MPA NEWS IN ENGLISH (30/09/1996)

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

Macedonian Press Agency News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, September 30, 1996

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] THE GREEK GOVERNMENT WILL TAKE ALL THE DIPLOMATIC STEPS TO EXPRESS ITS DISCONTENT, STATED THE GREEK GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN

The greek government will take all the diplomatic steps to express its discontent and to demand from the turkish government to condemn such incidents that not only do not contribute to but on the contrary, undermine the pre-conditions that must be created for an understanding between the two countries. The above statement was made by greek government spokesman, Dimitris Reppas on the occasion of the bomb attack against the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinople early this morning.

Mr.Reppas underlined that the organization that claimed responsibility for the attack is an islamist extreme-right organization and the motives for its actions are ideological, nationalist and anti-Greek. He also said that the greek government will request the turkish government to hold an investigation on the terrorist attack.

Mr.Reppas also estimated that this action is condemned not only by Greece but by circles in Turkey as well, which see in such actions or initiatives the factors of distabilization in Turkey's effort for a rapprochement with the West.

[02] PRIME MINISTER TO TRAVEL TO CYPRUS ON TUESDAY FOR A TWO-DAY VISIT

Prime Minister Kostas Simitis will depart for a two-day visit to Cyprus tomorrow, accompanied by Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos.

The Premier will meet with various Cypriot political leaders and is expected to discuss the establishment of a common strategy between Athens-Nicosia in regards to turkish aggression, as well as examine the various initiatives currently under development for resolving the cypriot issue.

On Wednesday the Premier will attend the Cypriot Independence Day military parade and will be decorated with a high distinction by Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides.

In the evening, Mr. Simitis will be pronounced honorary citizen of Nicosia and will be granted the city's golden key. The University of Cyprus will also bestow upon the Greek Prime Minister the doctorate title.

This visit will mark Mr. Simitis' first official travel to another country since he took office in the current government.

[03] THE PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT TO CYPRUS IS INCLUDED IN THE GOVERNMENT'S EFFORT TO SHOW THAT THE CYPRUS ISSUE IS A TOP NATIONAL PRIORITY, SAID MR.REPPAS

Greek government spokesman, Dimitris Reppas stated that the visit of Prime Minister, Kostas Simitis to Cyprus is included in the effort to show that the Cyprus problem is a top national priority.

Responding to the question on whether Greece will participate in the military exercise "Nikiforos", which begins in Cyprus on Friday, mr.Reppas stated that Greece is interested in this military exercise within the framework of the joint defence doctrine and examines ways for its participation.

[04] PREMIER HOLDS MEETING TO DISCUSS GOVERNMENT'S OUTLOOK, BUDGET

Prime Minister and PASOK President Kostas Simitis presided over a meeting this evening with select Cabinet members with whom he discussed the annual budget execution and the prospect of cutting down on tax exemptions.

Among those present at the meeting were the Minister of Public Administration and Decentralization Alekos Papadopoulos, Minister of National Economy and Finance Yiannos Papantoniou, and Minister of Development Vasso Papandreou.

The team also examined ways to increase revenue without introducing new taxes and the country's absorption rates of European Union funds.

[05] NEW DEMOCRACY'S HONORARY PRESIDENT SPEAKS ON PARTY'S FUTURE

New Democracy's honorary president and ex-premier Konstantinos Mitsotakis stated this eveing that if the country's main opposition elects a new president it will turn a new page in its history.

"New Democracy," Mr. Mitsotakis stated, "must remain a big, spacious party and is in need of various points of view."

He added that New Democracy has a historic responsibility to provide solutions to dead ends and, referring to ruling party PASOK, added that since Greece currently has a weak government, it must gain a strong and responsible Opposition.

Ever since it suffered a three-point loss in last Sunday's elections, New Democracy found itself the midst of a leadership battle after its latest leader, Miltiades Evert conceded defeat and resigned, only to re-submit his candidacy for leadership late on Saturday night.

