A.N.A. Bulletin, 06/03/96

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

Athens News Agency Directory

ATHENS NEWS AGENCY BULLETIN (No 830), March 6, 1996

Greek Press & Information Office

Ottawa, Canada

E-Mail Address: grnewsca@sympatico.ca

CONTENTS

[1] Cold snap snows in hundreds of villages

Hundreds of villages remain snowbound, communications have been disrupted and schools in parts of the country closed their doors as snow, rain and extreme cold swept across the country.

Over 60 villages in the Ahaia region are snowbound, with 60 in Arcadia, 13 in Argolida, dozens in Korinthia, 30 in Fthiotida (where the prefecture was declared in a state of emergency and schools were closed) and 25 in eastern Macedonia and Thrace.

Serious problems have been created for communications and motorists using most of the regional road network are obliged to fit their vehicles with chains. Traffic is also difficult in parts of national motorways.

Snowfall in the northern suburbs of Athens required motorists driving in the direction of Parnis, Penteli and the Athens-Lamia national motorway, near Malakasa, to fit chains.

The same conditions will prevail today but the weather is expected to start improving in the afternoon.

[2] Rifkind letter to Pangalos says UK favours settlement of Imia issue at the Hague

The foreign ministry yesterday confirmed a letter from British Foreign Secretary Malcolm Rifkind to his Greek counterpart Theodoros Pangalos saying that Britain favoured settlement of the Imia islet issue by the International Court of Justice at The Hague .

In the letter, parts of which appeared in the Athens daily Kathimerini, Mr. Rifkind also said Britain was fully opposed to Turkey's threats against Greece and that it had notified Ankara of this position. He further said that he does not agree with linking the Aegean issues of Greek-Turkish differences with Turkey's customs union with the European Union.

[3] Ankara considering banning Greek ships if veto on EU funds continues

Ankara is apparently considering boycotting Greek shipping after Athens' veto of European Union funding to Turkey.

According to several Turkish press reports, foreign ministry officials in Ankara are threatening that if Greece continues to veto funding, which is part of the framework of last year's EU-Turkey customs union, Ankara will forbid Greek-flagged vessels from transporting freight to or from Turkish ports.

The same illegal measures have been proposed by Turkish officials during previous Greek-Turkish crises. At the time, such measures were deemed to cause more damage to Turkey's economy, with benefits to only certain Turkish shipping firms.

Diplomatic sources believe such a response is part of a psychological warfare campaign by Ankara to attempt to pressure Athens. Part of that campaign includes rumoured plans of disallowing entrance into Turkey to clerics wishing to visit the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, a measure that if instituted, would be a violation of religious freedom.

[4] KYSEA meeting discusses national issues

The Government Council for Foreign Affairs and Defence met yesterday to discuss "the entire range" of national issues, including Greek-Turkish relations and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said.

Mr. Reppas said that the KYSEA meeting had focused on Greek-Turkish relations while there had been a "briefing" discussion of the FYROM issue which had also been discussed yesterday by Prime Minister Costas Simitis, Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos and Greece's permanent representative at the UN.

On FYROM, Mr. Reppas said that dialogue was continuing and that no new ideas had been put forward.

[5] Coalition leader wants composite name for FYROM

Coalition of the Left and Progress leader Nikos Constantopoulos called on the government yesterday to pursue a composite name on the issue of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM).

He said this policy should be supported by a show "national understanding" resulting from a meeting of political leaders.

Mr. Constantopoulos was speaking after meeting Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos yesterday, briefing him on his party's positions on the country's foreign policy.

Referring to Greek-Turkish relations, Mr. Constantopoulos said Turkey's problems with the European Union should not become Greece's problems with the EU.

[6] Papandreou's health steadily improving

PASOK leader and founder Andreas Papandreou's health is steadily improving, according to Onassion Cardiosurgical Hospital physicians treating the 77-year-old former premier.

The medical team expects that respiratory tests at the end of the week will determine whether Mr. Papandreou is ready to leave the hospital after a three and a half month stay at the Onassion.

A procedure to permanently close a tracheotomy on Mr. Papandreou is scheduled for today, barring any complications, according to a medical bulletin. Meanwhile, kidney dialysis is being performed through a catheter and a fistula in the former premier's h and, which doctors expect will be the method used for dialysis in the future.

Yesterday's medical bulletin lists his condition as developing smoothly, adding that a programme of physical therapy and kinesiotherapy is continuing.

Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis and former press minister Telemahos Hytiris visited Mr. Papandreou yesterday.

[7] Clinton says International Court best able to find solution to Imia issue

US President Bill Clinton said yesterday that the referral of the Imia matter to the International Court at The Hague is the best method to finding a solution to the dispute between Greece and Turkey. The statement was made in a letter sent by the US president to Angelos Tsakopoulos, a leading figure in Democratic politics.

In his letter, Mr. Clinton stressed the need for a solution to be found to the Cyprus problem as soon as possible, stating that such a solution would be the key to a reduction of tensions in the Aegean and would pave the way for a wider improvement in relations between Greece and Turkey.

[8] Stephanopoulos sends condolence message to Israeli president

President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos sent a message to his Israeli counterpart Ezer Weizman yesterday, expressing his profound regret at the recent spate of bomb attacks that has claimed 57 Israeli lives.

"(I was) Deeply saddened at the series of terrorist attacks which have claimed so many innocent victims from the Israeli people - women and children - I felt the need to express, once again, the horror felt (at such acts) by the Greek people and myself personally... (These acts) can endanger the peace process, which is a common cause of the Israeli and Palestinian peoples as well as the world community."

Mr. Stephanopoulos requested Mr. Weizman pass on to the families of the victims his personal and the Greek people's condolences.

"Acts of terrorism in Israel destroy efforts for the normalisation of relations between the peoples of the region," government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said yesterday when asked to comment on the recent suicide bomb attacks in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

"Such acts are tantamount to the nullification of the steps taken for peace in the region and the government condemns them in the strongest possible terms," the spokesman said.

Main opposition New Democracy party leader Miltiades Evert, meanwhile, expressed fear that the Middle East peace process was in danger following the bomb attacks by the Hamas Islamic fundamentalist group.

"Every terrorist act must be isolated and crushed," Mr. Evert told reporters after a meeting with Israeli Ambassador to Athens David Sasson, who briefed him on the recent Hamas attacks.

"These attacks must stop immediately ...we are directly interested as we, and particularly Cyprus, are near the inflammable region," Mr. Evert said.

"It is easy to be a terrorist, but very difficult to impose and seek peace," he added.

Mr. Sasson charged that Iran and Sudan were behind the Hamas' terrorist activities, saying "there is sufficient information to prove that these two countries finance, support and train the terrorists".

He expressed hope that countries friendly to Israel and the Palestinian Authority "will use their connections and influence to persuade (Palestinian leader Yasser) Arafat to combat terrorism".

Mr. Sasson warned that peace and stability in the region were in danger and assured Mr. Evert that the majority of Israelis "desire peace and the entire Israeli leadership is dedicated to peace".

But, he added, "we must see how the situation is developing and we must ensure the security of the people of Israel in their own country". Coalition of the Left and Progress leader Nikos Constantopoulos, meanwhile, termed the bomb attack against civilians in Israel "nightmarish retrogression for the situation in the wider region."

In a statement yesterday, Mr. Constantopoulos said peace processes should be supported in every way and in no way should rapprochement and understanding achieved be undermined.

[9] Tsohatzopoulos to attend OECD meeting on role of the state

Interior, Public Administration and Decentralisation Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos is to take part in the first OECD ministerial conference on the role and management of the state so that it may respond more effectively to the needs of the state and firms.

Ministers will debate the future of state management in the light of new facts concerning its structure, and the implications of the new media technology in public administration.

The conference will be chaired by Alice M. Rivlin, budget adviser to President Clinton.

Besides the organisation's 25 members, Hungary, Korea, Poland, and Slovakia have been invited to attend as observers.

The conclusions of the conference will be issued in a joint statement at the end of sessions.

[10] Ecumenical Patriarchate confident recent tension with Moscow church will be defused

The Ecumenical Patriarchate expects that a recent crisis in its relations with the Patriarchate of Moscow and All Russia will soon be defused and that decisions taken by the Russian church's hierarchy will be re-examined.

The Russian Orthodox Church reacted angrily last week after the Phanar, the headquarters of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, agreed to recognise as autonomous the small Orthodox Church of Estonia, which had been absorbed by Moscow after World War II.

The Ecumenical Patriarchate considers that the Moscow Patriarchate magnified the issue and took actions, such as omitting the name of Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos during a mass in Moscow, which hurt the union of the Orthodox Church over an issue that is secondary in terms of ecclesiastical importance.

