MPA NEWS IN ENGLISH

From: Macedonian Press Agency <mpa@philippos.mpa.gr>

Macedonian Press Agency News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki May 21, 1996

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] THESSALONIKI: CENTER OF EUROPEAN INTEREST, AS 20TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF EUROPEAN MAYORS BEGINS TOMORROW

This will be the largest gathering of elected representatives of the local and regional authorities in the European Union and 2,000 officials are expected to attend the Assembly.

The Council of European Municipalities and Regions is the european section of the International Union of Local Authorities (IULA) and was established in 1951. Today, it numbers over 100.000 local and regional authorities, federated together in 38 large National Associations in 25 European countries.

The General Assembly traditionally closes with the adoption of a proclamation which will be transferred to the european bodies and mass media. This proclamation presents the positions of the elected local and regional representatives regarding the conditions of the european structure and the roles of the local and regional self- government.

Ways of facing the issue of unemployment, as well as issues of environmental concern will be at the center of discussions held during the Assembly. Moreover, the committee will promote its positions at the Inter-Governmental Conference (ICG) -in Turin, Italy- since it is considered necessary that the future accord includes the citizens' right to have access to information regarding the European Union's policies and initiatives. The ICG will decide on the future of the EU within the framework of the Maastricht Treaty revision.

The European representatives will discuss the principles of reinforcement, as well as the bases of a multi-level cooperation, where the local and regional authorities will have the task of executing the european policies. This procedure will grant the opportunity to improve the quality of decision-making in the EU and will empower the validity of such decisions.

Mr. Santer is expected to arrive in Thessaloniki tomorrow afternoon, thereby making his first formal visit to Greece. He will speak on the situation in the EU and the challenges facing the local and regional authorities in the ICG.

Main speaker in the formal opening ceremony will be Council of European Municipalities and Regions International President Pasqual Maragall, while Thessaloniki's Mayor Konstantinos Kosmopoulos and Athens Mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos will also address the Assembly.

Greece will participate in the 20th General Assembly with 154 delegates, Germany with 164, France with 82, Britain with 45, Switzerland with 10, Sweden with 27, Spain with 29, Italy with 150, Portugal with 110, Norway with 6, Holland with 10, Luxemburg with 32, Finland with 23, Denmark with 10, Belgium with 26 and Austria with 45, while hundreds of large city mayors and representatives of local self-government will also be able to participate in the conference through the Council of European Municipalities and Regions.

In the conference will also participate and countries outside the European Union, such as Cyprus with three mayors, the Czech Republic with four, Israel with one, Saudi Arabia with two, Poland with 13 and FYROM with one.

[02] THE GREEK GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN COMMENTED ON YESTERDAY'S STATEMENTS MADE BY MR.SOLANA

Mr.Reppas said that the participation in international organizations has value when they play a positive role in the observance of International Law and in shaping positive relations among countries.

He said that NATO must adopt a more effective way in the handling of phenomena, such as the territorial claims of a country against another.

Mr.Reppas also stated that Greece is not seeking the mediation of a certain factor for the solution of the problem that has arisen with the recent turkish claims, but it seeks the respect of certain rules which even the international organizations have to respect. Mr.Reppas added that is very important the activity of international organizations to correspond with their declarations.

[03] THE ISSUE OF MR.PANGALOS' RESIGNATION HAS NOT BEEN RAISED, STATED MR.REPPAS

Mr.Reppas said that the Foreign Minister performs his duties effectivelly and enjoys the Prime Minister's confidence, while responding to a question by a reporter, said that there is no problem in the greek armed forces.

[04] PALESTINIAN LEADER YASSER ARAFAT MET WITH GREEK BUSINESSMEN

About 90 greek businessmen had the opportunity to discuss the needs and priorities of the palestinian administration and also the way through which they could contribute to the region's reconstruction and the modernization.

Mr.Arafat stressed that his country needs the greek experience, as Greece is regarded the crossroads for Europe and the Middle East. He also said that programmes for the construction of housing projects, hospitals, schools, airports and ports have already been hammered out and the greek participation will be welcomed.

Minister of Development ms.Vaso Papandreou underlined that the greek companies are interested in offering goods and services, especially, if the palestinian government gives them the appropriate opportunities. Ms.Papandreou specifically mentioned the role the greek technical companies can play, as well as the pharmaceutical, food and fertilizer industries.

Athens Commerce and Industry Chamber President, Yiannis Papathanasiou confirmed the greek businessmen intention to contribute to the economic development of Palestine.

Mr.Arafat also visited PASOK's President Andreas Papandreou at his residence in Athens and the two men had a half-hour meeting. In statements he made afterwards, mr.Arafat said that he had a discussion with an old friend.

[05] THE GREEK PRESIDENT IS IN CORFU FOR THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNION OF THE IONIAN ISLANDS WITH GREECE

Meanwhile, Minister of Interior, Public Administration and Decentralization mr.Akis Tsohatzopoulos is in the city of Iraklion in the southern Aegean island of Crete to attend the celebrations for the anniversary of the Battle of Crete. The celebrations will culminate on Saturday in the presence of the Greek President.

