Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 98-01-26
From: The Greek Press & Information Office, Ottawa Canada <[email protected]>
ATHENS NEWS AGENCY BULLETIN (No 1399), January 26, 1998
Greek Press & Information Office
Ottawa, Canada
E-Mail Address: [email protected]
CONTENTS
[01] Pangalos: differences with Turkey should be solved in a legal
manner
[02] ... Opposition
[03] Government, trade unions clash drags on
[04] Greek-Albanian relations on good footing
[05] No compromise on air and sea
[06] US to abolish military loans to Greece and Turkey
[07] Tsohatzopoulos proposes plan against negative phenomena
[08] ... Skandalidis
[09] Vengeance car torchings continue
[10] Greek-Italian conference supports volunteering
[11] Tensions will multiply this year, party leader says
[12] New TV broadcasting center in Mytilene
[13] PM's Olympics comments draw fire
[14] Memorial service for Ukrainian airline crash victims
[15] Greeks start learning Bulgarian language
[16] Red wine is the secret to longevity?
[01] Pangalos: differences with Turkey should be solved in a legal
manner
Ankara, 26/01/1998 (ANA-A.Ambatzis)
Turkey can take issues on which it cannot agree with Greece to
the International Court of Justice at The Hague, Foreign
Minister Theodoros Pangalos said yesterday.
Mr. Pangalos, speaking to the Turkish daily Milliyet, was cited
as saying that "differences should be solved in a legal manner"
and that "this could occur by seeking recourse to international
legal organizations, such as the International Court at The
Hague".
"Various issues, from the (delineation of the Aegean)
continental shelf to national air space, can be solved," Mr.
Pangalos said. He cited the continental shelf issue, national
air space, territorial waters and armaments on Greek islands. On
the continental shelf issue, Mr. Pangalos said "there could be
bilateral talks on the continental shelf and if there is no
agreement we can seek recourse to the International Court".
On the issue of Greece's air space limit in particular, Mr.
Pangalos said that Turkey could have recourse at The Hague,
adding that the issue "gave rise to risks," but he said he did
not believe that "this would lead to a clash".
The issue of the extent of territorial waters, likewise, Mr.
Pangalos said, can be resolved "with the assistance of a third
party and not with threats".
"Maybe some day we could have serious talks" on the issue of the
arming of the Greek islands, he added.
"On this issue, the lack of trust plays a major role... Why does
Turkey have 400 landing vessels? What is the aim? On the other
hand, nobody can claim that we are planning a landing in
Anatolia," he said.
"This is another issue that Turkey can take to The Hague."
Turning to Turkey's relations with the European Union, Mr.
Pangalos said it was "ridiculous" for Turkey to blame Greece for
being behind every decision that went against it, referring to
the EU's refusal to consider Turkey as a candidate for
membership at the present time. "If Greece was not a member of
the European Union, would there have been a different decision
by the EU summit?" Mr. Pangalos asked.
On Cyprus, he reiterated that Greece was not about to accept
Turkey's position of two independent states on the divided
island.
[02] ... Opposition
Athens, 26/01/1998 (ANA)
The Democratic Social Movement party (DHKKI) charged that the
government accepted the reference to The Hague of illegal
Turkish claims.
"After the recognition of Turkey's 'vital interests' in the
Aegean through the shameful Madrid agreement the Simitis
government now accepts the reference to The Hague International
Court of all illegal Turkish claims, thus distancing itself from
the steadfast position of all previous Greek governments that
the sole difference to be settled with Ankara is the delineation
of the continental shelf," DHKKI said in a statement yesterday.
Political Spring party, on its part, accused Mr. Pangalos of
"bringing to trial the whole of the Aegean" and asked the
government to dismiss the Foreign Minister.
[03] Government, trade unions clash drags on
Athens, 26/01/1998 (ANA)
The confrontation between the government and trade unions over
the status of labor relations in public enterprises and
utilities, known collectively as DEKOs, is expected to continue
this week.
The General Confederation of Workers of Greece (GSEE) has
already called a second nationwide 24-hour strike in DEKOs and
banks in two weeks time for tomorrow.
The problem will be even more acute in the public transport
sector. Employees of the OASA urban transport organization will
participate in the 24-hour strike and have announced their own
program of strikes for this coming Wednesday, Thursday and
Friday, starting from the beginning of the morning shift to 9
a.m. and from 10 p.m. until the end of the night shift.
The President of the bus employees Andreas Kolas has warned of
an open-end strike and that unless the amendment is withdrawn
the responsibility will lie with the government.
