The Cyprus problem is an international issue which concerns the United Nations and all of Hellenism, foreign ministry spokesman Costas Bikas said yesterday on the occasion of the 21st anniversary of the Turkish invasion of the island republic.
"The struggle by the Greek nation, and within the framework of the very important efforts being made by the UN and Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali for a solution to the problem, will continue with persistence and determination until a just, lasting and viable settlement is attained," Mr. Bikas said. The spokesman said the UN and Mr. Boutros-Ghali had a "decisive" role in the development of the issue.
Mr. Bikas condemned as "un-acceptable" the continuing occupation by Turkey of one-third of an independent UN member-state and the "tragedy" of the persons missing since the Turkish invasion on July 20, 1974.
This situation on the eve of the 21st century is one in which multiple violations of international law are being perpetrated and human rights ignored, he said, adding that a settlement to the Cyprus problem would be based on Cyprus' EU accession, as well as the Joint Defence Zone, which he described as an "active support of Hellenism."
Government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos spoke of the continuation for 21 years of "an international crime consisting of the military invasion of an independent member of the UN and the occupation of a large part of its territory in violation of international law and conventions on human rights."
"There will be no just and viable solution unless it is based on UN resolutions," he said. Mr. Venizelos added that the crucial factor for any settlement was Turkey's stance. "As long as the occupation continues, the prerequisites will not be satisfied for development of relations between Turkey, the European Union and the west in general," he said.
"It is a comfort," Mr. Venizelos added, "that a new horizon has opened for Cyprus and the Cyprus problem, that is, the island republic's accession to the EU."
Mr. Venizelos stressed that the Cyprus problem was not a Greek-Turkish dispute but an international crime, adding the situation with regard to Cyprus affected Greek-Turkish relations.
On the occasion of the 21st anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, main opposition New Democracy party leader Miltiades Evert issued a statement saying Greece would never forget and rest until a just and viable solution was found.
"With a deep sense of history and a full conscience of responsibility we have as Greeks, we bow today to the victims of the Cypriot tragedy and the open wound of the ongoing occupation of a large section of the Cyprus Republic. "We do not forget and we will not rest until a just and viable solution is found to the Cyprus issue. "This should be the debt of every Greek politician," the statement read.
Referring to the anniversary, Political Spring party leader Antonis Samaras criticised the international community for its insensitivity on the issue and repeated his proposal for an pan-Hellenic conference to promote adoption of a unified line between Greece and Cyprus.
The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) also issued an announcement on the occasion of the 21st anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, saying prospects in the Cyprus problem seemed "dangerous" and "distant" from a just and viable solution. KKE criticised the "big powers for tolerating and cultivating Turkish intransigence." It also attributed responsibilities to the PASOK government for "developments in the issue."
President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos is due to pay a courtesy visit today to his German counterpart Roman Herzog in Berlin.
It is the first such meeting between the heads of state of the two countries on German soil in many decades, and despite its unofficial nature, German circles consider the meeting as an effort to improve relations between the two European Union and NATO members. The previous meeting of a Greek and German president was a 1983 meeting between Constantinos Karamanlis and Richard von Weitzaeker in Athens.
There is no specific agenda for today's meeting, but according to sources close to the German presidency, it is considered certain that Balkan issues will be discussed. Mr. Stephanopoulos is expected to return to Athens later the same day.
Meanwhile, the vice-chairman of the Greek-German Parliamentary Committee and Christian Democrat Deputy Friedbert Pfliger noted "favourable developments in the political situation in Greece." "Greece does not depend just on (financial) aid from Brussels," he said, expressing approval at the government's measures to stabilise the economy.
Mr. Pflinger visited Greece for talks with political leaders in view of President Stephanopoulos' visit t o Berlin. He expressed satisfaction at developments in Greece's foreign affairs, including a de-escalation of tension with Albania and an improvement of relations with Bulgaria.
