Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 97-06-04

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, June 4, 1997

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[01] THE GREEK PRIME MINISTER MET WITH HIS SWEDISH COUNTERPART

Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis, who is on a formal visit to Sweden where the 3rd Conference of the European Socialist Party will be held tomorrow, met in Stockholm today with his Swedish counterpart.

Their meeting focused on bilateral relations and on tomorrow's conference that will deal with the EU Summit meeting in Amsterdam and the problems concerning the European economic and monetary union.

Mr.Simitis, who is accompanied by alternate Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou, will have the opportunity to meet with other European Socialist leaders and will present to them Greece's positions on the Aegean and the Cyprus problem.

The Greek Prime Minister is scheduled to meet tomorrow with the Swedish monarch.

[02] MR.REPPAS COMMENTED ON THE CYPRIOT AIR SPACE VIOLATIONS BY TURKISH AIRCRAFT

Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas referred today to the violations of the Nicosia FIR by Turkish fighter jets.

Mr.Reppas pointed out that the Cypriot government has already protested to international organizations and stressed that if there is a continuation of those acts, made by certain Turkish circles which may not reflect the positions of the Turkish political leadership as a whole, there will be no chance of success in reaching a satisfactory solution to the crucial problem of Cyprus.

[03] GREEK PREMIER TO PARTICIPATE IN EUROPEAN SOCIALIST PARTIES CONFERENCE

Greece's Prime Minister Kostas Simitis is currently on a five- day working visit to Sweden where he will attend tomorrow's conference of the European Socialist Parties, to be held until June 7.

Among the topics to be discussed at the Conference will be the approach between the Sosialists and the center-left following the election outcomes in Britain and France, a factor that creates new terms in light of the Maastricht Treaty's revision.

Equally significant is the Summit Meeting of Amsterdam which is to be held on June 16, while, at the end of the month, Athens will host a conference concerning the opportunities of the center- left and the "social Europe", an event to be attended by various European leaders, such as the Premiers of Sweden, Portugal, Denmark, Norway and Finland. Also, Britain's newly-elected Premier Toni Blair will present an address, while there is a likelihood that France's new Premier Lionel Jospin may attend. Also, Spain's Felipe Gonzalez will be present, along with NATO's Javier Solana and the European Commission's former President Jacques Delors.

The session will be opened by Mr. Persson, to be followed by an address given by the President of the European Socialist Party Rudolf Scharping. A.F.

[04] THESSALONIKI TO HOST BALKAN FOREIGN MINISTERS CONFERENCE ON MONDAY

The Foreign Ministers Conference on Security, Stability and Cooperation in South-Eastern European countries will begin in Thessaloniki on Monday, June 9 and is hailed as an event of exceptional significance for the security and establishment of peace in the region.

The two-day meeting will feature the participation of FMs from Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, FYROM, Greece, Romania, Turkey and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, while participating as observers will be the United States, Russia, Britain, France and Germany.

Also, over twenty countries and international organizations will be represented at the Conference, among them Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Italy, Slovenia, Moldova the Ukraine, Sweden, the United Nations, Council of Europe, European Commission, World Bank and CEDEFOP.

Heading the Greek delegation will be the Greek FM Theodoros Pangalos, while it has not yet been confirmed if Turkey's FM Tansu Ciller will lead her country's delegation.

The Foreign Ministers leading the remaining Balkan countries' delegations will be as follows: F.R.Y.: former Ambassador to Athens, Minister Milan Milutinovic; Bulgaria: newly-appointed FM Nadejda Michailova; Romania: Endrei Severin; Albania: Adrian Starova; FYROM: Blagoyia Hatzinski, this being the first time an FM from FYROM will officially visit Greece. A.F.

[05] GREEK FM: GREECE WILL AID ALBANIA DURING ITS EARLY ELECTION PROCESS

Greece's Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos, in his meeting with Albanian Premier Bashkim Fino in Tirana yesterday, vowed that "Greece will aid Albania during the early election process and in its efforts to revive the economy."

