A.N.A. Bulletin, 22/10/96
From: The Greek Press & Information Office, Ottawa Canada <grnewsca@sympatico.ca>
ATHENS NEWS AGENCY BULLETIN (No. 1021), October 22, 1996
Greek Press & Information Office
Ottawa, Canada
E-Mail Address: grnewsca@sympatico.ca
CONTENTS
[01] Greek and Polish presidents confirm excellent bilateral relations
[02] High-level talks to focus on budget preparation
[03] No division in Gov't over incomes policy, Reppas says
[04] Simitis in Moscow on Thursday for Black Sea summit meeting
[05] Reppas comments on Rozakis proposal
[06] Reppas: Greece wants closer co-operation with Israel
[07] Police helicopter to monitor Greek-Albanian border
[08] Turkey's provocativeness should also concern EU and
US,Tsohatzopoulos says
[09] German foreign under-secretary says EU cannot be kept hostage to
Turkey
[10] Athens hosts 4th session of Royaumont Initiative
[11] French admiral in Greece
[12] 'Bio' award for Cousteau
[13] Varvitsiotis. ND defeated because of lack of party unity
[14] Evert to chair ND Political Council meeting today
[15] Fake mufti gets six month jail term
[16] First rapprochement between Greek and FYROM technicians
[17] Greek reservations over Franco-German IGC proposal
[18] News in Brief
[19] Wanted criminal shot dead outside Athens hospital
[20] EOT marina program under way
[21] Tension eases in Halkidiki gold processing plant dispute
[22] Greece participates in SIAL exhibition in Paris
[01] Greek and Polish presidents confirm excellent bilateral relations
Warsaw, 22/10/1996 (ANA - N. Megadoukas)
The presidents of Greece and Poland, Kostis Stephanopoulos and
Aleksander Kwasniewski, yesterday confirmed the excellent state
of their bilateral relations, and discussed ways of further
expanding co-operation in the trade an d investment sectors.
"The excellent bilateral relations in the political sector leave
great margins for developing economic, trade and cultural
exchanges," Mr. Stephanopoulos said after talks with his host
opening his three-day visit in the Polish capital -- the first
ever by a Greek head of state -- expressing hope that the
participation of prominent Greek businessmen in the delegation
accompanying him would help in that direction.
Besides Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou, the Greek
president is accompanied by the presidents of the Association of
Greek Industries, Iason Stratos, Athens Chamber of Commerce and
Industry, Yiannis Papathanasiou, Greek Shipowners Union ,
Ioannis Goumas, and Association of Greek Exporters, Christina
Sakellaridou.
The two heads of state also discussed developments in Europe,
and Mr. Stephanopoulos reaffirmed Greek support for Poland's
drive to become a member of NATO and the European Union.
"We agreed on all issues concerning European peoples, as well as
those regarding Europe's future course, and naturally, the need
for the countries of eastern Europe, which are an integral part
of the continent, to become members of the European Union," said
Mr. Stephanopoulos, adding that he had agreed with his Polish
counterpart on NATO's stabilizing role, and the right of any
country wishing so to become a member.
He set out to Mr. Kwasniewski Greece's positions regarding
Cyprus and Greek-Turkish relations, stressing its desire for the
application of the rules of international law and treaties.
Replying to a relevant question, the Polish president said that
his country was in favor of dialogue and peaceful resolution of
all problems.
"My country does not stop offering itself to peaceful solutions
to existing problems. Any dispute must be solved on the basis of
international law and treaties. Whatever can contribute to the
smoothing of Greek-Turkish relations and the Cyprus problem will
find Poland's support. Europe is a small continent and any
conflict breeds great dangers, consequently, Poland condemns any
irresponsible action," said Mr. Kwasniewski.
He added that the problems of Greek-Turkish relations were
between two countries belonging to NATO, which, apart from
Europe, also ought to protect its member-states.
"Poland is on the side of peace, dialogue and agreements, and
against any aggression," he added.
