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Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 97-03-17

Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Greek Press & Information Office, Ottawa Canada <grnewsca@sympatico.ca>

ATHENS NEWS AGENCY BULLETIN (No 1140), March 17, 1997

Greek Press & Information Office
Ottawa, Canada
E-Mail Address: grnewsca@sympatico.ca


CONTENTS

  • [01] Greece active in EU diplomatic mission to Tirana today
  • [02] Evert visits southern Albania for contacts
  • [03] Second evacuation operation successful
  • [04] Greek aid reaches Albania
  • [05] US envoy concerned at Albanian developments
  • [06] Archbishop Anastasios' appeal
  • [07] Greece reiterates position on EU expansion
  • [08] Kileler farmers' anniversary provides focus for wide-ranging protests
  • [09] Teachers return to classrooms but consider alternative labor action
  • [10] Crucial week ahead for New Democracy
  • [11] More homes to be built in Komotini
  • [12] 18 presumed dead as boat sinks in Aegean
  • [13] Inquiry under way after shipyard blast kills worker
  • [14] Search for missing 'Kostakos' seamen begins
  • [15] Thessaloniki hosts exhibition on Neolithic civilization

  • [01] Greece active in EU diplomatic mission to Tirana today

    Athens, 17/03/1997 (ANA)

    Greece will be actively involved in the European Union's first tentative steps to help the Albanian authorities restore order in the anarchic Balkan republic and will continue its own contacts in Albania in an effort to bring an end to the crisis, it was announced yesterday.

    As a first step, the EU has decided to send a high-level mission to Tirana today, led by Dutch diplomat Jan de Marchant et d'Ansembourg and including representatives from EU presidency the Netherlands, Greece, Italy, the European Commission and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).

    The aim of the mission is to explore the steps needed to be taken to normalize the situation in Albania.

    The European Unions' Council of Foreign Ministers meeting informally over the weekend in Apeldoorn, the Netherlands, shied away from sending troops into Albania but said they would send an expert military and police advisory group to try and help restore order.

    They said they would consider providing protection for the mission if it was needed, but stressed that it was not a military operation.

    "The European Union has decided the dispatch of representatives to Albania with the aim of studying the situation and offering assistance to the Albanian government in its efforts to restore public order and safety," government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said in Athens yesterday.

    He said Greece would be represented in this mission by ambassador Dimitris Kypraios and Brigadier Ioannis Tsagaris.

    Foreign Under-secretary Yiannos Kranidiotis will visit Gjirokaster tomorrow, as part of intense diplomatic and political contacts on the part of the Greek government to find a peaceful political solution, Mr. Reppas said.

    "Greece will continue to offer humanitarian aid and we believe that soon the crisis will be over and Albanians and Albania will see better days," Mr. Reppas said.

    The Albanian crisis and prospects for the achievement of a political solution will be discussed at a meeting to be chaired by Prime Minister Costas Simitis today.

    The meeting will be attended by foreign and defense ministry officials and ministers. In order to attend the meeting, Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou's scheduled visit to Sweden has been postponed.

    Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos said on Saturday that Greece could participate in an "international police force unit" in Albania, replying to journalists' questions shortly before the opening of the EU foreign ministers informal meeting in Apeldoorn. The OSCE's special envoy for Albania, former Austrian chancellor Franz Vranitzky, supports the sending of a police force to Albania, made up of forces from those European countries which wish to participate.

    [02] Evert visits southern Albania for contacts

    Athens, 17/03/1997 (ANA)

    Main opposition New Democracy party leader Miltiades Evert yesterday visited southern Albania for meetings with local officials and representatives of the ethnic Greek minority.

    Mr. Evert went directly to Sarande and was due to visit Gjirokaster later in the day.

    Meanwhile, National Defense Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos said at the weekend that Greece would participate in an OSCE international police force for Albania if the organization accepted the proposal submitted by its envoy Franz Vranitsky.

    By participating, he said, Greece would be fulfilling the obligation it has as Albania's neighbor.

    During his visit to Gjirokaster yesterday morning, Mr. Evert met with the Greek consul and representatives of the Greek minority and of the insurgents, and was briefed on the situation prevailing in the area.

    Mr. Evert said his visit to southern Albania aimed to "boost the morale of the Greek minority" in the area and noted that Greece played an important role in Albania's development, through its financial reinforcement.

