Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou said yesterday that Turkey should realise it was not in its interest to play the role of "troublemaker" in the region and that the "touchstone" for Greek-Turkish relations was a settlement of the Cyprus problem.
"It would be a good thing if Turkey realised that the role of troublemaker in the region is not in its interest, nor are Ankara's attempts to export its domestic problems," Mr. Papandreou told a Cabinet meeting. Mr. Papandreou described the Cyprus problem as "top priority" for Greece, noting that "there have already been certain results which are visible and acceptable to all". "The settlement of the problem," he stressed, "is the touchstone for Greek-Turkish relations."
On other foreign policy issues, Mr. Papandreou termed as "particularly positive" the normalisation of relations with neighbouring Albania and said there were "positive developments with Bulgaria and Romania... which are creating a new stage in the Balkan region."
Turning to Greece's ongoing dispute with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Mr. Papandreou underlined that "the unquestionable intransigence of (FYROM President Kiro) Gligorov has been clearly shown, since we handled the issue with flexibility, determination and over a long period of time."
Mr. Papandreou said that the threat of the country's economy collapsing had been averted, a fiscal revolution was in progress and for the first time inflation was approaching single figures. However, he continued, the recent mobilisations by farmers and other groups of workers may have temporarily put a brake on inflation's downward trend. Mr. Papandreou said that the "battle of the drachma" had been won and Greece now had a "hard currency" which he likened to those of Germany and Switzerland.
"Capital movements have been liberalised without shock-waves and (loan) interest rates are down despite two election battles and the election of the President of the Republic in the last 18 months," Mr. Papandreou said.
The premier stressed that this had been possible because the government had chosen to disregard the political cost entailed. He added however that the situation was still difficult. "The problems are being dealt with. They have not been overcome," he said. The policy being implemented by the government is the only solution for a way out of the crisis, Mr. Papandreou said, adding that emphasis must now be placed on development.
Mr. Papandreou reiterated a recent call to opposition parties represented in Parliament to participate in the setting up of national committees to examine issues related to foreign affairs, education and public administration. He said he had been disappointed by the opposition's "reserved" initial reactions to the proposal. "Now is the time for unity and not division," Mr. Papandreou said.
The Cabinet meeting also discussed problems facing the farmers as well as major public works. Agriculture Minister George Moraitis briefed the ministers on government handling of the farmers' problems both on national and European Union level. Environment Minister Costas Laliotis said the agreement for the construction of the Spata Airport would be presented to the Cabinet in the following three months before it was tabled in Parliament for ratification. He said that in the first three months of the year tenders for the construction of public works amounting to 600 billion drachmas have been approved.
Main opposition New Democracy party leader Miltiades Evert accused Mr. Papandreou of "not respecting the institutions, refusing dialogue within his own Cabinet." Mr. Evert said a politician's greater quality is knowing when to step off the stage and called Mr. Papandreou to do so "for his own good but mainly for the good of the Greek people."
Dismissing Mr. Papandreou's criticism that the main opposition was "exercising sterile policy and does not submit proposals" Mr. Evert said: "Never before has a main opposition (party) submitted so many constructive proposals".
Opposition Political Spring party leader Antonis Samaras requested the suspension of the implementation of the "objective criteria" tax system, at the centre of the recent protests by farmers and merchants. "If Mr. Papandreou really wishes dialogue he should suspend the implementation of the objective criteria and hear the voice of desperation of the producers," Mr. Samaras said.
Asked to comment on the Skopje issue, Mr. Samaras described developments as "intensely negative", adding that the government was in actual fact proceeding with recognising Skopje. "We are in an especially dangerous phase," Mr. Samaras said.
The Communist Party of Greece described as provocative the government's stated policy that it served the weaker economic classes, when it turned police forces against pensioners protesting for increases in their pensions.
Coalition of the Left and Progress leader Nikos Constantopoulos said in statements later that "Mr. Papandreou and his government should realise that the country and society are the victims of their stance to date."
Replying on Mr. Evert's criticisms, government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos later said that "instead of complying with the prime minister's proposals, Mr. Evert has preferred, once again, the route of acuteness and tension."
Greek Defence Minister Gerasimos Arsenis yesterday pledged Greece's full involvement in the Western European Union (WEU), the European Union's proposed defence arm. After attending the first meeting since Greece became a full WEU member last month, Mr. Arsenis said that Greece wished to use its strategic importance to play a key role in developing a European defence identity. "This organisation is an expression of European solidarity on the issues of the defence and security relating to the European Union," he said.
Addressing the WEU permanent diplomatic representatives council in Brussels, Mr. Arsenis said Greece was granted accession to the Union during a critical time, in view of the 1996 intergovernmental summit which will also focus on the formation of a European security and defence policy.
Mr. Arsenis said that within such a framework, "solidarity (between WEU member-states) can be real and effective, and only if the execution of duty and the claiming of rights are based on the principle of equality." Mr. Arsenis said it was important that the WEU be developed as the European wing of NATO and as the defence arm of the European Union.
