Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 96-12-10
From: The Greek Press & Information Office, Ottawa Canada <[email protected]>
ATHENS NEWS AGENCY BULLETIN (No 1062), December 10, 1996
Greek Press & Information Office
Ottawa, Canada
E-Mail Address: [email protected]
CONTENTS
[01] Greek-Turkish business co-operation meeting opens in Athens
[02] Farmers' protests continue, gov't stance unchanged
[03] Papantoniou's comments on the farmers' protests
[04] Ciller rejects proposal to refer disputes within NATO to The
Hague
[05] NATO may discuss methods for resolving disputes between members
[06] EU unification affected by 'considerable' problems, Simitis says
[07] Foreign, defense ministries meet over relations with WEU, EU and
NATO
[08] New wave of strikes begins this week
[09] Engineers hold work stoppage
[10] Seamen call 48-hour strike
[11] 50,000 new jobs in 1997, labour minister says
[12] Landfill closes for two days, possible closure over Christmas
[13] Greek delegation to WEU assembly satisfied with outcome
[14] Greece participates in WEU exercise
[15] Kaklamanis in Georgia for Black Sea meeting
[16] Turkey's policy is "continuous shame for international
community" Evert says
[17] Former intelligence chief testifies in court over allegations
into phone tapping
[18] KEDKE says budget creates problems for local gov't organisations
[19] President briefed on problems facing Black Sea Greeks
[20] Homeopath wins Right Livelihood Award
[21] Environmental groups turn to courts over Nestos River projects
[01] Greek-Turkish business co-operation meeting opens in Athens
Athens, 10/12/1996 (ANA)
Greek and Turkish businessmen yesterday engaged in earnest
discussion on how to overcome the often seemingly inexorable
political obstacles to the development of trade and economic
relations between the two countries, at the two-day conference
of the Greek-Turkish Business Co-operation Council opened by
President of the Association of Young Businessmen of Greece
Athanasios Lavidas.
The Council's sessions are being attended by the one of the
largest delegations of Turkish businessmen ever to travel abroad.
Describing the meeting as "historic", Mr. Lavidas, who is also
President of the Greek-American Business Council, said closer
ties must gradually be forged between the businessmen of the two
countries.
"We need time to gain mutual respect, continuous communication
and increased personal relations. The rest will come on its
own," Mr. Lavidas told delegates.
Greek-Turkish business transactions were worth only 430 million
dollars in 1995.
The President of the Athens Chamber of Commerce and
Industry,Yiannis Papathanasiou, said it was important for Greece
and Turkey to improve their economic relations. "This is why we
must convince our politicians to be realists and to refrain from
adding new problems to existing ones," he added.
Mr. Papathanasiou expressed support for a "step-by-step"
rapprochement in the economic sector, through the pursuit of
realistic targets which could be attained in a short period of
time.
He also underlined the great importance for Greek companies of
the vast Turkish market which could easily absorb Greek products.
Federation of Greek Industries (SEB) President Iason Stratos
noted that there was great potential for Greek-Turkish
co-operation through commerce or joint ventures, particularly in
the tourism sector.
He said he would await the outcome of the two-day meeting "to
seen what can be done."
The President of the Panhellenic Association of Exporters,
Christina Sakellaridi, stressed that it would be unrealistic to
expect any real results "from one day to the next."
Unfortunately, she said, the business world was forced to act
within the framework set by the politicians.
"The politicians cannot ignore us if our economic relations
become stronger," the president of Turkey's biggest business
conglomerate, Rahmi Koc, told the meeting.
Mr. Koc, who is also President of the Turkish-Greek Business
Council and heads the 60-member Turkish delegation at the
meeting, said "we need time and patience... we must be sincere
among ourselves and forget the misunderstandings of the past."
Hussamedin Kavi, President of the Istanbul Chamber of Industry,
appealed for "mutual understanding and good will among
businessmen."