Prompted by Mr. Evert's reappearance, the two main contenders for the party's top seat, Dora Bacoyianni, Mr. Mitsotakis's daughter, and George Souflias, a leading member of N.D., have united their fronts. Ms. Bacoyianni withdrew her candidacy and vowed support to Mr. Souflias who will be Mr. Evert's main rival for the party's leadership.

[06] CONSULTATIONS CONTINUE IN NEW DEMOCRACY FOR THE ELECTION OF NEW PARTY PRESIDENT

Three of New Democracy's leading members, Giorgos Souflias, Stephanos Manos and Dora Bakoyianni met today in order to discuss the stance they will adopt in view of the elections for new party president, a post contested by two candidates former president, Miltiadis Evert and Giorgos Souflias.

In the meeting they agreed that mr.Souflias will lead the party to the next general elections whenever they take place, while they also decided to coordinate their actions as the elections for the new party leader are expected to be held possibly on Friday.

Meanwhile, in an interview to an Athens daily, mr.Stephanos Manos stressed that mr.Evert's return to the party leadership will mark the beginning of catastrophic developments in New Democracy and underlined that in case mr.Souflias is not elected to the post other prospects will be examined, including the founding of a new political party.

Based on the opinion poll conducted by "Mattel" polling company, 89,4% of New Democracy's supporters believes that the frequent changes in leadership have hurt the party, while 20,2% of those questioned responded that the right person to lead New Democracy is mr.Evert.

Former party spokesman, mr.Viron Polidoras stated that all the candidatures must by withdrawn suggesting that the party should be led to a congress by a transitional president, adding that the new party leader should be elected in that party congress.

Mr.Polidoras stated that New Democracy demands respect and does not belong to individuals, while he accused all those who submitted candidatures of not caring for the party and announced that in the procedure for the election of new party leader he will cast a blank vote.

Government spokesman, Dimitris Reppas stated that the election of New Democracy President is a matter concerning the party, adding that political parties do not exist for themselves but in order to offer their services to the country. The government spokesman also wished that the crisis in New Democracy will not become a major issue for the greek society.

[07] THE MINISTERS OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND AGRICULTURE WERE SWORN IN TODAY

The Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Theodoros Pangalos and Agriculture, Stephanos Tzoumakas were sworn in today before President of the Republic, Kostis Stephanopoulos and Prime Minister, Kostas Simitis.

The ceremony was held today because both of them were abroad when the new government was sworn-in.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[08] ISLAMIST ORGANIZATION CLAIMS THE EXPLOSION AT ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE

The organization Islamist Front of Fighters of the Great East (IBDA-C) has claimed responsibility for the explosion that occured yesterday night at the Ecumenical Patriarchate in the Phanar.

No victims were reported although damages were noted at the Patriarchate's roof and the monk cells located nearby. Turkish police along with the greek consulate authorities conducted investigations this morning and the Greek Consul-General in Constantinople F. Xudas told the Macedonian Press Agency that the explosion was caused by a hand grenade that must have been thrown by passers-by from the street.

According to the turkish news agency Anadolu, the IBDA-C is an armed islamist organization that has claimed responsibility in the past for other church bombings and explosions in restaurants that serve alchoholic beverages.

[09] FYROM: GLIGOROV SAYS TALKS WITH GREECE WILL CONTINUE IN OCTOBER

The President of FYROM Kiro Gligorov announced today that talks between his country and Greece will continue at the end of October in New York although he added that he does not await an "expedient solution to the pending issues" between the two countries, primarily regarding the use of the name "Macedonia" by Skopje.

Mr. Gligorov stated that the talks between Athens and Skopje were interrupted in the spring due to Greece's parliamentary elections and added that "time is needed in order to appease the nationalist passions in Greece and hear (FYROM's) arguments, which proposes that it exercises its name in the United Nations allowing Greece to use another name that suits her."

