From: tzarros@ccs.carleton.ca (Theodore Zarros) Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Sat, 30 Jul 1994 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa). Bulletin, 30/07/1994 ( ) A.N.A ============================== * Papoulias ends Bosnia talks, carries message to Geneva 3 * Greece set on stance toward EU aid to Albania * Greek aid to Rwanda * Cement company executive to stand trial for tax fraud * Mitsotakis * Greek attitude on EU-Turkey relations remains``unchanged`` * EU to monitor Turkish court trial of Kurds * Kranidiotis on EU admission-related Nicosia visit Papoulias ends Bosnia talks, carries message to Geneva 3 ---------------------------------------------------------- PALE (ANA/Reuter) - Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias said yesterday he would carry a message from Bosnian Serbs to a meeting today of major powers in Geneva. Mr. Papoulias concluded talks in Pale with Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic, as part of a diplomatic initiative by Gre-ece aimed at convincing Bosnian Serbs to agree to the Contact Group's peace plan for Bosnia. Speaking to reporters after his talks, Mr. Papoulias termed his meeting with Mr. Karadzic and his associates "very interesting", adding that having been held only a few hours before "Gene-va-3", the meeting acquired special importance. Mr. Papoulias said there were "grounds for hope at this extremely crucial period." He added results of "Geneva-3" would be for the benefit of peace. Mr. Papoulias concluded: "It was an extremely interesting discussion and I will convey President Karadzic's ideas (to Geneva)." Mr. Karadzic agreed with Mr. Papoulias, expressing satisfaction and thanks for the good communication existing between Bosnian Serbs and Greece because, he said, they lack friendship, and their sole friends are Russia and Greece. Mr. Karadzic, who will not travel to Geneva, said he had explained the statement issued on Thursday by the Bosnian Serb assembly to Mr. Papoulias. "I hope that Mr. Papoulias will convey to the contact group the interpretation of the assembly declaration, about which we have informed him in detail," Mr. Karad-zic said. The assembly said Thursday it was ready to talk further about the peace plan, but attached a series of extra demands seen by western diplomats as amounting to an effective "no." Mr. Karadzic also requested more frequent contacts and talks with Greek Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou because, he told ANA, "Mr. Papandreou's wisdom and advice will certainly be of help in resolving the Bosnian crisis." Immediately after their talks in Pale, Mr. Papoulias and his associates left for Belgrade whence they would be flying to Geneva late at night. Foreign ministers of the United States, Russia, Germany, Britain and France - the "contact group" which sponsored the peace plan- meet in Geneva today to consider further steps in the wake of the Serbian answer to their proposal. Greece is participating in the meeting as member of the European Union troika. Greece set on stance toward EU aid to Albania --------------------------------------------- Foreign Undersecretary Yiannos Kranidiotis told reporters yesterday that the Greek position on the grant of European Union macroeconomic aid to Albania remained as stipulated in the General Affairs Council decision of July 10. The decision provides that disbursement of the first lot of 15 million of a total 35 million ECU package should be coupled with a Com-mission demarche with the Albanian government on the human rights situation and rights of the ethnic Greek minority in the neighbouring country. Granting the balance was made conditional on a satisfactory report on progress recorded in those two fields. Mr Kranidiotis explained that disbursement 'froze' following a Finance Ministers Council (ECOFIN) session last Wednesday, at which the Commission refused to include the political terms accompanying it in the relevant legal document, proposing instead separate publication of both in the Official Journal of the European Union. As far as Greece was concerned, Mr Kranidiotis added, it was a matter of principle that the demarche be included in the legal document. An Albanian Foreign Ministry statement yesterday denounced the action of the Greek government, "considering it wholly unfounded and based on falsehood". The statement also accused Greece of pursuing a nationalist policy and being unwilling to collaborate with its neighbours. ANA Greek aid to Rwanda -------------------- Athens, July 30 (ANA)--Greece said yesterday it was sending money and aid to help over a million Rwandan refugees. European Affairs Minister Yiannos Kranidiotis said a total of 25 million drachmas and 50 million drachmas in food and medical supplies would be sent, today or tomorrow, to assist refugees in Rwanda. He also appealed for public donations, saying special accounts had been opened for contributions at Greek banks throughout the country. "We believe that the Europan Union and other countries should confront this human drama in a most effective manner. Efforts should be made to end the civil war there as soon as possible," Mr. Kranidiotis said. The European Union, the main donor for Rwandan refugees, recently approved 74 million ECU in aid, bringing its total since the crisis began last October to 247 million ECU. Some 14,000 refugees have already died of cholera and the World Health Organisation has warned that fugitives are also threatened by other epidemics such as dysentery and measles. EU aid is mainly channelled through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNCHR) and the International Red Cross. Mr. Kranidiotis said the European Troika would be visiting