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A.N.A. Bulletin 23/3/95From: " Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa" < grnewsca@sympatico.ca>ATHENS NEWS AGENCY BULLETIN, March 23, 1995 =========================================== Ellnviko Grafeio Tupou kai Plnroforiwv Ottawa, Canada E-Mail Address: grnewsca@sympatico.ca) CONTENTS ======== [1] Greece awaits results of EU meetings in Ankara, troika wants explanations of Turkish raid on Iraq [2] President calls on expatriates to show unity with Greece [3] Skopje says 'too soon' for direct talks with Greece [4] Iakovos to meet Stephanopoulos, Papoulias today [5] Greece, Georgia to sign environmental protection accord [6] Arsenis in Cyprus [7] 'Stern warnings' meted out to dissenting PASOK cadres [8] Lawyers strike in Ioannina prevents examination of Delvinaki seven [9] Farmers continue to block roads, await meeting with Moraitis ================================================================ [1] Greece awaits results of EU meetings in Ankara, troika wants explanations of Turkish raid on Iraq ---------------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 23/03/1995 (ANA): The European Union is to ask for " clear explanations" from Ankara regarding Turkey's incursion into Iraqi territory Monday to " root out" Kurdish separatist rebels. In Brussels, a Commission spokesman said the military operation would be high on the agenda in today's meetings between the EU troika and Turkish officials. Sources said the issue of human rights and the Cyprus problem would also figure prominently in the talks. In Athens, government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said that Greece would await the results of the EU troika's visit, adding that the EU's position concurred with Greece's. French foreign minister and president of the European Union's Council of Ministers Alain Juppe and his Spanish and German counterparts, Javier Solona and Klaus Kinkel, are expected to meet with their Turkish counterpart Murat Karayalcin as well as President Suleyman Demirel, Prime Minister Tansu Ciller and Turkish National Assembly President Husamettin Cintoruk. EU Commissioner for External Relations Hans van den Broek will also be in Ankara at the same time for a meeting with Mr. Karayalcin. Today's meetings are the first high-level contacts between Ankara and the EU since the signing of a customs union agreement earlier this month. The landmark trade pact was achieved only after protracted negotiations to overcome serious reservations expressed by EU members and the European Parliament concerning Ankara's lax attitude to human rights, evinced by its treatment of its Kurdish minority -- and particularly the conviction of eight Kurdish deputies -- and the continued occupation of a third of Cyprus. Up to 35,000 Turkish troops backed by tanks and jets launched a three-pronged attack across the un-defended border with northern Iraq on Monday in pursuit of separatist Kurdish rebels. Turkish Prime Minister Tansu Ciller said Monday that the operation went as planned and that she would brief Western leaders, including US President Bill Clinton, by telephone. " We want to clear out this area and rip out the roots of the (PKK) terror operations aimed at our innocent people," Ms Ciller said. " Utmost effort is being made not to harm civilians. But the Iraqi Kurds have complained that Turkish forces killed civilians in a similar cross-border drive against the PKK in 1992. Ankara says it killed about 1,800 Kurdish rebels from Turkey in that operation. Opposition in Athens to the operation was fierce. In an announcement, the Political Spring party said that the slaughter of the Kurds once more proved the violation of human rights in Turkey. " It is a global shame that the western countries as well as the eastern, continue to remain only as onlookers of a genocide," the announcement said. The Coalition of the Left and Progress party also said yesterday that Turkey's military attacks against the Kurds in Iraq were acquiring the dimensions of genocide. These attacks are a provocation for the international community and no toleration or silence can be acceptable concerning the new blood-bath against a people who are fighting for basic human rights, the announcement said. The Coalition is organising a solidarity rally with the Kurds on Tuesday at Klafthmonos square. [2] President calls on expatriates to show unity with Greece ------------------------------------------------------------ Athens, 23/03/1995 (ANA): In a message marking Greece's National Day on March 25, President Kostis Stephanopoulos yesterday called on Greeks overseas to exhibit unity and solidarity with the mother country. This unity, he said, will add to the readiness of the country a force capable of helping in the attainment of national objectives. " With a steady European orientation, our country is fighting, as always, for the maintenance of peace, the recognition of the historical truth and the protection of human rights in our region, the Balkans, and in sorely tried Cyprus. I am sure that sooner or later these values will prevail in our troubled region, for the good of Greece