Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 99-07-12

Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] PASOK central committee approves Simitis`, executive bureau's report

[02] Conference outlines Chernobyl-like danger of possible N-plant in SE Turkey

[03] Mitsotakis urges patience on presidential issue

[04] Archdiocese of America the focus of Vaartholomeos-Spyridon talks

[05] KKE supporters block border post, attempt to enter Thessaloniki port

[06] Cohen expected for talks tomorrow

[07] Fischer in Athens today

[08] Tunisian Defence Minister Ben Yehia in Athens today

[09] Poll: Vast majority favours deportation for illegals

[10] More border guards for eastern Macedonia, Thrace

[11] Apostolakis comments on array of Greece-Cyprus military issues

[01] PASOK central committee approves Simitis`, executive bureau's report

Athens, 12/07/1999 (ANA)

He noted that the "front remains open and will continue being the focus" of PASOK's strategy.

Mr. Simitis also expressed confidence that despite a disappointing performance in last month's Euroelections, PASOK was in a position to win next year's national elections.

He conceded that as prime minister and leader of the party he bore full responsibility for the poor electoral result, but "responsibility also belongs to all of us and each one separately".

He further admitted there were problems in certain aspects of government policy, particularly regarding citizens' everyday problems and the weaker social groups. Responding to charges during Friday's session by former foreign minister Yiannis Kaps is that corruption was rampant in the public sector, and that the party would do well to undertake a crusade on the issue, the prime minister said PASOK had done a great deal in the direction of limiting corruption, and called on Mr. Kapsis to submit any evidence he had to a prosecutor.

On his part, PASOK Secretary Costas Skandalidis said changes were necessary in the party.

"If we do not change now, we create negative conditions for the next electoral contest," he said.

Regarding the issue of ideological identity, as posed by certain members, he said the debate was painful and the past stereotypes of "Left and Right" should be avoided.

The central committee approved with an overwhelming majority the text of conclusions submitted by the prime minister and the executive bureau regarding the Euroelections result and the restructuring of the party.

Observers considered that the large majority was secured after the delivery of a strong appeal for unity by National Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos, who also proposed the holding of a special conference on the party's ideological identity in January 2000. The proposal was endorsed and incorporated in the text of conclusions.

Mr. Tsohatzopoulos appeared to steer a middle course between the two main critical trends regarding ways to boost the party's electoral following, saying this required both more work and changes in policy.

He pointed out that PASOK had lost one in five of its supporters in the 1996 elections in the rural and industrial declining regions. He noted a shift of the electorate to the Left which was reversible only with a return of policy towards the concerns of the people.

"For the achievement of this goal we must formulate a new political platform and a strategy for victory... Also important are a realisation that PASOK's problem is political, changes in mentality and personalities, and the rejection of a policy of hand outs as the answer to problems," Mr. Tsohatzopoulos said.

Outgoing EU Commissioner Christos Papoutsis claimed that popular discontent tended to acquire permanent characteristics, and that in the last three years government and party had formed an image of being distant from the people.

He further said the party was facing organisational decline, due to its political problem.

"Our supporters are disillusioned and our cadres are becoming inert because they do not find expression through PASOK's new profile," he argued.

During Saturday's concluding session, Education Minister Gerasimos Arsenis distanced himself from Mr. Simitis, saying that his address did not go to the heart of what was required for the party to have a new start after last month's disappointing Euroelection results.

"We need political dialogue and not organisational work therapy," he said.

He argued the party had to address the social strata that today expressed their discontent for a widening gap between rich and poor, "explaining that the deep reforms required are meant for them and will be made with their consent".

National Economy Minister Yiannos Papantoniou said the party had to battle on three fronts in order to win next year's national elections and on condition that the expression of various views would not create a climate of defeatism.

The three fronts were convincing the people of the value of the government's policy - "for which everyone should be proud" - the conversion of success in the economic field into visible and tangible benefits for the citizen and the unity of the party.

Athens News Agency

[02] Conference outlines Chernobyl-like danger of possible N-plant in SE Turkey

Athens, 12/07/1999 (ANA)

Several speakers pointed to a multitude of factors that make the plan more than risky, including the fact that it would be located in a seismically active region, while nuclear waste would find its way into the Mediterranean and Aegean.

"The Aegean and the Mediterranean will be systematically used as a means of transporting nuclear waste from the projected plant, increasing the risks," Canadian anti-nuclear activist David Martin, from the group Nuclear Awareness Project, stated.

