Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 97-06-20

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From: The Macedonian Press Agency at http://www.mpa.gr and http://www.hri.org/MPA.

Last Update: 22:42 GMT+2

SECTIONS

[A] GREECE

[B] BALKANS

[C] EUROPE

[D] WORLD

NEWS HEADLINES

[A] GREECE

[B] BALKANS

[C] EUROPE

[D] WORLD

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] GREECE

[01] GREECE ISSUES STRONG RESPONSE TO US PENTAGON'S RETRACTION OVER IMIA

Web Posted: 15:25 GMT+2

Athens, June 20 (MPA)

US Pentagon's spokesperson Kevin Bacon has retracted his previous statement that the Imia islets were and are Greek soil, after being subjected to pressures from Ankara.

Equally strong was Greece's response to the provocative statements made by Tansu Ciller.

A.F.

[02] MOUNT ATHOS RELICS ARRIVE IN THESALONIKI, EVENT CELEBRATED GRANDLY

Web Posted: 15:25 GMT+2

Thessaloniki, June 20 (MPA)

A welcoming ceremony was held this afternoon by the Organisation of "Thessaloniki, Cultural Capital of Europe '97" at the church of Aghia Sophia where the Minister of Culture Evangelos Venizelos welcomed the Mount Athos Holy Community, whose members he characterized as the guardians of history and the Orthodox tradition.

The Mayor of Thessaloniki, and president of the Organisation, Konstantinos Kosmopoulos, welcomed the representatives of the Holy Community and thanked them for their contribution to Thessaloniki.

The monumental Exhibition, hailed by foreign journalists as "the Exhibition of the century" will be inaugurated tomorrow by the President of the Hellenic Repubic Kostis Stephanopoulos in a ceremony that is to be attended by the members of the Ministerial Council and possibly by the Prime Minister Kostas Simitis.

A.F.

[03] PRESIDENT OF PHILIPPINES ON OFFICIAL VISIT TO GREECE ON SUNDAY

Web Posted: 15:25 GMT+2

Athens, June 20 (MPA)

Following a meeting between Messrs. Ramos and Stephanopoulos, the Philippine President wil be received by the Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis on Monday morning.

A.F.

[04] REPPAS: GREECE DOES NOT EXPECT FROM ANY THIRD PARTY TO SOLVE ITS PROBLEMS

Web Posted: 19:12 GMT+2

Athens 20 June (MPA)

The above were stated in response to questions by reporters regarding the two different statements made by US Pentagon spokesman Kevin Bacon, on the status of the Imia islets within a matter of a few hours.

Mr.Reppas stressed that the US stance on issues of disagreement between two neighbouring countries has always been not to make the government's position public.

Nevertheless, he characterized as positive the fact that the US government maps that have been issued since 1996 mention the Imia only with their Greek name contrary to previous US maps, which mentioned the Imia islets with their Greek name and the name used by Turkey.

[05] 14 AGREEMENTS HAVE BEEN SIGNED BY BUSINESSMEN FROM GREECE AND THE MIDDLE EAST IN RIYAD

Web Posted: 19:12 GMT+2

Riyad 20 June (MPA)

Greece's participation in the event was impressive as it occupied the 4th place among the participating countries regarding the number of businesses representing it. Germany participated with 28 businesses, France with 20, Italy with 13 and Greece with 10.

In the meeting participated 75 businesses from the Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait which are mainly active in the sectors of food, chemicals, construction materials, machinery, services and general trade.

[06] DECISION ON THE PRIVATIZATION OF THE ELEFSINA SHIPYARDS WILL BE REACHED TODAY

Web Posted: 19:12 GMT+2

Athens 20 June (MPA)

The personnel number will be cut in half as about 50% of the employees have accepted early retirement, incentives for voluntary withdrawal or transference to other agencies in the public sector.

[07] GREECE'S PRESIDENT: CULTURE AND GREECE ARE SYNONYMOUS TERMS

Web Posted: 22:42 GMT+2

Thessaloniki, June 20 (MPA)

President Stephanopoulos arrived in Thesaloniki this evening in light of tomorrow's inauguration of the Mount Athos Treasures Exhibition.

