A.N.A. Bulletin, 21/10/96
From: The Greek Press & Information Office, Ottawa Canada <grnewsca@sympatico.ca>
ATHENS NEWS AGENCY BULLETIN (No. 1020), October 21, 1996
Greek Press & Information Office
Ottawa, Canada
E-Mail Address: grnewsca@sympatico.ca
CONTENTS
[01] Clinton. Greek-Turkish disputes should be resolved on basis of
international treaties
[02] PASOK Central Committee meeting ends with strong endorsement of
Simitis's proposals
[03] ND leadership problems played out in the Sunday press
[04] Evert expected to announce a June ND Congress this week, and to
attack 'enemies within the walls'
[05] Israeli-Greek naval exercise set for coming months, official says
[06] Conference on stability in SE Europe begins in Athens today
[07] Vartholomeos to visit Australia in November
[08] Police officer suspended
[09] News in Brief
[10] Major find unearthed at Pella
[11] Athens remembers Panayiotis Kanellopoulos
[12] News in Brief
[01] Clinton. Greek-Turkish disputes should be resolved on basis of
international treaties
Washington, 21/10/1996 (ANA - T. Ellis)
US President Bill Clinton, in a campaign message to the US Greek
community, reiterated on Saturday his country's position that a
peaceful resolution of Greek-Turkish disputes should be found
based on respect for recognized borders and for international
treaties.
He noted that his personal intervention in the dispute over the
Aegean islet of Imia last January had averted a military
conflict, which he said would have been catastrophic for the
interests of both the USA and NATO. The US, he added, was in
favor of this dispute being referred to the International Court
at the Hague and above all was strongly opposed to 'superficial'
territorial claims, such as Turkey's questioning of Greece's
sovereignty over the island of Gavdos a few months ago.
Mr. Clinton called the continued division of the island of
Cyprus unacceptable and condemned the unjustified killing of
Greek Cypriots near the buffer zone. US financial aid for Cyprus
($15 million annually), he added, would continue.
[02] PASOK Central Committee meeting ends with strong endorsement of
Simitis's proposals
Athens, 21/10/1996 (ANA)
The ruling party PASOK's Central Committee on Saturday almost
unanimously endorsed Prime Minister and PASOK leader Costas
Simitis's proposals for the party, bringing the two-day session
to a close.
The Central Committee convened on Friday to discuss party
reconstruction and assess the results of the September general
election which renewed PASOK's four-year mandate on September 22.
"What is important about the September elections is that PASOK
has won and it is now the master of the game for another four
years. This is a great victory," the premier said.
Mr. Simitis said on Saturday that despite a diversity of views
at the sessions, the general assessment followed the same
direction.
Endorsing National Defense Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos's call
to "march on together," the premier hinted that he would try to
ease internal party opposition.
His statement was seen as an effort to normalize internal
opposition at the top of the party following a long and, at
times, turbulent period before elections.
Answering to certain statements that PASOK's election win was a
"Pyrrhic victory," Mr. Simitis said it would be wrong to base
conclusions on numbers.
"If we only look at the numbers we will be led to wrong
conclusions or even conclusions without meaning," he added.
The prime minister described as "positive" the fact that the
traditional right wing voters which voted for PASOK have caused
a "shrinkage" in support for the main opposition New Democracy
party.
The prime minister said PASOK would be able to win back the
traditional PASOK voters, "who voted for the parties of Left
because they were displeased with the government's economic and
social policies," if it directed action towards implementation
of it s stated program "which responds to the needs of the
people."
Turning to other issues, Mr. Simitis said relations between the
party and the government should be characterized by "unity."
He said the Central Committee would reconvene to discuss the
government's economic policy prior to submitting the 1997 budget
in Parliament.
Addressing the sessions on Saturday, Defense Minister Akis
Tsohatzopoulos said the September election win "was a
vindication of the choice to proceed with early elections."
Mr. Tsohatzopoulos said the election win provided the starting
point for a common effort which is necessary for better
administration on the part of the government and "an ideological
and political hegemony, necessary to serve the national and
social interests," on the part of the party.
Mr. Tsohatzopoulos said Greece was entering a "critical period
regarding national issues, defense ability and the development
effort," adding that "we should undertake initiatives and adopt
a tough stance," regarding what he termed as "efforts coming
from outside."
Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos said "we are the only
government in Europe with a one-party strong majority."
