A.N.A. Bulletin, 13/12/95

From: "Greek Press & Information Office, Ottawa Canada" <grnewsca@sympatico.ca>

Athens News Agency Directory

ATHENS NEWS AGENCY BULLETIN (No. 765), December 13, 1995

Greek Press & Information Office

Ottawa, Canada

E-Mail Address: grnewsca@sympatico.ca

CONTENTS

[1] Inner cabinet convenes on Madrid summit issues

Interior, Public Administration and Decentralization Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos, who is deputizing for Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou, yesterday chaired an inner cabinet meeting on issues related to the European Union summit this weekend.

Mr. Tsohatzopoulos told reporters there had been a "substantial and detailed" discussion about economic and monetary union, employment and the 1996 intergovernmental meeting.

He clarified that the issue of the state budget was not raised since he would be chairing a meeting of economic and finance ministers today in view of the forthcoming debate in Parliament.

Government spokesman Telemahos Hytiris said that the decisions taken at the meeting had the consent of all the ministers.

He added that Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias had spoken about the situation in former Yugoslavia, the Middle East and EU-Russian relations.

Mr. Hytiris said that Greece's participation in the Madrid summit would be "active and substantial" with respect to all issues on the agenda.

In reply to a question whether Turkish Prime Minister Tansu Ciller would go to Madrid, he said reports were unclear, but officially, and according to established practice, she could not participate in the sessions of EU summits. She may be invited by the Spanish presidency, but this would be in contradiction to institutional practice, he added.

Prompted by a New Democracy party statement, Mr. Hytiris launched a stinging attack against the main opposition, saying the statement had been issued before the end of the cabinet meeting and the departure of the government delegation for Madrid. He described it as completely unacceptable.

Regarding the claim that Greece was not participating in the international efforts to reconstruct war-torn Bosnia, he reminded the main opposition that Greece was indeed participating, in the person of Ambassador Zeppos.

[2] New Democracy

Main opposition New Democracy party spokesman Vassilis Manginas criticized the government for its "non-existent" foreign policy yesterday, saying it "constitutes a danger to our national interests".

"The international marginalization of Greece continues," Mr. Manginas said. "While the crucial vote on Turkey's customs union is being cast tomorrow (today) at the European Parliament, after tragic mistakes by the Greek government, and the (Madrid) summit is approaching, where unfortunately the Greek presence is expected to be purely symbolic, the government has already failed to enter our country in the international effort to rebuild Bosnia... failed to involve our country in an international mechanism, concerning the Balkans, where we are entitled and have the ability to play a major role."

[3] Premier's condition stabilizes after brief relapse, doctors say

Last night's bulletin on Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou's health, issued shortly after 8pm, said his condition appeared to have stabilized following Monday's relapse due to an infection.

The premier was continuing to breathe without a respirator since his fever dropped Monday night, his heart function showed no change, and his renal function continued to be supported through dialysis.

Earlier yesterday, doctors said the source of the new infection had not been located, but the prime minister seemed to be responding to wide-ranging antibiotic treatment. Blood tests showed his relapse was not due to an acute infection, but they needed a further 48 hours to ascertain he had overcome the complication. Their aim was to take Mr. Papandreou out of the intensive therapy unit as soon as possible, so as to minimize the danger of a new infection, they added.

Further clinical and laboratory tests turned up no particular problems in the other functions, and doctors denied press reports that Mr. Papandreou appeared disoriented. They said such symptoms should not be attributed to an inadequate brain function, but were rather the expected reaction of a patient who has been in the intensive therapy unit for 20 days. Neurological and psychiatric tests showed his brain function remained excellent, they said.

This was also confirmed by doctor Stathis Iliodromitis, after the reading of the evening bulletin.

At midday, the prime minister asked to see his children Andrikos and Sophia, and his wife Dimitra.

The premier's son, Education Minister George Papandreou, said in reply to press questions earlier that the premier "is fighting, and we're hoping".

US Ambassador in Athens Thomas Niles, asked to comment on the premier's health earlier in the day, said "we hope he will be doing better".

Cyprus' Speaker of the House of Representatives Alexis Galanos, who met separately with President Kostis Stephanopoulos and Defence Minister Gerasimos Arsenis on the Cyprus issue yesterday, also visited the Onassion Centre and was briefed on the course of the premier's health, as did former Cypriot president George Vassiliou.

[4] Romeos, Galanos confer on Cyprus accession issues

Alternate Foreign Minister George Romeos received the Speaker of Cyprus House of Representatives Alexis Galanos yesterday at the foreign ministry.

