Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou and his Bulgarian counterpart Jean Videnov held a meeting yesterday to discuss Balkan stability, European integration and joint projects in transport and energy issues, including construction of a proposed Russian oil pipeline. "It is probably the greatest project to take place with strategic economic importance for our country," Mr. Papandreou said following talks with the Bulgarian PM. It is Mr. Videnov's first visit to Greece as prime minister.
Mr. Papandreou said Greece and Bulgaria could play a significant role in promoting economic activities in the Balkans due to their key geographic location in the region. "There is an open horizon of investment opportunities and there is a vision o f close economic co-operation which we hope to become reality," he said.
The Greek premier also voiced support for Bulgaria's moves to join the European Union. "Greece has assumed the responsibility of promoting Bulgaria's bid to join the European Union," he said, adding that relations between Greece and Bulgaria are excellent. Concerning Mr. Videnov's initiative for the signing of a Stability Pact between the two nations, Mr. Papandreou said Greece thought such an initiative was a positive step and that talks would continue.
Mr. Videnov expressed optimism that the pact would also be signed by other countries, adding however, that this is "an exceptionally difficult, laborious and time-consuming project." Stressing that Greek-Bulgarian relations were well founded, the Bulgarian prime minister touched upon the need for further economic co-operation between the two countries.
Mr. Videnov's official visit to Greece comes only two days after Russia, Greece and Bulgaria agreed to construct an oil pipeline to carry Russian crude oil with a final outlet on the Aegean Sea. Sofia announced Saturday that the three countries have decided to establish an international company for the planned construction and operation of the pipeline, which envisages a tanker route from the Russian port of Novorossiisk to Bulgaria's Black Sea port of Burgas, the starting point of a 300-km oil pipeline carrying the Russian crude to Alexandroupolis in northern Greece.
According to the announcement, preparations will start for the establishment of the Trans-Balkan Oil Pipeline company with the participation of firms from each of the three countries. In addition, it was decided in Moscow last Thursday that the proposed company will negotiate with potential oil producers and consumers and continue work on feasibility studies. The estimated $700 million project is projected to have a daily transport capacity of 600,000 barrels and is due for completion by 1997.
The three countries expect considerable funding from the European Union, according to the Sofia government statement, which added that Brussels, which had shown interest in the project, has been briefed on the outcome of negotiations. The pipeline project was to be discussed during Mr. Videnov's talks here with the Greek government leadership.
The two prime ministers also discussed a wide range of other projects, including opening new border checkpoints between Bulgaria and Greece, new highways and regulating residence requirements for guest workers. Every year thousands of seasonal workers arrive from Bulgaria to Greece, often illegally.
Soon after his arrival and prior to meeting Mr. Papandreou, Mr. Videnov was received by President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos. Mr. Videnov will meet with Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis today, before departing in the afternoon.
Speaking at an official luncheon afterwards, Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou said the two countries could, in co-operation play a key-role in the stabilisation of the region. Apart from the strategic significance, the proximity of the two countries, provides the opportunity for boosting investment, trade, and capital inflows in a short time, he said.
Mr. Papandreou added that he had been impressed by his counterpart's remark that the Balkans were viewed "paternalistically" by western Europe, as if they had no history and no civilisation, instead of being viewed as a true source of modern western civilisation.
In his reply, the Bulgarian prime minister said the only obstacles in the way of developing relations between the two countries were "those we raised ourselves. Greek- Bulgarian relations had roots for the future of European integration."
In a later reception, Mr. Papandreou said "relations between Greece and Bulgaria have deep roots and they should be deepened for peace and progress to come to the Balkans." He made the statement at a reception given by the Bulgarian Ambassador to Athens, Branimir Petrov, on the occasion of Mr. Videnov's official visit to Greece.
"Greece is determined to promote the Convergence Programme aimed at participation in the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) in 1999," National Economy Minister Yiannos Papantoniou said yesterday, adding: "the Convergence Programme is being implemented effectively and targets set out in it appear feasible."
Mr. Papantoniou addressed the Council of Economic and Finance Ministers (ECOFIN), which focused primarily on preparing the European Union summit in Cannes, France next week. EU finance ministers took the plunge yesterday, agreeing informally that it would be impossible for the EU to create its single currency before 1999, ministers said.
The ministers adopted the report on general economic policy applied by member-states and the Community, which contains special reference to efforts which must be made for further economic convergence to be achieved in light of an economic and monetary union and the creation of jobs.
A considerable number of countries (able to prevent the taking of a decision in EU voting) differentiated their position on Commission predictions concerning the development of certain important macroeconomic indicators, such as inflation and fiscal deficits. Mr. Papantoniou said such countries, including Greece with regard to the inflation projection, "refused to countersign and ratify these predictions." The report's finalised text contains special reference to progress achieved in Greece in 1994 in the sector of fiscal and stabilisation policy.
The ECOFIN Council also approved two reports by the Community's Economic Policy Committee and employment directors from relevant member-states ministries, containing progress achieved and measures taken in the employment sector - as part of the Commission's White Paper. Mr. Papantoniou said it was a "comprehensive proposal to the EU summit which will give new directions" in Community policy to combat unemployment.