He expressed the hope that the meeting would yield specific
results "which afterwards must be explained to our governments
and peoples."
The first aim, Mr. Kavi said, should be to increase the present
level of bilateral trade.
"No more defense spending, with the focus on productive
investments. Our children will accuse us if we do not build a
new future," he added. The President of the powerful Association
of Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen, Halis Komili, said
war between the two countries would be "an act of madness."
"Businessmen must stop the blind march of the two countries. The
course followed to date has not been beneficial for either," Mr.
Komili said, adding that there were many opportunities for joint
action in the tourism, industry and raw materials sectors in the
Aegean.
Stressing that the two countries were joined by a common
destiny, Mr. Komili said that current differences could be
resolved. "Let us not allow history to punish us. Businessmen
can prevent this," he said. During yesterday's session, the
Turkish de legation proposed the joint exploitation of oil in
the Aegean in co-operation with American multinationals, the
signing of an agreement for the avoidance of double taxation,
closer co-operation between the two countries at international
organisations and mo re Greek transit permits for Turkish trucks.
They also called on Greek shipowners to carry out the repairs of
more vessels in Turkey, noting that 10 Greek ships were
currently being repaired in the neighbouring country.
[02] Farmers' protests continue, gov't stance unchanged
Athens, 10/12/1996 (ANA)
While the Cabinet today is to discuss the prospect of serious
disruption in traffic and distribution of goods arising from
almost two weeks of farmers' roadblocks throughout the country,
neither they nor the government appeared to be budging from
their stated positions yesterday.
The government, through its spokesman, Dimitris Reppas,
reiterated its readiness to enter into structured dialogue after
the farmers removed the roadblocks.
Other ministers, and most prominently National Economy and
Finance Minister Yiannos Papantoniou, stressed that the
government would not yield to blackmail, and it was
inconceivable that the hard-won efforts for a drop in inflation
would go wasted due to a group of farmers.
Farmers are demanding higher crop prices, increased subsidies,
cheaper fuel for agricultural use, the favourable settlement of
outstanding debts and lower fertiliser prices.
President Kostis Stephanopoulos and main opposition New
Democracy (ND) party leader Miltiades Evert expressed concern
over the continuing protests.
After a 50-minute meeting between the two men, Mr. Evert
described what he called the government's refusal to hold a
dialogue with the farmers as being "unacceptable".
"The prime minister has a duty to meet with them, regardless of
whether he accepts or rejects their demands," Mr. Evert said.
"The essence of democracy is dialogue and a democratically
elected prime minister cannot reject it," Mr. Evert told
reporters.
The ND leader also accused the government of creating problems
for social cohesion, saying "it is inconceivable to try and
resolve the (farmers') protest action by bringing one social
group into confrontation with another."
Mr. Evert was referring chiefly to incidents between protesting
farmers and truck drivers who have been stranded for days at
what are now more than 100 roadblocks throughout the country,
while Thessaloniki is now totally blocked by protesting farmers.
Speaking to reporters in Thessaloniki, Labour and Social
Security Minister Miltiades Papaioannou described the farmers'
protests as "blackmail against the government, democracy and
society."
"Some people must understand that it is not a case of 'us and
them'," Mr. Papaioannou said shortly before a meeting with the
administrative board of the Thessaloniki Labour Centre.
Mr. Papaioannou was met outside the centre by former workers of
the Goodyear plant who have been made redundant following the
closure of the plant.
The former workers chanted slogans demanding that they be given
jobs, to which Mr. Papaioannou commented:
"Both farmers and workers have problems, but the unemployed have
the biggest problems and that is where we must focus our
attention." Labour Under-secretary Christos Protopappas, who was
accompanying Mr. Papaioannou, said that the farmers' protests
were "a form of struggle" which was however aimed mainly not
against the government but against society as a whole.
He called on the farmers participating in the protests to
consider the repercussions of their action on workers, producers
and other farmers who were not taking part.
