Athens News Agency: News in English (AM), 98-06-29
NEWS IN ENGLISH
Athens, Greece, 29/06/1998 (ANA)
MAIN HEADLINES
- War in Kosovo will have wider repercussions in region
- Holbrooke: Kosovo clashes could explode into Balkan conflagration
- KKE leader speaks of 'plan for dissolution of new Yugoslavia'
- Kosovo crisis can only be resolved through diplomacy
- No change in Tirana's policy on Kosovo, Milo tells ANA
- Stephanopoulos winds up official visit to Cyprus
- Greece, Austria preparing two major exhibition events
- Karamanlis criticises govt's economic and development policy
- Humanitarian-historian Moscof passes away
- Weather
- Foreign exchange
NEWS IN DETAIL
War in Kosovo will have wider repercussions in region
Prime Minister Costas Simitis and Italian counterpart Romano Prodi
yesterday warned that any armed conflict in the troubled Yugoslav province
of Kosovo should be avoided, as a war would have wider repercussions on the
countries in the region, including Greece and Italy.
The two men were speaking at a press conference on the island of Corfu,
after talks during a private visit by Prodi to the island and before
leaving together for Frankfurt to attend the official installation today of
Wim Duisenberg as president of the European Central Bank (ECB).
Their talks focussed on Greek-Italian relations, their countries' stand on
matters concerning the European Union and the southeastern Mediterranean,
and regional problems.
''There will be a wave of refugees...and a general instability throughout
the area,'' in the event of armed conflict in Kosovo, the Greek premier
said.
Turning to Greek-Turkish relations, Mr. Simitis said he and Mr. Prodi had
discussed EU relations with Turkey, Greece's relations with its Balkan
neighbour, and Cyprus.
Mr. Simitis said Greece and Italy had a particular role to play in the
Balkan region.
''We must have close contact, a common position, on these problems, as it
is in the interest of our two countries to have a close collaboration,''
Mr. Simitis said, adding that contacts between the two countries would
continue.
Holbrooke: Kosovo clashes could explode into Balkan conflagration
US ambassador-designate to the United Nations and presidential emissary for
the Cyprus issue Richard Holbrooke yesterday expressed the view that the
current clashes in Serbia's troubled province of Kosovo could at any moment
develop into a military conflagration in the Balkans in which Greece may be
involved.
"The situation in Kosovo is explosive ... It is my estimate that the
clashes could at any moment develop into war. If this war spreads, it could
bring Greece at the doorstep of its own involvement in the crisis," he said
in an interview with the Athens Sunday newspaper "To Vima".
The architect of the Bosnia peace accord said the peaceful resolution of
the crisis was the preferred option, but warned that NATO would not shirk
from assuming military action if the situation deteriorated.
"The cause of the impasse is the significant change in Turkish policy, as
it now poses two conditions for the commencement of negotiations: the
recognition of the self-styled Turkish Cypriot republic and the freezing of
Cyprus' accession course to the EU. These conditions make the achievement
of progress impossible," he said.
KKE leader speaks of 'plan for dissolution of new Yugoslavia'
In an announcement yesterday, Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Secretary-
General Aleka Papariga said that "there is a plan for the dissolution of
new Yugoslavia as well."
"This is reality, this is the target of the imperialist intervention and
not protection of the rights, as they say, of all desiring autonomy and
self determination. Because new Yugoslavia is the sole country in the area
which, for various reasons, is re sisting the plans of the United States
and NATO," she said. "The arming in Kosovo of the so-called liberation army
is taking place openly. Nobody speaks about this. Not to speak about the
Kosovars and the kind of popular movement existing there at a time when
they are calling on NATO to invade," she added.
Ms. Papariga concluded that "money is flowing into Kosovo. And the height
of this is that Holbrooke is in the arms of the Kosovars."
"The crude and provocative statements by Holbrooke on an expansion of the
war in the Balkans and the escalation of imperialist interventions, which
they show, underline the direct danger faced by the peoples in the area," a
KKE statement said.
Kosovo crisis can only be resolved through diplomacy
Greece said on Saturday that diplomacy was the only way to resolve the
Kosovo crisis, warning that the use of military force could ignite war
further afield in the Balkans.
"Whoever uses violence, be it the Serbs or the (Albanian) Liberation Army
(KLA), will be responsible and accountable for the explosion which will be
ignited in the Balkans," National Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos said
after a meeting in Thessaloniki with his Albanian counterpart Luan
Hajdaraga.
