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Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 97-12-22

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 1373), December 22, 1997

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


CONTENTS

  • [01] Parliament approves '98 state budget
  • [02] ... ND criticism
  • [03] ... Papantoniou
  • [04] ... Constantopoulos
  • [05] 'Athens Declaration' issued at end of Israeli-Palestinian meeting
  • [06] Pangalos questions Ankara's plan for huge military spending
  • [07] Greece rejects Turkish claim of espionage
  • [08] Focus turns to 'black box' of crashed Ukrainian airliner
  • [09] ... C-130 crash
  • [10] ... Gov't, opposition
  • [11] ... Opposition to radar installation continues
  • [12] Train collides with boulder, partially derails near Lamia
  • [13] Greek delegations attend Albanian Socialist party conference
  • [14] Olympic flame arrives at Kalavryta
  • [15] Illegals transported from Turkey detained on Samos

  • [01] Parliament approves '98 state budget

    Athens, 22/12/1997 (ANA)

    Parliament last night passed the 1998 state budget by a vote of 163 in favor, and 136 against. All of PASOK's deputies voted for the budget, along with a one-time Democratic Social Movement (DHKKI) MP turned independent.

    The 1998 budget expresses the choice of a strong Greece, which is claiming an equal position in European unification, as well as choices of national security and social justice, Prime Minister Costas Simitis earlier stated in Parliament during parliamentary debate.

    "We will continue our policy decisively in spite of doubts and reactions being voiced," he said.

    In a lengthy speech, the prime minister replied in detail to criticism mounted by opposition parties during the five days of the debate, underlining that "the government had been elected in office to follow neither the monetaristic policy of the New Democracy party, nor the contradictory positions of those whose only care was to make a failure of all efforts".

    The premier accused the opposition of inconsistency in charging the government of failure to participate in the first phase of Economic and Monetary Union, saying that if the government had implemented the policy proposed by the opposition, then it would have implemented much tougher incomes, taxation and monetary policies.

    Mr. Simitis said the opposition had to look into the essence of issues, not the surface.

    Regarding what he called the recent Greek diplomatic success at the EU Luxembourg summit, the PM said that it was neither easy to achieve nor arbitrary, but due to the fact that Greece's voice had secured a significant place, as well as persuasiveness, which was in turn due to reliable policy and a stronger economy.

    Mr. Simitis defended the gradual approach in meeting the Maastricht criteria.

    "We avoided the choice of a quick and sudden adjustment, namely, the strategy of shock that ND had chosen", he said.

    Commenting on accusations over social insensitivity, the premier said that such criticism was misleading, since salaries had been raised in real terms, compared to a cumulative drop in wages of 13 per cent during the ND's term (1990-1991).

    Mr. Simitis rejected allegations of a tax raid, "on the contrary", he said, "efforts are being made for bringing about tax equality, with more taxes now being put on businesses which have enjoyed benefits of high rate development and stability over the past few years."

    Referring to the latest international monetary and economic crisis, the premier said only the United States and Germany could sustain negative repercussions, while Greece was exposed only to a medium risk and remains on alert since the global economy was still unstable.

    He added that extra measures should be taken in order to protect the drachma.

    Speaking on privatizations, Mr. Simitis said that as far as public utilities and banks were concerned, the process will be accelerated, and that by the end of 1998 the Business Restructuring Organization will be shut down.

    [02] ... ND criticism

    Athens, 22/12/1997 (ANA)

    Speaking during budget debate in Parliament the leader of the main opposition New Democracy party Costas Karamanlis charged that the government's economic policy had failed.

    He charged that the government had devised a concocted budget, saying it is a "bogus budget".

    The government, Mr. Karamanlis added, was primarily responsible for what he called phenomena of pervasive partisanship in the state's apparatus, as well as ineffectiveness.

    The ND leader also criticized the government for not being able to deal with large-scale emergencies, such as forest fires, flooding and other disasters, asking how it was possible that no-one in government was ever blamed or punished.

