Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 97-07-16

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, July 16, 1997

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] MINISTRY OF PUBLIC ORDER TO BE GIVEN SECTOR OF FOREST PROTECTION

The Minister of Agriculture Stephanos Tzoumakas announced today that the government will transfer the sector of forest protection to the Ministry of Public Order.

Mr. Tzoumakas stated that a relevant committee is to be formed soon in order to prepare the relevant legislation.

The Ministry of Agriculture will deal with the forest, its development and future planning, according to Mr. Tzoumakas. A.F.

[02] HOSPITAL DOCTORS TO EMBARK ON 48-HOUR STRIKE TOMORROW

Meanwhile, the pharmacists' association has decided not to post-bill orders of medicines for those who are insured and instead will demand that the customers be reimbursed from their insurer afterwards. A.F.

[03] THE ECONOMIC POLICY OF THE GREEK GOVERNMENT FOR 1998 WILL BE WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE EU CONVERGENCE PROGRAMME

Minister of National Economy and Finance Yiannos Papantoniou stated after the meeting of the government's economic staff, held in the presence of the Bank of Greece deputy Director, that the government's position is clear and based on it, the economic policy that will be followed in 1998 will be within the framework of the EU convergence programme.

Mr.Papantoniou stated that the drop of inflation is the main target of the government's economic policy and added that the goal for 1998 is to bring it below the 3% mark.

[04] PRESIDENT OF GREEK PARLIAMENT WELCOMES YOUNG FRENCH PHILHELLENES

The President of the Greek Parliament Apostolos Kaklamanis received today a group of 45 high-schol students from France who wrote first-rate compositions in a writing competition titled "Greek Culture."

Mr. Kaklamanis congratulated the young writers on their achievement and briefed them on Greece's institution of "the Parliament of Adolescents" while he also told them that "the youth constitutes the link and the base for continuing friendship between the two countries."

In turn, the young students were given a tour of the Parliament's Exhibition of Historical Artifacts of Modern Greece. A.F.

[05] THE WORLD COUNCIL OF HELLENES ABROAD WILL HAVE ITS OWN LIBRARY

The World Council of Hellenes Abroad, SAE, decided to establish its own special library of printed and non printed material that will cover issues concerning the Greeks living abroad.

The library will be open for the public and will be housed in the new offices of SAE in the building of the Bank of Macedonia- Thrace. The inauguration of SAE's new offices will be held on Sunday.

[06] A WORLD COUNCIL OF PAN-MACEDONIAN ASSOCIATIONS WILL BE ELECTED IN THE PAN-MACEDONIAN ASSOCIATIONS' CONFERENCE ON SUNDAY

The first of the 400 delegates, who will participate in the 7th World Conference of Pan-Macedonian Associations, scheduled to take place in Thessaloniki on July 20-27, have already arrived.

Referring to the importance of the conference, which among others will deal with the better coordination of the Greeks living abroad in the efforts for the promotion of the issues of national importance, the President of the Federation of the Pan-Macedonian Associations in Australia, Eleftherios Sioustis pointed out that for the first time this year all the Pan-Macedonian Associations will meet jointly and will elect the World Council of Pan- Macedonian Associations.

[07] FINANCE & NATIONAL ECONOMY MINISTER: THERE WILL BE NO NEW MEASURES

The year's first discussion for 1998's budget is to be held today in a session held by the government's economy and finance ministries, with the participation of the Bank of Greece's governor who said that all exchanges to and from Greece will be freed within the month of July.

The Minister of National Economy and Finance Yiannos Papantoniou has stated that the government's economic planning will not deviate from its course and no new measures will be enacted during 1997. A.F.

[08] THE PREMIER BRIEFED ON SEIKH-SOU FIRE BY MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE

The Minister of Agriculture Stefanos Tzoumakas was received by the Prime Minister Kostas Simitis today whom he briefed on the recent fire that burned down two-thirds of Thesslaoniki's Seikh Sou forest.

Mr. Tzoumakas and the Premier also discussed the resignation submitted after the fire by the Forestry Secretary-General Elias Beriatos, which was not accepted.

When asked if the Premier supports the Ministry's policy, Mr. Tzoumakas responded "of course." A.F.

[09] EUROPEAN COMMISSION WITHDRAWS CLAIM AGAINST GREECE ON SHIPYARDS

The European Commission has withdrawn the claim it was to file with the European Court against Greece on the Skaramanga Shipyards.