Mr. Pflinger also said that "never before have the possibilities been better for finding a solution to the problem with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM)." Saying the Skopje issue was no longer used to fight political wars between ruling PASOK and the main opposition New Democracy party, Mr. Pfliger added: "the solution is very near."
In noting strained relations between Athens and Ankara, he said Turkey continued "to use offensive language" and described as "unacceptable conduct against a NATO partner" a Turkish national assembly's vote empowering Ankara to take "all necessary measures" including military steps against Greece if Athens legally extended its territorial waters in the Aegean. Greece is accorded by the International Law of the Sea Convention the right to expand to 12 nautical miles its territorial waters.
The Greek government has repeatedly stated it will exercise this right at its discretion. Various threats of war have been uttered recently from the Aegean's eastern shore in the likelihood Greece exercises its sovereign right.
Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Velayati arrived in Athens yesterday for talks with his Greek counterpart Karolos Papoulias on the latest developments in Bosnia. After meeting Mr. Velayati briefly, Mr. Papoulias said they would hold discussions late into the night in an effort to arrive at certain practical proposals for resolution of the crisis, which they will jointly consider with Bosnian Foreign Minister Mohammed Sacirbey today, after his expected arrival in Athens.
Foreign ministers of the three nations have met several times in the past within the framework of efforts to mediate in the conflict. After today's meeting, they are expected to issue a text, which Mr. Velayiati and Mr. Sacirbey will submit to the Islamic Conference Organisation, opening in Geneva later today.
The foreign ministry announced yesterday that Greece and Yugoslavia have decided to abolish visa requirements for officials of the two countries as well as accelerating visa procedures for Yugoslavs at the Greek embassy in Belgrade. Foreign Ministry spokesman Costas Bikas said the decision was taken at a meeting in Athens Wednesday. It was also decided that committees responsible for consular matters should meet once a year.
Government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos yesterday said a cabinet meeting will convene soon to ratify an agreement for construction of the Spata Airport. The government and representatives of a consortium of companies led by the German Hochtief group finally reached agreement late Wednesday night on a construction contract for the new Athens international airport at Spata.
A Culture Ministry programme designed to encourage translation and publication of modern Greek works of literature domestically and abroad has commenced. The cost of the 10-year programme, which aims to have at least 300 books translated until the year 2005, is estimated at about 40 million drachmas.
So far this year, a total of 74 applications were submitted by Greek and foreign publishing firms, with 3 8 approved. Fourteen books will be translated in English; 12 in French; two in German, Romanian and Swedish; and one each in Spanish, Italian, Russian, Dutch, Finnish and Lithuanian.
The introduction of a noise pollution card was announced yesterday by Environment Minister Costas Laliotis. The proposed noise pollution card, following on the heels of an emissions inspection card, is envisioned to measure and control noise from cars, trucks, motorcycles, construction machinery, factories, industries as well as night clubs.
Mr. Laliotis said a campaign on the issue of noise pollution will begin next week and include other measures. He said noise pollution is a major problem, which has serious negative effects and is actually worse than air pollution.
According to sources, noise pollution cards for vehicles and motorcycles will be issued by garages already issuing pollution inspection cards.
EU Commissioner Hans Van Den Broek stated yesterday that respect for human rights in Turkey was a pressing need, but concerned only one aspect of the EU-Turkey customs union.
In a meeting with members of the External Economic Affairs Committee of the European Parliament, Mr. Van Den Broek said respect of human rights in Turkey was of great importance, but it "concerns just one aspect of the EU customs union with Turkey."
Asked by Eurodeputy Costas Hatzidakis to comment on a recent report on the situation in Turkey conducted by the Commission's respective services, Mr. Van den Broek said the Commission derived its information from reports by EU delegations in Turkey, the United Nations, the Council of Europe as well as non-governmental organisations.
The report criticised the human rights situation in Turkey as "unsatisfactory" but avoided comment on Turkish Prime Minister Tansu Ciller's move to freeze a series of constitutional changes. The report was prepared for members of the Europarliament, which must endorse a landmark customs deal with Turkey later this year.
