MPA NEWS IN ENGLISH (26/06/1996)

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

Macedonian Press Agency News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, June 26, 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 BIDS ITS LAST FAREWELL TO ANDREAS PAPANDREOU

Thousands of Greek citizens grieved the death of socialist leader and PASOK President Andreas Papandreou today, during a funeral procession that wound through downtown Athens and led to the citty's First Cemetery where he was laid to rest.

Throughout the procession, the unprecedented crowd of mourners chanted in unisom "Andreas you're alive, you're giving us the drive", "PASOK is here and united will adhere", and thousands of people poured out of their balconies in the center of Athens, scattering rose petals on the open-casket.

The funeral procession, led by Andreas Papandreou's distraught wife Dimitra-Liani and followed by his four children George, Andrikos, Nikos, Sofia and their Mother Margaret, embarked from the Athens Metropolitan Cathedral at 4:30 p.m. and stopped briefly in front of Parliament where a monent of silence was observed.

A military procession accompanied the cortege which was placed on a gun carriage and was escorted by a crowd of hundreds of thousands and political leaders from Greece and throughout the world.

Four fighter jets F-16 and Mirage 2000 flew in synchronized manoeuvres while a 21-cannon salute was fired from Lycabettus Mountain.

[02] THOUSANDS OF GREEKS ATTEND THE FUNERAL OF ANDREAS PAPANDREOU

Hundreds of thousands of people gathered outside the Athens Cathedral, inspite of the heat-wave, for the funeral of Andreas Papandreou.

In the funeral service which began at 2:30'pm officiated Archbishop of Athens and all of Greece, Seraphim, while the guard of honour, on each side of the coffin, was made of Lieutenant-generals from the three fighting services.

The funeral service was attended by the members of his family, the greek political leadership, the members of the government and the opposition, representatives of the local government and the judiciary, the armed forces leadership, representatives of the academic community as well as, state leaders, prime ministers and dignitaries from 80 countries.

[03] ANDREAS' FUNERAL PROCESSION BROUGHT PEOPLE TOGETHER

Greece bid its last farewell to Andreas Papandreou, as he was laid to rest today. Thousands of people from throughout the country accompanied the procession, while scores of foreign leaders and government delegations attended the funeral.

Just as throughout last night, even in today's sweltering heat thousands of mourners queued past the body of the Greek Socialist leader and thrice Premier, as he lay in state in a coffin draped with flag at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Athens.

The funeral procession embarked at 5 p.m. and the cortege wound slowly through downtown Athens past parliament where a monent of silence was observed. A military procession accompanied the cortege which was placed on a gun carriage and was escorted by thousands of Greek citizens and political leaders from Greece and throughout the world.

Four fighter jets F-16 and Mirage 2000 flew in synchronized manoeuvres while a 21-cannon salute was fired from Lycabettus mountain.

[04] ANDREAS WAS LAID TO REST WITH STATE LEADER'S HONORS

Andreas Papandreou was buried this evening at 7:00 o clock at the Athens First Cemetery across from the grave of his father, former Prime Minister and Governor of the Aegean George Papandreou.

Archbishop of Athens and all Greece Serapheim officiated the funeral service at the Athens Metropolitan Cathedral.

Eulogies were read by Prime Minister Kostas Simitis, Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis, George Papandreou -one of Mr. Papandreou's children, two PASOK representatives, leaders of the main opposition parties, and two representatives from foreign services.

Tight security measures were taken for the funeral where some 17,000 police officers, the total force of the Attica Police, was posted along the route of the funeral procession.

Scores of dignitaries from 80 countries throughout the world, including heads of state, arrived in Athens amidst tight secutity.

Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic stated upon his arrival at the Athens airport that the deceased was a "great european politician, while Turkey's foreign Minister Emre Gionensay stated that he admired Mr. Papandreou's economic wisdom and noted that his thought and wisdom contributed to the development of socialism in Greece.

[05] MOVING AND ELOQUENT EULOGIES READ IN THE MEMORY OF ANDREAS

In his eulogy greek Prime Minister, Kostas Simitis stated that PASOK has lost its founder but it has not lost its soul, adding that "we will meet our responsibilities" and "we will continue his work" because "this is a debt of honour for us".

He also stressed that this is a day of grief for hellenism and added that Andreas Papandreou lost the only battle he could not win, that with death. Mr.Simitis said that the relation with Andreas Papandreou was a relation of love and respect and was based on mutual expectations and on the deep faith that the dreams could become a reality.

The Prime Minister said in his eulogy that Andreas Papandreou had a restless mind and inspite of the fact that he had a brilliant academic carrier he prefered politics because he believed in the rebirth of Greece and that visions can serve the needs of the people. Andreas Papandreou wanted the rebirth of the political system and marked the begining of a new period in the greek political scene, said the Prime Minister.

