Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 00-02-07

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

CONTENTS

[01] Simitis says election struggle will be tough but victorious

[02] Tsohatzopoulos says socialist ideology remains PASOK's foundation

[03] Karamanlis optimistic of ND victory in general elections

[04] PASOK leading ND by 2.3 percentage points in opinion polls

[05] Papariga calls for vote against EMU

[06] Constantopoulos says elections difficult

[07] DHKKI party leader calls on voter to reject major parties

[08] Greek and Turkish FMs address media conference in Athens

[09] Turkish foreign minister concludes visit to Athens

[10] US ambassador Burns lauds Greek-Turkish rapprochement

[11] ANA and Anadolu news agency general directors meet

[12] Unarmed tour of duty in the military only in defense ministry agencies

[01] Simitis says election struggle will be tough but victorious

Athens, 07/02/2000 (ANA)

In his closing statement on the second day of the ruling socialist PASOK party's National Conference on Party Positions on Sunday, Simitis said PASOK will win because it "expresses winning Greece, because it has a majority, a plan and vision, because it wants Greece to have a voice and prestige".

He added, however that nobody would give victory away to PASOK, which will have to achieve it by itself.

The Prime Minister announced last Friday the holding of anticipated general elections on April 9, saying that the government, which would negotiate Greeces entry into the eurozone, should have a fresh and strong mandate.

Elections were normally due for September. Greece is expected to join the eurozone on January 1, 2001.

He said all procedures in PASOK would be speeded up since the elections have been brought forward and announced that preliminary elections in organizations for the election of parliamentary candidates will take place on February 19-20.

Simitis lashed out at the main opposition conservative New Democracy (ND) party, saying that "over the past four years it proved that it is profoundly unsuitable even as an opposition party".

He said "two considerable dangers emanate from ND". The first is what he called a danger for democracy and comes from ND's proposals on a revision of the constitution. He added that it is important that there is a democratic majority in Parliament to block the way to a return to past partisan practices entailed by the possible adoption of ND's positions.

The second, the premier said, is related to a statement by ND leader Costas Karamanlis in Thessaloniki, who spoke of the vindication of ND's militants. Simitis said that meant a return to political favors, past partisan practices and the abolition of meritocracy.

Simitis accused all opposition parties of creating a "front of denial, which includes nationalists, former internationalists, neo-liberals, far-rightists and self-styled communists". He said it was a question of circumstantial alliances, adding that the people supported PASOK instead of such alliances.

He predicted that on completion of PASOK's work over the new four-year period, Greece would multiply its benefits, achieve a higher standard of living for citizens and would continue to implement policies of social justice.

Simitis also referred to PASOK's history, saying that the party is forging ahead on the basis of principles set by its late founder Andreas Papandreou in 1974 in the founding proclamation of September 3. He said that the challenge for PASOK at present is to open its doors and include the new social and political majority in its ranks, which will give it victory in the elections.

Opening the conferences session on Saturday, Simitis announced the beginning of what he called a second modernization wave, stressing that the first was successful, as he recounted the success of the government in the completion of public projects, Greeces presence in Europe and the world in general, in Greek-Turkish relations and the Cyprus issue

Addressing his announcement on Friday for elections on April 9, he said, our party does not play around with regulations, adding that petty political tactics are a characteristic of the old-style-party-politics system and conservative thought.

His statement of regulations regarded the election procedures of the post of the President of the Republic, which was the hottest topic of political debate and confrontation with main opposition New Democracy, until only lately the later decided on the re-election of current President Kostis Stephanopoulos, whom PASOK had nominated early last year.

Simitis attacked ND saying that their one major difference of policy is that PASOKs corner stone policy is that of development with social solidarity, unlike the policies of the conservative front and neo-liberalism.

He also stressed that his government dared to make changes everywhere, without considering their political cost.

He attacked ND on a total of 17 issues, including main oppositions stance on foreign policy over the last four years, education and what the premier called attitudes of populism without ideology and political proposals.

Regarding Greek-Turkish relations the premier said that it is in the interest of both countries to aim for peace in the region, which can be guaranteed via a just and viable solution of the Cyprus problem that is based on the UN resolutions and called on Turkey to contribute in this direction.

He reiterated Greeces position on the issue, noting that Cyprus should have a unified state status, with a bizonal and bicommunal federal state structure.