In addition, trolley buses will go on strike as of 9 a.m. today
which will last until the end of the trial of the union's
President Theodoros Kordos, which is standing trial for previous
strike action in 1993.
Trade unionists believe that the controversial amendment raises
an overall matter of principle reaching the point of
"authoritarianism" since "it allows legislative interventions in
a sector which operated to date on the basis of dialogue and
collective agreements".
[04] Greek-Albanian relations on good footing
Tirana, 26/01/1998 (ANA - P. Haritos)
Addressing a special press conference on Saturday, Albanian
Prime Minister Fatos Nano expressed satisfaction over the
successful development of relations with neighboring countries.
Mr. Nano noted his country's pursuit of developing bilateral
relations and targets with Italy, enriching the positive
experience emanating from the trigon of peace
Tirana-Athens-Skopje and traditionally friendly relations with
Turkey.
"The Albanian government would desire an atmosphere of
understanding and dialogue with Belgrade as well and exactly for
this reason took the step in Crete as well," he said.
Referring to Belgrade, he said relations between the two
countries cannot develop from the moment that the situation in
Kosovo is being burdened even more. He condemned the use of
force against Albanian-speaking people in Kosovo, saying that
"for this purpose we have started efforts to organize a Balkan
Conference in Tirana."
Commenting on the Greek initiative, he pointed out that "every
such move encouraging dialogue is welcome. However, I have to
recognize a classification in these international initiatives".
[05] No compromise on air and sea
Athens, 26/01/1998 (ANA)
Any mention concerning possible negotiations or flexibility
regarding Greece's air and sea space is outright wrong and in no
way will it be accepted, National Defense Minister Akis
Tsohatzopoulos told reporters in Thessaloniki on Saturday.
Mr. Tsohatzopoulos was referring to a recent interview by former
prime minister Costas Mitsotakis to the Greek newspaper in the
US "Ethnikos Kyrix" regarding Greece's air and sea space.
[06] US to abolish military loans to Greece and Turkey
Ankara, 26/01/1998 (AFP/ANA)
The United States has decided to abolish military loans to
Turkey and Greece as of 1999 in the framework of measures aimed
at reducing budget expenditures, well-informed diplomatic
sources disclosed in Ankara yesterday.
"Ankara and Athens were recently informed on the decision of the
US to end the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program, a diplomatic
source told the AFP.
The decision puts an end to decades of US military aid to the
two NATO member-states which started in the Cold War era. The
two countries use the loans to obtain weapons from the US.
In 1998 Turkey and Greece will respectively receive military
loans amounting to 150 and 105 million dollars.
The US, Turkey and Greece made no official announcement on the
issue, but military experts believe that the decision taken by
the US will have a very small impact on Ankara's weapons
purchasing program.
Turkey, which has the arithmetically most important military in
NATO after that of the US, plans to spend about 31 billion
dollars in military expenditures over the next 10 years.
[07] Tsohatzopoulos proposes plan against negative phenomena
Athens, 26/01/1998 (ANA)
National Defense Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos proposed the
processing of a National Overall and Collective Course Plan
aimed at combating negative phenomena already appearing in other
European countries in their effort to approach criteria set by
the Maastricht Treaty.
Mr. Tsohatzopoulos, who was speaking in Thessaloniki on Saturday
night, made his proposal while addressing the ruling PASOK
party's Regional Conference of Central Macedonia on the issue of
the 35-hour working week, salaries, employment and development
in the presence of party Secretary Costas Skandalidis.
He said the purpose of the plan must be the simultaneous and
parallel tackling of the negative consequences emanating from
the convergence policy on the triptych
state-employees-enterprises.
Mr. Tsohatzopoulos said social dialogue must be utilized and
clarified that he is not questioning positive results achieved
so far by the government's economic policy and predicted that
this policy will meet with the same success over the next two
years .
However, he said the European experience must be assessed since
"the European Union has been trapped in a recycling process of
stabilization and recession from the policy being followed and
aimed at the Maastricht criteria."
Mr. Tsohatzopoulos said that in Greece the policy of nominal
convergence is approaching its limits, society is before crucial
restructuring and the issue of the survival of large sections of
popular classes has to be faced.
He said the enlargement of the production base is stagnant and
new investments are not being made in the private sector except
for the inflow of capital from the 3rd Community Support
Framework.
Mr. Tsohatzopoulos said a new type of development model must be
applied with emphasis being placed on regional development and
the tackling of unemployment and at this point he proposed
consideration for the proposal on the 35-hour working week.
