Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 97-10-06
From: The Greek Press & Information Office, Ottawa Canada <grnewsca@sympatico.ca>
ATHENS NEWS AGENCY BULLETIN (No. 1307), October 6, 1997
Greek Press & Information Office
Ottawa, Canada
E-Mail Address: grnewsca@sympatico.ca
CONTENTS
[01] Stability and peace essential for Mediterranean prosperity,
premier says
[02] Veteran ND politician Tsaldaris dies
[03] Romeos concludes talks in the US on terrorism and organized crime
[04] No high hopes for a fruitful Simitis-Yilmaz meeting, sources say
[05] Yilmaz expresses hope for improved relations
[06] Turkey against Grossman involvement
[07] Greece insists on principles contained in Madrid communique,
Kranidiotis says
[08] Tsohatzopoulos addresses ATA meeting in Sofia
[09] Papandreou to represent Greece at EU General Affairs Council in
Luxembourg
[10] Evros to acquire SME merchandise transit centre
[11] Changes in law to encourage opening of new jobs, minister says
[12] ND leader urges Greek people to fight decadence
[13] Bill on streamlining local gov't to be tabled on Friday
[14] Mastic symposium ends with proposals on medicinal use
[01] Stability and peace essential for Mediterranean prosperity,
premier says
Athens, 06/10/1997 (ANA)
Political tension and obstacles to peace in the Middle East, and
other regional tensions prevailing in the greater Mediterranean
area, make the search for factors of constancy an imperative,
Prime Minister Costas Simitis said yesterday.
In a message to the Third Euro-Mediterranean Industry Conference
opening in Athens today, Mr. Simitis said that stability and
peace in the area were the basic components in a strategy for
socio-economic development and prosperity.
In order for peace and development in the area to attain
historical permanence and political depth, Mr. Simitis added,
they should rest on a dynamic balance created by common interest
and economic relations based on partnership.
The prime minister pointed out that, through a global business
relationship between the European Union and its Mediterranean
partners, Euro-Mediterranean co-operation would allow the basin
to become an area of strengthened political dialogue, exchange
and co-operation in a manner that would guarantee peace,
stability and prosperity.
In terms of Greece itself, Mr. Simitis noted, this co-operation
was of special significance, not only in terms of its
advantageous geographical position, but historically as well.
Greece maintained throughout history strong political, cultural
and economic links with Mediterranean countries. It seeks to
take a more extensive and active part in the great effort
undertaken in the area and contribute to creating long-term
opportunities and prospects.
Referring to the Greek economy, the prime minister asserted that
the government's policies were in the right direction.
"At present, the recovery of the Greek economy, the compression
of inflation to the lowest levels in the last quarter century,
the reduction of the cost of money, the impressive rise of
investments, the steady progress towards fiscal cleansing and
the trust shown by international organizations and world
markets, prove that the choices of our economic policy are
stable and correct," he said.
At the same time, "competitiveness has become the key factor in
developments, while businessmen who know that the market
operates under its own rules are seeking new opportunities and
proceeding timely to taking ground-breaking initiatives. Greek
businesses are facing the challenge of operating in a
continually increasing competitive environment on a daily
basis", he said.
[02] Veteran ND politician Tsaldaris dies
Athens, 06/10/1997 (ANA)
Athanasios Tsaldaris, a veteran politician, member of parliament
with the main opposition New Democracy party and a former
president of the Greek Parliament, died of cancer late on
Saturday night. He was 76.
In a statement issued yesterday, Prime Minister Costas Simitis
hailed Tsaldaris' achievements, calling him a "point of
reference" for Greece's political life.
"In his long political career, the much-loved former president
of Parliament conscientiously served his ideas and principles,
his party, our political life and the country. For his party and
for political developments, he was always a stable point of
reference," Mr. Simitis said.
President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos also expressed
his condolences, saying Tsaldaris' death had deprived Greece of
a "modest and prudent presence".
"Athanasios Tsaldaris contributed much and was a credit to all
public offices he held," the president's announcement said.
Former President Constantine Karamanlis said in a message that
"with his ethos and political modesty, Tsaldaris earned the
respect of the entire political world".
Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis, upon return from
Australia yesterday, expressed his deep grief over the death of
Tsaldaris, who he said had been an honourable and consistent
politician. He said Tsaldaris' term as Parliament president had
been characterized by his innovations and persistent efforts to
upgrade the level of Parliament.
