From: tzarros@ccs.carleton.ca (Theodore Zarros) Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Mon, 26 Sep 1994 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa). Athens News Bulletin, 26/09/1994 -------------------------------- * ND MP confirms letter proposing presidency to PM,claims withdrawn * Achelloos: Laliotis denies court ruling stops project * French-German initiative:an opportunity for Greece to reaffirm stand * America Orthodox primate convinced Omonia five to be freed * Greece to host 2,004 Olympics, "only if asked" * FIVB unanimously re-elects president * Europe funds AIDS awareness drive ND MP confirms letter proposing presidency to PM,claims withdrawn ----------------------------------------------------------------- Athens 26/9/1994 (ANA) A report in yesterday's newspaper 'To Vima' that New Democracy party deputy Giorgos Karatzaferis had written Premier Andreas Papandreou, expessing his, and other main opposition deputies' intention to support the premier's possible candidacy for the presidency of the Republic, has caused a storm of reac- tions. Mr Karatzaferis himself confirmed sending the letter and its contents, adding that his proposal had become inoperative after the decision by the parliamentary committee investigating the AGET Iraklis cement company scandal to have former prime min- ister Constantine Mitsotakis tried on charges of corruption and other crimes. His proposal, he said, had been made right after the Eu- roelections last June, and envisaged the formation of an all- party government, with a simultaneous move by the prime minister to the presidency. He denied ever meeting Mr. Papandreou or his wife in con- nection with the matter. The report claimed Mr Karatzaferis had expressed the view that the move would help the country overcome its problems, and that New Democracy party leader Miltiades Evert had been informed of the letter. In a written statement, Mr Evert attributed publication of the report to efforts to disorient public opinion and pave the way for Mr Papandreou's accession to the presidency. He reiterat- ed that his party would not support the premier's candidacy for any position. Government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos, dismissed the reports , saying they were repeated ever so often and contained nothing new. Political Spring (Pol.An) party spokesman Akis Geronto- poulos stated that the disclosure confirmed party leader Antonis Samaras' charges of secret arrangements between government and opposition, and asked the government spokesman to clarify whether or no t the Karatzaferis letter and its content were publicly known. Former ND Foreign Minister Michalis Papaconstantinou, who announced Friday his intention to become independent, if the par- ty disciplinary committee met today to examine whether or not he had deviated from the official party line by recent statements on foreign policy, told a newspaper that it was "too early to say anything" regarding his stand on the issue of the election of a new president. "We'll see how things will have developed by then (Spring 1995). Don't think that the parties have decided on what to do, regardless of what is being said..". Achelloos: Laliotis denies court ruling stops project ----------------------------------------------------- Athens 26/9/1994 (ANA) Environment, Town Planning and Public Works Minister Cos- tas Laliotis reaffirmed Saturday that a Council of State decision on Friday declaring a ministerial decision taken in 1992 and ap- proving environmental conditions did not affect Achelloos River deviat ion works. Mr. Laliotis said the Council of State decision concerned works as they had been planned and promoted by the then New Democracy government. "Our planning is different. Its main aim is the irriga- tion of the plain of Thessaly, but includes two new elements: the rational management of water resources in the plain of Thessaly and the supplementary transfer of water from Achelloos," Mr. Laliotis said. Mr. Laliotis said the project is being replanned from the start, adding that a moderate transfer of water from Achelloos will take place which will take into consideration en- vironmental problems in Thessaly and Aetoloakarnania. He said deviation is necessary because the plain of Thes- saly is in danger of becoming like the Sahara desert. French-German initiative:an opportunity for Greece to reaffirm stand -------------------------------------------------------------------- Athens 26/9/1994 (ANA) Greece said Saturday a proposed Franco-German initiative would allow Athens to reiterate its stand on its disputes with Albania, Turkey and the former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia (FYROM). "Such an initiative will allow us to once again explain our stand and stress the need