Athens News Agency: News in English (AM), 97-10-27

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

NEWS IN ENGLISH

Athens, Greece, 27/10/1997 (ANA)

MAIN HEADLINES

• Pangalos: EU recognises Turkey lacks requirements to join
• Van der Broek: EU not enthusiastic with Turkey's policy
• 'Ohi Day' messages valuable today, leaders say
• Minister stresses importance of powerful armed forces
• President calls on Turkey to play by international rules
• Kaklamanis addresses Trieste summit on organised crime
• Karamanlis calls for opposition to 'Kapodistrias' plan
• President inaugurates two exhibitions in Thessaloniki
• Vartholomeos lashes out at proselytism of Orthodox
• Greek-Russian trade committee makes headway
• Rare Greek manuscripts on exhibit in Moscow
• Court rules Kaoil free to launch operations
• Greek First Division soccer results
• Weather
• Foreign exchange

NEWS IN DETAIL

The European Union (EU) members are beginning to realise that Turkey does not have the requirements necessary to gain accession to the union, Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos said yesterday.

Speaking at an informal meeting of the EU Council of (Foreign) Ministers in Luxembourg, Mr. Pangalos said, "The governments of member-states have begun to gradually understand that Turkey does not have the economic or political requirements to enter,at present, the process of accesion to the EU, nor (is it able now) to be strengthened by the community's pre-accession strategy".

Greece supports a special Turkish relation ship with the EU, but this should be based on the joint stance of all member-states at the Council of Customs Link between the EU-Turkey, in April, which contains certain terms towards Turkey.

One of these terms is for Turkey to show a contructive stance on the Cyprus issue and the solution of its problems with Greece, Mr. Pangalos said.

All EU members agree that Turkey should not set obstacles to negotiations for Cyprus' accession to the EU.

He said Greece supports the union's expansion but negotiations should start simultaneously for all prospective members, rather than setting different dates for each.

On other issues, Mr. Pangalos proposed that the EU express its support to Algeria's attempts to reform, and said the EU should also assume certain projects in the Middle East related to security, like the port and the airport.

Van der Broek: EU not enthusiastic with Turkey's policy

EU Commissioner Hans Van der Broek told a press conference in Luxembourg yesterday, said that recent developments in Turkey in terms of respecting human rights and in foreign policy have not met with great enthusiasm from those interested in the country's improved ties with the EU.

Mr. Van der Broek, who will visit Ankara on Wednesday, said that Turkey had to change its stance on the Cyprus issue.

"The climate must change and the threats of war must change," he said, adding that Turkey must stop placing obstacles in Cyprus' accession process.

Besides Mr. Van der Broek's meeting in Turkey, other meetings related to the issue include a meeting of the Council of Customs Link between the EU and Turkey on November 24 in Brussels.

Council chairman Jacques Poos is also expected to visit Ankara by the end of November.

The main points to be touched in these discussions is that the strengthening of Turkey's ties with the EU are related to the improvement of Greek- Turkish relations, solving differences on the basis of international law, achieving progress in the Cyprus issue and others.

'Ohi Day' messages valuable today, leaders say

Greece's decisiveness in defending its national independence and at the same time cooperate with all countries for the stability and peace in the Balkans, were the main points in messages for tomorrow's "Ohi" (No) anniversary by Prime Minister Costas Simi tis and Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis.

Mr. Simitis said the anniversary of the day Greece refused official sanction to Mussolini to enter the country during World War II signified the decisiveness Greeks showed when defending their country.

"Today, modern Greece expresses yet one more time the need of establishing a climate of stability in the area that would benefit the people inhabiting it," he said.

Mr. Kaklamanis said the dangers threatening Greece were real and everyone's duty was to be on the alert and defend freedom and national dignity.

Cyprus is still under occupation by Turkey, which ignores the international community and violates human rights, while it doubts Greece's sovereign rights as established by international law, Mr. Kaklamanis said.

Main opposition New Democracy (ND) party leader Costas Karamanlis noted that today's dangers made it obligatory to evaluate the lessons learned from "Ohi" day.