and our neighbouring countries," the president said in his message. [3] Skopje says 'too soon' for direct talks with Greece ------------------------------------------------------- Skopje, 23/03/1995 (ANA-M.Vihou): The foreign minister of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia said yesterday that it was " too soon" to begin direct talks with Greece. Returning from Paris yesterday, Skopje Foreign Minister Stevo Crvenkovski told reporters that there were " many reasons" against beginning direct talks with Greece and that " such a meeting has not been determined yet." He refuted reports that Skopje had agreed to drop ancient Greek symbols on its flag and amend its constitution in a trade-off that would see trade sanctions imposed by Greece removed and the establishment of diplomatic relations with the US. " We have clearly stated that we do not accept the embargo to become an object of negotiations, neither are we willing to agree to any concessions in order to have the embargo removed, mainly because 13 months after its imposition it is obvious that it h as not yielded the expected results," Mr. Crvenkovski said. He said contacts with UN mediator Cyrus Vance would continue, and that " it remains to be seen as to how things will develop, so we can reach some objective conditions for dialogue on an equal basis." He added that the successful outcome of direct talks with Greece should be secured before such process commenced. In Washington, an ANA despatch quoted a State Department spokesman as saying that " the normalisation of relations between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia was vital" and that " the United States is interested in promoting long term stability" in the Balkans. " The US policy aims at solving the outstanding differences between the two nations," the spokesman said, adding that " we look forward to the continuation of the talks in the near future" . " We wish to move towards establishing full diplomatic relations (with FYROM), as soon as the situation allows it and we are satisfied that such a step would contribute to the general stability in the region," the spokesman said. " The situation in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia is relatively stable for the moment," he said, adding that " no decision has been taken for the deployment of additional US troops to FYROM." Commenting on Greece's imposition of trade sanctions against FYROM, he said that the US urged Greece to lift them for fear of " creating further instability in the Balkans and complicating the settlement of other issues in the region." Greece has imposed trade sanctions as retortion measures against Skopje in an effort to force it to curb its intransigence and change its name, remove the ancient Greek symbols from its flag and amend its constitution expressing expansionist designs against Greece's northern province of Macedonia. [4] Iakovos to meet Stephanopoulos, Papoulias today --------------------------------------------------- Athens, 23/03/1995 (ANA): Archbishop Iakovos of North and South America will have separate meetings today with President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos and Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias. The Archbishop, who arrived in Athens Tuesday, will also meet with Education and Religious Affairs Minister George Papandreou and former president of the republic Constantine Karamanlis. Yesterday, he met with Archbishop Serapheim of Athens and All Greece. The Orthodox primate leaves for New York tomorrow to head events planned by the Greek-American community to celebrate Independence Day on March 25. On Monday, Iakovos is scheduled to meet with US President Bill Clinton at the White House for the annual signing of the Proclamation of National Independence of Greece and the United States. [5] Greece, Georgia to sign environmental protection accord ----------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 23/03/1995 (ANA): Greece and the republic of Georgia will sign a bilateral accord today aimed at boosting co-operation on environmental protection, Environment ministry sources said yesterday. They said the accord would be signed by Greek Environment Under-Secretary Elizabeth Papazoi and the president of the Georgian parliamentary committee for environmental protection. Scores of representatives from Black Sea countries are currently in Athens attending a two-day conference aimed at formulating strings of action plans to combat pollution in the Black Sea. Marine experts say 80 per cent of all pollution in Europe is carried by the rivers which flow into the Black Sea, resulting in an 80 per cent reduction in fish stocks in the region. Ms Papazoi said the Environment Ministry would commission the National Marine Research Centre to conduct a research programme to establish data on the extent to which the northern Aegean is affected by pollution in the Black Sea. [6] Arsenis in Cyprus --------------------- Athens, 23/03/1995 (ANA): National Defence Minister Gerasimos Arsenis leaves for Cyprus today to represent Greece at celebrations for the Greek national holiday of March 25, which marks the