[02] Tsohatzopoulos says socialist ideology remains PASOK's foundation

Athens, 07/02/2000 (ANA)

"The confrontation with the Right should not be merely at the level of achievements and management, but also at the level of principles, values and prospects of socialism. The more PASOK moves on the center-left politically and ideologically, the more differences with ND will become more evident, he said.

Tsohatzopoulos said PASOK should have a clear and specific policy platform for the new four-year term regarding the issues of incomes redistribution and the social state which, after accession to Economic and Monetary Union, "will take the top position in the agenda of PASOK and the socialist movement."

Speaking at the conference, PASOK Secretary Costas Skandalidis said PASOK will seek joint mobilization everywhere with all citizen movements, "the networks and the groups of modernization, with whom it had a common front to date, with the non-committed forces of the Left and with cadres from the entire spectrum of the center and center-left who feel that they are identified with the same targets and visions as PASOK".

Skandalidis, who made particular reference to the issue of PASOK's enlargement, also included "cadres from the wider conservative sections who, in the dynamism of development, become radicalized and decide to join us because they have converged with the major contemporary, social and national targets" in the joint mobilization.

Former foreign minister Theodoros Pangalos stressed the need for the party's September 3 proclamation to be supplemented to obtain contemporary elements and meet PASOK's ideological and political needs.

Pangalos, who had undertaken the presentation of PASOK's text of positions at the National Conference and was responsible for organization, said that "Greece of the 21st century is not Greece of 1981." 1981 was the year in which PASOK came to power for the first time.

Stressing the need for redefining PASOK's ideological manifesto, Pangalos said "if the basis of our party's policy is the proclamation of September 3, it is necessary that this text is supplemented."

Foreign Minister George Papandreou supported his policy in relation to Greek-Turkish affairs, saying that in this way and combined with what was agreed at the EU's Helsinki summit last December, a community of interests was being created between the two countries and a climate of security and peace was being consolidated.

"The country's interest prevailed at Helsinki and it constitutes a new starting point for new bold initiatives. We did not believe in victories and defeats. We won by taking our rival out of the misery in which its own policy is pinning it down," Papandreou said, and referred to economic benefits contained in the agreements signed with Turkey, while Greece is expected to gain five billion euro over the next five years.

We are here to discuss the future, to organize the future. The governmental program of PASOK 2004f is a contract of honor for the future of the land, Development Minister Evangelos Venizelos said.

Greece has made huge leaps, because we applied with consistency the three ideas of stability-development-social justice. This allows us to open the way to renewable development, he added.

In this way alone, we will achieve an operational state, employment, prosperity; in other words we will achieve to give to citizens what they wish for. The beginning of the 21st century must prove to have great ideas, which can be applied to reality, and we are able to achieve that, Venizelos said.

The upcoming election is a political bet for PASOK and we will win it, he concluded.

On his part, Education Minister Gerasimos Arsenis spoke of the need for reforms and changes in all sectors, aiming at increased productivity, while he expressed his satisfaction for the success of the educational reforms he planned and promoted.

We dared to brake the festering purulent swelling in education and the difficulties we confronted are the measure of the difficulties of reforms that should take place in other sectors as well, the minister said.

PASOK owes to orient itself toward development and combating inequalities, both of which demand redistribution policies, as well as a restructuring in the education sector, he added.

PASOK owes to unify and rally around it the progressive forces, which are not afraid of change and wish for it, since PASOK remains the party of change, he concluded.

The conference unanimously approved on Sunday evening the proclamation of the conference

[03] Karamanlis optimistic of ND victory in general elections

Athens, 07/02/2000 (ANA)

Karamanlis, who concluded his party's preliminary conference on the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, said "all real evidence confirms that we are in first place. We are optimistic and certain of victory. This struggle is ours. For this reason they are using front-page alchemies."

Karamanlis accused the ruling PASOK party of attempting to "mislead public opinion, to terrorize and extort".

"They are creating figures with their imagination and they are serving them as surveys and analyses of public opinion tendencies and they are trying to create false impressions with scientifically unacceptable methods. We know their tricks," he said.

Karamanlis accused Prime Minister Costas Simitis of "contradictions and self-revocations", saying that he (the premier)"reached the point of invoking as an excuse to speed up elections the same reasons he referred to for the need to exhaust the government's four-year term of office".

