Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 97-05-12

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, May 12, 1997

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] GREEK PRIME MINISTER DEPARTS FOR OFFICIAL VISIT TO LUXEMBURG

Greece's Prime Minister Kostas Simitis is to embark this evening on a two-day official visit to Luxemburg.

Mr. Simitis will be received by Luxemburg's Premier Mr. J. Juncker while tomorrow he will meet with the President of the European Audit Council Mr. Friedman. A.F.

[02] GREEK DEFENSE MINISTER: EXTENSION OF GREECE'S TERRITORIAL WATERS CONSTITUTES A NATIONAL SOVEREIGN RIGHT

The extension of Greece's territorial waters to 12 miles constitutes an inalienable, sovereign right of our country and is not subject to any discussion, emphasized the Greek Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos during his stay in Thessaloniki yesterday.

He also stressed that the 12 miles will be enforced at a given time, coinciding with the securing of free navigation and movement of vessels in the Aegean.

Mr. Tsochatzopoulos will meet with the Prime Minister Kostas Simitis this afternoon. A.F.

[03] GREEK ARMY TROOPS PARTICIPATE IN NATO EXERCISE HELD IN FYROM

For the first time since WWII, Greek army commandos are to participate in the FYROM-held exercise "Salvation '97", which also features the participation of military units and high-ranking officials from 12 NATO-member countries.

The basic aim of this exercise is to train the platoons for any potential multi-national action to be taken in case of natural disasters. A.F.

[04] GREECE WILL NOT NEGOTIATE ITS SOVEREIGN RIGHTS

As a trust-building measure with its neighbor, Turkey, Greece proposes the Papoulias-Yilmaz memorandum, according to both Greece's Minister of Defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos and government spokeperson Dimitris Reppas.

Referring to reports of special corridors having been created above the Aegean for Turkish aircraft, Mr. Tsochatzopoulos categorically denied them. According to the reports, the Turkish military flights would be allowed within 6-10 miles of the Greek flight space.

[05] GREEK PREMIER IN LUXEMBURG, DEFENSE MINISTER IN PARIS

Greece's Prime Minister Kostas Simitis departed for Luxemburg this evening, accompanied by the alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou.

During his stay, Mr. Simitis will be received by Luxemburg's Premier Mr. J. Juncker while tomorrow he will meet with the President of the European Audit Council Mr. Friedman, the President of the European Court and the President of the European Investment Bank.

[06] GREEK UNDERSECRETARY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS IN MOSCOW

Greece's Under-secretary of Foreign Affairs Yiannos Kranidiotis is currently in Moscow where he is to be received by his Russian counterpart Alexander Avdiev.

Mr. Kranidiotis will have a series of contacts with officials from Russia's Foreign Ministry where the talks will focus on Greek- Russian relations, matters of Balkan-related interest and the Cyprus issue.

In turn, Mr. Kranidiotis will travel to London where he will meet with the British government's deputy Secretary of State for European Affairs Douglas Henderson, Britain's special envoy for the Cyprus issue Sir David Hannay and other officials. A.F.

[07] EU'S NATIONAL ECONOMY MINSTER CONVENE IN BRUSSELS

The European Union's Council of National Economy Ministers is to convene in Brussels today, where it will examine last year's fiscal deficits presented by its 15 member-states, in relation to each country's convergence program for the Economic and Monetary Union.

This auditing process, titled as process of excessive deficit, has been in enforcement by the European Commission for the past three years and foresees cuts in the Community's Cohesion Fund for those member-states that fail to meet the program's targets.

Greece is not subject to cuts since its public deficit stands at 7.4 of the Gross National Product, below the ceiling of 7.6 GNP. A.F.

[08] THE PRIME MINISTER AND THE MINISTER OF DEFENCE DISCUSSED THE GREEK-TURKISH RELATIONS

The developments in the Greek-Turkish relations were discussed by Prime Minister Kostas Simitis and Defence Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos before the latter's departure for Paris where together with Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos will attend the Western European Union meeting.

The meeting's subject will be the WEU's transformation into a defence organization within the framework of the common European policy and defence.

