Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 97-10-13

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

ATHENS NEWS AGENCY BULLETIN (No. 1313), October 13, 1997

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

CONTENTS

[01] Multiple Athens FIR infringements by Turkish warplanes reported

[02] Nicosia demarche

[03] Stephanopoulos pleased over meeting with Albanian counterpart Mejdani

[04] Simitis assures SME owners of changes to increase free competition

[05] Papantoniou

[06] V. Papandreou

[07] Yilmaz brings up Greek-Turkish relations in Strasbourg contacts

[08] Cem threats over S-300s

[09] Lesvos associations protest toxic, nuclear waste burial in Turkey

[10] GSEE reiterate s demand for 35-hour work week, current pension levels

[11] Conference on education reforms ends on optimistic note

[12] ND leader calls for rallying "against decadence"

[13] KKE releases central committee resolution

[14] Constantopoulos on candidate for Athens mayoral election

[15] Stephanopoulos message during unveiling of farmers' monument at Kileler

[16] Greek-Bulgarian protocol on free trade zone in Evros

[17] EOT optimistic over Greece's conference tourism potential

[18] Focus on Athens

[01] Multiple Athens FIR infringements by Turkish warplanes reported

Athens, 13/10/1997 (ANA)

According to reports, from early morning to afternoon, some 60 Turkish planes infringed Athens FIR regulations in an area southeast Rhodes, then violated Cypriot air space. Two Turkish warplanes are reported to have flown over the island republic itself .

The Hellenic Air Force responded with an equal number of aircraft, which intercepted all the Turkish violators, while three such interceptions turned into air engagements.

Meanwhile, it was announced that the Hellenic Air Force is in a state of preparedness as more infringements and violations are expected for the duration of the Cypriot military exercise "Nikiforos", in which Greek units are also participating, as well as the Greek aeronautical exercise "Toxotis" - both currently under way in the sea region between Crete and Cyprus.

Earlier in the day, Greek aircraft had flown over Nicosia within the framework of the exercises.

In a late evening response, the Democratic Social Movement (DHKKI) said a forceful stand by Greece and not "... practices of appeasement and retreat are understood by Turkey," a party announcement stated in reaction to the reports of infringements and violations by Turkish warplanes.

[02] Nicosia demarche

Athens, 13/10/1997 (ANA)

[03] Stephanopoulos pleased over meeting with Albanian counterpart Mejdani

Strasbourg, 13/10/1997 (ANA/M. Spinthourakis)

While in Strasbourg to attend a Council of Europe summit, Mr. Stephanopoulos said he had met with Albanian President Rexhep Mejdani, whom he invited for a reciprocal meeting to Greece in May 1998.

The Greek president said they discussed safeguarding the borders, in order to combat crime from drug smuggling.

Mr. Mejdani and the accompanying Albanian foreign minister seemed to be receptive to the idea of ethnic Greek schools being founded throughout Albania, not just in places termed "minority areas", Mr. Stephanopoulos said.

The Albanian officials also expressed pleasure and interest in the official visit to Albania of Prime Minister Costas Simitis, scheduled to arrive this week.

Mr. Stephanopoulos was accompanied in Strasbourg by Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou.

[04] Simitis assures SME owners of changes to increase free competition

Athens, 13/10/1997 (ANA)

The premier stressed that these goals were achieved "without being accompanied by a spread of social distress -because we did not want to just improve certain indices, certain figures, we wanted to improve the lives of citizens, the lives of all of us."

Mr. Simitis also said that for the government, the survival and dynamic growth of the average SME means strength in its ability to deal with competition. He said that this would be achieved by increasing the size of enterprises, improving product quality, business administration and access to international markets.

Finally, the premier indicated that the government has nearly completed the legislative framework for free competition that will rid the market of restrictive practices, which he noted undermine competitiveness.

[05] Papantoniou

Athens, 13/10/1997 (ANA)

The minister said the inflexibility of the labour market was the greatest infrastructural problem in the sector, and explained that this would be remedied by future regulations on working hours and in the movement of the labour force.

Working people should not obstruct these changes by adhering to outdated habits, he said, adding that the social cost would be dealt with by discussion and distribution over a larger number of people.

[06] V. Papandreou

Athens, 13/10/1997 (ANA)

The minister also called for faster reduction in interest rates for funding of SMEs because the cost of money is greater for them than for large businesses.

She said that mutual guarantees companies would soon be set up along with credit cooperatives to help fund SMEs and obstacles raised for the present anti-incentive rules in mergers in the sector.