Mr. Tsohatzopoulos stressed the need for pressure to be exerted on Yugoslav
President Slobodan Milosevic to "immediately begin dialogue, without terms
and preconditions, with (ethnic Albanian leader) Ibrahim Rugova".
He added, at the same time, that KLA forces seeking to establish Kosovo
independence through violent means should be condemned as undermining peace
in the region.
Mr. Tsohatzopoulos said he shared US presidential emissary Richard
Holbrooke's concern of a danger of general conflagration in the area, and
expressed the view that recent NATO exercises in the border between Kosovo,
Albania and FYROM "had the character of pressure with a view to resolving
the crisis".
No change on Tirana's policy on Kosovo, Milo tells ANA
There has been no change in Tirana's policy on Yugoslavia's troubled Kosovo
province, Albanian Foreign Minister Paschal Milo told ANA in an exclusive
interview yesterday, commenting on a furore caused by recent statements
attributed to Albanian Premier Fatos Nano ruling out the prospect of Kosovo
independence, which he said had probably been due to a misinterpretation of
the premier's statement.
Reports on Friday from Crans Montana, Switzerland, that Fatos Nano said he
did not support independence for Kosovo and that he was doing his best to
moderate radical army factions fighting for that cause had drawn the fire
of the Albanian press, while government officials called on Mr. Nano to
brief parliament on those positions.
Mr. Milo was said by the Albanian press to have been among the first to
react to the purported Nano statements.
''Mr. Nano's position has not changed. In this instance, I think it is a
misinterpretation of the (Albanian premier's) interview, and in fact, today
(Sunday), the premier stated himself that he never said that controversial
phrase,'' Mr. Milo said.
''The same announcement (by Nano) notes that he never said anything
indicating a change of stance of the Albanian government regarding (Kosovo
Albanian leader Ibrahim) Rugova, the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), or the
eventualities that the Tirana govern ment sees as possible future solutions
to the Kosovo issue,'' Mr. Milo said.
''The Albanian government's position has not changed. In cooperation with
our partners we are working for a diplomatic solution so that, through
dialogue and in step with the international organisations, we can achieve a
de-escalation of the situation in Kosovo. In supporting a peaceful solution,
however, we consider that the Albanians of Kosovo themselves must decide on
the regime to prevail,'' Mr. Milo said.
In exclusive statements to the ANA, Albanian President Rexhep Mejdani also
said that the situation in Kosovo was particularly critical, making an
international presence there, combined with pressure on the part of the
international community, a necessity.
On Mr. Holbrooke's contacts with the KLA, Mr. Mejdani said they introduced
a new element in the search for a solution.
''I think that without those contacts, any diplomatic or political actions
would not bring about the desired results and we would have to seek other
aspects that would lead to a solution,'' Mr. Mejdani said.
Stephanopoulos winds up official visit to Cyprus
Greek President, Kostis Stephanopoulos returned to Athens yesterday,
describing his four-day official visit to Cyprus as "most successful" and
repeating once again that his message to Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots
was one for friendship and peace.
The Greek president began his visit to the island republic, the first ever
by a Greek head of state to Cyprus, last Thursday. He was accompanied by
Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos, Foreign Undersecretary Yiannos
Kranidiotis, National Economy Undersecretary Alekos Baltas and other
officials.
Speaking at Larnaca airport shortly before his departure, Mr. Stephanopoulos
reaffirmed that "the Cyprus problem is Greece's top priority", and
reassured that:
"Greece will never stop supporting and standing by the people of Cyprus in
their effort to regain their freedom, independence and integrity."
The Greek president also stressed that during his visit he tried to send "a
message of friendship and reconciliation to Turkey" and expressed the hope
Ankara will listen to it.
"Turkey cannot continue acting this way if it wishes to act with prudence
and respect fundamental human rights", he added.
President Stephanopoulos pointed out that, while in Cyprus, he tried to
send a message not only to Turkey and Turkish Cypriots but to the
international community as well.
Mr. Stephanopoulos also pointed out that the positions of the Greek
Cypriots and Greece in respect to a solution to the Cyprus problem stand
firm.
President Glafcos Clerides stressed that the people of Cyprus have realised
that "Greece and Cyprus walk together and will fight from the same trenches
for justice".