The government, he added, could not satisfy the farmers'
demands. The re-nationa-lisation of agricultural policy in
particular would have adverse consequences for the farmers
themselves, Mr. Protopappas said.
Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said later that the
government was ready for "an institutional dialogue of a
national nature" on the problems of Greek agriculture, but only
on the condition that the farmers lift their blockades of the
country's roa ds and rail lines.
Mr. Reppas reiterated that the government had already given its
"final" replies to the farmers' demands.
Expressing some optimism however, the spokesman said that "a
spirit of good intentions" had not entirely disappeared on the
side of the protesting farmers, adding that he hoped their
blockades and protest action would soon end.
Mr. Reppas said that the Cabinet would meet today, chaired by
Prime Minister Costas Simitis, to discuss the new uniform pay
scale for civil servants. He clarified that the issue of the
farmers' protests would also be examined at the meeting.
[03] Papantoniou's comments on the farmers' protests
Athens, 10/12/1996 (ANA)
"The government cannot and will not give in to blackmail. It is
obliged, like any other democratic government, to safeguard the
operation of the economy and the operation of the state," Mr.
Papantoniou said yesterday. In a written statement, Mr.
Papantoniou said it was "inconceivable that a social group
should try to impose its will on the whole of society."
Linking the farmers' protests to the fact that inflation had
fallen to 7.7 per cent in November, dipping below the 8 per cent
mark for the first time in 25 years, the national economy
minister said:
"This was the result of strenuous efforts by the whole of Greek
society -- workers, small- and medium-sized enterprises and the
farmers themselves... and it is inconceivable that these efforts
should be wasted because of the blocking of roads by a group of
farmers."
Replying to reporters' questions on labour action i n other
sectors, Mr. Papantoniou reiterated that there was no margin for
further hand-outs, stressing that the government was determined
to push ahead with its program on the basis of the popular
mandate it received in general elections on September 22.
[04] Ciller rejects proposal to refer disputes within NATO to The
Hague
Istanbul, 10/12/1996 (ANA)
Turkish Foreign Minister Tansu Ciller has rejected an older
proposal by her Greek counterpart Theodoros Pangalos for the
creation of a NATO mechanism for the peaceful resolution of
disputes between member states.
"The necessary mechanisms for the peaceful resolution of
disagreements between NATO members exist within the alliance,"
she said in a letter sent on November 29, adding that she shared
Greek concerns.
The Turkish Anatolian News Agency quoted Ms Ciller as saying
that for the creation of the mechanism proposed by Mr. Pangalos,
the members of the alliance would have to accept the mandatory
jurisdiction of the International Court.
Greece has not accepted this procedure on issues regarding
"military measures of a defensive character in the framework of
national defense," Ms Ciller was quoted as saying in support of
her argument.
[05] NATO may discuss methods for resolving disputes between members
Brussels, 10/12/1996 (ANA - M. Spinthourakis)
NATO foreign ministers today may discuss the Greek proposal for
the setting up of a conventional mechanism within the alliance
for the peaceful resolution of disputes between members.
The issue has been under scrutiny by NATO's legal department for
some time, and according to diplomatic circles, it has also been
examined by the foreign ministries of many members. Mr. Pangalos
will represent Greece at this meeting.
[06] EU unification affected by 'considerable' problems, Simitis says
Athens, 10/12/1996 (ANA)
Prime Minister Costas Simitis yesterday spoke of "considerable"
differences in views and aims between European Union
member-states, speaking at a pre-agenda debate in Parliament on
Greece's aims with regard to the Intergovernmental Conference
(IGC).
Mr. Simitis said that when addressing the EU heads of state last
week, he referred to major problems facing the course towards
European unification, focusing in particular on Turkey's
destabilising role in the region and on the threat against Greek
sove reign rights.
He said Greece's targets for revising the Maastricht Treaty
included the EU's institutional development, a strong common
foreign and security policy and policies for combatting
unemployment, social exclusion and ecological protection.
