Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 98-08-24

Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Simitis, Klima press for political solution to Kosovo issue

[02] Stephanopoulos calls for hightened awareness of human rights

[03] Ionian Bank bids to be unsealed today

[04] CD-ROM on "Thrace and the Greek Parliament"

[05] Parliament press office: Kaklamanis` comments willfully distorted by Turkish foreign ministry

[06] Olive tree sent for 2000 Sydney Games

[07] NATO exercise in Albania concludes

[08] Christodoulos' statements criticised by Venizelos, Yiannopoulos

[09] 'Bosporus' musical group in Kavala

[01] Simitis, Klima press for political solution to Kosovo issue

Athens, 24/8/1998 (ANA)

"Both countries are concerned at developments (in Kosovo), because if we have a negative continuation, this will lead to repercussions for the entire region," Mr. Simitis said.

He was addressing a joint news conference with the Austrian chancellor in Thessaloniki. Mr. Klima departed Greece yesterday after a three-day private visit.

"The situation has reached the point that special care is required by third countries. The position Greece has expressed, and with which the Austrian government agrees, is that more observers should be sent, and their safety should be ensured so that th ey may exert pressure for peaceful conditions, " Mr. Simitis said.

On his part, Mr. Klima said that the European Union would call on Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic to halt the violence in Kosovo. At the same time, the EU would not bow to pressure for Kosovo's full independence from Yugoslavia, he underlined.

Cyprus: On a separate issue, Mr. Simitis urged Austria, which holds the European Union's current rotating presidency, to begin accession talks with Cyprus for entry into the 15-nation bloc "as early as possible."

Negotiations for EU applicants, including Cyprus, should begin before the end of a screening process that involves collecting data on the workings of each country, Mr. Simitis said.

The Austrian chancellor replied that screening for EU applicants, due to end in October or November, should be completed as soon as possible, as the outcome would have major repercussions on security, the combatting of organised crime and overall progre ss in Europe.

At the same time, the EU should not allow its interest to diminish in the five countries slated for the second wave of entry along with Cyprus, while care should be taken to forge closer ties with them in order to avoid discriminatory treatment, Mr. Kli ma added.

"We believe that the matter should evolve smoothly, and we are referring to the Mediterranean area," he noted.

Asked if the EU's Austrian presidency could specify a date for the beginning of entry talks, or if Vienna intended to launch any initiatives on improving ties between Greece and Turkey, Mr. Klima said Austria was always willing to back intiatives that c ould resolve outstanding problems, either between Turkey and the EU, or between Turkey and Greece.

Replying to a question on whether a refusal by Turkish Cypriots to take part in Cyprus' EU accession talks was a stumbling block, Mr. Klima replied that the Turkish Cypriot community's presence was desirable, but not essential. He also said that entry t alks would be held with each of the six countries separately, and would focus on the extent to which each individual applicant met EU standards.

"However, reality shows that negotiations can be held in parallel with all six countries on specific matters of Community law," he said.

Mr. Simitis added that Greece's position on entry talks remained the same, which was that talks should begin simultaneously for the six applicants, but not necessarily on the same subjects.

EU employment: Referring to broader EU affairs, the two leaders stressed that the fight against unemployment was second in priority only to Economic and Monetary Union, and would be the focus, along with future enlargement, of an informal EU summit in Vienna on Oct. 24 and 25.

Mr. Klima said EU leaders in Vienna would prepare the ground for decisions which the succeeding German presidency would assume responsibility for.

"We are resolved to give the employment policy the same significance and the same effectiveness which we gave to the stability of the European currency," he said.

Further, the Austrian chancellor priaised efforts by Athens to stabilise its economy.

"I am particularly happy that Greece acceded to the European Monetary System and is on a particularly successful courseI" he said.

Mount Athos visit: Both leaders on Saturday visited the monastic community of Mount Athos in Halkidiki prefecture, and specifically, the Iviron and Megisti Lavra monasteries.

Mr. Klima said the EU would make all possible efforts so that "the particular characteristics of Mount Athos would be respected while the wonderful cultural hetirage, in the form of the holy relics and buildings, would be maintained and preserved".

