A.N.A. Bulletin, 25/07/96

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

Athens News Agency Directory

ATHENS NEWS AGENCY BULLETIN (No 946), July 25, 1996

Greek Press & Information Office

Ottawa, Canada

E-Mail Address: grnewsca@sympatico.ca

CONTENTS

[1] President Stephanopoulos says no concessions on sovereignty possible

Greek-Turkish relations cannot be improved through concessions in our sovereign rights, and this must be understood by both friends and foes, President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos said in statements during last night's official reception on the occasion of the 22nd anniversary of the restoration of democracy in Greece.

"The only way is through Turkey abandoning its threats of war and infringements of our national air space, and at last behaving as a civilized state which respects the rules of international law, existing international treaties, but also international procedures in which it must seek recourse if it insists on its claims," he said.

"Of course, today's anniversary reminds us that the restoration of democracy was historically connected with the military invasion of the Turks in Cyprus, and with tension in Greek-Turkish relations," he said, adding that the Cyprus problem was facing a n impasse due to Turkey's intransigence, inability of international organizations to implement their resolutions and the inadequate interest on the part of major powers.

Prime Minister Costas Simitis made the following statement:

"Today we are before a new era, as in 1974. Then we had to consolidate democracy. Today, we have to proceed to the modernization of the country in order to create a strong Greece. As then, this task will now be achieved jointly by all: through systematic work, consistency, and effort," he said.

Departing from a reception at the presidential mansion last night, main opposition New Democracy party leader Miltiades Evert said "we must see the next day in a modern democracy which will be based on the triptych of national consensus in mapping a unified foreign policy, modernization and development. All of us together can give strength to Greece and happiness and prosperity to the Greeks."

Political Spring party leader Antonis Samaras said "that celebrating democracy is not enough, since we must defend it when it is threatened and such dangerous signs are the misinformation of public opinion, problems in our national issues and the refusal of PASOK and New Democracy for reforms with a new constitution."

On her part, Communist Party of Greece (KKE) secretary general Aleka Papariga said "we are far away from true democracy, since democracy is not understood with austerity, autocracy and unemployment. The people must struggle for multi-faceted democracy."

Parliament also marked the 22nd anniversary of the restoration of democracy in Greece after a military junta ruling the country collapsed on July 24, 1974.

During a discussion held as part of a debate on the labor ministry's bill on education and vocational training for the unemployed, Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis said the restoration of democracy paved a new way after the seven-year dictator ship to an era in which all of Europe had already entered.

"Over the period of these 22 years serious and major developments have taken place in the direction of our country's democratization and modernization," Mr. Kaklamanis said, adding that "there are important steps which have to be taken, primarily concerning the reliability of political institutions, the prestige, role, reliability and effectiveness of the political world."

Political party representatives said democracy was strong in Greece and faced no threat and noted that the event coincided with the Turkish invasion and occupation of part of Cyprus, making the responsibilities of the Greek political world for the need to resolve the Cyprus issue even greater.

Democratic Social Movement (DHKKI) leader Dimitris Tsovolas said "Parliamentary democracy is experiencing a period of fatigue after 22 years."

"Popular sovereignty and political and economic democracy are being restricted by the major foreign powers, economic power and their 'modern' political expressors, with the assistance and support of the big mass communication media. Consequently, a new start is necessary and new democratic popular struggles for the substantive restoration of political and economic democracy," Mr. Tsovolas added.

[2] Greece excludes Turkish Cypriot participation in military meeting on Cyprus

Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said yesterday that if there was any meeting between the military commanders of the two sides in divided Cyprus, it would be between the commanders of the Cypriot National Guard and the Turkish forces illegally occupying the northern part of the island.

Mr. Reppas was replying to reporters' questions on the meeting, first announced by Washington's ambassador to the United Nations, Madeleine Albright, during her visit to the island republic last week.

Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides said on Tuesday that the Greek Cypriot side would not participate in military talks if the so-called commander of the Turkish Cypriot forces took part in them.

The UN secretary-general's permanent representative in Cyprus, Gustave Feissel, said on Monday that the meeting, aimed at defusing tension between the two sides, was expected to be held sometime this month.

Mr. Reppas reiterated that the Turkish and Turkish Cypriot side was solely responsible for the difficulties in organizing the meeting.

In a related matter, in an interview with the Cable News Network (CNN) in Atlanta on Tuesday, Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos called on the US government to exert its influence on Turkey to make Ankara realize that the Cyprus issue should be resolved.

Mr. Pangalos said the substantive problem in Cyprus, which has been discussed with Washington, was that of security. He said a system should be found through which the two communities, the Greek Cypriot majority and the Turkish Cypriot minority, would f eel secure.

