From: tzarros@ccs.carleton.ca (Theodore Zarros) Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Tue, 6 Dec 1994 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa). Athens News Agency Bulletin, December 6, 1994 --------------------------------------------- * Clerides calls on CSCE to help reunite Cyprus, while Russia, West bicker over future of Europe * ECOFIN: Rio-Antirrio link top priority project for Greece * Employment * Mikroutsikos winds up Cairo visit * Canadian ambassador calls on Vartholomeos * Gov't lets heating oil through to FYROM * Constantopoulos to meet Gligorov on FYROM visit * Premier, Karamanlis meet on national issues * New Democracy * Tirana releases one of imprisoned ethnic Greeks * British press notes international confidence in Greek economy * Greek literature on show in Luxembourg * Premier to take part in Essen socialist meeting * Parliament begins discussion of OA survival bill * November inflation down to 10.6 per cent * US firm plans to bring electronic advertising to Greece Clerides calls on CSCE to help reunite Cyprus, while Russia, West bicker over future of Europe ------------------------------------------------------------ Budapest, 06/12/1994 (ANA/CNA/Reuter): Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides yesterday called on the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE) to play an active role in efforts to end the illegal division and Turkish occupation of 37 per cent of his country. Addressing the summit meeting of the 53-nation organisation, Mr. Clerides outlined Cyprus' initiative for more co-operation between the CSCE and the Council of Europe to enhance the effectiveness of both organisations and argued for further strengthening the CSCE's Mediterranean dimension. During the first day of the security summit, Russia and the West clashed over how to build a new order in Europe, while a furious row broke out over the failure to stop the war in Bosnia. The bitter exchanges, underlining the complex web of problems facing post-Cold War Europe, stood in stark contrast to the summit's declared aim of beefing up international co-operation on the troubled and divided continent. Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias, representing Greece, is expected to address the summit today. ECOFIN: Rio-Antirrio link top priority project for Greece --------------------------------------------------------- Brussels, 06/12/1994 (ANA-K.Verros, V.Demiris): The linking of Rio and Antirrio will be one of Greece's top priority projects in the framework of Inter-European networks, National Economy Minister Yiannos Papantoniou said yesterday. The decision was taken during yesterday's Council of Economic and Finance Ministers (ECOFIN) which approved proposals by the Christophersen group on 14 Inter-European transport and five energy networks. The Essen summit is now expected to decide when the projects will begin construction. The 14 transport projects include the Patras-Athens-Thessaloniki Greek-Bulgarian border motorway, valued at 3.9 billion ECU, and the Egnatia highway running Igoumenitsa-Thessaloniki-Alexandroupolis-Kipoi, valued at 2.5 billion ECU. The total value of t he 14 transport projects amounts to 91 billion ECU. The priority list for energy programmes valued at five billion ECU includes an electric power cable link between Greece and Italy and a natural gas network whose total value amounts to 1.5 billion ECU. On the question of funding top priority projects in the transport sector, the Council noted that some of them do not have any particular funding problem while for others "relevant difficulties could appear which, however, according to the present situation, could not be considered a stumbling block." Mr. Papantoniou said after the European Council's political decision, a start to the projects' construction is set for 1995. Referring to the problem of private sector participation in the projects, Mr. Papantoniou expressed certainty there would be no financing problems, adding that, as mentioned by both the European Commission and the European Investment Bank, the Greek projects are economically viable. Employment ---------- Brussels, 06/12/1994 (ANA): The ECOFIN Council also endorsed a report it will submit at the Essen summit on the state of employment in member-states, an issue ranking high on the summit's agenda. Mr. Papantoniou said the conclusions of yesterday's Council referred in essence to the progress of policies implemented in member-states and to aspects covered by the European Commission's White Paper. In the section on Greece, the report said the main issues of the Greek government's policy on employment were "widespread unemployment among young people (and) the inadequate supply of vocational training and rigid salaries in the public sector." The report said Greece "should provide training through various systems to help young people, the long-term unemployed and other special groups such as women and citizens returning to the country to settle." Mikroutsikos winds up Cairo visit --------------------------------- Athens, 06/12/1994 (ANA): Culture Minister Thanos Mikroutsikos yesterday wound up his official visit to Egypt after signing a three-year cultural co-operation agreement and inaugurating the Fourth International Symposium on Cavafy, the famous Greek Alexandrian poet, on Saturday. The co-operation agreement, signed by Mr. Mikroutsikos and his Egyptian counterpart Farouk Hosni, a well-known painter, includes the expression of intention by the Egyptian side to help in the reconstitution of the historic Greek library of Alexandria, the teaching of Greek in Egyptian schools, and the promotion of events on Cavafy. The Cavafy symposium was opened by a 'Concert for vocals and piano', conducted by Mr. Mikroutsikos himself at the Cairo Opera House, and dedicated to poets Cavafy (first part), Ritsos and Liontakis (second part), and Kavvadias (third part). Mr. Mikroutsikos invited Mr. Hosni to visit Greece next year. Canadian ambassador calls on Vartholomeos ----------------------------------------- Istanbul, 06/12/1994 (ANA-A.Kourkoulas): Canada's Ambassador to Ankara Peter J.A. Hancock, accompanied by Consul to Istanbul Banue Kirec Tesal and Commercial Attache J. Reid Henry, yesterday called on Ecumenical Orthodox Patriarch Vartholomeos at the Holy See in Fanar. Gov't lets heating oil through to FYROM --------------------------------------- Athens, 06/12/1994 (ANA): The government said yesterday it had given the go-ahead for 5,000 tonnes of heating oil to transit through the port of Thessaloniki to the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). Government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said the oil was intended for the heating of schools and hospitals in the neighbouring Balkan republic. "Greece does not want to cause hardship to the people of Skopje but President Kiro Gligorov must abandon his intransigence," Mr. Venizelos said. Athens imposed a trade embargo on FYROM in February as retortion measures against Skopje intransigence. Humanitarian aid is exempted from the embargo. Greece demands that FYROM change its name, flag and the preamble of its constitution, which, Greece insists, indicate expansionist designs against its northern province of Macedonia. Meanwhile, FYROM President Kiro Gligorov, at a press conference in Budapest on the sidelines of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe summit, said he was ready for dialogue with Greece on the condition that the trade embargo be lifted. He asked for FYROM's immediate entry to the CSCE and said that he could not understand the reasons for Greece's veto of its application. Constantopoulos to meet Gligorov on FYROM visit ----------------------------------------------- Athens, 06/12/1994 (ANA): Coalition of Left and Progress leader Nikos Constantopoulos is to visit Skopje on December 19 and 20 for talks with political leaders in this Former Yugoslav Republic (FYROM), including President Kiro Gligorov. Political observers in Skopje consider the visit significant, as it is taking place soon after the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe meeting in Budapest, which opened yesterday, and at a time when Skopje is expected to make a move on the issue of its relations with Athens. The move concerns the so-called 'small packet', including the issues of the flag of the state, the signing of an agreement on the inviolability of borders, and perhaps certain constitutional amendments referring to 'Macedonian minorities' in neighbouring countries. Despite these 'optimistic' prospects, reported by diplomatic and political circles in Skopje, the diplomatic scene remains rather hazy, and there seems to be no 'preparation' of public opinion by the media for impending concessions, as is the norm. Meanwhile, Mr. Constantopoulos said yesterday that there was a need for a national strategy in foreign policy, so as to escape the climate of isolation. He reiterated his position that the FYROM issue must be solved through negotiations between the two sides, with priority given to the issues of the constitution, the symbols and the borders, while on the dispute over the name, he said that a mutually acceptable solution must be found. Concerning the crisis in the Balkans, Mr Constantopoulos said it was necessary for Greece to participate in current developments in Europe with meaningful initiatives, and to secure a distinct role in economic and political life in the Balkans. Western diplomats in Belgrade and Skopje point out that FYROM's 'diplomatic loose ends' vis-u-vis Greece and Serbia are largely interconnected, with the looming rapprochement between Croatia and Serbia making a similar approach between Belgrade and Skopje necessary, especially in view of the latter's problems with its sizeable Albanian minority. Premier, Karamanlis meet on national issues ------------------------------------------ Athens, 06/12/1994 (ANA): Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou yesterday said the European Union Essen summit this coming weekend could have "much significance" for Greece, if