Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 97-01-27
From: The Greek Press & Information Office, Ottawa Canada <[email protected]>
ATHENS NEWS AGENCY BULLETIN (No 1099), January 27, 1997
Greek Press & Information Office
Ottawa, Canada
E-Mail Address: [email protected]
CONTENTS
[01] 'Grey Wolves' threaten to settle occupied Cypriot town as
Turkish warships 'visit'
[02] Turkish warships sail to Famagusta
[03] Pangalos promises Athens support for EU-Malta co-operation
[04] Kaklamanis: Only strong defense can avert war
[05] Pangalos to meet Coalition leader
[06] Mitsotakis: Turkey must respect Greek borders, sovereignty
before talks
[07] Tsovolas criticizes Gov't stance on foreign policy
[08] Inauguration of Thessaloniki European Cultural Capital on
Saturday
[09] Arsenis proposals on education welcomed by academics, slammed by
opposition
[10] Souflias objects
[11] Teachers to continue strike action
[12] Gov't determined to avert a repeat of December transport
disruption by farmers
[13] Reactions
[14] Rallis coordinates matters for ND party congress
[15] 42 illegal immigrants arrested on Pasa islet
[16] 22 illegal immigrants deported
[17] Kidnapped six-year-old found
[01] 'Grey Wolves' threaten to settle occupied Cypriot town as
Turkish warships 'visit'
Nicosia, 27/01/199 (ANA - G. Leonidas/CNA)
The Turkish 'Grey Wolves' terrorist organization, implicated in
the murder of two Greek Cypriots last summer, has threatened to
"settle" the town of Famagusta, which has been uninhabited since
the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus.
The threats were made through a paid advertisement which
appeared in Turkish Cypriot newspapers on Saturday, as three
Turkish warships sailed on Saturday from Turkey to the port of
Famagusta on the eastern coast of Cyprus, ostensibly for a
"peaceful" visit.
The Grey Wolves' leader in the northern occupied part of Cyprus,
Mehmet Aslan, who has been accused of murdering Greek-Cypriot
Tassos Isaac during protests last summer, also repeated that a
large march to Famagusta is being prepared and will take place
next month.
He added that the events being organized by the 'Grey Wolves' to
be held at the beginning of February aim to bring the issue of
the settling of Famagusta to the forefront.
A paid advertisement signed by Mehmet Aslan described as
"unfortunate" the fact that the joint communiqui issued by
Turkish President Suleyman Demirel and Turkish Cypriot leader
Rauf Denktash does not mention the settlement of Famagusta.
It added that the 'Grey Wolves' will ceaselessly campaign for
the town's settlement.
[02] Turkish warships sail to Famagusta
Nicosia, 27/01/199 (ANA/CNA)
Three warships sailed on Saturday from Turkey to the Turkish
occupied port of Famagusta on the eastern coast of this
Mediterranean island.
According to the Turkish Cypriot press, Turkish defense
minister, Turhan Tayan claimed this is a "peaceful visit", while
Turkish Cypriot daily "Kibris" says the visit is an answer to
Greek Cypriot armaments.
The Turkish warships will remain in the occupied Famagusta port
until Wednesday, January 29.
Turkish high ranking officials, including President Suleyman
Demirel and Foreign Minister Tansu Ciller have recently
expressed threats against Cyprus after the government concluded
an agreement for the purchase of Russian anti-aircraft missiles
S-300.
Turkey invaded the island in 1974 and still occupies 37 per cent
of its territory.
[03] Pangalos promises Athens support for EU-Malta co-operation
Valetta, 27/01/1997 (ANA/DPA)
Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos, in Malta on a two-day
visit, said on Saturday that Greece would be "very happy" if
Malta were to join the European Union, but had to respect the
Maltese people's decision.
Mr. Pangalos, after talks with Foreign Minister George Vella,
was referring to the new Maltese Labor government's decision to
put on hold the island's application for EU membership and seek
instead a special contractual agreement covering free trade and
co-operation, including security.
Mr. Pangalos, who said Malta and Greece would now be holding
regular meetings to discuss bilateral and other issues, added
that Greece would do its utmost to help Malta to co-operate more
closely with the EU.
He explained that the Maltese government's decision not to
pursue the membership option in no way affected the candidacy of
Cyprus, which Greece champions.
"There has never been a linkage between the two islands'
applications," he stressed.
