Athens News Agency: News in English (PM), 97-10-17
NEWS IN ENGLISH
Athens, Greece, 17/10/1997 (ANA)
MAIN HEADLINES
- NATO official does not fear Greek-Turkish clash in Aegean
- Kaklamanis criticises US for stance on Greek-Turkish relations
- Papoutsis: Cyprus EU entry on track as scheduled
- OA work stoppages disrupt flight schedules
- Modern-day Odysseus returns
- Annan urges reduced tension, military spending
- Turkish warplanes again buzz Tsohatzopoulos' transport
- Greece, Slovakia discuss broadening bilateral cooperation
- Harsh GSEE criticism of latest Spraos report
- Weather
- Foreign Exchange
NEWS IN DETAIL
NATO official does not fear Greek-Turkish clash in Aegean
The Commander-in-Chief of Allief Forces Southern Europe, US Admiral Joseph
Lopez, said today he did not fear a serious incident between Greece and
Turkey in the Aegean.
Speaking at a press conference at the Officers' Club in Thessaloniki
following completion of the evaluation of the large-scale NATO exercise
"Dynamic Mix '97", Lopez said that the information and indications he had
received to date did not lead him to the conclusion that a serious incident
was imminent in the Aegean.
He added however that irrespective of assessments, NATO was constantly
working to secure co-operation and prevent clashes in the region.
"We are co-operating with diplomatic, economic and political organisations
and we support political solutions," Lopez said.
Lopez several times stressed the importance of dialogue and co-operation
between nations, underlining that this was NATO's objective.
He repeated this position when asked about the harassment this week of the
aircraft carrying National Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos by Turkish
warplanes - both on his way and returning from Cyprus.
Dialogue and co-operation are helpful, Lopez said, regardless of whether
they are conducted at a political or military level, citing as an example
the "Dynamic Mix '97" exercise.
Outlining NATO's new role following the political changes of recent years,
Lopez said the enemy now was instability and the aim of the Alliance was to
consolidate peace and stability through dialogue and co-operation.
He said "Dynamic Mix" - conducted in Greece and Italy between September 23
and October 13 with the participation of forces from 14 NATO member states -
had been a great success.
kaklamanis criticises US for stance on Greek-Turkish relations
Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis today sharply criticised the
stance adopted by the United States regarding the recent spate of Turkish
provocations against Greece and Cyprus.
"Whoever pretends, and I am referring to the United States, that they
cannot see who is to blame for such tension surely cannot inspire trust
while at the same time claiming a major role as mediator in the region,"
Kaklamanis said.
Kaklamanis stressed that Turkey bore sole responsibility for the climate of
tension prevailing in relations between Athens and Ankara.
He termed "positive" the election yesterday of former foreign minister
Hikmet Cetin as president of the Turkish national assembly.
"Cetin is a politician who is not identified with high tones and aggressiveness,
" Kaklamanis said of his newly-elected counterpart.
Papoutsis: Cyprus-EU entry on track as scheduled
Greece's European Commissioner Christos Papoutsis said today that the
Commission had confirmed its 1993 positive opinion concerning Cyprus' EU
membership as well as the time framework for accession negotiations which
are scheduled to commence in early 1998.
Speaking at a press conference in Athens on the Commission's proposals
within the framework of "Agenda 2000", Papoutsis said the Commission had
reiterated that its decision regarding the commencement of negotiations
with Nicosia was a positive development which could contribute to the
political settlement of the longstanding Cyprus problem.
"It is clear that the accession negotiations could be facilitated if there
is sufficient progress in the process begun under UN auspices for the
settlement of the Cyprus problem. A development which would allow
representatives of the Turkish Cypriot community to participate in the
accession process. And here it should be noted that the term 'accession
process' is being used and not 'accession negotiations'," Papoutsis told
reporters.
Papoutsis added that the Commission would like to clarify that in the
absence of any progress, the accession negotiations would commence with the
government of the Cyprus Republic "as the only authority recognised by
international law and the international community".
