MPA NEWS IN ENGLISH (96-10-09)

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

Macedonian Press Agency News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, October 9, 1996

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] PRESIDENT OF GREECE: UNITED STATES SHOULD INTERVENE IN FYROM NAME ISSUE

Greek President Kostis Stephanopoulos stated today that the United States should intervene in the name issue pending between Greece and FYROM.

When asked by the Macedonian Press Agency if he is optimistic that FYROM will proceed to carry out the intermediate agreement on the name issue, President Stephanopoulos stated "I am neither optimistic, nor pessimistic."

"A agreement was signed and both sides have an obligation to uphold it," he explained.

"I am waiting for FYROM to accept this obligation, because up to now FYROM's policy looks more like a denial than an obligation. Perhaps the United States, under whose auspice the agreement was signed, should remind both sides the obligation they undertook," Mr. President opined, adding that Greece has fulfilled all of the agreement's terms.

[02] PRESIDENT OF GREECE WELCOMED BY FINLAND'S PRESIDENT AT FORMAL DINNER

President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos, currently on a three-day official visit to Finland, attended a formal dinner last night given in his honor by Finland's President Maarti Ahtisari.

Mr. Stephanopoulos is the first Greek President to visit Finland.

In his address, President Stephanopoulos outlined Greece's foreign policy concerning Europe and the Balkans and referred to the country's relations with its neighbors, making specific mention of FYROM and Turkey.

In turn, President Ahtisari emphasized the need to resolve the Cyprus problem and alligned himself in favor of embarking on negotiations for Cyprus's accession to the European Union six months after the Intergovernmental Conference.

Mr. Ahtisari stated that Cyprus' division has lasted for too many years and, as such, negotiations for Cyprus's accession constitute an additional reason to reach a solution to the problem.

Mr. Stephanopoulos referred to the developments in the EU and emphasized that the Europe envisioned must be a Europe of the citizens, development and democracy, a Europe of fairness, open to the world and able to uphold the security of its people and the independence of the member states.

The Greek President added that the issue of european security and stability must be addressed in an indivisible and spherical manner, in order to grant its members the guarrantees of International Law, The United Nations Map, the Helsinki Final Act, and other relevant international accords.

"Greece wishes not only for cooperation, which afterall is bound due to the proximity, but also for true friendship with all of its neighboring countries," Mr. Stephanopoulos stated, adding that Greece has managed, after the political turbulance in the Balkans, to establish relations with Romania, Bulgaria, Albania and FYROM. He did point out that the name issue is pending between Greece and FYROM, yet, the President emphasized, Greece firmly supports the existence of this state.

Only one country remains, the President stated, and that is Turkey, a country with which Greece wishes to have honest friendship and alliance.

With this in mind, Mr. Stephanopoulos added, Greece believes in upholding International Law and is in favor of resorting to the International Court of Justice at The Hague to address issues that burden the relations between the two countries.

Today the Greek President met with Finland's Prime Minister Paavo Liponen and will visit Helsinki's City Hall.

This evening Mr. Stephanopoulos is expected to address the FYROM issue during his speech at the Paasikivi Club.

The President will remind his audience that FYROM insists on presenting itself as an heir of ancient Macedonia by taking its name, and until recently its symbols, although almost all of ancient Macedonia is located within the borders of the modern greek state.

[03] GREEK PARLIAMENT ELECTS ITS FIVE VICE-PRESIDENTS

Greece's Parliament elected its five vice-presidents this evening out of whom and, according to parliamentary regulations, three belong to the ruling PASOK party.

From PASOK the vice-presidents are, in respective order, as follows: Panayiotis Kritikos, he is re-elected, Panayiotis Sgourides and Lukas Apostolides.

From the main opposition party New Democracy Nikos Katsaros was elected and from the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Dimitris Kostopoulos.

Yesterday, the Greek Parliament re-elected Apostolos Kaklamanis as President with 154 votes. Mr. Kaklamanis' election was arrived at after a second ballot was cast, since he failed to secure the necessary 151 votes in the first round.

[04] HOPES TO DISCOVER CO-PILOT OF FALLEN TURKISH F-16 JET DIMINISH

Hopes have diminished in finding alive the second pilot of the turkish F-16 jet that crashed in the sea 15 miles southwest of the Aegean island of Chios yesterday afternoon. The rescue crews have so far discovered the pilot's helmet and other gear.

Three greek Navy helicopters and two ships located one of the two turkish pilots yesterday and transported him to a hospital in Chios. He is expected to be flown to a military base in Turkey today.

