Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 97-02-26

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki February 26, 1997

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] GOVERNMENT AND POLITICAL PARTIES DEPLORE THE TURKISH PROVOCATIVENESS

The greek government and the political parties condemned Turkey's new provocation which disputes the Greek sovereign rights over many islands in the Aegean, even over Crete.

Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos and Alternate Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou used tough language referring to Ankara, the Europeans and the allies across the Atlantic, who are backing the intransigent position of the Turks.

Democratic Social Movement leader Dimitris Tsovolas requested a meeting of political party leaders that will be chaired by the President of the Republic.

[02] GREECE WILL NOT BE IN FAVOUR OF THE EU ENLARGEMENT AS LONG AS THE EUROPEAN POWERS PERSIST IN THEIR UNACCEPTABLE POSITIONS

Greece will not be in favour of the European Union enlargement for as long as the European powers persist in their unacceptable position, stated Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs Theodoros Pangalos in a joint unscheduled press conference with alternate Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou.

Mr.Pangalos stressed that to every obstacle raised to the EU accession procedures for Cyprus, Greece will respond by raising the same obstacles to the accession of central and eastern European countries. He said that if those positions continue they will release Greece from the enlargement procedure and this will force the country to reconsider its policy.

The Greek Foreign Minister also referred to the new provocations made by Turkish army officers who according to a correspondence of the newspaper "Wall Street Journal" presented a map of the Aegean and maintained that many islands, including the island of Crete, are under a disputed status.

Mr.Pangalos stated that from the part of the Turkish top military leadership had been prepared plans disputing the Greek sovereignty in a region extending, east of a line that allegedly begins from the estuary of River Evros passes somewhere east of the island of Skyros and includes the island of Crete.

The Greek Foreign Minister characterized the Turkish claim as indescribable and ludicrous.

Meanwhile, Dutch EU Commissioner Hans Van Den Broek arrives in Nicosia today for talks with the Cypriot government and Turkish- Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.

[03] FARMERS IN THESSALY ANNOUNCED A NEW ROUND OF MOBILIZATIONS

Different speculations were made by the government and the farmers unionists concerning the outcome of the meeting Prime Minister Kostas Simitis had with members of the farmers' Coordinating Committee in Athens. The government characterized it as positive, while the farmers described it as fruitless and insinuated that new mobilizations can not be ruled out.

Farmers' Coordinating Committee President Yiannis Patakis stated that there are many forms of struggle and no one is ruled out, while all aspects will be examined. The farmers' unionists renewed their meeting for March 16 to take place in Kileler.

[04] THE EXTENSION OF THE SCHOOL YEAR IS NOT RULED OUT

Undersecretary of Education Yiannis Anthopoulos did not rule out the extension of the school year, announcing ways to substitute for the thousands of teaching hours lost as a result of the secondary school teachers strike.

The main teachers union reiterated today its proposal for a new comprehensive dialogue with the government. From its part, the government responded that it will accept a dialogue only on institutional issues.

The main teachers union is expected to decide today on the extension of the strike for a seventh week in a row.

[05] 38 DEPUTIES CALL FOR THE RELEASE OF COUP LEADER GEORGIOS PAPADOPOULOS

Thirty eight Parliament deputies of the right-wing opposition party New Democracy call for the release of coup leader Georgios Papadopoulos, citing irreparable damage to his health, in a joint question to Justice Minister Evangelos Yiannopoulos.

In their question they point out that Georgios Papadopoulos is already in the 24th year of his jail term and if he is not released the effects will be tragic due to the dramatic deterioration of his health.

They also stress that Greece is a strong and healthy democracy and can not be threatened by a 78yearold man.

[06] NEW DEMOCRACY HAS A SMALL LEAD, ACCORDING TO AN OPINION POLL

According to a research conducted by the polling company "Kapa Research" and published in the newspaper "Exousia", the main opposition party of New Democracy has a small lead over the governing Socialist party of PASOK.