OA work stoppages disrupt flight schedules
The work stoppages called today by air traffic controllers and electricians
will cause disruption to the schedule of the national carrier Olympic
Airways which has had to cancel ten domestic flights.
The air traffic controllers will hold a four-hour work stoppage beginning
at 14.00 local time, while the electricians will hold a two-hour stoppage
also beginning at 14.00.
Both groups of workers have called the stoppages in support of demands for
a special pay bonus citing job specialisation.
At a meeting this morning, the air traffic controllers agreed that pledges
given yesterday by Transport Minister Tassos Mantelis were too vague.
Mantelis had said that he would act "within the framework of the law".
Olympic Airways has postponed 32 domestic and nine international flights
until after the stoppages, and cancelled ten domestic flights altogether.
Modern-day Odysseus returns
After a five-year odyssey at sea, covering 45,000 nautical miles as he
sailed around the world under all kinds of weather conditions in his
sailboat, 38-year-old George Gritsis is due to arrive on October 22 at
Mikorlimano port in Piraeus, back where it all began.
The modern-day Odysseus set out from Mikrolimano on April 4, 1992 on the
nine-metre long "Kallipygos", a Greek-built wooden sailboat of his own
design, together with his companian, German sociologist Anne-Marie Biderman,
Gritsas went counter to the usual practice of seafarers, heading due west
around the world instead of eastwards.
His journey took him accross the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean to
Cape Horn in Chile, the southernmost tip of the American continent and the
"Mt. Everest" of sea travellers. Then on through the Cape and across the
Pacific Ocean to northern Australia, across the Indian Ocean and, still
heading westward, to the Cape of Good Hope on the south of Africa. Back in
the Atlantic Ocean, he headed northward, parallel with the African shores,
and returned to the Mediterranean through the Straits of Gibraltar.
The Kallipygos has already entered Greek territorial waters, and is
expected to be visible off Voula, a seaside residential area east of Athens,
on Wednesday afternoon. He will be greeted there by about 100 flag-
decorated boats, which will form a cortege an accompany him on to
Mikrolimano.
Celebrations have been scheduled at Mikrolimano, including the awarding of
distinctions from a number of state agencies, at the Panhellenic Sailing
Deep Sea Sailing Club, which will be followed by a press conference by
Gritsis.
Annan urges reduced tension, military spending
United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan urged Greece, Turkey and Cyprus
to "commit themselves to a reduction in defence spending and a reduction in
the number of foreign troops on the island", in a statement released
yesterday.
The message follows heightening of tenson during and after the carrying out
of Cyprus' annual "Nikiforos" military exercise, which prompted protests
from Greece over Turkish airforce violations of Greek airspace and denials
by Turkey.
Mr. Annan said he was "concerned by reports of increased tension between
Greek and Turkish forces in connection withmilitary exercises in and around
Cyprus and the Eastern Mediterranean". He sid tension followed "increasingly
belligerent rhetoric in recent weeks emanating from both communities in
Cyprus and from Greece and Turkey".
The competition in military exercises "increases tension on theisland, is
dangerous, and could provoke a confrontation".
Mr. Annan urged all parties to abide by Security Council resolutions "which
specifically express grave concern at the continuing excessive levels of
military forces and armaments in Cyprus and at the rate at which they are
being expanded".
He called on all parties to "create a climate for reconciliation and
genuine mutual confidence on both sides" and to "avoid any actions which
might increase tension".
Turkish warplanes again buzz Tsohatzopoulos' transport
Athens accused Ankara yesterday of being hostage to a "Cold War mentality"
after Turkish warplanes buzzed a military transport plane bringing National
Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos back to Greece from Cyprus.
It was the second time this week that a plane carrying Mr. Tsohatzopoulos
had been the focus of Turkish fighters' interest,and both times within the
Athens Flight Information Region (FIR).
A Hellenic Air Force formation of F-16s accompanying Mr. Tsohatzopoulos' C-
130 "Hercules" military transport plane, which was headed for Souda airbase
on Crete, immediately intercepted the Turkish fighters, also F-16s, which
approached the C-130 at a distance of one mile, the national defence
ministry announced.
