From: tzarros@ccs.carleton.ca (Theodore Zarros) Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Tue, 27 Dec 1994 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa). Athens News Agency Bulletin --------------------------- (Apo to Ellnviko Grafeio Tupou kai Plnroforiwv, Ottaba, Kavadas E-Mail Address: grnewsca@sympatico.ca) * Berisha move to release one ethnic Greek 'too little', Gov't says * ND response * Berisha meets with Anastasios * French kill hijackers, end plane hostage drama * One Albanian drowned, six missing * Peponis successor expected tomorrow * 22 dead over Christmas * Lamassouere ready to see Kranidiotis on Cyprus EU negotiations, sources say * Kranidiotis: A matter of time * Premier, president Christmas messages * Heavy rains cause traffic problems * Near air tragedy averted * New airport strikes set for New Year flights * Trikala inmates try for early Christmas present, escape attempt foiled Berisha move to release one ethnic Greek 'too little', Gov't says ----------------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 27/12/1994 (ANA): Greece reacted with disappointment to the pardoning of one ethnic Greek minority member imprisoned on charges of espionage and illegal possession of weapons by Albania Saturday, saying the move did little to solve the problem of tension between Athens and Tirana. Albanian President Sali Berisha pardoned one of the five ethnic Greeks at the center of a row between the two countries and reduced the jail terms of the others in what he called "a move to ease tension" with Athens. But, Greek government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said in a statement late on Saturday that the move was "a positive step, but obviously does not resolve the issue." In a statement released on Christmas Eve, Mr. Berisha said Iraklis Sirmos was being released because he had "already spent 18 years in jail" during the regime of communist dictator Enver Hoxha. Greece, Mr. Venizelos said, "always desires the improvement of Greek-Albanian relations and has demonstrated this with specific moves both on a bilateral level as well as in the European Union." "But there are certain basic principles concerning the respect of human rights, which are a criteria for Greece and the entire European Union as its foreign ministers had recently stated." "These criteria," Mr. Venizelos went on, "cannot be bypassed and naturally cannot be satisfied by today's decision by Albania". "Consequently, the improvement of Greek-Albanian relations again depends on the Albanian side," Mr. Venizelos said. The five ethnic Greeks, all members of the ethnic Greek organisation Omonia, were sentenced last September to prison terms ranging from six to eight years, sparking a diplomatic row with Athens which has pressed for their release since their arrest. An appeals court later reduced the jail terms of the five men by between one and two years. ND response ----------- Athens, 27/12/1994 (ANA): Main opposition party New Democracy said in a statement yesterday that the latest developments "depicted the contempt Tirana has towards human rights and the every meaning of respect of justice and equality before the law." "(This) diplomatic 'bargaining', on the backs of the Greek minority, is unacceptable and the real intentions of the Albanian regime must concern the international community." Berisha meets with Anastasios ----------------------------- Tirana, 27/12/94 (ANA): President Berisha paid a courtesy call on Orthodox Archbishop of Albania Anastasios on the occasion of the religious holiday, stressing that on this day of hope and joy, humankind must promote co-operation and solidarity, and adding his joy on the occasion of the renewal of religious spiritual life, which he described as a constituent element of the revival of the Albanian national church. Anastasios thanked the president, and stressed that the message of Christmas is the overcoming of difficulties through faith and hope. He wished Mr. Berisha that God grant him courage to guide the Albanian people during this period of democratic changes, and assured him that in all Orthodox churches prayers were being offered for the president, as he was the symbol of unity and hope for the entire Albanian people. In a message broadcast on television, Archbishop Anastasios, speaking in Albanian, stressed that even in the most difficult of circumstances one ought not lose hope. The last word would be had not by the satanic plans of enmity and hate, but by the love of God, he said. Albanian television covered Christmas mass at the Orthodox and Catholic cathedrals in Tirana, and carried an 18-minute special feature on Christmas, broadcasting messages by religious leaders, including Anastasios. All Albanian newspapers yesterday covered President Berisha's decree granting a pardon to Iraklis Sirmos and the reduction in the prison terms of the four other ethnic Greeks. The independent Koha Yion said that, in view of the upcoming appeals hearing of four, and the optimistic climate prevailing lately in Greek-Albanian relations, one may assume that there is more good news in the pipeline. French kill hijackers, end plane hostage drama ---------------------------------------------- Marseilles, 27/12/1994 (Reuter): French anti-terrorist police stormed a hijacked jet at Marseilles on Monday, killing all four young Islamic fundamentalist hostage takers and saving the lives of some 170 passengers and crew. French Prime Minister Edouard Balladur told reporters he had ordered the plane to be stormed "as the only way of safeguarding human lives". One Albanian drowned, six missing --------------------------------- Athens, 27/12/1994 (ANA): One Albanian national drowned and six others were missing when their speedboat sunk in stormy seas off Corfu as they tried to enter Greece illegally, harbour authorities said today. A Corfu harbour official said the incident occurred late on Saturday about two nautical miles off the northern part of the Corfu straits opposite Albania. Two survivors were saved, one by Greek passenger ferry, the El Greco, and the other by a coast guard vessel from Corfu. The body of the dead man was picked up later by the Corfu coast guard vessel. One of the survivors, Haralambos Lappas, 27, said the speedboat left Saranda, near the Albanian coast with a group of Albanians and tried to approach the north-eastern coast of Corfu, but started taking on water and sank shortly afterwards. He said some of those on board might have swam ashore but he was not sure they had made it. Corfu coast guard vessels were continuing their search for the six late last night. Peponis successor expected tomorrow ----------------------------------- Athens, 27/12/1994 (ANA): The new Minister to the Prime Minister's Office will take the oath in the presence of President Constantine Karamanlis at noon tomorrow, according to press reports. The reports said Anastasios Peponis, who resigned the post several days ago, will be succeeded by either Yiannis Pottakis or George Mangakis. The successor of Foreign Under-Secretary Yiannos Kranidiotis, who is leaving to take his seat in the European Parliament, will be sworn in after January 15. 