Subject: A.N.A. Bulletin 18/3/95 Topic: ana From: Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa ATHENS NEWS AGENCY BULLETIN, March 18, 1995 =========================================== Ellnviko Grafeio Tupou kai Plnroforiwv Ottawa, Canada E-Mail Address: grnewsca@sympatico.ca) CONTENTS ======== [1] Gov't to set up new national all-party committees on foreign affairs, education, public sector [2] Reactions [3] Papoulias, Milosevic discuss regional developments [4] Bosnian Serbs to visit Thessaloniki next week [5] Evert to meet van den Broek, Santer in Brussels [6] Papoulias sees a chance at direct talks with Skopje on differences [7] Iakovos in Istanbul for Holy Synod [8] Papathemelis meets with Syrian partner on police issues [9] Mangakis: French presidency receptive to Greek concerns over Turkish statements [10] Papoulias: Alleged Greek involvement in Turkish riots' unacceptable' [11] ND group at GSEE splits [12] PASOK internal differences appear to abate [13] Kassimis criticises ND ================================================================= [1] Gov't to set up new national all-party committees on foreign affairs, education, public sector ----------------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 18/3/95 (ANA): Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou yesterday announced the creation of three national committees to examine foreign affairs, educational issues and public administration. Mr. Papandreou said that all three committees would be made up of members of the political parties represented in Parliament as well as parties represented in the European Parliament. "It has been a long-standing demand of the opposition which had to become reality at some point," the premier said. Mr. Papandreou added that he would have talks with opposition party leaders during the next two weeks to discuss the issue. He clarified that the decisions of the committees would not be legally binding on the government. Speaking to reporters after his first official meeting with new President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos, Mr. Papandreou made special reference to the economy, saying that the government had notched up notable achievements particularly with regard to the macroeconomic outlook. Expressing optimism that inflation would soon fall to single-digit figures, Mr. Papandreou said that the anticipated upward course of the Greek economy would help the government exercise a better social policy. Mr. Papandreou also charged dissenters within his ruling PASOK party with "violating unwritten moral codes". "Respect for the opinions of all (party) members and the expression of disagreement is a rule within PASOK," he said, adding, however, that "a policy has been mapped out which must be supported by both (party) cadres and members. This policy must not be undermined". "If a problem has arisen at the present time," Mr. Papandreou said, "it is not because views were expressed and certain persons disagree with the policy being followed by PASOK. It is because there are certain unwritten rules of conduct and ethics which have been violated". Four high-profile dissenters within the party are to account for public statements at a meeting of the party's Ethics Committee Tuesday. The four are Theodoros Pangalos, Dimitris Tsovolas, Vasso Papandreou and Yiannis Papaspyrou. Turning to national issues, Mr. Papandreou described as "significant" the recent progress made in Greek-Albanian relations. He said that a dialogue had been opened with the neighbouring country against which Greece had never harboured any designs. "We are moving towards relations (appropriate to) good neighbours," Mr. Papandreou added. On the dispute between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Mr. Papandreou said that Skopje had until now been "uncompromising" and had accepted nothing. "Today, there is on the basis of press reports and not officially, a climate of concession," Mr. Papandreou said, attributing this development in part to the normalisation of Greece's relations with Albania "bearing in mind the large Albanian minority i n Skopje". The prime minister described as "an unlikely comedy" Turkish allegations that Greece was behind the recent intercommunal rioting in Istanbul. "What does Greece have in Istanbul and why would we do it," Mr. Papandreou asked, noting that "today, no type of political unrest in Turkey serves the interests of Greek policy". [2] Reactions ------------- Athens, 18/3/95 (ANA): main opposition leader Miltiades Evert said his party would participate in only two of the three national committees. "The New Democracy party will participate in the national committees for education and foreign affairs provided it first examines the conditions under which the committees will operate," Mr. Evert said. ND honorary president