In statements after the two leaders' return to Thessaloniki, Mr. Klima expressed his particular admiration for "the work being achieved in this religious centre and its cultural heritage."

Mr. Simitis also provided assurances that the Greek state would continue to help the monastic community with every means so that it can continue treading its course with the same vitality.

"Greece is proud that Mount Athos belongs among its territory, because it does not only constitute an ark of Orthodox Christianity, but also the largest centre of Christianity and monastic life as well as a cultural centre of worldwide significance," he added.

Athens News Agency

[02] Stephanopoulos calls for hightened awareness of human rights

Athens, 24/8/1998 (ANA)

Mr. Stephanopoulos spoke at an event marking the 50th anniversary of the United Nations' Declaration of Human Rights.

He also expressed his high esteem for the work carried out by the Amnesty International organisation, saying that such efforts should to be assisted by all.

Referring to the establishment of the UN and its Human Rights Charter after WWII, Mr. Stephanopoulos stressed that "despite the fact that developments do not allow the international organisation to move along the course it mapped out, the UN is doing a great job".

Addresses on the occasion were also made by Aegean Minister Elisabeth Papazoi, the main speaker, the Metropolitan of Samos, Ikaria and Fournoi as well as local officials.

President Stephanopoulos arrived on Ikaria from the Oinouses islets, where he was warmly welcomed by local residents and authorities.

On Friday evening, the president inaugurated the Oinouses stadium/amphitheatre, built by the Ioannis Lemos Foundation, while on Saturday he inaugurated the travelling exhibition "Shipping Tradition in the Aegean", organised by the Aegean ministry.

Athens News Agency

[03] Ionian Bank bids to be unsealed today

Athens, 24/8/1998 (ANA)

With the possibility of a third, probably foreign bidder, the two Greece- based banking institutions have not released any details regarding the amount they are willing to pay for Ionian's control.

According to reports, however, the government has set a 220-billion- drachmas limit as the lowest amount it will take for 51 per cent of the bank, while National Economy and Finance Minister Yiannos Papantoniou has said that the tender may be cancelled i f bids are judged as not satisfactory. Developments regarding the Ionian Bank sale are expected to have a direct impact on the country's bourse.

Athens News Agency

[04] CD-ROM on "Thrace and the Greek Parliament"

Athens, 24/8/1998 (ANA)

The announcement for the official release of the CD-ROM was made yesterday by ParliamentYs second vice-president, Panayiotis Sgouridis, who also first developed the idea.

Mr. Sgouridis supervised a team comprised of his personal staffmembers in Parliament, which collected material over a period of three years. The material was then processed by Democritos University professor Christos Hamtzas.

Athens News Agency

[05] Parliament press office: Kaklamanis` comments willfully distorted by Turkish foreign ministry

Athens, 24/8/1998 (ANA)

A statement released by Parliament's press office cited a Turkish foreign ministry announcement as incorrectly quoting Mr. Kaklamanis as saying that the Moslem minority "should assimilate into the Greek community and its Hellenisation is definitely requ ired".

A Parliament statement stressed that Mr. Kaklamanis had not urged "Hellenisation" of the Moslem minority, and had not referred to the group as "Turkish", as the Turkish foreign ministry alleged.

"The Moslem minority in Thrace is comprised of Greek citizens, despite the fact that Turkey has struggled to give it a 'ghetto image' and present it as an ethnic minority," the statement read.

"The Parliament president has repeatedly and clearly underlined the need for the homogenisation of the area's population, so that all Greeks, both Christians and Moslems, can follow the same path towards growth," it adds.

Mr. Kaklamanis had repeated this position in an interview, which the Turkish foreign ministry had willfully tried to distort, the statement continued.

The distortion by the foreign ministry and Turkish press was deliberate, as shown by the fact that the Turkish embassy in Athens had requested - and received - a copy of Mr. Kaklamanis' exact statements before release of the announcement in Ankara.

It also rejected Turkey's claim that Mr. Kaklamanis should "make an effort to get to know Turkey better."

