Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 97-01-02

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

BRIEF GREEK NEWS BULLETIN BY MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY

Thessaloniki, January 2, 1997

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, January 2, 1997

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] UNDERSECRETARY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS CHRISTOS ROZAKIS RESIGNS TODAY

The Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Christos Rozakis submitted his resignation this afternoon, claiming health reasons.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs Theodoros Pangalos informed the Prime Minister Kostas Simitis of Mr. Rozakis' resignation in a conference held in the Premier's quarters today.

The Prime Minister accepted the resignation, although he asked Mr. Rozakis to remain in his post for few more days.

Minister of Press and Media Dimitris Reppas characterized Mr. Rozakis' work as having been valuable and assessed his decision to resign as "logical." Nevertheless, Mr. Reppas refuted rumors which claim that the reason behind Mr. Rozakis' resignation is possible differences in points of view concerning the Government's foreign policy and underlined that the leadership in the Foreign Ministry is carried out in perfect cooperation.

The post of Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs will remain vacant and Mr. Rozakis will not be replaced. Instead, his duties will be assigned to Mr. Pangalos, alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou and the Ministry's Secretaries-General. A.F.

[02] OPPOSITION REACTS TO FOREIGN MINISTRY UNDERSECRETARY'S RESIGNATION

Following today's resignation of the Foreign Ministry's Undersecrary Christos Rozakis, main opposition party leader, New Democracy's Miltiades Evert, stated that the claims of Mr. Rozakis being ill "insult the people's intelligence."

"Mr. Simitis (the Premier) was obligated to reveal with honesty the real reasons behind Mr. Rozakis' resignation," Mr. Evert stated, adding that 1997 will be a decisive year for the course of the issues concerning FYROM, Cyprus, and the Greek- Turkish relations.

The N.D. leader emphasized the need to draw a long-term national strategy, and sated that his party will support every positive effort.

The Coalition of Left amd Progress (Synaspismos) party announced today that Mr. Rozakis' resignation signifies the governmental Babel and the lack of strategy on matters of foreign policy.

The Social-Democratic Movement (DIKKI) commented that the undersecretary's resignation "reveals the vast inter-governmental problems and the lack of a unified policy on the largest national and economic issues."

Political Spring party leader Antonis Samaras questioned the type of foreign policy the state exercises and called on the Premier to respond if the Government practices a foreign policy of individuals, state or various tendencies, especially in light of a crucial, as he characterized it, upcoming two-month period for the country's national issues. A.F.

[03] UNDERSECRETARY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS WANTS TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT

Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Christos Rozakis characterized as "unfair" the various attacks thrown his direction following the announcement of his resignation.

In a written statement, Mr. Rozakis emphasized that he must be judged by his deeds and clarifies that "the scientific word that expresses -by its nature- doubt, differs from the practice of politics." A.F.

[04] CAPSIZED SHIP "DISTOS" SCUPPERED TODAY, EFFORTS CONTINUE TO FIND BODIES

The Greek cargo ship "Distos", which capsized Saturday evening off the port of Kimi on the island of Euboia, scuppered today, although the efforts to locate the remaining three bodies on board continue.

Five bodies were drawn from the vessel yesterday, among them the ship's captain.

It is expected that Minister of Merchant Marine Stavros Soumakis will be given today the findings of the Sworn Administrative Examinations report on the delay in discovering the ship.

The cargo ship, ladden with 5,300 tonnes of cement, left Volos last Thursday, heading for Pireaus. On Friday, it sought shelter at the nearby island of Skiathos due to bad weather and sailed for the Athens port. Late on Saturday it capsized, after tilting 90 degrees.

There were 21 persons on board the vessel, among them two women and a ten-year-old girl. The sole survivor is an 18-year-old naval cadet Christos Anagnostou who jumped ship when it began to tilt. He was picked up alive after he shot flares into the sky making it easier for the coast guard to spot him in the sea. A.F.

[05] 1997, THESSALONIKI'S YEAR AS CULTURAL CAPITAL OF EUROPE

Thessaloniki welcomed the new year with the impressive title of "Cultural Capital of Europe 1997", celebrated with an all-night grandiose festival with singers, dancers, musicians, magicians and participating locals who gathered in front of the city's trademark White Tower on New Year's Eve.

