system more effectively.

In this context, ministries are called on to restrict all their programs and current activities to the absolutely necessary and do the same with legal entities of public law they supervise and even to abolish some of them.

According to the circular, cutbacks should be made in expenditures for subsidizing organizations, foundations and funds, expenditures for councils and committees, expenditures for overtime work and expenditures for procurements, electricity, telephone calls and consumable materials.

[25] Ceiling on fuel prices lifted

A ceiling for retail gasoline prices, valid in every prefecture except Attica and Thessaloniki, expired at midnight yesterday after exhausting its 40-day duration.

Meanwhile, Development Under-secretary Mihalis Chrysohoidis yesterday met with several representatives of refineries and the Public Petroleum Corporation (DEP) to discuss the possibility for a decrease in fuel prices, because of a drop in international rates.

[26] Albanian killed in scuffle with police

A police officer yesterday shot and killed an Albanian who was smuggling illegal immigrants into the country from Skopje to Thessaloniki.

Thirty-year old Elvis Kasma was shot in the head by Kostas Kimoglou on the Thessloniki-Evzones national road near the border. He died of his injuries while being transported to hospital.

According to police reports, Kasma was transporting nine Albanian illegal immigrants in his car when he was asked to pull over by a police patrol. Kasma refused, and police claimed he attempted to disarm the police officer when they eventually managed to stop the car.

The police statement said that during the struggle, Kimoglou's service revolver went off, with the bullet hitting Kasma in the head. The police officer was arrested.

[27] News in Brief

- Two soldiers and a fireman drowned yesterday morning in the Strimona river when their dinghy overturned during a search for a missing fisherman who was feared dead. The two soldiers, Angelos Manaris, 21 and Alexandros Patsialis, 20, and the fireman, Ioannis Lemonidis, 41, were declared dead on arrival at Serres State Hospital. An investigation is being conducted into the causes of the accident.

- Four more ships will be joining the Greek fleet, the merchant marine ministry announced yesterday. These are: the tankers 'Platinum' belonging to Avin International Corp. Panama S.A; 'Hellespont Energy' belonging to Motor Oil Hellas S.A.; 'Hellespont Hope' belonging to Hellespont Steamship Corporation; and the cargo vessel 'Baffin Bay', belonging to the Saint Navigation Co Ltd. Merchant Marine Minister Kosmas Sfiriou, in letters to representatives of each company, congratulated them on their decision.

- The Public Petroleum Corporation's (DEP) share capital will increase by 15 billion drachmas as anticipated by a draft presidential decree by the development and national economy ministers submitted to the Council of State f or processing. The increase will be made by issuing 3,000 shares each with a face value of five million drachmas. All the shares will come into the possession of the Greek state, the corporation's sole shareholder. DEP's total share capital, after increasing by 15 billion drachmas, will amount to 149,585,000,000 drachmas.

End of English language section.