Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 97-09-29
From: The Greek Press & Information Office, Ottawa Canada <[email protected]>
ATHENS NEWS AGENCY BULLETIN,
Greek Press & Information Office
Ottawa, Canada
E-Mail Address: [email protected]
CONTENTS
[01] Patriarch Vartholomeos begins visit to Greece
[02] ... Environmental Symposium
[03] Greece blasts illegitimate claims by Turkey
[04] ... CNN interview
[05] ... Reppas
[06] ... Stephanopoulos
[07] Ecevit on Greek-Turkish relations
[08] Clerides in Athens
[09] Greece rejects allegations of terrorism in "Observer" report
[10] ... Government spokesman
[11] Vance to have talks with Greece, FYROM on Wednesday
[12] EU drafts directive to aid SMEs
[13] Army Chief of Staff in Italy
[14] Greek trade group expands contacts abroad
[15] Greece backs economic zone for Mediterranean
[16] Coalition of the Left challenges PM to televised debate
[17] ND to dump party political criteria for mayoral candidates
[01] Patriarch Vartholomeos begins visit to Greece
Athens, 29/09/1997 (ANA)
The Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos I of Constantinople
arrived in Thessaloniki yesterday on an official visit at the
invitation of 'Thessaloniki Cultural Capital of Europe'.
He was greeted by President of the Republic Costis
Stephanopoulos, members of the government and opposition
leaders, religious leaders from Greece and abroad and thousands
of residents.
The Patriarch arrived in the northern Greek port city after
attending a week-long international symposium on religion and
the environment held on board a ship in the Black Sea.
Earlier arrivals were Patriarchs Maximos of Bulgaria,
Theoktistos of Romania, Pavle of Serbia, Elias of Georgia and
Archbishop of Albania Anastasios who also welcomed Vartholomeos.
Greeting the Patriarch, who was received with honors accorded to
heads of state, President Stephanopoulos expressed Greece's love
and respect for his person.
The President also praised the Patriarch's contribution to
efforts for peace and friendship among nations in Europe and
worldwide.
Vartholomeos later attended Mass at Aghios Demetrios cathedral.
The Patriarch is to visit the northern prefecture of Xanthi
before leaving on Tuesday.
In a brief message to the Greek people, the leader of the
Orthodox Church spoke of the need for peace.
He urged all nations in the region to pursue progress and
prosperity, stressing that war failed to resolve problems.
During a luncheon hosted by Mr. Stephanopoulos, the Patriarch
underlined the need for unity in the Orthodox Church and
welcomed political stability in Greece.
Among guests at the luncheon were Defense Minister Akis
Tsohatzopoulos, Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos, Alternate
Foreign Minister George Papandreou and Macedonia and Thrace
Minister Philippos Petsalnikos.
The Patriarch met last night at Thessaloniki's Government
Building with the leader of the main opposition New Democracy
party Costas Karamanlis.
"The fact that political leaders pay their respects is
significant and encouraging in our daily struggle," Vartholomeos
said.
He stressed that the Patriarchate kept out of politics but all
political parties were key to the functioning of democratic
institutions.
Mr. Karamanlis said he had a very useful meeting with
Vartholomeos, stressing that he and his party would always
support the Patriarch's work and assist him.
[02] ... Environmental Symposium
Athens, 29/09/1997 (ANA)
Speaking at the closing session of the environmental symposium,
Patriarch Vartholomeos said he was satisfied at the outcome of
the meeting.
He said it was necessary to ensure the right conditions for
natural ecosystems, and also encourage human behavior that would
improve the quality of life.
Metropolitan Ioannis of Pergamos presented the symposium's
conclusions which outlined the principle that close co-operation
between religion and science was needed in order to deal with
environmental problems.
[03] Greece blasts illegitimate claims by Turkey
New York, 29/09/1997 (ANA- M. Georgiadou)
Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos said here on Friday that
Greece was trying to achieve ditente with Turkey but Ankara
feared to list its claims against Greece as they were
illegitimate.
"(The claims are) clearly in contravention of international law
and international practice, and only serve to isolate Turkey and
bring it into conflict with the civilized world," Pangalos told
a news conference.
Speaking after meetings on the sidelines of a United Nations
General Assembly meeting, Mr. Pangalos said Greece had exhausted
all possibilities for a conciliatory approach.
"Of course, we don't want tension in our relations, but at some
point we have to deal with the essence of the problem," he said.
Otherwise, bilateral relations would be "poisoned" and the
resolution of other problems rendered more difficult.
"We have opened a way out of this difficult situation. We want
solutions and we want them now. That is why we have proposed, as
a start, to deal with the problem created by (Turkey's) claims
and military moves around Imia," Pangalos said.
"This is a specific questioning of our territorial integrity,
while at various levels of the Turkish leadership there has been
an attempt to cloud the situation in the Aegean," he said.
