Athens News Agency: News in English (PM), 97-05-16
NEWS IN ENGLISH
Athens, Greece, 16/05/1997 (ANA)
MAIN HEADLINES
- Greek, Turkish committees will not meet, Pangalos says
- Athens accepts two CBMs
- Greece supports Slovenia's bid for EU, NATO
- More aid en route to quake-stricken Iran
- Quake jolts northern Greece
- Greece awaits UN initiative on Cyprus problem
- G. Papandreou: No negotiation of Greek sovereign rights
- Gov't denies US moratorium on arms deliveries
- Greece reacts to latest tension in Albania
- Former ND premier praises Simitis' policies
- Garbage strike continues
- Weather
- Foreign exchange
NEWS IN DETAIL
Greek, Turkish committees will not meet, Pangalos says
Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos today rejected a proposal of the Dutch
EU presidency for a meeting of the Greek and Turkish committees of experts
set up to examine procedural issues relating to bilateral differences.
Pangalos said Dutch Foreign Minister Hans Van Mierlo proposed that the two
committees should meet at the end of the month.
Expressing the view that such a meeting would serve no useful purpose,
Pangalos spoke in terms of a ''mistake'' on the part of Van Mierlo.
Pangalos confirmed he had received a letter today from his Dutch counterpart
proposing a meeting of the two committees between May 26 and 28.
''First of all, the process of exchanging views by correspondence must
proceed,'' Pangalos said.
Pangalos also stressed that in order for Greece to lift its veto of EU
financial assistance to Turkey within the framework of the EU-Turkey
customs union, Ankara would first have to satisfy the three conditions set
by Greece, irrespective of any process or initiative in progress.
Athens has repeatedly stated that Ankara must reject the use and threat of
force, respect international law and international treaties and have
recourse to the International Court at the Hague for the settlement of any
claims it might have.
In the letter from Van Mierlo, Pangalos said, the Dutch presidency accepted
a Greek proposal that views should be exchanged between the committees of
experts in the form of memorandums.
He added however that Greece did not accept the presidency's proposal for a
direct meeting of the two committees until the two sides had exchanged
views.
Pangalos described Van Mierlo's proposal for a meeting of the two
committees as ''naive'' and ''mistaken''.
Speaking to reporters after talks with his Slovenian counterpart, Zoran
Thaler, Pangalos said:
''If the aim of the (EU) presidency is to exert pressure for the commencement
of direct talks, in order to secure the release of the EU-Turkey financial
protocol, then it is a naive approach, because Greece has repeatedly stated
that it will not consent to the release of these funds unless Turkey
satisfies the three conditions set by Athens.''
Pangalos assured however that the procedure regarding the committees would
continue, adding that the letter of the Greek side would be sent to the
Dutch presidency at the beginning of next week, on the condition however
that the Van Mierlo proposal for a meeting of the committees is withdrawn.
Athens accepts two CBMS
Commenting meanwhile on statements last night by US Pentagon spokesman Ken
Bacon, who announced the five proposals submitted by NATO as confidence-
building measures (CBMs) between Greece and Turkey, Pangalos said Athens
had already accepted two but rejected the other three.
He said Greece had accepted the proposal for the extension of a moratorium
on military exercises in the Aegean from June 15 to September 15, which
Turkey had rejected.
Both countries have accepted the proposal for the monitoring by NATO of
Greek and Turkish military flights over the Aegean, Pangalos said, noting
that this was already being implemented.
With respect to the other three proposals, concerning the disarming of
military aircraft taking part in training flights, the use of the IFF
electronic system for the identification of aircraft in order to avoid
engagements and the setting up of a centre for direct communication between
the operations centres of Greece and Turkey, Pangalos said Athens did not
accept them because in one way or another they disputed Greek responsibility
in the Athens Flight Information Region (FIR).
Speaking later to reporters, National Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos
also said that Greece accepted to discuss only two of the proposals
announced by Bacon.
''Greece has accepted to send on a four-month trial basis a picture of
activity in the Aegean to NATO headquarters in Naples in order to confirm
and prove the extent and frequency of violations of national airspace by
Turkish aircraft which is taking place on an almost daily basis,''
Tsohatzopoulos said.
