Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 97-04-08

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

ATHENS NEWS AGENCY BULLETIN (No 1158), April 8, 1997

Greek Press & Information Office
Ottawa, Canada
E-Mail Address: [email protected]

CONTENTS

[01] Greece conveys to Italy its position on troop deployment in Albania

[02] Gov't on Greek force

[03] Permanent Mediterranean parliamentary forum to be created

[04] Latest arrests heighten fears of arms smuggling from Albania

[05] Greek-controlled businesses in Albania suffer widespread losses

[06] Anastasios officiates at memorial service in Vlore

[07] Greek-Turkish joint parliamentary committee created to study drug problem

[08] Turkish foreign ministry on 'Greek-Turkish dialogue'

[09] Dutch FM van Mierlo optimistic on progress for Greek-Turkish relations

[10] G. Papandreou-Kinkel meeting

[11] Kranidiotis at non-aligned conference

[12] G. Papandreou proposes Europe-wide referendums on major issues

[13] Draft presidential decree for establishment of trade office in Skopje

[14] US says it will work to avoid Greek-Turkish conflict

[15] Pangalos says Ankara's threat to veto NATO expansion not serious

[16] Pangalos stresses that Cyprus' EU accession dialogue not hostage to Turkey

[17] Papoutsis cautions against 'competition' between EU partners on Albania

[18] Interior ministry on issuance of numerous laws

[19] Local Gov't reps from Greece, Turkey meet in Cesme

[20] Simitis chairs meeting on PASOK's self-administration sector

[21] Xiosbank share capital increase

[22] Thessaloniki merchants ask for Gov't intervention over reports on credit card use

[23] Inter-Balkan women's conference

[01] Greece conveys to Italy its position on troop deployment in Albania

Greece's position on the deployment of a multinational peace force to secure aid to Albania was received positively by Italian Foreign Under-secretary for European Affairs Piero Fassino in a meeting yesterday with Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou.

Mr. Papandreou, who met with Mr. Fassino yesterday morning on the sidelines of a European Union meeting on the Albanian issue, reiterated Athens' proposal for a "mixed presence" of Greek troops in various areas of Albania, a view which Mr. Fassino promised to discuss with his government.

Mr. Fassino told ANA that Athens and Rome were in agreement and cooperating closely regarding the deployment of the multinational force. He added that the deployment of the force will begin on April 14, stressing that the final decision will be reached by military officials.

According to sources, details of the peace force's deployment are almost finalized, while troops are expected to be ready to leave for Albania in about a week's time.

In a related development, Albanian Defense Minister Mr. Vukai will arrive in Athens today and hold talks with his Greek counterpart Akis Tsohatzopoulos tomorrow.

Immediately after the finalization of the decision on the geographical disposition of the multinational force to be deployed in Albania, the government will decide on the final composition and manning of the Greek force participating in it, following a proposal by the defense minister.

Military sources said yesterday that the national defense ministry has completed processes required to send either a structured battalion or a force of military volunteers.

The foreign presence in Albania will be under the aegis of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), which will have a special representative in Tirana. The EU will confer with the OSCE representative via its current presidency. In addition, the OSCE will also be in charge of observing preparations for the June elections in Albania, while the EU will oversee the distribution of humanitarian aid.

Italy is to head the multinational force.

[02] Gov't on Greek force

Athens, 08/04/1997 (ANA)

"A discussion is currently under way in Rome on all related issues," he added, noting that Mr. Papandreou had clearly set out Greece's positions in his meeting with Italian Under-secretary for European Affairs Fassino.

[03] Permanent Mediterranean parliamentary forum to be created

Athens, 08/04/1997 (ANA)

The idea was proposed by Greek Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis.

Speaking to reporters following the end of session, Mr. Kaklamanis conveyed his counterparts' concern over the situation in Albania, adding that the conference strongly supported European Union initiatives to assist Albania to return to normality as soon as possible.