He said that in this context, the government has submitted a
series of proposals and memoranda on the development of the EU,
the strengthening common external and defense policy with
proposals on the protection of territorial integrity, the
inviolabilit y of external borders and the strengthening the
European Parliament's role.
Mr. Simitis said that the EU has not succeeded so far in
developing a common foreign policy (Greek-Turkish relations, the
Cyprus issue, Yugoslavia and the Middle East), stressing that
Greece supports the need for a policy which will consolidate the
invi olability of the EU's territorial integrity and borders,
the principles of peacefully resolving differences, respect for
international law and solidarity between member-states. He added
that Greece is promoting these issues at all levels.
In his address, main opposition New Democracy party leader
Miltiades Evert referred to information that UN special mediator
on the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) Cyrus Vance
will hand in his mediation mandate before the end of the year.
Mr. Evert said this meant a possible abolition of the name FYROM
by the UN Security Council.
Mr. Evert said the name to be given by the UN cannot bind
countries in selecting the name they will use in their relations
with FYROM. Consequenty, he added, the danger is great "for
Skopje (FYROM) to be recognised as 'Macedonia' without an
adjectival definition."
He called on the Prime Minister to pursue diplomatic activity
with foreign leaders and prime ministers who will attend the
Dublin summit, so that EU member-states will be obliged to
commit themselves to not recognising FYROM as "Macedonia."
Mr. Evert warned the government that it must safeguard Greece's
unimpeded course towards European integration and the unimpeded
continuation of the pre-accession process for Cyprus' accession
to the EU.
Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Secretary-General Aleka Papariga
expressed her opposition to both the government's policy and to
the European Union's choices in their entirety.
Ms. Papariga said the proposals tabled by the government at the
Intergovernmental Conference "fully comply with the interests of
European plutocracy" and expressed the view that the security of
Greece and Europe under NATO's umbrella are incompatible.
Coalition of the Left and Progress leader Nikos Constantopoulos
criticised the government for its refusal to hold a meeting for
party leaders to discuss problems related to the course of the
Intergovernmental Conference.
Mr. Constantopoulos said Greece has never been able to acquire a
European policy, nor to formulate a view on European problems,
and has exhausted itself on registering Greece's claims to the
EU, adding that its involvement with Europe ended there.
Mr. Constantopoulos called on the government to move "boldly and
imaginatively" in the direction of redefining problems, "seeking
a treaty to substantially promote unification with the social
and cultural characteristics desired by the peoples of Europe ."
In this context, he said, what is necessary is for the
government to adopt the idea of a referendum on the ratification
of the revised Maastricht treaty.
Speaking on the Intergovernmental Conference, Democratic Social
Movement (DHKKI) leader Dimitris Tsovolas criticised the
government for anti-democratic and anti-parliamentary practices,
saying it was "unacceptable" to call a Parliamentary debate only
th ree days before the Dublin summit after having already
submitted its proposals to the Irish EU presidency.
[07] Foreign, defense ministries meet over relations with WEU, EU and
NATO
Athens, 10/12/1996 (ANA)
A meeting between the political leaderships of the Foreign
Ministry and the Ministry of National Defense yesterday, focused
on Greece's relations with the Western European Union, the
European Union and NATO.
The meeting also discussed coordination between the two
ministries in the framework of pursuing Greece's foreign policy
goals through international organisations in which the country
is a member.
Asked by reporters to comment on a US-proposed suspension of
military flights over Cyprus, National Defense Minister Akis
Tsohatzopoulos said nothing had changed regarding the issue,
adding that Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides had clarified the
matter .
Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos said the government's
positions on this issue have already been made clear. "The issue
has been solved, judged and stated to the appropriate bodies,"
the minister said.
Turning to other issues, Mr. Tsohatzopoulos refered to the
pending NATO Defense Ministers' Summit focussing on the total
restructuring of the Alliance, saying the government aimed to
influence developments during the restructuring process in order
"to e nsure certain issues, due to the particular conditions in
our region."
