From: tzarros@ccs.carleton.ca (Theodore Zarros) Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Mon, 10 Oct 1994 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa). Athens News Agency Bulletin, October 10, 1994 --------------------------------------------- * Premier calls for consensus, co-operation for reforms in local administration * Greek aircraft take part in Cyprus military exercise * Venizelos: Evert statements on inflation 'irresponsible alarmism' * Tirana persists in tense relations with Athens, refuses to recognise Greek defence attachi * FM to open Middle East, Mediterranean conference * JAT Belgrade-Athens flights resume * Military exercise ends Premier calls for consensus, co-operation for reforms in local administration ------------------------------------------------------------ Athens, 10/10/1994 (ANA): A week before prefectural and municipal elections, Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou called upon the political forces of the Left for "consensus and co-operation between progressive and democratic forces" in administrative reforms. The elections next week will be the first time that prefects and prefectural councils will be directly elected; previously prefects were appointed by the government. "I consider that it is time for a consensus and co-operation between the progressive and democratic forces in the planning, realisation and control of necessary but decisive and carefully planned steps," to pursue reforms in local administration, Mr. Papandreou said in an exclusive statement to the Sunday edition of the weekly 'Eleftherotypia'. "We are on the threshold of a new age," the prime minister said. Reviewing his party's mandate during the 80's, he said the administrative reforms of that era "had not been concluded." Mr. Papandreou said that changes in the administrative structures of the Greek state and society would not be either easy to make or proceed unresisted. "We have the political will," he said, "but I don't have the illusion that such great changes could ever be the result of the efforts of merely one government, or one party." "Such changes (in order to be realised) must be supported by a wider consensus," Mr. Papandreou said. The prime minister defended "the modernisation process" saying it "secures national coherence and modern development..." "I believe this is a worthwhile effort," Mr. Papandreou said. In a first reaction last night, Coalition of the Left and Progress party leader Nikos Constantopoulos said: "The Coalition's position is clear. We will employ the strategy of self-autonomy to face the great pressures of political realities." Greek aircraft take part in Cyprus military exercise ---------------------------------------------------- Nicosia, 10/10/1994 (ANA-F.Constantinidis): Six Greek aircraft participated for the first time yesterday in the annual Cyprus military exercise "Nikiforos", in the framework of the common defence policy pursued by Greece and Cyprus. Two missile-equipped F-16 aircraft and four bombers flew yesterday morning from the Akrotiri Base in Crete to the Larnaca district in Cyprus. During their flight to Cyprus, they were harassed by Turkish aircraft in international air space monitored by Nicosia (Nicosia FIR). After taking part in the exercise for one hour, the Greek aircraft flew back to their base in Crete. Expressing satisfaction at the participation of Greek aircraft in the exercise, Cyprus' acting president Alexis Galanos said the common defence policy between Greece and Cyprus was becoming a reality. The plan for a common defence policy between Cyprus and Greece was agreed in talks between Greek Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou and Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides last November. It was followed by a detailed plan, drafted and discussed by the defence ministries of both countries, aimed at incorporating the island republic into Greece's defence planning. Venizelos: Evert statements on inflation 'irresponsible alarmism' ----------------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 10/10/1994 (ANA): Government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos Saturday accused main opposition New Democracy party leader Miltiades Evert of "irresponsible alarmist talk" over statements he made on inflation figures released Friday showing the annual rate running at 11.9 per cent. "It is regrettable that Mr. Evert and his economic advisers cannot realise and lack the courage to admit something simple: that traditionally every September, with the start of the new season, we always have a small increase in inflation," Mr. Venizelos said. Mr. Evert criticised the government's economic policy Saturday, saying it had increased inflation to the level of 12 per cent and borrowed over one trillion dr. every month to cover public needs, despite, he said, "the (government's) policy of austerity, a decrease in demand and production, an increase in unemployment and the bankruptcy of thousands of small and medium-sized enterprises." The National Statistics Service said annual inflation at end September was 11.9 per cent, up from 11.1 per cent in the previous month but down from 12.8 per cent the previous September. "... This year, there is something that unfortunately burdens the (previous) ND government," Mr. Venizelos continued. "The small increase in inflation is due almost entirely to an increase in the fees of private schools, an increase which covers two years because last year, due to the pre-election period, the ND government took the initiative to avoid the issue." Mr. Venizelos said he was optimistic over the implementation of the 1994 budget as well as the preparation of the budget for the new year, saying the government's counter-inflationary policy "is steadfast, is bearing fruit and - what is most