A.N.A. Bulletin, 04/05/96

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

Athens News Agency Directory

ATHENS NEWS AGENCY BULLETIN (No 877), May 4, 1996

Greek Press & Information Office

Ottawa, Canada

E-Mail Address: grnewsca@sympatico.ca

CONTENTS

[1] Premier outlines plans to bolster Greece's deterrent force

Prime Minister Costas Simitis yesterday announced a new armaments program for the armed forces and the settlement of problems concerning officers' salaries as part of the government's plans to create a strong deterrent force.

Speaking at the officers' club of the Fourth Army Corps in Xanthi, Mr. Simitis said the inner cabinet had decided to examine the armaments program within the next few months, while Finance Minister Alekos Papadopoulos had been instructed to formulate a new salary scale for officers.

"It is an issue which must be settled as soon as possible. Officers must be able to carry out their duties without worrying about financial matters," Mr. Simitis said.

The prime minister added that it was within the government's immediate priorities to consolidate meritocracy in the armed forces and render the military completely independent of party politics.

On the second day of his three-day visit to eastern Macedonia and Thrace, Mr. Simitis said the threat from Turkey was a real one "since Ankara has incorrectly interpreted the characteristics of the new situation and is intensifying its policy of coercive claims against Greece".

Turkey, he added, is escalating the tension in relations between the two countries "and is not only disputing Greece's sovereign rights in the air, at sea and in the region of the islands, but is also stepping up its territorial claims".

Turning to the recent Greek-Turkish stand-off in the Aegean after Ankara disputed Greek sovereignty of the Imia islets, Mr. Simitis said it provided "proof of this escalation, proof of Turkey's adventurist aggressiveness".

The outcome, he added, had been positive for Greece because Athens had managed to avoid "the trap" of being forced into negotiations.

The premier reiterated Greece's firm position that "we do not claim anything but neither will we concede anything".

"Greece will never concede or negotiate its sovereign rights which emanate from historical truth, were consolidated with the blood of generations of Greeks and have been conclusively recognized by indisputable international treaties," Mr. Simitis stressed.

The answer to Turkey's provocativeness, irrational claims and designs is a strong Greece, international law and international agreements, Mr. Simitis said.

"The policy of the Greek government is to render Turkish expansionism inoperative, to render its claims and threats empty, to cut them off at their root, thus depriving Turkey's actions of any international legitimacy," the premier added.

Mr. Simitis said that Greece had no illusions concerning the matter of support from its European partners with respect to Turkish expansionism.

"We believe however that the right which Greece has on its side can also become a part of their plans and interests," he said.

Mr. Simitis charged that Turkey's policy placed the sensitive region of the Balkans and the Eastern Mediterranean "in an insecure orbit".

The result, he said, is the danger that the West "at a time when it is trying to heal the wound of Bosnia, will experience, because of Turkey's illogical designs, a new destabilization scenario from the Caucasus to the Middle East".

In order for Greece to be strong, arms alone do not suffice, Mr. Simitis said, adding:

"We need development, economic and social progress... Peace is our strength. And the strength to safeguarding peace lies in a strong Greece."

Visiting works for the Egnatia highway across northern Greece near Kavalla, he stated, "Egnatia will be the backbone for the development of economic relations to the west, north and east... Its completion will change the face of northern Greece". He put the time of completion at around the year 2000.

Speaking during the opening ceremony of the new Xanthi General Prefectural Hospital yesterday, Mr. Simitis said that efforts will be made for improved living conditions and for developments to take place in the education and health sectors.

"I am here in Thrace to promote a new development model," Mr. Simitis said. "A development model which is not based on opportunistic promises and opportunistic measures, but has a long-term aim: to make Thrace a springboard of Hellenism in the surrounding area; to make Thrace a pole of development."

The prime minister said that within the regional investment program (PEP) for Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, 1.3 billion drachmas have been earmarked for the completion and equipping of the new hospital, while another 20 billion drachmas are to be provided for the Alexandroupolis Regional University Hospital.

Mr. Simitis added that 400 million drachmas have been earmarked for the completion, extension and modernization of a wing in the Drama General Hospital, while the Kavalla General Hospital is slated to receive 70 million drachmas. The remaining health sector projects in the Eastern Macedonia-Thrace region will receive roughly 250 to 300 million drachmas.

[2] Premier meets with Moslem minority representatives

Prime Minister Costas Simitis said his meeting with members of the Xanthi Moslem minority yesterday was "good", but added that some minority representatives expressed views with which the government disagreed.