reports that an EU troika meeting to discuss Greece's relations with Albania, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Turkey as well as the Cyprus problem were true. Mr. Papandreou told reporters after discussing national and economic issues with President Constantine Karamanlis that there were no commitments that these issues would be discussed. Government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos, meanwhile, did not rule out talks between Prime Minister Papandreou, German Chancellor Helmut Kohl and French President Francois Mitterrand on the sidelines of the summit. "No meeting has been set, but if it is requested it will take place," he said. He confirmed that the foreign ministers of Greece, Germany and France would meet Friday morning. Mr. Papandreou said one of the issues expected to be raised at the Essen summit is Turkey's customs union with the 12-member bloc. "Our position on the issue is known," Mr. Papandreou said. Mr. Venizelos said Greece stood firm on its veto of the Fourth Financial Protocol of EU aid to Turkey. "The lifting of the veto is linked to the acceleration of negotiations for Cyprus' admission to the Union," Mr. Venizelos said. "Greece is firm on the issue." New Democracy ------------- Athens, 06/12/1994 (ANA): Referring to the CSCE summit in Budapest, the main opposition New Democracy party criticised Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou of being absent from international commitments. An announcement by ND said the prime minister's absence was detrimental to national issues, adding that the downgrading of Greece's international representation is continuing at all levels and at every opportunity. Commenting on Mr. Papandreou's statement after his meeting with President Constantine Karamanlis, ND added that the prime minister said he did not know what issues would be discussed and made vague conjectures on national issues. An announcement by the Political Spring party said the political leadership should accept the necessity of a national initiative at political party leader level under the President of the Republic to arm Greece in defending its national interests and confronting pressures of all kinds. Tirana releases one of imprisoned ethnic Greeks ----------------------------------------------- Tirana, 06/12/1994 (ANA): The Albanian government has released one of the ethnic Greeks at the centre of a row between Athens and Tirana, the ethnic Greek Albanian organisation Omonia announced yesterday. Costas Tsiavos, one of six ethnic Greek Albanians convicted of espionage and arms possession in August, was released under a general amnesty declared by the Albanian parliament, Omonia said. Tsiavos had been sentenced to a year's imprisonment after being convicted of being in possession of a hunting rifle. His release is seen as indicating a change in Tirana's attitude towards relations with Athens. The other five members, who received sentences ranging from five to seven years, are still imprisoned. Their conviction in August plunged relations between the neighbouring states to an all-time low. Athens called the trial of the six -- arrested after a gunman killed two Albanian soldiers at a border conscript camp in April -- "a farce" and an attempt to intimidate the sizeable Greek minority in southern Albania. Greece vetoed a European Union macroeconomic loan of 35 million ECU ($42 million) to Albania when the trial of the five began in August and called on Tirana to immediately release the six so that relations could improve. Athens lifted the veto on the first instalment of the loan last week at the EU General Affairs Council, calling the move a gesture of "goodwill" to the Albanian people. Meanwhile, in Budapest, Albanian President Sali Berisha told the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe summit that Tirana wanted to sign a co-operation treaty with Athens, saying Albania was a friend and a good neighbour of Greece. British press notes international confidence in Greek economy ------------------------------------------------------------- London, 06/12/1994 (ANA-L.Tsirigotakis): The British newspaper the Evening Standard yesterday reported favourably on Greece's creditworthiness and economic prospects. The article, written by Simon Meadows, a senior executive at First Boston, joint managers of a US$ 500 million international bond issue of the Greek state with Salomon Brothers, stressed that the success of the 9.75 per cent interest issue, is a good indicator of the confidence of US, European, and Asian investors in Greece's prospects inside the European Union. It pointed out that the country's foreign exchange reserves stand at US$ 14 billion, inflation has dropped to 11 per cent, and that the stabilisation of public finances through the Convergence Programme is expected to reduce the ratio of debt to Gross Domestic Product from 115.6 per cent in 1996 to 103.4 in 1999. Contrary to past experience, the article concludes, there now seems to be a broader consensus on the need for reform, as the Greek authorities