The minister cited international accords of 1923, 1932 and 1947
that were still in effect and determined the status quo in the
Aegean.
He noted that Greece had accepted referral to the International
Court at the Hague of a dispute over the continental shelf that
arose after the treaties were signed. Athens had proposed that
Turkey refer the Imia issue to the same body.
"Instead of making use of this way out, (Turkey) only raises new
issues, generalizes and confuses various claims," Pangalos said.
He charged that Ankara at the same time demanded that Greece
should discuss every Turkish claim or demand.
"That will never happen, as long as there are territorial
claims," the foreign minister said.
Meanwhile, ahead of a Balkan summit in Crete in November to be
attended by Turkish and Greek Prime Ministers Mesut Yilmaz and
Costas Simitis, Mr. Pangalos said: "I hope that the meeting
between Messrs. Simitis and Yilmaz, if it takes place, will b e
less disappointing than my meeting with (Turkish Foreign
Minister) Ismail Cem, who simply repeated the Turkish Foreign
Ministry's old tricks."
Turning to the Cyprus issue, the minister said Turkey was being
called upon to face its first real challenge.
"Turkey cannot enter the European Union while the Cyprus issue
remains unresolved. Cyprus will join the EU, whether or not the
Turkish occupation forces leave," he said.
Pangalos described a Turkish threat to annex occupied northern
Cyprus as "ridiculous" since the move had already been made in
1974 when Turkey invaded the island and then sent settlers from
the mainland.
"Turkey cannot join the EU nor can it have a closer association
with the EU as long as the Cyprus issue drags on. Cyprus will
join, whether or not the issue is resolved, and Turkey will stay
locked out... By ignoring the Cyprus issue and its relations
with Greece, Turkey is only burying its head in the sand," he
said.
In an interview with the Athens Sunday newspaper "Kathimerini"
yesterday, Mr. Pangalos said Turkish policy was reminiscent of
that of Hitler's Germany before World War II.
Mr. Pangalos stressed that Turkey's stance was yielding
diminishing returns on the world stage.
"The whole issue is developing not as a Greek-Turkish
confrontation, but a confrontation between Turkey and the
international community," he said.
Regarding the Madrid joint communiqui between the two countries,
Pangalos said that Turkey had wasted no time in violating all
three clauses of the communiqui in line with its expansionist
policy.
[04] ... CNN interview
Athens, 29/09/1997 (ANA)
On Saturday, Mr. Pangalos repeated his unwavering support for a
peaceful and viable solution to the Cyprus issue, stressing that
the real political question regarding Cyprus was whether Turkey
even wanted a solution.
"We are ready for a solution. (But) the Turkish leadership has
to decide if they want a solution at all," he told CNN in an
interview.
Asked to comment on a statement by US mediator Richard Holbrooke
that Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot
leader Rauf Denktash may be talking, but not about substance,
Mr. Pangalos said:
"In the round of talks that is now underway, President Clerides
wants to discuss substantial issues such as demilitarization of
the island, a proposal solving the problem of security for both
communities," he said.
The two men have started last Friday face-to-face talks on
security issues.
"Denktash, however, greatly depending on the presence of 35,000
heavy-armed Turkish troops on the island, wants to discuss
issues such as disengagement and ways to avoid incidents.
"These may be useful issues but cannot lead to a feeling of
security for both communities which will help establish a
lasting functional solution," Mr. Pangalos said.
The minister said he fully supported efforts made by President
Clerides and the United Nations Secretary General to seek a
lasting solution for Cyprus.
He also emphasized support for US initiatives linked to a
meeting with Mr. Holbrooke in which the two men had agreed on
initiatives for the Cyprus problem.
Citing Turkey's invasion of a sovereign country and occupation
of one third of the island, Mr. Pangalos said there were people
in Ankara who believed they could get away with it for ever.
"This is not a reasonable approach to reality," the Greek
minister said, calling on the international community and the
United States "to make this clear to the Turkish leadership."
Asked to comment on the harsh words he used, Mr. Pangalos said
he had never made a personal attack against any Turkish
official. "I never did that," he replied when asked whether he
called Mr. Cem a rapist.
"When the Turks propose that we sit down and talk about
territorial claims I simply say that no country in the world has
ever, on its own will, considered such a negotiation without a
war," Mr. Pangalos said.
The Greek minister said on Wednesday it was impossible to talk
to "robbers, murderers and rapists."
He and Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem have held a meeting
on the sidelines of the General Assembly meeting but failed to
make progress.
[05] ... Reppas
Athens, 29/09/1997 (ANA)
Government spokesman Demetris Reppas said on Saturday that
Greece, desiring friendship with Turkey, has made great
contributions in that direction.
"I believe Ankara should do the same," he said in Chania, Crete.
