MPA NEWS IN ENGLISH (23/05/1996)

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

Macedonian Press Agency News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki May 23, 1996

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] JACQUES SANTER MET IN ATHENS TODAY WITH GREEK PRESIDENT AND THE PREMIER

The greek-turkish relations and the tension in the Aegean were at the center of the discussions European Commission President Jacques Santer had in Athens today with President Kostis Stephanopoulos. The President presented the greek positions, and mr.Santer expressed the stance that the EU members must show solidarity to Greece, while he supported the position that the greek borders are the external borders of the European Union.

Mr.Santer also met with Prime Minister Kostas Simitis and they discussed European Union issues and the problem of unemployment. Mr.Simitis stated after the meeting that mr.Santer generally shares the same positions with the greek government.

The greek Prime Minister also requested a special effort to be made by the EU in order to be avoided the structural crisis in Greece, specifically in sectors which are not technologically developed enough, while he pointed out the importance of a more effective coordination of the EU policies concerning the small- medium sized businesses which, as he said, create many new jobs.

[02] SIMITIS, SANTER MEET AND DISCUSS "CONFIDENCE ACCORD ON EMPLOYMENT"

Prime Minister Kostas Simitis received the President of the European Commission Jacques Santer today, and the two men discussed the "Confidence Accord on Employment", a proposal initiated by Mr. Santer.

The Accord aims at combating unemployment in the European Union countries, and looks into ways to promote job-creating measures. Following Mr. Santer's successive meetings with EU government leaders, the finalized accord will be submited to the EU Summit, to be held in June, at Florence, Italy.

Mr. Simitis stated that this accord constitutes an interesting effort for mobilizing the social and political forces in the EU in order to effectively address the issue of unemployment. The Premier pointed out that Mr. Santer's positions are in line with Greece's positions regarding the issue of joblessness.

For example, some of the positions that are supported by Greece are, for one, that the EU needs a stable, macro-economic environment and rapid rates of economic development for the creation of new jobs. Concurrently, a series of measures that will deal with structural unemployment will be created, which will support the supply-demand ratio, taking into consideration ethnic characteristics and needs.

Also, Greece's position is that the EU must support technological upgrading and provide funding to small to medium size businesses, which make up the greatest source of new jobs and create new products and services.

Present at the meeting between the Premier and the President of the Commission were also the Labor Minister Evangelos Yiannopoulos, deputy Ministers Nikos Farmakis and Labros Kanelopoulos, as well as various representatives from the greek industry sector.

[03] NO APPROACH BETWEEN GREECE-TURKEY, AS LONG AS THERE'S "GREY AREA" TALK

"There can be no approach made whatsoever between Greece and Turkey, if Turkey continues its talk about grey areas," according to government spokesperson Dimitris Reppas.

Mr. Reppas was commenting on the statements made yesterday by turkish Premier Mesut Yilmaz, who questioned the Lausanne Treaty and stated that the Aegean Sea is not a greek sea.

[04] FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESPERSON COMMENTS ON MESUT YILMAZ'S STATEMENTS

"The greek positions are firm and well-known regarding the greek-turkish issues," stated the Foreign Ministry's spokesperson Konstantinos Bikas, commenting on the statements made yesterday by Turk Premier Mesut Yilmaz.

The Turk leader yesterday proceeded to question the Lausanne Treaty and spoke of "grey areas" in the Aegean Sea -he stated that the Aegean is not a Greek sea-, and strongly objected to Greece's right to extent its territorial waters in the region to 12 miles from the current six.

"Greece insists on a step-by-step approach between the two countries, under the condition that Turkey will resort to the International Court of Justice at the Hague, regarding the Imia islets," stated Mr. Bikas.

Referring to Mr. Yilmaz's "grey areas" claims, the Foreign Ministry's spokesperson emphatically stated that Greece does not accept such issue.

[05] EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT JACQUES SANTER SUPPORTS DIAVLOS PROGRAM

European Commission President Jacques Santer stated today that the Macedonian Press Agency's "Diavlos" program "is a good initiative that deserves to be supported by the European Union."