"Economic and technological competition inevitably leads to a
need for stabilization and the displeasure of employees and
workers," Mr. Pangalos told the sessions on Saturday.
He said the fact that a sector of PASOK voters supported the
Democratic Social Movement (DHKKI) in recent elections
"constitutes a vote of protest which reflects the cost of
modernization and the end of the party's clientele-type
relations."
Also taking the floor on Saturday was Education Minister
Gerassimos Arsenis, who told the sessions that the shifting of
ND traditional voters to PASOK greatly contributed to the
government's recent election win.
"This could be seen in a positive light if it was the direct
result of PASOK's efforts in this direction. Unfortunately it
was the choice of middle to upper class voters aspiring for a
macroeconomic policy of right-wing ideologies. This aspiration
must be dismissed," Mr. Arsenis said.
The minister said these voters constitute the first problem of
the post-election PASOK "because they bear great influence on
the mass media," and warned against any shifts in party ideology
in order to meet their aspirations.
Mr. Arsenis also referred to efforts for a party reconstruction
saying that at critical times "we need to take big and not small
steps."
He further stressed the need "to abandon the mentality of the
administrator and endorse the mentality of the reformist."
Turning to other issue, Mr. Arsenis said the convergence
progamme should be implemented, adding that wealth should be
"impres-sively redistributed throu-gh a four-year-long program"
and called for radical reforms in the sectors of health and
education .
He said that cuts in expenditures will not help preserve the
social state adding that the introduction of radical tax
reforms, "the key to the government's economic policy" will
provide the means to solve the deficit problem.
Concluding, he proposed that the party's Central Committee
convene to discuss the 1997 budget prior to its submitting in
Parliament.
[03] ND leadership problems played out in the Sunday press
Athens, 21/10/1996 (ANA)
In a series of interviews in the Sunday press, New Democracy
(ND) party officials sought to present their views on the main
opposition party's leadership issue.
George Souflias, ND leader Miltiades Evert's rival in the
leadership election earlier this month, told "To Vima" he
considered Mr. Evert a transitionary leader. He announced he
would be a candidate in the next election for the leadership,
which he had n o doubt would be raised again at next year's
party congress. Mr. Evert is expected to announce that the
congress will be held next June on Wednesday.
Mr. Souflias called for the formation of a committee, acceptable
to all, to organize the congress. In addition, he felt that
internal party elections were mandatory, since the party's
defeat in last month's parliamentary elections showed it was
time for a new beginning.
"... For me it is inconceivable for Mr. Evert to ignore the
demand of the (party's electoral) base and that of Greek society
in general," Mr. Souflias said. He also stressed that the party
could not allow "leftists and so-called leftists" to have a
monopoly on sensitivity to social issues.
In Sunday's "Eleftherotypia", Petros Tatoulis, who is affiliated
to Mr. Souflias and his allies, also called for an immediate
solution to the leadership issue, calling on Mr. Evert to
withdraw voluntarily or for the congress to be held at an
earlier date. He also urged the ND leader not to declare his
candidacy again. Mr. Tatoulis emphasized that otherwise he would
force the issue, either by calling for a vote of confidence
(requiring 1/3 of the party's parliamentary group) or by calling
an emergency congress. He also called for the voluntary
retirement of the old guard.
Aristides Tsiplakos, in an interview in the Sunday "Adesmeftos
Typos", reported that former deputies were working behind the
scenes to help get the party out of its current impasse. A group
of 15 young deputies, who he maintained did not constitute a
fixed group, were preparing proposals regarding opinion polls,
private media and party funding.
[04] Evert expected to announce a June ND Congress this week, and to
attack 'enemies within the walls'
Athens, 21/10/1996 (ANA)
Sources disclosed on Saturday that main opposition New Democracy
party leader Miltiades Evert will officially announce to the
party's Central Committee on Wednesday that the ND congress will
be held on June.
According to the same sources, the ND leader will reiterate his
refusal to proceed with new internal party elections and will
lash out against those "disputing the 37,000 elected party
officials."
Mr. Evert, the sources said, will note in his speech that "the
enemy is within the walls of New Democracy - those aspiring at
the perpetuation of party introversion..."
The ND leader will elaborate on the ten basic ideological
differences between New Democracy and PASOK and will attack the
government as "a government of hypocrisy and heavy taxes".
