Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 97-06-23
From: The Greek Press & Information Office, Ottawa Canada <grnewsca@sympatico.ca>
ATHENS NEWS AGENCY BULLETIN (No 1218), June 23, 1997
Greek Press & Information Office
Ottawa, Canada
E-Mail Address: grnewsca@sympatico.ca
CONTENTS
[01] Greece pays tribute to Andreas Papandreou's legacy
[02] Jack Lang
[03] Midday memorial service
[04] Cyprus
[05] Public gives warm welcome to opening of Mount Athos exhibition
[06] Talks with Orthodox officials
[07] PASOK Central Committee approves development proposal
[08] Defense minister leaves for talks with US officials on WEU
activities
[09] Philippines' President Ramos visits Greece
[10] Youth Parliament in session
[11] Karamanlis slams 'fickle' US policy over Imia
[12] Samaras predicts early elections
[13] Europartenariat - Hellas 1997 begins today
[14] Journalists' conference on Samothrace ends
[15] Tourists return to Rhodes
[16] Domestic flights cancelled, OA expresses regrets
[01] Greece pays tribute to Andreas Papandreou's legacy
Athens, 23/06/1997 (ANA)
Prime Minister Costas Simitis last night paid tribute to the
legacy of Andreas Papandreou at an event at the Athens Concert
Hall, on the first anniversary of the death of the late founder
and president of ruling party PASOK.
The function at the Athens Concert Hall ended a day of
commemoration to Papandreou, begun with a memorial service at
midday at the Athens First Cemetery.
Mr. Simitis said the event - which included an address from
former French culture minister Jack Lang and performances by
singer George Dalaras and a performance conducted by composer
Stavros Xarhakos - aimed at honoring the memory of a great
politician .
"Over the past year everything appears to have and indeed has
changed not only because for all of us who were linked to him,
for the members and friends of PASOK, a man whom we all admired
has left. For all Greeks, the politician who left sealed with
his presence a crucial period of the country's history, set out
the country's political life, its pace, its directions and its
framework," he said.
The founder of PASOK was a charismatic leader, a visionary, a
man who gave shape to the people's dreams, who transformed
concerns into speech and political prospect, as well as the
sensitivities and claims of the progressive side, Mr. Simitis
said.
"He showed that fatalism, acceptance, compliance is not
necessary and neither must it rule our lives. This is his great
lesson to all of us," Mr. Simitis said, adding that Andreas
Papandreou was decisive in Greece moving away from "the climate
of post-civil war psychosis".
"Struggles to redefine the visions of the democratic left in
modern conditions of market globalization and technological
revolutions also link us to Andreas Papandreou, because he was
the ideologist who sought new paths for socialism which left
prevailing models. We must have this considerable nonconformist
contribution of his, of disputing, as a compass for the future,"
he said.
Mr. Simitis said the country has a historic opportunity to
participate in the prospect set out by the European countries
and added that "the sacrifices which we must all make, the
self-restraint which we must show are not imposed on us by
anyone, but are necessary conditions for our survival as a
country and are linked to our vision for a just and prosperous
society. And these sacrifices have started to bear fruit over
the past few years with Andreas Papandreou as prime minister,
who himself showed the way to the country's equal participation
in the processes of European unification."
"We would distort and annul the teaching of Andreas Papandreou
if, after 30 years of struggles we were to capitulate today,
passing from the era of creation to the era of history writing
and from the era of social change to the era of social
compliance.
We have achieved too much to stop and be complaisant," he said.
[02] Jack Lang
Athens, 23/06/1997 (ANA)
Former French culture minister and president of the new French
Parliament's foreign policy committee Jack Lang also addressed
the event at the Athens Concert Hall last night, speaking after
Prime Minister Costas Simitis who invited him to attend.
Earlier in the afternoon, speaking to the Athens News Agency
(ANA) on arrival at Athens airport, Mr. Lang said Andreas
Papandreou "was the creator of Greece's modern socialist
movement, a personality which stabilized democracy in this
country after the dictatorship. He played a great role in his
time."
Commenting on Mr. Simitis and his government, he said "the
present government of Greece is a good government. It is serious
and methodical. Costas Simitis is a personality of great moral
value and contributes to the creation of a more splendid picture
for Greece abroad."
[03] Midday memorial service
Athens, 23/06/1997 (ANA)
Over 2,000 people attended a memorial service for Papandreou at
midday yesterday at the Athens First Cemetery. The service was
also attended by relatives of the late premier and the entire
government.
Arriving at the cemetery Mr. Simitis said that it was a day to
honor and express respect for Andreas Papandreou. "Let us
contemplate what he offered us, what he offered to the left
movement and what he offered the country," the premier said.
