Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 97-02-25
From: The Greek Press & Information Office, Ottawa Canada <[email protected]>
ATHENS NEWS AGENCY BULLETIN (No 1124), February 25, 1997
Greek Press & Information Office
Ottawa, Canada
E-Mail Address: [email protected]
CONTENTS
[01] Athens rejects German, British pressure over EU-Cyprus
structured dialogue
[02] NATO expansion discussed between Greek and Lithuanian Presidents
[03] Other meetings
[04] Athens strongly reacts to threats by Turkish Cypriot extremists
[05] Turkish response
[06] Holbrooke: No current plans to mediate Greek-Turkish differences
[07] Gov't: Greek policy vis-a-vis Turkey in line with int'l law
[08] Papandreou meets Stelev prior to EU-Bulgaria Association Council
[09] Evert says he will contest ND leadership
[10] Gov't calls on striking teachers to enter into dialogue
[11] Tzoumakas attends Paris agricultural exhibition
[12] Perama workers to blockade merchant marine ministry
[13] Flynn discusses Athens' EU funds absorption rate
[14] Pension payments through bank accounts examined
[15] Campaign to increase Greek olive oil share of US market under way
[16] Development ministry to issue regulations governing
telemarketing firms
[17] Public works credits
[18] Business plan for Bank of Central Greece
[19] Greek-Turkish business meeting in Izmir
[20] High Court prosecutor to investigate charges of Cultural Capital
judicial cover-ups
[21] Parts of ancient bronze statues caught in fishing nets brought
to Athens
[22] Dogfight suspects convicted, freed on appeal
[01] Athens rejects German, British pressure over EU-Cyprus
structured dialogue
Brussels, 25/02/1997 (ANA - M. Spinthourakis)
Greece yesterday stood its ground against strong pressure from
Germany and Britain during a European Union General Affairs
Council meeting here, which aimed to overcome objections to the
involvement of Turkish Cypriots in the island republic's EU
accession negotiations.
Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou did not accept
compromise proposals by the Dutch presidency, and the all-day
session ended in a stalemate.
Following the development, the EU- Cyprus Association Council
meeting will convene today without a joint statement by the
15-member Union concerning a structured dialogue between the EU
and Cyprus.
In Athens, Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos, replying to a
question after his meeting with his Lithuanian counterpart
yesterday afternoon, said Greece condemns the two countries'
"underhanded and hostile" behavior towards Cyprus, which, he
said, "we will resist".
Mr. Pangalos said the British and German governments attempted
to include in the text a phrase which renders the Turkish
Cypriots as "parallel negotiators" with the European Union.
"The Community does not belong to anyone," Mr. Pangalos said,
adding that "we will not accept masters. If some have
misinterpreted our moderation as a sign of weakness or
faint-heartedness, the time has come for them to see that they
have made a major mistake."
He said such positions will not be included in the joint
statement of the 15 EU member-states and warned that if there is
no joint position and a comprehensive Association Council with
Cyprus, "it will be difficult for all the remaining association
councils (with eastern European countries) which have been
scheduled to proceed."
Mr. Pangalos noted that the participation of the Turkish
Cypriots is not an issue, as Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides
has already invited them to fully participate in the Cyprus
delegation.
After yesterday's session in Brussels, Mr. Papandreou said the
failure of the '15' to arrive at a common political position in
view of today's EU-Cyprus Association Council session
constitutes a negative political message, leading Greece to a
re-examination of its stand on the more general issue of
European Union enlargement.
In his address to the Council, Mr. Papandreou stressed that the
effort to involve Turkish Cypriots is a new element, which
violates previous Council decisions, sets preconditions
non-existent for other countries wishing to join, and renders
Cyprus a hostage of Turkey.
[02] NATO expansion discussed between Greek and Lithuanian Presidents
Athens, 25/02/1997 (ANA)
President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos met yesterday
with visiting Lithuanian President Algirdas Brazauskas, with
NATO's eastward expansion and the country's prospects for
joining the European Union dominating discussions.