Mr. Santer met today with M.P.A.'s general director Spyros Kouzinopoulos, and was briefed on "Diavlos", the news agency's program that foresees the satellite link between all the national news agencies in the Balkan countries, through Thessaloniki, aiming at the improvement of news and information exchange.

The meeting was held on the sidelines of the 20th General Assembly of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions, currently being held in Thessaloniki.

The "Diavlos" program was also submitted in early May to the President of European Parliament Klaus Hensch, the European Union's Greek Commissioner Christos Papoutsis, and to officials from the EU's 10th Directorate, during a visit to Brussels by the general directors of all the national news agencies of the Balkan countries.

[06] MORE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS TO BE ESTABLISHED FOR GREEKS ABROAD

An amendment tabled in Greek Parliament yesterday is set to put an end to bureaucratic tangles faced by the government's General Secretariat of Greeks Abroad.

The amendment, which was voted unanimously by the parliamentarians, was presented during a legislative discussion regarding "Greek education abroad and intercultural training."

As such, the General Secretariat will now be able to establish various programs that will aim at strengthening the ties between Greece and those Greeks who live abroad, such as, greek language lessons, cultural programs, and professional training for those immigrants who return to Greece.

[07] ATHENS MAYOR PROPOSES A COMMON EUROPEAN URBAN POLICY

Two proposals will be presented by the Mayor of Athens Dimitris Avramopoulos, concerning the appointment of a Commissioner responsible for issues of local government and local authorities in the European Commission, and the establishment of a common European urban policy.

Mr. Avramopoulos will present his proposals during tomorrow's plenary session of the council of the 20th General Assembly of the Council of European Municipalities annd Regions, which is currently being held in Thessaloniki.

According to the Athens Mayor, the Assembly's sessions illustrate the need for strengthening the local authorities' role in the direction of undertaking initiatives regarding international cooperation programs.

Regarding his proposal for the establishment of a common European urban policy, Mr. Avramopoulos noted that 80 percent of Europeans live in urban centers, whereas for the remaining 20 percent of the population, who mostly live in rural areas, a common rural policy has already been instituted.

The common urban policy, Mr. Avramopoulos stated, should address issues on city planning, environment, architecture, protection of cultural and traditional buildings, as well as the social problems that arise from the urban lifestyle.

Referring to the speech given yesterday by European Commission President Jacques Santer, the Athens Mayor stated that the basic principles presented by Mr. Santer, are in line with the Greek local government's positions, regarding granting priority to problems faced by local communities, foremostly that of unemployment. Nevertheless, he added, before reaching the point of providing solutions to the problems, a lot remains to be done.

The Mayor of Athens made special reference to tomorrow's meeting that will be held between the city mayors of countries found in Southeastern Europe.

[08] UN PUBLISHES REPORT ON RUSSIA'S IMMIGRANTS, GREEKS FROM PONTUS INCLUDED

The Greeks from Pontus, as well as the political refugees who settled at the former Soviet Union following the end of the Greek civil war and were forced by the soviet authorities during that era to re-settle to other regions further into Russia, are referred to extensively in a United Nations special report.

The UN report analyses the problems the refugees are faced with, in light of the regional summit of the Commonwealth of the Independent States of the former Soviet Union, which will take place in Geneva on May 30- 31. Greece will participate at the Summit.

According to the report's introduction, "the break up of the Soviet Union resulted in the largest and most complex transfering of human power following World War II. In total, nine million persons left their houses behind. Between 1936 and 1952, three million people re- settle to Siberia and Central Asia from the Soviet Union's western borders."

According to the report's statistical data, approximately 36,000 Greeks were forced to re-settle from the Black Sea to Kajakstan, while 5,000 Greeks who were removed in November of 1955 from Georgia, are referred to as the first "national group" who were transferred as a result of the soviet policy regarding "special immigrants."