[05] Israeli-Greek naval exercise set for coming months, official says
Nicosia, 21/10/1996 (ANA)
An Israeli foreign ministry official has told the Cypriot daily
"Fileleftheros" that Greece and Israel are to carry out a joint
naval exercise either at the end of this year or early in 1997.
Michael Pauli, deputy director for Western European affairs at
the Israeli foreign ministry, explained that the exercise would
be in search and rescue techniques and would not be in any way a
combat exercise.
Meanwhile, Mr. Pauli emphasized that any joint exercise carried
out by Israel with Turkey, Greece or Cyprus would not be
directed against any third country.
He also noted that delays in implementing a Greek-Israeli accord
signed in December 1994 were due to the Greek side, for which
the accord was not a major priority.
[06] Conference on stability in SE Europe begins in Athens today
Athens, 21/10/1996 (ANA)
A conference on the promotion of stability and good neighborly
relations in the southeastern Europe is due to open today in
Athens with the participation of top foreign ministry officials
from EU member states, the Balkan countries, the US, Russia and
international organizations.
Secretary-General of European Affairs Stelios Perrakis will open
the conference. Ambassador Dimitris Kypraios is head of the
Greek delegation to the meeting.
The conference aims at "rehabilitation of trust and dialogue
between the parties involved, prevention of tension and crises
and ensuring stability in the region."
In particular, the conference will consider measures to
facilitate the flow of goods and people, encourage technical and
scientific co-operation and eliminate "hostile propaganda."
[07] Vartholomeos to visit Australia in November
Melbourne, 21/10/1996 (ANA)
Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos will make a historic visit to
Australia in November which will include officiating at service
to be held in Melbourne's indoor stadium, which thousands of
Greek Orthodox believers are expected to attend.
[08] Police officer suspended
Athens , 21/10/1996 (ANA)
A police officer was arrested in Ioannina yesterday after he was
caught driving a truck carrying 20 illegal immigrants from the
border region of Konitsa in northern Greece to Athens.
After his arrest, Theofanis Makris, 50, was suspended.
Police said Makris received the sum of 35,000 drachmas from each
immigrant.
Meanwhile, Public Order Minister George Romeos said he would
fight those police officers which constitute an offence to the
efforts and the work of their colleagues.
[09] News in Brief
Athens, 21/10/1996 (ANA)
Lawyer Yannis Papadoyiannakis has been appointed
Secretary-General at the public order ministry.
Mr. Papadoyiannakis, who in the past held the post of
Secretary-General at the justice ministry, is replacing Socrates
Kosmidis.
Mr. Papadoyiannakis is also a member of the committee organizing
Athens' bid for the 2004 Olympic Games.
[10] Major find unearthed at Pella
Athens, 21/10/1996 (ANA)
A golden ring depicting the mother of gods was unearthed by
archaeologists at digs in the ancient Pella site in Macedonia,
an international conference on Ancient Macedonia was told
Saturday.
Archaeologist Maria Akamati told the conference, held in
Thessaloniki, that excavations in the same region also revealed
two treasures of invaluable coins dating back to Hellenistic
times.
The mother of gods on the golden ring is depicted seated on a
throne and holding a sceptre. Next to her, on each side, there
is a lion and an incensory.
[11] Athens remembers Panayiotis Kanellopoulos
Athens, 21/10/1996 (ANA)
President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos on Saturday
praised the work and character of former member of the
Parliament and the Athens Academy, Panayiotis Kanellopoulos, in
a seminar marking the tenth anniversary of his death.
The seminar, held under the auspices of Mr. Stephanopoulos, was
held with the participation of many academics, university
professors and intellectuals who referred to the work of
Kanellopoulos.
Kanellopoulos, a sociologist, historian, poet and philosopher
died in 1986 at the age of 84.
He was a member of the Parliament and the Academy for 30 years.
[12] News in Brief
Athens, 21/10/1996 (ANA)
Dutch municipal councillor and professor of classical studies
Riyen Alink was due to run the 43 kilometers between Athens and
Marathon on Saturday to mark the 100th anniversary of the
official commencement of the Marathon run in 1896.
"My intention is to try to run this historic distance from
Marathon to Athens," the 50-year-old Dutchman, a member of the
political party D66, said, despite admitting that he may be
getting just a little bit old for such attempts.
End of English language section.
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