Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 97-05-26

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, May 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] PAPANDREOU-OYMEN TO MEET IN ATHENS TODAY

Turkey's under-Secretary of Foreign Affairs Onur Oymen is currently in Athens where he will participate in an open discussion for the Greek-Turkish relations.

Upon his arrival yesterday, Mr. Oymen stated that he came to Greece with friendly sentiments and, after noting that the problems between the two countries are known, he added that "wherever there are problems there are solutions too."

Mr. Oymen will have talks with Greece's alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou.

Mr. Papandreou stated that Greece should not hold high expectations from a Greek-Turkish meeting.

"Of course, a dialogue does not mean that one is negotiating concessions or territorial rights. The public discussion gives the opportunity to exchange points of view, one side to recognize the other's intentions."

Meanwhile, the experts committee formed by Greece to address Greek-Turkish issues is to forward its memorandum to the Turkish side through the EU's Dutch-held Presidency. A.F.

[02] GREEK DEFENSE MINISTER SAYS TURKEY'S CLAIMS MAY HAVE BOOMERANG EFFECT

Greece's National Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos today warned Turkey that its continuous claims directed against Greece's sovereignty and the Aegean Sea's status quo may have a boomerang effect.

Turkish President Suleiman Demirel has stated that the Turkish naval staff hold a map of 130 islets of disputable status, while he also disputed the Greek sovereignty of islands in the Saronic Gulf.

Greece's Defense Minister stressed that "there is nothing to claim in the Aegean, except the continental shelf. The Aegean is delineated through international treaties and everything is well- defined."

in an interview published today in a Greek daily, Mr. Tsochatzopoulos asked Turkey to respect international agreements and accords which determine the Aegean Sea's status.

Referring to Mr. Demirel's comment that his country cannot allow Greece to extend its territorial waters to 12 miles since that would transform the Aegean into a "Greek lake", Mr. Tsochatzopoulos said that "Greece does not consider the Aegean a 'Greek lake'."

However, he added, "a great naval power such as Greece, has every interest in consolidating free navigation and the respect of international waters and passages. And this is applicable both to the Aegean's international waters and to the Bosporus passages."

Mr. Tsochatzopoulos also stressed that Greece will never set economic, legal or political limitations on the freedom of seas or passages.

"Of course, this stands even when it decides to exercise -as Turkey has already done- its inalienable right to extend, in accordance to international law, its territorial waters to 12 nautical miles."

Moreover, the Greek Defense Minister added that "according to international treaties, with the exception of the Imvros and Tenedos islands, the total of the Aegean's island territory constitutes an integral part of the Greek state. No Greek government will ever allow a foreign power to interpose between Greece's mainland and Greece's islands, thereby interrupting the Greek state's communication and cohesion. Greece, and all should be aware of this, will respond decisively to any military attempt to change the Aegean's international territorial status."

Responding to a question regarding Turkey's claims of islands in the Aegean, Mr. Tsochatzopoulos said "specifically, they are dreaming of 131 islands and islets and they state this in a report published by Turkey's General Navy Staff.

"These are, I would say, 'midsummer night's dreams'." A.F.

[03] REPPAS COMMENTED ON THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE TURKISH UNDERSECRETARY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas stated that the views expressed by mr.Oymen are the known Turkish positions that in the past heve been expressed and by other Ankara officials.

He stated that those views do not contribute to the efforts for the improvement of the relations between the two countries and distance any effort for a rapprochement.

The greek government spokesman also announced that within the day the member of the Greek committee of experts, professor Argiris Fatouros will deliver Greece's report on the Greek-Turkish affairs to the Dutch Ambassador to Athens.

[04] MR.PAPANDREOU STATED THE GREEK POSITIONS AND TERMS FOR A GREEK-TURKISH RAPPROCHEMENT

Greek alternate Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou in his speech delivered in the Conference on the Greek-Turkish affairs reiterated that Greece will not negotiate its sovereign rights and called on Turkey to abandon the threat of war and to respect human rights and international law, while he stressed that the new facts in the region make the establishment of good bilateral relations imperative.

Mr.Papandreou asked for the withdrawal of the Turkish occupation forces from Cyprus and stated that Turkey should appeal to the International Court of Justice in The Hague over Imia and any other dispute, while he expressed optimism regarding the overall rapprochement course with Turkey.

