A.N.A. Bulletin, 02/09/96

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

Athens News Agency Directory

ATHENS NEWS AGENCY BULLETIN (No 978), September 2, 1996

Greek Press & Information Office

Ottawa, Canada

E-Mail Address: grnewsca@sympatico.ca

CONTENTS

[1] Simitis hits campaign trail today, ND prepares final tickets

Greek political parties are putting together their party tickets and sharpening their rhetoric as Greece enters the second week of campaigning ahead of the Sept. 22 election.

Prime Minister and PASOK leader Costas Simitis will hit the campaign trail today with visits to the islands of Hios and Lesvos.

Tomorrow, he will present the party's election manifesto to the party's National Council which is convening on the occasion of the 22nd anniversary of the party's founding.

In an interview with the Sunday newspaper "Kyriakatiki Eleftherotypia," Mr. Simitis expressed his certainty of an election win, saying that "PASOK will win the elections even if they were conducted a year later."

The prime minister's decision last month to hold snap elections has been criticized by the opposition parties, who said it concealed the government's intention to push through tough economic measures.

But the prime minister has said he was satisfied with the economy, stressing that no new economic measures are in the pipeline.

Meanwhile, main challenger ND leader Miltiades Evert accused the prime minister of having a monetarist and extremely conservative perception, during his visit to the Alexandroupolis prefecture in northern Greece.

Accusing Mr. Simitis of not trusting his own party, Mr. Evert said ND was only concerned with the problems of the people, reiterating the seven economic measures which the party has pledge to implement as government.

He further criticized Mr. Simitis for his handling in the Skopje issues and Greek-Turkish relations.

Political Spring party leader Antonis Samaras concluded his tour of the Dodecanese with a visit to Karpathos yesterday, while today he is expected to tour the prefectures of Fthiotida and Evia.

In statements during his visits, Mr. Samaras called on both Mr. Simitis and Mr. Evert to say whether they planned, as government, to continue the imposition of austerity measures and the hard drachma policy.

Mr. Samaras also called on the two men to state whether they would go into dialogue with Turkey.

Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Secretary-General Aleka Papariga will visit the Athens district of Tavros today as part of the party's election campaign.

Speaking to the press yesterday, Ms Papariga noted "the people's indignation with the policies of the two major parties" which "do not tell the truth regarding the decisions which Washington and Brussels have made and which will be imposed after the elections."

Continuing his visit to Evia, Coalition of the Left and Progress leader Nikos Constantopoulos accused Mr. Simitis and Mr. Evert of squabbling over the problems in the economy, despite being well aware that as government they will have to take tough measures.

Meanwhile, Democratic Social Movement, DHKKI, leader Dimitris Tsovolas is due to present the party's ticket to the press today.

[2] Pangalos: Greek-Albanian bilateral relations have a 'bright future'

Greece and Albania on Saturday reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening their bilateral relations, with Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos saying that the two countries' relations now faced "a bright future".

"The era of suspicion (between Greece and Albania) is over," Mr. Pangalos told reporters at a press conference following the official inauguration of the new offices of the Greek consulate general in Gjirokaster, the first stop in his two-day visit to the neighboring country.

Albanian President Sali Berisha accepted an invitation to visit Greece, the first by an Albanian head of state, at a date yet to be announced, following his talks with Mr. Pangalos in the town of Avlon on Saturday.

The two men discussed a series of outstanding bilateral issues, including the liberalization of restrictions on the movement of persons in the border region, and the legalization and seasonal employment of part of the Albanian immigrants in Greece. The two also agreed on a meeting of Balkan foreign ministers.

Mr. Pangalos began his visit to Albania with talks with his Albanian counterpart Tritan Shehu.

Following his talks with Mr. Shehu and the opening of the Greek consulate, Mr. Pangalos said the conditions causing mistrust between the two peoples had been eliminated "and therefore suspicion has no place any more."

He said Greek-Albanian relations could "develop in depth, expanding in the fields of defense, infrastructure, and business," adding that relations between the two countries should set an example for the Balkans.

