Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 97-01-24

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, January 24, 1997

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] MINISTERIAL COUNCIL CONVENES TO DISCUSS INTERIOR ISSUES

The Ministerial Council is currently holding a session addressing the developments in interior issues and, perhaps, national matters.

Yesterday evening, the Minister of National Defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos briefed the members of the Committee of Foreign Affairs and Defense on matters concerning Greek-Turkish relations and the recent developments on the Cyprus issue.

Mr. Tsochatzopoulos outlined the significance of the Unified Defense Doctrine between Greece and Cyprus and emphasized that Athens and Nicosia draw decisions together. A.F.

[02] DEFENSE MINISTER: ARMED FORCES JUSTIFY STATE STRATEGY

A reassuring message of the Greek armed forces' strength and decisiveness was forwarded by National Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos during his visit to the island of Limnos.

Referring to Cyprus' purchase of Russian-made anti-aircraft missiles, the National Defense Minister stated that the matter will not be disputed by anyone. A.F.

[03] GREEK ECONOMY ON RECOVERY COURSE, SAYS NATIONAL ECONOMY MINISTER

The State's new tax bill was voted in principle during the Parliament's Plenary session, while the debate will conclude on Wednesday.

During the debate, National Economy and Finance Minister Yiannos Papantoniou stated that the Greek economy is on a recovery course, with rapid drops in inflation beginning this month. A.F.

[04] TEACHERS DECIDE TOMORROW WHETHER OR NOT THEY WILL CONTINUE STRIKE

The country's striking high school teachers are to conduct a protest march to the Education Ministry today, while they are expected to decide tomorrow if they will continue their strike.

On Monday, the teachers union OLME will meet anew with Education Minister Gerasimos Arsenis. Their main demand is a monthly pay increase of GRD70,000. A.F.

[05] FOUR BILLION DRACHMAS TO BE DISPENSED TO FARMERS IN COMPENSATION

Greek farmers whose land suffered damages during the recent disasters, will be issued applications for compensation beginning today and for the following ten days.

Four billion drachmas will be dispensed altogether, with priority given to farmers from the prefectures of Trikala, Karditsa and Magnesia.

Meanwhile, the President of the Pan-Thesally Coordinating Committee -the country's major farmers body which organized last month's most stubborn roadblocks- Yiannis Pattakis, is currently in Brussels.

Mr. Pattakis stated that the Greek government has the ability to meet the farmers' basic demands and warned that if it does not, the new mobilizations will be so severe, "Greece will suffer a black-out." A.F.

[06] TSOHATZOPOULOS: GREECE IS DETERMINED AND UNCOMPROMISED TOWARD THE TURKISH PLANS

Greece is determined and uncompromised toward the Turkish provocative aggressive plans aimed at changing the status quo in the Aegean, stated Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos, who added that the Greek armed forces defence armaments programme is being fully implemented and for this reason "we are calm and cool- headed".

The above were reiterated today by mr.Tsohatzopoulos responding to a timely question by opposition New Democracy party leader Miltiadis Evert on Turkey's policy in the Aegean.

The Minister of Defence also pointed out that Turkey's expansionist plans and its aggressive policy are not unknown to Greece and the international community in general. It is known to everyone, stressed mr.Tsohatzopoulos, that Turkey acts as a destabilizing factor in the region unlike Greece which functions as a power of security and peace.

Mr.Tsohatzopoulos reiterated that Athens and Nicosia are in full agreement on the policy followed. He said that in the last 2 years, Greece is in a phase of an armaments policy which is complete in terms of defence and this is based on three factors: the complete readiness of the armed forces, the well-trained state of the armed forces for a successful and catalitic response to a turkish aggressive action and the securing of a flexible response against any such attempt.

[07] GOVERNMENT TO TAKE PREVENTIVE MEASURES OVER FARMERS IMMINENT STRIKES

The government is determined to address in every way possible the farmers' imminent strikes, announced today the Press and Media Minister Dimitris Reppas.

Mr. Reppas stated that the Government has exhausted all of the opportunities for talks with the farmers and is now determined to protect all of its citizens, in accordance to the nation's laws and interests.

The President of PASEGES, the country's largest farmers' cooperative organization, stated that he is opposed to the way the farmers' coordinating committees are reacting.

Meanwhile, the president of HELEXPO, Thessaloniki's fair which will host the Agrotica '97 exhibit, said that the event will proceed as planned, despite the farmers' threats of blocking the entrances. A.F.

[08] THE "AGROTICA '97" TRADE FAIR WILL OPEN AS SCHEDULED

President of HELEXPO - Thessaloniki's International Trade Fair mr.Antonis Kourtis said that the opening of the international fair of agricultural products and farming machinery, "AGROTICA '97", will take place in Thessaloniki on January 29 according to schedule, in spite of the statements made by the farmers who warned that they will block the entraces of Thessaloniki's International Trade Fair grounds in an effort to stop the Minister of Agriculture from attending the fair's formal inauguration.