[05] THESSALONIKI TO HOST AIDS CONFERENCE

Balkan and Southeastern European organizations that are involved in AIDS-related research and issues, will examine ways to develop a multi-faceted cooperation among them during the annual Regional Working Meeting of Southern Europe, to be held in Thessaloniki between May 29 and June 1.

Expected to participate are representatives from at least 17 European Union member-states and countries from the Balkan region and the former Soviet Union.

[06] THESSALONIKI HOSTS CONGRESS ON TV AND POLITICS INTERACTION

One of Greece's largest privately-owned television stations, MEGA TV has organized its second international congress on journalism and the media's role in society, which began yesterday in Thessaloniki.

The three-day congress, titled "Interaction between Television, Society and Politics", features an array of world- known journalists, analysts and news anchors, among them CNN's Peter Arnett, as well as well-known figures from the political world, such as George Stephanopoulos, US President Bill Clinton's close former associate and current professor of Political Science at Columbia University.

The event is to attempt a great venture, according to Mega: to record the problems of today's television and, at the same time, search for the best solution for the television of the future.

Aside from Greek journalists, the congress's first day was also addressed by Greece's Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos.

Among today's keynote speakers is the former spokesperson and current deputy of the main opposition party New Democracy Prokopis Pavlopoulos, a constitutional law expert.

[07] PRESIDENT OF GREEK PARLIAMENT MEETS WITH BALKAN WOMEN REPRESENTATIVES

The President of the Parliament of Greece Apostolos Kaklamanis received women representatives from the Balkan countries today, as part of an educational program on social development, held in Thessaloniki by UNESCO in cooperation with the Association of Interbalkan Cooperation of Women and the city's Macedonia University.

Mr. Kaklamanis stressed Greece's stabilizing role in the Balkan region and its adherence to the principles of peace and security.

[08] THE MUNICIPALITY OF KALAMARIA SENDS HUMANITARIAN AID TO BULGARIA

The municipality of Kalamaria in Thessaloniki has prepared its third humanitarian aid mission for the suffering people of Bulgaria which is scheduled to depart in the early morning hours on Wednesday.

Fifteen tons of foodstuffs and baby-food were collected by residents of Kalamaria and the aid will be delivered to the local authorities in the municipality of Dimitrovgrad.

[09] REPPAS COMMENTED ON THE RESULTS OF THE FIRST ROUND OF THE FRENCH ELECTIONS

The Greek government welcomes the developments in the first round of the French elections held yesterday, stated Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas.

Mr.Reppas speculated that the victory of the Socialists is the best solution for France, while it creates the best possible preconditions for cooperation with the governing party in Greece.

Meanwhile, Greek Euro-deputy from the party Coalition of the Left mr.Alekos Alavanos stated that a turn toward the leftist powers is being observed, which is not limited only to France but concerns the developments in the Inter-Governmental Conference and the implementation of the Maastricht Treaty.

[10] THE GREEK AND CYPRIOT MINISTERS OF DEFENCE DISCUSSED COOPERATION ISSUES

Issues concerning the defence cooperation between Greece and Cyprus were discussed in the meeting Greek Minister of Defence Akis Tsochatzopoulos had in Athens today with his Cypriot counterpart Kostas Eliadis.

Specifically, they discussed defence needs, defence planning and the military cooperation between the two countries.

[11] ANDREI BOSNISENSKI WILL RECITE CERTAIN OF HIS POEMS IN THESSALONIKI

Andrei Bosnisenski, one of the most significant contemporary Russian poets willl recite certain of his poems in Thessaloniki in an event that will be held tomorrow, organized within the framework of the Cultural Capital of Europe.

Born in Moscow in 1933, Bosniseski was the spiritual child of Boris Pasternak and emerged for the first time together with Yevgeni Yevtusenko and Bulat Okutzava gaining immense popularity among the young due to the bold references he made to the social problems of his times.

In tomorrow's event the poet will read old and new poems from the prototype, while certain of his poems will be read in Greek.

[12] GREEK BOXER TAKES GOLD IN 20TH ACROPOLIS CUP

Greece's George Mourlas yesterday won the gold medal at the 20th Acropolis Cup, beating Russia in the 81-kilos category with 7- 3.