for the European Union to persist on respect of human rights in conducting relations with third countries," government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said. A Franco-German initiative announced this week, carries a proposal calling on Greece to join in an EU troika to review Athens' disputes with Ankara, Tirana and Skopje. Mr. Venizelos said the key to resolving those disputes was ackowledging regio nal sensitivities. "The EU should appreciate that... Greece is a member state bordering with the former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia, Albania and Turkey; therefore, it views its problems in a dif- ferent manner than either Denmark, the Netherlands, or Germany do," Mr. Ven izelos said. "Since the EU has accepted Greece, a Mediterranean and Balkan country, as a member state ... it should also take into consideration the sensitivities of that region," he added. Mr. Venizelos reiterated that Greece's positions on the issue of FYROM were steadfast, but declined comment on statements by Education Minister George Papandreou and Athens mayorship can- didate Theodoros Pangalos that direct dialogue with FYROM should be held. However, criticising them roundly, he said the government's set positions had been detailed by the Prime Minis- ter, the Foreign Minister and the government spokesman. Pressured by reporters yesterday to comment on reports of a package solution for all national issues, Mr. Venizelos said: "National issues are not a 'package' to be handled in such manner. Every issue has its own history, its own explanation and its own importance. We are obliged to elaborate a national strategy, and have certain fundamental positions which gain broad acce ptance from public opinion," Mr.Venizelos noted. America Orthodox primate convinced Omonia five to be freed ---------------------------------------------------------- NEW YORK 26/9/1994 (ANA/ M. Georgiadou) Orthodox Archbishop of North and South America Iacovos Friday said he was convinced the five members of the ethnic Greek minority organisation Omonia would soon be released. They were recently convicted and handed down jail sen- tences by an Albanian court on charges of espionage and illegal possession of arms. Speaking to the press after hosting Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias to dinner, the Archbishop noted he had no specific information on the matter, but believed Albanian author- ities waited for an appropriate moment to free the convicted men, to claim it was a spontaneous initiative towards peace. He added he had received a three-page letter from the U.S. government, with an analysis of its position on the Albanian issue, and another on Cyprus. "The main statement by President Clinton was that America is following closely both issues, and will not fail to do its duty. This was the general sense of the messages I received," he said. With regard to Cyprus, Archbishop Iacovos said he be- lieved a solution was not long coming, while on the FYROM issue, he urged Greece to remain steadfast in its stand, without resort- ing to compromise or concessions. Greece to host 2,004 Olympics, "only if asked" --------------------------------------------- Athens 26/9/1994 (ANA) Greece has agreed to host the 2004 Olympic Games if asked by the International Olympics Committee and its president Juan Antonio Samaranch, Sports Undersecretary George Lianis said Sa- turday. "We are trying to win the 2004 Olympiad without being a candidate, ... hoping that the guilt of the IOC and Mr. Samaranch will lead them to make amends by asking Greece to host the Olym- piad," Mr. Lianis said. Greece was bitterly dissapointed in 1990 when Athens lost toAtlanta playing host the 1996 Golden Olympics. The first contemporary Olympics were held in Athens in 1896. FIVB unanimously re-elects president ------------------------------------ Athens 26/9/1994 (ANA) The 24th International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) Congress unanimously reelected Dr. Ruben Acosta of Mexico as president, a FIVB announcement said yesterday. It said the centennial congress, that closed Saturday in Athens, also elected a new 10-member executive committee. Representatives said the FIVB would hold its next congress in July 1996 in Atlanta, prior to the opening of the Olympic Games. Europe funds AIDS awareness drive --------------------------------- Athens 26/9/1994 (ANA) AIDS activists propped a 30-metre long condom in central Athens Saturday, as part of a European-funded awareness campaign on the deadly virus. Campaigners distributed AIDS awareness leaflets and con- doms to thousands of people attracted by the display at the Panathinaikon Stadium. The event was sponsored the European Union's "Europe Against AIDS" programme and the Greek Health Ministry.