A.N.A. Bulletin, 08/04/96

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

Athens News Agency Directory

ATHENS NEWS AGENCY BULLETIN (No 857), April 8, 1996

Greek Press & Information Office

Ottawa, Canada

E-Mail Address: grnewsca@sympatico.ca

CONTENTS

[1] Prime minister convinced 'unity and renewal' will be sole outcome of party congress

Unity and renewal will be the only and overwhelming victor at ruling PASOK's fourth party congress in July, Prime Minister Costas Simitis said on Saturday.

Conditions have changed, Mr. Simitis told the party's National Council, before his departure yesterday for talks with US President Bill Clinton. "Continuity must be ensured through renewal."

PASOK held two major meetings over the weekend, which focused on the unity and future course of the party in view of the party's fourth congress.

Mr. Simitis took the opportunity to emphasize his views on the future of the ruling party, whose founder Andreas Papandreou, he commented, had radically changed the shape of political life.

He pinpointed the central issue to be dealt with at the party's July congress as being how to give PASOK the impetus to continue, adding that the party's past electoral defeats had been due to its becoming isolated from the center-left forces.

With regard to foreign policy, Mr. Simitis affirmed that the government's chief goals were safeguarding the country's territorial integrity and dealing with Turkish aggression. He stressed that Greece did not have any claims against any other country, nor however would it surrender anything.

The government would be promoting this policy on all fronts both through diplomatic channels and by reinforcing its armed forces, he said.

The prime minister also reaffirmed his commitment to social policy, while noting that this did not necessarily mean more handouts, which was just an approach that had brought about the downfall of welfare policies in the past.

PASOK Central Committee Secretary Costas Skandalidis emphasized the party's socialist character, commenting later to the press on his own and Mr. Simitis' references to center-left forces.

"PASOK has always been a left-oriented force, but the term center-left alone does not define the party's patriotic character or policies, or as a movement serving the ideals of democratic socialism," he observed.

Mr. Skandalidis in his own speech to the Council commented on statements by Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos, saying that in regard to Greek-Turkish relations Greece was indeed open to dialogue, but only on the condition that Turkey accepted the rule s of international law, and that there could be no discussion of Greece's territory or the military defense of its national space.

[2] Pangalos

Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos answered his critics on Saturday, asking for the party's support for the government's foreign policy.

"I feel like a tightrope walker without a safety net, and I have the feeling there are crocodiles below," Mr. Pangalos said, provoking comments from other party members.

Mr. Pangalos emphasized that Greece should realize when it was time to make an honest compromise, when it had been wrong or when the issue at hand was of secondary importance. Otherwise Greece should be prepared to face humiliation as a nation and the party to concede a political defeat.

He strongly criticized the previous New Democracy government's handling of relations with Albania, saying that the problem had been solved thanks to the decisiveness of former prime minister Andreas Papandreou and former foreign minister Karolos Papoulias.

He stressed the significance of the interim agreement with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, which he said the government was implementing to the letter.

On Greek-Turkish relations, the foreign minister referred to the government's change in policy with regard to the exercise of its veto on the Turkey-EU customs union, and that this was the first time Turkey had raised territorial claims in the Dodecanese islands.

A strong deterrent force was the way to deal with this, he said, adding that he was in favor of increasing compulsory military duty to 36 months, the conscription of women and increased taxes on high incomes to pay for modern weaponry. However, he emphasized that the government should try to avoid conflict.

"We do not want war, we want peace," said Mr. Pangalos.

PASOK cadres expressed varying reactions to Mr. Pangalos' address. Former alternate foreign minister George Mangakis called for a high-level conference to clarify foreign policy and to put an end to confusion regarding the responsibilities of the foreign and defense ministers, who appeared to be indulging in personal conflicts.

Labor Minister Evangelos Yiannopoulos declared his agreement with the government's handling of foreign policy, underlining that Mr. Pangalos was a member of the government.

Associates of Defense Minister Gerassimos Arsenis asked for a comment on Mr. Pangalos' views on defense policy, said that Mr. Arsenis was in full agreement with the foreign minister's statements.