The Polish president came out in favor of Cypriot entry in the
European Union, adding that the maintenance of peace on Cyprus
was in the interest of, but also an obligation of Europe.
He also stressed the dynamic increase in trade exchanges between
the two countries this year, but noted that Greek investment in
Poland could rise to much higher levels.
"Greece has a low level of foreign investment in Poland (ranking
28th), where conditions for attracting such investment are good.
Greek businessmen will find points of co-operation in their
contacts with Poles," he said.
At a dinner later in the evening, the Greek president thanked
the Polish people for their contribution to the struggles of the
Greek nation, stressing that the two countries today were drawn
together by the vision of a strong and united Europe.
Mr. Stephanopoulos is due to meet Foreign Minister Dariusz
Rosati this morning and speak before the Polish parliament's
external affairs committee later in the day. He is also
scheduled to have a working lunch with Prime Minister
Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz, and will lay a wreath at the monument
of heroes of the Warsaw ghetto.
[02] High-level talks to focus on budget preparation
Athens, 22/10/1996 (ANA)
Governor of the Bank of Greece Loukas Papademos briefed Prime
Minister Costas Simitis yesterday on monetary and credit issues
and the state of the drachma, whose exchange parity is being
maintained in counter-inflationary frameworks, while a meeting
Mr. Simitis will have with National Economy and Finance Minister
Yiannos Papantoniou today will be decisive for economic measures
to be taken by the government.
Mr. Papantoniou will brief Mr. Simitis on proposals by relevant
officials concerning the ways with which the finance ministry
will increase tax revenues without imposing new taxes. Two bills
due to be tabled in Parliament very soon will also be discussed.
One bill concerns curbing expenditures and saving in the public
sector and the other restricting tax exemptions. Mr. Simitis
will listen to Mr. Papantoniou's proposals on incomes policy and
alternatives on the way of paying increases.
All the proposals under consideration follow the lines set out
by Mr. Simitis who will take finalized decisions and select
options.
[03] No division in Gov't over incomes policy, Reppas says
Athens, 22/10/1996 (ANA)
The government's incomes policy will have the appropriate social
sensitivity which will be revealed in all its detail when the
budget is tabled, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said
yesterday.
He added that press reports indicating that Finance
Under-secretary George Drys was proposing 10 per cent increases
and Finance Minister Yannos Papantoniou two increases of 2.0 per
cent were untrue and that the division of government ministers
into different groups was inappropriate.
He also said that the government was preparing legislation on
cutbacks on public expenditures and the withdrawal of tax
exemptions, in the framework of social justice.
[04] Simitis in Moscow on Thursday for Black Sea summit meeting
Athens, 22/10/1996 (ANA)
Prime Minister Costas Simitis leaves for Moscow on Thursday for
a meeting of the Black Sea Co-operation group, government
spokesman Dimitris Reppas said yesterday.
He told a press briefing that after Moscow, Mr. Simitis would go
to Budapest for the summit meeting of EU and Eastern European
socialist leaders which begins on Saturday.
The summit topics, Mr. Reppas said, included the progress in the
Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) and the course of EU
enlargement.
Asked whether on the sidelines of the Black Sea conference Mr.
Simitis would meet with Turkish Premier Necmettin Erbakan, Mr.
Reppas said "We do not know whether Turkey will be represented
by Mr. Erbakan". He noted, however, that social events always
too k place "at which the leaders exchange greetings and
thoughts".
Mr. Reppas also said the presidents of Ukraine and Azerbaijan as
well as Russian Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin had asked to
meet with Mr. Simitis on the sidelines of the conference in
Moscow.
[05] Reppas comments on Rozakis proposal
Athens, 22/10/1996 (ANA)
Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said yesterday that Greece
was always interested in initiatives to defuse tension and
conflict in Greek-Turkish relations. He was responding to
questions regarding Foreign Under-secretary Christos Rozakis's
proposal to extend the moratorium on Greek and Turkish military
exercises in the Aegean. Mr. Reppas added that it was Turkey
which did not want to avert tension, pointing to Ankara's
repeated violations of Greek air space in the Aegean. He
clarified that the Rozakis proposal was a personal opinion and
was not the first time it had been formulated by the government.
