MPA NEWS IN ENGLISH (04/06/1996)

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

Macedonian Press Agency News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, June 4, 1996

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] TURKEY FOR THE FIRST TIME DISPUTES THE GREEK SOVEREIGNTY OVER A POPULATED AEGEAN ISLAND

The greek government protested strongly after a turkish official disputed the greek sovereignty over the Aegean island of Gavdos, south of Crete. The new provocation was made last Friday during the planning of a NATO military exercise in the Napoli headquarters in Italy.

The turkish official asked in writing not to be included the island in the region where the military exercise will be held, maintaining that the island is a disputed region, while he also spoke about a "grey region".

The greek representative, participating in the meeting, reacted strongly and rebuted the arguments of his turkish colleague underlining that Gavdos does not simply belong to Greece but is inhabited by Greeks. The same position was backed and by representatives of other countries and as a result the island was finally included in the military exercise.

Greek Defence Minister Gerasimos Arsenis contacted the greek Ambassador to NATO mr.Zaphiropoulos, who was in Berlin for the NATO Foreign Ministers meeting, and he delivered a demarche to the alliance's Secretary-General, Javier Solana.

Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos speaking to reporters outside the press center in Berlin, where he participates in the NATO Foreign Ministers meeting, said that it is the first time that Turkey disputes a populated region in the Aegean, as until now, its claims concerned uninhabited islets or the continental shelf and air- space issues.

Mr.Pangalos distributed to journalists an envelop with a hand written statement by turkish army representative in the NATO Staff in Napoli, Huseyin Ciftci which mentions that the military exercise must not extend to the region of Gavdos and to the small islands south of Crete, because they are of disputed status. In the envelop is also included the written response by greek representative Antonios Hatzidakis, who mentions that the greek side rejects the turkish allegations as false and unacceptable.

Mr.Pangalos made it clear that after this incident Greece will continue to block the EU funds for Turkey.

Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas, referring to the new turkish provocation, said that Turkey appears to be an international trouble-maker and that its problem is not with Greece, but with International Law and international law and order.

He also underlined that the international community must realize that and take the necessary measures. The greek government spokesman pointed out that this new provocation proves that Turkey's behaviour has no limits. He said that every time Turkey exceeds itself, adding that there is instability and fluidity in this country but Greece maintains a stable position toward it.

The greek government spokesman concluded by saying that NATO appears unable to face the problems existing in the relations between Greece and Turkey.

[02] GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER APPALLED BY TURKISH OFFICIAL'S CLAIMS ON GAVDOS

Turkey's claim that the Greek island of Gavdos falls within a "disputed region" of the Aegean Sea has been characterized by Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos as an act that displays utmost irresponsibility.

The turkish claim was made last Friday, during the process of drawing out a NATO military exercise at a meeting held at the Alliance's Napoli headquarters. Turkey's representative during the meeting asked that the island, which is located just south of Crete and is inhabited, be excluded from the exercise because, as he claimed in his handwritten request, the island falls within a disputed region in the Aegean Sea.

Mr. Pangalos presented the turkish official's statement to the journalists, accompanied by the Greek government's response and a map of the Aegean. It is noted that the Gavdos island was used as an exile post up until the 1940s. The Foreign Minister stated that what is left for Greece to do is to "first organize our defense and second to ask our allies to take a position on the matter."

Mr. Pangalos added that this incident surpasses anything else that has happened so far and speculated "unless of course the captain (referring to the Turkish official in Napoli) is crazy, in which case he has to be removed from his post."

[03] JACQUES SANTER CHASTISES MESUT YILMAZ FOR TURKEY'S POLICIES IN AEGEAN

Ankara's persistence in adopting a spherical approach when it comes to its differences with Greece over the Aegean Sea, by aiming at a "package" solution, burdens Turkey's relations with the European Union, and as such, it postpones the relief of the current deadlock, according to European Commission President Jacques Santer.

Such were the words spoken during Mr. Santer's two-hour meeting with Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, held today in Brussels under the framework of the latter's attempt to examine the President's intentions regarding the greek-turkish relations.

According to sources close to Mr. Santer, the Commissioner explained to the Turkish Premier that Ankara's proposed method -that of a cohesive solution of greek-turkish differences in the Aegean- is dangerous, since it runs the risk of proving time-consuming. Mr. Santer is said to consider the addressing of the Imia islets issue and the bringing of the matter of their sovereignty into the hands of a third international judicial body as a more timely route towards the re-activation of euro-turkish funding, which is foreseen by the Customs Union accord.