    He added that the Greek government and opposition parties were following a joint foreign policy on the issue. The New Democracy leader expressed the hope that the crisis in Albania will be resolved peacefully soon, adding that "other solutions must be s ought, and there must be a constitutional framework in the country."

    [03] Second evacuation operation successful

    Athens, 17/03/1997 (ANA)

    The second operation by Greek armed forces to evacuate foreign citizens from Albania ended successfully on Saturday.

    By 1:35 p.m., 250 people, mainly Chinese, Jordanian and Egyptian nationals, had boarded the "Kavaloudis" missile boat.

    They headed for Corfu on board the frigate "Aegaio", which had been moored in the port of Durres.

    [04] Greek aid reaches Albania

    Athens, 17/03/1997 (ANA)

    The foreign ministry announced that medical and pharmaceutical aid for Albania was delivered to hospitals in Sarande, Gjirokaster, Tepeleni and Premeti on Saturday. The aid was met at the Kakavia border crossing by ambulances and transported to the ho spitals.

    The National Foundation for Welcoming and Rehabilitating Expatriate Greeks (EIYAPOE) is to begin delivering food aid, mainly flour, to southern Albanian villages today, in co-operation with the prefectural and local self-administration of Ioannina and Thesprotia.

    [05] US envoy concerned at Albanian developments

    Athens, 17/03/1997 (ANA)

    US Ambassador to Athens Thomas Niles assessed that developments in Albania may make the situation in Kosovo "difficult ".

    Speaking in Edessa on Saturday, Mr. Niles said "the situation in FYROM is calm and we hope it will stay calm. However, in Kosovo the situation can become difficult as a result of developments in Albania."

    Mr. Niles said the fact the population in Albania is armed is very dangerous, adding that "all the surrounding countries, and my country, must help in the creation of a national unity government in Albania."

    [06] Archbishop Anastasios' appeal

    Athens, 17/03/1997 (ANA)

    Albanian TV yesterday broadcast an urgent appeal by Archbishop of Tirana and All Albania Anastasios, calling for an end to the acute problem of looting around the country. The appeal, also read at Orthodox Cathedrals in major cities throughout the country, said hysteria should come to an end.

    [07] Greece reiterates position on EU expansion

    Apeldoorn, The Netherlands 17/03/1997 (ANA - M. Spinthourakis)

    The European Union Council of Ministers reiterated over the weekend its explicit commitment that a structured dialogue with Cyprus will take place, together with the structured dialogue of other candid ate countries, and that this issue will be discussed at the next meeting of the committee of EU member-states permanent representatives (COREPER), Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos said yesterday.

    Mr. Pangalos highlighted the Cyprus issue, relations between the European Union and Turkey and Greek-Turkish relations during a press conference at the end of the informal Council of EU Foreign Ministers in Apeldoorn, The Netherlands.

    The insistence of certain countries on the involvement of the Turkish Cypriot community in the negotiations for Cyprus' accession was "unacceptable", Mr. Pangalos said, because it placed in doubt the EU's existing commitment that Cyprus will be the first among accession candidates with which accession negotiations will get under way.

    Commenting on relations between the EU and Turkey, Mr. Pangalos told reporters that "the discussion which took place was wider on the problems our country has with Turkey."

    Replying to a question on whether or not Turkey has the right to seek a place in Europe, he said "a democratic and progressive Turkey, with economic strength and balance and an open society will be a big vested interest for Europe."

    Mr. Pangalos said Greece has special ties with Turkey and the Turkish people which have been shaped through history, adding that Greece "has a special understanding of the neighboring country's attitude and problems and that in no way - as some in western and northern Europe - does it have prejudices." He said Europe is multireligious and multicultural and consequently it does not exclude any country from accession to the EU on religious criteria.

    Mr. Pangalos said Turkey must make its choices because it cannot "want to be a member of the EU and at the same time behave to political and ethnic minorities in the way it is behaving, to violate human rights and freedom of the press, not to contribute towards resolving the Cyprus issue, thinking that it can do this indefinitely and, lastly, to raise historically inaccurate and legally untenable territorial claims against a country such as Greece which is a member of the EU."

    He said the Greek approach is "moderate and integrated" and that efforts by some to show a front of 14 against one inside the EU have failed. He said that if this was the case then it would mean Europe is entering a phase of "moral and political crisis. "

    Mr. Pangalos said German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel asked him whether Greece intends to lift its reservations in relation to the EU-Turkey financial protocol and he replied "certainly not." Mr. Kinkel walked out of the session afterwards. He said this stance is not unprecedented but is considered unacceptable by Greece.

    "Nobody can come and submit an ultimatum and then become angry when the ultimatum is not accepted," he said.

    Mr. Pangalos said the Council agreed to a position on Turkey which is expressed in a relevant document prepared by the Dutch presidency with which Greece agrees. According to the document, prospects for Turkey remain valid in relation to the association agreement of 1963 and the European Commission's avis in 1989:

    Turkey will have to be handled with the same spectrum of criteria and principles with which the other candidates will be handled, the European Commission is called on to shape a package of proposals for strengthening customs union between Turkey and the EU and the Dutch presidency will continue contacts between Greece and Turkey on the Aegean issue, which could lead to a successful Association Council.

    Mr. Pangalos said the Dutch presidency has an idea in that Turkey and Greece should each choose a "wise man" to have the process examined by which resorting to The Hague will be feasible. He said that in Greece's view such a process is not necessary, but added that Greece did not wish to exclude the presidency's initiative.

    Replying to a questioner on whether this process will result in the drawing up of a joint agreement on referring the issue of the Imia islets to the International Court at The Hague, Mr. Pangalos said there can be no joint agreement on Imia and neither is it necessary, although one is needed for the continental shelf because it is a new problem where legal rules are unclear.

    [08] Kileler farmers' anniversary provides focus for wide-ranging protests

    Athens, 17/03/1997 (ANA)

    The 87th anniversary of the farmers' uprising in Kileler, central Greece, turned into a protest rally yesterday with farmers, workers, teachers and pensioners from all over the country finding an opportunity to air their grievances against the government.

    The event was attended by Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Secretary-General Aleka Papariga, Democratic Social Movement leader Dimitris Tsovolas and representatives of all political parties with the exception of the ruling PASOK party.

    About 7,000 people responded to the call by the farmers' Thessaly Coordinating Committee, making yesterday's rally the biggest in the past 10 years.

    The speakers, most of them members of the Coordinating Committee, sent a message to the government and the "mandarins in Athens" that their struggle would continue.

    Athanassios Nasikas, a member of the committee and president of the Stockbreeders' Federation, told the government "you have not finished with us" and announced in advance that stockbreeders will come to Athens next month.

    Yiannis Pattakis, president of the committee, said that "the bells of the uprising are tolling again", while KKE deputy Evangelos Boutas predicted further protests in autumn, warning the government that either it will solve the farmers' problems or "pack up and leave."

    Ms Papariga said struggles will flare up in the years to come, while Mr. Tsovolas criticized Prime Minister Costas Simitis that his so-called progressive policy was, in face, "a harsh conservative policy".

    [09] Teachers return to classrooms but consider alternative labor action

    Athens, 17/03/1997 (ANA)

    High-school teachers throughout the country return to classrooms today after 44 days on strike.

    Teachers' association representatives in the early hours of Saturday voted 38-32 in favor of calling off the strike. The board of administration of the teachers' federation (OLME) had proposed that the strike should continue.

    After the vote was announced, teachers' representatives continued in session to discuss other forms of protest, such as work stoppages and a possible 24-hour strike for this week.

    Education Under-secretary Ioannis Anthopoulos yesterday said the teachers' strike was "unjustified" and called on them to "repair the damage".

    "The strike is over. We the state, as well as the teachers have a duty: to repair the damages caused by the protracted and unjustified strike," he told reporters in Thessaloniki yesterday.

    [10] Crucial week ahead for New Democracy

    Athens, 17/03/1997 (ANA)

    The main opposition New Democracy party's three-day 4th Congress will start at the Peace and Friendship Stadium on Friday where some 3,400 delegates will elect a new party leader from four candidates in what is believed by many to be the party's most crucial congress in its 22-year history.

    The candidates contesting the leadership are the incumbent leader Miltiades Evert and his challengers George Souflias, Costas Karamanlis and Vyron Polydoras.

    The 4th congress will be the first to elect a party leader but many concede that it will constitute an important step towards widening democracy in the party, while many others claim that the problems of the party's political orientation and cohesion will not be resolved during the upcoming congress.

    Consequently, many cadres are concerned about the "next day", namely the party's cohesion and the prospect of it being able to appear as a party capable of winning power and ruling effectively. Much will depend on decisions to be taken on the party's charter and program and, primarily, the attitude of the losers towards the winner and their handling by the new leader. However, predictions as to who will win are still wide open.

