From: tzarros@ccs.carleton.ca (Theodore Zarros) Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Mon, 14 Nov 1994 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa). Athens News Agency Bulletin, November 14, 1994 ---------------------------------------------- * Gov't denies reports of Greek assurances to US on extension of sea limit * US cruiser in Aegean 'too much fuss about nothing' * Opposition reactions * Premier announces Gov't reshuffle, but no change in policy * Next Euro TV, cinema forum slated for Crete * Papathemelis keeps details of Russian terrorism info exchange close to chest * Papathemelis carrying Russian ideas on mediation, peace efforts * Rallis calls for urgent redefinition of foreign policy * Lianis, Greek businessmen in South Africa Gov't denies reports of Greek assurances to US on extension of sea limit ----------------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 14/11/1994 (ANA): Greece yesterday denied reports it had assured the United States it would not extend its territorial waters in the Aegean. "Greece has not assured the United States that it will not extend its territorial waters either now or in the future," Defence Minister Gerasimos Arsenis said. Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias said that Greece has not entered into any commitment concerning the extension or not of its territorial waters. "Extension of the country's territorial waters is a sovereign right. The government's position on the issue is firm and consistent," Mr. Arsenis added. Both ministers were addressing the press before leaving for the Hague to attend a meeting of the Western European Union (WEU). "The Greek government, and the prime minister in particular, does not conduct secret diplomacy. What we say in public is also said through diplomatic channels," Mr. Arsenis said. Turkish press reports said Saturday US President Bill Clinton had stated in letters to the Turkish Premier Tansu Ciller and Greek Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou that he did not think Greece would extend its waters in the island-dotted Aegean "either now or in the future". Greece and Turkey have argued for years over boundaries and rights of passage in the Aegean where Greek islands lie close to the Turkish coast. In recent months the two states have indulged in a war of words in light of an international convention on sea rights that will allow Greece to extend its territorial waters from six to 12 nautical miles. Turkey is not a signatory of the convention that goes into force on Wednesday and has said any extension from the existing six-mile limit would be a cause of war between Greece and Turkey, both NATO member countries. Mr. Arsenis ruled out talks with his Turkish counterpart on the sidelines of the WEU meeting beginning today. Mr. Papoulias, however, will meet his Turkish counterpart Mumtaz Soysal on the sidelines of the meeting. Government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos told reporters at an urgent news conference in Thessaloniki, "determination of the extent of territorial waters is a sovereign right for every state and exercising it is at the discretion of the government of the day. In this context, every country shapes its practice. Greek practice is clear and steadfast." Asked by the Athens News Agency (ANA) to comment on a statement by the Turkish foreign minister on "mischievous children" in the Aegean and that Turkey will not do anything unless Greece does, Mr. Venizelos said: "Mr. Soysal has a special tone and has admitted in the past that he is prone to creating artificial tension. Greek policy is shaped calmly and with a long-term perspective and Greece does not act with knee-jerk reactions and neither can it fall victim to Turkey exporting its domestic political problems." Mr. Soysal, on arriving in the Netherlands last night, said that there was no reason to worry about an extension of Greek territorial waters at the present time, but added that "any extension could lead to a conflict". Saturday, Mr. Venizelos said that "as far as the sanctioning and ratification of the convention on sea law is concerned, Greece fully abides by the options and rhythms of the European Union and its member-states." "On November 16, the day the convention will take effect, nothing will happen because this date is not crucial and in no way changes the aspects of the problem," he added. Mr. Venizelos reiterated that this international convention codifies long-standing international law within which Greece has moved and continues to move. "In this context, determination of territorial waters is a sovereign right of every country and the responsibility of exercising it belongs to the government of the day," he said. Mr. Venizelos said continuing talk on the issue is "unjustified", recalling a confession by Mr. Soysal to the ANA that statements by Turks, whether officials or not, are made to create minor artificial tension. "Greece cannot fall victim to artificial tensions or shape its policy in the framework of such minor artificial tension. Greece does not use provocative expressions, it does not use high words and unfortunately there are Turkish circles who are prone to creating tension and using words which sound very harsh," he added. Replying to questioners on whether the situation has to do with Turkish domestic problems, Mr. Venizelos said Greece does not interfere in the domestic affairs of any country, adding that "once again I would appreciate if Turkey's domestic political problems were not exported to other countries and primarily to Greece, and Greece has no reason to fall victim to this export of Turkey's domestic political problems." Asked by the ANA whether Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou will reply in this spirit to a recent letter by US President Bill Clinton, Mr. Venizelos said Mr. Clinton's missive was a friendly letter manifesting the interest of the US in stability and security in the region with