Mr. Brazauskas, who is on a two-day official visit, also had
talks with Prime Minister Costas Simitis.
Mr. Stephanopoulos expressed the view that Lithuania and the
other Baltic states were an "integral part of Europe" and had
every right to join European organizations.
On his part, Mr. Brazauskas said they had referred to Russia's
positions and the role Moscow could play.
"Greece's experience as a member of the EU and NATO are very
useful to Lithuania," he added.
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Algirdas Saudargas, who is
accompanying Mr. Brazauskas on his visit, met with his Greek
counterpart Theodoros Pangalos and signed a bilateral
educational and cultural agreement, while discussing EU- and
NATO-related issues.
Speaking after the meeting, Mr. Pangalos said that today's
Lithuania "can take its fitting place in European institutions.
"We have informed our friends the Lithuanians on the situation
in the southeastern Mediterranean and the Aegean, as well as on
Turkey's behavior," Mr. Pangalos said.
Mr. Saudargas briefed Mr. Pangalos on the situation in
Lithuania's region, including Russia and Belarus, and invited
his Greek counterpart to visit Vilnius.
[03] Other meetings
Athens, 25/02/1997 (ANA)
Mr. Brazauskas also met with PASOK Secretary Costas Skandalidis,
main opposition New Democracy party leader Miltiades Evert, the
president of the Coalition of the Left and Progress
(Synaspismos) party Nikos Constantopoulos, the president of the
Democratic Social Movement (DHKKI) Dimitris Tsovolas and
Communist Party of Greece political bureau member Orestis
Kolozov.
Discussions during these meetings mostly concentrated on the
need for the further consolidation of bilateral relations, the
Baltic states' prospects for entry into European organizations
and NATO's expansion eastwards.
Mr. Kolozov expressed his party's uneasiness regarding "the
continued ban on the operation of the Lithuanian communist party
and the prolonged imprisonment of its leaders."
[04] Athens strongly reacts to threats by Turkish Cypriot extremists
Athens, 25/02/1997 (ANA)
Threats by the Turkish Cypriot branch of the ultra-nationalist
"Gray Wolves" group over the weekend prompted Foreign Minister
Theodoros Pangalos yesterday to stress the responsibilities of
the United Nations and countries involved in the search for a
solution to the Cyprus problem.
The Turkish Cypriot Gray Wolves threatened to seize Greek
Cypriot property and settle the abandoned town of Famagusta.
"Appropriate measures must be instituted, not against (Turkish
Cypriot leader Rauf) Denktash, who is acting as an intermediary,
but against the Gray Wolves, their political mentors and
leaders," he specified.
Earlier, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas also called on the
UN Security Council, the United States and the European Union to
investigate the matter and to intervene, terming the threat a
"crude provocation".
Turkish Cypriot Gray Wolves leader Mehmet Arslan said on Sunday
that his supporters would enter the UN-controlled city of
Famagusta on March 2 and lay claim to residences belonging to
Greek Cypriots. A rally at a protective fence encircling the
abandoned city on Saturday was also attended by members of the
Turkish Cypriot occupation regime, who expressed full support
for the threatened move.
Under a UN-brokered agreement, the town remains fenced off and
uninhabited, under the control of peacekeeping troops.
Mr. Reppas said the government in Athens was carefully and
closely monitoring the matter and that "there will be a response
if need be." In a related development, Prime Minister Costas
Simitis will meet with the Speaker of the Cypriot House of
Representatives and former president Spyros Kyprianou.
[05] Turkish response
Athens, 25/02/1997 (ANA)
Meanwhile, an ANA dispatch from Istanbul yesterday quoted
Turkish foreign ministry spokesman Omer Akbel as saying that
Turkey would incorporate Famagusta into the Turkish-occupied
sector if Nicosia went ahead with the purchase and installation
of the Russian-made S-300 surface-to-air missiles.