crucial - the evidence to date on the implementation of this year's budget is particularly satisfactory." Meanwhile, Political Spring party leader Antonis Samaras made the following statement on Saturday: "The country urgently needs economic reform with development as its primary force. The incompetent managers of austerity cannot provide this new era. For this reason the fever of inflation in the economy will increase instead of decreasing," Mr. Samaras said. "Continuous austerity and revenue-making measures have not decreased deficits and not even inflation. They are deepening recession and dramatically worsening the living standards of low wage earners and pensioners," he added. "What is necessary is a new development economic policy giving priority to strengthening the competitiveness of local production of farm, handicrafts and industrial products which will lead to a speedy recovery of the economy as Political Spring's development programme anticipates," he concluded. Tirana persists in tense relations with Athens, refuses to recognise Greek defence attachi ----------------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 10/10/1994 (ANA): Tirana refused Saturday to renew the accreditation of a Greek embassy defence attachi to Albania. "It is impossible for a country striving for closer relations with NATO, in the framework of the co-operation for peace agreement, to refuse accreditation to a defence attachi of a NATO member state," National Defence Under-Secretary Nikos Kouris said Saturday. Speaking to reporters during a visit to the International Weapons Systems Exhibition, "Defendory' 94," held in Piraeus, Mr. Kouris said the competent ministries would consider the provocation and take a decision. Meanwhile, government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos told reporters Saturday that Greece was anticipating reaction by the international community on an appeals court upholding the convictions of the five ethnic Greeks last Thursday. He said key players on the international scene have already expressed their concern for the issue of respect of human rights in Albania. The five, members of the ethnic Greek political organisation Omonia, had their sentences reduced at the end of their appeal hearing for reasons of clemency. They had been tried by a lower court in August on charges of spying for Greece and illegal arms possession, causing Greek-Albanian relations to plunge to an all-time low. In a recent trial by a Tirana lower court, a sixth ethnic Greek, also a member of Omonia, was convicted and imprisoned on charges of illegal possession of arms. Athens denounced the trials, calling them a "parody" of justice, and called on the international community to pressure Albania to release the ethnic Greeks. It also called on Albania to take the opportunity presented by the appeal to release the five and thus create a new atmosphere for Greek-Albanian relations. Athens, who has retaliated by blocking European Union financial assistance to Tirana, pledged to lift its veto and enter talks with the neighbouring state to de-escalate heightened tension if the appeals court freed the five. "Unfortunately, it is obvious that the Albanian leadership persists in this strategy of tension and missed the opportunity of the appeals trial," Mr. Venizelos said. "Anticipating a reaction (by the international community) is logical," he said, adding that Greece "will pursue (a reaction) through all available diplomatic means." "There is still time for the Albanian leadership to alter its stance (in regard to the five) and there is still place for improvement in Greek-Albanian relations," Mr. Venizelos said. Stressing that Albania can become Greece's privileged partner and has already enjoyed many benefits from Greece, Mr. Venizelos said: "The responsibility (for the course of Greek-Albanian relations) fully lies with the Albanian side." FM to open Middle East, Mediterranean conference ---------------------------------------- Athens, 10/10/1994 (ANA): Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias will inaugurate a conference on "the Middle East and the Mediterranean: Economic, business and political developments", sponsored by the Hellenic American Chamber of Commerce and the International Herald Tribune newspaper today. JAT Belgrade-Athens flights resume ---------------------------------- Belgrade, 10/10/1994 (ANA-M.Mouratidis): JAT, the Yugoslav national carrier, officially inaugurated the resumption of its Belgrade-Athens-Belgrade route in a symbolic manner on Saturday morning. The resumption of flights by JAT follows a UN Security Council decision to ease certain sanctions on rump Yugoslavia. The 138 passengers to Athens included under-secretaries to the Yugoslav and Serbian governments, JAT officials, businessmen, travel agents, journalists and Greek diplomats. The proceeds from the flight will be donated to a paediatric clinic in Belgrade. JAT General Director Zika Petrovic told the ANA Saturday's flight to Athens confirmed the Serbian people's friendly feelings for Greece, the Greek people and particularly Olympic Airways staff who provided solidarity for JAT staff during the 28 months sanctions were in force. JAT will schedule two weekly flights to Athens on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Military exercise ends ---------------------- Athens, 10/10/1994 (ANA): A national exercise code-named "Toxotis (Archer) - 3/94", which began October 5, ended at noon yesterday. The exercise included co-operation between naval and air forces and was held in international waters between Crete and Cyprus. Combat aircraft and the frigate "Adrias" co-operated with forces of the Cypriot National Guard as part of defence co-operation between Greece and Cyprus "Adrias" was due to visit the Cypriot port of Larnaca last night.