Mr. Pangalos said President Clerides proposed the demilitarization of the island with the maintenance of an international presence, which could be that of NATO, the European Union or the United Nations. He said it could guarantee the smooth establishment of the new institutions, which would represent common federal existence for the two communities.

[3] Australia urges efforts for Cyprus resolution

Australia has never taken and will not take a position on the Greek-Turkish dispute in the Aegean, Australia's Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said yesterday.

Canberra, however, he added, insists on its long-standing position on the Cyprus issue and supports the efforts of the UN Secretary-General and other centers to find a viable and just solution to the problem.

Mr. Downer's comments came in response to a letter from Dimitris Dollis, the Victorian Labor Party deputy leader, requesting to be briefed on the ruling Liberal Party's positions on Greek-Turkish relations.

"The present government has taken no position on the Greek-Turkish dispute in the Aegean and does not intend to take a position. In the context of the tension in relations between Greece and Turkey for the rights of minorities and the Aegean, the solution of the Cyprus problem can contribute to the restoration of peace and stability in the Mediterranean and the Balkans," Mr. Downer said.

[4] Australian opposition leader to visit Greece

The leader of the state of Victoria's opposition, John Barbies, will pay an official visit to Greece next week.

Mr. Barbie is expected to meet with Prime Minister Costas Simitis, and other leading government officials as well as President Kostis Stephanopoulos.

[5] Coalition leader petitions Santer over conditions in Turkish jails

Coalition of the Left and Progress leader Nikos Constantopoulos yesterday sent a letter to European Commission President Jacques Santer concerning the issue of political prisoners in neighboring Turkey. According to informed sources, Mr. Constantopoulos is requesting the intervention of the Commission to press Turkey into respecting human rights.

A third prisoner died yesterday following a two-month hunger strike in Turkish jails organized to protest prison conditions.

Meanwhile, the issue of the estimated 1,500 political prisoners in Turkish jails and the ongoing hunger strike has also been raised in a question submitted by Coalition Eurodeputy Alekos Alavanos to the European Union Council of Ministers.

[6] Communist Party protests to the Council of Europe

The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) yesterday sent a protest to the Council of Europe, condemning the "unacceptable situation prevailing in the issue of human rights and democratic freedoms in Turkey" on hearing the news of the death of a third hunger-striker.

The KKE asks for the assistance of the CoE in the "restoration of democratic rights, the cessation of political sanctions and the acceptance by the Turkish government of the justified demands of the imprisoned hunger-strikers."

KKE deputy Stratis Korakas has also sent a letter to the president of the CoE's Parliamentary Assembly Leni Fischcer seeking a CoE delegation "as soon as possible" to visit Turkey and the prisons in which the hunger strike is continuing to examine the situation at first-hand."

[7] ND statement

In an announcement yesterday the main opposition New Democracy party criticized what it called a crude violation of human rights in Turkey.

ND called on the government to pursue with all means at its disposal the adoption of guarantees, by which tangible respect by Turkey for the rights of man and principles governing a state of law will constitute a fundamental pre-condition for its further European course.

The Athens Journalists Union (ESHEA), meanwhile, denounced the continuing infringement of human rights in Turkey in the wake of the deaths of two political detainees who had gone on a hunger strike.

In an announcement yesterday, ESHEA referred to the deaths of Aygun Ugur and Altan Berdan Kerigmiler, who went on hunger strike with hundreds of other inmates currently held in 33 Turkish prisons.

ESHEA received representatives of the Kurdish Solidarity Committee on Tuesday and expressed its solidarity to "the struggling Kurdish and Turkish people", adding that Turkey "should respect its signature on the International Proclamation of Human Rights ."

[8] Flags fly at half-mast for Parthenios

Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas yesterday praised the memory of Orthodox Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa Parthenios, who died of a heart attack on Tuesday while vacationing in Greece.

Parthenios was a significant factor in Orthodoxy, Mr. Reppas said, adding that his memory will always be respected.

Flags at all public services, schools and other state organizations will fly at half-mast as a mark of respect for Parthenios, following a decision by Interior, Public Administration and Decentralization Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos.

[9] Popular actress to be buried today

People flocked to the Athens Cathedral's chapel yesterday to pay their last respects to popular stage and screen actress Aliki Vougiouklaki, who died after a three-month battle with cancer on Tuesday morning.

Aliki Vougiouklaki's funeral will be held this afternoon at public expense. She will be laid to rest in Athens' First Cemetery, while a bust of the actress will be erected in a central Athens location, following a decision taken by the Athens municipality yesterday.

