MPA NEWS IN ENGLISH (96/10/02)

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

Macedonian Press Agency News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, October 2, 1996

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] GREECE AND CYPRUS SIDE BY SIDE, GREEK PREMIER RETURNS TO ATHENS TONIGHT

Greek Prime Minister departed from Nicosia for Athens tonight, wrapping up a two-day official visit to Cyprus that coincided with the island's 36th anniversary of its Independence Day.

During their meetings, the Greek Premier and the Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides discussed the diplomatic initiative expected to be taken on Cyprus, either by the United States or the European Union, or from both.

In summary, Mr. Simitis reiterated the need to reach a solution to the Cyprus problem by shifting Ankara's intransigent positions and by pushing the international community to pressure Turkey in conforming with international laws.

Moreover, Greece and Cyprus will seek to strengthen the joint defense agreement aimed at deterring threats from Turkey, according to Mr. Simitis, who stated that "the close cooperation among all those involved is needed in order to achieve the desired solutions."

In turn, the Cypriot President bid farewell to the Greek Premier and stated that today's discussions among the greek and cypriot governmental delegations proved that there is bilateral understanding concerning the future moves to be made in solving the cypriot issue and characterized Mr. Simitis' visit to Cyprus as "especially constructive."

[02] CYPRIOT AND GREEK DELEGATIONS PROCEED TO A COMMON STATEMENT

The Cypriot issue is at a critical stage and in need of careful handling, according to the common statement issued today by the Greek and Cypriot government delegations.

According to the statement, attention must be awarded to finding a peaceful solution based on the United Nations resolutions, while the international community's initiatives are also being supported as they strengthen the UN efforts, although the two bodies must coordinate their actions.

As such, the statement reads, a peaceful solution must be sought based on the UN decisions and the Summit Agreements of 1977 and 1979, as well as the support of the services provided by the UN Secretary-General.

Moreover, the statement recognizes the significance of the defense cooperation between Greece and Cyprus, within the framework of the Joint Defense Doctrine between the two countries. Also, the statement clearly states that a further invasion by Turkey into Cyprus will constitute a cause of war.

On Cyprus' accession to the European Union, the statement illustrates the significant progress noted up to date, in light of the accession negotiations that are scheduled to start six months following the intergovernmental conference, as well as the need to intensify the common efforts in achieving such accession within a short time period.

On the missing persons issue, the statement reads that the subject will be closely followed and the necessary actions will be taken towards the UN.

Lastly, the common statement emphasizes that the contacts between Greece and Cyprus were carried out in an exemplary climate and have re-confirmed the cooperation that already exists between the two countries on all areas.

[03] THE GREEK PRIME MINISTER BECAME HONORARY CITIZEN OF NICOSIA

Greek Prime Minister, Kostas Simitis received the freedom of the city of Nicosia in a ceremony during which the city's mayor, Lellos Dimitriadis gave him the golden key of the cypriot capital.

Mr.Simitis in his speech stressed that this is an honour for him and for the greek people, saying characteristically that he will use that key in order to help in the opening of new horizons for the future of Cyprus.

Later, the University of Cyprus honoured the greek Prime Minister who became professor emeritus in the Department of Economics and Administration.

In his acceptance speech, Prime Minister Simitis described the basic axes of the greek foreign policy that aim at making Greece diplomatically, economically and politically strong in order to face the escalating turkish aggression.

Early in the afternoon, Prime Minister Simitis and President Kliridis will make statements at Larnaca Airport before mr.Simitis' departure for Athens.

[04] GREECE WILL NOT CONSENT TO THE EU FUNDS FOR TURKEY IF THERE IS NO POSITIVE TURKISH RESPONSE TO THE EU INVITATION, STATED MR.PAPANDREOU

Greek deputy Foreign Minister, Giorgos Papandreou reiterated in the EU General Affairs Council meeting in Luxemburg Greece's firm position that it will not consent to the funds for Turkey for as long as there is no positive turkish response to the European Union invitation calling this country to contribute with its behaviour to the solution of the tensions between Greece and Turkey.