Speaking on his arrival, Mr. Pangalos said that after next month's elections, the Greek Parliament is expected to pass legislation providing legal status to 30 per cent of all illegal Albanians in Greece.

The minister stressed however that Greece will not allow the "uncontrollable entry of illegal immigrants into Greece," saying Greece's policy on the issue of visas was in harmony with EU legislation.

"Entry to Greece is entry to the European Union...," he said. "We cannot open our borders, this would be detrimental to Greek-Albanian relations and damaging to our economy."

The minister, however, unveiled plans to grant visas to seasonal workers mainly in the border regions. "This will assist the development of Epirus and attract investors," he said.

Turning to other issues, Mr. Pangalos expressed the Greek government's satisfaction at the decision of the Albanian government to allow the re-opening of Greek schools in the towns of Gjirokaster, Delvino and Sarante.

Asked to comment on the Ecumenical Patriarchate's decision to appoint three metropolitans at the Greek Church of Albania and the subsequent reaction of the Albanian government, Mr. Pangalos said the Ecumenical Patriarchate was an international institution and was not controlled by the Greek state.

"The Orthodox Church of Albania belongs to the Ecumenical Patriarchate, which is not a Greek institution, it does not belong to the Greek state and therefore cannot be controlled by the Greek government.

"It is a religious institution, one with universal range and international scope and I think that the Albanian government should establish some kind of contact with the Patriachate.

"If such contact is established then the issue could be raised and discussed between them," Mr. Pangalos added.

Referring to recent vandalism in the Greek Church of Moschopolis by Moslem youths, Mr. Pangalos said "this is a crime and it must be punished."

[3] Avramopoulos 'honorary citizen'

Athens Mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos, who is visiting Gjirokaster to inaugurate the "Quality of Life Week," was declared an honorary citizen of the town at a special ceremony yesterday.

A committee of "understanding and co-operation" has been established on the initiative of Mr. Avramopoulos, with the aim of initiating co-operation between the local administrations of the two cities.

"Such initiatives contribute to the formulation of a climate of co-operation, understanding and rapprochement while facilitating contact between the two countries without interfering with foreign policy issues," Mr. Avramopoulos said.

[4] Simitis confident of victory

Prime Minister and PASOK leader Costas Simitis on Saturday was confident of the party receiving a majority vote in this month's general elections, adding that the elections shall be won by a new majority of "mature and conscientious citizens, the majority of the great hope for Greece."

Addressing PASOK's Central Committee, Mr. Simitis expressed certainty that the party will win the elections while calling on all citizens to reinforce PASOK's majority, especially those who "participated in the struggle for the 1993 election win."

Mr. Simitis said this would give rise to a "greater win," branding this month's elections "a great political and social battle."

He said the forthcoming general elections was a battle between two opposing forces representing different government programs, different solutions to problems, and yielding two different political leaderships.

"I call upon all PASOK members and officials to participate in this election battle in a manner worthy of our goals and our programs," Mr. Simitis said.

"We are," he added, " the party which incorporates in the fullest sense of the word, the dynamics of development and the need for social justice."

"We express the most pioneering and dynamic trends of the Greek society," he said. "PASOK will lead Greece to the 21st century."

Mr. Simitis accused main opposition New Democracy of relying on "promises and handouts".

The prime minister accused ND leader Miltiades Evert of starting his party's campaign with electoral promises amounting to 600 billion drachmas, thus "proving that he represents an old system of thought and action attempting to turn the country back to the 60s."

The prime minister said PASOK sought to exert power "as effectively and efficiently as it can to serve our strategic goals."

Mr. Simitis said these goals were Greece's equal participation in the European Union, the country's leading role in the Balkans and the Mediterranean, the modernization and development of the economy, and the making of a modern welfare state.

"These goals," the prime minister said, "must be achieved in order not to miss opportunities."

Turning to other issues, the PASOK leader referred to the need for the continuation of the government's policy on Greek-Turkish relations "in order to fend off Turkish provocativeness."