The fair will last until February 2 and is expected to be one of the largest in the sector on a European level, as it is being observed an increase of 30% in the number of exhibitors compared to last year, while the number of visitors is expected to be increased by 40%.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[09] PRESIDENT CLERIDES WAS BRIEFED ON THE MILITARY DIALOGUE

Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides was fully briefed on the course of the military dialogue by Chief of the Cypriot National Guard Nikolaos Vorvolakos and Chief of Staff Dimitris Fasaris.

According to Minister of Defence Kostas Eliades, who was present in the meeting, President Clerides was briefed on the course of the contacts with the United Nations.

Mr.Eliades stated that Cyprus has suggested the continuation of the contacts with the United Nations in a quicker pace, expressing the Cypriot National Guard's readiness to hold two meetings a week. When asked if the Cypriot President set guidelines for the continuation of the military dialogue, the Defence Minister avoided to comment, because, as he said, the dialogue is in progress, but he expressed the government's good will to have a positive outcome from the military dialogue.

[10] THE BRITISH LABOUR PARTY SUPPORTS THE GREEK-CYPRIOT VIEWS

A British Labour government will use all its influence in the UN and in other international organizations to end Cyprus' division when England takes over the EU rotating Presidency.

Speaking last night in an event organized by the Cypriot community in London, the Labour party alternate Vice-President John Prescott described the "green line" dividing Cyprus as a horrible stain on democracy which in the end will fall just like the Berlin Wall.

Mr.Prescott stated that the British Labour party has repeatedly stated that Cyprus' accession into the EU must act as a catalyst for progress in the solution of the Cyprus problem, pointing out that Cyprus' accession should not be depended on a solution. Such a solution should be consistent with International Law and the UN resolutions, concluded mr.Prescott.

Meanwhile, in a speech written by shadow Foreign Secretary Robin Cook and read by shadow Foreign Office Undersecretary Joyce Queen, was stressed that Cyprus' EU accession must act as a catalyst for a solution, which will unite the Greek-Cypriots with the Turkish-Cypriots in a common European fate.

He added that everyone wants the accession of a united Cyprus into the EU but he clarified that the Labour party has always stressed that its EU membership application should be examined on its own merit and that no third country should have the right to exercise a veto.

[11] THE COMMITTEE FOR THE PROTECTION OF JOURNALISTS CALLS FOR THE RELEASE OF A JAILED TURKISH COLLEAGUE

An appeal for the release of a Turkish journalist, who is being held for the last 2 years in Turkish jails, was issued to the Turkish government by the Committee for the Protection of Journalists based in New York.

The Committee delivered a petition to Turkish Ambassador to Washington, Uzet Kademir, countersigned by 300 journalists and mass media directors, with which they ask for the release of Otzak Isik Utku, former director of the newspaper "Ozgiur Giudiem".

Utku was sentenced to 15 years and 10 months in prison based on the anti-terrorist law, after being accused of separatist propaganda in relation to the Kurdish issue, while the newspaper was shut down by the Turkish authorities.

In the petition it is stressed that the journalist was persecuted and jailed because he carried out his duty.

The Turkish Ambassador allegedly stated that he will convey the petition to his government, pointing out that many leading Turkish journalists and officials share the Committee's concerns.

[12] THREE TURKISH WARSHIPS SAIL INTO FAMAGUSTA'S PORT TODAY

Three Turkish warships are to sail into Famagusta's port today, in a sign of support to the occupation regime in northern Cyprus, following Cyprus' decision to purchase Russian-made S-300 missiles.

The three ships, the fregate "Fatih" and the warships "Doyan" and "Gurbet", will remain at the port of Famagusta for five days. A.F.

[13] CITY OF FAMAGUSTA ASKS UN SECURITY COUNCIL TO HALT TURKISH WARSHIPS

Three Turkish warships are to sail into Famagusta's port tomorrow, in a sign of support to the occupation regime in northern Cyprus, following Cyprus' decision to purchase Russian- made S-300 missiles.

The municipality of Famagusta has called on the international community and the United Nations Security Council not to allow the ships to sail into the occupied port.

The three ships, the fregate "Fatih" and the warships "Doyan" and "Gurbet", are scheduled to remain at the port of Famagusta for five days. A.F.

[14] CYPRUS' CHALLENGE TO US FOR DEMILITARIZATION GUARANTEE LEFT UNANSWERED

Cypriot government spokesperson Yiannakis Kasoulides stated today that there was no response to the verbal challenge his country issued to the United States for a guarrantee of the island's demilitarization, as well as for the security of the free region and the Turkish-Cypriots.

Specifically, when asked if Cyprus' challenge to the U.S will simply be echoed as a "rhetorical" one, Mr. Kasoulides responded that there was no reply from the State Department and said that at this time he does not see any grounds "for the U.S.' firm position that they will not play the role of a guarrantor in Cyprus."

Mr. Kasoulides reiterated that it was indeed a rhetorical question, which stemmed from an effort to show and convince that "guaranteeing that the moratorium will be observed, is not enough for Cyprus' security, for which the Cypriot government has had to order the missiles."

