Athens News Agency: News in English (PM), 97-05-06
NEWS IN ENGLISH
Athens, Greece, 06/05/1997 (ANA)
MAIN HEADLINES
- Party supports gov't policy on Greek-Turkish relations
- Inflation continues downward course
- Former king denies he planned a coup
- US-Greek talks begin in Crete
- Israel includes 11 Greeks among the Righteous
- Theodorakis in hospital for tests
- Kranidiotis calls for further Balkan cooperation
- Hopes persist for a return of the Parthenon Marbles
- Weather
- Foreign exchange
NEWS IN DETAIL
Party supports gov't policy on Greek-Turkish relations
There are no objections about the substance of the government's policy on
Greek-Turkish relations, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said today
replying to reporters' questions on a ruling PASOK party Executive Bureau
discussion of the issue.
Sources said Education Minister Gerasimos Arsenis and two other members of
the bureau expressed serious reservations about the effectiveness of the
government's recent handling of Greek-Turkish relations.
According to the same sources, Prime Minister Costas Simitis and Foreign
Minister Theodoros Pangalos assured the bureau members at yesterday's four-
hour meeting that the government's strategy on Greek-Turkish relations
remained unchanged and that its latest moves were ''elements of tactics
which might be variable''.
''Within the framework of discussions by party and government bodies,
different views are expressed which, however, relate to specific aspects of
(the government's) handling,'' Reppas said.
The government's policy, he added, is in line with what it has announced
and promotes national interests.
Greece last night named professors Krateros Ioannou and Argyris Fatouros as
members of the Greek ''committee of experts'' who, along with a corresponding
Turkish committee, will examine Greek-Turkish relations with the mediation
of the European Union's Dutch presidency.
Athens has said that the task of the committee, whose nature is procedural,
is to submit a report by mid-June containing the common positions and
proposals of the two sides, provided agreement is reached on certain
points.
Asked today about the role of the experts and the deadline for the
completion of their work, Reppas said ''no strict and specific'' time
framework had been decided.
The spokesman said that the ''thoughts'' of the experts will be made known
to the two governments and the Dutch presidency which he described as ''a
neutral and honest courier''.
Reppas reiterated that the experts' thoughts would not be binding ''since
they will not be working at the dictation of the two governments nor on
their instructions, but will relate to procedural matters with the aim of
approaching problems which exist in relations between the two countries and
finding ways and methods to tackle them''.
Replying to other questions, Reppas said the aim of the government was not
only to highlight Turkish intransigence but also constituted a sincere
effort to deal with the problems.
Revealing Turkey's intransigence and aggressiveness to the extent that the
neighbouring country contines not to respect international law and
international treaties will be the least benefit for Greece, Reppas
said.
The greatest benefit, he added, will be ''to approach and resolve issues on
the basis of Greece's interests''.
Meanwhile, Arsenis had a 90-minute meeting with Simitis today to discuss
education issues.
Asked by reporters if the formation of the committee of experts to examine
Greek-Turkish relations had been discussed, Arsenis declined to make any
comment but said that he had discussed relations between Athens and Ankara
with the premier.
In a related development, an ANA despatch from Strasbourg said that
Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou met in the French city today
with his Turkish counterpart Onur Oymen, on the sidelines of the Council of
Europe ministerial summit.
The meeting, at which both sides confirmed their willingness for the
committees of experts to begin operating, was described as informal.
According to the despatch, Turkey's representatives on its committee of
experts will be Sugru Elendag, a former foreign ministry general secretary
and Suad Bilg, a former ambassador.
Inflation continues downward course
Inflation fell to below 6% in April, while income from taxation has marked
an impressive rise, according to a statement by National Economy Minister
Yannos Papantoniou this morning after his regular briefing of Prime
Minister Costas Simitis.
The Minister said that positive tendencies that had appeared earlier in the
year were being confirmed, and the government was "steadily following the
course mapped out". He added that the budget was being adhered to and
European Union funds were being absorbed at a satisfactory rate.
Papantoniou said existing structural problems within the Greek economy
would be dealt with within the framework of the "social dialogue" to begin
on May 14 between unions, employers and the government. With regard to the
social security system, the Minister said that no decisions would be taken
without "social consensus".
