Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 96-12-11

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, December 11, 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 TO FOCUS ON DEFENSE, SECURITY, COMMON FOREIGN POLICY IN DUBLIN

The Greek delegation set to participate at the European Union's Summit meeting in Dublin tomorrow will focus on issues concerning the common foreign policy and the policy of defense and security, in light of the imminent Intergovernmental Conference.

In a press conference today, alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou stated that Prime Minister Kostas Simitis will focus on the issue of territorial integrity and the border inviolability of EU member-states, an issue that, as he stated, highly concerns Greece.

In Dublin tomorrow, Mr. Simitis will be accompanied by Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos, and the Ministers of National Economy and Finance Yiannos Papantoniou, Press and Mass Media Dimitris Reppas, alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou and PASOK eurodeputy Yiannos Kranidiotis. A.F.

[02] INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORT TRUCKERS IMMOBILIZED IN GREECE'S BLOCKED ROADS

About 3,000 lorry drivers transporting goods through Greece for international companies have been rendered immobile upon reaching the barricades and makeshift camps springing up in the middle of the country's national highways from the protesting farmers.

Six hundred and fifty of these trucks belong to foreign countries, the majority of which are from the Balkans (Bulgaria, Turkey and Romania, and the remainder from Germany, France, Britain and Iraq.

Today, thirty of the 70 turkish trucks that had been lining up at the turkish side of the border entered Greece and, according to customs officials, the remaining 40 are expected to move on tomorrow. A.F.

[03] BRITISH, DUTCH AMBASSADORS MEET WITH MINISTER OF THE INTERIOR TODAY

The Minister of the Interior, Public Administration and Decentralization Alekos Papadopoulos received the Ambassadors of Britain and Holland today who expressed their chagrin over the situation that has arisen from the farmers' mobilizations.

Specifically, the two foreign diplomats expressed their concern for the drivers of international transport trucks who have remained immobilized at the borders.

Mr. Papadopoulos assured them that he will undertake the necessary actions in order to resolve the problems.

Meanwhile, the German Embassy issued a demarche to the Greek Foreign Ministry asking the Greek Government to aid the German truck drivers in bypassing the farmer's roadblocks.

Moreover, Germany inquired as to what authorities it must appeal to in case it chooses to file legal claims for damages. A.F.

[04] GREEK PREMIER IN THE HAGUE TODAY, IN DUBLIN TOMORROW

Prime Minister Kostas Simitis is in Holland today, where he will meet with his Dutch counterpart whose country is set to hold the European Union's rotating Presidency on January 1, 1997.

Tomorrow, the Premier will move on to Dublin, Ireland, in order to attend the EU Summit meeting which will address the Intergovernmental Conference.

Premier Simitis is accompanied by Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos, and the Ministers of National Economy and Finance Yiannos Papantoniou, Press and Mass Media Dimitris Reppas, alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou and PASOK eurodeputy Yiannos Kranidiotis. A.F.

[05] GREEK FARMERS UNPERSUADED BY PREMIER'S PROMISES, TO CONTINUE PROTESTS

Having entered the second week of mobilizations, Greek farmers' unions decided last night to press on with their protests, unpersuaded by the Premier's promise that as soon as their roadblocks are lifted the Government will proceed to dialogues.

Meanwhile, 80 exporting firms in northern Greece have stated that they've undergone economic losses that amount to 6.6 billion drachmas. A.F.

[06] AVALANCHE OF STRIKES UNTIL DECEMBER 17, PARLIAMENT'S "BUDGET DAY"

The avalanche of strikes rolls on today throughout the country, with secondary school teachers -in both the public and private sectors- embarking on a three-day strike, while doctors of the state-owned Social Security Foundation (IKA) continue their four-day strike, joined by public hospital staff who will hold a five-hour work stoppage.

Yesterday, pensioners held ralllies in Greece's largest cities, protesting the Government's economic policy and the 1997 state budget. Their representatives will meet with Labor Minister Miltiades Papaioannou this afternoon, entering a new round of talks with the Government.

Greece's labor force will hold a massive rally on December 17, the day the state budget will be discussed in Parliament's plenary session, in addition to a three-hour work stoppage, all in protest of the Government's economic policies.

The General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE), with three million members, demands that state revenue be redistributed in a way that is more beneficial to social policies, that the taxing system be restructured and that tax brackets be indexed.

The Civil Servants Supreme Administrative Council (ADEDY) will also hold a country-wide strike on December 17, joined by kindergarten and primary school teachers. Customs officials will hold three-hour work stoppages on that day as well. A.F.

[07] THE FARMERS' MOBILIZATIONS IN THESSALY ENTERED THEIR 14TH DAY

Farmers in Thessaly, in central Greece, continue their mobilizations but in certain points of the provincial road network in Northern Greece and the Peloponnese farmers are ending their blockades.

