Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 97-08-16
From: The Greek Press & Information Office, Ottawa Canada <grnewsca@sympatico.ca>
ATHENS NEWS AGENCY BULLETIN (No 1264), August 16, 1997
Greek Press & Information Office
Ottawa, Canada
E-Mail Address: grnewsca@sympatico.ca
CONTENTS
[01] Second round of UN-LED Cyprus talks ends in deadlock
[02] Assumption of the Virgin celebrated throughout Greece
[03] US says EU must leave door open for Turkish membership
[04] Tsohatzopoulos to visit Czech Republic
[05] Respect for international law reiterated on Armed Forces Day
[06] .... Tsohatzopoulos
[07] Ecumenical Patriarch to visit US
[08] Ecumenical Patriarch due in Chios today
[09] Yugoslav FM talks in Athens 'very constructive and comprehensive'
[10] Britain's Princess Diana pays private visit to Greece
[11] Brazilian IOC member in Athens
[12] Turkey ends unilateral confidence-building measures in Aegean
[13] President to tour Peloponnese
[14] Greek ATM network expands with new Alpha Credit Bank terminals
[15] Stocks rangebound in scant holiday trade
[16] Bourse likely to rejoin top emerging markets - Salomon
[01] Second round of UN-LED Cyprus talks ends in deadlock
Glion-Sur-Montreux, Switzerland (ANA - D. Constantakopoulos)
The second round of UN-sponsored Cyprus talks between President
Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash ended
in deadlock here yesterday.
In an afternoon press conference, the UN Secretary General's
Special Advisor for the Cyprus problem, Diego Cordovez, who
chaired both rounds of talks between the leaders of the two
Cypriot communities, said "discussions were useful even when we
faced difficulties here in Glion."
He added, however, that the Secretary General "intends to
continue his good offices mission" on Cyprus and said he does
not entirely share the view that "we are back to where we were
when we started."
Earlier, President Clerides told a press conference "at the end
of this week we are exactly where we were when we came here,"
last Monday.
Also speaking at a press conference earlier, Mr. Denktash said
the five-day talks, which took place at the Righi Vaudois hotel
in Glion-sur-Montreux, ended in deadlock.
Mr. Denktash accused the European Union of having thrown a
"bomb" into the peace process by deciding to open accession
negotiations next year with the internationally-recognized
government of the Republic of Cyprus.
Nevertheless, he said the talks were "useful", because "we now
know where the two sides are".
The Turkish Cypriot leader said talks on Cyprus' bid for EU
membership must be canceled for UN mediation to continue, and
threatened that the division of Cyprus would become permanent if
negotiations with the EU went ahead.
He let it be implied that Cyprus can only join the European
Union if Turkey joins as well.
In his statements President Clerides rejected Mr. Denktash's
conditions and said "not only do I have no intention of delaying
the process (of EU negotiations) but if there is any
interference in the process I will not be negotiating."
He noted that despite his reservations, he stated during the
negotiations that he would accept the two documents submitted by
Mr. Cordovez and would make his observations on them if the
other side did the same.
"However, the Turkish Cypriot side refused to negotiate,
demanding in advance a suspension of the European Union decision
for a start to negotiations for Cypriot membership," he added.
Responding to questions on the prospects for a continuation of
the dialogue, the Cypriot president said, "since we resolved on
a peaceful solution, we can only find it through talks," also
stressing that these will only be effective if the Security
Council apportions responsibilities where they really exist.
He revealed that during the talks, and in response to Turkish
Cypriot objections to the planned deployment of Russian S-300
missiles on Cyprus, he proposed discussions on the restriction
of armaments and troops, and a program for the demilitarization
of the island. Mr. Denktash rejected the proposal, he added.
Regarding the likely role of US emissary Richard Holbrooke, Mr.
Clerides said he had formed the impression that the American
official was in agreement with Mr. Cordovez's handling of
matters.
On the whole, the Greek Cypriot side appeared to be considering
that it had succeeded in its aim of showing beyond any shadow of
a doubt the intransigence of the Turkish side, putting the blame
on Mr. Denktash for the deadlock.
For his part, Mr. Cordovez said he would submit his conclusions
on this round of talks to the Security Council next Wednesday. A
first round of direct talks (the first between the two leaders
since October 1994), was held between July 9 and 12 at the
secluded Troutbeck rural retreat, north of New York.
Before attending the Glion talks the two leaders had two
meetings in Cyprus, at the residence of UN Resident
Representative, Gustave Feissel, situated in the UN-controlled
Nicosia airport area, and discussed humanitarian issues.