The EU Foreign Ministers were briefed by Irish Foreign Minister, Dick Spring and EU Commissioner on Foreign Affairs, Hans Van Den Broek on the contacts they had with turkish Foreign Minister, Tansu Ciller on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting in New York.

Mr.Spring stressed to his counterparts that the talks he had with ms.Ciller did not give the expected results and that Ankara continues to reject the EU mediation for the solution of the disputes with Greece. Ankara rejects the joint statement adopted last June by the "15" in which they mention categorically that Ankara must bring its case to the International Court of Justice in The Hague if it continues to persist in disputing the greek sovereignty over the Aegean islets of Imia. The statement also calls on Turkey to respect international law and avoid resorting to violence or the threat of violence in its disputes with Greece.

Mr.Van Den Broek, who also had met with ms.Ciller, has reached the same conclusions.

Mr.Papandreou called for the forming of a joint european strategy toward Turkey in order to be forced to accept international law and the need for the respect of borders and human rights.

[05] FEVERISH NEGOTIATIONS AT MAIN OPPOSITION FOR ELECTION OF NEW LEADER

Negotiations are continuing at a feverish rate in Greece's main opposition party New Democracy for the election of its new leader but inter-party polarization is intensifying following the election of the 76 electors who will vote on Friday along with the 117 party deputies.

The two contenders for the seat are the previous party leader Miltiades Evert, who resigned after his defeat in last month's general elections, and former minister George Souflias who is backed by Dora Bakoyiani and Stephanos Manos, both high-ranking party members.

Whoever gets the coveted seat, will be a temporary top man since in April the party's congress will make a definite decision on its leader.

[06] GREEK TELECOMMUNICATION ORGANIZATION OFFERS A THREE-MONTH FREEBIE

The Greek Telecommunication Organization (OTE) has announced that it will offer its customers free teleconferencing services between Athens and Thessaloniki for three months effective today.

According to OTE officials, this service will be available in both cities at OTE's offices, allowing users to communicate with sound and image to throughout the world.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[07] BULGARIA'S FORMER PREMIER LUKANOV ASSASSINATED THIS MORNING IN SOFIA

Andrei Lukanov, Bulgaria's former Premier and a leading member of the Bulgarian Socialist Party, was assassinated today at 9 a.m. outside his home in Sofia.

Lukanov, 58 years old, had served twice as the country's Prime Minister and lately was involved in the private sector.

According to the Bulgarian state-owned radio, Lukanov's neighbors heard two gunshots at the time when the ex-Premier was exiting his house.

Bulgarian police have not issued any information on the incident so far, while heading the investigation is the Bulgarian Minister of the Interior Nicholai Dobrev.

[08] BULGARIAN PARLIAMENT MOURNS FORMER PREMIER LUKANOV, CONDEMNS KILLING

It was a "barbaric terrorist act" that took the life of Bulgaria's former twice-Premier Andrei Lukanov, according to a communique issued by the Bulgarian Parliament this evening, following an emergency conference.

While the Bulgarian Parliament's communique denounces the assassination of the former leader, it clearly states that the country's scheduled elections of October 27 will be held as planned.

"We will not allow this terrorist act to drive Bulgaria into an enforced emergency-state situation," the announcement reads.

Bulgarian Justice Minister Mladen Cervenjakov also characterized Mr. Lukanov's assassination as a severe blow to Bulgaria's passage to democracy but noted that it is still early to assess whether or not the incident will bear an effect on the imminent elections.

"These presidential elections began quite strangely and are developing quite strangely," Mr. Cervenjakov said, "but, nevertheless, I do not believe that they will be postponed."

