Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 97-03-03
From: The Greek Press & Information Office, Ottawa Canada <grnewsca@sympatico.ca>
ATHENS NEWS AGENCY BULLETIN (No 1129), March 3, 1997
Greek Press & Information Office
Ottawa, Canada
E-Mail Address: grnewsca@sympatico.ca
CONTENTS
[01] Athens promotes EU initiative to deal with crisis in Albania
[02] Dire situation
[03] Greek response
[04] ND ends pre-congress conference
[05] Other high-ranking ND cadres speak
[06] Simitis warns Turkish leadership against attempting aggression
against Greece
[07] Tour of region by PM
[08] Romeos says situation on Greek-Albanian border 'normal'
[09] Pangalos says Athens stands firm against Ankara's policy of
blackmail
[10] ANA, IRNA explore ways for increasing co-operation
[11] Xanthi prefect calls for preservation of incentives for civil
servants in Thrace
[12] Conference on ecumenical Hellenism organized
[13] Military ceremony in Evros
[14] Venizelos in NY to attend exhibition on Byzantium
[15] Secondary teachers decide to continue strike
[01] Athens promotes EU initiative to deal with crisis in Albania
Athens, 03/03/1997 (ANA/AFP/Reuters)
Athens is rapidly promoting assumption of an initiative by the
European Union to defuse the explosive situation in neighboring
Albania, where armed clashes were reported yesterday around the
Balkan nation following the collapse of several pyramid schemes.
Prime Minister Costas Simitis said Athens has taken all
necessary measures to handle whatever negative developments
emanating from Albania.
Speaking in Volos yesterday, Mr. Simitis said the government has
taken measures at two levels. Firstly, it has taken care to
ensure that the borders are closely watched to prevent a new
wave of refugees and, secondly, it is maintaining contact with
the other European countries for common handling of problems.
Mr. Simitis said the government intends to convene a group of
European nations' representatives in Athens to examine the
issue, adding that it is already in contact with other European
governments.
He said Greece should show calm in handling whatever
repercussions stemming from negative developments in the
neighboring country.
Mr. Simitis said he spoke by phone with main opposition New
Democracy party leader Miltiades Evert, informing him that the
government has taken necessary measures some time ago.
Meanwhile, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said "the
government is carefully watching the crucial developments in
Albania, and indeed even more so because they are taking place
in regions where the Greek minority lives."
On his part, Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou told
AFP that the imposition of a state of emergency in Albania
worsens the situation in the country and does not contribute to
the settlement of the crisis.
He said Athens has called on the European Union presidency to
hold a special meeting of the working group for the Balkans and
proposed that EU ambassadors in Tirana should draw up a report
presenting a clear picture of the situation prevailing in
Albania.
"The EU must address a message both to the Albanian leadership
and to the Albanian people, pointing out that it is watching
developments and hopes that problems will be resolved in a
democratic manner," he said.
Back in Athens, Foreign Under-secretary Yiannos Kranidiotis
chaired a meeting at the foreign ministry yesterday, which was
attended by the head of the Balkan affairs department, Dimitris
Kypraios, and other government officials.
It was decided during the meeting to convey Greece's request for
the convening of the working group for the Balkans to all its EU
partners to assess the situation and measures the EU should take
to defuse tension in Albania.
[02] Dire situation
Athens, 03/03/1997 (ANA)
According to wire reports, the state of emergency imposed in
Albania restricts constitutional rights, bans public gatherings
and restricts the freedom of movement of citizens.
Before the state of emergency was imposed, the Albanian
parliament had approved a law allowing the imposition of
extraordinary measures "in the event constitutional order is
overthrown."
Albanian President Sali Berisha said "all means anticipated by
law will be used to handle the uprising" and accused what he
referred to as the "red terrorists (former communists) and
agents of foreign security services" of inciting it, pledging to
confront violence with "an iron fist."
In his first television appearance after the state of emergency
was imposed in the country, Mr. Berisha warned that "we will act
with the greatest severity against all those insurgents who want
to destroy Albania and its democracy."
He called on Albanians to remain calm "and defend democratic
order", reminding that the communist regime "was the greatest
misfortune for Albania."
Addressing the international community, he called for an
expression of solidarity towards Albania.
"I call on the civilized world, the friendly countries in Europe
and the world to express their solidarity for the defense of
Albanian democracy," he said.
