BRIEF GREEK NEWS BULLETIN BY MACEDONIA PRESS AGENCY (25/01/96)

From: Macedonian Press Agency <mpa@uranus.ee.auth.gr>

Macedonian Press Agency News in English Directory

BRIEF GREEK NEWS BULLETIN BY MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY

Thessaloniki, January 25 1996

NEWS IN BRIEF

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[01] IMIA ISLANDS IS GREEK TERRITORY, CANNOT BE CONTESTED, SAYS GREECE

Regarding the recent communique exchanges between Turkey and Greece, the Greek Foreign Ministry spokesperson, mr. Kostas Bikas, today made extensive reference to the uninhabited islands' territorial history.

According to Mr. Bikas, the Imia islands issue was created by Turkey's contest of Greece's right to provide aid in that region. Greece, on the other side, feels that its national territorial rights were challenged.

Responding to reporters' questions, the ministry's spokesperson made reference to the incident of December 28, 1995 when the turkish cargo ship "Figan Akat" had ran aground east of the Southern Aegean island of Kalymnos. When the greek coastguard responded to the turkish ship's SOS signal, the "Figan Akat" captain refused their help by saying that he was within turkish territory.

The same day a communication followed between the greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy in Ankara and both sides agreed to rescue the aground ship by using a greek towship. The turkish ship was pulled into the Buluk port of Turkey.

On December 29 Turkey proceeded to issue a verbal note stating that the island falls into turkish territory.

Greece counter-answered on January 10, 1996, with its own verbal note in which it outlined its positions.

According to mr. Bikas, an agreement between Italy and Turkey, dating January 4, 1932, resolves the question of the uninhabited islands' territorial control.

The agreement clearly outlined the border between the shores of Eastern Turkey and the Dodekanese Islands group, which then belonged to Italy. Specifically, this agreement established the territory separation of the turkish sea between Kastellorizo and the Minor Asia coast.

Later that year, on December 28, 1932, an agreement was signed in Ankara by turkish and italian representatives, which outlined the remainding borders. According to Mr. Bikas, Section 30 of this agreement clearly mentions that the italian-turkish border line passes between the Imia islands group -which then belonged to Italy- and the uninhabited island Kato, which belongs to Turkey.

With the Paris Peace Accord of 1947, Greece succeeded Italy in the agreements mentioned above and gained the territory of the Dodekanese Islands.

[02] PASOK PARTY LEADER AUTHORIZED PM TO CALL A MEETING OF PARTY'S MPs

The authorization, which was delivered by former state deputy Antonis Livanis to Prime Minister Kostas Simitis, had been given by mr.Papandreou to mr.Livanis last night and as it was made known, concerns not just the meeting of February 6th but all the meetings of the Parliamentary group that the Prime Minister finds necessary to call.

The authorization will be effective for as long as mr.Papandreou is unable to exercise his duties as PASOK's leader.

[3] THE CONDITION OF PASOK'S LEADER IS STABLE

The medical bulletin issued today by the Onasion Cardiology Center mentions that there was no change in the patient's condition and that the respiratory and renal functions are periodically supported by respirator and artificial kidney respectively.

According to press information based on discussions between mr.Papandreou's attendant doctors and journalists, if the course of the patient's recovery continues he will be able to leave hospital after the first 10 days of February.

[04] NEW MINISTER OF MACEDONIA-THRACE CONFIDENT IN HIS ROLE

Mr. Petsalnikos' immediate plans are to make upgraded policy changes which will harmonize the Northern- Greece Ministry's role with the Athens-based government.

Stating that Macedonia and Thrace are experiencing rapid growth rates during the recent years, the Minister also wants to see the area play a central role in the Balkan market of 80 million people.

"Northern Greece can -and has a right to- be the center of this actively growing Balkan market," said Mr. Petsalnikos, adding, "and we will proceed with thse aims not just in paper, but in action.

[05] MACABRE MURDERS SUSPECT ARRESTED IN ATHENS TODAY

According to the greek police, Thaglis has confessed to the strangulations of two women and the attempted murders of eight others. The cut-up body parts of one of his victims were found in plastic bags disgarded in the national highway last year .

Thaglis has a criminal past beginning from when he was merely 14 years old, when he first attempted to kill prostitutes and transvestites and to seduce minor children.

[06] RECTORS FROM GREEK AND YUGOSLAV UNIVERSITIES MEET IN THESSALONIKI

The meeting will focus on the coordination of scientific activities among the Universities in Balkan and Black Sea countries.

The rectors from Rump Yugoslavia's Universities will arrive in Thessaloniki on Sunday night.

[07] THESSALONIKI FAIR'S AGROTICA EXHIBITION TO REACH RECORD PARTICIPANTS

This year's exhibition will focus on exporting Greece-made machinery to the Balkan area and the Middle East. According to the president of the Association of Makers of Agricultural Machinery, Antonis Koutsikos, 10- 15% of the annual profits stem from exports, while the greek producers' share surpasses 90%.

The dynamic promotion of exporting greek machinery is the only option, according to Mr. Koutsikos, as the market is facing severe problems, such as high interest rates, low buying power in the interior market -due to its small size- and the shrinking of the agricultural income.

[08] DANISH MINISTER VOWS TO PERSONALLY PUSH CYPRUS ISSUE ON E.U.

Mr. Petersen, who presides over the Council's Ministry Commission, had avoided answering a question posed by Cupriot Parliament President Mr. Alexis Galanos, relating to the Turkish occupation of Cyprus, during yesterday's presentation of the Council's activities.

Mr. Galanos made reference to Cyprus by comparing the turkish invasion of North Iraq with the invasion of Cyprus in 1974.

Responding to danish reporters' questions, Mr. Petersen explained that he avoided any mention of Cyprus, and the island's occupation, out of courtesy to the absent turkish representative.

[09] FOREIGN EXCHANGE RATES REPORT

CURRENCY                FIXING      BUY         SELL
ECU                     303.1620   302.2530    304.0710
U.S. Dollar             244.4150   243.6820    245.1480
Deutsche Mark           165.4200   164.9240    165.9160
UK Sterling             370.5300   369.4180    371.6420
French Franc             48.1980    48.0530     48.3430
Swedish Crown            35.4790    35.3730     35.5850
Danish Kroner            42.8000    42.6720     42.9280
Norwegian Crown          37.8110    37.6980     37.9240
Italian Lira             15.3280    15.2820     15.3740
Swiss Franc             205.9660   205.3480    206.5840
Spanish Peseta            1.9614     1.9555      1.9673
Finnish Mark             53.8470    53.6850     54.0090
Yen                     228.9500   228.2630    229.6370