MPA NEWS IN ENGLISH (09/08/1996)

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

Macedonian Press Agency News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, August 9, 1996

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[C] EUROPEAN NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[C] EUROPEAN NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] GREEK GOVERNMENT AWAITS ANKARA'S OFFICIAL POSITION ON REPORT

The Greek government is awaiting to see what Ankara's official position will be on the recently published report by the turkish military forces regarding its claims on over 100 Greek islands in the Aegean Sea, prior to proceeding to issue its demarches.

Turkey's islamist Premier Necmettin Erbacan continues to maintain his silence for the third day since the turkish army's report was published, according to which any islands which are located within six miles from the turkish coast "by law belong to Turkey, as the successor of the Ottoman Empire". The report further claims that Greece was not awarded these islands after the break-up of the Ottoman Empire during the Balkan War of 1912-13.

"Turkey still retains sovereignty over the islands which were not given to Greece under article 12 of the 1923 Lausanne Treaty," the report states.

Moreover, the report accuses Greece of allegedly "claiming all of the Aegean islands that are not mentioned in the Lausanne Treary -which recognized Greek sovereignty over the eastern Aegean islands- and the 1947 Paris Treaty which settled the sovereignty over the Dodekanese islands.

[02] PRESIDENT OF GREECE VISITS EARTHQUAKE-STRICKEN TOWN OF KONITSA

The President of Greece Konstantinos Stephanopoulos visited the earthquake-stricken town of Konitsa, 300 kilometers west of Thessaloniki, today accompanied by Minister of Culture Stavros Benos.

The Head of State was briefed by local authorities on damage estimates and expressed his interest that the homeless families be put up in temporary homes before winter comes.

Ioannina Prefecture's repair units are still assessing the damages caused by Tuesday morning's tremor that measured 5.6 on the Richter scale. According to up-to-date estimates, more than 270 houses have been condemned.

[03] GRUESOME MURDER SHOCKS GREECE, A 24-YEAR-OLD KILLED FIVE IN HIS FAMILY

A 24-year-old law school student, Theofilos Sehidis from the island of Thassos, confessed yesterday to killing his parents, sister, grandmother and uncle whom, after dismembering their bodies, he claims to have buried near the city of Kavala.

This morning, local police discovered the headless corpse of Sehidis' uncle Vassilis in Thassos' ancient theater, within a short distance from the victim's house. Sehidis led police to the city dump where he claims to have buried the remains of his other four relatives' dismembered bodies.

Investigations are continuing as forensic teams are excavating the dump to corroborate Sehidis' confession, but no other bodies have been discovered so far.

Sehidis told police that he had murdered each one separately over a period of five days, starting with his uncle and ending with his sister. After each murder, he hacked the body with a saw and placed the parts in black garbage bags. After transporting the bags with the ferryboat from Thassos to the port of Kavala, having to make several trips back and forth, Sehidis buried them in the nearby dump.

The Sehidis family had been reported missing two months ago, by Vassilis' wife who lives in Belgium. The uncle had come to Greece to visit his brother, Sehidis' father.

Sehidis had been arrested on July 21 by Kavala police after illegal firearms were found in his car during a routine seach. During his arraingment by a local court, he received a 10-month suspended sentence and was released.

[04] MOBILIZATIONS CONTINUE OVER GOODYEAR'S CLOSING OF THESSALONIKI PLANT

Trade unions will block off industrial area of Thessaloniki next Tuesday, in protest of the US-based tire maker Goodyear's desicion to close its Thessaloniki plant and lay off 350 workers.

The Unions has also turned its wrath against the Greek government, which, according to a Unions announcement, "has proceeded to negotiations with Goodyear without the Union's participation."

Also, Unions representatives have stated that their Union will participate at a protest rally, organized by the Worker's Center of Thessaloniki, scheduled to take place in front of the Ministry of Macedonia-Thrace next Tuesday at 10 a.m.

[05] MEASURES ON FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE HAVE ALSO AVERTED DRUG TRAFFIC

The additional measures drawn in western Macedonia for combating the transmission of the foot and mouth disease from Albania into Greece have proven to be effective for compating other ills, specifically those of animal and drug trafficking and illegal immigration.

