Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 97-01-13

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, January 13, 1997

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] SIMITIS: ALL THOSE CONCERNED OVER CYPRUS SHOULD CONTRIBUTE TO ITS DEMILITARIZATION

All those concerned over Cyprus should put an end to the illegal occupation and to contribute to the materialization of the proposal for the island's demilitarization, stated Prime Minister Kostas Simitis after the government conference with the Foreign and Defence Ministries' leaderships, sending a clear message to the Turkish side and the international community.

Mr.Simitis stated characteristically that Greece should not be carried away in the escalation of threats because, as he stressed, it has already proceeded with initiatives that are necessary for peace in the region. The Prime Minister stated that Greece is and will continue to be a power of peace, pointing out that the conference was made in preparation for the visit of Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides during which will be jointly examined the developments, the positions and the scenarios. Finally, he reiterated that the Cypriot Republic's right to decide on its defence is self-evident.

Meanwhile, US State Department envoy mr.Cavanaugh is expected in Athens from Nicosia this evening. In statements he made after the meeting he had this morning with Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides, the US official stressed that the Cypriot President has commited himself that the Russian missiles will be deployed in Cyprus after 16 months. Mr.Cavanaugh pointed out that this development can realy defuse the crisis in Cyprus. On Friday, Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides is expected in Athens for talks with the Greek political leadership.

[02] HEAVY RAINFALL CAUSES FLOODING, FIVE PEOPLE DEAD

Five persons were killed during yesterday's torrential rainfall that caused biblical damages in Corinth and Lamia, while a number of individuals are still missing.

The city of Corinth has been transformed into a mudbath with cars and trucks floating in all directions as if they were cardboard boxes, while electricity and telecommunication lines have been cut-off by the severe storms.

Traffic has been halted at various parts of the Athens-Lamia national highway, while rivers have overflowed into the asphalt.

Railway transportation has also been interrupted from Athens to Lamia and to the Peloponnese where the heavy rain tore off many railway tracks from the ground.

Undersecretary of Welfare Theodoros Kotsonis has directed the Prefect of Corinth to avail the area's hotels for the temporary housing of the flood's victims.

The damage caused to roads, buildings, houses and cars is so far assessed at billions of drachmas. A delegation of government officials is visiting the stricken areas, headed by the Minister of Environment, Planning and Public Works, Kostas Laliotis. A.F.

[03] CILLER'S VISIT TO OCCUPIED CYPRUS IS ILLEGAL

The imminent visit of Turkish Foreign Minister Tansu Ciller to the occupied territory in northern Cyprus during the following days is "de facto illegal", according to Greek government spokesperson Dimitris Reppas.

Ms. Ciller is due to visit the occupied areas of Cyprus next week, while Turkish Chief of the Army General Staff Hakki Karadayi arrived there today.

"The Government strongly condemns Ms. Ciller's actions, since it is not offering good services to the already exacerbated relations between the two countries," Mr. Reppas said. A.F.

[04] GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES MEASURES FOR FLOOD VICTIMS

Five persons were killed during yesterday's torrential rains in Corinth, Argos, Fthiotida and Athens where raging waters swept cars and buses like debris in a mudbath.

The city of Corinth has been transformed into a lake with cars and trucks floating in all directions as if they were cardboard boxes, while electricity and telecommunication lines have been cut-off by the severe storms.

Traffic has been halted at various parts of the Athens-Lamia national highway, while rivers have overflowed into the asphalt.

Railway transportation has also been interrupted from Athens to Lamia and to the Peloponnese where the heavy rain has torn railway tracks off from the ground.

Prime Minister Kostas Simitis assured the flood victims that the Government will stand by them.

"I want to express my support to all those who have suffered damages and losses from these floods," Mr. Simitis said.

Government spokesperson Dimitris Reppas emphasized that the state mechanism worked finely during the disaster where a batallion of armed forces and engineers has been called on the premises to provide assistance and begin re-building projects.

Corinth's fire department has been "flooded" with hundreds of calls and estimates that it will take over a week to pump the water out of the flooded houses and stores.

The Minister of Environment, Planning and Public Works Kostas Laliotis visited the region today, heading a delegation of government officials.

Also, the President of the Democratic and Social Movement (DIKKI) Dimitris Tsovolas departed for an emergency visit to Corinth today where he met with the local authorities and the public. A.F.

[05] GREEK PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT SUPPORTS CYPRUS' S-300 MISSILE PURCHASE

The President of the Hellenic Parliament Apostolos Kaklamanis stated today that the Cypriot Government's purchase of Russian S- 300 missiles was necessary, since the island is essentially under the threat of turkish occupation forces.

