Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 97-09-30

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, September 30, 1997

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] REPPAS: THE CRISIS IN THE GREEK-TURKISH RELATIONS MUST BE OVERCOME

Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas in his statements today stressed the need for the crisis in the Greek-Turkish relations to be overcome.

He said that for as long as the crisis continues there is always the likelihood of an incident and added that this could happen because Turkey continues to have expansionist aspirations against Greece, stressing that the Greek side hopes that this point will not be reached.

Mr.Reppas stated that Greece is ready to face any likelihood but for as long as Turkey maintains the same policy it has to be in a constant state of vigilance.

[02] THE PRIME MINISTER BRIEFED THE PRESIDENT ON THE DEVELOPMENTS IN THE NATIONAL ISSUES

Prime Minister Kostas Simitis briefed President Kostis Stephanopoulos on the developments in the issues of national importance.

The Greek government has characterized as Turkish propaganda the report published in the British newspaper “The Observer” on the alleged training of Kurdish rebels in Greece and their relations with the terrorist organization “17 November”.

Minister of Public Order Giorgos Romeos spoke today of a conspiracy against the prestige of Greece in a period of great significance for the Greek-Turkish relations and added that the Kurd Hazar, who made the already mentioned allegations, left Greece on foot last Friday through the Greek-FYROM borders, two days before the publication of the newspaper report.

Mr.Romeos also stated that extensive investigations are being made on Hazar’s movement in the Greece.

[03] THE ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH MET WITH A PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, who is on the third day of his visit to Thessaloniki, met this morning with the special cross- party parliamentary committee on the Greeks living abroad.

The head of the Christian Orthodox Church continues the contacts with representatives of the political, social and religious leadership in Thessaloniki.

Today, he visited the city’s Court Building, while he led the campaign for the reforestation of the Sheih-Sou forest that was burned down last July. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew planted the first tree and offered pray to God for the quick restoration of the damages.

[04] INFLATION WILL BE 4,9% IN SEPTEMBER

The Greek government hopes that inflation will close at 4,9% in September compared to 5,9% in August.

Today, Prime Minister Kostas Simitis met with professor Spraos and tomorrow, he will have a meeting with National Economy Minister Yiannos Papantoniou to discuss the drawing up of the new budget.

[05] THE BOOK OF ANDREAS PAPANDREOU’S WIFE IS AT THE BOOKSTORES

The book on Andreas Papandreou written by his widow, Dimitra in which she presents her life with the late Greek Prime Minister and leader of the governing Socialist party of PASOK, is at the bookstores.

The book under the title “10 years and 54 days” was written by her heart, as she characteristically mentions and refers to personal and political moments of Andreas Papandreou, while it also includes certain evaluations and views he had confided in the author of the book, his wife Dimitra, regarding leading members of PASOK. Already the book has caused a lot of noise.

[06] GOVERNMENT HONOURS ANDREAS PAPANDREOU

The government honors Andreas Papandreou said today the spokesman Mr.D.Reppas when asked about the book published by the last wife of the late Greek Prime Minister which was on the shelves today.

Mr.Reppas added that the government has no comment to make on the book since there is freedom of expression in Greece and everybody has the right to speak but boted that Andreas Papandreou is away from anything which aims at referring to his memory. Asked about the reference by Ms Liani to prime minister Simitis, the spokesman said that whatever A.Papandreou wanted to tell Mr. Simitis, was told by him in the meeting they had.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[07] THE US DO NOT SHARE THE BRITISH NEWSPAPER REPORT

The United States do not share the report published by the British newspaper “The Observer”. This categorical statement was made by White House spokesman Michael McCarry in response to a question made by a reporter.

He said that he does not share the view presented in the article because Greece is a close ally with which the United States have an especially positive relationship. He also stated that there are no references in the annual State Department report on terrorism, that Greece supports or harbors terrorism

[08] MR.KAKLAMANIS DISCUSSED THE GREEK-TURKISH RELATIONS AND THE CYPRUS ISSUE IN AUSTRALIA

The Greek-Turkish relations, the Cyprus issue and the role of Greece in the Balkans as well as, the prospects of the relations between Greece and Australia were at the center of today’s meetings Greek Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis had in Australia.

Mr.Kaklamanis met with Australian Prime Minister John Howard, government vice-president Tom Fisher and the leader of the Labor party as well as, with other leading government members and members of the Australian legislative bodies.

[09] AN ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE COMMITTEE WILL VISIT ALBANIA AT THE END OF THE WEEK

Archbishop of Tirana and All of Albania Anastasios, who was present in the formal welcoming of the Ecumenical Patriarch to Thessaloniki, left today for Albania.

