From: "Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa" Subject: A.N.A. Bulletin 16/1/95 Athens News Agency Bulletin --------------------------- (Apo to Ellnviko Grafeio Tupou kai Plnroforiwv, Ottaba, Kavadas E-Mail Address: grnewsca@sympatico.ca) * Gligorov intransigence still the major problem in Skopje issue, premier says * Heated debate expected in parliament tonight on waiving charges * Venizelos: Human rights respected in Greece * Fighting in Grozny intensifies as search for ethnic Greeks continues * Niotis says Council of Overseas Greeks ready to go Gligorov intransigence still the major problem in Skopje issue, premier says --------------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 16/1/95 (ANA): Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou yesterday warned Skopje that it would be a mistake to pin its hopes on a European Court condemnation of Greece's trade embargo and accused the Gligorov regime of intransigence. The premier also criticised Turkey for constantly creating tension in the Aegean and rejected a call by US President Bill Clinton for unconditional dialogue with Albania. In an interview published in yesterday's edition of Kathimerini, Mr. Papandreou replied to Mr. Clinton's positions on a number of national issues carried by the same newspaper last Sunday. Mr. Clinton called on Greece to begin unconditional dialogue with Albania and expressed concern at growing tension between Greece and Turkey, urging both countries to avoid conflict and pursue dialogue. Mr. Papandreou said he did not know if the European Court's decision on Greece's trade embargo against the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) would be favourable for Athens. He stressed, however, that the Skopje problem went far beyond any decision by the European Court, expected to be announced on February 1. "It would be a strategic mistake on the part of Skopje if it based its hopes on the court's decision. Greece has the ability to maintain its diplomatic front against Skopje, irrespective of any decision," Mr. Papandreou warned. The premier described the embargo as a "tactical means" which was not an end in itself and accused the Skopjan leadership of intransigence in ongoing UN efforts for a settlement being co-ordinated by international mediator Cyrus Vance. "And I fail to see how direct dialogue (between Athens and Skopje) would change this intransigence," Mr. Papandreou said. On Greek-Turkish relations, Mr. Papandreou accused Ankara of continuously using illegal means since 1974 in an attempt to bring into question the status quo in the Aegean. "(Turkey) violates our national airspace, threatens Greece with war if it extends its territorial waters to 12 miles as it is entitled under international law and infringes international flight regulations. It is only natural that all this creates tension and, in the event our national airspace is violated, and because of the defence involvement of our airforce, may result in an incident," Mr. Papandreou said. The premier underlined that the continuing occupation by Turkey of 37 per cent of Cyprus created constant tension in the region and was a permanent obstacle to the normalisation of relations between Athens and Ankara. "It's very simple. If Turkey respects international law, then the risk of an incident will disappear," Mr. Papandreou said, reiterating that in principle he was in favour of dialogue with Ankara. "Any dialogue, however, must have a clear subject matter and certain prerequisites must be fulfilled. It is obvious that Greece could never accept to enter into dialogue on its sovereign rights in the Aegean. Nor could the conclusion of a friendship accord be considered a target as long as the occupation of Cyprus continues," Mr. Papandreou said. The premier said that Greece and Turkey were trying to attain "step-by-step" rapprochement through contacts at the level of foreign ministry political directors focusing on illegal immigration, cultural and educational matters. These contacts, he added, may be upgraded to the level of foreign ministry general secretaries. "If conditions become ripe later, a meeting between the foreign ministers or even premiers of the two countries cannot be ruled out," Mr. Papandreou said. "I should like to stress that Greece desires good relations with Turkey and wants to see it come closer to European institutions. But it is quite clear that a Turkey which does not respect human rights and international law cannot belong to Europe and this is not a problem only for Greece but for all of Europe. I believe that this last point has not been properly understood even in Ankara," the premier said. Replying to questions on Greek-Albanian relations, Mr. Papandreou said that there was a dialogue with Tirana on "current issues" at the level of ambassadors and foreign ministries. "But high-level political dialogue will bring no result as long as Tirana refuses to put an end to the suffering of the four (ethnic Greeks imprisoned on charges of spying) ..," Mr. Papandreou said. "I hope that (Albanian) President Sali Berisha will realise that it is in his country's interest to have good relations with Greece and soon complete the step he has half taken," he added. Greek-Albanian relations soured after a Tirana court last year convicted and sentenced to jail five ethnic Greek members of the political organisation Omonia on charges of espionage and illegal arms possession. On Christmas Eve, one of the five was pardoned by President Berisha but he declined to pardon the remaining four. Mr. Papandreou said that the linchpin of Greece's policy towards Albania was full respect for the human, minority, religious and educational rights of the ethnic Greeks of Albania. "Greek-Albanian dialogue will focus on the issue of the safeguarding of these rights," he stressed. Mr. Papandreou recalled Greece's recent display of goodwill in lifting its veto of 15 million Ecu of EU macroeconomic aid to Albania, while reminding Tirana that the main assistance to the neighbouring country was the approximately 300 million dollars entering Albania from Albanians working in Greece. "And Albania has not received this level of assistance either from Europe or from anywhere else," Mr. Papandreou said. Heated debate expected in parliament tonight on waiving charges -------------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 16/1/95 (ANA): The Greek Parliament is set to see a heated debate tonight on whether or not to drop charges of illegal wire-tapping and corruption against former conservative prime minister Constantine Mitsotakis and two of his former ministers. The debate, taking place at the initiative of the prime minister, will be heard a week before a tribunal of 13 Supreme Court judges convenes to hear the charges on the phone-tapping case against Mr. Mitsotakis. Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou announced his decision to recommend waiving the charges in his New Year's Eve address, saying Greece had too many other pressing problems to deal with. "The country has lived through the special court experience and came close to being torn apart," he said, referring to his own experience of being sent for trial on charges of corruption and illegal wiretapping by a previous conservative-communist coalition in 1989, formed specifically to lift his parliamentary immunity. Mr. Mitsotakis, then leader of the opposition New Democracy party, led that charge. Mr. Papandreou was cleared of all corruption charges in January 1992, despite refusing to appear before the court, and Mr. Mitsotakis, by then prime minister, decided to cut his losses and drop the wiretapping charges. Mr. Papandreou's motion to drop the charges, however, has prompted an outcry from many of the 170 ruling Panhellenic Socialist Movement deputies, as well as from the main opposition party New Democracy, which is adamant that the trials proceed, arguing that simply dropping charges would leave Mr. Mitsotakis' reputation tarnished. In June last year, Parliament decided Mr. Mitsotakis, prime minister from 1990 to 1993, should stand trial before a special supreme court on charges of morally instigating a scheme to tap the phones of his political rivals between 1988 and 1991, using information obtained by unlawful means, breach of faith and concealment of a crime. In September Parliament again indicted him, along with two of his former ministers, on charges of corruption in the 1992 sale of the state-owned AGET-Heracles cement company. Mr. Mitsotakis is charged with receiving over 22 million dollars in kickbacks to expedite the sale, dereliction of duty and violating the law on ministerial responsibility. Former conservative finance minister Ioannis Paleokrassas and former industry minister Andreas Andrianopoulos were also indicted. There will be two secret ballots after the debate tonight -- one for Mr. Mitsotakis' phone-tapping charge and the other for the three charged in connection with the AGET sale. A simple majority is needed to overturn the charges. PASOK's Executive Committee, after an extraordinary meeting yesterday, said: "The vote tonight will be a guarantee for the establishment of political normality and stability." Main opposition New Democracy party leader Miltiades Evert on Saturday met with party officials on the debate tonight. ND deputies are free to vote according to their conscience. The Political Spring party said it would vote against dropping charges, while the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) said it would form its position today prior to the debate tonight. Venizelos: Human rights respected in Greece ------------------------------------------- Athens, 16/1/95 (ANA): The government said Saturday that human rights were well-protected and all citizens equal in Greece. Government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos made the statement when asked to comment on the visit of US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Nancy Ely-Raphel, who ended a visit to Thessaloniki Friday with talks with members of a small organisation which supports the positions of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia in its dispute with Greece. Ms. Ely-Raphel, who is responsible for human rights issues, had talks earlier in the week with former independent Moslem deputy for Xanthi, Ahmed Sadiq. "Greece is a state ruled by law, which safeguards human rights to a high degree. Greek territory is accessible to all and all Greek citizens are equal before the law, enjoying all the means of protecting their rights. For international organisations and foreign governments to ascertain this does not bother us at all. Any one-sided or scratchy approach would be offensive, but we have nothing specific which could be the subject of comment," Mr. Venizelos said, replying to press questions. Fighting in Grozny intensifies as search for ethnic Greeks continues ---------------------------------------------------------- Moscow, (ANA - D. Constantakopoulos): The battle for devastated Grozny appeared to be nearing a climax yesterday, as efforts to co-ordinate the evacuation of ethnic Greeks continued. The task force, headed by Greek Ambassador to the Russian Federation Kyriakos Rodoussakis, was set up by Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias in co-operation with the Under-Secretary for Overseas Greeks Grigoris Niotis. George Iacovou, chairman of the National Institute for the Reception and Resettlement of Expatriate and Repatriate Greeks, is co-ordinating action from nearby Mineralnye Vody. The Greek task force asked the regional military and political authorities, as well as the federal authorities, and ethnic Greek organisations around Chechnya, to join in efforts to locate and evacuate ethnic Greeks. The Russian Minister for Emergencies promised Mr. Rodoussakis he would do anything possible to help locate and evacuate all ethnic Greeks in the region. The minister has made an exception and allowed the Greek task force to approach the conflict area, using a town in North Ossetia for its base. Since fighting began, the Russian authorities have called on foreign nationals to evacuate Chechnya. There are conflicting reports, however, about the number of Greeks still in the area. Mr. Iacovou told the ANA that four Greek families had been found living in Mineralnye Vody and 11 Greek refugees were located in a town nearby. But efforts to locate ethnic Greek refugees are further constrained by the fact that only 40,000 out of a total of 400,000 refugees have reported to the authorities, while it is estimated that 250,000 people still remain in Chechnya, the greatest part o f which remains under Chechnyan and not Russian control. Efforts are further impaired by increased fighting. Saturday's shelling was the worst since Russian President Boris Yeltsin sent troops into Chechnya on December 11 to crush the region's independence bid. It was accompanied by a bombing raid on the central Minutka Square. According to sources a mere 40-50 Greeks remain in Grozny. Niotis says Council of Overseas Greeks ready to go -------------------------------------------------- Melbourne, (ANA - S. Hatzimanolis): Foreign Under-Secretary for Overseas Greeks Grigoris Niotis yesterday said that the Committee of Overseas Greeks (SAE) will not be an administrative body of the Greek state, but an institutional body of the Greeks living abroad, in an interview to the SBS radio station in Melbourne. Mr. Niotis said that the SAE was in its final stages and had the support of all political forces in Greece, adding that the first assembly of its members will probably be held this July in Thessaloniki. "The SAE will cover an institutional vacancy: the co-operation and unity of the national centre with the overseas Greeks, and the co-operation between the overseas Greeks themselves," Mr. Niotis said. He also added that the appointment of SAE representatives will be made according to objective rules and transparency.