MPA NEWS IN ENGLISH (19/06/1996)

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

Macedonian Press Agency News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, June 19, 1996

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] CABINET ADDRESSES FOREIGN POLICY, PREMIER LEADS THE WAY

In his address, Mr. Simitis referred to the greek-turkish issues and pointed out that Turkey, despite the divisive problems it faces in its interior front, is seeking a leadership role in the region and, as such, it develops a policy of territorial claims against Greece.

The Premier emphasized that Greece's target is a strong foreign policy which will give the country a dynamic presence in the international arena, "so that we can expand our alliances and play a significant role in the region."

Referring to the Balkan region, the Premier stated that efforts are being continued on forming a multi-faceted inter- balkan cooperation for business trade and noted that the inter- european and international transport, telecommunications and energy networks are of utmost importance.

"Our aim is to bring Thessaloniki to an epicentral position in the development of a multi-level Balkan strategy."

In closing, the Prime Minister also spoke of the country's armed forces and outlined Greece's presence and participation in cooperation plans with NATO and the Western European Union, both of which play supportive roles in the country's foreign policy.

Mr. Simitis will depart tomorrow for Florence where he will partake at the European Summit Conference that will be held on June 21-22.

Discussion items of priority status will be the issue of unemployment, the Inter-governmental Conference and the revision of the Maastricht Treaty.

[02] THE PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA IS ON AN INFORMAL VISIT TO THESSALONIKI

The armenian President characterized the contacts he had during his visit to Greece as a turning point for the further strengthening of the friendly relations between the two countries.

He also said that in Macedonia hellenism won glory first with King Philippos and then with Alexander the Great, adding that the ties and the prospects of cooperation between the two countries are directly linked with Macedonia and Thrace.

During the meeting was also examined the course of the institutions set up for the economic cooperation in the Balkans and the Black Sea region and was established that by the end of the year the process for the ratification of the agreement concerning the founding of the Black Sea Bank will be completed by the state Parliaments of the countries participating in the venture.

Also, a special reference was made to the issue of the preservation of the cultural characteristics of the greek community in Armenia and of the armenian community in Greece.

[03] MINISTER OF DEFENCE: TURKEY FOLLOWS AN EXPANSIONIST POLICY

Mr.Arsenis underlined that the widening of Greece's defence capability is necessary and added that a strong deterrent force is needed which can be achieved through the modernization of the greek armed forces.

[04] MAIN OPPOSITION PARTY LEADER SEES LACK OF COHESION IN GOVERNMENT

Mr. Evert pointed out the need to create a long-term, united national stategy and proposed that aside of the Party Leaders Council that meets under the leadership of the Republlic's President, there is also a need of a "body of foreign and defense policy with the participation of the Defense and Foreign Ministries as well as all the parties."

Defense Minister Gerasimos Arsenis responded that there is indeed cohesion in the government's foreign policy and announced the creation of a special task force within the Ministry which will solely follow all developments in the greco- turkish relations.

[05] HOSPITAL PHYSICIANS CONTINUE STRIKE, DEMAND CHANGES IN HEALTH CARE

In a protest held in Thessaloniki today, local state physicians, whose strike completes a whole month tomorrow, marched in front of the Ministry of Macedonia-Thrace where they met with the Ministry's Secretary-General Chrysa Manolia and presented her with resolutions signed by representatives of the Panhellenic Federation of Hospital Physicians and the Specialist Physicians Associaiton of Macedonia.

Ms. Manolia promised to convey their demands to the Health Ministry and expressed her optimism that the issues will soon be resolved.

[06] FORMER US PRESIDENT BUSH CONTINUES CRUISE IN THE GREEK ISLANDS

Mr. Bush who is accompanied by members of his family and former Chief of the US Armed Forces Gen. Colin Powell, returned this morning from Germany where he had travelled to attend a function honoring Chancellor Helmut Kholl.

The former US President's next stop in his cruise itinerary is the island of Paros.

[07] INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS TO TAKE THESSALONIKI INTO 21ST CENTURY

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 Prime Minister Kostas Simitis' 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.

[08] NEW TURKISH MILITARY EXERCISE BEGINS IN EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN

In the three-day military exercise, code-named "Toros", will be used live ammunition and will participate the turkish occupation army, Navy units and Air Force jets.