Costas Karamanlis, the leader of New Democracy, issued an
announcement on Saturday, saying that Tsaldaris had been a
"patrician of political life".
"His long career in the political life of the country was
characterized by a rare ethos, the highest conduct and his
continuous service to the community, with the only criteria
being the good of the country," Mr. Karamanlis said.
"His contribution to the consolidation of parliamentary
institutions was crucial and his loss will be felt on a national
level - by the political world, the nation and New Democracy."
Coalition of the Left (Synaspismos) leader Nikos Constantopoulos
also sent his condolences on Tsaldaris's death, saying:
"It is with grief that we bid farewell to an important political
figure, Athanasios Tsaldaris, a leading founding member of New
Democracy... With his long-standing contribution to society,
with his ethos, his insight and his humour he justly won the
respect and recognition of the entire political world."
Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Secretary General Aleka Papariga
and the honorary president of the party, Harilaos Florakis, also
both sent condolences to Tsaldaris' family.
Tsaldaris, the son of former prime minister and leader of the
People's Party Constantine Tsaldaris, was born in 1921 and
studied law and economics in Athens, followed by postgraduate
work at New York's Columbia University.
He was first elected to Parliament in 1963 and was appointed
deputy minister at the social services ministry in the first
government following the fall of the seven year military junta.
He was elected president of Parliament in 1989, a position he
held until the re-election of PASOK in 1993.
Tsaldaris' funeral will be held today at 3 p.m. at the Athens
First Cemetery following a service at the Athens Cathedral.
His seat in Parliament will be taken by Maria Konstantopoulou.
[03] Romeos concludes talks in the US on terrorism and organized crime
Washington, 06/10/1997 (ANA)
Public Order Minister George Romeos on Saturday wound up his
visit to the US which included talks with senior CIA and FBI
officials on combating terrorism, organized crime and the drug
trade.
Mr. Romeos met with CIA Director George Tennet, FBI Director
Louis Freh and with the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State on
European Affairs James Gandsten.
He told Greek reporters that the issue of terrorism and the
recent claims reported by the British paper "The Observer" that
Greece was harbouring and abetting Kurdish terrorists were
brought up during his meetings at the State Department.
He said he objected to the State Department's latest report on
terrorism particularly with regard to its comment that "there
has been no progress"; the way the comments were couched, he
added, implied that the government was at fault.
Mr. Romeos said he stressed to his interlocutors that there were
"objective difficulties" involved in dealing with the shady
November 17 terrorist group and that it was mistaken to compare
it with other European terrorist groups.
The second point he disagreed with, he said, was the report's
complaint that Kurdish organizations had offices in Athens. He
stressed that similar offices existed in the US in New York and
Washington and that the report's characterization of these
offices was "problematic" because, Mr. Romeos said, these
offices only exercise policy in the framework of the Republic of
Greece.
He said that if the US had specific evidence that these offices
were involved in terrorist activities it should reveal it or
remove the reference from the report.
Regarding the State Department's comments on "The Observer"
article, Mr. Romeos said it was only "partially satisfactory"
and reiterated that specific references in the report should be
deleted.
He said emphasis on training was placed at his meetings at the
CIA and FBI as was the improvement in the behaviour and
performance of the Greek police force. The US, he said, was able
to assist in a possible establishment of an internal affairs
unit in the force, adding that corruption in the Greek Police
was not any greater today than in the past.
[04] No high hopes for a fruitful Simitis-Yilmaz meeting, sources say
Athens, 06/10/1997 (ANA)
The government plans to give priority to issues promoting
co-operation in the Balkans, on the framework adopted at the
Balkan conference of foreign ministers i n Thessaloniki, at the
Balkan Conference on Crete on November 3 and 4.
According to sources, the government does not have great hopes
for a positive outcome from a sideline meeting between the prime
ministers of Greece and Turkey, Costas Simitis and Mesut Yilmaz,
and wishes to avoid turning the conference into a Greek-Turkish
affair.
Following however the failure of the recent meeting of the
Greece and Turkish foreign ministers in New York, the United
States will extend every effort to bring a positive outcome in
the Cretan conference.
US Assistant Secretary of State Marc Grossman said as much
during the talks he had in Athens with the foreign ministry and
main opposition New Democracy leader Costas Karamanlis, the
sources added.
The government appreciates American efforts but believes that
sometimes the US "exceed the limits" and create confusion in
their urgent efforts to achieve success quickly.