He said that Andreas Papandreou symbolized the struggle of the people for the radical modernization of the country and also, Greece's liberation from foreign influences, the social democracy and the abolition of the post-civil war state.

The greek Prime Minister concluded that Andreas Papandreou left behind as sacred heritage his passion for life, his forward-looking views, his boldness and his determination for freedom, social sensitivity and justice.

Greek Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis said in his eulogy that he bows with immense respect to the great man, who combined virtue with boldness, gallantry with wisdom, passion with responsibility.

Mr.Kaklamanis described Andreas Papandreou as "leader, father, brother, comrade, and friend", and said that he bows to the patriot who forged Greece's national independence, "consolidating our dignity and pride".

Interior, Public Administration and Decentralization Minister, Akis Tsohatzopoulos stressed that there are no words to describe the feelings, to honour the memories and Andreas Papandreou's ideas, visions, actions and work.

He said that the whole of Greece pays its last respects to the great Greek, to the great leader, to the precious friend and brother, to Andreas of Democracy, of change, of socialism, of peace, to our Andreas.

New Democracy opposition party leader, Miltiadis Evert said in his eulogy that Greece bids its last farewell to Andreas Papandreou and honours the fighter of life and politics, the political leader who marked a long era.

The President of New Democracy stressed that for the politician the recognition and respect of his rivals are more important than the love of his friends. He said that this is the true victory for every politician and every fighter, adding that for every leader this is the final victory, the laurels everyone desires.

As one of the greatest personalities of Socialist International was described Andreas Papandreou by Socialist International Secretary, Pierre Mauroy. "Andreas has left us", said mr.Mauroy, who added that he had a turbulent life, just like the life of his country during the dictatorship against which he fought vigorously.

He referred to Andreas Papandreou's work and course calling him an "unconquerable leader", who managed "to overcome the great contradictions of his country and to secure the progress of a proud Greece, of a democratic and modern Greece".

US Finance Secretary, Robert Rubin characterized Andreas Papandreou as an important man and conveyed the condolences of the US government for the death of the great leader. Mr.Rubin referred extensively to the work of the late Prime Minister and especially, to his contribution to the country's economy.

The US government official said that Andreas Papandreou "was a part of the history of this century" and characterized him as "very important leader", as a "serious man" and as an "economist, who also had a sense of politics, an instinct of immense value".

The last eulogy was read by Andreas Papandreou's eldest son, Giorgos. He said that his father left this world as a fighter and with dignity. He said that he will always live "in our hearts, uniting us and inspiring us", adding that his father left "accompanied by the applause of a nation and thousands of voices will continue with him this proud journey to Ithaca".

[06] FOREIGN LEADERS AND DIGNITARIES ATTEND THE FUNERAL OF ANDREAS

Foreign dignitaries and political leaders throughout the world arrived in Athens today in order to attend the funeral of the late Andreas Papandreou who passed away on Sunday.

Among them are Prime Ministers of Albania and Australia's Victoria, as well as United States Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin and US Ambassador to Athens Thomas Niles, Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic, Bulgarian Premier Zhan Videnov, Armenian Premier Arad Bagradian, Slovenian Premier Janez Drnovsek, Lebaneze Premier Raf Hariri, and Croatian Foreign Minister Matte Granic.

Representatives from the European Union countries were German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinklel, accompanied by Oscar Lafontaine, the head of the German Social Democratic Party SPD and SPD deputy and President of the German-Greek Parliamentary Group Ingrid Skarpelli-Sperk, Dutch Premier Wim Kok, and the British environment minister.

From France, French Education Minister Francois Bayrou, Former French Premier and Ptisident of the Socialist Internaitonal and French Socialist Party Pierre Mauroy as well as former minister and secretary-general of France's Socialist Party Lionel Jospin.

From Spain, Former Spanish Premier and Socialist Party leader Felipe Gonzales.

Russia was represented by Deputy Premier Vitaly Ignachienko and Foreign UnderSecretary Nikolai Athanasievski.

United Nations Secretary-General Butros Ghali was represented by the UN assistant secretary-general Peter Hansen.

Other dignitaries attending were Syrian Vice President Abdel Halim Kadam, Canada's Foreign Minister Lloyd Axworth, Europarliament President Klaus Haensch and the President of the European Socialist Group Pauline Green.

Portugal was represented by Foreign Undersecretary Jose Kamego. Also, Italian Minister of State Livia Turco, Maltese Foreign Minister and deputy Premier Guido de Marco, Finnish International Commerce Minister Anti Kaliomaki, Norwegian Commerce Minister Grete Knudsern and Sweden's Alternate Foreign Minister Piere Sorri.