In a related development, Turkish media yesterday noted that almost all her films had been shown in the neighboring country's cinemas, where Vougiouklaki was hugely popular. The mass circulation daily "Hurriet" said that "the decade of the '70s was the decade in which her star shone in Turkey. Her films were played for weeks in Istanbul cinemas."

"Milliet" noted that Vougiouklaki had also acted in a Greek-Turkish co-production filmed in Turkey.

As "Sabah" wrote, "Aliki, who had taken a place in the hearts of Greeks, had also conquered the hearts of the Turks."

[10] Investigation ordered into Marinos' death

The Piraeus Port Authority yesterday launched an investigation into the shooting death of Christophoros Marinos, a controversial figure authorities charged last year with the robbery-murder of a hospital's cashier. His body, with one gunshot wound to the head, was discovered in a ferry boat's cabin Tuesday evening.

Police sources said yesterday that Marinos, who reportedly breached the conditions of his release by traveling outside the vicinity of his residence, committed suicide in the cabin of the passenger ferry "Pegasus", which had arrived from a route in the Cyclades.

Although he was incarcerated last year pending trial for his alleged participation in the bloody June 1 daylight robbery at the Nikaia State Hospital, he was conditionally released on bail after an almost two-month-long hunger strike.

Last year's arrest was the last in a string of run-ins Marinos had with authorities, as he had been previously accused of involvement in several anarchist-related crimes and terrorist attacks.

In addition, the public order ministry officially announced that Marinos was to be arrested upon arrival.

According to witnesses, members of the security forces' anti-terrorist squad boarded the vessel when it docked in Piraeus, arresting a woman apparently accompanying Marinos, while others rushed into his cabin, where they found his body.

Marinos had fled to Hungary in 1991, where he was arrested and extradited to Greece.

[11] Marinos' connection to attack at PASOK headquarters hinted

Public Order Minister Costas Geitonas yesterday did not rule out the possibility that Marinos could have been involved in an attack on a police guard at the PASOK offices in Athens a few weeks ago.

He said yesterday someone was found Tuesday night who allegedly accompanied the attacker and has given a deposition both on the events and on the assailant.

The minister refused to answer reporters' questions regarding whether this attacker was Marinos, saying an investigation is continuing.

[12] New Greek ambassador in Austria presents his credentials

Athens' new ambassador to Vienna, Yiannis Yennimatas, presented his credentials yesterday to Austrian President Thomas Klestil.

The official ceremony in the Austrian capital included a political discussion between the two men, with Mr. Klestil showing an interest in Greek-Turkish relations and the Cyprus issue.

The new Greek ambassador conveyed greetings from President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos to Mr. Klestil, assuring him of Athens' wish to reinforce bilateral co-operation during the intergovernmental conference.

Mr. Yennimatas also briefed the Austrian president on issues concerning Greece, with particular emphasis on national issues and on the situation in the Balkans. On his part, Mr. Klestil expressed his satisfaction for Austria's participation in the UN peacekeeping force in Cyprus.

[13] Samaras: US must set the record straight on Athens airport security

Political Spring party leader Antonis Samaras said yesterday that US President Bill Clinton had a "debt to truth" to refute all "slanders aimed against Greece" in connection with security at Athens airport.

Commenting on references by certain international media outlets to the possibility that a bomb might have been placed on the fatal TWA flight 800 before it flew out of Athens last week, Mr. Samaras said it was "more than certain that our country has no responsibility, and President Clinton himself has admitted that no safe conclusions can yet be drawn regarding the causes of the crash."

The TWA airliner crashed into the Atlantic off Long Island, New York shortly after leaving JFK Airport in New York bound for Paris. An investigation by US federal aviation officials has not announced the causes of the downing.

[14] Simitis today expected to end speculation on early elections

Prime Minister Costas Simitis will put an end to speculation regarding early elections in today's PASOK central committee session, reliable sources said yesterday.

He is expected to refer to efforts for medium-term planning during the government's remaining 15 months in office and stress the importance of rules in political life, rather than electoral surprise moves, they added.

[15] KEDKE conference slated for Cyprus

More than 2,000 mayors and community leaders from all over Greece will attend the Central Union of Greek Municipalities and Communities' (KEDKE) regular conference in Cyprus in early October.

With this decision, KEDKE signals local administration's active participation in promoting a solution to national issues and extending its co-operation with local administration.

Local administrations' economic and institutional issues will be discussed in Syros and Kos and will constitute intermediate stops in the trip to Cyprus, where mayors and community leaders will stay for two days.

[16] Agreements between large public enterprises, private sector discussed

Establishment of programmatic agreements between public utilities and enterprises and private industries was the subject of a broad meeting yesterday involving Development Minister Vasso Papandreou, the managing directors of all public utilities as well as representatives of industrial concerns and trade unions.

