MPA NEWS IN ENGLISH (17/06/1996)

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

Macedonian Press Agency News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, June 17, 1996

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] GREECE NEITHER CLAIMS, NOR CEDES AWAY ANYTHING, SAYS ATHENS

The greek government remains firm in its position that neither claims nor gives away anything, reiterated greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas referring to issues of national interest.

Mr.Reppas also announced that a cabinet meeting will be held on Wednesday in order to examine the developments on the issues of national interest and especially, on the greek-turkish relations.

[02] PM WON'T ATTACK OPPOSITION, WANTS COHESION

Prime Minister Kostas Simitis and his Cabinet have no reason to exercise self-criticism regarding the Imia islets crisis, stated today the Minister of Press and Media Dimitris Reppas.

Mr. Reppas was responding to a reporter's question on whether the Premier's "Come and Take it" statement issued from Crete could be construed as self-criticism for the government's handling of the Imia crisis.

"On the contrary," Mr. Reppas continued, "the Premier could have proceeded to issue hardliners for many of those who have handled public and national issues, and today are part of the opposition."

According to the Minister, Mr. Simitis opts not to issue criticisms since he believes that the duty and responsibility he holds call for him to follow a policy of communication and cohesion among the parties in order to develop a united national front when it comes to exercising foreign policy.

[03] PM AND NATIONAL ECONOMY MINISTER ON ALLOCATION OF EU FUNDS

Issues concerning the absorption of european union funds, as well as finding ways to breath life into the state's mamouth projects, were discussed this afternoon by Prime Minister Kostas Simitis and Minister of National Economy Yiannos Papantoniou.

The National Economy Minister stated that the meeting was actually a briefing session and added that more attention was granted to the promotion of various European Union programs, such as the road axes, and plans of the Education, Labour and other ministries, in order to achieve a complete absorption of the provided funds during the year 1996.

"Our aim is a 100 per cent absorption of these funds," he emphasized.

[04] PREMIER MET IN ATHENS WITH THE VISITING ARMENIAN PRESIDENT

Prime Minister Kostas Simitis presented the greek positions on the issues of national interest during the meeting he had with armenian President mr.Petrosian, who is on an official visit to Greece.

In statements they made after their meeting mr.Simitis and mr.Petrosian referred to the role Greece can play in the region, as well as to Greece's interests in the region of the Caucusus.

The armenian President expressed his concern over the lack of political stability in Turkey and reiterated that his country is interested in further improving its relations with european institutions.

The greek Prime Minister later hosted a working dinner in honour of the armenian President which was attended by Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos and his armenian counterpart.

Meanwhile, the Defence Ministers of Greece and Armenia are expected to announce tomorrow the signing of a defence cooperation protocol. The announcement will be made in a press conference after their meeting in Athens.

[05] THESSALONIKI INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS TO BE ANNOUNCED

A program titled "Thessaloniki SOS-Thessaloniki in the 21st Century" addressing the city's development, environment and culture will be presented on Wednesday by the Minister of Environment, City Planning and Public Works Kostas Laliotis.

The program's first two axes include the infrastructure projects that will take the city into the next century, according to the Minister, and were already been presented to the local authorities by the government during the Premier's recent visit to Thessaloniki.

Moreover, the program includes plans to upgrade city areas and to protect water habitats in the region, such as Kerkini Lake, and those formed at the estuaries of the rivers Axios, Aliakmonas and Gallikos.

[06] GREEK TEENAGERS TAKE OVER PARLIAMENT, HOLD MAKE-BELIEVE SESSION

With all the due respect and formality afforded in the real version, a one-of-a-kind parliament session was held in the legislature's arena today where 300 of the country's best and brighest high school students took their turn on the podium.

Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis addressed the youngsters and told them that they are conducting an "exercise in Democracy," adding that their participation in this program is preparing them for cogent thinking, while also sketching the horizons for the country's future.

During the three-day session, the students -divided into six committess just like real parliament- will be instructed on the legislative process and will produce resoluitions that will be presented to the wider media after the plenary session that is to be held tomorrow.

Today's session was indeed impressive, where a student from a Trikala high school tabled a resolution proposal and asked that it be forwarded to leaders throughout the world.

In his proposal, Stelios Georgoulas stated that "We believe that the citizens of your countries did not feel especially proud facing the photograph of a Turkish soldier who proudly held up by the hair the decapitated heads of Kurdish soldiers -a common incident in that region- which he killed with your guns, promoting your interests. If this photograph had as a byline Kemal Ataturk's phrase "what joy it is to be a Turk", along with your signature, it could be forwarded as a post card on your behalf to the Armenians, the Pontus residents, the Cypriots, the Arabs and to others. Perhaps this could promote your interests more effectively."

