Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 97-01-31

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, January 31, 1997

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] THESSALONIKI'S FORMAL INAUGURATION AS EUROPE'S CULTURAL CAPITAL TOMORROW

The President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos will formally open the inauguration festivities of Thessaloniki as Europe's Cultural Capital for 1997, tomorrow. The ceremony will be attended by Greece's Premier Kostas Simitis and other political leaders, as well as a score of foreign dignitaries.

Yesterday, the Balkan Culture Ministers accepted a proposal tabled by their Greek counterpart Evangelos Venizelos, that a Balkan Cultural Network of Cities and Arts be based in Thessaloniki. A.F.

[02] FARMERS TO BLOCK TOLLS IN CENTRAL GREECE TODAY, AS A SYMBOLIC MOTION

Farmers in Greece's central region, Thessaly, will take over the toll stations in the area today, but will allow the free passage of cars and, as such, the drivers won't have to pay the necessary toll.

Meanwhile, the area's circuit court judge has issued a temporary order forbidding the taking over of the national highway and the railway.

Prime Minister Kostas Simitis, addressing Parliament today, reiterated that the Government will press on with its policy in regards to the farmers.

"We are facing any whatsoever mobilisation with dialogue and decisiveness," the Premier said, adding that "the government is opposed to the mentality of high-handedness and high-handedness is blocking the roads, imposing social arbitrariness and not caring about the consequences these actions will bear on other workers.

The Premier concluded by stating that the government does not try to gain applause, but to secure the welfare of all of its citizens.

Government spokesperson Dimitris Reppas advised that calm is maintained, specifically referring to the farmers. He also expressed his conviction that the situation will soon ease up. A.F.

[03] PREMIER AND MAIN OPPOSITION LEADER IN THESSALONIKI FUR CULTURAL CAPITAL

[04] THESSALONIKI IS CULTURAL CAPITAL, EVENTS BEGIN WITH AGNES BALTSA'S RECITAL

[05] FOREIGN CULTURE MINISTERS SALUTE THESSALONIKI AS EUROPE'S CULTURAL CAPITAL

A score of culture ministers from the Balkans, the Black sea and Europe are arriving in Thessaloniki, in order to attend tomorrow's formal inaguration ceremony that will formally pronounce the city as "Cultural Capital of Europe '97."

Georgia's Culture Minister Valery Asatiani stated that Thessaloniki is the world's treasure, while Romania's Culture Minister Ion Karamitrou said that the frequent meetings among artists is the best way to create a bridge that will unite his coutnry with Greece. A.F.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[06] ROADBLOCKS AT GREEK-BULGARIAN BORDER, LORRIES REMAIN IMMOBILIZED

A line of lorries remains immobilized at the Greek-Bulgarian borders at Promahonas, due to the mobilizations of Bulgarian citizens who have blocked the roads leading to customs for the third successive day, in a sign of protest of their country's economic policy.

According to the chief of the Promahonas police station, Ioannis Kravarites, the problem is actually most pronounced about 20 kilometers away from the customs station, at the Bulgarian cities of Sandanski and Dubnitsa, as well as at the border station Kulata.

"The problem is on the Bulgarian side," Mr. Kravarites said. "We brief the drivers of international transports and many of them either return to their regions or, the more daring, keep on driving. There is no problem in Promahonas." A.F.

[07] STEP UP EFFORTS TO ARREST BRUNNER, SAYS LOCAL JEWISH LEADER

The President of Thessaloniki's Jewish Community, Andreas Sefiha, issued an appeal to the German ambassador in Athens that he step up the efforts that will lead to the arrest of wanted war criminal Alois Brunner, the man responsible for sending 50,000 of Thessaloniki's Jews to the gas chambers during WWII, is alive and well in Syria.

During his meeting with Mr. Reihe Friedrich, held in Thessaloniki today, Mr. Sefiha also asked that the German ambassador relay to his government the request to grant Greece with the right to prosecute German-descent individuals who are accused of having committed war crimes. In 1959, the then- government of Greece had ceded this right to West Germany.

According to reports steadily surfacing since 1982, Brunner, currently 85 years old, is living in Damascus, Syria under the alias of Dr. Fischer. The Syrian Embassy in Athens has repeatedly denied to the Macedonian Press Agency that the wanted man is living on its soil.

