Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 97-03-11
From: The Greek Press & Information Office, Ottawa Canada <grnewsca@sympatico.ca>
ATHENS NEWS AGENCY BULLETIN (No 1035), March 11, 1997
Greek Press & Information Office
Ottawa, Canada
E-Mail Address: grnewsca@sympatico.ca
CONTENTS
[01] Greece pledges full support to Albanian deal, rebellion spreads
[02] Patriarch Petros VII enthroned in Alexandria
[03] Alternate FM to visit Sweden next week
[04] US State Dept. spokesman comments on Pangalos talks
[05] Albanian crisis purely a political - not ethnic - problem,
Pangalos tells CNN
[06] Cyprus solution 'long overdue'
[07] FYROM FM satisfied with progress in relations with Greece
[08] Regional security concerns top Austrian defense minister's
agenda in Athens
[09] German president in Athens today
[10] Warm welcome for Paris medallists
[11] 20 die on Greek roads
[01] Greece pledges full support to Albanian deal, rebellion spreads
Athens, 11/03/1997 (ANA)
Greece expressed its satisfaction on Sunday over an agreement
reached between Albanian President Sali Berisha and the
country's opposition parties to end the crisis in the
neighboring country and pledged support to efforts to achieve
the nine-point deal.
The deal, signed Sunday after two days of talks and mediation by
senior European envoys, calls for the formation of an interim
all-party government to supervise general elections to be held
in June.
However, the revolt in the south of the country appeared to be
spreading yesterday, with rebels ignoring the political deal
thrashed out by President Berisha, continuing their calls for
the president's resignation, and the army falling back in
disarray.
Reports said that the latest areas to fall were the ancient town
of Berat, abandoned without a fight by the army, and the nearby
town of Kucove, where residents pillaged an air force base, one
of two important military airfields in Albania. Reports from
Tirana indicated the towns of Polican and Corovode, south of the
capital, were also in rebel hands.
Reuters late last night reported that rebels in Vlore had agreed
to put down their weapons following mediation by Italian
diplomats.
An ANA dispatch from the Albanian capital reported Mr. Berisha
calling an urgent meeting of political party leaders in a
last-ditch attempt to stem the rebellion from spreading further.
According to the same dispatch, Mr. Berisha was to propose to
the main opposition Socialist Party that it choose a prime
minister in the interim government.
Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said in a statement
yesterday that Prime Minister Costas Simitis telephoned Mr.
Berisha on Sunday night and "expressed his satisfaction over the
reaching of the agreement."
He said the Greek premier also "stressed the need for the
completion of all steps in finding a final solution and assured
Mr. Berisha of Greece's support in the efforts of the people of
Albania to achieve progress, development and democracy."
Mr. Reppas described the move as a "positive development" and
expressed the conviction that "Albania's political forces will
make every effort to lead the country out of the present crisis
through political consensus and peaceful procedures."
He said Greece "in co-operation with the European Union and
Albania's political forces, will continue to make every possible
effort in safeguarding the institutions, respect for human
rights and progress in the neighboring country."
Foreign Under-secretary Yannos Kranidiotis, summing up his
meeting on Saturday with Albanian President Sali Berisha, called
for continued diplomatic efforts towards finding a solution to
the Albanian crisis.
Speaking to the press in Tirana after the meeting, Mr.
Kranidiotis said he had emphasized Greece's concern for the
ethnic Greek minority in southern Albania. According to informed
sources, both Mr. Berisha and the Albania foreign minister had
assured him there was no question of any involvement of ethnic
Greeks in the conflict.
The under-secretary also stressed that Greece, along with the
European Union, believed in a political solution to the crisis,
with new elections. He also observed that political developments
in Albania were linked to the question of economic aid.
Asked what Greece's stance would be in the event of a mass
influx of illegal immigrants from its northern neighbor, Mr.
Kraniditios said no military measures were being taken, noting
that Greece was prepared to deal with any eventuality.
The Greek under-secretary arrived in Tirana early on Saturday
and met with Albania's Foreign Minister Tritan Shehu, opposition
leaders, OSCE envoy Franz Vranitsky, the former Austrian
chancellor, as well as Archbishop of Tirana and all Albania
Anastasios .
[02] Patriarch Petros VII enthroned in Alexandria
Alexandria, 11/03/1997 (ANA - M. Papoutsaki)
The enthronement of the new Patriarch of Alexandria and All
Africa Petros VII was held on Sunday with all due splendor at
the Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Alexandria.
The ceremony was attended by President Kostis Stephanopoulos,
Cypriot President Glafcos Clerides, Alternate Foreign Minister
George Papandreou, Foreign Under-secretary Yiannos Kranidiotis,
Public Order Minister George Romeos, many deputies, leaders or
representatives of Greek and Cypriot parties, Athens Mayor
Dimitris Avramopoulos and crowds of people. Also present were
representatives of all Orthodox Churches, a representation for
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and senior Egyptian officials.
