Several Greek-Yugoslav agreements signed
NEWS IN DETAIL
The European Socialist Party summit ended in Budapest on Sunday with the
adoption of a joint declaration welcoming the entry of central and eastern
European countries into the European Union. During a press confer ence held
after the meeting, Prime Minister Costas Simitis stressed the confirmation
by the European Socialists of the EU's decision for negotiations for the
entry of Cyprus and Malta to begin six months after the end of the
Intergovernmental Conference ( IGC).
Mr. Simitis said what the European socialists want is not a Europe with
differentiations but a unified Europe in which there will be economic
development, employment and prosperity for all.
He said that all were agreed that speedy rates should be applied to enable
all negotiations concerning the European Union to close before the end of
the century, namely those as well which are related to enlargement, the
budget and new policies.
Outlining the results of the meeting, European Socialist Party President
Rudolf Scharping said that enlargement, which is clearly supported by
socialists and social democrats, constitutes a dynamic process from which
there will be benefits derived both for EU member-states and candidate
countries, while the EU's character will also change.
Mr. Scharping said European socialists oppose neo-conservative positions
and nationalistic and reactionary trends, for which the sole alternative
solution constitutes the deepening of European cooperation, which is aimed
at development, the creation of jobs, protection for the security of
citizens and protection for the environment and safeguarding peace.
Hungarian Prime Minister and president of the ruling socialist party, Gyula
Horn, said it should be examined how the EU can help candidate countries to
prepare themselves appropriately for entry.
Athens appears to have made a decisive step in its promotion for the
final phase of cities contesting the 2004 Olympic Games, as the International
Olympic Committee's (IOC) evaluation committee ascertained three strong
advantages for the Greek capital's candidacy.
The German president of the evaluation committee, Thomas Bach, addressed a
press conference at the Zappeion Mansion on Saturday at the end of its
visit, together with Greek Candidacy Committee President Yianna Daskalaki-
Angelopoulou.
Mr. Bach said the city's advantages support the candidacy of Athens by an
overwhelming majority of the Greek people, a cultural programme and the
guarantees by both the government and the opposition on organising the 2004
Olympics.
" We as a committee cannot refer to our conclusions or make any comments.
However, I can speak to you about our three impressions from our three-day
stay in Greece.
"Firstly, our committee ascertained that the candidacy of Athens is
supported by the overwhelming majority of the Greek people. Additionally,
there is support from businessmen and political bodies.
"Secondly, there is the cultural programme of Athens. The people can
participate in this programme which includes, among others, a torch race
linking many historical cities in your country and the marathon race.
"Thirdly, we appreciate the guarantees of the government and the opposition
for the candidacy of Athens."
He also said the candidacies of the 11 cities for hosting the Olympic Games
in 2004 are like a marathon race.
"The Greeks can set out on this marathon, where they have 10 opponents,
with confidence.
Mr. Bach said the evaluation committee's final report on the 11 candidacies
will constitute the basis for the IOC's decision on March 7, concerning the
four or five cities which will be on the short list.
Swedes not so keen
Replying to a question on the candidacy of Stockholm for the 2004 Olympic
Games, Mr. Bach said "80 per cent of the Swedish Parliament voted in favour
of Stockholm's candidacy. According to an opinion poll conducted later on,
however, it appeared that most Swedes do not want to host the Games."
Mr. Bach went on to say that candidate cities should strengthen their
positive points as much as they can, adding that the splendour of the
Olympic Games is that each country promotes its own strong points and it is
a very important factor for one to know how to promote his country.
"The 164 guarantees given to us in all by Athens to organise the Games
helped us to shape a spherical view," he said.
The evaluation committee will visit San Juan (Nov. 16-20), Rio de Janeiro
(Nov. 21-25), Buenos Aires (25-29) and Cape Town (Dec- 6-10).
The 19 evaluation committee members left Athens yesterday.
Prime Minister Costas Simitis held an hour-long discussion here with his
Hungarian counterpart Gyula Horn yesterday, while a coincidence of views
was ascertai ned between the positions of Athens and Budapest on Greek-
Turkish relations and the Cyprus issue.
Mr. Simitis said afterwards that the positions of the Hungarian government
coincide with those supported by Greece, namely that whatever demands on
the Turkish side must be resolved through processes anticipated by
international law, meaning the Interna tional Court of Justice at The
Hague. On the question of Cyprus, Hungary maintains that it is time that
resolutions of the United Nations are applied.
He said that he discussed problems with Mr. Horn concerning Hungary's
potential accession to the European Union, which is the main issue
preoccupying the Hungarians at present.
Mr. Simitis said countries such as Greece, which have every interest in
increasing their influence within the framework of the EU, need allies. And
such allies can be countries such as Hungary, which has about the same
level of development and about the same population.
The Greek premier said that if we want a strong EU, the Union must
"embrace" all of Europe and must "embrace" more countries than today.
Both prime ministers also discussed bilateral Greek-Hungarian relations,
whose level is considered excellent.
On the sidelines of the European Socialist Party meeting, Mr. Simitis had
talks with German Social Democrat party leader Oskar Lafontaine on Sunday,
focusing on the global economy, Economic and Monetary Union as well as
strengthening relations between PASOK and the German social democrats.
In talks with the secretary of the Italian Democratic Left Party, Massimo
D'Alema, Mr. Simitis referred to the meeting he will have with the
leadership of the party during his visit to Rome on Nov. 20.
Three-day celebrations marking the anniversary of Greece's entry into
World War II against fascist Italy on Oct. 28, 1940, culminated in
Thessaloniki yesterday with a large military parade in the presence of
President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos.