"Turkey supports Denktash's statement, which states that Varosha
(Turkish sector) will be united with Famagusta in the case of
the installation of the S-300 missiles," he said. Asked if
Turkey supports the planned action by the Gray Wolves, he said:
"No, definitely no".
[06] Holbrooke: No current plans to mediate Greek-Turkish differences
Athens, 25/02/1997 (ANA)
Former US Assistant Secretary of State Richard Holbrooke said
last night that at the moment he did not have any plans to
mediate in Greek-Turkish differences and stressed that tensions
in the area were out of all proportions.
Mr. Holbrooke was here accompanying his wife, Kati Marton, in
her capacity as president of the International Committee for the
Protection of Journalists, to receive the Costas Kyriazis
International Center award.
The award is accompanied by a one million drachmas prize.
Another award went to "The Magazine", the supplement of the
London-based "The European" newspaper, and special distinctions
to the BBC World Service program broadcast out of Athens and
other individuals who helped in promoting national issues.
The event was attended by Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos
and Press Minister Dimitris Reppas.
"I don't have any plans right now. I have a book to finish and I
have work to do," Mr. Holbrooke said.
He said he would have liked very much to help, but "right now I
can't undertake any other commitments." He was referring to a
book he was writing about his experiences as mediator in Bosnia,
which led to the Dayton peace accords.
However, he hastened to add that "I'm very interested in the
area."
Asked to make a prediction about possible escalation of tension
in the area, Mr. Holbrooke said: "I think that tensions in the
area are out of all proportion on the issues, which are real but
do not justify such a high level of tension."
"This is excessive and the leaders of both sides (Greece and
Turkey) have to talk directly to each other to get this cooled
down."
Asked about the possibility of war in the area, Mr. Holbrooke
said: "I don't think that war makes any sense at all. I know
people like to talk about wars out here, but last year this time
with Imia we had a little problem that could have led to a
military confrontation. Still, it doesn't make any sense and I
just met with the Turkish leaders in Washington last week at the
American-Turkish Council and I told them there is no reason at
all for people to have a high level of tension."
Mr. Holbrooke said he was "confident that Mr. Simitis and his
government and the Turks will find ways to cool things off, and
they really should, because there is no need for this."
Earlier, Ms. Marton said her group submitted a list of 78
journalists who are in Turkish jails for crimes none other than
their writings on the Kurdish situation.
"We have made our positions very clear to the Turkish
authorities and also to the (US) State Department..."
She said the group also had a commitment from the State
Department that "there will be no opportunities missed in
high-level exchanges between the US and Turkey where press
violations will not be mentioned."
"We feel that we are making progress there," she said, adding:
"It's an uphill road and there isn't the same tradition for a
free and active press in Turkey as there is in Greece. We have
to work very hard to establish this tradition."
[07] Gov't: Greek policy vis-a-vis Turkey in line with int'l law
Athens, 25/02/1997 (ANA)
Greece's positions on relations with neighboring Turkey are in
line with international law and constitute the key to finding
solutions, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas stated yesterday.
Mr. Reppas was commenting on statements made over the weekend by
former US assistant secretary of state Richard Holbrooke, during
the latter's acceptance speech in Washington for an award given
by the Turkish-American Council.
Mr. Holbrooke expressed the same views on Greek-Turkish
relations that he has expressed in the past, Mr. Reppas said,
adding that whoever wanted to help in a positive direction would
realize that Greece's positions are in accordance with
international law and the key to resolving problems.
Accepting the prize in Washington, Mr. Holbrooke stressed the
importance the US attributed to the role of Turkey and the need
for a solution to Greek-Turkish differences.
Mr. Holbrooke said he believed US policy towards Turkey had
dramatically changed by the steadfast promotion it gave to
Ankara's new image, while the European Union's decision to
proceed with a customs union with Turkey was the result of
strong US pressure.