The statement said the response was probably linked to Mr. Kaklamanis' original statement that:

"The Greek people have always wanted peace and good relations with neighbouring Turkey. I imagine that the Turkish people, who are currently living amid the trials and tribulations of a semi-military regime, would also like peaceful and friendly relatio ns with the Greek people."

Finally, the statement said that Mr. Kaklamanis was fully informed about the political situation in Turkey, and was concerned about the human rights of ethnic minorities, including the Kurds, "who were living under asphyxiating pressure from the country 's semi-military regime."

He was also concerned at the violation of international law due to the continuing military occupation of 37 per cent of Cyprus, the statement concluded.

Athens News Agency

[06] Olive tree sent for 2000 Sydney Games

MELBOURNE, 24/8/1998 (ANA - S. Hatzimanolis)

The symbolic gift is to be planted in the Australian city's Olympic village.

Since its arrival two years ago, the tree has been under the care of the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS), as the country has strict rules regarding the import of any plants or seeds from abroad, in order to protect the island-contine nt's crops and ecosystem from possible plant diseases or parasites.

Athens News Agency

[07] NATO exercise in Albania concludes

Athens, 24/8/1998 (ANA)

Taking part in the exercise, code-named "Cooperative Assembly '98", were 14 nations including Greece, as well as observers from six countries, among them Russia.

The exercise, which began last Monday, was part of the NATO-sponsored "Partnership for Peace" programme.

According to the alliance, the exercise was aimed at demonstrating to Yugoslav leadership that NATO was ready to intervene at any time in the region, especially if tension escalated in Kosovo.

Greece took part with a C-130 transport plane, two F-16 jetfighters, two helicopters and a company of paratroopers. Greece also sent a medical unit to the exercise, which treated the residents of remote villages in the mountain range where the exercise was held. Among the services offered was dental treatment for dozens of young children, who saw a dentist for the first time.

The exercise was under the direction of NATO commander (southern wing) Adm. T. Joseph Lopez.

Adm. Lopez stressed that the exercise, as all Partnership for Peace manoeuvres, aimed at regional stability and was not directed against any party in Kosovo or Belgrade.

The exercise was scaled down when the US reduced its contingent by 70 per cent following the Aug. 7 bombings of the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, where least 257 people were killed. Washington cited the risk of terrorist attacks against US targets in Albania.

The exercise included search and rescue operations, close air support, medical evacuation, air-drop procedures, and infantry peace support operations.

Athens News Agency

[08] Christodoulos' statements criticised by Venizelos, Yiannopoulos

Athens, 24/8/1998 (ANA)

Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos said "anyone making public statements is judged on political criteria," and that "the Church is a spiritual organisation whose word should be one of love and consolation, and not of intervention in daily political is sues".

Justice Minister Evangelos Yiannopoulos said the Archbishop had no place to state that he would like to officiate at a Church service in the now almost defunct Greek Orthodox monastery of Panagia Soumela, in Turkey's northern Black Sea region of Pontus.

"If he wishes to talk politics, let him become a layman and seek the vote of the Greek people," he said.

In later statements from Thessaloniki, the Archbishop dismissed Mr. Yiannopoulos' statement as "empty words," insisting that "God put us in this position to personify the Church's spirit of resistance".

"The Church is revolution, irrespective of the fact that as Christians we may have lost our nerve," he underlined.

He further referred to "drama of Cypriot Hellenism", urging the faithful to "pray for those who live as refugees and have known international injustice in their skin".

Athens News Agency

[09] 'Bosporus' musical group in Kavala

Athens, 24/8/1998 (ANA)

The group, to be conducted by Nikiforos Metaxas, comprises Greek and Turkish musicians and first appeared in 1985 with performances of works by Istanbul-based Greek composers of Ottoman music , dating to the 16th to 18th centuries.

This was an effort by the group to demonstrate the contribution of ethnic Greek composers to what is today referred to as Turkish music.

The group has also worked on more modern forms of eastern music and has so far released some albums tracing back the history of Hellenism in Asia Minor.

Athens News Agency

Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article