Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 96-12-06

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, December 6, 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 THE REPUBLIC TO VISIT FLOODED AREAS IN NORTHEASTERN GREECE

The President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos will perform a one-day visit tomorrow to northeastern Greece's city of Xanthi, whose region was destroyed by floods during last weekend's torrential rains.

President Stephanopoulos will be accompanied by the Minister of Macedonia-Thrace, Philippos Petsalnikos.

Meanwhile, local authorities are still estimating the damages caused by the fiery storms to the region's crops. The fierce downpour devastated may houses and stores and rendered parts of the area's motoroute inaccessible, in some areas tearing the asphalt-laden roads in half.

The Government has proceeded to issuing relief measures for the support of flood-stricken victims, including a grant of GRD200,000 ($810) to each of the homeless families, while the families of the three persons who lost their lives during the storm have been compensated with two million drachmas each. A.F.

[02] GOING TO THE HAGUE FOR RESOLVING TURKISH ISSUES IS GREECE'S LAST RESORT

Resorting to the International Court of Justice at The Hague is Greece's last option in resolving its differences with Turkey peacefully, stated the Greek Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Christos Rozakis.

Responding to an interpellation posed by an Opposition deputy in Parliament today, Mr. Rozakis asked the political leaders not to challenge the prudence of resorting to The Hague, since unfortunately, as he added, "the peaceful methods suggested are direct negotiations with Turkey, negotiations from which our country has a most bitter experience." A.F.

[03] GREEK EURODEPUTY: BALKAN BORDERS TO EU LIE IN THE SOUTH, HERE IN GREECE

Eurodeputy Nikos Papakyriazis, President of the European Union's Joint Parliamentary Committee for Bulgaria and Romania, addressed the MPA's Inter-Balkan Symposium today and spoke extensively on the European policy in the Balkans.

"Europe is here, in Thessaloniki," Mr. Papakyriazis stated, adding that "the borders of the Balkans with the European Union lie in the South, they are here in Greece."

Spyros Kouzinopoulos, General-Director of the MPA, also addressed the Symposium where he stated that the reason for holding this event was not only to honor the 60-year anniversary mark since the deaths of two of Greece's greatest political figures, but also to take the opportunity to show that the ideas of Balkan cooperation and understanding continue to be timely today. A.F.

[04] GREECE'S FARMERS REMAIN UNYIELDING, STRIKES AND ROADBLOCKS TO CONTINUE

Greece's farmers remain unyielding on their demands today, vowing to mount the protests and to add roadblocks in all of the country's intrastate and interstate roads.

The Pan-Thessaly Coordinating Committee has called on farmers' cooperatives throughout the country to a new conference in Larisa tomorrow, in order to map out their next moves.

Currently, numerous parts of the country have become inaccessible as traffic has been blocked off. As a result, the first signs of scarcity in fresh foods supplies have appeared at some of the country's larger markets, a situation certain to worsen if a settlement is not reached soon.

Yesterday, Premier Kostas Simitis adopted a harder line on the matter, accusing the farmers of blackmail. The Premier also stressed that the State's economy could not bear to satisfy their trillion-drachmas demands.

Meanwhile, the country's main opposition party New Democracy criticises the Government for its economic policy, prompting the Minister of Press and Mass Media Dimitris Reppas to accuse N.D.'s President Miltiades Evert of irresponsibility.

Mr. Reppas called on Mr. Evert to clearly state if he agrees with the roadblocks and to submit any proposals he deems necessary to the Government's handling of the striking farmers. A.F.

[05] GREECE-FYROM TALKS TO BE HELD IN NEW YORK ON DECEMBER 17

Representatives from Greece and FYROM will meet on December 17 to continue talks on their interstate issues.

The talks between Greek Ambassador Christos Zacharakis and FYROM's representative Ivan Tosevski, will be held at the UN headquarters in New York under the auspice of UN mediator Cyrus Vance.

Meanwhile, UN diplomatic sources assess that the imminent talks are of "unkown content" given that, up to date, FYROM has not displayed any sign of willingness to concede from its already- known negative stance on the name issue.

Nevertheless, in case the talks reach an impasse well into 1997, the same sources assess that the UN mediator will bring the negotiation process forth to the Security Council, the authority which is ultimately responsible for the outcome of these talks. A.F.

[06] GREEK-TURKISH JUXTAPOSITION ON AEGEAN ISSUE AT MPA SYMPOSIUM

The Aegean is a one-of-a-kind sea due to its numerous islands and, as such, it is not feasible to speak of extending territorial waters beyond the six-mile zone, according to Hasan Unal, a Turkish professor who spoke this evening at MPA's inter-Balkan Symposium.

Countering Mr. Unal's statements, the Athens News Agency's editor-in-chief Gerasimos Zarkadis responded that the nucleus of greek-turkish differences lies with the territorial waters, adding that it is the international law, not arms, which grants Greece the right to extend this zone further.

PASOK Deputy Stellios Papathemelis stated that a large part of the conflict between Greece and Turkey stems from Ankara's revisionist tactic which does not espouse the principle of respecting its borders with neighboring countries.

Citing potential solutions to greek-turkish differences, Mr. Unal proposed that the two neighbors undertake efforts to exhange information regarding military exercises, or that Greece and Turkey sign a military agreement similar the one signed recently between Ankara-Sofia.

"Such a move would illustrate that Turkey has no designs on Thrace," Mr. Unal stated. Moreover, the Turkish academician proposed that Athens proceed to de-militarizing the Aegean islands, based on an agreement which will include the principle of Greece's indisputable sovereignty of the Aegean islands, in turn for supporting Turkey's accession to the European Union. A.F.

[07] THERE IS NO MORATORIUM ISSUE, STATED THE GREEK GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN

Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas clarified today that there is no issue of a moratorium neither on the greek military flights over Cyprus nor on the greek military exercises in the Aegean.

Mr.Reppas also pointed out that there was a dialogue on the matter but it has stopped, adding that the talks on the specific issue can not continue because Greece can not accept the interruption of flights over Cyprus under those conditions. N.X.

[08] TWO TURKISH FIGHTER JETS WERE INTERCEPTED AFTER VIOLATING THE GREEK AIR SPACE

Two turkish fighter jets, participating in the turkish military exercise "Sea Breeze", violated the greek air space over the six-mile zone of the greek territorial waters, close to the islets of Petrokaravo and Kalogeri in the Aegean. The two turkish jets flew east of the island of Skyros without previously submitting a flight plan and were intercepted by greek fighter jets.

The Greek Navy and Air Force in the region of the islands of Skyros, Patmos, Andros and Ikaria are in a state of preparedness as Turkey tries to extend its military exercises beyond the international waters to regions in the six-mile limit of the greek territorial waters.

This move brought about the greek government's strong reaction as the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defence categorically rejected the turkish demand, while the Civil Aviation Agency issued a demarche to the international air navigation organizations. N.X.

[09] INFLATION IN GREECE DROPPED IN NOVEMBER TO 7,7%

Inflation in Greece dropped considerably in November, according to data provided by the National Statistics Agency.

As it was announced, inflation closed at 7,7% in November compared to 8,3% in October. N.X.

[10] WORLD HELLENISM COUNCIL'S PRESIDIUM MEETS IN THESSALONIKI NEXT WEEKEND

The World Hellenism Council (SAE) will hold its Presidium's third session in Thessaloniki during December 14-18.

Officiating the session will be the Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou, who oversees issues concerning Greeks living abroad, and the Greeks Abroad Secretary-General Stavros Labrinides. A.F.

[11] THE WATERS OF RIVER EVROS HAVE RISEN TO DANGEROUS LEVELS

The waters of the Evros river have risen to a dangerous level as a result of the recent heavy rains in Bulgaria.

The Alexandroupolis-Orestiada railway line in north-eastern Greece is covered with water since the early morning hours today, blocking the passage of trains. According to a statement issued by the local authorities, there is an immediate threat of floods in the regions close to the banks of the Evros river and residents are called to move their livestock and farming equipment to safer places. N.X.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[12] BALKAN STABILITY AND COOPERATION IS THIS CENTURY'S CHALLENGE

One of the big challenges facing the Balkan region and southeastern European countries during the close of this century is stability and cooperation, stated Stelios Perrakis, Secretary- General of Greece's Ministry of Foreign Affairs during his address at MPA's Inter-Balkan Symposium today.

Responding to an MPA reporter's question regarding the matter of minorities in the Balkan region, Mr. Perrakis stated that "an ethnic minority must serve as a bridge between the coutnries and not as a source of new conflicts."

Mr. Perrakis added that often the issue of minorities is employed as an element in exercising foreign policy, in which case involvement in a country's domestic affairs under he pretext of "protecting minorities" creates vast problems. A.F.

[13] F.R.Y.: DISGRUNTLED OPPOSITION APPEALS TO RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN

The plot thickens in the current crisis plaguing the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, as the country's disgruntled opposition has called on Russian President Boris Yeltsin to separate himself from the position adopted by the Russian delegation during the OSCE Summit -held in Lisbon recently-, which refused to condemn the Serb authorities for annulling the results in the country's local elections where the oppotion appeared to prevail.

One of the oppostion's leaders, Vuk Drascovic of the three- member coalition Zajedno (Together), stated today that Russia must stop protecting the Serb President's Slobodan Milosevic regime.

Today, 100,000 of Yugoslav students and Zajedno followers rallied in the streets of Belgrade for the 19th successive day, carrying placards which depicted Milosevic as wearing prison garb.

Meanwhile, Belgrade's Electoral Commission is expected tomorrow to issue its ruling on the annulment, a decision awaited with great optimism by the opposition. At the same time, Serb Minister of Information Alexander Tianic resigned from his post today, stating that his personal view of how the mass media should work differes from that of the State's. A.F.

[14] JOURNALISM SERVES AS MIRROR WHERE BALKAN PEOPLES SEE THEIR REFLECTIONS

Knowing that a lot of blood has been shed in the history of the Balkan region, it is still not a difficult task to achieve cooperation in the region today, stated Stefan Velev, the General Director of the alkan Information Pool (BIP) in Bulgaria, during his address at MPA's Inter-Balkan Symposium.

Mr. Velev, who is also the Secretary-General of the AssociatIon of Balkan News Agencies (ABNA), stated that it is today's journalists who will create the new, true order of information in the Balkans and emphasized the need to create common organization, such as data banks and Balkan press offices.

He characteristically stated that "through the mirror of information, one can see his Balkan neighbor extending his hand." A.F.

[15] IGNORANCE IS DEMOCRACY'S WORST ENEMY, SAYS BULGARIAN JOURNALIST

Taking the podium during today's session of the MPA's Inter- Balkan Symposium, Executive Secretary of Bulgaria's alkan Information Pool (BIP) Jana Kojouharova emhasized that the role of Balkan news agencies is to provide accurate and reliable information, adding that a well-informed public is open to new points of view.

"The formation of public opinion depends on the information we provide," Ms. Kojouharova said, adding that "ignorance is democracy's worst enemy."

Also addressing the Symposium today, Professor Milorad Ekmecic, a member of the Academy of Sciences in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, discussed the significance of the Balkan region for Europe.

Professor Ekmecic pointed out that Europe has now focused its attention on specific Balkan regions such as Bosporus, the Dardanelles, Istanbul, Belgrade and Macedonia.

Referring to Belgrade, Prof. Ekmecic stated that this Yugoslav city was not merely a suburbian center, but also served as the dividing line between eastern and western Europe during war periods. A.F.

