Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 97-10-07

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, 7 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] THE NEW TURKISH STATEMENTS ARE AN EXAMPLE OF THE PROLONGED TURKISH PARANOIA

Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said that the statement made by Turkish Minister of Prime Minister’s Department mr.Gurel on the division of the Aegean, is an indication of the prolonged Turkish paranoia. Mr.Reppas added that this tactic has a negative effect on Turkey.

The Greek government spokesman stated that Turkey is being exposed to the international community as its positions, which contravene international law, can not become the basis for good bilateral relations. Mr.Reppas stressed that those views prove that Turkey does not want to have good relations with Greece.

Responding to a question on the statement made by mr.Gurel according to which, it is not certain if the Turkish Prime Minister will visit Crete in November, mr.Reppas pointed out that the response letter received by the Greek government mentions that mr.Yilmaz will attend the Crete Summit and there has been no other information on the issue.

[02] THE GREEK GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN COMMENTED ON THE GREEK-TURKISH RELATIONS

Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas characterized the visit of Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz and Foreign Minister Ismail Cem to Crete on the occasion of the Inter-Balkan Summit, as an opportunity for the Greek government to change the climate in the Greek-Turkish relations that was created recently in New York.

Regarding the statements made by Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos in New York, mr.Reppas said that the Foreign Minister had made a general comment, while on the new article published in the British newspaper “The Observer”, the Greek government spokesman said that it is unacceptable.

[03] TSOCHATZOPOULOS: THE TURKISH CLAIMS ARE BEING REPEATED

Greek Minister of Defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos and Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Yiannos Kranidiotis said, after the meeting they had today, that the statement made by Turkish Minister of Prime Minister’s Department mr.Gurel on the partition of the Aegean, is a repeat of the Turkish claims and is unworthy of any discussion.

In the meeting participated high government officials and were examined Greece’s positions on NATO’s new structure.

[04] THE DEFENSE AND FOREIGN MINISTERS’ JOINT WORKING GROUP MET IN ATHENS TODAY

The joint working group of the Ministers of Defense and Foreign Affairs met today to discuss the NATO Secretary-General proposals on the confidence-building-measures in the Aegean.

Greece must give its response in the next few days, while on Friday the NATO Secretary-General is expected to meet in Brussels with the permanent representatives of Greece and Turkey.

[05] THE GREEK GOVERNMENT’S TARGET IS TO BRING INFLATION DOWN TO 2,5% IN 1998

Among the targets of the new state budget which is being prepared by the Greek government is to bring inflation down to 2,5% in 1998 and increase the public revenues by 11%.

The main directions of the economic policy for 1998 are expected to be finalized in a meeting of the Prime Minister with the government’s economic staff that will be held on Thursday in the presence of the Governor of the Bank of Greece.

[06] SYMPOSIUM ON ARISTOTLE IN THESSALONIKI

Two world famous followers of the Aristotelian philosophy are due in Thessaloniki in the next few days to take part in the symposium on the ancient Greek philosopher.

Among the participants in the symposium which take place under are the aegis of the Organization of the Cultural Capital of Europe, ‘’Thessaloniki 97’’ are well-known Greek academics Konstantinos Despotopoulos and Evangelos Moutsopoulos

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[07] PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS MET WITH QUEEN BEATRICE

The Queen of Holland Beatrice, who is on a visit to Greece, met with Prime Minister Kostas Simitis and President Kostis Stephanopoulos in Athens.

Queen Beatrice her husband, Prince Claus and Dutch Foreign Minister Hans van Mierlo, will visit the Treasures of Mount Athos exhibition at the Museum of Byzantine Civilization in Thessaloniki on Thursday morning.

[08] CLERIDES MET WITH THE 5 PERMANENT MEMBERS OF THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL

Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides had a working lunch with the representatives of the 5 permanent members of the UN Security Council in New York last night.

Cypriot government spokesman Manolis Christofides stated that they discussed the outcome of the direct talks on Cyprus that were held in New York and Montreaux and also, what will happen until the 1998 presidential elections and afterwards.

[09] HALBROOKE APPEARS OPTIMISTIC ON THE ISSUE OF CYPRUS

US presidential envoy Richard Halbrooke continues to be optimistic regarding the issue of Cyprus even though there is no improvement observed in the existing situation. The above were mentioned by the US presidential envoy after his meeting with Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides in New York yesterday.

The two men discussed the course of the Cyprus problem and mr.Halbrooke appeared satisfied with the holding of talks on security issues between the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots. At the same time, he expressed his disappointment over the fact that no progress has been achieved.

In the new meeting between mr.Clerides and mr.Halbrooke, that is scheduled to be held in New York today, will be discussed issues concerning Cyprus’ state of economy.

[10] THE CYPRUS ISSUE IS BEING DISCUSSED IN BRUSSELS

The developments in the Cyprus issue, Cyprus’ EU accession course and issues concerning the enclaved are being discussed in Brussels today by the EU-Cyprus Joint Parliamentary Committee.

European Commissioner responsible for external relations, mr.Hans van den Broek is scheduled to speak in the meeting today.

[11] OSCE SUGGETS SIMULTANEOUS ELECTIONS IN REPUBLIKA SRPSKA

The organization for the Security and the Cooperation in Europe suggested today that early parliamentary and presidential elections in the Serb Republic of Bosnia take place on the same day.

The head of the OSCE delegation in Bosnia Robert Frowick discussed this eventuality with the Serb representative in the Bosnian collective presidency Moncilo Kraiskin in an effort as he said to achieve a compromise between the rival fractions of the Bosnianserbs who have agreed that the elections take place but on different dates.

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