Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 96-12-23

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, December 23, 1996

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] PRESIDENT RETURNS FROM OFFICIAL VISIT TO EGYPT

The President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos returned to Athens today from his official three-day visit to Egypt, where he had been invited to by the Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

Responding to a question posed by the Macedonian Press Agency, President Stephanopoulos stated that Egypt's role in the Middle East is a balancing one, and especially significant, while also noting that the Egyptian and Greek peoples are quite close.

Also, Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos, who accompanied the President to Egypt, stated that his contacts in Cairo were especially significant and said that the Egyptian Defense Minister will visit Greece after January 20 to meet with his Greek counterpart Akis Tsohatzopoulos. A.F.

[02] THE GREEK CABINET MET TODAY TO DISCUSS INTERIOR MINISTRY ISSUES

The Greek Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Kostas Simitis, met today to discuss Interior Ministry matters and particularly the establishment of the citizen's advocate institution introduced by Minister of the Interior, Public Administration and Decentralization Alekos Papadopoulos.

The Greek government is in the process of enacting a new authority to which can appeal every citizen who has a rough time in the transactions with public agencies.

The cabinet also dealt with current developments after the suspension of the farmers' mobilizations and with the dialogue Prime Minister Kostas Simitis opens today with representatives of the farmers.

[03] FINDINGS OF THE OFFICIAL INVESTIGATION ON THE SINKING OF MISSILE-CARRIER "KOSTAKOS"

The Greek Navy published today the findings of the official investigation on the causes of the sinking of the missile-carrier "Kostakos" that was rammed by the ferry-boat "Samaina" near the Aegean island of Samos.

The investigators blame both the captain of the passenger ship and the "Kostakos" officer who was on duty at the time of the accident.

Lieutenant-Commander Moraitakis, who was in charge of the investigation, clarified that the missile-carrier's acting sub- lieutenant had visual contact with the passenger ship and came to the conclusion that he had the necessary time to pass in front of the "Samaina". Therefore, he believed that he did not have to turn on the boat's indicator lights and did not issue a collission risk warning.

Also, on board the passenger boat "Samaina" the bridge deck shift did not use the radar and was navigating the ship based on its relative position to the lights on the land.

[04] PRESIDENT ROUNDS UP OFFICIAL VISIT TO EGYPT WITH VISITS TO MUSEUMS

The President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos will conclude his official visit to Cairo today and is expected to return to Athens this evening.

Yesterday, the President visited the monastery of St. Catherine in Mt. Sinai. Today, prior to his departure for Athens, Mr. Stephanopoulos will visit archaelogical sites. A.F.

[05] PREMIER TO MEET WITH FARMERS TODAY, LAST OF ROAD BARRICADES LIFTED

Prime Minister Kostas Simitis will receive the leaders from the country's largest farming unions today as the last of the barricades have been lifted off the national highways and the rail links.

This evening the Premier will also meet with the coordinating committee of the Macedonia-Thrace region's farmers.

The farmers from Thessaly, considered as the "hard core" of the country's protesters, warn that if their demands are not reviewed by the Government they will resume the road blockades. A.F.

[06] MAIN OPPOSITION NEW DEMOCRACY TO HOLD CONGRESS IN FEBRUARY- MARCH

Greece's main opposition party New Democracy will hold its congress between February 28-March 2, as the party's Executive Committee decided yesterday.

N.D. leader Miltiades Evert rejected the proposal for discussion in the party's Political Council on increasing the representation at the congress from the party's base and warned his inter-party opponents that if they continue their challenges he will proceed to an extraordinary congress.

Leadership contender George Souflias, commenting on Mr. Evert's decision to reject his proposals on electing additional delegates from the party's base, accused the party leader of breaching already-agreed upon terms and of setting his sights to further his candidature in the congress. A.F.

[07] AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN THESSALONIKI WON THE FIRST PRIZE IN A COUNCIL OF EUROPE COMPETITION

The first prize in a students' competition organized by the Council of Europe was won by an elementary school in the municipality of Eleftherio-Kordelio in Thessaloniki. In the competition participated all the EU member-states and Thessaloniki was selected to represent Greece.