[16] THE EU FOREIGN MINISTERS WILL DISCUSS A MAASTRICHT TREATY REVISION PLAN

Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos is expected to reiterate the greek government positions on the Maastricht Treaty revision plan the Irish EU Presidency gave to publicity yesterday, in the EU Foreign Ministers meeting held in Brussels today in preparation of the EU Summit in Dublin.

Mr.Pangalos will stress the need for a more clear and strong statement to be issued concerning the community's border protection from threats coming from third countries, while he will also stress the need for a more complete statement on the protection of the territorial integrity of the EU and its member- states.

The Greek Foreign Minister is expected to make it clear that he is opposed to any proposal for the adoption of the flexibility principle promoted by France and Germany which, according to Greece, leads to a Europe of two speeds. N.X.

[17] ALBANIAN ACADEMICIAN ADDRESSES MPA'S INTERBALKAN SYMPOSIUM

Albanian academician Paskal Milo addressed the MPA's Inter- Balkan Symposium yesterday evening wherein he eloquently spoke on "The Balkan Cooperation and Understanding, from Utopia to Necessity."

In his address, Prof. Milo emphasized that although Balkan cooperation is a regional process, it must not be forgotten that the Balkans is not an isolated isle, "it is part of Europe, a region where have crossed and cross not only the roads from West to East, but also the interests of the Big Powers."

Moreover, Prof. Milo pointed out that the Balkan good understanding and cooperation is a complex process, which should be carried out in a step by step way.

He also spoke of the region's religious diversity, a factor which, according to Prof. Milo, has negatively influenced the relations among the Balkan peoples as it has at times bred hatred among the religious communities and has often degenerated even to the cultivation of xenophobia and racial discrimination. A.F.

[18] THE DEATH PENALTY IS ABOLISHED IN THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE MEMBER-STATES

The abolition of the death penalty in all the member-states of the Council of Europe was confirmed during a conference held in Kiev, Ukraine organized by the organization's Parliamentary Assembly in cooperation with the Ukrainian Justice Ministry.

During the conference, a special reference was made to Russia and Ukraine, which continue to violate Council of Europe principles, while the need was stressed for the total abolition of the death penalty in the next three years. N.X.

[19] TENSIONS IN SERBIA ARE EASING-OFF

The tense situation in Serbia due to the opposition's anti- government demonstrations, is gradually defusing as a result of the strong pressures exerted on Serb President Slobodan Milosevic both from inside the country, the EU and the United States. The Serb President now appears more willing to compromise and give way to the opposition's demands.

The Electoral Committee decision to appeal to the country's Supreme Court for the reexamination of a Belgrade court ruling based on which were annuled 45 of the 110 seats in the city's Town Council, as well as, the decision for the reopening of the independent radio station "B-92 and the broacast without interference of radio station "Index", are being interpreted as moves made by Milosevic for the de-escalation of the situation which had taken dangerous dimensions. N.X.

[20] GREEKS SHOULDN'T NEED A VISA TO ENTER ROMANIA, STATES ACADEMICIAN N.TANASOKA

Vice-President of the Romanian Academy of Sciences, Nikolae Tanasoka speaking to MPA suggested the establishment of a Bucharest-Athens-Thessaloniki axis for the cooperation and mutual support between Romania and Greece.

Mr.Tanasoka, who is currently in Thessaloniki participating in the Inter-Balkan Conference "E.Venizelos-A.Papanastasiou, 60 years after: the Idea of Inter-Balkan Cooperation" organized by MPA, stressed that there is a great cooperation prospect for Greece and Romania because both countries share the same way of thinking, adding that this can be proven by the fact that they had successfully cooperated in the past.

Mr.Tanasoka stated that in the 18th century Romania the greek language was the country's second language, the language of higher education, while he stressed that the Greeks should not be needing a visa to enter Romania.

Regarding the important changes underway in Romania he said characteristically that this is the end of a whole era and now is the time for great hopes adding that this is the first time after "the death of communism" that such a change takes place without the use of force. N.X.

[21] A CURRENCY EXCHANGE COUNCIL WILL BE FORMED IN BULGARIA

Valeri Zapryanov, Director of the bulgarian political weekly magazine "Sega", stated to MPA that Bulgaria will have a Currency Exchange Council in one or two months aimed at the recovery of the country's economy.

Mr.Zapryanov stated that for such a Council to be established, which will be under the supervision of the International Monetary Fund, an economic framework is necessary to be created with strict rules on the banking system. The Bulgarian leading journalist, who is in Thessaloniki for the MPA Conference, stated that positive results will appear two years after the Council's establishment and therefore the bulgarian people must be patient.

Commenting on the Socialist Party Congress that will be held on December 21-22, expressed the view that Jan Videnov will keep both the posts of the party leadership and the country's Premiership.

Regarding to the results of the recent presidential elections, mr.Zapryanov attributed the Socialist Party defeat to the discontent of its supporters and also to the fact that the opposition appeared united for the first time.

The newly elected Bulgarian President Petar Stoyanov was described by mr.Zapryanov as an energetic politician who played a leading role in uniting the opposition forces. N.X.

[22] THE IDEA OF INTER-BALKAN COOPERATION MUST BE FURTHER PROMOTED

In the second day of the Symposium "E.Venizelos - A.Papanastasiou 60 years after: The idea of Inter-Balkan Cooperation" organized in Thessaloniki by MPA, was stressed the need for the promotion of the idea of Inter-Balkan cooperation and understanding not only among governments but among state and non governmental organizations as well.

Bulgarian Prof.Dimitar Entsev speaking in the conference apologized for the soccer terminology he uses and stressed that "the Balkans is a challenge, the football field everyone is familiar with. All of us have grown up here, we have learned how to play and we know the other teams".

Mr.Entsev said that "the Balkans and the Balkan cooperation is a one-way street for us, in order to qualify for Europe". He went on by saying that he is certain that this forum is a part of a joint Balkan training aimed at being jointly qualified for the pan-european games, as he described the cooperation of the Balkan states within the framework of a wider European Community.

Finally, he stressed that such moves, like the MPA organized Symposium, contribute to the consolidation of stability in the Balkans.

In his speech University of Thrace professor Ioannis Papandrinos specializing in Balkan issues referred to the relations between Greece and Serbia in 1914 during the WWI. He said that based on documents found in the yugoslav archives the relations between the two countries, which were based on the greek- serb alliance and the May 1913 militacy accord, were being directed then by two leading politicians, the Greek Eleftherios Venizelos and Prime Minister of Serbia Nicola Pasic.

Romanian News Agency, "Rompress", General Director mr.Neagu Udroiu referred to the problems created in the former Eastern Block countries pointing out that they are the result of the new balance they try to establish based on old infrastructure. He said that those countries have as common target the market economy but they have different historical and economic problems.

He stressed that the Balkans is the friendly home where people greet one another adding that "religion and language make us different but we have common manners and customs". He said that he has a dream of a region where everyone will be closer to each other adding that the politicians and the teachers will find a way to close the gap and unite the Balkan peoples.

He also gave a special emphasis on the role of journalists and their contribution to the transformation of the Balkans into a region of friendship and cooperation. N.X.

[23] SESSION OF S.E. EUROPEAN COOPERATIVE INITIATIVE ENDS TODAY IN GENEVA

The two-day session of the South East European Cooperative Initiative (SECI) concluded in Geneva today, with the participation of all Balkan countries, Greece among them, except the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

An american initiative, SECI aims to develop regional cooperation among the southeastern European countries in the sectors of communications, transit, structures, energy, environment, etc.

Greece was represented by the undersecratry of National Economy Al. Baltas. A.F.

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/