[5] Simitis interview: 'ND not a serious solution'

In an interview with the Sunday newspaper, "Kyriakatiki Eleftherotypia," Prime Minister and PASOK leader Costas Simitis criticized main opposition New Democracy Miltiades Evert for his pledge to abolish the objective tax criteria and said he wondered how M r. Evert was planning to make up for the loss in revenues to the state.

According to the newspaper, Mr. Simitis said that neither Mr. Evert nor New Democracy constituted a "serious, trustworthy and reliable governmental solution for the great, vital problems facing the country."

"This vote is crucial," the prime minister said, "because we are called to answer on certain dilemmas.

"Do we want political stability or political adventure?

Do we want neo-conservative economic experimentation with an uncertain future or a consistent and efficient developmental policy resulting in welfare for all?

"Do we want political uncertainty due to a lack of cohesion in New Democracy or a stable and undistracted administration of the country for the following four-years?

"Do we want social insecurity due to a substantial indifference on the part of the ND over social policy or a modern welfare state?

"Do we want fluctuations in our international relations due to the contradictory relations of ND and its lack of presence in the international scene or the continuation of an implementable and morally weighty foreign policy, for Greece and Hellenism?."

Expressing certainty of an election win, Mr. Simitis was quoted as saying that "PASOK would win the elections even if these were conducted a year later."

The prime minister's decision to hold early elections has been criticized by the opposition parties, who said it concealed the government's intention to push through tough economic measures.

But the prime minister has said he is satisfied with the economy stressing that no new economic measures are in line.

[6] Evert stresses Turkish threat to Greece

Main opposition New Democracy party leader Miltiades Evert yesterday reiterated that Turkey posed the gravest danger to Greece, but cautioned against the exclusion of the Moslem minority from the political process that might lead to the creation of a minority party.

"The greatest danger always comes from the east. And the greatest protection must be offered to Cyprus and Northern Epirus (southern Albania), where there are Greeks," he told a meeting with reporters in Alexandroupolis, during a tour of the Evros border region where he is standing as a candidate.

Rejecting Political Spring party leader Antonis Samaras' exclusion of Moslem candidates in statements Friday, Mr. Evert said:

"Of course they will be included, because they are Greek. And I would like to say to Mr. Samaras that he must be more careful regarding national matters. It is as if we were pushing Greek Moslems to create a minority party, and that would be the worst thing that could happen in Greece".

Continuing on foreign affairs, Mr. Evert said his party would be willing to resume dialogue with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) under UN auspices, but warned that due to the government's handling of differences, the outstanding issue of the name would now be much more difficult to settle.

"Now New Democracy will seek dialogue. But it will also be ready to adopt the necessary measures if it finds that Skopje is not forthcoming. While in no way claiming that the issue has been lost, conditions have become much more difficult," he said.

Turning to economic issues, the main opposition leader accused the prime minister of being overtly monetarist and conservative.

"Mr. Simitis holds a terribly conservative monetarist view, verging on neo-conservatism, which says that in order to cover the deficit, you must increase and impose new taxes. The answer is that in order to reduce the deficit, you must create growth. This is our big difference. We say reduction in expenses and waste, and growth, which automatically generates tax revenue," he said. He was responding to a question posed by the prime minister in an interview with the Sunday "Kyriakatiki Eleftherotypia" newspaper regarding how New Democracy would replace lost revenue resulting from its proposed abolition of the objective criteria system of taxation of self-employed professionals.

[7] ND party lists released by Tuesday at the latest

After chairing New Democracy's Executive Committee on Saturday, leader Miltiades Evert announced that the party's lists of candidates would be announced either today or tomorrow, at the latest.

The committee discussed the proposals of the political and social councils, and of the prefectural party organizations concerning the candidates.

Parliamentary group Secretary-General Stavros Dimas said discussion had been detailed and in-depth, adding that the lists would be "tickets for victory".

Sources said that besides the current party deputies, the tickets would include farmers and a greater number of women.

[8] Papariga says PASOK, ND concealing the truth from the people

Communist Party (KKE) Secretary-General Aleka Papariga yesterday charged that the two major parties were concealing from the Greek people decisions taken by Brussels and Washington regarding Greece, and which would be become apparent after the elections.