The Greek Government has expressed its condolences, while Minister of National Defense Akis Tsohatzopoulos has indirectly called on the international community to exert pressures upon Ankara to end the provocative violations of Athens' and Nicosia's FIR.

Yesterday evening, Turkey's alternate deputy Foreign Minister Inal Batu communicated by telephone with the Greek Ambassador in Ankara Demitrios Nezeritis and thanked him for the turkish pilot's rescue. Mr. Batu also stated that the unfortunate incident was an accident.

Meanwhile, Washington appears relucant to adopt a stance regarding the numerous violations of Greece's FIR, claiming that it has not received a formal announcement on the matter.

U.S. White House spokesman Nicholas Burns, refering to the jet's fall, stated that he is glad to see that there wasn't further tension created and pointed out that the turkish pilot's rescue by greek forces proves that the two countries can cooperate.

[05] PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS MET TODAY WITH THE MINISTER OF DEFENCE

Prime Minister, Kostas Simitis met with Minister of Defence, Akis Tsohatzopoulos to discuss the Ministry's proposals in view of the government's policy statements to be presented in Parliament, but mainly to examine the situation created in the Aegean and Cyprus after yesterday's crash of a turkish fighter jet off the coasts of Chios.

Mr.Tsohatzopoulos stated that the situation in the Aegean is calm and emphasized that there is absolutely no issue of a dialogue with Turkey pointing out that the humanitarian efforts for the rescue of a human being should not be misinterpreted as having political dimensions.

[06] THE CHIEF OF THE GREEK NATIONAL DEFENCE GENERAL STAFF SENT A LETTER TO HIS TURKISH COUNTERPART LAST NIGHT

Greek National Defence General Staff Chief, wing-commander Athanasios Tzoganis sent a letter to his turkish counterpart general Karadayin late last night.

In the letter, mr.Tzoganis expresses satisfaction for the rescue of one of the turkish pilots and also his regret for the crash of the turkish fighter jet.

He also states that he is ready to assist in the rescue efforts for the location of the second turkish pilot, who is still missing and expresses hope that this will be the last accident for the turkish Air Force.

[07] GREECE CAN NOT ENTER A DIALOGUE WITH TURKEY FOR AS LONG AS ANKARA VIOLATES THE GREEK SOVEREIGN RIGHTS, STATED THE GREEK PRESIDENT

Greek President, Kostis Stephanopoulos visited today the greek embassy in Helsinki within the framework of his three-day formal visit to Finland.

Commenting on the turkish fighter jet crash in the Aegean he mentioned that Ankara thanked Greece for the rescue of its pilot and for all the efforts made.

On the same issue, greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos, who is also in Finland, stated that the turkish violations of greek air space over the Aegean constitute practiced policy of Turkey which Greece condemns. Mr.Pangalos stated that Greece has adopted a calm stance and those violations will stop only if Turkey stops making them.

Responding to a question by MPA, if during his meeting with the Finn President the issue of direct dialogue between Greece and Turkey had been raised, mr.Stephanopoulos mentioned that he explained to his counterpart that Greece supports the dialogue but is impossible to enter one with Turkey when Ankara wants to hurt the greek sovereign rights.

The greek President added that all the democratic states must display solidarity by using their influence in order to be resolved the problem concerning the implementation of International Law and the reference of disputes to the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

After his meeting with Finn Prime Minister mr.Liponen mr.Stephanopoulos stated that they discussed the issues of Cyprus and the Aegean.

Regarding the trade transactions between the two countries mr.Stephanopoulos stated that there are problems due to geographic distance, adding that Finland is a economically developed country in spite of the fact that its unemployment rate is at 18%. He said that Finland meets the Maastricht criteria and will participate in the first phase of the monetary and economic union.

[08] THERE IS NO ISSUE OF A DIALOGUE WITH TURKEY, STATED THE GREEK GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN

Greek government spokesman, Dimitris Reppas referring to the situation created after the turkish F-16 crash, off the coasts of the Aegean island of Chios, stated that there is no issue of a dialogue with Turkey.

Mr.Reppas said that in order to have peace in the region the neighbouring states should respect International Law. He also clarified that the turkish fighter jet flew in the air space controlled by the Athens FIR and therefore, the turks have all the responsibility for this sad incident.

Meanwhile, the rescued turkish pilot was flown this afternoon to Cilli in Ismir on board a greek Air Force C-130 transport plane.