[08] New wave of strikes begins this week
Athens, 10/12/1996 (ANA)
A new wave of strikes and protests began yesterday against the
government's economic policy and its tough new state budget,
with small manufacturers and professionals holding protest
rallies in Athens and other major cities.
Pensioners are due to hold rallies around the country, while
teachers in both the public and private sectors embark on a
three-day strike tomorrow.
Doctors and hospital workers have also announced a strike for
tomorrow, while doctors of the Social Security Foundation (IKA)
will begin their strike today until Friday, calling for
productivity bonuses to be payed. If their demands are not met,
they have said they may extend the strike until December 17.
Construction workers are to strike on Thursday and dockers on
Friday. Teachers and kindergarten staff have announced a 48-hour
strike beginning on December 16, while tax officers and finance
ministry employees follow suite on December 17-18. Customs
officials will hold their own three-day strike on December 17-19.
Civil aviation unions are to hold four-hour work stoppages at
airports begining at noon every day from December 12 to 14,
demanding payment of remuneration due in October and November,
overtime work and work done on Sundays and holidays.
A nationwide 24-hour civil servants strike has been called for
December 17 by the Civil Servants Supreme Administrative Council
(ADEDY).
The General Confederation of Workers of Greece (GSEE) is to
convene today to decide on its course of action. According to
reports, GSEE will hold a rally during the days the budget will
be debated in Parliament, a 24-hour strike on tax issues in
January and another one protesting unemployment in February.
[09] Engineers hold work stoppage
Athens, 10/12/1996 (ANA)
State-employed engineers staged a three-hour work stoppage
yesterday, while their representatives held talks with Finance
Under-secretary Nikos Christodoulakis, who assured them that
after the new pay scale is tabled in Parliament there will be a
possibili ty for dialogue on issues concerning the sector.
Due to the work stoppage, tendering regarding the building of a
swimming pool at Patras National Stadium, budgeted at 1.9
billion drachmas, was postponed.
[10] Seamen call 48-hour strike
Athens, 10/12/1996 (ANA)
The administrative board of the Panhellenic Maritime
Federation(PNO) yesterday decided to call a 48-hour strike
beginning December 16 which will affect all ports throughout the
country and all categories of vessels.
The PNO said the strike could escalate into a series of
successive stoppages if the government does not reconsider its
decision to abolish tax exemptions for seamen.
PNO Secretary-General Yiannis Chalas said last week that under
the government's new tax law, the income of officers and
lower-rank seamen will be taxed at 15 per cent beginning 1997.
The federation said it will also be holding a protest rally
tomorrow with the participation of the Piraeus Labour Centre.
[11] 50,000 new jobs in 1997, labour minister says
Athens, 10/12/1996 (ANA)
Labour and Social Security Minister Miltiades Papaioannou
yesterday forecast the creation of 50,000 new jobs in 1997
through the linking of vocational training programs with
employment, significant employment incentives for many
businesses and help from the European Social Fund.
Speaking at the Thessaloniki Labour Centre, he also announced
additional measures for 300 workers recently laid off by the
Goodyear tyre factory in the city, including financial support
with re-training supplements, or trial employment by businesses
for varying lengths of time.
He said that a job information centre would be set up in
Thessaloniki for both employers and workers by April 1, 1997,
and an Employment Promotion Centre and Regional Monitoring Unit
by July 1, 1997.
[12] Landfill closes for two days, possible closure over Christmas
Athens, 10/12/1996 (ANA)
The landfill at Ano Liosia is to remain closed today and
tomorrow, while there is a possibility it will also remain shut
over the Christmas holiday.
The municipal council of Ano Liosia, protesting over a delay in
the tabling of a study on regions in eastern Attica proposed for
the creation of landfills, is expected to reach a final decision
on closing the landfill over the holiday tomorrow.