The President of FYROM also said that his country and Greece are closely connected neighbors who have common economic interests, adding that the majority of his fellowmen hold the same religion with Greece, the Orthodox.

[10] U.S. AMBASSADOR TO U.N.: CYPRUS IS ILLEGALLY OCCUPIED BY TURKISH FORCES

The United States Ambassador to the United Nations Madeleine Allbright emphasized yesterday that the division of Cyprus must end and said that the turkish armed forces are illegally occupying a section of Cyprus, thereby marking the first time that Washington has openly made such statement.

Addressing the Cypriot Federation of the United States in New York last night, Ms. Allbright also commended the stance adopted by the Greek and Cypriot governments and reiterated U.S. President Bill Clinton's commitment to contribute to finding a peaceful resolve of the greek-turkish differences and the cypriot issue.

Ms. Albright also met with Cypriot Resident Glafkos Clerides in New York and assured him that a significant initiative for Cyprus will be undertaken by the American Government following November's presidential elections in the U.S.

Mr. Clerides pointed out that in order to achieve a solution, Turkey must shift its known positions and express political will.

[11] GREEK EUROPARLIAMENTARIAN ASKS EU TO CLARIFY ITS STANCE ON TURKEY

PASOK europarliamentarian Yiannis Roumpatis has expressed his concern to the European Commission and the Ministerial Council in regards to Turkey's continued unwillingness to respond to the Ministerial Council's statement, according to which Ankara was called upon to accept a series of basic principles on greco- turkish relations and on Cyprus.

Mr. Roumpatis maintains that the European Union must clarify the degree to which Turkey's behavior constitutes indifference towards the EU's authority, as well as to how it plans to react to Turkey's further refusal to respond positively on the specific issue.

[12] GREEK EURO- MP ASKS EUROPEAN COMMISSION TO PROTECT PATRIARCHATE

PASOK europarliamentarian Yiannis Roumpatis has forwarded letters to the Ministerial Council and the European Commission through which he requests their immediate response in regards to last night's bombing of the Patriarchate in Constantinople.

Specifically, Mr. Roumpatis asks if these two institutions intend to expresss their protest of the bombing to the Turkish authorities, if they consider the attack to be a chance event and if they intend to request tightening protection measures for the Patriarchate, whose status is explicitly protected by international accords.

In his letter, Mr. Roumpatis also points out that last night's bombing marked the second attack by an islamist organization in a short time period and emphasizes the flagrant indifference displayed by the turkish authorities in regards to taking the necessary protection measures for the Patriarchate.

The organization Islamist Front of Fighters of the Great East (IBDA-C) has claimed responsibility for last night's explosion.

According to the turkish news agency Anadolu, the IBDA-C is an armed islamist organization that has claimed responsibility in the past for other church bombings and explosions in restaurants that serve alchoholic beverages.

[13] EUROPEAN MEDICAL STUDENTS ASSOCIATION TO HOLD CONFERENCE IN CRETE

The European Medical Students Association will hold its sixth general conference in Heraklion, Crete on Wednesday.

The Association, which has 200 members from over 50 universitites in 24 European countries, will address issues concerning those who are about to enter the medical profession such as unemployment, specialized training, medical care provision to former eastern bloc countries, etc.

Other countries represented at the conference include Australia, Belgium, Britain, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, FYROM, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, the Ukraine and the United States.

[14] BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA:THE THREE LEADERS MEET IN SARAJEVO, CARL BILDT SALUTES THEM

Bosnia-Herzegovina's collective tripartite presidium held its first meeting in Sarajevo today and was deemed as an "encouraging fact for the future" by the international community's mediator for Bosnia, Carl Bildt.

Mr. Bildt congratulated the Serb, Croat and Muslim leaders who comprise the country's rotating presidium and advised them that in order for the presidium's role to work, the leading member must be appointed before the end of October. Also, Mr. Bildt stated that Bosnia-Herzegovina's parliament should convene within the following ten days.