The Phanar is awaiting a move by Moscow to repair relations between the patriarchates and allow for discussions on the issue. Ecclesiastical circles in Istanbul noted that the Ecumenical Patriarchate has never taken such measures vis a vis the Moscow Pa triarchate, even during the violent 1948 annexation of the Hungarian Orthodox Church by Moscow.

The Phanar believes the action is attributed to political conflicts following the break-up of the former Soviet Union and the subsequent independence of the Baltic nations - Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.

Furthermore, the Phanar has replied that based on Canon Law it could not ignore requests by the Estonians for recognition of their church as autonomous, adding that the Ecumenical Patriarchate has no benefits from a clash with Moscow and also has no property or other claims in Estonia.

In addition, the Ecumenical Patriarchate maintains that it is prepared to guarantee the religious rights of Orthodox Russians in Estonia.

[11] Greece marks the centenary of the modern Olympics

Special celebrations have been planned for the 100th anniversary of the first modern Olympic Games from March 30 to April 6, president of the Greek Olympic Committee Antonis Tzikas told a press conference yesterday.

These will begin with the lighting of the flame for the Atlanta Games this summer at Olympia, and will be followed by a 1,400 km torch relay through most Greek regions, with the participation of 800 runners.

The flame will arrive in Athens on April 6, and on the following day, on a special plane, it will be taken on a tour of cities that have hosted Olympic Games since 1896. It will remain alight in these cities until the end of the Atlanta Games. After arriving in Los Angeles on April 27, it will be taken through a 4,000 mile journey to Atlanta, arriving there on July 19.

On April 5, the executive board of International Olympic Committee (IOC) will meet at Olympia.

A re-enactment of the first modern Games in Athens in 1896 will take place on the following day, April 6, with the same track and field events of that day, and with athletes from the same countries, namely Greece, Australia, Chile, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Sweden, and the United States.

[12] Athens bid for 2004 Olympics to be examined next year

Athens' bid to host the 2004 Olympic Games will be the fifth in line to be examined by the International Olympic Committee's special committee which will short-list four or five out of the eleven candidacies.

Presentation of the 11 candidacies will take place in Lausanne in April 1997 and final selection will be made from the resulting short-list on September 5, 1997.

The order with which the candidacies will be examined by the committee is as follows: 1. Stockholm (Sweden), 2. San Juan (Puerto Rico), 3. Cape Town (South Africa), 4. Istanbul (Turkey), 5. Athens (Greece), 6. Buenos Aires (Argentina), 7. St. Petersburg (Russia), 8. Rome (Italy), 9. Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), 10. Lille (France), 11. Seville (Spain).

[13] Athanasakis named press ministry secretary-general

Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas announced yesterday that Nikos Athanasakis would be the press ministry's new secretary-general.

Mr. Athanasakis was formerly press under-secretary and press and information secretary-general in the past.

Mr. Reppas extended thanks to outgoing secretary-general Dimitris Pantazis.

[14] Calm begins to return to prisons

Tensions in prisons around the country appeared to have been reduced yesterday, while the general situation remained unchanged.

Rioters in the Hania prison began receiving meals yesterday, which was considered to be an indication of calm returning to the establishment. The situation in the Alikarnasos prison was calmer, while there was no change in the Patras prison, where the buildings remain under the control of the inmates despite their having released the remaining hostages on Monday.

During the early afternoon, a riot broke out in Trikala prison, with inmates expressing their support for the inmates of other rioting prisons. Calm soon prevailed.

Relative calm prevailed throughout the day yesterday in the Larissa and Komotini prisons, while the situation in Diavata Prison remained unchanged. Inmates of the Hios prison returned to their cells after releasing the warden and the four prison guards they had been holding hostage. No damage has been reported to the prison's interior.

Damage sustained by the prison in Corfu from the riots are reported to be so extensive that doubts have been expressed as to whether it will be able to operate normally.

In Korydallos, 20 inmates, all foreign nationals from the psychiatric unit, continue to refuse to return to their cells, although the psychiatric unit's director, Mrs Apostolaki, said she considered the situation to be under control, as the remaining 16 0 inmates did not appear to have any intention of following the 20 foreigners.

[15] Opposition criticism

Main opposition New Democracy party leader Miltiades Evert called on the government yesterday to "give an immediate solution here and now" to the issue of prison unrest. He told reporters that any decision taken by the government was acceptable, "provided the matter ends here."