In summing up the conference's focus, Mr. Kaklamanis stressed the need for substantial dialogue between the Mediterranean parliaments, the necessity to adhere to the Barcelona Declaration for Euromediterranean co-operation, the need to establish a free trade zone in the Mediterranean and the will to create a Mediterranean peace, stability and development zone.

He also announced his counterparts' decision to take action in order to consolidate democratic institutions, human rights respect, inter-cultural dialogue, and battle against organized crime, racism and immigration.

Mr. Kaklamanis hailed his Spanish counterpart's proposal to host a new conference in Madrid in 1998 with the participation of the countries which had participated in the Barcelona Conference. He also welcomed a proposal by his Italian counterpart that a new meeting take place in Palermo before the Madrid Conference with the participation of the 17 countries which participated in Athens.

[04] Latest arrests heighten fears of arms smuggling from Albania

Athens, 08/04/1997 (ANA)

The arrest yesterday of two Greek nationals at the Albanian border in possession of three Kalashnikov assault rifles, three hand grenades and ammunition, underlined authorities' fears.

According to reports, Christos Makridis, 34, a depot master for the interstate bus company KTEL, along with 64-year-old farmer Vasilios Gotsis, have been charged with illegally importing and possessing arms as well as trading in arms. Their Albanian accomplice, to whom the two men admitted paying 30,000 drachmas for each rifle, managed to escape back over the border. An investigation is under way to ascertain whether they are members of a larger gang.

An estimated 600,000 military weapons are currently circulating in Albania after being taken from military camps during the unrest.

[05] Greek-controlled businesses in Albania suffer widespread losses

Tirana, 08/04/1997 (ANA - S. Tzimas)

An inventory being carried out by the Greek embassy's commercial section has so far recorded damages at 60 of the 250 Greek-owned businesses in Albania, while an embassy staff member said the damage to each of these was valued at between 200-400 million drachmas.

Athens is reportedly considering a special measure providing for part of a 20-billion-drachma loan to Albania to be set aside for the restoration of property owned by Greek firms.

However, it is feared that continuing anarchy will make this task difficult, as well as the fact that business owners are taking advantage of the situation to declare non-existent losses.

Most enterprises, including Greek-owned ones, remain closed due to continuing fears of attacks by looters and armed gangs.

[06] Anastasios officiates at memorial service in Vlore

Tirana, 08/04/1997 (ANA)

According to an announcement by the Orthodox Church of Albania, Anastasios officiated at a service held at the Agioi Theodoroi Cathedral in Vlore, before holding a te deum service for the victims of the tragedy. He then went to the port of Vlore where he held a special memorial ceremony in the presence of Albanian Finance Minister Arben Malei.

[07] Greek-Turkish joint parliamentary committee created to study drug problem

Athens, 08/04/1997 (ANA)

The two men, who met in the Greek Parliament building yesterday, described the establishment of such a committee as a first step towards the restoration of a climate of dialogue and co-operation between the two houses.

Mr. Kalemli was in Athens to attend a two-day conference of Mediterranean parliament presidents.

He described the talks as "very important", saying that they should "perhaps have taken place many years ago," and referring to the precedent of the friendship initiated by statesmen Mustafa Kemal Ataturk and Eleftherios Venizelos in the late 1920s.

"We know what we have to do, follow the example of these two great leaders," he said, adding that "the obstacles in the way of Greek-Turkish friendship will be overcome through debate and mutual goodwill".

"The Venizelos-Ataturk friendship can be developed again if we take care to put aside the problems that have been created in the relations between the two countries," responded Mr. Kaklamanis.

He described his counterpart as sincere, and that dialogue must be sincere, like the initiative between the late prime ministers Andreas Papandreou and Turgut Ozal.

Sources said later that Mr. Kaklamanis also raised with Mr. Kalemli the issues of the Turkish national assembly's description of a possible extension of Greek territorial waters to 12 nautical miles as a casus belli, and the lack of progress in the Cyprus issue.

