A.N.A. Bulletin, 03/04/96

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

Athens News Agency Directory

ATHENS NEWS AGENCY BULLETIN (No 853), April 3, 1996

Greek Press & Information Office

Ottawa, Canada

E-Mail Address: grnewsca@sympatico.ca

CONTENTS

[1] Pangalos tells Ankara to take its disputes over Imia to the International Court

Greece's Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos yesterday reiterated that Turkey should refer the Imia issue to the International Court at the Hague if it insists on disputing the legal framework establishing Greek sovereignty of the rocky islets.

Commenting on a proposal put forward by Turkish President Suleyman Demirel during an interview with the CNN network, concerning Greek-Turkish talks which might lead to referral of the Imia issue to the International Court, Mr. Pangalos said:

"It is not serious to be called to a ten-minute discussion about a Turkish territorial claim in the Dodecanese, which Greece considers to be unacceptable, unprecedented and outrageous."

Mr. Pangalos added that the conclusion of such a discussion would be "that which Greece is proposing, namely the judicial settlement of a legal dispute concerning the validity of existing legal rules to which Athens adheres and Ankara challenges."

[2] Inquiry launched into claims of infected poultry on market

Press reports of the sale of poultry posing a danger to public health sparked an inquiry yesterday into hen farms, storehouses and refrigeration facilities of the Voktas poultry firm.

Athens prosecutor George Koliokostas ordered police to conduct an urgent preliminary investigation into the press and TV reports allegations against the Voktas company. The wide-ranging inquiry also authorizes police to investigate storage facilities for imported beef allegedly posing health hazards and other offenses such as profiteering and the adulteration of foodstuffs and send relevant files of proceedings to the prosecuting authorities for further action. Animals, chickens and eggs considered unfit or dangerous for human consumption will be confiscated, while further investigations will be made into such products as cosmetics with the assistance of employees from the National Pharmaceutical Organization.

The agriculture ministry destroyed 6,000 chickens yesterday, but the president of the Voktas chicken processing company, Mr. Syrigos, said the animals in question had been given in order to pay off company debt, and that none of them were distributed on the market.

Over 1,500 dead chickens were discovered during an inspection of the Voktas facilities in Shimatari. Market police and agriculture ministry veterinaries said the dead poultry were being used as food for the other chickens destined for the marketplace.

Another 3,000 Voktas chickens were confiscated yesterday from the company's battery farm in Ioannina; the salmonella test conducted on them was negative.

Ornithological veterinary expert and professor at the Thessaloniki Aristotelian University Efstratios Artopoios stressed there would be danger to public health only if the chickens had died from a disease.

"Cannibalism is a phenomenon which is frequently observed in birds," he said. Mr. Artopoios added that if a laboratory analysis was not conducted to isolate bacteria that may have been transmitted from the dead poultry to those destined for the market, he could not speak of risk to public health with certainty.

In an announcement, the Greek Association of Poultry Farmers defended Greek poultry and said that "the Greek chicken is the best in quality and can only be compared to the American chicken."

Poultry in the rest of Europe does not feed on cereals, the announcement added, calling the uproar created over the Voktas poultry company incident as "unfair". It added that Greek poultry feed consists of 70 per cent wheat and corn, 25 per cent Soya flour, three per cent herring flour and two per cent vitamins.

Main opposition New Democracy deputy Fani Palli Petralia, meanwhile, is to submit a legal action report to the Athens prosecutor today against all responsible for the distribution of thousands of possibly infected chickens and eggs on the market, which put public health at risk.

[3] Round-up of British beef imports continue

Market and veterinary authorities raided two warehouses in northern and central Greece yesterday, confiscating 4.5 tons of British beef and four tons of canned pet-food from Britain.

Four and a half tons of British beef were found in a company's freezer storage in Lamia, central Greece, during ongoing market checks.

Authorities found that nine tons of frozen British beef had been imported in December, of which half has been sold on the local market.

According to the company's ledgers, another 20 tons of frozen beef was imported from Britain last August, which was consumed in the prefectures of Fthiotida and Evrytania.

