Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 97-01-20

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, January 20, 1997

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] PREMIER TO ATTEND SOCIALIST INTERNATIONAL MEETING

Prime Minister Kostas Simitis stated today that Ankara must abandon its aggressive policy and reduce the tension in the eastern Mediterranean, if the association agreement between the European Union and Turkey is to materialize.

Moreover, the Premier stated that Turkey should strive to restore its relations with EU member-states and to have good- neighboring relations with Greece, adding that the "15" should exert pressure upon Turkey.

Mr. Simitis departed this afternoon for Rome where he will attend the session of the Socialist International Council, to be held tomorrow and Wednesday.

Mr. Simitis is accompanied by PASOK's foreign policy secretary and recently-named foreign undersecretary Yiannos Kranidiotis, central committee secretary Kostas Scandalides and executive bureau member and eurodeputy Paraskevas Avgerinos.

According to the council's agenda, the sessions will focus on the Middle East and the peace process, the Dayton Agreement, and the reform and renewal of the Socialist International.

Mr. Simitis is expected to refer to Greek-Turkish relations and the Cyprus issue.

The session is to be attended by 350 representatives of 139 socialist parties from 120 countries. A.F.

[02] STRIKE FEVER STRIKES AGAIN, SEAMEN ARE EXTENDING THEIRS, OTHERS JUST START

Greece's striking seamen, having kept passenger and cargo ships docked at the ports for the past five days, have decided to extend their strike until at least tomorrow, protesting the Government's decision to lift their tax exemptions.

At midnight yesterday, the Panhellenic Seamen's Federation turned down a written proposal -submitted by the Minister of Merchant Marine Stavros Soumakis- which contained the State's final offer.

The Undersecretary of Finance George Drys also confirmed the Government's vow not to proceed to changes in the taxation program.

The seamen plan a protest rally to the center of Athens today, to be followed by a march to the Parliament.

High school teachers also embarked on a lengthy strike today, demanding wage increases.

On Thursday, the General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE) will conduct a 24-hour country-wide strike. On January 27, the country's pensioners will organize a mass rally, while on February 3-4 the Highest Union of Public Servants (ADEDY) will hold a 48-hour strike, protesting the Government's new wage list. A.F.

[03] GREECE'S ALTERNATE FOREIGN MINISTER ATTENDS EU'S GENERAL AFFAIRS COUNCIL

Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou is currently in Brussels where he will represent Greece at the European Union's Council of General Affairs, to be held today.

At the Council, the EU's 15 Foreign Ministers will discuss issues related to the Intergovernmental Conference, as well as the matter of Cyprus.

The President of the EU's Foreign Ministers Council, Hans van Mirlow, will receive the U.S. official Carey Cavanaugh today and the two men will discuss the latter's recent contacts in Nicosia, Athens and Ankara. A.F.

[04] GREEK EDUCATION MINISTER ARSENIS IN CYPRUS, MEETS WITH PRESIDENT CLERIDES

Greece's Education Minister Gerasimos Arsenis, was received by the Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides in Nicosia today, where he also met with his counterpart from Cyprus, Clairi Aggelidou.

Mr. Arsenis and Ms. Aggelidou briefed President Clerides on the educational cooperation programs between the two countries, while matters of national and international developments were also brought up during the discussion.

Mr. Arsenis, who has also served as Greece's Defense Minister in the past, stated that "while Cyprus' position was and is to conduct negotiations directed towards the federation solution, close attention must be paid, since such proposal could conceal a co-federation solution, which essentially ratifies the island's division."

Moreover, Mr. Arsenis stated that Greece and Cyprus have a common future, and no Greek foreign policy or national strategy can be established if it does not contain the Cyprus issue.

The Education Minister also referred to the common threat Greece and Cyprus face and pointed out that two separate national strategies would be a "recipe for disaster." A.F.

[05] MINISTER OF INTERIOR TO VISIT CYPRUS ON THURSDAY

Greece's Minister of the Interior, Public Administration and De-centralization Alekos Papadopoulos will visit Cyprus on Thursday in order to sign a protocol of cooperation on interior affairs with his Cypriot counterpart Dinos Michaelides.

During his two-day stay, Mr. Papadopoulos will also sign a protocol concerning matters of public administration with Cyprus' Minister of Finance Christodoulos Christodoulou.

Mr. Papadopoulos will be received by the President of the Republic of Cyprus Glafkos Clerides and will also meet with the Parliament's president Spyros Kyprianou and Archbishop Chrysostomos. A.F.

[06] SCHEDULED ROUND OF TALKS BETWEEN GREECE-FYROM CANCELLED

A new round of talks over the name issue pending between Greece and FYROM, scheduled to be held today in New York, has been cancelled.

According to confirmed reports, FYROM's representative Ivan Tosevski was unable to travel to New York due to the heavy fog at the airport of Skopje.

It has not been announced when the talks will resume. A.F.

[07] CLINTON WILL WORK TOWARD THE SOLUTION OF THE CYPRUS PROBLEM AND THE CRISIS IN THE AEGEAN

George Stephanopoulos, former adviser to US President Bill Clinton, confirmed that the US President will examine with great care the crisis in the Aegean and the division of Cyprus.