The third grade students of the 2nd Elementary School visited all archaeological sites in Thessaloniki and with the help of additional data they gathered based on bibliography concerning Thessaloniki before the year 1917, they tried to "reconstruct" the city that lies under the modern buildings.

A miniature model of Thessaloniki, as it is today and as the children would have wanted it to be, was sent to the city of Diyon where the European Committee met to decide on the awards. The contest President gave the first prize of "Honourable Mention" to a Greek Culture Ministry delegation attending the meeting to deliver it to the students of the 2nd Elementary School of Eleftherio-Kordelio.

[08] NORTHERN GREECE'S EXPORTERS TO BREAK INTO EASTERN EUROPEAN MARKETS

Greek fresh and processed foodstuffs will be introduced more dynamically in eastern European markets, after a program organized by the Association of Northern Greece's Exporters (SEVE).

Specifically, SEVE will break into the markets of Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Moldavia and Ukraine. A.F.

[09] STATE TO TAKE TRAFFIC MEASURE FOR CHRISTMAS EXODUS

In an effort to facilitate the mass exit awaited during this Christmas holiday, traffic police will introduce special measures and will increase its presence on the national highways.

Extra lanes are to be opened on several stretches of the Athens-Lamia highway between certain hours of the day, to accommodate the increased traffic flow. A.F.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[10] ERBAKAN THREATENS TO ANNEX TO TURKEY THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES IN CYPRUS

Turkish Prime Minister Necmetin Erbakan reiterated the threats the Turkish Foreign Ministry has made repeatedly in the past, according to which, in case Cyprus becomes an EU member Turkey will annex the occupied part of the island.

Mr.Erbakan underlined that Cyprus can not enter the EU without Turkey's consent and that in the opposite case, Turkey will annex the occupied territories.

The Turkish press characterized the statements made by mr.Erbakan as being a renewal of the guarantees offered to the Turkish-Cypriots and as a warning to Brussels aimed at stopping Cyprus' accession negotiations with the EU.

[11] THE BUDGET DEFICIT IN ALBANIA WAS A RESULT OF CORRUPTION IN MINISTRIES

The budget deficit in Albania is the result of tax evasion and corruption in the institutions and ministries which deal with state revenues, stated Albanian President Sali Berisha.

Meanwhile, the adoption of tough measures aimed at fighting the increased crime in the country was the main topic of discussion in a meeting of the governing Democratic Party parliamentary group.

According to the newspaper "Albania", the governing party parliamentary group has presented in Parliament a package of proposals aimed at fighting corruption and organized crime.

From now on, much heavier sentences will be imposed to those found guilty of smuggling, corruption, drugs and prostitution.

[12] FYROM AND FRANCE SIGNED A MILITARY COOPERATION AGREEMENT

An agreement of military cooperation was signed in the city of Ohrid in FYROM by the French Minister of Defence Charles Millon,and his counterpart from FYROM Blagoj Handziski in the presence of FYROM's Prime Minister Branco Chervenkovski and the Chief of General Army Staff.

The French Defence Minister stated that the agreement gives a european and NATO dimension to the cooperation between the two countries and mentioned that the agreement also provides for FYROM's army officers further training in France.

The agreement was prepared by France's Chief of General Army Staff who had visited Skopje for this purpose last month.

[13] THE CYPRIOT NATIONAL GUARD ARMAMENTS ARE EXCESSIVE, SAYS ANKARA

The Cypriot National Guard armaments programme was described as "excessively outrageous" by Turkish Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Inal Batu, who added that the nature of the joint military exercises held by Greece and Cyprus is aggressive.

Mr.Batu expressed his government's intention not to be involved in a war but stressed that Turkey will continue its efforts aimed at safeguarding the Turkish-Cypriot pseudo-state.

The Turkish Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs pointed out that 1997 will be crucial for the solution of the Cyprus issue and attributed the problems in its settlement to the fact that the United States and Britain act without taking under consideration the positions and views of other countries.

Statements on the issue of armaments were made also by the Turkish-Cypriot so-called Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu, who stressed that the Greek-Cypriot side "is beyond the limits of insanity" and called on the Cypriot National Guard to abandon the tactic it follows.