Unity, collective leadership and a renewed approach to new conditions were emphasized by Interior, Public Administration and Decentralization Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos in his speech to the National Council yesterday.

Unity needed to be more than wishful thinking aimed at covering up personal agendas, since PASOK could not fulfill its aims in a climate of ultimatums and televised disputes, he warned, calling for rules acceptable to all levels of the party.

He also called for collective leadership on all levels as a guarantee of unity.

With regard to foreign policy, he expressed the view that no one had the right to cause a rift within Greek society over the problem with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

The minister also noted that PASOK did not have the right to substitute the necessary policy of deterrence against Turkey with one of appeasement.

[3] Central Committee ratifies Executive Bureau proposal

The PASOK Central Committee session came to a close last night with the ratification of a proposal by the Executive Bureau, with only Mihalis Haralambidis and Christos Kipouros voting against and Lefteris Veryvakis abstaining.

Summing up the session, Central Committee Secretary Costas Skandalidis said the main conclusions drawn were the following three:

Firstly, the process was an important contribution to the issue of PASOK's unity. "We share the same anxieties," he said.

Secondly, there were issues for which it was difficult to provide answers because they had to be followed by decisions entailing cost. He said for this reason PASOK should support the government and convince it that it should take these decisions.

Thirdly, it was generally accepted that the Executive Bureau's proposal, which in essence constituted the Central Committee's decisions with few amendments, constituted a positive basis for dialogue.

Earlier, National Defense Minister Gerassimos Arsenis made an address, saying that the Central Committee belied what was being said and written about the existence of problems in PASOK.

Mr. Arsenis said PASOK's political targets should be the following three: supporting the government in completing its work; preparing PASOK for elections in 1997 and the movement's victory in the elections; and preparing social alliances on the PASOK government's political action after its victory in the next elections.

[4] Opposition

The main opposition New Democracy party accused the prime minister of systematically avoiding dialogue in Parliament, despite his promises. It suggested he deal with the problems faced by wage-earners, pensioners, farmers, small business owners and consumers in view of the high prices prevailing in the Easter market.

Political Spring party leader Antonis Samaras hoped that the prime minister's insecurity within his own party would not influence his contacts in the United States.

The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) felt that Mr. Simitis' speech showed the ruling party's determination not only to continue but to intensify its policies of austerity, creating hardship for the people.

Coalition of the Left and Progress leader Nikos Constantopoulos expressed the view that the struggle for leadership in PASOK had brought to the surface the major ideological and political differences within that party.

[5] Simitis begins US visit today

Prime Minister Costas Simitis arrived at Andrews air base in Washington late last night local time for his official visit to the United States.

He is scheduled to meet President Bill Clinton at 6pm local time tomorrow.

Mr. Simitis' visit to the US comes at a crucial period in Greek-Turkish relations and two months after the Aegean crisis which led Greece and Turkey to the brink of war.

He will have private talks with Secretary of State Warren Christopher at the State Department on Wednesday morning and Defense Secretary William Perry at the Pentagon tomorrow afternoon.

Today, the prime minister's visit to Washington includes laying a wreath at Arlington national cemetery and a luncheon and speech at the National Press Club and, lastly, a meeting with the Greek expatriate community's leadership at a dinner organized at a downtown Washington hotel.

Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos, who is accompanying the prime minister, is scheduled to meet President Clinton's national security adviser Tony Lake, visit the editorial staff of the Washington Post and Washington Times and address the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

Sources close to the premier said on Saturday his key aim is to promote a new era in Greek-US relations, which will result in a gradual upgrading of Greece's role in the region, and in a bolstering of international support for national issues.

The same sources said discussion will revolve around the promotion of economic co-operation and development in the Balkans, Turkey's disputing of Greek sovereignty in the Aegean, the Cyprus problem, Greek-US economic co-operation, and the role of the Greek-American community.

The prime minister will also meet UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali.

On Thursday, Mr. Simitis will speak at Yale University and confer with Orthodox Archbishop of North and South America Iakovos.