beginning of the 1821 War of Independence. During his four-day visit, Mr. Arsenis will also discuss issues related to the Greek-Cypriot joint defence doctrine with the political leadership. He will speak at a church service on March 25 and later attend a parade marking the occasion. Mr. Arsenis will meet with President Glafcos Clerides, Cyprus Defence Minister Costas Eliades, the primate of the Greek Orthodox Church Archbishop Chrysostomos, commander of the National Guard Nicolaos Vorvolakos and the president of the House of Representatives Alexis Galanos. He will also visit military bases and give a lecture at the Cyprus University. He will be accompanied by the Greek ambassador to Cyprus Alexandros Sandes and a Greek Defence Ministry official. [7] 'Stern warnings' meted out to dissenting PASOK cadres --------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 23/03/1995 (ANA): Tension within the ruling party PASOK seems to have abated with the decision by the Ethics Committee yesterday to issue " stern warnings" to four high-profile dissenters. None of the four concerned -- former ministers Theodoros Pangalos, Vasso Papandreou and Dimitris Tsovolas, and former Piraeus mayor Yiannis Papaspyrou -- offered an immediate reaction. Referring to Mr. Pangalos and Ms Papandreou in particular, the Committee stressed that it was " ethically, politically, and morally unacceptable for prominent cadres of the Movement not to contribute to the formation of conditions of functioning that would strengthen PASOK and the government in overcoming problems and securing a steady course and prospects. " Submitting to the needs for promotion and any other personal reasons, which undermines PASOK's cohesion and the work of the government, does not constitute a function of a political cadre. " The non-observance of the limits of political propriety and ethics in challenging PASOK's president and the organs of the movement is an offence against every sense of political function... " The Ethics Committee... considers that there is no room for the continuation of such practices. " Any re-occurrence of such practices by a PASOK cadre will constitute conscious subversion, it will mean that it dissociates his/her position from the course of the Movement, and will be dealt with as such" . The Committee also issued a special caution to Dimitris Tsovolas on the need to avoid creating " artificial conflict and tension in the course of his free expression of views and proposals" , and called on Yiannis Papaspyrou to realise the limits of criticism. The Committee's unanimous decision means that the matter will not be taken to the party's Central Committee. [8] Lawyers strike in Ioannina prevents examination of Delvinaki seven ---------------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 23/03/1995 (ANA): The seven armed men arrested near the Greek-Albanian border Sunday will appear before an investigating magistrate in Ioannina today and not yesterday as scheduled. The seven, facing charges of illegal possession of weapons, appeared before investigating magistrate Paraskevi Tsoumaris yesterday morning but the proceedings were obstructed by a lawyers' work stoppage in Ioannina. The seven denied charges against them, saying they were not members of any illegal organisation acting against state interests, judicial sources said in Ioannina. " We never participated and do not participate in any illegal organisation. The case is in the hands of justice in which we have complete faith," said a statement read to reporters by the seven's lawyer Nikolas Gondas. According to a later ANA despatch from Ioannina, lawyers in the northern town will continue their work stoppage until the end of the week. They are demanding the appointment of more judges to clear a backlog of cases. Ms Tsoumaris ordered the seven to re-appear this morning but the town's Bar Association appeared unwilling to allow the lawyers representing the seven to be present when they testify. Meanwhile, police in Ioannina are continuing their investigations in the case. In a related development, reliable sources said that the Foreign Ministry was conducting an official administrative inquiry concerning Panagiotis Moulieris, a member of the Greek embassy staff in Tirana who has been recalled to Athens. Mr. Moulieris was reportedly arrested at the weekend in the Albanian capital for being in possession of leaflets of the Liberation Front of Northern Epirus (MAVI) to which the seven armed men allegedly belong. Government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos implied yesterday that police were investigating possible links between MAVI and the National Intelligence Agency (EYP). Mr. Venizelos told reporters he was not aware of any connections between EYP and MAVI but said investigations would be exhaustive. Main opposition New Democracy party spokesman Vassilis Manginas yesterday said his party " is opposed to any action which could obstruct the development of Greek-Albanian relations." He was replying to press criticism that the ND has not taken a position on the issue. " ND has taken a position," Mr. Manginas said, adding that " when ND thinks it