Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 97-09-16

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, September 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] GREECE WILL REACT IF TURKEY CARRIES OUT ITS THREATS AND ATTACKS CYPRUS

If Turkey carries out its threats and attacks Cyprus, in response to the installation of the S-300 missile systems, Greece will react even with military means, stated Undersecretary of Defense Dimitris Apostolakis speaking to Halki in a Greek Institute of European and Foreign Policy seminar.

The main problem in Cyprus is the presence of Turkish occupation forces, pointed out the Greek Undersecretary and added that there are countries that can help in the safeguarding of security for both communities on the island, stressing that the biggest step in this process would be the island’s demilitarization.

[02] DISTINGUISHED PERSONALITIES FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD WERE HONORED WITH THE ONASIS AWARDS

The Institute “Aristotelis Onasis” honored for an 18th consecutive year distinguished personalities from all over the world for their contribution to peace, culture, the environment and social life.

The prizes were awarded by Greek President Kostis Stephanopoulos in a special ceremony held in Athens. Georgian President Edvard Chevardnadze received the Onasis award for International Understanding and Social Contribution and stated that he is greatly honored while he characterized Greece as the birthplace of the European culture and democratic ideal.

The award for the environment was received by the UN International Shipping Organization, while the culture award was shared by founder of the Cyclades Art Museum ms.Ekaterini Goulandri and British Byzantologist Sir Steven Rangiman.

[03] THE OPENING OF A DIALOGUE BETWEEN CLERIDES AND DENKTASH IS A POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT

Greek Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Yiannos Kranidiotis characterized as a positive development the opening of a dialogue on security issues between Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides and Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.

After the meeting he had with Georgian President Edvard Chevardnadze, who is on a formal visit to Greece, mr.Kranidiotis stated that the demilitarization of Cyprus is a basic goal for Greece and the talks on the matter are hoped to be a first step toward this direction. Nevertheless, he expressed reservations on mr.Denktash’s reliability.

Responding to the likelihood of a meeting to be held in New York next week with the participation of the Foreign Ministers of Greece, Turkey and the United States, mr.Kranidiotis stated that mr.Pangalos, mr.Cem and ms.Albright will be in New York at the same time within the framework of the UN General Assembly meeting.

[04] SIMITIS AND CHEVARDNADZE SIGNED A FRIENDSHIP AGREEMENT

A friendship and cooperation agreement between Greece and Georgia was signed by Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis and Georgian President Edvard Chevardnadze, who is on a three-day visit to Greece.

Today, the Georgian President will be honored with the Onasis Award. Mr.Chevardnadze is also scheduled to be in Thessaloniki tomorrow to visit the monastic community of Mount Athos in Halkidiki, northern Greece.

The Georgian President’s wife tomorrow will visit the Archeological Museum of Thessaloniki and the Treasures of Mount Athos Exhibition in the Museum of Byzantine Civilization.

[05] THESSALONIKI’S 62ND INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR CREATED POSITIVE IMPRESSIONS

Thessaloniki’s 62ND International Trade Fair made a positive impression to the representatives of the productive sectors.

The excellent organization of the event and the variety of the exhibits as well as, the increased participation of exhibitors and the great number of visitors from abroad, amounting to 10% of the total number of visitors, are among the factors that contributed to the success of this year’s International Trade Fair.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[06] SWEDEN AND FINLAND EXERCISED THEIR VETO POWER REGARDING THE ISSUE OF THE SPECIAL STATUS OF MOUNT ATHOS

Sweden and Finland raised the issue of the special status of the monastic community of Mount Athos, which continues to be off limits for women, during the EU Foreign Ministers’ Council meeting yesterday. The two Foreign Ministers in essence used their veto power based on the European treaty for the free movement of people.

Greece requested the preservation of the existing status in Mount Athos, but the Foreign Minister of Luxembourg, who is currently holding the presidency of the council, left the issue open hoping that none will attempt to overturn a tradition of many centuries by appealing to the European Court of Justice.

[07] NEW CLERIDES - DENKTASH MEETING

US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright announced yesterday that Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides and Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash will hold a new meeting to discuss security issues.