In statements he made just before his departure, the Archbishop of Albania announced that an Ecumenical Patriarchate committee will visit his country at the end of the week and will try to meet with Albanian President Redzep Meidani, Prime Minister Fatos Nano and Foreign Minister Paskal Milo. The Albanian side has not confirmed yet if the meetings will finally take place.

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew stressed that the goal of the committee’s visit is the continuation of the dialogue between representatives of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Albanian authorities. He said characteristically that the dialogue can solve more problems than a prolonged silence.

[10] THE CYPRIOT FOREIGN MINISTER MET WITH HIS COUNTERPARTS FROM INDIA AND BULGARIA

Cypriot Foreign Minister Yiannakis Kasoulides had a number of contacts in the UN headquarters in New York yesterday with his counterparts from India and Bulgaria, with whom he discussed the Cyprus issue and issues concerning bilateral relations.

With the Foreign Minister of India were discussed issues concerning the Non-Aligned Countries and the imminent Summit meeting of the Commonwealth that will be held in Edinburg next month.

In his meeting with the Bulgarian Foreign Minister there was an exchange of views on issues concerning the EU enlargement, while mr.Kasoulides also briefed his Bulgarian counterpart on Cyprus’ EU accession course and the effect it will have on the efforts for the solution of the Cyprus problem.

[11] THE GREEK-CYPRIOT SIDE WILL SUBMIT EVIDENCE ON THE FATE OF THE MISSING IN CYPRUS

The Greek-Cypriot side is ready to submit concrete evidence on the fate of those still missing in Cyprus since the Turkish invasion in 1974, based on the agreement that was reached within the framework of the dialogue on humanitarian issues.

The above were mentioned by Cypriot government spokesman Manolis Christofides, who said that the Greek-Cypriots are ready to present the evidence at their disposal concerning 200 missing Turkish-Cypriots and 15 Greek-Cypriots, who are buried in the Turkish occupied part of northern Cyprus.

[12] THE TURKISH PRIME MINISTER IS ON A VISIT TO BONN

Turkey’s European orientation is at the top of the daily agenda in the contacts Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz has in Bonn.

Mr.Yilmaz met with German Chancellor Helmut Kohl to whom he presented the prospects for his country’s accession into the European Union.

Meanwhile, on the occasion of the Yilmaz visit to Bonn, German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel stated today that a necessary pre-condition for Turkey’s accession into the EU is the solution of the big problems this country has and especially those concerning the human rights situation, the Kurdish issue, the Cyprus issue and the Greek-Turkish relations.

[13] STUDENT PROTEST RALLIES IN KOSOVO

Albanian students in Kosovo rejected yesterday the proposal made by local Albanian leader Ibrahim Rugova for the cancellation of their protest demonstrations in Pristina and other towns.

According to the Association of Albanians in Kosovo, their rallies will start tomorrow morning simultaneously in many towns of the region.

The students demand the restoration of the education system that was in effect in 1991 and those of Albanian origin refuse to participate in the education process for the past seven years, when it was first decided that they should receive their basic education in the Serb language.

[14] THE DEADLINE FOR THE SURRENDER OF FIREARMS ENDS IN ALBANIA TODAY

The deadline for the surrender of firearms ends in Albania today and all the citizens, who still have in their possession weapons stolen from military depots during the popular uprising last March must return them to the authorities.

The deadline for the surrender of heavy weapons, in which are included anti-aircraft armoured tanks and surface to surface missiles, ended at the end of August, while today ends the deadline for the surrender of light arms, in which are included 652 thousand automatic weapons, 1,5 billion pieces of ammunition and about 1 million land-mines.

[15] THE MASSACRES CONTINUE IN ALGERIA

Seventy unarmed civilians were massacred in the past few days by Muslim fundamentalists in Algeria.

Reports of massacres are made daily to authorities as the Muslim extremists have intensified their attacks after the decision of the more moderate Islamic Salvation Front to declare a unilateral truce and call for the opening of a dialogue with the government in an effort to put an end to the suffering of the Algerian people.

Meanwhile, the French government is examining the likelihood to make more flexible the existing legislation for the issuing of visas to Algerians who want to leave their country in fear of their lives.

[16] BELGRADE MAYOR OVERTURNED

The municipal council of Belgrade voted against the mayor Mr. Zoran Djindic during an extraordinary session today. All councilors from the three big parties after the last elections, the Socialists, who were in office and the radicals and the Serbian Renewal which were in opposition voted against the mayor whose 36 out of 110 councillors did not take part in the session. Mr Djindjic Democratic Party did not take part in the last elections accusing the governing socialists of attempting fraud.

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