In statements he made in an event organized in his honour by the Greek-American community, mr.Stephanopulos expressed the belief that President Clinton is determined to work toward a fair and good solution for both issues. He said that soon there will be a high level initiative on behalf of President Clinton who will exercise strong pressures toward reaching a solution.

He also added that US Secretary of State Madleen Albright is a devoted advocate of human rights and democracy and will strongly support a fair solution.

In the event were present Archbishop of America Spyridon, US Assistant Secretary of State John Kornblum, Council of Hellenes Abroad President Andrew Athens, US Senator Paul Sarbanis and other leading members of the Greek-American community.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[08] NICOSIA WILL TAKE MEASURES FACILITATING THE CYPRUS PROBLEM SOLUTION

Cypriot government spokesman Yiannakis Kasoulides expressed the belief that in 1997 there will be great developments in the course toward the solution of the Cyprus problem and gave the assurance that the government will take all the necessary measures to facilitate the process for the solution of the problem.

Mr.Kasoulides clarified that if there is political will from both sides there will be a desirable outcome. Referring to the US initiative on the Cyprus problem, the Cypriot government spokesman underlined that when the US initiative is undertaken then measures will be taken facilitating the course toward the solution of the Cyprus problem.

The Cypriot government spokesman added that in 1996 there was enough preparation made and the positions of the two sides have been clarified. In conclusion, mr.Kasoulides pointed out that the arrival of the UN Secretary-General special envoy to Cyprus will mark the start of essential efforts toward the solution of the problem.

[09] THOUSANDS OF DISGRUNTLED ALBANIANS FLOCK TO THE STREETS OF TIRANA

Thousands of Albanians flocked to the streets of Tirana yesterday, protesting Sali Berisha's administration.

The police tried in vain to control the masses, which managed to bypass the strong force and gather at the city's central plaza.

The rally was organized by the opposition party, following the upset noted in the recent days, due to the government's decision to do away with a number of investment programs. A.F.

[10] F.R.Y.: OPPOSITION CONTINUES RALLIES, BUT MILOSEVIC REMAINS UNMOVED

The main opposition party of the Federal Yugoslav Republic, tri-partite coalition "Zajedno", continues its daily protests through the streets of Belgrade and other Serbian cities, joined by thousands of college students who are protesting the intransigence displayed by Serb President Slobodan Milosevic.

Since early this morning, thousands of students are at Belgrade's central square, face-to-face with the strong police force obstructing the access.

One of the coalition's leaders, Vuk Drascovic, has stated that his party will continue the rallying and the protests until the government recognizes -in its entirety- the report issued by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe which upheld Zajedno's victory in the majority of the municipalities.

Yesterday, Drascovic stated that Milosevic is provoking a civil war in Kossovo in an effort to shift the weight of the crisis away from Belgrade and thus bury the local elections issue, all for the sake of saving his regime.

"Milosevic is dealing his last card, not caring about the consequences and the blood about to be shed. Serbia is now at the verge of chaos," Drascovic warned. A.F.

[11] F.R.Y.: SOCIALIST PARTY FILES APPEAL WITH BELGRADE'S COURT

The Federal Yugoslav Republic's ruling Socialist Party filed an appeal with Belgrade's regional court today, objecting the court's recent ruling that upheld the main opposition's (tri- partite coalition "Zajedno") victory in the capital during November's local elections.

The opposition's leaders stated that this move on behalf of Serb leader Slobodan Milosevic could very well lead to a climax in the political crisis, since he doesn't appear willing to recognize his opponents' victory in the country's largest municipality. A.F.

[12] A SIX-MEMBER PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION FROM TURKEY WILL BE PRESENT IN AHMET SADIK'S TRAFFIC ACCIDENT TRIAL

A six-member Turkish National Assembly delegation headed by the Turkish Parliament's Human Rights Committee President Demir Berberoglu arrives in Greece tomorrow to attend the trial on the traffic accident in which Ahmet Sadik was killed. The trial of Zisis Arabatzis, the driver of the tractor which on July 24, 1995 collided with Ahmet Sadik's car, a former Greek Parliament member elected in the constituency of Rodopi, will begin on Wednesday in Thessaloniki.

The 62yearold Zisis Arabatzis, from the village of Sostis, is accused of manslaughter and of causing bodily harm. Former New Democracy Parliament deputy Stilianos Bletsas, the lawyer representing the accused, stated to MPA that Sadik's family has not filed a suit against Arabatsis demanding compensation. Sadik's wife, Isik, has confirmed the information but added that she intends to file a suit soon.

[13] JOINT DECLARATION OF MILITARY COOPERATION WILL BE ANNOUNCED BY DEMIREL AND DENKTASH

Joint declaration of military cooperation is expected to be announced by Turkish President Suleiman Demirel and Turkish- Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, who is on a three-day visit to Ankara.

According to BBC, the two men will give to publicity a carefully worded statement with which they will announce their decision to strengthen the cooperation between the Turkish occupation forces and the local Turkish-Cypriot troops as well as, their economic relations. The BBC commented that the statement will be the responce to the Cypriot government for its purchase of the Russian S-300 missiles.

