MPA NEWS IN ENGLISH (31/05/1996)

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

Macedonian Press Agency News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, May 31, 1996

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] PRESIDENT MEETS NEW AMBASSADORS OF BRITAIN, YEMEN AND PARAGUAY

The new ambassadors of Britain, Michael John Llewellyn Smith, Yemen's, Mohamed Abdullah Elwazir and Paraguay's Oscar Cabello Sarubbi presented their credentials to greek President Kostis Stephanopoulos.

The ceremony also attended by alternate Foreign Minister Giorgos Romeos and ambassador mr.Gikas.

[02] GREEK PREMIER TO BE IN THESSALONIKI ON JUNE 6 & 7

Greek Premier Kostas Simitis will conduct a two-day visit to Thessaloniki on June 6 and 7 where he will hold various meeting with city officials.

On Thursday morning, Mr. Simitis will meet with Minister of Macedonia-Thrace Philippos Petsalnikos and in the afternoon he will be briefed on the currently ongoing projects of the Thessaloniki European Cultural Capital Organization.

[03] OLYMPIC AIRWAYS CELEBRATES 30 YEARS OF TRANS-ATLANTIC FLIGHTS

Champagne will be offered to all the passengers flying today with Olympic Airways from and to Athens and New York, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary since the airline's first trans-atlantic flight.

The champagne will be accompanied by a letter of the company's president mr.Blesios thanking the passengers for their confidence and assuring them that the only target of Olympic Airways is the continuous improvement of the services offered to the passengers.

It should be noted that the Olympic Airways airplanes have made 22.679 flights to and from New York since June 1st, 1966.

[04] SKOPJE WANTS A LIAISON OFFICE TO BE ESTABLISHED IN THESSALONIKI

Liuptso Arsofski, head of FYROM's liaison office in Athens in an interview to Skopjan weekly political review "POOLS", expressed the skopjan government's wish for the establishment of a Skopjan-Greek liaison office in Thessaloniki.

The skopjan diplomat stressed that the operation of a liaison office in Thessaloniki will serve directly the business communities in both countries and the trading of products through the port of Thessaloniki.

Also, he stated that the procedures for the issuing of visas should be more simplified, as according to his statements, the traffic from and to Skopje increases daily, while he also mentioned that since the signing of the New York agreement the borders were crossed both ways by 70-80 thousand people.

Mr.Arsofski expressed satisfaction over the pace of development in the economic relations between Greece and FYROM and underlined that goods pass through Greece freely. He also stressed that his country is examining the possibilities for the better use of Thessaloniki's port in the transportation of goods.

Regarding the issue of the name that will be used by FYROM, which is the only remaining problem for the full normalization of the relations with Greece, mr.Arsofski stressed that the greek side wants the cooperation and the development of bilateral relations and pointed out that it will be discussed in the next round of talks to be held in New York on June 4 under the auspices of the United Nations.

[05] GREEK STATE TELEVISION CHANNEL ET-1 TO BE BROADCAST IN GEORGIA

Starting this Sunday, the pictures and sounds of Greece will reach the most remote ethnic greek villages in the mountainous region of Tsalka in the former soviet republic of Georgia.

The satellite television programmes of ET-1 for the greek communities abroad will be received by the region's residents thanks to a special satellite transmitter that has been installed.

Similar transmitters will begin to operate soon and in other regions of the former Soviet Union.

[06] INTERBALKAN BOOK CENTER TO BE BASED IN THESSALONIKI

As part of the efforts to promote a closer cooperation among book publishers, translators and writers from the Balkan countries, the third Interbalkan Meeting of representatives from the publishing industry was held in Thessaloniki today.

The resolution to establish the Interbalkan Book Center was singed on May 15, 1994, while the session that began today will be held until tomorrow, when the final details will be ironed out.

[07] GREEK BUSINESSES TO DISPLAY THEIR PRODUCTS IN BELGRADE

One hundred of widely known greek businesses will display their products in Yugoslavia for the first time.

The products exhibit, will take place on June 6, under the auspices of Belgrade's "Multiproduct Expo" fair.

In a press conference, the fair's coordinator Dragan Joba stated that the exhibit will promote the establishment and development of economic relations with Greece.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[08] EU ASKS ALBANIA TO REPEAT ELECTIONS IN SOME CONSTITUENCIES

The European Union, through Italian Foreign Minister Laberto Dini, has called on the albanian government to repeat the election process in some of Albania's constituencies, specifically in those regions were various irregularities were noted during last Sunday's elections.