    He also spoke of lack of seriousness in the sectors of education, public administration and in rendering services to citizens.

    Furthermore, the main opposition leader described incomes policy as extremely tight, saying that in the past two years it had been clearly designed to serve partisan interests. Mr. Karamanlis added that the government had continued to cater exclusively to its own party cadres.

    He further cast doubt on economic restructuring and spoke of improper arrangements with cases of ill administration which raised certain questions.

    Mr. Karamanlis went on to accuse the government of social insensitivity, stressing that the government's inability to follow a credible and innovative policy was burdening the weaker classes.

    He spoke of gross deviation in previous budgets, underlining that the country will not be able to meet criteria for participation in the EU's Economic and Monetary Union (EMU).

    The government, according to Mr. Karamanlis, either did didn't or did not want to understand the main opposition's positions and proposals. He said ND proposed a policy of restructuring and development, while the government opted for a policy that preserves and perpetuates crisis.

    [03] ... Papantoniou

    Athens, 22/12/1997 (ANA)

    Responding, National Economy Minister Yiannos Papantoniou described Mr. Karamanlis' claim of a "bogus" budget as "comical", and stressed that the European Union carried out three major audits in the basic indicators of the economy annually.

    Regarding the charge that Greece would not achieve the aim of participation in EMU during the first phase, Mr. Papantoniou assured that Greece would join on Jan. 1, 2001, stressing that the country's convergence rate was four times the EU average.

    "You should not be talking, given the abysmal economic situation you (ND) handed over in 1993. It is a miracle that we made these leaps in the economy, rather than simple steps as in the rest of the EU," he said.

    Mr. Papantoniou also described as "audacious" the charge of pervasive partisanship in state appointments, given the main opposition's record when in government.

    The leader of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Aleka Papariga described the 1998 budget as "fake", noting that it did not include the balance sheets of public utilities (DEKO), nor the accounts for state securities or figures related to an armaments program.

    The KKE leader charged that the government was silent on the drop in industrial production, while giving examples of a "tax assault" aimed at collecting about one trillion drachmas from the wage earners and the middle top lower classes. At the same time , she said that "new concessions are being given to the big capital through legal tax-deductions and widespread tax evasion".

    Commenting on the convergence program with the EU, Ms Papariga said that even if Maastricht criteria had been met, it would not mean elimination of poverty, unemployment and social inequality.

    She further said that her party proposed that as of January 1998, the daily minimum wage should be raised to 8,000 drachmas and a minimum monthly salary be raised to 200,000 drachmas, while the working week be lowered to 35 hours.

    "By voting against the budget, KKE votes against the government and its policy", Ms Papariga said.

    [04] ... Constantopoulos

    Athens, 22/12/1997 (ANA)

    Coalition of the Left and Progress leader Nikos Constantopoulos charged that the government had failed in the quest for convergence with other European Union economies despite austerity measures.

    "You asked the people for sacrifices in order to attain the targets of convergence and the targets were not attained," he said.

    He referred to the economic indicators regarding the public debt, deficits and inflation.

    "The budget does nothing but develop the multitude of ossifications and structural deficiencies of the last 15 years," he said, noting that the 1997 budget was also marked by "huge divergences".

    Concluding, Mr. Constantopoulos forecast that the budget would fail because it "secures neither the developmental conditions nor the terms of social support. It wears the same repulsive mask of government self-complacency, arbitrariness, social apathy and contempt".

    [05] 'Athens Declaration' issued at end of Israeli-Palestinian meeting

    Athens, 22/12/1997 (ANA)

    The second "Athens Meeting" on the Middle East peace process, involving several well-known Israeli and Palestinian personalities and politicians, wound up last night after four days of deliberations and with the adoption of the "Athens Declaration".

    Both delegations expressed in the declaration their deep concern at the current state of the Mideast peace process, addressing a call to both sides to "refrain from unilateral actions which contravene with the letter and spirit of the signed agreements" as well as to proceed with their speedy implementation. Israeli and Palestinian delegates also stressed the importance of building trust between the two peoples and their leaderships, which are urged to call regular meetings in order to diffuse tension and build confidence.

