MPA NEWS IN ENGLISH (10/07/1996)

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

Macedonian Press Agency News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, July 10, 1996

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] FYROM FOREIGN MINISTER DOES NOT FORESEE A SOLUTION TO NAME ISSUE

His pessimism over finding a solution to the name issue, expressed FYROM's Foreign Minister Ljubomir Frckovski in an exclusive interview to the Macedonian Press Agency, one day prior to the new round of talks between Greece and FYROM scheduled to start in New York tomorrow.

While stating that his country favors dialogue between the two sides, Mr. Frckovski insisted that FYROM will not accept a name change, since "such change would mean a return to old historical issues, and would provoke FYROM's neighboring countries into wondering what people live in this region of Macedonia, bringing about a situation that could potentially de-stabilize the Balkans."

However, Mr. Frckovski stated that FYROM could allow room for a compromise with Athens such as "Greece can call us whatever she wants, although this would have no relation to the international use of our name."

Regarding the possibility of a meeting with his Greek counterpart Theodoros Pangalos, Mr. Frckovski stated that such meeting would depend on the Greek side and could be held "when it decides that the meeting would prove to be useful and productive."

When asked about FYROM's abstention from the recently-held Balkan Foreign Ministers meeting in Sofia, Mr. Frckovski stated that the United Nations Security Council's decision to baptise Skopje as FYROM referred solely to the use of the name within the UN framework.

"That which we cannot accept is the extended use of this name (FYROM) beyond the International Organization" Mr. Frckovski stated, implying that the issue was created by the country which organized the meeting.

Moreover, when asked if the improved relations between the two countries would allow the Greek businessmen to proceed in further investments at FYROM, Mr. Frckovski stated that an economic relation between the two countries is of strategic importance since the Greek businessmen can be present in "Macedonia."

"Not so much that my country could not do without the Greek businessmen,or that it could not proceed to its reforms without them, but rather because it is natural to have this cooperation between these two countries, especially in the areas of telecommunications, bank reforms, joint investments, industry and trade," stated Mr. Frckovski.

[02] TURKISH VIOLATIONS OF GREECE'S FIR CONTINUED UNTIL RECENTLY, SAYS REPPAS

Turkey continued to violate Greece's air space up until two days ago, stated Greek government spokesperson Dimitris Reppas, who added that similar Turkish provocations were noted on June 27 and July 4, after Turkish Foreign Minister Tansu Ciller had accepted pause in the military maneuvres over the Aegean Sea..

Mr. Reppas referred to the expression of concern by the United States regarding Greek military aircraft drills over Cyprus, and stated that the demarche was merely an expression of concern, adding that the US also issued a similar protest to Ankara.

[03] PASOK POLITICAL SECRETARIAT FORMED, ARSENIS EXCLUDED

Prime Minister and PASOK President Kostas Simitis announced today the members of the party's newly formed Political Secretariat, following an Executive Bureau session.

Aside from the party's President, ex-officio participants at the Political Secretariat are: Speaker of Parliament Apostolos Kaklamanis,Central Committee Secretary Kostas Skandalides, Interior Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos (he had been Mr. Simitis rival at the party's presidential race) and, from the Executive Bureau, the three members who were elected first by the congress in the Central Committee of the party, George Papandreou, Education Minister, Kostas Laliotis, Environment, and Vasso Papandreou, Development.

The Central Commitee's Secretary, along with other Executive Bureau members, will prepare an introduction which will be discussed at the following EB session scheduled for July 22. The Central Committee will convene on July 25 to proceed to the finalized decisions.

National Defense Minister Gerasimos Arsenis was not selected to participate at the Secretariat and, as such, appears to have few political allies. Mr.Arsenis made an unsuccessful bid for the prime ministerial post in January, and during the recently-held PASOK Congress attained the ninth position in the party's hierarchy ranks.

[04] GREECE MAY BE PLACED ON QUARANTINE OVER FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE

The European Union's Permament Agricultural Committee is expected to convene during the next two days in order to assess the necessity of banning the exportation of livestock and animal products from Greece, in light of the recent outbreak of foot and mouth disease noted in the Evros region.

According to the Committee's spokesperson Fr. Fishler, the EU may decide to grant restitution to the animal breeders, perhaps in amounts that would cover 50 per cent of the damages.

The spokesperson also clarified that the foot and mouth disease cases have only been noted in two small villages in Evros which lie on the Turkish borders and, so far, tens of flocks of sheep have been slaughtered.

According to Mr. Fishler, the disease has hit Albania and FYROM severely, leading to a quarantine imposed on both countries.

