Athens News Agency: News in English (AM), 97-05-26
NEWS IN ENGLISH
Athens, Greece, 26/05/1997 (ANA)
MAIN HEADLINES
- Greece reiterates: status quo in the Aegean clearly set
- Excerpts from Demirel's TV interview
- Turkey's foreign undersecretary in Athens
- Businessmen hold significant meeting in Istanbul
- Event in Mitilini on EU-Turkey relations
- Greek humanitarian aid to Bulgaria
- Athens hosts UN conference on Mideast
- Olympiakos gets the soccer championship cup
- Greek first division soccer final results
- Weather
- Foreign exchange
NEWS IN DETAIL
Greece reiterates: status quo in the Aegean clearly set
Greece has reiterated that the status quo in the Aegean is clearly set by
international treaties, and that the only possible topic for discussion
with Turkey is the status of the continental shelf.
The reiteration came over the weekend from Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos
and Foreign Undersecretary Yiannos Kranidiotis, in response to statements
by Turkish President Suleyman Demirel in a two-part interview with the
Greek Antenna TV channel, where he said that the sovereignty of 130 small
islands and rocky islets in the Aegean is questionable. Mr. Demirel added
that this issue must be handled first with dialogue.
"Because there is nothing to claim in the Aegean,there is nothing for
discussion, except the continental shelf," retorted Mr. Tsohatzopoulos to
Friday's first part of the interview in a press conference in Irakleion.
"This is an artificial questioning of our borders, aimed at creating the
impression that there are 'grey' zones in the Aegean, the sovereignty of
which he intends to dispute with the strategic aim of overturning the
status quo in the Aegean.
He called on the Turkish president to seek recourse at the International
Court at The Hague to find out what Turkey can claim.
"The Aegean is delineated through international treaties and everything is
well-defined," he added.
In follow-up statements yesterday, Mr. Tsohatzopoulos said the disputing of
the sovereignty of Aegean islets had nothing to do with the recently set up
bilateral committee of experts that will examine problems, as this was
conceived in the framework of the EU, and "it must proceed in order to
establish where justice lies and who really wants restoration of international
law, stability, and the application of international treaties and
agreements".
Mr. Kranidiotis stated that the Demirel interview added nothing new and did
not contribute to the normalisation of Greek-Turkish relations as they
reiterated already known positions, based on unlawful claims which are now
codified.
Excerpts from Demirel's TV interview
In the second part of his interview to Antenna TV channel on Saturday night,
Turkish President Suleyman Demirel stated his categorial opposition to
Cypriot EU membership before Turkey.
"If the Greek part of Cyprus becomes a member of the EU, there will be no
solution, and the problem will remain for years and years," he said. He
claimed that the Turkish side is ready to discuss the finding of a solution,
and blamed the Greek side for reluctance to do the same, stressing that his
country is only interested in the security of the Turkish Cypriots.
"Turkey has no intention of occupying Cyprus, or creating problems. If it
wanted to occupy the whole island, it should have done it 22 years ago," he
said.
He reiterated that his country's proposal for dialogue with Greece is still
open, emphasising that chronic problems cannot be solved overnight.
As this might take even years, as he said, the solution of Greek-Turkish
problems cannot be set as a precondition for his countrys' membership of
the EU.
"In the reshuffling of Europe, Turkey must not be left out," he said.
Referring to the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in Istanbul, the Turkish
president said his country is not willing to accept its ecumenical
character, because "according to the treaties, it has never agreed to any
such thing".
"What other countries do is a different thing," he added.
Turkey's foreign undersecretary in Athens
Turkey's Foreign Undersecretary Onur Oymen arrived in Athens yesterday to
join Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou on the podium of a
conference on Greek-Turkish relations in Athens, beginning today.
In arrival statements, Mr. Oymen said that "where there are problems there
are also solutions," and referred to what he called "a new era in Greek-
Turkish relations" which was inaugurated with the meeting between Greek
Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalo s and his Turkish counterpart Tansu
Ciller and that of his own with Mr. Papandreou.
Mr. Oymen expressed the conviction that the operation of the two countries'
committees of experts will constitute a postive step and that the non-
binding proposals that will be submitted will be beneficial.
Businessmen hold significant meeting in Istanbul
A group of Greek and Greek Cypriot businessmen held a meeting yesterday in
Istanbul with a group of Turkish and Turkish Cypriot businessmen.
Analysts say the meeting, the first of its kind, held at the initiative of
the Turkish Committee of Foreign Economic Relations (DEIK), indicated the
will of the business community in both countries to contribute to
cooperation as opposed to eternal opposition.