Vassilis Papazahos, a professor of seismology at the Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki, underlined that seismic activity in SE Turkey did not leave much room for the construction of a nuclear plant.

"If all the preventative measures are taken to protect against possible earthquakes, then the cost of the construction of the nuclear plant does not make it viable," he said. Turkey wants to build a 1,066MW nuclear power plant by the year 2010 to help meet electricity shortfalls, part of an ambitious project to quadruple its annual generating capacity to 350 billion kilowatt hours by that same year.

The Atomic Energy of Canada (AECL) firm is bidding to build two out-dated 770MW "Candu 6" nuclear reactors at Akkuyu Bay, located on Turkey's SE Mediterranean coast, directly north of Cyprus. Two other multinationals are vying with AECL for the 100 per cent financed contract - the French-German consortium Nuclear Power International (NPI) and a consortium between US- based Westinghouse and Japan's Mitsubishi.

AECL is considered the front-runner in the bidding.

Nuclear Awareness Project is a Canadian environmental group opposed to the Canadian firms' involvement in the project and has begun gathering signatures in protest.

Panos Trigazis, a member of the Coalition of the Left and Progress and coordinator of the Greek Committee for a Nuclear-Free Mediterranean, said the anti-nuclear movement of the '80s needed to be revitalised.

"Now more than ever it is necessary that a solidarity and cooperation movement led by municipalities, communities and prefectural government develop, to aim at averting the construction of new nuclear plants in the Mediterranean region," Theodoros Katri vanos, the president of the Union of Prefectural Associations of Greece stated.

Bilge Kontebe, representing the Turkish Freedom and Solidarity Party, said that Turkish activists and movements opposed to the Akkuyu plant were coming under pressure from the government over their activities.

"We are being pressured in an attempt to quiet our voices," he said. He noted that residents of Akkuyu had recently voted out their mayor, who had been in favour of the plant, and brought in a politician who was opposed.

A researcher at the Athens-based Demokritos Research Centre, Andreas Theofilou, referred to the powerful position of the military in Turkey which, as he said, concealed the prospect of the development of nuclear weapons via the nuclear plant.

Finally, plutonium produced by the proposed plant could be used to manufacture some 50 Nagasaki-type nuclear bombs, as Turkish scientists with experience from their tenure in Pakistan would be called on to work on such a project, he emphasised.

Athens News Agency

[03] Mitsotakis urges patience on presidential issue

Athens, 12/07/1999 (ANA)

Speaking from Crete on Saturday and in response to calls by local residents to vie for the post, Mr. Mitsotakis told reporters that the issue "is not a personal problem of mine. I want to clarify this once and for all. It is a political problem which will be resolved at its proper time. I have exhausted what I wanted to say and I have nothing more to say."

He also referred to Greek-Turkish relations when asked to comment on the twinning of the Cretan community of Milatos with the township of Miletus on the coast of Asia Minor.

"I agree with the initiative taken by Milatos and I congratulate them for the effort they are making. The improvement in the climate of Greek-Turkish relations is a valuable contribution to the effort for peaceful co- existence between the two peoples and I also believe that the moment is suitable for an effort to be made to imrove Greek-Turkish relations, despite the phenomena.

"And, of course, Greek-Turkish relations must be accompanied by a just solution to the Cyprus issue, which has become prolonged, to enable them to move decisively for the better. In this sense, my wishes accompany your mission to Turkey and I hope your example will find others who will follow suit," he said.

Athens News Agency

[04] Archdiocese of America the focus of Vaartholomeos-Spyridon talks

ISTANBUL, 12/07/1999 (ANA - A. Kourkoulas)

However, sources close to Spyridon reiterated that he will not resign.

Spyridon attended a dinner hosted by the Ecumenical Patriarch in honour of a US Episcopal Church delegation, which is paying an official visit to the Patriarchate.

Archbishop Spyridon arrived in Istanbul yesterday.

In regular meetings and deliberations over the past month, the Ecumenical Patriarchate's Synod discussed the situation being shaped in the American Archdiocese.

According to other sources, the Synod, which avoided to date to adopt accusations made against Spyridon by various groups from the Archdiocese of America, tends to believe that Spyridon's personality is aggravating the situation and is making the handling of accumulated problems difficult.

Greek foreign ministry delegation : Meanwhile, the head of the foreign ministry's religious affairs department held discussions here yesterday with Vartholomeos.