The international powers should also reevaluate their stance, since the least Greece demands is respect of international law, international agreements and peace, he said.

Minister stresses importance of powerful armed forces

Greece, reprimanding its allies for applying double standards in the country's long-standing dispute with Turkey, should employ powerful armed forces and a strong economy to deter Ankara, Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos said yesterday.

"For 22 years our major allies, unable to contribute to respect for international law, have restricted themselves to seeking from us a solution (with Turkey), even when our sovereign rights are in jeopardy," Mr. Tsohatzopoulos said.

He was speaking to reporters after a service in Thessaloniki to mark a religious holiday for Saint Dimitrios, the city's patron saint, which coincides with the anniversary of the city's liberation from Turkey.

"We must provide a reply ourselves using a deterrent strategy that will lead to an economically strong Greece with powerful armed forces, so that we may respond effectively and victoriously to any threat whatsoever," he said.

Mr. Tsohatzopoulos is representing Prime Minister Costas Simitis at the three-day celebration.

President calls on Turkey to play by international rules

Greek President Costis Stephanopoulos has called on international organisations to urge Turkey to play by the rules instead of using bravado and threats.

"International threats cannot be resolved by boasting or creating incidents, but only through an adherence to international rules," Mr. Stephanopoulos said.

The President of the Republic was speaking on arrival in Thessaloniki on Saturday night.

Yesterday he took part in religious celebrations for Saint Dimitrios, the city's patron saint. The holiday coincides with Thessaloniki's liberation from Turkey.

Mr. Stephanopoulos said Greek foreign policy was peaceful and steady, allowing no backtracking on national and sovereign rights.

Kaklamanis addresses Trieste summit on organised crime

Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis said on Saturday he had proposed to the president of the Turkish National Assembly that both sides form a joint committee of parliaments to examine all aspects of the drug trade and propose measures to their respe ctive governments to fight them.

Speaking at the summit of presidents of parliaments from central European initiative countries, meeting in Trieste, Mr. Kaklamanis said the Turkish side had not replied yet.

The summit invited Mr. Kaklamanis to address the meeting although Greece is not a member of the initiative, which is discussing organised crime as its main topic.

Mr. Kaklamanis also said it was necessary that national parliaments cooperate more closely with the European Parliament and that any measures established to fight drug trafficking should not imperil human rights.

Karamanlis calls for opposition to 'Kapodistrias' plan

Main opposition New Democracy (ND) leader Costas Karamanlis strongly criticised the government over the "Ioannis Kapodistrias" to unify small towns and communities into larger administrative districts, charging it with "neobavarian and neoprussian behavio ur", and a "terrified majority" in Parliament.

Speaking at an event against the plan, held in Thessaloniki's Nea Ionia district, Mr. Karamanlis charged the government with forcing its deputies to squash all opposition to the plan, saying ruling PASOK "has a false majority in Parliament".

He said that even if the draft bill on it currently in Parliament is passed and becomes law, it will not materialise, and he called everyone to fight against it.

President inaugurates two exhibitions in Thessaloniki

President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos yesterday inaugurated two exhibitions at separate museums during his visit to Thessaloniki, to celebrate the city's patron St. Dimitrios and tomorrow's "Ohi" day.

"Byzantine Medieval Cyprus" is running at the Museum of Byzantine Culture and "Flags of Liberation" at the Art gallery of the Society of Macedonian Studies.

The first exhibition relates to artifacts, manuscrips, maps and memoirs of travellers and researches that visited Cyprus during its Byzantine and Medieval periods.

The second exhibition includes flags used by Greek resistance fighters, from the 19th century to modern times. It also includes a flag from the famed 'Averof' battleship.

In his speeches, Mr. Stephanopoulos noted the cultural traits that linked Greece with Cyprus, saying that both countries "are direct descendants and inheritors of Byzantium".

The inaugurations were attended by the ministers of Culture and Macedonia- Thrace, and by the defence minister as representative of the prime minister.

Vartholomeos lashes out at proselytism of Orthodox

The problems Orthodox churches are facing in eastern Europe and relations between all of them will be the main issue of talks Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos is holding in New York.