Questioned about the latest tension on Cyprus, Mr. Pangalos said
it was up to the Cyprus government, which was recognized by all
countries except Turkey, to react to Turkey's decision to send
naval vessels into the northern Cypriot port of Famagusta.
Mr. Pangalos and Mr. Vella also discussed closer co-operation
between the two countries against illegal traffic in arms, drugs
and refugees.
Mr. Pangalos said Olympic Airways would be having talks with Air
Malta, which already operates a regular service to Athens, to
increase communications between the two countries.
During his visit, which ended yesterday, Mr. Pangalos also paid
courtesy calls on President Ugo Mifsud Bonnici and on Prime
Minister Alfred Sant and had an unofficial meeting with
Nationalist Opposition deputy leader Guido de Marco.
[04] Kaklamanis: Only strong defense can avert war
Athens, 27/01/199 (ANA)
The President of the Greek Parliament Apostolos Kaklamanis said
in an interview with Cypriot daily newspaper "Fileleftheros"
that unless "we have a strong front we will not be able to avoid
war (with Turkey)."
"What else must happen to Hellenism in order to realize... that
only a concrete front, such as the one ensured by the joint
defense doctrine, can stop Turkish expansionism," Mr. Kaklamanis
was quoted telling the newspaper in an interview published in
its yesterday's edition.
Turning to Greek-Turkish relations, he said that unless the
Cyprus problem was solved relations between the neighboring
countries could not improve.
The Greek Parliament's president also referred to the issue of
the British sovereign bases in Cyprus, saying that at some point
in time this issue should come under discussion.
Noting that he was not opposed to the idea of a Panhellenic
conference, Mr. Kaklamanis said he was not certain it would be
able to contribute to the Cyprus issue, while calling on Athens
and Nicosia to focus on the essence of problems and stop playing
with words and impressions.
[05] Pangalos to meet Coalition leader
Athens, 27/01/199 (ANA)
Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos and President of the
Coalition of the Left and Progress party Nikos Constantopoulos
are due to meet in order to discuss the latest developments in
the Cyprus issue and Greek-Turkish relations.
The meeting is being held in view of Mr. Constantopoulos'
forthcoming visit to Cyprus on February 3-5. According to a
party announcement, Mr. Constantopoulos is also due to meet with
the ambassadors of a number of countries in Athens.
[06] Mitsotakis: Turkey must respect Greek borders, sovereignty
before talks
Athens, 27/01/199 (ANA)
Former prime minister and main opposition New Democracy party
honorary president Constantine Mitsotakis, speaking on last
year's Imia crisis, has said a prerequisite for talks to be held
with Turkey is for it to respect Greece's borders and
territorial integrity.
Mr. Mitsotakis, who was speaking on the 'Antenna' television
channel, expressed the view that Ankara may back down from its
stated positions, and called for Turkey to refer to the
International Court of Justice at The Hague.
The former prime minister said that after a national position
was formed on the issue, the government handled it successfully.
However, he added that during the days of the Imia crisis, the
government's handling was "clumsy", and spoke of a failure in
Greek foreign policy.
Mr. Mitsotakis said the incident was a dangerous moment which
arose due to internal developments in Turkey, because "the
country's leadership had no sense of responsibility and due to
the fact that Ankara began to doubt the Treaty of Lausanne."
Mr. Mitsotakis said ND leader Miltiades Evert's descriptions of
Prime Minister Costas Simitis "regarding treason" were unfair,
and that the priority was for unity on a national front at the
time of the crisis.
He reiterated his disagreement with New Democracy's withdrawal
from the discussion in Parliament at the time, saying a
discussion had to be held in order for a unified position to be
taken.
[07] Tsovolas criticizes Gov't stance on foreign policy
Athens, 27/01/199 (ANA)
Democratic Social Movement (DHKKI) party leader Dimitris
Tsovolas on Saturday accused the government of "lack of national
strategy on Greece's foreign policy issues which leads to lack
of unity within Hellenism".
Speaking during a tour of Epirus, in northwestern Greece, Mr.
Tsovolas referred to "promotion of US plans which will lead to a
shrinkage of Greece and the Hellenism of Cyprus."
Commenting on a recent wave of labor unrest, Mr. Tsovolas said
that the ruling PASOK party "has been transformed into a
conservative party that deals serious blows to workers,
merchants and craftsmen."
"The government's policy is giving rise to social storms...,"
Mr. Tsovolas said.