Event in Mitilini on EU-Turkey relations
PASOK's Europarliamentary group organised an event on "EU - Turkey
relations" in Mytilini, Lesvos island, yesterday.
Euro-MP Paraskevas Avgerinos described the current period as "crucial for
Greece and decisive for Europe and its vision", stressing that this vision
was endangered "by fascists, chauvinists, racists and xenophobics".
He stated support for EU membership of Balkan countries as a necessary
condition for the consolidation of the Union in the area.
Speaking under the title, "European Union - Turkey - A Problem of Values",
Euro-MP Dimitris Tsatsos said the State in Turkey was deeply divided
ideologically, a pseudo-parliamentary democratic system prevailed, and
there were important problems concer ning the country's international
profile, indicated by President Suleyman Demirel's recent interview where
he claimed that international law is not binding on his country".
Eurodeputy Yiannis Roubatis said "Greece has no reason to reject Turkey's
approach to Europe, and condemns the use of racial, religious and cultural
reasons for such a rejection".
Minister for the Aegean Elisavet Papazoi referred to "the environmentally
friendly mask worn by Turkey before international fora", mentioning in
particular the problem of the gold processing unit near Bergama, now
thankfully being led to a solution, and to the dangers posed by the
proposed operation of nuclear power plants in southwestern Asia Minor and
near Sinop on the Black Sea.
Greek humanitarian aid to Bulgaria
The first dispatch of food, medicine and other essentials leaves for
orhpanages, nursing homes and hospitals in south Bulgaria from the port of
Thessaloniki today. The aid has been collected by a joint effort by Doctors
of the World, Greek Radio ERA, Greek Television 3, and employees of the
Greek Radio and Television through regional and city fundraising events.
Athens hosts UN conference on Mideast
A UN-sponsored two-day conference on the Middle East,entitled "The Peace
Process: The Challenges Ahead", begins in Athens today to examine the peace
agreements signed in Oslo and Cairo and the progress which had been
achieved in implementing them, the final status of the Palestinian
territories and economic prospects.
Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou will address the opening
session.
Taking part will be analysts from the Palestinian territories, Israel, the
Arab world, the United States and Europe. Representatives from the Greek
and international mass media will also be present.
Olympiakos gets the soccer championship cup
The Greek soccer championship ended yesterday with Olympiakos Piraeus
winning the title after ten years in the cold.
In yesterday's last match, Olympiakos trounced Kavala 6-0.
Olympiakos will play in the Champions League next season while AEK Athens,
who finished second in the league, will play in the Cup Winners' Cup. OFI
Crete and PAOK Thessaloniki will represent Greece in the UEFA Cup.
Greek first division soccer final results
Olympiakos - Kavala 6 - 0 AEK Athens - Xanthi 2 - 1
Veria - OFI Crete 2 - 0 PAOK Thessaloniki- Kastoria 6 - 0
Iraklis Thessaloniki-Panathinaikos 0 - 2 Panahaiki Patras-Pyrgos 1 -
1 Kalamata - Ionikos Piraeus 2 - 0
Apollon Athens-Aris Thessaloniki 1 - 2 Athinaikos - Edessa 5 - 2
Final Standings: Olympiakos 84
AEK 72 OFI 66
PAOK Salonique 66 Panathinaikos 64
Kavala 55 Pyrgos 45
Ionikos 44 Apollon 42
Veria 41 Kalamata 41
Athinaikos 40 Heraklis 39
Panahaiki 39 Xanthi 39
Aris 35 Edessa 28
Kastoria 8
WEATHER
Fine weather and a further drop in temperatures is forecast for most parts
of Greece today with the exception of some mountainous areas in the north
where local cloud and sporadic rain is expected in the afternoon. Winds
will be light to moderate, becoming strong in the afternoon. Athens will be
sunny with temperatures between 16-29C. Thessaloniki will also be sunny
with some local cloudiness and temperatures between 15-25C.
FOREIGN EXCHANGE
Friday's closing rates - buying US dlr. 268.336
Pound sterling 437.869 Cyprus pd 531.672
French franc 47.005 Swiss franc 190.271
German mark 158.313 Italian lira (100) 16.061
Yen (100) 231.394 Canadian dlr. 195.007
Australian dlr. 205.185 Irish Punt 406.561
Belgian franc 7.670 Finnish mark 52.451
Dutch guilder 140.814 Danish kr. 41.602
Swedish kr. 35.272 Norwegian kr. 37.992
Austrian sch. 22.490 Spanish peseta 1.878
Port. Escudo 1.569
(C.E.)
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