Athens News Agency: News in English (PM), 97-05-09

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr>

NEWS IN ENGLISH

Athens, Greece, 09/05/1997 (ANA)

MAIN HEADLINES

• A place for Turkey in Europe, premier affirms
• Europe Day: Social issues must be emphasised in Maastricht revision
• Santer - Majority vote must be extended in EU decision-making
• European integration will bolster peace
• Greek economy on course for convergence, Santer tells Simitis
• Greece, Israel to conduct joint military exercises
• Ex-king responds to former president Karamanlis claims
• Name dispute should not sour Athens-Skopje relations, FYROM FM says
• Experts say they've found location of Colossus of Rhodes
• Greek arrested in airport drug haul
• Samos forest fires continue to rage
• Weather
• Foreign exchange

NEWS IN DETAIL

Prime Minister Costas Simitis today reiterated Greece's support for Turkey's place in Europe if it indicated by its actions its respect for the rules of international law and for human rights.

Addressing at an event in Athens' old parliament building to celebrate Europe Day in the presence of European Commission President Jacques Santer, he said that Greece was in favour of improved relations between the European Union and Turkey if the latter adhered to international law. Then, he added, Turkey would have Greece's support in Europe.

Europe Day commemorates the day in 1950 when Robert Schuman made a proclamation paving the way for the foundation of the European Communities.

Europe Day: Social issues must be emphasised in Maastricht revision

Prime Minister Costas Simitis stressed the need for attention to social issues when reviewing the Maastricht treaty, in address today at an event at Athens' old Parliament building, commemorating Europe Day.

The event was also addressed by European Commission President Jacques Santer, on an official visit to Greece.

This year's anniversary, said Simitis, came at a decisive time for the future of Europe with important negotiations being planned over the next two years for the Europe of 2000.

He called for an end to the climate of scepticism and insecurity and support for cohesion within the European Union. Its citizens should realise, he said, that changes in institutions would not create a limitless bureaucracy.

With regard to the expansion of the EU, there would have to be a corresponding increase in resources to meet the increased cost. He called for equal treatment for all member states, incluidng participation in the third phase of the Economic and Monetary Union and the single currency.

The Intergovernmental Conference, he added, should find solutions to the problem of employment.

Santer - Majority vote must be extended in EU decision-making

Santer drew attention to the need for majority decision-making within the EU, one of the issues being examined by the Intergovernmental Conference.

Unanimity, he said, was becoming increasingly difficult to achieve as the EU expanded.

"In order to avoid this difficulty, we should extend wherever possible the use of the majority vote. If we don't, we are in danger of getting involved in a circle of immobilisaiton, resulting in a lack of credibility and and undermining of trust," he added.

The question of flexibility, he continued should act as a catalyst for greater integration within the EU and not an agent of division. It should only be used as a last resort when all other efforts, with the participation of all member states, had failed.

Equality between member states should be fully respected, Santer stressed, while the Commission should undergo certain adjustments such as a reduction in the number of Commissioners and a review of its organisation.

He also favoured a more important role for the European Parliament, and called for more transparency. Meanwhile the EU's social model, he said, was Europe's strength.

"The European social model is characteristic of its achievements, the envy of all other regional cooperation groups," he said.

European integration will bolster peace

Speaking later at the Herod Atticus Theatre at the official event marking Robert Schumann Day, Santer underlined the prospects for peace prescribed by the process of European integration.

''Neighbouring countries are still in a state of war. Next to you, in the Balkans, war and misery have made children of your age beggars in order to survive,'' he said, addressing an audience which included thousands of schoolchildren.

''Thanks to the creation of the European Union, war has disappeared among 15 countries. Now, other countries of the continent wish to join the EU in order to protect themselves against this tragedy...,'' Santer said.

Through better understanding, he continued, and exchanges between young people of all nationalities, ''your generation will build a more stable Europe which will offer better living conditions and will be better able to exercise its influence in the world in order to safeguard freedom and secure peace.''

Greek economy on course for convergence, Santer tells Simitis

At a working luncheon later, Santer and Simitis had the opportunity for a wide-ranging discussion on the future and prospects of the EU which the Commission president described as ''useful''.

Noting the Greek government's ''significant achievements'' prior to EMU, Santer said the indicators of the Greek economy were in ''a very good direction'', a fact he described as a positive element in the course to convergence.

On his part, Simitis said that Greece attached great importance to the need to establish political solidarity with respect to external borders.

Stressing the need for cohesion within the EU, Simitis said he had discussed with Santer the latest developments in Greek-Turkish relations and the course towards Cyprus' accession to the Community.

Santer expressed satisfaction at the decision of Greece and Turkey to set up committees of experts to examine procedural matters concerning bilateral differences and noted that Greece, as a full EU member, enjoyed the solidarity and support of the Community.

Turkey, he added, is an associate member ''and as such there is a difference between the two relationships, which is why a way must be found to normalise relations between the two countries''.

Greece, Israel to conduct joint military exercises

A scheduled joint Greek-Israeli military exercise will take place in the sea region of the Dodecanese from June 24-29 within the framework of a bilateral agreement, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas announced today.

An Israeli official will visit Greece within the next few days to participate in preparations for the exercise, Reppas added.

Ex-king responds to former president Karamanlis claims

Ex-king Constantine today continued a series of tit-for-tat accusations with former president of the republic Constantine Karamanlis with statements which appeared tantamount to direct political intervention.

''With regard to the views of former president Constantine Karamanlis and ex-king Constantine on forms of government, what is important is what the Greek people, which is alone sovereign, wishes and decides through the course of time,'' the former monarch said in a written statement issued by his press office.