and former prime minister Constantine Mitsotakis lashed out at Mr. Papandreou, saying his decision was an "ingenious effort" to save his unstable government. Political Spring leader Antonis Samaras called on the prime minister to clarify the purpose, substance and operation of the proposed committees. The Communist Party of Greece said the premier's proposals were a "mockery". [3] Papoulias, Milosevic discuss regional developments ------------------------------------------------------ Belgrade, 18/3/95 (ANA - M. Mouratidis): Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias held talks yesterday in Belgrade with Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic on developments in the Yugoslav crisis. Upon his return to Athens yesterday, Mr. Papoulias said he was satisfied with his talks with Mr. Milosevic, saying "a substantial and important discussion has taken place on all issues concerning both countries." The meeting also discussed bilateral relations and the role Greece may undertake on a European Union level to promote peace efforts. "Prospects are good and Greece has a leading role (in the peace process)," he said. Mr. Papoulias said he would convey Mr. Milosevic's positions to the informal European Union foreign ministers' meeting this weekend in Carcassonne, France. Asked by reporters to comment on President Milosevic's plans regarding the Task Force, Mr. Papoulias said Mr. Milosevic was an experienced and able politician and his moves showed determination. "Nobody can dispute his very important role, which is accepted by both friends and enemies of Slobodan Milosevic," Mr. Papoulias said. "He is always open towards promotion of the Task Force plan," he added. In statements to reporters after his hour-long meeting with Mr. Milosevic in Belgrade, Mr. Papoulias said that the present period was "one in which many efforts are being made to find a solution to the great problem of former Yugoslavia". Mr. Papoulias also referred to the Greek initiative, together with other Balkan countries, to ask the UN Security Council to lift its sanctions against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Other issues discussed at his meeting with Mr. Milosevic, Mr. Papoulias added, were the issue of Thessaloniki port and the abolition of visa requirements between Yugoslavia and Greece. He clarified that he had discussed the issue of granting facilities to Serbia at Thessaloniki's port through the establishment of a "free zone" during recent talks in the northern Greek capital with his Yugoslav counterpart Vladislav Jovanovic. According to the Tanjug news agency, Mr. Papoulias and Mr. Milosevic exchanged views on peace and stability in the region and on continuation of the successful development of bilateral relations of Serbia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia with Greece. According to a presidential statement, cited by Tanjug, the two stressed the importance of continually promoting mutual relations and co-operation between the two countries -- which has in the field of economy recorded an unremitting rise -- as confirmation of the solid friendship, mutual understanding and closeness between the Serbian and Greek peoples. The statement said the two governments should work towards concluding interstate accords. Mr. Papoulias will leave for Carcassonne today to attend the informal EU foreign ministers meeting. On Monday he will be in Paris for a conference to conclude a stability pact on relations with central and eastern European countries, to be attended by EU foreign ministers. [4] Bosnian Serbs to visit Thessaloniki next week ------------------------------------------------- Athens, 18/3/95 (ANA): A Bosnian Serb delegation headed by Dusan Kozic and Metropolitan Nikolaos will pay a four-day visit to Thessaloniki next week. The visit is being made at the invitation of Kalamaria Mayor Thrasyvoulos Lazaridis who recently travelled to Bosnia at the head of a humanitarian aid mission. The delegation is due to arrive in the northern Greek capital on Friday, March 24 and attend events the following day marking Greece's liberation from Ottoman rule. [5] Evert to meet van den Broek, Santer in Brussels --------------------------------------------------- Athens, 18/3/95 (ANA): Main opposition leader Miltiades Evert will fly to Brussels on March 28 to attend a meeting of the European Peoples Party, a New Democracy announcement said yesterday. The announcement said Mr. Evert would meet with European Commissioner for External Relations Hans van den Broek and Commission President Jacques Santer during his visit. [6] Papoulias sees a chance at direct talks with Skopje on differences ---------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 18/3/95 (ANA): There is a visible prospect of Athens and Skopje sitting down together to examine ways of