Athens News Agency: News in English (PM), 97-08-05
NEWS IN ENGLISH
Athens, Greece, 05/08/1997 (ANA)
MAIN HEADLINES
- Yannopoulos: Athens will get 2004 Olympics if IOC does "its duty"
- Albanian minister stresses importance of Greek delegation's visit
- Continental shelf "most substantial" Greek-Turkish difference
- Main opposition terms Turkish premier's claims as `outrageous`
- Veteran left-wing politican Giannaros dies
- IAAF's highest distinction awarded to President Stephanopoulos
- Turkish Commerce Chamber delegation in Mytilene
- Weather
- Foreign Exchange
NEWS IN DETAIL
Yannopoulos: Athens will get 2004 Olympics if IOC does "its duty"
Justice Minister Evangelos Yannopoulos said today that if the International
Olympic Committee did "its duty" it would award organisation of the 28th
Olympiad in 2004 to Athens at its September 5 plenary session.
"But if they think commercially, then they will not give the Olympic Games
to Greece," the Minister added, in an indirect response to criticism by
International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) president Primo Nebiolo of
insufficient marketing of the 6th World Athletics Championships currently
being held in Athens resulting in low attendance Saturday on the opening
day of the sports events proper at Athens' Olympic Stadium.
Athens '97 director Vangelis Savramis also rebuffed the criticism on Monday,
saying that he preferred "a stadium full of sports fans rather than
soldiers", intimating at the practice adopted for boosting attendance at
the 2nd World Championships in Rome in 1987.
Nebiolo is honourary chairman of the Rome 2004 Olympic bid organising
committee. Rome and Athens were shortlisted in March, together with Cape
Town, Buenos Aires and Stockholm, for the 2004 Games from among 11 bidding
cities.
Savramis said he had proposed to Nebiolo a change in the August 1-10 dates,
as most people in the greater Athens area are away on holiday at that time
of the year, but Nebiolo had instead argued "for a promotion campaign using
loudspeakers".
President of the Greek Olympic Committee Lambis Nicolaou has also said that
nine days was "too lengthy" for an athletic competition, and that six days
would have been better for the World Championships.
Yannopoulos, who attended the track and field events today, said the
organisation of the Championships was "impeccable in all respects".
He also praised the performance of the Greek athletes, noting that "it is
no small accomplishment to be fourth or fifth in the world".
Albanian minister stresses importance of Greek delegation's visit
Albanian Foreign Minister Paschalis Milios said today that Tirana viewed
the visit of a seven-member Greek government delegation as "further support
within the framework of the international solidarity which has recently
been clearly manifested", according to an ANA despatch from the Albanian
capital.
"The visit is of particular value because it is being made by the
representatives of a neighbouring and friendly country which has recently
stood at the side of Albania and has and is helping us to overcome the
crisis we are going through," Milios said.
The Greek delegation, headed by Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos, left
for Albania yesterday in an effort to place Greek-Albanian relations on a
new footing following recent general elections in the neighbouring
country.
Foreign Undersecretary Yiannos Kranidiotis, who is part of the delegation,
said yesterday that the success of the visit would constitute a landmark in
the history of relations between the two countries.
The delegation was scheduled to return to Athens late this afternoon.
Among the issues to be discussed between the government of Fatos Nano and
the Greek delegation are the despatch of advisers and equipment for the re-
organisation of the Albanian army, the guarding of the common border also
on the Albanian side and the liberalisation of education through the
granting of permits for the operation of private schools.
The delegation is also expected to confirm Athens' intention to expedite a
promised loan of 20 million dollars and its continued support within the
European Union for the granting of Community economic assistance to
Albania.
Lastly, the two sides will exchange the relevant diplomatic notes for the
entry into force of the agreement signed providing for the seasonal
employment of Albanians in Greece.
At the same time, there is expected to be a broad discussion about the
issue of illegal immigrants in Greece.
Continental shelf "most substantial" Greek-Turkish difference
The "most substantial" difference between Greece and Turkey is the Aegean
continental shelf, Prime Minister Costas Simitis said, calling on Ankara
either to take the Imia islet issue to the International Court at The Hague
or abandon its claims.
