Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 98-07-27

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Pangalos calls on Turkish consulate to limit itself to 'well- meaning duties'

[02] Weather service warns of heatwave

[03] Expatriate Greek deputies tour Eyros

[04] Weekend traffic carnage repeated

[05] Quake reported

[06] KKE on gov't positions regarding NATO, US

[07] Ethnic festival on Lesvos

[08] FIBA meeting convenes in Athens

[09] More fires reported,others extinguished

[01] Pangalos calls on Turkish consulate to limit itself to 'well- meaning duties'

Athens 27/07/1998 (ANA)

Speaking during a visit to Komotini yesterday, Mr. Pangalos said that, otherwise, the Turkish consulate will get an "exemplary lesson."

Mr. Pangalos added that there are some consulates of western countries in Thessaloniki searching for human rights violations in the region and "forgetting" the horrendous crimes taking place only a few kilometres away.

He said that the guarantors of human rights are the Greek people, the people of Thrace and the state, adding that the Greek Moslems and Christians are giving their reply.

Komotini was the second stop, after Xanthi, of his tour of Thrace. In the morning, Mr. Pangalos attended a Church service at the cathedral of Agia Paraskevi, the patron saint of Komotini.

Replying to an address by Metropolitan Damaskinos, he said "today, I am here because the foreign ministry has the duty to supervise the implementation of the Lausanne Treaty which sets out the way of life and the rights and obligations of the Moslem minor ity living in our country. I ascertained in Xanthi, and I will ascertain here as well, that our fellow Moslem countrymen are living freely, enjoy freedom of religion, communicate with the representatives of the state without problems and without any hesitation, express their claims freely, their criticism and participate actively in our political life."

"This is a major achievement for all the people of Thrace and a big lesson for those who are trying to appear here supposedly as protectors of human rights," he said, adding: "I am not speaking only of Turkey's consulate, which is attempting to systemat ically separate the Moslems from the Christians here and to create a problem and a crisis...and in this way it is working against the interest of our country in a way that can be tolerated with difficulty. And I wish to warn this consulate that it is an ins titution with a very limited authority and that it would be good if it were to restrict itself strictly to its well-meaning duties. Because, otherwise, it will get an exemplary lesson."

Human rights : Mr. Pangalos went on to say that "however, there are others in...consulates of major western countries in Thessaloniki which, probably out of excessive conscientiousness, come here and start searching in our drawers, our closets and in our souls to discover human rights violations. They are those who have made double standards a way of life and a rule of ethics. A thousand dead Kurds in Turkey are ignored completely."

Referring at length to the human rights issue, Mr. Pangalos called on all who are genuinely interested in the issue to have "the protectors of human rights open their eyes at last."

Mr. Pangalos concluded his speech with a forceful warning, stressing that "my tour so far, and I believe that this will continue in Komotini as well, was a refutation, a slap for the disgraceful slanderers, for those who dare not say openly that they are serving illicit economic interests and dealings and appear as protectors of human rights in Thrace, forgetting the great and hideous crimes which are taking place at this moment that we are speaking, only a few kilometres away from here. To all of them, all the Greeks together, Moslems and Christians, give their reply: Leave us alone at last. We have had enough of your aid and friendship. Leave the Turkish and Greek people at last. Leave the people in the region alone. Stop working for our good. We have seen your good. Thank you very much. Enough is enough." ND statements : In response to Mr. Pangalos' statements in Thrace, main opposition New Democracy spokesman Aris Spiliotopoulos emphasised yesterday in a statement that the Greek FM's remarks were "not sufficient to counter the tragic impasses that have arose from the government's erroneous and dangerous handling of foreign policy issues."

He added that ND is calling for national understanding and cooperation of all political forces in order to develop necessary strategic choices.

Meeting with US State Dept.'s Miller cancelled : In an unrelated development, Mr. Pangalos cancelled a scheduled meeting with US State Department special coordinator for the Cyprus issue Thomas Miller, originally set in Athens on Tuesday.

Mr. Pangalos made the announcement while touring Thrace on Saturday and only hours after US White House spokesman Mike McCurry criticised statements by the Greek foreign minister on Thursday. Specifically, Mr. Pangalos said that US President Bill Clinton had told "a grand lie" regarding a solution of the Cyprus problem in his pre-election promises.

