[01] GREECE-FYROM TALKS RESUME IN NEW YORK TODAY

The talks on the name issue between Greece and FYROM will be held today in New York, as provided by the interim agreement between the two countries signed last year.

Meanwhile yesterday FYROM's Foreign Minister Ljubomir Frckovski spoke in an exclusive interview to the Macedonian Press Agency, and expressed his pessimism over finding a solution to the stalemate.

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."

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

Agriculture Ministry officials will travel to Brussels today in light of the European Union's Permanent Agricultural Committee expected session tomorrow wherein it will be decided if the banning of exportation of livestock and animal products from Greece will be enforced, in light of the recent outbreak of foot and mouth disease noted in the Evros region.

Undersecretary of Agriculture Apostolos Fotiades stated that very strict measures have been taken to contain the disease and added that it would be unfair if the EU draws measures against Greece when the same handling was not afforded on Germany when more than 30,000 animals had been stricken with the smallpox disease.

According to the EU Committee's spokesperson Fr. Fishler, the EU may decide to grant restitution to the Greek 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.

[03] ATHENS ASSURES THAT ALL MEASURES HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO CONTAIN FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE

"The issue of the foot and mouth disease cases that appeared at the Evros region will not be discussed by the European Agricultural Committee during tomorrow's session," stated the Minister of Press and Media Dimitris Reppas today.

Mr. Reppas emhasized that the problem of the disease is not alarming since the government has taken the necessary measures and has slaughtered the few animals that had been stricken by the disease in the Evros region that lies near the greco-turkish borderline.

Moreover,Mr.Reppas stated that the greek government has invited the Committee's officials to visit the region in order to ascertain that there is no cause for concern, an invitation to which they have not responded yet as they assess that the problem is under control.

[04] GREECE WILL DECIDE ON POSITION ON MEDA AFTER MEETING WITH IRISH MINISTER

The Greek government is not aware of the content of the so- called compromise proposal set forth by the Irish presidency on lifting Greece's veto over Turkey's funding through the MEDA program.

According to Press and Media Minister Dimitris Reppas, the Greek government will proceed to taking its decisions on the matter following the contacts to be held with Irish Foreign Minister Dick Spring in the upcoming week.

[05] SAE PRESIDIUM TO HOLD 2ND SESSION IN THESSALONIKI

A plan that will aim at the coordination of efforts exerted by the Council of Greeks Abroad (SAE) will be presented during the next three days in Thessaloniki, where SAE's Presidium will hold its second session.

Speaking to the Macedonian Press Agency, SAE President Andrew Athens stated that the basic axis of the plan will be a concerted effort aiming at conveying Greece's national issues to US President Bill Clinton.

Mr. Athens expressed his optimism regarding the future of SAE and emphasized that "it is no longer a mere theory that hellenism throughout the world can be heard with one voice."

Participating in the session will be the alternate Foreign Minister, who is also responsible for issues regarding Greeks overseas, George Romeos and Secretary General for the Overseas Hellenism prof. Yannis Panoussis.

During their stay in Thessaloniki, the Presidium's members will meet with Minister of Macedonia-Thrace Philippos Petsalnikos, the Mayor Konstantinos Kosmopoulos and the Prefect Kostas Papadopoulos.

[06] EU NATIONALS CAN WORK FOR PUBLIC SECTOR, RULES GREEK PARLIAMENT

The Greek Parliament's First Spring Session voted today on a resolution that ratifies the right of the greek-speaking European Union nationals to work in the country's public sector.

According to undersecretary of Interior Giorgos Moraitis, this resolution conforms greek law with Community Law and a Presidential Mandate will soon be issued outlining the positions and posts in which the appointment of non-greek citizens will be prohibited.

The European Court of Justice had ruled last week against laws existing in three Union member states that give their citizens exclusive rights for work in their public sector.

The EU ruling called on these states 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 other two member states the European Court of Justice found at fault for similar violations are Belgium and Luxemburg.

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 the Union 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.

[07] ARREST WARRANT ISSUED BY HAGUE FOR KARADJIC, MLADIC

International arrest warrants were issued today by the International Criminal Court at the Hague, after nine months of vocal proceedings against the Bosnianserb leaders Radovan Karadjic and Ratko Mladic.

Reading the indictment, the Court's President stated that the two men committed crimes against humanity and bear the responsibility for the deaths of hundreds of Mulsims, mostly in the Strebrenica region.

These warrants had been issued one year after the serbian army's operations in the region of Strebrenica, however, following the digging of mass graves, the Court's officials found only 25 bodies up to date.

[08] ASSOCIATION COUNCIL OF EUROPEAN UNION-TURKEY TO BE SHELVED

The Association Council between the European Union and Turkey will not take place on Monday under the EU General Affairs Session as scheduled, stated today the Greek Foreign Miistry's spokesperson Konstantinos Bikas.

Meanwhile, arriving in Athens tomorrow will be the Irish Foreign Minister Dick Spring in order to have contacts with the Greek government regarding the issued of Athens' veto on the MEDA financing program for 12 Mediterranean countries.

According to Mr. Bikas, the Irish government, currently holding the EU rotating presidency, will attempt to find a solution in the community funding of Turkey.

[09] US AMBASSADOR TO THE UN WILL PRESENT AMERICAN INITIATIVES ON CYPRUS

The United States permanent representative to the United Nations Madleine Albright will present the two American initiatives for solving the Cyprus issue to both sides of the divided island during her upcoming visit next week.

Ms. Albright 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.

[10] ALBRIGHT WILL INTRODUCE NEW IDEAS FOR CYPRUS ISSUE, SAYS US

The United States permanent representative to the United Nations Madleine Albright will present the two American initiatives for solving the Cyprus issue to both sides of the divided island during her upcoming visit next week.

Ms. Albright 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 Monday, July 16, 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.

[11] NEW US AMBASSADOR PRESENTS CREDENTIALS TO PRESIDENT CLERIDES

The United States' new ambassador to Cyprus Kenneth Brill presented his credentials to Cypriot President Clerides today.

Mr. Brill stated that he foresees 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."

[12] MOST OF ALBANIA'S GDP STEMS FROM PIRVATE SECTOR, SAYS MEKSI

Seventy-five per cent of the Albanian GDP comes from the private sector, the Prime Minister of Albania, Aleksander Meksi declared in his interview to the "Voice of America" radio. The overall economic privatisation, having started in 1995, is considered to be the main factor towards the passing of Albania economy from the emergency phase to its way of development in this year.

According to Albanian official sources, up to last year, 2,821 small and medium enterprises valued at four billion leks, are actually private ones. In addition to that, in 1995, the overall privatization process, which involved all of Albanian economy branches, has started by two forms: vouchers and establishing of share-holders associations.

In two first rounds of the overall privatization by vouchers, 50 governmental enterprises became private ones, whereas the responsible people are preparing the relevant rules to the 20 enterprises third round. All of the enterprises involved in this process expect to be 300. To that line, in 1996, 350 factories will be transformed into share-holders associations.

Privatisation-the a.m. sources say, will soon involve the Albanian Banks (Commercial National Bank, Saving Banks, and Rural Commercial Bank) into share-holders associations. According to the World Bank, this delay process has been related to two factors: their debt to the foreign banks and the missing (for a long time) of the competitive private banks in Albania. Actually, the experts are preparing the law frame of the financial agencies' activity and the setting up of the share stock exchange in Albania.

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