[09] TURKISH POLITICIAN AND BUSINESSMAN BESIM TIBUK IS VISITING ATHENS

Besim Tibuk is an advocate of the greek-turkish friendship and has been honoured with the Ipektsi Award, while he supports the operation of the Theology School in Halki and the protection and unhindered operation of the Patriarchate in Constantinople.

In statements he made to Athens News Agency, mr.Tibuk described the tension between Greece and Turkey as "black comedy", underlining that the greeks must be certain that the turkish people have no expansionist aspirations against greek territories. He said that responsible for the situation are the politicians in both countries.

On the political crisis in his country, the President of the turkish Liberal Democratic party stressed that Turkey must be accustomed to unstable governments until it changes its political system to Presidential Democracy. He also said that Greece should not fear islamist leader, Erbakan because the percentage of fanatic islamists in Turkey is much smaller than it is believed, adding that the religious factor plays greater role in Greece than in Turkey. Mr.Tibuk also backed Turkey's membership in the EU.

After his meeting with the mayor of Athens Dimitris Avramopoulos, mr.Tibuk stated that he supports the preservation of today's status quo in the Aegean. The turkish politician stressed that there is no problem with "grey zones" in the Aegean and atributed the issue of Gavdos to a bureaucratic mistake made by turkish army officers.

Upon his arrival at the airport of Constantinople, after his two-day "friendship visit" to Athens, mr.Tibuk stated that all the problems, the Cyprus problem included, will be resolved if a realistic policy between the two countries is followed. He added that Greece and Turkey must stop the military exercises in the Aegean and the Mediterranean and "freeze" the problems between them, stressing that later those problems must be resolved through the diplomatic route.

[10] FRENCH PREMIER LOOKS FORWARD TO MEETING MR. SIMITIS IN SEPTEMBER

Mr.Juppe, speaking in the opening of the exhibition, said that he is "in love with Greece", while he praised the meaning of philhellenism in France describing it "as a phenomenon that embraced all political tendencies". He also added that "in the years that followed nothing has changed in the close relations between Greece and France. Those who had inspired us in the past, now are our partners." The french Prime Minister concluded by saying that "Greece personifies the eternal youth and makes us dream".

In his reply, charge d' affaires in the greek embassy in Paris, Frangiskos Verros referred to the liberation struggle of the greeks against the Ottoman Empire and to the assistance the europeans and especially, the french had offered to this noble cause. Referring to the problems Greece faces today with the same adversary, he stressed that Greece is certain that will find the same understanding and friendship in France, just as it always happened in the past.

The exhibition will be open in Bordeaux until September when it will be brought to Paris and then to Greece.

[11] ELGIN MARBLES DOCUMENTARY VIEWED IN EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT YESTERDAY

After the screening of the documentary a round table discussion was held with the participation of theater and film director Jules Dassen, husband of the late Melina Merkouri, journalist and producer of the TV show "Without Walls" William Steward, European Parliament Culture Committee President Euro- deputy ms.Luciana Kastelina, Euro-deputies mr.Thomas and mr.Fisher, European Parliament high officials and greek and foreign journalists. The event was held on the initiative of greek Euro-deputy, Alekos Alavanos.

British journalist and producer of the documentary on the Parthenon marbles, William Steward stated that based on the telephone calls the television station received after the documentary was shown, 92,5% of the callers backed the return of the Parthenon marbles to Greece.

Euro-deputy, mr.Lomas characteristically said that the return of the Elgin marbles to Greece "makes sense" and is "evident", adding that by taking them away from the Parthenon was destroyed something that does not belong exclusively to the greek civilization but to the whole world.

[12] WORLD-WIDE CATALOG OF GREEKS LIVING ABROAD CREATED BY PATRA UNIVERSITY

The catalog, collated through the use of the Diogenis electronic program, will allow for an expedient and itemized access to all Greeks living in countries throughout the world.

The task of putting together this voluminous work began at the Patra University and was continued through the cooperative efforts of Washington University and the University of Saint Louis, Missouri.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[13] CYPRIOT PRESIDENT =92=8E MEET IN LONDON TODAY WITH BRITISH PRIME MINISTER

In the meeting will also be present the cypriot and the british Foreign Ministers, the cypriot government spokesman, the british special envoy to Cyprus and the High Commissioners of Cyprus and Britain to London and Nicosia.

