European nations along with NATO Secretary General Willy Claes denounced a US Senate vote Wednesday lifting an arms embargo against Bosnia, originally imposed in 1991 by the United Nations on all former Yugoslav republics.
The Greek government reiterated that only a political solution to the Bosnian crisis could provide a viable and responsible settlement. Government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos was commenting on the Senate decision as well as on statements by a senior Russian official that Moscow was re-examining its compliance with UN sanctions against Serbia.
Britain, France, Germany and Russia voiced concern that the US Senate's vote, passed by 69-29 - more than the two-thirds majority needed to override US President Bill Clinton's threatened veto - would force nations providing troops to the UN Protection Force (UNPROFOR) in the war-torn country to withdraw them. "If our American friends took the responsibility of provoking the withdrawal of UN troops, they should then assume responsibility for the situation," French Prime Minister Alain Juppe said.
In Washington, President Clinton downplayed the significance of the vote, describing it as "simply a message that the United Nations must move aggressively to protect the people of Bosnia."
In Athens, Mr. Venizelos also stressed that the Senate's decision was not "the final stage in the shaping of US foreign policy." He said Greece was still willing to provide assistance in the event of a withdrawal of UN troops from Bosnia, noting Athens maintained good relations with all three warring factions.
Asked what Athens would do if Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic or Bosnian Serb general Ratko Mladic wished to visit Greece, in view of the fact both men were charged on Tuesday by a Hague-based international tribunal on the former Yugoslavia with genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity, Mr. Venizelos said the government had not formulated "such a specific position on such matters."
He added, however, that peace in the region could only be attained by diplomatic means "with a long-term perspective" and stressed that "you cannot achieve something if you don't talk to all the parties involved (in the conflict)."
NATO chief Claes, taking time off from Bosnian war deliberations to conduct a performance of the Bucharest philharmonic orchestra in Athens tonight, was also critical of the US Senate vote. "Giving more weapons does not create the conditions for peace. Instead, the suffering of the civilian population will increase and there is no guarantee that the conflict will not enlarge into a Balkan war," Mr. Claes said.
During a news conference, Mr. Claes appealed to US president Bill Clinton to veto the Senate decision, saying it would put the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Bosnia at stake. "I hope Mr. Clinton will veto the decision and I hope it will not be overruled. A unilateral decision (to lift the arms embargo) will be followed by moves of withdrawal by states (participating in UNPROFOR)," Mr. Claes said. "I must warn that moves of withdrawal in a hostile environment will be very difficult and an extremely dangerous operation," he added.
Mr. Claes said a mass UN withdrawal would require Washington to send thousands of ground troops to Bosnia, a move cautiously avoided by the Clinton Administration during the course of the three-year Yugoslav crisis. "The Americans would be called in (to participate in the withdrawal operation) and that means that they too would face the same risks (as other countries)," the NATO secretary general said.
Mr. Claes said a unilateral move by the United States that would defy the UN's decision on the Bosnian arms embargo would discredit the world organisation and create an dangerous precedent. "If one country has the possibility to announce that it does not respect a UN resolution, how will the respect for other resolutions be imposed?," Mr. Claes added.
"It must just be understood that no solution (to the Bosnian crisis) can be provided through military means. There is only one solution and that means sitting the warring factions around a negotiating table and finding a peaceful, equitable solution," Mr . Claes said.
NATO member Turkey in line with other Islamic nations yesterday welcomed the US Senate vote to lift the arms embargo on Bosnia as a step toward halting what it has stated is Serbian aggression.
"The decision of the US Senate is in line with what we have been advocating in regard to the self defence and the needs of the Bosnian people against aggression," foreign ministry spokesman Omer Akbel told a news briefing.
Asked if Turkey planned to break the embargo, Mr. Akbel said: "We have always prepared ourselves against any developments, any contingencies in Bosnia, but beyond that, I have nothing to add."
National Economy Minister Yiannos Papantoniou yesterday forecast a further drop in inflation after a meeting with Bank of Greece Governor Lucas Papademos and Finance Minister Alekos Papadopoulos.