Mr. Evert criticised the government for being a mere spectator of events within and outside the prisons, resulting in the country's ridicule both abroad and at home. He added that "the state has disintegrated and every citizen has lost its trust (in the government) and lives in a climate of insecurity."

The ND leader asked for the inter-party committee's findings on prisons to be implemented. He noted that he had visited the prisons in the past and had discussed problems with the inmates, and added that "justice ministers change continuously and no-one undertakes the responsibility to implement the findings."

Political Spring party leader Antonis Samaras blamed the government for the situation in Greek prisons, saying that "the state is now paying the price for its indifference to the modernisation of the penitentiary system."

Mr. Samaras added that the problems cannot be solved by intervention or by "endless discussions", as specific measures are needed.

Replying to Mr. Evert's criticism, Justice Minister Evangelos Venizelos said that he cannot accept "that the leader of the opposition says abstractly 'do something' without having the ability and the responsibility to say what his position and his proposals are."

Mr. Venizelos said that when hostages are involved, the only solution is dealing with the situation calmly, aiming for their release.

He stressed that "the state does not function by blackmail," and added that "the smooth and legal operation of the penitentiary system will be resumed, as it must, before anything else."

[16] Greek coast guard saves Turkish vessel in distress

A Turkish-flagged tourist/passenger vessel was towed by a Greek coast guard patrol boat and fishing boat yesterday after getting into difficulties off the island of Kastellorizo.

Specifically, the vessel 'Damla' left Kastellorizo's port at 11:30am with two passengers and its Turkish captain after arriving from the Turkish coast. After one hour, coast guard officials received a distress call from the vessel.

The Greek fishing vessel towed the Damla to Turkish territorial waters, where a Turkish commercial vessel waited to transport it to the port of Kas.

[17] Legislation regulating sperm banks ready in a fortnight, health ministry says

The health ministry promised yesterday that legislation covering the safe operation of sperm banks in the country will be ready within 15 days.

The announcement was prompted by a 35-year-old Athenian woman's claim that she contracted the HIV virus, which causes AIDS, with a sperm sample supplied by a local pathology clinic for the purpose of insemination.

Health Under-secretary Franklinos Papadellis released an investigation into the case yesterday, which stated that distribution of sperm is not within the duties of pathology laboratories, such as the one accused of providing the HIV-tainted sperm.

The ministry also announced detailed checks will be conducted on all facilities acting as sperm banks.

A criminal investigation has also begun by the Athens prosecutor's office on the woman's allegation.

Meanwhile, former health minister and current main opposition New Democracy deputy George Sourlas tabled a question yesterday in Parliament on the issue.

[18] Cabinet replaces regional director post

The Cabinet yesterday decided to abolish the post of administrative regional director, a political appointment, in each of the country's 13 regions, and replace it with that of general director, which will be staffed by civil servants.

The measure is considered conducive to the enhancement of local government power, particularly at prefectural level.

After the end of the Cabinet meeting, Interior and Public Administration Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos said the measure would be supplemented with the hiring of specialised staff and the promotion of the regional management of resources through the operation of development funds.

[19] International Women's Day to be marked by march

A rally organised by women's groups, including the Women's Secretariat of the General Confederation of Workers of Greece (GSEE) is to take place on Friday afternoon in Klafthmonos Square, on the occasion of International Women's Day.

The rally's aims include demands on working conditions, social policies, inclusion in decision-making and the condemnation of violence and sexual harassment.

GSEE also presented the results of its research into attitudes and behaviour of women in the Attica basin aged between 15 and 30. The study revealed that the main concerns of young women are unemployment (23.6 per cent) and the economic situation (21 per cent).

The number of women critical of today's society has risen since 1985, when the last such survey was carried out, with 85 per cent saying that society needs to undergo radical changes, compared to 51 per cent in 1985.

The feeling that equality between the sexes has not yet been achieved was also widespread, with 83.6 per cent stating that the absence of women from decision-making bodies is due to the lack of equal opportunities.

[20] Urban transport organisations face 1.2 trillion drachma debt

The cumulative financial deficit of the various Athens urban transport boards amounts to 1.2 trillion drachmas, Transport and Communications Under-secretary George Daskalakis said yesterday.

He said he would ask for a write off of debts amounting to one trillion drachmas, and would include tram cars and liquid gas-fuelled buses in future planning.

He added he would also promote local government participation in urban transport and the setting up of monitoring public control bodies.

[21] GSEE approves collective labour agreement

The General Confederation of Workers of Greece (GSEE) yesterday approved the in-principle agreement reached Monday with employers on a two-year collective labour agreement.