[07] Yilmaz brings up Greek-Turkish relations in Strasbourg contacts

Strasbourg, 13/10/1997 (ANA/M. Spinthourakis)

In statements to Turkish reporters, Mr. Yilmaz reported that in his contacts he drew attention to primarily three issues:

First, the threat, as he claimed, posed to Turkey by the installation of Russian-made S-300 anti-aircraft missiles on Cyprus; secondly, the pressures which, according to his opinion, the European Union should exert on Greece for there to be progress in Greek-Turkish relations; and thirdly, on the need for the EU summit in Luxembourg to send a clear message regarding Turkey's European prospects.

In his speech to the CoE summit, Mr. Yilmaz also made a reference - not contained in the official text distributed by the Turkish delegation - to what he called the unacceptability of CoE member-states supporting terrorist organizations. Turkey maintains that Greece supports Kurdish separatists currently fighting in southeastern Turkey.

Turkish and European diplomatic sources said the reaction of European leaders and officials whom Mr. Yilmaz met was guarded.

Regarding Mr. Yilmaz's references to terrorism, Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker told Greek and Turkish reporters that relevant evidence did not exist, while he could not imagine that it was possible that a member-state of the European Union supported the carrying out of terrorist activities in another country.

Continuing, Mr. Juncker said efforts should be made, chiefly by the two countries concerned, for a de-escalation of the tension, and that the current EU presidency wished to make a positive contribution in that direction.

[08] Cem threats over S-300s

Athens, 13/10/1997 (ANA)

"It is a big mistake, which has brought the Turkish Cypriots into a very difficult position," he said in statements to the Turkish NTV network on Saturday.

Referring to the purchase of the S-300 missiles by Cyprus, Mr. Cem claimed it was an even more serious mistake.

"It is one of the most serious mistakes that could have been committed. No one should expect that we shall remain indifferent," he warned. Finally, the Turkish foreign minister called on the EU to stop "always asking Turkey to settle its differences wit h Greece". "It takes two sides to reach a settlement of a bilateral dispute," he added.

[09] Lesvos associations protest toxic, nuclear waste burial in Turkey

Athens, 13/10/1997 (ANA)

Copies of the federation's letter were also sent to all Greek Eurodeputies, Lesvos deputies and the organizations Greenpeace and WWF. In addition, the letter contains a protest over the arrests by Turkish authorities of local protesters.

[10] GSEE reiterate s demand for 35-hour work week, current pension levels

Athens, 13/10/1997 (ANA)

He noted that GSEE has submitted proposals to the government with regard to fighting unemployment. Addressing a gathering in Kavala, Mr. Polyzogopoulos stressed that the trade union movement cannot operate on the basis of factional interests. With regard to taxation, he stressed that taxation scales should be adjusted to the cost-of-living index, something that had not been done for five years. He also called for increasing the amount of non-taxable income to the level of the income of an unskilled worker. The GSEE leader also expressed the concern that the present social security system, currently under debate, would break down within 10 years if the proper measures were not taken.

[11] Conference on education reforms ends on optimistic note

Athens, 13/10/1997 (ANA)

Prime Minister Costas Simitis, who attended the conference, said that the meeting proved PASOK's concern about discussing major issues.

"We want to have everyone's opinion, and based on these views, to realize plans to apply our policy," Mr. Simitis said.

"The education reform taking place now that will continue to unfold in the near future is necessary for Greece, to have such procedures apply that would allow dealing with developments in technology and in the globalisation of the market," he added.

He said discussion would continue with the new education framework and conclusions reached after the discussions.

Education and Religious Affairs Minister Gerassimos Arsenis expressed his satisfaction over the conference results, explaining that "there is a general acceptance of the education reform's basic tenets. The government now has to refine these tenets and apply them".

Along the same lines, Education Under-secretary Yiannis Anthopoulos said that "the philosophy of the reforms is not being doubted by anyone. We have purposely left certain issues open, for further discussion, which we shall do."

Other conference speakers included PASOK Secretary Costas Skandalidis and Union of Secondary School Teachers (OLME) President Nikos Tsoulias, among others.

[12] ND leader calls for rallying "against decadence"

Athens, 13/10/1997 (ANA)

"We 're called on to bring together the strong and healthy forces, and all those Greeks who might, in previous phases of historical or artificial divisions, not have been aligned to our own political progress and presence," he said, addressing his party 's deputies and former politicians at a central Athens hotel.

Mr. Karamanlis said that priorities had changed, and the party should "keep its arms open for all those social forces who, regardless of historical origin, are observing and opposing phenomena of decadence and are willing to fight them".

He called on party members to put aside any disagreements and "look forward", and "assume bold initiatives and make radical changes, because we don't have any dependencies or obligations", he said.

