A.N.A. Bulletin, 25/01/96

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

Athens News Agency Directory

ATHENS NEWS AGENCY BULLETIN (No 796), January 25, 1996

Greek Press & Information Office

Ottawa, Canada

E-Mail Address: grnewsca@sympatico.ca

CONTENTS

[1] No slackening of economic policy, Papadopoulos stresses

Finance Minister Alekos Papadopoulos said yesterday there would be no slackening in the government's economic policy and invited business leaders to proceed with investments given that there is a "climate of stability for productive activities."

Mr. Papadopoulos, who was speaking at an event organized by the European Journalists' Union, said any relaxation of economic policy would undermine economic balances, which he added are "fragile."

In addition, the finance minister noted that any deviation from stated goals would have devastating repercussions on the nation's future and its European course.

He said the primary goal is a real convergence with the rest of the EU nations' economies, and the country's development, which today figures last among EU nations. Mr. Papadopoulos added such an effort demands responsibility and continuity.

In referring to the public sector, he said a real convergence means abolition and removal of all ineffective structures as well as of a mentality which has often characterized the public sector.

"We need a state which works better and costs less," he said.

The finance minister called on the business community to move toward more investments, now that the nation has created prerequisites for development by ensuring a climate of stability.

"Sacrifices for the economy's stability should bring results," he said, adding that the specter of unemployment will be removed only by productive initiatives by the business world.

[2] SEB comments

In response to press questions concerning the current government formation, Federation of Greek Industries (SEB) President Jason Stratos said: "We consider it a necessary condition to have stability in the economy."

Mr. Stratos added that the current economy ministers as well as new minister for development Vasso Papandreou have given the impression that they will follow the convergence plan, the budget, thus operating toward the creation of economic stability.

[3] Greek merchant fleet leads in the EU, Sfyriou says '95 a successful year for merchant marine ministry

New Merchant Marine Minister Kosmas Sfyriou said yesterday that the pre-eminent role of Greece in world shipping had been maintained through the efforts of the ministry over the course of last year.

The Greek merchant fleet is in third place worldwide and first in the European Union with 2,051 Greek-flagged ships with a capacity of 30 million DWT. It maintains 7 per cent of world capacity and 50 per cent of EU fleet capacity.

The Greek-owned fleet, meanwhile, with a capacity exceeding 125 million DWT, is the biggest fleet in the world, representing 16 per cent of the world's fleet.

Shipping exchange at August 1995 showed an increase of 20 per cent over the corresponding period the previous year, according to Bank of Greece figures.

The information is included in a report on the merchant marine ministry's work in 1995, made public yesterday by Mr. Sfyriou during an acquaintance meeting with shipping reporters.

Among others, the report said the principal target in the ministry's shipping policy for 1995 was maintaining and improving the position held by Greece in world shipping.

"Tripartite co-operation between the state, shipowners and seamen in the effort to support Greek shipping succeeded in 1995 in implementing most targets programmed in the framework of shipping policy," it said.

The targets were: maintaining the competitiveness of the Greek merchant ship; consolidating the Greek shipowner's confidence in the stability and credibility of the institutional framework; constituting a guarantee for the unimpeded and productive operation of the shipping company; securing necessary labor peace, which constitutes a precondition for promoting shipping; safeguarding steady and uninterrupted co-operation between the three sides; strengthening shipping safety and protecting the sea environment; as well as acquiring necessary human potential to meet the needs of manning Greek ships.

[4] Yeltsin congratulates Simitis

Russian President Boris Yeltsin has sent a telegram to Prime Minister Costas Simitis congratulating him on his election to the premiership. The telegram was handed to Foreign Minister Theodore Pangalos yesterday during a meeting with Russia's Ambassador to Athens Valery Nikolayenko.

Mr. Nikolayenko also handed a similar telegram to Mr. Pangalos from his Russian counterpart Yevgeny Primakov.

[5] Congratulations flow in

In a message of congratulations to Mr. Simitis, Yugoslav Prime Minister Radoje Kontic said "traditional friendly relations between Athens and Belgrade will continue to develop further in the interests of peace and stability in the Balkans", adding that he was looking forward to meeting Mr. Simitis shortly.

In a similar message, Bulgarian Prime Minister Jean Videnov said relations between Athens and Sofia would continue to develop "in the interests of the two peoples and the two countries."

A message from Romanian Prime Minister Nicolae Vacaroiou was on the same lines, while a message from Albanian Prime Minister Aleksander Meksi confirmed Albania's willingness and volition to strengthen friendly relations of good neighborliness with Greece, as well as its wish to upgrade and implement these relations at the highest possible level.