Mr. Holbrooke said two important allies of Washington's in NATO,
Greece and Turkey, must remain allies of the US in NATO, while
the alliance is being enlarged towards eastern Europe.
"A stable and economically powerful Greece is in the interests
of Turkey," Mr. Holbrooke said, calling an all businessmen
present at the event to use all their contacts "to maintain
dialogue and show that mutual benefits for both countries are
considerable."
[08] Papandreou meets Stelev prior to EU-Bulgaria Association Council
Belgium, 25/02/1997 (ANA - G. Daratos)
Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou met here yesterday
with Bulgarian Foreign Minister Stoyan Stelev, on the sidelines
of the EU Council of Ministers meeting, and in view of today's
EU-Bulgaria Association Council meeting.
During the meeting, Mr. Stalev said Mr. Papandreou's recent
visit to Sofia was well received, by both the Sofia government
and the Bulgarian people. On his part, Mr. Papandreou assured
Mr. Stalev that Greece will support Bulgaria with all possible
means .
[09] Evert says he will contest ND leadership
Athens, 25/02/1997 (ANA)
Main opposition New Democracy party leader Miltiades Evert
officially announced yesterday that he would be a candidate for
the party's leadership, to be contested at a party congress next
month.
He has set out his political platform in a six-point plan for
the center-right and what he called liberalism with a social
conscience.
Mr. Evert will be facing competition from George Souflias, an
experienced ND cadre and former minister, and possibly from
Kostas Karamanlis, who has been proposed by a group of 30 ND
deputies as a unifying figure representing the "forties"
generation.
Mr. Karamanlis is a nephew of veteran statesman, former
President of the Republic Constantine Karamanlis.
In an interview in yesterday's "Eleftheros Typos", Mr. Souflias
commented on the potential candidacy of Mr. Karamanlis for party
leader.
The issue of Mr. Karamanlis' age, he said, was a substitute for
real political proposals.
"The crucial question in politics is not whether someone is 41
or 55 years old, but what their qualifications are and what they
can offer," he added, emphasizing the need to do away with the
tendency to form groups around personalities and to create
conflicts between those groups.
Mr. Souflias addressed a party gathering last night on his
leadership platform and on the ND party charter.
[10] Gov't calls on striking teachers to enter into dialogue
Athens, 25/02/1997 (ANA)
Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas yesterday appealed to
striking secondary teachers to "reflect on their
responsibilities" and enter into dialogue with the government.
Secondary teachers have entered into their seventh week of
strike actions this week.
He said the government had exceeded its capability for granting
pay rises (ranging from 9 to 16 per cent) in an effort to
converge with teachers demands.
Mr. Reppas also said the political cost factor could not be
ignored, but stressed that it was not a criterion in
decision-making.
Meanwhile, teachers yesterday staged rallies in Thessaloniki,
Irakleio and Ioannina.
[11] Tzoumakas attends Paris agricultural exhibition
Paris, 25/02/1997 (ANA - Y. Zitouniati)
Agriculture Minister Stephanos Tzoumakas visited the 34th annual
"International Agricultural Salon" yesterday at the invitation
of his French counterpart Philip Vasseur, with whom he held
private talks.
The agricultural products exhibition was inaugurated by French
President Jacques Chirac on Sunday.
Additionally, an exhibition of farm and stockbreeding product
suppliers (SIMA) is also taking place in Paris between Feb.
23-27.
The agriculture ministers of the 15 European Union countries and
of central and eastern European countries were invited to visit
both exhibitions.
Mr. Tzoumakas was due to attend a dinner given by his French
counterpart and will leave France today.
[12] Perama workers to blockade merchant marine ministry
Athens, 25/02/1997 (ANA)
Workers from the Perama shipyard zone will blockade the merchant
marine ministry for three hours tomorrow afternoon and for five
consecutive days.
Workers are protesting what they called "the government's
inflexible reluctance to take favorable measures for saving the
shipyards."