Mr. Papantoniou said the Greek economy's growth rate would reach 2 per cent, compared to a government economic convergence programme target of 1.5 per cent. The major infrastructure works, which are already under way will contribute to this positive development, Mr. Papantoniou added.
Predicting the contract for construction of Athens' new international airport at Spata would be approved during a cabinet meeting today, Mr. Papantoniou underlined that prospects for the Greek economy were "positive."
Replying to questions, he said there would be no need for new measures to support the economy, but rather "unswerving adherence" to those already implemented.
Mr. Papantoniou said Mr. Papademos would today announce measures making it more expensive for businesses to borrow in foreign exchange. "As of tomorrow (today), the cost of borrowing in foreign exchange will be less attractive, but the cost of borrowing in drachmas will not be affected," Mr. Papantoniou said.
On interest rates, Mr. Papantoniou said they would continue to drop, but at a slower pace, in line with the rate at which inflation was falling. He added there would be further cuts on Treasury Bill interest rates and loans.
Commenting on Mr. Papantoniou's statements, Political Spring (Pol.An) party spokesman Notis Martakis said the recovery of the Greek economy was "impossible under current conditions of low competitiveness."
Calling on the government to give serious consideration to this, Mr. Martakis reiterated his party's position that the government's economic and exchange policy will lead to economic impasses.
Meanwhile, in view of today's cabinet meeting, which is expected to approve a contract for construction of the new international airport, former National Economy Minister Stephanos Manos said yesterday that "two years later - with some changes - the issue is exactly at the point where it was when our government fell before its ratification by Parliament.
"This development constitutes an absolute vindication of all our selected options concerning location, methods of financing and the process of selecting a partner for construction of the airport," he added.
Greece's national railway organisation (OSE) announced Thursday it will choose a project manager company to oversee execution of a five-year development programme. OSE's board of directors said 12 companies have been short-listed from a list of 20 candidates vying for the management contract.
The successful consulting company will oversee large-scale EU-funded projects aimed at enhancing and developing nation-wide railway networks and facilities. Proposed projects include modernisation of railway links between Athens and Thessaloniki, improvement of rail lines between Thessaloniki and Alexandroupolis, construction of cargo facilities in Thriasio Industrial Zone near Thessaloniki and creation of an electric train service between Athens and Thessaloniki, among others. The projects, totalling Ecu909.7 million, will be funded through the Delors II package.
The Public Petroleum Corp. (DEP) said Thursday it earned profits of 19.1 billion drachmas in 1994 compared to 8.2 billion the previous year.
DEP's group of companies announced a total turnover for 1994 of 25.4 billion drachmas against 39.4 billion in 1993. The figures were released by DEP President Christos Verelis and Managing Director Manolis Daskalakis, following an annual shareholders meeting.
Mr. Verelis told the shareholders general assembly that DEP's increase of profits was due to the government's "strong drachma" policy during last year's currency crisis; the "exceptional" operation of refineries, which produced larger and better quantities of petroleum products as well as favourable trends on the international crude oil market in 1994.
The Greek government responded yesterday to statements by the German Parliament president, stressing that although the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) is a member of the United Nations, its accession is subject to explicit conditions regarding its name and flag. Government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos responded to comments by Rita Sussmuth, who said FYROM should be allowed to join the Council of Europe.
The landlocked former Yugoslav state was admitted into the UN under the temporary name of Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and on the condition that its flag could not be raised until a final outcome of efforts to solve its long-running dispute with Athens over its name, flag and sections of its constitution. Mr. Venizelos reiterated that Greek positions on the issue remained unchanged.
Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias briefed President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos yesterday on the course of Greece's national issues and results of his recent visits to Romania, Lebanon and Syria. The two men also discussed the president's upcoming visits to Balkan capitals.
Mr. Papoulias told reporters the president's trip to Bucharest has priority. He added that his Albanian counterpart, Alfred Serreqi, would visit Athens in a few days and all issues would be on the agenda. Mr. Papoulias also gave particular significance on a tripartite meeting with his counterparts from Bulgaria and Romania, scheduled to take place in Ioannina on Aug. 25.