Foreign ministry sources attribute part of the failure of the
New York talks to the American side, because it was cultivating
a "climate of optimism" in terms of Turkey's intentions, but
this was not realistic, as proven by the stance promoted by
Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem.
The Greek government intends to insist on the "spirit" of the
Madrid joint communique, expressing its intention towards a
rapprochement with Turkey on the basis of international law and
treaties, the sources added.
[05] Yilmaz expresses hope for improved relations
Istanbul, 06/10/1997 (ANA/A. Kourkoulas)
Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz yesterday expressed hope
that Greek-Turkish relations would show an improvement during
the Balkan Conference on Crete.
According to a report by Turkish daily "Turkiye", Mr. Yilmaz
said, "I hope that there will be developments in Greek-Turkish
relations during (my) meeting with Greek Prime Minister Costas
Simitis in the Balkan Conference that will take place on Crete
in a month".
The statements were made to the correspondent of the German news
agency, DPA.
Mr. Yilmaz also said that Turkey's efforts were not enough to
solve Greek-Turkish problems, as the European Union wished.
"Greece must be prepared for negotiations and reconciliation,"
he was quoted as saying.
[06] Turkey against Grossman involvement
Istanbul, 06/10/1997 (ANA/A. Kourkoulas)
A Turkish daily claimed yesterday that the Turkish government
postponed a visit by US Assistant Secretary of State Marc
Grossman in Ankara following his contacts in Athens.
The daily "Yeni Yuzgil" said that Ankara opposed Mr. Grossman's
involvement in Greek-Turkish differences, adding that this was
the reason his visit was "postponed indefinitely".
[07] Greece insists on principles contained in Madrid communique,
Kranidiotis says
Athens, 06/10/1997 (ANA)
Despite the retrogressions, Greece insisted on the principles
contained in the Madrid communique and on confronting
Greek-Turkish differences with patience, circumspection, method
and, above all, calm-headedness, Foreign Under-secretary Yannos
Kranidiotis said yesterday.
Addressing a PASOK event on the island of Mytilene on national
issues, Mr. Kranidiotios said that Greece "wants the dividing
line between Greece and Turkey to stop being an iron curtain and
be turned instead into a line of co-operation, peace and
development of the region".
This, he added, could be achieved on the basis of prevalence of
the principles of international law, respect of human rights,
good neighbourliness, and non-use of violence in resolving any
differences.
Those principles were the firm Greek positions, and through the
Madrid communique, at least as far as declaration was concerned,
"we succeeded in these being also the principles of our
neighbouring country," he said.
In its persistence in the Madrid communique today, he added,
Greece insisted in those international principles, which he said
were the only solution. "Because war is not a solution. Let
everyone realize this," Mr. Kranidiotis added.
Greece, he added, had nothing to fear of those initiatives. "We
are a free and open society, and show this in all directions."
[08] Tsohatzopoulos addresses ATA meeting in Sofia
Sofia, 06/10/1996 (ANA/N. Hios)
National Defense Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos was confident on
Saturday that Bulgaria, Romania, and Slovenia would be included
in NATO's second expansion phase.
Speaking at the 42nd Atlantic Treaty Association meeting in
Sofia, Mr. Tsohatzopoulos stressed the need for wider and stable
co-operation between NATO and Russia and the Ukraine.
He said there was a need for specific forms of collective
security and crisis handling in the Balkan region and stressed
the need to resolve security problems within the framework of
the European Security System.
[09] Papandreou to represent Greece at EU General Affairs Council in
Luxembourg
Athens, 06/10/1997 (ANA)
Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou will represent
Greece at the EU General Affairs Council in Luxembourg today and
tomorrow.
The meeting will focus on EU enlargement, the Common
Agricultural Policy (CAP), the new finances framework and
structural policies.
Also on the agenda are the Middle East peace process and
developments in former Yugoslavia, while a special discussion
will be held on the situation in Albania in view of the
ministerial meeting in Rome.
Mr. Papandreou will urge the strengthening of relations between
the EU and Albania.
[10] Evros to acquire SME merchandise transit centre
Athens, 06/10/1997 (ANA)
The Evros region is to acquire a small and medium-sized (SME)
merchandise transit centre. The plans for the centre, which will
initially be built on a 25 acre expanse in the Alexandroupolis
Light Industry Park, was presented by Evros Chamber of Commerce
and Industry president Nikos Dasteridis yesterday at a
day-seminar on the network of merchandise centres planned
throughout the country.
