Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 97-02-06

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, February 6, 1997

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] EC APPLAUDS GREEK ECONOMY'S COURSE IN ITS LATEST REPORT

The European Commission appears satisfied with the course of the Greek economy and the government's effort to enforce a comprehensive macro-economic plan for keeping its growth rate at a fast pace.

In its latest report on the course of the economies of European Union member-states, the EC salutes with confidence Greece's measures that aim to reduce public debt and further de- escalate inflation. The Commission foresees that within 1997 Greece wil achieve a two-fold increase of its Gross National Product's primary surplus, which in turn will sustain the growth trend by contributing to the reduction of the country's account deficit.

The Commission reported that the growth rate in 1996 ranged at about 2.4 per cent and foresees that in 1997 inflation will drop to 6.9 per cent and the unemployment rate is not expected to surpass the 9 percent mark.

Moreover, the Commission applauds Greece's revised program of convergence, although its does point out that Greece's fiscal deficit stems from its restructuring attempts, that is, the way the Greek economy is organized and functions, and, as such, restructuring policies are necessary in order to steady the fiscal imbalances.

[02] PRIME MINISTER TO STRIKING FARMERS: QUID PRO QUO

The Prime Minister is willing to proceed to a dialogue with the farmers, as long as they stop blocking the national highways, the mobilizations and the threats, and as long as the farmers' hardcore union, the Pan-Thessaly Committee, promises that the mobilizations won't restart after the meeting.

As such, the farmers appear willing to call off their mobilizations, which have already dwindled down, as long as they meet with the Premier. A.F.

[03] PRESIDENT OF PARLIAMENT RECEIVES SLOVAK FOREIGN MINISTER

The President of the Hellenic Parliament Apostolos Kaklamanis received today Slovakia's Foreign Minister Pavol Hamzik and stressed the need for unity and convergence of all the political forces in a decisive position on our national matters.

"There are problems which may contain certain dangers, but the line adopted is followed by all of the country's forces, which is a positive element for overcoming any differences," Mr. Kaklamanis said. A.F.

[04] GOVERNMENT RESPONDS WITH "NO" TO FARMERS' ULTIMATUMS

[05] PANGALOS GIVES RESPONSE TO TURKISH CHALLENGES

[06] TEACHERS CONTINUE STRIKE

[07] CENTRAL GREECE'S PROTESTING FARMERS DEMAND TO SEE THE PREMIER

Central Greece's protesting farmers continue their mobilizations today, fortifying their gatherings along the national highways and suburbian roads. They demand to see Premier Kostas Simitis so that they can discuss their issues with him tete- a-tete.

Meanwhile the country's old national highway remains closed, along with a couple of suburbian roads in central Greece.

[08] TEACHERS TO EXTEND STRIKE WELL INTO NEXT WEEK

Greek high school teachers have decided to extend their strike into next week, while the elementary school and kindergarten teaching staff are expected to do the same, following yesterday's fruitless meeting they had with Education Ministry officials.

The high school teachers are currently on the third week of their strike, while the rest of the teaching staff are on the fourth day.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[09] SHOTS WERE FIRED IN A TURKISH OCCUPIED REGION IN CYPRUS IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS TODAY

Shots were fired in the Turkish occupied region of Lourouzina in Cyprus in the early morning hours today.

The Cypriot police is investigating information from the UN and the National Guard according to which, the shots were fired inside the occupied territories.

According to the Cypriot News Agency, Cypriot police Press Office director Glafkos Xenos has stated that the information based on which, certain individuals from the free territories had approached the Turkish outposts in the region and one of them was injured after shots were fired, constitute turkish allegations that are not under investigation by the Cypriot police.

The Turkish-Cypriots initially had alleged that two Greek- Cypriots entered the occupied territories to lower the Turkish flag in an military outpost, 30 miles east of Nicosia, but later they stated that the incident took place in the buffer zone.

Cypriot government spokesman Yiannakis Kasoulides denied the Turkish allegations characterizing them as completely unfounded and clarified that after an investigation was held by the National Guard it was established that no National Guardsman was involved in the incident during the night and no one fired a shot.

Mr.Kasoulides added that UNFICYP is investigating the origin of a blood spot in the buffer zone near the region where the incident allegedly took place. For the moment police has no information on involvement of citizens in the incident.

The incident was confirmed by Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas who stressed that shots were heard from the occupied territories but as it was established by the National Guard, no one of its members neither a citizen, was injured or moved in the region during the night.

[10] TURKISH DIPLOMATS WARN THE ERBAKAN GOVERNMENT THAT THE POLICY FOLLOWED ON CYPRUS AND THE EU LEADS TO DEAD END

The Turkish newspaper "Cumhurriyet" publicized the frictions in the Turkish Foreign Ministry by writing about the serious objections expressed by senior ministry officials concerning the policy followed by Ankara on the Cyprus issue.

According to the senior Turkish diplomats, the strategy selected by Ankara concerning Cyprus' accession into the EU and the deployment of the Russian S-300 missiles leads to a dead end.

The Turkish newspaper writes that the Turkish diplomats, who are opposed to the tactic followed by the Erbakan-Ciller coalition government, have expressed the view that such a strategy is possible to serve the US plans for Turkey's dismissal from Europe and its complete incorporation into the Middle East. In that group of diplomats is included assistant Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs, responsible for the Greek-Turkish and Cypriot affairs, Ambassador Inal Batu.

According to the Turkish diplomats, Ankara's strategy regarding the Russian missiles can lead to a war with devastating effects which will also bring about Turkey's isolation from Europe, adding that this may be one of the United States' strategic goals in the region because it is possible for them to want to turn Turkey into a totally controlled Middle-Eastern country.