Speaking to reporters following the meeting, Mr. Santer stated that "Greece is a member of the European Union and it is very significant to us that we know where our external borders lie."

"If there are problems," Mr. Santer continued, "they must be resolved and one means of resolving problems is the International Court of Justice at the Hague."

In turn, Mr. Yilmaz reiterated his country's firm position that "the obstacles set forth by Greece regarding the EU-Turkey funding constitute an EU problem and it must solve it alone."

Responding to a reporter's question regarding the Gavdos issue, Mr. Yilmaz stated that "there are certain islets and rock islets in the Aegean Sea whose status quo is not clear according to the Lauzanne Treaty.

"Towards the end of March, we addressed a plea to the Greek government for embarking on a dialogue for the peaceful resolvement of all the issues between the two countries, through negotiations. In the case that these negotiations fail, Turkey is ready to accept third party solutions, including that of the International Court of Justice at The Hague."

[04] PANGALOS ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ON GREEK FOREIGN POLICY

Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos gave an extensive press conference in Bonn today, where he undauntedly responded to severe questioning by foreign journalists.

Responding to a question posed by a skopjan journalist regarding the possibility of holding private talks with FYROM's Foreign Minister Ljubomir Frctkovski -who had requested such meeting yesterday- Mr. Pangalos stated that such a meeting would not be considered useful at this point "but if it were for me to ask him how he is doing and to say good morning, yes, I'll do it."

Mr. Pangalos pointed out that Skopje is not showing the inclination to respect the intermediate agreement, despite the fact that Greece has enforced each of the agreement's parts, and added that "the intermediate agreement is aiming at a mutually agreeable solution on the name issue and your position is that the only possible name is the one you hold now, thereby limiting every possibility for negotiation."

Referring to the british newspaper's "Financial Times" recent report, according to which the special envoy to Bosnia Carl Bildt has protested to the greek side for the Hellenic Telecommunications Organizaiton (OTE) study that refers to the establishment of military and civilian telecommunications exclusively to the Bosnianserb regions, Mr. Pangalos attributed Mr. Bildt's reactions to a conflict of interests.

"All of this is because someone wants to gain the project's contract," Mr. Pangalos said, adding that during his recent meeting with Mr. Bildt nothing relevant was brought up.

Also, when the Greek Foreign Minister was asked to extrapolate on Radovan Karadjic's future, he maintained a position of "equal distances."

"We hold the general position that when war crimes have been committed, by whomever they have been committed, there must be a serious investigation conducted followed by the punishment of those responsible. Concurrently, we must also look into the political aspirations for mainitaing a calm climate in the region, in order to enforce the Dayton Agreement. Therefore, I will not speak specifically on one or another person, since I believe that by singling out individuals we are violating the principle that I just referred to, which is equal handling of the war crimes that have been committed by all and not just by a few, or one individual.

[05] GREEK PRIME MINISTER TO VISIT THESSALONIKI ON JUNE 6 AND 7

Greek Premier Kostas Simitis will conduct a two-day visit to Thessaloniki this Thrusday and Friday, 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.

Premier Simitis will be accompanied by the Ministers of Public Administration and Decentralization Akis Tsohatzopoulos, National Economy Yiannos Papantoniou, Environment, City Planning and Public Works Kostas Laliotis, Agriculture Stefanos Tzoumakas, Health and Welfare Anastasios Peponis, Justice, Evangelos Venizelos, Culture, Stavros Benos, Transportations Haris Kastanides.

Also participating will be the under-Secretaries of National Economy Christos Pachtas, Development Michalis Chrysochoides, Health, Franklinos Papadelis and Education George Paschalides.

[06] MANIFESTATIONS FOR THE INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENT DAY IN THESSALONIKI

The urgent need to guard Macedonia's and Thrace's natural resources and beauty has been emphasized in press releases issued by various ecological organizations of Northern Greece, as well as the city's Geotechnical Chamber and the Technical Training Institute of Thessaloniki, in light of tomorrow's celebration of International Environment Day.

Thessaloniki's Ecological Movement is the local environmentalist organization that avidly supports the return of the cable cars to town, while being opposed to the proposed metro, as the most efficient way to combat the ever-increasing traffic jams and congestion in the city's streets. The organization will organize a concert in Thessaloniki tomorrow, featuring some of the most lyrical names in greek songwriting, such as Stavros Kouyioumtzis and Vasilis Lekkas, both of whom are local residents.