[09] EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT CONDEMNS LUKANOV'S ASSASSINATION

The European Union and the European Parliament have jointly denounced today's assasssination of Bulgaria's former prime minister Andrei Lukanov who was fatally shot this morning outside his home.

From Brusells, the President of the EU-Bulgaria Combined Parliamentary Committee Nikos Papakyriazis stated that the "murder of Andrei Lukanov, a prominent political figure, constitutes a serious threat of potential instability in Bulgaria, in light of the crisis the country is currently undergoing and during a heightened pre-election period."

Also, on behalf of the European Parliament, Mr. Papakyriazis has forwarded condolences to the Bulgarian Parliament wherein he expresses the hope that this act will in no way endanger Bulgaria's democratic stability, as well as its course towards the European Union.

[10] CYPRIOT PRESIDENT CLERIDES WELCOMES GREEK PREMIER'S POLICY ON CYPRUS

The granting of the Grand Cross is the smallest honor the Cypriot Hellenism can bestow upon the Prime Minister of Greece Kostas Simitis for all that he has offered and for his honest and intense interest that he displays for Cyprus, not merely as the Premier of one of the Cypriot Republic's guarrantors, but mostly as a Greek brother.

With these moving words, the President of the Republic of Cyprus Glafkos Clerides decorated Premier Simitis with the Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios the 3rd, during a formal ceremony this morning at the presidential mansion.

Mr. Clerides aso referred extensively to Mr. Simitis's decision to strenghten the Joint Defense Doctrine beteeen Greece and Cyprus and to his vow that any effort by the turkish occupation armed forces to enter Cyprus will constitute a cause of war between Greece and Turkey.

"Your national policy on the Cypriot issue brings relief and satisfaction to the Cypriot Hellenism and strengthens our fight for physical and national survival on our ancestors' soil and substantially aids in the search, through peaceful means, of a solution to the Cyprus problem, a solution that is fair, viable and functional," stated Mr. Clerides.

In turn, Mr. Simitis assured the Cypriot people that "the Mother country and the Greek nation does not forget that we stand by your side, bound by a pledge of honor until the final justice."

Moreover, Mr. Simitis assured the Cypriots that the Greek nation will stand by the Cypriot-Greeks until the withdrawal of the invader and the restoration of the independent Repubic of Cyprus, "until the day that all Cypriots, independently of origin, language or religion will be able to live free in a country that prospers, an equal member of the large european family."

The Greek Premier stated that he is honored to be given the Grand Cross by Cyprus and emphasized that an unbreakable unity characterizes the relations between Greece and Cyprus.

Following the ceremony, the Greek delegation accompanying the Premier on his travel met with the corresponding Cypriot delegation and discussions are expected to continue until this afternoon when the Mayor of Nicosia will bestow upon the Premier the city's golden key and will proclaim him an honorary citizen of the Cypriot capital.

Later this afternoon, the University of Cyprus will award the Greek Premier with an honorary Doctor's degree in the School of Economic Sciences and Administration.

Early this evening, Mr. Simitis and Mr. Clerides will give a press conference at the Larnaca airport where the Premier will depart for Athens.

[11] DICK SPRING SAYS CILLER'S STATEMENTS ON TURKEY-EU ARE NOT SATISFACTORY

The Irish President of the European Union's Council of General Affairs, Dick Spring has characterized as "unsatisfactory" the response of Turkey's Foreign Minister Tansu Ciller to the common statement issued by the European Union on the principles that must be observed in the relations between Turkey and the EU.

Mr. Spring has stated that his meeting with Ms. Ciller in New York did not bear the expected results. Similar was the response of the European Commissioner Hans van der Broek, although certain of the ministers who addressed yesterday's General Affairs Council in Luxemburg emphasized the significance of developing economic relations between the EU and Ankara.

Greece's alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou emhasized that Greece, too, wishes for the development of good relations with Turkey but only under the clear condition that Ankara will respect the principles of international law and good neighboring.

