BRIEF GREEK NEWS BULLETIN (09/02/1996)

From: Macedonian Press Agency <mpa@uranus.ee.auth.gr>

Macedonian Press Agency News in English Directory

BRIEF GREEK NEWS BULLETIN BY MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY

February 9, 1996

TITLES

NEWS IN DETAIL

[01] GREEK CHIEF OF STAFF ASKED TO RESIGN, REFUSES TO DO SO

PASOK has denounced the admiral for making public a conversation he held with Greece's Prime Minister during the Imia crisis. According to reports, the admiral suggested to the premier that greek warplanes should strike turkish troops. Mr. Simitis rejected the suggestion and asked the admiral how long it would take for greek troops to be drafted in. The admiral then replied three hours.

"Admiral Lyberis' action is unethical and is damaging to the prestige and morale of our armed forces," stated the Press and Media Minister Dimitris Reppas prior to the admiral's ousting.

On the other side of the fence, the main opposition party New Democracy's spokesperson, Vassilis Magginas, characterized the admiral's removal as "tragi-comic" adding that "the first ones who should resign are those who negotiated with the americans during the crisis." However, two days prior to the call for Mr. Lyberis' resignation, New Democracy had vehemently criticized the publication of the conversation.

[02] EU UNABLE FOR INITIATIVES TO AVERT A CONFLICT AT ITS BORDERS

Referring to former Yugoslavia and the Aegean crisis, mr.Romeos pointed out the need for a more effective foreign and defense policy.

Also, he mentioned that the main duty for Greece is to consolidate its borders as EU borders.

[03] GREEK DELEGATION MET NATO'S DEPUTY SECRETARY GENERAL

Mr.Pavlidis conveyed the concern of the greek Parliament members over the recent crisis and the unacceptable tactic followed by Turkey, a NATO member state which is continuously violating international treaties, mainly those that have been co-signed by NATO member-states.

Mr.Pavlidis especially mentioned the agreements of 1923, the agreement of 1932 between Italy and Turkey which gave the Dodecanese to Greece and of course the 1947 Paris Treaty that was signed by representatives of NATO member-states.

Mr.Balasino expressing and NATO Secretary-General mr.Solana's views assured mr.Pavlidis that the alliance is watching the situation closely and stated that the tension within NATO must be defused. He also added that such problems should not be created and certain moves are being made toward this direction.

Also, mr.Pavlidis presented the greek positions in the Conference of the Alliance's Reserve Officers Federation in which was invited to speak as special guest.

[04] EUROPEAN PRESS WARNS OF TURKEY'S EXPANSIONIST POLICY

Following the Aegean Sea crisis involving the Imia islets, newspapers in Holland, a country not known for its favorable sentiments to Greece, warn of Turkey's expansionist tactics and support Greece's sovereign territorial rights in the Aegean Sea.

Taking up the turk acting premier Tansu Ciller's recent claims of 3,000 islands and islets in the Aegean, the dutch newspaper "Troow" denounces Turkey's intentions.

"This is, at the very least, nonsense," the paper states, " because these islands are greek. Even in the Imia crisis, the possibility that Turkey is right is nil. It is almost certain that the islet is part of the Dodekanese, which Italy gave to Greece in 1947. "This is so clear," the article proceeds, "that Turkey, if it believes that the islet belongs to it, has to prove it. Something that can be done through the International Court of Justice in Hague." In addition, the article states that turkish efforts to doubt the greek sovereignty of the islands is "an aggressive act against a country-member of the European Union and, as such, against all of EU. And this following the Customs Union."

The paper notes that the recent crisis is not an "operreta", as was at first presented by the "lukewarm" international reactions, but it is an act of potentially serious consequences. It also mentions that if the current turkish acting govenment continues the governmental crisis in the country with its "mindless debates", it could pave the way to power for the fundamentalists. "However," the article points out, "the assurance against the islamists was one of the preconditions that supported the Customs Union." The european press has also been a stern critic of Turkey's human rights violations.

The Stockholm newspaper "Expressern", in a lengthy article regarding human rights violations committed in Turkey, estimates that 15,000 persons have lost their lives or were imprisoned during 1995.

"Titled "List of Shame", the article states that in 1995 14,473 persons were persecuted for their political beliefs, 213 persons have been declared missing, 108 persons have been executed en masse or were tortured to death, while 92 persons were murdered. According to "Expressern" the figures were provided by turkish organizations for the protection of human rights.

[05] GREEK CANADIAN COMMITTEE PROTESTS CANADA'S HELP TO TURKEY

The Committee, stating that Canada is one of the main military arms suppliers to Turkey, assesses that the continuous military gearing of the turkish occupied region confirms Ankara's expansionist policy. In the letter, the Committee points out that Turkey's atrocities against the Kurds attest that the military aid is not used to promote peace.

The letter further states that the noted reluctance to take a stance on this issue, expressed by NATO members and Canada, allows Turkey to conclude that it has secured this aid without sanctions.

[06] CYPRIOT PRESIDENT MET GREEK PARLIAMENT SPEAKER

Mr.Kaklamanis said that he will visit Cyprus next week where he will meet again with President Kliridis and he will address the Cypriot Parliament.

The greek Parliament President said that the conclusion of today's meeting is that there can be optimism when there is unity and decisiveness among the greeks all over the world in facing any provocation against Greece's sovereign rights.

[07] US PRESIDENT DISCUSSED CYPRUS PROBLEM WITH IRISH DEPUTY PM

The referrence to the Cyprus problem was made within the framework of the issues with which the irish EU Presidency will have to deal in the second half of 1996.

According to the Cypriot State Radio correspondent, the two sides came to the conclusion that at the present time the US initiative can not move ahead while no effort can be undertaken by mr.Spring due to the tension in the greek-turkish relations. Also, they agreed to cooperate closer during the irish EU Presidency.

In the meeting were also present US vice-President Al Gore and National Security Adviser Antony Lake. The irish Foreign Minister had visited Cyprus last month.

[08] COUNCIL OF OVERSEAS HELLENISM TO VISIT ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH

The visit is expected to have a positive effect on the strengthening of the relations between the newly established Council and the Ecumenical Partiarchate dispelling the clouds that had appeared as a result of the fact that the Patriarchate had not participated in the Council's founding conference that was held in Thessaloniki last November.

Before the Presiding Board's meeting on February 16-18 a delegation headed by its President mr.Andrew Athens will meet on February 14-15 in Athens with greek President Stephanopoulos, Prime Minister Simitis, Foreign Minister Pangalos, and deputy Foreign Minister Romeos. The Council's President is expected in Athens on February 11th.

[09] NO OBSTACLE IN GREEK-ALBANIAN RELATIONS, SAYS TIRANA

In the meeting were discussed the greek-albanian relations and according to a statement issued by the albanian Foreign Ministry, mr.Philon pointed out the need for the promotion of the cooperation between the two countries while he also referred to problems concerning the education of the greek minority in Albania.

From his part the albanian Foreign Minister expressed satisfaction concerning the level of bilateral relations saying that it can improve further, and underlined that Greece, the only Balkan country incorporated into the european institutions, can contribute to the acceleration of Albania's accession into those structures.

Mr.Sereki stated that there is no obstacle to the further development of the greek-albanian relations while he underlined the need for the continuation of the work undertaken by the joint greek-albanian committee.

[10] MEETING OF TOURIST AGENTS OF GREECE AND FYROM

The greek tourist agents informed their colleagues in FYROM that prices in Greece have increased by 7% compared to last year.