Similar memorial services were held throughout the country,
organized by local PASOK organizations, and in Cyprus.
In Thessaloniki, Culture Minister and local Member of Parliament
Evangelos Venizelos said during the service that the day was
"one of historic remembrance, responsibility, contemplation and
sobriety".
Another Thessaloniki MP, Yannis Magriotis, said: "We shall never
forget Andreas Papandreou. We will honor his work and defend it
from all those who wish to diminish it."
Nicosia, 23/06/1997 (ANA)
In Nicosia, the socialist EDEK party held a memorial service at
the Ayios Ioannis cathedral.
EDEK leader Vassos Lyssarides recalled Papandreou's political
and party activities and particularly underscored the policy the
deceased had forged on the Cyprus issue.
Papandreou, he said, had placed the Cyprus issue as the top of
the national agenda and opposed compromises which he had
correctly foreseen would lead the Cyprus problem to impasses.
After the memorial service, Foreign Minister Ioannis Kassoulides
laid a wreath on behalf of Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides.
Wreaths were also laid by Dr. Lyssarides, leaders or
representatives of the Cypriot political parties, on behalf of
the chief of the National Guard, the commander of the Greek
Force in Cyprus (ELDYK), and others.
[05] Public gives warm welcome to opening of Mount Athos exhibition
Athens, 23/06/1997 (ANA)
The long-awaited exhibition of priceless artifacts from the
monastic community of Mount Athos was officially opened by
President Kostis Stephanopoulos at Thessaloniki's Byzantine
Museum on Saturday.
The premiere event of this year's Thessaloniki Cultural Capital
events received an enthusiastic response from the public, with
more than 2,000 people visiting the exhibition yesterday, the
first day it was open to the public.
Prime Minister Costas Simitis was also in attendance at
Saturday's official opening, heading a delegation including
ministers and deputies, local officials, the civil
administration of Mount Athos and its religious leadership, led
by the head of the Holy Community Kallinikos.
"This exhibition once again teaches the world what Byzantium was
and what it offered to civilization through time," President
Stephanopoulos said.
Mr. Simitis said in a brief address that the exhibition was
"Orthodoxy's response", as expressed by Mount Athos, the
greatest Byzantine and post-Byzantine monument in Europe.
"In Europe this exhibition promotes the dimension of seeking the
absolute, the beauty of cultural expression, the prestige of
creation," Mr. Simitis said.
Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos said the exhibition was "a
profoundly historic event". Greece is participating in Europe
with the full conscience of its history and its contribution to
European civilization, he said.
During the inauguration ceremony, Thessaloniki Metropolitan
Panteleimon read a message from Ecumenical Patriarch
Vartholomeos, expressing his best wishes for the exhibition's
success. Vartholomeos will visit the exhibition in September
during a visit to Thessaloniki.
Among the visitors to the exhibition yesterday was the premier
of the Australian state of Victoria Jeff Kennet. Mr. Kennet said
he was impressed both by the content of the exhibition and the
museum itself, stressing that it is noteworthy that the exhibits
are in full view for women for the first time.
The proceeds from the sale of tickets and special publications
will go to Mount Athos for the construction of works to be
decided by the Holy Community.
[06] Talks with Orthodox officials
Athens, 23/06/1997 (ANA)
Mr. Simitis held talks with representatives of the Holy
Community after the inauguration ceremony and offered assurances
that there was no threat to the existing autonomous status of
Mount Athos in the framework of agreements signed by Greece in
the European Union.
He said settlements anticipated in the agreements signed
safeguard the position of Mount Athos and that the EU's
activities do not harm and do not concern the monastic
community's status.
Other issues discussed, apart from the special status on Mount
Athos, regarded funding for repairs and environmental protection.
Mr. Simitis said the government supported and backed the Holy
Community's efforts and for this reason more money has been
provided in past years than ever before for restoration and
maintenance.
The Holy Community's Chief Secretary Brother Ioannis said the
delegation was very pleased with the co-operation it had with
the prime minister and the government delegation. He added that
great problems existed on the peninsula and that repairs and
environmental protection work must continue.
Referring to the Maastricht Treaty, Ioannis said initially there
was disappointment among the Holy Community because issues
concerning Mount Athos had not been raised as the monks had
wanted.
Mr. Simitis accepted an invitation to visit Mount Athos and the
date for the visit will be set at a later stage.
[07] PASOK Central Committee approves development proposal
Athens, 23/06/1997 (ANA)
A proposal by the president of the ruling PASOK party's
Executive Bureau on development was ratified at the party's
Central Committee session on Saturday.