    The Israeli government and the Palestinian National Authority are also urged to embark upon programs on education for peace, jointly and separately, with each side working among its people, particularly the young.

    The declaration calls on the two sides to work towards the establishment of a joint monitoring committee with international participation to ensure that there is full respect for, and adherence to signed agreements, as well as implementation of an interim agreement that would facilitate the final status negotiations.

    The two delegations also call for the establishment of appropriate conditions, conducive to Palestinian economic development, the lifting of closures, for open borders and freedom of movement, which, "would, in turn, create economic and other links between the West Bank and Gaza first and then with Israel".

    Participants included Israeli Foreign Minister David Levy's brother, Palestinian official Faisal Husseini and the EU's representative for the Middle East issue, Miguel Angel Moratinos.

    Participants also expressed their appreciation for the Greek government's proposal to convene a third Athens meeting next year. The first took place last July.

    [06] Pangalos questions Ankara's plan for huge military spending

    Athens, 22/12/1997 (ANA)

    Meanwhile, at the same conference, Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos said that Turkey's recently announced 25-year armaments program, with a figure given at US$ 250 billion, gave rise to three basic questions.

    The first question, according to Mr. Pangalos, was how one could predict the amount of required military spending a nation would need in the next 25 years, since defense and weapons technology was advancing rapidly.

    The second question is why Turkey, a nation he said faces immense economic trouble, wants to spend such a huge amount of money, as well as the issue of where that money will come from since Turkey is already heavily in debt.

    Finally, he asked what rationale was behind the projected massive armaments program.

    Mr. Pangalos stressed that spending in defense and armaments mainly served political goals, and that in our times, when a form of collective defense has prevailed, most countries in the world belong to some kind of organization jointly safeguarding the security, such as the NATO alliance, of which Turkey is a member.

    Asked about Ankara's military agreement with Israel, the foreign minister said that defense industries in all countries were free to do business with whoever they wish. He added that Greece was not in a position to recommend to third countries not to sell weapons to Turkey.

    However, the foreign minister noted that in case the agreement was a simple one, there was no harm. But if it was a wider political-military agreement, which some analysts believe could form some type of defense axis, then such an agreement would not only disturb Greece but other countries in the region too, since a defense axis is destined by default to turn against third parties.

    The question here, according to Mr. Pangalos, was which country that would be.

    Nevertheless, the Greek foreign minister stressed that Athens respected Israel, its sovereignty, its autonomy in its foreign policy and its interests.

    Replying to another question, the foreign minister said that trade between Greece and Turkey was free and developing at a fast pace. He also noted that various business, cultural and social exchanges were taking place between the two countries.

    Regarding the Oslo agreement, Mr. Pangalos said it provided Israelis and Palestinians with a framework for talks, stressing that despite efforts to establish a similar framework in relations between Greece and Turkey had proved impossible, since "that country did not approve of the rules of the game."

    He added that Turkey's relations were now troublesome not only with Greece but also with the European Union and Washington, since it was now commonly stressed that in cases of territorial disputes recourse should be taken to relevant international arbitration.

    [07] Greece rejects Turkish claim of espionage

    Athens, 22/12/1997 (ANA)

    Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos yesterday rejected accusations that a Greek consular official in Istanbul was implicated in espionage, warning that if the official was expelled from Turkey, Athens would act likewise. Mr. Pangalos was replying to media questions on a report in the Saturday edition of the Istanbul daily "Sabah" that carried a statement by a Turkish foreign ministry spokesman, who cited the imminent expulsion of the Greek consular official.

    Mr. Pangalos, speaking on the sidelines of a news conference held after the "Athens Meeting" on the Middle East peace process, said Greece would respond to a possible expulsion on the basis of reciprocity.

