MPA NEWS IN ENGLISH (12/07/1996)

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

Macedonian Press Agency News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, July 12, 1996

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B]INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B]INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE: GREECE ON 8-DAY QUARANTINE BY EU

The European Union Standard Agricultural Committee has decided to place Greece on an eight-day quarantine over the recent outbreak of foot and mouth disease in very few areas of the country.

The temporary quarantine concerns the ban of meat and dairy product exports towards EU member-states, especially uncooked products.

After the eight-day period, the Committee will proceed to finalize its decision, based on the data collected by its specialists who will visit Greece next week and will travel to the Evros region where the outbreak of the illness occured.

Meanwhile, extensive diagnostic measures have been applied to the Drama, Kavala and Serres prefectures in Northern Greece in order to discover any cases of the disease.

Special ditches have been constructed on Xanthi's Porto Lago area where all vehicles coming into Greece from Turkey are subjected to tire immersion in disinfectant chemicals.

[02] FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE DISCUSSED IN BRUSSELS TODAY

The European Union's Permanent Agricultural Committee convened in Brussels today in order to examine the foot and mouth disease outbreak that has plagued the Balkan 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 Ministry officials, no measures are necessary to be taken for the whole country, as the disease has been restricted to on e particular area.

The Agriculture Ministry 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.

Experts assess that the disease was brought by infected animals over the Turkish border.

Meanwhile, the Belgian government, following a recommendation of Belgium's Agriculture Ministry, has issued a travel advisory to Belgian tourists not to transport food made of meat products from Greece, Turkey, Albania, Serbia nd Skopje.

[03] MEDA FINANCING DISCUSSED BY PANGALOS AND IRELAND'S SPRING

The Irish-held European Union presidency will attempt to lift Greece's objections to the billion-dollar MEDA package for twelve non-EU Mediterranean countries, including Turkey, following the meeting held today between Greece's Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos and visiting Irish Foreign Minister Dick Spring.

Following their two-hour meeting, where also present was alternate Foreign Minister George Romeos, Mr. Spring stated that his country's aim is to achieve an agreement over MEDA in light of Monday's Council of EU Foreign Ministers, to be held in Brussels.

Yet, Mr. Spring did not clarify how such an agreement could be achieved as Greece says it will keep its veto until Turkey stops threatening its territorial integrity.

Mr. Pangalos characterized Mr. Spring's visit as an "exploratory" one and ephasized that the Irish ForeignMinister is too experienced a politician to make proposals before a complete discussion has taken place.

After the Foreign Minsters' meeting, Mr. Spring met briefly with Prime Minister Kostas Simitis to whom he presented the Irish Presidency's priorities, among which are the issues of unemployment and the economic and monetary union.

[04] MAIN OPPOSITION LEADER: AEGEAN WAS AND WILL REMAIN BLUE

"The Aegean was and will remain blue," stated today Miltiades Evert, the leader of Greece's main opposition party New Democracy.

Currently on a tour of the Cyclades, Mr. Evert emphasized that the continuous Turkish provocations find all Greeks united and added that "there are no grey areas in the Aegean."

[05] KKE DENOUNCES ARREST WARRANT ISSUED FOR BOSNIAN SERB LEADERS

The arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court at The Hague against Bosnian Serb leaders Radovan Karadjic and Ratko Mladic is a hypocritical and planned act by the terrorists of the people, stated today the member of the Political Bureau of the Greek Communist Party's (KKE) Central Committee Dimitris Gontikas.

Mr. Gontikas assessed that in the face of the Bosnianserb leaders all of Serb people are punished for their resistance to the imperialist new order of things.

"The arrest warrants prove what kind of peace the US, NATO and EU imperialists want to impose in the region," Mr. Gontikas stated, adding that the act embarks upon a new practice with unforeseeable consequences for the future.

[06] ORGANIZATIONAL AND INSTITUTIONAL CHANGES TO TAKE PLACE IN SAE

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.

Following the closing of a circle that encompassed seven- month long activities, and with the completion of the necessary convergence among the regional councils, the time for institutional and organizational changes within SAE has arrived, stated the Secretary-General of Greeks Abroad prof. Yiannis Panoussis.

According to Mr. Panoussis, the elections for SAE's Presidium are likely to be placed on a two-year term, rather than the originally planned one-year and the International Council of Hellenism should convene every four years.

Moreover, according to Mr. Panoussis, the government is said to increase funding for SAE's budget, a figure that will likely surpassed the already-earmarked 250 million GRD, which in actuality figured to 200 million GRD, while SAE's functioning needs have been presented at the sum of 450 million GRD.

In closing, Mr. Panoussis referred to a proposal he had presented to the Foreign Minister, but not the Prime Minister, regarding the creation of a Greeks Abroad Ministry, in conjunction with the administrative reorganization of the General Secretariat. According to Mr. Panoussis, the Secretary- General could be Minister under the Premier, with a five or seven year term, and could be elected by an inter-party committee.