[06] Reppas: Greece wants closer co-operation with Israel
Athens, 22/10/1996 (ANA)
Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said yesterday that Greece
desired closer co-operation with Israel and would work to that
end. Mr. Reppas was responding to an Israeli official's comments
to a Cypriot newspaper that the Greek side was responsible for t
he non-realization of Greek-Israeli defense co-operation.
[07] Police helicopter to monitor Greek-Albanian border
Athens, 22/10/1996 (ANA)
A Greek police helicopter will be transferred from Attica to
Ioannina to monitor the flow of illegal immigrants through the
Greek-Albanian border, Public Order Minister George Romeos said
yesterday. Mr. Romeos added that the chopper would make daily
rounds, in co-operation with special police forces and the
region's military forces. The measure is considered to be
imperative given the number of Albanian illegal immigrants who
attempt to return to Greece despite being deported.
[08] Turkey's provocativeness should also concern EU and
US,Tsohatzopoulos says
Athens, 22/10/1996 (ANA)
National Defense Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos said yesterday
that both the European Union and the United States should
realize that Turkey's provocativeness was not only the concern
of Greece but that it concerned them as well since the country
played a destabilizing role in the region.
Speaking in Larissa during his visit of army installations in
the region, Mr. Tsohatzopoulos said it was Greece's task to make
the EU and the US realize this, at the same time stressing the
possibility of a new hot incident in relations between Greece
and Turkey.
Tension between Greece and Turkey soared to an all time high in
January after Turkish troops embarked on the Greek rocky isle of
Imia in the Aegean.
Elaborating on the possibility for a new hot incident, Mr.
Tsohatzopoulos attributed it to increased evidence that Turkey
was continuously being armed with new weapon systems.
"Turkey is defining new goals and territorial designs," he said.
"Through threats for use of violence it has even reached the
point of disputing international treaties, such as the Lausanne
Treaty," he added.
Commenting on US President Bill Clinton's statement that
Greek-Turkish differences should be deferred to the
International Court at The Hague for a peaceful settlement, the
minister said it was "a realistic proposal depriving Turkey from
the ability to have new territorial designs."
But he expressed reservation because he said Mr. Clinton made
the statement in view of US elections in November.
[09] German foreign under-secretary says EU cannot be kept hostage to
Turkey
Athens, 22/10/1996 (ANA)
Visiting German Foreign Under-secretary Werner Hauer said
yesterday in Thessaloniki that consultations for a Cyprus
EU-accession should start six months after the end of the 1996
Intergovernmental Conference as initially planned.
"The European Union cannot be kept hostage to a Turkish
government which does not allow Cyprus as a united country to be
a member of the European Union," Mr. Hauer said.
The German official, who represented his government to the
inauguration of the new premises of the German School in
Thessaloniki, made the statement during an interview to the
"Radio Paratiritis" radio station.
Quizzed on Greek-Turkish differences, Mr. Hauer said Greek Prime
Minister Costas Simitis' approach to the issue -- namely a
recourse to an international arbitration court -- "is the only
civilized way to settle such an issue."
He termed Mr. Simitis' approach as "valuable."
[10] Athens hosts 4th session of Royaumont Initiative
Athens, 22/10/1996 (ANA)
Representatives of 27 European countries and international
organizations, including all European Union member states,
Balkan countries, the US, Russia, Hungary, the Council of
Europe, and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in
Europe (OSCE) yesterday held in Athens the 4th session of the
'Initiative for Stability and Good Neighborliness in SE Europe'
(or Royaumont Initiative, named after the Paris suburb where the
1st session was held in December 1965).
The session was opened by Foreign Ministry General Secretary for
European Affairs Stelios Perrakis, while head of the Greek
delegation Dimitris Kypraios presented a report on the progress
recorded in the country's relations with its northern neighbors,
particularly with Albania, the Former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia (FYROM), and the other countries of the former
Yugoslavia.