Regarding internal strife in the main opposition New Democracy
party, the leader of DHKKI forecast that within 1997 the party
would split up, while, in ruling PASOK, Prime Minister Costas
Simitis will be called on to deal with crucial problems.
[08] Inauguration of Thessaloniki European Cultural Capital on
Saturday
Athens, 27/01/199 (ANA)
Greece's president and prime minister will be joined by forty
international representations at the official inauguration of
Thessaloniki as Cultural Capital of Europe for 1997 this coming
Saturday.
The inauguration will be attended by President of the Republic,
Kostis Stephanopoulos, Prime Minister Costas Simitis, members of
the Cabinet, forty international representations and other
officials.
Four days of cultural events beginning Thursday and featuring
concerts, plays and symposiums will mark the inauguration.
"Hellenism has the advantage: It should not be lost as an
opportunity and as an ability," Culture Minister Evangelos
Venizelos told a press conference to announce the inauguration
program yesterday afternoon.
Balkan culture ministers will meet within the framework of
events, in Thessaloniki on Thursday, to discuss the creation of
an Interbalkan Cultural Network. Black Sea Co-operation culture
ministers will also meet on the same day to discuss
cultural-related issues.
On Friday, culture ministers of the Mediterranean countries will
come together to discuss Euro-Mediterranean co-operation.
European cultural ministers meeting on the same day will discuss
the introduction of the principle of EU member-states' cultural
equality.
[09] Arsenis proposals on education welcomed by academics, slammed by
opposition
Athens, 27/01/199 (ANA)
Education Minister Gerassimos Arsenis on Saturday proposed
wide-reaching changes to the education system to begin as of the
next academic year and leading to the abolition of university
and further education entrance examinations by the year 2000.
Mr. Arsenis was speaking after a meeting with university rectors
in Delphi on Saturday.
Under the changes, students will be allowed to follow a series
of courses and gain the equivalent of a university degree on
their completion. Those over the age of 25 taking these courses
may have to pay tuition fees, while scholarships will be
available for those under 25.
An open university is to open in September 1997 for any person
who wishes to take courses. Tuition fees will probably have to
be paid.
The most important change concerns the abolition of university
entrance examinations, to come into effect in the year 2000.
Students will enter universities and higher education
institutions based on their grades from the last three years of
senior high school, the results of an examination to be held on
a regional or national basis and their grades of their national
high-school leaving certificate. There will be no tuition fees
in universities.
Mr. Arsenis has suggested that radical changes in high schools
should come into effect as of September this year in order to
prepare for the new system in 2000.
The initial reaction of university rectors to the announced
changes has been positive. Rector of the Panteion University of
Athens Emilios Metaxopoulos said proposals are moving in a
positive direction for education, although he said rectors will
give m ore precise answers to the changes after they hold an
extraordinary meeting.
Mr. Arsenis said the education ministry wants the proposals to
be discussed in order for them to have been fully understood
when they come to be implemented.
[10] Souflias objects
Athens, 27/01/199 (ANA)
Main opposition New Democracy party deputy and former education
minister George Souflias, however, reacted against the
proposals, accusing Mr. Arsenis of being "confused".
"... With generalizations and in an overly haphazard manner, in
the space of a few days, he has withdrawn and adopted -
alternately and simultaneously - various methods of entry into
universities, creating unprecedented confusion in the sensitive
area of education," Mr. Souflias said.
"Within a week, the education minister has withdrawn his concise
and contradictory announcements regarding ... free entry into
universities and has adopted the scattered and jumbled thoughts
regarding a national high-school leaving certificate, which we
re expressed by his predecessor and which, if implemented,
convert the school into a permanent examination center," he said
Mr. Souflias called on the minister to face education issues
with seriousness. "I consider it my debt to oppose this
irresponsible policy," he said. "My debt towards the work I left
at the ministry, my debt to Greek parents and students."
The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) yesterday described the
abolition of university entrance exams as an excuse to break up
universities and to create "multi-speed" higher education
institutions, which will result in not all degrees being of the
same value.
The KKE also claimed that the introduction of tuition fees for
some paves the way for the introduction of tuition fees for all
students, adding that the "downgraded" role of technical
colleges and higher education institutions will open the
floodgates to the gradual privatization of further education.
The Coalition of the Left and Progress party also reacted
against the education minister's announcement, saying that the
changes "blur the picture of the public university."