[14] TURKEY SPEEDS UP PLANS FOR ITS OWN HELICOPTER INDUSTRY

Turkish newspaper "Milli Gazete", writes that Turkish military officials called for the speeding-up of the procedures for the establishment of a Turkish helicopter industry stating that production should begin as soon as possible.

Information on the helicopter industry was gathered by Turkish and foreign companies in the last few months and contacts for the discussion of details will start in January of 1997.

According to the newspaper report, the first bids will be made by foreign companies next April while their evaluation will be completed in early 1998. Based on Turkish military officials, Turkey will begin building its own helicopters before the year 2000.

[15] NEW YORK'S METROPOLITAN MUSEUM TO EXHIBIT "GLORY OF BYZANTIUM"

The Metropolitan Museum of New York will host an exhibit titled "The Glory of Byzantium" in March 1997.

Among the treasures to be sent to New York from Greece for the event is the 13th century Liturgy of St. Basil from the Library of St. John's Monastery in the island of Patmos.

The cross of the frontspiece of the liturgy has been selected by the famous Greek jeweller Makis Mihalas as his 1997 good luck charm, in honor of the event.

[16] ALBANIA: GREEK FARMERS' PROTESTS STRUCK BLOWS TO ALBANIAN ECONOMY

Albania's economy, fragile to begin with, was stricken with severe blows from the Greek protesting farmers' road barricades that blocked the passage of goods-filled trucks outside of Greece.

According to reports, many stores in Albania were left empty, while some businesses were forced to close, and an average price increase of 80% was noted on various goods that are foremostly imported from Greece. A.F.

[17] CYPRUS GIVES REPRESENTATIONS TO SECURITY COUNCIL OVER UNFICYP EXTENSION

A Security Council draft resolution concerning the renewal of UNFICYP's term in Cyprus is expected to be approved today, while the Cypriot Government today issued representations to the foreign ambassadors, through which it asks for the deletion of the negative excerpts included in the document.

The Cypriot Foreign Minstry's General Director Alekos Siabos, according to KYPE, issued the representations to the ambassadors of the Security Councils' permanent members (United States, Russia, France, Britain and China) as well as to the ambassadors of the Security Council's non-permanent members, (Egypt, Germany and Italy). A.F.

[18] EUROPEAN COURT'S DECISION IN GREEK-CYPRIOT'S PROPERTY CASE UPSETS TURKEY

Legal circles in Ankara are highly concerned over the recent precedent-setting decision of the Council of Europe's Court of Human Rights which ruled in favor of a Greek-Cypriot woman's property claim against Turkey.

According to turkish daily "Cumhuriyet", the Court's ruling is sure to bring forth many Greek-Cypriots who will file claims against the Turkish state over the illegal occupation of their land by Turkish occupation forces. A recently published article in the paper was titled "the problems will snowball".

According to Turkey's former legal advocate in the European Court of Human Rights Bakir Caglar, the Court's decision could create "serious headaches" for Ankara. Mr. Caglar pointed to the recent statement made by Greek-Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides who said that "whatever Cyprus could not secure at a political level for years now, it will take in Strasburg."

The Greek-Cypriot plaintiff, Titina Loizidou, sought recourse to the European Court when the Turkish government refused to allow her access to the occupied northern Cyprus territory where she has a vacation home.

As such, President Clerides pointed out, given that Ms. Loizidou's residence was only seasonal, the Court's ruling for those cases that concern permanent residents of the occupied territory who are refused access to their land and homes can be of greater significance.

In its ruling, the Court rejected Turkey's claims that the accord for human rights in Europe cannot be enforced in northern Cyprus' occupied territory.

The Court has granted Turkey a six-month time period to file its response concerning Ms. Loizidou's claim for restitution. A.F.

[19] CYPRUS WILL FORTIFY ITS DEFENSE AS LONG AS ISSUE REMAIN UNRESOLVED

As long as the Cyprus issue remains unresolved, the island will continue to fortify its defense capability, stated the Cypriot Foreign Minister Alekos Michaelides today, commenting on the Defense Council's draft resolution to renew the UNFICYP's term.