The spokesman was asked to comment on talks between the Greek
and Turkish foreign ministers in New York.
"We always desire friendship with Turkey. But we want this
friendship to be based on equality and governed by rules making
it fruitful for both parties," he told reporters.
"These rules," he added, "are none other than the International
Law and international treaties."
"Greece has contributed to this effort and I believe that the
other party should do the same," he added.
National Defense Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos told reporters on
Saturday in Kozani, northern Greece, that Turkey was in no
danger neither by Cyprus' defensive arms nor Greece's armament's.
[06] ... Stephanopoulos
Athens, 29/09/1997 (ANA)
Speaking in Thessaloniki on Saturday, President of the Republic
Costis Stephanopoulos called on international organizations and
major powers to react to Turkey's tactics of war threats which,
he said, were directed not only against Greece but international
law and order.
[07] Ecevit on Greek-Turkish relations
Ankara, 29/09/1997 (AFP/ANA)
Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit in yet another
high-flown statement on the recent escalation of tension with
Greece said on Saturday that differences between the two
countries were not confined on the Imia islets issue but
included territorial waters, airspace, the continental shelf and
the militarization of islands.
[08] Clerides in Athens
Nicosia, 29/09/1997 (ANA)
Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides will visit Athens on October
13 for talks with Prime Minister Costas Simitis, on his way back
from New York where he will address the UN General Assembly.
[09] Greece rejects allegations of terrorism in "Observer" report
Athens, 29/09/1997 (ANA)
Greece categorically rejected allegations published yesterday in
the "Observer", a British Sunday newspaper, that guerrillas of
Kurdistan's Workers' Party (PKK) were trained in centers located
in Greece. Asked to comment on the report, Alternate Foreign
Minister George Papandreou told reporters in Thessaloniki:
"It would be useful if anyone possessing specific information
and specific accusations contacted official state bodies so that
an investigation can be conducted.
"I do not know how genuine the report is, or what its purpose
is."
The allegations, as reported by the Observer, were made by Seydo
Hazar, 31, described as a "fugitive terrorist", who claimed that
his PKK cell operated from Greece and had links with other
terrorist groups including Palestinian Hamas, the Sri Lankan
Tamil Tigers and German neo-Nazis.
According to the "Observer", Hazar, a Kurdish-born German
resident, was now on the run from the PKK and speaking from
Greece.
He told the newspaper that PKK guerrillas were planning bomb
attacks in London and on European tourists in Turkey.
He also claimed that the terrorists had developed chemical bombs
to attack civilians.
The man that the "Observer" described as "one of the world's
most dangerous bombers", offered to trade his information for
sanctuary and a new life.
According to the report, his allegations were taken seriously by
Western intelligence agencies.
[10] ... Government spokesman
Athens, 29/09/1997 (ANA)
Acting government spokesman Yiannis Nikolaou said the Greek
government strongly rejected the allegations contained in the
"Observer" report as untrue and ficticious.
"In what seems more than a mere coincidence, Hazar's allegations
are already published in a book titled 'The Terrorism Dossier &
Greece' (Inaf, 1996) by Turkish author Cem Basar. The book was
published in the self-styled state in northern Turkish occupied
Cyprus," Mr. Nikolaou said in a written statement.
"There are even some phrases in the Observer report which are
identical to those in the book," he said.
The Greek government had investigated in depth similar
allegations that had been made in the past.
The areas in which Hazar claimed training centers operated such
as a farm in Triada and the Pefkakia Hotel area had been
searched thoroughly, but no evidence of such activities was ever
found.
"Hazar's case recalls the well known instance of another Kurd,
Altuin Giyasettin, who had publicly confessed on May 27, 1994,
in Istanbul, that he had become a Turkish agent and had been
used in order to make similar accusations," Mr. Nikolaou said.
The spokesman said Greece, which was a stabilizing factor in the
region, had openly condemned terrorism and was cooperating
internationally in the fight against the phenomenon.
"Greece is an open, democratic society, and anyone wishing to
investigate the validity of such 'accusations', are welcome to
do so by coming to Greece and conducting a search for
themselves," Mr. Nikolaou said.
[11] Vance to have talks with Greece, FYROM on Wednesday
Athens, 29/09/1997 (ANA)
The UN special mediator on the FYROM-Greece name dispute, Cyrus
Vance, is scheduled to meet representatives of both countries in
New York on Wednesday.
Mr. Vance is expected to tell the two sides he will surrender
his UN mandate on the dispute over the Balkan country's use of
the name "Macedonia" and report to the Security Council on the
course of negotiations, diplomatic sources said.
The talks are based on an interim agreement between the two
countries.
The same sources said that Vance will propose the name
"Macedonia-Skopje" for use by the neighboring state.
