Greek-Russian bilateral relations received a further boost on Saturday when foreign ministers Andrei Kozyrev and Karolos Papoulias signed an agreement for the establishment of additional Greek and Russian consulates. Mr. Kozyrev was in Athens to attend a Black Sea Economic Co-operation meeting, which ended Friday.
Under the agreement two Greek consulates will be set up in St. Petersburg and Novorosisk and a Russian consulate in Thessaloniki, northern Greece.
"With this agreement," Mr. Papoulias told the press following the talks, "the remaining consulate issues will be resolved and contacts between the two countries will be facilitated further," while Mr. Kozyrev said "it would give access to the citizens o f both countries to participate in exchange programmes and various initiatives."
Both men reiterated their conviction to press ahead with the construction of a 300-kilometre pipeline bringing Russian crude oil to Greece via Bulgaria. In a meeting Friday, the foreign ministers of Greece, Russia and Bulgaria agreed to sign a protocol agreement for the 700-million dollar project at a meeting in Russia later this year.
Mr. Kozyrev told the press Greek-Russian relations were upgraded, adding that President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos, whom he met with on Friday, shared the same conviction.
Russia attributes great importance to Thessaloniki and its leading role in the Balkan region at a time when close economic co-operation between Black Sea region countries is under way. The operation of a Black Sea Bank in Thessaloniki is a matter of time and formalities and the Russian government appears to be redefining its policy in the Balkans and desiring closer relations with Greece.
The agreement for the opening of a Russian consulate in Thessaloniki, as well as of two Greek consulates in Saint Petersburg and Novorosisk, confirms the determination of the two countries to co-operate closely at political and economic level for development in the Balkans to enable it to become a gateway to the European Union, Black Sea region countries and the Middle East.
The opening of the consulate in Thessaloniki was considered necessary following the agreement between Greece, Russia and Bulgaria for the construction of an oil pipeline stretching from Novorosisk to the Greek port of Alexandroupolis via the Bulgarian port of Burgas. The Thessaloniki consulate will also contribute to the strengthening of cultural relations between the two peoples which have been developing for centuries.
Mr. Kozyrev made special reference to the Greek government's initiative to contribute 50,000 dollars to the effort to restore the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow and safeguard and restore the Russian monastery on Mount Athos. Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou's impending visit to Moscow, on a date to be set through diplomatic channels soon, heralds the further strengthening of relations between Greece and Russia.
Mr. Kozyrev also accused the West of underestimating the crucial role of Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic in the Bosnian peace process. "Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic is a positive factor in Bosnian peace efforts, but he is not being deal t with as an equal partner in the Bosnian peace process," Mr. Kozyrev said.
The Russian minister urged the lifting of sanctions, saying the Yugoslav federation had complied with UN requirements by cutting off contact with Bosnia. "The Yugoslav Federation is no longer party to the conflict (in Bosnia) but a crucial factor in helping resolve the Bosnia crisis," Mr. Kozyrev said.
Referring to the Greek-Bulgarian initiative for the lifting of sanctions against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, which has had damaging effects on economies in the region, Mr. Papoulias said a joint communiqui, signed by Greece, Moldova, Bulgaria, Ukraine and Romania, requested the UN to compensate losses.
"Unless sanctions against New Yugoslavia are lifted or suspended the economies in the region will face a vicious circle," Mr. Papoulias said, "and the crisis in former Yugoslavia will continue". Mr. Kozyrev supported the Greek-Bulgarian initiative noting that the damages due to the embargo have been "enormous for Russia."
Meanwhile, Coalition of the Left and Progress party leader Nikos Constantopoulos criticised the government's foreign policy, saying that developments were leading Greece rather than the other way round and that the government should take its own initiatives rather than awaiting the assistance of mediators.
Russia's Foreign Minister Andrei Kozyrev awarded medals of the Russian State to Greek veterans of war and the resistance movement to commemorate the 50 years since the end of World War II and the defeat of Nazi forces.
Mr. Kozyrev awarded the medals on Saturday to Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias, Alternate Foreign Minister George Mangakis, Under-Secretary to the Prime Minister Antonis Livanis, former minister and PASOK deputy Evangelos Yiannopoulos, veteran left wing leader Leonidas Kyrkos, former left wing deputy Manolis Glezos, former communist deputy Gregoris Farakos and Al. Rossios.
Mr. Kozyrev said he awarded the medals at the instructions of President Yeltsin to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the "common victory" against fascism.
Mr. Kozyrev received an honorary award from Hellenic Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry President George Mavroudis yesterday for his contribution to the Chamber's establishment and consolidation. Mr. Kozyrev also accepted its honorary membership and a proposal for the sending of 50 Russian children to Greece in the summer. The event took place at a reception at the Russian Embassy in Athens on the sidelines of the Black Sea Economic Co-operation meeting.
President Kostis Stephanopoulos called on Greeks yesterday to display greater accord and patriotism, adding that, apart from rights, the people also had commitments. President Stephanopoulos was speaking in Mesolongi on the 169th anniversary of the heroic exodus of the "free besieged." He was proclaimed an honorary citizen by the Mesolongi municipality and awarded the golden key to the city.