Meanwhile, outgoing Albanian prime minister Aleksandr Meksi
called on deputies "not to waste time and declare a state of
emergency in the country immediately, at a time when armed
groups are attacking weapons depots."
The state of emergency was imposed in Albania a day after the
Meksi government resigned and a day before the expected
re-election of Mr. Berisha as president.
On its part, the opposition Forum for Democracy categorically
denied that its organization in Vlore issued an ultimatum to Mr.
Berisha, saying that it wants the crisis resolved in a peaceful
manner.
"Forum stresses once again that it supports a solution to the
crisis through dialogue and distances itself from acts of
violence and threats of ultimatums," an announcement read.
Among the reported incidents around the country, guards shot
dead a prisoner and wounded three others yesterday during an
attempted breakout from a jail in northwest Albania, the
country's justice ministry said.
A ministry spokesman said the prisoners had taken the governor
of Lezhe jail and another senior prison official hostage and
tried to use them as human shields to flee.
In another incident, rioters stormed a police station and set it
on fire yesterday in the southern Albanian town of Gjirokaster,
witnesses said.
Meanwhile, Albanian police used batons to disperse hundreds of
demonstrators in front of the US and French embassies in Tirana
after two policemen were savagely beaten on the university
campus in the Albanian capital. At least three demonstrators and
a policeman were wounded in the clashes.
Earlier, hundreds of demonstrators had stormed the police
station on the university campus where they beat up the two
policemen and seized a number of pistols.
[03] Greek response
Athens, 03/03/1997 (ANA)
Regarding the developments in Albania, Mr. Evert convened a
meeting of party cadres yesterday, including deputy president
Yiannis Varvitsiotis, to examine the situation.
ND spokesman Prokopis Pavlopoulos later said that "today's
tragic events in Albania confirm the fact that the democratic
deficit and the absence of stable institutions in this country
create a dangerous climate of liquidity."
The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) expressed its solidarity for
the suffering people of Albania, adding that dramatic
developments in the country "are the result of the restoration
of capitalism which the imperialists pursued in every way and
succeeded in doing, also taking advantage of the difficulties
the neighboring country is facing."
The Coalition of the Left and Progress deplored bloodshed in
Albania and expressed undivided solidarity for the struggle of
the Albanian people for democracy and social rights.
The Democratic Social Movement (DHKKI) said that the "prolonged
and violent neo-conservative policies, as well as the effort by
the major powers of the west to impose the new order-'disorder'
in the Balkans are currently shaping preconditions at present
for the Balkans to be turned into a powder keg."
[04] ND ends pre-congress conference
Athens, 03/03/1997 (ANA)
Main opposition New Democracy party organizing committee
president George Rallis wrapped up ND's two-day pre-congress
conference in Thessaloniki yesterday, expressing satisfaction
and optimism over the outcome of the party's three-day congress,
due to take place on March 21-23.
Mr. Rallis said proposals by speakers on the program and the
party's charter will be gathered and discussed on the second day
of the conference.
The conference was addressed by many party cadres and by the
four candidates for the party's top leadership: incumbent
president Miltiades Evert, Costas Karamanlis, George Souflias
and Vyron Polydoras.
On his part, Mr. Evert said "confrontation between parties is
more difficult at present since differentiations are not easily
discernible. The left has taken positions from us and is
pressuring us."
Referring to the party's charter, Mr. Evert said he will request
a meeting with Mr. Karamanlis, Mr. Souflias and Mr. Polydoras to
discuss the issue and shape a common proposal.
Mr. Evert proposed the holding of referendums among the party's
cadres on major issues, while the Parliamentary group's
collectiveness, meritocracy and upgrading must be secured, he
noted.
He said the party's president should have a five-year tenure,
while the congress should convene every three years. He also
proposed that the party's president should be elected directly
by the party's members.
Mr. Evert said decisions taken by the majority should be
honored, while at the same time he spoke referred to "devious
parachutists" who approach the party when they see it will win
the elections, adding that this phenomenon must stop.
Thessaloniki ND deputy Costas Karamanlis stressed the need for
the implementation of decisions that are unanimously taken by
the party, and not so much the need to change basic principles
contained in ND's charter.
Mr. Karamanlis said the party's role in society required
qualitative upgrading and, commenting on changes in the charter,
said "the issue is to observe all that we have agreed and not so
much the charter's modernization."