In addition, he testified before a magistrate investigating the case of eight alleged members of the nationalist organisation MAVI, originally implicated in a cross-border raid on an Albanian military camp in April 1994, in which two Albanian soldiers w ere killed. The eight suspects are also accused of illegal arms possession, believed to have come from the camp in question.
Commenting on the issue, the foreign minister said he had full confidence in justice. Both Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou and government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos have in the past stressed the need to shed full light on the case.
Tourism Minister Nikos Sifounakis said yesterday that a "wrong tourism policy" has been followed over the past 10-15 years and promised changes aimed at improving the standard of services as well as increasing the number of visitors to Greece.
At the same time, National Tourism Organisation (EOT) General Secretary Akis Kosonas expressed concern over developments this year, but said the decrease in the number of arrivals to Greece was in the neighbourhood of 10 per cent and not 20-25 per cent, as some publications reported.
At his first press meeting since taking over the ministry, Mr. Sifounakis ruled out the possibility of a casino being built at the Flisvos site, adding however, that one would be built in another area. He also said the issue was being examined at "a broad governmental level."
Mr. Kosonas said efforts would be made to secure five billion drachmas to promote Greece internationally next year in order to attract more visitors to the country.
Culture Minister Thanos Mikroutsikos said Thursday he's established a special committee to study the future prospects of Greece's film industry. He said the committee would base its six-month review on meetings and consultations with Greek cinema representatives.
Speaking at a news conference, Mr. Mikroutsikos praised the recently rising appeal of Greek films, pledging his ministry's support for the operation of summer movie theatres. He also said the culture ministry planned to establish a national cinematography school and to bolster educational programmes with the help of European Union funding.
Referring to the Greek Centre of Cinematography's 19-month performance, Mr. Mikroutsikos said it completed production of 34 short and feature-length films, with an intention to produce 20 more this year and an additional 12 in 1996. He said the centre was also preparing half-hour documentaries on leading Greek political figures. The films will be directed by Vassilis Vafeas, Pantelis Voulgaris, Panos Glikofrides and Dionysis Grigoratos. Greece's film industry celebrates its centennial in December.
NATO Chief Willy Claes will take time off from Bosnian war deliberations to conduct a performance of the Bucharest symphony orchestra in Athens today. "I am not here in my capacity as NATO secretary general but as a man who has always loved music and who can not imagine his life without music," Mr. Claes said.
He told reporters at a news conference his mission in Athens was a symbolic message of peace and of the need for more "harmony" on the European continent. "I am trying to bring a message of peace and human understanding. I am convinced that we are facing a unique historic opportunity to establish an integrated European community that respects the cultures of each state," Mr. Claes added.
He said a secure and united Europe would have to include central and eastern European states. Mr. Claes will perform at the ancient Herod Atticus theatre tonight. He will conduct works by Johannes Brahms and Cesar Frank.
The Greek-Serbian Friendship Society plans to send 180 tonnes of rice to Serbia as humanitarian aid. Society president Panayiotis Mihalakakos said the rice would be distributed in the Republic of Serbia by mid-August. He said the Piraeus port authority organisation co-sponsored the initiative, providing necessary packaging and transportation of the cargo. The total cost of the project exceeds five million drachmas, Mr. Mihalakakos said.
The foreign ministry said yesterday it was examining entrance visas issued in Greek embassies and consulates "with particular attention," following a newspaper report that consular employees are implicated in the sale of travel documents. Foreign ministry spokesman Costas Bikas made the statement in reply to questions concerning a front-page article in yesterday's issue of the Athens daily "Ta Nea."
The report claimed that consular employees in former communist countries in central and eastern Europe are implicated in the sale of visas for 250,000 drachmas a piece, mainly to young women hoping to work in Greek bars.
Asked to comment on the newspaper report, Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias said an investigation would be launched into the allegations. "I have already had a preliminary discussion with ministry officials. The issue concerns press information which must be cross-checked and proven," Mr. Papoulias said, speaking to reporters after a meeting with President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos.