Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 97-07-01

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, July 1, 1997

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] SIMITIS-CLERIDES MEETING IN ATHENS

Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides, who is visiting Athens, met today with Prime Minister Kostas Simitis for important discussions on the strategy and the tactic that will be followed in the direct talks that will be held in New York between mr.Clerides and Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.

After the meeting mr.Simitis stressed that Turkey is the one that has to implement the international treaties and stop the occupation of Cyprus, while he reiterated that any initiative from the international community is welcomed if it is based on the UN resolutions. He also underlined that US initiatives on Cyprus are expected to take place in order to have some progress and stressed that the solution that will emerge should be fair and viable and must be based on the UN resolutions.

Mr.Clerides met yesterday with President Kostis Stephanopoulos and today is scheduled to meet with New Democracy leader Kostas Karamanlis and the party's honorary president Konstantinos Mitsotakis.

[02] THE GREEK DEFENSE MINISTER MET WITH US SENATOR PAUL SARBANIS

Issues concerning the US-Greek relations, the US policy on security and stability in Southeastern Europe and the situation in the Balkan region were examined in today's meeting between Minister of Defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos and US Senator Paul Sarbanis that was held in the presence of US Ambassador Thomas Niles.

Mr.Tsochatzopoulos stated that they examined issues concerning the prospects of the US policy on security, stability and cooperation in Europe, while Greece presented its positions on Mediterranean issues.

Also, US Senator Paul Sarbanis characterized the visit of mr.Tsochatzopoulos to the United States as successful and fruitful.

[03] THE GREEK GOVERNMENT IS INTERESTED IN THE RESTORATION OF ORDER AND NORMALITY IN ALBANIA

The Greek government is interested in the restoration of order and normality in Albania as well as, in the improvement of ties with this country that will benefit the Greek minority there, stated Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas referring to the situation in Albania as it is formed after Sunday's parliamentary elections.

Responding to a question on the votes the Union of Human Rights Party got in the elections, mr.Reppas stated that the Greek government can not intervene in the internal affairs of Albania which is an independent state.

[04] THE CONFERENCE OF MPA ENDS IN THESSALONIKI TODAY

The conference of MPA on "Peace and Development in Southeastern Europe: The role of the mass media", ends in Thessaloniki today.

Speaking yesterday in the conference General Director of ERA mr.Yiannis Tzanetakos suggested the drawing up of a Balkan journalists charter in which will be included the basic and inviolable principles of information.

Programme Director of ERA, mr.Georgakopoulos proposed the holding of a Balkan State Radio Stations Conference in 1998.

[05] BALKAN NEWS BANK CONVEYS MENTALITY OF LOVE, PEACE, FRIENDSHIP

"We should learn ourselves from ourselves, not from others," stated the deputy director general of the Turkish news agency "Anadolu", Hilmi Bengi, during his address at the Macedonian Press Agency's two-day Conference titled "Peace and Development in Southeastern Europe, the role of the mass media" which is currently taking place in Thessaloniki.

Stressing the importance of establishing coordination and cooperation among Balkan news agencies, Mr. Bengi added that "the Balkan media are still getting the news of interest to them from the international news agencies and, in a certain way, they succumb to their directions."

The Turkish journalist saluted the creation of the Association of Balkan News agencies (ABNA), and said that this establishment will contribute to the improvement of friendship and cooperation in the Balkans.

"We should learn ourselves from ourselves, not from others. To pave the way for this, an active communication web is needed. That's why, the information bank project, which MPA pioneered should be given life," Mr. Bengi concluded. MPA's director of documentation, historian Vlasis Vlasidis referred to the new opportunities that will emerge from the operation of the Balkan News Bank.

"That which today obstructs the unimpeded communication among the Balkan news agencies is the outdated technology and the incompatible systems in the sectors of telecommunication, all of which are problems inherited from the past.

"The news agencies usually exchange news via fax, while they face even bigger hurdles when it comes to sending and receiving photographic materials. The modems they use when they transfer photos in digital form do not provide rapid rates and, as such, the transfer process is slow and expensive. With the operation of the Balkan News Bank, this will become a thing of the past," Mr. Vlasidis explained.

