Athens News Agency: News in English (AM), 97-11-03

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

NEWS IN ENGLISH

Athens, Greece, 03/11/1997 (ANA)

MAIN HEADLINES

• Multilateral cooperation to be discussed at first Balkan summit
• Balkan leaders to air region's problems amid tight security
• Simitis, Yilmaz meet today on sidelines of Crete summit
• 'Anachronistic dispute' with Turkey must be overcome, says Simitis
• Reppas: Crete summit indicates start of new era in the Balkans
• Milosevic, Nano meet today on sidelines of Balkan summit
• Turkish warplanes violate Athens FIR prior to Balkan summit
• Holbrooke: 'no real crisis between Greece and Turkey'
• Demonstrators stone Greek Consulate in Izmir
• Karamanlis accuses gov't of 'experimenting' on national issues
• Bomb explodes at entrance of employment office
• European TV 'Prix Niki' awards
• Greek First Division soccer results
• Weather
• Foreign exchange

NEWS IN DETAIL

Prime Minister Costas Simitis yesterday stressed that a meeting of southeast European heads of state and government on the Greek island of Crete starting today, should place emphasis on multilateral cooperation.

"Bilateral contacts are fine but take second place to joint (contacts)," Mr. Simitis told reporters at the summit's press centre, near Iraklion.

He said he was not expecting any "surprises" from the summit and that it had been organised purely to promote Balkan cooperation, rather than bilateral issues.

"The central issue of the summit is joint cooperation between the countries of the region," Mr. Simitis said. "We are now on our way to a Balkan community which requires a wider level of cooperation."

The fact that the leaders of Balkan states came means the summit is already a success, Mr. Simitis said. "It is our common aim to discuss the principles of cooperation and achieve a common perception on closer contacts and cooperation."

The two-day summit, officially starting today, will bring together leaders and officials from Greece, Turkey, Bosnia, Albania, Romania, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM).

Balkan leaders to air region's problems amid tight security

All leaders of countries in southeastern Europe will sit at the same table this morning to discuss the region's problems and proposals which will be made.

According to reports, issues of an economic interest will be discussed in the morning, while political issues will be discussed in the afternoon.

During the afternoon discussion, Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis will analyse Greece's plan which anticipates inter-Balkan cooperation being built on European Union models.

Mr. Simitis will raise the issue of the creation of a Secretariat headquartered in Athens. The political message Greece wishes to send is that being the sole EU member-state in the region it can help in upgrading relations between the other countries and the EU.

Security measures are tight with access to the main foyer of the "Kapsis" hotel, where the summit will be held, restricted to accredited diplomatic and security personnel.

Simitis, Yilmaz meet today on sidelines of Crete summit

A Greek-Turkish summit is expected to take place today on the sidelines of the southeastern Europe summit currently taking place in Crete.

Prime Minister Costas Simitis and his Turkish counterpart Mesut Yilmaz will be meeting at around 7 in the evening.

According to reports and the atmosphere prevailing on the Greek side, the Greek government continues to be reserved and to observe a low key policy.

Mr. Simitis, according to the reports, will turn up for his meeting with Mr. Yilmaz well-prepared so as to be able to tackle all eventualities.

The Turkish delegation comprises, apart from Mr. Yilmaz, Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, Ministers without Portfolio Cavit Kavak and Rofat Serdaroglu, as well as many officials.

'Anachronistic dispute' with Turkey must be overcome, says Simitis

In an interview to German weekly magazine "Der Spiegel" Prime Minister Costas Simitis commented on Greek-Turkish relations, the accession of Cyprus to the European Union and other foreign policy issues.

In the interview titled "Our neighbour is aggressive" published in today's issue, the premier speaks of the need to overcome the "anachronistic dispute" with Turkey, stating that the fundamental position of the Greek goverment is "a desire for cooperation", but attributing to Turkey an aggressive foreign policy, non-compatible with European standards.