Summing up the discussion, Prime Minister Costas Simitis said
that what was required at present was "a critical approach",
adding that resources were necessary for development and the
primary target must be to secure resources.
PASOK's Secretary Costas Skandalidis said in his closing
statement that the creation of a modern state was an urgent
priority, and that this entailed adequacy in programming and
monitoring mechanisms, tough penalties for corruption and graft,
increasing state revenues and complete transparency.
Development Minister Vasso Papandreou said the discussion was
substantive and useful because it shaped and made policies
homogenous, adding that the government had achieved a great deal
but must do more.
Ms Papandreou said the 1993 convergence and development programs
were proceeding with success and called for a change in the
development law and an end to the "clientelistic" relationship
between the state and private capital.
National Economy and Finance Minister Yiannos Papantoniou came
under fire from many PASOK cadres on the second day of the
Central Committee's session on development for certain of the
ministries' policies.
Anastasios Peponis accused Mr. Papantoniou of making alliances
with the Federation of Greek Industries (SEB) to prevent the
"pilot implementation" of the 35-hour working week at the
Aspropyrgos refineries which he had proposed and despite the
fact that the General Confederation of Workers of Greece (GSEE)
had agreed.
Yiannis Kapsis called Mr. Papantoniou to account over positions
he had expressed at the Federation of Bank Employee
Organizations (OTOE) seminar last week, saying they were
diametrically opposed to the positions contained in the
Executive Bureau's proposal.
[08] Defense minister leaves for talks with US officials on WEU
activities
Athens, 23/06/1997 (ANA)
National Defense Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos left yesterday for
a six-day visit to the US in the context of the Greek presidency
of the Western European Union's (WEU) cross-Atlantic activities.
While there, he will address a meeting of WEU and NATO defense
ministers, meet with US Defense Secretary William Cohen, Deputy
Secretary of State Strobe Talbott, Congresswoman Olympia Snowe
and Congressman Paul Sarbanes, address a US Senate Committee and
hold talks with American businessmen on matters concerning
defense and the economy respectively.
Before departing, Mr. Tsohatzopoulos stressed the need to
continue to promote the political and ideological legacies of
late PASOK party founder Andreas Papandreou, saying Greek
society was currently in need of them and had expressed this by
the massive turnout at the First Cemetery yesterday on the first
anniversary of Papandreou's death. Referring to PASOK's Central
Committee, Mr. Tsohatzopoulos said a discussion has started for
a new economic policy which must be promoted for high rates of
development which Greece and the European Union countries need
to be secured. "The problem of all the European countries is
that we must achieve conditions for accession to Economic and
Monetary Union (EMU) which will lead to the common European
currency and at the same time we must, it is imperative for us
to, confront high rates of unemployment," he said.
Mr. Tsohatzopoulos said that Europe has been trapped in
stagnation and counter-productive stability for over 15 years
due to neo-conservative policies, and as a result it cannot
function competitively against the United States.
He said a 4.0 percent GDP increase rate for 10 years will create
conditions of real overall growth for Europe's production
potential and will function competitively against the US.
Mr. Tsohatzopoulos said this new economic policy combines the
traditional tools of monetary, exchange and fiscal policy on a
new basis and expressed optimism that such conditions of growth
will be achieved through dialogue.
Asked to comment on the position of the US on the issue of the
Imia islets, Mr. Tsohatzopoulos reiterated that the Imia islets
are Greek and in the Aegean there is nothing to negotiate.
[09] Philippines' President Ramos visits Greece
Athens, 23/06/1997 (ANA)
Filipino President Fidel Ramos yesterday began a three-day
official visit to Greece on the invitation of President of the
Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos.
Mr. Ramos, who is accompanied to Greece by his wife, will meet
with President Stephanopoulos, Prime Minister Costas Simitis,
ministers and leaders of opposition parties, amongst others.
[10] Youth Parliament in session
Athens, 23/06/1997 (ANA)
The Youth Parliament, an institution which places 350 teenagers
in the parliament chamber to discuss politics and their future,
is in session again for a second year.
Greek teenagers from all over the country and abroad formed six
parliamentary committees on Sunday, to debate national issues as
well as social and economic policy.
In opening the session on Saturday, Parliament Speaker Apostolos
Kaklamanis said that everybody was waiting to hear the youth's
lively, responsible and hopeful addresses from the parliament
podium.
On Tuesday the politicians of the future will present their
conclusions to a plenary session of Parliament proper attended
by the President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos, Prime
Minister Costas Simitis and opposition party leaders.
