MPA NEWS IN ENGLISH (25/06/1996)

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

Macedonian Press Agency News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, June 25, 1996

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] ANDREAS TO BE BURIED TOMORROW WITH STATE LEADER HONORS

The Greek nation united will pay its last respects to the late political leader and PASOK President Andreas Papandreou, who, through his struggles, helped the country and paved forward the path of international peace.

Mr. Papandreou's body will lie in state at the Athens Cathedral until tomorrow 6:00 a.m. Thousands of mourning citizens have been filing outside the church, holding a flower in their hands, offering a last goodbye to their beloved leader.

Andreas Papandreou will be buried tomorrow with state leader's honors at Athens' First Cemetery where his father George Papandreou is also buried.

Greece's Armed Forces will pay tribute to the Greek Socialist leader while fighter jets F-16 and Mirage 2000 will fly in synchronized manoeuvres during the funeral procession.

A. Papandreou's flag-draped casket will be placed on a gun- carriage and will be accompanied by vehicles from all three sectors of the Greek Armed Forces.

[02] US EMBASSY, CONSULATE TO BE CLOSED TOMORROW

In order to honor the late Greek leader Andreas Papandreou, the United States Embassy in Athens and Consulate-General in Thessaloniki will be closed to the public on Wednesday.

Also closed will be the American Library in the Hellenic American Union and the American Center in Thessaloniki.

[03] FOREIGN DIGNITARIES ARE ARRIVING IN ATHENS FOR THE FUNERAL

Important personalities among them, heads of states and government leaders from all over the world, began arriving in Athens today to attend the funeral of Andreas Papandreou that will be held tomorrow.

Among them are, the US Treasury Secretary, vice-President of the russian government, Vitali Ignatienko together with the russian Foreign Affairs Undersecretary, Assistant UN Secretary- General, Peter Hansen representing mr.Ghali, the canadian Foreign Minister, Japan's former Finance Minister, while Azerbaidjan will be represented by its ambassador.

From the EU member states will arrive german Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel, italian Minister of the Prime Minister's Department ms.Livia Turco, the government vice-President and Foreign Minister of Malta, the International Commerce Minister of Finland, Norway's Trade Minister and Minister of International Development and deputy Foreign Minister of Sweden.

Also, are expected European Parliament President Klaus Haensch and Secretary General of the french Socialist party Lionel Jospen, heading a large party delegation.

According to the greek Foreign Ministry, it has been confirmed that the funeral will be attended by the dutch Prime Minister, the serb President, the bulgarian Prime Minister, the armenian Prime Minister, the Prime Minister of the state of Victoria in Australia, the slovenian Prime Minister and the Prime Minister of Lebanon.

Also, the funeral will be attended by President of the Socialist International and former spanish Prime Minister mr.Gonzales, European Socialist party President ms.Green and the President of the german SPD party.

From Cyprus will arrive the President of the Cypriot Republic mr.Kliridis, former cypriot President mr.Kiprianou, Foreign Minister mr.Michailidis, EDEK party leader mr.Lisaridis and possibly government spokesman, mr.Kasoulidis.

Turkey will be represented by caretaker Foreign Minister Gonensay, Romania by the Minister of Education, Georgia by its Foreign Minister, Poland by its Minister of the Interior, Tunisia by its Justice Minister, Iran by its Foreign Minister and India by the Minister of Transportations.

Also, are expected to arrive in Athens, the syrian vice- President, while the European Commission President, Jacques Santer will be represented by greek EU Commissioner, Christos Papoutsis.

[04] COUNCIL OF EUROPE'S PARLIAMENT GIVES ITS LAST GOOD BYE

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe paid tribute to the late Andreas Papandreou today, when the Assembly President Leni Fisher stated that he was one of the most outstanding Greek politicians after World War II.

"The Council of Europe Assembly," Ms. Fisher stated, "had its first contacts with Mr. Papandreou in December of 1967. In December of 1969 he participated at a meeting of the Commission on Political Affairs, in Paris, under the capacity of a fighter against the military regime. We are obliged to him since he always actively supported the Council of Europe."