[02] Assumption of the Virgin celebrated throughout Greece
Athens, 16/08/1997 (ANA)
Greece yesterday celebrated the holiday of the Assumption of the
Virgin in the traditional Orthodox way. Thousands of pilgrims
gathered on the Aegean island of Tinos, the center of religious
celebrations, where the government was represented by National
Defense Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos. The day also marks Armed
Forces Day.
[03] US says EU must leave door open for Turkish membership
Washington, 16/08/1997 (ANA/ AFP)
The European Union must leave the door open for Turkish
membership after the failure of the Clerides-Denktash talks in
Glion-sur-Montreux, State Department spokesman James Rubin said
yesterday.
Although the official stressed that the decision for the
admission of new members belongs to the Union itself, he said
that "maintaining the hope of accession -for Cyprus and Turkey-
is an encouragement that would improve the chances for settling
the Cyprus problem".
Mr. Rubin described the talks in Switzerland as "useful", and
expressed the view that the Cyprus problem will not be solved
easily given "the passions and the strong emotions it generates".
The American official added that further talks of the same type
should not be expected before presidential elections in Cyprus
in February.
Questioned on the role of President Bill Clinton's emissary,
Richard Holbrooke, Mr. Rubin said that Mr. Holbrooke was having
deliberations with European officials and would go to Cyprus in
autumn.
[04] Tsohatzopoulos to visit Czech Republic
Athens, 16/08/1997 (ANA)
National Defense Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos will visit the
Czech Republic at the end of autumn on an invitation by his
Czech counterpart Miloslav Vyborny.
Mr. Tsohatzopoulos confirmed his intention to the Czech Republic
embassy's military attachi Josef Matejka during a reception last
night on the occasion of the Greek Armed Forces Day.
[05] Respect for international law reiterated on Armed Forces Day
Athens, 16/08/1997 (ANA)
The President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos said in a
message for the day that the armed forces are "guarantors of our
country's security, stability and integrity in the crucial
period of varied positive and negative challenges we are going
through".
"Greece, as an equal member of the European Union for a number
of years, a country with respect for the principles of
international law and international legality, and with a
buttressed democratic system, constitutes a factor of stability,
security and tranquillity in the broader geographical region".
Defense Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos said in a message that the
restructuring of the armed forces, the boosting of their
operational potential, and the modernization of the means
required for the implementation of the country's defense policy
are among the measures designed "to secure Greece's deterrent
potential against any country that would dare dispute its
territorial integrity".
"The Greek people know the dedication of the armed forces to
their task, and shoulder the big sacrifices required for their
strengthening with modern equipment," he added.
After attending celebrations on the island of Tinos yesterday,
Mr. Tsohatzopoulos reiterated that "there is nothing for
negotiation in the Aegean. There is peace and stability, and
there is international law and treaties, which set the
non-negotiable character of Greek rights in this region ... Our
neighbors on the other side of the Aegean have the obligation to
respect international law and treaties".
Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos attended events marking the
double holiday at the Panagia Soumela monastery on Mt. Vermion
in Macedonia, which is a spiritual reference point and symbol
for Pontian (Black Sea) Greeks, housing the icon of the Virgin
transferred from the original monastery in that region.
[06] .... Tsohatzopoulos
Athens, 16/08/1997 (ANA)
Defense Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos said yesterday that the
situation emerging lately with a minimization of air traffic
violations and infringements of Greek air space in the Aegean by
Turkish aircraft could continue.
Responding to a question on the termination by Turkey of the
moratorium in the Aegean, during the reception held on Armed
Forces Day yesterday, the minister said that on the basis of the
emerging situation, discussions could be held with the UN
Secretary General on the implementation of the 1988
Papoulias-Yilmaz moratorium.
"The most recent victims which the Greek and Turkish air forces
had, oblige us to consider and approach the terms of peaceful
coexistence. If the principles of international law and treaties
are accepted by Ankara, they can provide the basis for the
resolution of Greek-Turkish problems," Mr. Tsohatzopoulos
stressed.
Commenting on the lack of results from the talks in Montreux,
Switzerland, on Cyprus, he said Turkey was facing a dilemma.
"It will either accept and support a peaceful solution in the
framework of the European Union, the UN, and international law
-which will open up its European prospects, or it will be
considered and be denounced by all international powers as the
country which, for its own interest, invades, occupies, and
steals 40 per cent of an independent state," he stated.
[07] Ecumenical Patriarch to visit US
Istanbul, 16/08/1997 (ANA)
Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Vartholomeos I,
spiritual leader of the world's 300 million Orthodox Christians,
will visit the United States for one month in October, a
Patriarchate spokesman told the Athens News Agency on Thursday.
