Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 97-10-08

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, 8 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] SIMITIS USED STRONG LANGUAGE FOR TURKEY

Greece will not open a dialogue on its sovereign rights, that are based on international law and treaties, and will not accept a solution in Cyprus that will not be based on the UN resolutions or will not be fair and viable, stressed Prime Minister Kostas Simitis in his speech during PASOK’s Parliamentary Group meeting.

Mr.Simitis stated that the freeing of the EU funds for Turkey will not be possible for as long as Turkey does not abandon its unreasonable claims over the Imia islets and does not bring its case to The Hague.

[02] THE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY WILL VISIT GREECE

Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly President ms.Leni Fisher will visit Athens on October 14-16 at the invitation of Greek Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis.

During her visit ms.Fisher will attend the Summit of Parliament Presidents from South-Eastern European countries.

[03] THERE IS NOTHING TO NEGOTIATE IN THE AEGEAN SAYS DEFENSE MINISTER

Greek Defense Minister Mr. Akis Tsohatzopoulos repeated today that there is nothing to negotiate in the Aegean Sea. The statement was made during his visit in ELVO where he signed an agreement on behalf of the Greek armed forces for the production of 57 armoured vehicles for transportation of personnel of the type known as “Leonidas”.

Commenting on the stance adopted by Ankara towards Athens, Mr. Tsohatzopoulos said that Greece ties to give them understand that neighbours can only have friendly relations.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[04] HANS VAN DEN BROEK: TURKEY’S ACCESSION INTO THE EU IS NOT POSSIBLE

European Commissioner, responsible for foreign affairs, mr.Hans van den Broek, speaking in Brussels in the EU-Cyprus Joint Parliamentary Committee meeting, reiterated the firm position that Turkey is not in a position to become an EU member.

At the same time, he confirmed the EU’s pledge to open accession negotiations with Cyprus next spring.

[05] QUEEN BEATRIX OF THE NETHERLANDS WILL BE IN THESSALONIKI TOMORROW

Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, her husband Prince Klaus and Dutch Foreign Minister Hans van Mierlo will be in Thessaloniki tomorrow.

According to their schedule, they will visit the exhibition of the Treasures of Mount Athos at the Museum of Byzantine Civilization and later they will attend the opening ceremony for the exhibition of works by 20th century Dutch etchers.

They will leave for Holland in early afternoon, while the two Dutch war ships that arrived yesterday, will stay at the Port of Thessaloniki until October 11.

[06] VISAS FOR FYROM WILL BE ISSUED ONLY IN ATHENS

By the end of 1997, Greece and FYROM will abolish the border authorities’ competence to issue visas.

The procedure for the issuing of visas at the borders was provided by the interim accord and was of a transitional nature.

Based on the interim accord, this specific procedure should take place at the liaison offices of the two countries in Athens and Skopje, as soon as possible.

[07] CLERIDES: TURKEY SHOULD REALIZE THAT THE ONLY SOLUTION FOR CYPRUS IS THE DEMILITARIZATION

Progress in the Cyprus issue can be achieved only if pressures are exerted on Turkey to realize that the only possible and visible solution is the demilitarization, stated Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides, speaking in a formal dinner during the 13th Greek-American Conference in Washington.

Mr.Clerides reiterated his dream of a peaceful co-existence of the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots and added that the obstacle to achieving progress in the relations of the two communities is Turkey and not Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.

[08] THE TURKISH CABINET DISCUSSED THE ISSUE OF THE RE-OPENING OF THE THEOLOGY SCHOOL IN HALKI

The issue of the re-opening of the Theology School in Halki was discussed last week by the Turkish cabinet but no concrete decision was made as certain government ministers reacted strongly to that likelihood.

According to the private Turkish television station HBB, the procedure for the re-opening of the Theology School in Halki has already begun.

[09] LONDON IS TRYING TO STOP THE QUESTIONS MADE IN THE EURO- PARLIAMENT ON THE HUMAN RIGHTS IN TURKEY

The discovery of a document according to which, the British government is trying to stop the Labor Party Euro-deputies from posing questions in the Euro-Parliament on the human rights situation in Turkey and elsewhere, has caused strong reaction.

Based on the document, British Foreign Minister Robin Cook suggests that he should directly take over the handling of the human rights issues in the European Union, within the framework of the efforts aimed at stopping the “negative” and peculiar interventions by Labor party Euro-deputies, who have irritated foreign governments, such as the Turkish to the Pakistani.

[10] EXCAVATIONS IN ALEXANDRIA FOR THE DISCOVERY OF THE TOMB OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT

Alexandria University professor Faouzi El-Fakharani will soon start excavations for the discovery of the tomb of Alexander the Great in the Bab Charqui region at the center of Alexandria in Egypt.

The Egyptian newspaper “Progres Dimanche” published statements made by Abdel Fattah director of Alexandria’s Greek- Roman Antiquities Museum according to which, a significant discovery is not ruled out.

In the region, where the excavations will be held, have already been discovered certain archaeological findings which the scientists believe that they belong to a royal personality of the era of the Ptolemies, possibly Alexander the Great.

[11] BUSINESS MEETING IN SLOVENIA

A meeting of businessmen from central and eastern Europe will be held in the city of Bled in Slovenia on October 23-24 with the participation of Greek government officials and investors.

The conference with the title “Regional Business Meeting Point” will be held under the auspices of the Slovenian Ministry of Economic Relations and Development.

Among the issues for discussion will be economic strategies for the improvement of the competitiveness of the countries in central and eastern Europe, while the participants will also examine the role played by the different Chambers of Commerce toward this direction.

[12] THE SCHENGEN ACCORD WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN GREECE ON DECEMBER 1ST

Based on those plans, Greece together with Austria will start the implementation of the accord on December 1st. Border checks will be abolished in Austria on March 29, 1998, while for Greece a decision will be made by the Executive Committee before the end of next year.

In Italy, the gradual implementation of the Schengen accord will start earlier as the relevant procedures will be in effect on October 26. Border checks in the country will be abolished on March 20, 1998.

[13] NEW PRESIDENTAIL ELECTIONS IN SERBIA

The turnout in the second round of the Serbian presidential elections was poorer than 50% and a new round of presidential elections will be needed in the biggest of the two federal republics of Yugoslavia.

The leader of the ultra-right radical Party got 49.1% of the vote while the candidate supported by the socialists got 47.9%. New elections should be called within the next 60 days.

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