From: tzarros@ccs.carleton.ca (Theodore Zarros) Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Thu, 6 Oct 1994 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa). Athens News Agency Bulletin, October, 6, 1994 --------------------------------------------- * Papantoniou tells IMF, World Bank of positive trends in Greek economy * Tirana court to rule on ethnic Greek five today, Premier 'hopes for release' * Sereqi slams Greece at UN * Turkish statements cause 'artificial tension', Venizelos says * Kranidiotis to visit EU states next week * US working hard on comprehensive settlement in Balkans, Clinton adviser says * JAT to resume flights to Athens * UN efforts on Skopje issue to resume after FYROM elections * Coalition leader: need for communication between Gov't, parties * Black Sea Energy Centre established * Kouris satisfied with talks in Budapest * Greece, Austria discuss economic ties * Greece, Netherlands sign bilateral accord * Venizelos slams Evert statements on economy * Evert * NATO air violations * Acropolis shut as guards strike * Katsifaras petitions IMO on shipping safety Papantoniou tells IMF, World Bank of positive trends in Greek economy ----------------------------------------------------------------- Madrid, 6/10/1994 (ANA): National Economy Minister Yiannos Papantoniou expressed optimism here yesterday that there would be an improvement in the international economic outlook, in his address to the joint annual discussion of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank on the occasion of their 50th anniversary. Mr. Papantoniou stressed the need to maintain macroeconomic stabilisation and structural reform to achieve a medium-term recovery in the world economy. Mr. Papantoniou spoke at length on the Greek economy's improved prospects, outlining positive developments in the past year. He said growth in Greece was projected at more than 1 per cent in 1994, inflation was expected to be around 11 per cent and to fall to about 7 per cent next year. "The successful handling of a foreign exchange crisis last May helped to reinforce confidence in economic policies and bring about a reduction in money market interest rates to levels lower than those prevailing before the crisis," Mr. Papantoniou said. "Balance of payments developments point to a continuation of the improvement over the past two years, with the current account being nearly balanced by the end of the year, and official reserves are at the historically high level of 12 billion dollars," he added. "The overall improvement in the macroeconomic environment has been assisted by a policy mix which emphasises fiscal adjustment and monetary vigilance, as reflected in the government's newly-adopted Convergence Programme which will lead Greece to the achievement of the convergence criteria for participation in the single-currency phase of the economic and monetary union by 1999," he said. "The primary task of the programme is to reduce budgetary imbalances by widening the primary surplus of the central government from 1.3 per cent of GDP this year to 3.5 per cent in 1995 and gradually on to 6 per cent by 1999," Mr. Papantoniou said. "This will be achieved by cuts in spending and through raising revenue by broadening the tax base and combating tax evasion. Moreover, revenue will be enhanced through a programme of privatisations. This is being phased in this year with the floating of 25 per cent of the shares of the Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation (OTE) and, soon after, a part of the stock of the Public Petroleum Corporation through the stock market, the auctioning of casino licenses, and the sale of ailing industrial firms under state control. We will move on to other privatisation schemes next year," he added. "The Convergence Programme focuses not only on macroeconomic adjustment but also on a set of structural and developmental policies designed to strengthen the supply potential of the economy. Large infrastructure projects, financed in part by the European Union, and private investment incentive schemes promoting the outward orientation and dynamism of Greek and foreign investors, are expected to generate higher growth over the medium term. Moreover, Greece already plays an important role in the Balkans and other countries in transition, as reflected in import penetration and foreign investment. Therefore, prospects for a sustainable expansion in the medium term look promising," Mr. Papantoniou said. "Together with the other member states of the European Union, Greece supports the transformation process in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and of the former Soviet Union. Considerable progress has been achieved so far. However, much remains to be done," he said. Speaking to Greek reporters afterwards, Mr. Papantoniou said: "(The address) was a wonderful opportunity for a wider promotion of the Greek economy's improvement in the ranks of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, particularly after many years of presenting a negative image to international economic circles. The improvement of the Greek economy will help an influx of foreign capital and a reduction in interest rates." Tirana court to rule on ethnic Greek five today, Premier 'hopes for release' ----------------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 6/10/1994 (ANA): A Tirana court is expected to rule today on the appeal by five ethnic Greeks sentenced to prison on espionage charges. Athens reiterated yesterday that Greek-Albanian relations would improve only if Tirana freed the five, members of the political organisation Omonia. Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou said yesterday that he hoped that the procedure to free the five would begin today with the court's ruling. "Greece will enter talks with Albania only if it frees the five ethnic Greeks," Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias told the press yesterday. The five men have appealed against a lower court's decision ordering them to serve between six and eight years in prison on charges of spying for Greece and illegal possession of weapons. On the first day of the appeal, Monday, a state prosecutor proposed ratification of the sentences maintaining that the five "were proven guilty and their link with Greek intelligence services established." In light of the appeal trial, Athens said it would lift the veto if Albania freed the five and improved its human rights record. Asked by reporters how Athens would react if the ethnic Greeks were given lighter sentences, Mr. Papoulias said: "Such a move would signal the beginning of some kind of change in Albania's strong stance". He said improvement of Greek-Albanian relations hinged on the release of the five, adding that "an end must be put to the suffering of these people in order to achieve de-escalation of the crisis." The trial also drew strong reaction and criticism from the European Parliament and European Union member states. On Tuesday, the EU Foreign Ministers' Council meeting in Luxembourg expressed concern over the violation of human rights in Albania and said the German Presidency, acting as the Council's representative, would lodge demarches with the Albanian government in order to secure amnesty or pardon for the five. In Athens, government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos told reporters yesterday the government was satisfied with the conclusions and the final communiqui of the Council's meeting saying "there is no position in it (which) creates a problem" to Greece. Commenting on German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel's statement to the press Tuesday that "Greece is a member of the European Union and will have the solidarity and support of its partners," Mr. Venizelos said this constituted a "new element." Following the conviction and imprisonment of the five, and a later conviction of a sixth Greek minority member on charges of possession of illegal arms, Athens had called on international leaders to pressure Tirana to free the ethnic Greeks and had requested the EU's solidarity, asking it to put its common foreign policy to test. Speaking to reporters, Tuesday, Mr. Kinkel said the European Union called on Albania "to do everything possible" to reduce tension in its relations with Greece. Sereqi slams Greece at UN -------------------------- New York, 6/10/1994 (ANA-M.Georgiadou): Meanwhile, addressing the 49th General Assembly of the United Nations, Albanian Foreign Minister Alfred Serreqi said that "Greek nationalism," as well as, "Serbian nationalism" constituted "an advancing threat in the region, especially against Albania and the Albanians." Diplomatic sources were quoted as saying that Greece would use its right of reply as provided for in the procedures of the General Assembly. According to the sources, Greece's permanent representation to the UN was expected to take the floor today and counter Mr. Serreqi's accusations. Turkish statements cause 'artificial tension', Venizelos says ------------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 6/10/1994 (ANA): Greece said yesterday it would not take part in Turkey's attempt to create artificial tension" in relations between Athens and Ankara. "Greece is not observing or participating in the climate of artificial tension created by the repeated statements of Turkish officials, semi-officials or non-officials," government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said. He was responding to remarks by the speaker of the Turkish parliament Wednesday who warned of a Turkish take-over of Greek islands in the Aegean if Greece extended its territorial waters in the Aegean from six to 12 nautical miles. Turkey has repeatedly threatened that any move by Greece to expand its territorial waters beyond the six-mile limit would be considered casus belli. Kranidiotis to visit EU states next week ---------------------------------------- Athens, 6/10/1994 (ANA): European Affairs Minister Yiannos Kranidiotis begins a European tour next week to promote Cyprus' accession to the European Union, a Foreign Ministry announcement said yesterday. It said Mr. Kranidiotis would visit Spain, Italy and Portugal for talks on the issue with his counterparts. It said the talks would also deal with priorities Germany has set out for the EU during its six-month presidency. US working hard on comprehensive settlement in Balkans, Clinton adviser says -------------------------------------------------------------- New York, 6/10/1994 (ANA-M.Georgiadou): Adviser to US President Clinton George Stephanopoulos said yesterday the United States was anxious to promote a comprehensive settlement of all outstanding issues in the Balkans that would include a resolution of Greece's dispute with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). "The United States is working very hard for a solution of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) issue which would benefit both Greece and FYROM as well as American interests in the region. The situation in the Balkans is very fluid right now. We believe there is a need for a solution to the problem and I am optimistic it will be found," he said during an International Committee for Justice