Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 96-12-17

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

December 17, 1996

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] 1997 BUDGET DEBATE BEGINS THIS EVENING IN PARLIAMENT'S PLENARY SESSION

A five-day debate on the 1997 budget begins in the Parliament's Plenary session this evening, albeit preceded by country-wide strike held by public servants and Greece's labor force.

Opposing the Government's austerity policy, those employed in the country's public service sector are currently participating in the 24-hour strike organised by the Civil Servants Supreme Administrative Council (ADEDY).

Also, the General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE) has announced a work stoppage for the last three hours of every shift and plans to conduct a rally this evening outside Parliament. Meanwhile, the country's seamen continue their two-day strike which they embarked on yesterday, rendering immobile the country's commercial ships and ferries.

Meanwhile, according to National Economy Deputy Minister George Drys, the 1996 State Budget's revenue will reach 7.71 trillion drachmas, while the state income deficit will not surpass the 150 billion-drachmas mark. A.F.

[02] PROTESTING FARMERS TO RALLY IN ATHENS ON THURSDAY WITH THEIR FAMILIES

Farmers from central Greece's Thessaly, the protesters' hard- core region, will bring their complaints over the Government's economic policy to Athens on Thursday, in a populous march where they will be flanked by their families.

However, Thessaloniki's local farmers have announced that they do not intend to join their counterparts from Thessaly and are due to decide tomorrow on whether or not they will keep their road barricades in place.

Meanwhile, in a move that can be construed as a goodwill gesture on behalf of the farmers, the national highway's Athens- Larisa route, up to the city of Almyros, has been opened, allowing for the unobstructed passage of traffic. Yesterday evening, Prime Minister Kostas Simitis spoke at Elefsina's Labor Center and said that the State is unable to meet the farmers' 800-billion-drachmas demands.

He reiterated that the roads must first be opened before any sort of dialogue can be held between the protesting farmers and the Government.

Meanwhile, the European Union's Agriculture Commissioner Hans Fishler and Greece's Agriculture Minister Stephanos Tzoumakas have agreed to discuss an increase of community funds to Greece's cotton producers during the upcoming EU Agriculture Ministers Council, to be held in January. A.F.

[03] ANDREW ATHENS: COOPERATION WITH THE GREEK GOVERNMENT IS COMPLETELY SATISFACTORY

President of World Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE), Andrew Athens expressed satisfaction with the contacts SAE's Presiding Board has with the Greek political leadership within the framework of its third meeting that is being held in Thessaloniki. Mr.Athens made the statement after SAE's Presiding Board meeting this morning with the Hellenes Abroad Secretary-General Stavros Lambrinidis and Parliamentary Committee members.

Mr.Athens stated that the talks with the government were very good and useful stressing that the issue is in what way Greece can be helped. He also added that decisions were made and a better job will be done in 1997.

Today's discussion was characterized as very interesting and important by the Hellenes Abroad Secretary-General who stressed the government's commitment to offer economic support to SAE in 1997 adding that it is necessary for SAE to be economically independent in the future.

Mr.Lambrinidis admitted that there was a delay in SAE's financing in 1996 due to the parliamentary elections in Greece but stressed that the funds have been approved and SEA will receive the sum provided in its 1996 budget. He underlined that in 1997 with SAE's self-financing and the government's support the funds will be larger than the 200 million drachmas provided in the budget.

Within this framework the Hellenes Abroad Secretary-General pointed out the Parliamentary Committee's commitment to assist in the effort to find financial resources for SAE.

On the issue of SAE's charter, which was one of the topics discussed today, mr.Lambrinidis mentioned that it is being examined by constitutional law spesialists and that the final plans will be presented for discussion by April.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[04] NATO DEFENSE MINISTERS MEET IN BRUSSELS TODAY

Greece's Minister of National Defense Akis Tzohatzopoulos has departed for Brussels where he will attend a two-day conference of the NATO member-countries' defense ministers which begins today. The discussions will focus on the reform of the Alliance's military structure, based on the new geo-political developments in Europe. Moreover, the attending ministers are to approve the new peacekeeping force in Bosnia, which is to replace IFOR.

