MPA NEWS IN ENGLISH (20/09/1996)

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

Macedonian Press Agency News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, September 20, 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 GIVES LAST SPEECH IN PRE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN

Hundreds of thousands of supporters cheered the Premier and PASOK President Kostas Simitis on as he closed the country's pre-election campaign tonight with a speech at the ruling party's central rally in Athens.

In his speech, the Premier emphasized that PASOK is the only political force that has both the awareness and the plans that will enable Greece to achieve and to participate on equal terms in the European Union.

"Greece must exude strength and authority in Europe," Mr. Simitis stated.

"If Greece does not fulfil the european completion, if we stay on Europe's second or third gear, it will bear a cost for all of us," he explained, adding that "if we are not equals in Europe, our country's position on national matters will weaken."

Moreover, the Premier emphasized that PASOK wishes for a strong Greece since the country is faced with the turkish expansionism and aggression, and accused Ankara of playing with fire on all of Hellenism's fronts, such as Thrace, the Aegean Sea and Cyprus.

"Greeks want to move forward, they do not want Greece to retreat, and that is why they will vote for development, progress, stability, security, welfare, social solidarity, they will say 'yes' to the future by voting PASOK," the Prime Minister stated confidently.

Mr. Simitis contrasted his party from the main opposition New Democracy, whom he accused of relying on issuing mere promises and big words. Yet, he added, "these words do not fool anybody because the Greek people will not accept checks that are sure to bounce," he stated.

Sunday's dilemma is simple, Mr. Simitis stated, "either there will be a stable and fair government, or there will be New Democracy's government which will destroy all that the Greek people have achieved so far."

[02] MAIN OPPOSITION LEADER TAKES A LAST SHOT AT PRE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN

As Greece's political tradition calls for, the main opposition party leader, New Democracy's Miltiades Evert, was next to the last among today's campaign speeches, as the pre-election period closes tonight at midnight.

"The true dilemma in Sunday's elections is not the anachronistic division that leads nowhere, that is, the walls of polarization that a certain few tried to erect," Mr. Evert stated, adding "or the extortionate dilemmas that if one does not vote for a strong party, it leads to the victory of the opponent.

"There is only one dilemma today. Do we want or not a government of decisiveness, of projects, of action, of results. A government that will not divide, but will unite the Greek people," the N.D. President stated.

Also in his speech, Mr. Evert repeated his party's targets to develop the nation's economy at an annual rate above four per cent, a rhythm which, as he says, will reduce unemployment by absorbing European Union funds and mobilizing foreign investments.

Moreover, the main opposition leader remained firm on his commitment to do away with the objective taxation criteria in order to "pump life into the small-to-middle sized businesses" and to undertake a package of measures for support of the Greek farmer.

[03] PRE-ELECTION CAMPAIGNS WIND UP TONIGHT WITH PASOK RALLY

The pre-election campaign period will wind up tonight with the speech to be given by Prime Minister and PASOK President Kostas Simitis during the ruling party's central political rally in Athens.

Appearing confident of enjoying victory in Sunday's elections, Mr. Simitis launched another attack against the main opposition party leader New Democracy's Miltiades Evert today and developed the government's top priorities after the elections.

In an interview published in an Athens daily today, Mr. Simitis also stated that the following year's budget is ready and assured that it does not include any new, direct or indirect taxes. Moreover, the Premier pointed out that his government will primarily seek to secure stable opportunities of employment and higher salaries to the employed.

Mr. Evert is currently touring Castellorizo. Last night, the N.D. President reiterated that the ruling PASOK rendered the Imia islets in the Aegean Sea as a "grey area" and purported that if he had been called upon by the Premier the evening of the Imia crisis in January, he would have advised him not to retreat. Mr. Evert did not respond when asked if he will station the armed forces on the Imia in case he becomes Prime Minister.

The minor opposition party leaders are also continuing their campaigns throughout Greece.

Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Secretary-General Aleka Paparega toured the central districts in Athens, the President of the Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) Nikos Konstantopoulos is in the Peloponnese visitng the city of Pyrgos and the president of the Democratic and Social Movement (DHKKI) Dimitris Tsovolas is touring the islands of Kos, Calymnos and Leros.

[04] WE'RE READY TO GO TO WORK ON MONDAY, SAYS THE PRIME MINISTER

On the last day of the campaign period, Prime Minister and PASOK President Kostas Simitis has expressed his certainty that the ruling party will stay in government after Sunday's elections.

