Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 97-10-13

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

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Thessaloniki, 13 October, 1997

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TITLES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] PRESIDENT OF GREECE TO VISIT MOUNT ATHOS TODAY

The President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos is to visit the monastic community of Mount Athos today.

Upon his arrival, the President will be granted a formal reception by the monastic community’s Holy Epistasia. A.F.

[02] GREEK PREMIER ANNOUNCES THAT OBJECTIVE CRITERIA WILL BE ABOLISHED

Prime Minister Kostas Simitis announced that the government will do away with the objective taxing criteria and that the country’s small-to-medium-sized businesses will be strengthened with additional funds that amount to 120 billion drachmas.

During the official opening the ruling PASOK part’s statewide conference on Storeowners and Manufacturers, the Minister of Finance and National Economy Yiannos Papantoniou also stated that the objective criteria will be done away with during the year 1999, by when the country’s taxation system will certainly have undergone technical upgrading. A.F.

[03] PRESIDENT OF CYPRUS IN ATHENS TOMORROW, TO BE RECEIVED BY PREMIER

The President of the Republic of Cyprus Glafkos Clerides is to be received by the Prime Minister of Greece Kostas Simitis in Athens tomorrow, where the two men will conduct a Summit meeting.

Among the issues to be discussed will be the recent violations conducted by the Turkish armed forces in Greece’s and Cyprus’s Flight Information Regions. A.F.

[04] REPPAS: TURKEY IS TRYING TO PROVOKE PROBLEMS IN ITS RELATIONS

The Greek government’s spokesperson Dimitris Reppas stated today that Turkey is trying to provoke problems in its relations with Greece, referring to the repeated mass violations of Greece’s and Cyprus’s airspace conducted by Turkish fighter jets.

Specifically, Mr. Reppas stated that “The activities developed by the Greek armed forces and the forces led by the Cypriot government fall within the framework of legal procedures, constitute an exercise of sovereign rights and are of a defense nature,” referring to the Cypriot National Guard’s annual military exercise “Nikiforos ‘97” which is currently held in Cyprus with the participation of Greek armed forces.

Moreover, Mr. Reppas stated that this provocative stance adopted by Ankara is leaving Greece and Cyprus undaunted, since no one can rob these countries’ right to defend their interests in the region .

“Through its stance, Ankara is reaffirming its intention to cause problems in its relations with Greece and to jeopardize international relations, but more it is impeding rapprochement between the two neighbors,” the government spokesperson said, adding that “ Greece foreign policy remains steadily focused on the spirit of Madrid, which at this time is jeopardized.” A.F.

[05] PRESIDENT OF GREECE VISITS MOUNT ATHOS TODAY

The President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos is visiting the monastic community of Mount Athos today.

Upon his arrival, the President was granted a formal reception by the monastic community’s Holy Epistasia and Holy Community.

The President, addressing the members of the Athonite community, stated that the Greek state is committed to protecting the “avaton” (inviolability) of the monastic community and added that Greece has a moral obligation to safeguard the traditions of Mount Athos, of which traditions it shall not tolerate any violation. A.F.

[06] TURKEY VIOLATES EVERY SENSE OF JUSTICE, SAYS KRANIDIOTIS

Greece’s Undersecretary of Defense Yiannos Kranidtiotis stressed today the country’s readiness to react to Turkey’s provocative behavior, which, as he stated, violated every sense of justice.

“Essentially, the Turks are making spasmodic moves since they known that the time is nearing when they will need to draw their final decisions as to whether they will follow the other European states, by upholding and respecting the same values and principles that are observed by all civilized nations, or if they will remain on the sidelines of developments,” he stated. A.F.

[07] ALTERNATE F.M.: INTN/NAL COMMUNITY SHOULD EXERT PRESSURE ON TURKEY

Greece’s alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou stated today that the international community should exert pressure on Turkey in order to achieve a solution of the Cyprus issue.

Speaking to the British television station Sky-TV, Mr. Papandreou stated that “Turkey maintains armed forces on the island 23 years later (after the invasion), by claiming that it is protecting the Turkish-Cypriot community.” He stated that the benefits of demilitarizing the island would be great since Cyprus would be protected by the bodies of the European Union.

When asked to comment on the effect borne on the Cyprus issue by the failed talks between Greece and Turkey in New York, Mr. Papandreou stated that this should in no case mark the end of the efforts currently undertaken, at least on behalf of the Greek government . A.F.

