[01] ACTION GROUP FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE BALKAN ENERGY NETWORKS

[02] NORTHERN GREECE AND FYROM COULD ENTER A JOINT EU ENERGY PROJECT

[03] EU EXAMINES FINANCING OF THE BURGAS-ALEXANDRUPOLIS OIL PIPELINE

[04] EU TO HELP RESTORATION OF ENERGY NETWORKS IN SARAJEVO

[05] EUR.COMMISSION TO WITHDRAW APPEAL TO EUR.COURT OF JUSTICE

[06] UN SECRETARY GENERAL HAILS ABDI IPEKCI PEACE AND FREINDSHIP PRIZES

[07] GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER PAPOULIAS CONTINUES ITS CONTACTS IN CHINA

[08] GRECOTURKISH COOPERATION IN NATURAL GAS TRANSPORTATION POSSIBLE

[09] GREEK-TURKISH SYMPOSIUM ON PRENATAL CARE IN HELD IN GREECE

[10] SUMMIT MEETING OF THE NON-ALLIED COUNTRIES IN COLOMBIA

[11] LAWYER OF GREEK DESCENT ICE-PRESIDENT OF AUSTRALIAN STATE PARTY

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[01] ACTION GROUP FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE BALKAN ENERGY NETWORKS

An action group for the development of the Balkan energy networks and their interconnections will be established in December according to a statement made by greek European Union Commissioner on energy mr. Christos Papouchis in a press conference in Thessaloniki during the conference of the energy networks in the Balkans and the Black Sea.

The action group's aim will be the recording all the plans concerning the region directly or indirectly, the detailed study of those plans and the determination of the priorities for the materialization of those plans based on their importance and their technical- economic maturity.

Mr. Papouchis also clarified that first will be taken into account the opinion of all the involved parties such as private companies and credit organizations.

Mr. Papouchis proposed the establishment of the action group through the Black Sea Regional Energy Center, based in Sofia in order to avoid the time consuming procedures.

The partners of this energy center are the 11 members of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization (BSEC) and the European Commission.

Mr Papouchis said that the Commission supports the Black Sea Energy Center and plans to organize a similar center in the Caspian Sea.

The greek Commissioner pointed out that the development of Balkan energy networks is necessary to cover the existing void in the region so that the Balkans become an energy crossroads because this way there will be an outlet for the oil coming from Russia and Azerbadjan.

Mr Papouchis called on the greek businessmen to invest on the energy sector in the Balkans stressing that they will be well received by the peoples of the region as the climate is favourable for such initiatives.

[02] NORTHERN GREECE AND FYROM COULD ENTER A JOINT EU ENERGY PROJECT

Responding to the question on whether the proposed construction of the oil pipe-line Thessaloniki - Skopje will move ahead he said that those plans will be studied by the responsible EU Commission agencies and a response will be issued after taking under consideration the advise of the investors. Mr.Papoutsis stated that FYROM's energy problems should be registered before the construction of infra-structure projects begins.

He also pointed out that joint energy planning between Northern Greece and FYROM could be made under the auspices of an EU programme, underlining that the EU Commission first expects the problems between the two countries to be resolved.

[03] EU EXAMINES FINANCING OF THE BURGAS-ALEXANDRUPOLIS OIL PIPELINE

Mr.Papouchis referring to the issue of stressed that the pipe-line which will bring Russian oil from the bulgarian port of Burgas in the Black Sea to the greek port of Alexandrupolis in the Aegean Sea can not be compared to the one that will begin from Bacu, Azerbaidjan, and end up through Georgia to south Turkey's port of Ceyhan because their aim is different.

The commissioner said that the Commission seems to be positive towards the finance of the project.

[04] EU TO HELP RESTORATION OF ENERGY NETWORKS IN SARAJEVO

Mr.Papouchis added that necessary pre-conditions are the existence of a favourable economic climate and the consolidation of peace in former Yugoslavia.

Also, mr.Papoutsis announced that the European Commission has undertaken an initiative for the restoration of Sarajevo's electricity network. In the framework of this initiative a group of experts is expected to visit Sarajevo next week while the EU member states will be called to offer free construction materials for the restoration of the damages.

[05] EUR.COMMISSION TO WITHDRAW APPEAL TO EUR.COURT OF JUSTICE

The European Commission will withdraw its appeal to the European Court of Justice against Greece calling for the lifting of the greek embargo against Skopje, according to a statement made this morning by EU Commissioner Hans Van Den Broek, responsible for the EU's external relations.

Mr. Van Den Broek responding to a question made by greek member of the European Parliament mr Alekos Alavanos stated that he is ready to withdraw the appeal against Greece as soon as Athens sends a letter to the EU Commission officially announcing that it has lifted the embargo against FYROM.