The European commissioner Jacques Santer was represented by Greek Commissioner Christos Papoutsis.

[07] FRENCH SOCIALISTS MOURN THE LOSS OF A COMRADE

Former French premier and president of the Socialist International and French Socialist Party Pierre Mauroy as well as former minister and sec-general of France's Socialist Party Lionel Jospin arrived in Athens this afternoon in order to attend the funeral of Andreas Papandreou.

"Socialist International is in mourning today," stated Mr. Mauroy, "we came to bid farewell to one of our own," he added.

Also present was French Education Minister Francois Bayrou.

[08] BULGARIAN PREMIER VIDENOV IN ATHENS FOR THE FUNERAL

Bulgarian Prime Minister Zhan Videnov arrived in Athens today in order to pay his last respects to the late Andreas Papandreou.

Mr. Videnov stated that his people have lost a great friend, a great politician of the "Balkan policy."

"Andreas Papandreou offered a great deal to the approach between Bulgaria and Greece and especially during the period when there was conflict between NATO and the Warsaw Pact," Mr. Videnov stated.

The Bulgarian Premier did not rule out the possibility of a meeting with Greek Premier Kostas Simitis during his stay in Athens.

"I believe that an opportunity for such meeting will be given to us so that we can continue the discussion we started in Florence."

[09] BRITAIN'S HOUSE OF COMMONS EXPRESSES ITS SORROW FOR ANDREAS

Sixteen british Labour party deputies signed a draft resolution they submitted today to the House of Commons expressing their sorrow for the death of Andreas Papandreou and praising his work and his diplomatic successes which as they stress, brought stability to the southern Balkan region.

In the draft resolution is mentioned that the House of Commons respects Papandreou's political genious in the founding of PASOK and in his three electoral victories, while it recognizes the confidence and faith the greek people showed to their leader.

[10] ALL GOVERNMENT OFFICES CLOSED TODAY IN HONOR OF ANDREAS

All government offices will be closed today, while the General Confederation of Workers of Greece (GSEE) has declared a three-hour work stoppage. Shops in Athens, museums and archaeological sites will also be closed. The Union of Greek Banks also announced that banks, both greek and foreign, will be closed today.

[11] US EMBASSY, CONSULATE CLOSED TODAY IN HONOR OF ANDREAS

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

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

[12] GREEKS IN MELBOURNE BID LAST FAREWELL TO ANDREAS FROM AFAR

At Melbourne's oldest church the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral, hundreds of Greek-Australians bid their last farewell today to the creator and President of PASOK Andreas Papandreou.

Orations for the late socialist leader were read by the president of Melbourne's Greek Community Mr. Fountas, the President of the Council of Greeks Abroad in Oceania Mr. Rallis, the Consul-General Eleytheria Yiannakou, the parliamentarian Mr. Katsabanis and the Labor Party's Vice President Mr. Dollis.

Following the end of the ceremony, a dozen white doves, symbolizing the spirit of Andreas Papandreou and his struggle for peace, social justice and democracy, were released into the open air.

[13] TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER: EU-TURKEY RELATIONS OBSTRUCTED BY GREECE

Ankara appeared again provocative a few hours before turkish Foreign Minister Emre Gonensay's arrival in Athens for the funeral of Andreas Papandreou. The efforts for the promotion of the relations between the European Union and Turkey come up against obstacles introduced by Greece, according to statements made by the turkish Foreign Minister speaking in the opening meeting of the joint EU- Turkey Parliamentary Committee.

Mr.Gonensay talked about complex and serious problems existing between the two countries, adding that Greece denies the existence of certain of those problems and that until this moment there has been no response to mr.Yilmaz's appeal for dialogue made on March 24.

[14] US-CANADA PAN-MACEDONIAN UNION HOLDS ITS 50TH CONFERENCE

The Pan-Macedonian Union of US-Canada's 50th Conference began its first-day session today in Clearwater, Florida with more than 200 representatives of Macedonian unions from North America participating.

The conference's primary targets are to prevent Skopje from acquring the name "Republic of Macedonia" and to prepare the way for the Union's International Conference that will be held in Thessaloniki in 1997.

The Union's President Athanasios Voulgaropoulos stated to the Macedonian-Press Agency that the main topic of concern is to find a lasting solution to the FYROM name issue, although, he added, there are other national issues that matter equally, such as Cyprus, safeguarding the human rights of the greek minority living in Albania, the turkish threats in the Aegean Sea and Thrace, and the existance of the Patriarchate.

Participating at the Conference are the Greek Ambassador to the United States Lukas Tsilas, Macedonia- Thrace Ministry's Secretary General of Refugees Christos Kamenides, the director of the Ministry's Cultural Office Gabriel Koptsides and others.