A committee is to announce the regions where new landfills will
be established during the next 10 days, according to a statement
by Attica prefect Dimitris Frangos. He said that the prefectural
council will accept the committee's proposals whatever they may
be.
Mr. Frangos stressed, however, that unlicenced landfills
operating in various regions of Attica must close down until
January 17.
[13] Greek delegation to WEU assembly satisfied with outcome
Athens, 10/12/1996 (ANA)
President of the Parliament Apostolos Kaklamanis yesterday said
the Greek parliamentary delegation had made an effective
presentation at the 42nd Western European Union Assembly,
"despite the pro-Turkish atmosphere".
Mr. Kaklamanis was speaking at a press conference also addressed
by the head of the parliamentary delegation, Dinos Vrettos.
Mr. Vrettos elaborated on the unanimous endorsement by the
Assembly of main opposition New Democracy party deputy Michalis
Liapis's report on the future role of the Union, which notes the
inviolability of borders, respect for the territorial integrity
o f WEU members and the "unacceptable continuation of the
current situation in Cyprus."
Mr. Vrettos further noted the rejection, after a Greek
initiative, of a pro-Turkish report compiled by French Deputy De
Lipkowski on safety in the Mediterranean, which endorsed all the
Turkish foreign ministry's proposals for dialogue (with Greece)
on t he entire range of issues.
The members of the Greek delegation also put forward a strong
resistance to the position of their colleagues for full
accession to the Western European Union of all European members
of NATO, independent of whether they are members to the European
Union.
[14] Greece participates in WEU exercise
Athens, 10/12/1996 (ANA)
The third phase of the map exercise "WEU CRISEX 95/96" begins on
Thursday in Spain and France with the participation of Greece
within the framework of Western European Union (WEU) activities.
The exercise will focus on crisis-handling and in particular, s
ecuring the provision of humanitarian aid.
In the present phase, only full members of the WEU are
participating. Associate members will take part only as
observers. The first phase of the exercise was conducted from
January 15-21 1995 and the second from June 22-28,1996.
The present third phase will be completed on December 18.
[15] Kaklamanis in Georgia for Black Sea meeting
Athens, 10/12/1996 (ANA)
Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis leaves today for
Tbilisi to attend the 8th plenary of the Parliamentary Assembly
of the Black Sea Economic Co-operation (BSEC) organisation which
will be held from December 10-12.
Mr. Kaklamanis will address the assembly and take over the
rotating presidency which will be held by Greece for the first
half of 1997.
During his stay in Tbilisi, Mr. Kaklamanis will have the
opportunity for talks with Georgia's President Eduard
Shevardnadze, Foreign Minister Irakliy Menagarishvili and his
own parliamentary counterpart.
He will also visit Patriarch Ilias II and attend a special event
organised by the ethnic Greek community in Tbilisi.
Greece is the only EU country among the BSCE's 11 member-states.
The other countries are Azerbaijan, Albania, Armenia, Bulgaria,
Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine, Romania, Russia and Turkey.
[16] Turkey's policy is "continuous shame for international
community" Evert says
Athens, 10/12/1996 (ANA)
"Turkey's policy is a continuous shame for the international
community, with the flagrant violation of human rights, both in
Cyprus and domestically," New Democracy party leader Miltiades
Evert said in a message yesterday on the occasion of World Day
for Human Rights today.
"Respect and protection of human rights is a basic obligation of
all states. It is not sufficient that states merely recognise
human rights. They must espouse them and fight energetically for
their full implementation and defense..." the ND leader said.
"Especially for us Greeks, the problem of human rights violation
is not a distant one, as we are witnesses of one of its most
characteristic cases from neighbouring Turkey," he added.
[17] Former intelligence chief testifies in court over allegations
into phone tapping
Athens, 10/12/1996 (ANA)
Former Greek Intelligence (EYP) chief Leonidas Vasilikopoulos
testified before an Athens prosecutor yesterday as part of a
preliminary investigation into reports which appeared in Nitro
magazine alleging that phone tapping had occurred at the
residence of former Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou in the
Athens suburb of Ekali.