Mr. Pangalos had also noted that Washington had in the past exercised pressure on Ankara which proved fruitless, and had now switched this pressure on Athens. On his part, Mr. McCurry said he hoped Mr. Pangalos would "revise his intemperate, disa ppointing and undiplomatic remarks to the president of the United States," which were "inconsistent with what are otherwise close and warm bilateral relations we enjoy with the government of Greece".

In response, Mr. Pangalos added that all US presidents had failed to act on the Cyprus issue in accordance with UN resolutions, stressing that he had strong indications that Greek-Americans were considering switching funds in future US presidential elections.

"It has become a habit for US presidents to make promises and not keep them. Mr. Bill Clinton had promised to solve the Cyprus problem. I suppose he meant he would provide a solution based on UN resolutions. Are you aware of any solution to date? Are you aware of American diplomacy supporting UN resolutions or law on the issue? I am under a different impression, personally".

The latest round of exchanges was sparked by Mr. McCurry's remark on Tuesday that the "right definition" for the Cyprus problem was one of "conflict" between the two communities on the island, and not one of "invasion" and occupation of its northern half by the Turkish army 24 years ago, as Greece and Cyprus strongly maintained.

Opposition reaction : On Saturday, ND criticised both US officials and Mr. Pangalos for the sharp exchanges over the US role in the Cyprus issue.

"The statements by US officials are not only lacking in historical basis and unfair, but also stroke Turkish intransigence and provocations. Everyone must know that before such intransigence and provocativeness all Greeks are united and resolved to enter the battle and win it," party spokesman Spiliotopoulos said.

He said further that Greece should respond to such instances with neither aggressive posturing nor insults.

"It is the policy of concessions and passivity that has brought us to this point of either disorderly retreat or humiliation. We must develop strategic options to secure the prospects the country needs," he urged.

Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) leader Nikos Constantopoulos said the statements by US and Turkish officials are a new and qualitatively dangerous element, because they openly dispute the international framework governing the Cyprus issue to date.

Mr. Constantopoulos, who distanced himself from critical statements made by Mr. Pangalos, said in a statement on Saturday that the Greek people are well aware that Turkey's position is threatening, precisely because the position of the US is constantly of service to Turkey.

"What the Greek people do not know is what the government wants and what it is doing. Because the government's reactions, momentary reactions, with its eyes turned to (ruling) PASOK's intraparty problems, cannot take the place of the necessary national strategy and understanding," he said.

Meeting with local, religious officials : In addition, Mr. Pangalos held talks with local officials in Komotini yesterday, as discussions also focused on issues concerning the upgrading of the Moslem clergy's functionaries.

Mr. Pangalos said processes were proceeding on the preparation of a suitable legal framework regarding the salary payments and pensioning of Moslem quasi-religious officials and clerics.

He also said that three new border posts to be opened on the borders with Bulgaria (Rodopi, Xanthi and Drama) will provide a greater developmental impetus for the region.

In the afternoon, Mr. Pangalos arrived in Sappes and visited a community of Black Sea Greeks, while he inaugurated the municipality's elderly care centre afterwards.

He later arrived in Alexandroupoli and met with the Mufti of Evros, Mehmet Damatoglou. Shortly afterwards, he participated in a meeting at the prefectural offices.

Mr. Pangalos will conclude his three-day tour of Thrace today and will visit the cathedral of Panagia tis Kosmosoteiras at Ferres, Evros prefecture, the Evros River Delta and the Kipoi checkpoint on the border with eastern Thrace.

Athens News Agency

[02] Weather service warns of heatwave

Athens 27/07/1998 (ANA)

High temperatures are expected to continue until Thursday when a gradual decrease will begin in the north of the country.

Athens News Agency

[03] Expatriate Greek deputies tour Eyros

Athens 27/07/1998 (ANA)

The deputies are members of parliaments in Australia, Canada, the United States, the Ukraine, Albania, Georgia, Russia, South Africa, Yugoslavia, Sweden, Argentina, the Netherlands, Latvia, Lithuania and Romania.

Their first stop was the Evros region, where they visited the cathedral of Panagia tis Kosmosoteiras in the town of Ferres, as well as towns and border communities in the area.

Earlier, the visit started with a briefing in Alexandroupoli by the prefect of Evros Georgios Dolios and by deputies from the prefecture.