Greek citizens of the religious minority "also have the social obligation to co-operate," he added.

Referring to his contacts with local agencies, Mr. Simitis said it appeared that, despite existing problems, the positive results of implementing the development program in process would appear in a short while.

Education Under-secretary George Paschalidis met yesterday with Moslem minority pupils in the prefecture of Xanthi, where he discussed the new education policy in Thrace, which includes talks on minority education, the reinforcement of teaching, inter--cultural schools, vocational training schemes and a program for school buildings.

Mr. Paschalidis stressed that 200 minority children will enter universities through this year's entrance exams, under the provisions of a new law on minority education.

Speaking to reporters, the education under-secretary explained that all that has been announced regarding the development of Thrace will need the implementation of the new inter-cultural education policy which the education ministry has been promoting for the past three years.

[3] Reactions

Commenting on the premier's tour, New Democracy's Macedonia-Thrace parliamentary control team said the region's development are not solved by "groups of traveling actors, which aim only at keeping up pretenses and ephemeral impressions".

It called on the government to consult ND's special relevant program for the region to see what it must do for the solution of the region's problems.

Political Spring party spokesman Notis Martakis charged that "even in Thrace, Mr. Simitis was busy with his internal party problems and the power struggle inside PASOK".

"Let him answer Political Spring's detailed proposals for economic progress and population boosting of this sensitive area," it added.

Communist Party (KKE) Secretary-General Aleka Papariga accused the prime minister of once again announcing "too much reinforced concrete and cement" and that it all boiled down to turning the region into a springboard for big capitalists and exportation of capital, rather than investment.

[4] Cyprus most important issue in Greek politics, says Pangalos

The Cyprus problem is the most important issue in Greek politics, the country's Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos, who has been on a two-day official visit to the island, stressed yesterday.

Speaking at a joint press conference with his Cyprus counterpart Alecos Michaelides, Mr. Pangalos reaffirmed the Greek government's solidarity to Cyprus and stressed that "a solution to the Cyprus problem is a condition for the improvement of Greco-Turkish relations."

Mr. Pangalos also said that it would be good for initiatives on the Cyprus problem to be coordinated and stressed the necessity to exercise pressure on Turkey in order to abandon its intransigent position.

"Ankara is the only one to be held responsible for the perpetuation of the Cyprus problem," the Greek foreign minister stressed.

Mr. Pangalos also stressed that there can be no dialogue between Greece and Turkey on the Cyprus problem.

"The Cyprus problem is clearly the concern of the government of Cyprus and Turkey as well as the international community that should take a stance on the coarse violation of international order," he said.

On his part, Mr. Michaelides described Mr. Pangalos' visit as "very useful, constructive and successful" and noted that its timing was also important.

"During our meetings we discussed the Cyprus problem, the island's accession to the European Union (EU), exchanged views on political developments and evaluated co-operation between the two ministries," Mr. Michaelides said.

"During the meetings special reference was made to the visit of US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Canadian Affairs John Kornblum," Mr. Michaelides added.

He also noted that the "US initiative will be based on an overall approach to the Cyprus problem and will center on the basic issues, the most important of which is that of security."

Mr. Michaelides also said that views were exchanged on the Cyprus-EU association council to take place on May 13 during which Cyprus will brief the EU on its harmonization process with the acquis communautaire.

"Any attempt to relate Cyprus' accession with a solution to the Cyprus problem is not constructive," Mr. Michaelides noted.

Mr. Pangalos also met with Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides earlier yesterday and was due to leave for Greece last night.

[5] Clerides to receive honorary doctorate

The Athens University Law School will award Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides an honorary doctorate at a ceremony on Tuesday. Mr. Clerides is due to have talks with Greek President Kostis Stephanopoulos and Prime Minister Costas Simitis next week in Athens.

[6] Gov't open to discussion of confidence-building measures with Turkey

The agreement reached by the foreign ministers of Greece and Turkey in 1988 concerning confidence-building-measures (CBMs) between the two countries is a good basis for "consultations and convergence", government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said yesterday.

Mr. Reppas was replying to questions on a recent article in the Athens daily 'Eleftherotypia' about the existence of a new US plan for CBMs in the Aegean.

The spokesman added that the government was not informed about the plan in question but did not rule out the possibility of ministry officials being aware of it.

In 1988, then foreign minister Karolos Papoulias and his Turkish counterpart at the time and now premier, Mesut Yilmaz, agreed in the seaside resort of Vouliagmeni near Athens to promote CBMs based on principle of good-neighborliness.

