ERP conference supports Athens' position towards Ankara
NEWS IN DETAIL
Greece ready to participate in protection force for Albania
Greece, Italy, France and Austria yesterday expressed here their readiness
to participate in a foreign protection force in Albania to secure
humanitarian aid arriving in the strife-ridden country.
The four nations were the only EU countries willing to participate in such
a force, although all EU members approve of the sending of humanitarian aid,
Italian Foreign Minister Lamberto Dini said after an EU foreign ministers'
meeting in Rome yesterday,in which Albanian Prime Minister Bashkim Fino
participated.
French Foreign Minister Herve de Charette said the sending of troops was a
very sensitive issue and needs further discussion, while Austria announced
it will only send military observers.
However, a protection force from only two countries was judged as being
unable to escort humanitarian aid to Albania. Thus, a delegation comprised
of a representative of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in
Europe (OSCE) and military advisers of certain EU countries has left for
Tirana in order to examine developments and inform their respective
organisations. Within the OSCE's legal framework, a protection force is
expected to be formed.
Fino thanks Greece for support
Mr. Fino at the meeting thanked Greece for its support and help.
Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou said after the meeting that
"we had the opportunity, both Italy and Greece, to stress our support to
Mr. Fino. I also had the opportunity to underline the friendly relations
between Greece and Albania and our unlimited suppport in all help and long-
term cooperation for the reorganisation of Albania.
"I stressed common ties, which (stem) from common borders and the (Greek)
minority and the mutual interest for security in the region," he said.
Mr. Papandreou added that Foreign Undersecretary Yiannos Kranidiotis and
himself had the opportunity to meet with Mr. Fino personally, inviting him
to visit Greece.
Council of Foreign Ministers
The European Union's Council of Foreign Ministers agreed Monday on the
actions which must be taken to provide humanitarian aid to Albania.
Speaking to Greek reporters, Mr. Papandreou, who represented Greece at the
meeting, said the 15 foreign ministers agreed on the dispatch of an
"advance team" to Albania which would pave the way for the arrival of a
large "advisory committee" to draw up a plan for Albania's transition into
political, social and economic normality.
Dutch reporter shot in Albania brought to Corfu
A Dutch reporter who was shot yesterday morning in Albania was hospitalised
in Corfu after being transported by sea from Sarande.
Vilma Gundabel, 32, whose condition was described as critical, was operated
on at Corfu General Hospital.
According to a companion, she was shot by an unidentified individual while
speaking on the telephone. He said Ms Gundabel's reports over the past
month had been critical of Albanian President Sali Berisha. The Dutch
reporter has been working in Albania for the past five years as correspondent
for a number of international media outlets.
Foreign ministry reacts to Albanian statement
The foreign ministry said on Monday that a press release issued by the
Albanian embassy in Athens following a conversation between Foreign
Undersecretary Yiannos Kranidiotis and Albanian Prime Minister Bashkim Fino
contained "inaccurate statements and unacceptable characterisations, which
have been repeatedly answered by the Greek side."
"It seems that there is a gap of communication between the Albanian
government and the embassy in Athens," the announcement stated.
The foreign ministry expressed the hope that the positive cooperation
between the two countries will continue, and reiterated that Mr. Kranidiotis'
visit to Albania "was made known in advance to the Albanian government and
was carried out with its conse nt and in accordance with established
practice.
"The consulate general of Greece in Gjirokaster and the consul general
carry out their duties under particularly difficult circumstances, aiming
at cooperating with the local Albanian authorities, at encouraging the
suffering Greek minority and at secur ing the effective distribution of
Greek humanitarian aid," the announcement continued.
"All missions of Greek vessels, military or civilian, in Albanian
territorial waters was carried out in full knowledge of Albanian authorities
and after the granting of permission.
"The Greek government undertook from the outset of the Albanian crisis
concrete measures both at bilateral and multilateral levels for a peaceful
solution," the foreign ministry said.
"The Greek government has expressed its support to the government of
national reconciliation led by Prime Minister Fino and its determination to
assist its efforts, and...will continue this policy," the statement
concluded.
New ND leader meets with party founder Constantine Karamanlis
Newly elected main opposition New Democracy party president Costas
Karamanlis met on Monday with his uncle, the party's founder Constantine
Karamanlis.
"I visited, as I had a duty to, the founder of the party, who congratulated
me on my election," he said after the meeting.
The new ND leader is also met with President of the Republic Kostis
Stephanopoulos yesterday afternoon. He moves into his office today, where
he is scheduled to meet with George Souflias, who also ran for the party
leader position, and ND deputy Dora Bakoyianni.
Over the next few days, he will also hold meetings with former party
presidents George Rallis, Miltiades Evert and Constantine Mitsotakis, and
will discuss with the latter his participation in the central committee.