Mr. Pangalos stated that "the West's interest for your country is not merely a diplomatic phrase, it is an affair of viable significance for Albania's integrity and for the existence of a stable democracy."

"Greece will aid at a bilateral level, as well as within the framework of the European Union and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, so that your country will be granted the necessary aid for the elections and the recovery of its economy."

In turn, Prime Minister Fino referred to the current situation in his country and to the recent bombing attacks in Tirana and requested aid for his country's police forces. Moreover, he reiterated his government's request that the size of the multi-national force currently deployed in Albania be augmented.

Athens has already stated that it will be willing to increase the number of Greek soldiers participating in the eight-nation peacekeeping force assigned to Albania.

Albanian President Sali Berisha received Mr. Pangalos and requested that his gratitude be conveyed to the Greek Premier Kostas Simitis for Greece's help. Mr. Berisha also requested that the international force's presence in his country be increased.

Mr. Pangalos also met with his Albanian counterpart Arian Starova whom he invited to participate at the upcoming Foreign Ministers meeting to be held n Thessaloniki. A.F.

[06] PRESIDENT OF GREEK PARLIAMENT DEPARTS FOR FINLAND TODAY

The President of the Hellenic Parliament Apostolos Kaklamanis departs for Finland today where he will participate at the regular meeting of house speakers of the European Union member-states.

The meeting is to be held in Helsinki between June 5-7, and Mr. Kaklamanis is expected to brief his counterparts on the outcomes of the comparable meeting of house speakers held in Athens last April under the initiative of the Greek Parliament.

Moreover, Mr. Kaklamanis will speak on the role of national assemblies in European institutions and the process of the EU's enlargement, giving particular emphasis to Cyprus' bid to join the Community. A.F.

[07] GREEK ALTERNATE FM: MAASTRICHT'S REVISION PLAN IS SATISFACTORY FOR GREECE

Greece is satisfied with the most recent wording of the revised Maastricht Treaty, as it was formulated at the European Union's Council of General Affairs, where the Greek government was represented by the alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou.

Mr. Papandreou stated that the new Treaty presents an overall improvement on matters concerning "a common foreign policy and security policy", albeit some points remain to be clarified.

Mr. Papandreou stated that "on general terms the revision ensures more decisive input on behalf of the EU, with the concurrent safeguard that the viable national rights will not be harmed, since each member-state will be able to refer to this provision in order to exercise its veto power if it should deem that its national interests are seriously harmed."

However, the alternate FM added that in regards to the defense sector, "the results are more moderate than we wished for since there is severe resistance on behalf of many member-states concerning the Western European Union's gradual integration into the Community."

At the same time, he added, "a fight is given on the issue of protecting the EU's external borders."

The alternate FM also stated that the most critical chapter of this revision is that of the institutional reforms in light of the expansion, adding that Greece will stay firm on its position regarding institutional equality among the member-states.

"We will insist to the end on maintaining one commissioner for each member-state, as well as the maintenance of a "voice" of the smaller member-states in the Council, in spite of the pressures exerted by the stronger and wealthier member-states for increasing their influence within the Council." A.F.

[08] GREECE WILL PURCHASE A FRIGATE FROM THE DUTCH NAVY

Greek Minister of Defence Akis Tsochatzopoulos signed an agreement for the purchase of a frigate from the Dutch Navy with his Dutch counterpart, who completed his two-day visit to Greece today.

The frigate will cost 12,5 billion drachmas and it will be delivered to the Greek Navy in December. Mr.Tsochatzopoulos stated that this is a useful and effective investment on behalf of the Greek Ministry of National Defence.

In the talks the two ministers had they discussed NATO's new structure and role, while they examined the prospects for the adoption of a common foreign and defence policy by the European Union.

In statements he made, the Dutch Minister of Defence underlined Greece's role as a factor of stability in south-eastern Europe.

[09] GREECE WON 311 "BLUE FLAGS" FOR ITS CLEAN COASTS

In the annual European competition on the environment, Greece won 311 "Blue Flags" for the respective number of clean coasts. The "Blue Flag" distinction is received by a region in recognition of its clean coasts and waters and its ample tourist facilities.