He said the 2.5 billion dr. budget of the project would be
financed in half by 75 regional entrepreneurs and the other half
by EU subsidies.
Mr. Dasteridis said the plans had already received initial
approval, adding that return on the capital investment would be
in five years, after which the centre would operate on profit,
meeting Thrace's needs in merchandise movement.
National Economy Ministry secretary general Apostolos Fotiadis
told the seminar that the centre was an important initiative of
the Evros Chamber which would contribute to the development of
combined transports between the Aegean and Thrace with the Black
Sea countries, reinforcing Thrace's geo-strategic position and
international role.
[11] Changes in law to encourage opening of new jobs, minister says
Athens, 06/10/1997 (ANA)
The development law will change to include guarantees that
investment funds are used effectively to create jobs, while new
measures to fight unemployment will be announced shortly, Labour
Under-secretary Christos Protopapas said yesterday.
Speaking in Kavala, Mr. Protopapas said that law 1892/90 would
be changed by the end of the year, because up to now "the law
created inequalities and injustices. A lot of money was being
given without a guaranteed result or a linking of the investment
with jobs under creation".
Mr. Protopapas said that the government was interested in
"reducing fiscal subsidizing in investments to levels that would
prevent waste of social funds".
"The coming year will be one of austerity, but not for workers
and pensioners, only for public services and corporations," he
said.
Unemployment, he added, was over 10 per cent, despite an
increase in jobs during the last few years, something that
prompted the government to take new measures that would be
announced over the next few days.
[12] ND leader urges Greek people to fight decadence
Athens, 06/10/1997 (ANA)
Main opposition New Democracy (ND) leader Costas Karamanlis
called on Greek people and youth to mobilize and "break with
decadence" in Greece.
During a speech at the party youth (ONNED) festival in Kolonos,
Mr. Karamanlis also presented a renewed action plan for his
party stressing social responsibility, the restructuring of its
organization, the effective use of new officers and the
avoidance of introversion and populism.
"We feel justified over our basic choices, which everyone
accepts except for a colourful minority. The only party that
does not have a problem of political identity is ND," he said.
Mr. Karamanlis said that Greece's present leaders were
responsible for "the corrosion of the productive network, the
loss of competitiveness of the Greek economy, the stagnation in
investments, the high unemployment and the marginalization of
great sect ions of society".
[13] Bill on streamlining local gov't to be tabled on Friday
Athens, 06/10/1997 (ANA)
The bill containing the government's plan to streamline local
government through the compulsory merger of small communities
and municipalities is expected to be tabled in Parliament by
October 10.
The "Ioannis Capodistrias" plan, which provides for the
transformation of 5,775 communities and municipalities into less
than 1,000 local government organizations, has provoked
opposition in various parts of the country in recent months.
On Saturday it was the turn of residents from three communities
in northern Greece who protested the plan by blocking the
Thessaloniki-Athens railway line near the village of Adrendron
in the prefecture of Thessaloniki for one hour.
The protesters, who placed harvesting machines on the tracks,
said their action was intended as a warning, and that more
dynamic protests would follow.
The government has responded to the protests stressing that
favourable provisions in force for the residents of small local
government organizations will be preserved.
It has also underlined the benefits following implementation of
the plan, including the ability of all citizens to request
certificates and other documents issued by the State by
telephone, thus avoiding often complex bureaucracy.
Rights and facilities related to tax and insurance currently
enjoyed by residents of communities to be merged will also be
maintained, irrespective of the size of the newly-formed
municipalities.
[14] Mastic symposium ends with proposals on medicinal use
Athens, 06/10/1997 (ANA)
An international symposium on "The Hios mastic: tradition and
modern methods" on the island of Hios concluded yesterday after
having renewed interest in the product's medicinal properties.
The symposium began on Thursday and was organized by the
ministry of the Aegean and the Union of Mastic Producers of Hios.
Among interest generated by the congress is the interest
expressed by "Lavipharm" pharmaceutical company on an English
university over the therapeutic effects of mastic in dental
medicine.
Interest on the product's medicinal properties was also
expressed by the Hellenic Society of Homeopathic Medicine, which
is working on a study including over 100 people.
Also, archaeologist Lina Mendoni proposed a project to examine
nearly 500 accounts on the medicinal aspect of mastic found in
surviving ancient Greek and Latin texts.
End of English language section.
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