"The redoubling of the existing NATO structures should be averted," Mr. Arsenis said, adding that "we should give WEU the opportunity to reinforce its operational capabilities." "I believe," he said, "that both organisations (WEU and NATO) should benefit from an equal distribution of dangers, responsibilities and duties."
Mr. Arsenis said the long-term policy of the WEU should take into consideration what he described as "the three sources of instability" which he located on the periphery of Europe, especially the Balkans and the Mediterranean. Mr. Arsenis determined these sources as "the demographic explosion, the inability of neighbouring countries to adjust to the financial demands of the international market, and the dramatic rise of religious fundamentalism."
He said Greece was in favour of the establishment of "sub-systems of collective security under the umbrella of the WEU or NATO," to deal with these potential dangers. "Greece," Mr. Arsenis said, "is in favour of such a development in the framework of a broader European defence system, and has already taken steps (in this direction) with the signing of defence agreements with Romania and Bulgaria as well as agreements of defence co-operation with Egypt and Israel."
"My country," he added, "wishes to actively contribute to the development of policies which would promote the strategic stability in Europe, mainly in the Balkan and Eastern Mediterranean regions."
At a press conference following his address, Mr. Arsenis told reporters that Greece would participate in the creation of a multinational European military body, EUROCORPS, in the Mediterranean.
Asked to comment on the establishment of an aeronautical "Euro-body" in the Mediterranean, currently being discussed by the WEU, Mr. Arsenis described the initiative as "the first step towards the long-term formation of a super-national European defence entity to facilitate the procedure of European completion." Mr. Arsenis said Greece was ready to participate fully in the European Space Centre which is being established in the framework of the WEU.
Mr. Arsenis said WEU Secretary-General Jose Cutilheiro was in favour of a future Cyprus accession to the WEU and stressed the necessity for the commencement of a structured dialogue between the two sides. Mr. Arsenis said Mr. Cutilheiro would discuss details with the Greek authorities during his forthcoming official visit to Athens.
Commenting on the joint defence zone between Cyprus and Greece, Mr. Arsenis clarified that it "is a clearly defence agreement between two independent states and does not turn against any third state." "Greece's defence interests expand to the entire eastern Mediterranean and the Balkans," he said.
Mr. Arsenis said further Turkish intervention on Cyprus would be a "casus belli" for Greece. "The matter is, how does one create the necessary military structure to support this political decision," he said adding that in his opinion this was "achievable". Mr. Arsenis said that "Cyprus, from being the Achilles' heel in Greece's defence, is becoming a headache for Turkey."
Outlining the improvements in defence installations and armaments in Cyprus, Mr. Arsenis said "the fact that there is reaction against such activities means that the situation is changing." Mr. Arsenis said that "the decision for Cyprus' accession to the European Union and its defence strengthening are two factors causing the United Nations and other international bodies to view the Cyprus issue in a different light."
Turning to the establishment of the NATO multinational division staff in Thessaloniki, Mr. Arsenis reiterated that it was a decision of the Higher Military Commander of the Alliance Force in Europe (SACEUR) and "not a gift to Greece." "Turkey's stance blocks the entire military structure of NATO," he said, referring to Turkish threats to set conditions before agreeing to the establishment of the base.
Concerning the decision to set in operation again the NATO headquarters in Larissa, Mr. Arsenis said the decision was taken by the NATO allies in December 1992. Mr. Arsenis said Turkey was "in panic" because "it realises that it is encircled by bilateral defence agreements between Greece and Egypt and Israel, and other agreements which will follow."
Mr. Arsenis also condemned Turkey's invasion of northern Iraq, saying it did not respect international conditions, human rights, democratic institutions or international agreements. Mr. Arsenis also met with the Belgian foreign and defence ministers.
Sifis Valyrakis was sworn in yesterday as Public Order Minister, in the presence of the President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos and Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou. Mr. Stephanopoulos wished Mr. Valyrakis every success with his new post.
Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias yesterday made a statement on the occasion of Refugees Day today. "Events on April 5, a day dedicated to refugees, gives us the opportunity to focus our attention on one of the most serious problems faced by humanity.
"The main reasons for the creation of the movements of refugees in our time is war, the collapse of states made up of many ethnicities and the resurgence of nationalist movements, economic degradation, political pressure and religious intolerance.
"Hellenism recognises very well the harsh reality of the refugees as it experienced it after the Asia Minor catastrophe, after the civil war and now with the ethnic Greeks from the Black Sea and Northern Epirus regions as well as foreign refugees. "Public awareness is of foremost importance and also our duty to deal with this issue. "I hope that events held by the United Nations High Commission (for Refugees), in co-operation with other organisations, contributes towards this direction."
The Athens Journalists Union (ESHEA) yesterday issued an announcement condemning the recent murder of Algerian journalist Mohamed Abdelrahmani and other Algerian journalists. "The ESHEA condemns the despicable murder of Mohamed Abdelrahmani, head of the French newspaper 'El Moutzahid'.
Mohamed Abdelrahmani, known for his fight for the national liberation of Algeria, was a distinguished figure in the news world. "The Union has closely observed the murders of journalists in Algeria and expresses its full support in the struggle of its colleagues and calls on all journalist unions to condemn acts of terrorism and violence against the press."
Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias met yesterday with Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Politburo member Orestis Kolozov to discuss a range of foreign policy issues. Speaking to reports Mr. Kolozov termed the talks as "analytic" and "useful", saying he had the opportunity to brief Mr. Papoulias on his party's positions on crucial foreign policy matters.
On Greece's improved relations with Albania, Mr. Kolozov called on the minister to press ahead with the resolution of several outstanding issues between the two Balkan nations. The KKE official also urged Mr. Papoulias to continue efforts for direct talks with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to resolve an on-going row between Athens and Skopje.
Mr. Kolozov voiced his party's opposition to the incorporation of Cyprus in Greece's defence planning and the creation of NATO bases in Larissa and in northern Greece.
Visiting Athens Mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos and his Moscow counterpart Yuri Luzkhov signed a protocol yesterday for co-operation between the municipal authorities of Athens and Moscow.
The protocol signed by the two mayors anticipates the exchange of information and expertise on municipal administration and management issues, the development of cultural relations and exchanges and the promotion of economic and trade relations.
Speaking at a press conference, Mr. Luzkhov referred to the possibility of Greek construction companies participating in the Moscow municipality's "restructuring work", adding that Cyprus and the coast of Turkey had received Russian tourists and called for the development of a similar tourist wave to Greece. "Due to historic relations between our countries, every Russian and every Muscovite wants to visit Greece at least once in his life," Mr. Luzkhov said.
Mr. Avramopoulos said the fact that his first visit abroad as mayor was paid to Moscow was symbolic. Mr. Avramopoulos has already met Russian Foreign Under-Secretary Mr. Ivanov and Patriarch Alexios II during his visit to Moscow.
In an interview with the magazine 'Zbor', Foreign Minister of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Vladislav Jovanovic said that the mutual diplomatic recognition between his country and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) was not possible at the present time, although Serbia had undertaken such an obligation on the basis of a 1992 declaration.
He stressed, nevertheless, that Yugoslavia is in favour of normalising relations with FYROM, but this will depend on its resolution of differences with Greece, and also on whether it will recognise the right of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to being the "sole heir" of former Yugoslavia.
He added that Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic's proposal for a confederation involving his country, FYROM, and Greece was evidence of the Yugoslav opening for co-operation with other countries in the region.
He also expressed optimism that FYROM and Greece will soon resolve their differences and that the two peoples "will lay a model, not only of bilateral, but also of trilateral co-operation and neighbourly relations".
On Monday, FYROM Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski told the French daily Le Monde that the fact that Serbia had not recognised his country indicated that Belgrade and Athens were co-ordinating their policy against Skopje, and that the proposal for a con federation aimed at "erasing 'Macedonia' from the map".
Environment, Town Planning and Public Works Minister Costas Laliotis said yesterday that work would soon begin on a project to create an archaeological "park" by linking major sites in Athens. Mr. Laliotis and Culture Under-Secretary Nikolaos Sifounakis told a press conference that by the year 2000, Athenians and foreign visitors would be able to enjoy a park stretching four kilometres and covering an area of seven thousand square metres.
A company will be set up in the next few months to oversee the project, Mr. Laliotis said, adding that its board of directors would be appointed by the Environment and Culture Ministries. The first phase of the project, which is expected to be completed within five years, will cost an estimated 40 billion drachmas.
The sources of financing are European Union funds allocated to Greece, public investment funds, revenue from the "Lotto" numbers lottery and the Archaeology Fund. The project involves the construction of walkways linking major sites, the restoration of traditional buildings and landscaping.
The European Commission adopted a "Green Paper" on tourism yesterday, stressing the importance of the industry employing nine million people in the European Union as a source of new jobs since it accounted for 6 per cent of the Community's average GDP.
Tourism Commissioner Christos Papoutsis, who spearheaded the Green Paper's acceptance, told a news conference that many regions in Europe had developed through tourism, which otherwise would have been threatened by economic and social decline.
"The majority of tourist businesses are small and medium-size enterprises and they employ a large percentage of sensitive groups of the population such as young people, women and the elderly," he said.
Mr. Papoutsis said the Green Paper was aimed at launching a "wide dialogue between all the interested agencies, without, of course, prejudging the conclusions of work under way to pave the way for the intergovernmental conference in 1996."
He said the European Parliament, the Economic and Social Committee and the Regional Committee had repeatedly shown interest in Community intervention in the tourism sector. Mr. Papoutsis said the Green Paper would primarily facilitate an assessment of the EU's activities to date, an evaluation of the use and potential of available means, an examination of additional value produced by Community activities and scepticism over the future of Community policy on tourist issues.
The Greek commissioner said it would be the first time dialogue would take place at all the agencies on the future of tourism and the target was to achieve a European tourist policy. He took the opportunity to announce the starting of a one-million-Ecu advertising campaign on April 17 aimed at attracting American tourists to Europe.
Interested parties will have to make their proposals on the Green Paper by the end of June to enable the Commission to make its own finalised proposals on tourism either by the end of the year or in early 1996 at the latest.