Athens News Agency: News in English (AM), 97-05-26

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

NEWS IN ENGLISH

Athens, Greece, 26/05/1997 (ANA)

MAIN HEADLINES

• Greece reiterates: status quo in the Aegean clearly set
• Excerpts from Demirel's TV interview
• Turkey's foreign undersecretary in Athens
• Businessmen hold significant meeting in Istanbul
• Event in Mitilini on EU-Turkey relations
• Greek humanitarian aid to Bulgaria
• Athens hosts UN conference on Mideast
• Olympiakos gets the soccer championship cup
• Greek first division soccer final results
• Weather
• Foreign exchange

NEWS IN DETAIL

Greece has reiterated that the status quo in the Aegean is clearly set by international treaties, and that the only possible topic for discussion with Turkey is the status of the continental shelf.

The reiteration came over the weekend from Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos and Foreign Undersecretary Yiannos Kranidiotis, in response to statements by Turkish President Suleyman Demirel in a two-part interview with the Greek Antenna TV channel, where he said that the sovereignty of 130 small islands and rocky islets in the Aegean is questionable. Mr. Demirel added that this issue must be handled first with dialogue.

"Because there is nothing to claim in the Aegean,there is nothing for discussion, except the continental shelf," retorted Mr. Tsohatzopoulos to Friday's first part of the interview in a press conference in Irakleion.

"This is an artificial questioning of our borders, aimed at creating the impression that there are 'grey' zones in the Aegean, the sovereignty of which he intends to dispute with the strategic aim of overturning the status quo in the Aegean.

He called on the Turkish president to seek recourse at the International Court at The Hague to find out what Turkey can claim.

"The Aegean is delineated through international treaties and everything is well-defined," he added.

In follow-up statements yesterday, Mr. Tsohatzopoulos said the disputing of the sovereignty of Aegean islets had nothing to do with the recently set up bilateral committee of experts that will examine problems, as this was conceived in the framework of the EU, and "it must proceed in order to establish where justice lies and who really wants restoration of international law, stability, and the application of international treaties and agreements".

Mr. Kranidiotis stated that the Demirel interview added nothing new and did not contribute to the normalisation of Greek-Turkish relations as they reiterated already known positions, based on unlawful claims which are now codified.

Excerpts from Demirel's TV interview

In the second part of his interview to Antenna TV channel on Saturday night, Turkish President Suleyman Demirel stated his categorial opposition to Cypriot EU membership before Turkey.

"If the Greek part of Cyprus becomes a member of the EU, there will be no solution, and the problem will remain for years and years," he said. He claimed that the Turkish side is ready to discuss the finding of a solution, and blamed the Greek side for reluctance to do the same, stressing that his country is only interested in the security of the Turkish Cypriots.

"Turkey has no intention of occupying Cyprus, or creating problems. If it wanted to occupy the whole island, it should have done it 22 years ago," he said.

He reiterated that his country's proposal for dialogue with Greece is still open, emphasising that chronic problems cannot be solved overnight.

As this might take even years, as he said, the solution of Greek-Turkish problems cannot be set as a precondition for his countrys' membership of the EU.

"In the reshuffling of Europe, Turkey must not be left out," he said.

Referring to the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in Istanbul, the Turkish president said his country is not willing to accept its ecumenical character, because "according to the treaties, it has never agreed to any such thing".

"What other countries do is a different thing," he added.

Turkey's foreign undersecretary in Athens

Turkey's Foreign Undersecretary Onur Oymen arrived in Athens yesterday to join Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou on the podium of a conference on Greek-Turkish relations in Athens, beginning today.

In arrival statements, Mr. Oymen said that "where there are problems there are also solutions," and referred to what he called "a new era in Greek- Turkish relations" which was inaugurated with the meeting between Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalo s and his Turkish counterpart Tansu Ciller and that of his own with Mr. Papandreou.

Mr. Oymen expressed the conviction that the operation of the two countries' committees of experts will constitute a postive step and that the non- binding proposals that will be submitted will be beneficial.