He added that Greece had been sending the picture to Naples since February
6.
''When the four-month period expires, we shall see NATO's reaction and have
contacts with the Alliance in order to examine the results of this effort
and the conclusions,'' Tsohatzopoulos said.
He also confirmed that Greece was willing to discuss extending the
moratorium on military flights and exercises in the Aegean in the summer
from two to three months.
Tsohatzopoulos said however that it was out of the question for Greece to
discuss the disarming of Greek aircraft flying over the Aegean.
''There are instances when Greek aircraft are not armed when flying in
national airspace. But when someone has not submitted a flight plan, you
are obliged by international treaties to go out and confront the aircraft
in question armed,'' he stressed.
Greece supports Slovenia's bid for EU, NATO
Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos had talks here today with his Slovenian
counterpart, Zoran Thaler, focusing on the situation in the Balkans and
bilateral relations.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Pangalos described relations
between the two countries as ''excellent'', noting that a number of
bilateral agreements had already been signed, while other accords would
follow shortly.
Pangalos stressed that Greece fully supported Slovenia's efforts for NATO
and European Union membership.
Echoing Pangalos' assessment of the present relations between Greece and
Slovenia, Thaler expressed the view that there was room for further
development.
Pangalos announced that he would visit Slovenia in September.
More aid en route to quake-stricken Iran
A Hellenic Air Force C-130 transport plane took off from Elefsina this
morning with 20 tonnes of humanitarian aid, mainly medical supplies, for
quake-stricken eastern Iran.
The Greek government said a second shipment would follow in the next few
days.
Quake jolts northern Greece
A strong earthquake measuring 5.5 on the Richter scale jolted western
Macedonia today causing panic and minor damage to old homes, but no
casualties, police said.
The tremor was recorded by the Thessaloniki University's seismological
department at 10.01 local time and its epicentre was the coast of Lake
Ohrid in the nearby Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). It was
strongly felt in the northern Greek border cities of Florina, Kastoria,
Kozani and Edessa. Inhabitants rushed out of their homes in panic.
According to reports from FYROM the quake caused minor damage to old homes
in Ohrid.
In 1911, a stronger quake measuring 6,7 Richter shook the Ohrid region.
Greece awaits UN initiative on Cyprus problem
Prime Minister Costas Simitis yesterday chaired a meeting attended by the
leadership of the foreign and defence ministries that focused on the latest
developments on the Cyprus question as well as issues concerning the
"committee of experts" and Greek-Turkish relations.
On the question of Cyprus, reports said the government is awaiting an
initiative by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, who intends to invite Cyprus
President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash over
the summer for a start to direct talks.
On Monday, the UN secretary general's envoy, Sir Kieran Prendergast, will
visit Athens for talks with Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou
and Foreign Undersecretary Yiannos Kranidiotis. Sir Kieran will also visit
Turkey.
The Greek side of the "committee of experts" has already started work to
prepare the document it will send to the European Union's Dutch presidency,
with Turkey doing likewise.
An in-depth discussion was held on Greek-Turkish relations and, according
to sources, extensive reference was made to NATO's involvement in the
creation of confidence-building measures between Greece and Turkey.
Satisfaction was expressed over figures gathered by NATO in connection with
national airspace violations by Turkish aircraft.
NATO headquarters in Naples had been receiving a Reconnaissance Aircraft
Projector (RAP) image of the Aegean for about three months with the consent
of both Greece and Turkey. Reports reveal that collected information
absolutely vindicates Greece, which had pointed out the Turkish violations
long ago. It is noteworthy that about 80 per cent of these violations take
place even further than six miles inside Greek airspace.
According to reliable sources, the government intends to call on NATO to
exert pressure on Turkey to stop airspace violations.
G. Papandreou: No negotiation of Greek sovereign rights
Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou yesterday reiterated Athens'
firm position not to negotiate any of its sovereign rights, saying the
government never fails to clearly state Greek positions during international
contacts.
He made the statement in response to a tabled Parliament question by main
opposition New Democracy deputy Ioannis Varvitsiotis regarding recent
meetings by the foreign ministry's political leadership with their Turkish
counterparts, as well as the "committee of experts" Athens and Ankara
recently agreed to form.