has to say more, it will." " Our country's foreign policy should be conducted by the competent authorities and not uncontrollable and irresponsible organisations which become organs of those who wish to harm our national interests," Political Spring party spokesman Notis Martakis said yesterday in relation to the Delvinaki arrests. A Coalition of the Left and Progress announcement yesterday attacked the " silence" by ND and Political Spring over the issue. The party stated its opposition to " efforts to conceal or restrict the investigation process" and called " for radical measures to democratise and reorganise the National Intelligence Agency (EYP) and eliminate all the mechanisms which undermine the country's official policies." [9] Farmers continue to block roads, await meeting with Moraitis ---------------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 23/03/1995 (ANA): Farmers continued to block the Athens-Lamia highway at Livanates yesterday in defiance of a decision by the local co-ordinating committee and despite the fact that farmers further south lifted their roadblock at Thermopyle. In recent days, farmers have caused widespread disruption to traffic, particularly in northern and central Greece, protesting a new tax law and in support of other demands. Tension escalated Tuesday night and yesterday morning when truck drivers delayed by the block at Livanates tried to break through a police cordon to reach the point where farmers have blocked the highway with tractors and other farm machinery. Meanwhile, farmers and trades-people in northern Greece yesterday continued protests for the third consecutive day mainly against the new tax law but also in support of demands related to the absorption of farm produce and crop prices. Shops remained closed in Florina as protesters continued to block the main road into the town with tractors and cars. Farmers from Ptolemaida also continued to block the roads to Florina and Edessa, while farmers in the prefecture of Pella blocked the Yiannitsa ring-road. An ANA report from Larissa, central Greece, said later that about 2,000 trucks had broken through a farmers' blockade of about 15 tractors on the main Athens-Thessaloniki highway at Tempe. The truck drivers' success was short-lived, however, as farmers drove a large number of tractors and other farm machinery to block the highway at a junction further south at Sikourio. Riot police remained on stand-by in the area. A similar situation has arisen at Almyros in the neighbouring prefecture of Magnesia, where truck drivers trapped by a farmers' blockade were threatening to break through a line of tractors. Traffic in the prefecture of Thessaly has come to a virtual standstill, with all the main junctions of the national and secondary road network occupied by tractors. Access to Thessaloniki was only possible via Elassona. Train services, however, continued to operate, despite a threat by farmers to block the lines. Meanwhile, the farmers' co-ordinating committee met yesterday and decided to continue the mobilisations at least until a further meeting with Agriculture Minister George Moraitis and talks with political party leaders. The committee remained adamant in its opposition to the objective criteria and reiterated demands for fuel subsidies, citing the example of other European Union member states. Speaking in Parliament yesterday, Mr. Moraitis said that the nation-wide mobilisations were not an " uprising" by farmers but actions by " certain other people who are blocking roads with tractors, demanding that we reject the GATT agreement and agreements with the European Union" . Mr. Moraitis said that the aim of the " objective criteria" contained in the new tax law, which will be used to calculate the income of non-salaried workers including farmers, was " mainly to tax non-farmers who exploit about 25 per cent of arable land" . " The people who have blocked the national highways are providing very bad services to the government and the country," he said. Mr. Moraitis underlined that the objective criteria would not affect the vast majority of farmers and added that if there were any injustices in the new system of taxation, they would be corrected by the Finance Ministry. Main opposition New Democracy party leader Miltiades Evert urged the government " to realise the great mistake which it has made, particularly with regard to the farmers and revise its fiscal policy" . " Without the modernisation of the agricultural sector," Mr. Evert added, " we cannot modernise the economy" . ND party spokesman Vassilis Manginas later described as " explosive" the " general uprising against the government's tax clobbering policy..." Mr. Manginas said the persistence to proceed with the tax law was the result of efforts " to cover the huge wastes in the public sector." Communist Party of Greece (KKE) deputy Spyros Striftaris called on the government to settle the problems of tobacco and cotton farmers. Mr. Striftaris accused the government and the mass media of engaging in efforts to disorient the farmers, adding that such effort has failed. |
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