The city's Cultural Capital Organization threw the open-to- all party, which lasted until the wee hours of the morning. The commencement of the 1997 European Cultural Capital events was officiated formally by Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos and the city's Mayor Konstantinos Kosmopoulos.

About 14 percent of Thessaloniki's one million residents defied the mist and the low temperatures and gathered on the city's wharf to celebrate the commencement, an attendance rate quite high as compared to Copenhagen's four percent when the Danish city became cultural capital last year.

The artistic director of the Thessaloniki Cultural Capital of Europe Organization, Panos Theodorides, is confident that Thessaloniki is bound to break all records as cultural capital, given that many of the planned events need the citizens' participation.

The formal commencement ceremony will be held on February 1, 1997, with a gala to be attended by an array of dignitaries, national and foreign. A.F.

[06] THESSALONIKI, EUROPE'S CULTURAL CAPITAL, GAINS SPOTLIGHT IN FOREIGN PRESS

Now that Thessaloniki has been handed the scepter from Copenhagen as Europe's cultural capital, foreign press have turned on their spotlights to honor the capital of northern Greece, Macedonia's trademark.

Germany's largest circulation art publication "ART" currently features an extensive special edition dedicated to Thessaloniki, focusing on its history. The German daily "Der Tagesspiegel" emphasizes that throughout the year's events, Greece's history will serve as the main theme.

Another German daily "Die Welt" features an article titled "Cultural Capital of 1997, Thessaloniki invites you", while the author speculates that this year's cultural capital has also a political dimension, that is Thessaloniki's desire to promote the Greek claims agaist FYROM.

In Skopje, extensive reports are made to Thessaloniki, where FYROM's state-owned publication writes that this year's events will transform the city of Thermaicos Bay into "a center of the European cultural sea." A.F.

[07] MACEDONIA AIRPORT: WHEN HEAVY FOG ROLLS IN, PLANES CAN'T ROLL OUT

When the fog rolls in, planes get stuck at the Macedonia airport for endless hours, a problem that can be dealt with only by extending the airport's runway 3,500 meters into the sea, from the current 2,500, according to Minister of Transport and Communications Haris Kastanides.

During a press conference held at the airport today, Mr. Kastanides stated that, aside from the purchase of the fog assistance system ILS, there will be vast improvement if the runway is extended since "such addition would keep with the security standards imposed by international aviation regulations for take-off space needed for the airplanes."

The Transport and Communications Minister also stated that a joint committee is currently conducting a study on the runway's extension and the purchase of the necessary technology. The committee's findings are expected to be submitted to the Ministry in mid-February.

Moreover, Mr. Kastanides stated that while it had been considered to relocate the airport's new international flights extension in Thessaloniki's western region, such move was deemed unattainable since, on one hand, land buyouts carry an expensive price tag and, on the other, the terminal would be farther away from Halkidiki, the region's main tourist attraction.

Fifty-eight flights were cancelled during 1996, in a course of 19 fog-filled days. This was a much higher rate of cancellations in comparison to the past four years. A.F.

[08] 32 PERSONS ARRESTED FOR USING DRUGS IN AN ATHENS NIGHTCLUB LAST NIGHT

In a police raid in an Athens nightclub last night, thirty- two persons, among them some juveniles, were arrested for using drugs.

Six of the detained individuals, including a casheried police officer, were taken to the district attorney, while the rest were released. A.F.

[09] ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE REPORT

The Athens Stock Exchange general index closed at 954.54 points today. Turnover was at GRD 6,636 billion: banks gained 3.08 percent, insurance firms gained 1.11 percent, while the investment index closed at plus 2.16.

The industrial index rose by 1.44 percent, construction firms gained 1.04 percent and participation closed at plus 0.67.

The leasing closed at plus 0.13, the Parallel Market at plus 2.09 and the Various Index rose by 0.77 percent.

Winners led losers 152 to 54 and 26 shares closed stable. A.F.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[10] RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR TO CUPRUS PRESENTS HIS CREDENTIALS TODAY

Russian ambassador to Cyprus Georgi Muratov presented his credentials to Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides today in Nicosia.

Mr. Muratov relayed his government's proposal that the UN Security Council's five permanent members -joined by a European Union delegate- convene in order to discuss in detail the Cyprus issue and map out a joint action plan for its resolvement. Moreover, the Russian Ambassador proposed the formation of a special contact group for Cyprus, within the framwork of the Security Council.

"We believe that the international community must no longer tolerate the continued injustice against Cyprus, by indifferently watching the pain and plight of the Cypriot peoples," Mr. Muratov stated.

In turn, Mr. Clerides stated that "we accept the initiatives with the stated intent and readiness to cooperate for a fair, viable, and working solution to the Cyprus problem."

In regards to Cyprus' purchase of the anti-missile system S300, Mr. Muratov also stated that there is no cause for concern, as the system is purely defensive.

Mr. Muratov is familiar with the Cyprus problem, as well as greek-turkish issues, since he has served twice as Russia's ambassador to Athens. A.F.

[11] KASOULIDES: THE NATIONAL POLICY IS THE BEST WAY TO HANDLE THE CYPRUS PROBLEM

Cypriot government spokesman Yiannakis Kasoulides commenting on the fact that Cypriot President Clerides has again brought foward the proposal for a national conference, stated that the implementation of a national policy is the best way to handle the Cyprus problem.

Mr.Kasoulides stressed that certain of the stages for the preparation of the national policy have been completed, adding that what is left now is the reaching of an agreement among Greece's political world for the creation of a body corresponding to the one existing in Cyprus that will deal with the handling of national issues.

Meanwhile, mr.Kasoulides commenting on the statement made by the new Russian Ambassador to Nicosia, stated that the Cypriot government never stated that the ten-point proposal presented by British Foreign Minister Malcolm Rifkind was negative.

Mr.Kasoulides reiterated that the Cypriot government supports the UN Security Council's coordinated and joint action for the solution of the Cyprus problem.

[12] THE COURSE OF THE CYPRUS ISSUE THROUGH THE BRITISH FOREIGN OFFICE RECORDS

Light is being shed to unknown aspects of the Cyprus problem during 1966, with the opening of the British Foreign Office records that were published with the completion of 30 years since then.

According to Foreign Office's top secret files, the then Greek government of Stephanos Stephanopoulos was favouring the solution of the Union offering in return to Turkey a multi- national base where NATO forces would also be stationed. According to the Foreign Office, secret talks were held between Greece and Turkey for such a solution but the proposal was rejected by Archbishop Makarios who had stressed that he would never accept such a settlement.

The Union solution had not been ruled out in early 1966 and by the then Cypriot Foreign Minister Spyros Kyprianou, according to speculations made by the British Ambassador to Cyprus which were included in a letter he had sent to the Foreign Office.

The plan concerning the Union was inspired by the British and was backed by the United States even though the difficulties in reaching an agreement with Turkey had been taken under consideration.

Based on official Foreign Office documents, the talks began in June 1966 during the Stephanos Stephanopoulos administration and continued until December of the same year, namely, until the fall of the government. The talks were being held under the then Foreign Ministers of Greece and Turkey, Admirals Toumpas and Tsaglayangil.

In a meeting held in the British Foreign Office on January 31, 1966 was concluded that the most preferable solution was that of the Union. The same conclusion was reached during another meeting that was held in Washington on February 8 with the participation of American and British officials.

The proposal was rejected by Turkey which then suggested the double Union and preferred an emphasis to be given to the normalization of the situation with the safeguarding of the Turkish-Cypriot rights. Turkey's basic target was its military presence in Cyprus.

[13] TURKISH BUSINESSMAN KOC PREPARES FOR AN INVESTMENT IN THESSALONIKI

Based on Turkish press reports, Turkish businessman Rahmi Koc is getting ready for an investment in Thessaloniki, northern Greece. According to the Turkish newspaper "Milliyet", market research continues for the opening of a large department store in Thessaloniki. This idea had come to light last month when Turkish businessmen had visited Greece.

Inan Kirac, Chairman of the Board of Directors in Koc's company stated referring to the issue that the investment's economic dimension is being evaluated adding that is also being examined how the people will react to a Turkish supermarket opening in a Greek city.

The newspaper "Hurriyet" writes on the matter that according to statements made by Kirac the store opened by the company in Azerbadjan was welcomed with great interest adding that company plans include opening stores in Russia, Romania and Kazakstan.

Mr.Kirac also pointed out that among the company's objectives are to open 20 new stores in 5 or 6 countries by the year 2000.

[14] TURKEY MAKES A NEW OPENING TO EUROPE ON CYPRUS AND HUMAN RIGHTS

Turkey attempts a new opening toward Europe after the increased warnings coming from the European states concerning the Cyprus issue and human rights, writes the Turkish newspaper "Yeni Yuzyil".

Turkey decided to abandon its unyielding policy concerning Cyprus' accession into the European Union sending the message to the EU member-states that in return for a "final timetable" promise concerning its accession into the EU, Ankara can approve Cyprus' full membership earlier.

As preconditions for Cyprus' accession into the EU are set by Ankara the opening of negotiations for the solution of the Cyprus problem as soon as possible, as well as, the Turkish-Cypriot pseudostate's accession into the European Union.

[15] THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE TURKISH-IRANIAN NATURAL GAS PIPE LINE WILL BE COMPLETED IN 1998

According to statements made by Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Regai Kutan to the newspaper "Sabah", the construction of the Turkish-Iranian natural gas pipe line which is scheduled to begin next March will be completed in 1998.

Mr.Kutan stressed that the pipe line will bring natural gas to Europe from Turkmenistan and Iran through Turkey and will create a bridge of natural gas linking Turkey, Middle East and Central Asia.

The newspaper also mentions that after the natural gas pipe line is completed Turkey will get from Iran and Turkmenistan a total of 18 billion cubic meters of natural gas by the year 2000.

[16] 72 PKK REBELS WERE KILLED IN A TURKISH MILITARY OPERATION IN N. IRAQ

Turkish military operations against members of the Kurdish PKK party in northern Iraq continue, while according to press reports, the Turkish armed forces have crossed over the Iraqui borders and are 5 kilometers inside the Iraqui territory.

Based on Turkish mass media reports, the number of PKK rebels killed reached 72, while Turkish F-4 military jets are bombarding PKK camps. According to the newspaper reports, the Turkish forces use in their operations and "Cobra" military helicopters.

The operation began two days ago targeting the Kurdish PKK camp in the Sinaht region and later reached the Haftanin region.

[17] PRO-EUROPEAN CIRCLES IN TURKEY EXPRESS CONCERN OVER THE COUNTRY'S COURSE

Turkish newspaper "Milliyet" with an article under the headline "We are drifting away from Europe" underlines that Turkey lately appears to turn toward the East.

The article's writer Ahmet Sever observes that it seems there is a secret plan in effect that pushes Turkey away from the Europeans. He said that lately it is increasingly hard for someone to back Turkey in Europe and Europe in Turkey, as both sides are drifting away from each other in a way that can not be stopped.

According to the article's writer, the turn of events appears to satisfy the islamist Welfare party which had never hidden the fact that it does not want closer relations between Turkey and the European Union. In the article is stressed that now, even leading members of Tansu Ciller's True Path Party, which won the signing of the Customs Union agreement, are also against the EU.

This negative position is followed even by members of the Turkish National Assembly, with long parliamentary and governmental experience like former Foreign Minister Mumtaz Soysal, who suggested Turkey's withdrawal from the European Court for Human Rights. He accused the Court of "political behaviour" and stressed that Turkey has every right not to renew its cooperation with this organization.

Mr.Soysal, however, points out that before Turkey withdraws it has to proceed in significant changes such as the lifting of the state of emergency that is in effect and the abolition of the State Security Courts.

[18] 209 TURKISH JOURNALISTS WERE HELD IN POLICE CUSTODY AND 3 WERE MURDERED IN 1996

Two hundred and nine Turkish journalists were held in police custody and three were murdered in 1996, according to a written statement issued by the Turkish Association of Journalists. In the statement is also mentioned that 90 journalists had been attacked while an undetermined number of them have been beaten and abused.