"Our position is clear," Mr. Michaelides stated, adding that "we will not abandon the defense programs since they constitute an expression of our responsibility to build the defense of our country, which, for 22 years now, suffers under the turkish occupation."

The Cypriot Foreign Minister also reiterated that the Greek- Cypriot side is ready to discuss demilitarization and to agree on the framework of a solution, while admitting that there are certain pressures exerted on the issue of defense, to which the Greek-Cypriot side responds directly that it will proceed as planned in its outfitting programs. A.F.

[20] JEAN VIDENOV HOLDS ON TO TOP SEAT IN SOCIALIST PARTY'S CONGRESS

Bulgaria's Premier Jean Videnov, who resigned from his post on Saturday, is likely to remain at the leadership of the country's Socialist Party and government.

During the party's extraordinary congress, the proposal to form a new Cabinet with another premier was turned down with 393 votes, while supported by 153 delegates.

The majority of the congress' delegates, who engaged in vocal juxtaposition with Videnov's inter-party opponents, expressed its support to the current party president and government leader.

Also emerging from the party's congress was the will to exhaust the Socialist Party's term of coalition in the Democratic Left, albeit cooperating with other politically-supportive factions, which would secure an increased back-up for the governing coalition.

The results of the Socialist Party's leaders elections, which will be held behind closed doors this evening, will be given tomorrow. A.F.

[21] F.R.Y.:MILOSEVIC SUPPORTERS TO HOLD COUNTER-RALLIES IN BELGRADE TOMORROW

Supporters of the Federal Yugoslav Republic's Serb President Slobodan Milosevic will hold a massive rally tomorrow at the center of Belgrade, the same place and time the opposition tripartite coalition "Zajedno" will hold its routine protests as well.

Milosevic's backers, who are self-addressed as "Citizens of Serbia", call the public to express its support to the Serb President's policies of "freedom, peace, independence and cooperation on equal terms with other countries."

Moreover, in an announcement they brought out, they state that they wish to present to the outside world the true picture of Serbia, one which "will never be administered by a foreign power."

The governing Socialist Party announced that it has nothing to do with the pro-Milosevic demonstration, although -undoubtedly- government officials are rubbing their hands in glee as tomorrow's rally will appear as a gathering of people who are exacerbated with Zajedno's daily protests.

According to reports, the Socialists have rented 10,000 buses to commute their supporters to Belgrade.

The Patriarch of Serbia, Pavlos, has expressed his deep concern over tomorrow's simultaneous rallies and called on the demonstrators to show self-restraint.

Meanwhile, students and opposition supporters continued to rally in the streets of Belgrade today, with similar rallies held in seven other cities in the Serb Republic. A.F.

[22] BULGARIA: GOVERNMENT RE-SHUFFLE IN THE WORKS

The resignation of Premier Jean Videnov's Cabinet will be discussed in an extraordinary session in Parliament on Decmber 28, according to the Speaker of the House Blagovest Sedov.

During an extraordinary conference held late last evening, Bulgaria's ruling Socialist Party found that necessary measures must be drawn in order to reshuffle the Democratic Left's coalition.

Moreover, the Socialist Party is determined to exhaust its term of coalition in the Democratic Left, as became apparent from a resolution the party's congress adopted behind closed doors today. A.F.

[23] RUSSIA PROPOSED THE CONSTRUCTION OF AN UNDERSEA PIPE LINE IN THE BLACK SEA THAT WILL CARRY NATURAL GAS TO TURKEY

Russia proposed the construction of an undersea pipe line in the Black Sea that will carry natural gas to Turkey.

A suggestion by Turkey for the eastern pipe line to pass through the Republic of Georgia was rejected by Moscow which proposed instead that the pipe line should run through Armenia. This alternative solution was not accepted by the Turkish side due to the problems in the region of Nagorno Karabach in Azerbaidjan. Therefore, the Russians suggested the construction of an undersea pipe line to retain control over the natural gas they will sell to Turkey, writes the Turkish independent newspaper "Radical".

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