Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 96-12-13

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, December 13, 1996

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] GREEK PREMIER IN DUBLIN TO ADDRESS EUROPEAN UNION SUMMIT

The European Union's Economic and Monetary Union, as provided for in the Maastricht Treaty, will be the focus of the EU Summit, held today and tomorrow in Dublin.

The Summit is deemed as crucial, since the EU's "15" are billed to examine ways to promote the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) and the planned reform of the Maastricht Treaty, which is now entering its last phase expected to be continued until at least the end of June 1997.

Within the specrtrum of Maastricht's imminent revision, Greek Premier Kostas Simitis stressed the importance of securing Greece's borders being that these are the EU's external borders as well.

Moreover, the Premier will support Greece's positions regarding the EU's complex process towards a single currency and drachma's role within the system.

Meanwhile, two formal dinners to be hosted by the EU's Irish President Dick Spring, one this evening and the other tomorrow, are awaited with anticipation. This evening's affair will surely include talks among the "15" on the future of relations between Turkey and the EU, while present at tomorrow's EU Foreign Minsters dinner will also be Turkey's Foreign Minister Tansu Ciller. The strained relations between Greece and Turkey are expected to be at the center of these discussions.

Greece's Foreign Minister, Theodoros Pangalos, is expected to reiterate Mr. Simitis' position during his meeting yesterday with Dutch Premier Wim Kok, that is, prior to any dialogue with Turkey, this country must actively display its good intent towards Greece.

This position refers to the common statement issued by the EU's Foreign Ministers last July, wherein they called on Turkey not to resort to violence -or the threat of the use thereof- but, instead, to solve in a peaceful manner any whatsoever differences it deems it has with Greece, to resort to the International Court of Justice at The Hague for any territorial claims it has in the Aegean and to respect the rules and principles of International Law and international accords and agreements.

It is expected that both the Premier and the Foreign Minister will demand that this statement be included unabridged in the document of the common position to be presented by the EU member- states during the EU-Turkey Association Council.

The Greek Premier is also accompanied by 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] EU SUMMIT: PREMIER SIMITIS DEPLORES TURKEY'S THREATS TO GREEK SOVEREIGNTY

Prime Minister Kostas Simitis in his speech in the European Council, which meets in Dublin, Ireland underlined the special and great difficulties faced by Greece in its effort to meet certain of the criteria for the European integration.

Mr.Simitis stressed that one basic cause of the difficulties faced is Turkey's continuing aggressive behaviour which is still a factor of destabilization in the wider region and a threat against Greece's sovereign rights.

The Prime Minister underlined in the EU Summit meeting that the armaments race and Turkey's threats unavoidably affect Greece's positions and choices in a number of other issues such as, its obligation concerning the convergence of its economy with the EU. Mr.Simitis stressed that, for example, the adoption of the new armaments programme aimed at facing Turkey's threats constitutes an additional annual economic burden which in the medium-term will overshoot by 1% Greece's GDP making almost unfeasible the timely fulfilment of the Maastricht criteria.

The same cause affects Greece's position in the Inter- Governmental Conference, for example, on issues of defence and foreign policy and Prime Minister Simitis reiterated the need for a joint foreign policy and political security in the EU that will safeguard its external borders and this way Greece will stop feeling constantly threatened by its neighbour, Turkey.

Prime Minister Simitis and Minister of Defence Akis Tsohatzopoulos who participated in yesterday's meeting of the Socialist Party leaders stated that the discussion and the proposals presented in the meeting were positive and were made in an atmosphere of mutual confidence.

Both mr.Simitis and mr.Tsohatzopoulos said "No" to a stability pact with automatic mechanisms. In statements mr.Simitis made afterwards, stressed that such automatic mechanisms are not admissible because a stability pact must be flexible enough for the member-states to have the ability to adjust their economies to developments and be able to face crisis.