In Thessaloniki, authorities confiscated four tons of canned cat and dog food in a supermarket warehouse. The pet-food had been imported before the ban.

In response to tabled Parliament questions yesterday by two Political Spring deputies, Agriculture Under-secretary Apostolos Fotiadis sounded reassuring in discussing concerns over the outbreak of "mad cow disease" and measures taken by Greece.

Mr. Fotiadis said Greece has taken the most prompt measures among other nations, adding that there is no possibility of allowing British beef to be sold in domestic markets.

Specifically, he said 219 tons of fresh British-imported meat has been shipped to Greece since 1990 until the first six months of 1995, while 1,936 tons of frozen meat has been imported. However, 23,781 tons of animal feed containing beef byproducts were imported.

In addition, he said no cattle have been imported from Britain, while Community regulations prohibited import of several non-prime cuts (spleen, brains, intestines etc.) of British cattle in 1994. Mr. Fotiadis added that the agriculture minister as early as 1989 took a series of measures to prevent the spread of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), the scientific name for mad cow disease.

In trying to allay fears, the agriculture under-secretary said figures point to only one in one million individuals falling victim to the mad cow-related disease in humans, namely, Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD).

Political Spring deputies Andreas Lentakis and Maria Mahaira accused the government of being "non-existent" and that checks to protect the public are absent.

[4] Turkey says it has 'no expansionist designs on foreign land'

Turkish Foreign Minister Emre Gonensay said yesterday Turkey wanted to create a "circle of peace and co-operation" around it and that it had no expansionist designs on foreign territories.

The foreign minister was speaking during a Turkish national assembly meeting focusing on the 1996 budget.

"Respect of the obligations emanating from international treaties is the basis of seeking solutions," he said.

Referring to Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz's appeal for unconditional dialogue with Greece, he said the move was not connected to the convening of the EU-Turkey association council, despite Mr. Yilmaz's offer coming two days before the council met .

"Even though we have not yet received a positive reply to our appeal, we continue to hope that this important opening will lead Greek-Turkish relations to a new period," he said.

"Taking advantage of the possibilities ensured by its full EU membership, Greece is trying to transfer Greek-Turkish problems to the EU in order to prevent our co-operation with the Union," he said. "This goes against the positive developments in our relations with the EU."

Referring to the Cyprus problem, the minister said Turkey was determined to protect the security of Turkish Cypriots, adding that Cyprus's full accession to the EU could be dealt with only after the settlement of the Cyprus problem.

He added that Turkey would continue to take interest in the human rights situation of the Moslem minority in western Thrace.

In another development, Ankara yesterday termed as "hostile" statements by Greek National Defense Minister Gerassimos Arsenis, during a speech he gave to university students in Thessaloniki last week.

"These statements will create difficulties in the settlement of differences between the two countries," a Turkish foreign ministry statement read.

Premier Yilmaz also underlined "the negative consequences" of Mr. Arsenis' statements, saying they "undermine the peaceful climate we want to create."

The Turkish foreign ministry statement claimed Mr. Arsenis referred to "the creation of anti-Turkish coalitions in the region" and forecast the fall of "Kemalism," branding its expansionist nature as "totally unfounded."

Ankara also noted that the Greek minister "rejected dialogue," and stressed that "every Greek can go to Kardak (Imia)."

"These statements will inject difficulties into the resolution of differences between the two countries. These statements are contrary to the agreement reached following a dangerous crisis, the morning of January 31, 1996, with the mediation of the United States.

"We call on Greece once again to make every effort to avoid provocations of this kind and answer positively to our substantive proposals which our prime minister made on March 24," the announcement said.

[5] Opposition comments

Main opposition New Democracy party spokesman Vassilis Manginas spoke yesterday of the need for ministers to no longer make statements "that expose the country" and of the need for the prime minister "to coordinate."

"When the foreign minister says one thing and the national defense minister says another, while the prime minister maintains an embarrassed silence, the Turks take advantage of this Greek weakness in order to promote their relations. Up until now an effort was being made for a unified national foreign policy and defense policy on an inter-party level. Now, unfortunately, this does not even exist on a governmental (level)," he added.