[09] THE GREEK PRESIDENT ADDRESSED THE PAASIKIVILI CLUB IN HELSINKI

Greece wants to live peacefully with all its neighbours and cooperate with them in order to exploit the region's great development potential, while it only asks for the respect of International Law and International Treaties, stressed greek President, Kostis Stephanopoulos speaking before members of the Paasikivili Club in Helsinki.

Referring to the issue with FYROM, mr.Stephanopoulos underlined that this country persists in presenting itself as the heir of Ancient Macedonia by usurping its name and until recently its symbols, in spite of the fact that almost the whole of the territory that was ancient Macedonia lies inside the borders of the modern greek state.

The greek President condemned Turkey's position which disputes the peace treaties of Lausanne and Paris and raises a series of unfounded and illegitimate claims asking in the process for a dialogue on the problems created as a result of its intention to dispute the existing international accords.

Mr.Stephanopoulos also reiterated that Greece's top priority is the fair and lasting solution of the Cyprus problem that will be achieved within the framework of the UN resolutions.

[10] MR.EVERT IS A TRANSITIONAL PARTY PRESIDENT, STATED MR.SOUFLIAS, REFUSING TO BECOME ND's PARLIAMENTARY SPOKESMAN AND POLITICAL COUNCIL MEMBER

Mr.Giorgos Souflias essentially characterized mr.Miltiadis Evert as transitional New Democracy President during their meeting this morning.

Mr.Souflias, who was defeated by mr.Evert in last Friday's vote for the election of party President, rejected the proposal made by mr.Evert to become the party's parliamentary spokesman and also refused to participate in the party's Political Council.

After the meeting, mr.Souflias stated that with his candidature for party President supported the permanent solution in the party leadership but in the end was chosen the transitional period solution and the option of the party conference in which a final solution will be reached.

He underlined that in the party conference should be genuine representation of the party members and clarified that he rejected the two positions mr.Evert offered to him because the Political Council is an advisory body and also, because he believes that the position of parliamentary spokesman should be given to an individual who will be mr.Evert's personal choice.

[11] GREEK FIGHTER JETS FLEW OVER THE PARADE OF ARMY RESERVES WHO HAD PARTICIPATED IN THE MILITARY EXERCISE "NIKIFOROS 96"

Four greek Air Force F-16s flew over the military parade of the army reserves who had participated in the cypriot National Guard exercise "Nikiforos 96".

The military parade took place before cypriot President Glafkos Kliridis, Defence Minister Kostas Eliadis and National Guard Chief, Lieutenant-General Nikolaos Vorvolakos. Also present, were greek ambassador Alexandros Sandis, government ministers and other dignitaries.

[12] EARTHQUAKE MEASURING 5,1 ON THE RICHTER SCALE HIT SOUTH- WESTERN PELOPONNESE

An earthquake measuring 5,1 on the Richter scale hit the region of south-western Peloponnese at noon today.

The tremor's epicenter was located 230 kilometers south-west of Athens in the sea region west of Pilos. No injuries or victims were reported.

[13] THE ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH WILL VISIT BULGARIA ON OCTOBER 19

Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos will visit Bulgaria on October 19, as it was announced by the Secretary of the Holy Synod in Bulgaria, Metropolite Gelasios. The information was published in the bulgarian newspaper "24 Hours".

The visit will take place on the occasion of the festivities for the 1.050 years since the death of St.Ioannis of Rila. It has not been confirmed yet if other Heads of Orthodox Churches will attend the scheduled ceremonies.

[14] TWO TURKISH SOLDIERS AND ONE CIVILIAN ASK GREECE FOR ASYLUM

Two turkish soldiers and one 17 year-old civilian, who on Monday entered Greece illegally through the northern Evros border post driving a stolen vehicle, will be returned to their homeland. They were arrested by Greek police after an hour's chase.

The three men said that they did not want to return to Turkey and serve in the army and appealed to the greek magistrate court to grant them asylum. Their request was denied and they were returned to the Alexandroupolis police.

[15] EUROPARLIAMENT DELEGATION TO VISIT THESSALONIKI'S CEDEFOP HEADQUARTERS

A delegation of deputies from the European Parliament's Committee of Social Affairs and Occupation will visit Thessaloniki's CEDEFOP grounds on October 10-11.

The deputies will examine the 1997 employment program of CEDEFOP, a french acronym that stands for the European Center of Professional Formation, and will look into its collaboration with the European Parliament and the European Commission.

Also, the delegation, with the participation of PASOK eurodeputy Nikos Papakyriazis, will address CEDEFOP's long-range plans as well as its immediate priorities.

