MPA NEWS IN ENGLISH (27/05/1996)

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

Macedonian Press Agency News in English Directory

BRIEF GREEK NEWS BULLETIN BY THE MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY

Thessaloniki, May, 27th

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] GREECE-FYROM NEGOTIATIONS SHOULD CONTINUE, SAYS COUNCIL OF EUROPE SECRETARY-GENERAL

In an exclusive interview with the Macedonian Press Agency, the Council of Europe's Secretary-General Daniel Tarschys, expressed his satisfaction for the imrpovement noted in Greece- FYROM trade relations and stated that he hopes the remaining issues affecting the relaitons between the two neighbors will soon be settled.

"We are especially satisfied that the New York-reached agreement has relieved some of the issues and that trade has begun to improve. Thessaloniki has a great role to play with its port. We hope that the following talks will lead to a settlement of the remaining problems. These are problems which should not exist between two neighboring countries," Mr. Tarschys stated prior to the beginning of the C of E's Political Committee meeting, opening the Spring Conference of the Parliamentary Assembly, inaugurated in Thessaloniki this morning.

According to Mr. Tarschys, the problems between the two countries include the issue of FYROM's name, for which the Secretary-General expressed the hope that "a reasonable solution can be found."

He added that, in his opinion, this is a normal solution for other countries, although, he stated, this should be done following an agreement. He said that he hopes to see talks held between Greece and FYROM soon for a final settlement of the issue.

Meanwhile, meetings are currently held by two sub-committees of the Political Committee, where members are discussing the peace- keeping procedures in the Middle East and the application of the Dayton Agreement.

[02] PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY OF COUNCIL OF EUROPE STARTED SESSION

The Secretary General of the Council of Europe md Danielle Tarsys and the President of its parliamentary assembly ms Lenny Fischer were received today by the Prefect of Thessaloniki, mr Kostas Papadopoulos and the of the head of the hellenic delegation, mr Yiannis Pottakis within the framework of the spring session of the Parliamentrary Assembly of the Council of Europe that started today in Thessaloniki and is going to last until the 29th of May.

[03] CoE PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY POSTPONES OF CROATIA'S ACCESION

The Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly Political Affairs Committee in the meeting held in Thessaloniki this morning decided the postponement of Croatia's accesion into the Council of Europe because the govenment in Zagreb did not put into practice the terms and pre-conditions set for the country's membership.

Specifically, is mentioned that Croatia violated the free press principle by imposing restrictions on mass media, while croatian President Franjo Tudzman did not uphold its commitments by firing Zagreb's elected municipal authorities.

[04] CoE PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT MET MINISTER OF MACEDONIA - THRACE

The 150 foreign observers, who monitored the elections in Albania, are expected to offer essential information on what exactly happened during the elections that were held in this country yesterday, stated Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly President ms.Leni Fischer, who also underlined that she has no clear picture on the way the elections were held and added that in the past few years the albanian political parties are withdrawing from the election process on the day of the elections.

The German Parliament deputy met today with Minister of Macedonia-Thrace, Philippos Petsalnikos and in statements she made later to journalists she refused to take a position on the issue of Croatia's accesion into the Council of Europe.

Mr.Petsalnikos, in statements he made after his meeting with ms.Fischer, characterized as very significant event for Thessaloniki the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly meeting.

[05] GREEK PREMIER RECEIVES PRESIDENT OF EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT SOCIALISTS

The need for a better co-ordination and cooperation among the sosialist parties in Europe which should form a common policy was stressed by the Prime Minister of Greece Costas Simitis after his meeting with the President of the Parliamentary group of the European Sosialist Party ms Pauline Green.

The meeting took place in view of Ms. Green's visit to Ankara and Mr. Simitis and Ms.Green discussed the relations between Greece and Turkey.

According to Mr.Simitis' statement, the European Sosialist Party is the most powerful party in the European Parliament and it is very important that all the sosialist parties, which constitute it, find a way to form a common foreign policy, a common defense policy, a common policy in favour of economic development and against unemployment, in order to create a Europe able to live up- to the sosialists' expectations.

[06] GREEK PARTY ASK FOR CONDEMNATION OF THE "BERISHA REGIME"

Greek party of Political Spring accused today the albanian government of violating the rights of the greek minority in Albania and of organizing a plan for its exclusion.

A spokesman of the party appealed to the government to condemn the "Berisha regime" in all international organizations and the European Union and ask for the protection of the rights of the greek minority.

[07] GREEK-TURKISH DIPLOMATIC DELEGATIONS TO MEET IN GENEVA TOMORROW

Diplomatic delegations from Greece and Turkey will meet tomorrow in Geneva, in light of the upcoming meeting between the foreign ministers of the two countries, Theodoros Pangalos and Emre Gonensay, respectively, in Berlin.

