Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 97-07-17

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, July 17, 1997

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] GREEK DEFENSE MINISTER IN GEORGIA, MEETS WITH GREEK COMMUNITY

Greece's Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos is currently on a visit to Georgia's capital Tbilisi, where he has met with members of the city's Greek Community.

In his address, the Defense Minister referred to the new order of things which shape and affect the political scenery in Europe and the Balkans, as well as on the need to discover ways of securing and guarding stability and peace in the countries of the greater region.

Furthermore, Mr. Tsochatzopoulos stressed Greece's role, by illustrating the various initiatives undertaken by the Greek government in developing economic and cultural ties among the peoples, adding that Greece is serving as a "bridge" among these countries.

"We are here to cooperate with the government of Georgia and to aid in the creation of the developments of the Armed Forces of this country.

On the other hand, we are proposing that we embark on a series of bilateral initiatives in this greater region, in order to establish the principles of security, stability and cooperation," he stated.

During his visit to Georgia, Mr. Tsochatzopoulos met with his Georgian counterpart M. Nadibaidze and Foreign Minister M. Ukleba, as well as with the President of the Parliament of Georgia Z.Zhvania and the Patriarch of Georgia Elias the II. A.F.

[02] THE VIOLATIONS OF THE GREEK AIR SPACE IN THE AEGEAN BY TURKISH AIRCRAFT IS IN CONFLICT WITH THE MADRID TEXT

Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas expressed the position that the recent violations of the Greek air space over the Aegean by Turkish fighter jets are in conflict with the spirit of the text that was signed in Madrid by Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis and Turkish President Suleiman Demirel.

Mr.Reppas stated that the phenomenon of Turkish military action in the region and that specific behaviour virtually exposes Ankara. He also called on Turkey to act in accordance with the spirit of the Madrid joint communique in order to be no obstacles in the course toward the improvement of the relations between Greece and Turkey.

[03] THE GRADUAL WITHDRAWAL OF THE GREEK MISSION FROM ALBANIA WILL START ON MONDAY

The gradual withdrawal of the Greek army units that participate in the multi-national force deployed in Albania will start on Monday.

As it was announced by the General Staff of National Defense, the withdrawal will be completed on August 8 and will take place with the assistance of the Greek Navy and Air Force, while certain units will return to Greece with military vehicles.

[04] THE TIGHT ECONOMIC POLICY WILL CONTINUE IN 1998

The tight economic policy, the curbing of inflation and the cuts in public spending are the main axes of the 1998 budget that was discussed yesterday for the first time by the Greek government's economic staff.

Minister of National Economy and Finance mr.Yiannos Papantoniou reiterated yesterday that there will be no new taxes in 1997.

[05] THE CONFERENCE OF THE PAN-MACEDONIAN ASSOCIATIONS IN THESSALONIKI

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

The formal opening of the offices will be held on Sunday morning in the Aristotle University conference hall and the inauguration will be made by alternate Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou and World Council of Hellenes Abroad President Andrew Athens.

[06] ALTERNATE FM SALUTES EU'S POSITION ON CYPRUS'S ACCESSION

Greece's alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou has saluted the European Union's position that negotiations on Cyprus's accession to the Community should begin six months following the Amsterdam Treaty, as was originally agreed upon.

Concurrently, Mr. Papandreou welcomed the statements made by the European Commission President Jacques Santer and Commissioner Hans Van Den Broek, according to whom Cyprus cannot be held "hostage" as a result of Turkey's stance.

Specifically, Mr. van den Broek told the European Parliament that the Commission cannot hold Cyprus hostage due to the lack of cooperation by the Turkish side regarding a settlement of the protracted Cyprus problem.

Mr. Papandreou stressed that Greece is in favor of accession negotiations beginning simultaneously for all the eleven countries that are candidates for EU accession.

The Commission has recommended that membership negotiations for an expanded EU should begin with Cyprus, Poland, the Czech Republic, Estonia and Slovenia next year.

Regarding the EU's relations with Turkey, Mr. Papandreou stated that this will be examined in detail during the discussion of the Commission's "Agenda 2000" report on enlargement.

According to the voluminous report, numbering over 1,400 pages, Turkey may satisfy the standards features of democracy, such as an elected government and a Parliament, but the Turkish administration cannot guarantee its adaptation to EU acquis, at least not yet.

For Cyprus, the report states that resolving the issue of the divided island is not viewed as a condition to be overcome for Cyprus' accession negotiations. A.F.

[07] TWENTY PHILHELLENES STUDYING GREEK IN THESSALONIKI VISIT MPA

Twenty philhellenes from Russia, Ukraine, Moldavia, Bulgaria and Albania who are currently attending Modern Greek classes at the University of Macedonia, visited the premises of the Macedonian Press Agency today.

The philhellenes were given a tour of the city today, in order to become acquainted with the Greek culture and traditions. A.F.