Mr. Kaklamanis received today the members of the Cypriot Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defense, along with the Cypriot Defense Minister Kostas Heliades and the Cypriot Chief of the National Guard General Nikolas Vorvolakos. A.F.

[06] PRIME MINISTER RECEIVES RUSSIAN MINISTER OF ENERGY

Russian Minister of Energy Piot Rodionov met briefly with Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis today, as well as with Development Minister Vasso Papandreou.

Mr. Rodionov's visit is on the occasion of Wednesday's inauguration of the natural gas project. At a joint press conference, Mr. Rodionov and Ms. Papandreou announced that Russia and Greece will sign an energy cooperation protocol which will provide for the formation of a working group that will discuss issues related to the Burgas-Alexandroupolis gas pipeline and the extension of the natural gas network to the Greek-Albanian border.

When Mr. Rodionov was asked by reporters to comment on the Cypriot government's decison to purchase the Russian-made S-300 surface-to-air missile he replied that "this is an issue of competition and if the purchase was made by another western country it would not have been given such dimensions by the media." A.F.

[07] GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER: GOVERNMENT'S POSITIONS ON AEGEAN ARE STEADY

When it comes to Greek-Turkish relations, the Greek Government's positions on the Aegean remain firm and steady, stated today Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos.

Mr. Pangalos also stated that, essentially, the only legally- bound difference between the two countries is the continental shelf in the Aegean.

"Greece has proposed the step-by-step approach for improving greco-turkish relations," Mr. Pangalos stated. A.F.

[08]PREMIER TO CHAIR CONFERENCE ON NATIONAL ISSUES

Prime Minister Kostas Simitis will chair another cabinet conference today over the Greek-Turkish relations and the Cyprus issue.

Arriving in Athens this evening from Cyprus is the Director of the Office of Southeastern European Affairs at the U.S. State Department, Carey Cavanaugh, who will be received by Foreign Ministry officials.

Upon his arrival at Cyprus, Mr. Cavanaugh emphasized that his first task is to reduce the tension noted on the island and that he has arrived with specific ideas which, if are implemented by both sides, will achieve a reduction in tensions.

Secondly, Mr. Cavanaugh stated, his aim is to promote measures which will enable the solution process to the Cyprus issue.

"The Cyprus issue," he stated, is at a critical stage and any whatsoever military invasion on behalf of Turkey is not justified."

This morning, Mr. Cavanaugh was received by the President of the Republic of Cyprus Glafkos Clerides. Following their meeting, the US official stated that the Cypriot government promised that the Russian missiles will not be brought to the island until after 16 months.

"I believe that this development can reduce the tension on the island," Mr. Cavanaugh stated.

This Friday, January 17, Mr. Clerides is expected in Athens where he will meet with the Greek Premier.

When asked if the Cypriot Government has been informed on the matters discussed during the recent conference held in the Greek Foreign Ministry, the Cypriot government spokesperson Yiannakis Kasoulides replied that it has not and added that this will be the topic of the discussions to be held between Msgrs. Clerides and Simitis.

Meanwhile, Turkish Chief of the Army General Staff Hakki Karadayi arrives at the Turkish-occupied northern Cyprus today.

His visit is deemed as a reaction-move on behalf of Turkey over Cyprus' recent purchase of the Russian surface-to-air missiles S-300.

Also expected to visit the occupied territory within the following days is Turkish Foreign Minister and ex-Premier Tansu Ciller. A.F.

[09] PRIME MINISTER TO RECEIVE RUSSIAN MINISTER OF ENERGY

Prime Minister Kostas Simitis will receive the Russian Minister of Energy Piot Rodoyov today, while tomorrow the two will inaugurate the natural gas project.

Upon his arrival in Athens yesterday, the Russian Minister relayed his country's wish to cooperate with Greece on all levels. A.F.

[10] NEW DEMOCRACY'S CENTRAL COMMITTEE MEETS TOMORROW

The Central Committee of the opposition party of New Democracy meets tomorrow to make the necessary decisions that will safeguard the autonomy of the party congress Organizing Committee.

The party's leading members regard as a positive move the meeting of New Democracy leader Miltiadis Evert with former Prime Minister Giorgos Rallis who accepted the invitation to chair the party congress Organizing Committee made up of 6 Parliament deputies, members of the party's Executive Committee, and of other 6 members selected by mr.Rallis.

[11] THE GREEK ALTERNATE FOREIGN MINISTER MET WITH THE CYPRIOT COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND DEFENCE

Cyprus' Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee members, who are in Athens for consultations and contacts with Greek government officials, briefed alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs Giorgos Papandreou on the course of the Cypriot Republic's armaments programme.