The three Presidents, Alijia Izetbegobic, a Muslim, Serb Momcilo Kraijnic and Croat Krezimir Zubac, met today under heavy security provided by IFOR soldiers and Bosnian police.

[15] JOURNALISTS' CONFERENCE ON THE ROLE OF MASS MEDIA IN THE GREEK-TURKISH RELATIONS WILL BE HELD IN CONSTANTINOPLE IN OCTOBER

A Journalists' Conference on "The role of mass media in the greek-turkish relations" will be held in Constantinople on October 23-25. In the conference, which is organized by the turkish branch of the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Institute, will participate representatives of mass media and also officials from Germany, Greece and Turkey.

The participants are scheduled to visit Ecumenical Patriarch, Vartholomeos who is expected to send a greetings message to the conference.

[16] BRITISH BANKERS ASSOCIATION TO MEMBERS: BE WARY OF TRADE WITH TURKEY

The British Bankers Association has forwarded letters to its members recommending that they be very careful in their trade with Turkey, pointing to its soaring money laundering business.

In the letter, the Bankers Association reminds its members that Turkey's relevant legislation is neither in line with the british nor with the recommendations issued to Turkey by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), which points out that despite its efforts to guide Turkey in this direction, no effective legislation has been enforced by Ankara so far.

London's financiers assess that the Association's recommendation will have a negative impact on Turkey's international trade.

[17] GERMANY'S HIGH COURT TELLS ITS ALBANIAN POLITICAL REFUGEES TO GO HOME

Germany's Administrative Court has ruled that the Albanian political refugees who were granted asylum during their country's communist regime no longer have a reason to be away from home and, as such, should return to their country.

The decision affects over 3,000 Albanians who in 1990, during the Ramiz Alia regime, sought asylum in various western European countries where they continue to live.

[18] EXHIBITS ON MACEDONIA AND ALEXANDER THE GREAT TO OPEN IN FLORIDA

An exhibit titled "Macedonians, the northern Greeks - Alexander the Great: Legend and History" constitutes a great opportunity for Greece and Greeks to prove the hellenic identity of Macedonia, according to the director of History of St. Petersburg's International Museum Robert Bianchi.

The exhibit, to open tomorrow in Florida, comprises two units. The first, "Macedonians, the Northern Greeks, was sponsored by the Greek Ministry of Culture and includes findings from over 20 greek museums. The second, "Alexander the Great, Legend and History", includes about 500 findings collected from 45 museums and private collections throughout the world and was sponsored by the italian organization "Fontazione di Memo" in Rome.

Festivities promoting the exhibit began on September 28 and featured the participation of the Panhellenic Federation of Florida Associations, the local Macedonian Association, the Cultural Center Prometheus, and others. Thousands of persons enjoyed greek music and dances and were presented with a publication on the history of Macedonia, Greece and Alexander the Great.

The Saint Petersburg Times daily featured a 20-page special edition on the hiostory of Alexander the Great on its September 27 issue.

The Museum's General Director James Brookton spoke to the Macedonian Press Agency and stated that after the closing of the museum's porevious exhibit on Egypt he considered changing professions, but "after seeing the people who came to the Festival and the Americans' interest on Alexander the Great I decided to stay."

The exhibit will be open until March 31.

[19] THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT REFUSED TO MEET WITH THE GENERAL SECRETARY OF AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL

No member of the turkish government agreed to meet with General Secretary of Amnesty International, Pierre Sone.

According to the turkish newspaper "Hurriyet", Prime Minister Erbakan, the Justice Minister and the Minister of the Interior refused to meet with the representative of Amnesty International, which tomorrow launches a worldwide campaign on the human rights situation in Turkey.

Mr.Sone was able to meet only with Republican Popular party leader, mr.Baykal and Parliament deputy, mr.Zengin.

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