Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 97-10-01

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, 1 Oktober, 1997

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] THERE IS NO CHANGE IN THE EU’S RELATIONS WITH TURKEY

Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas stated that there is no change in the European Union relations with Turkey, referring to the contacts Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz had yesterday in Bonn with German Chancellor Helmut Kohl and Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel.

Mr.Reppas pointed out that the German government made it clear to mr.Yilmaz that there are certain pre-conditions that will have to be met before there is a change in the relations between the EU and Ankara.

The Greek government spokesman also stated that Athens wants its relations with Ankara to be ruled by the Madrid agreement.

Commenting on the statements made by Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos, mr.Reppas stated that expressions do not change Greece’s policy, which is the rapprochement with Turkey under the pre-condition that Ankara will respect international law.

[02] THE NEW BUDGET WAS DISCUSSED IN A GOVERNMENT MEETING

The privatization of state companies and the abolition or the merging of hundreds of public agencies were examined in the government meeting that was held in Athens today, presided over by Prime Minister Kostas Simitis.

In the meeting participated Minister of National Economy Yiannos Papantoniou, Minister of Development Vaso Papandreou, as well as Minister of Transport Tasos Mantelis and Undersecretaries of Finance Nikos Christodoulakis, Giorgos Dris and Christos Pahtas.

[03] CELEBRATIONS FOR PAOK’S HISTORIC VICTORY OVER ARSENAL

An all-night celebration was held in Thessaloniki yesterday. Thousands of fans of the local soccer team PAOK celebrated until the morning for the historic victory of their team which is now included among Europe’s best 32 soccer teams competing for the UEFA Cup.

PAOK, after an exceptional appearance last night in London, beat the powerful Arsenal 1-1, as in the first game, which was held in Thessaloniki, it had won with 1-0. The golden goal for PAOK was scored by Vrizas.

Another Greek soccer team, OFI from Crete, has also qualified to the next round of the same event even though it lost from Budapest’s Feretsvaros 2-1. In the first game OFI had won with a score of 3-0.

[04] BARTHOLOMEW - PANGALOS MEETING

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew attended a special session of Thessaloniki’s prefecture council today and later met with Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos, who stated yesterday that there is no shadow over the government’s relations with the Patriarchate.

Mr.Pangalos also expressed the Greek government’s full support to the work of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and conveyed to His All Holiness the greetings of Prime Minister Kostas Simitis. The Ecumenical Patriarch from his part thanked the government and the Foreign Ministry for their strong interest, pointing out that cooperation between the Greek government and the Patriarchate is now more necessary than ever before.

The head of the Christian Orthodox Church visited the Turkish Consulate and the house where founder of modern Turkey Kemal Ataturk was born. Thessaloniki’s Aristotle University will honor the Ecumenical Patriarch with the golden medal “Aristotle”.

During his visit to Kemal Ataturk’s house, the Ecumenical Patriarch stated that the peaceful coexistence of the Greek and Turkish peoples is the only solution that will be to the advantage of both sides.

[05] A US SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL ARRIVES IN ATHENS TODAY

US assistant Secretary of State responsible for European issues Mark Grossman is expected in Athens this afternoon. The US government official will meet with Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos and afterwards will go to Nicosia and Ankara.

Meanwhile, the US Pentagon spokesman reiterated Washington’s opposition to the installation of the Russian S-300 anti-aircraft missiles. Mr.Bacon said that their deployment will create tension, friction and hostility where peace and reconciliation are needed. He also added that there is no information proving that the missiles have been brought to Cyprus.

Meanwhile, executive director of the political research center Western Policy Center mr.John Sitilides issued a statement on the US position regarding the Greek-Turkish territorial disputes, in which it is mentioned that the United States should not pressure allies to negotiate sovereignty or internationally recognized borders.

It is also mentioned that Turkey challenges the sovereignty of several hundred Greek islands, territorial waters and airspace but refuses to recognize the International Court of Justice jurisdiction as a resolution mechanism for any of its claims.

The statement concludes that in keeping with the spirit of the Madrid agreement, the US should urge Turkey to join Greece in peacefully resolving the continental shelf question before the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

[06] POSITIVE RESULTS FROM THE CONTACTS OF MR.KRANIDIOTIS IN BRUSSELS

The informal contacts Greek Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Yiannos Kranidiotis had in Brussels brought positive results. Mr.Kranidiotis met with European Commissioner responsible for External Affairs mr.Hans Van Den Broek, NATO Secretary-General Javier Solana, a number of Euro-deputies as well as with the general secretaries of the Foreign Ministry of Luxembourg and the EU Council of Ministers, securing their support to the Greek positions regarding Turkey’s stance.

