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The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 99-07-26
From: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <ert.ntua.gr/>
CONTENTS
[01] GREEK-TURKISH DIALOGUE BEGINS IN ANKARA
[02] PM SIMITIS DISCUSSES ARMAMENTS, IMMIGRATION, CRIME
[03] PM TO VISIT GREEK FORCES IN KOSOVO
[04] CYPRUS TALKS ONCE AGAIN IN THE LIMELIGHT
[05] POMACKS CONDEMN MOSLEM DEPUTIES' ETHNIC MINORITIES STANCE
[06] CONSCRIPT AWARDED FOR HIJACKING BRAVERY
[07] NEW PRESIDENT OF 2004 OLYMPIC GAMES COMMITTEE APPOINTED
[01] GREEK-TURKISH DIALOGUE BEGINS IN ANKARA
The first round of Greek-Turkish dialogue begins in Ankara today, at
the level of foreign ministry experts, and will focus on issues of
trade, tourism, environment and cultural exchanges. The talks will
continue on July 29 and 30 in Athens, where the Turkish delegation,
headed by ambassador Faruk Lologlou, is expected. At those meetings,
issues connected with the combatting of organised crime, illegal
immigration, drugs, cooperation over criminal acts that could be
described as terrorism and collaboration in the tourist sector will be
discussed. In addition, Mr Papandreou and Mr Cem are due to meet in
Sarajevo on the sidelines of Friday's summit on the reconstruction of
the Balkans, at which they are expected to make a preliminary
assessment of the first bilateral contacts. They will meet again in
September on the sidelines of a meeting of the UN General Assembly in
New York. However, Mr Papandreou said yesterday he had reservations
about the outcome of the dialogue.
[02] PM SIMITIS DISCUSSES ARMAMENTS, IMMIGRATION, CRIME
The government's Defence and Foreign Affairs Council meets today, under
the chairmanship of the prime minister, Kostas Simitis, to discuss the
Navy's armaments programme. Later, Mr. Simitis will have successive
meetings with opposition New Democracy leader Costas Karamanlis and the
chairman of the Democratic Social Movement, Dimitris Tsovolas, on the
government's immigration policy and measures to combat crime.
[03] PM TO VISIT GREEK FORCES IN KOSOVO
Next week, the prime minister is scheduled to visit Urosevac in
Kosovo, where the Greek contingent in the international peace-keeping
force is stationed. He will be accompanied by the national defence
minister, Akis Tsohatzopoulos. In the meantime, Albanian president
Rexjep Mejdani- abandoning his previous positions-said yesterday that
the future of Kosovo lay in autonomy or a republic within the framework
of the Yugoslav federation.
[04] CYPRUS TALKS ONCE AGAIN IN THE LIMELIGHT
The outgoing special US envoy for the Cyprus issue, Thomas Miller will
meet today in Athens with Foreign Minister George Papandreou, whom he
is expected to brief on the name of his successor. According to press
reports, both the United States and Britain are continuing intense
behind-the-scenes activities, with the aim of ensuring that talks on
the Cyprus issue are held in the autumn. However, Nicosia has stressed
that its response will be tough, in the event that Turkish-Cypriot
leader Rauf Denktash sets conditions relating to any upgrading of his
status prior to negotiations. A government spokesman commented that
Cyprus would attend the talks to discuss a solution within United
Nations resolutions, not to legalise and consolidate a non-solution.
Meanwhile, it appears that the special British envoy for the Cyprus
issue, Sir David Hannay, has criticised Turkey and Mr. Denktash for
their inflexible stance over the Cyprus dispute. He also rejected the
view expressed by Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit that the Cyprus
dispute had been resolved and that there was no longer a problem.
[05] POMACKS CONDEMN MOSLEM DEPUTIES' ETHNIC MINORITIES STANCE
The Centre for Pomack Research has angrily condemned a provocative
text signed by three Moslem parliamentary deputies, Galip Galip, Birol
Akifoglou and Moustafa Moustafa, referring to so-called ethnic
minorities in Greece. In an announcement, the Pomacks have declared
that they are not, nor do they feel, Turkish. Meawwhile, following the
uproar caused by the text, both in government and opposition circles,
the three Moslem deputies from Thrace have sent a letter to the
president of the Greek Republic, the prime minister, the speaker of
parliament and political party leaders, clarifying that the Moslem
minority in Greece does in fact enjoy all the rights and freedoms
provided for by the letter and the law of international treaties that
Greece has signed.
[06] CONSCRIPT AWARDED FOR HIJACKING BRAVERY
A young military conscript, Nestoras Kokkalis, was yesterday awarded a
special medal for valour, for his assistance in bringing about an end
to the ordeal suffered by eight hostages, when their intercity bus was
hijacked by an armed Albanian earlier this month. The presentation was
made by Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos, on behalf of President
Costis Stephanopoulos, in Kilkis.
[07] NEW PRESIDENT OF 2004 OLYMPIC GAMES COMMITTEE APPOINTED
The prime minister has appointed the deputy governor of the Bank of
Greece, Panayiotis Thomopoulos, as the new president of the organising
committee for the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, following the recent
resignation of Stratis Stratigis. An Olympics committee board meeting
will be held on Wednesday, at which time Mr Thomopoulos will formally
undertake his duties. The newly-created post of committee
vice-president was assigned to Niki Tzavela, a former conservative
lawmaker, who is already a member of the 2004 organising committee.
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