From: tzarros@ccs.carleton.ca (Theodore Zarros) Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Sat, 14 May 1994 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa). Athens News Agency Bulletin, Foreign Ministers call for four-month "cessation of hostilities" in Bosnia --------------------------------------------- Geneva, 14/5/94 (Reuter/AFP/ANA-N.Georgiadis): The foreign ministers of Russia, the United States and five western European countries called yesterday for a four-month cease-fire in Bosnia-Herzegovina and negotiations between the warring parties in two weeks. The communiqui issued at the end of their five-hour meeting and termed by Greek Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias as "balanced", called for a peace agreement based on a European Union proposal to divide the former Yugoslav republic on the basis of 51 percent for a federation of Moslems and Croats, and 49 percent for Serbs. The ministers from the United States, Russia, Germany, Britain, France, Belgium and Greece also condemned recent Serb attacks against Gorazde, a Moslem enclave in the east which the United Nations had declared a "safe area." Bank of Greece supports drachma -------------------------------- Athens, 14/5/94 (ANA): Greece's central bank moved to help the ailing drachma yesterday by imposing a nine percent reserve requirement on all deposits of public corporations. The new regulations on minimum reserves that must be held with the central bank were announced following speculative attacks on the drachma in foreign exchange markets. The currency has come under pressure on expectations of faster sliding or even a devaluation before July 1 when Greece removes all remaining restrictions on capital movements. Government rules out drachma devaluation ---------------------------------------- Athens, 14/5/94 (ANA): The government has ruled out drachma devaluation. "There was not, there is not and there will not be any question of devaluing the drachma," government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said yesterday, adding government statements on the matter were "clear" and "unchanging". Bank of Greece measures to fend off gnomes ------------------------------------------ Athens, 14/5/94 (ANA): Two decisions by Governor of the Bank of Greece Ioannis Boutos will limit, in phases, the liquidity of the economy by 100 billion drachmas until the end of August, making the Greek currency more expensive and, by extension, less attractive for speculators to acquire and exchange for other currencies. In particular, 9% of drachma deposits of public enterprises and organisations are to be kept with the Bank of Greece, and the percentage of statutory deposits of the Agricultural Bank with the central bank raised from 5.5% to 9%. The decisions abolish the distinction between public and private sector deposits. Current Account marks surplus Jan/Feb. ------------------------------------- Athens, 14/5/94 (ANA): The Balance of Current Account this year showed a surplus of 285 million dollars in January and February, compared with 117.5 million dollars in the corresponding two-month period of 1993, according to figures released by the Bank of Greece yesterday. Foreign exchange reserves stood at 8.902 billion dollars at the end of February, compared with 5.591 billion dollars at the same time last year. The increase in the Current Account surplus was due to a 609 million dollar rise in the Invisibles surplus which totalled 2.389 billion against 1.780 billion dollars in the corresponding two-month period of 1993. The trade deficit reached 2.104 billion, comparing with 1.662 billion dollars in 1993. Imports totalled 2.852 billion, against 2.546 billion dollars last year, while exports reached 748 million, compared with 883.7 million dollars in 1993. Business capital inflows in January and February totalled 673 million, compared with an outflow of 4 million dollars in the same period last year. In February, the trade deficit a-mounted to 1 billion dollars, while the Invisibles balance recorded a surplus of 817.7 million dollars. In the same month, the Current Accounts deficit was 348 million dollars. Papoulias: Berisha meeting statement 'positive' ---------------------------------------------- Athens, 14/5/94 (ANA): Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias yesterday termed "positive" a statement by Albanian President Sali Berisha that he would be willing to visit Athens, if invited by the Greek government. Mr. Papoulias added, however, for such a meeting to be successful, it should be meticulously prepared. "Although, of course, Zurich (the meeting between Mr. Papoulias and Albanian Foreign Minister Alfred Sereqi) was positive, since both sides expressed their desire to work together to overcome the crisis, I still think we should move on to practical measures and, first and foremost, with the issue of the ethnic Greek minority," Mr. Papoulias said. "Meeting is not a bad thing, but it should also be productive and bear fruit. The meeting should be prepared, if it is to have a successful outcome," he added. Albania wants new FM meeting ---------------------------- Tirana, 14/5/94 (Reuter): Albania has announced its readiness to hold a new meeting with Greece to seek normalisation of relations, radio Tirana said yesterday. Albania's deputy foreign minister, Arjan Starova, met the Greek ambassador in Tirana to propose a new meeting between Greek and Albanian foreign ministers, the radio said. Ties sunk to a low last month, after an attack on an Albanian barracks near the Greek border in which two Albanian soldiers were killed and three injured. Tirana said it held the Greek government responsible for the incident. Greece denied any involvement. The two foreign ministers, Alfred Sereqi of Albania and his Greek counterpart Karolos Papoulias, met in Zurich earlier this month, but achieved little progress in normalising relations. They agreed to meet again at a future date. Tirana radio did not say whether or not Albania had proposed a date for a new meeting of foreign ministers. European Stability Accord initial