Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 97-07-03

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, July 3, 1997

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] STOYANOV-KAKLAMANIS MEETING IN ATHENS

Bulgarian President Petar Stoyanov met with Greek Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis in a cordial and friendly atmosphere and was established that Greece and Bulgaria have achieved significant results in the sector of bilateral cooperation, while it was confirmed that their friendly relations are developing in a satisfactory pace to the benefit of both countries.

The Greek Parliament President pledged that Greece will offer every possible assistance for the materialization of Bulgaria's request to become part of the European structures.

Mr.Stoyanov stated that his country will need the help of its friends in its effort to become a member of the EU and NATO. Both parties agreed to promote bilateral agreements for the regulation of the waters of Nestos River and the opening of three new crossings at the Greek-Bulgarian borders.

Mr.Kaklamanis also pledged that the Greek Parliament will ratify without a delay all the agreements that will be signed between the two countries in the economic and political sector.

Regarding the Burgas-Alexandroupolis pipe line, mr.Stoyanov and mr.Kaklamanis both agreed that the work of the group of experts should be accelerated.

Also, it was stressed the need for the establishment of a Pan- European Security System with the participation of all the European countries, while mr.Kaklamanis stated that the close relations between Greece and Bulgaria are a factor of stability and security in the Balkans.

[02] GREECE AND EGYPT SIGN POLICE COLLABORATION AGREEMENT

The police forces of Greece and Egypt are to collaborate on isues concerning terrorism, drug trafficking and other cross- country crimes, as per an agreement initialled today by the Greek Ministry of Public Order.

The Agreement was initialled by the Ministry's Secretary- General Ioannis Papadoyiannakis and representing Egypt, the Egyptian alternate Minister of the Interior Habib El Adly.

The Agreement is to be signed in Cairo one month from today. A.F.

[03] FAVOURABLE COMMENTS ON THE NATIONAL BANK OF GREECE IN THE NEWSPAPER "FINANCIAL TIMES"

The newspaper "Financial Times" welcomed with favourable comments the modernization efforts made by the National Bank of Greece giving a special emphasis to its Balkan profile.

The newspaper writes that the National Bank of Greece attempts to change its image, as the museum of the Greek banking system and is trying to reorganize within the framework of the government efforts for the modernization of the "wasteful" public sector.

In the article is also mentioned that the National Bank of Greece intends to focus its activities in the Balkans and already it has opened branches in Bulgaria, Romania and Albania aimed at strengthening the Greek trade and investments, while it plans to open branches in Istanbul and Skopje.

[04] THE EXHIBITION OF MOUNT ATHOS RELICS IS A PRICELESS CONTRIBUTION TO THE WORLD OF ART, WRITES A BELGIAN NEWSPAPER

Belgian newspaper "De Financieel Economische Tidj" characterizes the exhibition of Mount Athos relics in Thessaloniki, which is organized within the framework of the Cultural Capital of Europe events, as a priceless contribution to the world of art.

The article's writer ms.Els Hanappe, stresses that the priceless collection of Mount Athos relics is being exhibited for the first time since the founding of the first monastery in Mount Athos, 10 centuries ago.

[05] THE JULIUS CAESAR TRILOGY IS THE OFFICIAL PARTICIPATION OF JAPAN IN THE CULTURAL CAPITAL OF EUROPE EVENTS

An avant-garde theater performance will visit Thessaloniki within the framework of Japan's official participation in the Cultural Capital of Europe events.

The "Julius Caesar Trilogy" is a co-production of the theaters Dy Sygne and Halyu-za Company and directors are Tensuo Anzai and J.A.Seaser.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[06] THE BULGARIAN PRESIDENT IS IN THESSALONIKI

Bulgarian President Petar Stoyanov is expected in Thessaloniki today and he is scheduled to meet with Minister of Macedonia-Thrace Philippos Petsalnikos, who will give a formal dinner in his honour. Tomorrow, the Bulgarian President will visit Mount Athos.

Yesterday, mr.Stoyanov met with President Kostis Stephanopoulos. The two presidents declared their wish for the materialization of the agreements regarding the regulation of the waters of Nestos River and expressed the belief that the construction of the Burgas-Alexandroupolis pipe line should be promoted.

[07] US INTEREST IN THE CLERIDES-DENKTASH DIRECT TALKS

The United States are expecting with great interest the Clerides-Denktash direct talks that will begin in New York on July 9.

Mr.Clerides stated that the issue of Cyprus' accession into the European Union will not be discussed in the direct talks. The United Nations document that will be presented to mr.Clerides and mr.Denktash will mention different views and will include points of reference that are related with the direct negotiations.