[07] TIME HAS COME TO GO BACK HOME FOR FORMER YUGOSLAVIA'S KIDS

A special train provided by the Greek Railroad Organization, equipped with beds and all, will return the group of children from former Yugoslavia visiting Greece to their homes in Belgrade.

The children, accompanied by their teachers, were hosted for six months in communities throughout Greece, under the parameters of a program provided by the Central Association of Municipalities and Communities.

[08] CITY OF KASTORIA AND FUR INDUSTRY IN CYBERSPACE AT LOW COST

Kastoria residents will no longer be charged with long- distance rates when gaining access to the Internet, since, following efforts undertaken by the local Municipality and fur industry, they can enter cyberspace through a simple, local call.

The Center of Greek Fur and the Municipality of Kastoria have set up an Internet server in their own community, thereby bypassing the costly need to link up with the nearest server located in Thessaloniki.

The total cost of this action is estimated at ten million drachmas and half of the funding will by provided by the fur center, while the other half will be picked up by the Municipality.

The local furmakers' interest in gaining access to the Internet is understandable, since this link paves the way for gaining a World Wide Web page, right next to the Scandinavian "Saga Mink" and the US-based "American Legend".

According to reports, the local industry's expressed interest is already so encouraging, that the set up costs are expected to be paid off by subscriptions alone in the first few months.

[09] POSITIVE DEVELOPMENTS FOR BLACK SEA BANK IN BAKU MEETING

Positive were the developments on the issue of the Black Sea Bank during the 7th Parliamentary conference of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation countries that was held in Baku, Azerbadjan on June 10-14. As it was made known, the countries participating in the conference have begun giving their approval to the operation of the Bank which, according to the greek Prime Minister, will open in Thessaloniki by the end of the year.

Former Minister of Macedonia-Thrace, Konstantinos Triaridis speaking to MPA said that during the conference it was announced that the russian Parliament has approved the Black Sea Bank and also that within the week a similar decision will be made by the romanian Parliament, while the approval by other four countries is still pending.

During the conference were discussed and issues of cooperation in the sectors of ecology and culture and also, energy policy issues.

[10] PREPARATIONS FOR THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL MEETING UNDER WAY

The European Union Foreign Ministers did not discuss in today's "conclave" the issue of the EU relations with the Mediterranean countries neither the issues concerning the EU financing programme MEDA, as it was originally believed.

Greek Alternate Foreign Minister Giorgos Romeos, who is representing Greece in the meeting, referred to the need for "joint decision making" and simplification of the decision making procedures in the "Euro-Body". It should be reminded, that Greece has already submitted to its EU partners a memorandum on the European Parliament role in the "post Maastricht era".

The President of the European Parliament, Klaus Haensch maintained that the "Euro-Body" must supervise the European Commission and suggested that an extraordinary meeting of the European Council should be held in order for the "15" to get closer to the formation of a decisions text over the future of the European Union.

The Italian EU Presidency rejected the European Parliament's proposal for an extraordinary European Council meeting during the Italian EU Presidency and added that on June 19 the European Parliament will be briefed in detail on the course of the Inter- Governmental Conference.

Finally, the Italian EU Presidency called the EU member states to realize that a new phase of negotiations should begin by putting their priorities in order, while their talks must assume a more selective character.

[11] GAVDOS ISSUE IS A SORE FOR TURKEY, SAYS TURKISH AMBASSADOR

Former turkish ambassador to Washington, Sukru Elekdak in an article to the turkish newspaper "Milliyet" mentions that the issue of Gavdos has seriously hurt Turkey's interests, adding that responsible for the situation is the country's military.

The turkish ambassador, known for his good relations with his country's military establishment, writes that every time there is a political void in Turkey the governments do not have the military's respect and confidence and there are two power centers in the country.

He mentions that Turkey's stance on the issue of Gavdos is wrong, characterizing it as a costly mistake, adding that a situation was created which could hurt the turkish positions on the issue of the Aegean and cast a shadow over Turkey's image.

Mr. Elekdak writes in his article that the most well-aimed move Turkey should have made was to withdraw its representative from the NATO headquarters in Napoli, Italy saying that he exceeded his competence and close the issue permanently.

[12] GREEK ARMED FORCES AND CYPRIOT NATIONAL GUARD ON STAND BY

The Greek armed forces and the Cypriot National Guard are on a stand by position since early this morning, when the second phase of the turkish military exercise "Thalassolykos '96" started.

The turkish aeronautical exercises "Ephessos" and Thalassolykos '96" will take place from the Dardanelles to Famagusta and will last until June 22.

Ankara has already proceeded to an arbitrary blocking of six regions in Nicosia's FIR, a fact which political. analysts are interpreting as a challenge to the Joint Defense Doctrine that exists between Greece and Cyprus.