The Greek government supports that the outbreak of the disease stems from Turkey and Greece has taken the necessary steps to controlling the spread of the disease.

According to reports, Greece will request that the EU proceed in taking regional measures which will not isolate the country.

[05] GREECE WILL REVIEW ITS STANCE ON MEDA AFTER MEETING WITH IRISH FOREIGN MINISTER

The Greek stance for the MEDA financing program for 12 mediterranean countries will be reviewed after the government meets with Irish Foreign Minister Dick Spring, who is due to arrive in Greece on Saturday.

According to Press and Media Minister Dimitris Reppas, Mr. Spring will meet with Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos in light of the European Union Ministerial Council for MEDA which will take place in Brussels on Monday.

[06] GREEK GOVERNMENT REACTS TO US PROTEST OVER CYPRUS DRILL

Greece is determined to continue its policy of defending its national rights, stated the Minister of Press and Media and government spokesperson Dimitris Reppas.

Mr. Reppas referred to the United States Embassy's issuance of a demarche to the Greek Foreign Ministry regarding the Cyprus fly-over by Greek fighter jets twenty days ago and characrterized it as "unjustified."

The Press Minister stated that Greece does not comprehend the base of the demarche, which was issued by the US Embassy's in Athens second-in-command Secretary, and as such the American position was declined and the demarche was not accepted.

Moreover, Mr. Reppas emphasized that the Greek fighter jets flew over Cyprus with a permission granted by the legitimate Cypriot government and, after clarifying that no third party can interfere with Cyprus' interior affairs, stated that the Joint Defense Doctrine remains a basic element of Greece's defense policy.

National Defense Minister Gerasimos Arsenis stated that Ankara has infringed the agreement between Greece and Turkey on abstaining from military exercises in and above the Aegean Sea.

[07] REPEATED VIOLATIONS OF GREEK FIR BY TURKEY, TOLD BY DEFENSE MINISTER

Turkish aircraft have proceeded to repeated violations of Greece's airspace during the past few days, stated the Minister of National Defense Gerasimos Arsenis during the Pentagon briefing held yesterday.

"In an effort to de-escalate the tension, we made known our intention not to carry out any military exercises during the months of July and August in the greater Aegean Sea Region," Mr. Arsenis stated.

"Yet, the spirit of this action has been denounced en masse, through the repeated violations of Greece's air space by Turkish fighter jets," he added.

The Defense Minister conveyed his protest to the President of NATO's military commission Gen. Noeman, currently in Greece, and to the Alliance's Secretary-General Javier Solana.

[08] US AMBASSADOR TO THE UN TO VISIT GREECE, CYPRUS AND TURKEY

Madeleine Albright, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, will visit Greece, Cyprus and Turkey next week, accompanied by the US special emissary for Cyprus Richard Beatty.

Ms. Albright's first stop will be Athens where on July 16 and 17 she will have contacts with Greek government officials and, aside from the Cyprus issue, she intends to discuss Bosnia and other regional issues.

On July 17, the US ambassador will travel to Nicosia in order to examine the "effectiveness of the UN peacekeeping mission in Cyprus" and discuss potential opportunities for a comprehensive agreement.

Following Nicosia, Ms. Albright will travel to Ankara on July 18 and 19 where she will meet with officials of the newly-formed Turkish government and, aside from bilateral issues, she will discuss Cyprus and Iraq.

[09] SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT RECEIVES NEW BRITISH AMBASSADOR TO ATHENS

Britain's new ambassador to Athens Sir Michael Lewellyn Smith was formally received today by the Speaker of Parliament Apostolos Kaklamanis.

During their meeting, the two men discussed issues regarding culture and education, while Mr. Kaklamanis also broached the subject of Turkey's expansionism in the Aegean Sea.

Mr. Kaklamanis pointed out to the British diplomat that a dialogue with Ankara is not feasible since Turkey continues to violate the International Law and to raise unacceptable claims against Greece's territorial sovereignty.

Mr. Smith has served in Athens in the past, and is known as a philhellene who has written numerous books on Greece.

[10] GREEK CASH RATES END FLAT

According to market dealers, Greek cash rates ended flat with shorts seen firming on Wednesday when liquidity is expected to tighten on settlement of an FRN tender this week.

A state bank trader said that trade was very light with a bit of activity in swaps, whose offers were down about 10 points with bids steady.

[11] DELORS PACKAGE II EARMARKS OVER ONE BILLION GRD FOR KASTORIA LAKE

The European Union has set aside 1,300,000,000 GRD to be used in a purification and development program for Kastoria Lake in northeastern Greece.