Vartholomeos, on a month-long visit that began last week, speaking at the National Council of Churches in New York City yesterday charged proselytizing practices by many Protestant churches in the area, "where the Orthodox church is trying to recover from trials and tribulations of decades". He said that Protestant missionaries have access to large funds for their work and are creating pockets of tension in Russia and other areas of eastern Europe.

"Many Protestant missionaries from the West, whose voices were never heard during the length of decades of oppression, came not to support, but to proselytize Orthodox faithful," he said, adding that they were acting like "wolves in a sheep's skin".

The Ecumenical Patriarch was due to conduct a liturgy at Madison Square Garden yesterday and later attend a dinner given in his honour by New York state governor George Pataki, of Greek descent.

Today New York City mayor Rudolph Giuliani will host a breakfast for Vartholomeos, who is also scheduled to meet later with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.

Greek-Russian trade committee makes headway

A Greek delegation headed by National Economy Undersecretary Alekos Baltas attended the first conference of t he Joint Interministerial Committee of Greece-Russia in Moscow yesterday, after months of delays and problems establishing the procedures to be followed.

The Greek delegation signed a joint statement for cooperation in small and medium-sized businesses, and a cooperation agreement between the Hellenic Organisation of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises and Craftsmen (EOMMEX) and the Russian state committee for small businesses. The agreement includes provisions of Greek businesses training Russian former military officials who have been dismissed due to sharp cuts in defence.

Both sides agreed on the importance of accelerating the agreement on the Burgas-Alexandropouli oil pipe agreement and discussed Greek investments in Russia, with the Russian side submitting a list of sectors they are interested in.

Mr. Baltas said that a Greek fur exhibition and other products would take place in Moscow soon.

According to data released by Mr. Baltas, Russian imports to Greece total annually around 700 million dollars, while exports to Russia run to about 350 million dollars.

This is not a satisfactory level, Mr. Baltas said, and it was important to encourage investments in Russia and promote exchanges in the services sector.

The conference was considered successful, given the fact that this meeting has been postponed nine times in the past, although not all problems were solved.

The next conference will be held in Athens early in the second half of 1998.

Rare Greek manuscripts on exhibit in Moscow

The Historical Museum of Moscow reopened its gates following 11 years of repairs and transformations with an exhibit on "Greek manuscripts and archival documents in Moscow, 15th-17th century".

One of the most noteworthy exhibits is a 15th century manuscript containing notes by Metropolitans Isidoros of Kiev and Makarios of Moscow, and Archbishop Arsenios of Elasson.

It also includes an 11th century Bible that was manufactured in Constantinople and was given as a gift to Job, the first patriarch of Moscow, by Ecumenical Patriarch Jeremiah in 1589.

Court rules Kaoil free to launch operations

Kaoil, a new Greek petroleum products firm, is free to launch operations after a court rejected a petition by competitors to have its licence revoked for jeopardising their turnover.

The State Council, the country's highest adminstrative court, ruled that any loss of clientele or turnover incurred by Texaco, Shell Hellas, Evroil and Elinoil due to Kaoil's entry into the market could be rectified.

The four had claimed that Kaoil, which aims to operate nationwide and whose launch was endorsed by the development ministry, would result in a loss of income due to a shrinking market stake.

Its operation would also act as a stumbling block to investment plans already made by the four companies, the petition said.

Greek First Division soccer results

Olympiakos-Proodeftiki 3 - 0 Ionikos-OFI 5 - 0 Veria-Apollon 1 - 1 Athinaikos-Pyrgos 4 - 3 Kalamata-Panahaiki 0 - 1 Heraklis-Xanthi 2 - 0 Ethnikos-Panionios 1 - 0 Kavala-PAOK 0 - 1 AEK-Panathinaikos play today Standings-points: Ionikos 21, Panathinaikos 18 Olympiakos 15, AEK, Apollon, Heraklis 13, PAOK 12, Xanthi 11, Pyrgos 9, OFI, Proodeftiki 8, Veria, Panionios 7 Ethnikos, Panahaiki 6

WEATHER

FOREIGN EXCHANGE

(C.E.)

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