Mr. Karamanlis made specific proposals concerning the election
of a Parliamentary group secretary general, creation of a shadow
government and an increase in the number of participants in the
central committee.
Former ND minister Souflias spoke of "a deficit in democracy in
ND", "barons", "back-stabbing", "backstage" and "alliances."
He accused Mr. Evert of being responsible for the exclusion of
grassroots members from the forthcoming congress and also
accused others for remaining silent for their own reasons on the
proposal for enlarging the congress with a larger number of
delegates.
He said the party's president should have a four-year tenure and
be elected by the congress, where the majority of delegates
should be elected directly by the party's base.
Mr. Souflias said the appointed political council should be
abolished, while the central committee and the executive
committee should be upgraded and acquire prestige, and instead
of an appointed deputy president, a secretary should be elected
for the central committee. He also called for the need for
reform in the party's economic issues and in the method of its
funding.
Finally, Mr. Polydoras, a former ND government speaker, proposed
four ideological axes during his address.
Elaborating on his proposal, he said they should be a
declaration of war against corruption; decentralization; a
struggle in the European Union for Greek interests, as well as
what he called a defense of values based on Hellenism and
Orthodoxy.
Mr. Polydoras denounced the PASOK government's position on
national issues as being submissive and proposed the creation of
a common policy by all parties on foreign issues. He said that
in the framework of the EU, Greece should not be identified with
all the choices of its partners, but should defend its special
interests. He also stressed the need of defending and
safeguarding the country's civilization and cultural wealth.
[05] Other high-ranking ND cadres speak
Athens, 03/03/1997 (ANA)
In another address to the pre-congress conference, ND deputy
Dora Bakoyianni said the charter itself imposes the party's
unity, adding that an end should be put to "mechanisms in the
party which look upon each member as a vote."
She said this can be achieved with the genuine democratization
of intra-party functioning which will be consolidated "when
grassroots acquire a say."
Ms Bakoyianni said all trends should be represented in all of
the party's bodies, adding that "a composition of views can be
achieved through dialogue."
She also said that the leaderships of local bodies should be
elected and that renewal should be sought through the promotion
of new cadres by regional organizations.
ND deputy and former minister Stephanos Manos said he was
pleased by proposals made by Mr. Souflias and Mr. Karamanlis on
changes in the party's charter.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the session, Mr. Manos
said proposals made by both Mr. Karamanlis and Mr. Souflias are
positive, adding that he continues to support Mr. Souflias. He
also said proposals made by Mr. Evert were antiquated.
ND deputy president Yiannis Varvitsiotis said the party should
change from a leadership party to a party of principles. He said
modern-day developments necessitate more collective forms and
this should be achieved throughout the party's entire
organization.
Mr. Varvitsiotis said the party's leader should not be stripped
of his powers and for this reason necessary security valves
should be initiated.
He said the party's charter required substantive amendments to
enable it to live up to the trends of society and the times. He
also said local organizations should have a decisive
participation in nominating Parliamentary candidates, mayors and
prefects as well as in upgrading the party's Parliamentary Group
whose members should elect their Secretary-General.
In a related development, 30 mayors from cities in Macedonia and
Thrace expressed their support for Costas Karamanlis' effort to
claim the party's leadership. The mayors participated in ND's
preliminary congress in Thessaloniki and held a meeting with Mr.
Karamanlis at noon.
[06] Simitis warns Turkish leadership against attempting aggression
against Greece
Athens, 03/03/1997 (ANA)
Prime Minister Costas Simitis over the weekend warned Ankara to
abandon its visions for what he called a revival of the Ottoman
empire, saying the cost of any aggressive actions against Greece
would be severe.
Speaking during a visit to the First Army Corps headquarters in
Larisa, at the start of a three-day tour of Thessaly on
Saturday, Mr. Simitis said Turkey has turned into "the greatest
destabilizing factor in the Aegean, the Balkans, the eastern
Mediterranean, the Caucasus and the Middle East."
He also accused the neighboring country's leadership of
commencing a "raw" effort to revise the international treaties
which define the status quo of the region.
Stressing that there are no bilateral differences, the Greek
premier went on to say that the status quo in the Aegean is
"absolutely clear" and that it has been determined by the
history of thousands of years and with greater precision by the
international treaties.
Reiterating Athens' position that it will not enter into
dialogue with Turkey on issues of sovereignty and the country's
sovereign rights, the premier sent a message of friendship to
Ankara, saying that a climate of good will, good neighborliness
and useful co-operation will be to the benefit of both countries.
