Macedonian Press Agency News In English (96-10-31)

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, October 31, 1996

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] NO SECRET DIPLOMACY IS EXERCISED FOR THE SOLUTION OF THE CYPRUS PROBLEM, STATED THE GREEK GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN

Greek government spokesman, Dimitris Reppas responding to criticism launched against the government by New Democracy leader Miltiadis Evert during the meeting of his party's Parliamentary Group, categorically stated that no secret diplomacy is being exercised for the solution of the Cyprus problem.

The only concrete proposal is the one made by the US ambassador for the opening of military dialogue, said mr.Reppas accusing mr.Evert of inventing problems for in-party consumption purposes.

The greek government spokesman said that the only policy exercised in Cyprus is the one that is being exercised by the responsible Cypriot government, adding that Greece within the framework of a continuous, firm and sincere understanding and cooperation with the cypriot government offers its assistance in order to be achieved progress toward the solution of the Cyprus problem.

Mr.Reppas stressed that there is no issue of an overall dialogue with Turkey and that the "step by step" approach strengthens Greece's positions internationally as it proves that it wants dialogue on specific issues, like the one concerning the continental shelf.

Commenting on Turkey's demarche over the cultural events organized by the municipality of the Aegean island of Kalymnos in cooperation with UNESCO, the greek government spokesman stressed that the government rejects this demarche and added that the events were peaceful and took place inside the greek territory.

Regarding the government's economic policy, mr.Reppas pointed out that the budget will be presented by the end of November.

[02] THE ND LEADER PRESENTED THE POSITIONS OF HIS PARTY ON NATIONAL ISSUES AND THE ECONOMY

Leader of main opposition party New Democracy, Miltiadis Evert presented his party's positions on national issues and the economy in his speech during the meeting of New Democracy's Parliamentary Group.

On the situation existing within the party, mr.Evert stressed that problems must be resolved within the framework of the party's charter, underlining that the party conference will be held in Athens in early June.

Mr.Evert criticized the government on its handling of national issues saying that there is "a lack of concrete national strategy" while the government of PASOK persists in a policy of secret diplomacy.

He characterized the "step by step" approach followed by the greek government on the greek-turkish issues as dangerous and slippery, while he added that the initiatives undertaken by the United States and Britain for the solution of the Cyprus problem do not move toward the same direction.

Mr.Evert said that the issue with FYROM has taken a bad turn and expressed concern regarding the results of local elections in Albania.

[03] THE GREEK GOVERNMENT WATCHES CLOSELY THE ISSUE THAT HAS ARISEN AS A RESULT OF THE US NAVY ACADEMY REPORT ON THE AEGEAN

The greek government watches closely the issue that has arisen as a result of the US Navy Academy report on the Aegean.

This report adopts Ankara's positions concerning its claims in the Aegean while it includes about 130 cases of appeals to the International Court of Justice in The Hague that were rejected.

Greek Foreign Ministry circles mention that this may be an unofficial report that does not express the position of the US government but the fact that certain US officials make such statements can not be ignored.

[04] THE GREEK ARMED FORCES ANNUAL MILITARY EXERCISE "PARMENION" IS UNDERWAY IN EVROS AND THE AEGEAN

The annual military exercise of the greek armed forces, code- named "Parmenion", is underway in Evros, north-eastern Greece and the Aegean.

Meanwhile, Ankara again appears provocative after its decision to establish a military headquarters in the city of Bodrum across the greek islets in the Aegean, while at the same time, it has reinforced the turkish military forces participating in the turkish-cypriot military exercise "Toros" that is in progress in the turkish occupied territories in Cyprus.

Meanwhile, the public prosecutor in the island of Kos has started legal proceedings against the four journalists of the turkish newspaper "Hurriyet" who a few months ago went to the Imia islets to lower the greek flag.

[05] THE GREEKS IN AUSTRALIA PLAY A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN THE ISSUES OF NATIONAL IMPORTANCE, STATED THE MINISTER OF MACEDONIA-THRACE

The greeks in Australia play a significant role in the national issues and in issues concerning the greeks living abroad, stressed Minister of Macedonia-Thrace Philippos Petsalnikos after his meeting with Archbishop of Australia, Stylianos and representatives of the greek-australian community.

Mr.Petsalnikos, who is on a formal visit to Australia announced that the Ministry of Macedonia-Thrace will finance with 26 thousand dollars the modern greek language department in Sidney's Maguory University and the cultural events organized by the Pan-Macedonian Association of New South Walles.

Tomorrow, mr.Petsalnikos will visit Melbourne where on Saturday will meet with Prime Minister of the state of Victoria, Jeff Kennett.

[06] THE VILLAGE OF NEW KALAMARIA, WHERE THE FAMILIES OF BOSNIAN- SERB ORPHANS WILL BE HOUSED, WILL BE LOCATED NEAR BANJA LUKA

The village of New Kalamaria that will be built for the families of orphan children refugees, who had been hosted by the municipality of Kalamaria in Thessaloniki, will be located 8 kilometers away from Banja Luka, the largest city of the Serb Republic in Bosnia.

The announcement was made during the meeting Kalamaria mayor Thrasivoulos Lazaridis and President of the Serb Republic in Bosnia Biljana Plavsic had with the families who were the hosts of serb children for 7 months.

Referring to the village of New Kalamaria that will be built soon, mr.Lazaridis stressed that is important to assist in the efforts made for the housing of those children and their families, pledging that he will ask for international assistance toward this direction.

[07] "PHILOXENIA '96" TO BE INAUGURATED TODAY IN THESSALONIKI

The 12th International Tourism Exhibit "Philoxenia" will be formally inaugurated in Thessaloniki today 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-to-medium enterprises Christos Papoutsis will also attend "Philoxenia '96" which will be held at Thessaloniki's Fairgrounds until Sunday, November 3.

[08] NEW DEMOCRACY PARLIAMENTARY GROUP TO CONVENE TODAY

Greece's main opposition party New Democracy will hold its Parliamentary Group meeting today 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.

[09] 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 yesterday, 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.

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

Yesterday she visited the Zeytinlik Cemetery, where the Serbs who died here during WWI were buried, and later stopped by Thessaloniki's Archaeological Museum. Last 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.

[10] 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 commerce ships to 2,989, of which 1,019 sail under Greek flag and 1,970 under foreign.

[11] NATIONAL BANK OF GREECE TO MEET WITH LONDON INVESTORS TODAY

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

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 Boston and New York.

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

[12] RUSSIAN PRESS DEDICATES ARTICLE ON GREECE'S SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN BLACK SEA

Greece significant role in the Black Sea region and the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC), coupled with a political portrait of Prime Minister Kostas Simitis were recently outlined in an article of "Moscow News" in Russia.

The article emphasizes as significant that, following his victory in the parliamentary elections, the Greek Premier opted to conduct his first visit outside Greece in Russia, adding that "Greece's participation in the Moscow Conference cannot be merely considered as a matter of protocol."

The article continues that "Greece carries a determining role in the Black Sea region, referring to the decision to establish an International Center of the Black Sea, based in Athens, as well as a Bank of Commerce and Development in the Black Sea, based in Thessaloniki.

Referring to Mr. Simitis, the article characterizes the Greek Premier as a man with political bravity, "which led him to hold the PASOK party presidentship" and added that the Premier proved after the elections that Greece is one of the european countries that believes in a socialist government.

[13] GREEK CULTURE MINISTER EMBARKS ON CONTACTS IN VENICE, PARIS

Greek Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos departed for Venice, Italy today where he is scheduled to meet with offcials from the Greek Institute and the Center of Hellenic Culture.

On Monday Mr. Venizelos will travel to Paris where he will meet with his French counterpart.

These contacts are within the framework of the Culture Ministry's efforts to promote internationally cohesive cultural activity.

[14] GREEK COMMISSIONER: TOUR OF ALBANIA-FYROM IS "SENSITIVE MISSION"

The European Commissioner holding the portfolios of tourism, energy and small-to-medium enterprises Christos Papoutsis characterised his imminent tour of Albania and FYROM as a "sensitive mission", given the European Commission's expressed interest in these two countries.

Speaking to the Macedonian Press Agency, Mr. Papoutsis stated that since both of these countries refrained from the former Yugoslavia's warring, the Commission considers Albania and FYROM to be significant factors of security and stability in the Balkans, in spite of the fact that both countries are tormented by internal problems.

The Greek Commissioner also pointed out that having the advantage of being the only Balkan Commissioner, he has the ability to understand and relay to his colleagues the underlining juxtapositions noted in the sensitive Balkan region.

Mr. Papoutsis added that in the past various EU member-states have responded nervously to the developments in the Balkans, attributing this stance to the awe the region inspired on its European neighbors.

The Greek Commissioner said that cooperation in the sector of energy could very well be a factor of stability for the Balkans.

"The energy networks build the relations of a wider economic cooperation and establish peace," Mr. Papoutsis explained, adding that these networks have expressed their satisfaction over the Balkan countries' positive response at the invitation to form a task force for enegy networks in the Balkans.

It is reminded that the Commissioner had forwarded the invitation from Thessaloniki one year ago and the task group's first meeting -in which five Balkan countries participated- was held one month ago in Brussels.

Mr. Papoutsis' visit to Albania and FYROM begins with Tirana tomorrow where he will meet with Albanian President Sali Berisha, Prime Minister Alexander Mecsi and high-ranking officials of the Albanian government with whom he will discuss Albania's cooperation with the EU in the energy sector.

While in Tirana, Mr. Papoutsis will inaugurate the city's energy center which has been funded by the E.C.

Mr. Papoutsis will then move on to Skopje where he will meet with FYROM President Kiro Gligorov, Premier Branco Cervenkovski and FYROM's Ministers of Economics and Foreign Affairs with whom he will examine the formation of FYROM-EU cooperation in the energy sector.

Mr. Papoutsis' visit to FYROM marks the second time an EU Commissioner visits the country, following Mr. Hans Van den Broek's visit in the summer of 1995.

[15] EXHIBIT OF GREEK PRODUCTS IN BELGRADE AWAITED WITH GREAT INTEREST

Greek producers and manufacturers have displayed marked interest in the Yugoslav market as over 35 companies have registered so far for participation in the Belgrade-held exhibit of Greek products to be held between November 21-25.

The business forum has been jointly organized by the company "ART" and the Economic Chamber of the Serb Republic. Also, matters concerning investments, taxation, the yugoslav banking system and joint venture opportunities will be addressed.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[16] STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN CALLS ON TURKISH TROOPS TO STOP FIRING

U.S. State Department spokesman Nicholas Burns today called on the Turkish troops stationed in Cyprus to stop firing against citizens "merely because they cross one or two meters into the cease-fire zone."

Mr. Burns referred to the shots fired recfently by turkish soldiers against British soldiers in Cyprus. The State Department condemned the act and characterized it as "inexcusable."

[17] THE SOLUTION OF THE CYPRUS PROBLEM IS NOT POSSIBLE BEFORE THE OPENING OF THE EU ACCESSION NEGOTIATIONS, SAID GREEK EURO-DEPUTY MR.KRANIDIOTIS

Greek Euro-deputy Yiannos Kranidiotis stated that the solution of the Cyprus problem is not possible before the opening of the EU accession negotiations, clarifying that in the meantime the efforts of the greek and the cypriot governments for a fair and viable solution to the problem will not stop.

In an interview to the BBC, mr.Kranidiotis characterized the decision for the opening of the EU accession negotiations 6 months after the end of the Inter-Governmental Conference and the EU's political commitment to include Cyprus in its next enlargement, as having great strategic importance and stated that such decisions change the setting for the Cyprus problem and can help toward its solution.

Mr.Kranidiotis stressed that in spite of the fact that Cyprus' accession prospect is not associated with the solution of the problem this does not mean that the one issue does not affect the other. Mr.Kranidiotis also did not rule out the possibility of a solution to the Cyprus problem during the negotiations with the EU under the pre-condition that Turkey's position on the issue will be changed.

[18] CHINESE PEOPLE'S PARTY DELEGATION VISITS CYPRUS, MEETS WITH PRESIDENT

The Chinese people and their government firmly support the Cypriot people's struggle, according to Juang-Juang, leader of the delegation from the Chinese People's Party currently visiting Cyprus.