The EC has accepted the cancellation of the shipyards' debt and has proceeded to approving GRD 7.8Bn in investment aid, within the framework of the Ministerial Council's decision to grant financial support to Greek, German and Spanish shipyards that are currently undergoing restructuring. A.F.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[10] ALBANIA: NEW FOREIGN POLICY TO FEATURE EUROPEAN ORIENTATION

Albania's newly-elected government of Fatos Nano is to proceed to a series of changes, among them endowing the country's foreign policy with a European orientation, according to the future Foreign Minister Paskal Milo.

In an interview he granted to the British daily "The Independent", Mr. Milo stated that the country's new policies will be shaped "in the Foreign Ministry's offices, not in other offices, such as, for example, the Presidential Mansion."

In regards to Albania's relations with neighboring countries, Mr. Milo stressed that the basic aim will be to overcome the climate of mistrust and to realistically examine the opportunities for collaboration, "based on the national interests and the interests of economic development and strengthening of the Albanian state." A.F.

[11] TURKISH AMBASSADOR TO LONDON SPEAKS ON DEMIREL-SIMITIS COMMUNIQUE

The Turkish Ambassador to London Ozdem Saberg has expressed his conviction that the communique signed in Madrid between the Greek Premier Kostas Simitis and the Turkish President Suleiman Demirel will mark the beginning of improvement in the Greek- Turkish relations.

Speaking to the BBC's radio broadcast, the Turkish diplomat stated that "we believe that the views for the relations between the two countries have changed."

Mr. Saberg stated that the Madrid Communique constitutes a significant development since there will be no unilateral acts in the Aegean.

"There is a clear framework which determines the Aegean's status quo, based on the Lausanne Accord of 1923, as well as based on other agrements, following 1923 which have been ratified by Turkey and Greece.

"I am certain that the relations between the two countries will improve. Turkey aims for pace and stability. Its aim is to achieve friendship with Greece and we have always tried to get this message across, a message of dialogue and friendship to the Greeks."

Commenting on the Greek Premier's proposal for a step-by-step approach in resolving Greek-Turkish differences, Mr. Saberg stated "of coure we support this effort and we do not rule out any whatsoever attempt to resolve the problems that would be to the benefit of both peoples."

The Turkish Ambassador added that all the issues concerning the Aegean Sea should be dealt with in whole, and added that "the best for both countries would be to follow the procedures outlined by the United Nations Charter in regards to resolving differences between countries. This means that Greece and Turkey should try and reach a settlement through dialogue, negotiations, making good use of the services of a third country or a mediator, and, indeed, seeking recourse at the International Court. All of these ways are acceptable and necessary. But we must only count on one specific process."

In regards to the Cyprus issue, the Turkish Ambassador expressed the hope that the direct talks between the President of Cyprus Glafkos Clerides and the leader of the Turkish-Cypriots Rauf Denktash.

While he expressed his concern over Cyprus' armament program, he also ruled out the possibility that the Turkish troops will be withdrawn from the island if the Turkish-Cypriot community does not first feel that it can live peacefully and with threats. A.F.

[12] INTR/NAL HEALTH ORGANISATION OFFICIAL IN ALBANIA OVER MALARIA OUTBREAK

An official from the International Health Organisation is currently in Albania in order to examine the recently reported cases of malaria.

The malaria outbreak is thought to be greater than reported as, according to reports, aside from the two members of the "Arberia" ship's crew, others may have been struck with the disease.

The IHO official stated that the list of medicines that has been ordered by Albania's Health Ministry is due to arrive at the country within the following days. A.F.

[13] A TURKISH MILITARY HELICOPTER CRASHED OFF THE TURKISH COASTS

Turkish rescue forces picked up the three crew members of the Turkish military helicopter that crashed at noon today off the Asia Minor coasts inside the Ankara FIR. The Turkish news agency Anadolu reported that the three survivors are injured.

According to an announcement issued earlier in the day by the Ministry of National Defense, the Greek side was ready to offer every possible assistance in the search for the location of survivors in the Greek territorial waters.

Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas had confirmed the information on the helicopter crash and clarified that it occured in the Turkish territorial waters possibly at the Turkish coasts. Mr.Reppas also had stated that the Greek government has informed the Turkish authorities that it was ready to offer every assistance.

[14] THE EU COMMISSION DISSOCIATES CYPRUS' ACCESSION COURSE FROM THE SOLUTION OF THE PROBLEM

Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas characterized as positive the European Commission's position according to which, Cyprus' EU accession course is dissociated from the solution of the Cyprus problem and the Clerides-Denktash talks.