At noon today, a meeting was held in Athens for the handling of the situation with the participation of Argiculture Minister Stephanos Tzoumakas, Minister of Environment, Planning and Public Works Kostas Laliotis, Undersecretaries of Argiculture Dimitris Sotirlis and Vasilis Geranidis, PASOK's Central Committee Secretary Kostas Skandalidis, PASOK's Executive Bureau member Theodoros Tsoukatos as well as, prefects and PASOK's prefectural committees from Karditsa and Trikala.

New Democracy leader Miltiadis Evert visited the blockades in Larisa after an invitation by the farmers and had a meeting with their Coordinating Committee.

Meanwhile, Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas appealed to the farmers to lift the blockades freeing the road networks and called on them to enter a dialogue with the government. Mr.Reppas strongly criticized the main opposition party leader on the occasion of his visit to the farmers' blockades and accused him of being irresponsible and a populist.

[08] ANY AGGRESSIVE ACTION AGAINST CYPRUS CONSTITUTES A CAUSE OF WAR FOR GREECE, STATED THE GREEK MINISTER OF DEFENCE

Minister of Defence Akis Tsohatzopoulos met today with President Kostis Stephanopoulos in the Presidential building in Athens.

In statements he made after the meeting, mr.Tsohatzopoulos underlined that any aggressive action against Cyprus constitutes an act of war for Greece. He said that regardless of the origin of a threat for an attack against Cyprus it constitutes causus belli and will be dealt with in the same fashion that any aggressive act is being handled.

Earlier, mr.Tsohatzopoulos had a meeting with his Cypriot counterpart mr.Eliadis. The two men agreed on the need for the strengthening of the joint defence with the promotion of infrastructure projects and new armaments. Also, they gave the assurance that the annual joint military exercises programme between the two countries will take place as scheduled.

Mr.Tsohatzopoulos stated that the use of force is established by certain sides as a means of coercion into compromise and compliance, adding that in this case too the response can only be an adequate defence.

[09] GREEK PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT IN TIBLISI'S INTER-PARLIAMENTARY UNION ASSEMBLY

The president of the Hellenic Parliament Apostolos Kaklamanis met with his Georgian counterpart and Georgia's Foreign Minister today in Tiblisi, within the framework of the eighth Inter- Parliamentary Union Assembly meeting of the Black Sea Cooperation Pact countries.

Tomorrow, when Mr. Kaklamanis will be appointed the Assembly's President for the first six months of 1997, he will emphasize the significance Greece grants to the expansion of cooperation among the Black Sea region countries. A.F.

[10] WORLD HELLENISM COUNCIL'S PRESIDIUM MEETS IN THESSALONIKI THIS 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 Minister of Foreign Affairs George Papandreou, who oversees issues concerning Greeks living abroad, and the Greeks Abroad Secretary-General Stavros Labrinides.

The President of SAE, Andrew Athens, and other members of the Presidium arrived in Athens yesterday. A.F.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[11] TURKISH PUBLISHERS ACCUSE THEIR COUNTRY OF CENSORSHIP IN EUROPARLIAMENT

Some of the biggest names in Turkey's journalism community, among them the publishers of the country's largest papers (Huriyet, Sabah, Yeni Yuzyil and Milliyet), told the European Parliament today that their government attempts to silence the press through repressive laws.

The president of the Europarliament's Socialist Group Pauline Green, joined by the presidents of the Liberals Group, the United European Left, the Greens and the Coalition of European Radicals, listened to the Turkish publishers state that their government has a vengeful tendency towards the press.

"We are threatened with an imposed press code," stated the publisher of Huriyet Ertugrul Ozkiok, adding that this code certainly bears negative consequences, such as austere censorship, although the public opinion is Turkey is favorable to a free press.

Moreover, Mr. Ozliok stated that his country's mass media representatives resorted to party leaders in parliament but to no avail.

The publisher of Sabah, Zafer Mutlu, asked the European Parliament to display increased interest for Turkey, "which must become a member of the European Union."

He went on to say that "we believed that Mme. Ciller (Turkey's Foreign Minister) was enlightened, in relation with her fervent decisiveness for accession to the EU, but she has a vengeful stance towards journalists because a part of the media did not support her during the pre-election campaign."

Responding to relevant questions tabled by Greek eurodeputies Yiannis Roubatis and George Katiforis, a Sabah journalist stated that the only authority allowed to implement and execute laws in Turkey is the government in power, not the courts. There is no such thing as independence of courts in Turkey, he said. A.F.

[12] F.R.Y.:OPPOSITION CONTINUES TO RALLY, ALBANIAN PRESIDENT EXPRESSES SUPPORT

The Federal Yugoslav Republic's (FRY) main opposition, the three-member coalition Zajedno (Together), and Yugoslav students continue to rally in the streets of Belgrade for three weeks straight, this time expanded to include the city's labor force.

A European Parliament envoy is expected to arrive in Belgrade this week to have contacts with opposition leaders and Belgrade's student community.

Meanwhile in Tirana today, Albanian President Sali Berisha officially expressed his support for Zajedno's protests. A.F.