resolving the problems between them, Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias said yesterday. Mr. Papoulias, who left for Belgrade yesterday for talks with Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic on developments in the Yugoslav crisis, was replying to press questions prompted by UN Secretary-General Boutros-Boutros Ghali's statement that he had instructed special UN mediator on the Skopje issue Cyrus Vance to proceed with direct dialogue between the two sides. "The positions of our country are well known, and remain unaltered," Mr. Papoulias said. "The prospect of the two sides sitting at the table on a specified basis and examining ways of resolving the problem is visible. "Greece has made its positions known to all, and persists in those positions, which it has voiced also in the past." Asked whether the fact that such a dialogue was visible meant that the leadership of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) had shifted in its position, Mr. Papoulias replied: "I think that, reasonably, I accept that view." According to an ANA dispatch from New York, Mr. Boutros-Ghali told reporters on Thursday night that there was political will to find a solution to the problem between Athens and Skopje. "There is political will to reach settlement to the problem of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) with Greece," Mr. Boutros-Ghali told reporters after an informal meeting of the Security Council at which he briefed the permanent representatives of the member states on the outcome of his recent meetings with state leaders in Copenhagen on the sidelines of a UN summit. "At this time," Mr. Boutros-Ghali said, "special mediator for Skopje, Cyrus Vance, is negotiating with both sides, while I have met in Copenhagen with the president of FYROM, Kiro Gligorov." Noting both sides' political will to solve their differences, Mr. Boutros-Ghali told reporters he had asked Mr. Vance to persuade both parties concerned to have direct talks, under the auspices of the UN mediator. He said Skopje's political will to settle its differences with Greece was confirmed during a meeting with Mr. Gligorov in Copenhagen. Greece's permanent representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Christos Zaharakis held a meeting yesterday with Mr. Vance. After the meeting, Mr. Zaharakis told reporters he expected to have a clear picture of developments later in the evening, after a meeting between Mr. Vance and Skopje Foreign Minister Stevo Crvenkovski. The Skopje minister was due to meet earlier with US Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs Richard Holbrooke. In the meantime, UN diplomatic sources in New York noted that in order for substantive talks between the two countries to begin, FYROM had to be willing to discuss all the issues concerned. In Athens, opposition Political Spring party leader Antonis Samaras accused the government of "retractions in the Skopje issue," following statements by Mr. Papoulias earlier in the day. Mr. Samaras said it was "unthinkable" for Mr. Papoulias to support "a visible prospect" of the two countries engaging in direct negotiations, while admitting that the Greek government's positions remain unaltered. Mr. Samaras called on Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou to "clear his stance" and reiterated a Political Spring proposal to immediately convene a meeting of political leaders to discuss the issue. "Greece should seek a solution to the problem in the framework of the European Union," Mr. Samaras said. [7] Iakovos in Istanbul for Holy Synod -------------------------------------- New York, 18/3/95 (ANA): Archbishop Iakovos of North and South America flies to Istanbul on Monday to participate in a meeting of the Ecumenical Patriarchate's Holy Synod. The meeting, to be chaired by Patriarch Vartholomeos, aims to smooth out tense relations between the Patriarchate and the North American Archdiocese. Archbishop Iakovos will return to New York on Wednesday. [8] Papathemelis meets with Syrian partner on police issues ----------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 18/3/95 (ANA): Public Order Minister Stelios Papathemelis, currently on an official visit to Syria, yesterday had talks with his counterpart Muhammad Harba on the fight against international terrorism, drug trafficking, and the exchange of information on security matters. The two countries are expected to sign a police co-operation agreement during Mr. Harba's visit to Greece next month. Today, Mr. Papathemelis is scheduled to meet with Syrian President Hafez Al Assad, and hand him a message from Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou. The minister arrived in Syria from Iran, where, in meetings with the president of parliament and the deputy prime minister, he stressed the need