Macedonian Press Agency News In English (96/10/30)

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, October 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 EXPRESSED DISAGREEMENT WITH THE CONTENTS OF A US REPORT ON THE GREEK-TURKISH ISSUES

Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas expressed the government's disagreement with the contents of a report on the greek-turkish issues that was drawn up by a department of the US Navy Staff and appears to adopt Ankara's positions regarding the Aegean.

The greek government spokesman stressed that from time to time reports are being issued which are studied by the greek government before taking the necessary measures. On the specific report, mr.Reppas stated that the government is taking all the necessary actions through the diplomatic route.

[02] REPPAS: THERE IS NO ISSUE OF TRUST BUILDING MEASURES IN THE AEGEAN

Press and Media Minister Dimtiris Reppas relayed today the Greek Government's disagreement with the view presented in the report-study of United States Lieutenant Colonel Michael Send who adopts the turkish positions in regards to greco-turkish affairs.

Mr. Reppas stated that there is no issue of trust-building measures in the Aegean, and pointed to the Greek Government's position that the Vouliagmeni Memorandum of 1988, which was signed by the then-foreign ministers of Greece and Turkey Karolos Papoulias and Mesut Yilmaz respectively, constitutes a good base for approach between the two countries.

[03] NEW DEMOCRACY PARLIAMENTARY GROUP TO MEET TOMORROW

Greece's main opposition party New Democracy will hold its Parliamentary Group meeting tomorrow and, according to party circles, the inner opposition forces will have another opportunity to lash at their President Miltiades Evert.

According to reports, the Souflias-Bacoyianni-Manos troica is expected to critisize Mr. Evert, although Souflias recently stated that it will be the party's congress that will decide on the new leader.

[04] THESSALONIKI TO AID IN SERB REPUBLIC'S RECONSTRUCTION

The President of the Serb Republic in Bosnia Biljana Plavsic met with representatives of the Northern Greece Exporters Association (SEVE) in Thessaloniki today, wherein business cooperation opportunities emerged betweeen the two countries, especially in the areas of timber, construction and textile manufacturing.

Ms. Plavsic explained that the large amounts of timber her country produces remain unutilized since the Serb Republic does not feature local manufacturing for this industry. She characteristically said that her country had one furniture-making plant which was destroyed in a fire.

In turn, the President of SEVE noted that the economies of both countries are complimentary to one another and, as such, there are many opportunities for cooperation.

Ms. Plavsic also met with Thessaloniki Prefect Kostas Papadopoulos who expressed the city's intent to cooperate for the reconstruction of Bosnia.

Mr. Papadopoulos told the Bosnian Serb President that he will personally see to it that the trade and economic chambers of Greece will come in contact with officials from the Serb Republic in order to promote the reconstruction efforts.

Yesterday Ms. Plavsic stated that Greece holds the most advantageous position among European countries when it comes to investments in the Bosnia-Herzegovina region.

This morning she visited the Zeytinlik Cemetery, where the Serbs who died here during WWI were buried, and later stopped by Thessaloniki's Archaeological Museum. This evening she met with families in the municipality of Kalamaria which were hosts to 100 children from the war-torn regions in former Yugoslavia for seven months.

[05] GREECE IS WORLD'S FIRST SHIPPING FORCE ACCORDING TO U.N. REPORT

Greece holds first place on the United Nations' index of "world's most significant shipping countries", according to a recently-published UN report concerning commerce and development.

The report places Greece atop other shipping magnate- countries such as Japan, United States, Norway, China, Britain, Korea, Russian co-federation and Germany.

Also the report brings the number of Greece's trade ships to 2,989, of which 1,019 sail under Greek flag and 1,970 under foreign.

[06] NO DECISIONS HAVE BEEN MADE ON THE GOVERNMENT'S ECONOMIC POLICY, STATED THE GREEK GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN

Greek government spokesman, Dimitris Reppas commenting on the statements made in a press conference by PASOK's Central Committee Secretary Kostas Skandalidis according to which new taxes will be imposed, stated that no decisions have been made yet on the economic policy that will be followed by the greek government.

Mr.Reppas said that when decisions will be made they will be announced and pointed out that the government's pre-election pledges to impose no new taxes still stand.

Meanwhile, Minister of National Economy and Finance, Yiannos Papantoniou in a meeting with the Presiding Board of the largest greek workers' union, the Greek General Confederation of Labour, gave assurances that no new taxes will be imposed on low incomes.

[07] MACEDONIA-THRACE MINISTER PHILIPPOS PETSALNIKOS IN AUSTRALIA

The Minister of Macedonia-Thrace Philippos Petsalnikos is currently in Australia for a formal visit on the invitation of the Greek-Australian community and the governments of the states of Victoria and New South Walles.

Tomorrow morning Mr. Petsalnikos will meet with the Greek Council, the President of Sidney's Greek community and various Greek-Australian parliamentarians.