In the meeting with mr.Papandreou, the Cypriot Committee discussed the current developments in the Cyprus problem and the Greek Minister reaffirmed Greece's support to the Joint Defence Doctrine while he stressed that this is a transitional phase that demands delicate handling. He also stressed that Greece deals with the escalating Turkish threats by displaying composure and prudence.

[12] GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER IN BELGRADE YESTERDAY

Greece's Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos travelled to Belgrade yesterday on an "exploratory" visit, where he met with Serbian government leaders, as well as with heads of the opposition party and the church.

Mr. Pangalos' visit was not intended to have a mediatory character regarding the crisis that has emerged between the Serb government and the main opposition tri-partite coalition "Zajedno" since November 17's local elections.

Instead, Mr. Pangalos got a "first hand" report on the current political situation of the country, since it is widely believed that if the tension were to escalate it could have an impact on the wider region.

In all, Mr. Pangalos relayed to the Serb leaders that Greece wishes to see the tensions reduced in order to avoid potential destabilization in the area.

Also, Mr. Pangalos stated that the findings reached by the Organization of Scecurity and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) must be upheld.

OSCE had recently sent a delegation to Belgrade, headed by Spain's former Premier Felipe Gonzalez, to investigate the local election results and found that the opposition had prevailed in the majority of the country's municipalities. A.F.

[13] GREEK SEAMEN TO STRIKE AGAIN TODAY, FARMERS TO DECIDE WHEN

Greece's seamen will embark on 48-hour repeated strikes beginning today, a decision drawn after last week's fruitless meeting held between the Panhellenic Seamen's Federation (PNO) and government officials.

PNO has rejected the Government's offer to tax the seamen's income up to 10 percent for the following two-year period.

According to previous regulations, no income tax was imposed on lower-ranking marine staff, while the rest were taxed with approximately 5 percent of their total income. The new regulations would impose a 7.5% income tax on the lower-ranking staff, while the remaining ranks would be taxed with 10 percent.

Also, the Pan-Thessaly Coordinating Committee of Farmers will decide today when they will embark on their mobilizations and what method of rallies they will employ.

PASOK's Executive Bureau will address the farmers' issue tomorrow, while a delegation of government officials is currently touring the region of Thessaly, the country's hard-core agricultural center. A.F.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[14] TURKISH CARGO SHIP RUN AGROUND NEAR RHODES

A turkish cargo ship run aground in the Bay of Phani in the island of Rhodes due to heavy seas.

The ship was coming from the Port of Istanbul with destination Marmaris opposite the island of Rhodes in south- eastern Aegean.

[15] NEW ALBANIAN CUSTOMS OFFICE AT THE BORDERS WITH GREECE

The construction of a new Albanian building complex housing Customs Offices, is expected to begin in the next few days in the region of the three Bridges near Premeti at the Greek-Albanian borders.

According to the newspaper "Laimi i Dites", the buildings where the Customs Office will be housed will be of european specifications and will contribute to the further strengthening of bilateral relations.

The Albanian press in general gives a special emphasis to the role the new Customs Offices can play in bilateral economic relations and in the economic development of the surrounding areas.

[16] PROPOSAL FOR THE OPENING OF AN INTER-BORDER FREE INDUSTRIAL ZONE IN ORMENIO

A meeting on the proposal made by the Prefecture of Evros, in north-eastern Greece, for the creation of an Inter-Border Free Industrial Zone in the region of Ormenio will be held in Athens tomorrow afternoon, with the participation of high officials from 6 ministries and will be chaired by the General Secretary of the National Economy Ministry Apostolos Fotiadis.

Prefect of Evros Giorgos Dolios in statements he made to MPA, expressed optimism that the proposal will be approved, stressing that the local administration in Evros is ready to start its materialization immediately.

[17] THE TURKISH PRESS CRITICIZED THE STATEMENTS MADE BY CILLER AND TAYAN

Well-known Turkish journalists criticized Turkish Foreign Affairs Minister Tansu Ciller and Defence Minister Turhan Tayan for the statements they made on the likelihood of a military intervention in Cyprus.

The newspapers published many commentaries and articles on the "missile crisis" in Cyprus with most interesting the articles written by Mehmet Ali Birad in "Sabah" and Deniz Som in "Cumhuriyet".

Mehmet Ali Birad writes that the tough statements made by Ciller and Tayan were exaggerations. He said that expressions such as "we will put Cyprus under blockade and the missiles will be hit" may satisfy the public opinion inside the country but they constitute overstatements. Mr.Birad said that, as it was proven in today's situation, the result of this tactic was for Turkey to be regarded by the international public opinion as being a country that threatens with war, even though it has the right on its side.