In an interview with the Greek daily "Ta Nea", Mr. Simitis stated that the Greek people want "clear and decisive solutions to the political problems, which is why it will again trust PASOK."

The Premier also criticised the main opposition leader, New Democracy's Miltiades Evert, and stated that his opponent "does not comprehend what he says on national issues."

Regarding PASOK, Mr. Simitis stated that the new Cabinet will closely resemble the current one, which was clearly more composed than the previous ones and was primarily based on meritocracy.

"Never in my life did I separate the people who care for the future of this country into 'our people' and 'others'," Mr. Simitis said.

"More so when it comes to my own party. We want to be a government of all Greeks. We are ready to go to work on Monday and we aim at improved governmental coordination and improved productivity."

Regarding the economic policy to be adopted by the government, Mr. Simitis repeated that he does not intend to impose new taxes in the year 1997. He also emphasized that the government's main target will be to secure the people's incomes and to increase the job opportunities, as well as to support the unemployed. On the unemployment issue, the Premier pointed out that it is a problem concerning all of Europe and added that there are no miracle-makers who will solve the problem from one day to the next.

Speaking on the main opposition leader Miltiades Evert, Mr. Simitis accused him of having made repeated blunders regarding Greece's national issues.

He's gotten to the point of talking about re-negotiating the Accords that determine our international relations, he spoke of re-examining the Lauzanne Treaty and the Treaty of 1932," the Premier said, adding that the N.D. spokesperson excused Evert by saying that it was an "oversight."

"Aside from his (Evert's) unconscious, I hope, blunders during the pre-election campaign, he also did something that harmed to a degree our national positions," Mr. Simitis said.

"For days now, he has been speaking of 'grey zones' in the Aegean, forgetting that by doing this, the only thing he accomplishes is to play Ankara's game, a game that precisely aims at the admittance of such zones."

[05] MAIN OPPOSITION LEADER: "WE WILL NOT BARGAIN OUR SOVEREIGN RIGHTS"

Main opposition leader New Democracy's Mitliades Evert emphasized that his party, should it win in Sunday's elections, would not engage in any form of negotations with Turkey regarding Greece's sovereign rights.

In an interview given to the Greek daily "Eleftheros Typos", Mr. Evert stated that the "International Law and the International Accords determine precisely our sovereign rights."

He continued by stating that "if the american, the european and the international organizations want to contribute to the establishment of peace, then they have to knock on the door of the international troublemaker. We want cooperation and good neighboring relations with all of our neighbors."

Mr. Evert also stated that the only point of dispute between Greece and Turkey is the definition of the continental shelf's limits, which he characterized as a technical and legal issue, not political, one that can be resolved through the International Court of Justice at The Hague.

The main opposition leader also lashed against Prime Minister and PASOK President Kostas Simitis for his handling of the Imia crisis and accused him of being unrepentant of the government's "tragic mistakes". He also accused the Premier of preferring to attack the authority of the armed forces in order to save his own.

[06] GREECE, CYPRUS SALUTE EUROPARLIAMENT RESOLUTION TO FREEZE TURKEY'S FUNDS

Greece and Cyprus have saluted the resolution adopted by the European Parliament yesterday, which asks that all funding from the European Union to Ankara be frozen.

The resolution, which stemmed from Turkey's provocations against Greece, as well as its stance on the Cyprus problem and the Kurdish issue, foresees that the 375MECU earmarked for Turkey be trasnsferred to the European Union's reserve fund.

Moreover, the resolution asks the European Commission to immediately block credits to Turkey from the MEDA financing program, with the exception of credits that concern the promotion of democracy and human rights.

Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis stated that the Europarliament's resolution is the best answer that could be given to those who criticise PASOK's foreign policy and added that the EU has finally abandoned its policy of maintaining equal distances from Greece and Turkey.

Cyprus's Foreign Minister Alekos Mihailides stated that through the resolution, "the voice of truth was heard."

Meanwhile, Ankara has intensely reacted to the news and Turkey's Foreign Minister and ex-Premier Tansu Ciller has condened the resolution as a "prejudiced decicion, drawn by prejudiced people."

[07] DEFENSE MINISTER GERASIMOS ARSENIS: IMIA ISSUE HAS CLOSED

Greek Defense Minister Gerasimos Arsenis stated today that the Imia issue has closed and should have never been discussed under personal terms.