In the "minorities map" that accompanies the report, it includes data up to 1989, there is mention of 99,000 Greek refugees who were forcibly removed from their homes, while another 100,000 Greeks living in Georgia are also recorded.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[09] JOBLESSNESS IN EUROPE IS "DYNAMITE READY TO EXPLODE"

The Maastricht Treaty has led to the unemployment increase in Europe, according to a political discussion held today during the 20th General Assembly of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions, currently taking place in Thessaloniki.

During the discussion, the Brussels region representative Jozef Chabert, pointed out that since 1947 up to date, the United States have created 30 million job positions, with an unemployment rate of four to five per cent, while, during these 49 years, Europe has not created any jobs, resulting in 18 million unemployed persons.

European unemployment was characterized as "a dynamite ready to explode." Mr. Chabert suggested that positions be created in the service sector and proposed that each country apply a new policy so that the public debt does not surpass the three per cent rate.

The vice-president of the regional council of Sardinia, Maria Kerki, emphasized that the Maastricht Treaty has created serious social problems in Sardinia since, as a result of the high unemployment rate in the region, people are abandoning their areas and, in turn, lose their social and cultural identities. Ms. Kerki proposed the creation of incentives for higher production rates, although, she pointed out, these incentives should not promote urbanization.

The Mayor of Pireaus Stelios Logothetis referred to the high unemployment rate noted in this greek city, it reaches 18 per cent, and stated that the CEMR Assembly should at least touch upon the phenomenon of immigrants who enter Europe from Thrild World countries.

[10] SUBSIDIARITY'S USE AT LOCAL-REGIONAL LEVEL IS UNCERTAIN, SAYS CEMR PRESIDENT

Although he is optimistic that the Maastricht Treaty's revision will promote a common european policy, at least in the areas of monetary union, defense, justice and security, the President of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions, Mayor of Barcelona Pasqual Maragall, is guarded when it comes to extending the subsidiarity principle to the local and regional levels.

Speaking to the Macedonian Press Agency, Mr. Maragall stated that "I am not optimistic that the principle of subsidiarity will be extended to a local and regional level," explaining that certain countries may be resistant to the principle of subsidiarity since almost all procedures should be performed at their level.

Considering the CEMR's proposals, to be presented to the European Union, Mr. Maragall stated that they will center on the "establishment of a Europe of citizens, with the Regions Commitee having a vital role."

The CEMR President stated that the Regions Committee's role will be continuously upgraded, adding that it would be preferable if the European Commission presented its annual program before the Regions Committee, so that "it can be in the position to have input in the Commission's actions."

[11] NEW TECHNOLOGY SHOULD BE ACCESSIBLE TO LOCAL AND REGIONAL AUTHORITIES

In order for multimedia technology to be optimally applied, the local and regional authorities of european countries must provide their input methodically, according to a meeting held today under the auspices of the 20th General Assembly of European Municipalities and Regions.

The B Committee of the Council of European Minicipalities and Regions, in a meeting titled "Challenges in an information society and the role of local government", gave emphasis to the need of providing information technology to local governments in order to optimally serve the citizens.

According to Margot Weakstorm, who also leads the Swedish Association of Local Authorities, urban development will invariably be affected by the new technology.

"Therefore, the local and regional authorities must have a vision and methodical input," Ms. Weakstorm stated, adding that the use of new technology will result in the creation of jobs, in sectors that aid both industry and trade.

[12] EUROPEAN CITIES AND REGIONS SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED AS REAL EU PARTNERS

Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) Secretary-General Elisabeth Gateou speaking to MPA on the occasion of the 20th General Assembly of European Municipalities and Regions that opened yesterday in Thessaloniki, expressed the hope that the cities and regions of Europe will be recognized as real partners of the European Union.

Ms.Gateou stated that the municipalities and regions want to play a role, together with the state governments, in the Maastricht Treaty revision. She stated that in the General Assembly participate 2.000 delegates who will state to the EU what they want and hope that there will be some result. Also, she stressed that in the meeting participate Central European countries, Balkan and Baltic countries, Russia and the Ukraine, certain of which want to become EU members.

The CEMR Secretary-General also underlined that the European municipalities and regions expect a lot from the revision of the Maastricht Treaty because they want to become a part of the EU decision making process, as they are the authorities closer to the people.