The ministry will be blockaded from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. from
tomorrow until Sunday.
The protesting workers have vowed to continue their
mobilizations if their demands are not met, while a coordinating
committee of Piraeus public bodies sent to the development and
merchant marine ministries the findings of a study describing
Perama as a declining area, and calling on the government to
adopt measures.
[13] Flynn discusses Athens' EU funds absorption rate
Athens, 25/02/1997 (ANA)
European Union Employment and Social Affairs Commissioner
Pedraig Flynn told a press conference yesterday that his visit
to Athens constitutes an expression of concern over the
absorption rate of funds for improving human resources.
Earlier, he had met Prime Minister Costas Simitis and the
leaderships of the labor, education and health ministries.
Mr. Flynn said he was pleased to ascertain a climate of
determination during his contacts, adding that this must be
converted into actions and indeed immediately, "before it is too
late."
In the framework of the second Community Support Program CSP,
ECU 2.5 billion have been earmarked for Greece in the human
resources sector. The funds must be absorbed until 1999.
Mr. Flynn said the fourth year of implementation has been
entered with only 23 per cent of the funds having been absorbed,
while transitional programs are still being implemented. He said
there were positive legislative settlements, but there is a lack
of structures to apply decisions.
He said ministries should improve their operations in order to
increase absorption rates. It was agreed for National Economy
Minister Yiannos Papantoniou to assume a coordinating role in
this direction.
Replying to questions from the press, Mr. Flynn expressed
optimism over economic developments in Europe and stressed the
need for small- and medium-size enterprises to be supported.
Mr. Flynn said that if Greece does not ultimately succeed in
absorbing all its share for human resources support, the funds
will not be lost but will be conveyed to other programs in the
country.
[14] Pension payments through bank accounts examined
Athens, 25/02/1997 (ANA)
Finance Under-secretary George Drys said payment of all pensions
through bank accounts is being jointly examined by the finance
ministry and the Union of Greek Banks, adding that such a
program will be implemented within the year.
Under such a plan, timely payment of pensions will be secured,
while the payment of double or triple pensions to the same
pensioner will be avoided.
Referring to the issue of delays in the payment of pensions, Mr.
Drys conceded that problems exist, but so far 265,000 pensions
have been sent and another 95,000 will be sent in the next few
days.
[15] Campaign to increase Greek olive oil share of US market under way
Athens, 25/02/1997 (ANA)
The Greek Promotions Organization (OPE) has begun its second
two-year campaign aimed at increasing Greek olive oil's share of
the US and Canadian markets to 15 per cent.
Greek olive oil currently holds about 3.0-5.0 per cent of the
market share and the one billion drachma program hopes to
establish new Greek brands as well as increase sales of brands
already on the market.
The US market for olive oil is a major focus for exports as it
is both the biggest non-olive oil producing market and holds
extensive potential for development.
The olive oil sector in Greece provides income for some 500,000
Greek farming families and contributes significantly to the
gross value of Greece's agricultural production, with production
exceeding 300,000 tons annually, the third-largest
internationally after Italy and Spain.
Of that amount, two-thirds is consumed domestically while the
remainder is exported, primarily to Italy, with exports to the
US totaling only 4,500 tons.
[16] Development ministry to issue regulations governing
telemarketing firms
Athens, 25/02/1997 (ANA)
The development ministry announced that it will take measures to
combat instances of consumer exploitation through telemarketing
sales.
The ministry has already prepared a relevant amendment and will
table it in Parliament in the next few days. Among others, the
amendment anticipates creation of a register at the development
ministry listing telemarketing companies, in order to enable
more effective control to be exercised over such firms.
It has been ascertained that in many cases products sold through
telemarketing are of questionable quality and provide no
guarantee and service after sale. Consequently, the ministry's
relevant services will take action to ensure imposition of
sanctions anticipated by the law in cases of such violations.