Mr. Dini issued a warning to Albanian President Sali Berisha that there will be negative repercussions in EU-Tirana relations if the election process is not carried out in accordance to international democratic principles and regulations.

The ex-communist Albania held last Sunday its third free parliamentary elections, where the ruling Democratic Party sought to obtain a second consecutive term in office. Albanian opposition parties have declared that they will not participate at the second round of voting to be held on Sunday, while President Berisha, in an effort to soften the negative impressions that have surmounted after the violent episodes that erupted during the voting process, has called upon all parties to participate at the second round.

The Albanian Social-Democratic Party, which pledged to push economic reform with a kinder social face, gave the strongest and most vocal opposition to Berisha by accusing him of tampering with the results.

[09] HUMAN RIGHTS PARTY SECRETARY-GENERAL LAYS DOWN CONDITIONS FOR ITS PARTICIPATION IN FURTHER ELECTORAL PROCEDURES IN ALBANIA

Mr.Thomas Mitsios, Secretary-General of the albanian Human Rights party, in which the greek minority organization OMONIA is represented, laid down certain conditions for the party's participation in further electoral procedures.

Specifically, asks the Returning Board to recognize that a number of electoral law violations took place, calls for the holding of new elections in 15 polling districts where, according to his statements, the election results had been rigged, while he also calls for the committal to trial of anyone responsible for violence against opposition members in Tirana two days after the elections.

The position adopted by mr.Mitsios is in conflict with the statement made by the Human Rights party President mr.Melios, according to which, the decision made on Sunday for the party's withdrawal from the elections has been reconsidered.

Democratic Alliance President, Neritan Tseka stated after yesterday's decision by mr.Melios, that it was the result of dirty bargaining between mr.Melios and albanian President Berisha. Mr.Tseka estimates that this "bargaining" satisfies the greek nationalist circles because the high election percentages promised by Berisha to the Human Rights party satisfy their claims, according to which, there are 300 thousand greeks living in Albania. Mr.Tseka also calls the greek minority in the country to boycott the second round of the elections.

[10] BRITISH FOREIGN MINISTER DISCUSSES CYPRIOT ISSUE WITH US COUNTERPART

British Foreign Minister Malcolm Rifkind met with United States Secretary of State Warren Christopher yesterday in Washington and discussed the Cypriot issue.

According to a US official, the discussion aimed at coordinating the Cypriot issue-related actions between the United States and the European Union.

Various reports state that the US and Britain agree on general terms regarding the new initiative for the Cyrpus issue, something that causes great concern as to when it will be exercised, in light of the political instability noted in Turkey.

[11] CYPRIOT FOREIGN MINISTER ASKS THE EU TO GIVE MORE INTEREST TO CYPRUS

The European Union's involvement in the efforts to resolve the Cyprus issue was at the center of discussions held yesterday in Paris between Cypriot Foreign Minister Alekos Mihaelides and his French counterpart Herve de Charette.

Mr. Mihaelides emphasized the need for the EU's - and especially France's- active interest in the efforts that are being exerted to solve the cypriot problem.

Mr. de Charette pointed out the need to put forth every effort in finding a solution to the issue soon, and agreed that the EU can and must play a significant role, emphasizing France's willingness to actively and productively participate. Also present at the meeting was the Cypriot government spokesperson Yiannakis Kasoulides.

The Cypriot Foreign Minister is scheduled to meet with Ireland's Foreign Minister Dick Spring next week in order to discuss the same matter.

[12] RUSSIA PROPOSES NEW INITIATIVE FOR CYPRUS ISSUE

A new initiative that has been brought forward by Russia proposes that a meeting be held among the five permanent members of the Security Council, at an experts level, which will aim at reviewing the Cypriot issue prior to the upcoming meeting between United Nations Secretary-General Butros Ghali and Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides, scheduled for June 11 in Geneva.

A relevant announcement has been forwarded by the Russian Foreign Minsitry to the Foreign Ministries of the remaining four permanent members of the Security Council.

Moreover, the Russian government requests that the proposed meeting be held on June 10 in Geneva and that Mr. Ghali be present.