Ms.Albright reiterated that the solution of the Cyprus problem continues to be one of the highest priorities of the US foreign policy, both for US President Clinton and herself. US Presidential envoy to Cyprus Richard Halbrooke characterized the new meeting as a big step.

In his statements mr.Denktash appeared to agree with the Clerides proposal for the demilitarization of Cyprus and called on the Cypriot President to issue a joint statement which will mention that the Cyprus issue can not be resolved with guns.

The Greek government is satisfied with yesterday’s development namely, the fact that Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash has accepted the Clerides proposal for a dialogue on security issues, stated Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas, who also expressed skepticism over the stance mr.Denktash will adopt in those talks.

Mr.Reppas also expressed optimism over the likelihood of reaching an understanding in the Cyprus problem and pointed out that it is too early for optimism regarding the island’s complete demilitarization.

Meanwhile, the EU Foreign Ministers insisted in their initial decision to open accession negotiations with Cyprus 6 months after the Inter-Governmental Conference, most likely in April as the Amsterdam treaty is expected to be signed on October 2.

[08] THE US SECRETARY OF STATE IS LIKELY TO MEET WITH THE FOREIGN MINISTERS OF GREECE AND TURKEY

Alternate US State Department spokesman mr.Foley did not rule out a meeting of US Secretary of State ms.Albright with the Foreign Ministers of Greece and Turkey.

Responding to the question if ms.Albright is interested in having a tripartite meeting with the Greek and Turkish Foreign Ministers, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting, he said that the head of the US diplomacy had a productive meeting with her counterparts from Greece and Turkey in Madrid and that her schedule in New York is difficult to be foreseen.

He said that if the two ministers are willing to reaffirm the spirit of Madrid then such a meeting would be a productive one.

[09] CYPRUS SHOULD BE AT THE CENTER OF INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION

The Cyprus problem should be at the center of international attention and at the top place of the daily agenda at every chance offered, stressed Australian Labor party federal deputy and shadow Foreign Minister mr.Lawrence John Brereton.

In statements he made today after his meeting with Cypriot Parliament President Spyros Kyprianou in Nicosia, stressed the very friendly relations shared by the two countries and expressed the intention to pressure the Australian government into assisting with the efforts for the solution of the Cyprus problem.

Mr.Kyprianou said that Australia can contribute to the general effort for the increase of pressures on Turkey, through the United States, Britain and Europe in general, aimed at the right solution of the Cyprus problem.

[10] THE GREEK-CYPRIOT SIDE WILL NOT ABANDON ITS POSITION FOR A FAIR AND VIABLE SOLUTION

Cypriot Foreign Minister Yiannakis Kasoulides and Cypriot government spokesman Manolis Christofides gave the assurance that the Greek-Cypriot side will not abandon its position for a fair and viable solution of the Cyprus problem.

Mr.Kasoulides pointed out that the dialogue on security issues between Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides and Turkish- Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash will not be over in one or two meetings and speculated that it will be a great setback for the Cyprus issue if the talks collapse from the start. He also stressed that the demilitarization can not happen in one day.

[11] THE NEW COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY WILL BE DISCUSSED IN A COUNCIL OF EUROPE MINISTERS’ MEETING

The new communication technology will be, for the first time, at the center of the Council of Europe Ministers’ conference “The information society : A challenge for Europe” that will be held in Thessaloniki on December 11-12.

In the meeting will participate ministers responsible for mass media issues from 40 European countries.

Social, economic and moral viewpoints concerning the access to the new information technology, their use and the exploitation of the capabilities they offer, as well as their effect on the democratic institutions and human rights are among the topics that will be discussed in the conference, which will be held at a decisive moment for the future form of the social role of the European electronic tele-communications media.

[12] TWO DIET DRUGS WERE WITHDRAWN FROM THE WORLD MARKET

The withdrawal from the world market of the diet drugs Ponderal and Isomeral was announced today by the French pharmaceutical company that produced them. As it was made known a high percentage of people, who took those diet pills, were later diagnosed with heart problems

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