[08] SAE FORWARDS LETTER TO US PRESIDENT CLINTON ON CYPRUS ISSUE

The President of the World Council of Overseas Hellenism (SEA) Andrew Athens has forwarded a letter to the United States President Bill Clinton, on the occassion of the 23rd anniversary since the Turkish invasion of Cyprus.

In his letter, Mr. Athens calls for the restoration of unity on the island and also congratulates President Clinton for taking the initiative to bring Greek Premier Kostas Simitis and Turkish President Suleiman Demirel in contact during the Madrid-held NATO Summit last week.

"As American citizens we demand the restoration of democracy and the return of refugees to their homes," the letter reads.

"We demand the end of the partition of Cyprus and the destruction of Christian Churches in its northern section, and the punishment in international courts of all those who perpetrated crimes from 1974 to the present," it continues. A.F.

[09] NEW AIRPORT INAUGURATED IN HERAKLION, CRETE

The Minister of Transport and Communications Haris Kastanides yesterday inaugurated the new installations of the "Nikos Kazantzakis" airport at Heraklion, Crete.

The airport falls within the program of modernising and developing all of Greece's airports, at a total cost of GRD30Bn.

The works include landscaping the surrounding areas, extending runways and constructing new parking areas.

Mr. Kastanides reaffirmed the government's commitment regarding the construction of a farther runway at Heraklion airport, the study for which has been delayed due to faults discovered in the subsoil, and added that he is to receive the relevant study one month from now.

According to official data, over 3,5 million passengers use the Heraklion airport annually. A.F.

[B]INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[10] CYPRUS CAN NOT BE THE HOSTAGE OF THE TURKISH POLICY

The formal announcement of the European Commission that Cyprus is included in the countries that will participate in the accession negotiations six months after the Inter-Governmental Conference, brought satisfaction to Greece and Cyprus.

Cyprus can not be the hostage of the Turkish policy, stated European Commissioner Hans Van Den Broek. According to the Dutch Commissioner, the decision for the opening of negotiations with Cyprus is not something new but it dates back to March of 1995.

[11] THE CYPRIOT PRESIDENT SENT A LETTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER OF FRANCE

The leader of the Socialist party of EDEK in Cyprus mr.Vassos Lyssarides will deliver a letter of Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides to French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin concerning the issue of Cyprus' accession into the European Union.

Mr.Lyssarides, who has already left for Paris, characterized the letter as "complete and with a special content", stressing that in it are presented all arguments supporting the reasons that make imperative Cyprus' accession into the European Union. He also added that those arguments are based on the unanimous decisions of the Cypriot National Council.

[12] A GROUP OF GREEK EURO-DEPUTIES MET WITH TURKISH PARLIAMENT DEPUTIES IN STRASBOURG

A group of Greek Euro-Deputies met yesterday evening in Strasbourg with Turkish Parliament deputies, who participate in the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee. In the meeting were discussed the developments in the relations of the two countries and the prospects for a closer cooperation at least at the level of Parliament members.

Greek Euro-deputy Alekos Alavanos from the party Coalition of the Left stated that the Turkish politicians expressed discontent over the exclusion of their country from the future enlargement of the EU but they pointed out that Turkey can survive and without the European Union.

[13] THE US REGARDS AS USEFUL START THE FIRST ROUND OF THE CLERIDES-DENKTASH DIRECT TALKS

US Ambassador Kenneth Brill stated that the United States regard as useful start the first round of the Clerides-Denktash direct talks, that will encourage the two sides to continue the efforts for progress.

Mr.Brill met today with Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides and they discussed the outcome of the New York talks. The US Ambassador stated that the US Presidential envoy to Cyprus Richard Halbrooke is not expected to arrive in Cyprus before the second round of talks that will be held in Switzerland on August 11-16.

[14] THE CZECH PRIME MINISTER IS VISITING ATHENS

Prime Minister of the Czech Republic mr.Klaus, who is on a formal visit to Greece, met today with Prime Minister Kostas Simitis.

The visit is taking place after the Madrid Summit meeting decision, based on which the Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary will be the three new members of NATO.

[15] ROMANIA'S FAILURE TO JOIN NATO IS TO COST THE COUNTRY OVER $4 BILLION

Romania's failure to join the North Atlantic Treaty Roganusaiton is to cost ther cotrny more than four billion dollars, according official reports.

Accoridng to Romanian Defense Minister Victor Babiuc, the costs for Romania's national security by its own forces will be about 40% higher than those necesary if Romania had been admitted to NATO.

Mr. Babiuc has added that Romania's will to accede to NATO will remain firm, and stated that the conclusion of a special cooperation partnership with the United States in no substitute for Romania's pro-NATO option, albeit not ruling out sinilar partenrships with other NATO member countries. A.F.

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