Browse through our Interesting Nodes on the Eastern European States Read the Convention Relating to the Regime of the Straits (24 July 1923) Read the Convention Relating to the Regime of the Straits (24 July 1923)
HR-Net - Hellenic Resources Network Compact version
Today's Suggestion
Read The "Macedonian Question" (by Maria Nystazopoulou-Pelekidou)
HomeAbout HR-NetNewsWeb SitesDocumentsOnline HelpUsage InformationContact us
Friday, 29 March 2024
 
News
  Latest News (All)
     From Greece
     From Cyprus
     From Europe
     From Balkans
     From Turkey
     From USA
  Announcements
  World Press
  News Archives
Web Sites
  Hosted
  Mirrored
  Interesting Nodes
Documents
  Special Topics
  Treaties, Conventions
  Constitutions
  U.S. Agencies
  Cyprus Problem
  Other
Services
  Personal NewsPaper
  Greek Fonts
  Tools
  F.A.Q.
 

Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 97-03-11

Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Greek Press & Information Office, Ottawa Canada <grnewsca@sympatico.ca>

ATHENS NEWS AGENCY BULLETIN (No 1035), March 11, 1997

Greek Press & Information Office
Ottawa, Canada
E-Mail Address: grnewsca@sympatico.ca


CONTENTS

  • [01] Greece pledges full support to Albanian deal, rebellion spreads
  • [02] Patriarch Petros VII enthroned in Alexandria
  • [03] Alternate FM to visit Sweden next week
  • [04] US State Dept. spokesman comments on Pangalos talks
  • [05] Albanian crisis purely a political - not ethnic - problem, Pangalos tells CNN
  • [06] Cyprus solution 'long overdue'
  • [07] FYROM FM satisfied with progress in relations with Greece
  • [08] Regional security concerns top Austrian defense minister's agenda in Athens
  • [09] German president in Athens today
  • [10] Warm welcome for Paris medallists
  • [11] 20 die on Greek roads

  • [01] Greece pledges full support to Albanian deal, rebellion spreads

    Athens, 11/03/1997 (ANA)

    Greece expressed its satisfaction on Sunday over an agreement reached between Albanian President Sali Berisha and the country's opposition parties to end the crisis in the neighboring country and pledged support to efforts to achieve the nine-point deal.

    The deal, signed Sunday after two days of talks and mediation by senior European envoys, calls for the formation of an interim all-party government to supervise general elections to be held in June.

    However, the revolt in the south of the country appeared to be spreading yesterday, with rebels ignoring the political deal thrashed out by President Berisha, continuing their calls for the president's resignation, and the army falling back in disarray.

    Reports said that the latest areas to fall were the ancient town of Berat, abandoned without a fight by the army, and the nearby town of Kucove, where residents pillaged an air force base, one of two important military airfields in Albania. Reports from Tirana indicated the towns of Polican and Corovode, south of the capital, were also in rebel hands.

    Reuters late last night reported that rebels in Vlore had agreed to put down their weapons following mediation by Italian diplomats.

    An ANA dispatch from the Albanian capital reported Mr. Berisha calling an urgent meeting of political party leaders in a last-ditch attempt to stem the rebellion from spreading further.

    According to the same dispatch, Mr. Berisha was to propose to the main opposition Socialist Party that it choose a prime minister in the interim government.

    Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said in a statement yesterday that Prime Minister Costas Simitis telephoned Mr. Berisha on Sunday night and "expressed his satisfaction over the reaching of the agreement."

    He said the Greek premier also "stressed the need for the completion of all steps in finding a final solution and assured Mr. Berisha of Greece's support in the efforts of the people of Albania to achieve progress, development and democracy."

    Mr. Reppas described the move as a "positive development" and expressed the conviction that "Albania's political forces will make every effort to lead the country out of the present crisis through political consensus and peaceful procedures."

    He said Greece "in co-operation with the European Union and Albania's political forces, will continue to make every possible effort in safeguarding the institutions, respect for human rights and progress in the neighboring country."

    Foreign Under-secretary Yannos Kranidiotis, summing up his meeting on Saturday with Albanian President Sali Berisha, called for continued diplomatic efforts towards finding a solution to the Albanian crisis.

    Speaking to the press in Tirana after the meeting, Mr. Kranidiotis said he had emphasized Greece's concern for the ethnic Greek minority in southern Albania. According to informed sources, both Mr. Berisha and the Albania foreign minister had assured him there was no question of any involvement of ethnic Greeks in the conflict.

    The under-secretary also stressed that Greece, along with the European Union, believed in a political solution to the crisis, with new elections. He also observed that political developments in Albania were linked to the question of economic aid.

    Asked what Greece's stance would be in the event of a mass influx of illegal immigrants from its northern neighbor, Mr. Kraniditios said no military measures were being taken, noting that Greece was prepared to deal with any eventuality.

    The Greek under-secretary arrived in Tirana early on Saturday and met with Albania's Foreign Minister Tritan Shehu, opposition leaders, OSCE envoy Franz Vranitsky, the former Austrian chancellor, as well as Archbishop of Tirana and all Albania Anastasios .