The Greek President hailed the Exhibition as a very significant event, "one that is not only religious and cultural, but is national as well."

Mr. President was welcomed to Thessaloniki by the Minister of Culture Evangelos Venizelos, the Minister of Macedonia-Thrace Philippos Petsalnikos and the Minister of Transportation and Communications Haris Kastanides as well as a score of other local leaders and officials, among them the Prefect of Thessaloniki Kostas Papadopoulos and the Mayor of Thessaloniki Konstantinos Kosmopoulos.

[08] GREEK PREMIER: A SOCIALIST SPRING IS DAWNING IN EUROPE

Web Posted: 22:42 GMT+2

Athens, June 20 (MPA)

The party's president and Prime Minister Kostas Simitis saluted the role of Mr. Papandreou in the country's political life and went on to discuss the new political map that has been created in Europe.

Mr. Simitis spoke of a "political spring" that has just gotten under way and pointed out that Greece today constitutes an international, credible, negotiating power. He stated that "we are not among those who exhalt the Economic and Monetary Union as an insurmountable target, but we believe that it will constitute a historic chapter in European history.

In all, Mr. Simitis described the government's development plan by settng forth three elements: a strong and healthy nation, the strengthening of its agricultural sector, the social dialogue and, of course, the analogous contribution by the businessmen and the worker in the efforts to develop and normalize the Greek economy.

[09] GREECE APPOINTS NEW CONSUL-GENERAL IN GJIROCASTER

Web Posted: 22:42 GMT+2

Gjirocaster, June 20 (MPA)

Mr. Kakiousis, who took over his duties today at the consulate, is a graduate of the Political Sciences Department of the Panteios University and entered the diplomatic ranks in 1984.

He is the third consul-general assigned to the post in Gjirocaster, after Mr. Kanellos and Christos Iakovou.

[10] GREEK DEFENSE MINISTER TO ADDRESS GREEK-AMERICAN CONFERENCE IN NEW YORK

Web Posted: 22:42 GMT+2

New York, June 20 (MPA)

The event is to be jointly organized with the World Coordinating Committee of the Cypriot Struggle.

[B] BALKANS

[11] SULEIMAN DEMIREL TO GIVE MANDATE FOR NEW GOVERNMENT TODAY

Web Posted: 15:25 GMT+2

Ankara, June 20 (MPA)

According to political observers, the mandate is likely to be given to Tansu Ciller since she has the support of the Welfare Party as well as the ultra-right party Great Unity.

Yesterday, Mr. Demirel held successive meetings with the leaders of the Motherland Party Mesut Yilmaz, the Democratic Left Bulent Ecevit, the Republican People's Party Denise Baykal and the Democratic Turkey Party Husamettin Cindoruk. All four leaders have stated that a coalition government between the True Party and the Welfare Party should not be formed.

A.F.

[12] THE GREEK GOVERNMENT IS DETERMINED TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE EFFORTS FOR FAIR ELECTIONS IN ALBANIA

Web Posted: 19:12 GMT+2

Athens 20 June (MPA)

Meanwhile, tension continues in Albania as the armed gungs have not ceased the attacks against unarmed civilians.

The Albanian political parties have agreed not to change the date of the elections, while the UN Security Council has accepted the proposal of the countries participating in the multi-national protection force deployed in Albania, to extend its mandate until mid August.

[13] CONFERENCE ON INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE NETWORKS

Web Posted: 19:12 GMT+2

Thessaloniki 20 June (MPA)

In the Conference will participate delegations from all the Balkan countries and will be examined issues such as, the development of industrial areas, packaging, legislation promoting development, technological parks, credit and finance institutions and the role of Mechanical Engineers and Mechanics in today's society.

[14] ANTI-MISSILES SYSTEM S-300 TO ARRIVE IN CYPRUS IN MID-1998

Web Posted: 22:42 GMT+2

Nicosia, June 20 (MPA)

Moreover, Mr. Christofides added that the countdown has began for the completion of the missiles transport to the island which is to take place in the middle of next year.