Rwanda in the second fortnight of September (19-20). Cement company executive to stand trial for tax fraud ------------------------------------------------------ Athens, July 30 (ANA)--The Athens Appeal Council yesterday ordered former AGET Iraklis Cement Co vice-president Nikos Georgiadis to stand trial on charges of violating the law on intermediaries. The Council also dismissed charges against former Organisation for the Rehabilitation of Ailing Enterprises (OAE) president Petros Papageorgiou for fraud and breach of faith. Georgiadis is accused of not including receipt of $12 million he received as commission for the sale of AGET to the Italian Calcestruzzi conglomerate in his tax statement. The bill of indictment mentions that Georgiadis had met president of Calcestruzzi ,Lorenzo Pancavolta, in 1985 and undertook to mediate in the sale of 69.8% of AGET shares in 1990, when the Greek government announced its intention to relinquish control of the company. Concerning Papageorgiou, the Appeals Council says it cannot be ascertained that he knowingly caused a 26 billion dr loss to AGET by agreeing to a 124 billion dr sale price. Following publication of the Appeals Court decision, New Democracy party leader Miltiades Evert stated he was pleased that party member Petros Papageorgiou had been acquitted. Mitsotakis ----------- ZURICH ( Reuter) - The Swiss News Agency reported the Zurich public prosecutor yesterday as having promised to assist Greek officials investigating a case of alleged bribery involving former Prime Minister Constantine Mitsotakis. Assistance will enable Greek authorities to gain access to information from six Swiss bank accounts, in their effort to track down bribes stemming from the AGET sale. Greek attitude on EU-Turkey relations remains``unchanged`` --------------------------------------------------------- Athens, July 30 (ANA)--- The European Commission has finalised a text containing suggestions and proposals on relations between the EU and Turkey, to be discussed soon at the EU Council of Ministers in preparation of the EU-Turkey Association Council convening in December. The text aims at promoting customs union between Europe and Turkey. At the same time, a view is voiced for Turkey to be supported economically in light of customs union. Foreign Undersecretary Yiannos Kranidiotis said an attempt was being made to take a decision on finalising basic texts defining this relationship, even if activating customs union were delayed for some months. He added there was a proposal for a delay of about one year. An appeal was also made for Greece to lift its reservations. The Greek government is following with special interest moves under way aimed at the prospect of an EU-Turkey Association Council , Mr. Kranidiotis said, replying to press questions. He added that the Greek position on relations between the EU and Turkey remained unchanged. "Greece does not accept the strengthening of relations between Turkey and the EU as long as that country maintains occupation troops in Cyprus and does not show respect for human rights as expected from a country associated with the European Union," Mr. Kranidiotis said. EU to monitor Turkish court trial of Kurds ------------------------------------------ Athens, July 30 ( ANA)-- The European Parliament will send three officials to Turkey, to monitor the trial of six Kurdish deputies of the Democratic Party (DEP) on August 3 and 4. The delegation led by German Eurodeputy Yiannis Sakelariou, a socialist politician of Greek descent, comprises also Netherlands' Martje van Putten and Germany's Claudia Roth. The Kurds are being tried for promoting separatism, a charge tantamount to treason. Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Yiannos Kranidiotis told reporters yesterday that Turkey's allegations that Kurdish guerrillas in Turkey and Iraq are trained in Greece are "unacceptable" and " inconsistent with reality". "Other reasons, perhaps domestic politics, are guiding Turkey to constantly repeat this motive," he said. Mr. Kranidiotis criticised the recent bombings by Turkey of Kurds in northern Iraq, emphasing that Ankara is violating international laws. Kranidiotis on EU admission-related Nicosia visit -------------------------------------------------- Athens, July 30 (ANA)---European Affairs Foreign Undersecretary Yiannos Kranidiotis said yesterday he would pay an official visit to Cyprus on Monday for talks on the island-republic's membership to the European Union. Mr. Kranidiotis said the talks are in light of preprations for EU's review of Cyprus' application in January. He said he would also tour EU capitals in October and November, in a bid to persuade member -states to begin Cyprus' entry negotiations as soon as possible. Cyprus applied for full EU membership in July 1990. An EU Commission avis considered Cyprus "eligible", but noted it wanted to see progress towards a solution to the political problem of the island-republic. The Commission is due to reexamine the application in January 1995, in light of developments towards a settlement. The EU Summit in Corfu last month decided that Cyprus and Malta should be included in the next enlargement of the Union. Mr. Kranidiotis said his talks with the Cyprus government would also focus on a recently imposed EU export ban on Turkish-occupied northern Cyprus. The decision, taken by the European Court of Justice on July 5, ruled no EU member state may buy goods from Turkish occupied northern Cyprus. The island-republic has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops occupied the northern third after a coup in Nicosia propelled by the junta then ruling Greece. Turkey continues to maintain over 30,000 troops in the occupied area.