The Coalition reiterated its proposal for an upgraded secondary
school system and for a planned expansion of further education
so that all those who have achieved a certain standard can enter
universities.
On the other hand, Political Spring party leader Antonis Samaras
said he considered it positive that Mr. Arsenis had made
proposals for education and not announced unilateral decisions.
Mr. Samaras said his party considered the proposals to be
"forward-looking, and, in some cases, daring and imaginative."
[11] Teachers to continue strike action
Athens, 27/01/199 (ANA)
The country's high school teachers have decided to continue
their strike action for another week, even though a meeting
between representatives of the teachers' federation, OLME, and
Education Minister Gerassimos Arsenis is scheduled to take place
today.
Primary school and kindergarten teachers will also go on strike
as of February 3.
[12] Gov't determined to avert a repeat of December transport
disruption by farmers
Athens, 27/01/199 (ANA)
In view of a fresh round of planned-protest action on the part
of the farmers this coming week, Agriculture Minister Stephanos
Tzoumakas has not ruled out the possibility of judicial measures
being taken against farmers if they recommence a blockade of
national roads.
"The government's position is clear. The national road network
will not be allowed to remain closed," he said, speaking at the
end of meetings held over two days in Lamia and Atalanti by the
Panhellenic Confederation of Agricultural Cooperatives (PASEGES)
and farmers' unions in the Fthiotida prefecture.
Mr. Tzoumakas accused the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) of
being behind the mobilizations, saying that "there is a
particular group of members in the agricultural sector which
wants to exercise specific policies. ... Elections are coming in
agricultural unions and cooperatives, there are vested interests
but also vested interests which one particular party has in the
agricultural sector, KKE."
"The messages coming in are that the measures (for agriculture)
taken by the government have been accepted by the producers of
Thessaly as well," Mr. Tzoumakas said.
Similar action by farmers in December caused serious disruption
to transport and the movement of goods, dealing a heavy blow to
the national economy.
Speaking at a meeting of producers in Atalanti, the minister
referred extensively to fraud committed concerning subsidies,
stressing that "even this year, although to a lesser extent,
there has been fraud in cotton," which he set at around 100,000
tones.
He said the state budget can not pay for such situations.
PASEGES President Nikos Liolios said the reduction of interest
rates and the quadrupling of the return of VAT would give
farmers breathing space and bring the state taxation revenue of
1.3 trillion drachmas.
In Thessaloniki meanwhile, Agriculture Under-secretary Vasilis
Geranidis warned that the government may resort to force in
order to prevent the blockade of roads.
"We may probably see riot police in the streets," said Mr.
Geranidis yesterday, speaking during a meeting of party
officials in the sectors of farming and cooperatives.
"Some, have chosen the road to blind conflict," the minister
said. He added that "if they attempt to abolish every sense of a
constitutional state, causing such huge political and economic
cost for Greece, with dramatic consequences on the economy,
tourism, transport and exports, I do not think they leave much
choice to the government but to counterattack on the basis of a
constitutional state." In a related development, ruling PASOK
Secretary Costas Skandalidis said government efforts to deal
with planned actions would be of a "democratic nature."
Speaking during the meeting, Mr. Skandalidis said that "PASOK
will make every effort to avoid repetition of previous action,"
and that "such effort will have a strong democratic character."
The government on Friday toughened its stance prior to an
imminent new round of nationwide protests by farmers, scheduled
to start at the end of the month.
"We are determined to confront the protest actions using all
means," government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said, adding that
whoever "exceeds the limits" would find themselves up "against
the forces of the state."
[13] Reactions
Athens, 27/01/199 (ANA)
The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) on Saturday accused the
government's decision to deal firmly with planned protest
actions by farmers as one of "blatant terrorism".
The KKE in an announcement charged that the government's warning
that it will crack down on the farmers was a prelude for a
general clampdown on the entire popular movement.
It said the working people were not only trying to safeguard
their incomes but also their right to survive.
The Coalition of the Left and Progress leader Nikos
Constantopoulos told a party supporters' gathering in the region
of Livadia on Saturday that the government was not focusing on
democratic dialogue nor social consensus.
"With its attitude, the government does not ensure neither
democratic dialogue nor social consensus," he said.
"The provocative statements of the government spokesman as well
as those of various ministers regarding the social mobilizations
cause heterogeneous and irrational situations," he added.
Mr. Constantopoulos said such attitude on the part of the
government shows that it wants to "trigger social tensions in
order to lead them with provocative announcements to extreme
forms and thus to be able to isolate them."