The Greek delegation also presented four proposals for studies,
to be financed by the European Union, regarding relations
between the EU and the countries of SE Europe in the fields of
security, human rights, and the environment, the systematization
of the procedure for regional co-operation, and the creation of
a think-tank network in SE Europe.
The conference also discussed initiatives for the economic
reconstruction in the region, and reviewed the provisions of the
Dayton peace accord regarding confidence building measures and
arms reduction.
[11] French admiral in Greece
Athens, 22/10/1996 (ANA)
French Chief of the Mediterranean Fleet, Admiral Philippe
Durteste, will start an official visit to Greece tomorrow, at
the invitation of Commander of the Fleet, Vice-Admiral Georgios
Bezerianos. During his stay, the French official will visit
fleet headquarters, and have talks with Chief of the Navy
General Staff Vice-Admiral Leonidas Palaiogiorgos.
[12] 'Bio' award for Cousteau
Paris, 22/10/1996 (ANA-Y. Zitouniatis)
The Greek environmental organization Biopolitics was due to
present captain Jacques Yves Cousteau last night with the "Bio"
award in recognition of his "invaluable contribution to the
understanding of the bio-environment."
Biopolitics, an international non-profit organization, was
founded in Athens on 1985 with the aim of promoting initiatives
for the protection of the environment.
The organization presents the "Bio" awards to those who
contribute to new models of thought regarding the environment.
[13] Varvitsiotis. ND defeated because of lack of party unity
Athens, 22/10/1996 (ANA)
Main opposition New Democracy party deputy president Ioannis
Varvitsiotis yesterday said that prime minister and ruling PASOK
party leader Costas Simitis had sought the vote of the Greek
citizen before announcing his policy of heavy taxes.
"Mr. Simitis deceived the Greek people by seeking an early
elections vote before presenting ... his heavy taxation
program," he told daily "Apoyevmatini".
Mr. Varvitsiotis said the party was defeated in September's
election "because it had been unable to convince the people of
its political word and because it had failed to project the
party's consensus and unity", adding that the party should
launch an in-depth assessment of the election result.
He said New Democracy's task as the main opposition party
required a liberation from the party's "unbelievable and
unacceptable introversion."
Meanwhile, ND deputy and former minister Stephanos Manos told
daily "Eleftheros Typos" that the ND Congress should be held in
April, adding that any decision to hold the congress at a later
date should be approved of by the party's central committee.
"Both the party's president and vice president said that the
congress should determine whether the party has confidence in
its leadership," Mr. Manos said, reiterating his request for
internal party elections.
Mr. Manos was the first ND deputy to announce his candidacy for
the party leadership only hours after ND leader Miltiades Evert
had announced his resignation from the post following New
Democracy's defeat in the September election.
Mr. Manos withdrew his candidacy in order to support, together
with former ND minister and deputy Dora Bakoyanni, the candidacy
of George Souflias. Mr. Souflias lost the election to current ND
leader Mr. Evert.
Branding the ND congress as "the golden opportunity for a
rebirth of the party," Mr. Manos said he would support Mr.
Souflias at the congress.
[14] Evert to chair ND Political Council meeting today
Athens, 22/10/1996 (ANA)
Main opposition New Democracy party leader Miltiades Evert is
due to chair the party's Political Council meeting at noon today.
Sources said that Mr. Evert may take the opportunity to make an
official announcement regarding the party congress. Other
sources said that Mr. Evert will make an official announcement
regarding the congress tomorrow at the Central Committee meeting.
According to the sources, Mr. Evert will hold the congress in
June.
[15] Fake mufti gets six month jail term
Athens, 22/10/1996 (ANA)
A three-member court in Thessaloniki yesterday sentenced Ibrahim
Serif to six months jail for impersonating a religious leader.
Serif was charged with presenting himself as the legal mufti of
Komotini and conducting religious ceremonies between January 17
and February 29, 1991, without ever being formally appointed to
the position.
The legally recognized mufti of Komotini is Metso Jemali.