The Balkan News Bank is a program funded by the European Union, within the framework of the INTERREG-II initiative, and enjoys the full support, both moral and material of Greece's Press and Media Ministry, as well as the support of all of the Balkan states.

The initiative will be enforced on a pilot program any day now, as the facilities are currently being set up. The Balkan News Bank will be established in two central powerful computers and its set up is such that will provide an uninterrupted flow of news and will fully support multimedia applications. Its capabilities are quite vast, given the almost limitless advantages of the database software, and the provision of picture, sound and video, as well as the automatic filing of all news in all the Balkan languages.

The Balkan News Bank will feature multimedia, since this was deemed necessary for the creation of applications, such as video production, recorded news bulletins, photo processing, etc.

The final touches on the operation of the Balkan News Bank are to be drawn during September's meeting of the Balkan news agencies's technical directors, which will be held in Thessaloniki.

The editor in chief of the Athens News Agency Nikolaos Voulelis proposed that a network of correspondents be established among the Balkan media, which could lead to an exchange of commentary and editorials among the print and electronic media.

"Significant problems concerning political and moral ideology arise in regards to the stance, choices, and behavior of the mass media, both in the Yugoslav issue, as well as in the Albanian crisis," Mr. Voulelis stated.

"We should not promote points of view that lead to war and barbarity. We should combat racism and xenophobia. We should, if we all agree to peace and development, proceed without prejudice and distorting lenses," the ANA journalist stated.

The Albanian News Agency's deputy general director Margalina Sina characterized the media's role in establishing peace and cooperation in the Balkans as a significant one, and saluted the Creation of ABNA, hailing its contribution to the upgraded coordination among the Balkan news agencies.

The Romanian news agency's deputy general director Victor Martalogou from "Rompress" stated that his country is currently enjoying a new era of free press, a situation, as he stated, that was hard to envision a little earlier, just before four decades of tight and severe totalitarian rule came to an end.

However, freedom of press does contain certain ills, especially when handled by the ill-prepared or the aspiring heralds of truth.

"Freedom of press, one of democracy's defining characteristics, may be a temptation which can make some people surpass the limits of its correct exercise," Mr. Martalogou said. "Freedom of press, sometimes understood as the right to write anything about anything and anybody, may lead to tackling issues with immoral character, to pornography and publication of libelous materials, in an unscrupulous manner."

Mr. Martalogou stressed that his agency has an editorial policy to correctly, accurately and objectively inform its readers on the Balkan realities, as well as the Balkan readers on Romania's domestic affairs.

Lastly, the Romanian journalist saluted the Conference, with special homage given to MPA's general director Spyros Kouzinopoulos, to whom he referred as the "founding-father of the Association of Balkan News Agencies, an association which supports us and on which we can rely for first-hand information that serves the quest for truth in the media. Cristian Ionescu cultural news editor in chief of "Cronica Romana", spoke on Culture and the mass media in Romania.

Mr. Iionescu stated that the Balkan region is inhabited by peoples of very important historical heritage, which makes them so different and particular.

"At the same time, they share a common historic spirit which, in my opinion, should be the main argument in giving up both Balkan inferiority and superiority complexes as to the Western world."

Mr. Ionescu advised that "as long as the European integration process is not accomplished yet, we must evaluate not only our political, and strategic role in a new Europe, but also out cultural contribution to it."

Zoran Jevdovic, the general director of Tanjug, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, stressed that his Agency has a lasting interest in establishing the closet professional and business ties with all news agencies in the Balkan region,. As well as throughout the world.

Mr. Jevdovic saluted ABNA and commended that "this kind of information could be a strong barrier to monopolies held in this field by western news agencies an other mass media, whose reports and information from he Balkans are often colored by the specific interests of their states or their owners'.

Moreover, he referred to the Declaration Thessaloniki, recently held in town among the Balkan region's Foreign Ministers which concerned political and economic cooperation and stability in the region.

The Yugoslav journalist stated that the Declaration globally defines the Balkans as a zone of peace and cooperation where a close interaction of allies achieved through an awareness of the multitude of shared political, economic and other interests.