Also to be brought up during the conference -albeit without any decisions expected to be drawn- will be NATO's eastwardly expansion, concurrently with the efforts to be undertaken in order to convince Russia to lift its objections over this direction.

According to a BBC broadcast, the NATO Ministers, who are accompanied by the leaders of their respective countries' General Staff, are not expected to arrive at any conclusion regarding changes in the Alliance's interior adminstrative structures given that the United States are contrary to France's proposal to place a European administrator at NATO's headquarters in Napoli, Italy.

According to BBC, Mr. Tsohatzopoulos has stated that the issue of re-activating Greece's heaquarters is not included in this conference's agenda. Nevertheless, he did clarify that in order to avoid misunderstandings, he will support the greek positions "in order to direct NATO's development from our behalf, so that it will be able to carry out its future role."

According to the broadcast's commentary, the Greek Defense Minister has made it cleat that if a NATO headquarters is established in Greece's Larisa, once the turkish reservations are lifted, it would be managed exclusively by a Greek administrator, as opposed to a Greek and a Turk taking turns on the post which was proposed by Turkish Foreign Minister Tansu Ciller a week ago.

Moreover, should any whatsoever change takes place in the functions of the NATO's headquarters in its member-countries, Greece would continue to control the Aegean's air space in its entirety, stated Mr. Tsohatzopoulos. A.F.

[05] U.S. PRESIDENT VOWS THAT HE WILL STRIVE TO SOLVE CYPRUS PROBLEM

United States President Bill Clinton once again tabled his intent to resolve the Cyprus issue, as he stated yesterday during a White House conference where he was joined by Irish Prime Minister John Bruton, the current President of the European Union's Council of Ministers, and European Commission President Jacques Santer.

President Clinton stated that ever since he came in office, he has spent a lot of time in trying to lessen the tensions and resolve the differences between Greece and Turkey. Also, he stated that he has exerted efforts in trying to resolve the problems related to Cyprus.

Moreover, the U.S. President added that the future of the EU and the U.S. will be much brighter if these issues can be resolved.

In turn, Mr. Santer stated that the EU policy concerning Cyprus has not changed since the island is a candidate-member of the European Community. A.F.

[06] BRITISH FOREIGN MINISTER: 1997 COULD BE MAKE-OR-BREAK YEAR FOR CYPRUS

British Foreign Minister Malcolm Rifkind expressed the hope today that substantial negotiations that could lead to a solution of the Cyprus problem will begin within 1997.

"I sense there is a view in both communities that 1997 is a crucial year which could mark radical progress or be a massive lost opportunity," Mr. Rifkind stated specifically.

[07] MONTREAL'S ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM FEATURES EXHIBIT ON CYPRUS

An exhibit titled "Ancient Cyprus: 8,000 Years of Culture" was inaugurated today at Montreal's Archaeological Museum, containing over 100 displays that are divided in four periods: Neolithic, Bronze Age, Iron Age and the Classical period, up to fall of the Roman Empire.

According to Montreal's daily "The Gazette", the exhibit focuses on the splendid cultural life that sprouted on the island, as well as the influences left behind by the various foreign conquerors, such as Assyrians, Persians, Egyptians, Phoenicians, and the dynamic presence of the Mycenian and Archaic cultures of Greece. A.F.

[08] TURKEY'S FOREIGN MINISTER ON VISIT TO MOSCOW

Turkish Foreign Minister Tansu Ciller has embarked on an official three-day visit to Russia, where she is expected to meet with Russian Premier Victor Cernomyrdin.

Specifically, according to turkish daily "Zaman", Ms. Ciller is expected to convey her concern over the reports that the Cypriot government intends to purchase a missile-system from Moscow. The Turkish Foreign Minister will aim to secure a promise from Moscow that it will not promote the arms build-up race in the Mediterranean.

Shortly before Ms. Ciller's departure from Turkey, the Russian Ambassador to Ankara reminded her that Cyprus is an independent state, and a member of the United Nations, therefore retains the right to purchase its military outfittings from wherever it wishes. A.F.

[09] BULGARIA AWAITS INVITATION TO PARTAKE IN SFOR-BOSNIA

Bulgaria awaits an invitation to participate in the new peacekeeping forces assigned to Bosnia, according to Sofia daily "Duma".