Political Spring spokesman Notis Martakis accused the "would-be vice-presidents of PASOK, headed by Mr. Simitis" of making contradictory remarks, which leave the country internationally exposed and weaken Greece's national rights.

He said that Greece is in need of a unified strategy that will safeguard national interests. He characterized the transfer of the internal conflicts of the PASOK government to the area of national issues as being dangerous.

[6] Greece's no show at Tirana regional defense meet due to non-inclusion of Serbia, Romania

The government said yesterday that Greece had refused an invitation to take part in the first-ever south Balkans meeting on security co-operation in Tirana because Romania and Serbia had not been invited to participate.

"The government wishes there to be a climate of concord and agreement in the region of the Balkans," government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said. In order for such a climate to exist, certain prerequisites must be met "one of which is the participation of all the Balkan countries in such meetings", he said.

The meeting, which began Monday, brought together defense ministers from Albania, Bulgaria, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Italy and Turkey.

[7] German official critical of Athens stance on EU funding for Turkey

A senior member of German Chancellor Helmut Kohl's Christian Democratic alliance (CDU/CSU) sharply criticized Athens yesterday for what he called Greece's "unaccep-table" positions regarding unconditional negotiations with Turkey and blocking of European Union financial support to Ankara.

Rudolf Seiters, the deputy chairman of the CDU/CSU and its representative on foreign affairs issues, announced: "We call on Greece to begin a dialogue with Turkey and to lift the blockade on financial aid."

The high-ranking CDU official's comments on Greece's complicated problems with neighboring Turkey and the recent crisis in the Aegean over the Greek islet of Imia come almost a week after German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel told EU leaders gathered in Turin for the beginning of the inter-governmental conference that "under no circumstances should Greece be placed on the dock as the accused." Mr. Kinkel made the statement Friday prior to an expected Italian EU presidency initiative on the crisis.

"A country which draws five times more benefits from European Union coffers than it pays should not strain the solidarity of its partners in this manner," Mr. Seiters said, adding:

"The European Union should not reward the rejection of negotiations by displaying an incorrect perception of solidarity toward an EU partner, Greece."

According to reports, Athens will request clarifications on Mr. Seitert's bold comments through diplomatic channels.

In addition, although the German official in the beginning of his written statement criticizes Athens' positions on both the issue of unconditional dialogue, something Ankara has strenuously promoted, and the blocking of EU funds, towards the end of his statement he backs recourse to the International Court of Justice at The Hague. He adds that both sides would have to commit themselves beforehand that they abide by any decision the court decides.

Mr. Seiters declined to answer reporters' questions after issuing the statement. An associate later hinted that the "essence" of the unusually blunt attack lay in the promotion of The Hague solution.

In an earlier portion of his statement, Mr. Seiters specifically called the issue of Imia's sovereignty and the ensurance of sovereign rights in the Aegean a "decades-old" difference that must be solved politically, or if that does not succeed, legally.

"The Greek rejection to begin negotiations without conditions on the Aegean issue is not a contribution to ditente, but in the end leads to a hardening of bilateral relations, something not in the interests of the EU or NATO," the CDU official added.

Athens is currently blocking ECU 375 million ($481 million) aimed at boosting the ailing Turkish economy. The aid is part of agreements under last year's EU-Turkey customs union, which came into effect at the beginning of the year after Greece, in a show of diplomatic good faith, dropped its veto of the accord between the 15-member union and the predominantly Muslim nation of 60 million.

[8] US ambassador thanks Greek police for duty during Clinton visit

United States ambassador Thomas Niles yesterday sent Public Order Minister Costas Geitonas a letter of thanks for the protection offered by the Greek police force to US First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton upon her arrival and during her stay in Greece last week. "I wish to thank all the outstanding men of the Greek Police, who worked with zeal and in a very professional manner to make Mrs. Clinton's visit to Greece a success," the ambassador said in his letter.