"Until then, Greece will remain firm in its position that the
total of the country's diplomatic and defense measures are
directed towards ensuring national integrity and averting
Turkish designs through a powerful force of aversion," he added.
Regarding the Cyprus issue, Mr. Simitis said Greece did not have
any illusions that its European partners will "automatically
endorse Greek positions."
Turning to other issues, Mr. Simitis said the country's armed
forces constituted the central axis of Greece's defense
strategy, adding that the modernization of the military was a
priority goal. The premier also referred to Greece's "equal
participation in European unification," warning that Greece's
marginalization in the European Union would have destructive
economic and social consequences.
[07] Tour of region by PM
Athens, 03/03/1997 (ANA)
Yesterday, the prime minister spoke at a gathering of PASOK
supporters in Karditsa, while a counter-rally by KKE supporters
was held nearby. In a Saturday address to the Thessaly Regional
Council's meeting, Mr. Simitis referred to the need for
modernization of the public sector, adding that the government
aimed to "transform the public sector into a flexible and
effective mechanism, in the service of citizens."
The premier also referred to efforts for decentralization,
placing special emphasis to the need for an independent regional
existence and administrative structure.
Meanwhile, in a visit yesterday to the Kileler site, where a
violent 1910 farmers' uprising took place, Mr. Simitis called
for a "new agriculture policy," which will answer modern
problems. He had previously visited the new regional hospital of
Larisa.
[08] Romeos says situation on Greek-Albanian border 'normal'
Athens, 03/03/1997 (ANA)
Public Order Minister George Romeos yesterday commented on the
situation along the Greek-Albanian border, saying that "until
this moment there are no tensions."
He made the comments at the Alexandroupolis airport, where he
landed to begin a tour of the Evros prefecture.
"We have taken additional measures since yesterday (Saturday)
but we haven't seen, so far, a heavier than usual wave of
illegal immigrants," he said, when asked a question concerning
the situation at the border.
During his tour of Evros, the public order minister will visit
police and fire stations in the region, while he is also
expected to announced a series of measures dealing with illegal
immigration emanating from Turkey.
[09] Pangalos says Athens stands firm against Ankara's policy of
blackmail
N. York 03/03/1997 (ANA - M. Georgiadou)
Greece will not accept Ankara's policy of blackmail, which
envisages a new division of the Aegean, Foreign Minister
Theodoros Pangalos said yesterday upon arrival here.
Concerning Turkish provocations and Ankara's recent defining of
its expansionist designs, as reported last week by the "Wall
Street Journal", Mr. Pangalos said Greece will not accept
military and diplomatic pressure or what he called a "systematic
policy of blackmail that Turkey is following" for a new division
of the Aegean.
In addition, the Greek foreign minister rejected scenarios
citing an unavoidable military conflict between Athens and
Ankara, stressing that the Greek government is working
effectively and with coolheadedness for a peaceful response to
the problems continuously brought up by Turkey. He cited Athens'
standing position of a solution to all differences within the
framework of international law and with the application of
international agreements as well as recourse of whatever
disagreements or different interpretations to international
arbitration, such as the International Court of Justice at The
Hague.
Mr. Pangalos underlined that the Greek position is supported by
the European Union, the US, Russia and other major countries,
such as Japan, China and India.
Regarding Nicosia's announced purchase of Russian-made S-300
anti-aircraft missiles, Mr. Pangalos said the government of any
independent nation has the right to choose the methods of its
defense.
Asked about reports of a possible meeting with US Secretary of
State Madeleine Albright, he referred only to continuous
contacts between Washington and Athens as well as Ms Albright's
interest in the region.
Mr. Pangalos is in the US for the inauguration of an exhibition
on Byzantium at New York's Metropolitan Museum. He is also
scheduled to give a speech at Harvard.
[10] ANA, IRNA explore ways for increasing co-operation
Tehran, 03/03/1997 (ANA/IRNA)
Athens News Agency (ANA) General Director Andreas
Christodoulides held a meeting here Saturday with the managing
director of the Islamic Iranian News Agency (IRNA), Fereydoon
Vardinejad, concerning methods of expanding mutual cooperation.
Mr. Vardinejad underlined the need for professional and
technical co-operation between the two news agencies, saying
that direct exchange of news would help both sides to have a
correct understanding of each other.