know full well that failure would deprive the country of access to special European Union funds. Greek literature on show in Luxembourg -------------------------------------- Luxembourg, 06/12/1994 (ANA): An exhibition of works of modern Greek literature translated into European Union languages -- mainly English, French, German and Italian -- will be held in Luxembourg, December 7-31. The exhibition is being held within the framework of events for "A glimpse of Greece", organised by the Luxembourg Greek Association and jointly sponsored by the Greek embassy and the municipality of the city. Premier to take part in Essen socialist meeting ----------------------------------------------- Brussels, 06/12/1994 (ANA-M. Savva): Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou is to participate in the two-day conference of European socialist leaders, due to take place tomorrow and Thursday in Essen, Germany. The conference will deal with issues to be discussed by the 12 at the EU summit on Friday and Saturday, and with the preparation of the intergovernmental convention in view of the revision of the Maastricht treaty. They will also discuss the succession of NATO Secretary-General Willy Claes in the position of president of the Party of European Socialists, and will honour outgoing Commission president Jacques Delors at a special event. The conference will also be attended by the leaders of the socialist leaders of the three countries which are joining the EU as full members on January 1, Austria's Franz Vranitsky, Sweden's Ingvar Carlson, and Finland's Paavo Liponen. Parliament begins discussion of OA survival bill ------------------------------------------------ Athens, 06/12/1994 (ANA): Parliament yesterday began debating a government bill for the survival of Olympic Airways that calls on the company's 9,900 employees to accept wage freezes, early retirement and benefit cuts. The bill, expected to go to a vote tomorrow or Thursday, outlines a four-year survival plan approved by the European Commission in July and which allows the state to assume Olympic's $2.5 billion debt, but puts an end to state funding. It also guarantee s the company loans up to $378 million until 1997 to buy new planes. The bill calls for a two-year wage freeze at 1993 levels for Olympic's employees and enforces early retirement of 1,500 staff -- 927 this year, while staff leave will be limited. "The economic condition of Olympic is miserable and the company should have closed down three years ago," PASOK deputy and former Olympic Airways general manager Alexandros Akrivakis told the 300-seat parliament. "This survival plan is the best among the ones that were approved by the Commission for seven European airlines. For other companies layoffs were ordered and stricter terms were imposed," he added. According to the bill, overtime pay will be reviewed and management will be streamlined into no more than four tiers instead of the current system with 14 different management titles. Some of the company's employees, especially flight attendants, oppose the bill and have vowed to strike action but Transport Minister Thanassis Tsouras has said that there is little room for compromise if Olympic Airways is to survive. November inflation down to 10.6 per cent ---------------------------------------- Athens, 06/12/1994 (ANA): Inflation dropped to 10.6 per cent in November, a drop of 1.7 per cent over figures for the same month last year, according to the National Statistics Service (EYSE). The EYSE said the Consumer Price Index rose by 0.3 per cent in November compared to 0.8 per cent in November 1993. The rise was attributed to increases in foodstuffs, clo-thing and footwear. US firm plans to bring electronic advertising to Greece ------------------------------------------------------- Washington, 06/12/1994 (ANA-D.Dimas): The US firm Gram International is to bring a state-of-the-art electronics commercial informatics programme to Greece very soon, according to a statement by the firm's marketing manager William Fuge. Mr. Fuge said the programme is the most integrated and fastest commercial informatics network on the market. The programme provides information on a daily basis for foreign buyers wishing to buy goods and details kind, quantity, quality and place and time of delivery for over 200 farm products and all categories of industrial and commercial products. Gram, based in Washington, is also present in Greece and has already provided services to the Greek government and a considerable number of Greek companies. It also publishes the magazine "Doing Business with Greece", promoting Greek commercial and investment activities in the US. Company President Nikos A. Stergioulas said the new programme is the most integrated programme in Europe and is expected to give immediate and effective help to Greek companies of all sizes to increase sales to foreign markets, infiltrate new markets an d find new customers. The programme's big advantage, Mr. Stergioulas added, is speed and integration it can offer in informatics.