Meanwhile, a US State Department spokesman confirmed that US Presidential envoy to Cyprus Richard Halbrooke will visit Europe in the last week of July within the efforts for the promotion of the solution of the Cyprus problem but he added that mr.Halbrooke will not visit Athens, Nicosia and Ankara before the opening of the second round of direct talks that will be held in Switzerland in August.

[15] THE COMMITTEE FOR THE PROTECTION OF JOURNALISTS CALLS FOR THE RELEASE OF THEIR JAILED COLLEAGUES IN TURKEY

Members of the Committee for the Protection of Journalists, CPJ, met with the vice-President of the Turkish government Bulent Etsevit and requested the release of their colleagues and authors who are jailed in Turkish prisons.

Mr.Etsevit stated that steps will be made to put an end to the pressures exerted on reporters and also, efforts will be made for the benefit of journalists, authors and intellectuals as well. According to mr.Etsevit, there is a will to release all jailed journalists but there are certain problems which block that move.

The Committee for the Protection of Journalists, headed by journalist Terry Anderson and President of Turkey's Council of Press Oktai Eksi, was also received by Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, who stated that all necessary moves will be made to overcome the obstacle stemming from article 14 in the Constitution.

[16] THE US INVESTORS WERE DISAPPOINTED BY TURKEY'S EXCLUSION FROM THE FUTURE EU MEMBERS' MEETING

Turkey's exclusion from the meeting of the EU with its future members, held last week in Amsterdam, caused disappointment to the American investors given the fact that Ankara's request to become a member of the European Union was first made 30 years ago.

According to a US Department of Commerce official, the move could affect certain US companies that have invested in Turkey because they see that country as a cheap production center.

[17] EUROPEAN COMMISION CONFIRMS CYPRUS' ACCESSION COURSE TO THE EU

The European Commission has confirmed Cyprus' accession course to the European Union, thereby separating this process from the resolvement of the Cyprus issue and the result of the direct talks held between the President of Cyprus Glafkos Clerides and the leader of the Turkish-Cypriots Rauf Denktash.

In its "Agenda 2000" report to the European Parliament's plenary session today, the Commission states that resolving the issue of the divided island is not viewed as a condition to be overcome for Cyprus' accession negotiations. A.F.

[18] RICHARD HOLBROOKE TO EMBARK ON EUROPEAN TOUR FOR CYRPUS ISSUE

The US State Department spokesperson Nicholas Burns has confirmed the European tour to be conducted by the US presidential envoy to Cyprus Richard Holbrooke during the last week of July.

The aim of this tour will be to promote the Cyprus issue, but Mr. Holbrooke is not to visit Athens, Nicosia and Ankara prior to the second round of the Clerides-Denktash talks, which will be held at Geneva in August. A.F.

[19] BRITISH DEPUTIES EXPRESS CONTAINED OPTIMISM OVER CYPRUS ISSUE

British parliamentarians have expressed their contained optimism over the creation of the proper grounds for resolving the Cyprus issue, during an event organised at the House of Commons by the National Cypriot Federation of Great Britain, on the occassion of the 23rd anniversary since the Turkish invasion of the island.

Over half of the thirty deputies who attended the event also expressed their optimism that the United States will contribute in the efforts to find a solution to the Cyprus issue and that the island's negotiations for accession to the EU will constitute a motive for reaching a solution.

The Labour Party deputies has expressed their certainty that the British government will grant its help towards this direction, while they also stated that the efforts exerted by the US and the EU for influencing Ankara should be synchronised. A.F.

[20] BRITAIN IS IN FAVOR OF CYPRUS' ACCESSION TO THE EU

The British government is supportive of Cyprus' accession to the European Union, stated the President of Cyprus Glafkos Clerides who was received yesterday evening by British Premier Toni Blair in London.

President Clerides analysed the facets of the Cyprus issue to the British premier and outlined the proposals that will help in overcoming the problem. A.F.

[21] GIANNI VERSACE MURDERED IN MIAMI, SHOT IN THE HEAD AT CLOSE RANGE

Italian fashion designer Gianni Versace was murdered yesterday outside his villa in Miami, US.

According to police reports, the 50-year-old Versace was shot in the head at close range as he was exiting his house. Eyewitness reports say that it was a Caucasian male, about 25 years old, who shot the victim. A.F.

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