At the end of the ceremony, the primate of the Patriarchal
throne of Alexandria spoke briefly with President Stephanopoulos
and the ministers who had come from Greece.
President Stephanopoulos showed particular interest in the
preservation of the Patriarchate's heirlooms and the university
to be established in the city founded by Alexander the Great and
which will bear his name.
"We look forward with trust and nurse many hopes in brother
Orthodox churches and the governments of Greece and Cyprus so
that this bastion of Orthodox Hellenism, the beacon of
Alexandria, will not go out, but instead it should strengthen
and flourish and provide light, as was the case in the past, and
benefit the universe spiritually," the Patriarch told reporters
after his meeting with President Stephanopoulos.
Mr. Papandreou wished the new Patriarch every success in his
important task while Mr. Kranidiotis confirmed that the new
Patriarch will be given every possible assistance in his work,
adding that prospects for the operation of Alexander the Great
University are quite positive.
The enthronement ceremony will be repeated in Cairo this Sunday.
[03] Alternate FM to visit Sweden next week
Stockholm, 11/03/1997 (ANA - N. Servetas)
Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou will pay a visit to
Sweden on March 17 to discuss bilateral and other relations. Mr.
Papandreou will attend a working luncheon with the Swedish
Foreign Minister Lena Yelm Valen and discuss bilateral issues,
co-operation between the two countries in the framework of the
European Union, NATO enlargement and the situation in Turkey and
the Balkans.
Mr. Papandreou will also be meeting with the European affairs
under-secretary and president of the Swedish Committee on the
Intergovernmental Conference Gunar Loyd for talks pertaining to
his duties.
Representatives of Greek expatriate bodies will hold talks with
Mr. Papandreou on March 17. Mr. Papandreou will leave Stockholm
for Vienna the next day.
[04] US State Dept. spokesman comments on Pangalos talks
Washington, 11/03/1997 (ANA - T. Ellis)
US State Department spokesman Nicholas Burns said last night
that Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos was a strong
defender of Greece's national issues at his talks last week with
US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.
Mr. Burns also expressed Washington's appreciation of Mr.
Pangalos' statements that Turkey belonged to Europe.
"The United States agrees with the statements by Mr. Pangalos,
who showed a great sensibility on the part of a Greek official
on Turkey's position in Europe," Mr. Burns said, calling his
comments "statesmanlike".
"But," he added, "Mr. Pangalos was a strong supporter of
Greece's national interests in his talks last week with Ms
Albright, as he always is."
[05] Albanian crisis purely a political - not ethnic - problem,
Pangalos tells CNN
Athens, 11/03/1997 (ANA)
The effect of the Albanian crisis on Greek interests, along with
continuing efforts to solve the Cyprus issue and Greece's
dispute with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM)
over that country's name, were discussed in an interview with
Foreign
Minister Theodoros Pangalos on CNN on Friday. Mr. Pangalos
expressed the view that the rebellion in the south of Albania
was not due to the fact that part of the population there was
Greek.
"The rebellion is due to ... political instability in Albania
and the authoritarian behavior of the government... (and) the
big financial scandal," he said, referring to the collapse of
pyramid investment schemes.
Greece's concerns, he went on, were to protect the ethnic Greek
minority.
"Up to now we have a positive response from the Albanian
government. ... President Berisha told Prime Minister Costas
Simitis in a telephone conversation that there is no ethnic
motivation in the troubles nor any distinction among the
different religious or language groups in Albania," he
explained. The minister also stressed that Greece could not
afford any more illegal immigrants from Albania, noting that
almost one in three Albanian families survives on incomes earned
in Greece. To contain an y further immigration, specific
measures, such as the mobilization of the police force at the
border, were being taken, he added.
[06] Cyprus solution 'long overdue'
Athens, 11/03/1997 (ANA)
Turning to the Cyprus issue, Mr. Pangalos emphasized that a
solution was long overdue and that he felt there would be
progress this year.
"I think that at the end of this year, Cyprus will start
accession negotiations with the European Union... Although a
solution is not a condition for the beginning of the
negotiations, if there was a solution, the negotiations would be
much easier and Cyprus' place in the EU would be much clearer,"
he commented, adding:
"The problem... is to oblige in some way the government in
Ankara, through international pressure, to take a decision on
the Cyprus issue, to contribute positively to a solution. That
is the point."
He expressed the view that proximity talks would start
immediately and face-to-face talks (between the leaders of the
two communities) eventually "if there is a positive development,
before the end of the year."