[08] MPA SCORES NEW RECORD IN ACCESSES TO ITS WEBSITE ON THE INTERNET

The number of readers who have sought access to the Macedonian Press Agency’s website on the Internet has increased more than two-fold within one year, while the MPA scored a new record in the number of calls it received during the month of September.

The news agency’s twenty-minute televised program, which is available through the Internet on a 24-hour basis, is a favorite among Greeks living overseas.

The broadcast, which has been airing since September 1, 1997, was accessed by 984 people during its first two weeks, while the daily radio broadcast, which is commonly used by Greek radio stations abroad, has been accessed by 8,587 calls during the past three months.

Concurrently, the MPA, by constantly improving its news and other reports, has enjoyed a steady increase in the number of Internet users who opt to print its news items. Just in the month of September, according to the Agency’s central server data, 367,846 calls were made to the MPA’s website and over 102,000 pages were printed by the various users.

The Macedonian Press Agency, by expanding its exemplary ties and relations with the other news agencies of the Balkan region, has achieved an increase in the number of Greece-related news that are published in the Balkan countries, while the establishment of the “Balkan News Bank” at the MPA’s facilities, which is to be set on its pilot operation within November, will contribute to this direction. A.F.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[09] TURKISH FIGHTER JETS CONDUCT MORE VIOLATIONS OF GREEK, CYPRIOT FIR

Turkish fighter jets proceeded to an additional 20 violations of Greece’s and Cyprus’s flight information regions, as was noted today. The Turkish fighter jets were intercepted by Greek ones. Turkish officials in Ankara have stated that their country’s fighter jets are not violating the Greek air space but they are merely observing Cyprus’ military exercise “Nikiforos ‘97”. A.F.

[10] GREECE AND CYPRUS TO FILE DEMARCHE OVER TURKISH VIOLATIONS OF FIR

The Cypriot government is to proceed with filing demarches to the United Nations over the violations conducted by Turkish aircraft in Greece’s and Cyprus’s Flight Information Region.

Yesterday, Turkish fighter jets proceeded to repeated violations of Greece’s airspace southeastern of the island of Rhodes, and violated Cyprus’s airspace over the island’s western part. A.F.

[11] HOLBROOKE, MILLER CURRENTLY IN ANKARA TO MEET WITH TOP OFFICIALS

United States President Clinton’s special envoy for the Cyprus issue Richard Holbrooke is currently in Ankara, while the State Department’s coordinator for the Cyprus issue Thomas Miller is also in Turkey where he is to be received by Turkish officials.

Following Ankara, Mr. Miller is expected to visit Athens where he will not be accompanied by Mr. Holbrooke, according to the State Department’s spokesperson James Rubin.

Mr. Holbrooke will be received by Turkish President Suleiman Demirel, Premier Mesut Yilmaz and other high-ranking officials. This is his first visit to Ankara since he was assigned to this present post.

According to Mr. Rubin, the primary aim of Mr. Holbrooke’s visit is to continue the talks for the promotion of a solution to the Cyprus issue. Mr. Rubin stressed that the UYS diplomat’s talks with Turkish officials should not be characterized as negotiations. A.F.

[12] GREECE’S DEFENSE MINISTER TO ATTEND CYPRUS’S “NIKIFOROS ‘97” EXERCISE

Greece’s Minister of National Defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos is to arrive in Nicosia this evening where he will attend the Cypriot National Guard’s annual exercise “Nikiforos ‘97”. The five-day long exercises feature the participation of air and naval forces from Greece.

During his stay in Cyprus, Mr. Tsochatzopoulos is to meet with the President of Cyprus Glakfos Clerides, his Cypriot counterpart Kostas Heliades and will also meet with the President of the Cypriot Parliament Spyros Kyprianou. A.F.

[13] SIR HANNAY: WE SUPPORT UN’s EFFORTS TO RESOLVE THE CYPRUS ISSUE

The British special envoy for the Cyprus issue Sir David Hannay has stated that the United Nations enjoy his government’s support in the efforts to resolve the Cyprus issue.

According to Sir Hannay, Britain’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Doug Henderson is to travel to Ankara tomorrow, while Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz is soon expected to arrive in London for a formal visit. A.F.

[14] ALBANIAN PRESS WIDELY REPORTS ON GREEK PREMIER’S IMMINENT VISIT

Albania’s press have granted wide coverage to the Greek Premier’s Kostas Simitis’ imminent visit to Tirana.