Ms. Ciller, whose government has been trying to push through a number of liberal measures in response to European criticism, called off a debate on constitutional changes after her parliament balked at an amendment giving union rights to public employees. The Turkish premier said it was time to allow a new consensus to form, but gave no time-frame for the debate to resume.
The Commission's report stressed the need for more constitutional reform. "Turkey's leaders know this reform is perceived as a test of their willingness to strengthen democracy and that it will affect the prospects for customs union," the report stated.
Mr. Van den Broek said the report was "overcome by developments," adding that a full report will be completed in the next months. He declined to comment on Mr. Hatzigakis' question as to whether already proposed constitutional changes by the Turkish authorities "were considered as meeting of conditions for completion of the customs union." Mr. Van Den Broek expressed hope, however, that the agreement would help in the direction of a settlement to the Cyprus problem and normalisation of Greek-Turkish relations.
Although state revenue increased, spending overshot budget targets in the first half of 1995 compared to the corresponding period last year, according to finance ministry figures released yesterday.
Announcing the figures, Finance Minister Alexandros Papadopoulos said in the first six months this year state revenue increased by 22.2 per cent compared to a budget target of 18.5 per cent.
However, he said revenue from Value Added Tax (VAT) had risen by only 11 per cent, against a target increase of 15.9 per cent. Mr. Papadopoulos attributed the shortfall to non-collection of VAT from intra-Community transactions.
By contrast, revenue from direct taxation increased by 49.8 per cent, significantly up from a forecast of 26.9 per cent.
In the same six-month period, expenditures increased by 19 per cent compared to a target of 10.2 per cent, Mr. Papadopoulos said. He added, however, that there was no cause for concern since this was due to an 11 billion drachmas payment to an Olympic Airways voluntary retirement plan and interest subsidies to earthquake victims.
The increase in spending was also due to a 56 billion drachma increase in farm subsidies and a 90 billion drachma increase in credits to prefectural authorities.
Mr. Papadopoulos said prospects for state revenue and expenditures were positive, but warned that any deviation from the government's exchange and fiscal policy may cause problems due to the "fragile" nature of the economy.
The finance minister forecast a further drop in interest rates offered for state securities. Commenting on the recorded increase in public revenue in the first half, Political Spring party spo-kesman Notis Martakis described it as a "fictitious success" based on the collection of old tax debts.
The Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) found no cause for celebration, saying the increase was based on flagrant injustices. It expressed anxiety over the possibility of further cutbacks in social expenditure, even in public investment, in order to balance the budget and called for radical reform of the tax system with greater emphasis placed on checks of large enterprises.
Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias will pay a three-day official visit to Lebanon and Jordan beginning Saturday, foreign ministry spokesman Costas Bikas said yesterday.
During his stay in Beirut and Amman, Mr. Papoulias will have talks with his Lebanese and Jordanian counterparts, Faris Bouez and Abdul-Karim al-Kabariti respectively, as well as with the political leadership of the two countries.
The spokesman said Mr. Papoulias' talks would focus on bilateral issues, including economic co-operation between Greece and the two countries as well as developments in the Middle East.
Forest rangers decided yesterday to suspend their strike until Aug. 15, following a two-hour meeting with Agriculture Minister Georgios Moraitis.
During the meeting it was agreed that within 10 days at the latest, a presidential decree providing for the creation of a "Centre for the Specialised Training of Forest Protection Workers" will be ready for signing.
Both sides also agreed that by Aug. 15 legislative procedures will have been completed for establishment of a Forest Protection Agency. "The ministry of agriculture also agreed to the financial demands of the forest workers, such as an increase of t he hourly wage and payment of an allowance for hazardous work," said Dimitris Kanellopoulos, the president of the forest rangers' union after the meeting.
Following the successful outcome of the talks, Mr. Moraitis gave instructions for withdraw al of a petition asking an Athens court to decide whether the forest rangers strike this week was illegal.