The ANA general director said the direct exchange of news and
information between the Greek and Iranian news agencies will
meet the needs of the press in both countries.
Mr. Vardinejad also briefed Mr. Christodoulides on IRNA's
professional, technical and educational initiatives, adding that
the news agency is ready to co-operate with news agencies of
friendly countries in such fields.
[11] Xanthi prefect calls for preservation of incentives for civil
servants in Thrace
Athens, 03/03/1997 (ANA)
Xanthi prefect Panayiotis Saltouros has addressed a letter to
Finance Under-secretary Nikos Christodoulakis calling for the
preservation of incentives in the new salary scale for civil
servants stationed in the Thrace region.
"In light of the Parliamentary debate on the civil servants' new
salary scale, being a representative of a border region and
listening to the civil servants' anxiety, I call for the
preservation of beneficial clauses referring to incentives for
civil servants to remain in Thrace," the prefect said.
The letter was also forwarded to Parliament President Apostolos
Kaklamanis.
[12] Conference on ecumenical Hellenism organized
Athens, 03/03/1997 (ANA)
The Ecumenical Hellenism Society organized a conference at "the
Parnassos" society on Saturday, focusing on the issue of
ecumenical Hellenism in its church dimension.
Holy Synod representative Ioannis Hatzifotis said "ecumenical
Hellenism is unbreakably linked and identified with Orthodoxy.
In the diaspora, the people and the church support each other
both with regard to individual benefit and primarily for the
benefit of the metropolis."
He referred to the actions and importance for Hellenism of the
patriarchates and the 13 Orthodox Churches (Russia, Finland,
Georgia, Romania, Poland, the Czech Republic, Cyprus, Serbia,
Bulgaria, Albania, Greece, Egypt and Jerusalem).
Mr. Hatzifotis said the Greek language also played an important
role in spreading and influencing they brought about in
recipient countries, adding that it is an ecumenical language
since it is the language of the fathers and the New Testament.
[13] Military ceremony in Evros
Athens, 03/03/1997 (ANA)
A ceremony took place at the "Patsouka" army base in
Alexandroupolis on Saturday during which the 7th and 31st
mechanized infantry brigades were renamed.
In a statement, the commander of the Fourth Army Corps, Lt. Gen.
Dimitrios Dimou, said the ceremony was important from a
patriotic point of view as well, since brigade banners were
appointed to the mechanized brigades in the Evros region, whose
purpose is to defend national territory and provide the people
with peace and independence.
[14] Venizelos in NY to attend exhibition on Byzantium
N. York, 03/03/1997 (ANA - M. Georgiadou)
Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos spoke at the Saturday
evening opening of a photographic exhibition entitled "The
Greeks of Constantinople", where he cited the significant
presence and contribution of the Foundation f or Hellenic
Studies.
The photographic exhibition features the work of expatriate
Greek photographer Costas Sakellariou.
Speaking at the New York event, the culture minister said the
foundation was also instrumental in supporting the major
exhibition "The Glory of Byzantium," which is scheduled for New
York's Metropolitan Museum. Along with Mr. Venizelos, who is
scheduled to meet with Archbishop of America Spyridon and
several officials of US cultural organizations in Washington,
former premier Tzannis Tzannetakis and PASOK secretary Costas
Skandalidis also arrived in New York for the official
inauguration of the Byzantium exhibition.
[15] Secondary teachers decide to continue strike
Athens, 03/03/1997 (ANA)
Striking secondary teachers' representatives said yesterday that
they will continue their strike, since negotiations with the
education ministry's political leadership failed to resolve the
seven-week-long strike.
"We will continue the struggle," the striking teachers'
representatives told a press conference.
The teachers' representatives called for another meeting with
Education Minister Gerassimos Arsenis, while stressing that the
positive development which had been noted in institutional
issues could also prevail in other issues.
"This atmosphere could expand to all other issues, such as
training," the president of the teachers' federation (OLME)
Nikos Tsoulias said.
Regarding salary demands, teachers said they agreed with Mr.
Arsenis' decision for the establishment of a joint committee to
examine the entire spectrum of the financial requests and submit
a subsequent report.
Meanwhile, Education Under-secretary Ioannis Anthopoulos told
reporters that messages regarding the teachers' strikes were
"optimistic," adding that following the settlement of wages, the
teachers could return to their classes.
End of English language section.
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