MPA NEWS IN ENGLISH (04/07/1996)

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

Macedonian Press Agency News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, July 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] PRIME MINISTER REPLIES TO US PRESIDENT'S LETTER ON GREEK- TURKISH ISSUES

Greek Prime Minister, Kostas Simitis sent his reply to the letter of US President Bill Clinton on the greek-turkish issues. Mr.Simitis stresses in his letter that noone should be led to the conclusion that restraint is Greece's only possible reaction toward the gross provocations against the greek sovereignty in the Aegean.

Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas characterized as satisfactory the US President's letter to Prime Minister Simitis and stressed that it included many of the greek foreign policy positions.

Referring to the greek-turkish relations, mr.Reppas underlined that Greece can not constantly go through Turkey's provocative stance, adding that with this stance there is a danger of a hot incident as Greece will defend its sovereign rights in any case.

The greek government spokesman concluded that Greece wants to avoid this possibility and this is stressed in Prime Minister Simitis' letter to President Clinton.

[02] FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN ON THE US STANCE CONCERNING THE CONFIDENCE-BUILDING-MEASURES BETWEEN GREECE AND TURKEY

Greek Foreign Ministry spokesman, Kostas Bikas said that the greek government sees positively the new US stance concerning the confidence-building-measures between Greece and Turkey in order to be avoided a hot incident in the Aegean.

The above were stated by mr.Bikas when he referred to the contacts Foreign Minister Pangalos and Defence Minister Arsenis had yesterday with two US government officials, assistant Secretary of State Tarnoff and assistant Secretary of Defence Londal.

Mr.Bikas stated that is now obvious that there should be implementation of the confidence-building-measures in the Aegean within the framework of the greek proposal.

The greek Foreign Ministry spokesman also reiterated that Greece wants the full implementation of the Papoulias-Yilmaz memorandum.

Commenting on the proposal made by NATO Secretary-General Javier Solana according to which, no military exercises should be held in the Aegean during the Summer period, mr.Bikas stressed that this fact has an obvious political significance.

[03] PANGALOS TO ATTEND BALKAN FOREIGN MINISTERS SUMMIT IN SOFIA

Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos will attend the Summit of Balkan Foreign Ministers to be held in Sofia this weekend.

FYROM's Foreign Minister Lubomir Frchkovski has also stated that he will attend the meeting, provided that his country is allowed to paticipate with what it calls is its constitutional name, "Republic of Macedonia."

In a press release issued by FYROM's government today, Skopje forewarn that if their country is obstructed from using the name of their choice, the country will "reduce the level of its participation at the Summit."

In response, a spokesman from the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry stated today that his government wil make attempts to find a mutually acceptable solution to the issue prior to the Summit, adding that until now FYROM has been taking part at various of international under the name FYROM.

Turkey's Foreign Minister, Tansu Ciller will not participate at the Summit as, according to Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Omer Akbel, the new turkish government was formed recently and the discussion on its policy statements is still in progress in its National Assembly. Instead, head of the turkish delegation in the Summit will be Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs, Onur Oymen.

The previous summit of the Balkan Foreign Ministers was held in Tirana in 1990.

[04] COMMUNIST PARTY'S HONORARY PRESIDENT SPEAKS IN THESSALONIKI

The Greek Communist Party's Honorary President Harilaos Florakis spoke on national issues this evening in an open rally held in Thessaloniki's center.

Mr. Florakis foresaw political developments in the horizon resulting from the reshuffling that recently took place in ruling party PASOK.

Overall, Mr. Floralkis denounced the government for its policy regarding the United States.More specifically, he stated that the government, instead of condemning the US -which in reality incite the turkish provocations within the framework of putting new order in the southeastern European region and the Middle East- it thanks them and further burdens its dependancy ties.

"As a matter of fact, in order to better face the turkish provocations, it purchases a vast amount of American armaments," Mr. Florakis pointed out.

[05] OPPOSITION'S HONORARY PRESIDENT SAYS PASOK HANDLES TURKEY WELL

Passing through Thessaloniki on his way to vacation in Halkidiki, New Democracy's honorary president Konstantinos Mitsotakis stated today that the Greek government's handling of greco-turkish relations is correct.