Lastly, Mr. Tsohatzopoulos reiterated his position that Greece's
participation in Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) will
primarily be determined by political and not economic criteria.
[08] ... Skandalidis
Athens, 26/01/1998 (ANA)
Ruling PASOK's Secretary Costas Skandalidis yesterday presented
the basic principles of the party's social policies, to be the
focus of discussion at a special meeting of the party's Central
Committee on April 3-4.
The draft social policy platform is underpinned by the need for
speedier economic growth, an increase in employment and the
shaping of a welfare state under new international, European and
domestic conditions.
The "alternate proposal for a social policy" points to
employment as a leading factor in economic development, rather
than playing a role in anti-inflationary policies, develops a
new model for working hours, urges the development of the
welfare sector into a more productive organ and reforms the
traditional welfare system into a contemporary network of
support.
Mr. Skandalidis said to achieve these changes, the policy of
"social solidarity" had to move the emphasis from subsidizing
the unemployed to subsidizing employment. A fairer distribution
of the country's wealth from an increase in productivity, was
also required as was a fairer tax collection system, he said.
Mr. Skandalidis said the decisions taken at the Central
Committee meeting would be binding on the government.
[09] Vengeance car torchings continue
Athens, 26/01/1998 (ANA)
Another two vehicles were torched Saturday night, the latest in
a wave of arson attacks that police believe are linked to the
arrest of a suspected urban guerrilla two weeks ago.
A Mercedes and an inter-city bus were torched by makeshift
bombs. Both vehicles suffered damage but there were no injuries.
Late on Friday night another vehicle, a Mercedes van belonging
to a computer company, was destroyed by a homemade explosive
device placed in the vehicle.
The rash of car bomb attacks has forced the public order
ministry to increase police patrols in the greater Athens area.
Some 1,000 police officers have been added to the patrols.
Police said last week that the recent rash of car torchings and
bomb attacks in the Athens area were random attacks by
anarchists hoping to throw police off the trail of accomplices
of Nikos Maziotis, arrested on suspicion of involvement in an
urban guerrilla group.
Maziotis, 27, was charged with possession of weapons, explosive
material and seditious printed material after a police swoop on
a number of Athens homes. Police found a significant quantity of
explosive material in the raids, including 9.5 kilos at
Maziotis's Kamatero home.
The finds, police say, link Maziotis with the urban guerrilla
group Militant Guerrilla Formation (MAS), which has claimed
responsibility for a number of bomb attacks since its appearance
in 1996.
[10] Greek-Italian conference supports volunteering
Athens, 26/01/1998 (ANA)
The issue of "Enterprises supporting volunteering" was the focal
point of yesterday's 3rd Greek-Italian conference being held in
Athens at the initiative of the Italian Chamber of Commerce.
The need was stressed for a multifaceted and coordinated
development and support for volunteering in the direction of a
substantive social solidarity and protection of the "weak"
marginalized citizen.
PASOK Executive Bureau member and coordinator of the discussion
Stephanos Manikas said that "volunteering today is not an act of
charity but the philosophy of a social function and development
aimed at man and the improvement of his quality of life."
Mr. Manikas said volunteering is the primary care of the
government's social policy and called on citizens to rally.
The President of the foundation for the child and the family
Marianna Vardinoyianni sent a message stressing that
"volunteering contribution has constituted the base for the
biggest humanitarian achievements of man."
The Secretary-General of the Health and Welfare Ministry Mr. P.
Aposkitis announced the initiation of a National Council for the
Promotion of Volunteering.
[11] Tensions will multiply this year, party leader says
Athens, 26/01/1998 (ANA)
Addressing his party's Central Committee on Saturday, Coalition
of the Left and Progress leader Nikos Constantopoulos predicted
that tensions in all sectors of the country's political,
economic and social life will multiply in 1998.
His address focused on the government's policy which he
criticized, claiming that the government is below expectations
it had created and is distancing itself more and more from
society and the citizen.
Referring to foreign policy problems, Mr. Constantopoulos said
confusion prevails in the government and nobody is aware what
exactly we are doing in the country and for what reason we are
doing it at a time when packages of proposals and developments
have been set out.
The Central Committee was due to come to a close yesterday with
the ratification of a resolution concerning the party's
activities and initiatives until the municipal elections in
October.