[12] EU drafts directive to aid SMEs
Athens, 29/09/1997 (ANA)
The European Union is preparing a draft directive to accelerate
payments to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) especially
by the public sector, EU Commissioner Christos Papoutsis said
yesterday in Volos.
Mr. Papoutsis, speaking on the last day of a tour in Thessaly,
said the directive would set a shorter time for settlement of
sums owed by state corporations to SMEs.
Settlement would be made in 60 days after which bank interest
rates would apply.
The EU commissioner visited plants and projects in the region
including natural gas installations currently near completion.
He called on local agents to examine the possibilities of
drafting a tourist policy for Thessaly in the framework of EU
policy for the sector.
[13] Army Chief of Staff in Italy
Athens, 29/09/1997 (ANA)
Greek Army Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Manousos Paragioudakis today
starts an official visit to Italy at the invitation of his
counterpart, Lt.Gen. Francesco Cervoni.
During his visit, which ends on October 2, Gen. Paragioudakis
will visit army formations and training centers.
He will also have talks with Mr. Cervoni on issues of bilateral
military interest.
[14] Greek trade group expands contacts abroad
Athens, 29/09/1997 (ANA)
The Greek External Trade Organization (OPE) concluded key
agreements with business groups in countries of the
Mediterranean, Bal-kans and Black Sea on the sidelines an
international conference on development in the region held in
the northern town of Kozani.
Among agreements announced yesterday by OPE president Yiannis
Tzen at the close of the conference were the following:
- An agreement with the Egyptian delegation for co-operation in
trade points
- Participation by OPE in meetings between TELECOM, a Greek
company in Azerbaijan, with the Azeri telecommunications
under-secretary on providing technical support to the firm
- The extension of schemes in Albania in which OPE is already
taking part including textiles and shoemaking. OPE will hold a
Greek products week in Albania early next year
- A visit by a delegation of Armenian businessmen to Greece in
November
- An agreement for co-operation with the Kishnau chamber of
trade in Moldova to promote initiatives in external trade and
investment
- Agreements with Jordan's chamber of trade for 10-day two-way
exchange visits by experts, and co-operation on organizing
information systems, particularly for trade points
- An agreement with the Palestinian delegation for OPE officials
to train business executives in Ramallah and Athens
- An agreement with OPE's Turkish equivalent to set a date for
signature of a co-operation accord
- An agreement with the Ukrainian delegation to hold a one-day
conference at which the Greek side will submit proposals on
undertaking public works in collaboration with Greek engineering
contractors active in Ukraine.
[15] Greece backs economic zone for Mediterranean
Athens, 29/09/1997 (ANA)
Speaking at the conference's closing session, Development
Minister Vaso Papandreou said co-operation among emerging
economies in the Mediterranean, Balkans and Black Sea region
would act as a base for peace and prosperity.
Greece, owing to its geographical position and history, had a
special role to play in setting up an economic zone in the
region, Papandreou said.
According to delegates, the conference succeeded in its two
basic targets: the creation of joint ventures and an information
exchange network among participating countries.
[16] Coalition of the Left challenges PM to televised debate
Athens, 29/09/1997 (ANA)
Leader of the Coalition of the Left and Progress Nikos
Constantopoulos invited Prime Minister Costas Simitis to a
televised debate on co-operation between center-left political
groups.
Addressing a party festival, Mr. Constantopoulos strongly
criticized the government's domestic policy and repeated a
proposal for communication among parties on national issues.
He presented his party's positions on the 1998 local elections,
ruling out the possibility of a central political agreement.
He also criticized the government's Kapodistrias plan to
overhaul local government and called on the prime minister to
agree to amendments due to be tabled in parliament during debate
on the bill.
[17] ND to dump party political criteria for mayoral candidates
Athens, 29/09/1997 (ANA)
Main opposition New Democracy leader Kostas Karamanlis said on
Saturday that his party would not use party political criteria
to back mayoral candidates for local elections in 1998.
"We should not restrict ourselves to the party environment. We
should open the doors to capable officials in local
communities", said Mr. Karamanlis, indicating that ND was
willing to go ahead with broader co-operation at local
government level.
Mr. Karamanlis was speaking at the close of a marathon meeting
of ND's parliamentary group and Central Committee held in
Eretria, on the island of Evia.
The party had accepted the prime minister's challenge that next
year's local elections would represent a test of the
government's performance, he said.
Mr. Karamanlis once again rejected the government's Kapodistrias
plan to overhaul local government through compulsory mergers of
small communities and municipalities, which has yet to be
debated in parliament.
ND was only in favor of voluntary mergers and would reverse
unwanted changes if it took office, he said.
Mr. Karamanlis called on party officials to launch a campaign to
inform the public of the negative impact of the Kapodistrias
plan, stressing the ND's goal was not only to win the local
elections but also to change Greece.
End of English language section.
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