    [02] Patriarch Petros VII enthroned in Alexandria

    Alexandria, 11/03/1997 (ANA - M. Papoutsaki)

    The enthronement of the new Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa Petros VII was held on Sunday with all due splendor at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Alexandria.

    The ceremony was attended by President Kostis Stephanopoulos, Cypriot President Glafcos Clerides, Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou, Foreign Under-secretary Yiannos Kranidiotis, Public Order Minister George Romeos, many deputies, leaders or representatives of Greek and Cypriot parties, Athens Mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos and crowds of people. Also present were representatives of all Orthodox Churches, a representation for Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and senior Egyptian officials.

    At the end of the ceremony, the primate of the Patriarchal throne of Alexandria spoke briefly with President Stephanopoulos and the ministers who had come from Greece.

    President Stephanopoulos showed particular interest in the preservation of the Patriarchate's heirlooms and the university to be established in the city founded by Alexander the Great and which will bear his name.

    "We look forward with trust and nurse many hopes in brother Orthodox churches and the governments of Greece and Cyprus so that this bastion of Orthodox Hellenism, the beacon of Alexandria, will not go out, but instead it should strengthen and flourish and provide light, as was the case in the past, and benefit the universe spiritually," the Patriarch told reporters after his meeting with President Stephanopoulos.

    Mr. Papandreou wished the new Patriarch every success in his important task while Mr. Kranidiotis confirmed that the new Patriarch will be given every possible assistance in his work, adding that prospects for the operation of Alexander the Great University are quite positive.

    The enthronement ceremony will be repeated in Cairo this Sunday.

    [03] Alternate FM to visit Sweden next week

    Stockholm, 11/03/1997 (ANA - N. Servetas)

    Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou will pay a visit to Sweden on March 17 to discuss bilateral and other relations. Mr. Papandreou will attend a working luncheon with the Swedish Foreign Minister Lena Yelm Valen and discuss bilateral issues, co-operation between the two countries in the framework of the European Union, NATO enlargement and the situation in Turkey and the Balkans.

    Mr. Papandreou will also be meeting with the European affairs under-secretary and president of the Swedish Committee on the Intergovernmental Conference Gunar Loyd for talks pertaining to his duties.

    Representatives of Greek expatriate bodies will hold talks with Mr. Papandreou on March 17. Mr. Papandreou will leave Stockholm for Vienna the next day.

    [04] US State Dept. spokesman comments on Pangalos talks

    Washington, 11/03/1997 (ANA - T. Ellis)

    US State Department spokesman Nicholas Burns said last night that Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos was a strong defender of Greece's national issues at his talks last week with US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.

    Mr. Burns also expressed Washington's appreciation of Mr. Pangalos' statements that Turkey belonged to Europe.

    "The United States agrees with the statements by Mr. Pangalos, who showed a great sensibility on the part of a Greek official on Turkey's position in Europe," Mr. Burns said, calling his comments "statesmanlike".

    "But," he added, "Mr. Pangalos was a strong supporter of Greece's national interests in his talks last week with Ms Albright, as he always is."

    [05] Albanian crisis purely a political - not ethnic - problem, Pangalos tells CNN

    Athens, 11/03/1997 (ANA)

    The effect of the Albanian crisis on Greek interests, along with continuing efforts to solve the Cyprus issue and Greece's dispute with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) over that country's name, were discussed in an interview with Foreign

    Minister Theodoros Pangalos on CNN on Friday. Mr. Pangalos expressed the view that the rebellion in the south of Albania was not due to the fact that part of the population there was Greek.

    "The rebellion is due to ... political instability in Albania and the authoritarian behavior of the government... (and) the big financial scandal," he said, referring to the collapse of pyramid investment schemes.

    Greece's concerns, he went on, were to protect the ethnic Greek minority.

    "Up to now we have a positive response from the Albanian government. ... President Berisha told Prime Minister Costas Simitis in a telephone conversation that there is no ethnic motivation in the troubles nor any distinction among the different religious or language groups in Albania," he explained. The minister also stressed that Greece could not afford any more illegal immigrants from Albania, noting that almost one in three Albanian families survives on incomes earned in Greece. To contain an y further immigration, specific measures, such as the mobilization of the police force at the border, were being taken, he added.

    [06] Cyprus solution 'long overdue'

    Athens, 11/03/1997 (ANA)

    Turning to the Cyprus issue, Mr. Pangalos emphasized that a solution was long overdue and that he felt there would be progress this year.

    "I think that at the end of this year, Cyprus will start accession negotiations with the European Union... Although a solution is not a condition for the beginning of the negotiations, if there was a solution, the negotiations would be much easier and Cyprus' place in the EU would be much clearer," he commented, adding:

    "The problem... is to oblige in some way the government in Ankara, through international pressure, to take a decision on the Cyprus issue, to contribute positively to a solution. That is the point."

