From: tzarros@ccs.carleton.ca (Theodore Zarros) Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Mon, 22 Aug 1994 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa). Athens News Agency Bulletin, August 22, 1994 -------------------------------------------- * Albanian prosecutor ridiculed over alleged funding of Omonoia * Albania uses plane "incident" as face-saving operation over trial * Government spokesman * Cyprus delegation refused entry to observe Albania trial * Former Albanian deputy PM wary of trial impact * PM back in Athens * Briton arrested for hash smuggling attempt Albanian prosecutor ridiculed over alleged funding of Omonoia -------------------------------------------------------------- Athens 22/8/1994 (ANA): At the ongoing trial of five ethnic Greek members of the Omonoia party in Tirana, Albania, examination of witnesses Saturday centred on alleged funding of political organisations in Albania by Greece. Former Omonoia deputy and journalist Panayiotis Barkas told the court President Sali Berisha's Democratic Party had received money from the Greek New Democracy party, while Omonoia had accepted donations from Greek-American associations. Quitim Pouto, counsel for defendant Theodoros Bezhianis, expressed surprise at the prosecution's insistence on asking questions about the funding of Omonoia, since they bore no relation to the charges. The prosecution replied that the questions were asked so that the whole truth should be revealed. Journalist Dimitrios Kikis, a former Omonoia senior official, said the organisation "has received no money from (former New Democracy Prime Minister) Mitsotakis, others did. All Albanians have received assistance, but this does not mean they have been recruited as agents. If Clinton had given the aid, would this mean the recipients had become CIA agents?". Albania uses plane "incident" as face-saving operation over trial ----------------------------------------------------------------- Tirana, 22/8/1994 (ANA/Marina Vihou): The Albanian government yesterday launched a face-saving operation in a desperate bid to offset ridicule suffered over the trial of ethnic Greeks, by using an incident due to a sprinkler plane which flew over the town of Agioi Saranta in Southern Albania, dropping leaflets with anti-Albanian government content. Albanian television reported: "From six in the morning on Sunday, a Greek propeller plane coming from the island of Corfu flew over Albanian territory for one hour dropping provocative leaflets calling for the overthrow of the current institutional order in Albania." It produced copies of the leaflets, quoting the text as saying, "(President) Berisha and (Prime Minister) Mexi, you will go before dawn". A protest note delivered to the Greek Embassy in Tirana said "the act is in violation of international treaties concerning relations between states, while the calls for the overthrow of the government betray the objectives". The note attributes full responsibility for these acts and their consequences to the Greek government. The plane was flown by retired Greek airforce officer Thomas Vrakas, who returned to sprinkler plane service three years ago. He said he had paid 20,000 dr for the leaflets himself. The Defence Ministry has relieved Vrakas of his duties and summoned him to Athens to account for his act. In a separate statement, the Albanian Foreign Ministry accused Greek authorities of using violence in arresting and expelling Albanian immigrants from Greece, "as a measure of reprisal against the trial of five ethnic Greek minority members, which is conducted openly and in accordance with international rules". Greek police said a man shot dead Saturday was a criminal who had tried to grab a policeman's gun. Government spokesman -------------------- Athens 22/8/1994 (ANA): Press and Media Minister Evangelos Venizelos made the following statement last night: "The critical stance on the part of the Albanian authorities, trying to accuse Greece again over an isolated and marginal incident of a small sprinkler propeller plane over Albanian air space. Such irresponsible and foolish acts are bears no relation whatever to the Greek state or Greek foreign policy, and call for sanctions provided for by Greek legislation, as is the case in all countries where the rule of law applies. As regards the situation of hundreds of thousands of Albanian illegal immigrants working illegally in Greece, we can only say that the Albanian government has belatedly remembered their existence. The Greek authorities and Greek society always treat the m with humanitarian disposition. The application, however, of national and international regulations governing such matters is dictated by reasons related to the guarding of the borders, maintaining public order and the fight against crime". Cyprus delegation refused entry to observe Albania trial -------------------------------------------------------- Nicosia, 22/8/1994 (Reuter): The Albanian government barred a Cypriot parliamentary delegation from entering the country to attend the trial of five ethnic Greeks, the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation said on yesterday. Defendants are charged with spying and illegal possession of weapons. Greece has accused Albania of harassing the ethnic Greek minority living there. "The regime has refused, without plausible explanation, to allow the delegation's visit to Tirana in order to attend the trial," CBS radio said. The Cyprus delegation left Saturday morning for Tirana, via Athens, in a bid to display Cyprus' active support at the controversial trial of the five Greek Albanians. The parliamentary delegation includes Antonis Karras, Aristophanis Georgiou, Odysseus Demetriou and Renos Prentzas. The four-member delegation, now in Ioannina in Northern Greece, had planned to meet with Albanian government officials and ethnic Greek community delegates in Tirana. It also wanted to investigate reports of human rights abuses against ethnic Greeks, the radio said. Former Albanian deputy PM wary of trial impact ---------------------------------------------- Tirana, 22/8/1994 (ANA/Marina Vihou): In an interview with ANA, former Albanian government Vice-President Gramoz Pashko, and joint leader of the Democratic Party, expressed concern over the consequences which the trial of the 'Omonoia Five' will have on Albania, and its possible isolation from the international community. "This trial is targeted against the ethnic Greek minority, this is certain. It is a humiliation which will have serious consequences and will distance us from the Greeks," he said. Mr Pashko went on to point out that "according to the evidence so far, nothing has been proved concerning the treason charges against Albania, and criminal activities... "It seems that the Albanian authorities, instead of using the ethnic Greek minority as a bridge to build relations between Greece and Albania, is using it instead as a type of hostage for a period, in order to impose terms in regard to those relations. That is unjust and politically dangerous. I believe this to be the logic behind the trial, and the wish of some Albanian politicians to draw political benefits from it". Referring to the state of Albanian justice, Mr Pashko said, "officially we have an independent judiciary, but we know quite well that it is not the case... it is a luxury for Albania to hold trials of this sort in such primitive conditions of justice". PM back in Athens ----------------- Athens, 22/8/1994 (ANA): Premier Andreas Papandreou left Iraklion, Crete, late last night returning to Athens, after a brief vacation on the island. Briton arrested for hash smuggling attempt ------------------------------------------ Athens, 22/8/1994 (ANA): Police yesterday arrested a British national at the passport control desk of Athens International airport for trying to smuggle 10 kilos of cannabis into the country. The man, identified as Donald Pearce, 45, had concealed six kilos in the false bottom of his suitcase and another four in an accordion. Customs officials also confiscated 5,000 pounds sterling and 2,750 dollars as proceeds from the sale of narcotics. Pearce had been in Greece since 1980, selling cheap jewellery around the country. During that period he had travelled many times to countries in Europe and Asia, a Police spokesman said. Pearce had bought the cannabis in New Delhi intending to sell a large quantity in Greece and the remainder in Amsterdam, the spokesman added. The Police have cabled Interpol inquiring whether or not Pearce belongs to an international drug trafficking group.