for a new jump-start to the Greek initiative for the peace process in the Middle East. [9] Mangakis: French presidency receptive to Greek concerns over Turkish statements ----------------------------------------------------------- Paris, 18/3/95 (ANA - J. Zitouniati): European Affairs Minister George Mangakis said yesterday that the French EU presidency appeared to be taking Turkish threats against Cyprus seriously. "In no way does the French side underestimate the problem created by Turkish statements (by Foreign Minister Murat Karayalcin and Prime Minister Tansu Ciller) and appears to be extremely annoyed by Turkey's effort to convey its domestic problems abroad and indeed to the European Union," Mr. Mangakis told a press conference here yesterday. The press conference was held on the sidelines of the Conference of EU and Latin American countries (Rio Group) following brief meetings Mr. Mangakis had on the issue with French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe on Thursday and yesterday ahead of the weekend's informal meeting of foreign ministers in Carcassonne. Mr. Mangakis also briefed Mr. Juppe on statements allegedly made by Turkish Prime Minister Tansu Ciller on Thursday regarding Greece's "involvement" in intercommunal riots in Istanbul. The meeting aimed at a complete briefing of the French Presidency in light of the informal weekend meeting of European Union foreign ministers at Carcassonne which will deal with previous Turkish statements threatening to annex the Turkish-occupied territories of Cyprus. Greece, through Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias, will once again raise the issue of Turkish statements at the Council and call on the EU to have them revoked. The Carcassonne meeting will also deal with the situation in former Yugoslavia, EU relations with Russia, and the Union's Mediterranean policy. Mr. Mangakis clarified that even though decisions were not taken, since the Council was informal, its positions were influential. Referring to future relations between the EU and Latin American countries during his address at the EU-Rio Group Conference, he stressed the need for the continuation of dialogue between the two continents at a political level and the consolidation of democratic institutions and democratisation in these countries. Earlier, EU ministers met their counterparts from Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay (MERCOSUR group) for talks on relations between the two sides since the European Commission had proposed a gradual establishment of a free trade zone for industrial products and services and the mutual deregulation of farm products. [10] Papoulias: Alleged Greek involvement in Turkish riots' unacceptable' ---------------------------------------------------------- Belgrade, 18/03/1995 (ANA - M. Mouratidis): Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias yesterday described Turkish allegations that Greece was behind the recent intercommunal rioting in Istanbul as "unacceptable and unfounded". Speaking to reporters in Belgrade after talks with Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic, Mr. Papoulias said: "The claim is unacceptable, unfounded and an attempt by the Turkish government or other circles to lay the blame for its domestic crisis on third parties. It is conduct which bears no relation to what the Turkish government is seeking, that is, to come closer to the European Union in which other rules of conduct apply". Government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos Thursday dismissed reports from Turkey quoting Prime Minister Tansu Ciller as claiming Greek involvement in rioting that has killed about 30 and left more than 100 injured since Sunday. "It is the well-known tactic (of Ankara) to export Turkey's internal problems," Mr. Venizelos said. Greece lodged a protest with Ankara over articles in Turkish newspapers alleging that Athens was behind the rioting. Replying to questions yesterday on the protest, Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Ferhat Ataman said that officials at the Greek Embassy in Ankara had been told that Turkey desired good relations with Greece "but the fact that hostile actions in Greece against Turkey are overlooked is an obstacle to the creation of conditions of security between the two countries", according to an ANA report from Istanbul. He said that Athens should not allow "such activities" in accordance with its responsibilities emanating from its international obligations. [11] ND group at GSEE splits ---------------------------- Athens, 18/3/95 (ANA): Dissension in DAKE, the New Democracy-supported group represented in the General Confederation of Workers of Greece (GSEE), has led to a split in the ranks and plans for a new group to stand for elections alongside DAKE at the GSEE's 28th