Speaking to the MPA, Mr. Sefiha stated that the Greek government must not be entrenched behind 1959's regulation, which, he speculated, was reached for the sake of political interests during that era.

In his part, Mr. Friedrich, who proved to be well-read upon the history of Thessaloniki's Jewish community and the Brunner case, promised that the community's request will be relayed to his government. A.F.

[08] U.S. CONGRESS ASKS STATE DEPARTMENT TO FREEZE HELICOPTERS SALE TO TURKEY

The speaker of the United States congressional committee on international relations, Ben Gillman, has requested the freezing of military helicopter sales to Turkey, in his first letter addressed to State Department Secretary Madleine Albright.

Ben Gillman (R) emphasizes in his letter that the overall situation in the region and especially the threats hurled by Ankara towards Cyprus, after the latter's purchase of Russian-made missile systems, dictates the Clinton Administration to achieve demilitarization in the eastern Mediterranean's greater region.

Moreover, Mr. Gillman asks the State Department to re-examine its position and emphasizes that "at this time, the Administration's decision to proceed with the sale of the helicopters will be met with the Congress' intense reaction." A.F.

[09] C OF E OFFICIAL: IT WOULD BE BETTER IF CYPRUS' ACCESSION COINCIDED WITH SOLUTION

It would be better if Cyprus' accession to the European Union would coincide with the resolution of the Cyprus issue, stated Andras Bartoni, the speaker for the Cyprus issue at the Political Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

Mr. Bartoni, who is expected to visit Cyprus within the next three to four months, also stated that he is convinced the Turkish- Cypriots will be included in the Cypriot Republic's national assembly, participating at the C of E's Parliamentary Assembly. A.F.

[10] F.R.Y.: PRESIDENT LILIC SAYS THAT OPPOSITION'S VICTORY MUST BE UPHELD

The President of the Federal Yugoslav Republic Zoran Lilic has stated that the main opposition coalition's victory in November 17's municipal elections (the tri-partite "Zajedno") must be upheld.

President Lilic emphasized that the current political crisis must be resolved as soon as possible, on the base of the relevant report issued by the Organization for Peace and Security in Europe, following its investigations of the matter.

Mr. Lilic also added that the "Gonzales" report, named as such since it was headed by Spain's former premier Felipe Gonzalez, contains plenty of constructive items. A.F.

[11] FYROM'S CULTURE MINISTER: CULTURE IS THE LINK CONNECTING THE BALKAN STATES

FYROM's Culture Minister, Slobodan Unkofski in an exclusive interview to MPA stated that he is ashamed of knowing more about the American culture than the Greek.

Mr.Unkofski, who is on a visit to Thessaloniki for the official inauguration of the Cultural Capital of Europe events, expressed the view that the two countries should be better acquainted, start trust each other and reject skepticism, while their relations should not be shadowed by what happened in the past and by problems that have not been resolved.

Commenting on the proposal for the establishment of a Balkan Cultural Network of Cities and Arts and the way it can contribute to the development of a spirit of cooperation and peace in the Balkans, mr.Unkofski pointed out that culture is the link connecting the countries in the region regardless of the differences among them in ideas and in political systems.

Referring to Thessaloniki's selection to become the Cultural Capital of Europe for 1997, FYROM's Culture Minister expressed joy over the fact that a Balkan city has won this prestigious title and expressed the hope that the participation of artists from his country in the scheduled events will be notable.

Called to comment on the dispute between Greece and FYROM regarding the name issue, mr.Unkofski stated characteristically that he believes a time will come when bilateral relations will be improved, adding that it is hard to predict what will be the final outcome of the talks on the name issue and how the problem will be resolved. He also said that the procedure which will lead to an agreement presupposes certain compromise from both sides.

FYROM's Culture Minister also stated that with the development of the economic and cultural relations communication between the two sides is expanding, adding that cultural cooperation should be promoted the same way the economic and trade relations are being promoted.

[12] SERIOUS HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS CONTINUE IN TURKEY

The US State Department in its annual report that was published recently stresses that serious human rights violations continue in Turkey and underlines that the country was unable to maintain the improvements observed in 1995, while there were backward steps made in certain sectors in 1996.