[06] UN SECRETARY GENERAL HAILS ABDI IPEKCI PEACE AND FREINDSHIP PRIZES

Official attempts have no chance to succeed if peoples do not undertake the initiatives to bridge the gaps which separate societies says the Secretary General of the United Nations dr Boutros Boutros Ghalli in a message to the Abdi Ipekci peace and friendship prize.

This is why this grecoturkish peace and friendship prize Abdi Ipekci is so important and so encouraging for the hearts of so many people all over the world, says dr Ghalli who stresses that the prize to the couple which donated the heart of their dead son to a young turkish boy and the young students of Turkey aknowledges the importance of youth for the peace of the world in the coming generations.

Our work for peace, the work of your committee and the United Nations says dr Ghalli is to create a world of peace and understanding for all the children of the world.

We must leave them a world with better chances for peace, concludes the Secretary General in his message.

[07] GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER PAPOULIAS CONTINUES ITS CONTACTS IN CHINA

Complete satisfaction was expressed by the greek government deligation visiting China concerning the talks it had during its three-day formal visit to Beizing aiming at further improving the economic and political relations between the two countries.

The contacts in the chinese capital were completed with a meeting of greek Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias, Minister of Merchant Marine Giorgos Katsifaras and Undersecretary of National Economy Ioannis Anthopoulos with the vice-president of the chinese government responsible for economic issues and alternate Prime Minister mr.Zhu Rongjii.

Minister of Merchant Marine, mr.Katsifaras stated that the chinese officials accepted the greek proposal for the creation of joint greek-chinese shipping companies adding that greek ship owners will undertake the transport of chinese products while they will also undertake to develop the sector of sea tourism in the region.

The greek Undersecretary of National Economy, mr.Anthopoulos stated that Greece's goal is to export farm products like olive oil and cotton to China and expressed the belief that this goal will be achieved as in the first five months of 1995 the greek exports to China have increased significantly.

Tomorrow, the greek government delegation will be in Shanghai to visit the Free Trade Transactions Zone and also to have discussions with businessmen in the region.

[08] GRECOTURKISH COOPERATION IN NATURAL GAS TRANSPORTATION POSSIBLE

A grecoturkish cooperation in the sector of the transportation of natural gas from Turkmenistan or Iran, when this country decides to channel it to Europe, is possible to exist, according to mr. Giokhan Yiardim head of the natural gas department which is under the authority of the turkish Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources.

Mr.Yiardim stated to MPA, that there are already turkish plans for a pipe-line that will carry the natural gas from Turkmenistan adding that it can be carried to Europe through two pipe-lines, one through Bulgaria and Romania and one through Greece to Italy.

He also stressed that nothing has been discussed yet with greek officials and underlined that the materialization of such international plans is not so easy adding that there is already cooperation between Greece and Turkey in the electricity sector based on the agreement signed in November of 1989 which is still in effect without any problems.

[09] GREEK-TURKISH SYMPOSIUM ON PRENATAL CARE =92=8E BE HELD IN GREECE

The 3rd Greek-Turkish Symposium on Prenatal Care will be held in the town of Rio near the city of Patras in southern Greece on Friday.

The Symposium aims at improving the special tele- medicine programme on Obstetrics and Gynaecology and is jointly organized by obstetrics and gynaecological clinics in Athens and Ankara.

Also, on Saturday will open the two-day procedures of the annual general convention of the Greek Obstetrics and Gynecology Society organized for the first time in the city of Patras which is expected to be attended by 300 doctors from all over the country.

[10] SUMMIT MEETING OF THE NON-ALLIED COUNTRIES IN COLOMBIA

Cypriot President Glafkos Kliridis is expected to refer to the developments in the cypriot problem in his address to the Summit Meeting of the Non-Allied countries which will be held in Carthagena, Colombia.

Meanwhile, Cypriot Foreign Minister Alekos Michailidis, who is also in Colombia, stated that Nicosia expects the Carthagena Summit to adopt without changes the resolution on Cyprus which had been approved last year in the Non-Allied Foreign Ministers Summit in Cairo.

The resolution calls for the withdrawal of all foreign troops and settlers from Cyprus and welcomes Cypriot President Kliridis' proposal for the demilitarization of the country.

[11] LAWYER OF GREEK DESCENT ICE-PRESIDENT OF AUSTRALIAN STATE PARTY

The new vice-president of the Labour party in the australian state of Victoria is ms. Jenny Mikakos, a woman lawyer of greek descent who was voted to the post during the annual convention of Australia's main opposition party. President of the party was elected mr. John Spike.