According to the reports, telephone conversations tapped
included discussions between Mr. Papandreou's wife Dimitra
Liani-Papandreou and homeopathy doctors during the period of the
former prime minister's illness, as well as conversations with a
medium.
Mr. Vasilikopoulos made no statement to the press at the end of
his testimony.
[18] KEDKE says budget creates problems for local gov't organisations
Athens, 10/12/1996 (ANA)
Mayors yesterday called for an urgent meeting with Prime
Minister Costas Simitis before December 19, when the budget is
due to be ratified, following an emergency general assembly held
by the Central Union of Municipalities and Communities' (KEDKE)
in a d owntown Athens hotel.
"Otherwise, on the next day, mayors and community leaders will
hold a rally at the interior ministry in order for immediate
solutions to be given to problems faced by Local Government
Organisations (OTA)," the general assembly said.
The resolution was communicated to Mr Simitis, party leaders,
the Interior, Public Administration and Decentralisation
Minister, National Economy and Finance Minister, local
municipality and community unions.
The general assembly members said many clauses included in the
bills on abolishing tax exemptions and on curbing public
expenditure create serious problems in financial programming and
reduce the economic potential of OTAs and their legal entities.
They called on the government not to implement its decisions,
but to continue dialogue with KEDKE until a final solution is
reached.
In another development, Interior, Public Administration and
Decentralisation Minister Alekos Papadopoulos assured
municipalities and communities that a law concerning the
economic independence of local administration from the
contribution of municipalit ies towards economic convergence,
will not be changed.
[19] President briefed on problems facing Black Sea Greeks
Athens, 10/12/1996 (ANA)
President Kostis Stephanopoulos and Dinos Haritopoulos, mayor of
the Sappon region in the prefecture of Rodopi, yesterday
discussed problems facing ethnic Greek refugees from the Black
Sea region, especially unemployment.
Elaborating on the problems facing the refugees, such as social
integration difficulties and lack of work, Mr. Haritpopoulos
went on to discuss prospects for the region emanating from
changes in the Balkans and the countries of the Black Sea.
Mr. Stephanopoulos pledged to do everything in his power in the
direction of resolve to the problems.
[20] Homeopath wins Right Livelihood Award
Stockholm, 10/12/1996 (ANA-N.Serveta)
George Vythoulkas, a homeopathic practitioner yesterday won the
Right Livelihood Award for alternative medicine "for his unique
contribution to the development of knowledge regarding
homeopathic practice..."
Swedish Parliament President Brigitta Dal awarded the prize to
Mr. Vythoulkas yesterday at a special ceremony held in the
Parliament.
Mr. Vythoulkas said the uncontrolled use of chemical
pharmaceuticals and the diseases of the future will influence
brain operations and lead to a "society of pshychopaths," adding
that "homeopathic practice constitutes hope for renewal and
prospect for better health standards."
Mr. Vythoulkas is due to leave for Brussels and Strasbourg today
at the invitation of European Parliament deputies, for talks
with the President of the European Parliament and Commissioner
Christos Papoutsis.
[21] Environmental groups turn to courts over Nestos River projects
Athens, 10/12/1996 (ANA)
Six ecological organisations have turned to the Council of State
to charge legislative violations in the construction and
operation of three dams, reservoirs and hydroelectric projects
of the Public Power Corporation (DEH) on the Nestos River.
The organisations are seeking the cancellation of the joint
ministerial decision which approved the environmental terms for
the construction of the DEH dams on the Nestos.
They claim that in order for the project to go ahead, an
Environmental Impact Study should first have been carried out
and published.
Although such a study was indeed carried out, the organisations
maintain that it does not meet the requirements and
specifications of Greek legislation in force and European Union
directives.
End of English language section.
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