An official te deum service was held at the Saint Spyridon Cathedral in the morning in the presence of President Stephanopoulos, Alternate Industry Minister Christos Rokofyllos, representing the government, former president Christos Sartzetakis, main op position New Democracy party leader Miltiades Evert, Transport and Communications Under-Secretary Christos Kokkinovassilis, National Defence General Staff Chief Admiral Christos Lymberis, Athens Mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos and other military and political officials. Schoolchildren formed a procession to the Garden of the Heroes afterwards where a religious service was held and Mr. Rokofyllos delivered a speech underlining the significance of the event. The Mesolongi municipality gave a dinner on honour of dignitaries at noon.
Replying to an address by Mayor Balkoyiannis, President Stephanopoulos referred to details of the heroic exodus, adding that even today the country was besieged by crucial problems and called on the people to join a common course with accord.
Thanking the Mesolongi municipality for the honour bestowed on him, President Stephanopoulos underlined the importance the Mesolongi heroes' sacrifice had for the liberation of Greece, saying that it constituted a paramount example of accord and consensus which should govern Greeks. He further said the national interest could also be served through differences of opinion.
In his address, Mr. Rokofyllos underlined the message of the insuperable sacrifice of the holy site of Mesolongi's guard, adding that it resulted from the superiority of human will against correlations of forces. He said the human will for freedom became literally indomitable when it conscientiously contained the ultimate sacrifice.
Mr. Evert said the Mesolongi exodus was one of the most glorious pages in Greek history and a unique example of self-sacrifice.
Armenians in Greece on Sunday commemorated the 80th anniversary of the 1915 genocide when over a million Armenians died at the hands of Ottoman Turks. "The massacre was one of the gravest crimes of the twentieth century," said Ara Mangonian, president of the Armenian National Committee of Greece.
Attending the ceremony, Greek leftist deputy Fotis Kouvelis called on Turkey to "publicly recognise and apologise" for the Armenian massacre. He also urged the international community to pressure Ankara to withdraw its troops from northern Cyprus and end its military operation in northern Iraq. Turkey launched a cross border incursion on March 20 to flush out Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) separatists in hiding and destroy their bases.
Greece yesterday dismissed press allegations that a Turkish battleship had sailed into the country's territorial waters without being detected by the Greek Navy. An Athens newspaper said the Turkish warship Turgut Reis sailed to Sounio and anchored off near the northern coast of Crete under the "blind eyes" of the Greek Navy.
The Sunday newspaper, Eleftheros Typos, said the incident occurred earlier this month during a naval exercise in the Aegean. "The content of the report is deceiving as it provides false impressions of the effectiveness of the Greek Navy," said a statement of the Navy General Staff. It said the Turkish warship was sailing in international waters and had been continuously monitored by the Greek Navy.
Main opposition New Democracy party leader Miltiades Evert told Saturday a General Confederation of Professionals and Craftsmen (GESEBE) seminar that only growth would bring the necessary improvements to the Greek economy.
On the tax system, Mr. Evert said ND supported a stable tax system to last for at least four or five years and to be based on objectives. However, Mr. Evert said, the objectives would be calculated on the basis of expenditure.
The ruling PASOK party issued an announcement yesterday to commemorate the 85th anniversary of the Kileler farmers' rebellion. The announcement, issued by the party's Executive Bureau, focuses on PASOK's agricultural policy. "PASOK creates realistic prospects for the modernisation and the improvement of competitiveness of the agricultural economy," the announcement said.
The US-Hellenic American National Council has opened a National Council office in Athens in an effort to better serve expatriate Greeks. The office will be at the disposal of both Greek expatriates visiting Greece and Greeks living abroad permanently for information on issues concerning education, culture and tourism as well as commercial, economic, military and legal affairs. Its Athens address is 5 Apollonos Street.
In an interview on Albanian-Greek relations to the newspaper Lajmi i Dites, deputy foreign minister and head of the Albanian delegation to the Albanian-Greek Joint Committee Arjan Starova said that the April 18-19 meeting of the commission in Athens marked the resumption of work interrupted as a result of developments between the two.
"Albania and Greece have already shown their political will and responsibility to find ways of co-operation for relations between the two countries to be put on another level," said Mr. Starova. He stressed the Albanian side hoped the meeting will be fruitful and followed by continuous political contacts on different levels, that will make concrete certain aspects of relations. He said that the final aim of both sides should be achievement, in the near future, of a friendship, co-operation and good neighbour relations treaty between Albania and Greece.
Speaking about the concrete problems to be discussed by the joint committee in Athens, Mr. Starova said they will focus on conditions for quickest steps in realisation of different agreements, employment and legalisation of Albanian emigrants. The meeting will also cover the problem of property of the Tsamides and border, legal and consular problems.
Friends and colleagues of the late economy minister George Yennimatas gathered at his graveside at the Athens First Cemetery yesterday to honour his memory a year after his death. The event was attended by almost all members of the government and ruling PASOK party and by representatives of all the political parties. PASOK Secretary Akis Tsohatzopoulos said "it is clear how much he is missed by those who loved him." National Economy Minister Yiannos Papantoniou said "we are continuing his work."
Meanwhile, by decision of Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou and Health Minister Dimitris Kremastinos, the Athens State General Hospital will be renamed George Yennimatas Hospital, while a special event will be held at the Athens Concert Hall on May 14.