In a related development in Brussels yesterday, the press spokesman for European commissioner for external relations Hans van den Broek expressed optimism about the settlement of Greek-Turkish differences.

Spokesman Niko Vecter said Mr. van den Broek had discussed issues pertaining to Turkey during his recent visit to Washington. Following the meeting between Greece's Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos and his Turkish counterpart Emre Gonensay on the sidelines of a Black Sea co-operation conference in Bucharest last weekend, the optimistic view was being expressed in Washington and Brussels that Athens and Ankara had begun a process to resolve their differences, Mr. Vecter said.

The spokesman added that both Washington and the Commission were hopeful of a "positive development" which would allow Athens to lift its reservations concerning the disbursement of Community funds to Turkey under the MEDA program and for the EU-Turkey Association Council meeting to go ahead. MEDA provides for EU funds to the 12 non-EU countries of the Mediterranean, including Turkey, but must be approved unanimously.

Athens has stated that it will block the funds to Turkey unless Ankara accepts three Greek conditions for the settlement of Greek-Turkish differences. Specifically, Athens wants Ankara to state that it respects international treaties, that any disputes should be referred to the International Court at The Hague and that it renounces the threat or use of force.

Ankara, meanwhile, is opposed to the convening of the Association Council unless it has first secured the Community funds provided under MEDA and the customs union agreement. The present Italian presidency of the EU has committed itself to convening the Association Council before its term expires at the end of June.

[7] Former senior US official: Greece more important militarily, strategically than Turkey

Former US Assistant Treasury Secretary Eugene Rossides said yesterday that for the United States, Greece's role in the region was much more important than that of Turkey, both from a military and strategic viewpoint.

"I firmly believe that Greece is more important from a military and strategic point of view than Turkey," Mr. Rossides told a luncheon given in his honor by the Hellenic-American Chamber at a central Athens hotel.

Mr. Rossides spoke of the comparative contributions of Greece and Turkey in the two world wars and said even in the Gulf War, Greece's role for the US was 100 times more important than that of Turkey.

"In the Gulf War, how many people realize that Turkey said 'no', you cannot use any bases in Turkey... During Operation Desert Shield in 1991 we were not authorized to use our bases in Turkey, including the NATO base at Incirlik. Whereas (then premier Constantine) Mitsotakis quietly... authorized the 24-hour-a-day use of the most important base for the US in the Eastern Mediterranean, namely that of Souda Bay, Crete," Mr. Rossides said.

"That base is worth more than the entire Turkish land mass put together... and yet we have this continual view of the (US) Defense Department as to Turkey's value," he added.

Questioning Turkey's military value and reliability as an ally, Mr. Rossides underlined that Greece, along with Britain and France, was the only country that stood by the US in four wars this century.

[8] Romeos underlines Greek efforts for peace, reconstruction of former Yugoslavia at CoE synod

Alternate Foreign Minister George Romeos yesterday highlighted Greece's participation in Bosnian peace efforts and in other war-torn areas of the former Yugoslavia, during the 90th synod of Council of Europe (CoE) member-states' foreign ministers. Mr. Romeos made the statements during CoE discussions on the Dayton-Paris accords for implementing peace in the one-time Yugoslav republic, adding that Greece participated in those efforts as part of its membership in several European organizations and as a Balkan country.

"Greece, which was one of the first countries that announced its offer of $7 million in aid to reconstruct Bosnia-Herzegovina... has every serious reason to be gratified over the role given to the CoE within the agreement's framework," he said.

The Greek alternate foreign minister also expressed a hope that close co-operation between the CoE and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) would have positive results on the establishment of peace in the region, democratic institutions and democratic security in that country, so that one day Bosnia could join the 39-member CoE.

In addition, Mr. Romeos welcomed the first participation of Russian Foreign Minister Yevgeni Primakov in the CoE ministerial council, wishing him and Russia a fruitful and active tenure.

In a related matter, Mr. Romeos called his meeting yesterday with several Greek CoE officials "particularly fruitful and useful."

The high-ranking Greek diplomat met with the group during the sidelines of the CoE meeting, briefing the group on various positions Athens maintains on European and international issues. He also noted what he said was an improvement in the international scene vis-a-vis Greece's foreign policy positions after a recent tour by Prime Minister Costas Simitis.

Mr. Romeos answered questions from the CoE officials and later heard their opinions on Greece's role within the CoE, as well as on methods for dealing with appeals to the European Court, the Commission and the European Court for Human Rights.