Yesterday's sentence was imposed after a earlier court ruling
reduced Serif's original sentence of eight months.
Serif was released after paying off his sentence at a daily rate
of 1,500 drachmas.
[16] First rapprochement between Greek and FYROM technicians
Athens, 22/10/1996 (ANA)
The state institute for the protection of monuments in the
former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) has accepted an
inventory of monuments of all historic periods located in the
neighboring state by mixed committees composed of its members
and members of the Technical Chamber of Greece (TEE).
The decision was the most important agreement during a three-day
visit paid to Skopje by a delegation of the TEE-Department of
Central Macedonia (TEE-TKM), headed by its President Panayiotis
Dentsoras, at the invitation of the institute of Skopje.
It was the first rapprochement between the Greek technicians and
their colleagues from FYROM and is part of a wider framework to
promote common interests between engineers from Balkan countries
through bilateral contacts developed by TEE-TKM.
The co-operation proposal processed by TEE-TKM and the institute
for the protection of monuments of FYROM refers to the
protection of the two countries' architectural heritage.
The President of TEE-TKM briefed the technicians from FYROM that
scientists from other specialties such as archaeologists or
environmental physicists participate in the Chamber's permanent
committees according to the occasion.
Guidelines for co-operation between technicians of the two
countries were set out during the talks and points of common
action were defined focusing on an inventory, comparative
analysis and evaluation of monuments aimed at restoring and
preserving historic buildings and settlements in their entirety.
To this end, working groups were agreed as well as the
organization of exhibitions and symposiums and the creation of a
data base in Thessaloniki.
TEE-TKM had briefed relevant ministries and is expected to
invite representatives of the institute from FYROM to
Thessaloniki before Christmas.
[17] Greek reservations over Franco-German IGC proposal
Brussels, 22/10/1996 (ANA - M. Spinthourakis)
Greece is reserved over a joint proposal made last week by the
foreign ministers of France and Germany, by which the
Intergovernmental Conference on revising the Maastricht Treaty
should initiate the possibility of all member-states "wishing
and able" to co-operate in the sectors they consider essential,
without member-states disagreeing to be in a position to raise
objections, possibly using the right of veto currently in force.
Greece's first reaction to the Franco-German proposal came
yesterday from the country's representative at the
Intergovernmental Conference Eurodeputy Yiannos Kranidiotis who
briefed the presiding official of the group of personal
representatives of Foreign Ministers at the Intergovernmental
Conference in a meeting in Brussels yesterday on Greek positions.
In parallel, Mr. Kranidiotis yesterday delivered a letter by
Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos to the Irish Presidency for
his Irish counterpart Dick Spring, setting out the Greek
government's views on issues of common foreign and defense
policy and stressing Greece's interest in having clauses
included in the draft treaty which consolidate the inviolability
of the territorial integrity and borders of European Union
member-states.
Similar letters have been addressed to the other foreign
ministers of the EU member-states.
[18] News in Brief
Athens, 22/10/1996 (ANA)
Kyriakos Diniakos was yesterday named new Secretary-General of
industry at the development ministry.
Mr. Diniakos is a lawyer and was previously president of the
deposits and loans fund and mayor of Haidari.
Meanwhile, Yannis Sgouros yesterday took over the
Secretary-General for sports post from George Lyssaridis at a
special ceremony.
[19] Wanted criminal shot dead outside Athens hospital
Athens, 22/10/1996 (ANA)
Police shot dead a wanted criminal outside an Athens hospital
yesterday after he ignored calls to surrender and fired on
police closing in on him.
Pavlos Keremidis, 45, had gone to the Ygeia hospital near the
Athens Olympic Stadium to visit a woman friend of his whom he
had shot in the legs.
Police lying in wait called on him to surrender, but he drew a
pistol and started shooting at them while at the same time
wielding a hand-grenade.
Police returned fire and seriously injured Keremidis who died
soon afterwards. His accomplice, Ioannis Koutsombinis, was also
arrested.