Responding to reporters' questions, Mr. Mitsotakis avoided giving an answer on whether or not he foresees early elections.

[06] MAIN OPPOSITION LEADER UNVEILS MEMORIAL ON IMIA'S FALLEN OFFICERS

Main opposition New Democracy party leader Miltiades Evert stated today that the Aegean is and will remain Greek, during a speech he gave at the unveiling of a memorial of the three officers who were killed during the night of the Imia crisis.

"The Aegean Sea is blue. There will not be any grey areas," Mr. Evert stated, adding that the example of the three fallen officers holds significant meaning today, in light of the increasing turkish provocations.

[07] GREEK EURODEPUTY ASKS BRITISH PREMIER TO RETURN PARTHENON MARBLES

"Great Britain should display the same sensitivity for the Parthenon Marbles as it did recently with Scotland's Stone of Destiny," was the message forwarded to British Premier John Major by Greek Eurodeputy of the Coalition Party Alekos Alavanos today.

Mr. Alavanos took the opportunity to compare Greece's monuments, curently in Britain, to Scotland's historic symbol - which Major announced last night will be returned to Scoland soon.

The famous "Stone of Destiny" had ben stolen from England's King Edward I in 1926 and had been brought to Westminster's Abbey where it adorned the British royal throne during crowning ceremonies.

The Scottish people believe that the stone's origin is from the Holy Land and, according to legend, it was used by Saint Jacob as a pillow. Historians track the Stone's journey through Egypt, Spain and Ireland. It is believed that it arrived in Scotland in 846 AD and became a symbol of sovereignty for the Scottish Kings.

Within 1996, the Scottish national symbol is expected to be brought back to either Edinburgh's Cathedral or Castle.

In his letter, Mr. Alavanos wrote that "I hope that you proceed in taking the courageous decision to return the marbles to the Parthenon, in order to reinstate the unified Memorial of International Cultural Heritage, which is in accordance to the UNESCO desicion.

"The return of the Parthenon marbles will constitute a symbol of justice, respect to the Ancient Grek Culture and promotion of the European cultural unity on behalf of the United Kingdom, a view that is, afterall, adopted by the overwhelming majority of your people," Mr. Alavanos pointed out.

[08] EU COURT RULES AGAINST GREEK LAW ON CITIZENSHIP FOR PUBLIC JOBS

The European Court of Justice ruled today against Greece's law that gives its citizens exclusive rights for work in the Greek public sector.

The ruling calls on Greece to allow citizens from other EU member-states to work in sectors related to education, health and telecommunications as well as the wider public sector.

Based on the Court's ruling, the Greek citizenship pre- condition can be enforced only for employment in the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Interior or the national security agencies. The only condition placed on the employment of citizens from other EU member-states is that they speak the Greek language at least adequately.

The Court's ruling condemns Greece for violating Article 48 of the European Community Treaty concerning the free movement of citizens in the member-states and also for violating the Community regulations concerning the employment of other EU citizens in the greek public sector.

The European Court of Justice also found Belgium and Luxemburg at fault for similar violations.

According to the Court's ruling, Greece's pre-condition of greek citizenship for employment in a number of public sector companies is in conflict with Community Law. As such, the Court finds, Greece should move toward the adoption of the necessary legislative regulations aiming at putting an end to discrimination based on an individual's citizenship.

[09] ECOLOGICAL CONGRESS TO BE HELD IN HALKIDIKI TOMORROW

The 3rd Ecological Congress scheduled to start tomorrow in Halkidiki, will study the interaction between tourism activity and the enviroment.

The congress is jointly organized by the Halkidiki Hotel Owners' Association and the area's Municipalities and Communities Association.

Development Minister Vasso Papandreou and Minister of Macedonia-Thrace Philippos Petsalnikos are scheduled to address the Congress, along with undersecretary of National Economy Christos Pachtas and the secretary of the Greek Tourism Organization (EOT).