[9] CoE social charter

Mr. Romeos signed the Council of Europe's Social Charter yesterday on behalf of Greece, saying the new charter ratifies basic economic and social rights, taking into consideration developments in the European society since 1961, when the first such charter was signed.

The new charter includes the right of protection from poverty and social exclusion, the right to a home and to protection in the case of dismissal and the right of protection against sexual and other forms of harassment, as well as workers' representatives' rights.

The new charter, which constitutes an international treaty and will undergo the same control procedure as the 1961 charter, was also signed by Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, France, Italy, Portugal and Sweden.

[10] Martens to receive key to the city in Nafplion

Belgian former prime minister Wilfried Martens will be proclaimed an honorary citizen of Nafplion at a ceremony to be held at the Town Hall today. The president of the European Peoples' Party will arrive in Nafplion by helicopter at 11am, accompanied by main opposition New Democracy party leader Miltiades Evert.

Mr. Martens, who is visiting Greece at the invitation of ND, expressed his desire to visit Nafplion and the municipal council decided to honor him.

[11] Press groups mark Freedom of the Press Day

On the occasion of Freedom of the Press Day yesterday, an announcement issued by the Panhellenic Federation of Journalists' Unions (POESY) referred to those journalists who are killed in the line of duty and of the Cyprus problem.

POESY also spoke of the will of Greek journalists to continue the fight "for the ratification and broadening of press freedom, for the practice of honest reporting and the correct informing of the Greek people."

The Athens Union of Journalists (ESHEA) issued an announcement which drew attention to "the heavy toll, which is paid for in blood, with repression, with imprisonment and torture by the press world in many countries...".

The announcement added that the International Press Federation reports that freedom of the press is threatened because of the "poverty of the South, the excessive commercialization of the North as well as acts of violence."

ESHEA called on journalists to stand back from political party and business games and to respect personal and family privacy. In the same announcement, the union expressed its will to "unconditionally support the pension and social rights of the journalistic world."

Meanwhile, ESHEA is to organize an event on press ethics and democracy in the media next Monday. Speakers at the event will include Vittorio Rointi, president of the Italian Press Federation and Antonio Veluto, who is responsible for international relations in the Italian Press Federation.

[12] CoE condemns attacks on journalists

The Council of Europe yesterday issued an announcement condemning murders, torture and attacks against journalists and called on its member states to guarantee their safety.

Alternate Foreign Minister George Romeos said yesterday that "I feel particularly happy as a former journalist, because on World Press Freedom Day I am given the opportunity to adopt, along with other ministers ... the statement by the Council of Europe on journalists, who are working mainly in war zones.

[13] "Courts move against Athens daily after it publishes state secrets

The government said yesterday it was opposed to the publication of official secrets, particularly those concerning the foreign ministry, after proceedings were initiated against an Athens daily for publishing documents relating to the Imia incident and the issue of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM).

Proceedings were initiated against "all persons responsible" on charges connected with legislation on official secrets, espionage and violation of official (ministerial) confidentiality after the daily 'Eleftheros Typos' published the documents.

Stressing that the government did not comment on the initiatives of the judicial authorities, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said nevertheless that from the moment Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos publicly described the publication of the documents as "detrimental", some time ago, the judiciary had concerned itself with the matter.

Commenting on a reporter's observation that it was the first time since 1974 that a journalist was being prosecuted, inter alia, for espionage, Mr. Reppas replied that the proceedings were initiated by the competent judicial authorities.

The spokesman asked whether there was anyone who was in favor of the publication of confidential documents, stressing that it was the duty of the media to inform public opinion with the aim of assisting the nation and Greek society, "and not increasing circulation and audience ratings".

[14] Siemens-Intrakom contract for OTE lines deemed null

The State Audit Council late Wednesday ruled that the awarding of a Hellenic Telecommunications Organization (OTE) contract for the provision of one million digital telephones to the Siemens-Intrakom consortium in 1994 was illegal, on the grounds of irregularities in the tendering procedure and insufficient consideration given to pricing and rival bids. It said the irregularities were such as to render the contract null.

Commenting, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said that following the ruling, ministers had referred the issue to the competent judicial authorities, but expressing his own personal opinion, said that the ruling did not refer to irregularities or unlawful actions of a kind that could be considered to have materially altered the result of the bidding.

Referring to other matters, Mr. Reppas denied reports that the Hyatt company, which had won the Thessaloniki casino concession, had stated its intention to withdraw and asked for compensation in a letter to Development Minister Vasso Papandreou.