"Our position is clear: We desire cooperation. We are aware that close cooperation between the European Union and Turkey is attainable and we do not wish to bar Ankara from the EU. The fact is that our neighbour Turkey has an aggressive foreign policy. Any country that wishes to cooperate with the EU must accept the European order and the relevant principals", said the Greek leader.

The premier stressed that any attempt to change the borders could undermine peace in the region.

Mr. Simitis appeared pessimistic about a possible solution to the Cyprus problem, saying that Ankara is not prepared to accept a change of the existing situation that has emerged from the invasion and occupation of the northern part of the island. He sa id that the only way to achieve progress is for the inernational community to put pressure on Turkey.

"If the United States desire peace in the Eastern Mediterranean, they must be prepared to put pressure on Turkey", he said, stressing the importance of the region as a sea passage for oil exports from central Asia.

The Greek leader rejected Turkey's proposal for the whole of the Greek- Turkish differences to be addressed as a package and be referred to international arbitration saying that there is no such package but rather new claims that Turkey keeps bringing forward.

Mr. Simitis also spoke of Greece's role as "a bridge" between the EU, NATO and Balkan countries.

Reppas: Crete summit indicates start of new era in the Balkans

The summit of southeast European countries' leaders on the Greek island of Crete beginning today indicates the start of a new era in the Balkans, Greek government spokesman and Press Minister Dimitris Reppas told Serbian state television.

Mr. Reppas said that the summit was "the first major step" towards wider political and economic cooperation in the region and would provide the foundation stone for "building a better future".

Greece lends great weight to relations with the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, he added, saying that issues of transport, communications and the return of Yugoslavia to international economic organisations was on the agenda of Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis and Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic's meeting in Crete yesterday. "We, like Yugoslavia, want it to return to European institutions and we believe that Greece's relations with Yugoslavia can be a model for relations between Balkan states," he said.

Mr. Reppas said there were plans for Mr. Simitis to visit Belgrade soon although a final date had not yet been set.

Milosevic, Nano meet today on sidelines of Balkan summit

President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Slobodan Milosevic and Albanian Prime Minister Fatos Nano will meet today in Crete on the sidelines of the southeast European heads of state and government summit, Greek government sources said last night, after successive meetings Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis held with Mr. Nano and Mr. Milosevic.

But Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas denied that Mr. Simitis raised any issue regarding a Milosevic-Nano meeting.

Mr. Reppas also said that the dispute between Albania and Yugoslavia concerning the Serbian province of Kosovo, could be discussed, "providing Nano and Milosevic meet tomorrow (today)".

"Greece's position is that within the framework of a dialogue between Yugoslavia and Albania solutions should be sought in order for excellent relations to be established between the two countries," Mr. Reppas added.

Mr. Milosevic told reporters after his talks with Mr. Simitis that the summit was an important step and that his country was doing its best for a successful outcome to the summit.

The Crete summit of southeast European heads of state and government could be a chance for the institutionalisation of the dialogue between Balkan nations, Mr. Nano told reporters after a 30-minute meeting with his Greek counterpart and host of the summit, Costas Simitis.

Turkish warplanes violate Athens FIR prior to Balkan summit

Turkish air force went ahead yesterday with new infringements of air traffic rules in the Athens Flight Information Region (FIR), which also developed into five violations of national airspace.

The infringements of air traffic rules in the Athens FIR and national airspace violations were carried out by five pairs of Turkish F-16s and a pair of Turkish F-4s in the region of Chios, Limnos and Lesvos.

In all cases, the Greek air force responded quickly and the Turkish aircraft were recognised and intercepted by Greek F-16 and Mirage 2000 warplanes.

Speaking in Zakinthos, where he attended the te deum service of Dimitris Maroudas, National Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos reiterated that the known aggressiveness of Turkey and its disposition to question both the status quo in the Aegean and Gre ece's sovereign rights is part of the neighbour's strategy to threaten Greece, restrict its role and facilitate its own demand for the upgrading of its relations with Europe.