US businessmen seek trade cooperation in Greece
More than 250 US businessmen will be represented by their state trade
directors at an exhibition entitled "Multi-state/Catalog Exhibition" to be
held at the Ledra Marriott Hotel in Athens on March 27 and 28.
The event, sponsored by the commerical section of the US embassy in Athens,
will be open to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The US firms are seeking commercial cooperation and/or representation in
Greece. Visitors to the exhibition will also be able to obtain information
on the products and services of an additional 100 US companies through
their catalogs, which will be avai lable during the event.
Those interested in discussing cooperation ventures with the state trade
directors can make arrangements through the commercial section of the US
embassy, 91, Vassilissis Sofias Ave., Athens 10 160 P Fax: 72.18.660.
German-language information on Greece available on internet
The Greek Press and Information Office in Hamburg has introduced an
experimental programme with German-language pages on the internet.
The office aims to provide information on Greece in several sectors,
including the economy, media, tourism, culture and politics.
This programme marks the first German-language access to a web site of an
official Greek service. Its address is: http://www.griechenlandinformation.de
An official of the Hamburg office, Pantelis Pantelouris, said the internet
site is aimed mainly at German speakers interested in Greece, while a
significant percentage of the information is geared towards expatriate
Greeks living in Germany, particularly the second and third-generation
ethnic Greeks.
Relations with eastern, central Europe discussed by General Affairs Council
The European Union's General Affairs Council on Monday discussed issues
concering EU relations with central and eastern European countries within
the framework of structural talks.
Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou expressed Greece's reservations
over the procedure followed regarding structured dialoge with Cyprus,
stressing that the EU has exercised a "two-speed, two-tier" policy in
relation to the procedure implemente d for central and eastern European
countries.
The 15 EU foreign ministers did not discuss relations with Turkey during
Monday's meeting. The council's president, Dutch Foreign Minister Hans van
Mierlo, reiterated that he will attempt to create conditions for realisation
of a productive EU-Turkey As sociation Council on April 30.
"I was asked to mediate between Greece and Turkey and I will continue my
efforts, but steps must be made both by the Greek and by the Turkish side,"
Mr. van Mierlo said.
EPP conference supports Athens' positions toward Ankara
A European Peoples' Party (EPP) conference, which convened on Monday for
two days in Porto, Portugal, supported Greek positions in differences with
Turkey.
The council approved a resolution proposed by Cypriot Democratic Rally
Party (DHSY) President Yiannakis Matsis under which the EPP supports
Cyprus' application to become a member of the EU and the beginning of
accession negotiations six months after the end of the Intergovernmental
Conference.
The resolution condemns all external pressures to the EU aiming to prevent
Cyprus' entry, and also condemns any escalation of clashes on the island,
rejects the use of violence and calls on the two sides to work for the
peaceful and democratic re-unific ation of Cyprus.
The resolution also supports United Nations efforts to solve the Cyprus
problem based on UN resolutions.
'Who's Who in Journalism' publication released
A comprehensive guide of Greek and foreign journalists in Greece, known as
"Who's Who in Journalism" was unveiled this week, the second such volume to
be published in five years.
"The role of the journalists as creators and administrators of the archives
of information...places them among the people who prepare the new century,"
according to Press Minister and government spokesman Dimitris Reppas at the
presentation of the publication.
"Who's Who in Journalism" contains information on some 3,847 journalists
who are members of recognised unions and press associations, a full list of
the country's publications, newspapers, magazines, radio and television
stations, historical details of all recognised journalists' associations in
alphabetical order and a brief history of the Greek press up until the end
of the 19th century.
WEATHER
Local cloudiness and rainfall is forecast for eastern Macedonia, Thrace,
the eastern Aegean and the Dodecanese islands. The rest of the country will
be cloudy with drizzle. Moderate to strong winds with rainfall and snowfall
in the mountainous regions of western Greece. Athens will be partly cloudy
with light rain and temperatures between 8-13C. Same for Thessaloniki with
temperatures between 2-10C.
FOREIGN EXCHANGE
Monday's closing rates - buying US dlr. 264.269
Pound sterling 424.973 Cyprus pd 522.943
French franc 46.360 Swiss franc 180.767
German mark 156.304 Italian lira (100) 15.622
Yen (100) 215.135 Canadian dlr. 191.714
Australian dlr. 208.518 Irish Punt 416.402
Belgian franc 7.575 Finnish mark 52.358
Dutch guilder 138.900 Danish kr. 40.960
Swedish kr. 34.694 Norwegian kr. 39.460
Austrian sch. 22.221 Spanish peseta 1.844
Portuguese escudo 1.557
(C.E.)