In an exclusive interview to the US magazine "Newsweek" dated August 11,
Premier Simitis refers mostly to Greek-Turkish relations and the Cyprus
issue.
Following is the full interview:
Do you see Greek-Turkish relations improving after the Madrid Communique,
the nonaggression pact signed by the two countries at last month's NATO
summit?
"In Madrid, Turkey and Greece made a declaration that no threats of war or
use of force will be made and that differences will be settled
peacefully. This is a tremendous step: we want to follow up on that. We
must find a solution to the most substantial difference that we have with
Turkey -- the continental shelf."
Why is delineating the extent of the continental shelf from Greece's
coastline so crucial?
"In the continental shelf you can exploit minerals. Probably there is oil."
Are you thinking of reducing your arms buildup as a result of the
communique?
"We will continue arms purchases because since 1985 Turkey has considerably
increased its armament -- we are at a disadvantage."
Do you favor confidence-building measures between Greece and Turkey, such
as a hot line between the two militaries?
"Yes, we are in favor of them. We have made two proposals not accepted by
Turkey. First, no military exercises in the Aegean Sea during the summer
months. The second is the monitoring of military flights over the Aegean by
NATO."
Do you expect a breakthrough over the disputed Aegean Sea island of
Imia/Kardak?
"I hope there is a breakthrough. I need a statement from the Turks that
they will refer the matter to the International Court or to say they don't
persist in their claims."
If the Imia dispute is solved, will Greece release its veto over European
Union funds owed Turkey?
"If [Turkish Prime Minister] Mesut Yilmaz says clearly he refers the matter
to the International Court, he will get the money."
Will you agree to a meeting of Turkish and Greek experts -- the so-called
wise men?
"If an agreement is reached concerning specific procedures to be adhered
to, then the 'wise men' will be able to meet."
Why did the Greek Cypriots escalate the arms race by purchasing missiles
from Russia?
"On the Turkish side of Cyprus there are about 50,000 Turkish soldiers. And
there is a threat that they will occupy the whole of the island. So after
23 years of Turkish occupation of part of Cyprus, I think the Greeks have
the right to buy the arms necessary to counter such an invasion."
Does the success of your relations with Turkey depend on resolving the
Cyprus issue?
"There are two different subjects: Greek-Turkey relations and the Cyprus
question. The Greek-Turkey relations are a Greek- Turkish matter. The
Cyprus problem is an international problem. It concerns a third state, and
the problem is the foreign occupation of that state. Naturally, the
solution of the Cyprus problem will create a better climate for
Greek-Turkish relations. But they are not connected."
Will Greece veto the admission of Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic to
the EU if Cyprus is not admitted?
"It's too early to say. I will use all possible means in the European Union
[to support Cyprus]."
Do you think Turkey should be in the EU?
"Turkey cannot be a member of the EU with open problems in the Aegean and
on Cyprus."
Do you have any impressions of Yilmaz? Surely you prefer him to [former
prime minister] Necmettin Erbakan and his Islamist Refah party?
"I'm not so sure. Mr. Erbakan was not interested in the Aegean. The
Islamists basically wanted Turkey to play a prime role in Asia among the
Muslim countries there. So they were not so interested in the Aegean and
Cyprus."
In an introduction to the interview headlined "A Tremendous Step -- What
Greece's Simitis wants from Turkey", the magazine said that following 18
months in office, Mr. Simitis "has done away with the anti-American stance
that prevailed under legendary former prime minister Andreas Papandreou.
Today the professor of law is working with the United States to settle his
country's most pressing problem -- relations with neighbor Turkey".
Main opposition terms Turkish premier's claims as `outrageous`
The main opposition New Democracy (ND) party yesterday described as
"outrageous" statements by Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz who claimed
that international law could not be applied in the Aegean Sea.
"These statements illustrate once again that Turkey remains incurably
provocative and intransigent," ND spokesman Aris Spiliotopoulos said.
"The Turkish premier is interpreting the Madrid joint communique in his own
way and in effect disputing it," he added.
Prime Minister Costas Simitis and Turkish President Suleyman Demirel signed
a joint communique on Greek-Turkish relations at the recent NATO summit in
Madrid.
The ND spokesman noted that Mr.Yilmaz had made the statement at the very
same time that Mr. Simitis was talking about compromise and trying to
convince public opinion that the strategy of the neighbouring country had
changed.