Meanwhile, New Democracy party deputy Anastasios Nerantzis submitted a question in Parliament for Mr. Geitonas, saying that incidents during Mrs. Clinton's visit, in which US security personnel accompanying her searched even Greek policemen, were a cause of indignation.

[9] CoE head meets with Pangalos, President, announces Thessaloniki to host CoE meeting soon

The Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly will hold an important meeting in the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki in the coming months, visiting CoE Secretary-General Daniel Tarschys said yesterday.

Mr. Tarschys is in Athens for an official visit. He met yesterday with President Kostis Stephanopoulos, MPs making up the Greek delegation to the CoE and Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos.

Speaking to reporters after his meeting with Mr. Tarschys, Mr. Pangalos praised the Council of Europe for promoting programs for the establishment, education and housing of Greeks from the former Soviet Union in Greece.

He reiterated Greece's support for all Council activities related to the protection of human rights and freedoms.

Earlier, Mr. Tarschys met with the Greek delegation to the CoE Parliamentary Assembly, who briefed him on Turkish provocations and violations of international law in the recent Imia incident.

The deputies also raised the issue of the CoE monitoring the situation with regard to human rights in the countries belonging to the organization and particularly in Turkey.

Mr. Tarschys yesterday briefed President Kostis Stephanopoulos on Council of Europe issues.

[10] Kaklamanis returns from US trip, urges better use of Greek-American community

In remarks upon his return yesterday from an eight-day trip to the United States, Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis called for more effort, information to and better use of Greek expatriates to promote Athens' position in Washington.

Mr. Kaklamanis, who summarized his impressions of contacts he had with top US government and Congressional leadership, said the nation should not rely on superficial statements, especially during the current election season in the United States, but should concentrate on what the policy and interests are of those who guide US foreign policy.

Referring to the political climate in the US regarding Greece, he said attitudes will not change from one day to the other, adding that Washington continues to consider Turkey as a regional power.

"We know that Turkey is a country which acts like a giant and is undergoing a massive crisis from which it will emerge with great difficulty. Large arms manufacturers want to sell weapons; Turkey asks for arms and is given them immediately. This is the situation and we do not have any interests in continuing these weapons proliferations.

"Ours is a different society to an autocratic, anti-democratic regime, such as the Turkish military-political regime."

In an unrelated matter, he said the issue of a warning by the US transportation secretary over Athens' airport should be solved in the next few days.

Turning to domestic issues, he said the government and the ruling PASOK party should follow parallel courses until a political personality is found to cover the entire area of the party, the progressive political spectrum and to rally the people.

He made the comment in response to a question about internal party developments.

Mr. Kaklamanis also said he believes if the government functions correctly that PASOK will win the next elections, and that with that possibility, he does not see the need for a change in the premiership.

[11] Pangalos discusses war reparations claims

Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos met yesterday with members of the national council to claim compensation for the German WWII occupation, who briefed him on their proposals and views on the payment of German debts owed to Greece.

The representatives has also met with President Kostis Stephanopoulos and will continue contacts with political parties. It was created on January 22, 1996, and has 365 members. Manolis Glezos, the resistance hero, is playing a leading role in this effort.

The coordinating committee has 15 members, including Mr. Glezos, PASOK deputy and former minister George Mangakis and Voiotia Prefect Yiannis Stamoulis.

[12] Greece to help reconstruction of Bosnia

Bosnian Serb Prime Minister Rajko Kasagic told a local TV network yesterday Greece had approved $100 million in credit for the Bosnian Serbs.

Mr. Kasagic said that during his visit to Greece last week an agreement was reached on granting credit to Bosnian Serbs by the Serb Republic through joint enterprises signing co-operation protocols with Greek enterprises.

According to Mr. Kasagic, 70 per cent of the $100 million will be used for investments.

Before the embargo was lifted, Greek businessmen had signed co-operation protocols with the Bosnian Serbs primarily concerning investment programs and participation in the task of rebuilding devastated areas.

The programs will be implemented when funds will be secured from international economic organizations to put Bosnia back on its feet.