Greek Cypriots have also realised, President Clerides added, that "there is
close cooperation between the governments of Greece and Cyprus and between
their political leaders".
The Greek president invited his Cypriot counterpart for an official visit
to Greece.
On his way back to Athens where he arrived early last night, President
Stephanopoulos told reporters accompanying him on the plane that he was
completely satisfied with the outcome of his talks in Cyprus and the
cordial and patriotic welcome he receive d during his stay on the island
republic.
Greece, Austria preparing two major exhibition events
Cooperation between Greece and Austria in preparing two major exhibition
events is anticipated by a joint announcement of intentions signed in
Vienna on Saturday by Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos and Austrian
Educat ion and Arts Minister Elizabeth Goerer.
The Museum of History of Art in Vienna will be the axis of this cooperation
in the field of exhibitions and museum policy on the one hand and the
National Archaeological Museum and other Greek museums on the other.
The first exhibition will be held in the year 2000 in the framework of
celebrations to mark 2000, focusing on the exhibition marking 6,000 years
of Greek jewellery.
The second will be an ambitious exhibition titled Homer and his world and
will be held in 2002 on the occasion of the next Greek European Union
presidency.
Mr. Venizelos participated yesterday in the "Round Table" conference on
"The prospects of cultural policy in Europe" organised in Vienna by the
European Socialist Party.
Karamanlis criticises govt's economic and development policy
Main opposition New Democracy party leader Costas Karamanlis criticised the
government yesterday over its economic and development policy. Mr.
Karamanlis was speaking in the Florina prefecture in the framework of his
four-day tour of western Macedonia.
Speaking to social partner representatives in the prefecture, Mr.
Karamanlis referred to the issue of the building of a plant for the Public
Power Corporation (DEH) at Filotas. He said his party was clearly in favour
of the project, which it had schedul ed when it was in power, but called
for full transparency in the awarding and building process.
Mr. Karamanlis said that small and medium-size enterprises constituted the
backbone of the economy. He said that, among others, their role is
important in confronting unemployment, invoking a survey by the OECD
according to which seven out of 10 new job s concern SMEs. He also called
for a steadfast and just taxation system and a gradual decrease in taxation
rates.
Speaking in villages in Grevena on Saturday and in Amyntaio, Filotas and
Kelli Florinas yesterday, Mr. Karamanlis referred, among others, to what he
said was the government's failure to proceed with necessary structural
changes for the development of th e economy and to the need for necessary
infrastructures to be created for incentives to be provided for the
development of rural areas, placing priority on support for the agricultural
sector.
Humanitarian-historian Moskof passes away
Historian, essayist and leftist intellectual Kostis Moskof, who for the
past 10 years was serving as Greece's cultural attache to Egypt, died in
Athens on Saturday at the age of 59 after a long battle with cancer.
Moskof, who was in an Athens hospital for the past month, was born in 1939
in Thessaloniki, where he later studied law at the Aristotelion University
before going on to Sorbonne in Paris for a doctorate in History.
He served on the Thessaloniki municipal council for three decades, and in
the spring of 1981 briefly served as mayor.
Moskof was cultural attache at the Greek embassy to Egypt since 1989, and
was instrumental in the restoration of Alexandria-born Greek poet
Constantine Kavafy's home and its conversion into a museum.
He also headed the Alexandria-based Foundation for Hellenic Culture in the
Middle East for the past seven years.
WEATHER
Fair weather is forecast throughout Greece for today, turning to overcast
in the north in the evening. Winds northerly, light to strong. Sunny in
Athens with temperatures between 21-35C. Similar weather in Thessaloniki,
turning to overcast in the afternoon and temperatures from 20-32C.
FOREIGN EXCHANGE
Friday's rates (buying) U.S. dollar 301.717
British pound 504.412 Japanese yen (100) 213.161
French franc 50.124 German mark 167.980
Italian lira (100) 17.050 Irish Punt 423.088
Belgian franc 8.146 Finnish mark 55.314
Dutch guilder 149.073 Danish kr. 44.138
Austrian sch. 23.898 Spanish peseta 1.980
Swedish kr. 38.261 Norwegian kr. 39.646
Swiss franc 199.655 Port. Escudo 1.640
Aus. dollar 183.341 Can. dollar 206.435
Cyprus pound 573.773
(C.E.)
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