Mr. Constantopoulos said such tactics were "dangerous," adding
that "they bear no relation to a responsible policy of
democratic and social sensitivity."
[14] Rallis coordinates matters for ND party congress
Athens, 27/01/199 (ANA)
The president of the organizing committee for New Democracy's
congress, George Rallis, yesterday met with the three-member
regional committee presidiums and called on them to show full
objectivity during the party congress.
Mr. Rallis, a former prime minister, noted that during the
election of congress members, a number had expressed views in
favor of either party leader Miltiades Evert or contender for
the leadership George Souflias, saying that this occurred
because the obligation for party members to maintain objective
views had not been stressed.
"You must forget your personal likes and dislikes. Whatever
troubles this country has faced occurred because of personal
ambitions and conflicts," Mr. Rallis told party members.
The former prime minister described the congress as being of
decisive importance as it is the first one to elect a party
leader, stressing that "any decision (taken) will be doubted by
no-one."
Party members asked Mr. Rallis for regional committee
Vice-President and secretaries to be present at the congress as
observers, as well as asking for the implementation of his
circular to deputies, which called for the avoidance of
statements which could create a climate of polarization.
The organizational committee is scheduled to meet today in order
to discuss details over the manner in which the congress is to
be held.
[15] 42 illegal immigrants arrested on Pasa islet
Athens, 27/01/199 (ANA)
Forty-two Iraqi illegal immigrants of Kurdish origin are being
held at Hios island police station after being arrested at dawn
on Saturday by the coast guard at the Pasa islet.
The illegal immigrants (30 men, seven women and five children)
said that a Turk had transported them to the Greek islet in his
speed boat for the sum of $1,500 each. The Turk has not been
located.
Meanwhile, at least 10 armed coast guard patrol boats have been
given orders to be on watch around the clock and to seek the
help of the Navy in the event they come across Turkish craft
carrying illegal immigrants.
Greek army posts in the Dodecanese islands have also stepped up
security measures, particularly following an incident last week
in which a Greek soldier was slightly wounded when shots were
traded between the Greek coast guard and Turkish illegal
immigrant smugglers.
[16] 22 illegal immigrants deported
Athens, 27/01/199 (ANA)
Twenty-two Indian illegal immigrants, held in detention in
Greece after surviving a shipwreck off Malta last month, were
put on an Olympic Airways flight for New Delhi late Friday night.
The 22 had claimed to authorities that two boats carrying
illegal immigrants had collided on Christmas Eve, resulting in
the loss of 283 people.
The authenticity of their accounts of the shipwreck has not yet
been verified by authorities who are continuing their
investigations into the incident.
A further 37 Pakistanis and 29 Sri Lankans were deported to
Karachi on Wednesday last week.
There are still quite a number of illegal immigrants in the
coastal town of Nafplio in the Peloponnese who have not been
deported because they have sought political asylum.
[17] Kidnapped six-year-old found
Athens, 27/01/199 (ANA)
Police said yesterday they had found a six-year-old girl
kidnapped from her primary school on the island of Crete on
Friday.
At press-time, no details had yet been released of how the girl,
Eleni Loulaki, had been recovered.
Eleni's father, the director of the Ford car dealership in
Iraklion, received two telephone calls after the abduction, one
demanding a ransom of 120 million drachmas, and the second
warning that the child would be killed if anyone was notified.
A woman claiming she was Eleni's aunt telephoned the girl's
school, PanCritiko Ekpedeftiko, at around 12:35 pm on Friday and
said she would pick the child up early in order to take it to
the doctor.
A quarter of an hour later, a woman aged around 35 arrived at
the school and collected Eleni from the deputy headmistress.
According to the police officer in charge of the case, the two
women "merely smiled at one another" and did not speak. The
police officer added that the deputy headmistress did not know
the woman.
At roughly 1:40 pm, Mr. Loulakis was telephoned at work by a
woman who spoke broken Greek, demanding the 120 million drachma
ransom. According to reports, the same woman, but speaking
fluent Greek this time, telephoned the father at home at roughly
4 pm , warning him not to contact anyone about the kidnapping.
No other contact was made by the abductor, although Mr. Loulakis
received six telephone calls where the caller hung up.
The police were contacted at 3:30 pm, but the incident was
initially reported as a disappearance and not as an abduction.
End of English language section.
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