[08] Turkish foreign ministry on 'Greek-Turkish dialogue'

Istanbul, 08/04/1997 (ANA)

"We are open to all possibilities," Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Omer Akbel said in reply to a question on latest developments concerning Greek-Turkish issues.

Mr. Akbel said the proposal for creation of a "committee of wise men", which was turned down by Athens, constitutes one of the ideas which could help both sides, adding that similar proposals can appear in the future.

Referring to statements by Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos on the creation of the "committee of wise men", Mr. Akbel said he read the statements in the press, but refused to comment on them, saying that "carrying out dialogue on such an important issue through the press is contrary to the traditions of the Turkish foreign ministry."

"Turkey's stance on Greek-Turkish issues remains the same," he said, adding that Ankara is in favor of all Greek-Turkish issues being tackled at the same time.

"Proposals such as the creation of a committee of wise men or similar ones which will help in establishing a dialogue of such a kind will meet with a positive response from Ankara," he said.

According to Turkish press reports, Ankara wants the committee to be composed of foreign members, while Athens wants the appointment of one Greek and one Turkish expert.

The reports said that Ankara does not want problems to be examined one by one, while Athens insists that contacts should start from the issue of the Imia islets.

[09] Dutch FM van Mierlo optimistic on progress for Greek-Turkish relations

EU Council of Ministers president and Dutch Foreign Minister Hans van Mierlo told a press conference yesterday that he was optimistic that progress could be made in Greek-Turkish relations during the current Dutch presidency.

Referring to Greece's objections regarding the establishment of a "wise men committee" to resolve Greek-Turkish differences, Mr. van Mierlo said "the problem is more complicated," adding that "clarifications are necessary."

Meanwhile, Dutch diplomatic sources said the Dutch presidency, taking into consideration Greece's remarks as expressed during Mr. van Mierlo's recent visit to Athens, would re-examine the content and the form of such a committee.

The sources said Ankara had agreed with the idea of a "wise-men committee."

[10] G. Papandreou-Kinkel meeting

Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou met on the sidelines of a European Union meeting with German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel and discussed Turkey's relations with the EU and Greece.

According to sources, Mr. Kinkel told Mr. Papandreou that Turkey should be oriented towards Europe, although the improvement of its relations with Greece and positive developments in the Cyprus issue would do much to improve Turkey-EU relations.

The Turkey-EU association council is due to meet at the end of April.

[11] Kranidiotis at non-aligned conference

Athens, 08/04/1997 (ANA)

Mr. Kranidiotis will have meetings with several other countries' representatives on the sidelines of the conference.

[12] G. Papandreou proposes Europe-wide referendums on major issues

Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou proposed that Europe-wide referendums be held on major issues, as a heated debate among European Union Foreign Ministers went on yesterday over the question of re-shaping European institutions.

Mr. Papandreou said such a move would be a step towards deepening EU institutions and could become a democratic procedure "that would go beyond national boundaries and give a precise indication of the desires of the peoples in EU member states".

With regard to the number of Commissioners (now 20), on which there is a plethora of often conflicting views, Greece has favored equal representation of all member-states. The issue is to be raised again at a General Affairs Council in Luxembourg at the end of this month.

Meanwhile, with regard to the question of employment, Mr. Papandreou reported there is a "conflict between progressive and conservative forces". The former, he said, fervently support the introduction of a special chapter in the revised treaty as well a s the formulation of a "social contract".

Sources say Britain and Spain were against such a move, while smaller states, including Greece, are in favor.

The current Dutch presidency of the EU council appears resolved to conclude the sessions of the Intergovernmental Conference by June, and for this reason The Hague intends to call an ad hoc meeting on May 23, where it will present the complete draft of the new treaty.

[13] Draft presidential decree for establishment of trade office in Skopje

Athens, 08/04/1997 (ANA)

The draft was signed by the interior and foreign ministers and the national economy and finance undersecretaries.

