From: miltos@nfl2.irc.nrc.ca Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Thu, 14 Oct 1993 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa). Athens News Agency Bulletin, October 14, 1993 ============================================= Athens, 14/10/1993 (ANA): The new PASOK government had its first Cabinet meeting yesterday, immediately after being sworn in before President Constantine Karamanlis. President Karamanlis wished the new government success after the noon ceremony, conducted by Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Serapheim. "It is most imperative that you succeed because at this moment our country is confronting many and difficult problems", the President told the assembled Cabinet. Mr. Papandreou told his first Cabinet meeting that a top priority of the socialist administration would be to annul the privatisation programmes approved by his conservative predecessors. "We will press ahead with the abolition of the bill concerning the privatisation of the Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation (OTE) and the Urban Transport Organisation (EAS), and will protect the privacy of telecommunications", Mr. Papandreou said. He noted that "new bills" concerning these issues had been drafted by the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK). He added that he would also review a law on the settlement of taxes owed to the Greek state by ex-King Constantine. Mr. Papandreou called on his cabinet to "immediately begin work" and present an account of the situation in every ministry. "The people must know the condition the state is in and the condition that was handed to us by our predecessors", Mr. Papandreou said. "The Greek people deserve serious and responsible work, transparency in administration, collective and united action, the restoration of credibility in politicians and politics, meritocracy in the choice of staff and bold decentralisation", the premier said. "We are not avengers. We are simply obliged to restore legality ... Our government opens a new era, a new page in the country's history", he added. The 74-year-old premier said his government was bent on "reconstructing the country by strengthening the economy and restoring the feeling of security and justice, forging a new national strategy and leading Greece to its European future". "We are shouldering the historic responsibility of reconstructing the country and this requires serious and responsible work", Mr. Papandreou said. He said the government's work would proceed smoothly and be judged by the people. "We only have one chance to succeed", he added. Mr. Papandreou said the Cabinet would meet every two weeks and announced that parliament would convene earlier than planned in light of the EC summit scheduled for October 29. He also asked his ministers to submit their positions on the government's policy statements by Monday. PASOK swept into power in Sunday's early elections precipitated by the loss of the conservative New Democracy's parliamentary majority. PASOK polled 46.88 per cent of the vote -- securing a comfortable 171 seat majority in the 300-seat parliament -- against New Democracy's 39.30 per cent and 110 seats. Antonis Samaras' break-away Political Spring party -- which caused the downfall of the ND government -- polled 4.87 per cent and 10 seats, while the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) received 4.54 per cent and nine seats. The new 43-member Cabinet, comprising 18 ministers, four alternate ministers and 21 under-secretaries, includes 22 newcomers. PASOK intends to propose Apostolos Kaklamanis, a 57-year-old veteran PASOK cadre, for Parliament President. Athens, 14/10/1993 (ANA): Under-secretary to the Prime Minister's Office and government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos yesterday announced the composition of Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou's office: Dimitra Liani, wife of Mr. Papandreou, has been appointed director of the Prime Minister's office. Antonis Vgontzas and George Katiforis have been appointed directors of the prime minister's legal and economic offices respectively. Athens University professor Louka Katseli will be special adviser to the premier on economic issues and Lambis Nicolaou for technical issues. Athens, 14/10/1993 (ANA): Premier Andreas Papandreou yesterday received congratulatory messages from world leaders including European Commission President Jacques Delors, UN Secretary General Boutros Boutros Ghali, French Prime Minister Edouard Balladur, and the presidium of the Albanian Human Rights Party on being sworn in as the new leader. "On behalf of the European Commission, I wish to congratulate you on your electoral success. I am certain the government which has emerged from this popular mandate will contribute -- just as its predecessor has done -- to the task of European fulfilment, to which Greece has been a contributing party since its entry to the Community", Mr. Delors' message said. The UN chief pledged full support: "In congratulating you on your election as Greek premier, I would assure you of my full support on the assumption of your heavy duties. I also look forward to continuing the close co-operation existing between Greece and the UN". Mr. Balladur's message said: "I am convinced that we shall begin a constructive dialogue within the framework of the traditional friendship and close co-operation linking our two countries. I wholeheartedly wish to co-operate with you