Nevertheless, Mr. Kasoulides pointed out that the State Department never associated the missiles issue with the moratorium.

Mr. Kasoulides added that he expressed this rhetorical view following the State Department's position which is that if there was a moratorium of military flights over Cyprus, there would be no need for missiles. A.F.

[15] U.S.: WE DON'T PROVIDE SECURITY GUARANTEES TO NON-ALLIANCE COUNTRIES

The United States Ambassador to Cyprus, Kenneth Brill, stated today that the U.S. do not provide security guarantees to third countries which are outside formal alliances.

Mr. Brill, who met today with the President of the Republic of Cyprus Glafkos Cleides, stated that the Cypriot Government did not formally propose to the U.S. that they guarantee Cyprus' security.

Following the meeting with the Cypriot President, the U.S. diplomat said that his country is ready to aid in the achievement of a viable solution to the Cyprus issue and added that as soon as the negotiations start, the U.S. will be present in order to help.

Referring to Cyprus' purchase of Russian-made anti-aircraft missiles, Mr. Brill clairfied that the U.S. never disputed the Cypriot government's right to arms, although he did question to what degree does this purchase constitute an act that leads the Greek-Cypriots to their aim.

Moreover, the U.S. Ambassador stated that the problem of Cyprus is a political one and, as such, he said, cannot be resolved militarily, nor within a judicial framework, but, rather, only through negotiations. A.F.

[16] GERMAN DIPLOMATIC MOBILITY FOR THE PROMOTION OF A SOLUTION TO THE KOSOVO ISSUE

A diplomatic mobility is being observed in Germany aimed at promoting a solution to the issue of Kosovo.

A closed-door meeting was held in Munich yesterday, organized by the Burdesmann Institute which cooperates with the German Foreign Ministry, for the in depth discussion of the issue of Kosovo. The meeting was attended by German specialists, three Serb representatives and three representatives of the Albanian-speaking population in Kosovo.

Meanwhile, a few days ago German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel had met in Bonn with Zoran Djinjic, one of the "Zajedno" opposition coalition in Serbia, and the issue of Kosovo was at the center of their talks.

Many analysts in Bonn speculate that the German diplomacy attempts, using all means, to promote a settlement for Kosovo on the grounds that political developments in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia offer the capability for a mediation toward this direction, while at the same time, the political divergence between Ibrahim Rugova, leader of the Albanian-speaking population and the more moderate so-called "Prime Minister" Bugiar Bukosi in Pristina is being characterized as favourable for a German mediation, according to a BBC commentary.

Analysts maintain that Bonn targets the moderate Bukosi wing in Pristina, while it exerts pressures both on Serb President Slobodan Milosevic for a solution of a wide autonomy now and on the increasingly powerful opposition to undertake proportional commitments later. Bonn suggests a number of alternative scenarios for Kosovo such as, the establishment of a canton with a status equal to that of Sebia or a Federal Republic in which the Serb minority rights will be safeguarded.

[17] F.R.Y.: EPISODES ERUPT BETWEEN OPPOSITION FOLLOWERS AND POLICE

Episodes erupted yesterday evening in the Serb city of Krakujevac, between the police and the followers of the main opposition party, the tri-partite coalition Zajedno.

The opposition asks that it be given control of the city's television and radio stations, after its victory during the municipal elections. According to reports, a number of protesters were injured. A.F.

[18] MOUFTIS FROM THRACE'S MOSLEM COMMUNITY RECEIVED BY PRESIDENT

The President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos received the Mouftis from Thrace's Moslem community in Athens today.

President Stephanopoulos asked to be informed on the situation faced by the flood victims in Thrace, while his guests expressed their satisfaction and gladness and forwarded salutations from their community members to the President. A.F.

[19] F.R.Y.: STUDENTS, OPPOSITION CONTINUE PROTESTS

Officials from the Serb city of Krakujevac, which is controlled by the opposition, reached an agreement today with the director of the city's serbian radio annd television network to interrupt the broadcast until the court decides to whom control will be granted. Following the agreement, the strong police presence withdrew from the network's building.

Episodes had erupted yesterday when the Serb authorities did not allow the television's administrators to go to work. The opposition asked that it be given control of the city's television and radio stations, after its victory during the municipal elections. In Belgrade, the tension created by the daily protests continues steadily, albeit with a strong dose of humor.

For the sixth day in a row, the students continued their roadblocks at the city's central plaza surrounded by police, where they even held beauty pageants and voted on their favorite policeman.

Meanwhile, Zajedno's spokesperson Slobodan Yuksanozic announced today that his coalition will gain power and, for this, will proceed to form a shadow cabinet and a democratic council which will undertake -temporarily- administrative duties. Mr. Yuksanovic did not comment further on who will be participating in these two bodies.

Also, Jean-Marie Le Pen of France's far-right National Front completed his three-day visit to Belgrade today. Mr. Le Pen was invited by the leader of the Serb Radical Party, Vojislav Seseli.

In regards to the students' protests, Mr. Le Pen stated that he does support their claims and would have liked to talk to them, if they only had invited him. A.F.

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