[06] THESSALONIKI-BOSTON MAYORS SIGN FRIENDSHIP AND COOPERATION AGREEMENT

Addressing the Mayor of Boston, Mr. Kosmopoulos expressed his satisfaction for the signing of such agreement and referred extensively to Thessaloniki's history, stressing the city's upgraded role as "Greece's and the European Union's gate to the Balkans," a role that constitutes Thessaloniki as the city of the future.

"Our countries, which have shared so much during times of war and peace, are already bound by ties of understanding, friendship, cooperation and solidarity," Mr. Kosmopoulos stated.

""With the signing of this agreement we are taking an additional step towards the further strengthening of our friendship. The exchange of knowledge and experience in all areas, and the continuous two-way information, is sure to be beneficial to both sides," the Mayor of Thessaloniki stated.

The Agreement between the two cities outlines that Boston and Thessaloniki agree to create extensive programs of exhange and cooperation of various forms in industry, agriculture, trade, science and technology, culture and arts, education, sports, transports, tourism, and to precipitate the development of economic cooperation between the two cities in various sectors.

Moreover, the Agreement foresees the development and promotion of educational programs for the teaching of the English language at Thessaloniki's public schools and, conversely, the teaching of Modern Greek at Boston's public schools.

[07] ANKARA MUST SHIFT ITS POSITIONS IN ORDER FOR PROGRESS TO BE MADE IN CYPRUS, SAYS CYPRIOT PRESIDENT CLERIDES

Mr. Kasoulides stated that "the Cypriot President will present in a frank manner what he already has said to all of Mr. Clinton's envoys, that is that they must turn their attention towards Ankara so that Turkey shifts its positions in order to find a solution to the Cyprus issue."

[08] OPEN DISCUSSION ON CYPRUS WAS HELD YESTERDAY IN NEW YORK

Ambassador and US State Department special coordinator in Cyprus James Williams, who participated in the discussion, stated that the american initiative on Cyprus is on a phase of silent diplomacy. He said that this is a dynamic process which needs time before it gives results and will not materialize before the November presidential elections in the United States.

He also pointed out that all political parties in the United States and NATO are greatly interested in the success of the american initiative, as the solution of the Cyprus issue will contribute to the improvement of the greek-turkish relations.

Mr.Williams underlined that the United States coordinate their efforts with the European Union, the United Nations and Britain. He also said that the United States will not impose a solution pattern but they will support and promote any solution that will be acceptable by the two communities in Cyprus.

[09] THE HUNGARIAN PRESIDENT WILL VISIT GREECE ON MAY 28-29

In a meeting he had with greek journalists the hungarian President referred to the historical ties between the two peoples that had developed in the past two centuries while he especially stressed the presence of the greeks living in Hungary. He specifically referred to sculptor, Memos Makris and to actress, Athina Papadimitriou.

The hungarian President stated that the relations between the two countries are at a satisfactory level in all sectors underlining the preference displayed by the hungarian tourists to Greece.

Regarding the greek-hungarian trade relations, he said that the volume of trade transactions increased by 30% last year, while this year is expected a 20% increase.

He also stressed that his country's goal is to become an EU member adding that he counts on Greece's assistance towards this direction.

[10] THRACE'S MUSLIM POETS MODEL THEIR WORKS AFTER GREEKS

Ms. Katsari presented her findings during an introduction she held in Kavala on "mediterranean poetry" under the auspices of the society of Friends of Arts and Literature.

The modern turkish poets, according to Ms. Katsari, have translated greek poetry into the turkish language extensively, thereby making works written by poets such as Ritsos, Elitis, Palamas, Kavafis and Marneros, widely known to the intellectual world of Turkey and the muslim minority.

[11] GREEK-SERB SYMPOSIUM WILL BE HELD IN KOMOTINI ON MAY 24-26

The symposium is organised by the University of Thrace History- Ethnology Department in coperation with the Belgrade University Department of Philosophy.

[12] ANCIENT GREEK LANGUAGE REFERENCE BOOK WAS PUBLISHED FOR THE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN ROMANIA

The handbook's author is assistant professor Dr.Ana Felicia Stef and her work aims at helping university students studying Theology and Classical Languages.

This ancient greek language reference book covers in 60 lessons, pronunciation, etymology and syntax, as well as the special characteristics of all the ancient greek dialects.

In every lesson is included an original ancient greek text, its vocabulary, its translation, a useful introduction to greek civilization, and also an extensive chapter on grammar and exercises.

The last ten lessons are devoted to the study of modern greek with special reference to the language of the New Testament and to the special difficulties with the greek language.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[13] THE SPRING SESSION OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY WILL BE HELD IN THESSALONIKI ON MAY 27-29

In the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly meeting will participate about 300 deputies from the 39 Council of Europe member states, while the Assembly's Presiding Board will also meet, as well as different committees which will discuss political, cultural, education and environmental issues.

The meetings of the Permanent Committee, one closed and a second open to the public, will be held on Wednesday, May 29th, while the Environment Committee will meet on Tuesday, May 28th. In the afternoon of May 28th will meet the Assembly's Presiding Board, while the Political Affairs Committee and the Culture-Education Committee will meet on the first day of the Session's proceedings, on Monday, May 27th.