Specifically, ND got the support of 28,9% of those questioned, PASOK 28,6%, Coalition of the Left 8,5%, Democratic Social Movement 6%, the Communist party 5,6%, Political Spring 4%, while the undecided are 12,9%.

Most popular political party leader is Coalition of the Left President Nikos Konstantopoulos with 70% followed by Prime Minister Kostas Simitis (46%), Democratic Social Movement President Dimitris Tsovolas (40%), ND leader Miltiadis Evert (29%), Political Spring party leader Antonis Samaras (25%) and Communist party General Secretary Aleka Papariga (21%).

[07] GREECE AND LITHUANIA SIGNED AN EDUCATION AGREEMENT

A very important agreement on education was signed by Greece and Lithuania during the two-day visit of Lithuanian President Brazauskas to Athens.

Lithuanian Ambassador to Athens Nikolaos Trehas stated that the agreement concerns the exchange of cultural programmes and students between the two countries and the establishment of new scholarships.

Mr.Trehas referred to the admiration of ancient Greece by the majority of the Lithuanians, a fact underlined through the great interest shown by Lithuanian University students for the Greek studies. The ancient and modern Greek classes offered by the Universities are being taught by 16 professors and are attended by 50 students.

A connoisseur of the Greek history and an admiror of the ancient Greek thought has been proved to be Lithuanian President Brazauskas, who visited the ancient site of Vergina today as well as Thessaloniki's Archeological museum accompanied by a 25-member delegation. The Lithuanian President had been taught the Greek history in high school and in the university and expressed his admiration for the exhibits in the museum, while he characterized the ancient tombs in Vergina as magnificent.

[08] THE GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER WILL VISIT ATHENS AND ANKARA

German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel intends to visit Athens and Ankara in an effort to contribute to the dialogue between Greece and Turkey. According to the Turkish state television station TRT-1, mr.Kinkel stated that he supports the dialogue between Greece and Turkey and in an effort to contribute to the improvement of the relations between the two countries he intends to visit Athens and Ankara soon.

Also, the German Foreign Minister expressed his support to Turkey's accession into the EU pointing out that this country is the bridge between Europe and Asia.

[09] THE BRITISH LINDSAY QUARTET WILL GIVE A CONCERT IN THESSALONIKI

The first official participation of Britain in the Artistic Programme of the Cultural Capital of Europe "Thessaloniki 1997" will be a concert by Lindsay Quartet, one of the leading British quartets of classical music, that will take place on March 1.

"The Lindsays", as they are widely known to the public, are celebrating this year the 30th anniversary of their forming, with concerts held all over the world.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[10] KASOULIDES: THE GOVERNMENT IS READY TO FACE THE TURKISH THREATS

A number of precautionary measures, aimed at facing the possible materialization of the Turkish threats concerning the settlement of Famagusta, have been taken by the Cypriot government. The above were stated by Cypriot government spokesman Yiannakis Kasoulides responding to the question on whether the Cypriot government intends to take countermeasures in case the Turkish threats materialize.

Nevertheless, mr.Kasoulides avoided to name the measures taken.

[11] GREEK EURO-DEPUTY MR.PAPAKYRIAZIS WILL PREPARE A REPORT ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE EUROPEAN OMBUDSMAN

Greek Euro-deputy of the governing party of PASOK mr.Nikos Papakyriazis was appointed to prepare a report in which he will make an appraisal of the work and the activities of the European Ombudsman in 1996, while at the same time this will be an overall appraisal of the institution which is in the second year of its operation.

The institution of the Ombudsman was enacted by the EU and aims at locating through complaints made by ordinary citizens, cases of mismanagement by the EU institutions and organizations.

The European Ombudsman investigates the complaint and then resolves the case either through a settlement or through recommendations made to the institution in question.

[12] TALKS BETWEEN THE ITALIAN PRESIDENT AND HIS COUNTERPART IN FYROM

The bilateral relations between Italy and FYROM and the present situation in the Balkans were at the center of the talks held in Skopje today between FYROM President Kiro Gligorov and his Italian counterpart Oscar Luigi Scalfaro, who is on a formal visit to the country.