[07] ATHENS:SEVEN MILLION GREEKS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD ARE PRESENT

Speaking to the Macedonian Press Agency, Council of Greeks Abroad (SAE) President Andrew Athens stated today that it is good to know that seven million Greeks throughout the world are present and await direction.

"Hellenism throughout the world is alive and there is great enthusiasm for progress to be made," the SAE President stated.

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 are the alternate Foreign Minister,who is also responsible for issues regarding Greeks overseas, George Romeos and Secretary General for the Greeks Abroad Yannis Panoussis.

This evening, a dinner will be held by Minister of Macedonia-Thrace Philippos Petsalnikos in honor of the SAE members and tomorrow the conference members are scheduled to meet with Parliament's inter-party committee.

During their stay in Thessaloniki, the conference members are scheduled to meet with the city's Mayor Konstantinos Kosmopoulos and the Prefect Kostas Papadopoulos.

[08] CENTER OF STUDY AND DEVELOPMENT OF GREEK CULTURE IN BLACK SEA

The Center of Study and development of Greek Culture in the Black Sea was hailed today by the Minister of Interior, Public Administration and De-centralization Akis Tsohatzopoulos who saluted the inauguration of the building this afternoon.

"This center is living proof of the way the citizens of Thessaloniki have realized the meaning of promotion of the ties of communication, economy and culture of Greece with their neighboring peoples," Mr. Tsohatsopoulos stated.

Also present at the inauguration was the prefect of Thessaloniki, Kostas Papadopoulos who saluted the Center as a "bridge" that will unite Greece with the Greeks living in the Balkan region.

SAE President Andrew Athens stated that the Center is a significant project and added that "I have realized that seven million Greeks are united and ready to help Greece with one voice."

The Center was founded in January 1996 and is a product of an initiative taken by the Culture Committee of Thessaloniki's Prefecture. Its annual budget is estimated at 170 million GRD.

[09] SAE'S THREE-DAY CONFERENCE BEGINS TODAY 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.

This evening, a dinner will be held by Minister of Macedonia-Thrace Philippos Petsalnikos in honor of the SAE members and tomorrow the conference members are scheduled to meet with Parliament's inter-party committee.

During their stay in Thessaloniki, the conference members are scheduled to meet with the city's Mayor Konstantinos Kosmopoulos and the Prefect Kostas Papadopoulos.

[10] PANGALOS SUPPORTS BALKAN NEWS AGENCIES TO EC

Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos has conveyed his expressed interest in the DIAVLOS programme that has been organized by Macedonian Press Agency, in an address sent to European Commisioner Hans Van Den Broek, through which he requests approval for the programme's financing.

In his letter, Mr. Pangalos stated that he is aware of Mr. Broek's interest in the development and stability in the Balkans and, as such, "I would kindly ask you to give your full consideration to the possibility of approving the financing of the programme DIAVLOS as worked out by the Macedonian Press Agency, with the consent and participation of the national press agencies of all the balkan countries."

"The programme aims at spreading the european idea through the balkan countries, improving relations between the European Union and the Balkans providing the productive sector with information about the possibilities of cooperation and financing by the European Union as wel as promoting and creating common business activities," Mr. Pangalos writes, adding that "naturally, these aims could be achieved if the balkan peoples come to know each other through the excchange of news, on a permanent basis, by the news agencies of the balkan countries."

[11] CONFERENCE ON INTERNATIONAL LAW OF SEA TO BE HELD IN RHODES

The Rhodes Academy of International Law of the Sea will hold its first convention on Monday, embarking on this year's three-week program that will cover general subjects of maritime law.

The program is funded by the European Union and the founding institutes, which are the Aegean Institute of the Law of the Sea and of Nautical Law, the University of Virginia's Center for Ocean Law and Policy, the Max-Panck University and the Netherlands Institute of Law of the Sea.

The Rhodes Academy is largely viewed as the nautical law's equivalent to The Hague's international law.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[12] ALBRIGHT WILL PROPOSE THAT TALKS FOR CYPRUS BE RE-HELD

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 and will porpose that direct talks be re-held.

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.

[13] SIR HANNAY:WE AIM TO SOLVE CYPRUS ISSUE WITHIN 18 MONTHS

The next 18 months will serve as a target for the achievement of a total solution, one that would include all the aspects of the Cyprus problem, will not leave any holes and will allow room for further negotiations, stated today the British special emissary for the cypriot issue, Sir David Hannay.

Mr. Hannay, who departed from Cyprus today after a four- day stay, characterized his contacts with Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides and other officials as "very significant" and stated that "the most correct and fast way for Cyprus to gain accession to the European Union is for the negotiations to be performed by a federated state" and reiterated that during his visit to the United States, where he will travel this week, he will brief the American officials so that "the efforts of all those who are working in support of the United Nations' mission be coordinated."

[14] WASHINGTON POST:TURKEY'S POLITICAL INSTABILITY THREAT TO GREECE

The political instability noted in Turkey this year is a threat to Greece, writes the "Washington Post" in an editorial published this week.

According to the article, the American government should adopt a new stance towards Ankara, given the Islamist leader Necmettin Erbacan's victory in forming a coalition government.

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