[15] OTE, TVX, NEW MEMBERS OF NORTHERN GREECE INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION

The Association of Industries from Northern Greece (SVEE) will expand its size with two new members, being the conglomerate Greek Telecommunications Organization (OTE) and TVX Hellas, the canadian gold mining company established in Halkidiki.

According to a press release issued by SVEE, the interest expressed for participation to the Association proves the region's ever-increasing presence in the greek production sectors.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[16] UN SECRETARY-GENERAL SEES LACK OF PROGRESS IN THE CYPRUS PROBLEM

UN Secretary-General, Boutros Ghali in the report he submitted last night to the Security Council expresses disappointment over the lack of progress in the efforts for the solution of the Cyprus problem.

Mr.Ghali expresses the hope that the interest shown by the international community and the upcoming negotiations for Cyprus' accession into the European Union will give a new urgent character to the search for a comprehensive agreement.

In the report on his good offices, that will circulate today, the UN Secretary-General underlines that a solution can be achieved only if the leaderships of the two sides are able to persuade their communities that their interests will be better served if they display a spirit of flexibility and compromise.

Also, he points out the special responsibility of Greece and Turkey, which must not only actively support the search for a solution but they should not leave their relations to develop in a way that will hurt the efforts for a solution.

He stresses that the Security Council has repeatedly declared the need to end the unacceptable status quo of the past 20 years which can not offer a viable basis safeguarding the two communities' character and security.

Mr.Ghali also points out that the present deadlock is especially disappointing, as the necessary elements for the achievement of a comprehensive agreement have already been determined based on the relative Security Council resolutions, the high level agreements and the numerous ideas he had presented within the framework of his good offices mission.

Referring to the EU decision for the opening of negotiations for the accesion of Cyprus, mr.Ghali underlined that the EU Council has stressed that with Cyprus' accesion will be safeguarded the strengthening of security and prosperity for the greek-cypriots and the turkish-cypriots.

Mr.Ghali underlined that the efforts by the European Commission to explain to the turkish-cypriot community the benefits that it will gain through Cyprus' accesion into the EU are especially important.

[17] UN SECRETARY-GENERAL'S NEW SPECIAL ENVOY MEETS WITH DENKTASH

North Korea's former Foreign Minister Han Sung Ju, the Special Envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General for the Cypriot issue, will meet with Turk-Cyrpiot leader Rauf Denktash at Cyrpus' occupied territory today.

In his first visit to Cyprus since he was appointed to his current post on May 1, Mr. Ju met yesterday with the President of Cyprus Glafkos Clerides.

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.

[18] CYPRIOT GOVERNMENT IS FOR DEMILITARIZATION OF THE ISLAND

A complete and total de-militarization of Cyprus is the cypriot government's counter response to the UN Secretary-General's proposal to reduce the size of the turkish occupying forces on the island and to freeze the military buildup of the Cypriot National Guard.

Cypriot government spokesperson Yiannakis Kassoulides stated today that reducing the turkish arms -while the occupying forces have the ability to reinstate them within 24 hours- does not compensate for Cyprus' defense ability, even if it reduces the strength of the National Guard.

[19] COUNCIL OF EUROPE EXPECTED TO APPROVE RESOLUTION CONDEMNING ALBANIA

The Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly meets today in order to approve a resolution condemning Albania regarding the elections of May 26, which were marked by accusations of fraud and irregularities.

The under approval Council of Europe resolution blames for the electoral irregularities both the governing Democratic party and the opposition and calls the government to amend the electoral law in a way that will include the international observers' proposals who had monitored the election process.

In the resolution is also mentioned that the elections must be repeated immediately after the electoral law is amended.

[20] US HOUSE OF REPS HEARING ON HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN ALBANIA

A lengthy discussion took place today in the Hearing Room of the United States House of Representatives regarding the issue of human rights of the greek minority living in Albania, where testimony heard served as a catapult to the Berisha regime.

More than one hundred people, amongthem greek-american author Nicholas Cage, Albanian political leader Gramos Pasko, Nicaraguan socialite Bianca Jagger and Helsinki Watch's Fred Abrahams provided moving testimony regarding human rights violations in Albania.

Mr. Cage stated that the situation noted in Albania today, at least regarding minorities, does not differ from the one seen during the Hotza regime and stated that by refusing to provide educational opportunities in Greek for the Greeks living in Albania, the government is forcing the minority to move to Greece.

Mr. Pasko referred to the elections held on May 26 and characterized them as treacherous, full of fraud.

In the mean time, local albanian paper "Illyria" wrote in a front-page article that the discussion was biased and one-sided.

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