A program of his visit released to ANA said the Patriarch will
begin the tour, his first to the US, on October 19 and return to
his See on November 17.
He will be welcomed on arrival at Andrews Air Force Base by
Archbishop Spyridon of America, officials of the Clinton
administration, members of the diplomatic corps, Orthodox
prelates, senators, congressmen, clergy and laity from
throughout the US.
During his visit, the Patriarch will meet with Orthodox,
Catholic, Jewish and Moslem leaders, and hold talks with US
President Bill Clinton, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, and US
Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.
One of the highlights of the visit will be his meeting with
Cardinal William Keeler as part of efforts to cement relations
between the Orthodox and the Roman Catholic Churches, which
split in 1054.
He will also be the first Orthodox Patriarch to officiate at a
service in a Catholic church in the US, when he presides over a
prayer service at the Basilica of the national Shrine of the
Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Baltimore, Maryland on October
2 3.
Other highlights will be a Patriarchal Divine Liturgy in New
York's Madison Square Garden and a prayer service at the Martin
Luther King Center for Social Change in Atlanta.
On the first leg of his tour, in Washington DC, the Patriarch
will visit the US Holocaust Memorial Museum and hold talks with
Jewish leaders. He will also address the first the First
Orthodox-Muslim Dialogue in America at the Center for
Muslim-Christian Understanding at Georgetown University.
Other cities on his itinerary are New Jersey, New York, Boston,
Atlanta, Chicago, Des Moines, Dallas, San Francisco, Los
Angeles, Florence (Arizona) and Pittsburgh.
[08] Ecumenical Patriarch due in Chios today
Athens, 16/08/1997 (ANA)
Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Vartholomeos I, arrives
on the Aegean island of Chios today for a three-day visit, it
was announced yesterday.
The Patriarch will be the guest of the island's Gum Mastic
Growers' Association, who will proclaim him as their honorary
president after attending a service at the cathedral of Saints
Minas, Victor and Vikentius.
He will also be offered an amount of locally-produced gum for
the preparation of the Holy Oil used by the church in
christenings and other consecrations.
Chios island is famous for its special type of local aromatic
gum, known as "masticha" from which they produce, apart from
chewing gum, sweets and other confections and a local aperitif
under the same name.
The Patriarch will also tour gum plantations and various
churches on the island, and attend holy masses before returning
to his See on Tuesday.
[09] Yugoslav FM talks in Athens 'very constructive and comprehensive'
Belgrade, 16/08/1997 (ANA - M. Mouratidis)
Yugoslav Foreign Minister Milan Milutinovic characterized his
talks in Athens with Greek counterpart Theodoros Pangalos as
"very constructive and comprehensive", according to statements
he made to a Serb television station on Thursday.
Mr. Milutinovic held talks with Mr. Pangalos last Tuesday during
a two-day working visit.
Mr. Milutinovic believes the greatest progress in bilateral
relations was made in the economic and investment sector. He
also stressed Greece's support for the Yugoslav Federal
Republic's return to the international community, particularly
the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development
(OECD).
Mention was also made in Athens, he said, of a Balkan summit to
be held in November on the island of Crete. Mr. Milutinovic's
reference to the summit was interpreted by the Yugoslav press as
an indication that Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic was
planning to attend. The foreign minister expressed the hope that
bilateral trade would increase, as great store is being set by
commercial agreements expected to be signed.
The Yugoslav press on Thursday focused on the announcement of a
loan from Greece for the construction of a national highway
network from Belgrade to Skopje, capital of the Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). The "Nasa Borba" newspaper quoted
a US State Department spokesperson's comment that it was up to
Greece to make such decisions, which are not governed by the
sanctions which the US continues to impose on Belgrade.
The US is demanding better co-operation from Yugoslavia with
regard to the implementation of the Dayton accord and respect
for minority rights in Serbia.
[10] Britain's Princess Diana pays private visit to Greece
Athens, 16/08/1997 (ANA)
Britain's Princess Diana arrived in Athens yesterday for a
private visit, informed sources said.
Princess Diana arrived at Athens International Airport at 17h 45
on a private Gulfstream jet, but the purpose of her visit was
not immediately known.
Last September, the princess visited the village of Limni on the
island of Evia to attend the funeral of a 27-year-old lawyer,
Yannis Kalyviatis, who died of cystic fibrosis.
The princess had been acquainted with Kalyviatis when he was
being treated at a London hospital. Princess Diana visited
Kalyviatis in the context of her worldwide humanitarian
activities.
