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Athens News Agency: News in English, 97-02-01

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

From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.forthnet.gr/ape>


NEWS IN ENGLISH

Athens, Greece, 01/02/1997 (ANA)

MAIN HEADLINES

  • Greece accuses Turkey of renewing tension
  • Turkish FM comments on EU pressures
  • Alternate FM meets with UN Secretary General in Davos
  • Settlement of FYROM name issue may be at hand
  • Premier denies "authoratarianism" in handling protests
  • Simitis defends gov't policies on education, teacher's wages
  • Illegal immigrant smugglers arrested
  • Leaders arrive in Thessaloniki for Cultural Capital opening
  • Bulgarian road, rail links to Greece blockaded
  • Athens to host European Sailing Week

    NEWS IN DETAIL

    Greece says Turkey again heightening tensions

    Greece yesterday accused Turkey of "heightening tensions in Greek-Turkish relations without a cause." Foreign Minister spokesman Costas Bikas, replying to an announcement by Turkish foreign ministry spokesman Omer Akbel referring to "disputed islands, isles and rocky islets in the Aegean", said the Turkish official's statements "come only 48 hours after the meeting of the Turkish foreign minister (Tansu Ciller) with the foreign ministers of five member-states of the European Union in Rome," and this proves "how Ankara perceives the meeting and the recommendations for normalisation of Greek-Turkish relations."

    "Turkey's effort," the spokesman said in an announcement, "to base its claims on unfounded theories which offend international law is ineffectual, especially in view of the continued illegal occupation of a part of the Cyprus Republic as well as provocative violations of Greek airspace in the Aegean, and in general the neighbouring country's refusal to respect the existing legal status quo in the region."

    Commenting on the Rome meeting, Mr. Bikas said "it was outside the European Union's standard practice", and "certainly it did not contribute to the principle of flexibility that is discussed in the Inter-governmental (conference)."

    "The problems emanating from the islands, isles and rocky islets in the Aegean, which are under dispute, maintain their significance and seriousness and are pending solution," Mr. Akbel said in Ankara yesterday, on the occasion of the Imia crisis one year ago, which brought Greece and Turkey to the brink of war.

    Turkish FM comments on EU pressures

    Turkish Foreign Minister Tansu Ciller stated that to make progress in Ankara's relations with the European Union conditional on a resolution of differences with Greece is tantamount to rejection, making it clear that she does not accept the relevant European exhortations.

    Returning from Rome, where she met with a five-member 'contact group' of EU foreign ministers and announced that Turkey will submit a new application for full EU membership, Ms Ciller added: "Our goals and explanations regarding the issue of relations with Greece were most clear.

    "Greece, by interrupting dialogue for no reason and installing Russian missiles in 'southern' Cyprus has made a great mistake," she said.

    "Under these circumstances, for Europe to set as a condition the overcoming of disputes with Greece is tantamount to saying to Turkey 'we don't want you'."

    "It is impossible for Turkey to accept any of these," she added.

    Alternate FM meets with UN Secterary General in Davos

    Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou met late last night in Davos, Switzerland, with United National Secretary General Koffi Annan. The meeting, held on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum, focussed on the Cyprus problem, according to a Foreign Ministry announcement. In meetings with other foreign dignitaries attending the Forum, Mr. Papandreou presented Greece's positions on fundamental foreign policy issues.

    Settlement on FYROM name dispute may be at hand

    Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos effectively announced in Parliament yesterday that Greece's dispute with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) was approaching a settlement.

    "When realising that a solution is to the benefit of the national interest, a responsible government must endorse it and not surrender to blackmail," he said.

    The foreign minister was replying to a main opposition New Democracy question regarding the issue.

    Mr. Pangalos said that special United Nations mediator Cyrus Vance was expected to turn in his mandate and that "everything now depends on the UN Security Council."

    Describing as "one-sided" the Sept. 13, 1995 New York interim agreement between Greece and FYROM, Mr. Pangalos went on to say that neither Prime Minister Costas Simitis nor himself had any involvement in the course of this issue over recent years.

    Elaborating on likely developments over the issue, following Mr. Vance's pending resignation as special mediator, Mr. Pangalos said two possibilities were likely.

    He noted that the UN Security Council will either recognise the neighbouring country by the name "Macedonia" or, "in the best development for us, it will recognise it (FYROM) under a composite name."

    The foreign minister said the issue had reached a point where all political parties, especially the main opposition party, will have to take a clear position.

    Premier denies "authoritarianism" in handling protests

    All types of social protests are confronted with dialogue, persuasion and determination, Prime Minister Costas Simitis said in Parliament yesterday in reply to a question from Democratic Social Movement (DHKKI) leader Dimitris Tsovolas.

    Mr. Tsovolas, a one-time PASOK minister, had criticised the government for "displaying authoritarianism" in confronting a new round of farmers' protests.

    Mr. Simitis retorted saying authoritarianism is to block roads and prevent citizens from moving freely.

    "Authoritarianism means road blockades, authoritarianism is to cause damage to the property of others, authoritarianism is to place your own interest above the interest of all others," Mr. Simitis said.

    The premier said the government would not accept behaviour which was contrary to the provisions of the law and the Constitution.

    Mr. Tsovolas charged that the government's "heartless" policy, as he said, would lead society to an impasse. He also accused the government of using "police methods" to frighten farmers and cause social strife.

    Instead of engaging in dialogue with the farmers, Mr. Tsovolas said, government ministers were provoking and insulting them.