Papantoniou said the exact inflation rate would be announced in the next
few days and would be below 6 per cent.
According to sources, inflation in April fell to 5.8 per cent from 6 per
cent in March, raising hopes that the government's target of 4.5 per cent
for 1997 can be attained.
Papantoniou said also there was a good possibility that the balance of
payments would be ''much better than what we estimated up to now'' since
the figures from the customs authorities and National Statistics Service
were much improved compared to the foreign exchange data of the Bank of
Greece.
Former king denies he planned a coup
Ex-king Constantine today denied claims by former president of the republic
Constantine Karamanlis that he had planned a coup in 1975, one year after
the monarchy was abolished by referendum following seven years of military
dictatorship.
The claims are contained in Karamanlis' archives, excerpts of which have
been released prior to publication this week.
Constantine denied the claims in a written statement issued by his office
which said ''the democratic beliefs of King Constantine require no
confirmation''.
The statement added that the former monarch reserved the right to ''correct
the varous inaccuracies of the belated archive revelations...''.
''Although forced to remain far from the country, King Constantine is
following with concern the problems of the Greek people, international
developments and national dangers,'' said the statement which contained
references to Cyprus, the rights of ethnic Greeks in the Balkans and the
country's sovereign rights.
''Politicians and systems of government come and go, but national disasters
remain irreparable,'' the statement said.
US-Greek talks begin on Crete
The annual US-Greece defence cooperation conference began this morning in
Crete with a discussion of military supplies and the two countries'
relations with the Balkans and the southeastern Mediterranean, issues of
particular interest to the United States.
The US delegation is led by Principal Assistant Deputy Secretary of Defence
Jan Lodal, with the participation of US State Department southern bureau
chief Carey Cavanaugh and other military and diplomatic officials.
At a joint press conference last night, Defence Undersecretary Dimitris
Apostolakis, heading the Greek side, reiterated that under no circumstances
would Greece agree to discuss issues affecting its national integrity or
independence. Nor would Greece discuss disarming its air force planes in
flights over the Aegean "as it is an area linking national territory, while
for the Turkish planes the issue was quite different" said Apostolakis,
recommending the Papoulias-Yilmaz memorandum drawn up in Athens in 1988 as
a good basis for reducing tension.
Lodal expressed agreement with the latter recommendation, although he said
it would be extremely difficult to resolve the problem of flights over the
Aegean "as there is very little room between national and international air
space".
The closed-door meeting is being held on four levels. First the delegation
leaders' meeting, followed by the joint working group on political issues,
then a meeting of the working group on security issues. The final phase is
a meeting of the defence industry cooperation committee.
Apostolakis, Lodal and Cavanaugh were taken today on a helicopter flight
over Gavdos, a small island near Crete. Turkey had questioned the status of
the island last year in relation to NATO exercises in the region. The
Turkish government later said it did not dispute Greece's sovereignty over
the island.
However, Apostolakis said the issue had not been on the agenda of today's
meeting, which he said had centred on all issues related to Greek-American
relations and defence in the eastern Mediterranean.
"It would be ridiculous to discuss Gavdos. I'm taking them over the island
so they can see just how close it is to Crete. However, I do not think the
issue will be raised."
Cavanaugh told the press that the Cyprus issue had been discussed at
today's meeting, as it concerned the US as well as Greece.
Israel includes 11 Greeks among the Righteous
Eleven Greek citizens from all walks of life, who risked their lives to
save Jews during the Nazi occupation of Greece and the eventual deportation
to death camps were awarded the "Righteous among the Nations" medal at a
ceremony in Athens yesterday.
The awards were bestowed by Israeli ambassador in Athens Ran Curiel on
behalf of the Israeli government, who said that Yad Va'Shem, the institution
founded by Israel, "with the aim of perpetuating the memory of the victims
of the holocaust, bestows the title Righteous among Nations" on this group
of chosen Greek citizens who saved their Jewish fellow citizens, during the
dark period of Nazi occupation."
Some of the awards, the highest being awarded by Israel to foreign citizens
were bestowed posthumously. They were accepted by their sons or grandsons.
