From: zarros@turing.scs.carleton.ca (Theodoros Sp. Zarros) Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Fri, 22 Oct 1993 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa). Athens News Agency Bulletin, October 22, 1993 Athens, 22/10/1993 (ANA): The new 300-member parliament that emerged from the October 10 general elections was sworn in yesterday. In the single-chamber House, the ruling Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) of Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou controls 170 seats against 111 by the conservative opposition New Democracy party, 10 by the Political Spring party led by Antonis Samaras, and 9 by the Communist Party of Greece (KKE). The opening of parliament was brought forward a few days to enable Mr. Papandreou to attend the October 29 European Council (EC summit) in Brussels. After the swearing-in ceremony, parliament adjourned until today in order to elect a president and five deputy speakers from all parties. Mr. Papandreou will present his new government's policy statement to parliament on Saturday, which will be followed by a three-day debate culminating in a vote of confidence at midnight Monday. Addressing the first meeting of PASOK's parliamentary group, Mr. Papandreou said that "with the (election) result of October 10, we have all together undertaken a heavy responsibility and we do not have the right to belie the expectations of the Greek people". Mr. Papandreou said that "all the conditions exist for a four-year period of political stability. The fruitful functioning and upgrading of parliament depends on us". The Prime Minister reiterated that PASOK would propose Apostolos Kaklamanis, whom he described as a "distinguished and experienced parliamentarian", for House Speaker. PASOK's parliamentary group, he said, would operate "collectively" and expressed his conviction that all the members of the group would prove to be worthy of the trust of the Greek people. Mr. Papandreou said that national issues and the economy would be among the government's top priorities. Nicosia, 22/10/1993 (ANA - G. Leonidas): President Glafcos Clerides will arrive in Athens on November 2 to discuss the issue of drafting a 'pan-national' policy with Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou, Democratic Rally (DISY) party leader Yiannakis Matsis announced yesterday during a briefing of the party's senior officials. Mr. Clerides will remain in Athens until November 5. Brussels, 22/10/1993 (ANA - C. Verros): The European Commission yesterday decided on a final allocation of 19.2 billion ECU under the Delors II package for Greece for the period 1993-1999. Part of the fund, 16.8 billion ECU, will cover the period 1994-1999. Commissioner Ioannis Paleokrassas voted against the decision since, he said as the Community's poorest partner, Greece should have received a larger portion of the Delors II package. Alternate Foreign Minister Theodore Pangalos said the Commission decision confirmed the soundness of criticism voiced by PASOK on the size of funds for 1994 to 1999. The previous New Democracy government's acceptance of the 19-20 billion ECU framework in essence meant agreeing to 19 billion ECU serving as a minimum, he said. In spite of the above, and the fact that the matter was no longer under the Council of Ministers' jurisdiction, the new government has succeeded in Greece's being allotted an additional 200 million ECU, he said. The sun includes funds granted under the Cohesion Fund. Eight per cent covers "Community Initiative" projects and programmes. The total grant slated for the Cohesion Fund was 61.5 bil. ECU - other recipient countries are Spain, Portugal and Ireland. The Commission decision says the grant is subject to revision in 1996, depending on the rate at which each country will have absorbed funds assigned to it. At present, Greece's rate of absorption of the Community Support Plan under the Delors I Package, has reached 92 per cent, and is expected to reach 100 per cent by the end of the year. Athens, 22/10/1993 (ANA): Former education minister George Souflias yesterday withdrew his candidacy for leadership of the New Democracy party, saying that procedures for the election of a new leader made it impossible for him to stand. Former premier and ND leader Constantine Mitsotakis announced his resignation after the party's defeat in the October 10 elections. In a lengthy statement, Mr. Souflias recalled that he had announced his candidacy after receiving encouragement from a large number of deputies. However, procedures, he said, altering the spirit of electing a party leader and placing an atmosphere of prearranged agreements and arrangements on the body of electors, made it impossible for him to take part. Earlier, the ND Executive Committee met under the chairmanship of Mr. Mitsotakis, and endorsed all procedures adopted for electing a new leader of the party. The Committee agreed that a new leader be chosen by a body of 185 electors on November 3. The meeting also agreed that former deputy premier Athanasios Kanellopoulos would be the party's parliamentary representative. ND Director General Costas Pylarinos said Mr. Mitsotakis would be asked to accept becoming honorary president of the party. Athens, 22/10/1993 (ANA): Greece yesterday lodges protests with Belgium over Brussels' recognition of Skopje under the name "Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" (FYROM). Government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos expressed the government's regret at Belgium's decision which was taken "during the period between the elections and the vote of confidence". The Greek government, Mr. Venizelos said, "wants to believe that Belgium and other EC countries will respect the principle of Community solidarity and seriously consider the government's statement that it will not recognise a state on its northern border with the name 'Macedonia' or any derivative of that name". Mr. Venizelos said that the Belgian initiative, as well as similar moves by other EC countries, was a consequence of the "submissiveness and delaying tactics" of the previous government "which treated the Skopje issue as if it were a bone of contention within the (New Democracy) party rather than a major issue of national policy". He said that the aim of the previous government had been "to shift the weight of the problem to the shoulders of the next government", adding that PASOK would gladly inherit the problem in order to formulate the necessary national strategy. According to reports, Belgium told Skopje that it would soon open a consulate in the former Yugoslav republic. Athens, 22/10/1993 (ANA): The government said yesterday that the issue of the five Albanians found dead near the Greek-Albanian border had been "settled" but that a statement would be issued "if necessary". Police said yesterday that the bodies of five Albanians, believed to be illegal immigrants, had been found a few metres inside the Albanian border. They are thought to have been killed in a clash with other Albanians. "I have the impression that the sad incident involving the discovery of five dead Albanians on the border with the neighbouring country has been settled and a relevant report has been drawn up by the border authorities", government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said. The spokesman however did not rule out further investigations and said that "if necessary" a written statement would be issued. Meanwhile, Mr. Venizelos responded to statements by Albanian President Sali Berisha expressing hope for an improvement in Greek-Albanian relations by reiterating that respect for the human rights of the ethnic Greek minority in Albania was an international obligation of the Albanian government and a prerequisite for the smooth development of Greek-Albanian relations. New York, 22/10/1993 (ANA - M. Georgiadou): The Clinton administration is prepared to continue harmonious relations the US has traditionally maintained with Greece with the new Papandreou administration, senior presidential adviser George Stephanopoulos told reporters at an event organised by Greek-Americans in New York Wednesday to support the re-election of New York Mayor David Dinkins. Mr. Stephanopoulos said the US will continue the same policy on the Skopje issue, adding that at present there is no question of the state of Skopje being recognised. Mr. Stephanopoulos attended the Greek-American gathering as a representative of President Clinton who strongly supports Mr. Dinkin's re-election. Istanbul 22/10/1993 (ANA): Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos begins an official visit of the churches of Germany today. The Patriarch, accompanied by Metropolitans Athanasios and Meliton, will have talks with the heads of the Evangelical and the Roman Catholic Churches in Germany. He will be greeted on arrival by Metropolitan Avgustinos.