After the meeting, Ms Papandreou stressed that the promotion of such agreements was necessary in order to provide work to Greek businesses and workers, but also to supply utilities with qualitative products at favorable prices.

Federation of Greek Industries (SEB) president Iason Stratos referred to favorable effects of such agreements, saying that they would be nationally beneficial and help in the development of the economy.

General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE) president Christos Protopapas said the only ones who stood to lose from the arrangement were importers and foreign interests.

Commenting on criticism of the agreements by former New Democracy national economy minister Stephanos Manos, Ms Papandreou stated:

"I imagine it is difficult for Mr. Manos to agree with something that the PASOK government does, and still more difficult to agree with something which Greek workers ask for. But it is also something which Greek industrialists want.

"My question is whether New Democracy knows of Mr. Manos' position, and whether is also their own. My view is that it serves foreign industries. If Mr. Manos wishes to become an agent of other industries, that is his own choice".

[17] Athens' request for 5-year delay in telecommunications deregulation to be discussed

The European Commission will give detailed consideration to a Greek request for a five-year transitional period regarding deregulation of the telecommunications sector, EU Competition Commissioner Karel van Miert has told Transport and Communications Minister Haris Kastanidis in a letter.

Greece has asked for an additional transitional period until July 1, 2001 for abolition of restrictions in the use of its own or alternative infrastructures in the provision of telecommunications services, and until Jan. 1, 2003 for deregulation in the sector of installation of new public telecommunications networks.

Intracom and the Bulgarian Telecommunications Organization (BTC) signed a five-year agreement last week on the supply of digital supply systems (PCM4).

[18] SEB says Gov't convergence programme showing divergence

The government's convergence programme for participation in the EU economic and monetary union is showing divergences, especially regarding inflation and public debt, necessitating adoption of appropriate measures, a statement by the Federation of Greek Industries (SEB) read yesterday.

The statement contained the following main points:

"The speeding up of fiscal adjustment through a reduction in expenses, which have been increasing faster than forecasts, must receive absolute priority...

"Equally important is the immediate promotion of structural changes, particularly regarding the functions of the state. A first element is the speeding up of at least those privatizations which have been approved. Secondly, the continuously announced, but never implemented reform of public administration, the aim being the reduction in the number of civil servants and improvements in productivity".

"Progress in the above sectors can and must be accompanied by a monetary and exchange policy which will allow a speedier reduction in interest rates, will limit liquidity and take seriously into account the negative effects on competitiveness, which become more pronounced daily...

"Finally, economic growth rates can be significantly increased if there is speedy progress in public investment and more effective absorption of Second Support Framework funds. Apart from that, if decisive, clear and effective action is soon undertaken on the important issues of economic policy, consolidating a positive climate and providing a clear message, it is certain that the private sector will move more energetically, thus contributing to the attainment of faster economic growth," the SEB statement added.

[19] Greek teams' Olympic roundup

The Greek men's lightweight double sculls crew qualified for the semifinals in a convincing performance after Vasilis Polymeros and Ioannis Kourkourikis finished in second place behind the Italian crew in yesterday's heats.

The women's lightweight double sculls crew of Angeliki Gremou and Chrissa Biskitzi were not as successful, losing their fast start to finish fifth in their heat, six seconds behind the Japanese crew.

In swimming, Aikaterini Sarakatsani came in fourth in the women's 200m individual medley heat in a time of 2 minutes 19.74, not managing to qualify for the final, while the women's 4x100 medley relay team managed only eighth position in yesterday's heats.

In yesterday's men's cycling 1 km time trial finals, Greece's Dimitris Georgalis finished seventh out of 20 with a time of 1 minute 04.995, while in water polo, the Greek national team lost 10-8 to Italy.

[20] Greece could have managed Olympics, minister says

Greece on Tuesday joined the chorus of criticism over the Atlanta Olympics, saying the chaos and commercialization were outweighing the friendliness of the city's people.

"Athens could have done it," Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, referring to the Greek capital's failed bid to win the centenary Olympics. "My view as a tourist is it seems to be total confusion. I ask myself if it couldn't be better organized," he said.

Describing his problems, Mr. Pangalos said his party had nearly been late to events because foreign volunteers who did not know their way round Atlanta were driving. He has now resorted to using a car from the Greek consulate in Atlanta. The minister attacked the rampant commercialization of the Games which has turned the city center into a collection of advertisements for sponsors.

"The commercialization cannot go further. There is a limit after which you begin to identify the Olympics with the corporations," he said.

Mr. Pangalos had warm words about the host of volunteers who have done their best to live up to the US south's reputation for friendliness and hospitality.

End of English language section.