BRIEF GREEK NEWS BULLETIN (22/02/1996)

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

Macedonian Press Agency News in English Directory

BRIEF GREEK NEWS BULLETIN BY MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY

February 22, 1996

TITLES

NEWS IN DETAIL

[01] NO LEADS FOUND YET ON EXPLOSION IN GREEK RAILWAY TRAIN

The explosion took place half an hour after the passenger train 7633, whose route was Sofia-Thessaloniki, arrived at its destination. There were no injuries.

The coach, where the explosion took place, came from Bulgaria and was joined with the rest of the train in Strymonas, Greece. However authorities do not know if the explosive device was placed in Greece or elsewhere.

Although no one has claimed responsibility for the incident, greek police speculate that it is a terrorist act.

Greek authorities continue their investigations into the matter.

[02] CANADIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SUPPORTIVE OF GREECE ON IMIA

Specifically, Mr. Axworthy stated that Canada has always been in favor if applying the regulations which arise from international accords.

Addressing representatives of the greek-canadian community in Montreal, including Canada's Bishop Soteriou, Mr. Axworthy said "Canada continues to believe that the use of violence is not the advisable way to solve problems," and added that "differences must be resolved with good-faith and through the diplomatic venues."

However, Mr. Axworthy added, "respect must be granted to international rules, international accords and the inviolable (status) of borders."

The Canadian Foreign Minister also stated that he plans to make his positions known to Turkey as well.

Regarding the cypriot issue, Mr. Axworthy favors further talks and deliberations regarding the island's de-militarization.

[03] GERMANY WON'T RECOGNIZE CITIZENS OF TURKISH PSEUDOSTATE

When Ufuk Deyer requested nationalization rights stemming from his marriage to a german citizen, the german authorities refused to recognize his country of origin since, regarding to the german authorities, the "illegal citizenship in the pseudo-state is granted freely to a great number of people who settle there from Turkey following the turkish invasion of the island in 1974."

Moreover, the german state stated that the illegal citizenship of the pseudo-state has none whatsoever legal validity in German law, since it is recognized as an independent entity only by Turkey.

The German authorities directed Deyer to seek help from the authorities of Cyprus regarding the formalities nencessary for gaining german citizenship.

[04] TURK WELFARE PARTY STILL OPPOSES CUSTOMS UNION

Mr. Erbakan, who is currently negotiating his party's participation in a government coalition with the Motherland Party, had expressed his anti-european sentiments prior to the December elections, while immediately thereafter, he had stated that he does not intend to question the then-signed agrement between Turkey and the European Union.

Today he announced that he intends to officially contest the Customs Union.

[05] THE GREEK PRIME MINISTER ARRIVED IN GERMANY FOR TALKS WITH CHANCELLOR KOHL

Mr.Simitis had two-hour talks with German Chancellor Helmut Kohl during which he briefed the german Chancellor on the greek government's positions concerning the issue of the crisis over the islets of Imia in south-eastern Aegean and on the expansionist policy followed by Turkey in the Aegean.

Mr.Simitis also asked Greece's borders to be recognized as external borders of the European Union and the EU member-states to be committed to offer solidarity to eachother.

[06] THERE IS NO OFFICIAL INFORMATION CONCERNING THE RECOGNITION OF SKOPJE BY SERBIA

The above were stated by greek Foreign Ministry spokesman Kostantinos Bikas commenting on press reports according to which, the recognition of FYROM by Serbia under the name "Republic of Macedonia" is expected to take place by Saturday.

[07] THE NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL WILL VISIT GREECE ON FEBRUARY 29TH

Meanwhile, on February 28 and 29 will visit Athens Italian EU Presidency representative on Cyprus, Federico Di Roberto.

[08] TALKS OF ITALIAN AND BRITISH OFFICIALS ON THE CYPRUS PROBLEM

The two officials who arrived in Cyprus last night will meet with Cypriot President Glafkos Kliridis and with Foreign Minister Alekos Michailidis.

Mr.Di Roberto stated that he will make recommendations for the solution of the Cyprus problem based on the European Union principles while he said that his mission is to find a solution to the problem.

[09] THE CYPRIOT PRESIDENT MET WITH THE COUNCIL OF OVERSEAS HELLENISM PRESIDENT

In statements after the meeting, mr.Athens said that in order to achieve this goal he began contacts with the greek communities abroad. He also mentioned that a Council of the greeks leaving abroad will be held in Washington next March through which will be applied pressure on the US government in order to support the greek national issues.

[10] EXHIBITION OF GREEK PRODUCTS WILL BE HELD IN FYROM ON FEBRUARY 23,24 & 25

The exhibition will be held on a space of 3 thousand square meters and will be visited by businessmen and trade visitors from FYROM, Kosovo and southern Serbia.

The exhibition aims at activating the greek business infiltration not only in Skopje but in the wider Balkan region as well.

[11] EARTHQUAKE MEASURING 4,2 ON THE RICHTER SCALE SHOOK THE CITY OF PTOLEMAIDA IN NORTH-WESTERN GREECE

Seismology professor mr.Vasilis Papazachos said to MPA that an earthquake of the same size was recorded there and last Sunday stressing that it is too early to draw conclusions as the region has small seismic activity.

[12] PARTS OF A TIME BOMB ARE BEING EXAMINED BY THE GREEK ANTI- TERRORIST AGENCY IN THESSALONIKI

According to police, the explosion that took place in the passenger coach which came from Sofia, Bulgaria was caused by a time bomb that had been placed in the lavatory. The type of explosives used was not mentioned but in his press conference Thessaloniki's police Director insinuated that it was not a random hit. He also said that is not known if the explosive device was placed while the passenger coach was in Greece or while it was outside the greek borders.

No one has claimed responsibility for the attack and police is not ruling out any possibility mentioning the connections of the bulgarian mafia with the greek organized crime as well as the fact that the greek police lately has been repeatedly successful in cases involving the illegal trafficking of drugs and young women from Bulgaria.

[13] THE STRIKE ORGANIZED TODAY BY THE GREEK GENERAL CONFEDERATION OF LABOUR WAS THE MOST SUCCESSFUL IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS

The participation of the workers in the transport sector and the sea ports was total, while the percentage of participation was significant and in the National Bank of Greece 52%, the State Electricity Company 50%, the State Telephone Company 75%, and the greek Postal Service 90%. Also, large participation was observed and in large industry plants with strong unions.

The Greek General Confederation of Labour calls employers to participate in negotiations on the new collective labour contract with more favourable proposals for the workers, warning that in any other case there will be further mobilizations with new strikes.

Next Wednesday, the President of the Confederation mr.Protopappas will meet with Prime Minister Simitis. Mr.Protopappas said that the message of the strike concerns and the government too, while he added that a crucial topic for discussion with the Prime Minister will be and the issue of pensions.

[14] A SMALL SWEDISH PLANE CRASHED IN THE SEA OFF THE COAST OF THE ISLAND OF CRETE, NO VICTIMS

The small "Chesna" plane was coming from Brintesi, Italy and was getting ready for landing at the Kazantsakis Airport in Iraklion in order to be refuelled, before it continued its trip to Alexandria, Egypt with final destination the Phillippines where it would have been delivered to its buyer.

The pilot sent out an SOS mentioning that the plane had an engine failure and a few minutes later it crashed. The three passengers were picked up by the Coastguard and are Laiph Hengelson 55 yearsold, Keneth Peterson 51 and pilot Lars Walkagow 58, who apart from the shock as a result of the crash suffered no injuries.