A similar message by Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat underlined the Palestinians' close relations of friendship and co-operation with Greece and stressed the Greek people's support of their struggle to realize their legitimate national expectations.

Mr. Simitis also received messages of congratulations from Yugoslav Foreign Minister Milan Milutinovic, Chinese Prime Minister Li Peng, Korean Prime Minister Kim Yung Sam, Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, the prime ministers of Algeria, Tunisia, Peru, Belgium, the Netherlands and Denmark, German Social Democrat Party leader Oscar Lafontaine, French National Assembly socialist group leader Laurent Fabius, Albanian Socialist Party leader Fatos Nano, International Olympics Committee President Juan Antonio Samaranch and Archbishop of North and South America Iakovos.

[6] Papandreou's health unchanged

A medical bulletin issued by the Onassion Hospital yesterday said that there had been no change in the condition of ruling PASOK party leader Andreas Papandreou's health during the previous 24 hours.

"The patient's breathing and renal function are being periodically supported by a respirator and kidney machine respectively. Mr. Papandreou has no temperature and respiratory physiotherapy and kinesiotherapy are continuing," the bulletin said.

Doctors later used the puncture method to remove pleuretic fluid from the right side of Mr. Papandreou's chest. A CAT-scan carried out on the premier in the morning showed that following the use of a hardening substance, the accumulation of pleuretic fluid had stopped.

Some of the doctors treating the former premier consider that, although the possibility of his being transferred to the United States could not be ruled out, at least 20 more days of further recovery would be needed to enable him to undertake such a long trip.

[7] Michaelides in Athens to confer with Pangalos today

Cyprus Foreign Minister Alecos Michaelides will be in Athens today for talks with his Greek counterpart Theodoros Pangalos on the Cyprus issue and Cyprus' accession course to the European Union.

Replying to a questioner, Mr. Michaelides said the government had no information about a postponement of the discussion on the European initiative on the Cyprus issue at the Council of Ministers on January 29.

He said this issue and the role played by the EU on the Cyprus issue would be discussed with Mr. Pangalos.

Mr. Michaelides said the government would make demarches over Tuesday's meeting between the British Security Council President and the so-called permanent representative of the pseudo-state at the UN.

He said that as soon as the foreign ministry collected all the information it would make demarches in Nicosia, London and New York.

[8] Pangalos, Romeos in Brussels on Monday for General Affairs Council

New Foreign Minister Theodore Pangalos and his alternate, George Romeos, will represent Greece at the two-day European Union General Affairs Council meeting in Brussels on Monday. Sources say the Council will examine a number of issues, such as construction work in former Yugoslavia and the granting of EU humanitarian aid to the region, EU Mediterranean policy and funding, relations between the EU and Albania and the situation in the former Soviet Union.

It is also likely that the Italian presidency will present a report on its initiative to find a settlement to the Cyprus problem.

Greece appears to be in favor of the appointment of a political figure as European co-ordinator for Cyprus rather than a career diplomat such as an ambassador, whose term would automatically end with the current presidency.

Mr. Pangalos and Mr. Romeos were reported to have met yesterday to decide on the Greek stance on the various issues on the agenda at the Council meeting, as well as EU policy in general. Mr. Pangalos will return to Athens on Monday evening to attend t he presentation of the new government's policy statement in Parliament.

[9] Turkish foreign ministry official denies Pangalos comment

A high-ranking Turkish foreign ministry official yesterday denied he had called new Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos an "enemy of Turkey."

Assistant Foreign Under-secretary Inal Batu was reported to have made the statement to the extreme right-wing daily "Zaman."

However, in a telephone interview with the ANA, Mr. Batu called the report a "forgery and a product of imagination." The Zaman article also quoted the assistant under-secretary as stating that Mr. Pangalos' selection was a "bad sign," which would "overshadow positive expectations from Mr. Simitis." Mr. Pangalos' assumption of the foreign ministry position garnered wide coverage in the Turkish press, highlighting his past criticism of Turkey, especially over human rights issues. Other newspapers, however, stressed the Greek minister's knowledge of Turkey and Turkish issues.

[10] Pangalos confers with Zacharakis on Cyprus, FYROM issues

Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos yesterday conferred with Greece's permanent representative at the UN, ambassador Christos Zacharakis, on the Cyprus and FYROM issues and the general situation at the organization. According to sources, talks on the issue of the name for FYROM are expected to start in New York in mid-February. Concerning Cyprus, it is thought that the two men discussed the initiative US Assistant Secretary of State Richard Holbrooke intends to undertake.

[11] Stephanopoulos to visit Washington, US cities in May

President Kostis Stephanopoulos will pay an official visit to the United States on May 9 at the invitation of President Bill Clinton, a presidential office announcement said yesterday.