"I have invested a lot and labour daily to close wounds originating in the past. I shall continue doing this because I believe it is my duty," he added.

The party leader expressed his confidence that ND would win the next national elections and said the main opposition's role was to "apply and reintroduce the cleansing out, bring back ethics in politics, meritocracy and guaranteeing a state that does not oppress but rather serves each citizen."

[13] KKE releases central committee resolution

Athens, 13/10/1997 (ANA)

KKE criticized the government for moving quickly and decisively in "applying a great part of modern capitalist restructures and helping the country's big capital in all aspects."

The party also charged the government with trying to formulate what it called a "modern, even more autocratic, anti-democratic country, increasing the mechanisms of suppression, violence and buy-outs".

KKE said the government acted as a "go-between" for the United States, adding that Greece had privileged relations with neighbouring countries, but Turkey and Italy acted as obstructions in improving relations.

It also harshly criticized other opposition parties, charging that the main opposition party, New Democracy, of following a policy similar to PASOK's and failing to attract disgruntled PASOK voters. The Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) w as condemned by KKE for what is said was "negotiating with the ruling party" over Parliament seat distribution, while its aim was to weaken KKE and win over its voters.

The KKE expressed dissatisfaction with its own congress this month and said that it needed to convince its followers that something had changed in its method of operation.

[14] Constantopoulos on candidate for Athens mayoral election

Athens, 13/10/1997 (ANA)

Synaspismos' central committee, which met over the weekend, said the party would remain open on the manner that it would approach other parties, while its leader, Nikos Constantopoulos, expressed support for alliances.

Mr. Constantopoulos said that his party did not start "from zero", that it had its own municipal program and candidate, that is, Maria Damanaki.

But he said it was the other parties that should take the initiative of approaching Synaspismos for the possibility of combining forces in municipal elections.

On Saturday, Mr. Constantopoulos repeated his proposal to all parties except that of main opposition New Democracy, to create a new majority that would support the country's modernization.

He called on the government to formulate a long-range foreign policy resisting pressure for unacceptable compromises and supporting dialogue instead.

Synaspismos should become more aggressive with the government over domestic and foreign policy issues, he said, and criticized the government for creating insecurity with great social classes.

He was also strongly critical over opposition within the party, but said he did not plan to take disciplinary action under any circumstances.

[15] Stephanopoulos message during unveiling of farmers' monument at Kileler

Athens, 13/10/1997 (ANA)

Social struggles, he said, should be dealt with in a manner free from any partisan slant, but with their true national and social significance in mind.

"This is extremely important for the progress of the country, where there will always be a need for social struggles," he added.

Addressing the farmers, Mr. Stephanopoulos observed that those struggles could be carried out within the framework offered by Greece's democratic regime to all its citizens.

He also stressed the importance of agriculture, which he said was the common root of all Greeks, apart from providing the means for everyone to live, and should be rewarded as such.

The president arrived at a military air-base in Thessaly yesterday morning by helicopter and was met by regional and military officials before going to Kileler to unveil the monument and visit Kileler village, where he was made an honorary citizen. He later attended a dinner at the Larisa Officers' Club, given by the committee responsible for erecting the monument.

[16] Greek-Bulgarian protocol on free trade zone in Evros

Athens, 13/10/1997 (ANA)

The agreement was signed in the town of Ormenio, the area the zone is to be established, by Evros prefect Giorgos Dolios and Haskovo district director Cristo Vassilev.

The protocol includes terms on hiring, salaries, insurance and transport of workers, and calls for creating favorable conditions in attracting investments in the area.

The protocol mentions making use of regulations and funds from Greece, Bulgaria and the European Union.

[17] EOT optimistic over Greece's conference tourism potential

Athens, 13/10/1997 (ANA)

"We are beginning now, together with the private sector, an effort to achieve this goal. We'll succeed in upgrading both general tourism and conference-business tourism," he said at the opening of the 1st conference forum.

He called on the private sector to rally round EOT's new policy, which involves qualitative upgrading, appropriate training, and the creation of modern units.

Greece hosts about 2,500 conferences annually.

"With the right organization and planning, our country can host more than 10,000 conferences a year," Athens Mayor Demetris Avramopoulos said in his address.

[18] Focus on Athens

Athens, 13/10/1997 (ANA)

Speakers referred to infrastructure that must be carried out if Athens wants to attract congress tourism and to training for hotel personnel and tourism office personnel.

A single agency to promote congress tourism was also discussed along with a proposal by Mr. Avramopoulos for setting up a Council of Tourism for Athens that would represent all related agencies.

The congress will come to a conclusion today.

End of English language section

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