Also quite popular proved to be the press conference given today by representatives of the Municipal and Prefectural Movement of Citizens for "Ecology-Solidarity" who spoke on the issue of developing the mountain region surrounding Thessaloniki.

Tackling the problem of cleaning up the shores of Keramote in Kavala, in cooperation with the local port authorities, the community and the local school, wil be the Greek Association of Protecting Nature and Ecological Development. The Associaiton also participated in the recent campaign to protect the Nestos River waters.

Central Macedonia's Geotechnical Chamber states that the most significant precondition for preventing and addressing environmental problems is to create an institutional framework that will reflect the State's will to create a development model aimed at "providing the citizen with a high level of information, sensitivity and consciousness."

Lastly, according to recent data gathered by Thessaloniki's Technological and Training Isntitute (TEI), the majority Thessaloniki residents consider the pollution of the Thermaicos Peninsula to be the burning environmental problem in the region, followed by traffic congestion, smog, and industrial waste.

TEI Professor Fokion Bosniakos, who is also vice-president of the international Organization for Protection of the Mediterranean, has conducted studies that show 106 local industries dumping their wastes into the peninsula.

Highly polluted are considered the Aliakmonas River and the Sindos ditch, both located in the western part of town which is Thessaloniki's industrial area.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[07] THE GREEK-FYROM TALKS IN NEW YORK HAVE BEEN POSTPONED

The resumption of the talks between Greece and FYROM, on the issue of the name that will be used by FYROM based on article 5 of the interim accord, has been postponed.

The talks scheduled to take place today in New York under the auspices of UN Secretary-General representative mr.Cyrus Vance were postponed and will be held on Thursday or Friday or in the beginning of next week.

The postponement was necessary due to the fact that Skopjan vice-President, Ivan Tosefski participates in the proceedings of the UN sub-committee on the missing persons taking place in the international organization's headquarters in New York.

[08] GREEK-AMERICAN LEADERS MEET WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON IN WASHINGTON

Leading members of the Greek-American community met with United States President Bill CLinton in Washington yesterday, where during a two-hour meeting they brought forth a series of national issues of utmost concern to Greece.

The Greek-American leaders discussed with Mr. Clinton the developments in Greek-Turkish relations, especially following the Imia islets crisis, and Ankara's continuous policy of threats and provocations, which is linearly contrary to President Clinton's pleas to avoid such acts.

Mr. Clinton heard his guests complain over Turkey's continuous violations of Greece's aerial space and he was asked to exert pressure on Ankara so that it will make the first move in settling the uneasiness in the Aegean Sea by referring the Imia islets issue -as well as the continental shelf issue- to the International Court ofJustice at The Hague.

The second issue that was brought forth to the American President by the Greek-American leaders was that of Cyprus, on which he was asked to support the island's accession to the European Union as well as the island's demilitarization.

Moreover, the issue of human rights violations in Albania was the third topic discussed with Mr. Clinton.

The Greek-American leaders extensively referred to the problems faced by the Ecumenical Patriarchate from the Turkish authorities, as well as the need for Washington to support the creation of an oil pipeline that will run through Russia, Bulgaria and Greece. Also pointed out to President Clinton were the significant benefits such project would bring to american companies since the complete dependence upon Turkey for oil production would be avoided.

Among the Greek-American community's leaders who met with the US President were John Katsimatides, Aggelos Tsakopoulos, Philip Christopher, Nicholas Cage and Theodoros Spyropoulos, all of whom are significant contributors to the US Democratic Party and Mr. Clinton's pre-election campaign.

[09] TURKISH PRESS: ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT ON GHALI AVERTED AT LAST MINUTE

Two of Turkey's largest in circulation newspapers, "Huriyet" and Milliyet", have reported that an assassination attempt against United Nations Secretary-General Butros Ghali was averted at the last minute.

According to the newspapers, the assassination attempt was not carried out since at the last minute a member of the assassin squad "nailed" his partners to the police because of a dispute.

Turkish police were unable to arrest any of the would-be assassins, while the member who squealed on his accomplices claimed that he belongs to the DHKP-C organization, the Revolutionaly People's Front of the Communist Party.

[10] UN SECRETARY-GENERAL TO MEET WITH RAUF DENKTASH IN CONSTANTINOPLE

United Nations Secretary-General Butros Ghali will meet with Turk-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash in Constantinople tomorrow.