Among those awarded was renowned Greek author Alexis Parnis, who risked his
life and that of his family by hiding a Jewish family in his home until
Greece's liberation.
Curiel said that a film documenting the rescue of Jews by Greeks was being
completed these days in which the rescuers in many cases say: "We did
nothing," and the survivors say: "it was everything. The name of the film,
he said, will be "We did nothing - It was everything."
Theodorakis is hospital for tests
Composer Mikis Theodorakis, who suffered respiratory problems after a
concert in Berlin two days ago, was admitted to the Athens Medical Centre
today for a series of tests.
According to informed sources, Theodorakis' illness is due to anaemia which
he has been suffering from in recent months.
Members of the composer's family say he has been depressed over the death a
few months ago of his brother Yannis, and that his condition worsened
during preparations for a concert tour of Europe.
Kranidiotis calls for further Balkan cooperation
Foreign Undersecretary Yiannos Kranidiotis yesterday called on Balkan
states to intensify their cooperation despite existing problems.
He made the statement at the official opening of a two-day meeting of
political directors of the foreign ministries of the countries participating
in the Balkan Conference for Security and Cooperation in Northeastern
Europe in preparation for a Balkan foreign ministers' conference, to be
held in Thessaloniki on June 9-10.
Mr. Kranidiotis said cooperation in the Balkans should be based on
principles of sovereign equality between the countries, the lack of
violence or threats of violence, border inviolability, territorial
integrity, human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as the respect
and implementation of the obligations of international law.
Hopes persist for a return of the Parthenon Marbles
The return of the Parthenon friezes from the British Museum is a standing
and basic axis of Greece's cultural policy, Culture Minister Evangelos
Venizelos said yesterday.
Mr. Venizelos was responding to press questions following the blunt refusal
of the new British Heritage Secretary Chris Smith to return the 5th century
artworks, better known in the West as the Elgin Marbles, after the British
diplomat who removed them from the Parthenon during the Ottoman occupation.
Mr. Venizelos said he would soon send the new British government a letter,
written with the assistance of the British Committee for the Return of the
Marbles.
Mr. Venizelos noted that while Neil Kinnock led the Labour Party there had
been a political and ethical commitment from the party for the return of
the Marbles.
He added that he hoped for a meeting with his British counterpart in
Luxembourg on June 30 in the framework of the EU Council of Culture
Ministers.
Describing as a "jibe" a statement on Sunday, by his British counterpart
that the classical sculptures were a part of the British Museum's culture
and visited by more than a million visitors a year.
"The return of the marbles does not have anything to do with the return of
other cultural items," he said. "It is about integrity, aesthetics and the
architecture of the greatest monument of the western civilisation..."
Jules Dassin, renowned film director and husband of late culture minister
Melina Mercouri, who is president of the committee for the return of the
Marbles, said: "It is interesting that the British Foreign Secretary
believes the Greek people should be grateful for the manner in which the
Marbles have been kept in England. For someone to ask for our gratitude
obviously indicates the Marbles are ours. We are determined to intensify
our efforts until justice is done."
WEATHER
Sunny weather is forecast for most parts of Greece today with high
temperatures and humidity, except in the west where it will be partly
cloudy, gradually expanding to the northwestern regions. Winds will be
south-southwesterly, light to moderate, turning strong in the Ionian.
Athens will be mostly sunny with temperatures between 15-29C. Same in
Thessaloniki with temperatures from 12-28C.
FOREIGN EXCHANGE
Monday's closing rates - buying US dlr. 272.304
Pound sterling 441.182 Cyprus pd 531.057
French franc 46.721 Swiss franc 185.028
German mark 157.629 Italian lira (100) 15.927
Yen (100) 215.284 Canadian dlr. 196.912
Australian dlr. 212.640 Irish Punt 407.990
Belgian franc 7.640 Finnish mark 52.308
Dutch guilder 140.155 Danish kr. 41.378
Swedish kr. 34.532 Norwegian kr. 38.172
Austrian sch. 22.394 Spanish peseta 1.870
Port. Escudo 1.569
(M.P.)
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