From: tzarros@ccs.carleton.ca (Theodore Zarros) Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Mon, 19 Sep 1994 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa). Athens News Agency Bulletin, September 19, 1994 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ * Albania escalates tension "beyond all limits of international law" * Arsenis * Berisha reaches out to ethnic Greek minority * Papoulias: strong signs of FYROM settlement in sight * Venizelos in Cyprus "a prime national issue" * Greek combined exercise to coincide with NATO manoeuvre * Opposition to call for early poll in spring * Communist leader appeals for support at local election * Culture Ministry, UNESCO sign Aegean Declaration Albania escalates tension "beyond all limits of international law" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Athens, 19/9/1994 (ANA): Greece accused Albania Saturday of intensifying provocation in an unpredictable manner, as a Tirana court sentenced another member of the ethnic Greek minority to one year imprisonment for illegal possession of firearms. "Unfortunately (Albanian) provocations are continuing and intensifying in a manner that cannot be easily predicted, because they exceed all limits of international law and common sense," government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos told reporters shortly be fore his departure for Cyprus, where he will have talks with the island republic's political and government leadership. Constantine Tsavos was the sixth member of the ethnic minority to be convicted this month. Five others were found guilty of spying on September 7. Other recent provocations listed by Mr. Venizelos include the imposition of visas on Greek passport-holders, and the virtual closing of the Albanian border to drivers of commercial vehicles entering the neighbouring country which, he said, was a non-diplomatic move. Mr. Venizelos further said that the Greek government was confronting all such provocations in a "cautious and effective manner, the results of which will appear in good time." Commenting on the crisis in Greek-Albanian relations, Mr. Papoulias yesterday described as an "unacceptable procedure" the summary trial of the sixth member of the ethnic Greek minority Constantine Tsavos. Speaking to reporters shortly before his departure for New York to attend the annual UN General Assembly, Mr. Papoulias expressed hope that the crisis in Greek-Albanian relations would be finally overcome. He also commented on reported statements by Albanian President Sali Berisha during a weekend tour of southern Albania, claiming that Greece was "supplying weapons to the ethnic Greek minority." Mr. Papoulias termed the statements provocative, adding the Greek government "does not supply weapons to the Greek ethnic minority, while also seeking dialogue for a peaceful settlement of relations with Albania." "Mr. Berisha is well aware that Greece is an element of stability and peace in the Balkans," Mr. Papoulias said, adding that he was "surprised by the present stance of the Albanian president towards our country." "In one of his first interviews when PASOK assumed the government, Mr. Berisha had warmly praised Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou's policy and that of the Greek foreign ministry towards Albania," Papoulias said. On Saturday, Mr. Papoulias met with the executive committee of the Greek ethnic political organisation "Omonia". In another development, main opposition New Democracy party leader Miltiades Evert called for a meeting of Greek political party leaders under the chairmanship of the president of the republic to "forge a long-term national strategy." Addressing Saturday business representatives in Thessaloniki, Mr. Evert said that such strategy should have a "European and national orientation in safeguarding Greece's national positions within the European Union, while promoting the unification of Europe on a supranational basis of a federal character." Arsenis ~~~~~~ Athens, 19/9/1994: Meanwhile, National defence minister Gerasimos Arsenis said yesterday Albanian provocations against Greece could be confronted with action, not words only. " Albanian provocations can be confronted with action, not words only," Mr. Arsenis told reporters before leaving for New York for talks with US Defence Secretary William Perry tomorrow, which include Greek-Albanian relations . He said results of Greek government policy towards Tirana "will appear very soon". Berisha reaches out to ethnic Greek minority ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tirana, 19/9/1994 (ANA/S.Trilikis): Albanian President Sali Berisha toured ethnic Greek villages in the south of the country at the weekend, to reassure citizens that his government was "not hostile" towards the ethnic Greek minority. Mr. Berisha said dialogue was the only way to solve the crisis with Greece over Tirana's persecution of the ethnic Greek community. In a meeting with the people of Livadhja, 300 km (180 miles) south of Tirana, Mr. Berisha said that, "despite the fact that Athens government considers the offer of dialogue not serious" only talks could resolve the problem. Mr. Berisha also praised the climate of tolerance between ethnic Greeks and Albanians living in the same area. "Coexistence, understanding and tolerance among Albanians and Greeks in such areas prove that we are worthy of the civilisations we belong to," Mr. Berisha said. Papoulias: strong signs of FYROM settlement in sight ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Athens, 19/9/1994 (ANA): Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias said yesterday there were strong indications that a solution would be found to the dispute between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) in the coming months. Speaking to reporters shortly before his departure for New York to attend the annual UN General Assembly, Mr. Papoulias said "there are strong indications that there will be a solution." Mr. Papoulias will meet with UN mediator on the Skopje issue Cyrus Vance on Wednesday. When asked whether or not there would be any developments before the end of the year, Mr. Papoulias avoided forecasting a date by replying : "Instead of saying before the end of the present year, we might say the early months of the coming year." "Of course," he went on, "the entire solution to the problem does not depend on the Greek side, but instead on (FYROM leader Kiro) Gligorov, who should abandon his intransigent stance." Mr. Papoulias attributed Skopje inertia on the issue to the pre-election period in the neighbouring state. Greece imposed trade sanctions as retortion measures against the former Yugoslav republic last February, in an effort to thwart Skopje intransigence. Greece insists that FYROM stop using the name 'Macedonia', remove ancient Greek symbols from its flag and amend its constitution which contains expansionist designs against Greece. Mr. Papoulias said that he planned to hold talks with his American counterpart Warren Christopher, Turkish Foreign Minister Mumtaz Soysal, as well as foreign ministers of Balkan and other countries. He said that during his 10-day stay in New York he would have "important consultations and meetings". Venizelos in Cyprus "a prime national issue" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Athens, 19/9/1994 (ANA): Minister of Press and Mass Media and government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos arrived in Cyprus Saturday, on a four-day visit at the invitation of his Cypriot counterpart Yiannakis Cassoulides. In an arrival statement, Mr. Venizelos underscored that Cyprus is a prime national issue. He added Greece insisted on the basic conditions carried in the second paragraph of Resolution 939, also stressing that the UN Secretary-General and his associates ought to act within that framework. Mr. Venizelos noted the Security Council should always consider the Cyprus issue as an international problem which also relates to violation of international justice. The minister reiterated that whenever he visited Cyprus he thought of it first as an obligation and an opportunity for ethnic self-appraisal, coupled with satisfaction at meeting friends and officials with whom to hold discussions on Cyprus as well as o their national issues. Official talks held between Mr. Venizelos and the Cypriot government begin today. Mr. Venizelos will be received by President Glafcos Clerides, Archbishop Chysostomos and House of Representatives President Alexis Galanos. He will also have separate talks with Foreign Minister Alecos Michaelides and leaders or representatives of the island republic's political parties. Mr. Venizelos and Mr. Cassoulides will review co-operation in promoting national issues. Greek combined exercise to coincide with NATO manoeuvre ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Athens, 19/9/1994 (ANA): Greece will hold a large scale military exercise in the Aegean to coincide with that of Nato's "Dynamic Guard 94" on October 2 through 12, the National Defence Ministry announced on Saturday. Greece is not taking part in the NATO manoeuvre because Lemnos island, an integral part of the country's defence area, has been excluded from the planning of the allied exercise which includes operational activity in the Aegean. The Greek exercise, code-named "Guardians of the Aegean" includes all services of the Greek armed forces, military sources said yesterday, adding "western allies have been invited to participate." The sources added Greece was not taking part in the NATO exercise, because it did not want a split in the Aegean unified defence, as the region belongs exclusively to Greece, while NATO is handing over part of its command to Turkey. Another reason was that NATO did not submit flight plans to the Greek Civil Aviation Authority, thus endangering the safety of flights of all civilian aircraft within the Athens Flight Information Region (FIR), for which Greece is responsible. Opposition to call for early poll in spring ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Athens, 19/9/1994 (ANA): Main opposition New Democracy party leader Miltiades Evert told a press conference his party would call for an early national poll when the time came to elect a new President of the Republic (in spring), even if agreement were reached in Parliament on who should be the new president. Speaking at the end of a three-day visit to Thessaloniki on the occasion of the 59th Thessaloniki International Fair, Mr. Evert reiterated his party was now in a position to shoulder the responsibility of governing the country and, referring to the national economy, he stressed the course being followed led to bankruptcy. Turning to national issues, Mr. Evert said exercising the right which Greece would acquire as of November to extend its territorial waters from six to 12 miles, would be unprofitable for many reasons. He also made public a proposal he had included in a letter to the Prime Minister, on what course should be pursued on the issue of Albania. Mr. Evert used the term "casus belli" twice. First, in expressing the views he