On the sidelines of the meeting, the European Parliamentarians are scheduled to sail around Mount Athos, while they will also visit the archaeological sites of Vergina and Dion and will go sightseeing in Thessaloniki.

[14] CARL BILDT MET SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC

"We will not work with Mr. Karadzic or general Mladic. They are indicted war criminals and should be aprehended and brought to the Hague Tribunal," Carl Bildt pointed out.

However, so far, all the indications show that a compromise between all interested sides is resulting after Karadzic's decision on Saturday to delegate some of his powers, including contacts with the international community, to Vice-President Biljana Plavsic.

First of all a compromise from Karadzic's side, who proceed to a fiegned withdrawal only after he previously secured his complete control over Serbs leadership by dismissing Premier Kasagic and replacing him with Kliskovic who enjoy his confidence.

Also, it is a compromis from international community's side which was unable to arrest Karadzic, fearing the cost such an action would have, as well a compromise from Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic who believes that international community will halt its pressuring and threatening with restoration of the sanctions if he will not mediate in order to remove Bosnianserb hard-line Radovan Karadzic, considered the biggest threat for the Dayton peace agreement.

[15] SERBS REFUGEES PREVENTED TO RETURN TO THEIR HOMES

The Council pointed out that many of these people were among the 60,000 who were pressured by the Bosnian Serb authorities into abandoning their flats and houses earlier this year. After spending months in makeshift camps, now they want to return to their homes which have been occupied by Muslims refugees from Zepa and Srebrenica. Besides thise, the SGV says that the Serbs have difficulty in obtaining Bosnian passports.

Serbian newspaper "Oslobodjenje" reported yesterday that a group of independent intellectuals accused all three sides'' leadership of practicing silent ethnic cleansing and point to Sarajevo, Banja Luka, and both parts of Mostar as examples.

[16] ROMANIAN PRESIDENT MADE A BROAD HINT TO HUNGARY

"If we do not manage to come to terms with others it is because these principles are not observed," Mr. Iliescu said, during his visit paid on Saturday at Uzdin, located in Voivodina autonomous province which is inhabited mostly by Hungarian minority.

In a broad hint to Hungary, President Iliescu said "some want to turn the national minorities, the fellow nationals living in other states' territories into a factor of discord between states and instigate them against the state whose citizens they are. Such a policy cannot help promoting relations of mutual confidence between states." President Iliescu pointed out that there are millions of Romanians living in neighbour states and expressed his satisfaction that they are not factors of discord in any of the neighbours countries.

Presidential spokesman Traian Chebeleu said at a press- conference in Bucharest that Budapest is resposible for the delay in signing the Romanian-Hungarian treaty due to Hungary's constant wish to include in the treaty the Recommendation 1201. Bucharest consider the Recommendation 1201 a symbol of authorising ethnic autonomy and a means to grant collective rights or a special status to the Hungarian minority in Romania.

[17] SOUTH KOREAN INVESTMENTS IN ROMANIA BACK ON TOP LIST

Meanwhile, Daewoo's president Woo-Chong Kim informed yesterday Romanian Premier Nicolae Vacaroiu that there have been placed orders to produce in Romania engines, electrical components and transmission systems for the current car-model produced in Romania. According to Rador, for the next period Daewoo intends to produce in Romania another two car-model both destinated for internal and west- european markets. Romanian media reported that Daewoo would also buy a 51% stake in the state-owned shipyard in the Balck Sea port of Mangalia. The sum involved has not yet been disclosed, but it should place South Korea back on top of the list of foreign investors in Romania

[18] MOLDOVAN PRESIDENT TO VISIT ANKARA

Acccording to a statement released by the Turk Presidential Press Center, President Suleyman Demirel and his Moldovan guest will evaluate regional and international issues concerning the two sides and will review improvements achieved in the two countries relations in the recent two years since their first official meeting in June 1994.

[19] ROMANIA AND FRANCE TO COOPERATE IN TRANSPORTATION FIELD

Romanian Prime Minister Nicolae Vacaroiu, who received yesterday the French delegation, emphasized that the accord represents a moment of reference in increasing the bilateral relation.

[20] FOREIGN EXCHANGE RATE REPORT

CURRENCY          FIXING      BUY         SELL
U.S. Dollar      243.4200   242.6900    244.1500
Deutsche Mark    158.2640   157.7890    158.7390
French Franc      46.7470    46.6070     46.8870
UK Sterling      368.5500   367.4440    369.6560
Swiss Franc      192.7000   192.1220    193.2780
Italian Lira      15.6535    15.6070     15.7000
Danish Kroner     40.9880    40.8650     41.1110
Swedish Crown     35.9170    35.8090     36.0250
Norwegian Crown   36.9040    36.7930     37.0150
Yen              227.6300   226.9470    228.3130
Spanish Peseta     1.8990     1.8933      1.9047
Finnish Mark      51.7020    51.5470     51.8570
ECU              298.0300   297.1360    298.9240

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