The ex-king was responding to a statement by Karamanlis earlier this week advising ''those who still feel sympathetic towards the institution of the monarchy to realise at long last that the issue concerning the form of government in Greece has been resolved conclusively''.

The monarchy in Greece was officially abolished in 1974 by a referendum following seven years of military dictatorship.

The former king and Karamanlis began trading accusations after the latter published his archives in which he claimed Constantine had planned a coup in 1975.

Meanwhile, the government today continued to distance itself from the row.

''The government has no interest in the clash which has arisen following publication of the archives of Constantine Karamanlis,'' government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said when asked by reporters to comment.

''The facts themselves may be useful, but the government is not occupying itself with them because it is fighting a battle for the future and leaves others to dwell on the past,'' Reppas added.

Name dispute should not sour Athens-Skopje relations, FYROM FM says

Foreign Minister Ljubomir Frckovski of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) said today the dispute with Greece over the use of the name "Macedonia" was not important enough to spoil the improved relations between the two neighbouring nations, nor could it influence "the strategic importance of interests and bilateral cooperation", according to the ANA's correspondent in Skopje.

Speaking to the Greek press, the Minister contended that the recent improvement in bilateral relations was not only due to the danger to both countries posed by the crisis in Albania but had its own dynamic, since Greece had found FYROM to be "a partner in the region".

While he stressed that FYROM was participating "in a constructive way" in the UN-sponsored talks in New York, he said:

"There are certain limits which concern substantial interests and the very identity of the Macedonian state which cannot be overlooked."

The name dispute, he added, could remain "open, without a war, but without a compromise, such as the Cyprus issue or Greek-Turkish relations" although he hastened to add that his country "will not follow Greece's example but will try to resolve the problem in another way if possible and with mutual respect".

In Frckovski's opinion, the interim bilateral agreement reached in New York in September 1995 is the result of concessions on the part of his country. The name "Republic of Macedonia" (which Greece objects to), he said is in fact a "composite name since it determines the current borders of the state and differentiates it from the broader geographical and historical meaning of the word".

He objected to the proposed "Slavomacedonia" as being offensive to the dignity of his nation's peoples, since he said they include five cultures - ancient Greek, Roman, Byzantine as well as Slav.

Frckovski also said it had been a compromise on the part of his government to agree to Greece using its own choice of name for FYROM in bilateral relations.

When the ANA asked whether the name "Republic of Macedonia-Skopje" was being discussed, Frckovski replied that Greece had rejected such a proposition in 1992, while the FYROM had not taken a position on the issue.

"This issue is very serious and we do not know what would happen if it had been accepted at that time," he said, adding nevertheless than according to his sources, "this formula has not been raised during the New York talks".

Experts say they've found location of Colossus of Rhodes

The location of the Colossus of Rhodes, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, was possibly at the entrance to Mandraki harbour where the statues of two fawns stand today, according to a research team under the supervision of a seismology professor.

The team, under Professor Evangelos Lekkas, studied the effects of earthquakes and other natural disasters on Rhodes in the classical and mediaeval periods.

Professor Lekkas however rejected theories that the fawns in some way served as the bases for the legs of the Colossus since there were no fawns at the northeast end of the fortress of the Old City in ancient times.

According to the research team, a major earthquake in 227 BC was accompanied by ''seismic breaches'' which caused significant damage to monuments on the island and resulted in the collapse of the Colossus, no remains of which have ever been found.

Professor Lekkas announced his team's findings at the 4th International Symposium on the preservation of Mediterranean monuments which is currently being held in Rhodes.

He presented data indicating that the city of Rhodes on numerous occasions reached its peak only to fall into decline due to ''the combined action of natural disasters''.

The Colossus of Rhodes, was a large bronze statue of the sun god, Helios, in the island's harbour. It is believed to have been built in whole or in part by Chares of Lindus (Rhodes) between 292 and 280 BC.

The bronze had been taken from the tools and machines left behind by Demetrius I after his unsuccessful siege of Rhodes.

Greek arrested in airport drug haul

Customs officers today arrested a Greek man in possession of over three kilos of cocaine who flew into the country from Chile and who is believed by police to be a member of an international drug smuggling ring.

Panagiotis Georgiadis, 30, who arrived from Chile on an Iberian Airlines flight via Madrid, had hidden 3.4 kilos of cocaine in a plastic bag wrapped in foam-rubber in the back of his rucksack.

Georgiadis reportedly told the police that he had taken delivery of the cocaine on April 15 in Sao Paolo, Brazil from persons whom he refused to identify.

According to the police, Georgiadis had smuggled three kilos of cocaine into Greece in late January.

Meanwhile, police arrested four Albanians -- one man and three women -- in the Piraeus suburb of Korydallos after finding them in possession of 1 kilo of heroin.

Another two Albanians were arrested in the Athens district of Peristeri in possession of half a kilo of heroin. During questioning, Artur Koisai, 25 and Sokol Moutsa, 26 confessed to selling three kilos of heroin in the Athens area during the last two months.

In separate incidents, Albanian Ilir Moustaz, 29 was arrested in the Athens suburb of Neos Kosmos after being found in possession of over four kilos of marijuana, while Jamaican Thomas Christofere, 34, was arrested in Kypseli, downtown Athens, for being in possession of 80 grams of heroin.

Samos forest fires continue to rage

Two forest fires that broke out yesterday afternoon on the island of Samos are still raging out of control today, after destroying hundreds of square kilometres of forests.

This morning the fire had spread to inaccessible areas and to the Valsamo and Aghio Isidoros forests. Fire-fighting planes are unable to fly due to the strong southerly winds.

WEATHER

FOREIGN EXCHANGE

(M.P.)

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