He said the coordinates of PASOK's election tactics are political tension, big words and false promises with abuse and pettiness, adding that ND will oblige the premier to accept a serious and responsible dialogue on Greek society's problems and concerns over the post-EMU era.

Karamanlis accused PASOK of "becoming an ideological peddler, a coalition of the nomenclature and of the establishment and the maintenance of the establishment".

He further accused the government of an "arrogant and undemocratic conception", saying the country needed an alternation in administration and people with integrity and not tired people.

"With the materials of the past, which merely change position, nothing new can be built and neither can the new era be won in this way," he said.

Karamanlis placed emphasis on day-to-day problems, saying that the aim of ND is to put an end to the widening of the gap between rich and poor, tackle the scourge of unemployment, crack down on crime, create a health system which will not be extravagant and will not produce pictures of shame and carry out a universal revolution in education through national dialogue.

Presenting his proposals on the Olympic Games, the main opposition leader said his party commits itself to proceed with the creation of a National Olympic Council under the President of the Republic, which will include all the political party leaders and the President of the Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE) on an equal basis.

Karamanlis referred to upgrading the role of the National Olympic Games Committee, promoting the mechanisms "which can and guarantee safeguarding the speedy promotion of projects and the transparency and future utilization of the Olympic infrastructure".

He accused the government of delays in promoting projects, stressing that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) was obliged to create a committee to monitor the 2004 Olympiad, adding that its representatives left the country 10 days ago and said that there are great delays in crucial sectors.

The upcoming general election confrontation will be harsh and difficult, Karamanlis predicted in an interview to the Sunday edition of Eleftherotypia, an Athens daily.

He also predicted that his party would win, noting that Prime Minister Costas Simitis' call for general elections on Apr. 9 was expected.

"The people do not need dilemmas, rather the people should judge by themselves, we will say it very simply, that after 20 years of rule by PASOK there is a need for a new beginning," he said.

"Our priorities are problems such as unemployment, social injustices, education, healthcare, the dysfunctional of the state, crime and transparency," he added.

[04] PASOK leading ND by 2.3 percentage points in opinion polls

Athens, 07/02/2000 (ANA)

According to the poll, carried out between January 20 and February 3, PASOK is leading ND by 0.8 percent but, under the persistence of researchers between the undecided one third unveiled their intentions and the difference grew to 2.3 percent.

Replying to the question "which party would you vote for if elections were held today", respondents gave PASOK 35.7 percent, ND 34.9, the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) 4.8, the Coalition of the Left and Progress 3.5 and the Democratic Social Movement (DHKKI) 3.3, while the undecided amount to 12.1 percent. However, according to the finalized projected vote, PASOK receives 38.9 percent, ND 36.6, KKE 5.1, the Coalition 4.3, DHKKI 4.1, Political Spring 1.2, the Liberals 0.9 and the real undecided 3.5.

Regarding the popularity of party leader, Simitis received 57 percent, Karamanlis 47.3, Coalition leader Nikos Constantopoulos 46, DHKKI leader Dimitris Tsovolas 42.6, KKE leader Aleka Papariga 22.3, Political Spring leader Antonis Samaras 18.7 and Liberals leader Stephanos Manos 33.2.

[05] Papariga calls for vote against EMU

Athens, 07/02/2000 (ANA)

Papariga said that the criterion for voting should be "the condemnation of the prevailing position, both in the EU and Greece, that borders have been overcome, that the struggle for sovereign rights is valueless and that what is of value is the free expansion and infiltration of capital".

She said that what should result from the elections "is the message that the popular movement should render all governments powerless, whichever they may be, since the only thing they know is to modernize the profits of the plutocracy and safeguard them by circumventing the meager social rights left in the country".

[06] Constantopoulos says elections difficult

Athens, 07/02/2000 (ANA)

Constantopoulos was speaking at his party's Permanent Congress, which was expected to ratify the party's election proclamation.

"The elections will be a difficult confrontation," he said, adding that they will be carried out under unequal terms, but pointing out that "this is a challenge for leftist voters."

Constantopoulos said the effort of the ruling PASOK party is to reduce the renewal left, plunder its votes and weaken its role in the course of Greek society because "the Coalition is a big inconvenience and threat for PASOK."