Speaking to the Macedonian Press Agency, the Prefects of Florina and Kastoria have stated that the beefing up of the area's restricting measures in the last three months have significantly averted the transmission of foot and mouth disease into Greece from the Albanian livestock and has reduced the number of illegal immigrants who try to enter Greece covertly.

"In the Prespes area nothing moves with out first getting registered by our people," stated Traianos Petkanis, Florina's Prefect.

"The phenomenon of illegal trafficking of livestock has been hit at its root," stated the Prefect of Kastoria, George Kapahtsis, pointing to the cooperation of police, local authorities and military.

[06] CHERNOBYL'S EFFECT ON CITY OF DRAMA IS NEGLIGIBLE, SAYS UNIVERSITY STUDY

A recent study by the Aristotle University's Laboratory of Nuclear Technology in Thessaloniki has found that the radiation fallout from the Chernobyl accident in 1986 had negligible effects on the northern Greek city of Drama.

According to the study's findings, the city's radiation levels ranged within a normal level.

[07] GREEK PRESS COMMENTARIES ON THE MILOSEVIC-TUDJMAN MEETING CONTINUE

The commentaries in the greek press on the successful Milosevic-Tudjman meeting, organized in Athens by greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis, continue.

An article published today in the newspaper "Ethnos", under the headline "Greek victory in the Balkans", stresses that Greece was proved to be the Olympic medallist of peace after the success of the greek government's initiative for a meeting between the Presidents of Serbia and Croatia in Athens.

The newspaper mentions that the meeting was a success because the two leaders agreed to the mutual diplomatic recognition of their countries, to their cooperation and to the healing of the wounds caused by the war in former Yugoslavia.

According to the article, the fact that the two leaders accepted the invitation to meet on greek territory, in spite of the known mistrust observed in the relations of the Balkan countries, constitutes a major step toward normalization, adding that it is a big recognition of Greece's peace-making role, as its initiatives are being recognized and accepted by all the Balkan states.

The article concludes, that at a time when Turkey proves in every way that it is the region's trouble-maker, Greece's recognition as an active factor of stability can and must be turned into a powerful defence and economic development weapon.

[08] THE ROLE OF THE MASS MEDIA IN THE GREEK-SERB RELATIONS

Serbia's Ministry of Information announced that Information Minister, Alexandar Tijianic met with Greece's ambassador in Yugoslavia, Panagiotis Vlassopoulos.

In the talks they had was stressed the significant role of the mass media in the further advancement of bilateral relations between Yugoslavia and Greece, while they also referred to the numerous possibilities for a direct cooperation of newspapers, magazines, radio and television stations.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[09] TURKISH ARMY TO OPEN FIRE AT ANY BIKER WHO CROSSES DEMARCATION LINE

The turkish military forces deployed in the occupied section of Cyprus have been instructed to open fire at anyone who crosses over the island's demarcation line, during the rally of the "live free, drive free" bikers convoy, made up of several hundred motorcyclists from Europe.

While the occupying regime's leader Rauf Denktash had issued this statement earlier this week, the self-called "foreign minister" of the pseudostate Atai Ahmet Rasit reiterated the threat today and supported that any violation of the "borders" will constitute a threat for the island's peace and stability.

Moreover, Rasit claimed that the bikers' convoy is instigated by the cypriot government, which, he added, will bear the responsibility of any unwanted results.

Meanwhile, the Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides and Cypriot Defense Minister Kostas Heliades will be at the Police Headquarters on Sunday, the day of the convoy's arrival, and will observe the rally's process.

Cypriot police and the National Guard will be placed on alert, while a specific supervisory plan will also be enforced. Also, all of Nicosia's, Larnaca's and Paralimnios' hospitals will be on a stand by.

The Cypriot and European mortorcyclists who are participating in this convoy, which began in Berlin and will lead to occypied Derinia, are already aboard the ship transporting them to Lemessos, where they are expected to arrive tomorrow morning.