in Cyprus function. Commenting on Vice-President Gore's proposal for a solution of all disputes between Greece and its neighbours, Mr Stephanopoulos said: "The United States is interested in the conclusion of broader agreements in the whole of the Balkans and the Eastern Mediterranean, so that NATO is strengthened and all countries are able to proceed in the direction of political and economic progress, while tension is reduced. We think this is both feasible and necessary. "President Clinton has spoken with Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou and Turkish Prime Minister Tansu Ciller many times, and has tried to encourage them to solve their differences. We expect that this process will continue. We wish it to continue. "There are so many other threats in this region, such as Islamic fundamentalism. We believe it is especially important for Greece and Turkey to solve their differences," he concluded. JAT to resume flights to Athens ------------------------------- Athens, 6/10/1994 (ANA): Yugoslav Airlines (JAT), banned from international skies for 28 months by the United Nations in 1992, will resume flights to Athens this week, JAT officials said yesterday. They said a "demonstration" flight was slated to arrive in Athens on Saturday, two days after JAT's first trip abroad to Moscow. The airline was grounded by the UN in 1992 to punish Belgrade for fomenting the war in Bosnia. The UN Security Council voted two weeks ago to relax certain sanctions against Serbian-led New Yugoslavia as a reward for its blockade of Bosnian Serbs who refuse to accept an international peace plan. The resolution allows Yugoslavia to open its airport in the capital, run passenger ferry services from the port of Bar to Bari, Italy and participate in cultural and sport events. UN efforts on Skopje issue to resume after FYROM elections ---------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 6/10/1994 (ANA): United Nations-led efforts to mediate a solution between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) will resume after upcoming elections in FYROM, Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias said yesterday. Mr. Papoulias was speaking to reporters after a brief meeting with President of the Republic Constantine Karamanlis. "The negotiations are currently in a 'dead period'. They will resume after the October 16 elections in the neighbouring state," Mr. Papoulias told reporters. He said the decision to suspend the talks was jointly agreed to by both parties to the dispute in separate contacts with UN special mediator Cyrus Vance. Athens insists that FYROM desist from using the name 'Macedonia', drop the Star of Vergina from its flag and change the preamble in its constitution which expresses territorial designs against Greece's northern province of Macedonia. In a bid to pressure FYROM to comply with Greece's demands, Athens imposed a trade embargo against its northern neighbour in February. Coalition leader: need for communication between Gov't, parties --------------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 6/10/1994 (ANA): Coalition of the Left and Progress president Nikos Constantopoulos yesterday stressed the need for an open line of communication between the government and opposition parties on Greece's national issues. Such a line of communication "will contribute to the creation of a Foreign Policy National Council," Mr. Constantopoulos told reporters following a meeting with Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias. The meeting focused on the recent visit to Tirana and Gyrokastr by a Coalition delegation. Dialogue between the government and the opposition parties "will contribute to stability in the region, which (in turn) will give Greece the opportunity to play a special role," Mr. Constantopoulos said. Black Sea Energy Centre established ----------------------------------- Brussels, 6/10/1994 (ANA-P.Stangos): The establishment of a Black Sea Energy Centre was decided here during a meeting of European Commission and Black Sea Economic Co-operation Pact representatives on September 29 and 30. The Albanian representation was absent. The Centre, set up in the context of the SYNERGY European Union Programme, aims to provide the institutional framework for the co-ordination of energy policies of the countries in the area, the exchange of information, the transfer of know-how on energy issues, and the organisation of training programmes. The centre will initially be based in Sofia, Bulgaria, for three years, and the president of the steering committee will be Romanian for the first two years, rotating thereafter on an alphabetical basis. The Turkish candidacy to host the centre was rejected, as Turkey is not eligible for the management of resources in the context of the PHARE and TACIS programmes. Kouris satisfied with talks in Budapest --------------------------------------- Vienna, 6/10/1994 (ANA-D.Dimitrakoudis): National Defence Under-Secretary Nikos Kouris yesterday expressed his satisfaction at talks with his Hungarian counterpart Joszef Feher. Mr. Kouris had two days of talks with government officials in Budapest focusing on ways to widen co-operation between the two countries in the framework of a Greek-Hungarian bilateral defence co-operation agreement. Talks also focused on Budapest's efforts for accession to European organisations. Talks between the two countries are expected to continue with the Hungarian Defence Minister Giergi Keleti visiting Athens for talks with his Greek counterpart Gerasimos Arsenis next summer. Mr. Kouris returned to Athens yesterday. Greece, Austria