Keremidis had escaped from the Alikarnassos prison on the island
of Crete in 1989 and had been accused by police at the time of
killing two policemen trying to arrest him. According to police,
he stole an automatic weapon from one of them and 30,000
drachmas from the other.
He was arrested a few months after his escape and taken to the
Trikala prison from where he succeeded in escaping again
together with 14 other inmates.
According to police, he had created a gang comprised of Russians
and Ukrainians and robbed banks.
Moreover, police believe that Keremidis was the mastermind
behind the kidnapping of well-known Thessaloniki industrialist
Alexandros Haitoglou and for whose release he had demanded 400
million drachmas in ransom.
Police had issued a reward for 250 million drachmas for
information leading to the arrest of Keremidis and the
Paleokostas brothers, but withdrew his name afterwards for lack
of evidence against him and the 250 million reward only remained
for information concerning the Paleokostas brothers.
[20] EOT marina program under way
Athens, 22/10/1996 (ANA)
The Greek National Tourism Organization's (EOT) program of new
marinas and modernization of existing marinas will mean that
Greece will soon have places for 14,000 yachts, drawing
high-quality sea tourism, EOT Secretary-General Vassilis
Kourtesis said yesterday.
Mr. Kourtesis said projects would soon be assigned and that work
was already underway on a number of sites.
Meanwhile, EOT is accepting bids for a number of projects,
including the 1.3 billion drachma marina at Mytilini, with
places for 236 yachts, and the 687 million drachma marina at
Pylos, as well as auctioning this week the project for the 1.7
billion drachma marina at Malia, Crete, which will have a
capacity of 300 yachts.
[21] Tension eases in Halkidiki gold processing plant dispute
Athens, 22/10/1996 (ANA)
Ground studies for a gold processing plant to be created in
Halkidiki, northern Greece, by the Canadian company TVX HELLAS,
will start from regions furthest away from the administrative
limits of the Olympiada and Varvara communities, as tension in
the area eased after last week's incidents.
The decision was reached after repeated talks were held
yesterday between Minister of Macedonia and Thrace Philippos
Petsalnikos, Development Under-secretary Anna Diamantopoulou and
Labor Under-secretary Christos Protopappas and members of the
Coordinating Committee and local community leaders who had
blocked the road leading to the entrance to the mines over the
past 10 months.
The situation was defused following a decision taken on Sunday
by members of the Strymonicos (Gulf) Committee to accept the
government's decision for ground studies to start in regions
lying outside the administrative limits of the two communities,
whose inhabitants and community leaders constitute the hard-core
nucleus of reaction against the gold processing plant.
Local inhabitants fear the gold processing plant will harm the
tourist industry in the area, the environment and cultural
heritage.
Speaking to reporters afterwards, Ms. Diamantopoulou said the
study's investigatory process will not exclude any region,
adding that it will merely start from the regions furthermost
away.
According to reports, TVX HELLAS believes the government is
moving in the right direction, but reserves judgment until it is
fully briefed on behalf of the state.
[22] Greece participates in SIAL exhibition in Paris
Paris, 22/10/1996 (ANA - G. Zitouniati)
The five-day 17th International Foodstuffs Exhibition SIAL
started in Paris on Sunday with Greece participating with
national pavilions covering an area of 2,000 square meters and
110 companies.
The exhibition was inaugurated by French Agriculture Minister
Philippe Vasseur in the presence of Greek Agriculture
Under-secretary Dimitris Sotirlis and many counterparts from
European Union, central and eastern European countries.
The effort to promote Greek foodstuffs is part of the overall
effort to promote Greek products in the French market.
Greek exports to France have increased since 1994. Exports to
France increased by 2.9 per cent in 1994 and 8 per cent in 1995,
a year in which Greece's total exports amounted to 3,046 million
French francs.
A study of the course of Greek foodstuffs exports is encouraging
for their future in the French market.
Speaking to reporters, Mr. Sotirlis referred to the important
Greek participation in the SIAL exhibition and his interesting
meeting with the French Agriculture Minister and his
counterparts from the other European Union countries as well as
from central and eastern European countries.
End of English language section.
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