Finally, with regard to the dispute over the name of the Former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Mr. Pangalos drew
attention to Greece's currently excellent relations as FYROM's
second-largest trading partner.
"The problem is that we want a name that will distinguish this
new country from our Macedonia. Macedonia is an important part
of Greece, as you know, and Greek Macedonia is more than fifty
percent of the geographical area... (of Macedonia)... So we want
to keep this name in a clear way as the name of Greek Macedonia.
We want their name to be specified in some way and this is what
the negotiations are about," he concluded.
[07] FYROM FM satisfied with progress in relations with Greece
Skopje, 11/03/1997 (ANA - M. Vichou)
In an interview with the "Nova Makedonia" newspaper, Former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) Foreign Minister Lubomir
Frckovski said relations between FYROM and Greece were good both
in the economic and political sectors.
Referring to economic relations, he estimated their value at
20-30 million marks, expressing his conviction that this year
they will exceed $100 million, primarily due to Greek
participation in a number of major projects.
Commenting on the political sector, he referred to the recent
meeting held in Thessaloniki between the two countries' culture
ministers, adding that Skopje has proposed a meeting between the
two interior ministers and the creation of committees for a
joint discussion on and examination of pending issues.
Mr. Frckovski further said "the process of the New York talks on
the name (of FYROM) should continue without terms being set and
without association with the European Union being obstructed."
[08] Regional security concerns top Austrian defense minister's
agenda in Athens
Vienna, 11/03/1997 (ANA - D. Dimitrakoudis)
Austrian Defense Minister Woerner Faslabed, who will arrive in
Athens today on a three-day official visit to Greece, said in an
interview with the Athens News Agency (ANA) in Vienna yesterday
that Austria will continue to offer its services to Cyprus for
the benefit of peace and international security.
Austria, he noted, is the country with the longest service in
the UN peacekeeping force in Cyprus, with its involvement dating
back to the beginning of the '60s.
Mr. Faslabed said developments in the Balkans, and Albania in
particular, Europe's future security architecture, the Cyprus
issue and bilateral co-operation will be the main topics of
discussion with his Greek counterpart Akis Tsohatzopoulos.
Mr. Faslabed said the exchange of information and views between
Austria and Greece is extremely important, as they are countries
bordering events in the Balkans which, in his view, will remain
a flashpoint in the future as well, as illustrated by
developments in Albania.
[09] German president in Athens today
Bonn, 11/03/1997 (ANA - P. Stangos)
German President Roman Herzog will pay an unofficial visit to
Greece today to receive an honorary doctorate from the Athens
University's Law Faculty.
President Herzog will meet President Kostis Stephanopoulos
tomorrow morning before returning to Germany.
President Herzog, who was a member of the Federal Constitutional
Court in Karlsruhe from 1983 and its president from 1987 to 1994
(when he was elected President of the Republic by the German
Parliament), will be honored by the Athens University's Law
Faculty for his academic work and his speech at the award
ceremony will deal with the concept of the state at the end of
the 20th century.
President Herzog and President Stephanopoulos have met twice in
the past. The first time was in July 1995 when President
Stephanopoulos paid an acquaintance visit to Berlin and the
second was in June 1996 when President Stephanopoulos paid an
official visit to Germany in the light of the Greek-Turkish
crisis, accompanied by Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos.
President Herzog succeeded President Richard von Weizsaecker in
May 1994.
[10] Warm welcome for Paris medallists
Athens, 11/03/1997 (ANA)
Greek medallists at the Paris Indoor Athletics World
Championships received a warm welcome at Athens airport
yesterday.
Haralambos Papadias and Katerina Koffa are the new world
champions in the indoor events of the men's 60 meters sprint and
women's 200 metes sprint respectively. Lambros Papakostas took
second place in the men's high jump.
On hand to welcome the athletes was Sports Under-secretary
Andreas Fouras who described them as "worthy ambassadors" for
future sport events to be held in Greece.
Mr. Fouras underlined the importance of the upcoming
International Athletics Championships to be held in Athens in
summer and Athens' bid for the 2004 Olympic games.
Meanwhile, Athens Mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos said yesterday
that the "spectacular achievements" of the athletes served to
boost the morale of Greeks aiming for the "supreme goal" of
hosting the 2004 Olympic Games.
[11] 20 die on Greek roads
Athens, 11/03/1997 (ANA)
Twenty people died on Greece's roads over the long weekend in
235 car accidents registered, mostly on the regional road
network.
Over 337 people were injured, 97 seriously.
According to the traffic police, most of the accidents were due
to excessive speed and driving under the influence of alcohol.
The return of Athenians who chose to visit the islands for the
long weekend was hindered by gale force winds and the subsequent
ban on sailing.
End of English language section.
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