The announcement said Mr. Stephanopoulos will also visit a number of cities in the US in which there are large Greek communities. His talks with President Clinton at the White House will provide an opportunity to reconfirm the high level of Greek-US relations and allow a discussion of bilateral relations in all sectors, informed sources said.

The sources added that the two heads of state were also likely to discuss the situation in the Balkans as well as Greek national issues, particularly the Cyprus problem.

[12] Gov't denies US daily report

Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas yesterday denied that Prime Minister Costas Simitis had told the US daily "Washington Times" that there was "a big distance" between Greece and the rest of Europe.

"The prime minister made no statement. He gave no interview and had no contact with a journalist of the newspaper in question," Mr. Reppas said.

Replying to other questions, he said that a meeting between Mr. Simitis and US Ambassador to Athens Thomas Niles had been postponed following agreement between the two sides and that no date had yet been fixed for a new meeting.

[13] Military exercise

The scheduled large-scale annual armed forces map exercise code-named "Alexandros '96" will be held from January 19 to February 3.

The exercise will be composed of general staffs and major formations of the armed forces' three branches, the civilian sector and public corporations.

The purpose of the exercise is training in handling crises and operations and coordinating staffs, security forces and the civilian sector in issues of civilian mobilization and operational support.

The exercise will be directed by National Defense General Staff Chief Admiral Christos Lymberis.

[14] One meningitis sufferer in critical condition

A further two cases of meningitis were reported at an air force training base in Tripoli yesterday, bringing to nine the number of military personnel stricken by the illness so far.

Of the nine reported cases, three are being treated in the intensive care unit of the 251 military hospital.

One of the patients, Panayiotis Fotiadis, was reported as being in a critical condition last night and had been put on a respirator.

Seven conscripts from the same base are already being treated for the illness at a military hospital in Athens.

National Defense Minister Gerassimos Arsenis yesterday visited the patients following a visit last night by Under-secretary Nikos Kouris.

Latest reports from the air force base in Tripoli spoke of just ten cases of influenza which are being treated at the base, where the training programme has been suspended.

Some 50 conscripts at the base have a slight temperature and are being closely monitored by doctors.

[15] Albanian inmates riot at Larissa prison

Approximately 170 Albanians held at the Larissa prison set off a prison riot last night, after a failed mass escape attempt.

The jail riot began at about 7:30pm in the prison's second wing before spreading to the entire prison. The disturbance began when inmates refused to return to their cells after a recreational period.

Several of the prisoners were seen carrying homemade ropes and sheets, leading prison authorities to believe the uprising was planned.

Inmate demands or reasons behind the riot are still unknown, while an escape attempt is considered difficult from the facility, which is encircled by five-meter-high walls.

According to reports, the foreign inmates remain at present in the prison yard burning mattresses, breaking windows and vandalizing facilities.

Riot police units and firefighters called to the scene were initially greeted with rocks by the rioting prisoners and the use of tear gas has so far failed to put an end to the rampage.

Judicial officials also arrived at the prison, although negotiations with the inmates proved fruitless.

No correctional officers were in any danger, reports stated.

Six hundred inmates are presently held in Larissa prison, which was originally built for 350.

[16] Andrew Athens asks Clinton to assign Holbrooke to Cyprus

President of the World Council for Overseas Hellenism (SAE) Andrew Athens has asked US President Bill Clinton to appoint US Assistant Secretary of State Richard Holbrooke as special intermediary on the Cyprus problem.

The request was submitted by Mr. Athens to President Clinton's special advisor George Stephanopoulos. The president of the SAE expressed his sadness at Mr. Holbrooke's imminent departure from his post, especially as he was the driving force behind the Dayton Accord and assisted in procedures for Cyprus' entry into the European Union.

[17] German drug smugglers receive 15 years prison

Two German nationals were sentenced to 15 years each in prison by a court in Thrace yesterday, after being convicted of attempting to smuggle two kilos of heroin into Greece last May.

The two men, Lochman Vocker, 26, and Kalfa Souat, 30, were arrested at the Kipoi Evros border crossing. According to reports, customs officials discovered the drugs hidden in a secret compartment of the men's vehicle, which entered Greece from Turkey.

Initially, both Vocker and Souat claimed they were unaware that the heroin was in the vehicle, however, Vocker, a tank driver in the German army, changed his testimony during the trial, admitting that he was the one who closed a deal with a Turkish drug dealer to transport the drugs to Germany.

[18] Police investigate base staff for leads on 40-million-drachma heist

Police investigating Monday's robbery at the Palaskas Naval Base in Skaramangas, which netted the two robbers 40 million drachmas, said they were investigating the possibility the heist was carried out by personnel at the base.