Also, the President of the C of E's Socialist Group Peter Sider, from Austria, expressed his sadness for the loss of Andreas Papandreou, and stated that he was an outstanding figure in the international socialist movement, and contributed greatly to the promotion of the socialist idea and values in his country."

[05] GORBATCHEV ON PAPANDREOU: "WE UNDERSTOOD ONE ANOTHER"

Michail Gorbachev, the last President of the former Soviet Union, has sent his condolenmces to the Greek government and its people for the death of Andreas Papandreou. Mr. Gorbachev, who visited the Greek Embassy in Moscow today, stated that Mr. Papandreou was a concrete friend of the Soviet Union, and Russia in turn.

"I met many times with Andreas Papandreou, we were like- minded and we understood one-another," Mr. Gorbachev said.

Also, Russian Prime Minister Chernomirdyn expressed his condolences over A. Papandreou's loss, on behalf of Russian President Boris Yeltsin as well.

"We are grieving and mourning, as his death is a loss for all, not only Greece. The relations between the two countries were always warm and will always remain as such, especially during hard times such as now."

Russian Communist party leader, Genadi Zuganov in a message to PASOK's Central Committee also expressed his deep sorrow for the death of Andreas Papandreou and offered his condolences to the family of the deceased.

The Russian Communist Party leader underlined in his message the outstanding contribution of Andreas Papandreou to the strengthening of Greece's role and to the solution of international and regional policy problems.

Mr. Zuganov characterized Mr. Papandreou as one of the most significant figures in the development of the Social-Democratic movement and stressed his contribution to the further development of the traditional greek-russian relations.

[06] LONDON WILL BE REPRESENTED BY ITS MINISTER OF DEFENCE

The british government will be represented in the funeral of Andreas Papandreou by Minister of Defence Michael Portilo, as it was announced today by the Foreign Office.

A book of condolences has been opened in the residence of the greek ambassador in London.

[07] FOREIGN MINISTER KLAUS KINKEL WILL REPRESENT GERMANY

Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel will represent Germany in the funeral of Andreas Papandreou.

Mr.Kinkel's intention to attend the funeral was known but there were doubts due to his scheduled meetings on Wednesday with romanian President Iliescu and the OSCE secretary general.

[08] DELEGATION FROM FYROM WILL ATTEND THE FUNERAL

A government delegation from FYROM will attend the funeral of Andreas Papandreou.

The mass media in Skopje covered extensively the news of his death and used flattering words in presenting his work and his contribution to the world peace.

Since this morning, government officials and private citizens visit the office of the greek delegation in Skopje to sign the book of condolences.

[09] EGYPTIAN PRESS REPORTS ON PAPANDREOU, LAMENTS HIS LOSS

Egypt's newspapers are featuring lengthy obituaries on the death of Andreas Papandreou, with extensive coverage of the Greek leader's personality and political accomplishments.

"Palestinians Have Lost a Great Friend", "A Friend of the Arabs is Gone" are some of the indicative titles in the local papers, which emphasize that the last foreign leader to see Mr. Papandreou during his latest health problems was Palestinian President Yasser Arafat.

[10] ALBANIAN PREMIER SENT CONDOLENCES FOR PAPANDREOU'S DEATH

Albanian Prime Minister, Aleksander Meksi in the telegram of condolences he sent to his greek counterpart, Kostas Simitis praises the personality of Andreas Papandreou and his contribution to the course of modern Greece.

Mr.Meksi underlines that Andreas Papandreou contributed to the peaceful cooperation and rapprochment of the two countries and states that his death is a big loss for Greece.

[11] STATE BONDS INTEREST RATES REMAIN STABLE

Greek state bonds' interest rates will probably remain stable despite inflation's dropping under nine per cent.

According to press reports, Finance Minister Alexandros Papadopoulos has decided not to go ahead with his intention to reduce annual bonds' interest rates from 13,30 per cent to 13,10.

According to the same sources, this change of course was due to the political uncertainty that emerged from the death of Andreas Papandreou. In the mean time, Greek state revenue has been positive for the sixth consecutive month, during June 1996 state revenue increased by 19 per cent, and the Finance Minsitry notes that tax revenue holds its stready course. According to Ministry predictions tax revenue will rise by 13,5 per cent in June.