[6] US interest

The US is awaiting Greece's new prime minister with great interest and has repeatedly made positive remarks, the most recent example being a public statement by Secretary of State Warren Christopher during a deposition at the House of Representatives funds appropriation subcommittee about 10 days ago.

On Friday a State Department spokesman spoke of promising indications concerning the Greek prime minister's visit to Washington and of whether it could influence the course of Greek-Turkish relations.

[7] Opposition

In another development, Political Spring party leader Antonis Samaras bid the prime minister "every success" in his visit to the US and called on him "not to yield" on a series of important issues for the nation.

"All this internal insecurity existing in both the old parties should not create traumas for our country's issues," he said.

Replying to a questioner on the issue of the Imia islets being referred to the International Court at The Hague, Mr. Samaras said the US was following a time-bomb policy in the Aegean and reminded the US of its signature on the Helsinki Final Act on the indisputability of European borders.

Coalition of the Left and Progress leader Nikos Constantopoulos said yesterday that the prime minister's visit to the US and the discussions which he would have were taking place without the prior briefing of the people or the parties and at a critical period for Greece.

"The prime minister, rather than having with him national strategy and thought-out initiatives, has packed in his bags internal party reactions ... and a lack of a clear line," Mr. Constantopoulos said in Trikala.

[8] Evert meets with senior party officials, agrees to let Kouvelas issue lie

Main opposition New Democracy party leader Miltiades Evert chaired a meeting of senior party officials on Saturday, focusing on the party's strategy and its activities in Parliament until June.

The meeting, including ND deputy president Ioannis Varvitsiotis, and deputies Stavros Dimas and George Souflias, constituted a preliminary discussion as part of the committee responsible for the party's strategy both inside and outside Parliament.

According to reports, the issue raised by a critical statement by deputy and former minister Sotiris Kouvelas during Friday's Parliamentary Group session was referred to briefly but all agreed there was no need for disciplinary sanctions being taken against him following the condemnatory decision taken by the body on Friday.

On Friday Mr. Kouvelas had said that if the party failed to meet the messages of the times it would be overtaken by events and lashed out at the ND leader.

"We are allowing our rivals to plunder the principles and positions of our lineup," he said. "We have forgotten and in part denounced the history of our party over the 1977-1993 period."

"Mr. President, you must treat members who are not personal friends of yours in the same way as the previous leaders treated you," Mr. Kouvelas stressed.

ND Vice President Ioannis Varvitsiotis said yesterday that "unity is not harmed by such actions, only Mr. Kouvelas himself."

Mr. Evert appears to be annoyed with Mr. Kouvelas' attitude but considers that his condemnation by the Parliamentary Group is an important decision and does not intend to take any disciplinary action against him.

[9] Vartholomeos meets with leading Moslem cleric

In what the Turkish press has hailed as a significant step for freedom of religion in the neighboring nation, Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos, the spiritual leader of over 300 million Orthodox believers and of the embattled Orthodox community in Turkey, and leading Moslem cleric Fetullah Gulen had a confidential meeting last week in Istanbul.

The news that the two religious leaders, accompanied by advisers, met in an Istanbul hotel, was released on the weekend and was greeted positively by all the Turkish press, including Islamist-nationalist newspapers.

Fetullah, who is also known as Fetullah Hotza (the Teacher), is the leader of one of Islam's strongest spiritual orders and enjoys great influence and admiration in the wider Turkish society. His teachings are considered moderate and he aligns the messages of Islam with the needs of contemporary western society.

The problems facing the Ecumenical Patriarchate, including the issue of the re-opening of the Halki Theological School and the negative picture projected by the media to Turkish public opinion of the Patriarchate, were discussed during the meeting.

The meeting led many leading columnists to call for a re-appraisal of Ankara's policy towards the Patriarchate.

[10] ND calls for courts to examine casino 'scandal'

Main opposition party New Democracy yesterday called for the courts' intervention in what it called "the tremendous scandal" of (casino) licenses and the "dirty games" in which political and economic interests are involved.

"Justice must intervene immediately to examine the enormous dimensions of the scandal of the casino licenses," an announcement said.