The Turkish journalist underlined that if the Turks do not learn the art of making the right statements they will never get what they want, adding that the same happened and during the crisis over the Aegean islets of Imia. Mehmet Ali Birad also underlined that he fears the present government and especially Ciller, saying that she is even capable of ordering an attack against Cyprus to change the daily agenda and be under the spotlights.

"Cumhuriyet" journalist Deniz Som mentions that noone should doubt that Prime Minister Necmetin Erbakan, who has a harmonious cooperation with Ciller on the government corruption probe, will show the same spirit of cooperation on the issue of Cyprus.

Deniz Som also writes that an effort is possible to start very soon aiming at the incitement of "national and moral" sentiments and this means that Turkey will be carried away in a direction from which it will be very difficult to return. The Turkish journalist concludes that the foreign policy is not a field that should be open to blunders.

[18] THE TURKISH LEADERSHIP AGREE ON AN ATTACK AGAINST CYPRUS IN CASE THE S-300 MISSILES ARE DEPLOYED

Turkey will attack Cyprus in case the Russian S-300 missiles are deployed in the island. This conclusion was reached in the contacts Turkish President Suleiman Demirel had with Prime Minister Necmetin Erbakan, Foreign Minister Tansu Ciller and General Army Staff Chief Ismael Hakki Karadayi, according to the private Turkish television channel HBB, which also mentions that the recent statements by Ciller on a possible attack against Cyprus gave the green light for the army to be in a state of preparedness.

After the contacts Demirel had with Erbakan, Ciller and Karadayi it was decided the holding of a National Security Council emergency meeting in the next few days to examine the issue of the use of military force in Cyprus and to be announced to the intarnational public opinion that Turkey will attack Cyprus in case the Russian missiles are deployed.

Meanwhile, leader of the Democratic Left party and architect of the Turkish attack in Cyprus in 1974, Bulent Etsevit stated that the Turkish army can not withdraw from Cyprus and noone has the right to ask something like that. Evaluating the recent developments he called on the Turkish government to be more drastic and to keep the opposition informed. He also said that if it is necessary for Turkey to attack this can be done silently, without rolling the drums, following the example of the 1974 invasion of Cyprus. Etsevit stated that when the 1974 invasion took place it was not pre-announced but on the contrary efforts were made to create the impression that Turkey had no intention of launching an attack.

[19] BULGARIAN OPPOSITION DEMANDS EARLY ELECTIONS

Opposition party forces in Bulgaria are demanding early elections, holding daily protests and mobilizations in the streets of Sofia.

Diplomatic circles in Sofia openly fear the possibility of a military coup, following last Thursday's apparent division in Parliament and the exiting president Zelyu Zhelev's refusal to grant the Minister of Interior Nicolai Dobrev the order to form a cabinet.

During a rally held yesterday, the country's newly-elected President Peter Stoyanov issued an appeal for a dialogue with the political forces, while favoring early parliamentary elections.

Meanwhile, inflation in Bulgaria has reached the 410% mark, paralyzing the country's economy. A.F.

[20] BULGARIA'S SOCIALISTS AND OPPOSITION PARTY HEADING TOWARDS AGREEMENT

Opposition party forces in Bulgaria are demanding early elections, holding daily protests and mobilizations in the streets of Sofia.

In light of the political and economic crisis plaguing the country, socialists and the opposition are making way for mutual concessions in order to achieve an agrement between the two sides and overcome the crisis.

Meanwhile today, lines of students marched through the streets of Sofia to the embassies of the U.S., Austria and Italy, asking the G-7 (governments of the world's seven richest countries) not to support the Democratic Left's in foirming a new government in Bulgaria. A.F.

[21] F.R.Y.: STUDENTS AND OPPOSITION SUPPORTERS TO CAMP OUT ALL NIGHT IN BELGRADE

The Federal Yugoslav Republic's tri-partite main opposition coalition "Zajedno" will organize an all-night camp out begining at 10 o'clock tonight, in Belgrade's cetnral plaza.

This act of protest will also feature various artistic events, while "Zajedno" leaders have asked the general public to participate. A.F.

[22] PRESIDENT OF BULGARIA'S PARLIAMENT FAVORS EARLY ELECTIONS

The President of Bulgaria's Parliament Blagovest Sedov, stated today that the Socialist Party must accept the opposition's demand for early elections and to immediately embark on negotiations in order to stabilize the crisis plaguing the country.

Meanwhile, a man has been arrested for opening fire against the Democratic Left's deputies as they tried to flee the Parliament building when it was seized by opposition supporters on Saturday.

It is said that the detained man stole the gun from Sedov's car. A.F.

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