[10] CYPRIOT JUSTICE MINISTRY TO TAKE CONTROL MEASURES FOR BIKERS' PROTEST

Measures that will keep under control the motorcyclists' march in Cyprus, held as a protest against the continuing turkish occupation of the island, were discussed in today's meeting that was held in the Ministry of Justice in Nicosia. The meeting was attended by Justice Minister Alekos Evangelou, Public Order Minister Kostas Eliadis and also by the President of the Pan- Cypriot Federation of Motorcyclists.

Mr.Evangelou stated that another meeting, this time in the Police Headquarters, will be held tomorrow with the participation of UNFICYP in order to be discussed certain remaining details. He also reiterated that the cypriot government is not opposed to anti- occupation demonstrations and stressed that its intention is to avert any clashes with the UN peace-keeping forces.

He also mentioned that, based on information, the turks will try to provoke violent incidents in order to show that there can be no co-existence between the greek-cypriots and the turkish- cypriots and also, in order to stop the promotion of President Kliridis proposal for the demilitarization of island.

Federation of Motorcyclists President, Giorgos Hatzikostas stated that the marchers will follow the scheduled programme of the demonstration and reiterated that this protest has as a goal to send all over the world the message that the turkish occupation army in northern Cyprus prohibits the free movement of people, while he appealed to all the motorcyclists to display discipline and to follow the instructions that will be given by the protest organizers.

[11] MEMBERS OF TURKEY'S EXTREME-RIGHT ORGANIZATION "GREY WOLVES" ARE PLANNING TO LINE UP AGAINST THE MOTORCYCLISTS IN CYPRUS

Members of Turkey's extreme-right organization, "Grey Wolves" are planning to line up against the motorcyclists who participate in the scheduled protest march during which they intend to cross over the demarcation line in Nicosia dividing the free Cyprus from the turkish occupied territories.

Azmi Karamahmutoglu, leader of the extreme-right group "Idealist Brotherhoods", to which have acceded most of the "Grey Wolves", stated that if the young greek-cypriots enter the turkish occupied territories they will find the "Grey Wolves" lined up against them.

He also added that his organization hopes that it will be able to send about 2.500 motorcyclists to the turkish occupied Cyprus before the protest march and pointed out that some of them have already left Turkey and are on their way to Cyprus.

[12] CYPRIOT FOREIGN MINISTRY GENERAL DIRECTOR TO VISIT MOSCOW ON MONDAY

Cypriot Foreign Ministry General Director, Alekos Siambos will arrive next Monday to Moscow for an official 3-day visit.

Within the framework of his visit to the russian capital mr.Siambos will have talks on the resolution of the Cyprus problem, bilateral relations and international developments.

[13] A COUNCIL OF EUROPE DELEGATION WILL VISIT TURKEY TO EXAMINE THE CONDITIONS IN THE COUNTRY'S JAILS

The turkish Foreign Ministry announced that a delegation of the Council of Europe committee against torture will visit Turkey on August 19 to examine the conditions in the country's jails.

Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman, Nuretin Nurkan stated that the four-member delegation which will visit Turkey after an invitation by ms.Ciller, first will have contacts in the Ministry of Justice and then will visit the Eski Sehir Prison.

[14] ALBANIA:JOURNALIST OF GREEK ORIGIN PERSECUTED IN ALBANIA

A journalist at the albanian greek-written newspaper "Voice of Omonia" has been summoned by the district attorney's office in Argyrokastro following an claim issued against him by the city's Prefect Fatos Gjyrezi for supposedly providing false information in an article published on June 21 titled, "Why didn't 400 Pogonians vote?"

Journalist Christakis Jias, wrote in his article that 400 persons, or approximately one-fourth of the voters, from the village of Pogoni were not allowed to exercise their voting rights at the parliamentary elections on May 26 because their names did not appear in any of the voter registraiton catalogs. The article places responsibilities for the event onto the community's president and the Prefect and Secretary of the Prefecture.

The journalist's warrant for arrest has been denounced by the newspaper and the Journalists Association of Southern Albania, which characterize the charge as "a continuation of the pressures exerted by the Albanian state against the journalists and the freedom of press in the country."