"The Greek people are not interested in which of the ministers of the PASOK Papandreou or Simitis governments are responsible for the dirty game of intertwined political and economic interests in this issue...

"The thing that interests the Greek people is that, in the end, they will be called on to pay the heavy financial consequence.

"At the same time, the government is announcing a bill on ministerial responsibility which essentially consolidates governmental license and institutionalizes immunity for malfeasant ministers.

"This is the new ethos and profile of the government."

[11] Athens celebrates 100th anniversary of modern Olympics in style

Athens celebrated the 100th anniversary of the modern Olympic Games on Saturday with a re-enactment of the Games as they were held in Athens in 1896.

A total of 121 athletes representing the ten countries that participated in the 1896 Games participated in track and field events at the Panathinaiko (Kallimarmaro) Stadium under the same conditions and rules that were observed a century ago.

Silver and bronze medals were presented to the winner and runner-up of each event by President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos, International Olympic Committee President Juan Antonio Samaranch and Athens Mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos.

The events culminated with the arrival of the Olympic flame, lit in Olympia last week in the presence of US First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton. The flame had been relayed around Greece over the past week, visiting cities in the Peloponnese and as far north as Thessaloniki.

Representatives of all the cities that have hosted Olympiads received the flame to take back home for centenary celebrations in their respective cities.

Greek gold-medallist Voula Patoulidou was first to accept the flame, for Athens.

Representatives of Atlanta, USA, where this year's Games are to be held, will be receiving the flame later this month after it concludes its tour of Greek cities.

The evening ended with a performance of Greek music and dance and a massive fireworks display.

[12] IOC President

IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch was received by President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos on Saturday, and presented him with the committee's gold medal.

Yesterday, the IOC president had a meeting with Sports Under-secretary Andreas Fouras, whom he invited to visit the IOC headquarters in Lausanne in May.

[13] Australia

Saturday's marathon race was won by Australian Gary Henry, following in the footsteps of Spyros Louis who won the medal for Greece in 1896. The Australians sent a large contingent to Athens for the centenary, while the country's largest-circulation news paper, the Herald Sun, published a major feature on the celebrations, noting that the two countries were the only ones to have participated in all the Olympiads since 1896.

[14] World Health Day dedicated to worsening lifestyles confronting city dwellers

Yesterday, World Health Day, was dedicated to the program "Healthy cities for a better life", selected by the World Health Organization since more than 600 million city dwellers live in conditions posing a threat both to their health and lives.

The repercussions of urban development on city dwellers - various chronic respiratory conditions, mental illnesses, diseases such as cholera, even poor digestion and accidents - is on the increase, with experts considering that more than half the world' s population will be living in cities in a few years' time.

An announcement by the main opposition New Democracy party said "there is no place for party tabs in the health sector. Postponements cannot be allowed. Humanity is already experiencing stunning blows through the lack of wisdom. An awakening is a compelling necessity now."

[15] Greece bans faulty AIDS test

The health ministry on Saturday slapped a ban on the use of an AIDS test that the manufacturing company admits is faulty.

The Abbot company's AIDS test IMX HIV-1 HIV-2 3rd Gen. Plus was suspended following the furor created in Britain and other European countries by an announcement by the company itself that some of the tests in circulation provided their users with false results.

Health and Welfare Minister Anastasios Peponis instructed a committee from the Center for the Control of Infectious Diseases to probe the issue on Saturday morning. The committee gave him a report on its findings in the afternoon and he in turn ordered the suspension of the controversial test and called on prosecuting authorities to probe possible responsibilities on behalf of the Abbot company in Greece.

"The possibility of a mistake in terming a blood sample as negative or a person examined as being healthy, while in actual fact being a carrier of the AIDS disease, is in the region of one in a million examinations with the specific test. Practically, therefore, it is considered extremely unlikely for a case of a mistaken examination to appear in our country," a health ministry announcement said.

The company's representative in Greece had briefed the National Pharmaceuticals Organization on the issue on Friday afternoon.

End of English language section.