in developing close bilateral relations and enhancing European edification". The Albanian Human Rights party hailed Mr. Papandreou's task "for the good of the people of Greece, understanding and stability in the Balkan region and on a broader scale". The party expressed its hope that relations between the two countries under a PASOK administration would improve and develop to the level which peoples of both countries desire; a framework in which all legitimate rights of the ethnic Greek minority would be ensured. President of the Democratic Union of the Greek National Minority in Albania, "Omonia", Sotiris Kyriazatis also sent the new premier a congratulatory message. Athens, 14/10/1993 (ANA): Outgoing New Democracy party ministers handed over their ministries to their socialist successors yesterday. New Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias, accompanied by Alternate Minister in charge of EC affairs Theodore Pangalos and Under-secretary for overseas Greeks George Papandreou, was briefed by former foreign minister Michalis Papaconstantinou and his under-secretaries George Papastamkos, Vyron Polydoras and Virginia Tsouderou. In a short address to the press and ministry personnel, Mr. Papoulias thanked the outgoing leadership which, he said, has done everything possible to deal with the truly difficult problems it had to face. He stressed that the foreign ministry carried no party's identity, adding the hope there would be maximum consensus on national issues both within and outside it. At the national defence ministry, Gerasimos Arsenis said he looked forward to co-operation from all quarters to fulfil the expectations of the Greek people. "I am fully conscious of the historic role which this ministry has at all times, especially at this difficult moment for our country. Our aim is peace in the region, and the safeguarding of our sovereign rights", he said. Former defence minister Ioannis Varvitsiotis said the Greek people should be proud of their armed forces, calling them the best in the region. At the national economy and finance ministries, new minister George Yennimatas said the PASOK government guaranteed real wages for workers while at the same time setting the fight against rising inflation as the main goal. Mr. Yennimatas was accompanied by Alternate Minister Yiannos Papantoniou and National Economy Under-secretary George Romaios and Finance Under-secretaries Dimitris Georgakopoulos and Alexandros Papadopoulos. In a short address after taking over from former minister Stephanos Manos, Mr. Yennimatas pledged that he would "spring no surprises" on the production sector, adding the fight against inflation would hinge on monetary, currency and public finance policy. Mr. Manos said he had given Mr. Yennimatas a full briefing on the economy, adding he would be available for assistance in any effort that might bring the economy closer to Europe. Athens, 14/10/1993 (ANA): Thessaloniki University professor Evangelos Venizelos assumed his duties as Under-secretary to the Prime Minister's Office and government spokesman at a special ceremony yesterday. Meeting the press afterwards, he said that the new government's aim was to ensure plurality in the media. Mr. Venizelos said the government would provide the press with direct, precise and complete briefings, and presented director of the PASOK party press office Nikos Athanasakis, who is soon to be appointed new Press and Information secretary general. He added that a meeting with the board of the Athens Daily Newspapers' Union (ESHEA) was being organised. Mr. Venizelos said the government's position in the sector of information would be elaborated during a policy statements discussion in parliament. Outgoing caretaker press under-secretary George Kontogeorgis expressed certainty that the new political leadership of the ministry "will carry out its duty in the best possible way". Athens, 14/10/1993 (ANA): The government has lodged a demarche with the People's Republic of China over its recognition of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) as the "Republic of Macedonia". "The Greek government expresses its strong dissatisfaction at the recognition of Skopje under the name 'Republic of Macedonia' by the People's Republic of China, particularly at this moment", under-secretary to the Prime Minister's Office and government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said yesterday. He said the government has already lodged a strong demarche with Beijing, adding that Beijing's ambassador to Athens has been summoned to the foreign ministry for a meeting at 2:10 today. According to a statement released by the FYROM foreign ministry, China officially recognised the republic under the name, "Republic of Macedonia" after a meeting at UN headquarters in New York Monday, when FYROM pledged to recognise Taiwan as part of China. The two countries signed a memorandum on mutual recognition and the establishment of diplomatic relations, the announcement said. Athens, 14/10/1993 (ANA): Government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said yesterday that the French government's stance on the socialist victory in Sunday's elections had been most adequately expressed in a congratulatory message from Prime Minister Edouard Balladur. Mr. Venizelos was responding to reporters' questions on French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe's comment on the PASOK win. Mr. Juppe said that "people have short memories".