Mr. Arsenis added that the country's political parties and governments have been judged and will be judged by the results of their actions.

The Defense Minister also pointed out that the Government's choice to de- escalate the critical political resulted in not only avoiding a dialogue with Ankara over the Aegean Sea's status, but also in Turkey's isolation as was proven by the resolution adopted yesterday by the European Parliament, which freezes all European Union funds to Turkey.

[08] THE PRE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN IN GREECE ENDS AT MIDNIGHT TONIGHT

The pre-election campaign for the September 22 elections ends in a few hours, and the ruling PASOK party central political rally in Athens, in which the speaker will be Prime Minister, Kostas Simitis, is expected with great interest this evening.

PASOK's spokesman for the pre-election period, Environment, Planning and Public Works Minister, Kostas Laliotis speaking to reporters stated that PASOK's certain victory in the elections will take the form of a great victory. Referring to the leader of New Democracy stated that the inverview he gave yesterday was a "political Waterloo" and speculated that the differences between mr.Evert and New Democracy honorary president, mr.Mitsotakis will become even greater on the day after the elections.

Minister of National Economy, Yiannos Papantoniou stated that if PASOK wins the elections there will be pay increases over the inflation rate in the next four years, stating that there is steady improvement in the income earned which will continue and in the following years. He accused mr.Evert of being "irresponsible" regarding the economy and added that PASOK will continue the policy of the hard drachma, stressing that any other monetary policy will demand much higher interest rates.

New Democracy leader, Miltiadis Evert, who is visiting the island of Kastelorizo, stated that the border regions must be reinforced through their economic development and defence shielding.

Referring to the greek-turkish relations, mr.Evert stated that they are in a period of tension due to the turkish provocativeness, stressing that the country's integrity will be protected. Mr.Evert pledged that in case his party forms a government argiculture and tourism on the island will be supported.

Tomorrow afternoon, mr.Evert will visit the northern city of Alexandroupolis and on Sunday will vote in the polling station of the village of Tavri.

New Democracy spokesman, Prokopis Pavlopoulos stated today that if his party forms a government will correct any unfairness in the electoral law.

Political Spring leader, Antonis Samaras touring in Athens stated today that the two main political parties will not be able to get the majority needed to form a government, stressing that the people are determined to give his party enough support in order to play a decisive role in the country's political scene by protecting their prosperity and the national interests.

Communist party General Secretary, Aleka Papariga visited the offices of the State Telecommunications Company (OTE) in Athens and criticized the two major political parties for their social policy, characterizing as "provocative" the Prime Minister's announcements concerning the welfare state, made three days before the elections.

Coalition of the Left leader, Nikos Konstantopoulos is visiting the southern city of Pirgos, while Democratic Social Movement leader, Dimitris Tsovolas is touring the islands of Kos, Kalymnos and Leros.

[09] GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER: NEW HORIZONS IN GREEK-BULGARIAN RELATIONS

Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos, in an interview with the Bulgarian daily "Duma" stated that "people are in need of new horizons, not trumpet-calling, and the road we are walking on now opens such horizons."

The Greek Minister also emphasized that Greece and Bulgaria must build the future together, since that is the wish of both peoples.

Mr. Pangalos and his bulgarian counterpart Georgi Pirisnki exchanged yesterday the official documents on the ratified agreements between the two countries regarding the River Nestos waters and the opening of three new toll stations.

According to the Nestos river waters agreement, Greece has secured 29 per cent of the river's annual outpour for the next 35 years. In regards to the three new toll stations, they will link Bulgaria's Goce Delcev with Greece's Drama, Haskovo with Alexandroupolis and Rudoyiem with Xanthi.

Commenting on the agreements, Mr. Pangalos stated that they are certain to bring radical changes in bilateral relations between the two countries.

"Your region must enter Europe and together we must abandon a past which is dead," Mr. Pangalos stated, noting that there are certain politicians in both Bulgaria and Greece who take advantage of nationalism in order to win votes or money.

"Nationalism is necessary in a dictatorship and absolute regimes," Mr. Pangalos stated. "However, in Greece and Bulgaria we will have democracy in the future as well."

The Foreign Minister characterized greek-bulgarian relations as being exemplary in the region's good-neighboring principle and pointed out that the two countries contribute to the general political climate in the Balkans.