The council also adopted the Green Paper on the transition to the third phase of EMU, expected to begin by 1999 at the latest, according to the Maastricht Treaty, provided a majority of member-states will be unable to meet convergence criteria by 1997.
Mr. Papantoniou said Greece will participate in all procedures defining the general framework and technical details in the transition to the third phase, but avoided giving details on the time the government intended to start negotiations for the drachma's entry into the European Monetary System (fixed exchange parities).
On the question of difficulties experienced in financing the top 14 projects as part of Trans-European Networks in the transport sector, EU finance ministers examined the report prepared by relevant Commissioner Neil Kinnock, whose data will be brought to the attention of heads of state and governments at the Cannes summit.
Replying to questions on the possibility of selective promotion of projects which have already secured funding, including private participation, Mr. Papantoniou said "the decision taken at the EU Essen summit giving priority to all 14 transport projects is binding."
Mr. Papantoniou said he requested the submission of a similar proposal by the Commission at the Cannes summit on progress achieved in Trans-European Energy Networks. He also said the European Commission had been notified of the recent discovery of a "white hole" in Greece's insurance organisation accounts, adding the issue would be raised officially in autumn, as part of the Commission's new economic report.
After a meeting of delegations headed by Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias and Bulgarian Deputy Premier and External Economic Relations Minister Kyril Chochev, Mr. Papoulias said co-operation between the two countries was a historical necessity for the Balkans and Europe.
He expressed the view that large projects, such as natural gas and oil pipelines, and programmes of co-operation in telecommunications and electrical energy, had economic as well as politically strategic significance. Mr. Papoulias forecast that there would be a single Greek-Bulgarian energy centre in a few years' time with important politico-economic effects for the rest of Europe.
These large projects are not simply visionary, but reality, Mr. Papoulias said, citing the signing of an agreement among Russia, Bulgaria and Greece in Moscow a few days ago for construction of an oil pipeline.
Mr. Chochev concurred that joint large projects wielded geopolitical significance for both countries. He said issues discussed included Bulgaria's admission to the European Union, which is a priority. The realisation of such geopolitical plans, he added, would also strengthen Greece's positions in the EU. In this way, there will be no need for borders between the two countries, but "we will transfer the borders near the European Union," he said.
The meeting was also attended by Greek European Affairs Minister Georgios Mangakis, National Economy Under-Secretary Ioannis Anthopoulos and Bulgarian Foreign Under-Secretary Ivan Christov.
Greek National Defence Minister Gerasimos Arsenis held talks yesterday with Syrian Prime Minister Mahmoud al-Zohbi focusing on Greek-Syrian relations and the latest developments in the Middle East.
Mr. Arsenis, who arrived in Damascus Sunday for a three-day official visit and talks with the Syrian leadership, pledged that Greece would do its utmost to contribute to a peaceful solution in the region.
After talks with Mr. al-Zohbi, Mr. Arsenis told the press his meeting focused on exploring possibilities for mutual defence co-operation between the two nations. According to reports, both men agreed to the establishment of two working groups to investigate defence co-operation possibilities, including possible Greek defence ordinance exports to Syria as well as the training of Syrian officers in Greek military academies.
They also discussed the possibility for joint military exercises. "At this moment we are at the investigation stage," Mr. Arsenis said.
Mr. Arsenis conveyed a personal message from Greek Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou to Mr. al-Zohbi and extended an invitation to his Syrian counterpart, Mustapha Tlass, for an official visit to Greece, which was accepted.
Later, Mr. Arsenis visited Patriarch Ignatios IV of Antioch and All East. Afterwards, he told reporters that Greece would accept participation in a UN peacekeeping force in the Middle East, provided an agreement between Israel and Syria on the Golan Heights is signed.
Responding to a relevant question, Mr. Arsenis said Turkey "has no reason to worry about Greek contacts in Syria to the extent that it (Turkey) is concerned as we are for peace and stability in the greater region." "But if Turkey has in mind any adventurist practices, then it has every reason to worry," he added.
Today, Mr. Arsenis is due to have a meeting with Syrian President Hafez al-Assad. Mr. Arsenis is due to arrive in Paris this afternoon to participate at the Western European Union (WEU) parliamentary assembly.
Main opposition New Democracy party leader Miltiades Evert yesterday held talks with the visiting secretary general of Albania's Democratic Party, Tritan Shehu. According to an ND announcement, the two party leaders discussed "issues of bilateral interest". Mr. Shehu, heading a party delegation, arrived yesterday in Athens at the invitation of Mr. Evert. According to the Albanian news agency ATA, Mr. Shehu is also due to meet Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis, government officials and other party leaders.
Greece is participating in the third part of the 40th session of the Western European Union's (WEU) Parliamentary Assembly, but for the first time as a full member.
Apart from the regular parliamentary representation, it was deemed necessary that Defence Minister Gerasimos Arsenis represent the Greek government at this session, in view of the fact that invitations were sent to Turkish Prime Minister Tansu Ciller, whose country is participating for the first time as an associate member and Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) President Kiro Gligorov.