[13] HUNGARY'S PARLIAMENT RATIFIES ACCORD STABILIZING RELATIONS WITH ROMANIA

With 249 votes in favor and 53 against, the Hungarian Parliament today ratified the accord for stabilizing its country's relations with Romania, an agreement signed between the two countries in September.

The accord foresees that Hungary must respect the existing borders between the two countries and, in turn, that Romania protect the rights of the hungarian minority currently living there. A.F.

[14] THE UN SECRETARY-GENERAL BLAMES TURKEY AND THE TURKISH- CYPRIOTS FOR THE RECENT KILLINGS OF GREEK-CYPRIOTS

UN Secretary-General Boutros Ghali blames the Turkish and the Turkish-Cypriot side for the recent killings of Greek-Cypriots in Cyprus, in a written report on the Cyprus issue he submitted to the UN Security Council. Mr.Ghali underlines that the situation in Cyprus has worsened in the last six months and points out that there is a need for efforts to be undertaken by the Cypriot government and the Turkish-Cypriot community for the overturning of the negative climate that has been created.

Mr.Ghali underlines in his report that there had been violent incidents along the cease-fire line including the unnecessary and disproportionate use of force by the Turkish and the Turkish- Cypriot side to a level that had not been observed since 1974. The UN Secretary-General stressed that those actions had as a result hostility and an increasing lack of confidence between the two communities.

Referring to the military presence in Cyprus, mr.Ghali expresses deep concern over the excessive levels of military presence and armaments on its territory as well as, over their pace of reinforcement and modernization which, according to the UN Secretary-General, will have as a result the increase of tension not only in Cyprus but in the wider region as well.

Pointing out that there was no progress in taking measures aimed at the disarmament and the abandoning of certain military outposts along the "green line", mr.Ghali underlined the need for the Cypriot government and the Turkish-Cypriot community to make a serious effort toward changing the negative stance observed in the past few months leading the two communities toward a more positive direction. For this goal to be achieved, the UN Secretary-General recommends an agreement to be reached soon between the two sides in Cyprus for the adoption of measures aimed at easing the tensions along the neutral zone.

Also, he recommends a six month extension of UNICYP's mandate in Cyprus, which is stationed in the island since 1964 and is made up of 1.192 peace-keepers from seven countries and a 35member police force.

Shortly before mr.Ghali's report was given to publicity, Turkish Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Inal Batu had warned the Cypriot government, during a visit to the occupied territories, not to be supplied with heavy weapons stating that Ankara will not tolerate the intensified threats allegedly launched against the Turkish-Cypriots.

According to BBC, the Turkish diplomat was referring to the Cypriot government's intention to purchase long range missiles from Russia.

[15] THE US PRESIDENT CALLED ON THE SERB AUTHORITIES TO RECOGNIZE THE RECENT LOCAL ELECTIONS RESULTS

US President Bill Clinton called on the Serb authorities to recognize the results of the municipal elections held last month in Serbia.

Responding to a question addressed to him during an event in the White House, he called on Serb President Milosevic to listen to the voice of the people and recognize the results of the local elections in the municipalities where the opposition was the winner.

Mr.Clinton stressed that the Serb people's human and political rights must be respected by Milosevic's government, clarified that no one wants to be involved in Serbia's internal affairs and underlined that he supports the free people who fight to express their freedom.

[16] NATO'S FOREIGN MINISTERS MEETING CONTINUED TODAY IN BRUSSELS

Foreign Ministers of NATO-member countries continue their meeting in Brussels today, discussing issues such as the Alliance's eastward expansion, the re-organization of NATO's internal structure and the replacement of IFOR, which is the Alliance-directed peacekeeping force in Bosnia.

Countries of central and eastern Europe, members of the former Warsaw Pact, will be invited to join NATO. A.F.

[17] SIX STEPS TO END CHILD LABOR IN UNICEF'S REPORT ON WORLD'S CHILDREN

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) released its annual State of the World's Children Report today, asking the international community to intensify its efforts in combating child labor.

According to the report, there is an estimated 250 million working children aged five to 14 years in the world today, which is at least one fourth of the developing world's youth, including those engaged in forced labor or prostitution.

The report's proposed six steps necessary in addressing this plight are: an immediate elimination of hazardous and exploitative child labor, free and compulsory education for every child, stricter child labor laws in every country, registration of all children at birth, monitoring and data-collecting agencies, as well as codes of conduct and procurement policies. A.F.

[18] IRAQI OIL FLOWS AGAIN AFTER UN DEAL, TURKEY AMONG FIRST BUYERS

Iraq's first crude oil exports are set to begin again, after a six-year period of sanctions imposed by the international community for Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait in August 1990.

Under the U.N. deal signed last May, Iraq will be allowed to sell $US two billion worth of crude oil for six months in exchange for food and medicines that will be distributed under strict UN supervision.

Meanwhile, before the ink dried on the Iraq-U.N. deal, Turkey's Turpas Oil Refineries signed an agreement with Iraq today for a daily supply of 75,000 oil barrels and 3,600,000 tonnes a year. A.F.

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