[10] 8.862.014 REGISTERED VOTERS CAST THEIR BALLOTS IN THE GREEK PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS

Based on data provided by the Ministry of Interior, Public Administration and Decentralization the number of registered voters for Sunday's parliamentary elections is 8.862.014 and 51,11% of them are women, while the men voters are 4.332.536.

In these elections are voting 399.854 people more compared to 1993, while 492.874 people are voting for the first time in parliamentary elections.

Voting will begin at 6.13am on Sunday morning and will end at 6.22pm.

The new Prime Minister after Sunday's elections will be the 90th in the country's political history, while in the 163 years of its political life Greece had 185 governments formed by 89 Prime Ministers. In the past 50 years elections have been held under 12 different electoral systems that brought to power 15 governments.

The basic characteristics of the existing electoral system is the minimum 3% of votes needed in order for a party to enter the greek Parliament. The party with the most votes will be able to form a government depending on the percentage of votes the four smaller parties will get in total.

If the votes won by the smaller parties constitute over 20% of the total votes cast and the difference between the first and the second major parties is less than 2,5%, the party with the most votes will not have the majority of seats needed in Parliament in order to form a government.

Nevertheless, it can form a government with a marginal majority of 151 deputies in Parliament if the total votes won by the smaller parties correspond to over 25% of the votes cast and if the major party with the most votes has a lead of 2% over the second one.

[11]GREECE'S REGISTERED VOTERS ELECT COUNTRY'S NEW PARLIAMENT ON SUNDAY

Greece's 8,862,814 registered voters will cast their ballot on Sunday's elections in the country's 17,710 electoral precincts.

The voting process will begin on Sunday morning at 6.20 and will end at 7.23 in the evening. New voters number 492,000 while exempt from voting are persons over the age of 70 years old or those who live over 200 km away from their precincts, altough they must obtain the relevant certification papers from a police station in the city where they live.

[12] ANDREAS PAPANDREOU'S SON LASHES AGAINST DIMITRA LIANI

A mere two days before the elections of September 22, the Greek press is giving ample publicity to the interview published in the "European" newspaper, in which the youngest son of the late Andreas Papadreou launched a surprise and vitriolic attack against Dimitra Liani-Papandreou, the widow of the ex-Premier and PASOK founder.

She was a woman-vulture, who took full advantage of his father in order to fulfil her ambitions, Nikos Papandreou said.

"The relationship with Dimitra ruined my father's political career and, I think, ultimately brought about his physical demise. She was a woman who wanted power and would do anything to get it. But I do not think my father was happy in his marriage, and I think he regretted it to the day he died."

He added that "many vultures show up around a powerful man and she was one of them. But she has something. Otherwise she would not be where she is. She has a certain domineering quality. When you combine that with a certain instinct, a hunger for power and a physical beauty and impose that on a man in his sixties and seventies, than you have the makings of a disaster."

Ms. Liani-Papandreou issued a stern and strong-worded response last night, lashing against her critics as being "ungrateful" towards Andreas Papandreou.

"The people who claim to have loved him attempted to describe him as a will- less tool of his wife. They have shamelessly insulted his memory.

"I only wish to remind these ungrateful persons that Andreas Papandreou has often spoken of this valuable and singular for both of us relationship," Liani wrote in her response, pointing out that Papandreou's words for his young wife were always "words of love."

[13] A UNIQUE PIECE OF JEWELLERY DEPICTING THE MOTHER OF GODS AND ANCIENT COINS WERE DISCOVERED IN THE REGION OF ANCIENT PELLA

Priceless findings, among them, a ring made of gold depicting the Mother of Gods and a number of ancient coins were discovered by archeologists conducting excavations in the archaelogical site of Pella in northern Greece.

The findings were discovered in an ancient building that had been located by archeologists a few months ago.

Meanwhile, an ancient tomb dated back to the early Roman Times was accidentally discovered in the region of Lagina near Thessaloniki.

[14] 185 ANTIQUITIES ARE BEING RETURNED TO GREECE

185 greek antiquities, which were the product of illegal excavations, will be returned to Greece after a court decision in the city of Brindisi in Italy.

Among the ancient artifacts are included earthen pots, gold and copper jewellery, pots made of copper that were found in macedonian tombs, silver coins, statuettes and marble sculptures.