Environment Minister Kostas Laliotis stated that Greece is the country with the cleanest coasts in Europe and this fact is widely recognized by the European Union and the independent European institutions.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[10] THE TURKISH PRESIDENT EXPRESSED OPTIMISM FOR THE FUTURE OF THE GREEK-TURKISH RELATIONS

Turkish President Suleiman Demirel, in his message on the occasion of the Ipekci Awards ceremony that will be held in Istanbul today, expressed optimism regarding the future of the Greek-Turkish relations.

The Turkish President points out in his message, that the existence of people who are interested in the development of the Greek-Turkish friendship strengthens the hope regarding the future of the Greek-Turkish relations, the development of which is for the benefit of both countries and the wider region as well.

The Ipekci Prize will be awarded to Greece's main opposition party of New Democracy honorary President Konstantinos Mitsotakis, Greek alternate Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou, Greek Euro- deputy Michalis Papayiannakis, Turkish Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Onur Oymen, the leadership of the Greek General Confederation of Labour and the Turkish Confederation of Labour, weight-lifters Valerios Leonidis and Naim Suleimanoglu and singers Sakis Rouvas and Burat Kut.

[11] THE CYPRIOT STRUGGLE WORLD COORDINATING COMMITTEE CONFERENCE OPENED IN THE US SENATE

The World Conference of the Cypriot Struggle World Coordinating Committee opened today in the halls of the US Senate in the presence of Cypriot Foreign Minister Yiannakis Kasoulides, Council of Hellenes Abroad President Andrew Athens, Cypriot Struggle World Coordinating Committee President Philip Christopher and over 200 Cypriot delegates from all over the world.

The conference's goal is to brief the US House Representatives and Senators on the Cyprus issue and the efforts made, which are aimed at finding a permanent solution to the problem.

Within the framework of the contacts with the US political leadership, the delegates will visit the White House to meet with US vice-President Al Gore, while they are also scheduled to have a meeting with US Secretary of State ms.Albright.

[12] 75% OF THE HEROIN THAT ENDS UP IN EUROPE COMES FROM TURKEY

Under the headline "A developing tragic industry, drugs", the US magazine "Business Week" presents the main route followed by heroin, also known as the "white death", before it reaches the countries of western Europe and accuses Turkey of being the "path of death".

The US magazine cites US Drug Enforcement Agency sources and stresses that Turkey is responsible for the distribution of about 75% of the heroin that ends up in western Europe.

According to the magazine, the drug's raw material originates from Afghanistan and Pakistan and comes to mountainous south- eastern Turkey via Iran, where it is being processed into a form of pure heroin. From there, the heroin is being carried to Istanbul for distribution to Europe, mainly via Bulgaria and Romania. It is estimated that about 20% of it ends up in north America and mainly in the United States.

[13] MILOSEVIC'S SON FILED A SUIT AGAINST A SERB MAGAZINE FOR LIBEL

The suit for libel filed by Serb President Slobodan Milosevic's son, Marko against the magazine "Srpcka Rec" is being discussed in a regional court in Belgrade.

In his testimony before the court, mr.Marko Milosevic characterized the magazine's articles, according to which he is the owner of a villa in Athens, as "lies and insults".

[14] THE NEW FRENCH CABINET WILL BE ANNOUNCED TODAY

Within the next few hours the names of the ministers of the new French cabinet will be announced by Socialist Prime Minister Lionel Jospin.

According to information, the Left will get two government ministries and a sub-ministry, while the Greens want the Ministry of the Environment.

[15] KOSTOV-VAN DEN BROEK MEETING IN BRUSSELS

The government programme of Prime Minister Ivan Kostov got the approval and the backing of the European Union, according to the Sofia newspaper "Demokratsia", which refers to the visit of Bulgarian Prime Minister Kostov and Foreign Minister ms.Michailova to Brussels.

The same newspaper cites statements made by EU Commissioner responsible for EU foreign policy issues mr.Hans Van Den Broek who concluded, based on the talks he had with mr.Kostov, that the government of the Union of Democratic Forces promotes the necessary reforms in Bulgaria in a serious manner. Mr.Van Den Broek also added that the economic indexes will determine the successful outcome of the consultations regarding Bulgaria's accession into the European Union.