Mr. Arsenis will speak to the plenum on Greece's foreign policy and the problems associated with the nation's security. Greece is the only Balkan country that's a member of the European Union, NATO and the WEU.
PASOK deputy and former European Union Commissioner Vasso Papandreou yesterday was elected Vice-President of the plenum of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Western European Union (WEU). New Democracy deputy Aristotelis Pavlidis and PASOK deputy Costas Vrettos were elected vice-presidents of the Christian Democratic and Socialist groups respectively.
The assembly opened yesterday with a debate on the "future of European security and preparation of the revision of the Treaty of Maastricht and the Intergovernmental Conference of 1996." It will last until June 22.
Fifteen Mediterranean-based news agencies deplored the murders of journalists in Algeria and other countries, while proclaimed their determination to co-operate in the news and information sector in order to provide Mediterranean residents with objective news, they stated in a joint announcement.
In a separate decision, the general directors of the 15 Mediterranean news agencies - including the Athens News Agency (ANA), the Cyprus News Agency (CNA), the French AFP, the Spanish EFE, the Italian ANSA, the Turkish Anadolu and the national agencies of Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Syria and Libya - attending the fourth annual General Assembly of the Alliance of Mediterranean News Agencies (AMAN) denounced the murders of Algerian journalists and the murders of journalists in other countries.
The general assembly in Marrakech stressed the need to utilise modern technology to promote freedom of expression and information as a means for the political, social and economic progress of Mediterranean peoples. It also noted the importance of such co-operation between European and Arab countries. Over the next 12 months, the alliance will be presided over by the Moroccan News Agency MAP.
Heavy bulldozers ploughed through the rubble of an earthquake-devastated apartment building in Egion yesterday as hopes dissipated of finding further survivors in the debris.
Swiss experts assisting rescue operations said they were returning home because hopes of finding survivors had all but vanished. "If there was the slightest possibility of recovering a survivor we would not have given up," said Beat Grattli, a spokesman for the Swiss team of disaster relief volunteers.
A deadly earthquake measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale hit the Northwest Peloponnese city early Thursday morning, bringing down a five-storey apartment complex and a nearby hotel, located some 90 miles (145km) west of Athens.
Authorities set the death toll at 25, including 10 French tourists vacationing at the Hotel Eliki. More than 70 people were injured in the violent tremor, estimated to have caused approximately $650 million in damages. An estimated 15,000 people have been left homeless.
The government has called on ship owners to send vessels to Egion to house the homeless. Meanwhile, officials said a supreme court prosecutor has pressed criminal charges against "persons responsible" for the collapse of the two buildings in Egion.
Government measures to assist the quake victims are due to be announced by Friday. Mild earthquakes shook Egion yesterday, while tremors were also recorded in the Grevena region in the north, according to the Athens Geodynamic Institute. There were no casualties reported in the new quakes and little damage. In Egion, two tremors were felt. The first measured four on the Richter scale and the second 4.1.
In Grevena and Kozani, where a 6.6 earthquake jolted the region last month, injuring 25 people and leaving at least 8,000 homeless, three quakes measuring 4.8, 4.5 and 4 on the Richter scale were registered yesterday. Seismologists said the aftershocks are expected to continue over the next few days. In addition, the Japanese government offered humanitarian aid worth $119,000 for Greek quake victims.
In a letter to the President of the Greek Parliament, Apostolos Kaklamanis, European Parliament President Klaus Chantz said he was focusing efforts so as to allocate all possible aid to Greece's quake victims. In the letter, Mr. Chantz conveyed his condolences to the families of the victims.
In another development, the Greek Tourism Businesses Association (SETE) expressed concerns that the way the Egion tragedy and its consequences were presented by the country's mass media outlets could be used by competitors to weaken the nation's tourism industry. SETE called for a more factual presentation of the Egion quakes by the press.
New Democracy party leader Miltiades Evert yesterday released his official tax statement on his family's income and property ('Pothen Esches') - required of all parliamentarians.
Mr. Evert shows ownership of two private automobiles - 4.500 and 2.000cc, respectively - and an annual income of 19,448,474 drachmas from his parliamentary compensation.
His wife Liza's main assets include two bank accounts at American Express Bank. One is a personal account with 30,538,242 drachmas, the other with 15,613,780 drachmas is a private business account. In addition, she reports an apartment measuring 97.2 s q. metres on Kleomenous St. in the Kolonaki district.
ND party spokesman Vassilis Manginas characterised the release of the statement as an expression of Mr. Evert's sense of responsibility toward the Greek people. He said he hoped the prime minister would act likewise.
Parliament Vice-President Pafsanias Zakolikos, in charge of the Pothen Esches tax releases, said the statements were in the final stage of processing.
The Greek Railways Organisation (OSE) will inaugurate eight new Intercity trains tomorrow. The trains were built at the AEG factory in Hennigsdorf, near Berlin, and will primarily serve passengers travelling on the Piraeus-Thessaloniki route. The new units have a maximum speed of up to 160 km/ph, while on-board amenities for passengers are reportedly in accordance with west European standards.