[03] GREECE'S NATIONAL ECONOMY AND FINANCE MINISTER OPTIMISTIC IN DUBLIN

After an 11-hour marathon session of ECOFIN held in Dublin today, Greece's National Economy and Finance Minister Yiannos Papantoniou emerged optimistic over Greece's course in the European Union.

In a press conference following the session, Mr. Papantoniou stated that issues concerning the Economic and Monetary Union were discussed by the "15" and resulted in a report on fiscal discipline which was submitted to the European Council today.

The report foresees that those countries which will enter the single currency will respect tight budget deficit limits thereafter. A.F.

[04] THE GREEK GOVERNMENT WILL ISSUE A DEMARCHE TO THE US WHICH DISPUTES THE 10-MILE LIMIT OF THE GREEK AIR SPACE

The Greek Government will issue a demarche to the United States which disputes the Greek national air space 10-mile limit. It was announced in Parliament today by Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Christos Rozakis in response to a question made by opposition New Democracy Party vice-President, Yiannis Varvitsiotis.

Mr.Rozakis reiterated that the greek government will examine any mediation proposals based on whether they serve the greek national interests. He said that the government intends to issue the demarche after the end of the diplomats' strike while he responded to the question on possible mediatory efforts pointing out that any proposals made will not be accepted blindly.

Mr.Varvitsiotis had alleged that a climate of concern is being formed and had added that the United States had never stated in the past that the Greek air space is limited to six nautical miles.

[05] MINISTERS-FARMERS MEETING IN THESSALONIKI ENDS IN IMPASSE

The Government's inflexibility faced the farmers' stubborness and resulted in an impasse when the Ministers of Agriculture Stephanos Tzoumakas and Macedonia-Trace Philippos Petsalnikos conferred with representatives of striking farmers in Thessaloniki this evening.

Mr. Tzoumakas insisted on the Government's terms to end the farmers roadblocks that have hurt the country's economic vitality.

The farmers, on the other hand, remained firm on their terms, calling on the Government to satisfy their demands. The strikers vowed to continue and to strengthen their blockades.

Earlier, the President of the Farmers' Union of Thessaloniki Spyros Salliakis had asked the farmers to end their roadblocks. A.F.

[06] AGRICULTURE MINISTER IN THESSALONIKI TODAY TO MEET WITH LOCAL FARMERS

Minister of Agriculture Stephanos Tzoumakas will meet with farmers' representatives in a session officiated by the Minister of Macedonia-Thrace Philippos Petsalnikos in Thessaloniki today.

Mr. Tzoumakas will also participate at the European Councils' Agriculture Minister's Council, to be held in Brussels on Monday, where he is expected to table the problems faced by the cotton producers in Central Greece's Thessaly and the farmers in Xanthi whose land was devastated by torrential floods recently.

Last night, protesting farmers lifted the roadblock that was obstructing access to Promahona's customs at Serres, while the number of farmers blocking access to Evros' customs has significantly been reduced and those who have remained are far more flexible in allowing the passage of cars and lorries. The customs at Ormenio, towards Bulgaria, and Kastanies, towards Turkey, remain blocked.

In the greater Thessaloniki region, farmers blocking the road to eastern Macedonia have freed the access, but instead have moved to the crossroads that give access to the airport "Macedonia" and the region of Malgara in western Macedonia.

The two roadblocks in the prefect of Rodopi are a thing of the past, while the roadblocks in Drama have been reduced from ten to four.

Meanwhile, although farmers in Thessaloniki and Achaia -in the Peloponnese- have apparently eased off in their protests, their counterparts in central Greece's Thessaly continue their mobilizations for the 16th successive day.

Today, the Association of Northern Greece's Exporters and Thessaloniki's Trade Association filed suits for economic damages against the country's protesting farmers for obstruction of transportation and against the state agencies for breach of duty.

The Government intends to face their protests with prudence, according to Prime Minister Kostas Simitis.