The two men held talks on the Cyprus issue, and specifically procedures for the island republic's accession to the European Union.

Discussions also centered on the upcoming EU summit, scheduled for this Friday in Madrid.

According to reports, Mr. Galanos agreed with the Greek government's positions on the issue.

[5] Niles says US will continue efforts for Cyprus

The United States hopes to continue its efforts for progress on the Cyprus issue in the new year, US Ambassador in Athens Thomas Niles said here yesterday after talks with Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias.

Mr. Niles, who will be in the US for the Christmas break, told reporters after his half-hour meeting with Mr. Papoulias that they had a "very general discussion".

"The usual agenda. We know that progress has been made between Greece and FYROM, and the progress in the Balkans, which we all hope will continue. And we hope, of course, in the New Year to continue our efforts for progress on the Cyprus issue," the ambassador said.

[6] Skopje radio reports official en route to UN for consultations with Vance

A representative from the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) reportedly left yesterday morning for New York to commence talks with Greek diplomats.

According to state radio in Skopje, Vania Tosevski will first meet with UN special mediator Cyrus Vance to discuss methods of beginning talks between Athens and Skopje over the one-time Yugoslav republic's name.

The radio station reported that it was unclear whether Mr. Tosevski would meet with Greece's permanent representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Christos Zacharakis.

FYROM's foreign ministry has not issued an official statement on the issue, although relatives of the Skopje representative verified his departure for New York.

[7] Protest rally planned on ratification of EU-Turkey customs union today

A number of associations and groups have planned a rally outside the offices of the European Commission in Athens this afternoon to protest against the planned European Union-Turkey customs union.

The European Parliament is expected to give its approval to the union today.

The groups from all over Greece include refugees' associations, the Armenian National Committee, the Greek Union for the Rights and Liberation of Peoples and the National Liberation Front of Kurdistan. A proclamation distributed by the organizers of the demonstration condemns what it calls "the abysmal hypocrisy" of the European Parliament for ignoring "the (Turkish) occupation of the northern part of Cyprus, the (Turkish) threat in Thrace and the Aegean, for forgetting the massacres of Greeks in the Black Sea region, Armenians and the current genocide of the Kurds".

[8] SAE board meet with senior Gov't officials in Athens

Interior, Public Administration and Decentralization Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos said yesterday the newly-established World Council of Overseas Hellenism (SAE) would link Diaspora Greeks to the motherland and municipalities and communities of their origin to enable them to strengthen bonds, which historically constituted a guarantee for progress.

Mr. Tsohatzopoulos was speaking after meeting the council's board, headed by President Andrew Athens.

The board also held talks with Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias.

Mr. Tsohatzopoulos said the new institution, following its founding conference in Thessaloniki last week, was an example of Hellenism's great potential.

Mr. Athens thanked the government for the initiative to create the institution, adding that "we must start this new struggle to enable expatriates to help Greece."

In his meeting with the board yesterday, Parliament President Apo-stolos Kaklamanis said he would propose that the standing inter-party Parliamentary committee on expatriate Hellenism issues be turned into a permanent committee.

Mr. Kaklamanis referred to the great problems faced by the Balkans and the eastern Mediterranean and stressed the need for vigilance to confront dangers in the region. He also spoke of the crucial moments for the country and Cypriot Hellenism, particularly along the Thrace-Aegean-Cyprus axis, from the permanent and continuous threat of Turkish chauvinism.

Main opposition New Democracy party leader Miltiades Evert, meeting with the board in the afternoon, said there should be close contact between the council and the motherland and political parties.

[9] Evert accuses Gov't of 'false promises' on education spending

Main opposition New Democracy leader Miltiades Evert met with university and other higher education institutions' rectors yesterday to discuss education issues in light of upcoming Parliament deliberations on the state budget.

The ND president accused the government of deceiving rectors because a December 10 meeting scheduled between the government and university leaders to unveil measures for the higher education institutions was postponed.

Mr. Evert called the promise of a meeting "false," and that regardless of whether the prime minister was ill, the meeting should have taken place.

He said Greek education remained in a desperate situation and that higher education institutions had disintegrated.

The ND leader said he was in favor of economic and organizational self-sufficiency for universities, decentralization and a dedicated 5 per cent slice of GDP going toward education funding.

[10] Students' protest

University and high school students demonstrated through the streets of central Athens yesterday, the third time in 20 days, to protest changes proposed by the education ministry targeting university textbooks, establishment of book cards and lending libraries.