    Turkish Foreign Assistant Under-secretary Inal Batu on Saturday also confirmed that the Greek official, Efstratios Charalambous, had been asked to leave Turkey on the grounds that his activities were incompatible with his duties.

    Mr. Charalambous arrived in Athens on Saturday.

    Meanwhile, "Sabah" yesterday admitted that a picture of the "agent, Col. E. Balanos", published on Saturday, belonged to someone else, and that possibly the spy case "may have involved two, and not just one person".

    The daily "Cumhurriyet" reported yesterday that "Sabah's" report "carried a picture of the Greek military attachi in Ankara, Constantinos Balanos, instead of the individual accused of espionage."

    [08] Focus turns to 'black box' of crashed Ukrainian airliner

    Athens, 22/12/1997 (ANA)

    Civil Aviation Authority officials yesterday were reported to be still examining the flight data recorder of a Ukrainian airliner which crashed in the Pieria mountains, southwest of Thessaloniki last Wednesday evening.

    The riddle of the whereabouts of the airliner, missing since it was preparing to land at Thessaloniki's Macedonia Airport, was finally solved on Saturday morning - some 60 hours after it was reported as missing - ironically at about the same time as a Hellenic Air Force C-130 transport plane, participating in the search operation, was going down north of Athens.

    All the bodies of the 71 people, 63 passengers and eight crewmembers aboard the ill-fated Ukrainian airliner had been recovered yesterday, and the process of identification began.

    Meanwhile, all five crewmembers of the C-130 "Hercules" transport plane that crashed on the sides of a mountain Saturday morning in southern Viotia prefecture were found dead. The transport plane had taken off from Elefsina airbase and was due to pick up commandos at Tanagra airbase to take part in the search operation for the missing Ukrainian Yakovlev-42 passenger jet.

    The wreckage of the Ukrainian airliner was first reached early Saturday afternoon by army commandos between the villages of Kato Milia and Aronas, at the foot of the Pieria Mountain Range. The crash site was found by a Hellenic Navy helicopter a few hours earlier, located at an altitude of 700 meters, which would indicate the plane was flying low before it crashed, Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) sources said.

    [09] ... C-130 crash

    Athens, 22/12/1997 (ANA)

    The air force transport plane assisting in the Yakovlev's search crashed on Pastra Mountain at an altitude of 1,050 meters, with the wreckage scattered over 800 meters, officials said.

    In later statements, air force officials said information so far pointed to human error as the reason behind the crash as the plane's flight path was not the normal air corridor used for landing.

    According to an eyewitness, the C-130 was flying at a very low altitude near the community of Inoi, while low cloud cover made visibility in the area difficult.

    Funerals will be held on Monday in the Athens and Piraeus area for the five crewmembers.

    [10] ... Gov't, opposition

    Athens, 22/12/1997 (ANA)

    On Saturday, Prime Minister Costas Simitis said that the pinpointing of the Ukrainian airliner's position with Greek means and personnel proves that there was a contingency plan and that the state did function.

    On his part, National Defense Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos called co-operation between the various government and military agencies "faultless and effective".

    Opposition parties criticized the government for a lack of planning, reiterating their call that ministers that relevant ministries resign.

    [11] ... Opposition to radar installation continues

    Athens, 22/12/1997 (ANA)

    On Thursday, government spokesman Demetris Reppas told reporters it was wrong to link the crash with the absence of the state-of-the-art approach radar until an inquiry was held.

    However, he also attributed responsibility to state authorities and local residents for the lengthy delay of installation at Thessaloniki.

    In a related development, local authorities on Crete again refused to allow installation of a European Union-funded radar system for Irakleio's Nikos Kazantzakis Airport, citing environmental concerns. The landing approach radar (Instrument Landing System or ILS), which is due for installation at the Dio Aorakia site, has been kept in storage for 18 months at the airport due to residents' protests.

    According to the airport's director, the transport ministry will have to pay 2.5 billion drachmas in penalties to the EU if the equipment is not installed immediately.

    Meanwhile, 11 members of Nea Alikarnassos city council voted late Saturday against installation, with four votes in favor and three abstentions.