conference. Christos Karambinis, formerly DAKE's president, yesterday announced a new group named "Non-Aligned Democratic Independent Movement of Working People" (ADAKE). Mr. Karambinis is supported by George Tsirimokos, former DAKE secretary-general and Rea Gouveri, former executive committee member. All three were stripped of their offices by DAKE yesterday and referred to its Disciplinary Council. The three trade unionists said their move came after a "relentless war" launched against them since the ND leadership changed. Mr. Karambinis indicated that the "triumvirate" of DAKE's leadership -- Leonardos Arazou, Yiannis Manolis and Nikos Melisaris -- had received a mandate from the Evert leadership. DAKE was founded in 1985 by the then-ND leader Constantine Mitsotakis. The split, the most important event during yesterday's second day of GSEE's 28th Conference, is expected to dash DAKE's hopes of becoming the second force in GSEE's administration behind the ruling socialist PASOK party's trade union group PASKE. PASKE is expected to increase its seats to 22 and will confirm the prevalence of GSEE President Christos Protopapas. Analysts believe Mr. Karambinis is capable of winning one or two seats in GSEE's administration. ESAK (supported by the Communist Party of Greece) appears united and hopes to retain its 10 seats. Autonomous Intervention (Coalition of the Left and Progress) hopes to win two or three seats. Trade Union Spring (Political Spring) has no hope of winning a seat in tomorrow's elections. [12] PASOK internal differences appear to abate ----------------------------------------------- Athens, 18/3/95 (ANA): The crisis inside the ruling PASOK party seems to have, at least temporarily, been defused, after the latest decisions by the Ethics Committee concerning cadres who were considered to have made statements undermining party unity. The committee yesterday said it was satisfied with explanations given by deputy Christos Kipouros regarding his public statements during the recent presidential election and decided to pursue the matter no further. It also decided late Thursday to postpone the hearing of former ministers Theodoros Pangalos, Dimitris Tsovolas and Vasso Papandreou, and deputy Yiannis Papaspyrou until Tuesday. A statement issued after yesterday's session said "the unity of the base in such crucial issues is a precondition for the unity and prospects of PASOK and the country". It remains unclear whether the remaining four cadres will appear before the Committee Tuesday; a possible absence likely to be considered contempt of a democratically-elected party organ. All four replied with letters concerning their summons, either to the Committee itself, or to the party's Executive Bureau and leader Andreas Papandreou. In letters to both, former alternate foreign minister Theodoros Pangalos expressed his willingness to expound his views either to the Central Committee or to the Executive Bureau, and assured both that his intention was "the search for a political way out of the crisis, so that divisions are overcome and we go forward as the people demand". He said he would consider appearing before the Ethics Committee after being provided with fuller details concerning his specific actions. Former European Union commissioner Vasso Papandreou expressed her disagreement with the summons, considering it a disciplinary procedure. She stressed the need for a wide-ranging debate on the major problems of the country, the party, and the government in all top party organs, and said she respected the members of the Ethics Committee, but would like to discuss issues with them in their capacity as members of the Central Committee. Former finance minister Dimitris Tsovolas sent a letter to the prime minister himself, saying he considered that Ethics Committee chairman Nikos Athanasakis had acted "individually and arbitrarily". Questioned by reporters on the issue, Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias expressed his confidence that the crisis inside the party would be overcome, and that its popular base would not be disappointed. [13] Kassimis criticises ND --------------------------- Athens, 18/3/95 (ANA): In an interview published in yesterday's edition of the Athens daily "Eleftheros", main opposition New Democracy party deputy Theodoros Kassimis came out with criticism of the party's opposition tactics. Commenting on a recent statement by ND deputy leader Ioannis Varitsiotis that the previous ND government had been wrong to refer then-opposition leader Andreas Papandreou to the Special Court for complicity in a scandal, Mr. Kassimis said he did not agree with his colleagues "who disagree today with what they did yesterday." Mr. Kassimis said the dismissal of Yiannis Dimitrokallis from ND was an unfortunate initiative which harmed the party. "Parties