According to the presidential decree, every general or special clause contrary to the presidential decree's content will be abolished.

[14] US says it will work to avoid Greek-Turkish conflict

Washington, 08/04/1997 (ANA - T. Ellis)

Mr. Burns was responding to a question on the comments by US ambassador to Athens Thomas Niles, who said over the weekend that the US would intervene in case of a military in the Aegean.

"We are convinced with the necessary precautions from both Greek and Turkish leaderships, there will be no conflict. They will continue to have differences, but this is far from a conflict," he said.

[15] Pangalos says Ankara's threat to veto NATO expansion not serious

Prague, 08/04/1997 (ANA/Reuter)

Speaking at a joint news conference with Czech Foreign Minister Josef Zieleniec, Mr. Pangalos rejected any connection between NATO expansion eastwards and Turkey's attempts to join the EU.

"I take everything that Turkey does and says very seriously, but on this particular point I see that no one takes them seriously," Mr. Pangalos said.

"I tend also to see no relationship between NATO and the enlargement of the European Union. That is a separate process."

In January, Turkey threatened to block NATO expansion unless it obtained membership in the EU.

Leaders of NATO - in which both Greece and Turkey are members - are expected to invite a group of former communist countries to join the alliance at a July summit in Madrid.

The Greek minister said it would be a "very original diplomatic practice" if any state used a veto in one organization from something it wants in another.

During his talks with Mr. Zieleniec, Mr. Pangalos expressed his support for the Czech Republic's efforts to join the European Union and NATO, and at the same time briefed his Czech counterpart on developments in the Balkans and the Cyprus issue.

Mr. Pangalos held successive meetings with Prime Minister Waclaw Klaus and the President of the Czech Parliament and leader of the Social Democrat Party, Milos Zeman, during his official visit to Prague.

He left for Bratislava late in the afternoon to meet Slovakia's political leadership today. He will also leave for Yerevan, Armenia, today and will visit Georgia and Azerbaijan afterwards.

[16] Pangalos stresses that Cyprus' EU accession dialogue not hostage to Turkey

Prague, 08/04/1997 (ANA)

"There is no doubt in the text of the agreement that there can be no linking Cypriot membership with a solution to the Cyprus problem. And this point has a solid political logic, for if the opposite was the case, Cyprus' European course would have been a hostage of Turkey," he said.

"There have been many foreign ministers of EU member-states who expressed the view that Cyprus cannot enter the Union if the political problem is not solved. For us this means a clear violation of the agreement of March 6. It is, therefore, perfectly natural that Greece is resolved not to accept this violation of the agreement," Mr. Pangalos added.

[17] Papoutsis cautions against 'competition' between EU partners on Albania

Athens, 08/04/1997 (ANA)

"The crisis in Albania is a dangerous one and is not an appropriate area of competition between member-states of the European Union. Italy is trying to play such a role, while the Greek government has maintained a responsible stance, since it has neither become involved in such competition, nor has it become part of the Albanian crisis," said Mr. Papoutsis after a meeting with main opposition New Democracy party leader Costas Karamanlis.

"Any intervention or promotion of views by the European Union or international organizations should be made through institutional organs, and the initiative should be with the presidency of the EU Council and the European Commission," he continued, adding:

"If certain governments take their own initiatives, as Italy has done, that is something which they themselves must judge, as to whether it is of benefit to the general situation and general goals." In response to a question regarding the outcome of the last elections in Albania and the position of President Sali Berisha, Mr. Papoutsis said:

"It is the Albanian people who will judge the future of the political situation... any solutions should be political ones, with a consensus of all political parties, and should be aimed at promoting careful action on the part of all interested parties."

[18] Interior ministry on issuance of numerous laws

Athens, 08/04/1997 (ANA)

Interior ministry research has shown that in the period 1975-1993, a total of 35,153 regulatory acts were issued, - 2,178 laws, 14,248 decrees and 17,638 ministerial decisions. Many of them were conflicting, while others used difficult language.