[11] Brazilian IOC member in Athens
Athens, 16/08/1997 (ANA)
International Soccer Federation president Joao Havelange arrived
in Athens yesterday in his capacity as member of the
International Olympic Committee, to be briefed on Athens'
candidacy as host city for the 2004 Olympiad.
He visited the Athens 2004 bid headquarters at the Zappeion Hall
for a briefing by committee president Gianna
Angelopoulos-Daskalaki. In the early evening Mr. Havelange was
to plant an olive tree in the IOC Members' Park.
On arrival in Athens, Havelange said he was pleased to be in
Athens, "the cradle of civilization and athletics".
Athens is the third candidate city he has visited, after Rome
and Buenos Aires.
Today Mr. Havelange is to visit Athens' Olympic Stadium in
Maroussi as well as the Peace and Friendship Stadium in Faliro,
before returning to Brazil.
[12] Turkey ends unilateral confidence-building measures in Aegean
Ankara, 16/08/1997 (A.A/DPA)
Turkey will lift today its unilateral confidence-building
measures in the Aegean, introduced six weeks ago, Turkish
Foreign Ministry deputy spokesman Sermet Atacanli announced
yesterday.
Turkey was declaring "its six-week moratorium at an end as
Greece had not taken part in the measures", spokesman Atacanli
said in Ankara.
The measures - whereby Turkey canceled all scheduled air and sea
maneuvers in the Aegean from July 1 to August 15 - were part of
diplomatic efforts by NATO Secretary General Javier Solana to
build confidence between Greece and Turkey.
Routine training and reconnaissance flights were conducted
without weapons as aircraft took off in the direction of the
Aegean with NATO electronic recognition codes. Other measures
should have included the exchange of information between the two
sides.
[13] President to tour Peloponnese
Athens, 16/08/1997 (ANA)
President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos is to visit
Messinia on 27 August, according to informed sources. He is also
to visit the prefectures of Laconia and Arcadia on 28 and 29
August, respectively.
[14] Greek ATM network expands with new Alpha Credit Bank terminals
Athens, 16/08/1997 (ANA)
Diasnet, an automated teller (ATM) network, has been given a
further boost with the connection of 353 ATMs by Alpha Credit
Bank.
The Diasnet network includes National Bank of Greece, Alpha
Credit Bank, Ionian Bank, Ergobank, Citibank, Mortgage Bank,
Interbank, Eurofinance, ABN Amro, Barclays, Aspis Bank and
Dorian Bank. It operates 1700 machines throughout the country.
[15] Stocks rangebound in scant holiday trade
Athens, 16/08/1997 (ANA)
Greek equities moved in a narrow range in the last trading
session of a short week on the Athens Stock Exchange on
Thursday, with investors more interested in a three-day holiday
which started yesterday.
The general index closed 0.21 percent higher at 1,645.81 points,
showing a 0.39 percent gain on the week. Sector indices were
mixed. Banks fell 0.17 percent, Leasing eased 0.22 percent,
Insurance rose 1.19 percent, Investment increased 0.36 percent,
Industrials rose 0.93 percent, Holding was 0.46 percent higher
and Miscellaneous fell 0.47 percent.
The parallel market for smaller companies ended 0.98 percent
higher.
Trading remained thin and turnover was 8.3 billion drachmas. On
a weekly basis, average turnover was 9.6 billion down from 10.9
billion drachmas the previous week. Broadly, advancing issues
led declining ones by 107 to 93 with another 35 issues unchanged.
Sportsman, Bank of Athens, Medical Center and Remek scored the
biggest percentage gains, while Daring, Eskimo, Demetriades and
Ideal suffered the heaviest losses of the day.
National Bank of Greece closed at 37,630 drachmas, Ergobank at
18,000, Alpha Credit Bank at 20,190, Delta at 4,170, Titan
Cement at 15,360, Intracom at 13,400 and OTE at 6,550.
In the domestic foreign exchange market the US dollar fell
substantially against the drachma following a sharp drop in its
parity on international markets.
[16] Bourse likely to rejoin top emerging markets - Salomon
Athens, 16/08/1997 (ANA)
Greece's bourse is likely to regain its ranking among the top
ten emerging markets despite a summer lull, Salomon Brothers
said in a report. The Athens market has held its ground among
emerging markets with a 40 percent yield in dollar terms, the
international investment house said.
It said the bourse's current P/E ratio of 12 was high. Low
turnover expected in August was likely to rise in coming months,
accompanied by a correction in prices.
End of English language section.
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