Meanwhile, the former US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Canadian Affairs Richard Holbrooke stated yesterday that Greece and Turkey cannot have good relations if first the cypriot issue is not resolved. Mr. Holbrooke was in Greece in order to participate at the Athens-held International Conference titled "Foreign Policy and the Mass Media."

Earlier, Mr. Pangalos stressed that if honest, consistent and good intention steps are taken by Turkey for the fair resolution of the problems, then Greece is ready to cooperate.

[08] GREEK-BULGARIAN INTERGOVERNMENTAL COMMISSION MEET TOMORROW

A Greek governmental delegation, headed by the National Economy Vice-Minister Manolis Bedeniotis, will attend the Greek- Bulgarian Intergovernmental Commission meeting due to take place in Sofia, on May 28 and 29. The session will focus the mutual trade and economic relation, the latest economic developments and about the needed measures for the further cooperation.

[09] "FOREIGN POLICY AND MASS MEDIA" CONFERENCE ENDS IN ATHENS TODAY

Greece is ready to show good will, even at this moment, for the improvement of its relations with Turkey if the turkish side acts accordingly, stated greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos addressing yesterday the conference on Foreign Policy and Mass Media which ends in Athens today.

Speaking in the same conference former US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Canadian Affairs Richard Holbrooke stressed that the improvement of greek-turkish relations can not be expected without the solution of the Cyprus problem.

This morning the US Assistant Secretary of State avoided to take a clear position on the greek-turkish dispute over the Aegean islets.

Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said addressing the conference that the goal of the greek government is "to defend our national identity and to consolidate a modern and developed state". Mr.Reppas added that television must maintain its national character while he emphasized the human factor and referred to personal responsibility.

Former turkish Foreign Minister Hikmet Tsetin, who is also participating in the conference, reiterated the turkish positions for direct dialogue between the two countries. He also said that the policy followed and the mass media have created a climate of mistrust between the greek and the turkish people.

Mr.Tsetin supported the Yilmaz initiative and suggested dialogue and peace as alternative solution for the settlement of the greek-turkish disputes, by saying characteristically, that the Aegean should become a sea of cooperation and prosperity.

[10] GREECE PROTECTS ITS NATIONAL IDENTITY SAYS MEDIA MINISTER

Greece aims at protecting its national identity and organizing a modern state, said today greek press and media minister mr Dimitris Reppas addressing the international congress on "Foreign Policy and the Media" which is organized at Athens by the daily Kathimerini and the television station Mega Channel, sp[onsored by the Olympic Airways.

Mr Reppas stressed that television should keep its national character emphasizing at the human factor and referring to the exercise of the necessary personal responsibility.

Ex-foreign minister mr Michalis Papakonstantinou said that Greece should solve its problems without the mediation of any third part.The poluitical sector defines national policy againts national interests, mr Papakonstantinou said.

Ex-alternate foreign minister mr Yannis Kapsis characterizeed the role media can play in the formation of the public opinion on foreign poilicy oissues as positive provided it is not exploited by politicians.

[11] POLITICIANS AND MEDIA CREATED SUSPICION BETWEEN GREECE AND TURKEY SAYS TURKISH EX-FOREIGN MINISTER

Media are to blame the most in the grece-turkish crisis said ex-foreign minister of Turkey mr Hikmet Cetin who stressed that politicians and the media have created suspicion in the relations between the two countries.

Mr Cetin supported initiative towards improvement of the greco-turkish relations undertaken by turkish prime minister mr Mesut Yilmaz wishing that the Aegean Sea be a sea of cooperation and prosperity but he accused Greece of using the European Union as a stick that hits Turkey.

Turkish ambassador mr Nazim Akiman who in past used to serve in Athens underlined that the foreign policy a country has is affected by its internal politics.

[12] ALEKA PAPARIGA RE-ELECTED SECRETARY GENERAL OF COMMUNIST PARTY

Ms Aleka Papariga, won yesterday a second mandate as the secretary general of the Communist Party of Greece.

Ms Papariga's election took place in the first session of the new central committee, formed after the final voting of 15th congress of the party which ended on Sunday.

Two of the most prominent members of the party, the president of its parliamentary group, mr Mitsos Kostopoulos and the member of the European Parliament mr Yannis Theonas were not elected in the new 75-member central committee due to their political opinions for alliances with other forces of the left which were rejected by the congress.

The Communist Party suffered a major spilt five years ago when half its central committee members left the party so that they create the party of the "coalition of the Left".

The Communists, having taken 4.6% in the 1993 general elections, occupy nine seats in the parliament while the coalition of the left failed to enter the parliament since it took 2.94%, while the meter for election was 3%.