22 dead over Christmas ---------------------- Athens, 27/12/1994 (ANA): The Christmas weekend road toll had reached 22 dead and 200 injured over the three-day weekend late last night. A total of 138 accidents were recorded nation-wide. Lamassouere ready to see Kranidiotis on Cyprus EU negotiations, sources say --------------------------------------------------------------- Brussels, 27/12/1994 (ANA - G. Daratos): The French government has notified Greek Foreign Under-Secretary for European Affairs Yiannos Kranidiotis that his French counterpart Alain Lamassouere is ready to meet him to discuss the "upgrading of political dialogue between the European Union and Cyprus", reliable sources said yesterday. The meeting will most probably take place on January 6, and the subject is thought to involve "the participation of Nicosia government representatives in the sessions of Community Commissioners who deal with issues relating to the Common External Policy and Security of EU member-countries". The same sources said the French government was considering very seriously the Greek government's positions, expressed by Mr. Kranidiotis at the Foreign Ministers Council ten days ago, according to which Greece did not intend to consent to the completion of Turkey's customs union with the EU, unless a date was set for a start to negotiations for Cyprus's entry as a full member. The setting of a date for negotiations to begin will be coupled with the activation of procedures for the participation of Cyprus in intra-Community deliberations of direct interest to it. Kranidiotis: A matter of time ----------------------------- Nicosia, 27/12/1994 (ANA): In Nicosia Sunday, Mr. Kranidiotis told Cyprus Antenna TV that setting a date for a start to accession negotiations between Cyprus and the European Union was just "a matter of time". He said Greece's negotiating position and credibility had been strengthened, enabling it to pursue a start to negotiations with certainty. Mr. Kranidiotis said a date would be set on the sidelines of European Councils and termed the first months of 1995 "very important." Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash said Friday that the United States and Britain were trying to persuade him to support the island's entry to the European Union. He called on Washington and London to make a correct diagnosis of the Cyprus problem, and to realise that the aim (of the entry) was political, and it would be considered a victory for the Greeks. He reiterated his position that the island's entry in the EU could be discussed only after a Cyprus settlement, in separate referenda of its two ethnic communities. Premier, president Christmas messages ------------------------------------- Athens, 27/12/1994 (ANA): In his Christmas message to overseas Greeks, Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou said the course of national issues always required vigilance, steadfast positions and appropriate decisions. Stressing the achievements of Greek expatriates and efforts made by the government in the country's development course, Mr. Papandreou expressed certainty that their undivided support would continue. In a similar message, President Constantine Karamanlis said in the past year national issues were left in an unsettled state causing concern, adding that what was necessary to handle them effectively was national consensus, prudence and vigilance by Hellenism in its entirety. Heavy rains cause traffic problems ---------------------------------- Athens, 27/12/1994 (ANA): Heavy rains again created serious traffic problems in southern Athens suburbs at noon yesterday, blocking extensive parts of the main approaches to the airport. Circulation was restored in the early afternoon. Bad weather affected most southern regions and Thrace, causing navigation problems. The Meteorological Service yesterday evening forecast heavy snowfall over Western Macedonia overnight. Heavy rain also caused extensive damage to rural areas of Thessaloniki during Friday night, flooding houses and fields, and blocking roads. Near air tragedy averted ------------------------ Athens, 27/12/1994 (ANA): An air disaster, involving a Russian Tupolev-34 airliner, was averted at the last minute last night, thanks to the readiness of air traffic controllers at Athens airport. The pilot had erroneously believed he had eye contact with the runway while preparing to land over residential areas of southern Athens. He eventually landed safely, after controllers detected his mistaken course and ordered him to make a second approach. New airport strikes set for New Year flights -------------------------------------------- Athens, 27/12/1994 (ANA): Olympic Airways flights were carried out according to schedule on Christmas Day following a 48-hour strike called by civil aviation personnel which caused the cancellation of many flights, long delays and disputes on Friday. Civil aviation personnel have announced a new 48-hour strike for December 30-31. As of January 2, they will call open-ended 24-hour strikes to protest the arrest and custody of their colleague Neofytos Argyriou who has been charged with endangering safety after he allegedly switched off lights on runaways at the airport. All flights to and from Macedonia airport in Thessaloniki were cancelled Christmas morning due to thick fog blanketing the area. Trikala inmates try for early Christmas present, escape attempt foiled --------------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 27/12/1994 (ANA): Inmates at Trikala prison, central Greece, made an abortive attempt to escape late on Christmas Eve, believing wardens would have relaxed their guard. According to reports, three inmates tried to open a prison gate and escape at 4.30 a.m. but were spotted by wardens and police guarding the prison and were caught. Appeal of three Greeks on death row in Cairo postponed ------------------------------------------------------ Athens, 27/12/1994 (ANA): The appeal hearing of three Greek seamen sentenced to death by a Cairo court has been postponed till April 15. The three men were found guilty of carrying 7.5 tonnes of hashish in the motorship Thanassis in 1989.