The Greek side is expected to be pressured on the Greek- Turkish issues especially after the US proposal which according to a newspaper report, allegedly provides for the creation of special corridors allowing the Turkish warplanes to fly in a specific area within the Greek air space without having to submit a flight plan.

Mr.Tsochatzopoulos denied the possibility for the creation of air-corridors over the Aegean to be used by Turkish jets and reiterated that the Papoulias-Ylmaz agreement constitutes a clear basis acceptable by both sides. He also stated after his meeting with the Prime Minister, that there will be no negotiation on the Greek sovereign rights and underlined that Greece will not accept a reduction of its authority in the Athens FIR.

[09] REPPAS: THERE IS NO ISSUE OF SPECIAL FLIGHT CORRIDORS

Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas stated that there is no issue of special corridors for the flights of Turkish warplanes inside the Greek air space, adding that such an issue has never been raised to the Greek government by any country.

Mr.Reppas stated that NATO Secretary General Javier Solana has made certain proposals within the framework of the Brussels talks, but the Greek government's position remains firm that the Papoulias-Yilmaz memorandum can be the basis for the confidence- building-measures between the two countries.

[10] REPPAS: THE WORD MACEDONIA CAN NOT BE THE NAME OF FYROM

The firm position of the Greek government that the word Macedonia can not be the name of FYROM was reiterated today by Greek government spokesman Dimitiris Reppas, when he was asked to comment on the interview FYROM's President Kiro Gligorov gave to Greek journalists in which he pointed out that the citizens of his country will not accept any other name than "Macedonia".

The Greek government spokesman speculated that the dialogue procedures underway within the framework of the UN can lead to an agreement.

Mr.Reppas stated that Greece exerts pressures or suggests a policy that can lead to an agreement for the benefit of both sides.

[11] PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS LEFT FOR LUXEMBOURG

Prime Minister Kostas Simitis left this afternoon for Luxembourg accompanied by alternate Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou.

During his stay in Luxembourg mr.Simitis will have meetings with his counterpart mr.Juncker, the President of the European Audit Court, the European Court President and the President of the European Bank of Investments.

[12] FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE GREEK REPUBLIC MR.KARAMANLIS EXPRESSED HIS VIEWS IN AN INTERVIEW PUBLISHED IN A TURKISH NEWSPAPER

Interesting views on the political situation and the way foreign policy is exercised both in Greece and in Turkey are included in an interview of former Greek President Konstantinos Karamanlis to Stelios Berberakis which is published now in the Turkish newspaper "Sabah", as there was a pre-condition not to be published while mr.Karamanlis was in office.

According to mr.Karamanlis, who is one of the political personalities that marked the post-dictatorship period in Greece, the governments in Greece and in Turkey mix the domestic with the external problems and as a result they adopt unacceptable positions, make foolish steps, undertake commitments for nothing and therefore, when the time comes they can not alter their positions and they become captives of themselves.

The former President of the Greek Republic expresses the belief that the two sides must behave with honesty and courage, while he underlines that they are obligated to maintain good relations and the necessary pre-condition for this is to be free from the captivity they have put themselves into in the effort to trap eachother.

He maintains that it is a mistake for Greece and Turkey to expect assistance from third parties for the solution of the Cyprus problem, pointing out that the two countries can find a viable solution. "I personally deal with this issue for 40 years. We must solve it ourselves", stated characteristically mr.Karamanlis.

Referring to the likelihood of a Third World War, mr.Karamanlis stressed that noone should worry for such a war because it has already started. "If we look around us", said mr.Karamanlis, "we will see small range insurrections and clashes and total anarchy. This means that even if there are no wars between states, armed conflicts can erupt in every part of the world which can lead to the loss of human lives. People raise the standard of revolt and want to found a state."

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[13] TURKEY'S UNIVERSITY OF ANKARA HONORS GREEK POET ODUSSEAS ELYTIS

Turkish students from the University of Ankara's Department of Modern Greek Language organized an event commemorating the late Greek poet laureate Odysseas Elytis.

The students recited some of the Greek poet's most well-known works while there was also simultaneous translation into the Turkish language. The college students also sang three of Elytis' poems, set to music by Greece's famous composer Mikis Theodorakis while a group of seven youngsters performed Greek traditIonal dances. A.F.