    He expressed the view that proximity talks would start immediately and face-to-face talks (between the leaders of the two communities) eventually "if there is a positive development, before the end of the year."

    Finally, with regard to the dispute over the name of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Mr. Pangalos drew attention to Greece's currently excellent relations as FYROM's second-largest trading partner.

    "The problem is that we want a name that will distinguish this new country from our Macedonia. Macedonia is an important part of Greece, as you know, and Greek Macedonia is more than fifty percent of the geographical area... (of Macedonia)... So we want to keep this name in a clear way as the name of Greek Macedonia. We want their name to be specified in some way and this is what the negotiations are about," he concluded.

    [07] FYROM FM satisfied with progress in relations with Greece

    Skopje, 11/03/1997 (ANA - M. Vichou)

    In an interview with the "Nova Makedonia" newspaper, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) Foreign Minister Lubomir Frckovski said relations between FYROM and Greece were good both in the economic and political sectors.

    Referring to economic relations, he estimated their value at 20-30 million marks, expressing his conviction that this year they will exceed $100 million, primarily due to Greek participation in a number of major projects.

    Commenting on the political sector, he referred to the recent meeting held in Thessaloniki between the two countries' culture ministers, adding that Skopje has proposed a meeting between the two interior ministers and the creation of committees for a joint discussion on and examination of pending issues.

    Mr. Frckovski further said "the process of the New York talks on the name (of FYROM) should continue without terms being set and without association with the European Union being obstructed."

    [08] Regional security concerns top Austrian defense minister's agenda in Athens

    Vienna, 11/03/1997 (ANA - D. Dimitrakoudis)

    Austrian Defense Minister Woerner Faslabed, who will arrive in Athens today on a three-day official visit to Greece, said in an interview with the Athens News Agency (ANA) in Vienna yesterday that Austria will continue to offer its services to Cyprus for the benefit of peace and international security.

    Austria, he noted, is the country with the longest service in the UN peacekeeping force in Cyprus, with its involvement dating back to the beginning of the '60s.

    Mr. Faslabed said developments in the Balkans, and Albania in particular, Europe's future security architecture, the Cyprus issue and bilateral co-operation will be the main topics of discussion with his Greek counterpart Akis Tsohatzopoulos.

    Mr. Faslabed said the exchange of information and views between Austria and Greece is extremely important, as they are countries bordering events in the Balkans which, in his view, will remain a flashpoint in the future as well, as illustrated by developments in Albania.

    [09] German president in Athens today

    Bonn, 11/03/1997 (ANA - P. Stangos)

    German President Roman Herzog will pay an unofficial visit to Greece today to receive an honorary doctorate from the Athens University's Law Faculty.

    President Herzog will meet President Kostis Stephanopoulos tomorrow morning before returning to Germany.

    President Herzog, who was a member of the Federal Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe from 1983 and its president from 1987 to 1994 (when he was elected President of the Republic by the German Parliament), will be honored by the Athens University's Law Faculty for his academic work and his speech at the award ceremony will deal with the concept of the state at the end of the 20th century.

    President Herzog and President Stephanopoulos have met twice in the past. The first time was in July 1995 when President Stephanopoulos paid an acquaintance visit to Berlin and the second was in June 1996 when President Stephanopoulos paid an official visit to Germany in the light of the Greek-Turkish crisis, accompanied by Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos.

    President Herzog succeeded President Richard von Weizsaecker in May 1994.

    [10] Warm welcome for Paris medallists

    Athens, 11/03/1997 (ANA)

    Greek medallists at the Paris Indoor Athletics World Championships received a warm welcome at Athens airport yesterday.

    Haralambos Papadias and Katerina Koffa are the new world champions in the indoor events of the men's 60 meters sprint and women's 200 metes sprint respectively. Lambros Papakostas took second place in the men's high jump.

    On hand to welcome the athletes was Sports Under-secretary Andreas Fouras who described them as "worthy ambassadors" for future sport events to be held in Greece.

    Mr. Fouras underlined the importance of the upcoming International Athletics Championships to be held in Athens in summer and Athens' bid for the 2004 Olympic games.

    Meanwhile, Athens Mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos said yesterday that the "spectacular achievements" of the athletes served to boost the morale of Greeks aiming for the "supreme goal" of hosting the 2004 Olympic Games.

    [11] 20 die on Greek roads

    Athens, 11/03/1997 (ANA)

    Twenty people died on Greece's roads over the long weekend in 235 car accidents registered, mostly on the regional road network.

    Over 337 people were injured, 97 seriously.

    According to the traffic police, most of the accidents were due to excessive speed and driving under the influence of alcohol.

    The return of Athenians who chose to visit the islands for the long weekend was hindered by gale force winds and the subsequent ban on sailing.

    End of English language section.


    Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article
    Back to Top
    Copyright © 1995-2023 HR-Net (Hellenic Resources Network). An HRI Project.
    All Rights Reserved.

    HTML by the HR-Net Group / Hellenic Resources Institute, Inc.
    ana2html v1.01d run on Tuesday, 11 March 1997 - 15:44:56 UTC