Mr. Ghali's alternate special representative Gustav Feischel, who already has met with Mr. Denktash, stated that there is no agenda for the meeting, which will mostly review the recent developments. According to Mr. Feischel, the June 11 meeting between Mr. Ghali and Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides will be held within the same parameters.

When asked if these meetings are being held in light of the american initiative for the cypriot problem, Mr. Feischel responded that the UN Secretary-General has his own orders which are renewed every six months.

[11] UN PEACEKEEPING FORCE UNABLE TO GUARD ALL OF DEMARCATION LINE

The United Nations Secretary-General's special representative to Cyprus Gustav Feischel referred today to the UN's inability to guard the demarcation line at all of its length.

Mr. Feischel stated that the Security Council has repeatedly asked that the military guards stationed at the demarcation line be unarmed.

The Cypriot government yesterday had issued a demarche to Mr. Feischel for the inability of the UN peacekeeping forces to guard the demarcation line.

The government is also expected to proceed in issuing another demarche to the Security Council through its permanent representative to the UN, Ambassador Nikos Agathocleous.

British special representative to Cyprus Sir David Hunney stated upon his arrival to Nicosia that the killing of the national guardsman emphasizes the fragility of today's "status quo."

Yesterday morning, turkish soldiers shot and killed a 19-year- old Cypriot national guardsman, Stellios Panagis-Kalis, who had entered the neutral zone in the Aghios Andreas region near Nicosia.

The Cypriot Ministry of Defense announced that Panagis-Kalis entered the demarcation line unarmed and Turkish soldiers opened fire from their guardhouse and killed him.

Men from the peacekeeping forces carried Panagis-Kalis away from the scene and transported him to Nicosia General Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

According to eyewitnesses, the Cypriot soldier entered the neutral zone unarmed, approached the turkish guardhouse and was seen talking with a Turkish soldier. Another Cypriot national guardsman called on Panagis-Kalis to return but he ignored his comrade's pleas.

The Cypriot government en masse denounced the shooting as a criminal act and immediately issued an avalanche of demarches to the United Nations and the Security Council.

Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides stated that the issued demarches regard both the killing of the 19-year-old soldier, as well as the United Nations' negligence and inability to guard the demarcation line.

Cypriot Minister of Foreign Affairs Alekos Mihaelides, gave orders to the Cypriot permanent representative at the UN to proceed in issuing a stern protestation to the UN Secretariat, as well as to the permanent members of the Security Council. Also, all of the Cypriot embassies have been instructed to issue demarches to international organizations and foreign governments.

Meanwhile, according to Cypriot authorities, current investigations reveal that before Panagis-Kalis entered the demarcation line, a civilian was seen entering the free zone from the occupied territory and fled when the shooting started. Also, the national guardsman did not activate the alarm system, as he was obliged to do.

[12] SEVEN CYPRIOT GUARDSMEN HAVE BEEN KILLED IN THE PAST TEN YEARS

Seven Cypriot national guardsmen have been killed during the past ten years by turkish soldiers on the demarcation line that separates Cyprus into two parts.

They are: Christakis Georgiou, killed on September 21, 1982, Tryphonas Tryphonos, December 18, 1983, Harilaos Haralampous, May 28, 1988, Evagora Evagorou, July 31, 1988, Athanasios Cleovolou, April 8, 1993, Michalis Sophocleous, April 9, 1996 and Stelios Panagis-Kalis, June 3, 1996.

Photopraphs of the killed guardsmen are posted along the length of the demarcation line.

[13] JOINT EFFORT AND COOPERATION OF ALL INTERESTED PARTIES ARE NEEDED FOR THE SOLUTION OF THE CYPRUS PROBLEM, SAID BRITAIN'S SPECIAL ENVOY

Britain's Special Envoy in Cyprus pointed out that any high level meeting between the leaderships of the two communities in Cyprus needs the joint effort of all interested sides in the Cyprus problem, as well as the cooperation of the two communities in Cyprus.

Speaking after today's meeting with Cypriot President Glafkos Kliridis, the British Special Envoy said that the interested parties in the Cyprus problem have no conflict of interests and that they would want to see the Cyprus problem resolved in accordance with the UN resolutions, adding that this is neither easy nor simple.

Responding to the question on what will make him successful in his mission compared to all the others who have failed, the british official said that he is very stubborn.

He characterized the meeting with Cypriot President as very useful and confidential, while later he also met with Foreign Minister Alekos Michailidis.