Questioned whether during the prime minister's recent visit to the United States, President Bill Clinton had expressed interest in the granting of Rhodes casino license to the Playboy group, Mr. Reppas replied that the company in question wished to participate in the tender, and that the government would assess its application on the basis of objective criteria.

Commenting on the findings of the State Audit Council concerning the OTE contract, the Coalition of the Left stressed in a statement the need for a reform of legislation, the introduction of measures of parliamentary and social control, and the effective application of the law on the origins of wealth of prominent public figures that would guarantee transparency in public procurements.

[15] Internal PASOK issues selling papers, premier says

Prime Minister Costas Simitis said the ruling socialist PASOK party's intra-party matters were an attractive trap providing publicity and promotion.

Speaking to reporters in the Xanthi prefecture yesterday, Mr. Simitis said intra-party issues "divert PASOK from preoccupying itself with the problems of the people and the country."

He said the government would apply itself to tackling these problems only and called on all in PASOK to assume their responsibilities.

Meanwhile, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas declined any comment on the degree of mobilization organized by PASOK during the prime minister's visit to Thrace, but said the "limited number" of posters depicting Mr. Simitis cost 180,000 drachmas.

Replying to a questioner on when Mr. Simitis will meet with PASOK President Andreas Papandreou, Mr. Reppas reiterated that the date had not yet been set but "the meeting is on the agenda."

[16] PASOK Executive Bureau meets

The PASOK Executive Bureau met yesterday in order to discuss forthcoming changes in the party charter and the party's course and schedule until the PASOK congress in late June.

Party Secretary Costas Skandalidis submitted a 19-point proposal on changes in the charter which, according to information, states that "the (party) congress can elect a Vice-President with certain responsibilities."

Mr. Skandalidis clarified that the Executive Bureau is bound by the decision taken by the Central Committee on the eve of the election of a new prime minister for the position of a Vice-President to be proposed. However, he stressed that the final decision on the matter will be made by the party congress.

The Executive Bureau is to meet again next Thursday, while the coordinating council will meet on Friday, followed by meetings of Central Committee members in three groups.

Mr. Skandalidis said that the printing of a poster of the prime minister is not an issue, and added that the Executive Bureau can have no objections to such a poster.

[17] Benos pledges national policy on art

Culture Minister Stavros Benos yesterday promised to propose the formation of a special committee to draw up a national policy for art. Mr. Benos made the statement during the opening yesterday of a two-day conference entitled "Public and Private Modern Art Collections", organized by the Panhellenic Union of Art Galleries.

Julia Dimakopoulou, president of the union, said its aim is "the broadening of conditions determining the support of art from private sources and the proposals which ... will allow a more substantial support of artistic creativity."

Development Minister Vasso Papandreou and New Democracy deputy and former culture minister Dora Bakoyianni sent messages to the conference.

[18] DEH awards Acheloos hydro-electric plant contract to Croatian-Czech consortium

The Public Power Corporation (DEH) has signed a contract with the Croatian-Czech consortium "Koncar-CKD" for the design, production and supply of equipment and construction of the Messochora hydro-electric power plant on the Acheloos River in Thessaly, it was announced here yesterday.

Under the terms of the contract, the consortium will also be responsible for testing and commissioning the entire electrical and mechanical installations of the plant which will have an installed capacity of 2 x 86,000 kW.

The value of the turn-key project is 9.1 billion drachmas or 63 million German marks, of which 40 million will be for the equipment and works provided by the Zagreb-based electrical giant "Koncar".

Koncar will supply two generators each of 90000 kVA nominal power and two 145 kV block transformers as well as excitation, control, measurement, protection and related systems.

All the project works will be engineered by "Koncar - Energy and Transport Engineering" which is the leader of the Croatian-Czech consortium.

DEH awarded the contract to the consortium after tough international bidding with the participation of the world's leading manufacturers of electrical and mechanical components for hydro-electric plants.

Koncar was particularly well-placed in the competition in view of the reliable operation of the Stratos hydro-electric power plant commissioned in 1989, all the electrical equipment for which was produced, supplied and installed by the Croatian company.

The contract was signed at DEH's head office in Athens by the corporation's General Manager A. Papathanasiou, the President of "Koncar Industries Group" Vjekoslav Srb and CKD's General Manager Josef Bednar.

After the signing, Mr. Papathanasiou stressed the importance of the Messochora project for the entire Greek economy, while Mr. Srb noted that Koncar had already manufactured, supplied and installed equipment for 200 hydro-electric power plants around the world.

End of English language section.