Students are also protesting against the establishment of private universities in Greece. Education Minister George Papandreou, however, has come out against private universities.

A student demonstration was also held in Thessaloniki yesterday to demand an increase in education funding and safeguarding of higher education's public framework.

Student organizations were joined by high school students' committees, labor unions, women's groups and teachers.

Demonstrators marched to the Macedonia-Thrace ministry.

[11] Greek schools join US programme to monitor environment

Greece and the US yesterday signed an inter-state co-operation agreement at the Zappeion Mansion on the World GLOBE Network concerning the creation of environmental stations at schools.

The co-operation protocol was signed by Education Minister Geor-ge Papandreou, Environment Under-secretary Elizabeth Papazoi and the US Ambassador to Athens Thomas Niles.

The two Greek officials presented Greece's contribution to the programme, "Alexandros", which is aimed at creating environmental stations at schools in the country to enable pupils to register environmental data in the vicinity of their school.

The protocol will further enable pupils to exchange data with other schools in the 114 countries participating in the programme, using the Internet network and providing them with the opportunity to understand special environmental problems in their are a.

The names of 24 schools from all parts of the country selected to participate in the programme in the first year of its implementation in Greece were also announced.

[12] Vartholomeos continues Swiss visit

Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos, who is on an official visit to Switzerland, met with the president of the Swiss Federation Caspar Villiger in Bern on Saturday, and discussed various issues, especially the war in Yugoslavia.

In a press conference at the seat of the World Council of Churches in Geneva yesterday, the Patriarch, who studied at the International Institute of Evangelical Studies in the city, said he was in favor of a meeting on the Yugoslav issue in Belgrade in February next year, with the participation of all Serbian bishops.

The Patriarch will visit the Orthodox dioceses of Lausanne, Zurich, and Saint Gallen, which number about 100,000 faithful, including Serbs, Romanians, and Russians.

At his official reception on Monday, meanwhile, at the World Council of Churches' headquarters, Vartholomeos called Orthodoxy's stance within the organization a barrier to proselytization and one of solidarity.

The Patriarch directly criticized "several of our Protestant brothers" whom, he stated, consider the Orthodox countries of the former eastern bloc as "areas of missionary activity and proselytization."

Vartholomeos underlined that the Ecumenical Patriarchate continues to consider the council a "blessed organization of churches, that allows for their co-operation in promoting Christian unity and providing therapy for the multitude of problems facing modern man."

The Patriarch's visit to Switzerland will run December 8 through 16.

[13] News in Brief

Yesterday's meeting between Athens municipality workers and Athens Mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos to discuss the subject of a retroactive 18,000-drachma bonus was unsuccessful and worker s will go ahead with their 48-hour strike, to begin today, and a four-hour work stoppage on Friday at 11am.

On Thursday, the workers will hold a symbolic occupation of the state-run radio station 9.84 FM, while on Friday they will set up ballot boxes at the Town Hall in order to vote for or against the continuation of the strike. Mr. Avramopoulos characterize d the announced mobilizations as "untimely".

[14] Tsohatzopoulos confers with GSEE, ADEDY leadership

Interior, Public Administration and Decentralization Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos met with the governing bodies of the General Confederation of Workers of Greece (GSEE) and the Civil Servants' Supreme Administrative Council (ADEDY) yesterday, saying after the meeting the government would take into consideration the bodies' positions in formulating its strategy for both the upcoming Madrid summit meeting and the Intergovernmental conference next year.

Mr. Tsohatzopoulos underlined the government will support "a Europe which will not only be a common market, but a Europe that will at the same time ensure terms of real convergence in development, and will guarantee social cohesion and social justice an d provide an answer to the unemployment problem."

The presidents of GSEE and ADEDY, Christos Protopapas and Yiannis Koutsoukos respectively, said they told Mr. Tsohatzopoulos of the unions' positions on the crucial matters of unemployment, the budget and incomes policies.

Mr. Protopapas stressed the GSEE's interest in this week's meeting of National Economy Minister Yiannis Papantoniou, Finance Minister Alekos Papadopoulos and Labor and Social Security Minister Stephanos Tzoumakas with pensioner representatives to discuss pension levels.

[15] Skandalidis confers with PASEGES on farm sector demands

The governing body of the Panhellenic Confederation of Agricultural Cooperatives (PASEGES), led by president Nikos Liolios, met with PASOK's Central Committee Secretary Costas Skandalidis yesterday. The meeting was also attended by PASOK Executive Bureau Manolis Daskalakis and by the secretary of the party's cooperative sector, Thanasis Papageorgiou.