Veteran left-wing politican Giannaros dies
Veteran left-wing politician Grigoris Giannaros died at dawn today at the
age of 63 after a lengthy illness. He will be buried tomorrow at 4:30 p.m.
at Athens' First Cemetery, the Coalition of Left and Progress (Synaspismos)
announced today.
Giannaros, a former MP for Athens and member of the Synaspismos Central
Committee, was born in April 1936 in Salmoni, Ileia prefecture. An
economist, he studied economic sciences at the Athens Higher School of
Economic and Commerce Sciences (ASOEE), with post-graduate studies at the
Moscow Academy of Sciences.
Married to Sonia Tsitilou and the father of one son, Giannaros served as
Alternate Industry Minister from November 1989 to February 1990 in the
ecumenical government under Xenophon Zolotas.
He was first elected to Parliament in the June 1989 elections for the
Athens B' district and re-elected in November 1989, while in the April 1990
electins he was elected MP for the Athens A' district.
In August 1989 Giannaros served as the Synaspismos representative on the
Parliamentary fact-finding commission into alleged financial mishandling in
the so-called "purchase of the century" -- the 1986 purchase of 40 Mirage-
2000 jetfighters from France and another 40 F-16 fighter planes from the
U.S. -- and in September 1989 was elected in a secret ballot in Parliament
as alternate prosecutor in the Special Court investigating the accountability
of former ministers and PASOK leader Andreas Papandreou in the Koskotas
banking scandal during the preceding PASOK government. Papandreou passed
away last year.
IAAF's highest distinction awarded to President Stephanopoulos
The President of the International Amateur Athletics Federation (IAAF) Dr.
Primo Nebiolo last night awarded President Costis Stephanopoulos with the
highest IAAF distinction of the Gold Medal of Honour.
President Stephanopoulos then presented Dr. Nebiolo with the medal of the
Commander of the Order of Honour at a special ceremony held at the
presidential mansion.
Mr. Stephanopoulos hosted a reception in honour of the organisers of the
World Athletics Championships and the members of the IAAF and IOC currently
in Athens.
IOC member Prince Albert of Monaco is visiting Athens to be briefed on the
Athens bid for the 2004 Olympic Games and tour the sports facilities. Five
other visiting members of the IOC -- Richard Gosper (Australia), Austin
Seely (Barbados), Peter Talberg (Finland), Patrick Hickey (Ireland) and
Anthony Vrdoliac (Croatia) aalso visited sports facilities and were briefed
on the Greek portfolio.
Turkish Commerce Chamber delegation in Mytilene
A delegation from the Chamber of Commerce of the Turkish town of Pergamum
will visit Mytilene on Thursday within the framework of an initiative of
Lesvos Prefecture to improve relations between the island and the opposite
Turkish coast.
The visit follows a highly successful concert given by the Greek Radio and
Television (ERT 3) orchestra in Pergamum as part of the same initiative.
Hospitality to the Turkish visitors will be extended for two days by the
company "Hellenic Salt Works" and Lesbos Prefecture.
During their stay, they will be shown round the "Hellenic Salt Works"
installations and have meetings with their chamber counterparts as well as
with business people on the island.
WEATHER
Today the weather is expected to be fine throughout the country, with some
cloud developing in the north, later in the day. Mild northerly winds are
forecast, strong the southern Aegean. Athens can expect almost fine weather
with temperatures ranging between 22 and 34 degrees centigrade. Similar
conditions for Thessaloniki with temperatures 19-31 degrees.
FOREIGN EXCHANGE
Monday's closing rates - buying US dlr. 290.566
Pound sterling 473.396 Cyprus pd 530.404
French franc 45.900 Swiss franc 189.669
German mark 154.727 Italian lira (100) 15.914
Yen (100) 245.242 Canadian dlr. 210.826
Australian dlr. 214.824 Irish Punt 420.255
Belgian franc 7.530 Finnish mark 52.161
Dutch guilder 138.065 Danish kr. 40.823
Swedish kr. 36.059 Norwegian kr. 37.569
Austrian sch. 22.121 Spanish peseta 1.845
Port. Escudo 1.540
(S.S.)
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