The fact that laws constitute just one-fifteenth of all acts, is considered indicative of a strengthening of executive vis-a-vis legislative power.

Mr. Mantelis has also asked his colleagues for their views on an OECD recommendation for the establishment of criteria and principles regarding the drawing up of regulatory acts.

[19] Local Gov't reps from Greece, Turkey meet in Cesme

Athens, 08/04/1997 (ANA)

It was the first high-level meeting of its kind, with the participation of prefects from Lesvos, Hios, Samos and representatives of local government associations and their Turkish counterparts.

A joint resolution issued at the close of the sessions emphasized the need for more meetings of this kind which "create a good climate in the region, as opposed to tension which hinders growth, education and infrastructure works in the two countries".

The resolution calls for an improvement in the political climate between the two countries based on respect for international law and conventions and the inviolability of borders as defined at the end of the Second World War.

Meanwhile, there is to be a meeting in Izmir on May 24-25 of entrepreneurs from the northeastern Aegean and members of the Young Businessmen's Association of the Aegean, based in the Turkish city.

The Izmir meeting, decided on the sidelines of last week's meeting, aims to promote better co-operation between Greek and Turkish entrepreneurs within the framework of the Turkey-European Union customs union, as well as the opening up of new markets.

[20] Simitis chairs meeting on PASOK's self-administration sector

Athens, 08/04/1997 (ANA)

According to authoritative sources, it was agreed at the meeting that the bill on mergers of communities into municipalities should be ratified in Parliament by the end of June.

In another related development, a special session of PASOK's central committee will be held in early July to examine the issue of the country's regional structuring as well as PASOK's co-operations in light of municipal and prefectural elections to be held in 1998.

The sources said that it was agreed at yesterday's meeting that co-operations with other parties will not be defined at a central level but in regions and more specifically in prefectures. It was also agreed that the candidacies of mayors and prefectures who will be supported by PASOK will be announced by the end of 1997.

[21] Xiosbank share capital increase

Athens, 08/04/1997 (ANA)

The bank will issue 1,672,060 new registered shares, of which 1,592,450 will be sold to the public, while 79,610 have already been privately dispensed to its employees.

The total increase in its own capital amounts to more than 4.43 billion drachmas, which will be used to finance an investment plan in the next three years, involving an expansion of branches from 25 to 45, and modernization of banking transactions and services.

Xiosbank recorded a 2.1-billion-drachma pre-tax profit last year, representing a 20 per cent increase over 1995. The forecast for 1997 is 2.7 billion drachmas.

The issue will be mainly handled by the National Bank of Greece, while a large part of it will be handled abroad by HSPC Investment Bank Plc.

[22] Thessaloniki merchants ask for Gov't intervention over reports on credit card use

Athens, 08/04/1997 (ANA)

In a letter to Development Under-secretary Mihalis Chrysohoidis, the association stresses that "these reports, very often unsubstantiated, create particular insecurity among the consumer public and bring about confusion and suspicion for thousands of commercial transactions carried out with credit cards."

The association called on the ministry to name commercial enterprises deceiving consumers and to impose penalties set out by law, but added that these violations do not concern the entire business world.

[23] Inter-Balkan women's conference

Athens, 08/04/1997 (ANA)

The conference, entitled "Rural Women's Role in the Development of the Balkan Countries" agreed that out-dated methods hampered progress of rural women.

In country reports to the conference, especially from Bulgaria and Albania, the deteriorating condition of rural women was emphasized by the representatives of the attending non-governmental organizations.

Prof. Ana Ananiera from Bulgaria said that the Bulgarian economy was in a state of collapse and rural women were suffering particularly. Several women farmers from Greece who attended the conference complained that they were cut off from useful information and lived in isolation.

A declaration adopted unanimously by the conference called for new and innovative measures to reduce the workload of rural women, power sharing for rural women at all levels and concentration by women's organizations on healing the past through increased co-operation.

End of English language section.

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