Businessmen hold significant meeting in Istanbul

A group of Greek and Greek Cypriot businessmen held a meeting yesterday in Istanbul with a group of Turkish and Turkish Cypriot businessmen.

Analysts say the meeting, the first of its kind, held at the initiative of the Turkish Committee of Foreign Economic Relations (DEIK), indicated the will of the business community in both countries to contribute to cooperation as opposed to eternal opposition.

Event in Mitilini on EU-Turkey relations

PASOK's Europarliamentary group organised an event on "EU - Turkey relations" in Mytilini, Lesvos island, yesterday.

Euro-MP Paraskevas Avgerinos described the current period as "crucial for Greece and decisive for Europe and its vision", stressing that this vision was endangered "by fascists, chauvinists, racists and xenophobics".

He stated support for EU membership of Balkan countries as a necessary condition for the consolidation of the Union in the area.

Speaking under the title, "European Union - Turkey - A Problem of Values", Euro-MP Dimitris Tsatsos said the State in Turkey was deeply divided ideologically, a pseudo-parliamentary democratic system prevailed, and there were important problems concer ning the country's international profile, indicated by President Suleyman Demirel's recent interview where he claimed that international law is not binding on his country".

Eurodeputy Yiannis Roubatis said "Greece has no reason to reject Turkey's approach to Europe, and condemns the use of racial, religious and cultural reasons for such a rejection".

Minister for the Aegean Elisavet Papazoi referred to "the environmentally friendly mask worn by Turkey before international fora", mentioning in particular the problem of the gold processing unit near Bergama, now thankfully being led to a solution, and to the dangers posed by the proposed operation of nuclear power plants in southwestern Asia Minor and near Sinop on the Black Sea.

Greek humanitarian aid to Bulgaria

The first dispatch of food, medicine and other essentials leaves for orhpanages, nursing homes and hospitals in south Bulgaria from the port of Thessaloniki today. The aid has been collected by a joint effort by Doctors of the World, Greek Radio ERA, Greek Television 3, and employees of the Greek Radio and Television through regional and city fundraising events.

Athens hosts UN conference on Mideast

A UN-sponsored two-day conference on the Middle East,entitled "The Peace Process: The Challenges Ahead", begins in Athens today to examine the peace agreements signed in Oslo and Cairo and the progress which had been achieved in implementing them, the final status of the Palestinian territories and economic prospects.

Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou will address the opening session.

Taking part will be analysts from the Palestinian territories, Israel, the Arab world, the United States and Europe. Representatives from the Greek and international mass media will also be present.

Olympiakos gets the soccer championship cup

The Greek soccer championship ended yesterday with Olympiakos Piraeus winning the title after ten years in the cold.

In yesterday's last match, Olympiakos trounced Kavala 6-0.

Olympiakos will play in the Champions League next season while AEK Athens, who finished second in the league, will play in the Cup Winners' Cup. OFI Crete and PAOK Thessaloniki will represent Greece in the UEFA Cup.

Greek first division soccer final results

Olympiakos - Kavala 6 - 0 AEK Athens - Xanthi 2 - 1 Veria - OFI Crete 2 - 0 PAOK Thessaloniki- Kastoria 6 - 0 Iraklis Thessaloniki-Panathinaikos 0 - 2 Panahaiki Patras-Pyrgos 1 - 1 Kalamata - Ionikos Piraeus 2 - 0 Apollon Athens-Aris Thessaloniki 1 - 2 Athinaikos - Edessa 5 - 2

Final Standings: Olympiakos 84 AEK 72 OFI 66 PAOK Salonique 66 Panathinaikos 64 Kavala 55 Pyrgos 45 Ionikos 44 Apollon 42 Veria 41 Kalamata 41 Athinaikos 40 Heraklis 39 Panahaiki 39 Xanthi 39 Aris 35 Edessa 28 Kastoria 8

WEATHER

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