Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 97-04-22

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, April 22, 1997

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] GREECE SAYS YES TO EU'S PROPOSAL TO FORM WISEMEN'S COMMITTEE

The Greek government submitted its positive response to the EU's Dutch-held presidency proposal to form a committee of wise men who will address Greek-Turkish issues.

However, the brief response refers to technical and procedural details concerning the committee and does not contain the names of the participants or a list of the items up for discussion. The document does refer to The Hague's process and to the continental shelf issue, specifically to the legal interpretation of the accords that apply to the Aegean Sea.

The Greek response was submitted late last night and Ankara's response is also awaited today, although it could be delayed for a few days since Turkey is celebrating religious holidays. A.F.

[02] PRESIDENT OF GREECE ADDRESSES C OF E PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY

The President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos addressed the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly yesterday, where he fielded questions from foreign deputies, among them three Turkish parliamentarians who attempted to propagandize in an inflammatory manner their country's positions.

President Stephanopoulos stated that "it is Turkey who doesn't respect the international laws and resorts to threats of war."

Moreover, the President referred to the Turkish behavior against the Greek minority living in Istanbul, Imvros and Tenedos. A.F.

[03] FIRST GREEK TROOPS HAVE ARRIVED AT VLORE

The first part of the Greek troops who are participating in the multinational peacekeeping force, code-named "Alba", to Albania have arrived at a military camp in Vlore where they will supervise the safe transport of the incoming humanitarian aid.

The Greek Navy's two tank-landing ships "Samos" and Chios" will arrive in Durres tomorrow, transporting 420 troops and 92 vehicles.

Meanwhile, Albania's ruling Democratic Party is suffering from internal warring, fueling rumors that the party will collapse and a new conservative faction will be formed in its place.

Thirteen deputies of the Democratic Party departed from Parliament after having signed a common statement wherein they distanced themselves from President Sali Berisha and held him as being responsible for today's crisis. Also, members of the party's National Council, who dissented with Mr. Berisha's policy and signed the statement, were removed from their positions. As a result, another 2,200 party members differentiated themselves from the party. A.F.

[04] THE GREEK PRIME MINISTER MET WITH THE AUSTRIAN PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT

Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis completes today his visit to Austria and tomorrow will be in Germany where he will meet with Chancellor Helmut Kohl.

Mr.Simitis met today with Austrian Parliament President mr.Fischer and representatives of political parties. He expressed satisfaction over the outcome of his contacts while he stated that common positions were presented regarding the Inter-Governmental Conference as well as, the Greek-Turkish relations and the Cyprus issue.

[05] GREEK PREMIER: GREECE'S STANCE TOWARDS TURKEY REMAINS UNCHANGED

Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis stated today that Greece will not change its stance towards Turkey in regards to freeing the EU funding, over which it has exercised veto power. Mr. Simitis said that Ankara's response to the conditions set forth by the EU-Turkey Association Council "is not satisfactory for us."

Greece's Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Yiannos Kranidiotis said that the wisemen committee's talks on Greece and Turkey will focus only on procedural matters and there cannot be any approach achieved between the two countries as long as the list of Greek-Turkish differences presents matters other than the continental shelf issue.

[06] GREEK AND ITALIAN TROOPS IN ALBANIA PLACE BARBED WIRE AT CAMPS

Greek and Italian troops stationed in Albania's Vlore participating in the multinational peacekeeping force, code-named "Alba", have placed barbed wire at the camps where they are stationed.

Vlore's police chief met today with the Italian brigadier whom he briefed on the city's overall situation. Meanwhile, the transport of 100 tonnes of humanitarian aid from Durres to Elbasan will be supervised today by the force.

The Greek Navy's two tank-landing ships "Samos" and Chios" will arrive in Durres tomorrow, transporting 420 troops and 92 vehicles.

Currently, Albania's ruling Democratic Party is suffering from internal warring, fueling rumors that the party will collapse and a new conservative faction will be formed in its place.

Thirteen deputies of the Democratic Party departed from Parliament after having signed a common statement wherein they distanced themselves from President Sali Berisha and held him as being responsible for today's crisis. Also, members of the party's National Council, who dissented with Mr. Berisha's policy and signed the statement, were removed from their positions. As a result, another 2,200 party members differentiated themselves from the party.