Mr. Simitis, who is to arrive in Tirana on Wednesday, will discuss economic aid to the neighboring country as well as Greece and Albania’s common efforts to combat crime.

Mr. Simitis is to be accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Theodoros Pangalos and the Minster of Public Order George Romeos, as well as the deputy ministers of national economy and defense. According to the Albanian press reports, the primary target of the Greek Premier’s visit is to promote bilateral cooperation. A.F.

[15] SKOPJE DISPLEASED WITH TIRANA OVER USE OF NAME “FYROM”

The President of FYROM Kiro Gligorov has expressed his displeasure over the Albanian government’s insistence to use the term FYROM in its correspondence.

In a meeting held between President Gligorov with his Al Albanian counterpart Reijep Meidani on the sidelines of the Council of Europe’s Summit Conference in Strasbourg, Mr. Gligorov expressed his displeasure over this detail. A.F.

[16] US TO SELL SURPLUS ARMS TO TURKEY, “THE OBSERVER” REPORTS

Ten thousand pieces of arms and artillery are to be purchased by Turkey from the United States, according to press reports of the British daily “The Observer”.

According to the article, the arms are to be given to the Turkish national guard stationed near the Kurdish-populated regions. The United States have refuted the rumored sale, claiming that such an agreement would have to have been approved by Congress.

However, according to “The Observer”, both Washington and Ankara have characterized the said arms as “surplus stock”, which allows the sale to go through without limitations. A.F.

[17] GREECE’S DEFENSE MINISTER ATTENDS CYPRUS’S “NIKIFOROS ‘97” EXERCISE

Greece’s Minister of National Defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos arrived in Nicosia this evening where he attended the Cypriot National Guard’s annual exercise “Nikiforos ‘97”.

However, the C130 military aircraft with which the Minster of Defense and his staff traveled to Larnaca was also subject to harassment by Turkish fighter jets.

The air space violations took place east of Crete where the C130 was approached by the Turkish military aircraft. At the same time, two Greek Air Force F4 took off from the island of Santorini and intercepted the Turkish jet.

Upon his arrival in Nicosia this evening, Mr. Tsochatzopoulos stated that through the recent violations of Greece and Cyprus’s air space, so far they number 70, Turkey is internationally exposed as these acts are automatically recorded at NATO’s headquarters.

He added that Greece is not willing to determine its relations with Turkey openly through Ankara’s efforts to establish a climate of questioning and instability.

The five-day long exercises feature the participation of air and naval forces from Greece.

During his stay in Cyprus, Mr. Tsochatzopoulos is to meet with the President of Cyprus Glakfos Clerides, his Cypriot counterpart Kostas Heliades and will also meet with the President of the Cypriot Parliament Spyros Kyprianou. A.F.

[18] TURKEY’S F.M.: EU IS OUR AIM, BUT WE WON’T LOWER BEFORE THE WEST

Turkey’s Foreign Minister Ismael Cem stated that gaining accession to the European Union is indeed an aim for his country. But, he also added that “we will not lower ourselves before the West in order to achieve this aim.”

Commenting on Cyprus’ purchase of Russian-made anti-aircraft missiles S-300, Mr. Cem said that the Cypriot government made a big mistake by purchasing the missiles.

“It is one of the most serious mistakes that could have been committed,” he said. “No one should expect that we shall remain indifferent,” he warned.

Moreover, Mr. Cem accused the European Union of creating a deadlock in the Cyprus problem by initiating the procedure for Cyprus’s EU membership. “It is a big mistake which has brought the Turkish-Cypriots in a very difficult position.”

Lastly, the Turkish Foreign Minister called on the EU to “stop always asking Turkey to settle its differences with Greece. It takes two parts to reach a settlement of a bilateral dispute.” A.F.

[19] ELECTIONS IN THE SERB REPUBLIC TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 23

The President of the Serb Republic in Bosnia Biljana Plavsic and Momcilo Kraijnik, member of the Bosnian Serbs’ collective presidium, met today with the President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Slobodan Milosevic and their talks focused on holding parliamentary and presidential elections in Bosnia’s Serb sector.

Serbia’s parliamentary elections have been scheduled for November 23, while the presidential round will be held sometime in December and will be supervised by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. In regards to the presidential round of elections, various countries have expressed doubt over the legitimacy of the election process, a matter that will have to be looked into by OSCE. A.F.

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