[13] Greek journalists to visit Belgrade

Eighteen Greek journalists will leave for Yugoslavia today on a three-day visit, at the invitation of the private MARK-PLAN company which will organize the first Yugoslav economic exhibition in Athens from April 22 through 26.

The Greek journalists will visit industrial units in Serbia and exhibition centers and will meet Serbian Press Minister Radomir Vico and Yugoslav Economic Chamber President Mihajlo Milojevic.

They will be briefed on Yugoslavia's economic potential which anticipates the development of close economic relations with Greece following the suspension of sanctions.

Greek presence in Yugoslavia is becoming increasingly strong, despite existing legal obstacles since a law on privatization and foreign investments has not yet been ratified.

Greek companies involved in importing fruit, vegetables and foodstuffs operate in Yugoslavia as well as many Greek tourist agencies.

[14] OECD calls for radical changes to Greek education system

The review of education in Greece by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), which had been requested by Greece, ended in Paris yesterday. The results were presented yesterday to Greek Education Minister George Papandreou and Under-secretary George Paschalidis during the convening of the education committee.

Measures suggested for the improvement of the education system in the country included the abolition of the single textbook system at all levels of education and the introduction of relevant bibliographies for a greater understanding of the subject.

The OECD underlined the negative effects of the "uniquely Greek phenomenon" of giving priority in teacher appointments in primary and secondary education on the basis of the year of obtaining the degree, in contrast to other European countries, where candidates are appointed after taking a specific examination.

The review criticized the lack of autonomy in the administration and operation of educational institutions, and the lack of an unbiased system of evaluating students.

The OECD suggested the re-evaluation of the entrance examination system and the general entrance procedure for higher education institutions, with the eventual aim of abolishing the system, as has occurred in most European countries. It also criticized examinations which encourage rote-learning instead of critical thought.

The number of Greek students studying abroad was deemed excessive, and the report suggested legalizing private institutions which would allow a greater percentage of students to remain in their home country.

The OECD report said that the main source of problems in Greek education is the lack of funds, although it did note that the education ministry's budget is constantly being increased.

Addressing journalists, the Greek education minister stressed he had asked the experts to be completely honest in order for their suggestions to be acted upon by the Greek government. Mr. Papandreou added that the government is willing to co-operate with the political parties and the relevant authorities so as to radically restructure and modernize the educational system.

The last OECD report on educational policy in this country was carried out in 1979-80, when the George Rallis government was in power.

[15] British minister to meet Papandreou, Romeos

Britain's minister for European market affairs, Roger Freeman, is due to pay a short visit to Greece as part of a tour of European Union capitals. Mr. Freeman will have talks with Development Minister Vasso Papandreou and Alternate Foreign Minister George Romeos on April 8.

He will also meet with Federation of Greek Industries (SEB) President Jason Stratos and a number of Greek businessmen.

At noon on the same day, Mr. Freeman will speak at a luncheon to be given in his honor by the British-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce at a central Athens hotel.

[16] Angry stockbreeders say they will block roads to borders today

Riot police were called in yesterday when angry stockbreeders pulled down railings around the Macedonia and Thrace Ministry in Thessaloniki and tried to occupy the building.

There were no serious incidents or injuries.

Hundreds of angry stockbreeders from northern and central Greece chanted slogans outside the ministry, pouring milk into the street and ringing cows' bells, to press for increased prices for their products.

As of today, the stockbreeders will take their struggle to the country's northern borders to prevent the import of meat and dairy products from abroad in light of the Easter holiday.

The stockbreeders will blockade roads leading to the Evzonoi border checkpoints on the border with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) today and Promahonas and Ormenio on the border with Bulgaria.

A delegation of stockbreeders met senior ministry officials since Macedonia-Thrace Minister Philippos Petsalnikos was away on a scheduled tour of western Macedonia. The demonstrators left the area late in the afternoon.

An announcement by the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) "hails the stockbreeders' struggles and calls on them to continue their struggle to have this policy overturned."

KKE called on working people to realize that the stockbreeders' struggle was a struggle for life and support them with all their strength.