The parade was also attended by National Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos,
who represented Prime Minister Costas Simitis, main opposition New
Democracy party leader Miltiades Evert, the leadership of the armed forces,
ministers, deputies and local authorities.
The parade ended with the appearance of four ultra-modern US-made Apache
helicopter gunships, recently acquired by the Hellenic Army.
A Te Deum service was held at the Athens Cathedral in the presence of
Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis, ministers, deputies and
representatives of resistance groups.
Referring to Ankara and the United States at a reception given in his
honour by the Officers Club of the Third Army Corps in Thessaloniki on
Sunday night, President Stephanopoulos said Greece has no intention and no
possibility of backing down even at t he least from its sovereign rights
based on international law and determined by international treaties.
Addressing the US side, due to rumours of a possible assumption of an
initiative by the US to normalise Greek-Turkish relations, President
Stephanopoulos said "all efforts and initiatives are welcome, provided
those undertaking relevant initiatives shou ld not forget and not disregard
reality."
In a message marking the Oct. 28 national holiday, Mr. Simitis said the
message of Oct. 28 is a message of unity, consensus and faith in defending
the integrity of the nation against whatever design.
"And this will always be the message of Greece in every direction, at the
same time with our persistent action to safeguard peace and stability in
the region and to develop relations of friendship and cooperation with all
our neighbours," he said.
Similar messages were addressed by Mr. Evert and other party leaders.
Mr. Evert said in his message this year's anniversary finds the nation
faced with direct dangers.
"The unbridled Turkish provocativeness in the Aegean, the continuing
occupation on the island of Cyprus by Attila, who is getting more and more
audacious, and the threatened shrinking of Hellenism in Albania, which
compose certain characteristic example s, set out the need for national
vigilance," Mr. Evert said.
The Coalition of the Left and Progress said at present Greece needs a new
surge to exit from the deep crisis and decline, adding that Greece should
seek war reparations and an occupation loan forcibly handed over to Nazi
Germany.
The Greek delegation participating in the Black Sea Economic Cooperation
(BSEC) summit, which ended here Friday with the signing of the Moscow
Declaration, has expressed its satisfaction over the declaration's call for
all member-states to fulfill the ir financial obligations for establishment
of a Black Sea Commericial and Development Bank.
The bank is scheduled to operate in Thessaloniki at the beginning of next
year.
Athens has decided to provide loans as a form of economic assistance for
economically weaker members, such as Armenia and Moldova, which have asked
for Greece's help.
Meanwhile, only three countries, Albania, Greece and Romania, have said
they can meet their financial obligations at present.
As the bank can begin operating with 51 per cent of the founding capital,
Russia has decided to accelerate its internal procedures so that the bank
does not begin operation without Moscow's contribution. According to the
National Economy secretary-ge neral and president of the bank's temporary
organising committee, Nikos Zahariadis, Russia has made it clear that it
will make efforts to pay its share within three months, including the
relevant funds - roughly US$23 million) - in its 1997 budget.
During the summit in Moscow, Greece also officially stated its wish for one
of the bank's two or three vice-presidents to be a Greek national.
According to the Moscow Declaration, BSEC member-states also called on
European funding organisations, such as the European Investment Bank and
the European Reconstruction and Development Bank, to participate as members
in the Black Sea Commercial and Development Bank or to jointly fund
investment programmes in the region.
Talks held between Greek and Yugoslav businessmen over the past months
have led to the signing of many agreements on economic cooperation,
according to a report in yesterday's "Politika" newspaper here.
Agreements were finalised on creating joint enterprises, producing
automobile tires, building plants and producing ceramic tiles and aluminium
sheets.
An agreement was also signed for a Greek investment in the production of
lead and zinc, as well as for export of foodstuffs, hydraulic accessories,
iron ores, automobile spare parts and wooden products.
Another agreement is underway for the purchase of farm products, petroleum
byproducts as well as cotton and aluminium goods.
WEATHER
Sunny in most parts of the country with rising temperatures to range from 8-
19C in Athens and from 6-16C in Thessaloniki.
SPORTS
Weekend results of the Greek First Division soccer matches:
Athinaikos - Olympiakos 0 - 1
Aris - Panathinaikos 0 - 0
Ionikos - Pyrgos 1 - 1
AEK - Apollon 2 - 1
Panahaiki - PAOK 2 - 0
Kastoria - OFI 0 - 1
Xanthi - Kalamata 0 - 0
Edessa - Veria 2 - 0
Kavala - Heraklis to be played today
Standings after 6 games:
Olympiakos 16 points
Pyrgos 14
Panathinaikos 13
AEK 13
Panahaiki 13
Ionikos 12
OFI 12
Xanthi 9
PAOK 8
Veria 7
Kalamata 6
Aris 5
Athinaikos 4
Edessa 4
FOREIGN EXCHANGE (Buying)
U.S. dlr 236.562 Can. dlr.176.140, Australian dlr. 187.424 Pound sterling
377.059, Irish punt 381.067, Cyprus pd 511.872, French franc 46.047, Swiss
franc 188.267 Belgian franc 7.554, German mark 155.570 Finnish mark 51.782,
Dutch guilder 138.696 Danish Kr. 40.569, Swedish Kr. 35.986, Norwegian Kr.
36.694, Austrian Sh. 22.107, Italian lira (100) 15.460 Yen (100) 209.798
Spanish Peseta 1.848, Portuguese Escudo 1.542.
(C.E.)