[06] GREEK, BULGARIAN STATE RADIO COLLABORATE ON HUMANITARIAN AID MISSION TO BULGARIA

A shining example of collaboration between two Balkan radio stations was noted during the course of the Macedonian Press Agency's two day Conference titled "Peace and Development in Southeastern Europe, the role of the mass media" which closed this afternoon in Thessaloniki.

The Greek national radio ERA, and its Bulgarian counterpart BNR, have signed an initiative worth one million dollars for the promotion of humanitarian aid missions to Bulgaria.

BNR's general director Vetcheslav Tounev referred to this initiative during his address today, emphasizing that the aid has been allocated to 40 various institutions in Bulgaria, in some of which people hadn't eaten meat in over four years.

"They were so moved, they cried," Mr. Tounev said, who added that in one week from now three trucks will transport a large amount of humanitarian aid from Thessaloniki to Bulgaria while an equal amount was forwarded in May. Concurrently, Mr. Tounev said that GRD30 million have been collected in Greece which will be used for the purchase of medicine and pharmaceutics.

"This campaign for humanitarian aid to Bulgaria constitutes a fine example of the cooperation among the two countries' radio stations and journalists," Mr. Tounev said.

Also, the director of Greek state-owned radio, ERT-3 Nikos Dimaras, referred to this cooperation during his address titled "the role of national radio in communication and development of closer cooperation relations in South-Eastern Europe".

Mr. Dimaras proposed that the Balkan countries could look into the possibility of forming cooperation among Balkan radio stations, through joint or shared broadcasts and through the strengthening of initiatives such as the principles charter that will enable the exchange of information among the peoples.

The general director of the Turkish news agency IHA Fevzi Kahraman proposed that various educational initiatives be undertaken n order to illustrate the various aspects and characteristics of the Balkan peoples.

"It isn't easy to secure and maintain peace in the Balkans, an area marked by many national and cultural influences. One small flame can trigger a fire in the region. Educational policies need to be developed, taking into account the sensitivity of this region's people on issues concerning culture and religion. The words 'hostility' and 'war' need to be withdrawn from the academic books in order to raise the new generations in a peaceful climate," he added.

Mr.Kahraman saluted the Association of Balkan News Agencies as a "significant institution that will serve the press in an objective and proper manner."

Nikos Igglesis, the editor in chief of the Greek State Radio and Television organization ERT, referred to the impact of nationalism in the Balkans and the role of the journalists therein.

Mr. Igglesis gave a historical account of the creation of the Balkan states following the fall of the empires and said that it is ironic that nationalism peaked in the 90s.

Gordana Stosic, FYROM's "A1 Television" general director referred to the prevailing tendencies to broadcast bad news" otherwise there is no news." Ms. Stosic emphasized the importance of thinking positive.

Romania's "Televiziuena Romania" Alina Mungiou Pippidi, referred to the role of the media in her home country and stated that the state-owned media in Romania played a role in creating a climate of insecurity and fear. Commentary was offered by the Greek state deputy Paraskevas Paraskevopoulos (PASOK), deputy Yiannis Magriotis (PASOK) and the general director of the Greek Television 3 (ET-3) Michalis Alexandrides.

[07] MPA CONFERENCE HERALDS PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT IN S.E. EUROPE

Macedonian Press Agency's two day Conference titled "Peace and Development in Southeastern Europe, the role of the mass media" came to a successful end this afternoon in Thessaloniki, having featured the participation of over 50 journalists from throughout the Balkan states.

The editor in chief of FYRO"m's "Puls" daily, Mirtce Tomofski proposed that a declaration be adopted that will provide for open borders to the journalists in the countries of southeastern Europe.

The MPA's general director Spyros Kouzinopoulos also referred to this issue yesterday, when he stated that it is inconceivable that journalists would need a visa in order to travel from country to country.

The chief editor of Bulgaria's daily "Duma" Plamen Entsev pointed out that his country's people know more about United States, than about Romania, a neighboring country.

As such, Mr. Entcev proposed that a Balkan newspaper be published in the English language, this in its first stages and later in every Balkan language, as well as create a common satellite television program.