[07] DHKKI party leader calls on voter to reject major parties

Athens, 07/02/2000 (ANA)

The two major parties should be voted down "so as for us to avoid the audacity of their power", Tsovolas said, during his address at the village of New Appolonia, Thessaloniki prefecture, where the municipality declared his an honorary citizen.

[08] Greek and Turkish FMs address media conference in Athens

Athens, 07/02/2000 (ANA)

In inaugurating the conference, Cem said addressed the importance of the press in the creation of a climate of dtente and trust between the two countries, stressing that foreign policy should not be conducted for those on the "bleachers".

"We should methodically and systematically develop a dynamic of dtente between the two countries," Cem said, adding that the problems between Greece and Turkey have not been resolved.

He said however that bilateral issues should not be seen as static, rather a dialectical relationship should develop between the two countries, which will aid in overcoming the problems.

On his part, Papandreou spoke of the ability for decisive contribution by the media in formulating foreign policy, adding that journalists should not simply report on current affairs or reproduce stereotypes, rather they should influence in a positive way the relations of the two countries.

"I will give you an example that of the ship at sea without wind to move it. What we should do, what the media should do is not to let events to fate. They have the ability to influence the course of the ship, not simply to reproduce fear and suspicion," Papandreou said.

About 100 journalists and media officials from Greece and Turkey are participating in this conference, among them Athens News Agency's General Director Andreas Christodoulides who spoke of the long-term confrontation between Greece and Turkey on the real problems between the two countries (the Cyprus problem, the Aegean etc), which have influenced the Greek media, adding, however, that as of late this climate has been changed.

Greek and Turkish journalists make specific proposals on permanent cooperation: The first conference between Greek and Turkish journalists was concluded on Sunday with specific proposals being made on cooperation between Greek and Turkish journalists.

The conference was coordinated by the Istanbul-based Press Council and the Greek Contact Group, which included representatives of the Greek media, both from Athens and the provinces, radio and TV networks and the Athens News Agency.

At the end of two days of discussions on the media's role in shaping foreign policy in the two countries and the reproduction of stereotypes which often lead to stirring up tension and nationalistic passions, the participants proposed the endorsement of specific "Confidence-Building Measures" between the Greek and Turkish media to enable the positive climate observed recently in relations between the two countries to be consolidated and to avoid crises in the future in which the media could play a decisive role.

It was decided that the next conference would be held in Istanbul in September.

[09] Turkish foreign minister concludes visit to Athens

Athens, 07/02/2000 (ANA)

Cem invited Simitis to visit Ankara on behalf of Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and the Greek premier accepted the invitation.

Meanwhile, during this historic visit, Papandreou and Cem signed several, so called "low policy" agreements. During his stay Cem visit the Acropolis, where he stated his support for the return of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece.

"I am willing to contribute to the return of the Parthenon Marbles," Cem said.

Later Saturday he received the Ipekci award for peace, before departing for Turkey late on Saturday night.

[10] US ambassador Burns lauds Greek-Turkish rapprochement

Athens, 07/02/2000 (ANA)

"The Greek-Turkish rapprochement is positive, one of historic meaning. Everybody, from Europe, North America, the Middle East congratulates Greece and Turkey for the progress they made in their bilateral relations," Burns said.

Commenting on criticism to Greek foreign policy, that Turkey has not made a goodwill gesture towards Greece, Burns said "countries that experienced tension in their relations in the past, owe to support not only rhetorically the improvement of relations, but by action."

[11] ANA and Anadolu news agency general directors meet

Athens, 07/02/2000 (ANA)

Guler participated in the Greek-Turkish journalists conference held at the Zappeion Hall over the weekend.

The two sides expressed satisfaction over the exchange of news and information between the two agencies to date and ascertained that possibilities exist for further cooperation.

[12] Unarmed tour of duty in the military only in defense ministry agencies

Athens, 07/02/2000 (ANA)

He also noted that the constitution charges that women should also serve a tour of duty as the constitution notes that "every able body Greek citizen must serve" so women should since new technologies do not require special physical strength.

The issue reached the constitutional court of Greece as a Jehovah Witness sought recourse against present mandates for armed tour of duty by every male Greek citizen.

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