Based on information reported by the private Turkish television channel HBB, during the contacts between Demirel and Denktash will also be evaluated Turkey's position in the negotiations when they will take place.

The same source reports that the basic principles of the declaration will concern the moves that will be made aimed at making the defence ties between Turkey and the Turkish-Cypriot pseudostate stronger, while it will be underlined that Turkey will not leave unanswered any intervention in the Turkish occupied part of Cyprus.

[14] GERMANY DISAGREES WITH THE IMPOSITION OF ECONOMIC SANCTIONS ON SERBIA

Germany disagrees with the imposition of economic sanctions on Serbia because they will hit mainly its population, stated German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel after the meeting he had yesterday in Bonn with Serb opposition leader Zoran Djinjic.

Kinkel called on the Serb President Slobodan Milosevic to abandon the tactic of systematic obstruction and to finally recognize the results of the municipal elections won by the opposition.

Mr.Djinjic's visit to the German capital was made within the framework of the contacts the Serb opposition has began with the governments of the European Union member-states in an effort to win the backing of the West for the overthrow of the Milosevic regime.

[15] THE NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL IS VISITING MOSCOW AND ANKARA

NATO Secretary-General Xavier Solana is in Moscow seeking an agreement with the Kremlin on the issue of the relations between the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and Russia in view of the organization's imminent expansion eastwards.

Moscow's emerging willingness to discuss a form of a treaty or charter that will determine the relations between NATO and Moscow, strenghtens the hopes that there will be some outcome in spite of the strong objections of certain Russian government officials who are against NATO's expansion.

Mr.Solana will discuss with Russian Foreign Minister Gevgeni Primakov NATO's proposals, including the establishment of a new forum where Russia will also be represented and in which issues of mutual interest will be discussed. Also, a proposal will be made to Moscow to undertake a more upgraded role in the weapons non proliferation talks, especially the strategic ones.

NATO is willing to make concessions but Moscow wants to keep its veto power on any decisions that could threaten its security.

The issue of the NATO expansion will also be discussed during mr.Solana's visit to Ankara and the talks he is scheduled to have with the Turkish government on February 5 and 6.

It is mr.Solana's second visit to Ankara within a year and according to the english-speaking newspaper "Turkish Daily News", he will meet with President Demirel, Prime Minister Erbakan, Foreign Minister Ciller and Defence Minister Tayan as well as with Army General Chief of Staff, General Hakki Karadayi.

Mr.Solana is expected to bring up for discussion the issue of the deployment of a NATO peace-keeping force in Cyprus to replace the UN peace-keepers, a proposal with which Ankara disagrees, as according to the Turkish newspaper "Zaman", Turkey is opposing any formula that will loosen the effectiveness of its guarantee in Cyprus.

Also, will be discussed the Greek-Turkish relations, the relations between NATO and Turkey and between Turkey and the Western European Union as well as, NATO's expansion.

On the last issue, the British newspaper "Financial Times" writes that Turkey has warned its NATO allies that it will block the accession of new members unless it receives the promise that it will become a European Union member. The newspaper cites statements made by a high ranking Turkish official who stated that NATO's expansion is directly linked with the EU enlargement.

Turkey's threat that it will use its veto power to block the accession of the central and eastern European countries into NATO puts in danger the US plans for the completion of NATO's expansion by the year 1999, the alliance's 50th anniversary.

[16] ERBAKAN: TURKEY WILL REEXAMINE THE CUSTOMS UNION WITH THE EU

Turkish Prime Minister Necmetin Erbakan reiterated the position that Turkey will re-examine the customs union agreement with the European Union. Speaking in a dinner given to his honour by the Association of Independent Industrialists and Businessmen, the islamist leader attacked the western states expressing views and positions which are in conflict with the policy followed by Tukey so far and the efforts made by the Turkish government aimed at persuading the US and the EU that they are not being threatened by the ideas of the islamist Welfare party.

Mr.Erbakan underlined with an emphasis that the time has passed when the West was boasting about its development and progress. Soon, he said, the African and Asian countries will be leading.

Meanwhile, the newspaper "Hurriyet" writes that the Turkish Prime Minister used glowing terms speaking of the imminent agreement with the aircraft manufacturing company "Airbus" for the co-production of airplanes.

The same newspaper in a correspondence from Washington, points out that the US government is examining ways for the imposition of sanctions on BOTAS, the Turkish oil and natural gas company which has signed an agreement with Iran. The newspaper maintains that this US decision, besides the undoubted economic effect it will have it will also convey a political message to the Erbakan-Ciller coalition government.

Prime Minister Erbakan, who is aware of the US intentions, has sent to the United States Minister to the Prime Minister's Department Fehim Antak, regarded as the representative of the islamist fundamentalist wing, in order to deliver the message that even the most radical member can be temperate.

At the same time, the islamist leader tries to show to the US government that the American interests in the region are not being theatened by the Welfare party because he needs the US support as Turkey has lost its credibility in the international financial circles and with the assistance and guarantee of the Americans is trying to achieve better terms for receiving loans.

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