[11] Karamanlis slams 'fickle' US policy over Imia
Athens, 23/06/1997 (ANA)
The United States and its "fickle" policy over the Greek islets
of Imia were criticized by main opposition New Democracy party
leader Costas Karamanlis during a speech in Kilkis, northern
Greece, on Saturday,
"The American position, with the known backtracking, does not
satisfy us and neither does the reaction of the Greek
government," he said.
Late last week, US Pentagon spokesman Ken Bacon retracted
earlier statements clearly placing the Imia islets under Greek
sovereignty, saying the US could not take a position on the
conflict which brought Greece and Turkey to the brink of war in
late January 1996.
Mr. Karamanlis was in Kilkis to attend events marking the city's
liberation from the Bulgarians.
"The position of third parties is not as important as what we do
to defend our national integrity," Mr. Karamanlis said, who was
due to make a tour of the Kilkis prefecture for contacts with
party cadres.
[12] Samaras predicts early elections
Athens, 23/06/1997 (ANA)
Political Spring party leader Antonis Samaras Saturday predicted
early national elections together with local elections in
October 1998, without ruling out such an eventuality in 1997 due
to developments in the country's national issues.
Addressing the members of his party's first elected Central
Council, Mr. Samaras said that for PASOK surprise tactics were
not unknown.
Mr. Samaras said the summer will be difficult for national
issues and that dangerous developments might take place,
considering as an "antechamber" of such upsets the position of
the United States that the Imia islets constitute a disputed
area.
[13] Europartenariat - Hellas 1997 begins today
Athens, 23/06/1997 (ANA)
Representatives from more than 2,000 small and medium-size
enterprises (SMEs) from all over the world will take part in the
Europartenariat-Hellas '97 in Piraeus today and Tuesday to
investigate business collaboration prospects. The 16th
Europartenariat will be opened by Greece's representative on the
European Commission, Christos Papoutsis, who holds the energy
and SMEs portfolio.
The Europartenariat institution was set up by the Commission in
1988 as a forum to promote business co-operation between SMEs of
the host countries with corresponding enterprises inside and
outside the EU in a bid to promote economic growth of the
European Union's lesser developed regions.
Representatives from 400 Greek firms will meet officials of SMEs
from EU member states, countries of central and eastern Europe,
southeast Asia, Latin America and the United States in more than
12,000 scheduled meetings during the two-day event at the Peace
and Friendship Stadium.
[14] Journalists' conference on Samothrace ends
Athens, 23/06/1997 (ANA)
The 6th Panhellenic Journalists' Congress wound up its sessions
yesterday on the island of Samothrace with a discussion on
"lifestyle" magazines.
Speakers noted the overwhelming emphasis on sex in such
magazines and the influence of television and advertising
circles on topics covered in the publications.
Regional magazines were markedly different to their Athenian
counterparts, with more emphasis on quality content.
The final session was chaired by Christos Xanthakis, from
Epsilon magazine, and heard contributions from the director of
"Klik" and "Men" Stavros Theodorakis, the director of "NITRO"
George Panopoulos, the editorial committee of "Madam Figaro" and
"Close up" and the editor of "Maties" George Karanikas.
[15] Tourists return to Rhodes
Athens, 23/06/1997 (ANA)
Tourist arrivals on the Dodecanese island of Rhodes are on the
rise, and are currently matching levels recorded in 1995,
considered a good tourist year for the island.
A total of 49,423 tourists are presently staying daily at the
island's hotels, of which 48,058 are foreign visitors,
representing a 19 percent increase over 41,735 registered guests
last year (of which 40,685 were foreign visitors).
The figure for 1995 was 49,134 guests (of which 48,399 were
foreign tourists).
The figures cover only the island's hotels, and do not include
guests staying at other tourist accommodation (hostels, rented
rooms, etc.).
[16] Domestic flights cancelled, OA expresses regrets
Athens, 23/06/1997 (ANA)
Nineteen regular domestic flights were canceled yesterday while
another 13 suffered delays following problems created by a "go
slow" strike by company technicians.
In an announcement, Olympic Aviation said revenue lost as a
result of the industrial action would be recouped from staff
causing the inconvenience "by refusing to offer their services,
while undermining the company's future and its reliability".
It further said every further decrease in turnover due to the
attitude of a section of the staff also entails a decrease in
necessary staff, adding that the board's decisions will be
implemented at all cost, regardless of economic or political
cost.
Olympic Aviation's board called on employees to consider their
responsibilities towards society and the Greek people, who have
funded the survival of the national carrier with 600 billion
drachmas and offer their services as they are obliged to by law.
End of English language section.
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