special emphasis on Greco-Turkish relations. "The Greek government does not conduct secret diplomacy. What it has to say is said in public and is primarily said in its diplomatic contacts, and of course there will be an equally friendly reply by the prime minister to President Clinton," he added. US cruiser in Aegean 'too much fuss about nothing' -------------------------------------------------- Athens, 14/11/1994 (ANA): Government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos further said that the presence of the US cruiser Cape Saint George in the Aegean was not linked to any special issue. The Pentagon says it has sent the Cape Saint George, an Aegis-class guided-missile cruiser, to the Aegean but denies the ship is to act as a buffer between Greek and Turkish forces. Turkey is to begin six days of naval manoeuvres, dubbed Operation Sea Wolf, in the northern Aegean today while a Greek exercise code-named Niriis to the south is already under way. Asked about the presence of the USS Cape Saint George in the Aegean, Mr. Arsenis said: "Too much fuss is being made about nothing." In another statement on Saturday, Mr. Venizelos said the ship had nothing to do with the Greek naval exercise in which US, British, French, Italian and Spanish ships are participating, adding that the US warship merely requested permission to dock in Crete. Now, he said, it is sailing in international waters in the Aegean in absolute compliance with international rules and has also requested permission to dock in Corfu at the end of the month. In further statements in the Netherlands last night, the Turkish foreign minister said that Turkey would be "restrained" during the naval exercise and would not act in a way that could be construed as a cause for conflict between Turkey and Greece. Opposition reactions -------------------- Athens, 14/11/1994 (ANA): The New Democracy party issued a statement Saturday calling on the government to "immediately deny Turkish newspaper reports which present it as having allegedly committed itself to not extending our territorial waters, now or in the future". The statement adds that "Greece's permanent position is that it is our inalienable right to make use (of relevant law of the sea provisions), whenever we consider it appropriate, without any commitment regarding time or of any other form". The Political Spring party Saturday called on the government to clarify whether it was aware of the existence of a letter by President Clinton on the issue of the 12 miles, "of its exact content, and the manner in which it intends to react". Commenting on the presence of the US cruiser in the Aegean, Political Spring party director general Manolis Kalamidas stated that "if it is connected to the issue of the 12 miles, then, obviously, our sovereign rights are under surveillance, and this is unacceptable". The Communist Party of Greece, in a statement, accused the government of accepting, without pretext, US mediation it called "dangerous for the security of the region" in its relations with Turkey. It added that the US is exploiting the artificial tension on the 12 mile issue in order to strengthen its role of arbitrator and policeman in the region. Coalition of the Left and Progress leader Nikos Constantopoulos yesterday called on the government to provide explanations to the Greek people on the presence of the American warship, and how and under what procedure and pretext it happened. "We cannot exercise our foreign policy under conditions of splendid isolation, in a hostile climate vis-a-vis the European Union, and under the illusions of mediation, intervention or guardianship by the US," he said. Premier announces Gov't reshuffle, but no change in policy ---------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 14/11/1994 (ANA): Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou said yesterday that a forthcoming government reshuffle was not an indication of a change in policy nor in any way connected to the election of a new president. "The forthcoming reshuffle will neither signal a change in policy, nor is it connected to the presidential election," the prime minister said in an interview in yesterday's edition of 'To Vima'. The prime minister gave a clear outline of government policy next year. Referring to the issue of the partial privatisation of the Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation (OTE), he said "the flotation will become reality within 1995 on the most advantageous terms to the state". The government last week temporarily shelved plans to float 25 per cent of OTE shares on the Greek and foreign stock markets because, National Economy Minister Yiannos Papantoniou said, prospects of getting a favourable price at the present time were not good. Concerning economic policy in general, Mr. Papandreou said the government would not budge from the policy based on stabilisation, growth, and social justice which it announced for the whole of its four-year term. He added that the government will fully implement the Convergence Programme, while on incomes policy, he stated that it will protect working peoples' real incomes and not impose any new taxes. Next Euro TV, cinema forum slated for Crete ------------------------------------------ Liege, Belgium 14/11/1994 (ANA): The 7th European TV and Cinema Forum will take place in Elounda, Crete, following a unanimous decision taken at the 6th Forum in Liege by about 350 representatives from all European countries. The 6th Forum ended Saturday on the issue of "Moving towards the digital revolution." The proposal for the next forum to take place in Elounda was made by Hellenic Radio and TV (ERT) S.A. President Evangelos Yiannakopoulos. Closing the forum, Community Commissioner Joao de Deus Pinheiro said his proposals to the European Commission will concern the amendment on the TV directive on issues regarding protection for minors and European production, but will not overturn its general framework. Seven