[15] YILMAZ IS TURKEY'S DESIGNATE PREMIER, PRESIDENT DEMIREL ISSUES MANDATE

Web Posted: 22:42 GMT+2

Ankara, June 20 (MPA)

Mr. Yilmaz is to embark on a series of contacts with the other party leaders, and has stated that he will meet wtih the leader of the True Path party Tansu Ciller on Tuesday.

Mr. Yilmaz's appointment is expected to bring on reactions from Ms. Ciller and the leader of the Welfare Party Necmettin Erbakan.

[C] EUROPE

[16] CRETE, ALSACE UNITED THROUGH CULTURE AND TOURISM

Web Posted: 15:25 GMT+2

Strasbourg, June 20 (MPA)

The leaders of the France-based association promote the island of Crete to the French as an ideal tourism spot, and they stress that the residents of the two regions have a great deal in common, since they are both proud peoples who maintain strong ties with their past.

The 80-member association also included a number of wine connoisseurs who have discovered the exquisite vineyards of Crete.

A.F.

[17] THE EU'S DOOR IS CLOSED FOR TURKEY UNTIL THE YEAR 2002, ACCORDING TO THE TURKISH NEWSPAPERS

Web Posted: 19:12 GMT+2

Ankara 20 June (MPA)

The newspaper "Milliyet" writes that Ankara is satisfied with the fact that no reference is made on Turkey in the foreign relations chapter of the Amsterdam declaration and believes that this fact means that Turkey is placed in the same category with the rest countries which are candidates for EU membership.

Journalist Mehmet Ali Birad referring to the draft report drawn up for Turkey by the responsible EU Committee, which was not published due to the "political developments", underlined his pessimism over Turkey's chances to become an EU member.

Mr.Birad writes that Turkey is missing a historical chance due to its domestic political problems, adding that Europe may not be aware of that yet, but Turkey has reached the point of not being able to continue the customs union with the EU.

[18] THE EU COMMISSION PROTESTED AGAINST TURKEY'S EFFORTS TO STOP THE FINANCING OF HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS

Web Posted: 19:12 GMT+2

Brussels 20 June (MPA)

According to mr.Alavanos, the Turkish government has asked from the banks in the country to freeze any economic assistance destined for human rights organizations in Turkey based on Article 60 of the legislation that regulates the operation of Associations and Unions. The legislation mentions that in order for those organizations to receive economic assistance they should have the government's approval.

Mr.Alavanos has called for the intervention of the EU to stop the unacceptable control on the resources of those organizations that constitutes a violation of human rights.

In his response EU Commissioner mr.Hans Van Den Broek stresses that the EU Commission shares the concerns regarding the respect of human rights in Turkey and being aware of the freezing of the mentioned funds it has ordered its delegation to Ankara to protest to the Turkish authorities.

Mr.Van Den Broek mentions that the Commission will present to the Turkish Foreign Minister its opinion regarding Article 60, namely its opposition to the provisions that are against human rights and the freedom to form an association. He also gave assurances that the EU Commission is determined to continue its programme for the support of non governmental organizations that work for the protection and promotion of human rights in Turkey.

[19] COUNCIL OF EUROPE ISSUES APPEAL TO ALBANIA FOR NORMAL ELECTIONS

Web Posted: 22:42 GMT+2

Strasbourg, June 20 (MPA)

Moreover, the decision issued by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, that the Albanian elections be held on June 29, has been supported by the Ambassador of France Jean Varen and the C of E's Secretary-General Daniel Tarschys, who issued a relative announcement today.

[20] EU-PARLIAMENT'S DELEGATION IN THESSALONIKI TO DISCUSS WOMEN'S RIGHTS

Web Posted: 22:42 GMT+2

Thessaloniki, June 20 (MPA)

The delegation's leader, Torres Marques, will meet with representatives from Greek women's organizations and will exchange points of view.

The delegation will be welcomed by the Minister of Macedonia-Thrace Philippos Petsalnikos, the Mayor of Thessaloniki Konstantinos Kosmopoulos and other officials.