[14] CYPRIOT GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON ON FLIGHTOVERS

There were no reports of violation of Cyprus' air space by Turkish aircraft, according to the Cypriot government's spokesperson Manolis Christofides, who added that this outcome is "welcomed."

When he was asked if there is an informal moratorium, Mr. Christofides responded that "our position on this matter is well- known", adding that "if Turkey follows the same tactic in order to show good will then that is it's own matter."

Overall, Mr. Christofides clarified that this is a temporary suspension, not a permanent one.

[15] ALBANIA: FOUR PERSONS DEAD, 12 INJURED DURING CONFLICT IN VLORE

Four persons have been killed while 12 others were injured during conflict between opposite gangs in Vlore last night.

The turmoil erupted when a group of armed gang members tried to break into an army depot. A policeman is among the victims. A.F.

[16] TURKEY-IRAN SIGN AGREEMENT ON CONSTRUCTION OF NATURAL GAS PIPELINE

An agreement for the construction of a natural gas pipeline has been signed in Bagdat by Turkey's Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Regai Koutan and Iran's Minister of Energy Amir Muhamed Resit.

The Turkish Minister stated that the embarkment on the project to bring natural gas from Iran into his country is very significant, while the Iranian minister emphasized the project's significance for both countries. A.F.

[17] TURKISH DAILY ATTACKED BY ARMED COLLEGE STUDENT

Turkish daily "Hurriyet", based in Istanbul, was attacked early this morning by an unidentified armed college student who wounded one of the janitors before police managed to arrest him.

After the attack, the paper's editor Ertugrul Ozkiok said that "those who take such action are prompted by the statements of political leaders." He was apparently referring to Foreign Minister Tansu Ciller's recent verbal attack against the country's largest publications.

[18] FREE TRADE AGREEMENT HAS BEEN SIGNED BY FYROM AND CROATIA

FYROM's Prime Minister Branko Tservenkovski signed a free trade agreement with his Croat counterpart Zlatko Matesa, who made a one-day visit to Skopje heading a delegation of government ministers.

The two Prime Ministers expressed the hope that the agreement will contribute to the further development of bilateral economic relations. The agreement will be effective in a month and constitutes a first step toward the creation of a free trade zone between the two countries which will greatly facilitate bilateral trade transactions.

[19] GREEK-RUSSIAN BUSINESS AGREEMENT WILL BE SIGNED ON MAY 25

The Greek products are on an increased demand in the former Soviet Union and their presence is expected to become even stronger with the signing of a bilateral cooperation agreement by Russian and Greek businessmen who will meet in Athens on May 25.

In the meeting, in which will be discussed the prospects of cooperation for the establishment of joint business ventures in the two countries, will take part 25 Russian businessmen, among them former mayor of Moscow Gabriel Popov, who is of Greek descent.

The unstable political and economic situation in Russia discourages the Greek buisinessmen from becoming active in the country. Nevertheless, according to statements made to MPA by President of the Association of Greek Businessmen in Russia mr.Elias Eliades, Greek businessmen have created companies in the former Soviet Union in spite of the risks involved in such an effort. Mr.Eliades stated that in Russia today there are 14 Greek- Russian joint ventures in operation, while five more are expected to be formed soon.

The Greek products preferred most by the Russian consumers are olives, olive oil, oranges and tangerines.

[20] A YOUNG ISLAMIST ATTACKED THE OFFICES OF "HURRIYET"

A young islamist attacked the offices of the newspaper "Hurriyet" in Istanbul this morning.

The attacker disarmed the guard and injured two newspaper employees. The publisher of "Hurriyet" accused the islamist leaders of being accessories before the fact.

[21] IRAN: OVER 2,500 DEAD, 40,000 INJURED IN EARTHQUAKE OF 7.1 RICHTER

Over 2,500 persons are killed and 40,000 have been injured in northeastern Iran after yesterday's catastrophic earthquake which measured 7.1 on the Richter scale, followed by an aftershock that measured 4.8 on the Richter scale.

Two hundred villages have been destroyed, while rescue units continue their frantic efforts to locate survivors.

Iran's Foreign Ministry has issued an appeal to the international community for assistance. A.F.

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