Noting what he called a "provocative Turkish stance," Mr. Varvitsiotis said
"the government was sliding into a Greek-Turkish dialogue without
conditions and terms."
Mr. Papandreou said Athens had reacted immediately to the "unacceptable
statements" of the Turkish Foreign Undersecretary Inal Batu, regarding the
sovereignty of the island of Gavdos (south of Crete) with demarches and
briefings to foreign governments.
Mr. Papandreou said "there is no negotiation of our national sovereign
rights. At the meetings with our counterparts," he added, "we reiterate the
clear Greek positions." "This dialogue cannot be confused with negotiations
of our sovereign rights," he said.
Gov't denies US moratorium on arms deliveries
Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas has denied as "absolutely false" press
reports of a delay in the delivery of weapons systems to Greece from the
United States.
"These reports have nothing to do with reality," he said.
Referring to weapons systems scheduled to be ordered, Mr. Reppas said a
study of these systems is being completed but no contact has been made with
anyone so far, either a government or agent. He added that very often
certain reports on the issue reflect the aims of interested third
parties.
Greece reacts to latest tension in Albania
Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos has taken steps to aid in the defusing
of tension created in Albania due to the voting of a controversial
electoral law backed by embattled Albanian President Sali Berisha.
Opposition parties in Albania and several western countries have expressed
objections to the new electoral law.
Mr. Pangalos last night spoke with Organisation for Security and Cooperation
in Europe (OSCE) special envoy Franz Vranitzky, Italian Foreign Minsiter
Lamberto Dini, NATO Secretary General Javier Solana and Mr. Berisha.
He called on all to undertake efforts in order for elections in the
neighbouring country to be held as stated at the end of June.
According to reports, Mr. Pangalos asked the Albanian president not to lead
his country into the elections under the law, which was passed on Tuesday,
and to accept a compromise that would satisfy all sides.
Former ND premier praises Simitis' policies
The government yesterday welcomed comments from a former ND prime minister
that Prime Minister Costas Simitis' policies would make the country
prosperous.
"It is good that support is offered from rivals to the prime minister in
his effort to further improve the country's position," government spokesman
Dimitris Reppas said yesterday when asked to comment on a statement by
former New Democracy prime minist er George Rallis.
Mr. Rallis surprised those attending the official launching of the archives
of former president Constantine Karamanlis on Wednesday night by saying
that if "(late PASOK founder and former prime minister) Andreas Papandreou...had
followed the policy that Costas Simitis is following today, then Greece
would have been a prospering country".
The comments caused dissatisfaction and discontent in the main opposition
New Democracy party.
Garbage strike continues
The mounds of garbage already piled up in street corners in Athens will
probably grow higher in the coming days, as municipal workers last night
decided to extend their strike indefinitely, while also keeping the Ano
Liosia landfill closed.
The decision came after an amendment under which part-time municipal
workers would have received full-time contracts was withdrawn in Parliament,
following objections by ruling PASOK party deputies.
Workers at the landfill are scheduled to meet today in order to decide upon
the further extention of strike action.
WEATHER
Fine weather is forecast for most parts of Greece today, except in the
south and north where there will be scattered clouds. Winds will be
northerly, light to moderate, turning strong in the Aegean Sea. Athens will
be sunny and hot with temperatures between 19-30C. Thessaloniki will also
be sunny with some local clouds and temperatures from 15-29C.
FOREIGN EXCHANGE
Thursday's closing rates - buying US dlr. 267.900
Pound sterling 439.238 Cyprus pd 531.712
French franc 47.060 Swiss franc 187.751
German mark 158.462 Italian lira (100) 16.106
Yen (100) 231.910 Canadian dlr. 193.142
Australian dlr. 207.923 Irish Punt 410.589
Belgian franc 7.682 Finnish mark 52.467
Dutch guilder 141.062 Danish kr. 41.654
Swedish kr. 35.448 Norwegian kr. 38.152
Austrian sch. 22.536 Spanish peseta 1.878
Port. Escudo 1.573
(M.P.)
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