Meanwhile, according to the newspaper "Kontinent", after the meeting with European Commission representatives in Brussels, the Bulgarian Prime Minister announced that the EU will grant an economic assistance of 250 million ECU to Sofia.

[16] THE CZECH PRESS WRITES ABOUT THE CAPTIVATING SCENIC BEAUTY OF THESSALY

The unique climate, the rare natural beauty and the warm reception offered to tourists by the local residents, are among the most notable advantages of the region of Thessaly in central Greece, according to a full-page presentation in the largest Czech newspaper "Miada Fronta".

The newspaper writes that the natural beauty of Thessaly remains unknown to most foreign tourists, who prefer to visit more famous vacation spots in Greece.

Also, it refers to the Sporades islands, off the coasts of Thessaly, namely Skiathos, Skopelos and Alonnisos, which are described as the sea treasures of Thessaly. A special reference is made to the island of Alonnisos with its unique sea-park that shelters the monachus-monachus seals.

[17] THREE MEMBERS OF THE GREEK COMMUNITY WERE RE-ELECTED TO THE CANADIAN PARLIAMENT

The Greek community made a dynamic showing in Canada with the re-election of three of its members to the Canadian Parliament.

All three are members of the governing Liberal party, namely ms.Eleni Bakopanos, who was elected in a Montreal constituency to serve a second term in the federal Parliament and has increased chances to become member of the new government, mr.Dimitris Kariyiannis, who was elected in an Ontario constituency for a third consecutive four-year term and mr.Yiannis Kanis, who was elected in Toronto for a second term.

[18] THE BULGARIAN SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS RULED IN FAVOUR OF THE BULGARIAN-GREEK CORPORATION "BULFON"

The Supreme Court of Appeals in Bulgaria rejected the General Prosecutor's demand to declare illegal the Sofia court ruling, dated 14.11.1995, that was issued regarding the dispute over the name of the Bulgarian Telecommunications and Information Corporation "BULFON".

The Supreme Court of Appeals ruled as "unfounded" the General Prosecutor's allegations according to which, the name of the corporation is misleading because it does not reveal the foreign participation in the capital of this joint venture. In "BULFON", the Greek firm "Intracom" owns a 68% share, while the Bulgarian Telecommunications Company has a 32% share.

The "BULFON" corporation has installed over 2.500 card-phones in 32 Bulgarian cities and to this purpose the Greek investment group "Intracom" has already invested 6,2 million dollars.

For the completion of the national card-phone network in Bulgaria, for which responsible is the "BULFON" corporation, the estimated investments will reach 30 million dollars.

[19] IPEKCI PRIZE ON GREEK-TURKISH FRIENDSHIP AWARDED THIS EVENING IN ISTANBUL

The Ipekci Peace Prize is to be awarded this evening in Istanbul in a ceremony that will be attended by the honorary president of Greece's main opposition party, New Democracy's Konstantinos Mitsotakis.

Greek Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs George Papandreou and his Turkish counterpart Onur Oymen will be awarded the Prize for their efforts to concerning the establishment of a Greek-Turkish dialogue.

Following the ceremony, Mr. Mitsotakis is expected to travel to Ankara where he may meet with Turkish President Suleiman Demirel. A.F.

[20] TURKEY DENIES REPORTS THAT IT VIOLATED CYPRUS' FIR YESTERDAY

Turkey has denied the Cypriot government's reports that its aircraft violated the island's air space yesterday.

The Cypriot government's spokesperson Manolis Christofides informed the United States Embassy in Cyprus yesterday that three Turkish F-4 aircraft violated the Cypriot air space above the occupied city of Deryneia.

US State Department spokesperson Nicholas Burns stated that "Ankara has admitted that Turkish warplanes flew in the region but it claims that they did not violate Cyprus' air space."

Mr. Burns stressed that if such flights were conducted, then in reality they are a deviation of the Turkish government's decision to halt military flights above Cyprus."