[10] MERE REPARATIONS WILL NOT ERASE HOLOCAUST FROM VICTIMS' MEMORY

The recent ruling by a German Constitutional Court in Carlsruhe that allows individuals to file compensation claims against the German state constitutes a ray of hope for the Greek Jews who were nazi-era wartime victims and suffered in concentration camps.

Commenting on the Court's decision, released yesterday, the director of Thessaloniki's Israeli Community Samuel Yiosafas told the Macedonian Press Agency that "the Holocaust is not paid back through reparations. A financial compensation will be a symbolic act so that we can say that a fine was imposed on Germany."

"Those who survived are very few and don't want to talk about their traumatic experiences because every time they recall them it's like killing them," Mr. Yiosafas stated.

Thessaloniki's Vasilis Lykos, a concentration camp survivor, believes that all of the survivors must be compensated, even with a fifty-year delay.

"We will ask for what's due to us in any Court if it's necessary," he stated, adding that "but the Greek Foreign Ministry must get involved in the process, even if it concerns individual claims. As I was informed, six American pilots who were co- prisoners of mine have received in compensation 164 million drachmas, each, through the aid of their government."

Errika Amarillo, daughter of one of Thessaloniki's Jewish families stated that financial restitution will not bring back the city's 50,000 Jews who were killed during the war.

"I have not asked for restitution and whatever the Court's decision is, I don't think that they will actually carry it out," she added.

Ms. Amarillo pointed out that only four per cent of Thessaloniki's Jewish community managed to escape the nazis and most of them are not living today.

"It would be nice if those people who are alive today receive some money to help them. But I don't care. Why should I? Just so that the Germans can say that they have paid us back?" she said.

By its decision, the Court rejects the German government's standard argument that, according to international law of general application, individual claims regarding wartime events can be solely settled upon the basis of international law (at an inter- state level) and only through peace treaties.

The Court's opinion was in relation to a case of 22 Jews from Poland, Hungary and Germany who had filed compensation claims for wartime hard labor in Auschwitz from 1943 to 1945 and which lawsuits had been litigated before Bonn's First Instance Court.

The ruling holds certain implications for compensation suits filed by Greek citizens, one being that when the claims reach the Court, it will be called upon to decide on the bilateral Greek- German agreement, dated March 18, 1960, according to which Germany paid Greece 115 million german marks as compensation for the victims of the Nazi occupation.

However, in contrast with Hungary and Poland -which had then signed unilateral agreements not to bring forth such lawsuits in the future- Greece had not been bound to do the same. Instead, Greece's then-ambassador to Bonn, Themistocles Ypsilantis, had pointed out that Greece had reservations on the specific point.

[11] ARCHBISHOP IAKOVOS SPEAKS ON HIS IMMINENT RESIGNATION

"I am not resigning from Christianity, I am resigning from bureaucracy and management," said the Archbishop of North and South America Iakovos, in an emotional speech he gave yesterday in Manhattan during a Byzantine music recital.

Mr. Iakovos thanked everyone for their support during his 37- year stay at the Archbishopry and expressed his admiration for the recital's musical direction provided by Spyros Peristeris and Dimitris Fusteris. The Archbishop bestowed on Mr. Persiteris Apostle Paul's gold medal for his contribution to Byzantine ecclesiastical music.

[12] LOCAL MAN ATTEMPTS GUINESS RECORD THROUGH GIANT PUZZLE

A Thessaloniki-man will attept to get his name in the Guiness World Records Book, by constructing a gigantic puzzle with the Atlanta Olympic Games sign at the city's waterfront.

Pavlos Pavlides will try to assemble the puzzle, whose enormous dimensions measure 17 meters high and eight meters wide, this afternoon from 12:00 to 8:00 p.m.

His previous attempt to complete his feat was hampered by adverse weather conditions.

"I hope the weather won't get in my way today," Pavlides said.

[13] LOCAL HOSPITALS ARE ON READY ALERT FOR HEATWAVE

Thessaloniki's hospitals, health centers and the state-owned entertainment centers for the elderly (KAPH) are on ready alert to face any potential problems that may arise from the unusually-high temperatures expected today and throughout the weekend.