According to the Hellenic Navy general staff press officer, preliminary inquiries have ruled out the possibility that the two entered the compound from outside its perimeter, due to present security measures. The navy spokesman did not rule out the possibility that the perpetrators were still on the base, which has been ordered sealed. The spokesman added that an audit revealed no bookkeeping or financial improprieties.

[19] Reppas says no dispute between Simitis, Arsenis

Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas yesterday denied that there was a disagreement between Prime Minister Costas Simitis and Defense Minister Gerassimos Arsenis concerning officers' pay and the level of the defense budget.

"There is no problem in the relations between them," he added.

Asked whether the government shared Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos' view that in actual fact no austerity programme had been applied, Mr. Reppas said the prime minister's consultations with his ministers regarding the government's formal policy statement were still in progress, and it was too early to speak of a government policy in such terms.

He added that it was not part of Mr. Pangalos' responsibilities to pronounce on economic policy.

Questioned whether there was any thought of transferring responsibilities concerning the distribution of EU funds from the national economy ministry to the newly formed ministry for development, Mr. Reppas replied that the government had not yet reached a decision on the matter.

Regarding reports that doubt had been cast on the government's ability to change the electoral law during Tuesday's meeting of PASOK's Executive Bureau, he referred reporters to his statement of the same day, according to which the government was not concerned with the issue at the present time.

Concerning the convening of PASOK's Parliamentary Group, he said that the prime minister would be meeting the presidium today to decide on a specific date. He added that co-operation between Mr. Simitis and the president of the party, Andreas Papandreou , who had the right to convene the group, was a given fact.

Meanwhile, in a letter addressed to PASOK deputies yesterday, the Parliamentary Group's presidium said it felt "vindicated over its delicate handling and prudence it exhibited in the latest crisis," and that, in co-operation with the Executive Bureau, it had dispelled "the myth of a supposed clash between the party's organs, which had been created by the party's political opponents".

The letter also calls on deputies to submit in writing, by February 15, their views on existing proposals for a drawing up of a regulation for the operation of the Parliamentary Group.

[20] Simitis, Skandalidis to meet today

The prime minister will meet with PASOK Secretary Costas Skandalides at 1:30pm today for a briefing on the Executive Bureau's debate on the government's forthcoming policy statement, which took place Tuesday night.

It is considered certain that the two men will also discuss the issue which arose during the meeting, concerning Mr. Simitis' competence to convene the party's Parliamentary Group.

[21] Gov't on Simitis-Pangalos-Geitonas meeting

The government yesterday tried to play down the significance of the urgent meeting held on Tuesday night between Prime Minister Costas Simitis, Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos and Public Order Minister Costas Geitonas.

Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas told reporters the meeting took place as part of preparations for dealing with various national problems, particularly current issues, in view of the reading of the new government's policy statement in Parliament next week.

Despite persistent questioning, Mr. Reppas declined to comment on the national issue reportedly discussed during the meeting, saying the government did not wish to say anything more on this subject.

When asked why National Defense Minister Gerassimos Arsenis was not at the meeting, Mr. Reppas said it was adjudged that the matter could be dealt with by the prime minister and the two ministers.

He said he did not know what the "matter of national importance" was that prompted an emergency meeting last Sunday between outgoing Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias and National Defense Minister Gerassimos Arsenis.

[22] Serb fugitive extradited to Belgrade, Reppas says

Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said yesterday that Serbian national Darko Asanin, held in a Greek jail on charges of murdering a leading member of Kosovo's Albanian opposition in Belgium five years ago, had been extradited to Yugoslavia.

Asanin's extradition had been requested by both Yugoslav and Belgian governments.

Mr. Reppas said the government had acted in accordance with a 1901 Greek-Belgian agreement and an irrevocable Piraeus Appeals Court ruling that Asanin be extradited to Yugoslavia.

[23] Stand-off over delays in constructing Metro

A three-month delay in the timetable for the completion of the Athens underground metro and a demand for 30 billion drachmas to cover the cost of the delay appears to be the latest sticking point between the state and the consortium constructing the Metro .

The inability of a tunnel-boring machine to work on the Sepolia-Dafni line is responsible for the delay, due to the unstable subsoil under a stretch of the proposed line.

The consortium constructing the metro claims the cost of the delay as well as other related works, which it estimates at 30 billion drachmas, should be paid by the state.

However, the environment, town planning and public works ministry yesterday rejected the consortium's demand, possibly setting the stage for litigation.

The ministry has offered two billion drachmas instead, for delays at three stations due to archaeological finds.

End of English language section.