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The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English (AM), 99-03-03
From: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <ert.ntua.gr/>
Today's ERA News Online
Wednesday, March 3rd, 1999
CONTENTS
[01] Greek president comments on Ocalan affair
[02] Foreign minister briefs party leaders
[03] Premier and former foreign minister dismiss Swedish report
[04] European Socialists issue declaration
[05] Greece and Uzbekistan sign agreements
[06] Central bank governor says 2% inflation feasible
[07] National Council for Toursim established in Greece
[01] Greek president comments on Ocalan affair
Greece refuses to allow the Kurdish issue and the Ocalan affair to be
turned into a focal point of Greek-Turkish differences; the president of
the Greek republic, Kostis Stefanopoulos, conveyed this message to Ankara
from Tashkent where he is on an official visit. Responding to Turkish
allegations, which continue to accuse Greece of supplying the Kurdistan
Workers' Party, the PKK, with arms, Mr Stefanopoulos rejected all such
claims as slanderous. Meanwhile the government spokesman, Dimitris Reppas,
belied rumours yesterday of a so-called "hot incident" in the Aegean, which
resulted in a drop in the general share price index on the Athens Stock
Exchange. Mr Reppas attributed the rumours to the economic and political
manipulations of speculators. Referring to the crisis in Greek-Turkish
relations and to fears amongst diplomatic circles of a possible military
confrontation between the two sides, the United Nations secretary general,
Kofi Annan, expressed the hope that the tension would be overcome.
[02] Foreign minister briefs party leaders
After a series of briefing meetings yesterday with the chairman of the
Greek parliament's foreign affairs and defence committee, Karolos Papoulias,
the leader of the Democratic Social Movement, Dimitris Tsovolas, and the
Coalition president, Nikos Konstantopoulos, the foreign minister, Giorgos
Papandreou, said there was no evidence to indicate a possible "hot
incident" with Turkey. The talks focused on the latest developments in the
Ocalan affair and also on the need for inter-party cooperation in
formulating foreign policy. Mr Papandreou said the leaders of the
Democratic Social Movement and the Coalition were in favour of inter-party
cooperation. In the next few days he will have contacts with the president
of the New Democracy party, Kostas Karamanlis, the Political Spring party
leader, Antonis Samaras, the general secretary of the Greek Communist party,
Aleka Papariga, while today he is to meet the New Democracy party's
honorary president, Konstantinos Mitsotakis. The former foreign minister,
Karolos Papoulias, has expressed concern over the climate of tension being
cultivated by Turkey and urged Greece not to deviate in defending the
country's national interests. The leader of the Democratic Social Movement
called for a meeting of the country's political leaders to be convened
under the chairmanship of the president of the republic and again
criticised the government's handling of the Ocalan affair. The Coalition
president said the Ocalan affair was the greatest political tragedy for
Greece since the invasion of Cyprus in 1974 and called for a meeting of
political leaders, the establishment of a national foreign policy council
and inter-party supervision of the operation of the Greek Intelligence
Service.
[03] Premier and former foreign minister dismiss Swedish report
The Greek prime minister, Kostas Simitis, and the former foreign minister,
Theodoros Pangalos, both curtly dismissed a report of Mr Pangalos' alleged
statements issued by the Swedish News Agency. Mr Simitis spoke of cliques
undermining Greece's national interests, while Mr Pangalos referred to an
operation involving false rumours aimed at his political and moral demise
which, in the longer term, targeted the country itself. Meanwhile the
Swedish journalist concerned has himself denied that Mr Pangalos uttered
the controversial statement "We gave Ocalan to Ankara", as previously
reported. The government spokesman, Dimitris Reppas, fully backed Mr
Pangalos during the political leaders' briefing, and expressed regret that
the contents of the Swedish News Agency cable were accepted by some without
any cross-checking of the facts. In Washington, the State Department
spokesman, James Foley, last night expressed the United States' confidence
in the Greek government and in the prime minister, Kostas Simitis,
personally. Ankara, meanwhile, has finally allowed three members of the
Council of Europe's Committee Against Torture to visit the Kurdish leader
in his island-prison of Imrali, while late yesterday the European Court of
Human Rights announced that Mr Ocalan's lawyers could visit him in prison.
The announcement said Ankara had given assurances that all necessary
security measures had been taken. On the other hand, the Turkish justice
ministry ordered that charges be pronounced against Turkish mass media
whose articles or broadcasts would be in favour of the Kurdish leader.
[04] European Socialists issue declaration
The European Socialist Party conference in Milan ended yesterday with the
issuing of a joint two-fold declaration calling for a fair trial for
Abdullah Ocalan and increased efforts to combat unemployment. In a press
conference at the close of the meeting, Greek prime minister Kostas Simitis
said there were two opposed choices in Europe today; one was the
conservative option and the other was that of the socialists who were
promising a government intent on social justice, fighting unemployment and
the speedier unification of Europe. The conference of the European
Socialist Party also passed resolutions for accountability in the workings
of the European Commission, the increase of efforts for employment, the
equality of women and the struggle against xenophobia and racism. Greek
defence minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos yesterday was re-elected vice-
president of the European Socialist party. He said the message of the
socialists was a new path for Europe, adding what should change was what
Europe suffered in the past.
[05] Greece and Uzbekistan sign agreements
Three new agreements between Greece and Uzbekistan were signed in Tashkent
yesterday after talks between the visiting Greek president, Kostis
Stefanopoulos, and the president of Uzbekistan, Islam Karimov. The
agreements are further developing relations between the two countries. They
are a consular agreement, an agreement on road haulage and an agreement for
cooperation between the central banks of Greece and Uzbekistan. The two
presidents discussed the whole spectrum of international issues, including
Greek-Turkish relations, and also expressed the wish for boosting relations
between Greece and Uzbekistan in all sectors, especially the economic,
cultural and trade sectors.
[06] Central bank governor says 2% inflation feasible
The governor of the Bank of Greece, Loukas Papadimos, said yesterday that a
2% inflation rate in Greece was perfectly feasible and for this reason it
would be not only ill-advised but absurd to relax the convergence criteria
for the country's admission to European economic and monetary union. He
added that rumours about a change in the inflation criteria should not
create expectations of a relaxed policy, adding the goal of an inflation
rate under 2% this year should be attained at all cost, in order to secure
a smooth transition to the euro.
[07] National Council for Toursim established in Greece
As of this year, a National Council for Tourism is being set up, according
to an announcement yesterday by development minister Evangelos Venizelos.
Ten secretaries from ministries will represent the state on the council,
the remainder of whose composition will be balanced by representatives of
the tourist industry. At the national council of tourism, problems in the
sector of tourism will be deliberated and solutions promptly formulated,
according to the development minister.
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