Stylianos Valsamas-Rallis was accompanied by Greece's ambassador to Ankara, Yiannis Korantzis, and Athens' general consul in Istanbul, Fotis Xydas.

The foreign ministry delegation had requested a meeting with Vartholomeos following a meeting in Athens last week. According to reports, talks focused on issues concerning the Archdiocese of America.

Finally, the Metropolitan of Pittsburgh, Maximos, is also expected at the Patriarchate.

Athens News Agency

[05] KKE supporters block border post, attempt to enter Thessaloniki port

Athens, 12/07/1999 (ANA)

Protesters entered a neutral zone between the two countries before pulling down and burning a European Union flag.

The protest lasted for about an hour, during which customs officials diverted traffic to other roads.

In later action, some 2,000 KKE-affiliated protesters gathered outside Gate 12 of Thessaloniki's port for a symbolic blockade that turned violent when they attempted to break into the port facilities from Gate 11, police reported.

According to reports, riot police responded with tear gas, while protesters hurled rocks and plastic water bottles. The demonstrators finally dispersed into nearby side-streets.

Authorities also reported 10 minor injuries among the crowd of protesters. The rally began at the city's White Tower.

Thessaloniki's port and its Macedonia Airport have been used as a major transit point for NATO troops heading to FYROM and the troubled Yugoslav province of Kosovo.

Athens News Agency

[06] Cohen expected for talks tomorrow

Athens, 12/07/1999 (ANA)

Mr. Cohen will meet with Prime Minister Costas Simitis as well as the foreign and defence ministers.

Also on the agenda are multipartite cooperation in Kosovo and southeastern Europe.

Athens News Agency

[07] Fischer in Athens today

Athens, 12/07/1999 (ANA)

Mr. Fischer is due to meet with his Greek counterpart George Papandreou and Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis.

On the agenda of the talks are the reconstruction of the Balkans, European Union relations with Turkey and the Cyprus issue.

Athens News Agency

[08] Tunisian Defence Minister Ben Yehia in Athens today

Athens, 12/07/1999 (ANA)

Tomorrow, the Tunisian minister will meet with Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis and President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos.

Athens News Agency

[09] Poll: Vast majority favours deportation for illegals

Athens, 12/07/1999 (ANA)

According to the poll, some 89.5 per cent said they favoured deportation, with 76.5 per cent saying they believed the majority of criminals in Greece were Albanian.

Some 79. 2 per cent said they believed more foot patrols by police would curb crime.

Slightly more than half (59.4 per cent) said they believed introducing a "green card" for foreign nationals to work legally in Greece was a positive measure, while 34.9 per cent believed it was to the detriment of Greek citizens.

The most important issue facing Greece, according to 23.4 per cent of respondents, was the economy, followed by crime (22.8 per cent).

Unemployment was the most serious issue for 21.5 per cent, national and foreign policy issues for 16.7 per cent, education for 3.5 per cent and health for 1.3 per cent.

Athens News Agency

[10] More border guards for eastern Macedonia, Thrace

Athens, 12/07/1999 (ANA)

According to sources, 400 guards will be posted to the Evros region, 100 in the Rodopi prefecture, 60 in the Xanthi region and 120 in Drama.

Evros is the main transit post for thousands of Asian illegal immigrants who enter the country with the help of Turkish smugglers.

Athens News Agency

[11] Apostolakis comments on array of Greece-Cyprus military issues

NICOSIA, 12/07/1999 (ANA)

"The two countries are in constant cooperation, with Greece backing the decisions of Cyprus," Mr. Apostolakis added.

He said the joint defence doctrine is always in effect and is constantly being enriched, since it is the common point of reference in frequent contacts between the civil leaderships of the two countries' defence ministries.

Mr. Apostolakis further said that "the idea is not true that the S-300 (Russian-made missiles) were dumped on Greece by Cyprus. Our bilateral defence cooperation is not of this form and quality," he said, adding that the establishment of the anti-aircraft system on Crete did not create problems in Greece's relations with NATO.

"The defence organisation of each country constitutes the exclusive responsibility of nations and is not subject to the judgement of alliances or formations in which they participate," he said.

Mr. Apostolakis said that as the Cyprus issue stands at present, training planning by the national defence general staff and the national guard general staff is not affected through exercises such as "Nikiforos" and "Toxotis."

Replying to an observation that the Hellenic Air Force and Navy might not participate in the exercise "Nikiforos" this year, Mr. Apostolakis said it was the first time that he heard of such a thing.

Athens News Agency

Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article