According to the BBC, it appears that Turkey first will have to undertake the commitment to contribute to the solution of the Cyprus problem, before the EU fulfills a number of its claims and demands. Among them, the improvement of the terms for the implementation of the customs union between Turkey and the EU, as well as Turkey’s participation in the conference of the EU with the candidate countries for EU membership, which are not included in the first phase of its enlargement due to economic and political reasons.

[07] RESCUE CREWS LOCATED THE GREEK FIGHTER JET THAT CRASHED YESTERDAY

The Greek “Mirage-2000” that crashed yesterday was located today in the sea, at a small distance from the airport of Skyros. The crash happened last night during a scheduled exercise. The body of the missing 29yearold pilot was found inside the plane by rescue crews.

It is the Greek Air Force’s third “Mirage-2000” that crashes in a period of two months and an investigation is being held to determine the causes of the accident.

[08] THE ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH PRAISES MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY

The Macedonian Press Agency does a great deal of good work in the section of the news distribution and contributes in the effort of the peoples in the Balkan area to get top know each other, said the Ecumenical Patriarch Mr. Vartolomeos in a short meeting he had with the general director of the M.P.A.

Mr. Spyros Kouzinopoulos after the official dinner offered to him by the Minister of Macedonia -Thrace Mr. Philipos Petsalnikos.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[09] DEMONSTRATION IN BELGRADE AGAINST VUK DRASKOVIC

Thousands of Yugoslavs gathered in Belgrade last night protesting against the removal of city mayor Zoran Djindjic from his post and the replacement of the television station “Studio B” Board of Directors.

The demonstrators chanted slogans against opposition leader Vuk Draskovic, who is targeted because he is accused of betraying Djindjic, his former partner in the Zajedno coalition, that had forced Milosevic’s Socialists to accept the victory of the opposition in the last municipal elections in Serbia.

[10] THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE PARTICIPATES IN THE DOW JONES

The Athens Stock Exchange participates in the Dow Jones index, starting today.

Athens will participate with 29 stocks and Lisbon with 19, raising the number of the Dow Jones indexes worldwide to over 3.000, completely covering the western European states.

[11] THE ARCHBISHOP OF CYPRUS IS AGAINST THE SOLUTION OF THE TWO- ZONE AND TWO-COMMUNITY FEDERATION

Archbishop of Cyprus Chrisostomos in an interview to foreign correspondents in the UN headquarters in New York, denounced the continuing settlement of Cyprus by the Turks and the destruction of churches in the occupied territories.

The Archbishop said that never before in the history of Cyprus there was a territorial division similar to the one that exists today and expressed his opposition to the solution of a two- zone and two-community federation, maintaining that it is in violation of human rights. He also stressed that Cyprus is too small to have two confederate states.

On the S-300 missiles, the Archbishop of Cyprus said that if there is readiness in securing freedom in Cyprus, the reason that led to the purchase of those missiles will cease to exist.

[12] THE ALBANIAN MINISTER OF DEFENSE THANKED GREECE FOR ITS SUPPORT

Albanian Minister of Defense Sabit Brokai in an interview to the newspaper “Koha Yone”, on the occasion of his recent visit to Greece, expressed gratitude to the Greek government, the Ministry of Defense and his Greek counterpart Akis Tsochatzopoulos for their commitment to support his country internationally.

Mr.Brokai underlined the warm welcome he received from mr.Tsochatzopoulos and the extremely friendly discussions they had. He also mentioned the signing of significant agreements regarding the presence of the Greek military unit in Albania and the cooperation of the two countries in the sector of defense industry.

He spoke of the likelihood to attract back to the Albanian army retired Greek minority officers, while he also referred to the establishment of a joint Greek-Albanian Committee of specialists, as well as to the work of the Greek military unit which will contribute to the reorganization of the Albanian armed forces.

[13] THE ALLEGED HIDE-OUT OF PKK TERRORISTS IS A PIZZERIA

The alleged hide-out of PKK terrorists, mentioned in a report that was published in the British newspaper “The Observer”, is a pizzeria.

The Greek newspaper “Eleftherotypia” revealed that the building in Drosia, referred to as a PKK hide-out, both by “The Observer” and the Turkish daily “Milliyet”, is nothing more than a quiet restaurant, named “Pefkakia”, which first opened in 1936.

Also, the alleged “terrorist training center” in Triada, Evia north of Athens, which according to former PKK member Seydo Hazar was used as a billet by Kurdish rebels in training, is just a farm house.

Martha, a 40yearold woman, who is the owner of the farm house but according to the imaginative Kurd, she is also the deputy commander of the terrorist organization “17 November”, said to reporters that a long time ago she had given shelter to four Kurds with small children who used to work in her farm.

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