[12] STATE DEPARTMENT DENOUNCES BOMBING OF ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE

In unisom, the United States denounced today the bombing that occured at the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinople on September 29, as the State Department and the US Congress have publicly condemned the event.

White House spokesperson Nicholas Burns stated that the Clinton Administration intensely denounces this violent act and is in close contact with both the Patriarchate and the Turkish government.

The U.S. Congress has asked for the due punishment of the perpetrators and has requested that increased security be provided to the Patriarchate, which it characterizes as "Orthodoxy's center for over 300 million faithful around the world, among whom three million are in the United States."

The organization Great Eastern Islamic Raiders Front (IBDA-C) has claimed responsibility for Sunday night's explosion that was caused by a hand grenade thrown in from the street. There were no victims in the attack.

[13] THE UN SECRETARY GENERAL AND THE RUSSIAN PRESIDENT SENT TELEGRAMS TO THE CYPRIOT PRESIDENT ON THE OCCASION OF THE ISLAND'S INDEPENDENCE DAY

UN Secretary General, Boutros Ghali sent a congratulatory message to Cypriot President, Glafkos Kliridis on the occasion of the anniversary of the cypriot Independence.

Mr.Ghali pointed out in his telegram that Cyprus' commitment and that of other UN members, to the principles and the spirit of the UN charter, which was confirmed so strongly by the world leaders in the UN General Assembly meeting, will strengthen the international organization's effectiveness as an instrument for the preservation of world peace and the promotion of democracy, justice and prosperity.

Meanwhile, Russian President, Boris Yeltsin in his congratulatory telegram to Cypriot President, Glafkos Kliridis stresses that the traditionally friendly relations between the two countries will continue to improve steadily for the safeguarding of security in Europe and the Middle East.

Also, congratulatory messages were sent to the cypriot President by Palestinian President, Yasser Arafat and by Kuwait's Emir, Al Sabah.

[14] AN APPEAL FOR THE ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE'S MORE EFFECTIVE PROTECTION WAS MADE BY ONE OF THE CO-FOUNDERS OF THE IPEKCI PRIZE

An appeal for the Ecumenical Patriarchate's more effective protection from terrorist attacks was made by Andreas Politakis, one of the co-founders of the Ipekci Prize in a letter sent to Turkey's President, Prime Minister and Foreign Minister.

According to a statement by the prize's Secretariat in Athens, mr.Politakis in his letter points out that it is inconceivable that this hieratical institute is being threatened today and underlines that its existence primarily benefits Turkey as it constitutes the most persuasive proof of the turkish people's and the turkish government's religious tolerance.

[15] LIVING CONDITIONS IN THE TURKISH PRISONS ARE WORSENING - 495 INMATES DIED IN THE PAST 16 YEARS, 31 IN 1996

The living conditions in the turkish prisons are worsening as 495 inmates died in the past 16 years, 31 of them in 1996. Based on that data, there is an obvious increase in their numbers compared to the period of 1968-80 when only 20 turkish inmates had died in turkish prisons. Those facts were presented in a television report within the framework of Mehmet Ali Birad's TV programme "The 32d Day".

During 1996, 4 inmates were killed in riots that took place in Boutza Prison, 4 in Umraniye and 11 in Diyarbakir last week. Twelve inmates died while on hunger strike and the duration of the 4 different hunger strikes in 1996 was over 115 days.

According to the television report, for the incidents in the turkish prisons were blamed those who had been killed during the riots. They were prosecuted in court but their cases were never tried as they were all dead.

The inmates today are protesting against the beatings and the tortures they are subjected to as 200 of the 495, who died in the past 16 years, have lost their lives due to maltreatment.

Currently, there are 45.000 inmates held in turkish prisons and 9.000 of them are political prisoners. The inmates do not receive enough food and are not allowed to read newspapers or magazines, especially those who are political prisoners. In Turkey there are 561 prisons and in 80% of them there are not enough doctors or medical personnel.

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