[13] TURKISH REPORT PROVING IMIA'S GREEK SOVEREINGTY UPSETS ANKARA

A 63-year-old document that was written by a turkish diplomat and attests to the greek sovereignty of the Imia islets, has brought a storm to Ankara's Foreign Ministry, according to recent reports published in the turkish press.

"Milliyet" columnist Yialtsin Doyan writes that "the difficult position that Turkey finds itself in regarding the Imia islets crisis, is confirmed through official data according to which Turkey is not right."

The Turkish columnist lashes out against the Foreign Ministry's officials who handled the crisis and, more specifically, agaisnt Under-Secretary Onur Oymen because, according to Doyan, he was the man who concealed these documents upon receiving them first.

"When the Aegean Sea issue surfaced again, over the senseless talk of the Gavdos island, Turkey was "cornered" for good in the international arena," Doyan writes.

The report that Doyan refers to, is a letter dated January 3, 1933 addressed by the Turkish then-foreign minister Tervik Rustu Aras to the Italian Ambassador Vincenzo Loiacono, which, in short, upholds the map drawn in accordance to the Lausanne Treaty.

[14] GREECE IS A BIG PROBLEM FOR ANKARA, SAYS TURKISH GENERAL

Greece is a big problem for Turkey, stated yesterday the former chief of the turkish Armed Forces General Staff and current parliamentarian Dogan Gures, who also pointed out the need to maintain cooperation in the interior front.

According to turkish press, Mr. Gures warned of an imminent danger of a coup and emphasized that the ideal cooperation for forming a coalition government is to exclude the Islamic Welfare Party from the Cabinet, which should be formed by the remaining four parties.

[15] SERB AND GREEK UNIVERSITIES COOPERATION AGREEMENT SIGNED

A cooperation agreement was signed between the greek university of Ioannina and the serb university of Nis, providing for a long-term academic collaboration in the areas of education and scientific research.

The dean of Nis university Branimir Gorgevic and dean of Ioannina Univeristy Dimitris Glaros, signed the agreement today, and Mr. Glaros stated that the protocol "reaffirms the longstanding friendship that exists between the two universities, and foremostly the friendship between the serb and greek peoples."

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[16] NICOSIA: NO TALKS ON CYPRUS, UNLESS COMMON GROUND IS FOUND

The talks regarding the Cyprus problem will not be held unless a common ground is found first, stated yesterday the Cypriot government spokesperson Yiannakis Kasoulides.

Speaking from New York, where he accompanied Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides, Mr. Kasoulides stated that the President had clearly brought forth the need to find a common ground on the problem's five basic premises so that talks can begin again with turk-cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.

Regarding the issue of de-militarization, Mr. Kassoulides clarified that it was simply brought up by Mr. Clerides to the UN Secretary-General Butros Ghali during their meeting in Geneva.

The Cypriot President, Mr. Kasoulides explained, presented his known position regarding de-militarization, although the issue cannot become a subject for talks on finding a solution to the Cyprus problem, but rather concerns a situation that will be created and will enable the solution-seeking process.

[17] CYPRUS APPEALS TO COUNCIL OF EUROPE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE

The hearing of Cyprus' appeal to the Council of Europe Human Rights Committee concerning human rights violations made by Turkey will open on June 28 and will be completed on the same day.

Cyprus' Prosecutor General, Alekos Markidis stated today that the appeal concerns mass human rights violations committed by Turkey in Cyprus. Mr.Markidis avoided to mention the essence of the matter invoking the international treaty, in accordance to which the Committee operates. This international treaty provides that everything said before the Committee is regarded as confidential.

[18] TURKEY VIOLATES INTERNATIONAL CIVIL AVIATION REGULATIONS

Turkey, in violation of the international Civil Aviation regulations, issued a note on the Nicosia F.I.R. without a prior notice to the cypriot government which has the contractual responsibility for the control of the Nicosia F.I.R.

The cypriot government has already protested on the matter to the International Civil Aviation Organization.

High official of the Civil Aviation department in Cyprus, mr.Milton Georgiadis stated that there is no danger for the passenger airplanes because they fly at a higher altitude than the military jets and are under the control of the department's radars.

[19] PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS REPEATED YESTERDAY IN ALBANIA

Parliamentary elections were repeated yesterday in 17 constituencies in Albania after accusations of electoral irregularities in the May 26 general elections. According to the Central Returning Board, 65% of the electorate came to the polls, but the elections were again boycotted by 6 opposition parties.

The opposition maintains that the elections rerun was illegal and called for the repetition of the general elections in the country.

According to information, the governing Democratic Party won 12 of the 17 seats, while the two candidates of the Human Rights Union party did not manage to win enough votes in order to be elected in Parliament.

Official results are expected late this afternoon and as it is expected, the Democratic Party will have about 115 seats in the Parliament, the Socialist Party 10, the Human Rights Union party 2, while the remaining seats of the 140 in the albanian Parliament will go to smaller parties.

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