Subject: A.N.A. Bulletin 8/9/93 From: miltos@nfl2.irc.nrc.ca Athens News Agency Bulletin, September 8, 1993 ============================================== Athens, 8/9/93 (ANA) - New Democracy party deputy Stephanos Stephanopoulos yesterday declared his independence from the ruling party. "I withdraw my confidence from the government and declare myself an independent deputy", Mr. Stephanopoulos said in a latter to Parliament President Athanasios Tsaldaris. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Constantine Mitsotakis yesterday presided over a meeting with party officials to exchange views on the situation created after Political Spring leader Antonis Samaras' statement late Monday night. The conflict between the ruling party and Mr. Samaras intensified Monday night after Mr. Samaras issued a statement saying support of his fledging party and the government were "mutually exclusive" propositions. Mr. Mitsotakis is scheduled to meet with President Constantine Karamanlis tomorrow to discuss the situation. Athens, 8/9/93 (ANA) - Former leader of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev is scheduled to begin a week-long visit to Greece next week, Piraeus Mayor Stelios Logothetis announced yesterday. He said Mr. Gorbachev will be made an honorary citizen of the city of Piraeus and will meet with residents of Piraeus at the Veakeio Theatre. Athens, 8/9/93 (ANA) - The Foreign Ministry reiterated yesterday that the establishment by Russia, the US and Britain of liaison offices in Skopje did not mean that those countries were setting up embassies or even developing diplomatic relations with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Replying to press questions, foreign ministry spokesman Andreas Papaconstantinou said that the legislative framework for negotiations with Skopje had already been established. "The framework is provided by UN Security Council Resolutions 817 and 845", he said. Athens, 8/9/93 (ANA) - Prime Minister Constantine Mitsotakis yesterday met with merchants, craftsmen, and chamber of commerce representatives in the framework of contacts prior to his inauguration of the Thessaloniki International Fair on Saturday. Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry (EBEA) President Andreas Kyriazis told reporters afterwards he had briefed the prime minister on the producer class position that the government's economic recovery programme should continue and a reduction in inflation and interest rates should be pursued, with which Mr. Mitsotakis agreed. The view that the government should continue it stabilisation programme was also expressed by Paris Kyriakopoulos, president of the Union of Chambers of Commerce of Greece, adding that special measures should be taken to support industry. Constantine Kapsalis, president of the Union of Trade Associations of Greece, said merchants agreed that the economic recovery programme should continue but also requested flexibility in the incomes policy for employees because such a development will partially contribute to a market recovery. They also request, he said, a reduction in interest rates and the participation of Greek production in implementing the Delors II Package to ensure that most of the capital will remain in the country. Replying to a question by the press, Mr. Kapsalis said Mr. Mitsotakis gave a positive reply to the merchant world's request for salary increases. General Confederation of Professionals and Craftsmen (GSEBEE) deputy president Mr. Mortsos said Mr. Mitsotakis reassured him that the incomes policy will slacken and salaries will be increased. Athens, 8/9/93 (ANA) - Foreign Minister Michalis Papaconstantinou will pay a two-day visit to Brussels at the weekend, the Foreign Ministry said yesterday. Foreign ministry spokesman Andreas Papaconstantinou said that the minister would attend an unofficial meeting of EC foreign ministers which is expected to focus on the crisis in former Yugoslavia. The spokesman confirmed that Mr. Papaconstantinou would visit Cyprus on September 17-18. Athens, 8/9/93 (ANA) - Parliament will ratify the bill on Greece's entry to the Western European Union (WEU) as soon as it reconvenes after the summer recess, foreign ministry spokesman Andreas Papaconstantinou said yesterday. The spokesman said that the only reason for the delay in ratifying the bill was the workload of the 300-member House. He said that the WEU bill would be among the first to be ratified when parliament reconvenes. Athens, 8/9/93 (ANA) - Finnish Foreign Minister Heikki Haavisto will pay an official visit to Greece tomorrow at the invitation of his counterpart Michalis Papaconstantinou, the Foreign Ministry said yesterday. It said Mr. Haavisto and Mr. Papaconstantinou would have talks on Friday on bilateral issues and relations between Finland and the EC. Istanbul, 8/9/93 (ANA) - A spokesman for Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos, due to start a five-day official visit to Bulgaria today, said the Patriarch's visit was a continuation of the "course of love, peace, unity and fraternal solidarity" he is making to all the Orthodox Patriarchates, returning the visits paid to him by other Orthodox Church leaders since he was elected to the Ecumenical Throne in November 1990. The Patriarch's visit, he said, will help strengthen relations between the two Churches and bridge the rift created by a number of clerics who defected from the main body of the Bulgarian Church. The Ecumenical Patriarch will be accompanied by members of the Patriarchal Court. The Patriarch has already visited the Patriarchates of Alexandria, Antioch -based in Damascus- Moscow, Belgrade and Bucharest and is expected to visit the Church of Greece in October. Athens, 8/9/93 (ANA) - The Foreign Ministry said yesterday that it had requested from the chief of the National Defence General Staff concerning allegations that Greek police had beaten six members of the ethnic Greek minority when they crossed into Greece. A foreign ministry official added that the chief of National Defence General Staff had informed Foreign Minister Michalis Papaconstantinou that the allegations were being investigated. According to a Reuters despatch from Tirana, about 100 members of Albania's ethnic. Greek minority demonstrated at the Kakavia border crossing with Greece on Monday to protest the alleged beating. The despatch said that the six, all ethnic Greeks from the village of Kakavia, had crossed into Greece without valid papers on Sunday and later claimed that they had been detained and beaten by Greek police. Melbourne, 8/9/93 (ANA - S. Hatzimanolis) - Australia's Federal Immigration Minister Nick Bolkus is expected to meet Prime Minister Constantine Mitsotakis this weekend in Thessaloniki. Senator Bolkus, who is of Greek origin, will represent Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating and his native state of South Australia, which is participating in the Thessaloniki International Fair, at the fair. The Senator will also visit the island of Castellorizo where his father was born before meeting with government officials in Athens. Melbourne, 8/9/93 (ANA - S. Hatzimanolis) - The leader of Australia's federal opposition party Dr. John Hewson will pay an official visit to Greece between September 16-18. During his stay in Athens, Dr. Hewson will meet with Prime Minister Constantine Mitsotakis and government officials. This will be his first visit to Greece in his capacity as opposition leader. Dr. Hewson will visit Rome after Greece and will then fly to Monte Carlo to attend the International Olympics Committee meeting to decide the city to host the Olympic Games in 2000. Sydney has applied to host the games and Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating will also be present.