Holbrooke: 'No real crisis between Greece and Turkey'

The tension between Greece and Turkey is not serious enough to provoke an armed conflict between the two, US presidential emissary on the Cyprus problem Richard Holbrooke, was cited as saying in Turkish press reports yesterday.

"I do not believe that there will be clashes between Turkey and Greece. It is not a real crisis," Mr. Holbrooke was reported as saying in interviews with Turkish dailies "Yeni Yuzil" and "Sabah".

"The US does not believe that Greece has any inclination whatsoever to provoke a conflict. I repeat this is not a real crisis," Mr. Holbrooke said.

Demonstrators stone Greek consulate in Izmir

About 200 Turkish demonstrators threw stones at the building housing the Greek consulate in the Turkish city of Izmir yesterday, causing slight damage.

Witnesses said only a few windows were broken.

Greek Foreign Ministry spokesman Constantine Bikas condemned the incident.

"Incidents of such a kind are regrettable and deplorable," Mr. Bikas said.

A demonstration also took place outside the Greek consulate in Istanbul where five motorcyclists laid flowers in protest over incidents that took place in Thessaloniki last week.

Mr. Bikas announced that the Greek Ambassador to Ankara Dimitris Nezeritis has already been instructed to lodge a demarche with the Turkish Foreign Ministry.

It is reminded that the Turkish government made a similar demarche a few days ago over the incidents in Thessaloniki.

Karamanlis accuses gov't of 'experimenting' on national issues

In an interview with the "Adesmeftos tis Kyriakis" newspaper, main opposition New Democracy party leader Costas Karamanlis accused the government and Prime Minister Costas Simitis of experimenting on the country's national issues.

Mr. Karamanlis said a strategy is necessary which will not change with the change of party in government and that the country's foreign policy must acquire explicit, clear and specific targets.

Former Prime Minister and ND honourary president Constantine Mitsotakis said in an interview with the newspaper "Apogevmatini tis Kyriakis" that he does not expect substantive results from the meeting between Mr. Simitis and his Turkish counterpart Mes ut Yilmaz in Crete, but added that "this meeting must achieve an improvement in the atmosphere of relations between us."

Mr. Mitsotakis reiterated that 1998 will be a crucial year for the Cyprus issue and stressed that the path towards normalisation in Greek-Turkish relations passes from Nicosia.

Bomb explodes at entrance of employment office

A bomb exploded at the entrance to the offices of the Manpower Employment Organisation (OAED) in Drapetsona near Piraeus at 9.15 last night, causing damage but no casualties.

Shortly before 9 an unidentified caller informed the newspaper "Eleftherotypia" that a bomb would explode at OAED's offices in Drapetsona at 9. The anti- terrorist police squad searched the area to find remains of the explosive device. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.

European TV 'Prix Niki' awards

Speaking at the ceremony of the European TV "Prix Niki" awards in Thessaloniki yesterday, the President of the critics committee for the best children's TV programme Paola de Benedit from Italy criticised the poor representation of women in European TV networks.

"If the competition concerned the representation of men in European TV we would not know what to choose first. Women's representation in European TV networks is poor, offhand and quite frequently anachronistic," she said.

The awards were won by a French, a Dutch and a British TV production.

The "Prix Niki" documentary award was won by the film titled "Au nom de l'honneur" by the TV channel France II.

The award for the best fiction film was won by the film "Some kind of life" by the British ITV station.

Lastly, the award for the best children's series was won by the Dutch film "Madelief."

Greek First Division soccer results:

Panahaiki-Veria 2-1 Apollon-Ethnikos 1-0 Xanthi-Ionikos 4-2 Paniliakos-AEK 2-4 Olympiakos-Kalamata 3-0 OFH-Panathinaikos 0-3 PAOK-Heracles 2-2 Standings-points: Ionikos, Panathinaikos 21 AEK 19 Olympiakos 18 Heracles, Xanthi 14

WEATHER

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