Referring to the problems local government faces today, ms.Gateou pointed out that "the information society is the major challenge", while there is the problem of "sustainable development" through the exchange of expertise and know-how and finally, cultural issues concerning the large european cities.

[13] EURO-PARLIAMENT EXAMINES DIRECTIVE CONCERNING ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION

The plenary session of the European Parliament examined a draft directive which aims at establishing a framework for the management of the quality of air in order to avoid, prevent or reduce the harmful effects pollution could have on the environment and the health of the people living in big European Union cities.

Greek Coalition of the Left party Euro-Deputy mr.Michalis Papayiannakis stressed in his speech that by the year 2.000 the atmospheric air pollution should be recorded and evaluated, while all the EU member states should adopt a common system for measuring air pollution.

During the discussion was also stressed that already there is an agreement between the European Council and the Euro-Parliament based on which the pollution level should be reexamined regularly, while the effect of air pollution must be studied taking under consideration the climatic conditions in each region.

[14] THE US WANT TO SEE CYPRUS UNITED, SAYS CLINTON'S PRESIDENTIAL ADVISOR

The United States foreign policy has set its eyes on a target, that is to accomplish peace in Cyprus.

"The US want to see Cyprus united and without foreign military forces," stated George Stephanopoulos, US President Bill Clinton's advisor, addressing the annual conference on the World Coordinating Committee on the Cypriot Struggle, yesterday in Washington.

Mr. Stephanopoulos stated that in order for peace to be accomplished in Cyprus, there must be stability in the Eastern Mediterranean region and expressed his concern for the political situation noted in Turkey, and the Athens-Ankara differences.

Referring to Mr. Kornblum's recent visit to the island, Mr. Stephanopoulos said that Richard Beattie will also visit Cyprus soon.

"We wish to see progress on the Cyprus issue and that is why we are holding talks with all sides, because 22 years is a long time for the island to be divided," Stephanopoulos said.

Meanwhile yesterday, honored guests at a formal reception, given at the Cypriot embassy, were the Greek- American Congressman Mike Bilirakis (Rep) and the New York Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (Dem), who were recognized for their efforts in promoting the greek positions in Congress.

The two congress-members stated that they will continue their struggle for securing a peaceful and fair solution to the cypriot issue.

[15] NINE PARTIES ON THE BALLOT IN CYPRIOT PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS

Nine political parties and an unprecedented 409 candidates are seeking a seat in the upcoming parliamentary elections in Cyprus, this Sunday.

The parties are Democratic Rally (DISY)-led by Yiannakis Matsis and Nikos Rolandis, Progressive Party of the Working People (AKEL)-led by Dimitris Christofias, Democratic Party (DIKO)-led by former President Spyros Kyprianou, Socialist Democratic Renewal Movement (ADISOK)-led by Mihalis Papapetrou, United Democratic Union of the Center (EDEK)-led by former president of Parliament Vasos Lyssarides, Party of the Free Democrats (KED)-led by former President George Vasiliou, New Horizons- led by Nikos Koutsou, and ecologists- environmentalists.

[17] FOREIGN EXCHANGE RATE REPORT

CURRENCY         FIXING       BUY          SELL
U.S. Dollar      243.9500   243.2180    244.6820
Deutsche Mark    158.0600   157.5860    158.5340
French Franc      46.7190    46.5790     46.8590
UK Sterling      368.5000   367.3940    369.6060
Swiss Franc      192.6200   192.0420    193.1980
Italian Lira      15.6270    15.5800     15.6740
Danish Kroner     40.9640    40.8410     41.0870
Swedish Crown     35.7490    35.6420     35.8560
Norwegian Crown   36.9330    36.8220     37.0440
Yen              228.5050   227.8190    229.1910
Spanish Peseta     1.8990     1.8933      1.9047
Finnish Mark      51.3400    51.1860     51.4940
ECU              298.7000   297.8040    299.5960

Complete archives of the Macedonian Press Agency bulletins are available on the MPA Home Page at http://www.mpa.gr/ and on the U.S. mirror at http://www.hri.org/MPA/