Regarding the terms set by Turkey on Cyprus' accession into the EU, the Turkish diplomats suggest that the Turkish policy must be changed and propose the idea of the Turkish-Cypriots' accession into the EU possibly with some delay. They also speculate that the period between March and August will be decisive for developments both in Cyprus and the Greek-Turkish relations.

[11] THE INFORMAL COUNCIL OF EU JUSTICE AND INTERNAL AFFAIRS MINISTERS DISCUSSED WAYS FOR THE PREVENTION OF ORGANIZED CRIME

The informal Council of EU Justice and Internal Affairs Ministers that met in the Dutch city of Norvik discussed practical measures for countering organized crime, the harmonization of the EU states' legislation, EUROPOL's role and the expansion of its authority.

Greece was represented by Public Order Ministry General Secretary Ioannis Papadoyiannakis who stressed the need for the closer cooperation of policemen, customs officers and judicial authorities.

The council's Presiding Board characterized as very important the proposal made by mr.Papadoyiannakis, who suggested that the jurisdiction of EUROPOL and INTERPOL must be clearly defined to avoid frictions and confusion between the two international organizations.

[12] SWISS BANKS ADMITTED THAT THEY HELD TREASURES AND ACCOUNTS OF JEWISH NAZI VICTIMS

Half a century after the Jewish Holocaust, it appears that the road is opening for the settlement of an important problem namely, the looting of the property of the victims which was "laundered" in Swiss banks and was taken to countries such as Portugal for the purchase of military equipment and raw materials needed by the Nazi war industry.

For the settlement of this issue, three of the largest Swiss banks decided to deposit 100 million Swiss francs, about 18 billion drachmas, in a special account for the Nazi victims laying the foundations for the establishment of a "humanitarian fund".

In a statement that was issued yesterday, the banks are stressing that this initiative is unrelated to the investigation concerning the Jewish accounts that will continue until a fair solution is found.

[13] BULGARIA: FURTHER DROPS IN EXCHANGE RESERVE

Bulgaria's exchange reserves marked a further 20 percent drop during the last quarter, reaching by the end of January the $415 million mark, whereas at the end of October they were at $520 million.

The downward trend, data provided by the National Bank of Bulgaria, (NBB) is attibuted to the fact that Bulgaria wholly cleared its foreign debt in January.

Meanwhile, NBB will grant the Finance Ministry with a three- month loan of 24 billion leva, with the repayment term being the then-running exchange rate.

One year ago, the dollar-lev exchange rate was 1-60, respectively. It is now recorded at the dismal rate of 2,000-1.

[14] SERBIAN PARLIAMENT RECEIVES LAW UPHOLDING OPPOSITION'S VICTORY

The law which recognizes the Federal Yugoslav Republic's main opposition (Zajedno) victory in November 17's local elections has been tabled in the Serb Parliament.

Serb President Slobodan Milosevic has conceded by recognizing the opposition's victory, although Spain's former Premier Felipe Gonzales, the man that led the pro-opposition report issued by the Organization for Peace and Security in Europe, appeared reserved when he received the news.

[15] HAN SUNG JU AND GUSTAV FEISHEL IN ISTANBUL TO DISCUSS CYPRUS ISSUE

The United Nations Secretary-General's special envoy for the Cyprus issue Han Sung Ju and assistant envoy Gustav Feishel are to visit Istanbul today in order to hold a discussion concerning the Cyprus issue.

"There is still a great distance dividing the island's two communities, when it comes to their positions and mutual trust, which I consider as very significant points," Mr. Ju stated.

Mr. Feishel stated that Turkey must be told once again that she must contribute to the solution-finding process and added that Ankara has not yet realized that her support is needed to resolve the Cyprus issue.

Following Istanbul, the two UN diplomats will visit Athens where they will meet with Greek government officials.

[16] F.R.Y.: OPPOSITION WILLING TO STOP MOBILIZATIONS

The Serb government has adopted the proposal of Serb President Slobodan Milosevic to recognize the Federal Yugoslav Republic's main opposition (Zajedno) victory in November 17's local elections.

Vuc Drascovic, one of the tripartite coalition's leaders, stated today from Paris where he was received with his two counterparts by French Foreign Minister Herve de Charette, stated today that Zajedno will stop the mobilizations as soon as the tabled resolution becomes law.

Meanwhile, students in Belgrade continued their mobilizations today throughout the city's streets while opposition supporters will defy the cold weather for one more night and will conduct a rally this evening. A.F.

[17] BULGARIA: THERE WILL BE NO "WITCH HUNT", SAYS PRESIDENT PETAR STOYANOV

Bulgaria President Petar Stoyanov stated today that he guarantees there will be no "witch hunts" in Bulgaria, that is, no one will be persecuted for political reasons, thereby refuting relevant claims made by the Socialist Party, which he attributed to propaganda.

According to press reports, Mr. Stoyanov stated that the country's acting government is almost formed and characterised Sofia's mayor Stefan Sofiyianski as an excellent nominee for the premiership. A.F.

[18] NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL MEETS WITH TURKISH PREMIER

"Turkey grants greats importance to the protection of peace, democracy and the human rights, and the realization of these values with friends is very useful. For this reason, we wish the strengthening and development of NATO," stated Turkey's Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan during his meeting with NATO's Secretary-General Xavier Solana in Ankara today.

Mr. Erbakan supported that his country has contributed greatly to the protection of peace.

On his behalf, Mr. Solana stated that Turkey holds a significant position within NATO and emphasized the imminent need to draw significant decisions, especially at a time when the world is undergoing significant developments. A.F.

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