[14] GREEK MUSEUM AND CULTURAL CENTER TO BE FOUNDED IN MELBOURNE

Prime Minister of Australia's state of Victoria, Jeff Kennett, has reaffirmed his government's interest in creating a Greek Museum and a Greek Cultural Center in Melbourne, in a meeting he held with the President of the Council of Greeks Abroad (SAE) Andrew Athens and the President of Oceania's SAE Elias Rallis.

Meeting in the Premier's office, Mr. Kennett was briefed on SAE's new targets and gave his guests a tour of Melbourne's "Old Customs House" which is being considered for housing the Greek Museum.

According to the primary plans, one of the building's floors could house the Greek Museum while another floor could be used for holding cultural events since it is noted for its vast dimensions and beautiful aesthetics.

Both of SAE's leaders, as well as the Greek Foreign Ministry's representative George Florentis -who was present at the meeting- have promised to promote the efforts for Melbourne's Greek Museum.

On another note, Mr. Kennett indicated that his government has decided not to participate at this year's International Fair In Thessaloniki.

"In cooperation with the Australian Premier John Howard, I will aim at Australia's participation in the following year's International Fair in Thessaloniki with an impressive stand in order to produce greater results from this attempt," Mr. Kennett promised.

[15] THE COASTAL LINE THESSALONIKI-NOVOROSISK WAS INAUGURATED TODAY

The first coastal line linking Thessaloniki and Novorosisk was inaugurated today aiming at "opening a door where there is hellenism", while at the same time it widens the prospects for transit trade.

Once a week, the ferry-boat "Sea Serenade" will make the 42- hour voyage sailing from Thessaloniki every Tuesday and from Novorosisk every Friday.

The President of the company that owns the "Sea Serenade", mr.Evangelos Pothitos stated to MPA that the efforts for the inauguration of this coastal line had begun 3 years ago but there were no results. Mr.Pothitos said that thanks to the efforts by the russian Transport Minister and the greek ambassador, the opening of Thessaloniki-Novorosisk coastal line was made possible. He also stressed that it is known to everyone that this endeavour will open the doors to the Black Sea region, while the economic gains will be significant.

Today, ten trucks with 40 tons of fruits sailed for Novorosisk on board the "Sea Seranade", while it should be noted that until now ships were sailing for Novorosisk only from the ports of Varna in Bulgaria and Constantinople in Turkey.

Among the passengers on board the "Sea Serenade" are and travel agents who will visit Novorosisk in order to examine the possibilities for organized package tours from and to Russia.

The ferry-boat is of european specifications and can carry 1.200 passengers and 35 trucks and private cars.

[16] ALBANIAN GOVERNMENT BANS OPEN-AIR DEMONSTRATIONS IN TIRANA

The albanian government banned all open-air demonstrations in the center of Tirana, according to an announcement published in the albanian press.

The ban targets the opposition which has called the population to participate in a peaceful demonstration in the center of Tirana against the electoral irregularities that marked the first round of the May 26 Parliamentary elections.

The albanian authorities justified their decision to ban open- air demonstrations maintaining that former Sigurimi secret police officials are planning to stir up trouble in cooperation with the Socialist party leadership.

The Socialist party in an announcement issued today, called the supporters of the opposition to hold protest demonstrations inside or in front of the local party offices all over the country in order to avoid provocations.

About 90 Socialist party officials continue the hunger strike they started last Friday at their party offices in Tirana, calling for the nullification of the elections. According to medical sources, the health condition of many hunger strikers has deteriorated.

Meanwhile, an opposition delegation leaves today for Brussels in order to lodge an appeal to the european bodies against the electoral fraud made by the governing Democratic party.

[17] RADIOACTIVE WASTE WILL BE BURIED IN SKOPJE

Radioactive waste will be buried in the region of Skopje, according to Belgrade's newspaper "Politika Express".

The newspaper mentions that tomorrow, June 5, FYROM's "greens" will send a long report to the Ministry of the Environment and to the skopjan Prime Minister in which the dangers included in such a decision will be underlined. According to Tanja Atanasovka, Secretary of the ecological organization "Survival", they will also call for the banning of the import and burial of dangerous radioactive waste.

The Belgrade newspaper stresses that the Skopjan government is keeping the radioactive waste burial plan a secret and maintains that only radioactive lightining rods and old medical equipment containing radioactive elements will be buried.

Many ecological organizations warn that based on official scientific data reported by the state radio, in the regions of the mountains of Tsipka and Karatsic have been recorded high radiation levels in the past few months.

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