[D] WORLD

[21] US PENTAGON RETRACTS PREVIOUS STATEMENT ON SOVEREIGNTY OF IMIA ISLETS

Web Posted: 15:25 GMT+2

Washington, June 20 (MPA)

In the first statement issued during a press conference, Mr. Bacon clearly said that the Imia islets fall under Greek sovereignty by stating specifically "there is a new map that was printed towards the end of 1996, which clearly establishes the islands as having Greek sovereignty, as they always have. And this map is a nautical one and is available to the public."

A few hours later, Mr. Bacon proceeded to issue another statement where he clarified that he had made a "mistake."

His second statement is as follows:

"During the briefing session today, I mistakenly stated that the Aegean island Imia is under Greek sovereignty. In reality, the sovereignty of this island is subject to a dispute between Greece and Turkey."

Moreover, Mr. Bacon stated that it is the US' firm policy not to take sides on matters regarding sovereignty or on differences concerning the borders between countries.

A.F.

[22] MARLON BRANDO, THE LEGEND, IS CURRENTLY IN ATHENS

Web Posted: 15:25 GMT+2

Athens, June 20 (MPA)

The 73-year-old actor will give a lecture on the environment, one of his most loved topics of discussion, in an event to be opened by the Minister of Culture Evangelos Venizelos and Environment, City Planning and Public Works Kostas Laliotis.

Marlon Brando has enchanted at least four generations of moviegoers in Greece, as well as throughout the world.

During his stay in Greece, he will embark on a cruise through the Aegean Sea's islands and has also expressed the wish to visit the Acropolis. Mr. Brando is accompanied by his wife and one of his 11 children.

A.F.

[23] UNFICYP'S STAY EXTENSION TABLED ON MONDAY TO UN SECURITY COUNCIL

Web Posted: 15:25 GMT+2

Washington, June 20 (MPA)

On that same day, the UN Secretary-General's report on the Cyprus issue will be published.

Meanwhile, the head of the Security Council, Russian Ambassador Sergei Lavrov met with the UN Secretary-General's special adviser Diego Kordobez, who is to chair next month's direct talks between Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides and Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.

Following his meeting with Mr. Kordobez, Mr. Lavrov stated that "Mr. Kordobez has expressed his hope that the participants in this effort can count on the continuous support of the Security Council."

A.F.

[24] BORIS YELTSIN TO REQUEST RUSSIA'S INCLUSION AS FULL MEMBER OF G- 7

Web Posted: 15:25 GMT+2

Moscow, June 20 (MPA)

Mr. Yeltsin statred that this would be a historical decision and it would be a triumph for him personally if his coutnry should gain full-member status.

Washington is said to promote Russia's full membership in the G-7, believing that this would strengthen Russian's economic and political reforms. However, the remaining members are not completely convinced as such, while Japan is linearly against such accession and insists that Russia should not participate in all the economic negotiations.

A.F.

[25] INTERNATIONAL MEETING FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIAL DIALOGUE IN CENTRAL AND SOUTH-EASTERN EUROPE

Web Posted: 19:12 GMT+2

Thessaloniki 20 June (MPA)

In the meeting will participate institutes from 8 countries, namely 15 trade unions from Greece, Romania, Albania, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Croatia, Slovenia and FYROM and 11 employers unions from Bulgaria, Romania, Albania, Croatia, Slovenia and Turkey.

[26] A CYPRIOT PARLIAMENT DELEGATION MET WITH PATRIARCH ALEXIOS IN MOSCOW

Web Posted: 19:12 GMT+2

Moscow 20 June (MPA)

The Patriarch expressed gratitude to Archbishop Chrysostomos and the Cypriot Christian Orthodox Church for the great care they offer to the Russians who are temporarily in Cyprus. The statement was made with regard to the recent decision of the Archbishopric to offer a piece of land in Limassol for the building of a church for the Christian Orthodox Russians living in Cyprus.

According to the Novosti news agency, Patriarch Alexios in statements he made to reporters, criticized Turkey because in the northern occupied part of Cyprus churches are being destroyed, while historical monuments, icons and other holy relics of the Orthodox faith are being sold off. The Patriarch characterized as unacceptable the fact that there is no respect for holy symbols.

Complete archives of the Macedonian Press Agency bulletins are available on the MPA Home Page at http://www.mpa.gr/ and on the U.S. mirror at http://www.hri.org/MPA/

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