working groups were created at the forum which examined the problems and prospects of various issues such as legislation, film production, consumer goods, new technology, the variety of languages and the content of TV programmes. Apart from ERT's president, Greece was represented at the forum by Public Relations official Evi Demiri, Institute of Audio-visual Means (IAM) President Olga Kleiamaki and Athens News Agency (ANA) General Director and IAM member Andreas Christodoulides. Papathemelis keeps details of Russian terrorism info exchange close to chest ----------------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 14/11/1994 (ANA): Public Order Minister Stelios Papathemelis said yesterday his trip to Russia had been "very successful" but refused to disclose details of the agreement to exchange information on fighting terrorism and organised crime. "The less we talk about terrorism, the greater the benefit in the fight against it. I happen to know much more than you are asking me about, but I cannot tell you," he said. Mr. Papathemelis was speaking in Thessaloniki, on his return from Moscow yesterday. He said, however, that the agreement would be signed in the spring when the Russian Internal Affairs Minister visits Athens. "We agreed with the Russian counter-intelligence services to exchange liaisons... We have a great many common issues, such as the Russian mafia, organised crime, on which we have arrived at a final agreement text which will be signed early in the spring during the visit to Athens of the Russian Minister of Internal Affairs," said Mr. Papathemelis. He described reports alleging the purchase of Russian helicopters in exchange for Russian information on terrorism as "figments of the imagination". "Terrorism is a very serious issue," he said. "We want to do everything in the fight against it, and my trip to Moscow was largely concerned with it. We reached understandings which we believe will be very useful". He added that it was agreed that the two countries' services would exchange information. Papathemelis carrying Russian ideas on mediation, peace efforts --------------------------------------------------------------- Moscow, 14/11/1994 (ANA/D. Konstantakopoulos): Reliable sources have told the ANA, meanwhile, that Mr. Papathemelis has brought a package of Russian proposals to Greece regarding Moscow's mediation between Athens and Skopje and for a joint Greek-Russian initiative on the Bosnian crisis. The proposals, the sources said, were put forward by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Oleg Saskavets at a high-level meeting with Mr. Papathemelis on his recent visit here. According to the sources, the two agreed on the existence of a Turkish threat not only in the Aegean and Cyprus but to the former Soviet Union. Rallis calls for urgent redefinition of foreign policy ------------------------------------------------------ Athens, 14/11/1994 (ANA): Former New Democracy prime minister Georgios Rallis, in a written statement released Saturday and published in yesterday's edition of 'To Vima', has called for a redefinition of Greek foreign policy and for the prime minister to chair an urgent meeting of political leaders. "Our diplomatic effort, conducted on many fronts, and, (thus) fragmented, not only has not produced any diplomatic results, but has also had clearly negative consequences, the most important of which is Greece's international isolation," Mr. Rallis said . He proposed the holding of an urgent meeting of political leaders, chaired by the prime minister rather than the president of the republic, and which should, "due to the critical nature of the issues to be discussed, would be more effective if it were kept strictly confidential". Commenting on Mr. Rallis' proposal, government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said yesterday that "the government respects the institution of the President of the Republic, his person, and his political role in the framework of the Constitution and constitutional practice... Mr. Rallis is a former prime minister and is entitled to express his views on any subject he desires, and they are respected". He added that foreign policy, as formulated and pursued by the government, is always in the framework of what has been agreed between party leaders in their meetings, chaired by the president. The New Democracy party did not immediately reply to the Rallis proposal, but the Political Spring party, in a statement Saturday, rejected it, describing it as expedient. Coalition of the Left and Progress president Nikos Constantopoulos, on his return from Bulgaria, said he agreed with Mr. Rallis proposal to redefine foreign policy but refrained from commenting on his proposal for an urgent meeting. He said that a fresh look at foreign policy is the Coalition's position, adding that "today, more than ever before there must be a redefinition of foreign policy, a change in economic policy and brave changes in the functioning of our political system." Mr. Rallis was prime minister 1980 - 1981, when then-prime minister Constantine Karamanlis was elected president of the republic. Lianis, Greek businessmen in South Africa ----------------------------------------- Pretoria, South Africa 14/11/1994 (ANA): Sports Under-Secretary George Lianis, accompanied by Greek businessmen, will be in Johannesburg today, at the invitation of the Greek Chamber of Commerce and Industry in South Africa. Mr. Lianis will meet South African President Nelson Mandela and other South African leaders at the annual event organised by the Greek Chamber of Commerce and Industry to select and offer an award to the Greek businessman of the year. He will also visit Greek communities and sports clubs in the country. Mr. Lianis and Greek sponsors have also been at the forefront of efforts to bring renowned Greek singer George Dalaras to the country for a concert in Johannesburg on Wednesday night before an estimated crowd of 4,000 people.