Main opposition party leader, New Democracy's Miltiades Evert, stated today that the Government is obliged to take a step back and said that a compromised has to be reached since there are no losers or winners in this story.

Aleka Paparega, Secretary-General of the Communist Party of Greece, today embarked on a three-day tour through Thessaly and will visit roadblocks in Larissa. A.F.

[07] GREECE-FYROM TALKS TO BE CONTINUED NEXT TUESDAY IN NEW YORK

Representatives from Greece and FYROM will meet next Tuesday, 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 contacts. A.F.

[08] GREECE-FYROM TO COOPERATE ON ARCHITECTURAL RESTORATION

Greece and FYROM will cooperate in the restoration and maintenance of architectural buildings, as per an agreement to be signed in Thessaloniki on Sunday between the Technical Chamber's Central Macedonia Department and FYROM's Institute for the Protection of Architectural Heritage.

According to the Institute's President Jovan Ristov, there are currently 1,500 buildings in his country in urgent need of restoration.

"The group that deals with these studies and their restoration is composed of only 200 persons, who are able to undertake only 20-30 buildings annually. On the other hand, new technology updates are necessary, and the cooperation with the Greek chamber will be very helpful," Ristov said.

The cooperation agreement will also foresee an overall exhange of views in order for both sides to participate in a program funded by the European Commission for the restoration of monuments. A.F.

[09] THE LANGUAGE OF THE GREEK-SPEAKING POPULATION IN CALABRIA IS STILL ALIVE AFTER 25 CENTURIES

The dialect of the greek-speaking population in Southern Italy, which is a combination of the ancient greek and the byzantine languages, is alive for 25 centuries and now has its own grammar written by Dr.Philippo Kondemi from the city of Reggio. Literature prof.Angela Merianou, who has translated it into modern greek and italian stressed to MPA that this grammar now has its place in the italian education system.

Ms.Merianou, who has dedicated 35 years of her life to the greek-speaking population in Southern Italy and is known as their "mother", stated that recently she presented this grammar to Greek Consular to Naples, Miltiadis Hiskakis and to mr.Nikas professor in the University of Naples, both of whom were present when the proposal for the publication of this grammar was made in Thessaloniki two years ago.

It should be noted, that in Southern Italy lives today a greek-speaking population of about 15-20 thousand, who want not only to preserve their language but also to learn it based on a written grammar.

Dr.Kondemi, the son of greek-speaking parents, decided to write a simplified grammar easy to be used by the simple people and school students.

Ms.Merianou described this grammar as the biggest project made for the region's greek-speaking population and added that will offer new prospects to the children who want to learn the dialect correctly.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[10] EURO, EUROPEAN UNION'S SINGLE CURRENCY, UNVEILED TODAY IN DUBLIN

The European Union's single currency, Euro, was unveiled in Ireland's Central Bank today, with a concurrent event taking place at the Central Bank of Europe, in Frankfurt.

The banknote's design illustrates the course of the continent's cultural history, starting from classical Greece, to the Roman period, through the Renaissance, the Baroque period and the 21st century.

On its other face, the banknote features the Europe of the "15" and the EU's star-studded flag, along with a bridge signifying the passage from one era to another.

The money bill is earmarked for circulation by 1999, if everything goes as planned. Euro will be printed in bills of 5, 10, 20, 50, 120 and 500, with a total worth of 12.5 billion, an amount equalling DM12.5 billion. A.F.

[11] SOUTH EUROPE'S CULTURE MINISTERS MEET IN PARIS, SIGN COMMON STATEMENT

Culture Ministers from south Europe's five countries concluded their meeting in Paris today with a signing of a "common statement' which includes an agreement to create a network of exhcanging audio-visual and movie programs.

According to Greece's Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos, the mastermind of the network proposal, the audio-visual market is a prerequisite for maintaining the cultural identity of south European countries.

The five culture ministers are to meet again on January, 31, 1997, in Thessaloniki, when the city will be the apple of Europe's eye, as "Cultural Capital of Europe".