Following a meeting with Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides, Mr. Juang stated that "China has undertaken efforts in finding a solution to the Cyprus problem and understands the people's sentiments over living in a shared country."

The President of Cyprus' Democratic Rally Party (DISY) Yiannakis Matsis, stated that the Chinese delegation realized the existing conditions on Cyprus following the turkish invasion and emphasized the importance of developing relations between Cyprus and China.

[19] THE ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH WILL VISIT AUSTRALIA ON NOVEMBER 7

Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos will start his visit to Australia on November 7 from the city of Perth.

On November 9, the Ecumenical Patriarch will visit Adelaide. On November 12 he will be in Camberra to meet with Prime Minister John Howard and General Governor Sir William Dean, while he will also visit the embassies of Greece and Turkey.

On November 13 he will visit Melbourne, while on the 18th he will be in Brisbane. His visit to New Zealand will take place on the 19th and to Sidney on the 22nd of November. In all the australian states he will visit, the Ecumenical Patriarch will be received with state leader's honours and will have meetings with local Governors and Prime Ministers.

[20] THE BRITISH FOREIGN MINISTER WILL BE ON A WORKING VISIT TO CYPRUS IN MID DECEMBER

British Foreign Minister, Malcolm Rifkind will be on a working visit to Cyprus in mid December.

The announcement was made by cypriot government spokesman Yiannakis Kasoulidis who pointed out that this visit is placed within the framework of the efforts made for the solution of the Cyprus problem.

Mr.Kasoulidis stated that in the talks the british Foreign Minister will have with cypriot President Glafkos Kliridis and cypriot Foreign Minister Alekos Michailidis bilateral issues will also be discussed.

[21] CYPRUS: SAE PRESIDENT ANDREW ATHENS ARRIVES IN NICOSIA TODAY

Cypriot Government spokesperson Yiannakis Kasoulides stated today that the President of the Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE) Andrew Athens will arrive in Cyprus today and will meet with Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides tomorrow to discuss the initiatives taken by the various Greek communities abroad in resolving the Cyprus issue.

Mr. Kasoulides referred to the three different scenaria presented by the Greek community to the American government and explained in detail that: a) the first scenario concerns President Clerides' proposal for demilitarization, b) the second is the U.S. government's acceptance of a multinational force's presence in the island after having resolved the Cyprus problem and c) the application of Resolution 650 of the United Nations Security Council in conjuction with the issue of disengagement.

[22] EU AGRICULTURE MINISTERS' COUNCIL WILL ALLOCATE AID TO LIVESTOCK BREEDERS

The European Union's Agriculture Ministers Council decided today to allocate emergency aid to European livestock breeders whose animals had been stricken by the B.S.E. (bovine spongiform encephalopathy).

The lion's share of the ECU 500 million allotment will be given to France, in the amount of 23.8% ( ECU 119 million) , followed by Germany with 20%, and Britain with 13.1%. Greece will be given .3 per cent, that is ECU 1.5 million (approximately GRD460 million.)

This aid will supplement the ECU 850 million agreed by the European Union leaders during a meeting in Florence last June and further aid is likely under long term beef reforms expected by 1997.

Greece's Agriculture Minister Stephanos Tzoumakas said today that this decision is favorable to the Greek livestock breeders, the majority of whom are one-man or small-size farmers, since the ruling does not bear the farmers with additional production costs.

In regards to the foot and mouth disease outbreak that has reached epidemic dimensions in Turkey, Mr. Tzoumakas addressed the Ministerial Council and emphasized the imperative need to draw stricter measures to prevent its further srpead.

The Greek Agriculture Minister stated that systematic inoculations must be performed in Turkey's livestock, especially in sensitive regions, those that have been wholly stricken by the disease in the past, and added that Greece has proceeded to undertake strick measures against the foot annd mouth epidemic.

EU Farm Commissioner Franz Fischler acknowledged as rightful Greece's fears stemming from the epidemic that has arisen in its neighboring country and promised to table the matter during the EU Permanent Veterinary Committee's next meeting.

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