[15] UN SECURITY COUNCIL ON THE ELECTIONS IN BOSNIA

After last night's UN Security Council meeting, permanent representative of Germany, mr.Tono Eitel who chaired the meeting, stressed in his statements the significance of the holding of elections in Bosnia next month, characterizing them as a milestone for the normalization of the political situation, while at the same time, he called all interested parties to safeguard democracy after the elections.

Mr.Eitel also stated that the UN Security Council regards as very significant the agreement reached between the muslim and the bosnian-croat leadership in Mostar for cooperation in the recently elected City Council.

The UN Security Council President also added that the delay in the transfer of economic means and political powers to the Muslim-Croat Federation in Bosnia could put the Dayton peace agreement and the rest peace process in danger. Mr.Eitel stressed that the UN Security Council is deeply concerned over the non implementation by all parties of the basic principles for the respect of human rights and the return of refugees.

[16] GREECE WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE ATLANTA PARA OLYMPIAD WITH 15 ATHLETES

Greece will participate with 15 athletes in the Para Olympiad which will be held in Atlanta on August 15-25.

The Para Olympiad, held every Olympic year a few days after the Olympic Games under the auspices of the International Para- Olympics Committee, is the biggest athletic competition for people with disabilities.

Of the 15 greek athletes, 9 will compete in track events, one in the marathon race and 5 will compete in swimming.

In the Para Olympiad will compete a total of 3.500 athletes from 121 countries and the greek athletic team will leave for Atlanta on Monday.

[C] EUROPEAN NEWS

[17] EE PROTESTS TO USA AGAINST THE SANCTIONS IMPOSED ON LIBYA AND IRAN

An official demarche to the US administration in protest at the signing of the Iran-Libya sanctions Act (d'Amato law) was made yesterday by the European Commission and the Irish Presidency.

It should be reminded that a few days ago,Sir Leon Britan,Vice-President of the European Commission said that the d'Amato law establishes the unwelcome principle that one country can dictate the foreign policy of others, and disturbs the unity of purpose between allies.

European Union's vice-president said also that the EU has already said it will act to defend its rights and interests if they are jeopardised by this legislation.

[18] COMMISSION CLEARS THE ACQUISITION OF SUNWORLD BY THOMAS COOK

The acquisition of the entire issued share capital of Sunworld Limited by Thomas Cook Group Limited was cleared by the European Commission.

Thomas Cook, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of the German state-owned bank Westdeutsche Landesbank Girozentrale (WestLB), is a leading UK-based travel agent also active in the provision of principally travel-related financial services such as foreign exchange and issue of travellers' cheques.

Sunworld is a UK-based tour operator exclusively controlled by Ibertouring Holding BV (Ibertouring), which is a Dutch holding company belonging to the Spanish tour operating group Viajes Iberia SA (GVI).

[19] UK RETAIL SALES REMAINED STRONGLY IN JULY- SECOND MONTH IN A ROW

U.K. retail sales remained strongly in July for the second month in a row, according to the latest survey from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI).

The volume of retail sales moderated only slightly in the year through July after rising at the fastest rate for nearly six- and-a-half years in June, the CBI monthly distributive trades survey shows.

The survey shows that 56% of retailers said they sold more goods last month than they did in July 1995, compared with 13% who said they sold fewer.

Business remained above average for the time of year in July, although to a lesser extent than in June, said the CBI.

[20] LONDON INVESTMENT BANKING ASSOCIATION'S REPORT ON MONETARY UNION

A report on the implications of European economic and monetary union (EMU) on trade settlement procedures in the U.K was published by the London Investment Banking Association (LIBA).

The report is designed to assist LIBA membersand other U.K. market authorities to identify the key changes to settlement procedures that would take place whether the U.K. participates in EMU, due in 1999, or opts out of it.

LIBA makes 60 recommendations to a range of U.K. financial institutions on how they could make sure the U.K.'s settlement systems experience a smooth changeover to the Euro.

It addresses equity, corporate and debt settlement as well as over-the- counter and exchange-traded derivative settlement and foreign exchange settlement procedures and urges the U.K. Treasury to initiate discussions before the end of the year on how gilts should be redenominated after the introduction of EMU.

LIBA also recommends that the Bank of England should co- ordinate this redenomination process.

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