BRIEF GREEK NEWS BULLETIN (16/02/1996)

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 16, 1996

TITLES

NEWS IN DETAIL

[01] BAZOOKA FIRED NEAR US EMBASSY IN ATHENS, NO VICTIMS

The deafening blast that occured shortly after 11 pm, blew out windows in the area and ripped through cars in a nearby parking lot.

According to Public Order Minister Kostas Geitonas, the attack appears to have been carried out by "the known guerrilla group" implying the November 17 leftist group that has killed 21 Americans, Greeks and Turks since 1975.

Mr. Geitonas said that greek officials have had constant concerns about such attacks, "especially at a time like this", surmising that the blast could be connected with the recent tension that surrounds the Imia issue.

Police, after combing thoroughly the scene of the attack, found no plastic makeshift bazooka, which raises the possibility that the missile was fired from a moving vehicle.

Also, greek police headquarters reported that a previously unknown group calling itself "National Struggle" telephoned and claimed responsibility for the attack. Moreover, another anonymous caller to Athens' private television station Antenna said that the blast was "the first in the struggle against American and Turkish targets."

However, the type of anti-tank missile fired last night is among those stolen from a greek army base by the November 17 group.

Greek police and members of the anti-terrorist squad have cordoned off the surrounding area.

[02] GOVERNMENT CONDEMNS ATTACK ATTEMPT IN ATHENS

The government believes that this action is not random because as is mentioned in a statement by the Ministry of Press it took place at a time when Greece is strengthening considerably its position in the international scene - through the expressed resolutions of governments and organizations - adding that this terrorist attack serves anti-greek plans.

In the statement is also stressed that the government will continue its effort for the promotion of the greek positions, will confront these provocations and will intensify its activities in order to rid the greek society of this phenomenon which nsults the institutions and is against the national interest.

[03] US PRESIDENT DENOUNCES TERRORIST ATTACK AT EMBASSY

According to White House spokesperson Mike McKerry, "President Clinton condemns the grenade attack aimed against the United States Embassy in Athens. The present episode demonstrates the constant threat that terrorists and terrorist organizations constitute for the world."

Moreover, in his statement, the US President promises to work with the greek government in order to bring those responsible "for this bullying act to justice."

[04] ATHENS SATISFIED BY EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION

He characteristically stated that Greece believes such texts should be the basis on which friendship and cooperation among the peoples develop.

Mr.Reppas said that Europe has sent a clear message to Turkey adding that Greece will cooperate with all the international agencies so that such texts will contribute in practice to the development of relations between the european countries and the rest of the world.

Also, mr.Reppas said that the government is firm in its intention to intervene to the procedure for the disbursement of EU funds to Turkey.

[05] GREEK PRIME MINISTER INVITED TO THE WHITE HOUSE

According to greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas this will be a working visit expected to have important results within the framework of friendship between the two countries.

Mr.Reppas said, responding to a question by a journalist concerning the White House statement on the necessity of cooperation between the Security Services of the two countries after last night's terrorist attack against the US Embassy building in Athens, that the two agencies have continuous and uninterrupted cooperation.

The greek government spokesman also said that the security services of the two countries are cooperating in order to combat terrorism just as the greek services cooperate with the Security Services of other countries.

Also, as part of a launched campaign to influence european opinion, mr. Simitis will begin visiting European Union capitals next week, where he will drill his partners on Greece's position regarding the Imia dispute.

The greek Premier will visit Brussels on Tuesday where he will meet with European Commission President Jacques Santer and belgian Premier Jean-Luc Dehaene.

On Wednesday, mr. Simitis will travel to Germany where he will meet with Chancellor Helmut Kohl in Bonn. On Thursday, the greek Premier will be in France where he will meet with the french President Jacques Chirac in Paris.

Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs Theodoros Pangalos will accompany the Premier in his travels through Europe.

[06] GREECE'S NEW MILITARY CHIEF APPOINTED

According to Defense Minister Gerasimos Arsenis, the appointment resulted after a unanimous decision by the KYSEA and proceedings of the meeting, chaired by Premier Kostas Simitis, lasted less than one hour.

Mr. Tzoganis is succeeding Admiral Christos Lymberis who was ousted last week for his handling of a military stand-off with Turkey in Imia.

The 57-year-old new military chief was, until now, chief of the greek air force.

KYSEA will meet again this afternoon to appoint the new heads of the general staffs of the army, navy and air force.

[07] MILITARY SERVICE PROPOSED EXTENSION SQUASHED

According to Press and Media Minister Dimitris Reppas, " the government is not facing such an issue and it is not thinking of extending the term of military service within five to eight months from now."

The proposal first surfaced on Tuesday during a joint meeting held by the Cabinet and the Council for Defense and Foreign Affairs, and was supported by Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos, Aegean Minister Antonis Kotsakas and Macedonia and Thrace Minister Philippos Petsalnikos.

Mr. Pangalos proposed an obligatory six-to-12 months military service for women, although, as the Foreign Minister suggested, the weaker sex could serve in administrative jobs, thereby increasing the number of men serving front-line duty.

The military service extension proposal aimed at strengthening the country's defense body. Under the current military service regulation, all greek men mandatorily serve 18 months in the military.

[08] WORLD HELLENISM COUNCIL INAUGURATION TOMORROW

The session will be opened by Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos and his alternate, George Romaios. Besides the SAE presiding board, attending the proceedings will be the three-member newly-elected delegation of the informal Council of Expatriate Greek Media, consisting of Vice-President Dimitris Filios, Ioustini Frangouli and second secretary general Michalis Mystakidis.

[09] DEFENSE MINISTER MEETS COUNCIL OF OVERSEAS HELLENISM

Mr.Arsenis characterized as useful the discussion he had with the members of the Council's Presiding Board which centered around the latest events in the greek- turkish relations.

Form his part, President of the Council's Presiding Board mr.Andrew Athens expressed satisfaction for the briefing while he pointed out that the greeks living abroad must and should be present whenever Greece calls for it, as he said characteristically.

[10] HEALTH CONDITION OF PASOK'S LEADER IMPROVES

The latest medical bulletin mentions that the condition of mr.Papandreou's health is developing steadily while his attendant doctors in private talks with journalists mentioned that the patient has entered a period of quick recovery and are not ruling out the possibility to be allowed to return to his home by the end of the month.

[11] UN:SOLUTION IN CYPRUS INCLUDES WITHDRAWAL OF TURKS

Mr.Feisel added that the best way to move toward the solution of the Cyprus problem is silently, without meaning secretly. He said that there should be confidential talks until something is found for discussion.

Called to comment on whether the documents handed to Lord Finsberg will help in any way, he said that public documents usually are not the most useful things.

To the question regarding the lack of will from the part of turkish-cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, the UN official said that the problem with the Cyprus issue is that everyone blames eachother.

[12] CYPRUS GETS HIGH MARKS ON CIVIL RIGHTS AND LIBERTY

The research report ranks Cuprus at the top of its annual list that classifies various countries according to the civil rights and liberty granted to their citizens.

Spanning a grade range of one to seven, (with one being the highest grade given), the Institution granted grade one to the Republic of Cyprus, while the occupied section of the island was granted grade four in civil rights and grade two in civil liberties. Turkey was given grade five.