The political commentator of Turkey's English language newspaper "Turkish Daily News" Metehan Demir proposed that a strong control mechanism be formed among the Greek and Turkish journalists which would aid in the abolishment of prejudice and the strengthening of cooperation among the two neighbors.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[08] FATOS NANO CALLED ON PRESIDENT BERISHA TO RESIGN

Socialist Party leader Fatos Nano, the big winner of Sunday's parliamentary elections in Albania, called on President Sali Berisha to resign. According to mr.Nano, his party got 55% of the votes. The Greek minority is expected to have 5 deputies in Albanian Parliament.

The Socialists estimate that they will control 63 seats in Parliament, to which 10 more will be added from the parties of the opposition, while they also believe that, based on the existing electoral system, they will win other 22 seats over a total of 155 seats. The official final results are expected to be announced later this afternoon.

President Berisha recognized the election results and stated characteristically that the voters have decided that the Democratic party should be in the opposition.

[09] THE PRESIDENT OF BULGARIA WILL VISIT THESSALONIKI ON THURSDAY

Bulgarian President Petar Stoyanov will arrive in Greece tomorrow for a three-day official visit.

Mr.Stoyanov will visit Greece at the invitation of President Kostis Stephanopoulos and will meet with him in Athens. He is also scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Kostas Simitis, while he will have contacts with the leaders of the main political parties of the opposition.

On Thursday, mr.Stoyanov will be in Thessaloniki and on Friday will visit the monastic community of Mount Athos.

[10] THE BULGARIAN PRESIDENT ISSUED AN INVITATION TO THE GREEK INVESTORS

Sofia and Athens can contribute to the positive developments in the Balkans by enriching their bilateral relations with more dymanism and by participating in joint peace missions in the region, stressed Bulgarian President Petar Stoyanov in an interview with the Greek state television station, ET-3.

Mr.Stoyanov pointed out that his decision to visit Greece first was not a random one, adding that very soon he will visit Turkey.

Referring to the relations between Greece and Burlgaria stated that they can develop toward every direction facilitated by an excellent legislative basis. He also said that the issue of the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipe line will be resolved based on the respect of the interests of all sides.

The Bulgarian President expressed the certainty that the opening of the borders in the Balkans is an issue of the immediate future and characterized as very significant Greece's assistance in Bulgaria's efforts for accession into NATO and the European Union.

On the economic reforms in Bulgaria, mr.Stoyanov stated that they are placed within the framework of a strategy aimed at the country's economic reconstruction, by making Bulgaria more attractive to foreign investors and called on the Greek businessmen to invest in his country.

[11] YLMAZ WILL ASK FOR A VOTE CONFIDENCE ON JULY 13

Turkish Prime Minister designate Mesut Yilmaz will ask for the National Assembly's vote of confidence on July 13, while yesterday he presented the list of his cabinet members to President Suleiman Demirel.

Mr.Yilmaz promised to the Turkish people that he will govern with an emphasis on civil values, democracy and freedom.

According to predictions, mr.Yilmaz will manage to get a vote of confidence as his government coalition has 12 deputies more compared to the deputies of the Ciller-Erbakan alliance.

[12] CYPRUS WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE FIRST PHASE OF THE EU ENLARGEMENT

Greek alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs Giorgos Papandreou and Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Yiannos Kranidiotis, after the meeting they had with Cypriot Foreign Minister Yiannakis Kasoulides, gave the assurance that Cyprus will be included in the first phase of the EU enlargement.

Mr.Papandreou stressed that on July 15-16, the EU Commission will issue its report called "Agenda 2000", which will include references on the issues concerning the EU enlargement and Cyprus.

Mr.Kasoulides stated that during the meeting, they had the opportunity to make a general review of the developments in the light of the crucial six-month period for Cyprus' EU accession.

[13] 2.670.000 GERMAN TELEVISION VIEWERS WATCHED A PRESENTATION ON THE ISLAND OF CRETE

The two-hour artistic programme that was broadcast live last Saturday on the German private television network SAT-1 and was dedicated to Greece and especially to the southern Aegean island of Crete, got the attention of 2.670.000 viewers.

During the presentation were shown parts from the film "Alexis Zorbas" and spots from the Monasteries of Arkadi and Preveli as well as, Crete's natural beauty.

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/