[16] CYPRIOT OFFICIALS THANK GREECE FOR ITS INPUT IN "NIKIFOROS" EXERCISE

The President of the Cypriot Parliament Spyros Kyprianou expressed his gratitude to the Greek Government for its participation in the military exercise "Nikiforos", while he also commended the Cypriot National Guard for its excellency in the drill.

In unisom, Cyprus' political parties also expressed their satisfaction over the participation of Greek aircraft in the drill.

[17] TRANSPORTATION-COMMUNICATION MINISTER GOES TO PARIS FOR EU MEETING

Minister of Transportation and Communication Haris Kastanides will be in Paris tomorrow in order to participate at the informal meeting of the European Union's Communication Ministers with leading officials of the European Space Industry.

The meeting will address the initiatives that must be drawn by the European Commisison im order to enable the EU to adapt to the United States' ever-increasing activity in the area of spatial applications.

Meanwhile, in Athens today Mr. Kastanides met with his Russian counterpart Mr. Tsakh and requested that the russian transit and bilateral permits to Greece be doubled.

The Russian Minister has accepted Mr. Kastanides' request.

[18] GREEK FETA CHEESE UNDER ATTACK BY DENMARK, FRANCE AND GERMANY

Feta cheese, one of Greece's trademark products, which also bears the European Commission's seal of national authenticity, is once again under attack by Germany, France and Denmark which challenged today the Commission's decision to grant protected status to the cheese.

The three, through a complaint filed with the First Circuit European Court today, claim that feta cheese should not have been among the agricultural products that have been granted the EC's "secured european product" status, as its name has a "general character."

The Danish government purports that the word "feta" has a latin root which in the greek and italian languages means "piece."

Also, Germany and France support that the name "feta" is a common one and has nothing to do with its geographical origin. France further claims that there really is no substantive relation between Greece and feta.

The EC is expected to support Grrece's positions and uphold its prior decision which was drawn when it issued a list of 318 european secured products and foodstuffs that cannot be reproduced in close resemblance and called by the same name as the original, Greece's feta among them.

[19] SEMINAR ON POLAND'S MARKET TO BE ORGANIZED IN THESSALONIKI

The greek Organization of Exports Promotion (OPE) will organize a seminar on the polish market on October 17 in Thessaloniki.

The seminar will address the process of economic reform, foreign trade and Poland's exports policy.

Participating at the seminar will be officials from Poland's Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations, the polish Organization for Foreign Investments and Poland's Chamber of Commerce.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[20] CYPRUS: STRONG QUAKE KILLS ONE, INJURES 50 , EXPERTS AWAIT AFTERSHOCKS

A strong earthquake measuring 6,4 on the Richter scale shook all of Cyprus today and was felt in the south-eastern Aegean island of Rhodes and as far away as Cairo, Lebanon and Tel Aviv. One person was killed and 50 others were injured.

The victim died of a heart attack at a hospital in Lemessos where he had recently undergone surgery.

The quake's epicenter was located in the Bay of Akaba in the Red Sea. Up until six p.m. a series of aftershocks have been felt, measuring between 3.5-5.5 on the Richter scale.

[21] EUROPEAN COMMISSION ADOPTS HANS VAN DER BROEK'S REPORT ON TURKEY-EU

The European Commission adopted today a report on Turkey submitted by Commissioner Hans Van Der Broek which was provided in line with the EC's duty to regularly brief the European Parliament on Turkey's relations with the European Union as a condition for the Turkey-EU Customs Union.

The Dutch Commissioner, according to EC sources, referred to Turkey's relations with Greece and stated that he does not foresee a de-escalation of the exisitng tensions.

Mr. Van Der Broek is also said to have reported that Turkey's record on human rights continuous to be troublesome and takes a worsening turn is some instances. Yet, the Commissioner took an opposing stance to freezing EU funds to Turkey, thereby contradicting the position recently adopted by the European Parliament.

Greek Commissioner Christos Papoutsis interjected numerous times by reminding his colleagues that the EU must play a leading role in resolving the cypriot problem, a view with which Mr. Van Der Broek appeared to agree.

[22] A SERIOUSLY BURNED POLITICAL PRISONER DIED IN TURKEY, WHILE THE TURKISH JUSTICE MINISTER MAINTAINS THAT THE PRISON RIOTS HAVE ENDED

A political prisoner, member of the kurdish PKK party, died in Constantinople's Bayram Pasa Prison.

Bentat Aydemir, with two other prisoners, had poured boiling hot water all over their bodies 10 days ago in a show of protest over the bloody incidents in Diyarbakir Prison that resulted in the deaths of 11 inmates.