In a related development, a fine of 15 million drachmas was
imposed on the Euromarket S.A. company last October for
misleading advertising.
[17] Public works credits
Athens, 25/02/1997 (ANA)
Credits of 2.18 billion drachmas have been earmarked for works
at the Limnos airport, flood-protection projects in the
Thessaloniki and Serres prefectures and a northern detour of the
eastern Aegean island of Mytilene.
[18] Business plan for Bank of Central Greece
Athens, 25/02/1997 (ANA)
The Bank of Central Greece's top administration yesterday
announced a three-year business plan for the introduction of a
full range of banking products and services.
The president of the bank's board, Christos Papathanasiou, and
the bank's general manager, George Zyroyiannis made the
announcement. The business plan is part of efforts to reinforce
the bank's competitiveness, focusing on the development of new
products and services based on market demand.
[19] Greek-Turkish business meeting in Izmir
Istanbul, 25/02/1997 (ANA)
Greek and Turkish businessmen will meet in Izmir to decide on
the establishment of a joint federation, press reports state.
The meeting will be held in March, while a 50-member Greek
business delegation is expected in Turkey in early May for talks
with an 80-member Turkish delegation.
[20] High Court prosecutor to investigate charges of Cultural Capital
judicial cover-ups
Athens, 25/02/1997 (ANA)
The Supreme Court's deputy prosecutor responsible for the
supervision of judicial operations is expected to be in
Thessaloniki today following press reports of judicial cover-ups
concerning the Cultural Capital '97 organization.
High Court Deputy Prosecutor Georgios Vellis is scheduled to
investigate charges made by appeals prosecutor Dimitris Sideris
against his superior, Anastasios Kapolas, concerning the alleged
covering-up of cases concerning the Thessaloniki Cultural
Capital '97 organization.
The issue arose following the publication in a Sunday newspaper
of a classified report by Mr. Sideris addressed to the Supreme
Court charging a cover-up of administrative irregularities
within the Cultural Capital Organization (OPPE) and the shelving
of investigations.
The report concerned three cases within the last two years which
were investigated and finally shelved.
Despite the furor created by the press report, OPPE appeared
apparently calm yesterday, with its president, Thessaloniki
Mayor Constantine Kosmopoulos, claiming it is an "inter-judicial
conflict on the back of OPPE and on the city."
[21] Parts of ancient bronze statues caught in fishing nets brought
to Athens
Athens, 25/02/1997 (ANA)
Parts of ancient bronze statues recently caught in fishing nets
off the eastern Aegean island of Kalymnos were transported to
the Marine Antiquities Service (MAS) in Athens.
MAS head Dimitris Kazianis said the antiquities found in the sea
region northwest of the island were a bronze head of natural
size and part of a bronze leg which might belong to the same
statue.
MAS also received the bronze leg of a horseman from a statue of
supernatural size and part of a bronze dolphin of natural size.
The statues date back to Hellenistic times.
[22] Dogfight suspects convicted, freed on appeal
Athens, 25/02/1997 (ANA)
Four suspects were sentenced yesterday to prison terms ranging
from six months to a year after being found guilty of gambling
and cruelty to animals charges by a Veria court.
They were also ordered to pay fines ranging from 100,000 to one
million drachmas.
The four men were arrested earlier this month in the Imathia
prefecture for organizing illegal gambling on dogfights, a case
that attracted widespread publicity throughout the nation.
Apostolos Baltzis, 25, and Efstathios Apostolidis, 27, whose
dogs were used in dogfights, were sentenced to one-year prison
terms and fined with one million drachmas each.
The court sentenced Georgios Paraschos, 41, and Constantinos
Tsouvalas, 44, the organizers of the dogfight, to six months in
prison and a total of 200,000 drachmas in equal fines. All four
have been released pending an appeal.
Meanwhile, the court acquitted 12 people who were arrested for
watching the dogfight.
End of English language section.
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