[12] GREAT INTEREST IN PASOK CONGRESS BY BANKING INDUSTRY

The country's bankers and brokers rightfully expected the market to take a wait-and-see attitude until the ruling PASOK party elects a new leader to replace the late Andreas Papandreou, while, according to bank-industry professionals, the fact that the party Congress will be held on Thursday is positive as the existing uncertainty about its outcome will not be protracted.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[13] UN SECRETARY-GENERAL'S NEW SPECIAL ENVOY ARRIVES IN CYPRUS

North Korea's former Foreign Minister Han Sung Ju, the Special Envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General for the cypriot issue, will arrive in Nicosia today, where he will meet with President of Cyprus Glafkos Clerides.

This will be the first time Mr. Ju has visited Cyprus, since he undertook his current post on May 1. He will also meet with Turk-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash and will embark on a series of contacts in the various countries that are involved in the problem.

On Saturday, he will give a press conference and will depart for Athens the next day. Accompanied by his alternate Gustav Feishel, Mr. Ju will travel to Ankara, Moscow, London, Brussels and Paris.

[14] 70 MEMBERS OF PRO-KURDISH HADEP PARTY ARRESTED IN ANKARA

Seventy members of the pro-kurdish HADEP party, among them and 30 party officials, were arrested after their party convention ended, according to the prosecutor of the State Security Court of Justice in Ankara.

Earlier reports had mentioned that those arrested were 30.

Among those arrested are HADEP party President, Murat Bozlak, four vice-Presidents, the party's general secretary and other 25 leading party members.

The arrests were made while the party members were leaving the hall where their convention had been held and after they had removed the turkish national flag and replaced it with the kurdish PKK party flag and the portrait of its leader, Abdulah Otsalan.

A party official stated today that HADEP's party offices in Ismir were attacked yesterday with a small bomb and as a result, one person was injured while only limited damages were caused.

[15] EUROPEAN UNION AGREES ON EXTRADITION CONVENTION

The European Union agreed yesterday on a draft convention on extradition which aims at avoiding situations where suspected terrorists wanted in one EU country can be released in another.

At the end of the Florence Summit on Saturday, EU leaders stated that the convention aims at improving the fight against organized crime in the Union, and should be ratified by the end of June.

According to an EU official, the agreement was based on a French proposal for resolving outstanding problems covering double jeopardy and extradition of a country's own nationals.

The convention is seen as essential if a repeat is to be avoided of a diplomatic row which earlier this year almost scuppered the Sehengen border-free agreement between seven EU countries.

The row blew up when Belgium refused to extradite a couple suspected of having taken part in a guerrilla attack by the ETA Basque separatist group.

[16] COUNCIL OF EUROPE SOCIALISTS CALLS FOR ELECTIONS IN ALBANIA

The Socialist Group in the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly called for the repetition of the elections in Albania, condemning the actions of the albanian government and President Berisha.

The Socialist Group called for the rejection of the election results and decided that the new albanian deputies will not be accepted in the Parliamentary Assembly, while the credentials of the deputies accredited before the elections will continue to be valid.

The Socialists in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe also called for new free elections in Albania and suggested that the consensus of all the political groups for the condemnation of the election results should by actively seeked.

In its meeting the Socialist Group accused the Berisha regime of "cruel violence and mass fraud in the recent elections", while photographs were displayed showing albanian socialists and members of other opposition parties who had been maltreated by the albanian police.

[17] YELTSIN REMOVED 7 ARMY GENERALS FROM THE RUSSIAN MILITARY

A week after the ousting of russian Defence Minister, Pavel Gratsov, russian President, Boris Yeltsin issued a presidential decree for the removal of 7 army generals, members of the Armed Forces General Staff, according to information reported by the russian news agency Interfax.

According to Interfax, general Alexander Lebed, head of the russian security, had accused last week four of the removed army generals that they had pressured Yeltsin in order to avert Pavel Gratsov's ousting.

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