The news was reported late last night by the turkish state television channel TRT-1 which also mentioned that a protest took place and in Aidin Prison where the inmates tried to set the prison building on fire and as a result 7 prisoners and 2 prison guards were injured.

Meanwhile, turkish Justice Minister, Sevket Kazan stated late last night that all the demonstrations in the turkish prisons have ended, stressing that the riots started in Diyarbakir Prison and quickly spread to other prisons due to a mistaken circular that was withdrawn last Sunday.

[23] U.S. SECURITY ADVISOR: "CYPRIOT ISSUE IS ONE OF WORLD'S BIGGEST SHAMES"

The political situations in Greece and Turkey have impeded the promotion of a solution to the Cyprus problem, according to Anthony Lake, security advisor to United States President Bill Clinton.

Speaking at Washington's Georgetown University, Mr. Lake characterized the cypriot issue as being "one of the world's biggest shames" and expressed his regret that such an important issue has yet to be resolved, although it is one of President Clinton's priorities.

Mr. Lake emphasized that Greece's domestic affairs, as well as Turkey's, did not provide a ripe opportunity for both sides to address the cypriot issue. He emphasized President Clinton's commitment to achieve progress on the matter "and he will do so if he is re-elected."

[24] CYPRUS-FRY SIGN COOPERATION AGREEMENT IN BELGRADE TODAY

Cypriot Foreign Minister Alekos Michaelides met with his counterpart from the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Milan Milutinovic and signed an agreement on cultural and educational cooperation between Cyprus and Yugoslavia, as well as a protocol on frequent consultations and cooperation between the two countries' foreign ministries.

Mr. Michaelides is on a three-day official visit to Belgrade. He also met with FRY's Premier Radoyie Kodic and was received by Serb President Slobodan Milosevic.

[25] BULGARIAN AUTHORITIES HAVE DESCRIPTION OF ANDREI LUKANOF'S ASSASSIN

A description of the man who assassinated Bulgaria's former Prime Minister Andrei Lukanov is now in the hands of the bulgarian authorities which announced today that a witness to the crime has been located.

According to the director of Bulgaria's National Interrogatory Services, the murder weapon has not been discovered yet, but it is certain that the assassin worked alone.

Mr. Lukanov, who served as Bulgaria's premier twice and was a Bulgarian Socialist Party deputy, was killed outside his house on the morning of October 2. He was on his way to Parliament.

[26] FLORIDA CELEBRATES "CYPRIOT WEEK" ORGANIZED BY STUDENTS OF TAMPA UNIV.

Cypriot students at Florida's Tampa University have organized a week-long celebration of their country, with art exhibits and photo galleries held on the campus grounds.

The event will be held until October 12 and will feature speeches on Cyprus' illegal ocupation by Turkey. The Cypriot Ambassador to New York will speak on "The Byzantine Art of Cyprus" and "The Political Developments in Cyprus."

Florida's Pan-Cypriot Association is also participating in the events.

[27] BOSTON'S GREEK COLLEGE TO HOLD CONFERENCE ON HELLENISM, ORTHODOXY

A two-day conference titled "Hellenism and Orthodoxy" will be organized by Boston's Greek College on October 18-19.

A number of university professors and researchers from the United States and Greece will present their points of view on the cohesion between these two concepts, with references to history, culture, education and religion.

The conference is being held within the framework of the College's continuous rapport with the Greek community living abroad as well as the american public.

[28] BULGARIA: ZELEV BLASTS GOVERNMENT DURING MEETING WITH FOREIGN OFFICIALS

Bulgaria's current economic crisis is due to the "ill- equipped government elected by popular vote, which I hope will change," stated the President of Bulgaria Zeliu Zelev during a working dinner given in honor of 23 Sofia-based foreign ambassadors.

Mr. Zelev addressed the foreign dignitaries, who represent the European Union member-states, the United States, Russia, Sweden and Turkey, and appealed to them not to abandon Bulgaria during these difficult times. He is convinced, he added, that the recent assassination of Bulgaria's former Premier Andrei Lukanov will not directly influence the political situation in his country.

[29] BRITISH AND CANADIAN WIN NOBEL PRIZE IN ECONOMICS

British professor James Mirrlees and Canadian William Vickrey have been awasrdedn the 1996 Nobel Prize in economics, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced today.

The Academy stated that the USD 1.12 million prize was awarded for their "fundamental contributions to the economics theory of incentives under asymmetrical information."

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