The already-drawn studies include the creation of a model aquarium and fish tank and a center of environmental research and information.

Kastoria Mayor Dimitris Papoulides, speaking to the Macedonian Press Agency, stated that the project is of great significance for the region since it aims at protecting the environment and the upkeep of the ecosystem while at the same time provoking financial interest through tourism.

In September, the studies will be presented to the EU Joint Observation Committee which will shift through the proposed projects and will single out the ones to gain the funding.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[12] EC PRESSURES GREECE AND OTHER MEMBERS ON VOTING RIGHTS LAW

The European Commission has threatened to take seven European Union member-states to ocurt over failing to implement a law allowing EU nationals to vote in municipal elections the country where they live.

Greece, Belgium, Germany, Spain, France the Netherlands and Portugal have received letters from the EU giving them 40 days to advise that the law has been put into national statute books.

[13] EU PREPARES FOR MONETARY UNION, REVIEWS PROGRESS MADE

European Union finance ministers met this week, for the first time under the Ireland-held EU presidency, to discuss progress made in the task of controlling public deficits in light of the monetary union of 1999.

The ministerial gathering reviewed each member-state's deficit, finding 12 out of the bloc's 15 counmries not in compliance with the Maastricht Treaty, by running deficits above three percent of the total output.

Only Luxemburg, Ireland and Denmark are considered to have their public finances under control, which includes a level of public debt aproaching 60 per cent of GDP.

In order to qualify for economic and monetary union (EMU) in 1999, the applicants must bring their finances in line with the Treaty's criteria in 1997, the year they will be judged for fitness.

[14] NEW US AMBASSADOR TO CYPRUS ARRIVES IN NICOSIA TODAY

The United States' new ambassador to Cyprus Kenneth Brill arrived in Nicosia yesterday and, in accordance to diplomatic protocol, did not make any statements prior to presenting his credentials to Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides -which he is likely to do next week.

However, Mr. Brill did state that he foresses the promotion of the issues discussed last month in Washington between President Clerides and US President Bill Clinton, among which are the strengthening of bilateral relations and arriving at a solution to the Cyprus problem "based on a two-zone -two community federation."

[15] RAUF DENKTASH STILL INSTRANSIGENT ON CYPRUS PROBLEM

Turk-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash appears more intransigent than ever regarding the Cyprus problem, since both of his meeting with Britain's special representative Sir David Hannay have not produced any results.

According to reports, Mr. Denktash sets forth various conditions for solving the cypriot issue, which are termed as "unacceptable" by the Greek-Cypriot side since the Turks call for a co-federated solution to the divided island.

[16] EUROPE, US ADOPT WAIT-AND-SEE STANCE TOWARDS NEW TURKISH GOVERNMENT

With the initial shock having subsided after the Islamists gained power for the first time ever in Turkey's history, the United States and Europe have adopted a wait-and-see stance and have come to terms with the fact that henceforth they will have to cooperate with the Erbacan-Ciller duet.

US President Bill Clinton has congratulated the new government, while State Department spokesperson Nicholas Burns stated that the US will cooperate with the Erbacan government, provided that it will ensure the viable American interests, especially regarding defense issues.

The President of the European Commission wrote to Mr. Erbacan that "the EC considers its relations with Turkey to be of utmost significance and I personally foresee our cooperation for the further development in he relations between the European Union and Turkey in the future."

German Chancellor Helmut Khol has made his displeasure over Tansu Ciller's coalition with the islamists known, and has adopted a wait-and-see stance hoping that Turkey will act within the framework of the Customs Union agreement.

[17] ERBACAN-CILLER GOVERNMENT' S FIRST MEASURES

The new Turkish government, through Justice Minister Sevket Kazan, proceeded today to announcing the first measures regarding the prison system, since the hunger strike of 2,500 inmates in the Turkish prisons has reached the 51st day and their health condition is considered to be extremely critical.

According to Mr. Kazan's new regulations, the prisons must not be distanced from the courts and cannot be located in far away regions of the country. As a result, no more prisoners will be sent to the infamous Buja prisons and the new Justice Ministry will re-instate the prisoners' "complaint box" which brings to mind the Middle Ages. Moreover, the prisoners will be entitled to one visiting day per month, as opposed to the visitation rights that were limited to holidays up to now.

Also, the new turkish government proceeded to a second measure today by announcing a 50 per cent increae in salaries, a promise made by the islamist Premier Necmettin Erbacan. It should be noted that Turkey's inflation rate has reached the 85 per cent mark.

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