    What remains to be seen is whether the outcome of the congress at the Peace and Friendship Stadium will bring peace and friendship to strife-torn ND.

    [11] More homes to be built in Komotini

    Athens, 17/03/1997 (ANA)

    The president of the Labor Housing Organization, OEK, Thanassis Hanakoulas yesterday laid the foundation stone for a complex of 148 houses budgeted at three billion drachmas to be built in the Ektenepol project of Komotini.

    The settlement will complete OEK's housing program in Komotini. The houses will be ready in 18 months' time and will be provided for homeless people in the area and for expatriate Black Sea Greeks who have returned from former Soviet republics.

    In another development, tendering has taken place for 271 houses at the Neapolis location in Xanthi to meet the housing needs of workers and employees in the area. The houses will cost eight billion drachmas and will be built with funds from OEK.

    [12] 18 presumed dead as boat sinks in Aegean

    Athens, 17/03/1997 (ANA)

    Eighteen illegal immigrants were presumed dead last night after a boat carrying them from Turkey sank in Turkish territorial waters just off the islet of Ro early yesterday.

    Port authorities on Ro were notified of the incident by a survivor of the incident, an Iranian man, who said he swam to the Greek islet after the boat sank. A further two survivors were rescued by port police vessels arriving at the scene shortly after the initial reports. The port police said they saw bodies floating within Turkish territorial waters. Turkish authorities and ships sailing nearby were notified to search the area for possible survivors. After the incident was reported, Turkish coast guard vessels collected the bodies and transported them back to Kas.

    According to reports, the 21 illegal immigrants, including three women and three children, bought the boat, without an engine, in the town of Kas in Turkey in order to row to Kastellorizo and request political asylum from the Greek authorities. The three survivors said that half-way between the Turkish coast and the island, the boat began to leak and sank soon afterwards. They said none of the 18 who perished could swim, and there were no life jackets on board.

    The three surviving men have been hospitalized in Kastellorizo, whe-re one, whose four-month pregnant wife drowned in the incident, is being treated for severe shock. Due to good weather conditions in the eastern Aegean over the past few days, roughly 100 illegal immigrants have managed to put ashore on the islands of Patmos, Symi and Agathonisi.

    [13] Inquiry under way after shipyard blast kills worker

    Athens, 17/03/1997 (ANA)

    An explosion in a water tanker under repair in a Perama shipyard on Saturday, in which one man was killed and seven were seriously injured, has highlighted the problem concerning inadequate safety measures for workers at the yard.

    An investigation into the accident revealed yesterday that a repair crew painting the interior of the "Evgenia" was working without a license from port authorities.

    Sources said the ship had not been inspected for the possible existence of fumes from the fuel still in its tanks, which could have contributed to the explosion, thought to have been caused by a spark while the painters were working in one of the ship's holds.

    The owner of the shipyard, Vardis Kelaidis, and Panagiotis Fyntanis, responsible for the painting crew, were arrested yesterday and are to appear in court today in connection with the incident.

    The ship's captain, Panagiotis Vryonis, currently in hospital being treated for burns, is also to appear in court on charges of negligence. Arrest warrants have been issued for the tanker's owners, Yiannis and Alexandros Boufis, who are thought to be on the island of Spetses.

    A Piraeus court has ordered an investigation into the causes of the accident.

    [14] Search for missing 'Kostakos' seamen begins

    Athens, 17/03/1997 (ANA)

    Navy officials began searching the interior of the "Kostakos" missile boat yesterday morning for the bodies of four officers missing since the vessel sank in an accident last November.

    Reports said one body had been detected but had not yet been removed from the wreck, raised from the sea bed on Saturday after months of efforts.

    Water was being pumped out of the wreck yesterday so that a special fluid can be used to protect equipment and machinery against corrosion.

    The Kostakos sank off the eastern Aegean island of Samos on November 4, after colliding with the ferry boat "Samaina".

    [15] Thessaloniki hosts exhibition on Neolithic civilization

    Athens, 17/03/1997 (ANA)

    Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos inaugurated a major exhibition in Thessaloniki yesterday called "Neolithic Civilization in Greece." The exhibition includes hundreds of items such as urns, tools, statuettes, ceramics and jewelry dating from 6800 to 3200 B.C. and originating from 48 museums from Greece and four from Cyprus.

    "The exhibition constitutes a challenge for European cultural history and aesthetics," Mr. Venizelos said during the inauguration ceremony, adding that "many of the items on display bear many common points with modern industrial design."

    End of English language section.


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