In the afternoon tomorrow, the Minister will meet with the Archbishop of Australia Mr. Stylianos and in the evening will give a press conference, while on Friday Mr. Petsalnikos and his delegation will begin their travel to Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth.

Mr. Petsalnikos will be in Australia until November 6 and is accompanied by the Ministry's Political Affairs Director, two advisers and four journalists.

On November 15, Mr. Petsalnikos will depart for a formal visit to Canada where he will stay until November 21.

During his visit, he will have meetings with representatives of the Canadian Parliament and the Greek communities of Toronto and Montreal, while he will also visit the city of New York in the United States.

[08] NAOUSA IN NORTHERN GREECE AND PONTGORICA IN MONTENEGRO WERE MADE SISTER CITIES

The process for the twinning of the municipalities of Naousa in northern Greece and Pontgorica in Montenegro is underway and the necessary procedures began during the visit made to the yugoslav city on October 25-28 by Deputy Mayor of Naousa Vasilis Georgis and City Council President Anastasios Bourdanos. The two were accompanied by members of the families who for 7 months were hosts to 21 children from Pontgorica most of them war-orphans.

The meeting between the greek delegation and the mayor of Pontgorica Zoran Knezevic resulted in the agreement for the twinning of the two municipalities which will be ratified by the two city councils.

The signing of the twinning charter will take place on March 1997 when the carnival of Naousa will be held.

[09] GREEK DEFENSE MINISTER RECEIVED BY CYPRUS' DEMOCRATIC RALLY PARTY

The President of Cyprus' Democratic Rally Party (DISY) Yiannakis Matsis received Greece's Defense Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos in Nicosia today where the two men discussed the Joint Defense Doctrine between Greece and Cyprus.

According to Mr. Matsis, specific emphasis was given to the issue of developing the Joint Defense Area, new armaments, proper military training as well as the essense of power, "which must develop in contrast with the expanding turkish expansionsist policy."

Moreover, Mr. Matsis stated that the strengthening of the Armed Forces, according to Mr. Tsohatzopoulos, "constitutes a necessary reality which the Greek Minister will promote with all his efforts."

[10] EVROS MUNICIPALITY OFFICIALS DISCUSS COW POX DISEASE OUTBREAK

Veterinary and agriculture officials from northern Greece met in Evros today to discuss the recent outbreak of cowpox and foot- mouth disease that has once again stricken livestock in the region of Evros.

According to reports, the officials are concerned over the alarming dimensions these outbreaks have reached and have assessed that the only solution remaining is to create an "inoculation zone" in forty nearby villages since it has been diagnosed that the disease has been transmitted from Bulgaria and Turkey.

[11] "PHILOXENIA '96" TO BE INAUGURATED TOMORROW IN THESSALONIKI

The 12th International Tourism Exhibit "Philoxenia" will be formally inaugurated in Thessaloniki tomorrow by Development Minister Vasso Papandreou.

This year's tourism exhibit is notably upgraded, featuring a high number of participating exhibitors, 304 from 25 countries.

The European Commissioner holding the portofolios of tourism, energy and small-tomedium enterprises Christos Papoutsis will also attend "Philoxenia '96" which will be held at Thessaloniki's Fairgrounds until Sunday, November 3.

[12] NATIONAL BANK OF GREECE TO MEET WITH LONDON INVESTORS

The National Bank of Greece will present its development and prospects to Britain's institutional investors in London tomorrow.

The presentation will be given by the bank's deputy governor Nikos Karamouzis and closely follows in the steps of the one made recently in the United States.

These presentations are within the framework of the bank's effort to inform international investing circles of its current reforms.

[13] GREEK YOUNGSTER WINS FIRST PLACE IN CHESS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Continuing his impressive winning streak, Greece's young chess champion Christodoulos Banikas has reached the first place in his category (up to 18 years old) in the Chess World Youth Championships held currently in Minorca, Spain.

On this round Banikas shares the first place with five other chess players, among them Russia's Malahov and Brazil's Leitao.

[14] EUROPEAN COMMISSION GIVES POSITIVE ASSESSMENT TO GREEK ECONOMY

The European Commission is expected to publish a report today, containing positive assessments of Greece's track on the European Union convergence program, in relation to its E.U. allies.

According to the report, which is awaited to gain approval today, Greece has satisfactorily absorbed structural funds from the E.U. and adds that the four countries scheduled for convergence (Greece, Spain, Portugal and Ireland) have managed to raise their per capita gross national product from the EU's median GNP of 65% to 75%.

Moreover, the report states that inflation in Greece has been notably reduced, although the index continues to remain at higher levels than the median EU rate, although the Commission encourages Greece to continue its efforts towards the convergence program.

However, the report states that Greece holds last place among the four countries attempting to achieve convergence as it has barely met the median level of other E.U. member-states, while its development rates are near the median E.U. level.