    Mr. Simitis responded that the government had entered into a dialogue with farmers and had taken a series of measures to resolve their problems.

    Simitis defends gov't policies on education, teachers' wages

    There have been very important steps taken in the education sector and in improving teachers' wages in the framework of the government's fiscal policy, Mr. Simitis told Parliament yesterday. "This must be respected by teachers, they must also contribute and allow schools to begin operating immediately," Mr. Simitis said in response to a question from main opposition New Democracy leader Miltiades Evert.

    Mr. Simitis said the new wage scale for teachers was "a significant step towards improving teachers' incomes" and that spending on education would total 3.6 per cent of GDP, compared to 2.9 per cent in 1991. "These are the amounts which the government can give in the framework of its fiscal policy, " he concluded.

    Meanwhile, high school teachers in the second week of their strike said a meeting with government members yesterday was "fruitless", but did not rule out another meeting with Education Minister Gerasimos Arsenis over the weekend.

    Teachers are demanding a salary increase of 75,000 drachmas and have said they will extend their strike until Feb. 8 if their demands are not met. Primary school teachers will join the strike on Monday.

    Illegal immigrant smugglers arrested

    Two Turkish nationals were arrested off the Panagia islet of Inousses this morning, on charges of transporting illegal immigrants to Greece.

    Mehmet Berberoglu, 50, and Abdulerak Balat, 21, were apprehended while transporting 15 Iraqi nationals of Kurdish origin, including three children, by boat from Turkey.

    The same men are reported to have transported 42 illegal immigrants to Greece last Saturday. The two are due to appear before a Hios prosecutor.

    During the last 45 days, 11 Turkish nationals have been arested on various eastern Aegean islands on charges of smuggling illegal immigrants into the country.

    Leaders arrive in Thessaoniki for Cultural Capital opening

    Prime Minister Costas Simitis arrived in Thessaloniki yesterday evening to attend the formal inauguration of events today marking the "Thessaloniki- Cultural Capital of Europe '97".

    On arrival at Macedonia Airport he was welcomed by ministers, deputies and local authorities.

    Mr. Simitis said the second cycle of the Cultural Capital of Europe was starting with Thessaloniki today, with the first cycle beginning in Athens under the late Melina Mercouri.

    "Thessaloniki is a city in which many cultures co-existed. It showed that history has continuity and that the synthesis of many cultures can be achieved. It gives the example that we can have many cultural sensitivities in Europe of tomorrow and every country can benefit from the contribution of the other," he said.

    President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos is due to arrive in Thessaloniki today for the official opening, which will be attended by 40 ministers of culture from Europe, the Mediterranean, the Balkans and the Black Sea countries.

    Bulgarian road, rail links to Greece blockaded

    Portions of the Bulgarian road and rail network leading to Greece continued to be blockaded by protesters for the third consecutive day yesterday.

    According to an announcement issued yesterday by the Bulgarian transport ministry, traffic on the international Sofia-Athens highway has been interrupted by a blockade at the border town of Santanski, while the Radmir- Koulata railway line was blocked at the town of Doupnitsa.

    According to a dispatch by the Bulgarian news agency BTA, blockades were being lifted at the Koulata-Promahona and Zlatarevo-Skopje border posts. The road between Blagoevgrad and Koulata was also opened.

    BTA said the blockade at Santanski was not creating any particular problems, as drivers were using auxiliary roads.

    Bulgarian union and opposition organisations have called on those manning the blockades not to use such forms of protest.

    Protests are being held in an effort hinder a new socialist government being formed by prime minister-designate Nikolai Dobrev.

    Conference on drug abuse held in Crete

    Drug dealers operating in Greece were 350 billion dr. richer at the end of 1996, according to figures released by Health Undersecretary Manolis Skoulakis this morning.

    Addressing a conference in Hania, Crete, the Undersecretary expressed concern that drug abuse was spreading to younger and younger age groups. At the conference it was also announced that the drug rehabilitation organisation (OKANA) was to sign an agreement with the Municipality of Hania to initiate an education programme against drugs.

    Athens to host European Sailing Week

    The Athens Municipality is offering its full support for the European Sailing Week "EUROLYMP", to be held off the coast of Faliro from March 8- 12.

    At a meeting yesterday, Athens Mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos made all the municipality's services available to the event's organising committee. It was decided to display Olympic sailing craft in Syntagma Square and in front of the Panathenian Stadium, along with information booths. Lighting and special effects will be contributed by the city of Athens.

    WEATHER

    Light to moderate winds, localised cloud and showers, with possible snow on high ground has been forecast for today. Fair weather has been predicted for most of the country tomorrow, with moderate to strong northerly winds and localised cloud in the north. Temperatures in Athens will range from 2 to 8 C, and from 0 to 4 C in Thessaloniki.

    FOREIGN EXCHANGE

    Friday's closing rates - buying US dlr. 255.063 Pound sterling 408.823 Cyprus pd 519.808 French franc 46.297 Swiss franc 180.147 German mark 156.339 Italian lira (100) 15.850 Yen (100) 210.264 Canadian dlr. 189.016 Australian dlr. 194.129 Irish Punt 405.976 Belgian franc 7.575 Finnish mark 52.391 Dutch guilder 139.188 Danish kr. 40.970 Swedish kr. 35.343 Norwegian kr. 39.303 Austrian sch. 22.216 Spanish peseta 1.846 Portuguese escudo 1.559

    (M.S.)


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