In the 1994 elections for the European Parliament the Communist Party took 6.3% and elected two deputies, the first being mr Vassilis Efraimidis.

[13] THE MINISTER OF MACEDONIA-THRACE ASKS ASSISTANCE FOR THE CEDEFOP

In order to finish the CEDEFOP's infrastructure, which should represent a main priority, all of the carriers should contribute and provide support.

This is the conclusion after a special meeting held today in Macedonia-Thrace Ministry, during which the Minister mr Filipos Petsalnikos pointed out that the Greek authorities should, finally, know what is going on with the "blue cards", which have been distributed to the CEDEFOP staff.

A road network to center of the town and reticulation to the Internet were other two major problems with which the CEDEFOP is facing too.

[14] EARTHQUAKE OF 4,7 DEGREES NEAR PATRA

Earthquake of 4,7 degrees on the Richter scale took place 46 minutes after midnight. Its epicentre was 120 kilometres west-southwest of Patra in the sea garden of Kefalonia.

There has not been any police report on the incident so far.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[15] ALBANIA: EIGHT PARTIES WITHDRAW FROM ELECTIONS, BERISHA REJOICES

Yesterday's general elections in Albania have resulted in intense speculations, since most of the oppostion parties pulled out of the elections mid-way through the voting and accusations of threat and intimidation abound.

Today, in spite of the fact that the official results have not been announced, the Democratic Party is rejoicing an "overwhelming victory" and President Sali Berisha last night thanked the electorate body for "the support and large majority". He attributed the opposition parties' boycott to "despair by the size of their defeat."

Meanwhile, the President of the Social Democrats Skeder Ginousi made talk of a "coup" and said that the public records had been falsified. He also implied that within the followinng days the opposition will determine the stance it will adopt towards President Berisha and his Democratic Party.

[16] CoE TO REACT IN CASE OF ELECTORAL LAW VIOLATIONS IN ALBANIA

The Council of Europe will react in case of electoral law violations during yesterday's elections in Albania, stated in Thessaloniki today greek Foreign Ministry Secretary-General prof.Stelios Perrakis.

The statements were made by mr.Perrakis on the sidelines of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly meeting which began in Thessaloniki this morning with the participation of 300 parliamentarians from the organization's 39 member-states.

After the end of the Parliamentary Assembly Political Affairs Committee meeting, mr.Perrakis, responding to questions by reporters on the Committee's stance over the albanian elections issue, said that certain Committee members expressed concern over the issue. He also added that no decision can be made before official information is available on the election results and on the positions expressed by the albanian government and the political parties.

Meanwhile, greek Coalition of the Left party Euro-Deputy mr.Alavanos tabled a question to the European Union Council of Ministers on the withdrawal of the albanian opposition parties and the accusations for violence and fraud in the albanian elections.

[17] OFFICIAL RESULTS OF THE ALBANIAN ELECTION BY THE MIDDLE OF THIS WEEK

Tirana's Central Commission has indicated that it may issue provisional results some time today but would probably not have official results until the middle of the week, Albanian media reported.

The ex-communist Albania held yesterday its third free general elections. During a month-long campaign the Albanian ruling Democrats were seeking to obtaine a second consecutive term of office, while the Socialist opposition pledged to push economic reform but with a kinder social face. About 50 officials and observers from Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), European Union and United States and some 3,500 Albanians observers of an independent election monitoring group were scheduled to monitor the voting.

A total of 1,188 candidates from 24 parties were standing for direct election in the 115 single-member constituencies. The other 25 seats are allocated to parties according to national shares in the first round vote. Run-off ballots between the two top contenders will be held on June 2 in case that no candidate gets an outright majority.

[18] ALBANIAN OPPOSITION PARTIES WILL HOLD A MASS DEMONSTRATION TOMORROW IN PROTEST AGAINST ELECTORAL FRAUD

The albanian opposition parties called their supporters to participate in a mass demonstration that will be held tomorrow in protest against electoral fraud.

According to the opposition parties, the mass demonstration will be held in Tirana's Skenderbei Square tomorrow at noon and are called to participate "all the disenchanted voters who lost the right to vote and the freedoms won on December 1990".

[19] TURKEY DOES NOT HELP A CLIMATE OF UNDERSTANDING, SAYS ATHENS

Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said that statements, like the recent one made by turkish Foreign Minister mr.Gonensay, do not help in creating a climate of understanding and undermine every possibility for rapprochement between Greece and Turkey.

The above were stated by mr.Reppas commenting on statements by mr.Gonensay according to which, Greece first, should appeal to the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

Mr.Reppas stated that numerous statements are being made lately by turkish officials, adding that those statements are the result of the political fluidity observed in Turkey.