[07] REPPAS: THE COMMITTEES OF GREEK AND TURKISH SPECIALISTS WILL BE OF A PROCEDURAL AND STRICTLY TECHNICAL NATURE

Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas underlined the procedural and strictly technical character of the two Greek and Turkish committees of specialists.

Mr.Reppas clarified that Greece's proposal for the solution of the Greek-Turkish disputes includes Ankara's appeal to the International Court of Justice in The Hague, while on the committee process he stated that after it is completed a document will be issued not necessarily binding for the two governments.

Mr.Reppas also stated that there is a possibility for a total lack of progress in this procedural dialogue, possibly because this will be Turkey's choice.

[08] FOREIGN MINISTER PANGALOS BRIEFED THE MAIN OPPOSITION LEADER ON THE GREEK-TURKISH RELATIONS

Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos briefed main opposition New Democracy party leader Kostas Karamanlis on every aspect of the Greek-Turkish relations. After the meeting mr.Pangalos stated to reporters that the committee of specialists will be strictly of a procedural and technical nature and its task will be to offer clarifications and give responses to arguments presented by each side.

Mr.Pangalos called on Turkey to abandon its intransigence and stated that the neighbouring country should give its response, pointing out that a political decision is necessary for the establishment of the committee. He also said that Greece will seek the solution of the problems within the framework of International Law and treaties and also through The Hague.

ND leader mr.Karamanlis expressed reservations over the establishment of the committee and the course of the Greek-Turkish relations and added that his party will follow closely all developments and will block the moves made by the government which could hurt national interests and worsen bilateral relations.

[09] STEPHANOPOULOS: TURKEY DOES NOT RESPECT THE INTERNATIONAL LAW

Greek President Kostis Stephanopoulos speaking in the Council of Europe in Strasburg condemned the provocativeness of Turkey which does not respect international treaties and International Law and threatens Greece with a war.

Provocations were made during the meeting of the Council of Europe by three Turkish deputies but President Stephanopoulos silenced them when he compared Greece's behaviour toward the muslim minority in north-eastern Greece with the behaviour of Turkey toward the Greek minority in Istanbul, and in the islands of Imvros and Tenedos.

[10] CONDITIONS ARE FAVOURABLE FOR THE GROWTH OF THE ECONOMY, STATED THE BANK OF GREECE GOVERNOR

Governor of the Bank of Greece mr.Loukas Papadimos, presented the Bank's annual report on the course of the country's economy and characterized the present conditions as favourable for its growth.

Mr.Papadimos stated that emphasis should be given to spending control, the creation of viable social security systems and the privatization of state companies and banks.

He said that stability is being observed in the national currency, while the GDP has increased and there is convergence in the fronts of inflation and interest rates.

Regarding the course of the state economy, he stressed that in spite of the great delay that was observed in the first three months of 1997 there was a big decrease of state spendings, while giving an overall evaluation of the course of the Greek economy he said that, it has entered the path to real convergence with the economies of the rest European Union states.

[11] GREEK EXPORTS TO TURKEY SHOWED AN INCREASED IN THE FIRST 8 MONTHS OF 1996

The Greek exports to Turkey increased impressively in the first 8 months of 1996 and their total value exceeded the value of all exports made in 1995. The Greek exports to Turkey follow an upward course since 1994, mainly in the trade of textiles, metals, fuel, marble and cement.

Based on data provided to MPA by the Association of Exporters in Northern Greece, the value of the exports made in the first 8 months of 1996 was 182,8 million ECU, while during last year they were 165 million ECU and in 1994 were 116 million ECU.

[12] ALTERNATE FOREIGN MINISTER SPEAKS TO "LIBERAZIONE"

"Europe must grant more attention to the problems in the Balkans," stated Greece's alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou during his interview with the Italian daily "Liberazione".

Among other things, Mr. Papandreou pointed out that Greece has played a leading role in promoting Mediterranean cooperation. Moreover, he said that the principle of "spheres of influence" is outdated and emphasized that cooperation among the states must be fortified.

Referring to Greek-Turkish relations, Mr. Papandreou said that "they are not dealt with under a long-term prism", especially after the recently- expressed European positions, he added.

Lastly, the aternate Foreign Minister addressed the matter of the Albanian immigrants, of whom 400,000 live in Greece, and said that this problem must be tackled by providing aid to Albania so that the immigration wave will subside. A.F.