On January 1996, Metin Gioktepe, a journalist with the pro- Kurdish newspaper "Evrensel", was killed in Istanbul while in police custody and 48 policemen accused of his murder are currently on trial. The other two journalists murdered in 1996 are, according to the statement, Kutlu Antali, killed in the Turkish occupied part of Cyprus and Selahatin Daloglu killed in Istanbul.

Also, on July 15 policemen savagely beaten journalists covering a march in Istanbul while on the same day, police forces had forcibly entered the offices of the Turkish Assocation of Journalists.

In 1996, Turkish police made 33 raids in newspaper and magazine offices, 165 newspapers, magazines and talk shows were banned, while the Radio-Television Council temporarily suspended the operation of 38 radio and television stations and imposed 115 penalties as warnings.

[19] TURKEY & OCCUPYING REGIME IN CYPRUS TO SIGN ECONOMIC COOPERATION AGREEMENT

An economic cooperation agreement will be signed tomorrow in Ankara bwetween Turkey and the occupying regime in nortern Cyprus.

A committee of "ministers" from the occupied territory will arrive n Ankara today, headed by their "premier" Dervish Eroglou.

According to reports, another agreement wil be signed for the funding of the Mediterranean University which is located in the occupied part of Cyprus, as well as for the founding of a pharmaceutical school in cooperation wih the University of Ankara. A.F.

[20] TURKISH PRESS SPECULATES ON U.S. SECRET SERVICES CONCERN OVER CYPRUS

An 80 percent likelihood of a hot episode occuring in Cyprus in August or September of 1997 is assessed by the United States' Central Intelligence Agency and other secret service agencies, according to the turkish daily "Zaman".

The news agency "INAF" reports that military sources in the Pentagon are concerned over the developments in Cyprus, and are miffed over Cyprus-Russia relations. The same sources are also cited as saying that the island's military outfitting brings to mind the pre-1974 period.

According to the turkish newspaper, the Greek-Cypriot side aims to draw Turkey into a war fought on Cyprus' region, which would endanger the balance achieved in the Middle East and, in turn, would force the U.S.'s hand into pressuring Turkey to withdraw its military forces from the island. A.F.

[21] F.R.Y.: THOUSANDS OF OPPOSITION SUPPORTERS FLOCK TO CELEBRATE NEW YEAR

Approximately two hundred thousand supporters of the Federal Yugoslav Republic's main opposition party, the tri-partite coalition "Zajedno" gathered on Tuesday night at the heart of Belgrade to celebrate the new year.

The rally was held peacefully, in the absence of a police force. The "Zajedno" supporters reiterated their protests against the Serb Government which is led by President Slobodan Milosevic.

Meanwhile, the Serb Church's Holy Synod will discuss today the political crisis in Yugoslavia, after a relevant request expressed by Patriarchate Pavlos. A.F.

[22] ISRAELI AND PALESTINIAN DELEGATIONS MEET IN HEBRON

Israeli and Palestinian delegations met in Hebron yesterday in order to place the final touches on the region's peace accord, following yesterday's violent episode when a fanatic Israeli soldier opened fire against innocent Palestinian by-standers in Hebron.

After wounding at least ten persons, the soldier was arrested. His aim was to sabotage the imminent agreement between the Palestinians and the Israelis, which sees for a partial removal of Israeli armaments from the city of Hebron.

Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu personally telephoned Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat yesterday and assured him that the peace process in the region will not be hampered. A.F.

[23] OIL PRICES ON THE RISE AGAIN, MOSTLY DUE TO FREEZING WEATHER IN EUROPE

With below-zero temperatures crippling sections of Europe and increasing stock demand for heating fuel, oil prices are on the rise again and bring to mind memories of a similar cold snap hitting the United States a year ago.

The February futures contract for international benchmark Brent crude oil on London's International Petroleum Exchange was up to 56 cents at USD 24.37 by 1030 GMT today, from its closing price of 1996. A.F.

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