[20] TURKEY BEGAN AIR AND SEA MANOEUVRES IN THE AEGEAN

Turkey began air and sea manoeuvres in the Aegean today, according to an announcement by the turkish armed forces General Staff.

The exercise, code-named "Efes '96", will be held in international waters and will last until June 14th. Foreign observers have been invited to monitor the exercise, in which live munitions will be used.

[21] DEMOCRATIC RALLY PARTY GAINS MAJORITY AT CYPRUS' PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS

Cyprus' governmental coalition managed to maintain majority rule in the Cypriot Parliament, despite a slight reduction in its percentages.

According to up-to-date results, the Democratic Rally (DISY) party, led by President Glafkos Clerides received 34.49 per cent of the votes and gained 20 seats. The Communist Party, Progressive Party of the Working People (AKEL), led by Dimitris Christofias, gathered 33.03 per cent of the votes, an increase of 2.37%, and garnered 19 seats in parliament.

Democratic Party (DIKO)-led by former President Spyros Kyprianou gained 16.4 percent of the votes and earned 10 parliamentary seats, while United Democratic Union of the Center (EDEK)-led by former president of Parliament Vasos Lyssarides- brought in 8.12 per cent of the votes with five seats in parliament. Party of the Free Democrats (KED)-led by former President George Vasiliou, earned 3.68 per cent of the votes and two seats.

New Horizons party (NE.O)- led by Nikos Koutsou- with 1.70%, the Socialist Democratic Renewal Movement (ADISOK)-led by Mihalis Papapetrou- 1.44%, the Ecologists-Environmentalists 1% and the Independent .13%, are not represented in the Parliament's new formation.

Voter absenteeism was measured at 8.22 percent, while the null and blank ballots amounted to 1.48% and 1.54% respectively.

[22] UN SECRETARY-GENERAL WILL HOLD SEPARATE TALKS WITH MR.KLIRIDIS AND MR.DENKTASH IN GENEVA

The turkish side confirmed the information that UN Secretary- General Boutros Ghali will hold separate meetings with Cypriot President Glafkos Kliridis and turkish-cypriot leader Rauf Denktash in Geneva.

The turkish newspaper "Milliyet" writes that the talks will be held on June 11th, while UN sources mention that on those meetings and their outcome will depend if there will be a direct meeting between Cypriot President Kliridis and turkish-cypriot leader Denktash.

The turkish newspaper also writes that the UN Secretary- General refused to meet with mr.Denktash in Constantinople during the international conference "HABITAT II".

[23] ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH VARTHOLOMEOS ON A 4-DAY TOUR TO KAPPADOKIA

The Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos brought to completion a four-day tour in the region of Kapadokia so that he be informed on the situation of the churches in the region.

Commenting on the patriarchical initiative, the turkish newspaper "Geni Giuzil" wrote that Vartholomeos frequently goes on such tours round the country.

[24] AN ELDERLY TOURIST FROM BELGIUM DROWNED YESTERDAY IN THE SEA REGION OF SIDERONA, KORINTH IN SOUTHERN GREECE

An elderly tourist from Belgium, Anne Rdenams 73 yearsold, drowned while she was swimming in the sea region of Sideronas, in Korinth southern Greece.

The greek Coastguard has begun an investigation to determine the conditions of her death.

[25] TRIPARTITE MEETING IN ANKARA ON BOSNIA

Foreign Ministers of Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia, Yadranko Prlic and Mate Granic, met today in Ankara with their Turk counterpart Emre Gonesay to discuss about the implementation of the Dayton peace agreement and the consolidation of the Bosnian- Croatian Federation, as well as the role Turkey can play in the creation of a federal army.

This tripartite meeting, first such since the signing of the Dayton peace agreement, was preceded by separated meetings of the Turk Foreign Minister and each of his guests.

According to Turkish media, a final statement, resulting from the meeting, will express support for the Bosnian-Croatian Federation, the need for the reconstruction of Bosnia and the need to create a federal army.

[26] FOREIGN EXCHANGE RATE REPORT

CURRENCY          FIXING     BUY          SELL
U.S. Dollar      243.9700   243.2380    244.7020
Deutsche Mark    158.1300   157.6560    158.6040
French Franc      46.7730    46.6330     46.9130
UK Sterling      369.3700   368.2620    370.4780
Swiss Franc      192.7800   192.2020    193.3580
Italian Lira      15.6535    15.6070     15.7000
Danish Kroner     40.9790    40.8560     41.1020
Swedish Crown     35.6300    35.5230     35.7370
Norwegian Crown   36.9510    36.8400     37.0620
Yen              226.2650   225.5860    226.9440
Spanish Peseta     1.8976     1.8919      1.9033
Finnish Mark      51.2480    51.0940     51.4020
ECU              298.6680   297.7720    299.5640

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