According to the report, Ireland has the most impressive rates among the countries in line for convergence.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[15] COUNCIL OF EUROPE'S FOREIGN MINISTERS TO CONVENE ON NOVEMBER 6-7

The foreign ministers of the countries-members of the Council of Europe will hold a two-day meeting in Strasburg between November 6 and 7.

The meeting will primarily address security issues whereupon Carl Bildt, the special mediator for Bosnia-Herzegovina, will speak on the current situation in the region following the end of the war.

On the second day of the meeting, the participants will address the CofE's expansion to eastern european countries and will examine the feasibility of a second summit conference during 1997. It is reminded that the first such summit had taken place in October 1993.

[16] BRITISH DEFENSE MINISTER: CYPRUS' DIVISION IS A SHAME AND INSULT TO EUROPE

Cyprus's division is a shame and an insult to all Europeans stated the British Defense Minister Michael Portillo.

Minister Portillo, inaugurating the Cyprus-related photography exhibit of Greek-Cypriot Doros Partasides in London, stated that the division and the green line are on an island that is a part of Europe and wishes to become a member of the European Union.

Mr. Portillo added that "Cyprus' accession to the European Union would be easy if it (the island) was united, whereas the way the situation is now such move is very difficult."

According to sources, British Foreign Minister Malcom Rifkind, who will visit Cyprus in December, is expected to encourage both sides of the island to undertake separate assessments of the situation as it stands.

Cypriot Foreign Minister Alekos Michaelides has saluted Britain's initiatives and expressed his certainty that Britain is greatly involved in the preparatory efforts of finding a solution to the Cyprus problem.

[17] RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER DISMISSES PSEUDOSTATE IN CYPRUS

Russia's Foreign Ministry has characterized the Rauf Denktash regime's pseudostate in occupied Cyprus as being Turkey's illegal fabrication.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Michael Demourin stated thah the Russian Federation closely abides by the United Nations Security Council's decision in regards to recognizing only the Republic of Cyprus.

Mr. Demourin reminded that only Turkey has recognized the pseudostate and pointed to the numerous resolutions issued by the Security Council which detemine the UN member-countries' relations with this illegal regime.

[18] THE BRITISH HIGH COMMISSION HAS PROTESTED TO THE OCCUPATION REGIME IN CYPRUS OVER YESTERDAY'S INCIDENT IN A TURKISH OCCUPIED REGION

The british High Commission made a formal protest to the occupation regime over the shots fired by turkish soldiers against two british soldiers in the turkish occupied region of Achna in Cyprus.

The turkish occupation forces fired five shots against british soldiers yesterday when they entered the occupied territories by a few meters, at the same area where greek-cypriot Petros Kakoullis was killed.

The two british soldiers were checking the distinctive markings placed recently around the Dekelia Base and according to a British High Commission representative, the incident is attributed to the "nervousness" of the turkish soldiers in the region's military outposts.

[19] THE CYPRIOT FOREIGN MINISTER RULED OUT THE POSSIBILITY OF A SOLUTION FOR CYPRUS SIMILAR TO THE DAYTON AGREEMENT

Cypriot Foreign Minister, Alekos Michailidis categorically ruled out the possibility of a solution for Cyprus patterned on the Dayton peace agreement for Bosnia.

In statements to BBC, mr.Michailidis said referring to information according to which 1997 is the year of the solution of the Cyprus problem that certain developments toward the solution of the problem have begun as a result of the assurances that the EU accession negotiations will open and also because the international community has recognized the fact that for as long as the Cyprus problem remains unresolved the region's stability is at risk.

Referring to the information on a possible meeting between cypriot President Glafkos Kliridis and turkish-cypriot leader Rauf Denktash in New York in the first half of 1997, he said that there are no plans for such a meeting.

Reiterating the position of President Kliridis he also stressed that the cypriot President is ready for talks under the pre-condition that the right climate will exist in order for the negotiations with the turkish-cypriot side to have a positive outcome. Mr.Michailidis stressed that many meetings have taken place in the past without any results.

[20] EUROPEAN JOURNALISTS OFFER THEIR SUPPORT TO TURKISH AUTHOR YASHAR KEMAL

A resolution expressing support to turkish author Yasher Kemal and to journalists Ragip Duran, Cetin Altan, Alper Yormush and Isik Yurtzu was adopted in the 34th General Assembly of the European Journalists Union that was held in Budapest.

In the resolution that will be presented to the European Parliament, the Council of Europe and to turkish Prime Minister Necmetin Erbakan is mentioned that no democratic country would have tried and convicted people like, Yasher Kemal and the other journalists.

Also, is mentioned that the European Journalists Union closely follows the case of turkish journalist, Metin Gioktepe's murder and calls for the exemplary punishment of the policemen who committed the crime.

Meanwhile, the turkish government is called on to stop the actions it has initiated targeting the freedom of press in the country under the pretext that it wants to stop the reporting of false news.

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/