[17] Thessaloniki gets bone marrow transplant unit

A bone marrow transplant unit is to be created in the George Papanikolaou Hospital in Thessaloniki, the first of its kind in Macedonia. Funds raised by the Association of Friends of Children with Cancer are to pay for the building and equipping of the unit.

Representatives of the association told a press conference yesterday that the two-story building of 2,500 square meters would have a 20-bed capacity, of which eight will be for patients undergoing transplants, another eight will be for recuperating patients and four are reserved for short-term patients. There will also be special laboratory and support areas within the unit. The foundation stone is scheduled to be laid by Health and Welfare Minister Anastasios Peponis on April 7.

[18] Gov't decides put DEP shares on the market

The government's determination to proceed with partial privatization in the wider public sector was affirmed yesterday when the inner cabinet decided to float an as yet undetermined number of Public Petroleum Company (DEP) shares.

The decision comes shortly after last week's public offer of 8 per cent of Hellenic Telecommunications Organization (OTE) shares, which was oversubscribed four times.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Costas Simitis, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said the enthusiastic response to the OTE float had made the plans to float DEP shares an "attractive" proposition.

The inner cabinet decided to appoint a private firm to act as consultant and undertake studies aimed at reorganizing the DEP group and preparing for the flotation.

The exact percentage of shares to be floated will be decided after the firm has completed its relevant study, but Mr. Reppas underlined that it would be a minority package and the state would continue to control the group's management.

The inner cabinet will convene again tomorrow, before a planned cabinet meeting, to focus exclusively on the issue of casinos and the government's final position on the question is expected to be fully clarified.

The casino issue was raised for discussion by Development Minister Vasso Papandreou but time precluded a decision being taken.

Mr. Reppas said afterwards that as far as the government was concerned there was no question of applying a specific "casino policy" but what was preoccupying it was dealing with existing pending issues emanating from contracts signed (the most important one being that concerning the casino of Attica, formerly named Floisvos).

[19] Convoy of antique cars to carry Olympic Flame through Athens

The Olympic Flame is to be driven through the streets of downtown Athens in a convoy of antique cars this Saturday, as part of ongoing events marking the centennial of the Modern Olympic Games.

Forty cars built between 1912 and 1934, owned by the Friends of Antique Cars (FILPA), will gather outside the Panathinaikon stadium at 4:30pm on Saturday and drive through Athens before the re-enactment events begin. The mayors of the 17 cities which have hosted Olympic Games will take the flame to their countries, where it will remain lit until the end of this year's Games in Atlanta. The cars will arrive at the stadium at the end of the athletics events in order to collect the mayors, veteran Olympic medallists and members of the Greek Olympic Committee (EOA).

[20] Olympic Flame leaves Peloponnese

The Olympic Flame passed through the city of Patras yesterday, completing the Peloponnesian leg of its journey, on its tour around Greece.

Roughly 5,000 people were present to welcome the runner carrying the flame into Sparta and Kalamata.

It is expected to pass through the mainland Greek areas of Mesolongi, Itea, Nafpaktos, Galaxidi and Delphi today.

[21] Thessaloniki's Armenians prepare to commemorate 1915 genocide

The Armenian community in Thessaloniki is set to commemorate the 81st anniversary this month of the Armenian genocide by Ottoman Turkish forces.

A series of events, including concerts, church services, speeches and a protest march to the Turkish consulate, begin this Monday and conclude on April 24.

Armenian merchants and shop-owners will close their businesses on the last day to honor the approximately 1.5 million Armenian victims of the "Young Turks" movement's "ethnic cleaning" in 1915, during the height of World War I fighting in the Caucasus between Czarist Russia and the ultra-nationalistic Porte regime.

An announcement by the Armenian National Committee of Greece condemns what it says is the present-day "rekindling of the dream of Pan-Turanism," with which Ankara is arming and pushing Azerbaijan to continue Baku's "intransigent stance" on the Nagorno-Karabakh territorial issue and to sabotage all peace initiatives on the matter.

End of English language section.