[13] DEVELOPMENT MINISTER SAYS MARKET ACTIVITY IS SATISFACTORY

The Minister of Development Vasso Papandreou stated that up to now, the market activity in light of the Easter holiday is quite positive, with an abundance of goods and foodstuffs available at reasonable prices. As a matter of fact, she stated, certain goods are sold at a lower price this year in comparison to 1996. Lamb prices vary from 1,300-2,000 GRD per kilo for domestic, while imported lamb sells at 1,100 to 1,200 GRD per kilo. A.F.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[14] EUROPARLIAMENT OKs AMENDMENT FOR TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY OF EU- MEMBERS

The European Union's Security policy should apply to all issues concerning the territorial integrity of its member-states, as well as the protection of its citizens, according to the European Parliament's Committee of Foreign Affairs, which today unanimously adopted the above-stated modification.

The modificiation, which in essense enforces the protection of each of the members-states' territorial integrity as opposed to the EU's overall entity, had been tabled by Greece's Eurodeputy Yiannis Roubatis, (PASOK) who is also a vice-president of the Europarliament's Socialist Group.

Moreover, the committee adopted Mr. Roubatis' modification according to which the EU's common security policy should also apply to border regions and to unresolved minority issues.

Lastly, the House also welcomed a third modification, proposed by Mr. Roubatis, according to which the EU must also address the dangers posed by outdated nuclear power plants, nuclear waste and warehoused radioactive materials.

[15] A TURKISH MUSIC COMPOSER WAS ARRESTED BECAUSE HE MADE ACCUSATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS

The Irish newspaper "The Irish Times" refers to Turkish music composer and human rights supporter Sanar Yudatapan, who was arrested by Istanbul's anti-terrorist agency after he returned from Germany.

The newspaper stresses that Yadatapan was scheduled to deliver speeches next week in public gatherings in Dublin as well as, in the annual conference of Amnestry International in Galway.

The Turkish music composer, who lived in Germany in the period from 1970 to 1991, was stripped of his Turkish nationality because of his intense public criticism targeting the military which had taken over power in 1980.

[16] MESUT YILMAZ: THE ERBAKAN GOVERNMENT WILL FALL SOON

Main opposition party leader in Turkey, Mesut Yilmaz expressed the certainty to journalists that the Erbakan-Ciller coalition government will fall very soon. The former Prime Minister also stated that his Motherland Party (ANAP) will participate in the new coalition government that will be formed.

The political situation in Turkey is very fluid as the coalition government is being attacked by the political parties of the opposition and the military establishment.

According to the Turkish newspapers, the army generals have unleashed an all-out attack against the islamists of the Welfare Party and they are using every chance they get to condemn and criticize them because of their efforts to change the secular character of the Turkish Republic.

[17] FYROM: EIGHT DEPUTIES INVOLVED IN TAT BANKING SCANDAL

Eight parliamentarians and their family members are said to be involved in the TAT's banking scandal that has rocked FYROM, according to the district attorney's findings.

The customers of FYROM's banking institution TAT threaten to hold massive rallies in case their government does not publicize the findings of its recent investigation in the bank's accounting books.

According to press reports in FYROM, the bank's clients have formed an association whose leader accuses the government of intending to keep its findings secret, thus fueling the customers' worries that the state is trying to protect its own who may also be involved in the scandal. A.F.

[18] EU MAY GRANT OK TO STATE AID FOR GREEK, GERMAN AND SPANISH SHIPYARDS

The European Union's industry ministers appear to be willing to give the go-ahead for state-aid to Greece, German and Spanish problematic shipyards, in spite of the opposition expressed by Britain and the three Scandinavian member-states.

The EU's Industry Commissioner Martin Bangermann stated that the Council of Ministers will approve this request, although Sweden, the only country so far that has openly expressed its opposition to this aid, has said that it will vote against it. A.F.

[19] COUNCIL OF EUROPE SHOULD STAY OUT OF NAME ISSUE BETWEEN GREECE-FYROM

The Chairman of the Coucil of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly stated that the name issue pending between FYROM and Greece should be resolved by the countries themselves.

Mr. Fisher stated that the Council is not sure if the nterceding would bear results since the dispute concerns only these two countries. Moreover, he added that the "FYROM" designation is also a bilateral issue, in spite of the fact that many EU member-states were opposed to this name when the country was admitted to the C of E.

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