Moreover, the US official hailed Nicosia's and Ankara's decisions, drawn two months ago, to enforce a military filghts moratorium as "expeptionally valuable" and conveyed Washington's hope that these decisions will continue to stand.

Earlier, Mr. Christofides stated that the Cypriot government does not intend to alter its decision and accused Turkey of having opted to perform provocative actions and to violate international law. A.F.

[21] ALBANIAN PM ASKS US, EUROPEAN AMBASSADORS TO LIFT EMERGENCY STATUS

The Prime Minister of Albania Bashkim Fino officiated a briefing session with the Ambassadors of OSCE, US, Austria, Germany, Greece, France and Turkey, whom he informed of the measures his government is to take in order to ensure safe elections on June 29.

According to press reports, the Albanian Premier asked the Ambassadors for their support in lifting his country's emergency status and for shortening the voting process, a sore point between the Democratic Party and the Socialists. A.F.

[22] ROBERT WILSON IN THESSALONIKI, TO PRESENT "MY IDEA OF THEATRE"

Within the framework of the Cultural Capital of Europe Thessaloniki 1997 activities, the internationally recognized theatre director Robert Wilson will present a lecture titled "My Idea of Theatre", in Thessaloniki this Sunday.

The said lecture will be held at the premises of Thesaloniki's port and it is open to the public free of charge.

Within the framework of the lecture, whose duration shall be approximately two hours and thirty minutes, a video shall be presented titled "MEMORY/LOSS - fragments of a poetic biography" by Roberto Ando. A.F.

[23] CYPRUS: CLERIDES COMMENTS ON HALBROOKE'S IMMINENT APPOINTMENT

United States former Undersecretary of State Richard Halbrooke is expected to be appointed as the US presidential envoy to Cyprus within the next 24 hours, according to reports, thus replacing Richard Beattie.

Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides stated this evening that "we know that the US State Department will appoint Mr. Halbrooke."

When asked if he fears that the Cyprus issue will be settled in a "Dayton-type" manner, the Dayton Agrement being Mr. Halbrooke brainchild, President Clerides responded "I have no fears. Others may do. Mr. Halbrooke is a carrer diplomat, tough and able, but I do not underestimate our abilities as well." A.F.

[24] RUSSIAN CELLIST ROSTROPOVIC ENTHUSIASTICALLY CHEERED IN THESSALONIKI

An audience of thousands hailed and enthusiastically cheered Russian cellist Mcislav Rostropovic during a concert he gave last night in Thessaloniki, performing works of Dvorak accompanied by the Orchestra of the Nations.

Mr. Rostropovic succumbed to the crowd's vocal demands for an encore, giving a moving solo performance of Bach.

The world-famous cellist will perform again this evening by conducting the Orchestra of the Nations during the National Ballet of Lithuania's performance of Prokofiev's "Romeo and Juliet". A.F.

[25] US MALE WITH HEROIN IN STOMACH WAS KILLED WHEN HE JUMPED OFF A TRAIN

The US civilian who was killed after he jumped off a passenger train coming into Thessaloniki yesterday was carrying 55 plastics eggs full off heroin in his stomach.

The 24-year-old Guinn Damon Russell was a passenger in the Greek Railroad Organization's 393 route of Thessaloniki-Skopje. He jumped out of the moving train's window when he realised that the Greek police were on his trail.

During the autopsy, the medical examiner discovered 55 plastic eggs full of heroin with a total weight of 875 grams. A.F.

[26] GREEK-BULGARIAN COOPERATION ON ENERGY ISSUES IS IN THE WORKS

The formation of a Bulgarian-Greek task group that will tackle issues concerning the energy sector may be formed int he near future, after the meeting held today by the President of Bulgaria's Committee on Energy Georgi Stoilov and Greece's Ambassador to Sofia Panayiotis Karakasis.

Moreover, Mr. Stoilov briefed the Greek diplomat on the safety checks of the Kozlodui nuclear plant and assured him that the new storage rooms for the used fuels will be created in accordance to international regulations. A.F.

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