The antiquities had been found by the italian police hidden in a truck and were confiscated.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[15] THE UNITED STATES ARE STRONGLY INTERESTED IN THE SOLUTION OF THE CYPRUS PROBLEM

US Ambassador to Cyprus, Kenneth Bril expressed his country's strong interest in the solution of the Cyprus problem during his meeting this morning with Cypriot President, Glafkos Kliridis. The US diplomat reviewed the latest developments in view of the cypriot President's visit to Washington next week.

In statements he made after the meeting, mr.Bril avoided to mention when the US initiative is expected to be undertaken, while he stressed that his country works hard toward finding a solution to the Cyprus problem and will continue to do so.

The US ambassador also avoided to comment on the Euro-Paliament resolution condemning Turkey maintaining that his country is not an European Union member and for this reason can not comment on decisions taken by EU institutions.

[16] THE T-80 ARMOURED TANKS WILL ARRIVE IN CYPRUS ON A RUSSIAN VESSEL, REVEALED THE CYPRIOT FOREIGN MINISTER

Cypriot Foreign Minister, Alekos Michailidis revealed that the T-80 armoured tanks purchased from Russia will arrive in Cyprus on a russian vessel.

He also stated that after the information, according to which, the turks were planning air strikes against the vessel, it was decided in agreement with the russian Embassy in Nicosia that the russian flag should be raised on the ship.

Meanwhile, the Cypriot National Guard was mobilized after the arrival of a turkish tank landing ship in the port of Famagusta. As it was made known, the ship was carrying military vehicles for the turkish occupation forces and weapons systems spare parts.

[17] THE FAMILY OF SOLOMOS SOLOMOU OFFERED 30 THOUSAND CYPRIOT POUNDS FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE ISLAND'S DEFENCE

The family of Solomos Solomou offered 30.000 Cypriot pounds to the cypriot government to be used for the improvement of the island's defence.

The money had been sent to the family by New Democracy leader, Miltiadis Evert.

The father of the greek-cypriot, who was killed in cold blood by the turks in Derynia, visited alternate Minister of Defence, Christodoulos Christodoulou and gave him the check stating that his family decided to offer the money to honour the memory of his son.

[18] BULGARIA KEENLY INTERESTED IN GREECE'S IMMINENT ELECTIONS

Bulgaria appears highly interested in Greece's upcoming elections, to be held Sunday, September 22, as various reports have been published in the bulgarian press, all with a common question in mind: what effect will the election outcome bear on Greek-Bulgarian relations?

Reading data from recent polls published by the Greek media, the bulgarian journalists are guardedly speculating that the ruling PASOK party will have the lead on Sunday, albeit taking into consideration the high number of Greek voters who claim "undecided."

[19] GREEK BUSINESS DELEGATION TO VISIT INDIA NEXT MONTH

The National Economy Ministry will organize a business mission to India in October.

The delegation will be in Bombay on October 7-8 and will travel to New Delhi on October 9 to 11.

[20] BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA: MILOSEVIC, IZETBEGOBIC WILL MEET IN PARIS IN OCTOBER

The French Foreign Ministry formally announced today that the President of Serbia Slobodan Milosevic and the President of Bosnia-Herzegovina Alijia Izetbegobic will meet in Paris in October, to discuss the mutual recognition of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Bosnia-Herzegovina and to stabilize the relations between the two countries.

The agreement to hold the meeting evolved after an initiative taken by United States ex-assistant secretary of state Richard Holbrooke who last week met with each president, in Sarajevo and Belgrade.

Meanwhile, Bosnia-Herzegovina's Serb and Croat citizens are opposed to the decision taken by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) according to which Mr. Izetbegobic will be the President of the country's collective three-member Presidium.

Yesterday, Momcilo Kraijnic President of the Serb sector, stated that the two- year appointment is contrary to the Dayton Agreement, which provides for a three- member, rotating presidium, whose leadership will be changed at regular time intervals during its four-year term. This was designed as such in order to give an equal opportunity to each of the three members to head the presidium.

[21] NINE BODIES OF TORTURE VICTIMS WERE DISCOVERED IN THE REGION OF DIYARBAKIR IN TURKEY

Nine bodies, one of which belonged to a woman, were discovered in the region of Diyarbakir in Turkey.

The victims had disappeared a month ago from cities in the region, and according to press information, they had been shot after being tortured. Of the nine bodies only three were identified as they were the only ones that were not completely burned.

Representatives of Human Rights Organizations in Diyarbakir stated that the victims had been forcefully taken from their homes by members of the anti-terrorist police, while according to press information, they were supporters of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, PKK.

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/