round ends successfully --------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 14/5/94 (ANA): The Preparatory Session on promoting a European Stability Accord (Balladur initiative) concluded its work in Athens with the participation of almost all European countries and the US and Canada and CSCE, Council of Europe, NATO and WEU representatives. The meeting focused on a rapprochement of views among participating countries, on the basic targets of the initiative which is aimed at developing relations of good neighbourliness, settling minority problems, reaffirming the inviolability of borders and promoting regional co-operation. The Greek presidency under Ambassador S. Stathatos, achieved a rapprochement of views among participating countries after many hours of talks and backstage consultations, resulting in an in-principle acceptance of a proclamation text which will be tabled for approval by the ministerial conference due to take place in Paris on May 26 under the chairmanship of Alternate Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos. PM sympathy message for John Smith's death ------------------------------------------- Athens, 14/5/94 (ANA): Prime Minister and Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) President Andreas Papandreou yesterday expressed condolences at the sudden death of British Labour Party leader John Smith. He died of a heart attack Thursday morning. "I express my deepest sympathy for the unexpected death of John Smith, the leader of the British Labour Party and a distinguished parliamentarian. His death is a blow to the European Socialist forces," Mr. Papandreou said in a message of condolences to the Labour Party and John Smith's family. Papoulias: Senate Bosnia embargo decision "may complicate" things ----------------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 14/5/94 (ANA): Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias said yesterday that the US Senate decision to push ahead for the lifting an arms embargo on Bosnia would "probably complicate the situation". Mr. Papoulias said that the issue would be discussed by the foreign ministers of the four UN Security Council members (United States, Russia, Britain, France) and of the previous, current and next holders of the EU presidency (Belgium, Greece and Germany) shortly before leaving for the meeting in Geneva. The Senate voted 50-49 on Thursday to require the US to unilaterally lift the Bosnia arms ban despite opposition from its NATO allies and the UN. Papoulias, Juppe meeting in Geneva ---------------------------------- Geneva, 14/5/94 (ANA-Nikos Georgiades): Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias met here yesterday with French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe on the sidelines of the West European, Russia and US Conference of Foreign Ministers on Bosnia. Mr. Juppe requested the meeting with Mr. Papoulias. The conference will examine the Bosnian problem and discuss a confidential report of the group which had two rounds of talks with warring factions in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Zaharakis meets with Vance, Nimetz on FYROM ------------------------------------------ New York, 14/5/94 (ANA-M.Georgiadou): Foreign Ministry Secretary-General Christos Zaharakis yesterday met for two hours with special UN mediator on the issue of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) Cyrus Vance. State Department FYROM special envoy Matthew Nimetz was also present. After the meeting, Mr Vance declined to refer to details, adding he would next confer with FYROM delegates. Mr Zaharakis said discussion focused on ideas of how to promote the negotiation process. Responding to a question concerning reports from Greece that Mr Vance expected a modified Greek stance, he said he knew nothing of such reports. Mr Nimetz stated it had been "a very constructive discussion. It is an important process. Our government is strongly interested in a solution to the problem and we shall continue working in this direction." EU environment meeting at Santorini ------------------------------------ Athens, 14/5/94 (ANA): European Union environment ministers met yesterday on the island of Santorini to discuss the repercussions of tourist development on the environment. The informal meeting is chaired by Environment, Town Planning and Public Welfare Under-secretary Elizabeth Papazoi, who expressed the hope that the EU would adopt a common tourism policy which would respect the environment. "The European Union should give particular emphasis on tourism," she said, adding that "many countries do not want a Common Tourism Policy." "But this will be decided in 1996, when the Maastricht Treaty will be reformed," she said. The issue is of particular concern to Greece and other Mediterranean countries which together account for 35 percent of international tourist arrivals. It is the first time that the relationship between tourism and the environment will be discussed by the EU at ministerial level. The European Commission is represented at the meeting by the Greek Commissioner responsible for the environment, Ioannis Paleokrassas. According to figures presented by Ms. Papazoi, nearly one million hectares of wetland have disappeared in the Mediterranean countries since 1940 as a direct result of tourist development. By the year 2000, 8,000 square kilometres of coastal area in the Mediterranean will have been given over to tourism and entertainment, according to UN estimates. In addition to the loss of wetland, tourist development also threatens erosion of the coastline due to construction works, as well as loss of forest areas because of urban development and fires, some of which are caused intentionally in order to create areas for development. By the year 2025, the volume of liquid waste discharged into the sea is expected to have tripled. In order to confront the situation, the Greek presidency has set three immediate priorities: the taking of measures to conserve drinking water and recycle liquid waste, energy-saving measures and the effective disposal of solid waste.