"International capital is entering Greece in order to shrink the country's productive base," she said, adding that responsibility for the deficits did not lay with the working people, but with the policy of the governments of New Democracy and PASOK, as well as with the businessmen involved in these acquisitions.

She cited the examples of the Elefsina, Skaramanga, and Neorion shipyards, and the Peiraiki-Patraiki textile factory in Patra.

KKE yesterday released the party's tickets for all constituencies.

Top of the list in the Council of State ticket, which includes candidates elected on the basis of nationwide party poll strength, is former KKE Secretary-General Harilaos Florakis.

Ms Papariga will be a candidate in the 2nd Athens district and Lesvos.

[9] Coalition aims at a strong parliamentary presence

The election manifesto of the Coalition of the Left and Progress party, presented on Saturday to the press, outlines a series of party proposals for reforms in domestic and foreign policy and aims at gaining the party a strong presence in the new Parliament.

"The Coalition is a force for radical initiatives and interventions and a platform for proposals, solutions and ideas," the manifesto says.

In the domain of domestic policies, the manifesto points to the need for reforms in economic and social policies, as well as radical changes in the tax system in order to achieve a "just tax system."

It stresses the need for faster absorption of Community funds through transparent procedures falling under social and inter-party control.

The manifesto also proposes radical forms in public administration, new directions in public spending, radical revision of the constitution and a new institutional framework for mass media operation.

The need for decentralization and environmental protection are also underlined in the manifesto.

In the foreign policy domain, the Coalition's manifesto points to the need for an exit from isolation and dependency and says the country must escape from its nationalistic rhetoric and defensiveness.

On Greece's national issues, the manifesto outlines a series of proposals including solution to the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) issue through acceptance of a composite name and the conclusion of necessary conditions for dialogue with Turkey.

The Coalition says Greece should abandon the joint defense doctrine with Cyprus, while reiterating its support for Cyprus's accession to the European Union.

It further says Greece needs to free itself from existing close relations with the United States.

The Coalition lashed out against the Political Spring party on Saturday, calling "unprecedented" its proposals for the exclusion of Greek Moslems from standing for elections in the Sept. 22 poll, saying that such proposals served Ankara's designs.

Pol.An's proposals constitute "a crude offense against any sense of equality," a Coalition announcement said on Saturday, adding that it hoped that ruling PASOK and main opposition New Democracy would not follow Pol.An's position.

"We believe that PASOK and ND will not follow him (Political Spring leader Antonis Samaras) down his slippery road which will give rise to further hindrances to the smooth incorporation and development of the minority in the country's democratic course," an announcement said.

The Coalition's youth group, EAN, also expressed its opposition, calling upon the other parties' political youth groups to "turn their back on nationalistic exaltations which imperil the country and are offensive to any sense of humanity."

Yesterday, meanwhile, the Coalition's leader Nikos Constantopoulos accused both PASOK and ND of "speaking on the economy as if they are aliens in this country."

He said their statements constituted a provocation for the Greek people which called them both back to "the tough road of reality" and that the 1997 budget was "tough and ruthless."

Mr. Constantopoulos said the prime minister's economic policy had failed, a fact which Mr. Simitis tried to conceal behind ideas and a vision for the future, while Mr. Evert tried to ignore this fact by giving empty promises.

[10] Dukakis promises progress on Cyprus in event of Clinton re-election

1997 will be the year of US initiatives for Cyprus and the Middle East, former Massachussets governor and Democratic presidential candidate Michael Dukakis said in Athens yesterday.

"If Bill Clinton is re-elected, I believe we shall be able to find ways for peace in Cyprus and the Middle East and put an end to the Turkish occupation in Cyprus," he said, adding that recent political developments in Turkey were causing concern in the United States.

During his visit to Greece, Mr. Dukakis will meet President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos, Prime Minister Costas Simitis and New Democracy party leader Miltiades Evert. The University of Crete has also decided to award him its golden medallion.