In statements he made after the meeting, mr.Gligorov pointed out that the visit of the Italian President is of great importance to his country given the fact that Italy is FYROM's second largest trade partner after Germany.

From his part, the Italian President underlined that FYROM is a very significant factor of security and peace in the Balkans, while he announced that soon Skopje will be visited by the Italian Minister of Defence and that during his visit is expected to be signed a bilateral military cooperation agreement.

Speaking in FYROM's Parliament, President Scalfaro stressed that the agreements FYROM has signed with Greece and FRY and also the improvement of its relations with Albania and Bulgaria constitute a great contribution to the creation of a climate of stability and for the peaceful co-existence in the Balkans.

Meanwhile, FYROM's Foreign Minister Frtskofski and the Italian Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs signed an agreement for the protection and the promotion of investments.

[13] SOFIA IS CONCERNED OVER THE TURKISH THREAT FOR THE DEPORTATION OF BULGARIAN IMMIGRANTS

Great concern has been created in Bulgaria after it was made known Ankara's intention to deport after April 1 all the Bulgarian citizens of Turkish origin who arrived there after 1993 and their residence permits have expired.

Bulgarian Foreign Ministy spokesman Ratko Vlaikov stated in a press conference that Bulgaria follows carefully and very discreetly the discussion made in Turkey on the issue of the immigrants adding that this is not a bilateral issue.

Mr.Vlaikov also pointed out that the decision, made by the Turkish Interior Ministry and not by the Turkish government, concerns all illegal immigrants in Turkey and not just the Bulgarian immigrants of Turkish origin.

According to the Bulgarian newspaper "Trud", which cites statements made by Turkish Minister of Defence Turhan Tayan, the Turkish side has reconsidered its decision and will not deport the Bulgarian immigrants.

Meanwhile, the Turkish Interior Ministry decision has created reactions inside Turkey. The leader of the largest opposition party Mesut Yilmaz stated that he will table a motion in the National Assembly for its revision.

In an interview to the newspaper "Trud", Bulgarian boxer Serafim Todorov, who is in Ankara and wants to become a Turkish citizen, underlined that the reasons that led him to the decision to leave his country are purely economic and not political.

[14] EUROPEAN SUPPORT TO BULGARIA

The Council of NATO decided to accept Bulgaria's bid to become a member of the Alliance, as it was announced in Sofia by caretaker Foreign Minister Stoyan Stalev, who pointed out that Bulgaria's application for membership was firmly backed by many countries, such as the United States and Greece.

Mr.Stalev, who attended the third meeting of the EU-Bulgaria Association Council in Brussels, stated that Bulgaria soon will receive the 20 million ECU promised by the EU as an aid for the low income classes.

According to mr.Stalev, Sofia will be visited by European Commission representatives to discuss with the Bulgarian government the potential for the approval of a loan that will support the Bulgarian balance of payments.

[15] INCREASED RUMOURS ON THE LIKELIHOOD OF AN ARMED REVOLT IN KOSOVO

More and more information and publications mention the increased likelihood of an armed revolt in Kosovo.

Two days after the appeal for an armed popular revolt issued to Kosovo's albanian-speaking population by the "National Movement for the Liberation of Kosovo" (NPOK), the Serb newspaper "Nedelnji Telegraf" revealed that this underground organization is planning an armed conflict and already has at its disposal an arsenal stored in FYROM and Albania ready to be used for this purpose.

According to the newspaper's information, to the purchase of those weapons has contributed and Kosovo's exiled government led by Bujar Bukosi.

[16] PRIVATE VISIT OF TWO SERB MAYORS TO MOUNT ATHOS

Two of the newly elected Serb opposition mayors made a private visit to the monastic community of Mount Athos in Chalkidiki, northern Greece.

They are the mayors of the cities of Novi Sad and Kragujevac, who visited Mount Athos possibly fulfiling their vow after Serb President Milosevic decided to reinstate the opposition's victory in last November's municipal elections.

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