Moreover, during the first six months of 1997, the European Union's Culture Ministers are to meet with their counterparts from Latin America and the Mediterranean region. A.F.

[12] GREEK-CYPRIOT NEW ARMAMENTS WORRY TURKEY

Cypriot Foreign Minister Alekos Michailidis commenting on his Turkish counterpart intention to visit Moscow in an effort to avert the purchasing of the Russian S300 missile system, described Turkey as being annoyed and worried over the purchasing of new armaments for the Cypriot National Guard.

Mr.Michailidis stressed that Turkey is worried over the Cypriot armaments programme and added that Cyprus has to be supplied with new armaments in response to the armaments race in the Turkish occupied part of Cyprus.

Reffering to the statements made by British Foreign Minister Malcolm Rifkind on Cyprus, mr.Michailidis characterized them as "very positive" and stated that his visit to the island will mark the beginning of Britain's more essential involvement to a solution of the Cyprus issue.

[13] NEGOTIATIONS FOR CYPRUS' ACCESSION INTO THE EU WILL START AS SCHEDULED

Irish Foreign Minister Dick Spring gave the assurance that the negotiations for Cyprus' accession into the European Union will start as scheduled in statements he made on the sidelines of the EU Summit meeting in Dublin.

In an interview with the Cypriot News Agency mr.Spring, who is presiding over the EU Foreign Ministers' Council, referred to the contents of the talks he will have with Turkish Foreign Minister Tansu Ciller and stated that on the agenda will be the relations between the EU and Turkey, the customs union, the development of economic relations and human rights. Ms.Ciller is expected in Dublin tomorrow for talks with the Irish Foreign Minister.

[14] UNITED NATIONS NEW SECRETARY-GENERAL IS KOFI ANNAN FROM GHANA

The new Secretary-General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, from Ghana, was elected today by the Security Council's unanimous vote after France withdrew its veto.

Following today's conference, the Security Council's members stated that "a new day is dawning for the African continent."

Mr. Annan, who has served as the UN's deputy secretary- general on peacekeeping missions, replaces Butros-Butros Ghali, who graciously congratulated his successor and wished him success in his work. A.F.

[15] MPA PARTICIPATES IN UNICEF'S MARATHON OF LOVE IN THE INTERNET

The Macedonian Press Agency will participate in the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) worldwide fight against child labor, by featuring a hope page on its Internet server (http://www.mpa.gr).

Those who have access to the Internet will be able to provide aid and relief to the world's 250 million working children.

UNICEF was founded on December 11, 1946, to provide help to children-survivors of World War II in the Middle East and China.

In 1953, UNICEF became a permanent part of the UN and its new role is to meet the long-range needs of the children in developing countries, Africa, Asia and Latin America.

In 1965, the organization was bestowed the Nobel Peace prize "for the help it provides to all children, independently of race, religion, nationality or political beliefs."

In 1989, the UN General Assembly adopted the Agreement for the Rights of Children, which, up to date, has been ratified by 183 countries, Greece among them.

Between 1947-69 UNICEF provided Greece with ten million dollars in aid. A.F.

[16] SERB PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC CALLS ON OSCE TO REVIEW LOCAL ELECTION RESULTS

The Federal Yugoslav Republic's (FRY) Serb President Slobodan Milosevic has invited a committee of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to Belgrade, in order to examine the results of last month's local elections.

Meanwhile, Milosevic forwarded a letter to the U.S. State Department Secretary Warren Christopher wherein he supports the decision to rehold the elections in select municipalities.

Yesterday, Italian Foreign Minister Laberto Dini characterized as "unrealistic" the demands of the F.R.Y.'s main opposition, the three-member coalition Zajedno (Together), to restore the annulled outcome of last month's local elections in those municipalities where Zajedno had prevailed.

Mr. Dini met with Milosevic, as well as the leaders of Zajedno. 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/