According to meteorologists, Northern Greece's temperature is not expected to surpass the 38C mark through Sunday. Today's temperature in Thessaloniki will be 36C.

The National Weather Bureau forecasts that the heatwave will bring sizzling temperatures mostly to the central and southern part of the country, with the mercury reaching 40C (100F).

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[14] CANADA RECOGNIZES SKOPJE AS FYROM, GREEK COMMUNITY REACTS

Canada officially recognized Skopje as FYROM, according to an announcement released today by Canadian Foreign Minister Lloyd Axworthy, who stated that his country recognizes the small Balkan state with its temporary name and has proposed the resumption of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Furthermore, Mr.Axworthy stated that Canada will continue to strengthen its relations with the Balkans and added that "by improving our relations with FYROM, we continue to consider as priority the promotion of human rights and the rights of ethnic minorities."

The Canadian government's announcement does state however that the issue of FYROM's finalised name is one that lies between Greece and Skopje in light of the ongoing negotiations between the two countries.

"The two countries (Greece and FYROM) signed an intermediary agreement in September of 1995 through which various other bilateral issues were settled," the announcement reads.

Although the recognition of Skopje as FYROM by Canada was expected by large, it did provoke intense reactions by the Greek- Canadian local community.

[15] THE BRITISH SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR CYPRUS WILL MEET IN NICOSIA WITH THE CYPRIOT PRESIDENT

British special representative for the Cyprus problem, Sir David Hannay arrives in Nicosia on Saturday where he will stay until next Friday.

The british official will have a new round of talks with Cypriot President Kliridis and with turkish-cypriot leader Denktash, while he will also meet with officials from the two communities in Cyprus.

Mr.Hannay had visited Cyprus in early June and had a number of contacts.

[16] THE CYPRUS PROBLEM WILL BE SETTLED WITHIN 18 MONTHS WRITES THE TURKISH NEWSPAPER "CUMHURIYET"

The turkish newspaper "Cumhuriyet" writes that within the next 18 months there must be a solution to the Cyprus problem. This is the first time that a turkish newspaper refers to a specific timetable for the settlement of the problem in Cyprus.

The newspaper's argumentation is based on the fact that the messages arriving in the turkish capital support the position that there should be a solution before the start of the negotiations for Cyprus' accesion into the European Union.

"Cumhuriyet" cites information from Britain according to which, the british government has notified Ankara that it wants a solution for Cyprus to be found within this time period.

The newspaper also writes that Britain's interest is demonstrated with the appointment of Sir David Hannay to the position of the british government special representative. Mr.Hannay, who is described by the turkish newspaper as "brilliant diplomat" visited Ankara last week and had talks with turkish Foreign Ministry officials. Special representatives for Cyprus have also been appointed by the European Union and Russia which also exert pressures for the immediate solution of the problem.

[17] YILMAZ DEPUTY SWITCHES TO CILLER'S SIDE, COALITION ENDANGERED

In an act that seems to add salt to the wound, a deputy of Turkey's Motherland Party resigned and switched over to Tansu Ciller's True Path, a party that holds half the title in the current governmental coalition.

There's more to these surprise developments though, as True Path party officials have revealed that by the end of this week three deputies from the Republican People's Party will be embraced by Ciller.

This dizzying back-and-forth deputies-parade throws off balance the coalition formation, mere days before the much-needed confidence vote is cast, and most are awaiting anxiously -with abacus in hand- more surprise moves taking place until Monday's elections.

Yesterday, a deputy of Bulent Ecevit's Democratic Left Party switched to Ciller's side and, according to turkish state television, three more of Ecevit's deputies are also on the brink of switching to Ciller's side.

This is something that she apparently was implying when she laconically stated "Wait until Monday, there's more to come."

Complete archives of the Macedonian Press Agency bulletins are available on the MPA Home Page at http://www.mpa.gr/ and on the U.S. mirror at http://www.hri.org/MPA/