According to Bulgarian Foreign Ministry officials, the catch is that Bulgaria must provide for the salaries of its participants in order to be allowed to partake in the missions to Bosnia. A.F.

[10] ROMANIAN AUTHORITIES ARREST URANIUM TRAFFICKERS

In Bucharest today, Romanian authorities arrested nine persons suspected of trafficking uranium hidden in loaves of bread.

Accrodng to Rompress, the ten highly dangerous radioactive tablets were made up of Uranium 238, a substance considered by experts as being 1,260 times stronger than normal radioactivity. The tablets were discovered in a bag containing ten loaves of bread which was to be handed over to a Swiss citizen.

The uranium is supposed to be of military origin and can be used on nuclear submarines. It is sold on the black market at approximately $6,000 per gram. A.F.

[11] DANISH BUSINESSMEN ARE FREEZING THEIR INVESTMENTS IN TURKEY

Danish businessmen appear to be very sensitive to the issue of human rights violations in Turkey.

Denmark's Industry Chamber postponed indefinately the campaign its was planning to launch for the development of trade relations with Turkey, as it was announced by the Chamber's vice- president Sven Henriksen.

The business community in Denmark, like other social groups, is sensitive to the issue of human rights and the Turkish officials must accept that, stated mr.Henriksen according to the Turkish newspaper "Yeni Yuzyil".

[12] BONN WILL NOT TOLERATE TURKISH BLACKMAIL

Bonn will not tolerate any pressures to link NATO's expansion with the prospect of Turkey's accession into the EU or with the Greek-Turkish issues.

This clear message was sent to Ankara by the head of the German Foreign Ministry Department on Mediterranean issues mr.Grining in a speech he delivered during a conference on the relations between Europe and Turkey organized in Bonn.

According to the BBC, the German diplomat underlined that Bonn will not tolerate a blackmail from Ankara aimed at linking NATO's expansion with Turkey's accession into the European Union.

[13] THE TURKISH PREMIER RE-EXAMINES THE ACTIVITIES OF "LOBBY FIRMS" IN THE US

Turkish Prime Minister Necmetin Erbakan decided to re- evaluate the services offered to Turkey by "lobby firms" operating in the United States.

According to the Turkish newspaper "Zaman", the re-evaluation will be made by a Turkish government minister, who will visit the United States to be informed on the activities of those companies before submitting a report to Prime Minister Erbakan.

[14] THE SITUATION IN BULGARIAN HOSPITALS IS TRAGIC

The situation in Bulgarian hospitals and health institutions is tragic as there are no more medicine and medical supplies, while heating oil is very hard to find. As a result of the hospitals' inability to offer adequate care to the patients, hospital officials refuse to take in the ill and surgery is operated only in emergecies.

As it was announced by the Health Union, the country's hospitals will start releasing patients on Friday to limit expenses and to focus on difficult cases.

It should be noted that Bulgaria's Health Union made an appeal for international assistance.

[15] THE REVIVAL OF TURKISH IMPERIALISM THREATENS THE BALKANS AND THE BLACK SEA REGION WITH UNREST, ACCORDING TO A YUGOSLAV PROFESSOR

The revival of the Turkish imperialist idea threatens to provoke serious unrest not only in the Balkans but in the Black Sea region and central Asia as well and this is a process that must be examined and followed closely. The above were stated to Belgrade newspaper "Politika" by Director of the Serb Academy of Sciences History Institution Slavenko Terzic commening on the scientific meeting under the title "Islam, the Balkans and the Big Powers".

Mr.Terzic stated that the discussions during the meeting focused mainly to the past but this does not mean that they do not have a contemporary dimension especially at a time when the Islamist world is at a phase of expansion.

He stressed that the impression has been created that the West has not realized the danger stemming from the radical muslim plans adding that certain big powers accede to those plans for the sake of their economic and political interests which can be proven to be very dangerous.

Certain Western European historians tend to see the problems existing between Europe and the Middle East with a materialistic eye, said mr.Terzic stressing that this view can not be valid in the Balkans because in this region the political tendencies for the unification of all Muslims in Bulgaria, Greece, FYROM and Albania under Turkey are obvious.

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