[08] THE SOCIALIST PARTY GOT 52% OF THE VOTES IN THE ALBANIAN ELECTIONS

In Albania, the election results in 81 of the 115 constituencies were announced. The Socialist Party got 52% of the votes, while President Berisha's Democratic Party 26,32%, the pro- monarchist 3,66% and the Union of Human Rights 2,59%.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Baskim Fino reacted strongly to the fleeing of former Minister of Public Order mr.Tselio, who is regarded as one of Berisha's men.

The Albanian President stated in an interview yesterday that he will resign when he decides that the right time has come.

[09] ENGLISH ENVOY TO CYPRUS CRITICISES TURKISH STANCE OVER CYPRUS ISSUE

The British envoy to Cyprus Sir David Hannay is said to have employed harsh terms during his talks with the Turkish alternate undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Inal Batu, regarding the imminent talks to be held in New York between Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides and the leader o the Turkish-Cypriots Rauf Denktash.

According to the Turkish daily "Cumhurriet", Sir Hannay revealed that Tansu Ciller "proceeded to making quite a concession, as Foreign Minister, during her meeting with the British Foreign Minister Robin Cook."

According to Mr. Hannay, Ms. Ciller stated that in case Turkey is included in the group of countries set for accession to the European Union then Ankara will not oppose Cyprus's accession to the EU prior to Turkey.

Mr. Batu reminded to sir Hannay the "Mendelson report" which supports that "even a federated Cyprus will not be able to become a member of the European Union."

Sir Hannay responded that "you've given a lot of money to this reports but it is worthless. If you gave us your money then we would also prepare a report for you."

Mr. Batu retorted "this means that you don't take into account International Law."

But the British diplomat went one step further: "the stance to be adopted by Mr. Denktash during the New York talks is very significant. If he maintains a negative one, then the world will come tumbling down on you. This time the United States are determined."

The Turkish official accused Sir Hannay, and the United Nations, of having turned the talks into an international conference.

"You are asking for concessions that neither Turkey nor Mr. Denktash can give."

Sir Hannay, according to Cumhurriet, stated that "Mr. Denktash must make territorial concessions." According to reports, pressure is exerted on the Turkish-Cypriot leader to return part of the island's occupied territory, so that the island's occupied part which now is commensurate to 37% of Cyprus, be reduced to 20 percent. A.F.

[10] FYROM'S PREMIER IN BELGRADE, MEETS WITH KODIC AND MILOSEVIC

The Prime Minister of FYROM Branco Cervenkovski, currently on an official visit to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, met with his Yugoslav counterpart Radoye Kodic in Belgrade today.

The two men discussed economic and bilateral issues, noting that political dialogue does exist among the two countries and the economic co-operation is on an upswing.

Premier Cervenkovski was received yesterday by the Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic who expressed his will to cooperate with FYROM.

Several agreements are to be signed today among the two countries, regarding cooperation, consular convention and an Agreement on abolishing the visa requirement. A.F.

[11] PRESIDENTS OF ROMANIA, UKRAINE AND THE MOLDOVA REPUBLIC HOLD TALKS

The President of Romania Emil Cosntantinescu, the Ukrainian President Leonid Kucima and their counterpart from the Repubic of Moldova Petru Lucinschi met in Ismail today, where they offically kickstarted the trilateral collaboration mechanism, according to Rompres reports.

According to the Romanian news agency, the three heads of state will sign a joint statement after their meeting today, while the three countries' foreign ministers will also sign a collaboration protocol. A.F.

[12] ALBANIA: PRO-MONARCHISTS HOLD RALLY, BUT VIOLENCE ERUPTS

One person was killed and five others were wounded during a pro-monarchist party rally held in Tirana's central square today.

The pro-monarchist faction, along with the throne's heir Leka, ralied in favor of a monarchy regime shouting slogans against the Socialist Party which won Sunday's elections with a confident 52% of the votes in its favor.

Prime Minister Bashkim Fino issued an announcement wherein he asked the pro-monarchy faction's representatives not to become "tools of failure and of the failed." A.F.

[13] NEW SCANDAL ERUPTS IN CILLER'S FAMILY

Turkish government official Tansu Ciller is said to be involved in other scandals that have surfaced from her circles, one of which, stongly played by the Turkish press, is "leaking information from the General Army Staff to the Directorate of Information of the General Security".

Meanwhile, Ms. Ciller's husband, was summoned to testify before a district attorney on charges of forgering public documents. A.F.

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