GSEE President Christos Protopapas said that the agreement, approved by the confederation's presidium by 22 votes to 12, was "the most successful attained by GSEE in the last ten years".

Under the terms of the agreement, the lowest daily wage will be increased from the present 5,338 drachmas to 5,525 drachmas as of January 1, 1996 and to 5,746 drachmas as of July 1, 1996. An increase equal to the rate of inflation plus 2 per cent is foreseen for 1997, to be paid in two equal amounts.

Trade unionists affiliated to the Communist Party of Greece walked out of the presidium meeting, while the main opposition New Democracy-affiliated DAKE and trade union representatives affiliated with the Coalition of the Left and Progress voted against the agreement.

[22] Stockbreeders threaten to intensify protests if demands not met

Stockbreeders around the country staged dynamic demonstrations yesterday, demanding higher milk prices, favourable arrangement of debts and restriction of meat and dairy imports.

The nation's three largest farmers' unions, the Panhellenic Confederation of Agricultural Co-operatives (PASEGES), General Confederation of Agricultural Associations (GESASE) and Democratic Agricultural Associations of Greece (SYDASE), have called for more mobilisations and the blocking of national highways unless the government meets their demands.

In demonstrations in Komotini, Kavalla and Larissa, hundreds of breeders followed recent tactics of pouring goat, sheep and cow's milk in front of prefectural offices, while in Larissa protesters also slaughtered three sheep.

One result of the protests was a decision by Agriculture Minister Stephanos Tzoumakas yesterday to forgive interest payments for several agriculture sector loans. A settlement of loans issued by the Agricultural Bank totalling some 210 billion drachmas was announced.

Specifically, overdue payment interest and penalties are forgiven, while a percentage of regular interest rates will be deducted based on the percentage of each agricultural loan paid off. The decision is effective as of yesterday, with borrowers allowed one month to take advantage of the offer.

[23] Israel looks at using Kavalla as base to penetrate European, eastern bloc countries

Israel will use the northern Greek port city of Kavalla as a springboard for expanding trade to European and former eastern bloc countries.

This was discussed yesterday between Israeli Ambassador in Athens David Sasson, local Kavalla Chambers and prefecture officials.

Discussions centred on the creation of a transit centre in Kavalla through which Israeli products, mainly citrus fruits, would be forwarded to Europe and the Balkans.

The products would be transported through the port of Kavalla, the "Alexander the Great" international airport and the rail line via Drama.

[24] New US notes go into circulation at end of the month

US Treasury Secretary Robert E. Rubin and Federal Reserve Board Chairman Alan Greenspan have announced that the redesigned $100 dollar note will be issued by the Federal Reserve System to depository institutions beginning March 25, 1996.

A US Embassy announcement in Athens today said that old notes will not be recalled or devalued. The older series notes will co-circulate with the new notes and will always be legal tender.

[25] OTE outlines float procedures to potential investors

The Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation's (OTE) board yesterday outlined the procedure for floating part of its share capital on the Stock Exchange to representatives of insurance funds, stock exchange companies and institutional investors.

It was disclosed that OTE accounts for 2.5 per cent of GDP and it was assessed that its turnover would amount to 606 billion drachmas in 1995, reaching 700 billion drachmas in 1996. OTE's main aim will be to extend its investments in the Balkans and former Soviet republics such as Ukraine, Lithuania and Georgia. Its business programme focuses on preparing OTE to function effectively in the international competitive environment, taking the gradual deregulation of telecommunications by the year 2000 into consideration.

[26] EBO reassures Cypriots of its reliability

The administration of the Hellenic Arms Industry (EBO) reassured Cypriot government officials last week in Nicosia of the competitiveness of its products, the high level of quality control and EBO's reliability.

Addressing a press conference for the Cypriot mass media, EBO's managing consultant Anastasios Barakos said "the quality of our products is higher than that on offer on the international market. The requirements of the Greek military in portable weaponry are among the highest in the world and, in any case, much higher than NATO levels."

On the question of EBO's reliability, Mr. Barakos said that in Cyprus EBO was considered a "model company for co-operation" since it implemented all its contractual obligations in time.

[27] New police chief named

The KYSEA meeting yesterday named Lt.-Gen. Athanassios Vassilopoulos as new chief of the Greek Police (EL.AS.), replacing Lt.-Gen. Manolis Hourdakis who retired.

End of English language section.