Russia's proposal moves on the same level as the russian initiative to coordinate the Security Council's efforts on the Cypriot issue. Moreover, they ask that Mr. Ghali's intentions be known prior to his meeting with Mr. Clerides and that Mr. Han Sung Ju, the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for the cypriot issue, be present at the meeting.

[13] MAN WHO ATTEMPTED TO ASSASSINATE DEMIREL TO FACE DEATH PENALTY

The man who attempted to assassinate Turkish President Suleiman Demirel is facing the death penalty, following the Constantinople's state security court's decision to charge him with the extreme penalty.

The assassin-to-be, Ibrahim Giumruktsioglu, is facing the death penalty based on article 156 of the turkish penal code.

[14] "FROM THE VARAGS TO THE GREEKS" IS THEME OF EXHIBIT IN MOSCOW

The Novodevichil Monastery in Moscow is featuring an exhibit titled "The Road from the Varags to the Greeks", illustrating the trade arteries that united the Vikings era with the Byzantium.

The exhibit, which is jointly organized by the Greek embassies in Russia and Sweden along with Moscow's Historical Museum, Lomonosov University and the Russian Ministry of Culture, will display numerous byzantine coins, arabic jewellery, german swords, scandinavian brooches, slavic coins, greek icons and crosses, and other artifacts discovered in St. Petersburg, Novgorad, Smolensk, Kursck, Rizan, Kiev and in other areas where the Varags passed through.

The Varags' journey was first chronicled in Nestor's History during the 12th century. It constituted the most significant trade route that united Scandinavia with the Byzantium, to which the Russians owe the formation of their nation and their christianity.

According to the Russian newspaper "Kommersant Daily", the exhibit is living proof of the close ties that developed between the north, south and western peoples during the course of the early Middle Ages in Europe.

[15] UNITED STATES FIRST LADY HILLARY CLINTON WILL VISIT ROMANIA ON JULY 5

United States First Lady Hillary Clinton will pay an official visit to Romania, on July 5, Rador reported. She will be accompanied by the US ambassador to the United Nations Madeleine Albright.

Both ladies will visit humanitarian organizations and will be informed about the street children in Bucharest. Ms. Clinton's 24- hour visit to Romania is part of a Central and East European tour, which also includes Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia and the Baltic states.

[16] CYPRUS PARTICIPATES IN ROMANIAN INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR "TIBCO '96"

Cyprus' trade representatives attend for the first time the Romanian international trade fair "TIBCO '96". According to Rompres, the sales director of Nicosia-based International Center of Goods Nicos Lipsos said that the main reason in setting up the international center of goods is to promote products manufactured by various companies in the world to Central Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. Mr. Lipsos also stated that his organization was seeking "to establish close links between Romania and Cyprus, wishing to back Romanian companies in their bid to develop further fruitful contacts with companies all over the world."

A catalogue including 60 Romanian companies interested in using CTD services has been given to Mr. Lipsos.

[17] ROMANIA TO JOIN CENTRAL-EUROPEAN INITIATIVE

Foreign Ministers of the Central and East-European countries will meet in Vienna at the end of this week to discuss the reconstruction of Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, as well as to seek new measures in improving the co-operation relations in the region. According to Rador, diplomatic sources pointed out that the ten member-states of the Central European Initiative will also analyse the admission of Romania, Albania, Bulgaria and the Ukraine, all of which are currently associate members. The forum, set up in 1989, has as full members Austria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, the Czech Republic, FYROM, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary and Italy.

[18] FOREIGN EXCHANGE RATE REPORT

CURRENCY          FIXING       BUY          SELL
U.S. Dollar      242.5000   241.7720    243.2280
Deutsche Mark    158.0780   157.6040    158.5520
French Franc      46.7210    46.5810     46.8610
UK Sterling      372.9000   371.7810    374.0190
Swiss Franc      192.4880   191.9110    193.0650
Italian Lira      15.6640    15.6170     15.7110
Danish Kroner     40.9440    40.8210     41.0670
Swedish Crown     35.8900    35.7820     35.9980
Norwegian Crown   36.9820    36.8710     37.0930
Yen              224.0150   223.3430    224.6870
Spanish Peseta     1.8806     1.8750      1.8862
Finnish Mark      51.2480    51.0940     51.4020
ECU              298.6300   297.7340    299.5260

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