According to information, Britain will contribute in every way to the efforts for the solution of the Cyprus problem in the period until the opening of the talks for Cyprus' accession into the European Union.

[14] EU-FYROM COOPERATION AGREEMENT STALLS OVER NAME ISSUE

According to Skopjan press, the talks between FYROM and the EU regarding a cooperation agreement had progressed smoothly until they got hitched on Skopje's demand to sign the agreement with what it claims is its constitutional name.

The Skopjan delegation, headed by vice-president Yiane Milliovski, refused to sign the agreement with the name of FYROM, as the EU proposed and as the country is officially recognized by the United Nations. Mr. Milliovksi insisted on signing the name "Republic of Macedonia", asserting that it is "the constitutionally protected name of the country."

In turn, the EU refused this development and countered that the name issue has not been resolved yet since talks between FYROM and Greece are continuing under the mediation of Cyrus Vance.

As such, the agreement was left up in the air yesterday, and EU diplomatic circles expressed their doubt as to whether they will be continued today, in case that Skopje insists on its demand.

Meanwhile Skopjan media speculate that Greece is hiding behind this development, being in constant communication with the European Commission.

[15] TURKEY HOLDS MILITARY EXERCISES IN CYPRYS' OCCUPIED TERRITORY

Meanwhile yesterday, the President of the Turkish Liberal Democratic Party Besin Tubuk met with Athens Mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos and stated that he is in favor of maintaining the current status quo in the Aegean Sea.

Mr. Tubuk stated that there is no issue of grey zones and attributed the Gavdos issue to a bureaucratic mistake made by turkish military officials.

Also, yesterday's signing of a defense agreement between Greece and Armenia brought about reactions and threats from Ankara which accused Greece of hostile behavior.

[16] TURK-CYPRIOT LEADER ASKS PRESIDENT CLERIDES FOR DIRECT TALKS

Mr. Denktash is coming forth as a warm supporter of these talks, by making a series of statements through which he aims to present President Clerides as being intransigent, since the Cypriot President insists that a common ground be found prior to any talks.

The Turk-Cyprior leader repeated the threat that the Cypriot occupied territory will be considered as part of Turkey, in case that Cyprus gains accession to the European Union.

[17] TURKEY TO SYRIA: "WE'LL SMACK YOU IF YOU MAKE A MILITARY MOVE"

According to the turkish newspaper "Yeni Gunaydin", Mr. Mendese stated that if Syria's piling of military arms at the turkish borders leads to a military operation, it would be a tremendous mistake on behalf of Damascus.

"If they do such a thing they'll get smacked and will finish their work in a day," Mendese characteristically said.

[18] 28 KURDISH REBELS WERE KILLED BY TURKISH FORCES

Also, four kurdish rebels were arrested in the turkish regions of Elazig, Diyiarbakir and Bitlis.

Meanwhile, the iraqui government demanded the withdrawal of the turkish forces which launched a military operation against the kurds in northern Iraq.

According to the iraqui Foreign Ministry, the turkish forces are 10 kilometers inside the northern part of the country and turkish Air Force jets have bombarded villages and towns in the region.

The announcement issued by the iraqui Foreign Ministry, mentions that Turkey must stop the military operation, which is in conflict with the UN resolutions and International Law.

[19] A SERB POLICEMAN WAS KILLED BY UNIDENTIFIED MEN IN KOSOVO

According to the skopjan state television, citing information from the french news agency "Franspress", the incident took place last Monday when unidentified men opened fire on the police patrol car.

It should be noted, that this is the second attack against the serb police in Kosovo in the past two days.

[20] YUGOSLAVIA AND SKOPJE SIGN BILATERAL FREE TRADE AGREEMENT

[21] WORLD BANK CONSIDERS GRANTING ANOTHER LOAN TO BULGARIA

According to Mr. Masalem, the taxation measures and the increase in interest rates are temporary, yet necessary measures that aim at stabilizing the country's economy.

The World Bank official noted that Bulgaria's opportunity to achieve the constructive reforms in its economy is through cooperation and political support.

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