Meanwhile, the president of the group, Demetri Dollis, said, among others, that the briefing was very interesting, adding that during the period of their stay in Greece the expatriate deputies had an opportunity of knowing even better all that united them with Greece.

On Saturday afternoon, the expatriate deputies visited the town of Sappes, Rodopi prefecture. Afterwards they arrived in Alexandroupoli and then left for their next stop, the eastern Aegean island of Hios.

Athens News Agency

[04] Weekend traffic carnage repeated

Athens 27/07/1998 (ANA)

Athens News Agency

[05] Quake reported

Athens 27/07/1998 (ANA)

The epicentre of the quake was about 370 kilometres south-east of Athens, off Crete. There were no reports of injuries or material damage.

Athens News Agency

[06] KKE on gov't positions regarding NATO, US

Athens 27/07/1998 (ANA)

KKE added that it considers the deployment of the Russian-made S-300 anti- aircraft missiles on Cyprus a positive measure.

In an announcement on Saturday, KKE said that from the moment that the government insists on the same tactic of consent with the plans of the United States and NATO, it will become more and more subject to pressures and will make even greater concessions.

Referring to Friday's meeting of the Government Council of Foreign Affairs and Defence (KYSEA), KKE expressed support for the differentiation of the country's sources of armaments, in the direction of ridding itself from what the communist party called "imperialism."

Athens News Agency

[07] Ethnic festival on Lesvos

Athens 27/07/1998 (ANA)

Foreign residents in Lesvos from England, France, Serbia, Romania, Russia, Ukraine, Albania, Italy, Portugal, the Netherlands, Turkey, Scandinavia and Latin America will be setting up pavilions containing various aspects of their countries' culture and serving traditional foods, along with performances of traditional music, songs and dances.

People from England, Latin America and Turkey will play traditional music from their countries today, while children from Serbia will perform traditional dances. On Tuesday, the festival will close with a concert by the Florina Band.

Athens News Agency

[08] FIBA meeting convenes in Athens

Athens 27/07/1998 (ANA)

The conference got underway yesterday and will be concluded today with the assumption of the duties of a new president. Additionally, FIBA's new 23- member central council will be elected, which is due to convene for the first time tomorrow.

Last night's meeting was due to focus on the proposed amendment of regulations and for which the new central council will reach final decisions. FIBA's council will convene twice a year.

It is certain that a third time out in the second half of a game will be approved and the stopping of time every time a basket is scored in the last two minutes.

Before the start to the 26th World Council, addresses were made by Athens Mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos, Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos, the president of the Greek Basketball Federation (EOK) and president of the World Championship's organising comm ittee George Vasilakopoulos and FIBA's outgoing president George Kilian.

Addressing the delegates, Mr. Vasilakopoulos said, among others, that decisions to be taken during the conference must, acting on past experience, meet the challenges of tomorrow and the challenges of the 21st century. He also expressed the hope that ba sketball will become the most popular sport in the world in the 21st century (currently it is football).

Meanwhile, the first national basketball teams participating in the 16-team World Basketball Championship, starting on Wednesday and lasting until August 9, started arriving in Athens yesterday. Tourists at Athens airport were surprised to see reporters and TV crews mobbing basketball players for statements.

Five national teams arrived at Athens airport in a few minutes' time. They were the teams of Brazil, Russia, Argentina, Lithuania and Puerto Rico. All of them arrived from New York where they had participated in the "Goodwill Games."

Athens News Agency

[09] More fires reported,others extinguished

Athens 27/07/1998 (ANA)

The blaze, which started Friday, spread towards the villages of Ano Diakopto, Katholiko and Kernitsa, forcing authorities to suspend services of the unique cog-wheel railway between Diakopto and Kalavryta. Police, meanwhile, were investigating al legations by fire department officials in Aegio that unknown persons were using the fire brigade's radio frequencies and threatening to burn firefighters alive.

Fire department officials said the interference was causing a serious communications problem. Fires were also in progress in the area of Podagora, Amphilohia, Krania (Mount Olympus) and Kouvela, Messinia.

Blazes at Grammos (Kastoria), Aravonitsa (Aegio) and Kassandra (Halkidiki), Koiliomeno (Zakynthos), Zagora (Pelion) and Mavrovouni (Larissa) were largely brought under control.

Athens News Agency

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