Thanks to their impressive performances, Mourlas and Yiannoulas, who took third place in the 71-kilos category on Friday, will now be able to participate in the European Boxing Championships, to be held next year in Belarus. A.F.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[13] GREEK-TURKISH BUSINESSMEN MEET IN ISTANBUL

Aiming at the promotion of cooperation among the Balkan region's businessmen, as well as those from the Black Sea and the Middle East, a group of Greek and Greek-Cypriot businessmen met with Turkish and Turkish-Cypriot businessmen in Istanbul yesterday, an event initiated by the Turkish Committee of Foreign Economic Relations.

Present at the event was Cyprus' former Foreign Minister Alekos Michaelides who is to meet with the U.S. State Department's Director of the Office of Southeastern European Affairs, Carey Cavanaugh.

Also, in an initiative taken by the Greek Association of Businessmen, a two-day Greek-Turkish business conference is to begin today in Istanbul. A.F.

[14] TURKISH PRESIDENT SALUTES GREEK AND TURKISH BUSINESSMEN

Turkey's President Suleiman Demirel saluted today the third conference of the Greek-Turkish Forum of Businessmen, an initiative taken by the Greek Association of Businessmen.

Mr. Demirel stated that there are sectors of cooperation between Greece and Turkey, two neighboring countries that are developed, stable and democratic and which have ample experience in the market economy.

Moreover, aiming at the promotion of cooperation among the Balkan region's businessmen, as well as those from the Black Sea and the Middle East, a group of Greek and Greek-Cypriot businessmen met with Turkish and Turkish-Cypriot businessmen in Istanbul yesterday, an event initiated by the Turkish Committee of Foreign Economic Relations.

Present at the event was Cyprus' former Foreign Minister Alekos Michaelides who met with the U.S. State Department's Director of the Office of Southeastern European Affairs, Carey Cavanaugh. Also, the Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos attended the luncheon held this afternoon, and saluted the conference.

[15] THE TURKISH UNDERSECRETARY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS DISPUTES THE STATUS OF ISLANDS AND ISLETS

Turkish Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Onur Oymen, speaking in the one-day Conference on the Greek-Turkish affairs held by the Political Research Center in Athens, disputed the status of islands and islets that are not specifically named in the bilateral agreements between Greece and Turkey, while he referred to the muslim minority in Thrace by using the name "Turkish".

Mr.Oymen stated characteristically that Turkey has absolutely no claim over the islands or islets that were given to Greece based on the existing bilateral agreements, but in case there is no specific status then a discussion should be held. He also added that Turkey is not afraid of the international bodies and wants dialogue over any issue that will be brought before the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

Regarding the Turkish disputes raised over the status in the Aegean, mr.Oymen stated that his country respects only the treaties it has ratified and added that Greece will be surprised with Ankara's written arguments over the islets of Imia.

He also stated that the efforts of the NATO Secretary General on the confidence-building-measures in the Aegean must be backed, while on the procedure for Turkey's accession into the EU he called on Greece to abandon the veto and embargo policy. Finally, mr.Oymen reiterated that his country will not accept the expansion of Greece's territorial waters to the 12-mile limit.

[16] CILLER STATED TO MEMBERS OF HER PARTY THAT THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT WILL FALL BY WEDNESDAY

Vice-President of the Turkish government Tansu Ciller, in an effort to stop the resignations of her party deputies, stated to leading members of her True Path party that by Wednesday she will bring about the fall of the government.

Based on what most turkish newspapers write, ms.Ciller desperately tries to save her True Path Party which undergoes a deep political crisis due to its participation to the coalition government with islamist Prime Minister Erbakan.

[17] CRUCIAL MEETING OF THE SUPREME MILITARY COUNCIL IN TURKEY

The emergency meeting of the Supreme Military Council opened in Turkey today during which the military leadership will raise the issue of the discharge of about 50 officers who are thought to be radical islamists.

This is another field of disagreement between the armed forces and the Welfare Party of Prime Minister Necmetin Erbakan who is presiding over the council.

Apart from the issue of the islamist officers the council will discuss the concept of internal threat according to which, the Turkish armed forces see the increased role of islam in public life as the biggest internal threat faced by the country even compared to the threat posed by the outlawed Kurdish PKK party.