discuss economic ties ------------------------------------- Vienna, 6/10/1994 (ANA-D.Dimitrakoudis): Senior Greek and Austrian economic officials focused on widening prospects for further developing economic co-operation between Greece and Austria in light of new conditions created by Austria's European Union membership at a seminar in Vienna yesterday. The seminar, organised by the Austrian Union of Industrialists, was attended on behalf of Greece by National Economy Ministry Secretary-General George Kandalepas, Federation of Greek Industries President Iason Stratos, Exports Promotion Organisation President Yiannis Tzen, Panhellenic Exporters Federation President and Export Credits Insurance Organisation President Christina Sakellaridi and Hellenic Organisation of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises and Craftsmen President George Pavlopoulos. Representatives of Austria's 40 biggest industries and enterprises, headed by Union of Industries President Hainz Kaessler and its secretary Franz Zeska, also attended on behalf of Austria. Participants underlined the possibilities for both countries to exploit advantages offered in the internal market and opportunities provided by new developing markets in the Balkans and other eastern European countries. Increasing commercial exchange between the two countries was also stressed: compared to the corresponding period last year, Greek exports to Austria decreased 2.7 per cent and Austrian exports to Greece 8.6 per cent. Greece, Netherlands sign bilateral accord ----------------------------------------- Athens, 6/10/1994 (ANA): The new bilateral programme for scientific, educational and cultural co-operation between The Netherlands and Greece was signed yesterday at the Greek ambassador's residence in The Hague, an embassy press release said. The text was signed on behalf of the Dutch government by the Director of the Department for Cultural Co-operation of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ambassador J. Forster and on behalf of the Greek government by his Greek counterpart Ambassador G. Georgiou. Venizelos slams Evert statements on economy ------------------------------------------- Athens, 6/10/1994 (ANA): Government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos yesterday accused New Democracy party leader Miltiades Evert of doing a disservice to the country by his "irresponsible talk" on the situation of the economy, adding that Mr. Evert's claims were refuted by reality. Mr. Venizelos also rejected claims of secret deals with other parties, designed to forestall the holding of early elections in the spring over the election of a new president. He threw the ball back at Mr. Evert, saying he ought to seek such phenomena inside his own party. On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the founding of the New Democracy party, Mr Venizelos expressed the government's congratulations, noting that the functioning of strong parties was of significant interest to the citizens of this country. Evert ----- Athens, 6/10/1994 (ANA): In his message to party local organisations yesterday on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the founding of New Democracy, Mr Evert said the party was ready to govern and has a government programme, to be applied by people who have, for the best part, already been selected. "It is ready to govern," he reiterated, "and proposes: A new democracy for the country". NATO air violations ------------------- Athens, 6/10/1994 (ANA): There has been no increase in violations of the Athens Flight Information Region (FIR) or national air space due to the NATO exercise "Dynamic Guard" taking place in the Eastern Mediterranean and Aegean, according to press reports. Acropolis shut as guards strike ------------------------------- Athens, 6/10/1994 (ANA): The Acropolis was closed to the public yesterday as guards at the archaeological site took over the area to demand higher wages. "The strike is indefinite. Our next step is to extend the strike to other archaeological sites and museums," said the president of the Federation of Guards at Archaeological Sites. Employed by the Culture Ministry, the guards are also demanding the re-instatement of recently fired personnel and more funds from the state budget for culture. The strike meant visitors were prevented from viewing the 2,500-year-old Parthenon and entering the Acropolis Museum. The closure resulted in a loss of six million drachmas for the state. The state makes about five million drachmas a day from entrance fees to the site. Culture Minister Thanos Mikroutsikos said that the issue would be dealt with immediately and a meeting would be convened to discuss the guards' financial demands. Katsifaras petitions IMO on shipping safety ------------------------------------------- Athens, 6/10/1994 (ANA): Merchant Marine Minister George Katsifaras has submitted a proposal to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) that certain types of passenger and ferry boats be forbidden or restricted from sailing in unfavourable weather conditions, a practice already applied in Greece. At a press conference yesterday, Mr Katsifaras said Greece, traditionally a seafaring nation and one of the world's largest maritime forces, was an active participant in discussions on safety in shipping. Such talks, he said, were especially timely after the recent ferry disaster in the Baltic in which more than 900 people died. He added that the idea of adopting this practice world-wide had matured within the framework of the IMO, with a special working group being set up soon to study the matter.