Mr. Liolios said it had been decided to continue the talks with the aim of reallocating certain budget funds "in order to increase support of the agricultural sector in every way for the next year."

Mr. Skandalidis said that PASOK accepted everything said by the PASEGES president, adding: "PASOK and the agricultural world are strongly connected." He expressed the belief that "our policies will become even more agricultural-friendly during the coming months and years."

According to a press release issued by PASEGES, its representative handed a list of demands to Mr. Skandalidis, which include a redistribution of funds from the Delors II package for investments in the agricultural sector, an increase in budget spending for agriculture in order to strengthen the sector and measures for the facilitation of agricultural produce export.

[16] News in Brief

- Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis met with the governing body of the Union of Daily Regional Newspaper Proprietors yesterday in order to discuss problems faced by this branch of the press.

The main subject discussed was the need for full and immediate implementation of the media law recently voted in Parliament, with particular reference to the clauses relating to the provincial press. Mr. Kaklamanis was informed of and invited to the third Panhellenic provincial press conference, due to take place January 26-28 in Piraeus.

Mr. Kaklamanis expressed his support for Greek regional publishers and promised to undertake every effort to strengthen the provincial press's national role.

- A second Hellenic Railways Organization (OSE) train is due to leave Belgrade today in order to transport refugee children and their teachers to Greece from the war-torn former Yugoslavia. The "train of love", as it has been named, will take the passengers to Athens and Thessaloniki.

Between November 20 and December 2, 750 children arrived in Greece on another "train of love". They are staying in various municipalities and communities within the framework of the Central Union of Greek Municipalities and Communities' (KEDKE) programme for the provision of humanitarian aid to the people of former Yugoslavia.

[17] Escape attempt at Corfu prison foiled

Guards at Corfu prison today foiled an escape attempt by six prisoners hoping that security would be relaxed due to celebrations marking the feast of Saint Spyridon, the island's patron saint.

The six used their bed frames to try and scale the 10-metre high walls as other prisoners set fire to a pile of mattresses as a diversion.

Guards sounded the alarm, however, and the prisoners were forced to abandon their attempt.

[18] Excessive pill-taking burdens state budget, Papantoniou says

Several top government officials met yesterday to examine the issue of pharmaceutical over consumption and the drain on the national budget.

The meeting was chaired by National Economy Minister Yiannos Papantoniou and also attended by Health Minister Dimitris Kremastinos, Commerce Under-secretary Mihalis Chrysohoides, Labor and Social Security Under-secretary Kosmas Sfyriou as well as several pension and health fund directors.

After the meeting, Mr. Papantoniou said over consumption in pharmaceuticals alone costs Greece about 100 billion drachmas a year, while institution of the "Kremastinos law" on health care would cost 120 billion drachmas. Mr. Papantoniou pointed to the waste, saying savings could fund modernization of the nation's public health care system.

Along those lines, a series of goals were announced after the meeting's conclusion, such as reforming the drug distribution network, controlling prices and discouraging over consumption.

A special committee will be formed to announce in the next few weeks exactly what measures will be taken to accomplish those goals.

[19] Number of tourists down but foreign exchange up over last year's figures

Data released yesterday confirmed a fall in the number of foreign visitors to Greece this year.

According to the Civil Aviation Authority, the number of visitors arriving by charter flights in October dropped by 17.3 per cent compared with the same month of 1994.

The CAA said 346,740 visitors arrived at the country's main airports - such as Athens, Rhodes, Corfu, Heraklion and Thessaloniki, which account for about 70 per cent of all charter arrivals - compared to 419,275 in October last year.

Charter arrivals between April and October totaled 4,161,720, compared to 4,606,302 in the same seven-month period of 1994, marking a drop of 9.65 per cent.

According to a relevant study, overnight stays in hotels in October numbered 1.46 million, compared to 1.67 million in October last year, which amounted to a 12.45 per cent drop.

Overnight stays in the April-October period totaled 13.4 million, compared to 14.93 million in the same period last year, representing a 11.37 per cent decrease.

Meanwhile, according to Bank of Greece data released yesterday, tourist foreign exchange earnings in July amounted to $604 million, compared to $573.1 million in the same month of 1994, representing an increase of 5.4 per cent.

In the January-July period, foreign exchange earnings rose by 22.4 per cent, from $1,839.2 million in 1994 to $2,252 million this year.

End of English language section.