[18] BULGARIA WELCOMES THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN NATO AND RUSSIA

In a press conference in Sofia, Bulgarian Foreign Minister ms.Michailova welcomed the agreement reached by NATO and Russia which is expected to be signed in Paris tomorrow.

Ms.Michailova characterized the agreement as a very serious step for the European and global stability and security, while she pointed out that with its signing the myth according to which, Bulgaria has only two alternative solutions namely, NATO or Russia, is overturned.

[19] FRANCE: SOCIALISTS-COMMUNISTS EMERGE STRONG IN FIRST ROUND OF PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS

France's socialists and communists gained a head start during yesterday's first round of the country's parliamentary elections.

The central-right coalition is ahead with 37% of the votes, while the Socialist Party and the Communist Party have gathered 29% and 9.5% respectively.

These two parties could remain strong in next Sunday's second round. Meanwhile, Jean Mari Lepen's ultra-right party gained 15 % of the votes. A.F.

[20] CYPRIOT PRESIDENT REJECTS DEMIREL'S CLAIMS ON CYPRUS' EU ACCESSION

The President of the Republic of Cyprus Glafkos Clerides has rejected the claims made by Turkey's President Suleiman Demirel who stated that Cyprus must not accede to the European Union before Turkey does.

In an internview broadcast on a Greek television station, Mr. Demirel warned that if this should happen, then the problem of Cyprus will go on forever.

Mr. Clerides reminded Mr. Demirel that "European Union officials have repeatedly said that they will not accept a veto from Turkey on Cyprus' accession to the Community."

[21] SOFIA-BELGRADE FLIGHTS RESTORED AFTER FIVE-YEAR INTERRUPTION

Commercial airline flights between Sofia and Belgrade have been restored, after a five-year interruption.

Today, an aircraft of Bulgaria's state-owned airline "Balkan" took off from Sofia and landed in Belgrade, thereby marking the beginning of regular flights between the two Balkan capitals.

The Sofia-Belgrade flights will be held twice a week on Monday and Wednesday, while from Belgrade to Sofia a flight will depart every Saturday.

[22] FYROM: EPISODES IN GOSTIVAR FOR TURKISH, ALBANIAN FLAGS

Episodes erupted in Gostivar early today when a small group lowered the Albanian flag which was hoisted outside city hall. They were confronted by Gostivar's angered Albanians and the fight ended only after police intervention.

In spite of the recent ruling in FYROM's Constitutional Court, which forbade the raising of the Turkish and Albanian flags in the municipalities of Gostivar and Tetovo, the flags have remained in place "supported" yesterday by a massive rally of about 15,000 Albanians who appear ready to confront any effort to lower the flags.

Rufi Osmani, the Mayor of Gostivar, a city in FYROM, has issued warnings against his country's Constitutional Court, and said that "no ruling rises above the people's will and if the government tries to lower the Albanian flag through violent means, then blood will be shed."

Osmani is a member of the radical party of Democratic Prosperity-Albanian (PDP-A). Representatives of the Turkish Democratic Party and the Party of Democratic Prosperity did not participate in the rally.

The issue is a sore point between the government of FYROM and these two communities.

On May 5, FYROM's Ministry of the Interior had filed suits against the mayors of Tetovo and Gostivar because they, without prior approval, had raised the aforementioned flags in schools, courts and other public buildings in their regions.

However, according to FYROM's legislation whenever an area's minority population surpasses the 20% mark of the overall population the local admistrative bodies can raise that minority's flag.

[23] FRANCE: SOCIALISTS-COMMUNISTS EMERGE STRONG IN FIRST ROUND OF PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS

A high-ranking member of France's ruling center-right coalition made a thinly-veiled call for PM Alain Juppe's dismissal after voters delivered a rebuff to the government according to press reports.

The Socialists with the leftist bloc won the first round of the snap parliamentary elections yesterday. The central-right coalition is ahead with 29.9% of the votes, while the Socialist Party and the Communist Party have gathered 23.7% and 10% respectively.

These two parties could remain strong in next Sunday's second round. Meanwhile, Jean Mari Lepen's ultra-right party gained 15% of the votes.

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