    During a heated meeting, Irakleio Prefect Yannis Garyfalakis and Alikarnassos Mayor Yiannis Paterakis urged the council to allow installation.

    Residents near Macedonia Airport have opposed the installation of similar radar equipment, also on environmental grounds.

    [12] Train collides with boulder, partially derails near Lamia

    Athens, 22/12/1997 (ANA)

    The Athens-Thessaloniki rail line will be closed indefinitely, railway officials said on Sunday, a day after a high-speed train collided with a boulder that had earlier fallen on the tracks near Lamia.

    Two people, both OSE employees, were slightly injured.

    Technicians of the Hellenic Railways Organization (OSE) were working at the scene of the accident outside the village of Vardates, Fthiotida prefecture, to disengage two coaches that were derailed in the collision, and to prevent them falling down a 1,0 00-meter deep ravine.

    OSE officials said it was impossible to estimate when services linking Athens to Thessaloniki would be resumed due to the difficulty of reaching the site.

    "This is the most difficult area in the rail network because OSE's machinery cannot be installed to work at that particular spot in order to restore transportation," the local station master said.

    Hopes are pinned on a crane brought from Athens, although OSE workers have so far failed to find a site that would allow the crane to be set up and then revolve. The inter-city locomotive's engineer told reporters he was unable to see the rockfall in time to avert the partial derailment due to a bend in the track. The accident occurred at around 12:20 p.m. on Saturday, as the train's speed was approximately 50 kilometers per hour.

    [13] Greek delegations attend Albanian Socialist party conference

    Tirana, 22/12/1997 (ANA - P. Haritos)

    Foreign Under-secretary Yiannos Kranidiotis visited Albania on Saturday to attend the ruling Albanian Socialist Party's national conference. Mr. Kranidiotis headed a nine-member delegation from the ruling socialist PASOK party.

    The Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) party was also represented at the conference by Eurodeputy Mihalis Papayiannakis.

    In a message to the conference, delivered by PASOK executive bureau member Stephanos Manikas, PASOK president and Prime Minister Costas Simitis stressed that Athens welcomed the new Albanian government's commitment to consolidating democratic procedures and national reconciliation as well as pushing ahead with necessary economic reforms.

    Mr. Manikas said Greece was aware of the need to support of Albania with specific programs and that PASOK and the government would do all it could to include Albania in European structures.

    On his part, Mr. Kranidiotis later briefed Albanian Prime Minister and Socialist Party leader Fatos Nano on developments in the European Union and the latest decisions taken at the EU summit in Luxembourg.

    The issue of a Greek loan to Albania was also discussed.

    On the economic front, both sides agreed to a meeting of a joint economic committee in February in Athens with the aim of bolstering bilateral co-operation and discussion of joint projects included in the EU's Phare and Interreg programs.

    Mr. Kranidiotis also met with Albanian Foreign Minister Paskal Milo, while the Greek delegation was received by Archbishop of Tirana and All Albania Anastasios. The delegation returned to Athens on Saturday night.

    [14] Olympic flame arrives at Kalavryta

    Athens, 22/12/1997 (ANA)

    The Olympic Flame arrived in the Kalavryta Alpine Ski Center on Sunday, were a ceremony was organized.

    The ceremony was attended by several government and local officials, as well as the mayor of the Japanese city Nagano, which will host the 1998 Winter Olympics.

    The flame will be carried by runners to Athens.

    [15] Illegals transported from Turkey detained on Samos

    Athens, 22/12/1997 (ANA)

    Twelve Iraqi illegal immigrants put ashore on the eastern Aegean island of Samos late on Friday turned themselves into police.

    Police said the 12 had crossed the Mykalis strait separating the island with the Asia Minor coast from Kusadasi, Turkey.

    The illegal immigrants said a Turkish national had smuggled them onto Samos, while they also claimed there were other illegal immigrants in Turkey waiting to be smuggled across to the Greek islands.

    End of English language section.


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