Asked if he was carrying a message from Mr. Clinton, Mr. Dukakis, who is of Greek descent, said the message was that the president and the American people had a great interest in the Greeks and the relations between the two countries.

[11] President opens 1st Medical Olympics on Kos

President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos Saturday officially inaugurated the sessions of the 1st International Medical Olympics, stressing the significance of the Olympics being held on the island of Kos, the birthplace of Hippocrates, the father of medicine.

Mr. Stephanopoulos spoke of a continuation of the ancient spirit, stressing that the Olympic ideal was connected to the principles and ethics of the medicine practiced by Hippocrates.

The ceremony was opened by Kos Mayor Kostas Kaisarlis. The prime minister was represented by Health Under-secretary Theodoros Kotsonis. Also present were Political Spring leader Antonis Samaras, ND deputy Aristotelis Pavlidis, Olympic gold medal winner Yiannis Melissanidis and other Olympic team members and 2,000 islanders and visitors.

[12] Arsenis reiterates Greek support for Cyprus in visit to island republic

Hellenism is in a position to face any threat, no matter where this comes from, Greek Defense Minister Gerassimos Arsenis said here yesterday.

He also stressed that a joint Greco-Cypriot defense pact is "here to stay" because Cyprus and Greece share a common future and both countries are moving together to meet the challenges of the next century, when Greece aspires to play a leading role in t he Balkans and the Eastern Mediterranean.

Mr. Arsenis, who arrived earlier yesterday on the island republic, was speaking at a ceremony in Limassol port where he and Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides welcomed the Greek navy landing craft "Samos", which docked here in the last stop of its two-week cultural journey from Thrace, through the eastern Aegean and Cyprus.

"The military balance in the region has been transformed and Hellenism is in position to face any threat, irrespective of origin," Mr. Arsenis said. He also noted that the defense doctrine "applies today and shall apply in the future as well because it underlines our determination to carry on united."

Mr. Arsenis called on Hellenism to exploit the available opportunities to allow it to play its historic role in the Balkans and the Eastern Mediterranean as a cultural power, and a power that would undertake economic initiatives for the peaceful coexistence of the people of the region and a center promoting the consolidation of democratic values.

"United we embark on a countdown to the start of the next century which we shall face in the vanguard of the new era that dawns," Mr. Arsenis said.

This vision, he pointed out, must be backed by projects, will, action and defense capability.

"Our defenses do not rely on military might alone, they rely on the will of Hellenism to defend its values: freedom, democracy, respect for human rights and human life," the minister stressed.

"The joint defense doctrine is not merely a military notion, it is also a cultural notion which links the people of Thrace, the Aegean and Cyprus. We share a common future and we march together towards the dawn of 21st century," he said.

On a more personal note, Mr. Arsenis said he would cherish this day as a very special day in his life and told Limassol Mayor Antonis Hadjipavlou to count on him whenever he needs to call on the citizens of the city.

The mayor described the arrival of the Greek vessel as a "symbolic gesture which strengthens the bonds between Greece and Cyprus."

"Our hope is that the journey of this vessel shall not end here. We hope it will continue and reach the Turkish occupied ports of Kyrenia and Famagusta, we hope it carries on until justice is done in Cyprus," the mayor said.

Addressing Mr. Arsenis, Mr. Hadjipavlou said his presence here was "very important in that it gives courage to the people of Cyprus and reaffirms our will to carry on our search for a just and lasting settlement of the Cyprus problem."

After the ceremony, the president, Mr. Arsenis and their entourage including Greece's ambassador to Cyprus Alexandros Sandis and Cypriot ministers, went on a guided tour aboard "Samos".

Present at yesterday's ceremony in Limassol port were the Primate of Church of Cyprus Archbishop Chrysostomos, Cyprus' Defense Minister Costas Eliades, the commander of the National Guard Nicolaos Vorvolakos and House President Spyros Kyprianou.

[13] Arsenis pays tribute to murdered Greek Cypriots

Earlier, Mr. Arsenis paid tribute to the two unarmed Greek Cypriots brutally murdered by Turkish occupation forces while protesting in the UN buffer zone last month.

End of English language section.