In the report is mentioned that human rights violations are not limited to south-eastern Turkey and frequently were reported murders of people while in police custody, excessive use of force and unresolved murders. In the report is also mentioned the murder case of journalist Gioktepe while in police custody.

According to the report, there is a serious problem in the freedom of expression and it is stressed that during last year 135 journalists were temporarily held by police and 11 of them were arrested. The freedom of expression was taken away from university professors, students, Parliament deputies and intellectuals while the anti-terrorist law is still in effect including unclear articles based on which is determined what terrorism is.

In the brief chapter on religious minorities is stressed that extremist elements attack from time to time religious communitie and specifically are mentioned the attacks against the Ecumenical Patriarchate. It is reminded the grenade attack against the Ecumenical Patriarchate and it is stressed that all religious minorities are afraid of a possible increase of islamic extremism.

In the chapter on ethnic minorities is mentioned that the Turkish Education Ministry controls completely the curriculum taught in non Turkish-speaking schools. Many students of Greek origin have stated that they had difficulties in continuing their studies in Turkey and for this reason they had to go to Greece from where they usually do not come back.

On the occasion of the publication of the human rights report on Turkey, US State Department spokesman Nicolas Burns called on the Turkish leadership to maintain the secular character of the state and not turn it into a theocratic one.

Mr.Burns stated that Turkey's foundation is its non theocratic character which is very important in the efforts made for the country's incorporation into Europe. The US State Department spokesman also pointed out that the United States continue to worry about certain human rights problems in Turkey and emphasized that the US will continue to have excellent relations with the country's non theocratic democratic government. He also said that the US will continue to have a responsible dialogue of cooperation with Turkey as they hope that the human rights record in the country will be improved.

[13] CILLER IS THE TARGET OF A NUMBER OF ACCUSATIONS, WRITE THE AUSTRIAN NEWSPAPERS

The Austrian newspaper "Salzburger Nachrichten" writes about the recent voting in the Turkish National Assembly for the establishment of an inquiry committee to examine the economic scandals Turkish Foreign Minister Tansu Ciller is accused of.

According to the newspaper correspondent from Ankara, ms.Ciller who is also the Vice-President of the Erbakan government, is at the center of a storm of accusations for corruption, misuse of power and links with the underworld.

The newspaper also mentions the revelations in the Turkish newspaper "Hurriyet" concerning the property Ciller and her husband own in the United States.

[14] MARAZOV: CRUCIAL FOR BULGARIA THE NEXT TWO MONTHS

Bulgaria's Prime Minister designate Nicolai Dobrev stated that he is ready to return the mandate for the forming of a new government to the country's President Petar Stoyanov to assist in the understanding among the main political forces, according to the Bulgarian radio.

The country needs a government of national unity, according to mr.Dobrev, who called on President Stoyanov to help in the forming of such a government.

Meanwhile, Bulgaria's Culture Minister Ivan Marazov, who is on a visit to Thessaloniki, stated to MPA that the real crisis in Bulgaria will erupt in about two months from today, stressing that for this reason early elections may be necessary because everyone will be called to assume their responsibilities.

Mr.Marazov stated that early elections are not the best that could happen to the country and its people at this moment, adding that possibly is the only way out of the social and psychological tension that resulted from the strikes and pressures.

According to mr.Marazov, the first thing that must be done for the improvement of the situation is for Bulgaria not to look for foreign economic assistance. He said that "we must make the Bulgarian businesses work", adding that even though Russia, one of the biggest and better markets for the Bulgarian products was lost, still new markets can be found or the old ones can be rediscovered so that new relations with the rest former communist countries will be formed.

The Bulgarian minister expressed the belief that there is still room for the handling of the situation because even though the crisis is very serious the country has very able and large manpower, which will be the decisive means for the country's economic recovery in the next century. Mr.Marazov stated that with the private business sector and the Bulgarian people linked by the state system a way will be found that will lead to the economic recovery.

Complete archives of the Macedonian Press Agency bulletins are available on the MPA Home Page at http://www.mpa.gr/ and on the U.S. mirror at http://www.hri.org/MPA/