[12] New TV broadcasting center in Mytilene
Athens, 26/01/1998 (ANA)
Press and Mass Media Minister Demetris Reppas inaugurated the
new TV broadcasting center in Mytilene on Saturday to operate as
a studio for the ET-3 TV network. The event was attended by the
director of the Prime Minister's quality of life political
bureau Antonis Angelidis, the President of ERT S.A. Panayiotis
Panayiotou, the Secretary-General of the Ministry to the Aegean
Yiannis Machairidis and the general director of the Greek
Tourist Organization (EOT) Costas Katsiyiannis. Also present was
Mihalos Alexandridis, general director of the ET-3 TV network.
Mr. Reppas termed the new TV broadcasting center a small
"miracle achieved due to insistence and persistence on an idea."
[13] PM's Olympics comments draw fire
Athens, 26/01/1998 (ANA)
Prime Minister Costas Simitis' reference during a Cabinet
session on Friday that he had rejected many proposals on
appointments in the 2004 Olympic Games organizing committee,
whose composition was announced last week, after forming the
impression that they reflected expediencies and particular
interests, has drawn opposition reaction.
New Democracy party spokesman Aris Spiliotopoulos described the
premier's statements as "phenomenal", and called on him to
release specific details.
"Who is Mr. Simitis referring to? Who are those making suspect
and self-seeking proposals to the country's prime minister, and
how near are they to him? Does he mean his ministers?", he asked.
Coalition of the Left leader Nikos Constantopoulos said the
prime minister "seems to be expressing devastating insinuations
about persons and influences", and called on him to state names.
Reacting, government spokesman Demetris Reppas said yesterday
the prime minister had spoken with sincerity and had been
misunderstood".
"He meant interests outside the government, and his choices were
made with criteria that have no party, political or clientele
basis whatsoever," he specified.
"Greece undertook the organization of the 2004 Olympic Games
with ambitious goals and will succeed because the responsible
committees will comprise highly competent individuals," he added.
Justice Minister Evangelos Yiannopoulos welcomed the decision
not to include ruling party members in the committee.
Head of the 15-member "Athens 2004 SA" organizing committee was
appointed 62-year old Costas Bakouris, who will resign his post
as Chairman of Ralston Energy Systems Europe as of February 1 to
take up his new duties.
[14] Memorial service for Ukrainian airline crash victims
Athens, 26/01/1998 (ANA)
Relatives of victims and the residents of the village of Kato
Milia yesterday held a memorial service for the 70 crew and
passengers killed when a Ukrainian airliner crashed in the
Pieria mountains last month.
Archimandrite Ignatios conducted the service at the church of
Ayios Demetris in Kato Milia, the village nearest to the site of
the crash. Dozens of relatives of the victims and almost the
entire population of the village attended.
The wreckage of the Yakovlev-42 was found on December 20 after a
three-day search hampered by snow, fog and the rough terrain.
Residents of Kato Milia said they were planning to build a
church on the site of the crash. "We grieve for those lost so
needlessly but also for those they left behind," one said.
On Saturday, another memorial service was held in the town of
Aeani, Kozani, which lost seven of its residents in the crash.
[15] Greeks start learning Bulgarian language
Athens, 26/01/1998 (ANA)
Eighty-six young people from the Kato Nevrokopi region in the
Drama prefecture are learning the Bulgarian language and will be
able to be used in opportune positions when the Greek-Bulgarian
border (Exohis customs office) opens in 1998.
Nevrokopi Regional Governor Yiannis Xanthopoulos said "training
is of a six-month duration and the program is being funded by
OLEL" following an understanding reached with its commander
Costas Efstratoglou.
Mr. Xanthopoulos added that "the Bulgarian language is necessary
because transactions with the neighboring country are being
scheduled."
[16] Red wine is the secret to longevity?
Athens, 26/01/1998 (ANA)
Doctors around the world may be searching for a cure to eternal
youth but Giorgis Mandalis, who died in Kavala on Saturday at
the age of 105, found the secret to his long and full life in
red wine.
Mandalis, his relatives told the ANA, always maintained that his
good health was due to red wine in moderation, no cigarettes,
small and frequent meals, little to no meat and a healthy
skepticism of doctors.
"Medicines do not always cure the problem", Mandalis used to
say. "Red wine in moderation is a natural cure."
Mandalis was born on the island of Imvros, leaving in 1923 when
it was ceded to Turkey. He lived on the northern Aegean island
of Thassos with his wife, Angeliki, who died at the age of 85.
The couple had two children, five grandchildren and four great-
grandchildren.
End of English language section.
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