had included in the letter to the Prime Minister on the Albanian issue, saying that Greek policy should follow two axes: to display Greece's goodwill while displaying firmness to make the Berisha regime realise that Greece might be led to a position of "casus belli" should the ethnic Greek minority be harmed. The second time he used the term, was when he explained his position on the issue of Greece's extending its territorial waters. Mr. Evert said there was no reason to create another problem, at a time when Greece was facing a host of problems with Turkey, as it would lead to a response by Turkey clearly having a character of "casus belli". Elaborating on the issue, Mr. Evert said Turkey was exerting pressure through third countries for Greece to declare it would not exercise its right to extend its territorial waters. Mr. Evert cautioned such action, which would turn the Aegean into a closed sea, might pitch Greece against other Balkan countries such as Bulgaria and Romania, concluding that in no way should a statement to that effect be made either by the present or any other government. Meanwhile, Mr. Evert on Saturday stressed the need for a long-term national strategy. Speaking to representatives of various social groups at a luncheon, Mr. Evert said strategy should be defined at a meeting of party leaders under the President of the Republic, after appropriate preparation and without pressure by special events abroad. "Strategy should have a European and national orientation, while moving towards safeguarding Greece's national positions in the European Union and promoting the unification of Europe on a supra-national basis of a federal character," he said. Mr. Evert said Greece's economic problem was linked to the national, political and social issues facing the country. He added specific initiatives should be undertaken in the Balkans to safeguard peace in the region and Greece's national security. In particular, Mr. Evert made the following proposals: - An inter-Balkan conference should be held reaffirming the inviolability of borders, adding that Bulgaria and Romania had already agreed to this. - An initiative should be undertaken to have the European Union introduce an automatic machinery safeguarding the territorial integrity and independence of EU member states, adding that the Maastricht Treaty laid this down, but it did not carry provisions for automatic machinery to implement it. - Lastly, EU (long-term) enlargement through inclusion of Balkan countries, to gradually convert Greece's northern borderline from an EU frontier, as at present, into an internal one. Mr. Evert focused his speech on government economic policy, charging it vacillated between inertia and revenue-receiving measures. He said the Prime Minister had withheld truth on the actual state of the economy in his address at the Thessaloniki International Fair, adding it was portrayed more objectively in reports and studies drawn up by international organisations. Mr. Evert did not deny the need for a stabilisation program, but insisted that a development policy should be applied, growth rates of less than 3 per cent a year were inconceivable, and the proportion of investments in the GDP should reach 25 per cent, not 17 per cent as at present. Communist leader appeals for support at local election ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Athens, 19/9/1994 (ANA): Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Secretary-General Aleka Papariga yesterday appealed for support to KKE sponsored tickets in upcoming local elections, and condemnation of other political forces. Addressing the 20th festival of KNE, the party youth organisation, Ms. Papariga said municipal and prefectural elections, to be held October 16, were an excellent opportunity for delivering a message reflecting denunciation, condemnation, protest and challenge. "It is the sole opportunity to stir stagnant waters in local administration by electing persons who not only know how to govern, but to resist and struggle too," Ms. Papariga noted. Ms. Papariga called on leftists, working people and youth to support KKE sponsored tickets, give them victory, wings and strength to enable them carry weight in local and other struggles after the election. Culture Ministry, UNESCO sign Aegean Declaration ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Athens, 19/9/1994 (ANA): The Aegean Declaration was signed between the Culture Ministry and UNESCO on Lemnos island, Saturday . The ceremony was attended by leading European public figures in the fields of science, literature, art and culture. Former French Culture Minister Jack Lang, the Secretary of the European Culture Academy, noted opera singer Hilder Gard, Washington National Gallery manager Karte Brown, Cypriot Education Minister Claire Angelidou, Steven Runciman, an expert on Byzantine studies, Ms. Soarez, wife of the President of Portugal, and other participants were extended a warm welcome on their arrival Saturday. They joined Greek cultural leadership in enthusiastically welcoming the historic declaration. "We are gathered here today at the chamber of deliberations of Lemnos, where signs of early democracy are evident, to declare the Aegean Sea a symbol of European, and universal culture," said Culture Minister Thanos Mikroutsikos who, only a few hours earlier, at a round table meeting, stressed the program aimed at expanding others which promote archaeological, historical and broad scientific research, education, cultural tourism, and protection of historic and natural environment.