Arriving in Souda, Mr. Tsohatzopoulos condemned Turkey as "an international
troublemaker which uses Cold War methods".
He called on Ankara to "wake up" to the fact that such methods were not
compatible with its efforts to come closer to Europe.
Meanwhile, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas later also attributed
yesterday's incident to "Cold War complexes and an attitude on the part of
Turkey reminiscent of the past."
Mr. Reppas stressed that the pair of Turkish fighters yesterday "approached"
rather than "harassed" the C-130 carrying Mr. Tsohatzopoulos, although he
said no danger was involved.
"This action, which nevertheless entailed risks, reveals that Turkey has
chosen to play the role of troublemaker in the region," Mr. Reppas
added.
The spokesman underlined that such actions inevitably led to a worsening of
bilateral relations, noting that Turkey's attempt was doomed to failure
since the Turkish armed forces were merely compromising themselves.
Replying to questions, Mr. Reppas said Greece would take all the necessary
steps.
Asked when Greece would consider that it would be acting within the bounds
of international legality and shoot down a Turkish plane, Mr. Reppas
stressed that "this is not in the intentions of the government".
Greece, Slovakia discuss broadening bilateral cooperation
Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos had talks here yesterday with his
Slovakian counterpart Zdenka Kramplova on the prospects of broadening
bilateral co-operation and issues related to European Union enlargement.
After the meeting, Mr. Pangalos said that Greece was supporting Slovakia's
efforts to join NATO and was in favour of the simultaneous commencement of
negotiations for the accession to the EU of all candidate countries. Mr.
Pangalos described as "interesting" his talks with Ms Kramplova which, he
said, focused on broadening bilateral co-operation.
He also announced that National Economy Undersecretary Christos Pachtas had
yesterday signed an economic and commercial cooperation agreement with his
Slovakian counterpart.
Harsh GSEE criticism of latest Spraos report
General Confederation of Workers of Greece (GSEE) President Christos
Polyzogopoulos yesterday called on the government to immediately state its
position on the recent Spraos report on reforming the social insurance
system, adding that it had to face a "climate of panic" in social security
funds and a wave towards retirement.
He also set out trade union arguments against the report's recommendations.
First, GSEE considers that the report treats the social insurance sector on
a revenue-expenditure basis, its aims having an exclusively economic
dimension.
Secondly, the proposal for an increase in the retirement age is condemned
as arbitrary and unrealistic, underestimating factors such as the average
life expectancy, working conditions according to sector etc.
Thirdly, GSEE said the proposal for abolition of early retirement for
unhygenic jobs and the restriction in the number of pensions for handicapped
people runs counter to current legal trends in Europe, and cannot be
considered even for discussion in Gre ece, which has the most unfavourable
working conditions in Europe and 100 deadly accidents at work annually.
In addition, the prediction of a collapse of the social insurance system by
2010 is condemned as danger-mongering, and conceals the fact that it can
only come about with a general collapse of the budget and the economy.
Finally, the resources that would be saved by the Spraos proposals "are
limited and of short duration," GSEE noted, while causing a violent
overthrow of the all the "conquests of working people."
WEATHER
Fair weather is expected over most parts of the country today with a
further drop in temperatures. Winds will be northerly, light to moderate in
the west, becoming very stong in the Aegean Sea in the afternoon. Athens
will be partly cloudy with long spells of sunshine and temperatures between
12-19C. Same in Thessaloniki with temperatures from 7-15C.
FOREIGN EXCHANGE
Thurday's closing rates - buying US dlr. 274.045
Pound sterling 443.266 Cyprus pd 531.461
French franc 46.801 Swiss franc 186.124
German mark 156.913 Italian lira (100) 16.046
Yen (100) 228.134 Canadian dlr. 197.406
Australian dlr. 201.708 Irish Punt 402.489
Belgian franc 7.606 Finnish mark 52.275
Dutch guilder 139.276 Danish kr. 41.196
Swedish kr. 36.159 Norwegian kr. 38.879
Austrian sch. 22.296 Spanish peseta 1.860
Port. Escudo 1.541
(M.S.)
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